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Viva Bistro & Tapas Lounge
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Restaurants French Italian, Tapas/Small Plates, French
901 Hill AveWyomissing, PA 19610
(610) 685-5299
- Limit 1 certificate(s) per table.
- Not valid Fridays and Saturdays.
- Promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. After that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Gratuity not included; please tip on full value. Must use in a single visit. Only 2 certificate(s) can be purchased for own use. Up to 2 can be purchased as gifts for others. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.
- Reg. Price $25
- Discount 28%
- Savings $7
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 12 am
Thu-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat 10:30 am - 2 am
Sun 10:30 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
19 reviews for Viva Bistro & Tapas Lounge
19 reviews in English
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Review from Carrie P.
10/3/2011
The food was delicious and the service was excellent! I had the crab cake sandwich and the chopped salad, both of which were well proportioned in addition to being delicious.
For the dessert, the chocolate creme brulee was phenomenal and hit the spot, even being served in 2 different sizes for those of us that like to eat smaller amounts of a lot of different things.
We sat in the atrium area, which was a bit quieter than the main dining area, and was much brighter, making it a very pleasant dining experience.
My only criticism is that the server was rude, but efficient and accurate nonetheless. -
Review from Frederick K.
West Simsbury, CT
1/12/2012
1/11/12 - Dinner
Enjoyed the restaurant and meal. Ordered the 9 oz fillet medium rare. Excellent.
Atmosphere is open and contemporary - not my cup of tea, but okay.
Service: excellent
Food: very good to excellent
Decor: contemporary
Price: in line for quality - good value. -
Review from Tia T.
Baltimore, MD
11/29/2011
Horrible Horrible Horrible!!!!! Pasta is awful, sweet potato fries (which took 30 mins) were RAW! The hostess gave us a gift card for our trouble but we'll probably throw it away!
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Review from Amy H.
12/27/2010
Another more is more facade in a humongous Berks County restaurant. I could never figure out why this place closed, remodeled and then re-opened. It seems as though they made this decision merely for the name, to add the word Tapas to their sign, or the slant of it, I suppose. Ironically, there doesn't seem to be anything Spanish or Mediterranean about Viva.
Not only is their new design anti-eco-friendly; incredibly disappointing given the age in which we are living, but the decor and style is unimpressive, at best. Beige is my second least favorite word and there is a lot of it here. The lighting is awful and it feels a lot more like a banquet hall than a bistro or lounge.
We stopped by recently and I couldn't get beyond the bad, new construction gluey (formaldehyde) smell. Yes, after all this time. We moved from section to section in search of a chemical-free, clean smelling area, finally ending up in the "lounge" and only because my friend was hungry and losing her patience. I was exhausted by the time we sat down and feeling cranky because we were staying. I rarely eat out, and this experience was coming out of my limited dine out budget. The appetizer portions were so big that Viva seemed to be more concerned with putting out scores of food rather than one quality dish. We quickly ate a few bites of very mediocre food, a sip of tea and departed. I'm pretty sure we won't be going back.Listed in: Ye(L)p, it's a Baddy
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Review from Jerry V.
Lancaster, PA
10/7/2011
It's hard to beat this very friendly, large, locally-owned restaurant. My dining companion and I had an Entertainment Book coupon for tapas, so we ordered 5. May sound like a lot for lunch (and, frankly, four would have been sufficient) but at 5 you get a special price. The hostess, seater, and waiter were all very friendly and helpful. We were a bit early for lunch so the as we waited for your food, the lunch crowd trickled in. At least two tables who arrived after us were served before us and I believe the waiter even noticed when he stopped by to say our food would be out in 4 or 5 minutes (which became more like 8 or 9). But, we were in no hurry and the food was excellent! I'd probably pass on the stuffed potato wedges next time but the crab cakes were particularly good.
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Review from Kim Z.
Reading, PA
Updated - 3/18/2011 4 photos
Viva now has specialty menus, so while they haven't really changed the menu since they reopened, they have considered what can be altered and created small menus you can ask for at the main desk. This makes it easier on alternative eaters, because we know we can at least order dishes that servers and cooks are aware of. Hey, it's a step up from constant negotiation! Here in Berks, we must be grateful for increments.
Special menus include gluten-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free. I asked the manager if he could add a vegan one, and he said yes! You can now get their flatbread pizzas without the cheese (and they subbed mushrooms for no additional cost) as well as the wrap without the goat cheese, and there are several interesting salads with no meat or cheese. (Tip learned from a smart man: Don't ask if you can get it without the cheese; ask if you can substitute something you like for the cheese, to avoid the v-tax.) This will never be a veg heaven, but since it is fun to have wine there, it is nice to know that there is something to eat if you end up at this central location with your friends.
I must say that the wine selection has improved too. The McManus Petite Syrah was really good, earthy and fruity, and the bartender was delighted that I liked it so much since it was a pick of his for the bar menu. The Pinot Noir was decent too, and I have found the whites pretty good.
What does Viva do to its staff to make them all so perky and friendly? Maybe they take time with their hiring and training. Viva gives out a lot of coupons, and the servers are always nice about dealing with them.
So many Berks restaurant close early and are not open Sundays or Mondays that it is good to know places like this are around. (If you have someone coming into town to see you on one of these nights, where can you take him that is not a dive? Your choices are basically Viva or the Spruce.) Viva says it closes at 9 during the week, but given the crowd in there at 9, it really seems to mean that their kitchen closes then.
I wish Viva did not have hundreds of massive tvs -- it takes away from the relaxation factor, especially if sports are playing (I try to *avoid* aggression when I am relaxing). I've been in the lounge room where at least they just had ambient lavalamp-type images on the screens. I may not be a fan of Beyonce, but put her on a giant screen in front of me, and I can't look away. :-)Listed in: Under the Sun/Stars/Umbrella
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/8/2009
Viva is currently closed as a Marriott is being built around it! Who would have thought? The sign… Read more »
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Review from Kay P.
Reading, PA
8/12/2010
Excellent atmosphere, super service, wonderful menu choices. Locally owned and operated. Don't miss the crab asparagus soup.
Tapa selections excellent. -
Review from Alex C.
Fairfax, VA
5/29/2011
Our food was good, but cold.
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Review from Deborah H.
New York, NY
4/29/2008
Okay, I know I shouldn't hold restaurants in READING to the same expectations as other cities, but, come on. Even my township in randomville NJ has some pretty bomb-ass restos.
Viva was NOT good. Service was, um, regional (*sniff*), the menu was upper-class diner fare (NOT "European-Mediterranean"), and the ambiance was just awkward. I did like the garden salad that came with my entree, the whipped vanilla butter, and the carrot cake, but everything else was just obscenely bad.
If this is the best Reading has to offer, I'd strongly recommend a chain restaurant over Viva. -
Review from John Z.
Bethlehem, PA
9/12/2009
Well, Viva is open again. That's good news! And there's some stuff that's the same and some stuff that's different.
The wine and beer list seems to have improved. There are some good choices! And the big new difference is there is a new room in the back (which I think used to be a conference room) that has been converted into a lounge.
There is a bar there and much more comfortable lounge chairs than the old Viva had. And there are some huge screens with some trippy images. Overall it's a pretty cool room to hang out in. .
However the menu really isn't vegan-friendly. The olive plate was not worth the $6.99 price tag. But there were a few side dishes that were OK. I wonder why they don't throw something simple like a vegan burger. There were a dozen or so burgers/meat sandwiches but no veggie/vegan burger or a portabello mushroom sandwich. Why not? Even Third and Spruce and Canal Street have them.
So with the sparse choices for vegans I have to say this is a great place to have a drink in, but a not so good place to eat.
Except for the lounge in the back the rest of Viva looks about the same as it did before it re-opened. However there are the same new comfortable chairs near the windows and fireplace. So that is a good place to relax. And where else can you get wireless and have a glass of wine or beer?
I'm glad this restaurant re-opened and Reading really needs this place -- especially as a good place to go to for a drink and some bar food later at night. I just wish their food options were a little more upscale and more vegetarian/vegan friendly.
They also seem to be still getting their act together with the service. Because it was slow and disorganized. I don't blame the servers. They were working hard. There seems to be some managerial disorganization and they seem to be understaffed. But it just re-opened. So maybe they're still working some things out. -
Review from Julie K.
Harrisburg, PA
5/1/2008
Hmmmm...despite others reactions on this place, my boyfriend and I rather enjoyed it.
We came here back in February...
I got some sort of glazed mahi-mahi that was perfect, the grilled asparagus was tender, and my mashed sweet potatoes melted in my mouth. My boyfriend isn't a huge fan of seafood, yet he enjoyed his immensely. The mashed potatoes weren't that good, though. The dinner came with bread that was very yummy too.
The drink I got before my meal was heavenly...blueberry lemonade--but alcoholic. It had fresh blueberries and I don't know what else. But I loved every sip of it...
The restaurant itself was rather large, and got very crowded not long after we arrived (which was around 4:30--we were going to a show). I liked the atmosphere of the place...just very open without gaudy nicknacks everywhere... -
Review from Margo K.
12/29/2010
It's nice to go to a restaurant that's locally owned and operated, it keeps the money in our community. Viva features French and Italian cuisine, as well as tapas, which are a Spanish tradition. I had their tapas on a separate visit; they weren't remarkable. In this review, I'll discuss my recent visit on a Tuesday around 5:30pm.
Yes, Viva is huge and cavernous. The decor looks a little cheap, it should be more consistent with "Viva Good LIfe Bistro and Lounge." Our server pleasantly greeted us, but soon we had a bit of a problem ordering our beer. Viva has an okay tap list, with some rotating local favorites. That's fine. I asked for Grimbergen Double Ale because I have never had it, and my mom ordered a Blanche de Bruxelles Biere Blanche. The server left to get them, but returned with only water, and told us that those beers were actually bottled, not on tap (though they were clearly listed under "Drafts" on the menu). So I asked which Troegs was on tap, and she replied with some response about a Victory beer. I said, "No, the Troegs." She said, "I think it's the Java Head Lager." Java Head is not a lager. Java Head is a stout. My mom asked her to double check for us which Troegs it was, and she confirmed that it was "Java Head." I've had Java Head before, and it's one of my favorite Oatmeal Stouts. Our server returned with two amber-colored 16-oz (we weren't asked if we wanted the 12 or 16 oz size). Luckily mom and I both like ambers. I went to ask the bartender which Troegs they had on tap to find out what we were actually drinking. Troegs Hop Back was the answer. We never said anything to our server, because Troegs does no wrong.
In short - The rest of the meal was good, my french onion soup was very tasty. We did the two four-course meals for $30, and it was A LOT of food! I brought most of my chicken marsala home, it was good, but the chicken was a little over done. And we both gave our desserts to other family members. So it was a good value. The food is not overly creative or fresh. As for the service - well, I found our server's lack of knowledge of the restaurant's beer selection to be inexcusable. I mean it's appalling to me that the manager expects diners to accept that. It's offensive even.
All I *really* ask of Viva's management is that they educate their servers on their beer offerings. A server opens with the drink offering, it's important for them to give the diners a good feeling. -
Review from Blanca V.
Madison, NJ
3/25/2008
I give the extra - 3rd star for ambiance. The food was ok - I got the grilled tropical salad - pretty much some greens with chopped grilled chicken and pineapple on top. Nothing spectacular, I could have made this myself. My bf's mom and my friend got the Chicken pot pie and the mac and cheese with sun dried tomatoes. They were not thrilled either from the looks of it.
I have to admit the restaurant is very pretty to look at.
Was visiting the outlets accross the street. -
Review from Tim H.
Wyomissing, PA
9/26/2009
The food is OK and the service is horrible. The service hasn't changed from before the remodel. The bar is fun and the new lounge is great. Eat somewhere else then go there for drinks.
Great place to go for drinks, and appetizers... No so much for meals... -
Review from Amy H.
Myerstown, PA
2/22/2011
Perfect place to go with a group of friends for dinner! It was very warm, not like most places you sit there & freeze! Great food deals, but you do need to ask to see the special menus with the dinner for 2 deals (they will not bring it unless you ask). Serves was a little slow (the only down fall)! I will be going back again with a group of friends!!
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Review from Tanya T.
Jersey City, NJ
10/12/2010
The italian Buff sauce for the wings are the only excitement that VIVA has to offer.
What do you expect for the only decent restaurant in WEST bubbleville. (lol)
good prices for drinks versus the NYC prices I'm used to paying.
$3.50 for a captain a coke WHOA.
go for drinks & please avoid the over salted LOBSTER BISQUE -
Review from Robert S.
Bethlehem, PA
4/17/2011
Went here for drinks and apps with a friend on a Thursday evening. Sat in the lounge, which was pretty much empty. Lighting was a little bright for this type of restaurant/bar. Mini crab cakes were good. Supposedly closes at 9pm, but we and many patrons were there past 10pm until they started "winding down" the place for the night. Viva is probably one of the only places of its kind in the Reading area; a non-chain restaurant that isn't a dive. I'd go back the next time I'm in the area.
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Review from shaw g.
Wynnewood, PA
9/17/2010
6 of us went to Viva last night with an expectation of Tapas and a relaxing evening; we experienced neither. Viva is enormous and not intimate even with the low lighting. The tile floors are a law suit ready to happen.
We were promptly seated and drink orders taken quickly (good beer choices). The menu lacked any point of view with an mixture of burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, and meat prepared many ways. The Tapas turned out to be just smaller appetizers & entre portions not the expected Spanish small plates as the name would suggest.
While the food was "good", the service was dreadful. 2 of our entres arrived after the other 4 of us were done, and only with a call to the Manager, and a visit to the kitchen by one of our guests, was the "special" delivered. While ultimately the meal was comped (and desert was offered on the house), even getting a correct check was a chore.
So based on the atmosphere, food, and most importantly, the service (Manager included) pitiful, I'm being generous with a 1 star rating,. -
Review from Ronan W.
Temecula, CA
12/17/2009
Delightful Tapas restaurant. Bacon Wraped Dates are killer, service is cheerful and competent. Rather dull (sparse) wine selection, but menu is extensive and the prices are right. Sweet Potato Encrusted Salmon was surprisingly good and matched with Pomegranate Sauce. Road Warrior approved, good buzz on Thursday nights.
