Vivace

Vivace has a wonderful atmosphere to relax and enjoy the best italian food in Raleigh! The patio is great and the restaurant is decorated beautifully. very knowledgeble bartender, especially when choosing wine! He encouraged us to try a bottle of Amarone and it went very well with what everyone was having. I can't wait until my next visit to Vivace!! Pros: food/wine menu, atmosphere, excellent patio, romantic more

Our recent visit to Vivace was painfully mediocre. After four years as a server and six years as a cook and sous chef, I understand how difficult it can be to create a successful dining experience. Vivace, however, didn?t even come close to meeting our most reasonable expectations.\r \r Due to some major architectural and interior design flaws, the restaurant was very loud. To make matters worse, the restaurant staff opened the windows to the overcrowded patio. The heat, humidity and additional noise only emphasized Vivace?s congested dining room.\r \r Our woefully undertrained server had never heard of ?grappa? and didn?t know if the bar had any. He forgot to tell us about the evening?s special, and when he finally brought the wine we ordered to arrive with the entrees, we were nearly done eating.\r \r It?s unforgivable that the meat and cheese plate appetizer replaced the classic prosciutto crudo with a prosciutto cotto, though the pear mostarda was brilliant. The cheese ravioli was pleasant, though the veal saltimbocca was slightly overcooked. The food didn?t shine, though it was just as well that Vivace didn?t bother with amazing food; it would have been totally overshadowed by the noise, heat and poor service.\r \r The final touch to this tragi-comic dining experience was watching servers, managers and bartenders forever climbing on chairs, counters and the marble bar to reach the inconveniently shelved wine and alcohol. There would have been less gawking from the diners had Vivace exhibited a modicum of professionalism and simply hired a giant from a circus sideshow to retrieve the bottles.\r \r Having recently enjoyed a pleasant meal at Porter?s Tavern, which has the same owners as Vivace and Frazier?s, I am left confused. Perhaps Vivace?s initial success will prove to be its demise. Laurels can?t be rested on indefinitely. It seems that the buzz of early 2006 has given way to bandwagons of restaurant critics and hype. Pros: They have grappa Cons: Poor service, Loud, Tables too close together more

Most of these reviews must have been written by the owner's friends or people who have never been to Italy. All of the food - and we sampled a good deal - was tasty and not screwed up, but not excellent. It was a little clunky and not delicate, the bane of most Italian restaurants (e.g., too much butter). And the restaurant can't use fresh peaches for its bellinis in the middle of peach season in North Carolina (I asked - it was canned/bottled puree)! That'd never fly in most places. more

i tried vivace for lunch today. unfortunately, due to the unprofessional service (as well as the rather large chicken bone found in a pizza i shared), i do not plan to revisit. more

I ate at Vivace Saturday. Our reservation was for 5:00 but we finished our plans early and went around 4:00. We had drinks and the calamari appetizer. The calamari was very tender like other reviews mentioned. The service was a bit slow then but it was intermedio so not many people were on staff. The waiter was pleasant and took our order promptly at 5:00. I got the seasonal insalata to start. This is one of my favorite salads. The beats, pears, and walnuts were a tasty mixture. I got the roasted duck for main course. It was delicious and very tender. The presentation was nice too. The leg was set upon cauliflour puree that was just the right consistency. Overall our meal was delicious. I certainly recommend Vivace. Dine on the patio if weather permits. Pros: Delicious food, wine list Cons: Service, indoor seating is congested more

Gotta be the best calamari in town. Tossed with strips of red pepper, basil and lemon peel, this squid is never chewy or rubbery (served with a spicy tomato aioli). #1 insists we go there when she needs her calamari fix.\r \r We like to sit at the pizza bar in back for a full view of all the doings in the kitchen.\r \r Typically, the menu will have features which highlight a focus on a particular region of Italy. The last time we were there, the focus was Veneto in northern Italy. A flight of regional wines was offered: just $13 for three whites or $21 for three reds. The pours were generous and this is a great deal.\r \r We almost always split a pizza from their wood oven. My fave: the four cheese with caramelized onions and portobellos.\r \r All pastas are made in-house.\r \r #2 always orders the wood-grilled flat iron steak with\r braised short rib, potato puree, asparagus and mushroom butter. He just sits there, rolls his eyes and moans with pleasure while chewing.\r \r On our last visit, I had a quail special. The bird was cleaved in two. The breast bones were removed, but others remained. Each half was then rolled tight in pancetta. The two ?spits? were then served on a bed of slaw which was more sweet than sour, along with a sauce of red beets. This dish was phenomenal, and one of the best I?ve had in ages!\r \r We?ve never had bad service at Vivace. It is absolutely one of our favorites.\r \r Last visit was $122 for three (one non-drinker), tip included, no dessert. Pros: menu Cons: Can be loud more

we dined there last night for our anniversary and were very disappointed given all of the hype and previous positive experiences at frazier's and porter's. our table for two was crammed in between the tables to either side so that we could hear the other conversations without difficulty and had no intimacy at all. the timing was way off...each course was brought to the table before we were done with the previous course and then was brought back to the kitchen to sit until we were ready for it. the wine recommendations by our waiter were excellent. the seared tuna carpaccio was bland. the calamari portion was garagantuan, and it tasted like what is served in a cheap italian place. the caprese salad was good. the veal saltimbocca with cheese ravioli was solid, but we could hardly enjoy it as we had been rushed so quickly through the earlier courses. the coffee and tiramisu were excellent. the manager noticed that the timing was off and proactively approached our table and offered to cover our dessert, and this was an appreciated gesture. i doubt we will be returning any time soon, however. Pros: cool decor, lively ambience, proactive manager Cons: average food, rushed service, crammed quarters more

I grew up in Queens, NY; my family and I have frequented some of the best Italian restaurants in and around the city. There have only been a select few that compare to truly exceptional Italian cuisine and Vivace is one of them. I ate at Vivace about 3 months ago and never wrote a review, hence I forget exactly what I had, but the one thing I do remember is that the mussels looked like some kind of mutant mussels they were so big and they were as tender (not chewy) and tasty as any mussel I've ever had. My wife and I agreed that everything else we had was also top notch, including the 'girlie' flavored martini she ordered to the excellent wine by the glass pinot noir I had... A+ more

I had no idea this place existed, but am glad I found it! The four cheese ravioli was delicious. The... more

I had no idea this place existed, but am glad I found it! The four cheese ravioli was delicious. The service was a little slow, so don't come here... more

Vivace has it all! Stunning ambience, an outstanding wine selection, the absolute best menu (you can't go wrong), plus a very knowledgeable and classy waitstaff. If you are into your dining experience truly being an experience, Vivace is a must! The best Italian food and wines in Raleigh! Do not skip dessert! Pros: All of it! more

The best meal I have had in a long time. The place is a bit loud and crowded but the food and service make up for it. Actually was moved (without asking) from a small table to a larger one after our appetizer. I had the Vivace Caprese Salad to start and my date had a soup. Both were large enough to share and tasted great. Large wine list, with some great selections. Entrees were supurb! The perfect size to fill you up. Can't wait to go back! Pros: Service, wine list, food!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cons: Noise level, wait time more

My wife took me there for my birthday a few months ago and I have wanted to go back since. The food, atmosphere and wine selection make Vivace the perfect date spot. Highly recommended to anyone trying to impress or just looking to have a romantic evening in a Raleigh hot spot. more

One of my favorite retaurants. I have taken clients here and the feedback is always great. The first thing everyone comments on is the atmosphere--trendy and New York like. It's not your traditional Italian restaurant. The only people who I've seen disappointed were looking for lasagne or spaghetti and meatballs. The homemade ravioli is to die for! Brunch is wonderful, unique and delicious. Here again it's not for the person looking for a traditional breakfast it has an italian twist, and that's what I loved. Portions aren't huge, but they will satisfy an average appetite. I usually can't make it to dessert. I've experienced outstanding service. We wanted a movie time and our server got it for us! Another time we admired the artwork and our server got us the contact info for the artist. I've always had a good experience. The patio is one of the best in raleigh for outside dining. They even have a fountain! It's shaded and not too hot. This was THE spot this summer. Pros: wonderful freshly prepared food Cons: none for me more

While visiting family in the Raleigh area, we decided to dine at Vivace. We previously had dined at Frazier's and Porter's and wanted to try Chef Sabo's effort at Italian cuisine. We were not disappointed. We selected the pizza as an appetizer and I must say that it was the best pizza I have eaten in years. No grease - just flavor! For entrees at my table, we had stuffed veal, ravioli and chicken cacciatore. We all tried each other's food and just could not decide which was the best. All were delicious.\r I have traveled in Italy several times and the food reminded me of dishes I have had in authentic Italian restaurants. Too many restaurants in the U.S. have American-Italian food, but Chef Sabo has truly captured the flavors of Italy at Vivace.\r Also, the atmosphere and the service were perfect. It was a Saturday night, so the restaurant was full, but we were treated as if we were the only ones in the restaurant. The next time I'm visiting in Raleigh, my husband and I will most definitely return to Vicace, but we plan to dine \r ""al fresco"" at Vivace's unique outside patio. Pros: everything! more

It is in an absolutely wonderful location. The outside dining was a nice touch and we loved the wrap around bar that allowed you to sit on the porch but still enjoy good bar service. They were very busy, but our service seemed to be very poor even for a busy restaurant. The food was good, but not great. Dessert was wonderful! I would highly suggest it for a date, not such a good place for family dining. Pros: Fantastic wine list, excellent desserts Cons: The food was average and service was poor. more

The food here is excellent and the service was fair. The only downside was that it was extremely loud. I sat with a party of 4 and we literally could not hear each other talk over the noise of the restaurant until about 9:30, when everyone started clearing out. When it is busy, the noise just reverberates through the restaurant, and it makes having a romantic evening impossible. That said, the food was great, and it is worth a trip just to enjoy a great menu at a fair price. We paid $80 for 2 and we had drinks, apps, meal, and we split a bottle of wine with the other couple. Just don't expect a quiet evening and this is a great pick. Pros: food, price Cons: noise level more

I was excited about the menu when we first saw it. The dished looked great. Problem is after my wife and I spent 70 bucks I had to eat when I got home. Service was fair food was just ok. When you spend that kind of money you shouldn't be hungry (and I am not a glutton!). Also, our table had us sitting on top of someone else - I felt like I was sitting in someones lap. Pros: Small Portions, Overpriced, Poor seating more

This restaurant is amazing! The food is out of this world good and the atmosphere is very chic! I love the open kitchen because the chefs are very talented and impressive to watch. I will definitely be back! Pros: talented chefs, great food, cool atmosphere Cons: need reservations more

My wife & I dined with another couple at Vivace's last night for the first time. We couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised with our overall dining experience. The service was very cordial and attentive, although there was a hint of disappointment from our waiter when he learned that we were all non-drinkers and did not order wine with our meals. The calamari was excellent; lightly breaded and very tender. The salads and pasta entrees were very flavorful and well presented. Although we all ordered pasta, the other menu selections were very tempting and will prompt future visits to Vivace. The restaurant decor was tasteful with a bit of New York City flair. The outdoor dining and bar areas were also very nice. For a medium-priced restaurant in a great North Hills location, lovers of fine Italian cuisine can't do much better! Pros: Great Location, Excellent Food, Fine Menu more