Vivace
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: (919) 787-7747
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11am-10pm , Fri-Sat 11am-11pm , Sun Brunch 11am-2:30pm
Message from Vivace
Contemporary Italian Trattoria
- Italian Cuisine Redefined
- Lunch, Brunch & Dinner
- Events & Private Parties
Paid advertisement by Vivace.
Editorial Review for Vivace – by Laura Rudolph
In Short
Shoppers and office workers fill the umbrella-covered tables outside this upscale eatery during lunch hours. As happy hour rolls around, the action moves inside to the ample curved marble bar. Eye-catching modernistic square lights dangle from the ceiling over the long, cozy sofa that divides the bar from the neutral-toned dining area. The menu features a range of traditional Italian dishes, from exotic-octopus carpacio and prosciutto-wrapped monkfish-to more predictable: ravioli, spaghetti and wood-fired pizzas.
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User Reviews for Vivace
03/24/2008 Posted by myongsun
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. We like to sit at the pizza bar in back for a full view of all the doings in the kitchen. 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. We almost always split a pizza from their wood oven. My fave: the four cheese with caramelized onions and portobellos. All pastas are made in-house. #2 always orders the wood-grilled flat iron steak with braised short rib, potato puree, asparagus and mushroom butter. He just sits there, rolls his eyes and moans with pleasure while chewing. 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! We’ve never had bad service at Vivace. It is absolutely one of our favorites. Last visit was $122 for three (one non-drinker), tip included, no dessert.
Pros: menu
Cons: Can be loud
10/07/2007 Posted by barbaramattox
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
0 out of 4 people found this review helpful
