The food, service and atmosphere all contributed to the positive experience we had at Pura Vida. The menu was eclectic; pierogis, chicken & waffles, Chinese rice, African stew and lots of seasonal choices (squash fondue, mmm). The restaurant makes a point of offering a balance of vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes as well. The staff is clearly very knowledgeable about the menu. There was a patron at the table over who spent a lot of time asking questions about the menu. The server knew the answers and was very patient. Our server also asked if we had any allergies or dietary restrictions (heard a different server ask as well, the place wasn't crowded at 6 on a Saturday). Everything was delicious. The slow color changing lights on the ceiling were fun and the chairs were surprisingly comfortable even though they didn't look like they were going to be.I got the sense that this was a very well run operation.