If you show up at Pio Pio expecting anything resembling Viva Chicken then I'm going to kindly ask that, before you reach the front door, you should turn right around and head back to your car (and then drive to your nearest Viva Chicken).
Pio Pio is situated in the shopping center containing Fresh Market off of East Blvd. It has a shared parking lot so there is plenty of parking spaces to choose from. I had some time to kill before an event on a weeknight so I decided to finally give Pio Pio a try after so many rave recommendations.
I walked right in around 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday and it was not crowded at all. Granted this place is very small so, at peak times, I can imagine that it gets very tight in there. I was seated (party of one, thankyouverymuch) and the waiter came by to take my drink order. I happen to love various juices provided at Latin restaurants so I ordered the mango juice which comes with an option to add water or milk. I added water and it was sweet but not overbearingly so. I placed my order for their #2 dinner special which is chicken soup, plantains, half of an avocado and rice.
My food was brought out and I immediately dove into the soup. I'm trying to keep those nasty flu and cold viruses away so soup was what I was craving. It was very flavorful and filled with chunks of potatoes, small piece of corn on the cob, chicken, cilantro and a few other things. Very hearty and delicious soup! The rice was perfectly cooked and the plantains were so delicious that I'm considering calling up and ordering a side of only those.
Pio Pio is more of a Latin American restaurant covering dishes from various countries in South America. It's not one or the other. Pio Pio has a style and flavor all its own. I recommend you stopping by and giving them a try for yourself!