I have been to a ton of the tapas places in the Ironbound looking for the right combination of good food, good drinks, and value. VIVO is the best that I have found. I almost gave this place a 5 star review but I save those for the really special places. This place is great though- 4.5 stars for sure. To clarify, I haven't tried the non tapas entrees so I can't speak for those. Came for 2 for 1 tapas on Tuesday. Yup, 2 for 1. Awesome deal.We were able to try a ton of stuff and only paid about $25 for the food. Dishes: **Gambas Al Ajillo (Shrimp with Garlic) was delicious. Super generous portion of shrimp. This dish is like olive oil, shrimp, and garlic- it should be easy to make but so many restaurants I have gone to manage to mess it up. **Patatas ali-oli (potatoes with garlic) were okay but I would have preferred them to be more cooked (they were slightly undercooked) and way crispier. **Championes Rellenos (stuffed mushrooms) were good. Did not expect them to be deep fried but you could taste the mushrooms and the bacon. A little heavy but good. **Tortilla de Jamon y Manchego: way bigger than I expected. Thought it would just be a slice but it was a little mini one. It was okay, not the best I've had but good. Sangria was $12 for a small pitcher. It was very strong. I've had better sangria in the neighborhood but for the price, it was a steal. They also made it fresh rather than letting it sit (which is good but also doesn't allow the flavors to develop as much) They have an amazing happy hour: $4 margaritas and martinis including everything on their regular menu. You can get some pretty well made drinks for a bargain. They also have some other daily deals aside from the 2 for 1 tapas (1/2 price sangria on Fridays, food discounts other nights). The restaurant is also nice looking. It is definitely a nice place to have some drinks and food and not break the bank either. Highly recommended read more

I just got here in this restaurant, but I was dissapointed because I bough two paella thru groupon and they didnt let me use both coupons. I have to purchase another paella at regular price. I wasl also charge $20.00 in tips. And almost another $60.00 for the regular paella. I asked them to please honor the second groupon because I was coming from far away, but they didnt want to. Besides there is not parking around the restaurant and the area is dangerous. Service with Felipe was great and the paella wasnt that good neither. I do not recommend this place. Find another restaurant. STAY AWAY FROM THIS RESTAURANT. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Came here on a Friday evening to use a Groupon I purchased. 30$ for paella and sangria for too. The atmosphere was great, there was a live band singing covers, good variety of songs. We ordered the Valenciana and mango sangria. We upgraded to a bigger pitcher for 10$. The paella was good, however VERY VERY VERY salty. Good flavors, and good amount of seafood. The mango sangria was delicious. After you finish eating, they bring out a tray of sample desserts to try to get to you buy some, even though we said no, they were a little pushy. They lost a few stars because of the amount of time we had to wait for our server. It took us 20 mins to find him, and then it took him another 25 mins to bring us the check and another 15 to bring us back the receipts. I'd probably will return if I get another groupon. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Valenciana paella - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Right now I'm chewin' & reviewin' and loving my valenciana Paella. Bought a deal off groupon for 35 bucks for a choice of paella for two and a pitcher of Sangria! I was so hungry I wanted to eat everything in the facility. Now I can barely walk. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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My family and I came here for my birthday dinner on a Groupon. The food was good and the service was ok. I would have given it 2 stars but I must admit, our waiter did above and beyond to try and add a candle to my dessert. I really appreciated it. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Seafood Paella for 4 - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Like another recent reviewer, I bought a Groupon for Vivo. We frequently visit the Ironbound section of Newark and are open to finding/trying new restaurants in the area. There are too many to try them all! This was a good chance to try somewhere new. We were at first apprehensive when we couldn't find the restaurant at the address which had scaffolding up all around it. The entrance is actually around the corner, not directly on Ferry St. The entrance on Ferry St is a bakery that is owned by and part of Vivo (more on desserts later). After walking under the scaffolding we entered the dining room/ bar hitch was very nice and we were warmly greeted. We were seated at a table for 4 which seemed quite small. It was comfortable but just small...but all the tables were this size. We were immediately greeted by our waitress Karla, the same one who served the previous reviewer. She was very pleasant and explained how the groupon worked. We had it for 2 people so she explained that we had to order 2 other entrees (the paella for 2 can't be shared by more than 2 although there was plenty for all 4 of us to share). Also, the pitcher of Sangria was a medium pitcher but we could upgrade to a full pitcher for $8, which we did. The next surprise was when she offered us Red, white or Blue Sangria. We tried the blue Sangria which has Blue Curaçao liquor added to white wine sangria. It was delicious and potent. Very different and we all enjoyed it. For appetizers we ordered shrimp in garlic, albondigas with sauce and potatoes( meatballs with covered with a crisp shell) and Deviled eggs. Everything was delicious but fitting it all on the small table along with a large salad bowl we ordered was a challenge. The dinner was excellent and although the paella did take 45 minutes to arrive, as we were told, it was fresh, delicious and very hot. Fitting all the entrees on the table was tough, but Karla and the wait staff did it. Desserts are tempting and the tray brought out to give us a sample was just the beginning. They will bring you any dessert from the bakery. The desserts were ok, but not as good as the dinner. Now the reason for the small table. After dinner hour, the restaurant turns into a nightclub. The tables and chairs are cleared from the dining room and the space becomes a dance floor with a DJ, light show etc. we moved to the bar to watch the scene for a few minutes. The crowd is definitely a younger one, 20s-30s, and the place was filling up by the time we left about 11pm. All in all a very great evening and a new find in Ironbound. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Toasting with Blue Sangria (yes that's right , blue curaçao added to white Sangria). Delicious! - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

What happen to the aioli dipping sauce that is served with the bread? I am here on a Sunday and 5 employees can't handle 3 tables? Seriously? Mediocre service today, the cheese platter is half assed, bar staff does not know there wine menu. Bread served on the side was served with cold with packaged butter. It looked like it was just thrown on the plate half assed. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because I have been here during the week and my girl Carla the bartender and MOD were fantastic. Mediocre, Mediocre, mediocre for the price. Save your money and come during happy hour to see Carla. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - #buttercups - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

NOW, I do understand why most of the reviews for this place was so low. I brought a voucher from Groupon to give it a try because i always pass by it when i go to sovereign bank. The food was good, cant complain about the paella..................there are other better actual restaurants in the area with a better atmosphere....DON PEPE is not far and is wayyyyyyyyyyyy better. The service was less then i expected, asked for water and 20 minutes later i got the water......come on i would have died. NEVER AGAIN. My advice to the owner is, the 18% percent is not mandatory for 2 people and tip is for good service and the service was very bad at your restaurant. If i saw it when i got the receipt i would not have paid it. Simple as that. read more

Came here on a Thursday night to use a Groupon with a party of 5. The red sangria was great. We started off with one of the calamari tapas, which was quite delicious with caramelized onions and a squeeze of lemon. For the main course, we ordered two paellas dishes, which were both gigantic and could probably feed 8 (can't wait for lunch over the next few days!). They took a little while to prep the paella, but it was definitely worth the wait; otherwise, service was excellent and we left stuffed. Ambience and cleanliness were also top notch. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Paella Marinera - huge portions with great ratios of seafood to rice, and very nice presentation! - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Very nice bar and friendly staff. They helped us pick several great tasting tapas and delicious mixed drinks too. They even change one the TVs from soccer to an NFL game for us. Used a Yelp Deal coupon too which made it an even better deal. Good place to hit if you have some time to kill before flying out of Newark Airport which is just a few minutes away. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Nice lights behind the bar. - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Had some paella and fell in love with this food. The sangria should be stronger. There was no music playing and I had to ask the server to play some music. Our waiter was nice and checked on us all the time. If you go with dinning plans, make sure the latest you get there is 9pm on weekends. It looks like this place turns into a night club after 11pm. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Parlla Valenciana - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

This is my favorite spot.. food was delicious you get a lot of food nice place to hang out with friends ,good music, good drinks read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Food is ok for a quick bite imagine take out Tapas and desserts with a little area for sitting but if you sit be prepared for a long wait

Best Paella in town!!! Full Of flavor and super fresh! A great variety in their menu from tapas to entrees. I love the ceviche, stuffed jumbo shrimp, and their tacos are definitely some of my favorites!! This place is family friendly which is great!!! My kids love the kids menu especially their juicy burgers. The service is great! The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. It's a weekly stop for my family and I!! The sangria is delicious!!! Definitely and highly recommend this place!! Never disappointed! read more

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Four of us went last Sunday evening (4/29/2018). We had a Groupon, which was good towards Paella and a small pitcher of Sangria, so my wife & I had the Paella Valenciana and a small pitcher of the blue sangria. It took about 30 minutes for our food to come out, granted Paella takes a while to prepare. The Paella was very good, and the blue Sangria (first time I've had that type) was good. My son and his girlfriend had a chicken dish, which they said was very good. All in all, the food was good and I would go here again in the future. You don't want to be in a hurry, because the service is kind of slow. Our waiter (who was very nice), also served as the bar tender and parking lot attendant. They do include a gratuity charge of 18%, which is stated on the Groupon voucher. I'm not a fan of that when only for 4 people dining. read more

I love going to Vivo. Friendly staff, The mango sangria is my go to drink paired with one of my favorite appetizers the seafood ceviche. Paella is the best in town, The portions are big and the food is always delicious and fresh. Definitely a place worth checking out. read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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I've been here multiple times within the past year but today, the quality of food and service was not optimal. The food is usually so good that I've hosted my birthday brunch here last year. My sangria (mango) was bitter, which I reordered and the empanadas were VERY crispy/practically burnt. And for a table of 1, the gratuity was included. (When I asked if gratuity is included in bills for a table of one, the bar tender/waitress mentioned "sometimes" - ???? It depends on how busy the restaurant is) The waitress checked in maybe once from afar (at the bar). This is not the typical service here - the manager offered me complimentary desert, which I greatly appreciated. I'll be back and hoping for better service! read more

Very nice restaurant. The owner, Ariel, is super friendly and great. Andrea the waitress was excellent. The appetizers came out quick and were delicious. Our meals were great but took forever to come out. I liked the music too FYI/ it's also a hookah bar. If your a party of 6 or more a $50 deposit is required. read more

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The venue was had nicely dimmed lights with brick walls throughout. You felt you were in Southern Spain. The waiter was polite and prompt. Our paella and sangria were very tasty. portioned just right. Will make a point to return. read more

We went to eat at Vivo Restaurant in Newark, the food was great, we ate Camarones al Ajillo, Pulpo a la Gallega and Paella Marinera. Also the Sangria was very good with a very fresh fruity taste. The waiters were very friendly and always checking in case we needed anything. We will definitely return. read more

Taty will charge you a "Total Tip" fee in addition to your bill. Usually, this is charged if you have a party over 6 people or when you have tableside service but she will add this hidden fee to your bill without disclosure so be sure to look close when you pay. I had $13 added to my $50 barside tab without warning. When confronted about it, she refused to explain or acknowledge. BEWARE of this bartender. I have not had service from other bartenders at this bar but I assume they are under the same assumption that they can charge people surreptitiously like this. Avoid for Taty for lackluster service and hidden charges. read more

The restaurant is a little hard to find due to the fact that they don't have a sign outside. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. Our waiter nuñio was amazing! We did the groupon thing and it was well worth it the paella for 2 is amazing! Best we had in a very long time. It was actually enough for 4 people! While at the table I ended up buying another groupon Awesome awesome place read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Paella - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Seafood paella was delicious along with the red sangria . Great price deal on Groupon. Parking is horrible

First of all I can't believe they charge $35 for a pitcher of sangria and we're not talking about a gallon jug small picture that they call large secondly they don't tell you that there's an 18% gratuity included on the check so when you get it you tip additional tip lastly the salad the Mediterranean salad had no olives so how can you make it a Mediterranean salad with a cucumber salad that was terrible will never go back there again read more

Absolutely fantastic!!! The smiling faces are wonderful to see as well. The food was great as well as the service. The staff is very attentive. Looking forward to going back here again! read more

I love going to Vivo anytime I'm in the area. Food is always great! I love their attentiveness to diners. Great experience the desserts are amazing! read more

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My first time here and the food was delicious. I came here with a groupon and it was well worth it. Andrea took care of us and i have to say she was the best server i ever had in any restaurant i have ever been to. Awesome personality. I will definitely go back. Great experience. read more

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Food is good and our waiter was friendly and funny. The only con is the area, as my family and I left there was a women getting her phone stolen I'm right outside the spot. read more

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we went there yesterday for Father's Day and everyone got there order after two hours we were eating outside it's a lady crying and yelling rite in our section she just walked up banging on tables screaming and people are walking Thur with dogs it was five of us two had house salads or wings my brother order chicken lobster something else and his order was last so everybody eating now done my brother said I still didn't get my food the waiter never came back out poor communication he was upset no Father's Day meal for him I'm not rating this place because it was to much going on the wings were air fried no the nachos were soft but happy Father's Day read more

Second time and this time we used a Groupon which is good until 9pm. We got the collard green soup and shrimp stuffed we crab meat which was delicious. The strawberry cheesecake was delightful. The sangria was red and just right..made sweet just for us! Now although the Groupon was a great deal.. you get a pitcher of sangria and a paella for two... the paella was disappointing..the prawns and lobster tail was OVERCOOKED...causing it to make the texture quite different. Now I eat a lot of shrimp and I love..love..love lobster and unfortunately it was not edible. Luckily the baby shrimp, clams, mussels, chicken and chorizo was perfectly done. I love this spot and there tapas and sangrías are their specialties in my opinion. The waitstaff are fantastic...pretty fond of Andrea, but everyone was great! Can't wait to return and full my table with tapas lol. read more

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VIVO is basically the newest dance-lounge on the block in the Ironbound although it's been a round for over a year. I'll cover both it's Tapas Lounge personality and its Club personality. So let's get On With The Review! Location: You really can't get too much better. It's right on the corner of Ferry and Jackson, smack in the middle of the Ironbound in Newark. If you get there early, should have ample street parking. Decor: Stone walls and dark furniture give it a cave-wine cellar kind of feel that works well. It is filled with a flat screens. Long L-shaped bar that's the length of the place, VIP area, self standing DJ booth and plenty of table space. It can be intimate on the less busy nights. Lounge Crowd: This is a early-20's, attractive crowd on most nights. At times, you will get a noticeable amount of borderliners tho (20/21). However they tend to be in a very good mood and are very party oriented. The latin nights are more of "hick" latin then sophisticated latin crowd. Ambiance: Expect a very pleasantly calm tapas experience and wilder lounge experience on weekends - but not as wild on off nights. You can definitely bring a date here at anytime depending on what kind of talk level you're looking for. This has a substantial young Spaniard crowd feel to it at all times. Lounge Cost: Reasonably priced drinks with plenty of specials every single night which is hard to keep up with. The cost of drinkgs will not break your bank at all ,but do NOT expect a cheap drinking hole. $6-$10 is about what is expected for this kind of place ,which is the going rate for all lounges in the area. Tapas Cost: This may seem slightly expensive to some but not if you know how to order. Tapas are meant to be shared with other tapas. Do not get one tapa as a meal. Prices range from $4-$9 and you need to order more than one for it to make sense. This strategy should keep you satisfied from a hunger standpoint without killing your pocket. Lounge Service: The bartenders are quick and plentiful. The waitresses are around but can be a little lonely at times, so they'll come up to you a lot. BE VERY CAREFUL when opening tabs - a lot of times you will be charged a service fee - feel free to ask about this charge. I'd pay cash as much as you can, one round or drink at a time. You can then control the tip as you see fit. Everyone is very courteous regardless and all good looking. Tapas Service: The waitstaff is very courteous and attentive. However, orders have been known to take a long time to come out of the kitchen depending on the item! You will never be treated wrongly here and they will do their best to ensure you enjoy your dining experience. Tapas Menu: Hands down the best tapas place in Newark. Come here with a group and mix it up. Everything is very tasty and as fun as it should be to eat. I'd recommend the Diablo sausages, the Octopus and the stuffed Peppers. They also have the traditional Spanish tapa - the tortilla (which is kinda like a thick omellete with lots of ingredients mixed in) Drink Menu: They love mojitos here, but some bartenders have messed them up! Most of the time tho you'll get a cool mix of offerings - especially if you like fruit-juiced based stuff. They have a full bar, so everything else is here too as well as bottle service for those VIP nights. Lounge Music: You'll have a myriad of music depending on the night. The play a lot of whatever genre is popular with hip-hop and dance leading the way. Thursdays, as of this post, is latin music night. They have karaoke on some nights too - just give them a call and they'll let you know what's going down. Security: This is rock solid and very courteous. The bouncers/doormen know to appreciate your visit and protect your stay. The place, really has no real violence problems and most people are easy going. No complaints here. Conclusion: Vivo as a tapas lounge is great and a bit of a hidden gem. Vivo as a nightclub has a bit of an inconsistency but generally good vibe due to its small size. The impression of it being filled is an easy task, which ultimately attracts more people seeking the "happening" place of the night. Pros: Tapas are the best in town Intimate setting Cool decor Lively crowd Cons: Waitstaff is a but untrustworthy with tipping Smallish H-Cane's Final Spin: Vivo seems to still be on the verge and I feel it has yet to meet it's potential. The tapas are hands down amazing and fun - but remember order several and mix it up, come with friends! The lounge has a lively, younger crowd. It's great for a date, especially on the calmer off nights! If you come to hookup - it can happen on the club nights. Be weary - most Newark partiers are heavy drinkers, bring a DD. read more

Went here with some friends last night, on their high recommendation. We love our friends but, really, the best I can say is: review all the single star reviews of this joint and then multiply by zero. Just to confirm everyone else, the service was abominable: our waiter got several items completely wrong, and the wait for food was interminable. We had ordered a salad - one of three listed on the menu - and after half an hour, when we asked the waiter where our salad was, he said that it was a special item and took longer. What? A freakin' salad that took about 30 seconds to make? A special item? WTF? The tapas were, when they finally came, barely edible. The stuffed mushrooms were surely meant for the garbage can but somehow ended up on our table. Apple with Manchego - an apple with some cheese: this is an authentic Spanish item? Two of the four stuffed shrimp were half raw. And then there was the little issue about a 20% tip being added in with no choice other than to call the police and swear out a complaint for petty larceny. Oh, finally, we were assaulted throughout the meal by an annoying house music track. Awful, just awful. One of the worst meals we ever partially ate. One star for this crap hole is generous. Avoid at all costs. read more

I wanted to give VIVO such a great review after my experience this weekend. I went there with a group of friends for my birthday. It's a small place that converts into a bar/lounge after hours. They played a lot of old skool jams from the 90s and kept the hits coming one after another. Though I didn't pay for any drinks myself, all I know is that patron shots were only $4, what a steal. The day after, just as I was raving about VIVO being a pleasant surprise night, my friend finds her cc receipt. There, we realized that they placed an automatic tip of 13.08 off of a $70 bill, what percentage is that even?! 18.6? Of course when you're having a good time, you're not looking for automatic tip so my friend accidentally gave them another 20%. Not cool in my book. Don't like the tricks so buyer beware! read more

VIVO Tapas KITCHEN LOUNGE - Who has mandatory gratuity at the bar? We didn't even sit! - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Most appealing: Crispy Calamari with the Garlic Dipping Sauce. Best thing and I would have been happy with just that. Least appealing: Cold steak served and slightly underdone lobster tail with a nearly empty spot. For 28 bucks, you expect more. The grilled veggies were doused in oil and the fries felt like they were cooked in 2 day old oil. The servers was okay, greeted you at the door and did there job. Personally, I feel like if there is an issue, you discuss it in a polite matter and resolve the issue. You never raise your voice at the customer, especially when they are in a calm voice. However, it did not happen in my case. Left me with a bad taste in my mouth (no pun intended) and most likely will not come back nor recommend it to any one of my peers. read more

We were quite impressed! Warmly greeted at the door of the lovely Spanish-style restaurant, the dining experience was terrific from the start. My hesitation to go there because it's also a lounge/club was quickly erased. We went in with a Groupon and were asked about whether we had one immediately after being seated... where many restaurants seem a bit bothered by Grouponers, they were quick to explain the deal as well as the fact that if we ordered above the deal amount, the difference would just be tacked on to the bill. Awesome. The deal also came with 2 glasses of wine but they also offered 3 different types of sangria. We both got the white sangria, which was delicious. For appetizers, we ordered the gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce), and the tabla de emputidos (a cold meat platter). The shrimp was pretty good, if a touch over-cooked, with a definite garlic flavor. The meats were a mixed bag - 2 were really good, and 2 were just okay. We both got steaks for our entrees. My filet was cooked to perfection and was much larger than its 10 oz advertised size. It was tender and really among the best steaks I've had in a long time. It came with a choice of sauces; the portobello sauce I opted for was just yummy - kind of like a thick marsala sauce. His skirt steak was a touch over-cooked, but was really flavorful and satisfying. Both entrees came with tasty yellow rice and an almost superfluous baked potato dusted with parmesan. They added some gratuity on to the bill along with tax and extra beverages (per the Groupon agreement), but the gratuity really wasn't enough. My math is pathetic, but I think it was about 11%. The excellent service truly deserved more, so I did not hesitate to add extra. Restrooms were clean, tables were comfy. We'd happily go back! read more

Wow, I was going to give it 2 stars but decided on the 1 star because when I saw my bank account, I see that they made their own decision on the amount of my tip for a party of 2. Different type of atmosphere that seemed ok . After I was seated a woman came over to the table and was selling bootlegged dvds to us. That was different. They also try and bait you into appetizers by telling you that the entree is going to take 45 minutes, and it really took over an hour. But of course you buy the overpriced appetizers because you dont want to drink your sangria on an empty stomach The appetizer, breaded eggplant with mozzarella, spinach, balsamic vinegar made into some form of sauce was different too and tasted fine. What was supposed to be a star attraction the paella marinara was pretty disgusting. it was basically mush. The rice was so sogged and mushy, had a horrible flavor a gooey mess.I have never tasted paella like that and I have eaten a lot of it in my life the lobster was overcooked and shriveled up as the rest of the seafood. perhaps day old leftover. the sad thing is that a couple who came in after us ordered the same entree and they were served a nice fresh dish that didnt look mushy and had nice plump lobster. The service did not warrant the huge tip. the waitress was nice enough, but no one came to the table to see if we were good. The man who served the table next to us at some point looked over and said "you ok over there?" So as I said, they added the gratuity to the check. I changed it to suit what I wanted to pay and when I arrived home, I see that they put through the gratuity on my card that they decided upon, again for 2 people. I would NEVER return there. AND I always get a bad taste in my mouth for establishments that run my pockets by STEALING what they want from your card for gratuity. This restaurant is CRAP! And I feel like I was robbed. read more

I bought a Groupon (paella for 4 with a pitcher of sangria) before checking the Yelp reviews which is usually a bad move. A lot of the reviews left me dismayed but I wasn't about to lose my money so we went last Thursday evening. I made a reservation but it wasn't necessary as the place was almost empty at 7pm before a holiday weekend. Usually that's a bad sign but we were already there so we sat and were greeted by our server, Karla. What a delightful young lady. She answered our questions on the different appetizers and recommended the paella Valenciana. When we asked for the mango sangria she looked apologetic when she informed us that it was an additional 4 dollars because it was made of fresh fruit. No matter, it was so good we ordered another pitcher later on. The bread was soft and fresh and came with a dipping sauce. Our appetizers were delicious... manchego frito drizzled with honey, spicy chorizo diablo, calamari frito with a trio of sauces and empanadillas of beef and chicken. The paella was well worth the wait. Whoever complains about having to wait 45 minutes for a cooked to order dish should go to McDonald's. This isn't instant rice, you know. Well seasoned with 1 lobster tail each and lots of seafood, chicken and chorizo. Our plates were filled twice and there was still lots left over to take home. On to dessert: Karla brought out a tray with so many tempting choices we joked that she should leave the tray and bring 4 forks and spoons. She recommended the tres leches cake with fresh fruit filling which I ordered and it was as incredible as she said. My companions had cheesecake which they were happy with. When the check came we saw the gratuity was added... 18% based on the bill before the Groupon was discounted. I guess they do that because people don't tip on the full value of the meal. I knew to anticipate it from the Yelp reviews but it would have been nice if it were indicated on the menu. However, we were so pleased with Karla's service we rounded it up to 20%. I'm glad I ignored the negative reviews because we had a great dining experience. read more

Great ambiance and OK food, but the service is slow and a little rude. As a Spanish expat, I've turned to Newark as the hub of my hometown cravings since I was little. There are so many great Portuguese-Spanish places in the area (good rule of thumb is to go for the least flashy places with the most natives, as with every restaurant) that this place doesn't really compare. It's slightly cheaper than Mompou and has more options, though, so it's a good place to bring guests or meet up for a drink/tapas. The food isn't great, but they do offer very large portions. I would NOT, however, recommend the octopus. As a Galician (we're experts in octupus, oddly enough) I'd say stay away! too expensive and pretty terrible. But if you stick with basic Spanish tapas (calamari, tortilla, etc.) you should be okay. Our server, who we had the few times we were there, was rude and brought everything out suuuuuuuuuuper slowly. He was by far the worst part of the meal. Just an unpleasant guy who obviously did not care about his job or being friendly to us. Plus, we've always had to wait super long for food or even drinks to be brought out, while our waiter chatted and lounged by the bar. I know that this is sometimes not the waiter's fault, but the place was empty and he took forever to take our order, let alone bring our drinks. TL; DR: This place has great potential (ambiance, location, drinks), but the food is "eh" and the service is bad. read more

The food Gods were watching over us Saturday night. A miserable traffic jam to Jersey City forced us to veer off to Ferry St in Newark. Where to go? Got a parking spot right in front of Vivo. Let's go in and try it. Sat at the bar and had wonderful authentic Spanish tapas in a nice setting w/ fantastic drinks and super nice service. The pata negra was fabulous as was the apples & manchego, patatas w/ ailoli, gambas w/ ajillo and croquetas. Delicious. I've had better paella, but loved the small plates. Stick with the tapas. Really fun place. We will be back! read more

I went here with some law school friends after class, for an early dinner and drinks. The space is really nice, kind of like an underground cellar feel with lots of exposed brick and dark wood. The owner/manager is a former bartender from Don Pepe's in Newark, and a native of northern Spain. We enjoyed a few tasty tapas items: seafood cream filled jalapeno poppers, chorizo, a spanish omelette type dish, and an anti-pasto type dish. All were very flavorful! Some of us ordered mojitos, which personally I thought were sub-par, however maybe they were more "authentic" than I understood. They were not carbonated at all, and the lime was more a garnish than muddled with the lime. Not my thing, but bar scene is probably huge on the weekends because its a big part of the floor space. Would definitely hit this place up again with friends for drinks or food! Happy hour(s) is 4-7pm with discounted beers ($3), martinis and mojitos ($4). read more