THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Vida

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Vida Restaurant Review:

When Colombian-born chef Raphael Palomino’s cookbook, Viva la Vida, came out in early 2002, he decided to revamp and rechristen his restaurant Sonora as Vida. He tweaked his pan-Latino menu, using Mexican cuisine as a foundation and building upon it with South American influences and some nuevo flair. Shrimp ceviche is sweet and tart with passionfruit. A citrus-y mojito of mushrooms, parsley, garlic and capers smothers a thick skirt-steak special. Sea bass gets saltiness from a chorizo-packed, spicy tomato sauce. Ropa vieja, made with duck instead of beef, has added kick from guajillo and chimichurri. The quasi-hacienda space, warm with burnt-umber walls, has a large bar and guava margaritas, making it a popular after-work hangout. In summer the new, palm-lined patio with floor-to-ceiling glass walls makes the place feel positively tropical; it’s when the place really comes alive.