Powered By OpenTable: Restaurant Reservations. Right this way.
Restaurant Reservations - Free • Instant • Confirmed

  • Vivace

  • Online Reservations

Reserve at Vivace

Date

mm/dd/yyyy

Time
Party Size
Vivace
Vivace

Vivace Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.vivaceraleigh.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: Matt Greiner
  • 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: Jed Orton (919) 787-7747

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
See all photos >
Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerItalian
  • Diners' Choice WinnerOutdoor Dining
Diner Reviews
  • "I brought colleagues for a leisurely dinner, but we also needed to have some business discussions. Service was excellent. Food was interesting. But the restaurant was so hot (on a relatively cool summer night) and so loud that I couldn't appreciate the experience."
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "....that I finally ate here. Several people have mentioned this place to me and I was finally able to go and experience it myself. I'm glad I went because this place reminds me of the "California style" ambiance, decorations, and professionalism."
    Dined on 7/14/2014
  • "An evening out at Vivace for my wife and I was a wonderful experience. The waitstaff was attentive; although a little stiff - could be more engaging. The food was excellent - great flavor in my black linquini and the tuna appetizer with the melon was outstanding. And the wine choices were OK. My wife would like to have seen more than one chardonnay choice. a good experience and we will go back."
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "Lived in Cary for many years and just heard of vivace and so glad we did. Food was excellent and service great. Sat on patio which made even better. Definetlyvwill go there again"
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "They made an attempt to accommodate my wife and I fairly well. Being that she is new to the type of food provided at Vivace she was not able to fully indulge on the experience. The server was friendly about this however, and I would definitely pay my respect to the chef on any day. The chef made a little plate for my wife and I who were in Raleigh celebrating our 2nd anniversary in the town we met."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "The food was excellent, the staff was great (a little room for improvement but very good overall). Some very unique takes on some classics and the combinations of flavors was outstanding. Was only one dish out of several I tried that I was on the fence about, the rest where fantastic."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "loved, loved the gnocchi spinach salad. Will go back just for that! It was loud inside, so it's not a great place to take folks who have a hard time hearing dinner conversations. Alternatively, if you can swing outside seating, that's much more peaceful. The hostess took really good care of us and thoughtfully put us in a booth when we asked for the quietest spot she could manage. That made a huge difference."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "Great place, who would of knew, this place was so good, great outdoor dining and bar area"
    Dined on 6/29/2014
  • "Worse bruschetta I've ever had. Main course was pappardelle with bolognese sauce. The sauce reminded me of Chef-Boy-Are-Dee from when I was a kid which is not a good memory. It was served room temperature and was sprinkled with what looked like Kraft powdered Parmesan cheese. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing but I won't be back to find out. Others at the table were equally disappointed."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Excellent - Always! Great atmosphere (a little loud), good bar, FANTASTIC food and service!"
    Dined on 6/25/2014
  • "You cannot go wrong with this place. Fabulous menu and food and drink all around"
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "The one thing I really hate about dining out - is when a restaurant feels that speed is the key to a good meal. I disagree. I feel that timing takes a higher spot on my priorities when enjoying a meal. I like to feel that each course was brought out precisely when it was meant to. Not overlapping or stumbling onto the course I am still trying to finish. Vivace's timing paired with their wonderful food and service met my and exceeded my expectations for almost effortlessly. I highly recommend spending an evening here with friends or loved ones - or both. Cheers!"
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "We went for Father's Day dinner with 3 kids and my mother-in-law. Needless to say we had a lot of varying tastes at the table and everyone loved their food. We had the brussel sprouts, which everyone loved - even those who swore they wouldn't even try them, the raviolis, risotto and veggie pasta and it was all great. The salads were terrific and dessert too. Not a single complaint. A note however: The wine list is entirely Italian, but their Sommelier gave us great advice on two different bottles of Chardonnay. I highly recommend it!"
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "Vivace is a lively restaurant with good food. The service was very prompt and attentive. The entree I had was 4 cheese ravioli with added meatballs. My wife had veal saltimboca. Both were great. The highlight was the warm kale salad as a starter."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "Wonderful food, service and atmosphere! Seasonal appetizers were delicious."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "We enjoyed another great meal at Vivace. The highlight for me was the pear and cinnamon sorbet. It was very refreshing."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "Relaxed casual atmospher on a pretty night! Loved that they had a gluten free menu!"
    Dined on 6/5/2014
  • ".Excellent food, beautiful presentation. Great service. Energetic and fun. Staff was very professional and helpful. They were willing to make substitutions and accommodate all of our requests. I would definitely recommend. "
    Dined on 6/3/2014
  • "Vivace is consistently great. The wines were incredible, the waitstaff was knowledgeable and fast to offer a recommendation on both food and wine. I love eating here!"
    Dined on 5/27/2014
  • "Recently dined out on the patio on a Friday evening. Our total experience was wonderful. The service, food, and drinks were superb. I recommend this for anyone craving delicious Italian & a sexy atmosphere. Great date night spot! "
    Dined on 5/23/2014
  • "I had Linguini with clams for my entree and one of the clams had full of sand. I was not too pleased with it but I didn't say anything because clams live in ocean. However, I will not order that dish again. Other than the sandy clams, all other orders, appetizer and dessert, were excellent!"
    Dined on 5/22/2014
  • "I love Vivace! It's always one of my go-to restaurants when someone comes to town to visit during the spring and summer. She loved it and we had a great time!"
    Dined on 5/22/2014
  • "Excellent service, beautiful décor, delicious food. Salmon and Romaine was unusual, tasty and healthy. Great food presentation--hostess was a gem: smart, warm, welcoming and accommodating."
    Dined on 5/22/2014
  • "The service was great and the food came in a timely manner. It was hard to understand many of the food items on the menu being that they were in Italian. We had grilled salmon and asparagus -- which was awesome. When it was time to order dessert, we picked the chocolate item thinking it would be the safest without running the risk of getting something we didn't like. It arrived and it was nothing more than 4 small powered donuts with very little chocolate filling -- we were totally disappointed, but it is what it is."
    Dined on 5/18/2014
  • "This was our third visit to Vivace, and all have been memorable. Our server was attentive and helpful, but not overbearing. Our table enjoyed scallops, ravioli and salmon after starting with an olives and almonds appetizer. All were superb, as were the wines that accompanied them. Overall, a great restaurant!"
    Dined on 5/16/2014
  • "As always, every aspect of our meal was excellent. From service to seating to, of course, our dinner, Vivace is our favorite restaurant!"
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Celebrating a birthday, we had a wonderful meal, great service, and good help from the staff selecting our wine,"
    Dined on 5/5/2014
  • "Vivace is a favorite lunch spot for us, but we were able to try the dinner menu for the first time in a long while. Most of the favorites were there, and many Primi could be ordered in half portions as well. Great for grazing. Somewhat energetic noise level, but very enjoyable. "
    Dined on 5/5/2014
  • "Vivace is my "go to place" with out-of-town visitors. For this event, they were more than accomodating as I called twice to increase the size of the part from 3 to 4 then to 5! As i will be relocating, Vivace will always be a stop on my visits back to family in Raleigh."
    Dined on 5/2/2014
  • "Expected upscale Italian food/fine dining. Very noisy, high ceiling dining room. Difficult to have a conversation. A lot of people hanging out at the bar which is not well separated from dining. Food very disappointing for price. Carbonara had flavorless, hard peas, charred bits of pork fat and a relatively thin, flavorless white sauce. Veal saltimbocca had thin piece of veal folded in half with some cheese in it. The quality of the veal was poor; thin, though no flavor that could be differentiated from the mushroom sauce drowning it. My husband likes to say, "how can you ruin spaghetti?". Now he knows. Let's just say, if you want spaghetti bolognese, go to a local no-name, inexpensive pizza and pasta joint. We didn't try dessert."
    Dined on 4/24/2014
  • "The food was amazing and server (Michael) picked out a perfect wine! Great options for gluten-free and vegetarians. Definitely planning to go back soon!!"
    Dined on 4/22/2014
  • "Another excellent meal and great place for a business dinner"
    Dined on 4/20/2014
  • "We were traveling through the area and found this restaurant through list the hotel provided. Great choice to enjoy glass of wine and delicious meal."
    Dined on 4/14/2014
  • "Enjoyed a fantastic server, catering to keep our glasses filled as 6 of us immersed in serious business conversation coupled with humor and laughs. Healthy Kale salad, coupled with baked whole Branzino fish for me. The others had pasta dishes and 3 had giant bisteca. Great experience."
    Dined on 4/14/2014
  • "We ate outside on Sunday evening. Our waiter was slow inattentive and impersonable."
    Dined on 4/13/2014
  • "I actually think that the location, scene, and the service outclass the menu at Vivace. Good decor; vibrant setting, nice outdoor patio, lively bar scene inside, but average menu in my opinion."
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "Vivace is everything you'd want from a nice Italian restaurant. The food is delicious, there are a hundred wines to choose from, and everyone in the restaurant is talking and laughing and having a good time. My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner here. He got the pork Milanese and I barely got to try any! I got the Veal Saltimbocca - which is the perfect dish to split if you are looking for a smaller portion. It has two veal cuts and four raviolis and is superb. The waiter was perfectly attentive while not being conspicuous or interrupting the conversation. Overall, a really excellent place."
    Dined on 4/6/2014
  • "Wonderful food. I had the scallops and bruchetta and they were delicious. My martini was very good too! Great for groups and a very lively atmosphere."
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "We found Vivace through a friend's recommendation. It was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted an intimate restaurant with delicious food and an outstanding ambience to celebrate our one year anniversary together. Definitely a recommended spot!"
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "The food and service were both very good, although a bit pricey ($18 for the half-portion of spaghetti and a side of grilled brussel sprouts, $17 for 2 glasses of the house red wine.) The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the ambience would be lovely if patrons weren't packed in like sardines. The noise level is louder than a sports bar on game night, although we ate relatively early (7:30) on a Friday. By 8:30 you couldn't hear yourself think, much less carry on a conversation. We had to yell across a small table for two to be heard. We didn't order dessert just to get out early."
    Dined on 4/4/2014
More reviews ›
Larger map ›
Smaller map ›
Diners' Choice Awards
  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill Winners
  • Italian
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Raleigh Winners
  • Italian
  • Outdoor Dining
Learn more ›