hello all, as I am new and not so sure how this whole thing works, I figured I would start with a review of one of the restaurants I have been to recently. I see that people review new restaurants, but I found little evidence of established restaurant reviews. So here goes.
Vivace, I had heard many good things about this Italian restaurant on Ivy Rd and finally gave it a go with my best friend who knows Italian food. We started with 2 appetizers, the vivace bruschetta and the fried calamari. The bruschetta could have been made with a crispier bread rather than a fluffy bread, but otherwise, quite good. I am not much for calamari, but I was told it was good as well.
On to our entrees, the Chicken Marsala, was delicious, the marsala sauce excellent and the chicken tender, juicy, and fully cooked (not to be taken for granted). The Chicken Piccata was light with its lemon caper sauce and a compliment to summer. All of the pasta that accompanied our dishes was cooked “al dente” and absolutely perfect. I might as well mention that the unsweetened iced tea I had was truly the best I have found down here. I did not have any wine, a crime as many might say, but my trustworthy friend had a glass and said it complimented her dish quite well. (Now if only I could remember what it was, that would be astounding. I’ll get back to you on that one, sorry.)
Now my favorite part of the evening, Dessert! 2 words, absolutely amazing! We had half out meal wrapped, so we could make room and ordered three because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Gelato, a daily special, was nice and light, not to heavy, just creamy enough and a perfect end to a wonderful meal. The chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, decadent but not too rich, I could have eaten a whole cake as a meal! Finally we chose the Tiramisu, a classic that was superbly done, with just enough espresso.
Vivace had great food and very friendly service. It’s the kind of place you go to enjoy the food and the company you are with. Don’t be in a rush, or you’ll end up disappointed. Come spend an evening with your significant other or a group of friends and be transported to Italy, if only for a couple of hours… or until the train passes by.
New review here: http://cvillain.com/2008/05/29/vivace-charlottesville-restaurant-review-fit-for-the-rat-pack/
Popularity: 3% [?]
Tagged as: Charlottesville, Dessert, Gelato, Restaurants, Restaurants/Bars, Reviews
Very superlative. My experience at Vivace was not the same. Is “cooked” chicken really worth an “amazing?” I find that a low bar standard for most places. Except when I feast with the dogs.
I’ve heard mixed reviews of Vivace also. Is there an Italian restaurant in town this is considered the “best?” No one can give me a definitive answer on this. I haven’t been out to an Italian restaurant since I’ve moved here because I’m hesitant to try places that don’t have ringing endorsements.
Carmellos’s on Emmett Street was my favorite when I could still eat Italian food.
Ethan: Il Cane Pazzo, go go go!
And Alison, how can you not eat Italian food now?
I’m on the cardboard diet, don’t ask :)>. Sometimes known as the renal/kidney diet. Low potassium, low phophorous, low protein, low fun. But great for losing weight :).
Thor, I was simply making a point that even though the chicken juicy, it was cooked. I unfortunately have had an experience where that is not the case, so I appreciate when my food arrives dead, especially poultry. And I suppose I do like the word absolutely, what can I say, I like emphasis.
now, if someone could point me towards great chinese food, i’d be thrilled!
As an expat NYCer, of course I’m going to have a bit of attitude about an Italian restaurant. While Vivace offers a very nice restaurant experience (especially the patio in nice weather), the food is just OK to good. Not bad, just nothing spectacular. It’s a perfectly pleasant option, but to call that the best Italian in town would be damning Charlottesville with faint praise. The best Italian I’ve had in Cville was at the old L’Adventura (sp), but I’ve heard good things about Restaurant Al Dente and look forward to trying it.
Critique - my favorite Chinese food (so far) in town is Peking on 4th (between the mall and Market Street). Everything I’ve had there is excellent; it all has a very ‘home-made’ vibe, unlike most Chinese restaurants (which all seem to use the same canned sauces and same bag ‘o frozen chicken bits).
I agree with you KCB. The Italian food is lacking in this town and Vivace is OK.
I have enjoyed an excellent Italian meal at Al Dente-
I have been here for 11 years and the Italian here is awful.
Vivace?… is that Spagetti O’s?
I heard a rumor one of the chain Italian places is coming to town..
Carraba’s?
Try the frozen entree’s at Mona Lisa or
Take a trip to Bertucci’s at Short Pump. Pretty darn good for a chain!
Charlottesville has no good Italian restaurants. Not Vivace, not Il Cane Pazzo, not anything. From someone who’s grown up with the recipes of my great-grandmother (a cook from Emilia-Romagna), hold off on the Italian until you get out of town.
i like you csmith
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