The newest restaurant at the Saint Louis Galleria, Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina, is holding its grand opening today. The 260-seat, seven-days-a-week eatery is located at the northern end of the mall adjacent to BlackFinn American Grille. It offers traditional, regional and contemporary Mexican-inspired food complete with a full bar that specializes in tequila.
The Vida food menu is extensive, with please-everyone choices on appetizers, salads, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, entrees and combo plates, served for lunch and dinner. The carte is similar to that of its sister restaurant of the same name located in Charlotte, North Carolina, although there are a few items unique to the St. Louis property, such as taco platters (pictured) and a starter of queso fundido, a blend of cheeses that is baked and garnished with sauteed chile strips (called rajas) and accompanied with flour tortillas made locally. Operating partner Drew Graefe called Vida a “scratch kitchen” that uses entirely fresh ingredients, with dishes made to order.
Bar manager Ocean Alexander is helming a bar that touts 120 tequilas. The margarita, made using freshly-squeezed juices, is the obvious signature cocktail at the restaurant. The bar also offers numerous Mexican beers and a handful of multi-serving beverages, dubbed “shareables,” such as pitchers of house-made red or white sangria, or the Tablerita, 42 ounces of the house margarita, or red or white sangria, served in an oversized margarita glass.
This article appears in November 2012.