We had an early dinner at Vivere which is one of the three Italian restaurants of the Italian Village Restaurants. The other two restaurants include Tuscany Village and La Cantina. The Italian Village claim is the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, continuously owned by one family, the Capitanini family, and established in 1927 at this location. This dining experience far exceeded my expectations. We were seated right away and greeted by a young waiter named Nenad J. who brought a basket of Italian bread with olive oil to dip into. We were then introduced to the wine steward who took his time, paying attention to our preferences, and helped us select a bottle of red. We were given a regular menu and also a smaller Prix Fixe menu for theater patrons which includes a soup or salad, a limited main course and a limited dessert course. From the large regular dinner menu, I ordered the Tortellini con Ricotta e Carciofi which is tortellini with artichoke hearts and seasoned with toasted anise seed and mint. My husband selected the beef Chitarra alla Bolognese which is pasta "ribbons" with beef and bolognese sauce. We ended our dinner with the best tiramisu I have ever had. Perfect! Our waiter was friendly, very attentive and invited us to return on our next visit to Chicago. It was just a perfect ending for this day. If you are dining later in the day, I recommend reservations. When we arrived about 5:30pm following the theater, many of the tables were already reserved for a 6:00pm seating. We were fortunate to not have to wait to be seated, but the area filled up quickly. I loved Vivere, but next time I may visit one of the other restaurants of the three, perhaps "The Village" to sample the recipes from Tuscany. read more

I loved Vivere before but after having dinner here and a very miserable night last night, I'm avoiding it. Food poisoning via their calamari dish, I think. My date and I shared the calamari and after about two hours we were both regretting it. Our entrees were different from one another so we're thinking it was our appetizer. Not fun. read more

Vivere - Free creme brulee - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Italian Village on Monroe in the heart of downtown Chicago is really three restaurants - The Village (upstairs ... Northern Italian casual dining), La Cantina (in the basement like a wine cellar ... serving the classics and steaks), and Vivere (the more formal dining experience on the main floor) ... this review is for Vivere. We happened to be downtown and without reservations got shut out of a number of restaurants so we walked over to Italian Village. Since the price point in Vivere is higher than the other two (assume about $50 per without drinks), this one usually fills up last. We got lucky and snagged a table. For appetizers we shared the Mozzarella di Pomodoro (4+ stars and exceptional imported Buffalo mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes). For our entrees one of us had the grilled Veal chop (4 star nice and something you cannot get everywhere), the other two in our party each had the ravioli (4 stars cheese ravioli in a cream sauce with mushrooms and Prosciutto). For dessert we had the tiramisu (3 stars ok) and the Cioccolata (2 stars for this essentially Italian-style hot chocolate which needed extra sugar since it was not sweet). read more

In the Loop, this restaurant is upscale with a stylish interior. The restaurant has intimate and romantic dining opportunities. The theater special for $39 included a three-course prix fixe dinner option. The squash soup was creamy and delicious. The creme brule was ample and tasty. I would recommend the chamomile tea. read more

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This restaurant was excellent. Not sure how or why others would have said otherwise. My husband & I were looking to try a restaurant we hadn't been to before and we're in the mood for good wine. Vivere delivers in spades! I had originally reserved a booth seat but my husband's knee was bothering him and he needed to stretch it out. They immediately found us a new table. Our waiter checked in to see what drinks we wanted & we told him we wanted a bottle of wine. We were given a veritable book to order from. It was a bit overwhelming so the Wine Master listened to what we were in the mood for and gave a suggestion. When he came back & told us his recommendation was sold out, he upgraded our wine to a similar one at no charge. This was all before the food!! The food itself was amazing! My husband had the scallops and I had the veal medallions with collared greens and apples. I have never had either veal or collared greens so I have no point of reference... but this dish was amazing. The mix of flavors was superb. After dinner was dessert of course. I love chocolate so had the flourless chocolate cake with mousse. My husband had creme brûlée. Though my dessert was delicious, I actually regret not getting the creme brûlée after I stole a taste of my husband's. All in all. We WILL be back. It is now on our favorite restaurants list. It has great service, food, and ambience... what more could you want? read more

Vivere - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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When you walk into Vivere you forget you're walking off the bustling streets of Chicago and you're taken in a trance by the dim lighting, quiet but comforting Italian classical music, and classy ambience that comes from the clinking of glass and soft talk from the tables for 2. This place engulfs you into a romance and it made for a perfect date night before going to see a show. My boyfriend started off with The Hamilton, which was a perfect match for our show later in the evening. If you love Whiskey/bourbon then I would recommend this drink. I started with my favorite European drink, an aperol spritzer. It comes in different flavors but I would recommend just the classic way. The menu items are extremely unique and this is is what makes this restaurant a must try Italian spot in Chicago. If you walk in expecting Olive Garden, well then Id recommend going there instead because you have set yourself up for disappointment. We began with the lobster gnocchi appetizer, which tasted fresh and I all but licked the plate of the sauce it was tossed in. My main dish was a spicy seafood mixture in a red sauce with spaghetti noodles and I was in love. It was a Calabrese dish that made Calabria the next stop in my international travels. My boyfriend ordered the pasta with duck and fig. This has to be the most unique pasta Ive ever tried and every bite is different but full of flavors. I paired my meal with their Michigan originated Riesling and it was perfect. We somehow made room for dessert and split the carmel cheesecake. It was absolutely rich and creamy. The service was incredible and we were checked on my management mid our meal. This place is perfect for a romantic date night and we saw several business men enjoying a meal before heading home. Vivere has become our new spot to enjoy whenever we make our way downtown for an outing. read more

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This place has THREE Italian restaurants in 1 spot! How fun. I was unable yo eat due to surgery but went for a celebration with friends. They raved about the food and it looked and smelled great! My daughter (4) enjoyed the fun atmosphere of the upstairs restaurant. It looks like an outdoor Tuscan restaurant, at night. I loved the ducked away seating for intimate settings. I can't wait to be able to eat again and I'm coming back HAHA read more

Interesting. That's what came to mind as I walked into this place last night. What I didn't know was that Italian Village is really made up of three restaurants; The Village (which has been there since 1927) La Cantina, and Vivere. Vivere is the high end of the three restaurants located on the main floor. The decor is a little "Alice in Wonderland" like and surely must have been the talk of the town when it was designed in 1991. Designed by Jordan Mozer (who went on to design all the Cheesecake Factory restaurants) it is bold in it's use of color and drama, with swirling cones of plaster and huge decorative lighting. Reminded me of a Jerry Kleiner original. Step into the smallish bar with it's curved bar and "old skool" bartender. Very low ceilings lend to an air of intimacy and the mosaic tile floors swirl into the main restaurant. Vivere has over 45,000 bottles of wine in its wine cellar( the largest in the mid west) and the wine list, when presented looks like a huge "bible" of wine. The staff is helpful in getting you to the right page so there is not alot of fumbling. We ordered a variety of first courses: the caprese salad (good), the gnocchi with lobster(delicious) and the pumpkin ravioli with nuts (amazing) I liked that they split them in the kitchen for us giving each of us one of each of the starters- like a little tasting plate. As for entrees- we had linguine with bolognese sauce and the scallops. The hands down winner was the pasta!. A quick note- not all of their pasta is homemade. Only the stuffed pastas and the linguine are, so choose carefully. Service was outstanding from the time we walked in the door with the hostess greeting us- to our server who was quirky and fun but also knew his stuff and took his job seriously. I am not sure how Vivere has been here for 18 years without me visiting it before now- but you can bet I will be back! read more

I've walked by that Italian Village sign now for years. Smack dab in the middle of the loop next to Chase Plaza, the red neon has been all but ignored by me. I was in town for an after work mixer and was looking for something close to shield me from the rain. Let's just go in and see the menu, I thought. Not menu, but MENUS in this place, there are three restaurants on separate floors of the establishment. The Village upstairs offer traditional northern Italian fare, the Chop house has more of Italian steak and chop offering, and Vivere on the main floor has more contemporary offerings. Honestly, I was a little put off by the prices in this place at first, because an alacarte three course meal will set you back about $65 per person without drinks, tax and tip. (They do offer a $65 per person four course meal prix fixe, which is a little better if you're hungry.) However my companion and I decided to get creative because the menu offerings were so seductive. With options like pheasant ravioli and truffled gnocchi, the lure was too great. There's sort of a whimsical red interior to the place, kind of like an upscale Cheesecake Factory but much more intimate. The room is narrow with a row of private two tops along the way to the larger dining room in back. The service is consummately professional with water coming immediately upon sitting down and two extra menus as well featuring house cocktails on one and a bible of wine on the other. If you're a lighter drinker, wines by the glass are offered on the first page of the regular menu. Our server was so polite and well-informed, he helped us optimize our four course meal, telling us the specials and making recommendations as how to vary the courses. So how did we justify this indulgence? Two appetizers, one entree, and one dessert were each split in half. The split portions were ample. Cha-ching! I just saved 50% on my dinner! We started off with truffled gnocchi, lobster chunks, spinach and lemon beurre blanc. This dish was nothing short of spectacular: delicate, flavorful and beautifully composed. Next was a grilled calamari salad with orange and fennel served family style. Perfectly grilled and piquant, I would have happily made this my main course. Then came the split risotto with crab, fava beans, peas, and morel mushrooms. A little heavier, this made a substantial entree. The mixture of the beans and peas gave some texture to the plate, because in the end, if not properly cooked, risotto is nothing other than a fancy gruel. This one was so good! Finally a little splurge with a goat cheese basil cheese cake was a perfect way to top off the dinner. Finished with a blueberry port sauce and basil sauces, on the fresh blueberries, the basil cut the sweetness of the cheesecake. Be aware that it has a very busy pre-theater crowd and during conventions as well. On the night we were there at 7:30PM, the room was quiet with just a few tables of diners. All in all, I'd definitely go here again. Now that I'm savvy enough to understand how to negotiate the menu, I feel this is a great value for amazing food. read more

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The place was fine, clean, service was good. The meal was extremely disappointing. I was recommended the duck special on a Saturday evening and it was probably the worst duck I've ever had. My date had the cod which was cooked properly but basically tasted like green olives. Way too salty. For $140 go somewhere else. Not worth the money. read more

Ok to start off with there are 3 different establishments when yo enter the door. Upstairs is the old style casual. Bottom is classic and the middle Vivere is the classier of them. felt a litle under dressed and like a place where buisness mena nd women come for lunch and well to do for dinner. other than that it was a good spot to eat for the price. The flavors are on point and the portions are almost french, but that isn't a bad thing. Raspberry Sorbet and biscotti are the best i have had and have made all other encounters less. A bit touty but solid in the food and service, that is if you can get past Mary's contribution of the fish spoon. read more

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I'm surprised I never wrote a review here as I've been here a few times over the years. I love the decor in here as it is more modern than the other two spots. Our server was outstanding. He started by asking if we were going to a show and what time it was at. I know that most places in the theater district do that but I still appreciate that. We got there at 5:30 and most of the crowd didn't come in until 6 so he was very helpful in saying we should order now to beat the rush. They had a decent selections of wine by the glass and the server was knowledgeable enough to describe one I was not familiar with. Bread basket was standard but they pour you oil and parmesean (upon request). This last time I went, I got the scallops, which I don't believe were diver as advertised. They were quite small. But they were cooked perfectly and very tasty. The accompaniments to the dish were good as well. Nothing blew me away but for a theater dinner, above average. My sister got the ravioli and she was a fan. I tried a bite and it was solid. But the filling for me was not where it should have been. The pasta to filling ratio was just off. Overall, a solid spot that I will continue to dine at with great ambiance and very good service. read more

I would have given five stars but it was pretty obvious our server forgot to fire our entrees. Wine list is extravagant and their wine manager helped us pick an amazing chianti!! He was so nice and personable. We loved our dinner but were kind on a time crunch to get to Hamilton by 8:00 pm. I even told her this as she took our dinner orders. We had a 6:00 pm reservation and were instantly seated. Just waited a really long time in between salads and entrees to be served our entrees. Guests around us were seated after us and served before us. But the ambiance, food and wine was delicious!! read more

Vivere - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walked in on a Tues, no res: no problem and no attitude. Hamilton tix holders, take note and get all the food here. Start the night with the Hamilton sezerack. Gives all the warm and fuzzies. Dean, our server, knew the food, the area, the beverages, the city. As a decade long fine dining server, this guy put me to shame. Steered me to the pheasant filled pasta- sublime. Wife: butternut squash ravs. Also sublime. Managed a 9 table section and managed to make us feel welcome. Wow. Great cocktails, attentive service, great price for the Loop. This place is now added to our ever expanding must-return list. read more

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Went here with some friends before a show at the Chicago theatre. We were significantly younger than most of the crowd which was fine, but they didn't treat us with the respect we deserve. They made us feel rushed and told us we couldn't Order the chicken because of time, even when we had called ahead to ask when was a good time to arrive. They didn't really smile much and made us feel rushed and unappreciated. The food was good ( I had the risotto) but the service was not. read more

This is an old school italian restaurant with a contemporary vibe. It has been obviously renovated at some poiint since they claim to have opened their doors in the 20s. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. My group was promptly seated and our drink order taken. Cocktails were delivered in a reasonable amount of time and expertly crafted. I ordered the raviolis and ceasar salad. Both the ravioli and the salad were very tasty. For dessert I enjoyed the lemon panna cotta which too did not disappoint. I really felt comfortable here and when in town again I would come back to sample other entrees and desserts they offer. read more

Vivere - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a beautiful restaurant that is party of Italian Village. The menu items are made with high end ingredients, and it is meant to be a long, course- driven meal. We enjoyed the Fungi Ripieni, a stuffed Portobello mushroom as an appetizer, then each had a pasta entree. My husband had Fettuccini con Anatre e Fungi, fresh made fettuccini with pulled duck, morel mushrooms and other deliciousness. It was rich and deep flavored. I had Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, and it was a dish that is simple, but because of the fresh pasta and wonderful veal, pork and beef mixture in the sauce, I thought is was the best Bolognese I'd ever had. The sommelier was very friendly and knowledgable and the wine offerings were lovely. For dessert we went simple with some tiramisu, and it was wonderful. Very balanced flavors without one ingredient overpowering the others. Delightful with a cappuccino. If you're looking for an Olive Garden experience, or a place to "carb load", this isn't your place. If you're looking for quality Italian food with an experience you can really enjoy for a romantic evening or with a group of friends, then go here. Get a bottle of wine, order something from every course, and savor every minute of this elegant place. read more

Don't be mistaken, this is the first floor of the Italian village and offers fine dining with modern Italian cuisine. A moderate price tag 40 for salad, entree and cocktail. Well worth it. I was in Chicago on business and sat myself at a beautifully decorated bar; stone with backlit stained glass. The bar was smallish but super cozy. I settled on fields greens and the house Italian. Beautiful presentation with shaved parm. I was nearly drooling in anticipation of the pheasant stuffed ravioli.... And they did not disappoint. Well seasoned, artfully crafted, perfectly cooked pockets from heaven in a sauce so rich and tasty I had to stop myself from picking up the plate and licking it! And the service!!! I was served by a professional. Easy going, knowledgeable, impeccable grammar. I knew whatever happened, he was going to take care of me. I love easy amazing service. No timelines or forced chit chat. Just be... And enjoy. I totally did and will again the next time I'm in town. P.s. To the 5 theatre divas fighting for conversation control...who nearly ruined my heaven with your boisterous drivel.... Get over yourself, you're not that interesting. read more

Met former retired work colleagues here for lunch on a Wednesday at 11:45am. This is truly a mixed review meaning that the venue is lovely, the side salad was excellent and fresh, the service was terrible and very slow, and my eggplant parmesan was bland and arrived at room temperature. I told the waitress 4 times from 11:45am until 12:25pm that I had to leave at 12:45 because I had a meeting at 1:00. I asked for my food to be brought out ahead of the others in our party. They are all retired. I work and had to be at a meeting. That was either not communicated or kitchen staff did not get it. Waitress said to me 'someone in your party ordered a pizza therefore that made my order take longer'. At 12:25 I asked for my eggplant parmisagn to be boxed up to go. It arrived at 12:30 and I decided to eat some of it since I had a little time left. It was not even warm. It lacked flavor compared to somewhere like Olive Garden. I was stressed out during what should have been an enjoyable lunch. I will not eat here again for dine in. read more

We walked in on a busy Saturday, not expecting a table. When we called a few minutes before arriving, we were told there is seating at the bar. We told the host that it was a special occasion and we were going to a show after dinner, so it would be amazing if there was a table by chance. They were able to seat us as a lovely table on the upper level. The server quickly took out drink order and was very attentive the rest of the time. We ordered the portabello appetizer, the surf and turf, and the ravioli. Everything was absolutely amazing! It's out of our neighborhood, but we will be making the trip for a nice dinner again. Loved it! read more

I ended up here on a whim with a couple colleagues. All of us are not from Chicago but someone at work recommended Vivere. Everything from the service to the food was wonderful. They have a nice wine list and also add seasonal items to their menu. I recommend the Capesante con Farro (scallops) for your main course and start out with Gnocchi and Pasticcino di Granchio. Finish with creme brulee or the coffee/chocolate mousse. read more

Went with six of us. Two had to leave for a play. We were seated at 5:30 and they left at 7:30 and we hadn't finished dessert. We chose this restaurant because we thought we were going to the Italian Village but one person couldn't walk upstairs, so we ate here. Don't know if menus were different. Our waiter was nice but had to read every detail off a piece of paper. He tried, but it felt weird and not comfortable. Food was good, but not outstanding. Duck on polenta ordered medium rare at the suggestion of the waiter, but came out medium well. We didn't have any drinks, shared two salads, two bowls of soup, five meals, three soft drinks, a fancy coffee and one plain, and with tax and tip over $50.00 a person. I felt a little high for what we had. We did try tomato cheesecake...some liked, some didn't but it was a different dessert item. Might try again, if I visit Chicago. read more

This is a nice attempt at an upscale restaurant geared towards a slightly older (i.e., not 20-something) theater-going crowd. The decor is a little wild. It's pretty, but definitely an attempt at something I can't quite put my finger on...something a little 90s, a little Alice in Wonderland, and a little corporate at the same time. We had drinks in the bar before dinner. We were lucky there were 2 open seats, as the place was crowded. However, we soon saw that people were getting seated relatively quickly, so I imagine our wait would not have been long. The service at the bar was attentive, though not terribly friendly (probably due to the volume). After a wait of maybe 20 minutes, we were seated. Our server was friendly, upbeat, and offered suggestions. I enjoyed my salad, but my entree was pretty blech. I had the ravioli de zucca, which I was very excited about since I love, love pumpkin or squash ravioli. It was disappointing, though. The ravioli were coated in almond cookie crumbles. It wasn't bad for one or two ravioli, but after that it was almost impossible not to be overpowered by the sweetness. You couldn't really taste the pasta, the filling, or the sauce. I think they were going for interesting or innovative, but what they got was weird. It would have been better in a side or app portion. As an entree, not good. It was certainly not the culinary experience I had been expecting. My husband liked his dish, but not enough to warrant another trip. Other notes: pricey & touristy. read more

We visited Vivere for dinner on New Year's Eve, while staying at the Palmer House down the street to see Hamilton the next day. We had a reservation, so no wait. The coat check was immediate, then we were led to our table, one of the two-top booths along the corridor. The decor scheme here is really neat - whimsical and almost like something you'd find at a Disney property. Dreamlike and imaginative swirls and curves lead your eye around the room, which is bathed in warm hues and soft textures. Our server was very prompt and attentive, always turning up just when we needed him. We ordered the Carpaccio appetizer plate, which was light and pleasantly sized for two. The flavor combinations were unexpected in the best way - salty, sweet, vinegar, savory, tart, all in one bite. The aoli on this was especially lovely, to say nothing of the meat itself. For our main course, I ordered the pheasant agnolotti, their specialty. This was to die for. Comforting and deliciously creamy, with filling seasoned just right to showcase the pheasant. Nice portion size as well - I felt like I had plenty to eat but also had no trouble finishing my plate. My boyfriend ordered the lump crab meat risotto, which he let me sample (because he's a nice guy, and a great date, too). It was peppery and heavy in the pesto flavor, which I'd never think to pair with crab, but which went surprisingly well. Very smooth and creamy also. I had originally been drawn to Vivere by the dessert menu, so I wanted to at least try something to round out the experience. We ordered the creme brulee to share. An assisting server asked our main server if we needed an extra plate, to which he told us he had replied "Oh no, they're pretty frisky! I think they'll be fine..." with a wink and a smile. He was a delight! The dessert was great too, but we were too full to finish it. For drinks, we had the Hamilton sazerak (because you have to - Hamilton!!) and a glass of pinot grigio - both nice with the meal, but not spectacular in their own right. And that's okay, because: food. All in all, a very pleasant evening. And quick, too! We were in no rush, and we never felt rushed by the staff, and yet we were in and out in just under 90 minutes. I would recommend to anyone staying in the Loop or Theater district. read more

Ambience is tired and gaudy! Food is WAY over priced for the quality. We ordered the Chef's Choice Charcuterie, and our proscuitto was GREY colored. The bread sticks were stale, and our entrees of Ravioli and Spaghetti Bolognase sounded wonderfully described on the menu, but did not live up to their delicious descriptions. read more

I can get past the fact that the inside looks like an overdone version of the Cheesecake Factory, and that it was pretty much alllllll men in suits eating there. Excellent service. Delicious caprese starter. Perfectly cooked salmon (which is my litmus test - I can't believe how hard it is to find), great cappuccino, yummy almond torte with espresso gelato. read more

Vivere helped me out when I was in a bind. I had fully intended on eating at The Village before an evening performance of Book of Mormon, but the 20 minute wait I was quoted made this impossible. However, the host at The Village told me that I could get seated immediately at either of the other two restaurants - Vivere and La Cantina. We picked Vivere, and were not disappointed. I asked our server if she could get us out before 7:15 and she made sure to let me know which of the menu items would be the quickest coming out of the kitchen. I really appreciated that. J and I both settled for pasta dishes and started with a lovely broth-based mushroom soup with vegetable darling, kale, to start. The linguine calabrese was terrific - a slightly spicy, ultra-garlicky, seafood studded pasta. The tagliatelle bolognese was a hit too, for those looking to have a more traditional meaty red sauce pasta. We were in and out with ample time to get to the theater. The price point of Vivere is a little higher than the other restaurants at this address. If I had the time to wait, I would have checked out The Village. But for a pre-theater crowd, Vivere is terrific. They also take reservations online. I'm not sure if I would return if I was just in the mood for pasta, but will definitely keep it open as a pre-theater option, always. read more

In two words... "Pasto perfetto". From start to finish everything about my experience at this establishment was perfect. For starters the ambiance feels as if an old Chicago gangster married a Cirque du Soleil trapeze artist and designed a restaurant. It may sound absurd, but it's beautiful and unlike anything else you may have ever seen before... a lot like love, which makes it romantic. The sommelier, Ryan, is incredibly personable and not at all pretentious. It's almost as if you are asking wine advise to your closest friend, but his knowledge is so much greater and his wine selection is one of the largest in the Downtown area. Sommeliers more often than not have a tendency of making you lose control over your choice of beverage and simply just make the decision for you... but not Ryan. It's a mutual decision that he will make sure you are very comfortable with... he's even got a great sense of humor to ease the tension in case there is a divide at your table. Most importantly, let's talk food. Personally I would suggest ordering the Chef Tasting. Chef James will come out to your table and hand craft a meal specially designed just for you... which of course can include things that spark your interest on the menu or dare to hear his suggestions based on what you may have a craving for. He's wonderfully innovative. If you can't make the Chef Tasting commitment... here are a couple of dishes I don't think will disappoint. AGNOLOTTINI  DI FAGIANO Is like a delicate flower. It's light and understated but the pheasant filling is so packed with flavor it surprises you in a soft way. The butter sauce it's paired with is ideal, anything heavier would ruin the sage subtlety. If you're looking for a pasta dish, but don't want to be over stuffed... it's perfection. *PASTICCIO DI SPINACI CON COSTATINE BRASATE My personal favorite... and definitely the best pasta dish I've ever had and possibly will ever have. The Wagyu braised short ribs are so juicy the lasagna barely stays pieced together... but that's really a beautiful thing. It's falling apart with flavor before it even enters your mouth. I can't even begin to describe the flavors of the sauce and it was devoured from my plate too fast to be able to dissect the seasonings. Best reason to continue to keep going back! *GOAT CHEESE CHEESECAKE Hopefully for your sake this is around during your visit... the desserts change frequently. And as strange as it may sound... take a chance and order this slice of perfection. It will be the creamiest, most flavorful cheesecake you will ever have. The goat cheese is understated and I promised you won't taste much of it... it simply adds to the creaminess that makes the essence of cheesecake. It's genius. I've enjoyed everything that has come out Vivere's kitchen and if it wasn't terribly inappropriate I would applaud Chef James and his team every time I visit this wonderful restaurant. read more

Vivere - Delicious beginning of our "Chef Tasting"... - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place produced a genuine giggle from deep within my cynical, black heart upon entry. This is where the Queen would go if entertaining Manhattan Transfer....a twinkle in her eye as she coyly glanced from a low yet wide-brimmed hat, deliberately ripping a hole in the crotch of her knickers underneath the table. I had the risotto, which was actually quite delicious. I tend to get nervous about caramelised onions because they should be done just so....and they were. I asked them to exclude the mushrooms (which they did). The truffle oil could have been more of a hint, but still worked. If his loud smacking and open mouth chewing were any indication, I'd say my colleague enjoyed his ahi. It rather reminded me of a bladdered drawbridge - up and down, up and down, up and.... Well, you get the picture. read more

Not happy. We chose this restaurant because it served pasta, and it was close to our hotel where we were staying for the Chicago Marathon. We had one goal: carb load on pasta, with a little bit of protein. Boy, did this place fail. Our server was friendly and acknowledged our marathon for the following morning. That was nice, made us feel welcome. No issues there. Service was fast, no issues there. But the portion size. Oh dear, the portion size. We each received a FIST sized portion of pasta. We left hungry and unsatisfied. For $80+, you'll get two bowls of pasta (one which was from a box, the other was house made), a cup of soup, and a glass of milk. Carb load somewhere else for your 26.2 read more

I was taken here when my bf's dad & step-mom were in town, as they really wanted to go out for a "fine-dining" experience and they had read about this place in Gourmet magazine or something. I was nervous that it'd be some snooty place, but it really wasn't--- in fact, I was told to wear something "dressy-casual" but there were some people wearing jeans in there (though I wouldn't recommend as it really is a more dressy than casual place). This told be that they couldn't be *that* pretentious if they serve people wearing jeans. They pride themselves on their huge wine selection--- the sommelier brings you a book of 45,000 wines (no exaggeration) & what's even crazier is he claimed he's tasted just about all of them. He pointed out some rather expensive selections when my bf's 'rents asked for an affordable suggestion ($80 bottles), but didn't scoff at us when they asked him if there were any more reasonable bottles (and then pointed out some $40 bottles). Usually I'm kind of a pansy about trying something new, but I figured I'd go all out & be adventurous, especially since I wasn't footing the bill. I had the duck (per suggestion of our cool yet professional water) which is made in some special way--- something about making a sugar, dumping pistachios in it, and throwing it on the duck (the way he said it sounded much fancier). Anyways it was quite good, & tried the dish and really enjoyed it (in fact the step-mom said she should've ordered that). She still enjoyed her meal & my bf and his dad loved their pork tenderloin. Even though we had split 2 appetizers before the main course (the one with the lobster & gnocchi was mm-mm-good), as well as a pasta dish (just okay for me), I was not stuffed, as the portions were perfect. So perfect in fact I had enough room for dessert! :-) Everyone loved the dessert, from the creme brulee to the chocolate cake thing complete with homemade chocolates (that our server so kindly brought extra of so we could all try them). All in all, a good experience--- good food, not crowded at all on a Friday night, and not too snobby for a restaurant that uses that little thing to sweep your crumbs off the table! ;-) read more

Atmosphere: Theatrical Price: Lunch expensive Bathrooms: Very Clean Food: Excellent We went here for lunch after a meeting in the area! No appetizers, We ordered the Italian plate! Fantastic! I'm looking forward to going back for dinner! Unlike the Italian Village upstairs the service was calm, not rushed and the server took the time to acknowledge and explain everything! Very professional! Rick read more

First of all, it's uncanny the number of Yelpers who likened the decor of Vivere to a Cheesecake Factory. That was exactly what crossed my mind as well sitting in the restaurant. Luckily, this is where the comparisons end -- Vivere's food is superior and it was truly one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The menu has an ample selection of pasta dishes, but also includes what I would call American new cuisine. It has standard classics as well as some unique offerings (more on that later). Also, after a long day of traveling I was happy to see numerous wines by the glass. As I was with a small group, I got to try several dishes. I shared a Caesar salad with one of my co-workers (perfect for two people and the wait staff will split it on two plates). For main courses, the Roasted Duck, with a pear sauce, poached pear, and parsnip puree was amazing. Our waiter had told us it was the best duck he'd ever had, and honestly, I'm inclined to agree. A generous portion perfectly cooked, on a thin pear sauce that was subtle with just the right amount of sweetness. The parsnip puree was an interesting touch. And the poached half pear featured a star anise inside as a garnish. Extra points for plating presentation! I had it with a glass of 2005 Barbera wine and it was outrageous. My co-worker ordered the New Zealand rack of lamb special. I thought this was only OK as far as lamb goes. If this dish had been a knock-out, Vivera would have received the full five stars. My other two co-workers ordered Italian dishes. I was happy to see that roughly half of the pastas are homemade, including the Lasagna. It was tasty and had an artisan homemade feel. It was purely vegetarian but substantial enough that a meat-eater would be happy. The corkscrew pasta ordered by my other co-worker was also really good and satisfying. We finished the meal with the dessert sampler platter for $22. My favorites were the creme brulee and chocolate cake. The raspberry sorbet was also a standout. From end to end it was a great dining experience (once you can get over the Cheesecake Factory motif). The menu items we left untried are interesting enough that I would certainly come back to try(pheasant stuffed ravioli, quail stuffed with venison & foie gras). Kudos to the hotel staff at the W for this recommendation. read more

We went to Vivere for an early dinner before a show. The waiter asked us if we were going to the show nearby, so he could be sure to expedite our orders. We started with a Caesar salad, which was tasty. My wife had a pasta dish and I had fish. We both enjoyed our meals. Our desserts were very good, as were our drinks. The atmosphere was great, especially sitting in the booths. It had been a long time since we went to Vivere, and this time was just as good as we recalled. read more

My friend and I had an early dinner here, before heading over to the theater. Had a very nice experience. Food: very happy with both dishes duck breast - came with some sort of risotto bacon wrapped pork tenderloin and stuffed with dates and nuts. Very tender and tasty. Of course some dessert- both really good creme brulee and seasonal sorbet (strawberry mango) The waiter was helpful and made sure we got out in time for our show. For the theater district, it was a good choice with solid food, and very conveniently located. read more

Did an impromptu date night on Tuesday, saw Jersey Boys at the Bank of America Theater and wanted to get dinner before. The location of this place in reference to the theater could not be better - it's barely a block away. Also, valet (at least on weekdays) is only $10 - cheaper than a cab ride from most places. My husband had looked it up and we just decided to go. Once we got in, we realized we'd been here before a few years ago - and we liked it then as well. We made reservations, even though it was Tuesday, just to be safe. I would say around 6pm, this place was 65% full, lots of other theater-goers. Food: Started with the Granchio (crabmeat on top of brioche), the seafood was cold, brioche was warm, eating the two together was heavenly. There was lots of large crab and meat pieces, some claw (I could pick up a piece and see the actual triangle shape of it). I really enjoyed it. We also got Tortine e funghi - it was like a mushroom cake almost, which could sound gross, but it was quite good if you like mushrooms. Main meal I got the pheasant filled pasta, it was daring for me but it got good reviews so I tried it. It wasn't one of those "holy crap, wow!" moments in your mouth. But it was good, and definitely grew on you during the meal. I had a hard time putting my fork down at the end. Hubby got the Pacherri, which he also enjoyed a lot. Liked how many veggie options they have in the Pasta section. Dessert: Hubby loves creme brulee, so he was sold. I thought the sugar on top was a bit burned, more so than should be, but was still quite decent. On their menu they only had a few things listed, but I had read about cheesecake here so thought, why not, never hurts to ask. And they had it - the waiter said always ask, they have cannolis and cheesecake and so many desserts. Which is great! But I wish they would list that somewhere for people that are shy to ask. Service - impeccable. Our waiter wore a suit, so I'm not sure if he had a high position as well, but he was amazing. From his wine recommendation to his demeanor, everything was great. Told the other staff to get us bread when we were barely out. Very prompt when we told him we had to make the show on time. Decor - it's great decor, sadly it does remind me of Cheesecake Factory a bit - but perhaps that's because Cheesecake factory took it and make it so ubiquitous (sad). Damn corporate. But still great, comfy booths, definitely like it. Prices are online so no surprise there. Average for up-scale italian, maybe just a bit higher, but it is right in the loop. Overall I would recommend this place and come back as well. read more

I went there at lunch with a girlfriend. She was already seated and I checked into the hostess stand saying I was meeting D and she took me all the way to her table. Most hostesses would just let you know that the other party is there and make you find your friend yourself. It's the little things that makes the difference. Our server who seemed to have the whole "upstairs" section was rather standoffish and seemed to be more interested in his larger table of 6 businessmen rather than 2 ladies lunching. We even had to ask him what the specials were because just wanted to take our orders fast so he could get back schmoozing with the large table. As a server I am attentive to what other servers do and how they treat their guests (or how they treat some guests better than others). I ordered a Diet with a lemon. Whenever I was low, I had to ask for a refill and he forgot the lemon. I had to ask for a lemon. It's those little things that I notice as well. We decided to get the prix fixe lunch meal (your choice of soup/salad, one of the entrees, and a dessert). We asked if we could decide on the dessert afterwards and he had a bit of an attitude when he said if it's the prix fixe, the kitchen needs the entire order at once. As usual food runners came over with the salads. However, he stood around a bit trying to get our server's attention but he was too busy chatting it up with the other table. The food runner served us and we were done with the salad before our server even came up to check how it was. He never asked if we wanted more bread (thankfully we didn't) and he only came by the table to serve us the main course and dessert but never checked back with us to see how things were. He dropped off the check and since we each had a soda and the prix fixe we just put two credit cards in there to split the check evenly. However, imagine our surprise when he dropped of the credit cards and there is $20 on one card and $37 on the other card! Why in the world would you not split it evenly? Especially when both people had the exact same meal? I got the $37 bill and D got the $20 bill- she even offered to have him void it and swipe them both again evenly. I told her it wasn't that big of a deal. (Plus even if we did want to do it- he never came back around for us to even tell him about his mistake!) D had to go back to work- we had been there for 2 hours already... The service there was horrible and we were treated like second class citizens by this server who was too busy with his businessmen instead. The upside is that the food was delicious but we both had such a sour taste in our mouth from the service that we will not be going back there again! read more

The atmosphere of Vivere is airy and swirling. Sleek, spiraling lights and mirrors suffuse a funky quality to the Village's fine dining cousin, the chic addition to 71 W. Monroe St. that replaced the Florentine Room on the main level in 1990. Velvet chairs and plenty of open space complement the warm, amber décor of the Jordan Mozer design. The 110-seat dining room actually is a split-level, with a wide staircase leading up to a semi-secluded dining area. Contemporary regional Italian dishes, prepared by executive chef Marcelo Gallegos, are the specialty at Vivere. Eclectic and unique entrees, averaging about $19 each, are sprinkled throughout the menu, which boasts Cappellacci di Zucca, a butternut squash-filled pasta with cinnamon, parmesan and caramelized pears; Cinghiale alla Toscana, roasted wild boar with sautéed apples; and Tortelli di Branzino con Salsa di Mare, a seafood medley comprising bass-filled squid ink pasta, calamari, shrimp, mussels served in spicy tomato sauce. Tucked away in an unassuming wine cellar, various Chianti's, Burgundies and cabernets - a fragment of the collection of more than 800 wines - inhabit the tiny room perched at the top of the three-story building. The 80-year-old Village teeters over West Monroe Street casting a quirky anachronistic shadow against the otherwise imposing blocks of windows and concrete that characterize the Loop's financial district. Each bottle in the city's largest wine collection awaits its designated time to breathe. Mature reds such as Monsanto Il Poggio, Tignanello and Le Pergole Torte rest among bottles of Bollini Pinot Grigio and Schiopetto of Friuli. More than 200 California labels join the 300 or so French, German and Spanish selection in addition to the hundreds of Italian wines. With bottles ranging in price from $17 to $900, guests can be as choosy as they please. read more

Where is the darn 3.5 star ranking when you need it? Here are the incomplete AFAs: ATMOSPHERE: Okay, well, as my wife put it: "Eating in this place is like eating under a giant mushroom cap." After I finished spitting out my lunch in laughter, I told her I was using that. So there you go ... We went there for lunch today and had some highs and lows with the experience. One of the lows was definitely the front of the house. We arrived right at 12:30 for our 12:30 reservation, walked to the front, told them we were here, and was told our wait was 5 to 10 minutes. Talk about a smack in the face. I make a reservation, to eat at your restaurant, and you tell me to wait? Yeah, so much for customer service. That drives me nuts. You take a reservation, you respect it. You don't make them wait. Not to mention that the front of Vivere isn't exactly designed to "wait 5 to 10 minutes." We ended up waiting right around 5 minutes and then getting served. When we were seated, our waiter was a little flighty to put it modestly. He basically addressed everything to me first. Normally, I'd be flattered, but doesn't decorum, manners, yada yada yada, require you to address the lady first? It almost became a running joke for us it was so awkward the way the waiter paid almost sole attention to me and ignored the wife. As for the actual service, it was pretty quick, water was filed regularly, and the check was brought in a timely manner. After a hiccup or two, we were in and out of there in under an hour -- perfect for a lunch time meal. FOOD - the food was actually really good. I think of the Italian Village as sort of touristy Italian, to be honest. But in this case, I had the agnolottini and the wife had the ravioli. Mine was cooked perfectly al dente. The sage/butter sauce was a very nice compliment as well, though I thought there was probably a little too much butter standing on the plate, as the pasta didn't exactly lend itself to dipping. The pasta could have been made a little better if they would have diversified the Pheasant stuffing with possibly a mushroom or something else, but all in all it was very good. Apparently, the family also grows their own organic garden in the summer and uses the produce in the restaurant. After tasting the tomato sauce served with my wife's ravioli, I wasn't surprised. It was so fresh, with a crisp, clean taste. The ricotta was extremely well strained, so it didn't have a lumpy texture to it, but was rather very smooth. Very tasty to say the least. ALCOHOL - no alcohol at lunch, but I can tell you that Wine Spectator was ranked as a Grand Award Winner (highest honor a restaurant can receive for wine menu ) in 2004. These days, it isn't a Grand Winner, but it is still routinely mentioned. I'm sure they have a phenominal and daunting wine list, but not having tried anything, I can't really speak to it. Overall, good Italian food, which is decently priced. There are definitely better/more authentic Italian places in the city, but this one does the trick if you are down in the loop. read more

We had a party of 7 at Vivere last night before going to the CSO. We got there a couple minutes before our 5:30 reservation and were seated right away. The decor at Vivere is strange. A little like gold-plated Dr. Seuss land, but I think it was pretty fun and not too bizarre. It's not a huge restaurant, but it did get pretty noisy while we were there. Sometimes it was difficult to hear someone talking at the other end of the table. But, to the most important part: the food! Since it's a pretty upscale restaurant, I expect the food to be verging on, if not completely, mind blowing. Overall, I think it was excellent but not exactly mind blowing. But, some of our party were blown away! (Seriously, my dad won't stop talking about the barramundi!) I split a mozarella and tomato salad with my friend, which was very fresh and well balanced. The tomatoes were perfect. My parents had a venice and beet salad that they positively raved about. My entree was a really nice "Venetian" lasagna. It was incredibly tasty, but also very filling. It had red peppers in the layers and just the right amount of a creamy tomato sauce. It's not the melty cheese-fest of a lasagna you'll get upstairs at The Village (go there and eat that right now if you love cheesy awesome lasagna!!), but it was a really nice, classy lasagna. My dad mentioned for hours afterwards that his barramundi was awesome. In fact, I'm sorta surprised I haven't heard him raving about it all morning. Based on the number of empty plates (5 out of 7 of us - the two being me and the guy who also got lasagna), I think the food was well received. Their wine list is extensive - I've heard the most extensive in Chicago. Dessert was great - most of us got gelato. Ladies, beware. There is only one stall in the bathroom. So, be prepared for wait, and open the door slowly because there's a good chance someone will be standing behind it waiting in that closet of a bathroom! Overall, it was a really great night of food and company. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 for the noise and the bathroom. read more