Viva La Vida Mexican Rstrnt   

You'll cry "Eureka" after sampling some of the Spanish/Mexican influenced fare in this romantic Oakdale eatery. The lights are low, the tables are candlelit and the ambience is a couple of rungs higher than your usual corner Mexican joint, with south-of-the-border accoutrements hanging subtly from the walls. Start off with chorizos, ceviche or gazpacho before you move on to the main course. Then take your pick from a menu that gives equal standing to chicken, seafood, pork and beef entrees. Order the paella marinara, for instance, a seafood smorgasbord that's served right in the pot it was cooked in, or spice it up with mole poblano (chicken in spicy Mexican sauce) or fajitas nortenas. Nightly specials add an eclectic mix to a traditional Spanish selection -- the mango-sauce-topped mahi mahi, for example, may not evoke memories of Chichen Itza or Madrid, but is a gourmet winner. Don't miss out on the fruity, deceptively sweet sangria or one of Viva La Vida's rich desserts, including a sopapilla (fried pastry with ice cream and honey). -- J. Gidman Zumpano