We come to this restaurant every year, usually 2-3 times whenever we're in the area. We've always enjoyed the food and considered it one of the best in the area. Today, though, was different. Everything seemed a little off. We were still famished, so we devoured all the food, but we couldn't help noticing that the quality and consistency just weren't there this visit. Hopefully, it was just an off day, because we've always had great experiences here in the past. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Vivo was perfect for my sis and I to have after Universal Studios! We were starving and decided as a team to eat here. The food was very delicious and pleasing, so I was very happy to try here. For my food I ordered the salmon w/ roasted potatoes and side Caesar salad. And I ordered the chicken piccata Togo and OMG it was perfect!!! All the food was flavorful and moist!! Food was 5/5 and the service was decent 4/5 but overall 5/5!!! The manager was very nice and the guy giving out the plates was very amicable. The desert was also top notch!! I tried the cookies & cream gelato and it was very bomb and very creamy!! I suggest this for desert!! The ambiance was very nice and modern. Very nice and located at universal! They have happy hour too with great food and good prices!! I will definitely come back!! -Marshay D. read more

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Broooo!!! Your burrata and tomato' dish is to DIE FOR! So tasty and fresh. The tomatoes were perfect ripe. I tried the Risotto after, and boy oh boy was it good. The perfect firmness on the grain and so creamy. The taste was good as well. Service was excellent. Kind server, it was the morning so I think I may have been her first table, but she was so attentive and fast and nice. It's a great location, even though it's in the universal city walk, it wasn't loud or unpleasant to be sat there. I'll be back. read more

I've been meaning to try this place at CityWalk. I'm glad I did! We were recommended to try the stracchino stuffed bread; it was delicious! Cheesy and flavorful; I especially liked to arugula mixture. As advised, we squeezed the lemon into the mixture, which really enhanced the flavor. We also shared caprese salad and chicken piccata. Portions were generous, and everything was nicely flavored. Definitely recommend squeezing the lemon onto the pasta and chicken for extra depth of flavor. I also like it with Parmesan on top. The caprese was light and refreshing, and the flavors were on point. We sat at the bar, and the bartender/server Shannon was friendly and attentive. This is a nice casual spot that could also work for a dressed up date night. I would definitely come here again. read more

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Honestly very surprised that a place on citywalk was super good! Our food was fresh and the flavors were delicious. The chicken piccata was so flavorful, pasta was cooked perfect, and the chicken was so moist. The steak we had got was cooked just to my liking (medium rare) and I loved the crispy potatoes, the chimichurri was fresh as well. The place is dimmed and while dining inside it's actually quieter than expected. Our server was an interesting guy, a little attitude, and kind of awkward but nonetheless attentive. read more

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First time dining here and definitely not the last! Stumbled on this place for a quick lunch before watching a movie in City walk. The host welcomed us with a smile and asked if we preferred to sit inside the restaurant or outdoor. It was weekend so we picked outdoor seating, nice vive with 60 degrees weather. Our server, Markie G is the best, he needs a pay raise! Attentive, made sure our food was ordered correctly without allergens as we specified before ordering and even gave us 15% discount when I asked if they have discount for nurses week or yelp reviewers. The food is great, spaghetti and meatballs was a good choice and reasonable price. Plate is good amount of size and garlic bread is a perfect match. Parking is only $5 if you're AMC stub A-lister, otherwise get ready to pay $40 since it's City walk. read more

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Came here for dinner prior to visiting the theme park. Mainly decided on this spot bc of the convenience of being at city walk before the park. We had low expectations but were pleasantly surprised by how good the food here is! You can't go wrong with hot honey on pizza and pasta had a nice kick to it. Would visit again next time we're at city walk! read more

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Dinner on a Monday night after a long day at Universal, and we were able to walk in with a short 10 min wait. There seemed to be plenty of seats available, but there was a still a wait, and I get it because there was probably a shortage of servers. While our server was very friendly and nice, the wait time for food and service was just slower than we wanted after a long day (hence minus a star). Ambiance and surroundings in the cafe were beautiful and very cool. The food as well was pretty good, but nothing spectacular. Venetian salad was refreshing. Kids pizza was excellent, same with kids spaghetti with 1 meatball. Penna vodka with chicken looked amazing. But was a tad spicier than I expected. Steak Tagliata was good as well, and the potatoes with the dish were excellent. Would def recommend for anyone in the area. read more

3rd time here and consistently has delivered excellent service and quality food. I normally don't eat the pizza crust but here I eat every piece. It's a nice thin crispy crust. Today Krystina and Claire were wonderful. And even little things like their Arugula lemon side salad was a hit with the family, (we added Parmesan to it) simple yet quality ingredients make all the difference. From all those big chain huge portions places here at City walk is wonderful to have this gem focused on higher end crafted food. read more

I love this restaurant. I always try to dine here when I am at Universal City Walk. Service was ok, the waiter was not that attentive, however, the atmosphere was beautiful with nice lighting. I ordered a chicken piccata and a pepperoni pizza. It was delicious and filled with flavor. I got a gelato cookies and cream for dessert. The Gelato was sooo good. I am going back to try the happy hour. read more

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Came down for a quick two-night trip for Halloween Horror Nights and figured we'd sneak in a nice dinner before facing the chainsaws. Enter VIVO Italian Kitchen -- and wow, best pre-scare decision ever. Our waiter Adam (pretty sure that was his name -- if not, shout-out to whoever suggested the cheese-stuffed bread) was awesome. That bread? Unreal. Warm, gooey, and probably powerful enough to solve world peace. The wife had the chicken parm, I went with the steak tagliata, and both were absolute hits. Perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and had us questioning if we could pull off dessert too. And the drinks -- we tried the Poison Apple martinis made just for Halloween Horror Nights and ended up ordering a third round. No regrets. Just good vibes and a slightly wobbly walk back to the hotel. Between the friendly service, killer food, and fun themed cocktails, this place was a total win. We'll absolutely be back -- because the real horror would be skipping it next time. read more

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This is a very classy restaurant on Universal City Walk. We dined on City Walk multiple times after visiting the park, and this was my favorite place. We chose to sit outside because it was a beautiful day. We started with some wine and bread. Happy hour prices can't be beat anywhere on City Walk. I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. Fantastic! Very fresh. My wife ordered Chicken Parmesan with Alfredo sauce.. it's not on the menu and she said it was delicious. Finally, my daughter got the salmon piccata which also isn't on the menu, but the waiter said it was better than the chicken piccata. Overall, outstanding vibe, great food and service. Definitely give this place a try! read more

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This restaurant served some yummy food ! I had the picata and hubby had a calzone which were so good. Service was good and fast! We brought our daughter here for her bday and she got a yummy cherry ice cream treat. I recommend this restaurant! read more

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Vivo is a great restaurant to pay a visit when going to universal or city walk. The pastas, pizzas and salads are delicious! Mt favorite entree is the chicken picatta, the flavor is amazing. All of the waiters and bartenders are friendly and helpful. I have sat inside, outside and at the bar and all locations are relaxing. read more

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I was looking for a chill Saturday and decided to try this restaurant out.! I ordered a Cesar salad and some meatballs, I mainly went to have a drink (lol) . The salad was over dressed and the meatballs were okay. The real star of the show was the bartender and the cocktails prepared. Keem was very attentive and very knowledgeable about the specialty drinks. If you're in the area or leaving the park, stop by and enjoy a meal. P.S. They do validate if you valet your car! read more

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I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and really liked it! Not the most authentic Italian restaurant, but still tasty and a great restaurant option in CityWalk! Great ambiance and service. We were seated quickly after our arrival. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

The star of the show was the complementary bread, the asparagus, and the spaghetti and meatballs! It was a good value for grilled chicken for the kids meal but was very dry. Don't forget you get a 50% discount for being a season pass member at Universal Studios... the location of the restaurant is just right outside of the park, which is nice when you're tired and just wanna eat at Citywalk. Don't forget to get your credit card because I left it here (gave it to the waiter in advance to pay for our party of 8). I called the next day and they could not find it so I called the main Lost and Found for Citywalk and they said they didn't have it either. read more

CityWalk has a lot of misses for restaurants but this one was actually decent. We were seated right away at 6:00 on a Friday evening. The booths were spacious and comfortable. Also liked the decor inside. Overall, our waiter was good and kept checking on us but I was surprised that he didn't refill our water glasses or wine. Bread was not complementary but we got the simply toasted option for $3 which came with marinara sauce. It wasn't enough for 6 pieces of bread so we asked for more which they didn't charge for. The bread was nice and crunchy and topped with some parsley. We split a chopped salad which came in 2 plates which was nice. The chopped salad was tasty and had a good ratio of dressing to lettuce/veggies. I was annoyed that our entrees came out while were still eating the salad. They should have timed it better because by the time I started eating my pasta it was cold. Restaurants like this should have a better sense of timing dishes. My shrimp fra diavalo had a good amount of shrimp and a nice kick of heat. Glad to have found a decent Italian spot on CityWalk! read more

This is my go-to spot before HHN every year because I found it to be the most affordable with the highest quality. This time, my roommate and I decided to have dinner here and check out their happy hour (M-F 3pm-6pm) before a movie on Saturday (December 6). When we arrived around 4:30pm, there weren't that many people but it did become fairly busy around 6pm when Universal Studios closed for the day. Our bartender, Shannon, was very friendly and knowledgeable in the offerings and honestly had such a lovely presence. We spoke with a man named Jonathan (seemed to be a manager but not completely sure) who was standing at the end of the bar and overheard us debating on whether to get a happy hour pizzette or a pizza off the regular menu. We appreciated his input and opted to get 2 of the Pizzette Biancas (mozzarella, fontina, stracchino, crema, pepperoncini, red onion, oregano). The pizzettes are smaller than the regular pizzas but the regular pizzas aren't that big either (we've had the Funghi Pizza and the Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza on previous visits and those are delicious too). The crust is thinner than a regular pizza here but the flavors are all there. We also ordered a Chicken Picatta and Jonathan asked us if we were splitting it. It came out on two separate dishes per our split request and we were impressed (honestly, I thought they were just going to give us an extra plate or something and it would have been fine but that extra touch really elevated our experience). The happy hour is a little limiting as they only have wines, pizzettes and a couple salads on there but considering the location---what a steal. Do yourself a favor and order yourself a carafe of wine off the happy hour menu and you'll definitely be getting your money's worth with how big the carafe is for $8. Off on the regular menu, they had two seasonal drink offerings and their Spiced Apple Cider hits the mark on a chilly night with the perfect amount of sweetness that isn't overpowering. We also had their Cranberry Prosecco drink off their seasonal menu and the presentation itself was interesting. If you order from a table, it seems you get your own split but if you're ordering from the bar, they'll pour it from a bigger bottle without that extra prosecco. The cranberry rosemary is actually completely frozen inside the glass so you'll want to sip slowly and let it melt a little to get the full effect but we enjoyed that drink as well. Some random notes: The parmesan cheese is freshly grated cheese at your table (or bar) and the grater is this giant metal cone so it's kind of cool but also appreciate when it's real cheese shaved onto your plate. Also, ask for a side of caesar dressing to dip your pizza bread in----it's homemade and delicious. Thank me later. This is forever be our go-to spot when we're visiting Citywalk or Universal Studios. All around five stars for food, service, and ambience. read more

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Amazing pasta and great pizza right on the Universal City Walk! We walked up and down the City Walk looking for a good place to eat and we definitely found it with Vivo. Went with the bolognese, spaghetti and the pepperoni pizza. Pasta cooked to perfection, al dente just the way it should be. Great flavor and great portions. The pizza was also delicious! Service was on point and the have some nice patio seating. Check this place out next time you are in Universal and want some great Italian food! read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Menú - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

This has become a staple during every visit to Universal, for us! We discovered it in August last year and stopped by for my dad's birthday dinner after a long day in the park. Since then, we've stopped by again before horror nights, again in December and again, yesterday. The food is delectable and is just the right amount before or after the park. We typically get 1 pasta dish, a salad, 2 or so pizzas and a few glasses of wine. We have numerous dietary allergies and restrictions (including GF, Vegan and Vegetarian) and we are always able to find options for everyone. The service is always phenomenal and we always receive our food in a timely manner, regardless of the amount of people in the restaurant. We get a discount with our pass and that leaves us room to tip more as well (which we always do). Highly, highly recommend read more

Our server Annette was awesome, we were well tended to. Food was great, margarita pizza was superb. After a busy long day at Universal Studios it was nice to sit down and relax in the peaceful atmosphere of this restaurant. Will be back read more

Came here for lunch before heading to Universal for my work's Staff Appreciation Day! The food was so delicious and it's a great place for private events. The staff were also so nice and accommodating. The pasta primavera was delicious and the pizza was amazing. The steak was also very good and so was the salad. The garlic bread was really good too. Altogether really great experience and will be coming back the next time I am at City Walk! read more

As annual pass members, we usually come here after or before a trip to universal studios. Unfortunately, there's not that many choices for good food at city walk. Vivo is probably in a class of its own. From the steak, to the pastas and pizzas... they are all great choices. Their pizza rivals the pizza from Naples by Disneyland. Calzone and gelato are a must. The whole restaurant, including ambiance and staff are very welcoming for families with kids. Today, our server was Austin. Incredible attention to detail and efficient. Double espresso is with a pistachio gelato is a great desert choice. You also get a 15% discount with the platinum annual pass. Your family will enjoy it. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Open kitchen - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Quite possibly my favorite meal while visiting California. No boxes needed, everything was devoured. Great service at the bar and a wonderful Sangria I might add. The Alfredo with shrimp & penne a la vodka with shrimp were both amazing. Feels very classy but don't be shy to walk in with your universal attire as this spot is on the city walk right outside universal studios. read more

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VIVO seems like the nicest restaurant on CityWalk. I have some mixed feelings on it, particularly on pricing and portion size. I ordered the chicken picatta for $27. The spaghetti portion was so small! As was the chicken. For this price, I'd expect around double the amount of food, particularly for the pasta. The pasta was very overcooked, veering into mushy territory. The sauce was nice, for the most part, but split and became oily over the course of the meal. The flavor was nice and creamy and buttery with a strong lemon flavor with a hint of white wine. Our waiter was great, he came by to check on us several times and had a lot of energy. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Chicken Picatta - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

This location has some elegant decor and chill atmosphere. It's a good place to feel fancy while at city walk. The service was great and quick. The noise volume is low so you can have easy conversations. The fettuccine alfredo was pretty good. Although I don't get it too often so I can't compare thoroughly. The portion size was just right. I finished my whole plate and was adequately full. This place is pricey but that's expected for restaurants at City Walk already. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Excellent! What a wonderful happy hour after being in the park all day. I sat at the bar and it was so chill and comfortable. They have a carafe for 8 on happy hour. So I got that and the giant chopped salad. It was wonderful. So fresh and great flavors. The staff was very nice and friendly as well. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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We stopped in here after our day at Universal Studios: it was during so-called Happy Hour: I had a margherita pizza, my friend the kale salad, a blood orange margarita & after sill being hungry a calzone. Our server was Marcos & he was friendly. The pizza had very little topping on it so I asked for Parmesan cheese, which helped, but created such a mess. They use a long metal conical graters that gets cheese not only on your food but on the table and the floor: such a mess and clumsy to use. Happy Hour prices are only for wine, so don't go there thinking you'll have a refreshing drink, because you won't unless you pay full price; I had the blood orange margarita and it was sour. I asked for a shot of Triple Sec and was told they don't use that in the margaritas, so I was give several squirts of Agave syrup... it made the drink somewhat better. My mistake was only ordering 1 meager pizza, because after the long day I was still hungry, so I asked to order another but was informed that Happy Hour was over & needed to order off of the regular menu. I made the mistake of ordering a $19 meat lover's calzone.... What a rip-off... there was little if any meat, one thin slice per area and no cheese that I could detect... tasteless to boot. It was if they took a naked pizza, folded it in half and served it.... Needless to say, I will not be eating there again! read more

We were headed to the car after a long day at Universal. We had mediocre food from Margaritaville yesterday and just wanted a quality meal today. We decided to stop at Vivo and I'm so glad we did!! It was the perfect atmosphere to decompress after a long day of over stimulation at Universal Studio. Austin was our server and he was great. We got Brussels Sprouts and Caprese as an appetizer. Both were so delicious!! I had the mushroom risotto with salmon. Husband had the steak. Daughter had the Fettuccine Alfredo. Son had the margarita pizza. Friends split the mushroom risotto. We split a bottle of Chianti between 3 adults. We couldn't have been happier with the food, service and atmosphere. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice glass of wine and a good meal to decompress after a long day at the park. Don't keep looking for something better - just stop here and enjoy. Thanks Austin for a great experience. read more

Ehhhh kind of bummed ... The restaurant is lovely. It felt as if there was one waiter as it took a moment to be greeted. We were one of of 4 maybe 5 tables. The waiter seemed to have a bit of a hard to with taking each of our orders - drinks were mixed up when delivered to the table- I just didn't feel very relaxed I ordered the 4 cheese pizza. So greasy, no sauce, the crust was the best part. No flavor at all. My Son liked his spaghetti and meatballs - his girlfriend had the fettuccine and she enjoyed that as well Mom ordered the chicken parm with spaghetti and said the chicken seemed like it may have been frozen as it was very tough. My Son had a bite and agreed. My Mom also commented on all of the oil on her plate. Again, lovely restaurant but I wouldn't recommend or go back. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Chicken Fettuccine - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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The Host and server (Christina) were great, very sweet. The restaurant is actually so cute and nice for a date if you're just walking through Universal City Walk. We had the bread board, Penne Allá Vodka, and the Fettuccine Alfredo. (We ate the bread board before I took a picture, preferred it just toasted) The Alfredo was creamy but had subtle sauce, overall an 8. I liked how saucy the Penne was and I liked how they weren't stingy with the chicken, overall 8 as well. The sangria was a 9, very easy to drink but a small kick at the end. Thank you, VIVO :) read more

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We came on a weekday for a party of 2. We were able to get seated quickly. We initially opted to sit outside but it got super windy; the staff was able to accommodate us and give us a booth quickly. FOOD I went in without much expectations as most Italian food tastes similar to me (haha even ones in Italy). They did a great job with the caprese salad with taste and presentation. The meatball spaghetti was flavorful. I liked the fettuccine the most; the shrimp was fresh, and the grilled chicken was super flavorful and moist. AMBIANCE Their interior design has a very nice ambiance. The lighting was perfect for me as I am not a fan of super dimmed places where I could barely see my food. SERVICE The staff that helped us was super nice. He came to check in on us and helped me with parking validation. PARKING If you park at the Jurassic parking, it'll bring you straight to the restaurants and food courts. The restaurant validates your parking so it's $10 for the first 2.5 hours. read more

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Located in Universal City Plaza, this is a great Italian restaurant to visit after a long day of fun at Universal Studios Hollywood. Great selection of fresh salads, pizzas, and pasta. For starters, I recommend their bread with marinara dipping sauce. Delicious Italian chopped salad. Finally, their prosciutto arugula pizza. read more

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For the love of God. Don't ever get rid of this place. This is the saving grace of Universal City Walk dining. We have eaten here about 5 times by now and every time has been a 5 star experience. They run this place incredibly well and the staff are really great vibes. The food, amazing. The service, on point. The ambience, perfect. The drinks, well crafted. The desserts, made in house and feels like it's coming from Nona's kitchen. The coffee, great. (Coming from a coffee lover here) Things we have tried and loved. Pizzas: - Quattro Formaggi (cheese) - Fennel Sausage - Prosciutto and Arugula - Piccante Miele Prosciutto Pastas: - Fettuccini with chicken. - Bolognese was tender. - Shrimp Fra Daviolo had FRESH shrimp. Sides: - Lemon Arugula Salad, two can share this btw. - Meatballs, very tender well seasoned. Desserts: - Tiramisu (GET THIS) - Gelato, very good. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Food poisoning with a side of gaslighting We were served raw chicken here and unfortunately, didn't realize until we were almost finished. When I pointed it out, the staff immediately tried to remove the plate before I could take photos. I had to stop them so I could document it. My wife and I were sick for a week. The restaurant assured us they would "make it right" and promised to cover our entire meal if we gave them another chance. Fast forward a few months. We came back in good faith. This time, the story had changed. We were told appetizers and desserts would be covered and one or two entrées. Confusing, but fine. We intentionally ordered modestly: two appetizers, one pasta, one chicken piccata to split, and a pizza. No dessert. We were even encouraged to order more appetizers "since it's on the house," but we declined because we weren't trying to take advantage of anything. Here's where it gets interesting. I briefly asked about adding extra chicken to the piccata and said I'd let them know. I never ordered it. A separate portion of chicken was brought out anyway. When the bill arrived, we were charged for it, something I never ordered. When I questioned the charge, the manager said they "comped two entrées" because they gave us larger portions when splitting the chicken. That's not what we ordered. We ordered one chicken piccata split. We didn't ask for double portions. I never ordered extra chicken, We didn't order a second entrée. We didn't agree to be charged for something that appeared without confirmation. Then the explanation shifted again: the manager said we had supposedly been told they would only cover one appetizer, one entrée, and one dessert. That is not what we were told!!! The terms seemed to evolve depending on who was speaking. The most concerning part? When I reminded the new manager that we had been served raw chicken and were sick for a week, his response was essentially: "I wasn't here then." Integrity isn't situational. This isn't about the money. It's about serving unsafe food, promising accountability, and then rewriting both the agreement and the order when it's time to follow through. We gave them a second chance. They chose not to honor their word. That will be our last visit. read more

VIVO Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

5 Stars all the way!!! Feels like a pleasant getaway from the (good) chaos that can be CityWalk + Universal Studios. Came with a friend a few weeks ago (her clever choice) & I was delightfully surprised that this place felt like an elevated change of pace amongst the touristy destination (CityWalk) & it's equally entertaining amusement park, Universal Studios. Granted I'm a local who's spent most of my life in L.A., I've lost count of how many total times I've been to Universal CityWalk. That said, although this lovely establishment has been open for a few years, only now have I really had the chance to experience Vivo. Now, don't get me wrong, you're not going to find a 5 Star / Michelin rated Italian establishment, but Vivo is still lightyears beyond anything you would typically expect at a tourist destination / attraction (not that there's anything wrong with the fast-casual or neighboring chain restaurant within CityWalk). That all said, the atmosphere inside the restaurant is such a pleasant "escape" from the huge crowds & especially all the crying babies (sorry, not sorry). This really is the place for a more intimate & classy vibe. I went with a "Strawberry Rye" for my cocktail. For someone who loves his whisky & strawberries - this was THE way to go. I highly, highly recommend this. For the appetizer, we went with the Stracchino Crescenza Bread. The bread was perfectly toasted & the cheese baked inside was perfectly ooey, gooey , & stretchy. I kind of wanted to take a pic of the cheese pull, but I also wanted to keep my dining experience classy. I highly recommend it. As for the main course, I opted for the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. It seems like most pics of food are for this very dish & for good reason. It was quite divine. There were plenty of shrimp, the pasta is perfectly al dente, & the sauce for it was so robust, rustic, & had the perfect amount of heat (I tent to like things on the spicier side). The dimly lit interior adds to the calming atmosphere. For someone who can get pretty anxious around larger crowds, this place feels like such a nice haven. Don't worry about the "fancy schmancy" aspects of having to dress-up or making reservations. Neither are required, but you still get to enjoy a very classy atmosphere (especially for a restaurant located right next to a theme park) & a finer dining experience than any other nearby establishment in CityWalk / Universal Studios has to offer. Also, huge, huge shoutout to Lisa for being the warmest, most hospitable server that anyone could ask for! Be sure to request a table under her if she happens to be working (evenings). I will most definitely be coming back & will be sure to recommend Vivo to anyone who plans on stopping by Universal CityWalk / Universal Studios Hollywood. Thanks, VIVO Italian Kitchen! Also... If management happens to be reading this review, please recognize Lisa for her outstanding customer service (this coming from someone who has never met her, but has worked as a server myself). If you ask me, the team is very, very lucky to have her & she deserves a raise ;) read more

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This was unfortunately mid. Small ahh portion for crazy style dollar. But it is on City Walk so I can't really fault them for that. Wish we at least got some free bread. The water is also lukewarm. The vibe is kinda cool tho. Senior night was that day so I was just reminiscing on how my senior night was robbed from me because of COVID. Pass though, just wait for the Canes to open on City Walk. read more

COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. Some of the staff wears a mask. All customers are not expected to wear a mask. It's optional now. The staff also wears gloves when handling food. There are some hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has some indoor & outdoor seating available with no limited capacity. They are not sanitizing in between customers. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was dining in this establishment with a friend days ago, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently don't have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment UNLESS it's a service animal. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is pretty massive since the restaurant is located in Universal CityWalk. Most parking spaces are pretty big. Food: My friend and I had ordered the stracchino stuffed bread to share. It was super cheesy. You could really taste the cheese and the olive oil. The cheesy stuffed bread was crispy on top and chewy and cheesy on the inside. It came with a side of arugula. I'm not a fan of arugula, so my friend ate all of it. Hahaha I ordered the bolognese. The pasta was cooked just right. Not too soft, yet not too hard. The meat sauce was thick, rich, and full of flavor. The ground beef was cooked with onions, garlic, and tomatoes because you can really taste those ingredients when you dig in. They weren't stingy with the ground beef either. Decent portions. Drink: I ordered a peach Bellini. It was super fruity and refreshing. Just what I needed. Staff: The staff here are very nice, friendly, and knowledgeable. Lisa was our server, and she just brought a chill vibe to the table, which I loved. She checked in on us and was attentive to our needs throughout the dinner. Great server. They accept both cash and credit cards. There is no credit card minimum. I would definitely come back for the service, atmosphere, and food. read more

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Vivo is a lovely Italian eatery in the heart of the Universal Citywalk. While overtly another generic Italian restaurant, Vivo is in fact a delicious, well-priced establishment with excellent service. Our family visited on a Friday evening. After a 20 minute wait, we were seated at a lively table located right on the Citywalk. We ordered the garlic cheese bread with marinara to share ($6), a unremarkable, weak start, but this was followed by the Fennel Pizza ($20) a crisp, delicious sausage and ricotta pizza which was light and had a phenomenal crust. The Bolognese ($25) pasta was delectable, with perfectly a dente pasta and a rich, well spiced beef and pork meat sauce. The Penne Alla Vodka ($22) was almost as good, with an excellent sauce. Prices, above, were very reasonable for the food quality, and surprisingly low for such a touristy area. The restaurant was clean, the inside trendy, and the entire experience lively as we ate only a few steps away from the bustling citywalk. The strongest aspect of our visit, however, was the service. Adam took our orders, checked in frequently but not excessively, was generous with the shaved Parmesan, refilled my soda without me even asking, and even gave me one for the road. Completely unnecessary and unexpected in the best way. Strong work. Far more than your generic Italian, Vivo is a delicious, well priced restaurant with phenomenal service well worth a visit. Vivi la Vita su Vivo! Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Value: 4.5/5 read more