La Vida Bar and Restaurant - Lismore

We nearly didnt go after reading the last 3 reviews but after going I think the last few reviewers have no idea what a good restaurant isHad voiple of tapas to start really good size and great flavour good value bit the highlight was the lamb shoulder was full of flavour and equal to any I have had in larger citiesTopped it off with the tira misu was great againThe service was swift and very professional for being quiet steady on a cold night.Place was warm and had a really good vibeWell done will be back keep up the good work there is always knockers maybe they stick to thai restaurant and leave the spare tables for us thanks again

I was so excited to have my birthday dinner at La Vida though the night did not live up to expectations. I know the restaurant has recently changed hands so of course there are things to sort out. The $40 a head for a tapas dinner was way over priced for what we received in terms of food. Also, everyone was freezing cold as it was a very cold winter's night. There needed to be more heating to feel comfortable. On the up, the tapas were delicious and the wait staff were really lovely. However, we went from La Vida to an Asian food restaurant around the corner as we were still very hungry.

On Saturday the 2/7/17 we had a birthday gathering of approximately twenty people at a cost of forty dollars per person and it was very disappointing. People left hungry. The amount of food provided for at that cost was disgraceful, not nearly enough as it barely gave some a few mouthfuls. Dessert was one scoop of ice cream with a piece of biscuit stuck in it. I have asked management for an explanation but none has been forthcoming therefore I believe the management personnel are not up to the job. The food, what there was of it, all came to the table within a matter if minutes, no organisation.The weekend was forecast to be extremely cold and it was. One of the overhead heaters was not working and there were no heaters at ground level. Our group left early as we were all very cold. The management could have and should have hired extra heating to keep their customers comfortable in the outside area as that's where our table was set up and a number of other tables.The lady who served me at the bar was not a happy person but the two ladies who served our table tried hard.All in all we left feeling ripped off. If you have a group booking make sure you know what you are getting or look elsewhere.

Had lunch at La Vida today, Risotto was delicious, Pannacotta was good too.. Gelato delicious. Problem with service, had to ask for menu, which I gave out to our group, believe it's just changed hands so obviously a few wrinkles to iron out.

Ever have that feeling as you leave a restaurant that you have been ripped off? That's how we felt after a tasteless and (at $13 per tiny tapas) expensive lunch. The dishes have wonderfully tempting descriptions, but the reality is very different. We went straight from here to the Thai cafe around the corner for a delicious, fresh, nutricious chicken pad thai for $8.