Vida Cantina is Now Open

Vida Cantina, the city's newest Mexican restaurant, opened for business earlier this week and a steady stream of Portsmouth area patrons continue to enjoy the eatery's unique menu and authentic Mexican flavors.

Molly Woodhouse, the general manager of Vida Cantina, said Thursday afternoon "so far it's been good."

She said the restaurant, which is jointly owned by Joel Harris, owner of Dos Amigos Burritos, and Portsmouth restaurateur Jay McSharry, saw its first customers during the Monday lunch hour in the Taqueria, where they can purchase tacos, tortas, or Mexican sandwiches, and other lighter fare either for take out of dining in. The Taqueria is open on Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.

McSharry, who owns several Portsmouth retaurants that include Jumpin' Jay's Fish Cafe and Moxy, and Harris, who owns Dos Amigos Burritos, , according to Chris McMahon of Summit Realty Partners.

The Cantina, or the restaurant's main dining room, is open from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. In both venues, Woodhouse said Vida Cantina customers can enjoy fare that is from interior Mexico and not typical Tex-Mex food offered by other eateries.

She said they also purchase as many of the ingredients from local farmers as possible and seek to offer items that set them apart from some of the city's other Mexican restaurants. Some of the tacos sold in the Taqueria include Blue Corn Fried Shrimp and Crispy Duck.

Woodhouse said Vida Cantina's website is still under construction, but should be up soon.

Vida Cantina is the latest new Mexican restaurant to come to Portsmouth. Soon  , located at the former Taco Bell restaurant next door to Vida Cantina will begin construction. Josh Lanahan and Michelle Lozuaway, co-owners of STREET, previously said they leased the Taco Bell eatery this winter and hoped to open their new restaurant this spring.

In April, El Rodeo agreed to lease the former Outback Steakhouse in Newington to create a new Mexican restaurant there.