San Antonio Tex-Mex meets Northwest Austin style

As diners enter Vivo Restaurant, its sleek, black-and-mahogany dining furniture, gray-painted ceilings with red accents and rear wall made of stones and adorned with candle sconces creates an atmosphere that is anything but what General Manager Ernest Ramirez deems "traditional Mexican decor."

"It's sophisticated with an international-type vibe—darker with sexier colors," Ramirez said.

The chic Lake Creek location, which opened in 2009, is Vivo's second in Austin. The original is at 2015 Manor Road, five blocks east of I-35.

Between the restaurant's two main dining rooms, two semi-private dining rooms and outdoor patio, it can seat 300 people, but it feels much more intimate.

"Everything is about presentation and attention to detail," Ramirez said.

Vivo regular Katricha Maiden, who comes for the happy hour, said she loves the restaurant's club-like vibe.

"It kind of has an urban look," she said. "I like the artwork, and they give all the women a flower when they leave. It's really classy."

Head chef Paul Petersen's elevated Tex-Mex menu, in which "old school meets new," incorporates several of owner Roger Diaz's traditional family recipes.

Petersen's signature dishes use steak, scallops, crab, seared fish and brisket.

"We started a phenomenon with our brisket tacos," he said.

Petersen's favorite menu items are the crab enchiladas with shellfish cream sauce (market price) and the puffy tacos, which he said the restaurant has become known for and are a San Antonio staple.

Vivo's puffy tacos start with homemade corn tortillas fried golden-brown and are then stuffed with either beef picadillo, shredded chicken, beans, tofu or guacamole ($11).

Vivo Restaurant, 12233 N. RM 620, Ste. 105, 331-4660, www.vivo-austin.com, Twitter: @vivoaustin

Hours:

• Mon. 5 p.m.–9 p.m.
• Tue.–Thu. 5 p.m.–10 p.m.,
• Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–midnight
• Sun. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Chef favorites

For years, head chef Paul Petersen worked with Owner Roger Diaz's mother, affectionately known as Momma D, and many of her family recipes inspired Vivo's menu. Some of Petersen's favorites include:

• Crab enchiladas: Two enchiladas stuffed with jumbo lump crab meat, green onion and Monterey Jack cheese and smothered in a shellfish chipotle sauce (market price)
• Brisket tacos: Beef brisket, smoked in-house for 15 hours, wrapped in a flour tortilla and topped with pico de gallo and Monterey Jack cheese ($15)

Upscale margaritas

General Manager Ernest Ramirez said the restaurant is known for its nontraditional margarita flavors, such as prickly pear, hibiscus and jalapeo cilantro ($10).

The margaritas are made from fresh-squeezed juices, and the purees are made in-house.

Vivo's happy hour runs all day Monday, 4–6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8–10 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday.

Eye-catching decor

Vivo's interior is at once elegant and edgy with bright flashes of graffiti covering embellished wallpaper.

General Manager Ernest Ramirez said the dcor is an extension of owner Roger Diaz's personality and style. Diaz, a native of San Antonio, commissioned the artwork featured in Vivo from San Antonio artists.

All of the paintings pay homage to the female figure, which tends to stand out in many visitors' minds.