ViVe Sol — Restaurant in Mountain View

ZERO STARS! Even if you want poor to adequate service do not eat here! Just had the most horrifying restaurant experience I have ever encountered in my life. Period. Read to the end, it just gets crazier...

The server, Fernando, was MISSING IN ACTION nearly the whole time, except to bring the food and check. When we needed something as simple as tortillas, that came with our food, he was no where to be found. In fact, the two times we had basic requests, we had to ask the host or busser. Even after those requests, they took a large amount of time to deliver. So much time, that the FOOD WAS COLD by the time they delivered the tortillas. This was even AFTER we covered our meals ourselves with extra plates on the table while waiting.

The craziest, AND LIKELY SUABLE OFFENSE, was when we got the check. We waited for Fernando to return to pick up the card and charge us. Per the rest of the experience, he was nowhere to be found. After waiting a SUBSTANTIAL amount of time, we went inside to pay and leave because we had somewhere important we needed to be.

As we are driving away, the server, Fernando, ran after my vehicle in the parking lot full of other customers and repeatedly POUNDED on my vehicle, POUNDED on my back window, and then POUNDED on my front window. It was dark outside and I was so confused and fearful of the pounding that I reacted instinctively and turned away from it. I nearly HIT A CUSTOMER that was walking in the parking lot. After completely stopping because I was aggressively forced to by, who I now saw was Fernando, I rolled down my window. He was screaming at me and asking where the payment for the check was. Very interesting how he was so concerned about the payment, enough to ASSAULT me, my vehicle, and put someone else's safety in DANGER. Yet, that concern did not apply to us as customers prior to, or even as we were, trying to pay.

When I called the restaurant to address the situation, I asked to speak to the manager. The person that answered the phone stated that he was "the owner, Hector Sol." I explained what had just happened and he excused Fernando's behavior by stating that they were unusually busy that night. I have been at restaurants, and this one many times before, and this simply was not an unusual night for them. Regardless, I asked him how/why/when it is appropriate for employees to chase after customers and assault them. Again, Hector MADE EXCUSES but said that he would refund the meal. When I asked if he even knew my name or my credit card number, he told me that if he "doesn't get to the refund, that I can just dispute the charge with my credit card company," placing the burden on me.

I am stupefied, still confused, and TRAUMATIZED by that fact that I nearly hit a woman due to his employee's THREATENING, DANGEROUS, AND...

This was my fourth trip to the place. The last three bizarrely happened in a span of 3 days during Christmas last year. I needed a break- not from their tasty food but from the richness of it. I returned back to the restaurant this week. There was some amount of excitement- we were meeting a friend from long ago. Plus, there was the food at Vive Sol. Vive Sol offers food they claim is authentic to the Puebla region of Mexico. I have no knowledge about the place or its cuisine. Suffice to say, it tastes good.

The rest of the group was already seated on a busy Friday night when I walked in. For a change, I knew exactly what I wanted to eat. So the menu was just an afterthought. Appetizers are interesting in Vive Sol. None so that the free tortilla chips which comes with two exciting salsas. Both of the salsas are spicy and tingly. Add some guacamole as a side order and it makes for an excellent and relatively cheap appetizer. Their menu offers other interesting appetizers. Their chalupa is worth trying as an appetizer. Just remember to not think of the one you get in Taco Bell. I did order a virgin peach margarita which was lovely.

Vive Sol’s speciality in my opinion is their wonderful rendition of guajillo sauce. I tasted this sauce for the first time in Vive Sol and fell in love with it instantly. I have since recommended it to multiple friends who all ended up enjoying it just as much. Guajillo is a type of chili pepper fairly common in Mexico. Surprisingly, I have not come across the pepper much. Vive Sol uses this pepper to great effect in a creamy sauce that is just about the right spice level and perfect. I had a veggie burrito with Guajillo sauce which was awesome. It paired well with the Spanish rice and beans on the side.

Portions can be deceiving. If one gorges on the tortilla chips prior to the entree, the portion is perfectly adequate for dinner. For lunch, it depends on the hunger factor. Overall, I am a happy camper at Vive Sol and would recommend it...

Average food at high prices - go to Chipotle for better tasting food and value!!!

Went here yesterday for dinner- a party of four- 2 have been here before and said the food was previously very tasty. Initially, everything was fine - salsas very flavorful so I was excited to try out the main dishes and the waiter was very nice helping us to pick our dishes. The chicken in all 3 dishes was very tough and overcooked and we didn't eat even half of our entrees. We told the waiter and he was quite indifferent with no option to change the dish or any other option. When the bill was presented there was no adjustment either. I asked the waiter if the management was aware that the food was overcooked and chewy and he said yes but they did not care to do anything or even come ask us for feedback. Very surprised.

The GOOD: excellent salsas- a bit spicy but very flavorful. nice restaurant space good for large parties The Average: guacamole, beans The BAD: -Chips-oily -Rice - no flavor -Food - overcooked chicken in all 3 dishes - mole enchilada, guajillo enchilada, and average enchilada sauces [the guajillo sauce looked and tasted like Kraft mac and cheese sauce-not joking] - the waiter said they were 'authentic/traditional recipes' -Management/service- could care less if you were satisfied with your dish despite asking 'how is your meal?' -Prices - overpriced for the quality of the meal. They even have an $8 charge to share your meal ---seriously?? The waiter said he would remove it if we wanted to share as we ordered wine and $14 guacamole appetizer! We opted to just get our own orders but I should not have ignored the red flag about the type of management here!

Despite being a repeat customer and living close by, we will never return - mostly because the management could care less about customer...