Ithaca is known for its restaurants, including world-famous vegetarian restaurant Moosewood. The downtown area has lines out the door and two-hour-long waits for tapas, burgers, and pasta.
Source: vivataqueria.com
One of these institutions is Viva Taqueria, right on the corner of the Commons. It’s one of the local favorites for sit-down dinners and takeout of burritos, enchiladas, and tacos.
“I haven’t been to Viva” is met with gasps of surprise and horror. “I don’t like Viva” is a phrase that can ruin a friendship here. That’s how seriously the students from Ithaca College and Cornell University take Viva.
But I don’t like Viva. Mostly it’s because it doesn’t live up to the hype. The service isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. The wait is long because it’s a popular, centrally-located restaurant. And the food isn’t particularly authentic.
I’ll admit I’m a bit of a Mexican food snob–being from the West Coast will do that to you–and I find Viva subpar. No pan dulce, no horchata, and the menu is entirely in English (they even sell Caesar salad–completely unacceptable). It’s nitpicky, but to me that’s what makes a “taqueria,” not just selling tacos.
I’ve fallen victim to the “how could anyone not love Viva?” gasp, but I don’t really mind. Other people can continue to wait an hour for a table of mediocre Mexican-ish food, and I’ll go to Chipotle. It doesn’t really live up to the hype either (gasp), but at least nobody’s pretending to be authentic.
Adapted from “I’m a Snob & I’m Okay With It,” published October 8, 2014.
This post is part of my April A to Z Challenge. For more All Things College posts, click here.
Victim to Charm 
NO Horchata?! Nope. Can’t do it. Guess I’m spoiled, too. :P Do they at least have tomalito?
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NOPE. Unacceptable.
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It really is. Even the one Mexican place in Kyoto has horchata!
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I’ve only eaten there once, but I didn’t love it. I’ve had better – even in New York State.
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Definitely doesn’t live up to the hype. Every time I go home I eat massive amounts of Mexican food to compensate.
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My friend goes to Cornell and I always wanted to visit Ithaca! I totally agree that you have the right to not like it. Especially if you’re from the west coast. They know how to do Mexican food for sureee
Enclothed Cognition
Instagram
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Ithaca is a cool place, you should visit your Cornell friend!
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No Mexican restaurant worth its salt would serve Caesar salad.
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Preach, lady.
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My son spent time in Colorado and it changed his mind about what food is good and which is just faking it.
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Amen!
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I would rather have no Mexican food than pseudo Mexican food!
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Same! Which is why that’s been my coping strategy here.
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If you are after authenticity then it sounds like it’s the wrong place to go. I expect you would forgive that a bit more if the food was absolutely terrific!
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That’s true! The food isn’t good enough to overcome the authenticity issue, but I suppose if it were amazing food I could forgive it.
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I am a food snob so I totally understand! If it isn’t good, you cannot pretend it is!!
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Absolutely!
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Have you visited New Mexico and tried their food? Yum!
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I haven’t! My parents went last year and loved it though.
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