Vieja Lira — Restaurant in Oaxaca

After a month travelling through Mexico tasting the local food everywhere, we decided to spoil ourselves in a higher end culinary experience on March 14.

We went at 9 PM seeing they closed at 11 so, we thought was a reasonable hour. When we got there, the female maître d'hôtel was very accommodating and gave us a very nice table even though we did not have any reservation.

The server brought us a menu but I had to ask another server for the one list. After we ordered, we had the pleasure of a traditional receiving warm bread. Not 3 minutes later, one of the waiter came with our food. He yanked my bread plate away (after I only had one piece of bread) and almost did the same to my partner who only had a couple of bites. Fortunately, she covered the plate with her hand to show she was not done! It really felt like we were rushed.

Needless to say, pepper was not offered with our pasta dishes. When I made a pepper grinder gesture to one of the waiter, he brought pepper and salt grinders to our table. I then did not even ask for extra parmesan since we were obviously in the way.

The food saved this place from a one star rating. Way overpriced (no wine by the glass and no bottle under 450 pesos). If you are going to dish ou 1000+ pesos on a meal this is definitely the place to go for a great...

Amazing to me that people like this place. We went last night for Valentine’s Day. The terraza is certainly lovely, BUT, we found literally everything else about this place to be bad to awful. The service was execrable (bad). We couldn’t even get silverware or napkins. A second glass of wine. Forget it. Even getting the bill and the change took 15 minutes. And I didn’t think they were crowded!

My wife had the special. risotto which was crunchy and overly fishy. I had a pizza. The crust was like the famous cardboard crusts of yore. There are so many places that now can make a passable crust. I don’t get it. The prosciutto was fine. The cheese lame; the whole concoction all but useless.

And to top it all off, it was spectacularly expensive (the risotto cost more than a similar dish at home!)

We had been looking forward to going to this restaurant. Big mistake. Go at your own risk! (BTW- I never write restaurant reviews, but felt compelled to write about...

I am re- evaluating La Viega Lira. Originally went their old temporary site while they prepared the new / current site on Calzada de la Republica. What a fantastic difference. Food was good, wine selection was ample. I recommend the French Merlot. The service was on the spot and the back patio area gave you a front row seat to the aroma from the oven. Great place to enjoy a wine afternoon. Plenty of shade and a gentle breeze. I will be returning. The only caution I would give is that is a Cash Only restaurant. There is an atm at the mercado a block away. Hope you...