Vivace

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Address:
4209 Lassiter Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27609

Neighborhood:
Raleigh

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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Vivace Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.vivaceraleigh.com
Email: owners@urbanfoodgroup.com
Phone: (919) 787-7747
Hours of Operation: Brunch: Sunday: 11:00am - 3:59pm; Lunch: Daily: 11:00am - 3:59pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 4:00pm - 11:00pm, Sunday: 4:00pm - 11:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian, Vegetarian
Executive Chef: Andrew Schaumann
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Private Party Facilities: Private room seats up to 20 with multi media capabilities & drop down projection screen. Soundproof and controlled lighting options.
Private Party Contact: Kira Krauss (919) 633-4337

Getting there

Cross Street: Six Forks
Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: 100+ space lot directly in front of restaurant. Lot only used by Vivace patrons after 7:00 pm.

A word from Vivace

Vivace is a contemporary Italian restaurant featuring a hip indoor/outdoor bar, fantastic patio, and warm dining room adjacent to an open kitchen. The chef prepares fresh local ingredients with Italian techniques while the bar pours a cocktail menu based on homemade limonciello and an extensive… wine list comprised of the finest Italian selections.

PATIO SEATING IS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. ONLINE RESERVATIONS CAN ONLY BE MADE FOR OUR DINING ROOM.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerItalian
Diners' Choice WinnerOutdoor Dining
Diners' Choice WinnerVibrant Bar Scene

Diner Reviews

"Vivace has remained consistently good in just about every aspect including quality, management, service, price, ambiance and both menu and wine selection. I have dined there several times for both lunch and dinner in both indoor and outdoor settings and have been pleased with my experiences. Management and service personnel have always been welcoming and attentive. Having gained an appreciation of wines after living in Europe for many years wine lists usually get special scrutiny from me. Vivace's list is varied in selection and priced fairly . For example, it is difficult in Raleigh to find a good Morellino di Scansano at a decent price but Vivace does have one. I look forward to dining at Vivace again soon."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"This restaurant has become one of our favorites for celebrating birthdays and other small group gatherings. The food is consistently good and the service excellent."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"Vivace is all Italian- food and wine selections. The chef is a genius with unique flavor combinations. I am a wine geek and always fine something unique to try here. My only complaint is that it is a bit noisy."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Enjoyed the porcini ravioli with coniglio ragu--a tomato sauce with shreds of rabbit--tender and well balanced. Also great were the Brussels sprouts and the scallop Milanese. Will return soon!"
Dined on 2/24/2014
"Vivace consistantly delivers great service and cuisine which is why I return time and time again. Great for a business lunch or romantic diner!"
Dined on 2/20/2014
"We made reservations 30 minutes ahead by the nifty OT website. Had good table and plenty of service. My husband always goes for the Saltimboca which is the finest anywhere. I love what Vivace does with scallops and the veggies they came with. Not too rich and so delicious I ate the whole serving instead of boxing some for the next day. The waiter recommended a Pinot Noir I never would have tried and it was divine. How can you not go back to a place like this only a mile from home?"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"This place is hopping on a Friday night. Seems to be the place to go for after-work fun in the Mid-Town neighborhood. Food is great, but don't try to have a hushed conversation. Wine list is extensive but exclusively Italian. Waitstaff is helpful in deciphering it if you are not familiar with Italian wines."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Great food and service at this gem of a restaurant."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Always a good place for dinner. Sometimes crowded but not on off days."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"Loved it! The atmosphere was cool and food was great."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Food was very good. Service was attentive to our requests. Retaurant fills fast. Even with a reservation, we still sat at a table near the bar. Comfortable, but not expected with a reservation. Significant wine list, but only helpful if you read Italian, your waiter knows the entire list, or you really know your wine."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"I reserved online, unaware that you were only offering a special Valentine's menu. Not excessively interested in the items on the menu selection, we asked if we would be able to order from the traditional dinner menu. After the waiter politely but firmly explained that he couldn't grant our request, my wife and I excused ourselves from the restaurant."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"It had been a while since we have eaten at Vivaces as we live a good distance away. Coming back brought back all of the reasons we have always loved Vivaces. Creative, expertly prepared, delicious starters and entrees from start to finish. The meatballs are better than my mom's. (She doesn't read these). Vivaces has been above the pack for years. Is there any better reason to dine with them often. We will be back very soon!"
Dined on 2/9/2014
"The menu was varied and the food excellent. Our waiter suggested an excellent wine and was familiar with the choices on the menu. Service was very professional and prompt but we did not feel rushed. I would recommend it for a night out for folks who enjoy good food and good wine."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"We had a delicious dinner - 2 different pasta dishes that were both excellent. The wine was pricey but also very good. And, the caramalized brussel sprout appetizer was worth the whole trip. But, for such an outstanding restaurant, why can't they have better bread??? Very mediocre."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"over priced, cheap food quality. Steak was the size of a steak-um, literally."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Excellent food, great atmosphere and top notch service accompanied by great wine list"
Dined on 2/5/2014
"In our group of 5, it was difficult to hear each other because of the excessive noise level; we seated adjacent to the bar area."
Dined on 2/3/2014
"Great for a quiet lunch if you need to get away from the chaos at North Hills."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"Always a delightful meal. The attention to detail and preparing only after you have ordered makes the food superb. Our favorite spot is the Chef's Table where we see all the action taking place. Service is wonderful."
Dined on 1/29/2014
"They have limited vegetarian choices. The flat bread margarita pizza was hard to eat. The salad and the dessert (bread pudding with chocolate gelato) was good."
Dined on 1/23/2014
"Good thing we were in public because I would have licked the bowl the mussels came in! Delicious! Tried mussels all through P.E.I. And none compared to these! The bruschetta was very different. It was made with mushrooms and beet chips and it was very good..different but good. The mushroom risotto was 5star. We split a small plate and it was plenty as a second course. Finally I must brag on the homemade l.imoncello and the tiramisu, both were definitely worth ordering . We.loved the food and the service. Can't wait to have a reason to be in Raleigh again so we can eat at Vivace again"
Dined on 1/24/2014
"The restaurant had me at the Frangelico bread pudding dessert on their Triangle Restaurant Week menu. The food overall was very good--the calamari was excellent and the hanger steak was quite good (though the potatoes were a little tough), but the bread pudding was fairly disappointing. The texture was slightly rubbery and there was almost no Frangelico to be found--apart from a little dribble of sauce on the plate. With the large number of Italian choices in the area, Vivace isn't typically high on my list, but they did offer a nice Restaurant Week selection for lunch."
Dined on 1/22/2014
"Met a friend for a very enjoyable lunch. We did not feel rushed but were able to dine and be done in a timely fashion. The server was very attentive but not disruptive, and gave us great options for choosing our menu items. Our appetizer of cheese and meats, which we could choose from a variety of, was delicious. A honey comb added to this was a treat in its self. Highly recommended."
Dined on 12/10/2013
"Kids? Yes if they are old enough or young enough to behave. I don't know that they have a kid menu but they have pizza and a good chef can always put together a little grilled chicken and plain pasta for your picky eater. We are foodies and it was phenomenal. I had the veal saltimbucca with mozzerella ravioli and mushroom gravy. SO MANY mushrooms. They didn't skimp. The better dish to my surprise was the pork stew. Multi dimensional flavors. Both dishes were about $22 but most dishes cost a lot less. It's not an expensive place to go and there is pedestrian shopping without having to cross the road to North Hills mall."
Dined on 1/4/2014
"Always delicious, but the bolognese trumps all. Enjoy when you can!"
Dined on 7/29/2013
"We wanted a night out for just two of us. We got a table for two, a terrific server, lots of people talking but we could hear ourselves talk, and excellent food. It was pleasant and memorable. I recommend Vivace for an impressive date experience"
Dined on 12/30/2013
"I generally go to Vivace to meet a friend for a drink and dinner at the bar. The food is exceptional and the bar staff is always welcoming. My boyfriend and I went to the New Year's Eve dinner with another couple. Each of the four courses were delicious. The staff did not rush, which we all enjoyed. Overall, Vivace is a safe bet for any occasion."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Great experience. The fixe menu was excellent!! Paired with wine each of the courses put the meal over the top."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"Really good food that was well prepared. Though much of the selection stems from standard Italian fare, the food is done with finesse. There are some real noteworthy items, too, some of which make the menu very interesting for those looking for a departure from the typical Mediterranean profile that is really overdone these days. One such item was the rabbit cacciatore. It was delicious!"
Dined on 12/27/2013
"We met some old friends for lunch and had a wonderful Noon visit catching up. The food was great and the service was excellent. We hit it just right as it wasn't real crowded and the waiter Chris was very attentive but not intrusive. Will definitely go there again when we are in town. The only negative was the music which at times got a little loud. Soft background music without too much vocal would have been preferred. Review says "energetic" but I say too noisy at times."
Dined on 12/26/2013
"This is a great place to eat. Good food , good atmosphere, excellent service."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"Food was delicious. Although it was a bit hard to hear our server on a crowded Christmas Eve, service did not suffer. The sangria was perfect and my pasta dish was delectable."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"Great ambiance. Michael was an excellent server and very knowledgeable regarding menu options and drink recommendations, plus had an engaging and vibrant serving style. He promoted Vivace in an honest and enthusiastic manner which led us try appetizers and bar selections we otherwise would not have normally attempted...and we were very pleased with his suggestions. Overall we were completely pleased with three of the four entrees (hangar steak, scallops and pork tenderloin); the swordfish was rather small in size, somewhat dry, and the ricotta gnocchi was heavy, starchy, and not appealing to any of our palettes (we all tried it). But the other three entrees, especially the scallops and the hangar steak, were exceptionally delicious."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"The food was not even close to average for a fine italian restaurant. I am from New York and have been to a lot of great restaurants there as well as here in the area. Don't waste your money."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"My group had such a good time that I think that none of us wanted to leave at the end of the meal. The service was outstanding and the food was great. This is my favorite restaurant in Raleigh by far."
Dined on 12/17/2013
"It is always a treat when you take friends out to to a restaurant where the chefs are so on top of their game. This is one of those places. Beautiful presentation of courses, great tasting dishes, and a very good selection of items to choose from, many that are seasonally oriented. Our waiter was terrific! Stayed absolutely on top of things, kept our drinks filled, and was enthused about helping us choose selections. The noise level was a bit loud, but it was a Saturday night and the place was hopping with a lively bar, so it was to be expected. Very soothing decor and lighting, and the temperature level was perfectly maintained so no one was too cold or hot."
Dined on 12/14/2013
"It was our 44th anniversary and the noise level was so loud I couldn't hear my husband talk. The food this time was too rich.(My ravioli was sitting in a pool of butter). I was happy to leave this time."
Dined on 12/12/2013
"My wife and I dropped into Vivace after doing some shopping and had a wonderful evening. Starting off with the caprese salad (always wonderful because they roast the tomatoes when they are out of season), and following with the spinach rigatoni and the salmon entree, the meal was superb. The salmon was wonderfully accompanied by a roasted parsnip and sweet potato combination that had a great blend of flavors. We had an excellent Trebbiano wine recommended by the wine manager and it complimented both entrees quite nicely. The service was friendly and timed perfectly throughout the evening. Vivace continues to deliver time after time!"
Dined on 12/10/2013
"Had lunch there this week and even with a full house and nearly full bar the service was as if we were the only people there.Food is always first rate!Keep it up!"
Dined on 12/10/2013

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