I love diners like this. In my hometown, Diners like these don't exist. Cheap greasy breakfast food, great service, weak coffee. These are a few of my favorite things First the decor towards the bathroom is hilarious. All the signs and pictures, etc. Chicken fries steak was delicious. I love the old school technique of the French toast. Where you can see the egg outside. Coffee was really weak. More water than bean really. 1 Cream and 1 sugar was already too much. Consider drinking this one black. Edit: forewarning. Extra toast is usually 2 slices where I come from, but here it's 1.... But today they gave me 2, as shown by my previous pictures. So something went wrong last time. Service is great. Attentive and polite. read more

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My favorite red in Arizona, we have been coming here since 2006 and their service is incredible with prices you cannot beat. Viv's is a truly special place with people that make you feel at home. read more

Viv's Cafe - Chicken Country Fried Steak - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This is a little old school cafe in what I believe is a newish building yet the walls are chock full of stuff as if they've been there for decades. I started here on my search for the best biscuits and gravy in Tucson, while also trying chicken fried steak as I go. I have to assume, besides the eggs, everything is cooked from frozen. The biscuits just got harder as they cooled, the gravy was gelatinous and bland. The chicken fried steak was fine, but it's like you can get from any freezer aisle, the perfectly shredded hashbrowns were fine, but you get like a spoon fool of them. I think you come here to hang out and grab an bite, but not because you'll crave it. I wish this down home vibe place did a little more home cooking. read more

Great service, food was good, big portions. Will definitely come back. They had a nice patio and it was dog friendly inside and out. read more

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Solid diner breakfast spot - food is reasonably priced, and comes out quickly, and the staff is lovely! The food is good overall (the only exception was the hashbrowns came a bit undercooked our first time there but the other dishes made up for it) - our favorites are: - Denver omelette: glad I went with the suggestion to also have their fresh salsa with this because it added an extra fresh flavor and was tasty! You can choose your sides (hashbrowns and toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, etc) - the buttered sourdough was great. - Corned beef hash: my husband ordered it extra crispy and prepared like we like it; the pancakes on the side were fluffy - solid diner pancakes We've been here twice - definitely adding Viv's to our go-to breakfast spots on the east side of town! read more

Viv's Cafe - Corned beef hash with two eggs and pancakes on the side - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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GREAT DINER! Shoutout to Jill, she's awesome! She made us delicious milkshakes to start. I got the South Of The Border omelet and it was so good! I asked for a side of sour cream too. The food was absolutely delicious! My boyfriend got a dish that came with gravy, and it is some bomb white gravy! This place gets pretty packed on a Sunday morning so plan ahead. They always have great specials daily. Come try it out! read more

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One of MANY breakfast/lunch places in the Tucson area, this strip mall restaurant enjoys a clientele of senior regulars, who join friends for long-time American favorites. I enjoyed a 3-egg mushroom, ham, and Swiss cheese omelette, served crepe style, with just-average hash browns and an English muffin. Not as huge a breakfast as most places like this serve, which was a welcome change, but nothing particularly outstanding either. If you're hungry and in the area, this is a solid choice for an affordable meal. But there are far better places in town to choose from - including multiple Jerry Bob's locations, which offer much the same fare for about 15% less than Viv's. read more

"Newbies" to this place as the waitress called us. First impression was the oldies but goodies kinda vibes- James Dean, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe posters everywhere plus service men and women. Food was great too- didn't get a chance to take a pic since I inhaled them right away. I dig this place. Cool cafe. Thanks Viv. read more

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The waffles tasted like they were from a continental breakfast. The biscuits were not good.

Cute little restaurant. Service was amazing, quick, and kind. The food was delicious! Tasted like having a meal cooked by my mom! I had the sweet cream pancake. T read more

Good as always. Your basic breakfast place. Love all the pictures on the wall. Staff has been there forever and always friendly.

Our food was good as always. Our server, Wendy, was not the nicest. She slammed our plates on our table and walked away. As I was eating my breakfast, she was behind the bar, shoveling food in her mouth. After she did that, she grabbed someone's food and tried to deliver it to us (we already had our food). Food was good service read more

The food was just ok. The service was good even though the waitress forgot to bring my fresh decaf coffee. She was pleasant and brought our food on time. It is nice and clean. read more

Great service, good home cooking and Viv is the best! Viv and her staff always make you feel at home

Super service and great omelets! I think our crew of old-timers have found a new place to scarf down a pot of coffee while telling old stories and enjoy really good mom and pops style breakfast! 6 out of 5! (wish there was one more star!) read more

Let me first say that I have been coming to Vivs almost every week since they opened, the food has always been great. I stopped in on Saturday for my usual CFS and eggs, and my wife got the Ruben. I realize that the current economic conditions are creating hardship on small business like Vivs, and price hikes are understandable, however our meals portions were cut back considerably along with the higher cost. More bread than meat in the Ruben, and the CFS was from a different vender, and wasn't even close to what they used to have. The hash browns were only a 1X2 inch piece hardly worth platting. I want to continue enjoying Vivs, but this last visit left me very disappointed. read more

A late breakfast at Viv's. We both ordered Denver Omelet. She had toast and potatoes, I had B&G. All the food was delicious and prepared as ordered. Viv's is very pet friendly. Our dog was treated with royalty and served bacon by Viv herself. Also I might add that my coffee cup never ran dry and it was good coffee! We'll return........Thanks Viv! read more

viv's is a classic American greasy spoon (spoons not greasy) This visit I ordered the chicken fried steak breakfast...was super satisfying! Will definitely repeat! read more

Simply outstanding food and service. If you are a fan of Reuben sandwiches, you've got to try it at Viv's. You won't be disappointed.

This place is just solid. Staff is always friendly, major diner vibes. No complaints, but nothing fancy. Just a great little corner breakfast joint that does everything right. read more

Viv's is a Tucson institution. Been there for many years for good reason. The staff is extremely friendly. Viv walks around and greets you asks how everything is and the food is exceptional. Great breakfast or lunch place read more

Friendly helpful staff that warrants the 2 stars. The menu is nothing special just the typical diner style. I ordered veg omelet with egg whites. It was very plain and no flavor. The thing that got me was dogs in the restaurant leash free and up on the furniture. Staff down on the ground with them then serving. For our first visit this will be the only visit. read more

Great food! Right around the corner of my house! It's become a Sunday tradition!! Be sure to try the chicken fried steak! read more

Viv's Cafe - a plate of breakfast food - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

One of my favorite breakfast places to go. Fair prices. Great staff. Great tasting food. Worth it if you need breakfast!

This is a nice little cafe and the food is good. Please note however that the menu posted on pictures that shows specials, ie., hamburger and fries is not $5.50 anymore. It is now $9.00. If you see it don't expect that price. Those are pre Covid prices. read more

This is my first review but it most definitely needs to be made. We are first time visitors to the Tucson area. My girlfriend and I have checked out a few local spots for dinner but decided to explore the area for breakfast spots and some shopping. We found Viv's! This little hidden gem is located in a strip mall and can easily be overlooked if not looking specifically for it. It's a diner for sure but the service is excellent and the food is pretty darn good too. Service - We entered and were greeted and told to sit wherever we would like. We chose a booth near the kitchen. Beth was our server and she was EXCELLENT. My Girlfriend asked if they carried flavored creamer and they don't BUT Beth was kind enough to share her own personal flavored creamer with us. Our cups of coffee were never empty and Beth came over often to check on us. We ordered the country fried steak and we decided to share it- BETH once again went above and beyond, she had the cook place the order on 2 plates! I know this isn't unusual but this doesn't usually happen unless it is asked for. This place is really great and the service will have us coming back again when we are back in the area. Thank You Beth! You are amazing and your smile can light up a room. read more

Totally love old dive breakfast places. What you don't have in atmosphere you gain in the food. It wasn't terrible but it didn't have any standouts. No real tempting decisions. Just plan old breakfast fare. read more

It was my first time coming here for breakfast, and I was pleasantly surprised! The value meal gives you the most bang for your buck: for $5.50 (including tax) you can get 2 eggs + 2 bacon or sausage + pancakes or biscuits/gravy or hash browns/toast. I went with their second value meal option, which is a sausage/egg/cheese muffin sandwich with hash browns. It was great! The hash browns were also nice and crispy on the outside. To sweeten the deal, you also get to choose a coffee, orange juice, tea, or soda. Note: The value meal is only available Mon- Fri, dine in only. To sum it up, great breakfast and would come back another time. read more

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Recommended for a good, solid, breakfast without a lot of fuss and not a lot of moolah. Located on Catalina Hwy just off Tanque Verde. Decent food, reasonable prices, friendly staff, a small but clean and neat dining room, plenty of parking, and always packed, even at 7:45am on a weekday. Outdoor seating available, weather permitting. It is the ONLY place we've seen in Tucson with "Joe's Special" on the menu (an egg/hamburger/spinach/mushroom scramble, usually found only in San Francisco). Also available Mon-Fri: $7 (which includes tax) breakfast special (2 eggs, bacon or sausage, hashbrowns/toast) -- a better deal, better food, and better tasting than anything you'll see at McDonald's. This is a break/lunch spot similar to Frank's and Brawley's (two other stand-out breakfast places in this class). And like Frank's and Brawleys, has certain breakfast dishes that merit special attention, including the aforementioned Joe's Special (not available anywhere else). Weak spot (for me) are the pork chops, which default to a breaded version. Steak-n-eggs features an actual T-bone -- not seen elsewhere. Coffee is okay, but bottomless. Good potatoes (hash or country style), decent pancakes. read more

Great place to stop before or after hiking Mt Lemmon. It has a small old school diner look to it (kind of outdated) but its cheap too. I had a hearty corn beef and hash with eggs over easy and toast. Some places serve a super salty hash but theirs was not. Their coffee was super weak tho. I would go again. read more

Great breakfast burritos! We've tried a few other things, and it's just typical diner fare. The atmosphere is eclectic and noisy. We typically like to order to go, or sit outside. read more

Outside dining, relaxed atmosphere. Super friendly staff. And the pancakes get, "ALL THUMBS UP" from this little critic! read more

Viv's Cafe - Pancakes on the patio! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Viv's Café is one of your neighborhood dive diners with well portioned, comforting meals. This place has sort of become my breakfast go-to spot whenever I go hiking up Mt. Lemmon... It's literally right on the way, and their food gives me the right fuel I need for a hike! I never leave with an empty stomach, that's for sure. I pretty much always get an omelette with green chili and cheese... Sooo good... Another plus and this place is that the service is fast... I've never waited to be seated, and my food has always come out pretty quickly. They're also attentive about refilling your coffee... If you're looking for an American style breakfast, check out Viv's! read more

Nothing to write home about. Vivs reminds me of some sorta social club for alternative lifestyles, older era golden youth folks, shorts and sneakers everywhere, baggy saggy tops, cyclists, trippy atmosphere of the long gone days. Waitresses (60+ in skimpy tops) are screaming, folks chatting, tables so close to each other you can hear the food being chewed on. Everything is fried in the same grease. Huge portions of all the same Gordon Ramsay unworthy stOOff. They know folks by name, as they frequent the adjacent hole in the wall churches, the local library and nearby Goodwill store to scurry around and sell stuff on Ebay afterwards. The closest equivalent to local clubs, say, in Scotland, cheeeese toastie, anyone, ayeh? I won't be back. read more

We stopped here because Le Buzz was packed and we did not want to wait. I searched for another place and it was just across the street. Are plans was to spend the day on Mt Lemmon with a friend and wanted someplace close. This was a clean cute restaurant, but nothing similar to Le Buzz. It is more like a hole in the wall breakfast joint. Still the service was excellent, my coffee never went half empty. The food was great. It's an ok little place when you are not looking for anything fancy. read more

Me and a bunch of friends came here after riding the mountain on a Sunday morning. We got kinda lucky cause we got there at 11 am and they close at 12 on Sunday, the rest of the days they are open till 12:30, so don't go after lunch haha. We didn't go inside as we didn't have masks to walk to a table (lmfao), but it was super nice outside so no problem. I got the Western Burger which is a burger with BBQ sauce, bacon and grilled onions. I must say for just a basic burger that you can tell was frozen by the look, it was tasty. My friends got the chicken fried steak and eggs, and a BLT. They all said the food was really good. The price is about what you woukd expect now and days. My burger and fries was about $14 with a tip. The service was slightly lacking, by mixing orders up, to mixing the credit cards up when we where paying, but it was nothing to ruin the experience. If you are in the area and want the basic diner food, give it a shot. read more

Not sure what this is other than a veggie omelet. Had to take it to go because the first one I ordered, the almost everything, had undercooked sausage so I asked for one w out sausage and I got this lol. I hate bell peppers and the first one I asked to hold those. Won't order omelette again. Will stick to my 2 eggs scrambled and ham. read more

Viv's Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I don't even know how to start this one. I have nothing but good things to say about Vivs Cafe. The food, people, and ambience are all part of the feeling of welcomeness and home you get when you first walk in. I have had almost every omelet and breakfast time they serve. Not a single one has left me with a feeling of regret or dissatisfaction. The country fried steak, with onion and cheddar hash browns is my go to. The portions is large, and well seasoned. The steak is tender and the gravy compliments it well. The hash browns are always cooked perfectly, with a crisp crust, and steamy insides. The gravy on the biscuits and steak is good, and leaves you feeling like you ate a bag of gravel, as good gravy should. The pancakes are always cooked perfectly which enough chew to them. This is what a diner should be. Welcoming, fast, and good. I only wish it was open later, or 24 hours. I would give this joint a 7/5 if I could, one star for every day I want to eat here. read more

My new favorite spot for cheap breakfast. Although not as inexpensive as Brawley's, the service is more prompt, the tables are clean and it's much less hectic inside. Viv's is always busy every time I make it there, but the environment seems much more calm and collected in comparison to Brawleys. I generally stick with the traditional breakfast. I have tried different items on each trip, ranging from chicken fried steak to bacon. Every single I order I have placed has been met with the utmost promptness and the quality of food is absolutely impeccable. Service with a smile isn't just a saying t Viv's, it's an attitude. Perhaps a quasi-philosophy of sorts. In anycase, the staff there is fantastic. Friendly and attentive. Educated and informed. Ask them and you shall receive. Back to the food. My wife tends to keep it simple here and goes with the grilled cheese. She refers to it as one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches she has ever consumed, mainly because they cook it perfectly using Texas toast. The friend fries are solid, if not spectacular. A buddy of mine ordered some sort of burger that had avocado on it and he's been asking to go back ever since. The burger looked to be cooked thoroughly, but wasn't even remotely dry. It looked stellar. Viv's is a nice little nugget tucked away in a shopping center off of Tanque Verde and Bear Canyon. If you find yourself in the area -- or would be willing to make the trek -- Viv's is the epitome of quality American food. read more

Solid, dependable and consistently good food. Eggs just the way you order them, I like mine over medium...great sausage and the pecan waffle is delicious read more