Cucina Vivace

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Cucina Vivace
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Cucina Vivace

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Address:
509 23rd St S
Arlington, VA 22202

Neighborhood:
Arlington

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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More Details ›

Cucina Vivace Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.cucinavivace.com
Email: cucinavivace@cucinavivace.com
Phone: (703) 979-7676
Hours of Operation: Tue - Sun, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM Closed Monday
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Executive Chef: Gordon Vivace
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Full Bar, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine, Wine Bar
Private Party Facilities: Private parties of up to 50 can be accommodated by reserving our dining room for lunch or dinner any day of the week.
Private Party Contact: Gordon Vivace (703) 979-7676
Special Events & Promotions: We are happy to host private events from 20 to 50 people. Please call the restaurant and ask for Gordon to inquire.

Getting there

Cross Street: S Eads
Public Transit: Crystal City Metro
Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: Street parking is generally available in addition to a public lot directly behind the restaurant.

A word from Cucina Vivace

Cucina Vivace is proud to offer innovative, contemporary dishes born in the oldest traditions of Italian cooking. We also offer an exclusive mix of Italian wines covering a wide geography and diverse tastes. Full bar service completes this four course offering in a casual environment.

Cucina Vivace

3.9

27 $30 and under restaurant

Featured Reviews

More Reviews ›

Reviews from OpenTable Diners Learn More

28 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.6 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

28 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.6 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

Filter Reviews By:

Diners classify this restaurant as:

neighborhood gem(15)
fit for foodies(14)
romantic(12)

special occasion(8)
notable wine list(7)
good for groups(2)

Current OpenTable.com Diner Reviews (28)

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Wow!

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/01/2012

2008

Dined on 04/01/2012

2008

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Having visited Italy a number of times, I was delighted to find this restaurant. The Caesar salad was the best I have ever had; the gnocchi out of this world. One friend had Italian Sausage; we all took a small bite and wanted to stay long enough to place a second order. I will definitely be back and will be bringing my European daughter who visits Italy regularly. I know she will love this restaurant."

Dined on 04/01/2012

2008

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

After a year or so of sometimes

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/25/2012

2007

Dined on 03/25/2012

2007

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"After a year or so of sometimes poor service and uneven food, CV seems to be hitting its stride once again. They could use another person in the front of the house when they're busy, but the fellow they do have regularly serving the tables is a huge improvement on some of the folks that worked some nights last year. And when Gordon is working the stove, you know the food is going to awesome."

Dined on 03/25/2012

2007

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Food was OK, but not much

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/21/2012

2004

Dined on 03/21/2012

2004

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Food was OK, but not much else."

Dined on 03/21/2012

2004

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Quiet but Good

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/04/2012

2006

Dined on 03/04/2012

2006

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Recently hosted out-of-town guests, and had a really good time. Strangely, we were the only customers on a Sunday night from 6.30 til 8.30...but the service was food! Try the pasta and the lamb, both excellent. Steak was underdone and had to be re-cooked."

Dined on 03/04/2012

2006

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic

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Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

From the stale rolls to the

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/03/2012

2005

Dined on 03/03/2012

2005

Food

(Fair) 2 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"From the stale rolls to the drab decor, this restaurant was a complete disappointment. The arugula and caprese salad was fine and the cheese was delicious however it was served without any accompaniment and our waiter looked confused when we asked for toast/crackers. The fish entree was served without regard for bones in filet. The waiter blamed the fish supplier, not the chef. The clams and linguine tasted only of salt. When sent back to kitchen, their solution was to add olive oil to same dish---still salty, still inedible. The espresso was truly awful and served in coffee mugs, no sugar/lemon peel, nothing. We felt badly for the waiters who were left making apologies all throughout the meal. The near dead plant in entryway says it all."

Dined on 03/03/2012

2005

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

For reasons unknown, the kitchen

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2005

Dined on 02/14/2012

2005

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Fair) 2 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"For reasons unknown, the kitchen was very, very slow the evening we were at Cucina Vivace. Unfortunately this detracted from an excellent meal."

Dined on 02/14/2012

2005

Special Features: fit for foodies

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Amazing food. Fresh pasta

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2010

Dined on 02/14/2012

2010

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Amazing food. Fresh pasta was great, entrees even better"

Dined on 02/14/2012

2010

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Gordon Vivace does good Italian,

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2003

Dined on 02/14/2012

2003

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Fair) 2 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Gordon Vivace does good Italian, and in a pleasant, upscale setting. This restaurant brings its neighboring 23rd street eateries up a notch in quality. The menu, and special menus for holidays, has excellent renderings of known and lesser known Italian fare, all homemade and of the best quality, This place reminds me of the good places in San Francisco that I frequent when I am there. They offer vegetarian options, too, always a plus for me. To be fair, the servers do their best and are solicitous, but on special events days they are overworked, and the wait times can be uncomfortable. The restaurant can use more hands on those days to keep things moving. But overall, this is a classy place with great food."

Dined on 02/14/2012

2003

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

I took my GF there for Valentines

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2006

Dined on 02/14/2012

2006

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Fair) 2 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"I took my GF there for Valentines day. They had a decent 5 course fixed meal plan which had a decent selection. I asked for a beer and they didn't offer beer which was odd but no worries. The food came out at a decent time frame as I noticed only two servers who was both the waiter and hostess. The food was good, my favorite being the pasta. I'm not 100% sure how rack lamb is cooked but it looked pretty red. However, I didn't complain because again I wasn't sure how rack of lamb is supposed to be cooked (med, raw, etc) The biggest issue I had was a plate was hot and the server didn't say anything, so when we wen to move our plates we were both surprised to pick up a VERY hot plate (on one side)."