Vivere Reviews

I ate here on a Tuesday night. It was a slow night as there were no plays showing (due to Halloween I understand). Our service was very attentive but hard to judge much as it was so slow. I had the pheasant filled pasta which was fantastic. The grilled octopus appetizer was good by not great. I would have liked to see the portions slightly bigger for the price but overall not bad. Very nice experience and would recommend it.

I was not impressed. Thought the food was average at best and the service seemed a little rushed. I did like the atmosphere however but not enough to return.

My group of 4 went in for italian desserts . . . we got more quality than we expected and really had a great time. The chefs selection was terrific and we decided to accompany the treat with Port and Cognac. Now we want to go back for a full dinner experience!

Great place if you are looking for something different in the Italian genera. The food was very good and flavorful. We had the new smoked octopus salad (very good) the lasagna,the risotto, and sorbet. The decor was quaint and almost Disney-like and our waiter was knowledgable and helpful with the menu.

We were hoping to go to Italian Village but when we got there we were told it was a 40 minute wait for a table for two. So instead we took the last available table at its main floor sister restaurant Vivere which bills itself as the fine dining option of the three related restaurants in the same building. I had the crab cakes and the pasta with calamari both of which were very good. My wife had the beet salad followed by the black rice appetizer which was excellent. This restaurant costs a little more than the other options in the same building but the quality of the food was very high.

Horrible!!! We had $500 in gift cards that were pre-approved by the owner Gina...and the when our $466 bill came they wouldn't accept more than $250 of our gift cards. We are not residents of Chicago so ended up giving away $250 of our gift cards to random people so they would not go to waste. Italian village is Shady!!! The manager Gerardo Castillo was ridiculous, and REFUSED to discuss! He REFUSED to call the owner Gina to discuss. He walked away with his tail between his legs, and told us he wasn't going to listen to us any further and to do what we wanted to do! What...walk out without paying??? What does that mean? We are upper class white Americans...we don't do that!!! He would rather make a very public scene and embarrass our party by trying to cheat us than go along with what his waiter, and the owner had pre-approved. We paid the other half reluctantly. Out of towners beware!!! Skip Italian Village!!! Go ANYWHERE else. We will NEVER go back and will tell everyone we know about how Italian Village ruined our family reunion and how horribly disrespectful the manager is and how unbelievable it is he has a job. Gerardo...the hospitality business is NOT for you!

This restaurant has been around since 1927 and the decor takes you back there. The food is interesting and the servings generous (we were advised that the starters were big enough to share and it was true). The wine list is magnificent and the wait staff attentive.

We were with a group, but the entrees served were definitely prepared with an old school Italian recipe. The sauce on the pasta was delicious, we had filet mignon and salmon, that was prepared perfectly with fresh asparagus. The service was wonderful. We were heading to the CIBC Theatre across the street, so the location was also pefect.

Simple Italian food but made with fresh ingredients. Very attentive wait staff. Only con the night we visited the kitchen closed at 8.30 so felt a little rushed to order.

The atmosphere was wonderful - contemporary yet a little like the roaring 20's. The food was outstanding. The service wonderful. Even though it was an Italian restaurant, the creme brulee was amazing!

We found this restaurant just walking down the street. The sign said "Chicago's Oldest Italian Restaurant" which caught our eye. Being Italian, we tried it. Oh my goodness, what great food. I have some food restrictions and the chef was very accommodating. They have gluten free pasta. He made a seafood dish for me without onions or garlic in the sauce using instead some wonderful peppers and olive oil. The seafood consisted of shrimp, calamari, scallops, and what looked like baby octopus - might have been squid. My husband had a mushroom and sausage rivoli pasta. He said it was delicious. Our waitress was very cheerful and gave excellent service. She suggested the gluten free dish that I had and gave my request to the chef with all of the limitations. The décor was so out of the 50's even though it was the newest part of the three restaurants there in the Italian Village. You felt like you would see some of the Untouchables walk through the door for lunch. I will definitely recommend Vivere to others.

We would love to give Vivere 5 stars, but the frequent gripes I see on the one star reviews here about service being really slow, are legitimate. The food is excellent - outstanding really - and the gripes about portions being small are only valid if comparing to the piles of junk food you get at some supposedly up scale restaurants. The portions were quite adequate, but not generous, and it's quality not quantity we were looking for. I had shrimp risotto with a huge pile superbly seasoned and augmented rice - $30 - not out of line. It had crab meat plus only 3 shrimp but they were the biggest shrimp I've ever seen and absolutely delicious. A fourth shrimp would have been nice since we like to share. My wife had a scallop dish ($33) prepared as medallions with vegetable on farrow. The scallops, I think there were 5 were, were also huge and done just right - super tender and tasty. Desert was the creme brulee, $10, more than adequate for two. But the service issue is strange. It's probably hit and miss depending on your server and how busy the place is. She was slow and annoying because we had to wait as longer than 5 minutes more than once to get attention. It's strange because the waitress should realize the tip goes down $5 each time we have to wait way too long. We has about 2 hours for dinner, and it took almost all of that. P.S.: The sound level at the Vivere is very conversation friendly. Also - make sure you look at the "theater prix fixe menu" - it's a good deal.

I reserved a table based on reviews to meet a friend in Chicago,and we were disappointed. The food was bland, the dining room crowded, and the wait staff clearly wanted us to eat quickly and vacate the table. They served butter with the bread rather than olive oil and featured clam chowder for the soup. Whoever is in their kitchen might never have actually tasted good Italian food, and neither will anyone eating here. The wine special was clearly a bargain Barbera, but priced among better offerings. In all, many other fine Italian restaurants in Chicago.

So I do not partake of the gluten, at all, ever, thus I tend to shy away from Italian restaurants. So happy that I gave Vivere a try. Took a good GF to the CSO for Wynton Marsalis and Jon Batiste for her bday. Dined here prior to the show, IN AND OUT, perfectly in ONE HOUR. Actually we were a little sad because my GF wanted to linger over a second glass of Riesling and I wanted to try the Tiramisu (of course) but no time. The Risotto Con Granchio E Pesto Di Basilico Estate was PERFECT! I typically never, ever eat all of my food and I cleaned my plate! If you are a fan of basil pesto it is a must try. My GF had the Lasagna which she raved about. We shared the Insalata Della Casa which was also tasty. Return trip planned to actually sample their gluten free pasta because thus far I haven't been wowed by anyone's gluten free pasta. The atmosphere is cozy but busy seemingly because a lot of people were off to the theatre or the symphony. I think this would be a great date night spot, now to find a date! Oh regarding the wine, I had the sparkling Rose which our waiter recommended and it was divine, TWO FLUTE divine. Yes, I will return.

The place is dark and interesting and the service excellent. Our appitizers created great expectations.; the gnocchi perfect and the mushrooms memorable. My wife's risotto was a bit bland and I had their daily special, pork tenderloin wrapped in procutto. Three round disks on a long plate. The preparation was good but the design poor. The strong ham taste with a hint of spam dominated everything. No subtlety or variety, boring and not tasty. I was hungry so I ate it all.

Vivere is wonderful restaurant. When we go to Chicago we never miss eating there. The food is excellent. Also, great ambience and service. It is a good place to eat at before going to the Theater.

This was my first time eating at one of the Italian Village restaurants even though I’ve lived near Chicago my whole life. Originally, we wanted to eat upstairs at The Village, but they were not able to accommodate so we went downstairs to Vivere. After comparing the menus later, I think this ended up working out for the best. The food was fantastic. I had black cod served on quinoa. I have never had cod like that before. It practically melted in my mouth. For dessert we wanted something light and split the lemon sorbet. We were there fairly early, so it wasn’t crowded when we arrived. Much fuller by the time we left, but still able to comfortably have a conversation. Food did not take long to arrive once we ordered.

We stayed at the Palmer House Hotel to go to the Hamilton musical at CIBC theater. All three of these places are within 3 blocks of each other. I had searched for a good dinner place before the show and this was not only very close but also superb dinners and wonderful service as well. They even have a special theater dinner menu. We chose from this menu and it was very excellent! Our waiter Milos, is very good. Prompt service, very attentive and he even charged my cell phone for me when the battery was dying. He took my phone to the bar and plugged it in, then retrieved it immediately when I requested it back. Now that is great service! We ordered a half carafe of Montepulciano. The Theater Prix Fixe Menu ($39.95/person) included choice of salad- Cesar or Della Casa. For Seconds, my wife had the Mezzaluna Di Zucca - pasta, butternut squash, Parmesan-Reggiano, butter sauce, Ameretti cookie, polenta and toasted almonds. I had the Capesante Con Risotto Di Farro - pan-seared sea scallops, creamy Farro Risotto, pomegranate seeds and roasted winter squash. Both of these entrees were done perfectly in a beautiful presentation. For Dolce (dessert) my wife had the Bruciata - house made creme brulee. I had the Sorbetto E Gelato Del Giorno - sorbet with house made biscotti. A very fine Italian 3 course dinner in a very smartly designed dining area with great old world Italian ambiance. I even liked the unique bar tucked beneath the stairwell. Very cool and sophisticated place and prices that are very reasonable for the quality and service. We had a great time here. I highly recommend it. Cheers to Vivere! Grazie!

This is a great place for both the food and ambiance. Been here three times and it has never disappointed. The pheasant stuffed pasta was great. My husband had the vela chop. Yum.

Plan to eat a lot of food, a lot. And it's too ood not to do so. Excellent Italian food in the heart of Chicago. Old school ambiance and service adds to the experience.

Lots of menu choices and helpful staff, but the seafood pasta was salty, oily, and used meager amounts of previously frozen seafood. Why not eat elsewhere and get fresh food?

Our first time here. We were hoping to go to the Italian Village, but did not realize that there were multiple restaurants in the same building until after we left. I did notice valet parking was $12, but didn't use it as we were staying down the street. I guess you would classify this restaurant as fine dining, but there's no dress code. I had the ravioli and my mom had the passacito, which were both very good, but rich. I also had a bellini which was delicious. Our server Dane was very attentive. Grand total was around $73. Pretty pricey considering I was still hungry afterwards. There were a few good dessert options, but I ended up having dessert elsewhere.

Dinner at Vivere, the contemporary Italian restaurant at the Italian Village downtown. It wasn't cheap - over $100 for two people, which included an appetizer, two main courses, one dessert and two glasses of wine. I enjoyed their tomato soup, a seasonal dish. My entree was agnoletti stuffed with pheasant, in browned butter and sage. I'd never tried pheasant, and the waitress, who was very good, said if I didn't like it, they'd take it back and give me something else w/o extra charge. I'm glad I tried it because it was superb! We ordered a chocolatey-chocolate dark dessert which was more than enough for two people. We were dressed nicely, not fancy, but the place was filled with people in shorts. I think the ambiance is more fitting to looking better than that.

Lovely restaurant tucked away in the "Italian Village" cluster of restaurants. Very elegant and cool decor - very romantic and pleasing to the eye. Staff was ok, and there were alot of them. Enormous wine list - with all types of prices and good selection of wines by the glass. Food was Italian and average. Probably wouldn't go back.

I had been to Vivere a few years back and so when we decided go to a Broadway show, I was happy to see the restaurant was close enough that I could make a reservation and take my wife here as part of our date night. As we entered just before 5:30 pm on Saturday, there were people in front of us without reservations who were told it would be a 45 minute wait. It would be a good idea to make reservations since many people were dining before either seeing Dear Evan Hansen or Hamilton. We were seated promptly in a cozy booth for two. Dane was our server and he was very a great help in making a wine recommendation. In addition to the regular menu, there is a price fixe menu for those going to shows. I chose the price fixe options and my wife ordered off the regular menu. The food was excellent. My wife and I both had the pork potato soup as an appetizer. My wife had ravioli and I had the scallops. All the pasta is house made and my wife said you could tell. The portions were good - not so much that you would have to try and stay awake at the show but not so small that you were hungry at intermission. Dane asked us if we were heading to a show and knowing that we were, he made sure we had plenty of time to get to our show without rushing us. The only downside was the noise level. It was quite loud the evening we were there - in large part to a very boisterous birthday party celebration going on. It made our conversation a little difficult at times and took away from the romantic date night atmosphere. Beyond that, Vivere is a solid choice for dinner - whether you are going to show or not.

Food was amazing and out of this world. This is all you will like about it.

In the Italian Village. Great wine selection & traditional Italian cuisine.

Food is superb, wine list spectacular, ambience fantastic, and top notch service.

I called and made reservations to have dinner at The Village. I had checked prices on line prior to calling and this was within our budget. One of the people in our party has mobility issues and I asked if there were stairs. The hostess said yes but offered to transfer me down stairs to Vivere. She did and our reservation was made. When we arrived we were seated on the main floor restaurant Vivere. They gave us menus and we were surprised to see that the menu was totally different from The Village menu. Vivere is much more expensive (a theater dinner special for $39.99 a person) had only 1 vegetarian option and no pizza or sandwiches as we saw when we checked The Village menu on line. We were told the each restaurant had a separate menu and we could not order from another menu. There were 30 stairs going up to The Village restaurant so going up there was not a option. We spoke to the maître d’ and he made an exception for us and allowed us to order off the Village menu. We had a variety of different pasta dishes and all delicious. The gelato was creamy and tasty and the crème brûlée made to perfection. Be prepared to valet park as there is no street parking by the restaurant but the cost is reasonable at $12.00 and the service quick. PrivateBank Theater is within walking distance 1/2 block away but the Oriental Theater is not within walking distance.

We were in town for my nephew's graduation from University of Chicago. We had not made reservations for the evening and asked our car driver where we could go within walking distance of our hotel. He recommended The Italian Village Restaurants. We made a reservation and showed up 30 minutes later. I had my reservations regarding any place we could get in so quickly. We ended up eating at Vivere, one of the three restaurants in The Italian Village. We were not disappointed. The pasta is home made and cooked perfectly. The dishes were flavorful and unique. Our whole family enjoyed everything. What a pleasant surprise!.

My experience at Vivere was "Meh". I think I'd rather gone to a chain restaurant then this place. Unfortunately our server was just doing his job, and I didn't feel any good connection or that he was particularly that great. My girl-friend and I were only in Chicago for one night, and wanted a great experience. But this place was just a little underwhelming overall. The waiter did help me with altering one of the dishes, so it was a red sauce instead of white (which I prefer), but the red sauce was very bland - just plain old tomato sauce. I didn't care for it that much, but I was so hungry from traveling all day, and I was drinking wine so I at the whole meal. However, I'd rather have made my own ragu at home then eat this again. I will say that the Caesar salad was good - although I didn't eat it all, because I'm on a diet and it had a LOT of dressing. The restaurant is "pretty nice" on atmosphere, but it felt a little off. I can't place my finger on it, and maybe it was just our server - but overall I can say is this place is average, and the food was okay. Not great Italian, so to me it was overpriced... but it was okay.

Overpriced and so-so food and poor service. We were very disappointed. Our waiter was very annoying and obsequious.

Food just average. More American than Italian. Underwhelming for Chicago. You can do much better. Service good. That’s all I can write.

We went to Vivere last week prior to the theater for dinner. We don't get downtown all that often, so we went for this upper bracket restaurant hoping for something a bit special. We were very happy with our experience, My wife had the risotto with lobster, and I had the seafood calabrese, which we shared. The risotto was perfect in flavor and bite. My calabrese had baby shrimp, calamari and large scallops. The scallops were especially delicious, considering how easy it is to overcook them. My common complaint about high-end restaurants is usually the prices are high and the quantities are low. Vivere did not fit the stereotype with their quantities. Our meals were generous, so we judge Vivere as a good value.

Very good dishes. We had Gnocchi, pasta with pancetta, pasta with Italian sausage, pasta and mussels, we had caprese Salad and calamari for appetizers. Tiramisu and key lime cheese cake for desert. Service and food was excellent

Highly recommended this is my favorite place in Chicago, I always do the tasting menu with wine pairing. The Sous Chef visits the table and ask what you don't like and everything else is fair game, creative, great portions and very nice wine pairing always a lot of fun and fabulous food.

How much time do you have? No really....we didn't understand this was the meaning of the opening question "are you going to the theater tonight?".We said no, and this lead to the most drawn dinner since we ate in a restaurant in rural Ontario. It was Saturday night; we had a reservation, we were seated immediately. It started well, And I will say at the beginning that the wait staff was good, and apologetic and offered free items and comped menu items....but this was no excuse for the disaster coming from the kitchen. First, it took 45 minutes after we ordered for our appetizers to arrive....a salad and a crab cake. Apparently they were trying to catch the crab in the Chicago River. But then the crab cake was cold when it should have been warm. We actually asked the waitstaff about this. Then another long wait. The waitstaff realized it was very long and offered free drinks and brought another appetizer that we couldn't eat (food allergies). I ordered a steak that when it arrived was undercooked - and I will eat a wide spectrum of meat levels - but this was almost raw. The fish dish we ordered was ok, but because I had to send the steak back, my wife was left with the quandary of eating alone or eating cold fish - this is no question a diner in a couple should ever have to ask. Again the wait staff offered free desserts, but after 2.5 hours and a fiasco of courses, we'd lost our appetite. Enough was enough. I just don't understand what happened. We ordered standard menu items. The only bad meal experience during our long weekend in Chicago.

Great place, nice atmosphere, food was great, and friendly employees. Perfect place for a business dinner

Delicious meal, excellent service in a cozy, romantic bistro type setting. Heather was our server and was quite friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Exhaustive wine list with 3 floor wine cellar within the restaurant. Chianti selection was exhaustive. If Italian is your desire, don’t miss this place on W Monroe at the Loop.

Amazing menu...braised short rib lasagna--wow! Wonderful service, wonderful wine selection, wonderful, unique atmosphere. Love what they do with the menu--Can't wait to go back!

We started with roasted beet salad, lobster gnocchi, mushrooms with cream sauce, veal chop and ended with 2 desserts. Everything was flavorful and in a timely manner by a friendly and knowledgable waiter. We will be back.

Way over-priced, slow service, limited menu and food was not good. The only reason to go would be if you have tickets to a show at the Bank of America Theater. Very close to that.

Have always gone to the Italian village when in Chicago, it has been our favourite restaurant. As we taking out some friend we decided to book into vivere as we thought it would be a little more upmarket with food and service. We actually went to book the day before and went upstairs to the Italian village for lunch and the meal and service was excellent. I think the servers name was Rodney. Back to vivere, service was poor no sparkle at all, ambience is drab and old, no feel whatsoever and the food was very average. Asked for an antipasto for 4 and I am sure they have no idea what an Italian antipasto should consist of. No balsamic vinegar on table nor pepper. My pasta which they say is homemade which ma be correct was stuck together in almost a ball, seafood were all small items of seafood and supposed to have scallops did not sight any. I was very disappointed, we were actually told to leave at 10 pm as they said that they were closed.

We ate here before going across the street to see Hamilton. Not only was it conveniently right next to the theatre, but it was some of the best food we’ve ever had. One of our family member’s thought it wasn’t all that, but everyone else agreed that it was amazing. The pasta and stuffed mushrooms were so good. My only complaint was that the tiramisu didn’t taste quite like coffee, just like chocolate. But even so, it was AMAZING! Definitely recommend!

When I felt homesick for Europe spirit and Mediterranean food, this was the place I came to. Great wine selection and plenty of fish and varieties. Now that I am in Europe I miss Vivere and their amazing and very polite staff, also beautiful ambiance

There is a difference between good food and a good dining experience. Vivere has superb food to offer, with everything made “from scratch,” including perfect pasta. The presentation is visually pleasing. The decor is interesting, bright, colorful, festive. Attentive well trained service. Good wines to choose from. Interesting deserts. I’m so glad I came. Well located in Theater district. Valet parking (can park, eat, and stay for a show all at once).

My wife and I started our weekend shopping trip by having lunch at Vivere. Although not many reviews were available online for this establishment, I put alot of weight on Wine Spectator's recommended lists. (It's a top ten!). Wine list is truly incredible, and the menu was full of entree's that I would love to try. Unfortunately, we only had "room" for two, and both were incredible. I won't detail each of our entrees, however, the ingredients are top quality, imaginitive, and prepared with excellence. The service was prompt and very attentive, but I certainly would not call it friendly. (I have not seen server heirarchy like this since our last cruise.) Our cups were never empty, and every request was fulfilled quickly. (Even a special dessert request not on the menu!). The server, however, was a bit aloof. This may have been more pronounced due to my enthusiasm at the start of our "mini" vacation, and I certainly would return to dine here with no hesitation. The decor/atmosphere is superb, and the walls, floors, furniture and artwork are a feast for the eyes. I think that a long, relaxed dinner here would be even more enjoyable, and we may do this the next time we are in Chicago.

This restaurant is the high end of the three restaurants that make up the Italian Village. They often have interesting specials of the day and a varied menu of steaks, chops and seafood as well as some interesting pasta dished. If your looking for a more traditional predictable place, go upstairs to one of their other eating places. It's good too. This trip I ordered their Halibut entree and it was excellent. The fish was fresh, moist and cooked to perfection. Overall a very enjoyable and delicious meal. Service is prompt, attentive and pleasant. This is one of the restaurants I frequesnt when traveling to Chicago on business.

Our company had a reservation for 30-ish on a Tuesday night. Just short walk from the Residence Inn on LaSalle, this place is great. Its a pretty big place, there's a loft area ("The Balcony" where two long tables were set up to house our whole group. Drinks were flowing and the staff kept our glasses full. We had a "custom, trimmed down" menu for our company (due to the size of our group) where each guest chose one appetizer (antipasto), one main entree, and a dessert (dolci). there were 3 choices for each, i had the Insalata Di Cesare (caesar salad), Filetto Di Bue Alla Griglia (beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, asparagus, aged balsamic glaze), and the Millefoglie Con Frutta Di Stagione (fruit, marsala, pastry). They didn't ask our individual preferences for cooking the tenderloin, i'd say it was medium-rare (which isn't my first choice) but it was excellent. In fact, everything was great. People around me had the salmon and ravioli and no one mentioned anything negative about any of it. The staff was attentive and kind. The 30 of us even played 'musical chairs' after we ordered and after one or two "I was there"s and "I had this"s, everything worked out. I'll be back to Vivere soon.

I took my wife to this place 50 years for our first date. On Saturday we returned to Chicago and to this wonderful place. We started in the bar, which is a quiet delight, where Cameron tended to us and made feel very welcome. Then it was in to the main restaurant where we were ably served by Jerson D. The food was delightful, Scallops for her, Risotto for me. Tiramisu to share with delicious coffee. They say you can never go home but that didn't apply to this visit. Thank you Vivere

We came to Vivere based upon our hotel's suggestion. Wow. So glad that we did. The service was fantastic, even though the restaurant was busy. Wonderful ambiance and AMAZING food. I had the mahi mahi, and it was perfectly cooked. Would absolutely return here again.

This is the finest Italian cuisine you will find in Chicago, the waiters are a a little snobbish they would shout at you if you make noise but the food quality is outstanding. One of their plates serves a Rabbit, first time to taste rabbit in my life, thought it would be repulsive but it is fantastic

Having been in Italian restaurants in Italy a number of times, I have gotten used to the meaning of Italian food being adapted to something else when traveling other countries, but I have to say, this was genuinely like it would be made in Milan or Venice. I am very enthusiastic about the quality of the food in this restaurant. A bit to the expensive side and an oddly tired waiter, but the quality makes me fully ignore that. This is a 'have to', if you like Italian food the Italian way.

The dining room was designed by Jordan Moser and everything about this place gets an A+ from me. The food is reasonably priced and excellent. Nice to enjoy upscale quality food without the price. Nice wine list as well. The baroque theme is inviting and cozy. The crab cakes are to die for…seriously divine. For an entree, I recommend the Ravioli Di Formaggio con Melanzane Fritti

We had not been to Vivere in a few years, but will not wait long to return. The food was delicious & the service impeccable! We had tickets to see Hamilton & the staff did to make us feel rushed, but definitely kept us on schedule. The appetizers were perfect & my pasta dish was fantastic. Great flavors & presentation. We were asking ourselves why it had been so long because we always enjoy Vivere for fine dining. We will definitely visit more often in the new year! Thanks to the maitre d' Fred & his superb staff, in particular our server Dane. Always a pleasure when he is our server.

This is one of 3 restaurants housed in Italian Village. It is the most formal of the 3 but we wore jeans and were fine. The pasta is homemade and authentic..not the usual Ragu and boring Alfredo. We shared a delicious ravioli stuffed with pheasant. It was so good. Entrees were duck breast on Swiss chard- very good, and braised veal on polenta- took me right to Italy. Small menu but flavorful.

Vivere is the street level restaurant in the Italian Village group of restaurants. It is in the Loop and convenient to the theater district and musical venues. Service was attentive and helpful; our server even asked if we were headed to a show so he could watch the timing, which was appreciated. We found the Cesare Salad to be ample and a good size to split as a first plate. For main course, I had a ravioli that was stuffed with squash and also a bit sweet - delicious! I can't find it on their online menu to quote the name, so perhaps it was a daily feature. Atmosphere is good, with nice intimate tables for two as well as an area with tables that can accommodate larger parties. Vivere is on my list of "go back to" restaurants.

Not the best food just average- some oversalted, some too bland- but honestly what the chef lacks the rest of the staff makes up for. Wait staff was fun and efficient. Bar nice and well stocked for a picky single malt drinker. Desserts were to die for.

Vivere is more expensive and more sophisticated than its upstairs cousin, the Village. My husband and I ordered and enjoyed the ravioli and the gnocchi. The portions are medium-size; with a salad, we were fine. There is an enormous wine list with expense account prices. I think most people would be quite happy with wine by the glass; there aren't many choices but the standard is high.

Vivere is one of three restaurants in the Italian Village on Monroe, a block from the Bank of America Theater. The location and good menu is what drew us in. We had tickets to a 2:00 showing of Book of Mormon at the BOA theater so sat for lunch at 11:30 at Vivere. They brought us to an elevated area above the main dining area and sat us in a booth. The place was relatively empty when we arrived, but by 12:30 it was completely full. The lunch rush of Chicago workers and theater goers was in full effect. And we definitely felt the pain points of that. There was ONE waiter for our entire "elevated" seating area. There were 6 tables seating 5 or more, and then about 10 booths seating 4 or less in the area and it was clearly too much for the waiter. We didn't see our waiter for a long time and finally the gentleman who seated us came by and took our order. Food came out fairly quick and as described. It was tasty as well, but nothing so good that I'm dying to get back there. Due to the understaffing and full house the service was just terrible. We'd have to wait so long for refills on drinks or to get menus, or get desert (and a desert menu). It was not the waiter's fault so we tipped him fine, but the restaurant should staff their restaurant better. The lack of service dropped this review from a 4 to a 3. By no means were we upset or having a bad time, but it was average. We will probably try another restaurant in the Italian Village next time we go to a show. We enjoyed ourselves fine... just hope for better service next time.

Very nice and romantic restaurant, good service and an incredible list of wines. Eat simple but tasty, and drink the most delicious wine!

We love Vivere! The food, decor, service, and consistency make it one of the best downtown restaurants in Chicago. We especially love it as a pre-opera/theater/orchestra dining venue. Most recently we had appetizers ranging from wild mushrooms to crab cakes to salad. All were delicious. For main courses we had hearty rack of lamb, always perfect pheasant pasta, and incredible scallops on a bed of risotto. Vivere's risottos are always perfection! We did not have, but always love their carpaccios, butternut squash pasta, and fish of the day. Intimate, romantic, and simply a delightful dining experience! Furthermore, their washrooms have a more-inviting decor than the dining rooms of most restaurants!!

This is the oldest Italian restuarant in Chicago. The decor was beautiful, and the tables and booths were arranged for privacy. I was a little disappointed in the limited menu, but have to admit that I liked what I chose for dinner. This is not a restaurant that I would take the family too - the dishes are prepared with different and unique food combinations which may not suit younger palates.

I narrowed it down to 5 downtown restaurants to try during restaurant week. My friend chose Vivere. Great choice. Everything was wonderful. Elegant , divine and delectable. The service was five star, food delightful and overall experience unforgettable. Will definitely return and tells others about this treasure. Kudos to all who works hard to make this restaurant shine. You deserve the glory.

The food at this restaurant is absolutely outstanding. We were a party of 5 colleagues who went out for dinner to this restaurant. The decor is warm and reminiscent of the 50s and 60s. The colorful artwork on the walls also add the ambience. Our waiter gave us a good rundown of the menu, had helpful suggestions and made accommodations for vegetarians. While the minestrone soup was not as tomatoey as I would have liked, it tasted good. The Tagliorini with arrabiata sauce and fresh vegetables was bursting with flavor and easily the best I have ever had. My fellow diners were raving about the food as well. The prices are steep but the portions are king sized. All in all a great place for Italian in downtown Chicago.

Wonderfully attentive service and fast orders made this restaurant (the top tier of three restaurants stacked on one location/address) incredibly convenient for me to grab a full dinner before seeing "Hamilton" at the PrivateBank Theater across the street (and half a block down the street). Vegetarian options are limited but my server was very knowledgeable and even knew what sticks were used in the soups so he could confirm a vegan dish for me too. High class white linen tablecloth kind of scene.

We loved our romantic dinner in this Italian Village. Food was excellent, as was the service and ambiance. We strolled around to see the entire village including more casual restaurant upstairs with entertainment. Would definitely go back.

We were delighted with this historic Italian restaurant in Chicago. We chose this site due to its close proximity to a 7:30 show at the CIBC Theatre. Excellent knowledgeable waiter, Jake. Great wine selections, perfect food choices, to include an amazing Mango Cheesecake for dessert. Chef from Argentina dropped by our table to gain feedback 👏🏼 Overall would rate this place a 10 out of 10!

We picked Vivere based on the location to the Bank of America theater. It has a charming, yet old looking decor. The menu had several options, I ordered the duck breast with mushroom risotto. We ordered a bottle of white wine. The wine came out warm, the waiter said that because of the heat wave their wine refrigerator was unable to keep the product at temp. Wish he would of advised us before we ordered. The duck was cooked correctly, and the meat had good flavor but the rest of the plate was bland. The risotto was starchy and a little crunchy. For the price I was underwhelmed.

Of the three restaurants in this one building, this is the "fine dining" experience. Everything is delish. Don't miss it.

Vivere is a classic Italian restaurant. It has one of the most comprehensive selections of Italian wines I have seen. The food is exquisite. Most of our group ordered the slow-cooked veal, which almost melted in your mouth. We had a table for seven in an elevated portion. The waiters are attentive and knowledgeable. We highly recommend it.

The atmosphere is nice, and the service is good. The portions are extremely small, and the food is average. I had grouper, and it was pretty bland. We had an appetizer, entrees, and a desert, and I was still hungry when I left (I am in good shape and not an overeater). The tab was aout $100. Overall not bad, but should have been half the price.

Vivere is not necessarily that well known in Chicago since it is but one of the three restraurants within the Italian Village--an old establishment that has been a landmark of the Chicago Loop since 1927. We visited on a rainy Friday evening and, perhaps due to the weather, the restaurant was not as crowded as it has been reported by other reviewers. It is a quiet, elegant setting and we enjoyed a leisurely meal--spliting each starter and main dish--particularly good tactic on the amazing gnocchi with wild boar and mushroom sauce. We had the opportunity to sample several complex flavofrs without being overwhelmed by a single flavor or 'too much of a good thing.' One thing that strikes one is that this house features professional waiters. Our server had been on staff for 16 years; we were seated by a gentleman whose service dated back 40 years. These folks know about attentive service. Our waiter observed that as it was a quiet night, he liked the change of place snce it gave him time to chat more extensively with the customers. Every person we encountered there seemed absolutely delighted that we had dropped in. The imagination with which the Vivere chefs prepare their menu must be acknowledged. I understand that the Italian Village upstairs and La Cantina down in the basement have separate kitchens. The wine list was extensive and because of a higher level on the domestic front, the California wines struck me as more expensive than some of the lesser known Italian varieties. The desserts were very interesting--including a delightful medley of fresh fruits with zabaglione. i gather that the other two floors of the Italian Village are good too, but we found Vivere met the full meaning of its name "to live."

Vivere is part of the 3 restaurant Italian Village complex in Chicago's Loop. As we arrived, the greeting was friendly and welcoming. We went to the bar for a drink and Robert was terrific, letting my wife sample a couple of wines until she found the right one, and he makes a killer martini. When we asked if they had a gluten free menu, they did one better, they had Bobby the head chef come out and go over our options, replete with suggestions, recommendations and the offer to customize any dish for us. So far it was a 5-star experience. Unfortunately, dinner didn't measure up. The menu is quite limited, and the prices are outrageous, even for Chicago. My wife had the linguine calabrese, which while custom made for her was $28. And the portion was small. I had the pork, which came as small twin towers of meat which seemed kind of silly. The taste was good but not worth the price. Salads are alacarte, and pricey. And I had a nice view of an exit sign. Our waiter was marginal, seemed somewhat disinterested, and got two things wrong which had to be fixed. For what we paid, which seemed exorbitant, the place just wasn't that good.

Though Vivere is beautiful, it's food quality does not live up to it's decor. My dinner there last night qualified for the trifecta of terrible restaurants: 1. Poorly Prepared Food ( grouper so overcooked it resembled rubber, and tasteless a well ) 2. Massively Overpriced considering the results ( $ 60 for a glass of wine and a mediocre entree ) 3.A Bathroom that it Hazardous to your Health ( it seats 1 and has a tiny waiting area so unsuspecting entrants slam the door into patrons inside.) Chicago is full of far better restaurants, many of them walking distance from the Theater District. I highly recommend you choose any of them rather than Vivere.

I have been wanting to visit the Italian Village for years and got the opportunity to go on Saturday night. We dined at Vivere. The decor is eclectic and unique and Heather was a fantastic server with the rest of the staff supporting her efforts perfectly. We started off with Peach Bellini’s and the Deviled duck caviar appetizer special. For dinner we ordered the Contenza (sp?) pasta with langostinos and the Pork Porterhouse which paired perfectly with the recommendation of St. Magdalener Classico Huck Am Bach wine. For dessert we ordered the Tiramisu and Creme Brûlée (we just couldn’t decide!). Everything was amazing! If you are in Chicago I would highly recommend this fine dining experience.

Went to Vivere for a small business dinner. Food and service was very good, interesting variety of choices on the menu.

I had friends that were coming in from out of town and they expressed a desire to dine at an Italian Restaurant... One place came to mind.. Vivere restaurant at the Italian Villlage... I have been several times before and always enjoyed the delicious offerings they prepare... the staff is always outstanding.. professional and very courtesy..My friends were really impressed.. We were made to feel like nobility..The food was absolutely delicious..plus they have a Wonderful selection of wine..many many options.. My friends have since gone back but each time we speak they thank me again and again.. they can not wait to visit again and enjoy another evening at Vivere.( neither can I).. This place is a "Must"

On a recent trip through Chicago we stayed at the Virgin Hotel and the bartender (Amanda) recommended a couple of Italian restaurants that were not too far from the hotel. One that she recommended was the Italian Village so I made reservation using the open table app. This created some confusion though because we didn't know that the Italian Village was actually one building with three separate restaurants (The Village, La Cantina, and Vivere.) When we arrived we went upstairs, I gave them our name and they could not find our reservation. This was quickly remedied when the host got on the phone and determined that our reservation was for Vivere - their more upscale offering back down the stairs. Downstairs they had our table waiting us in the middle of the room and after reviewing their EXTENSIVE wine list I chose a bottle of wine from Montepulciano in Tuscany. The server (who was very professional but a bit standoffish and not very personable) brought a couple of baskets of bread, and the group shared the Gnocchi di Tartufo Nero Con Astice e Spinach (gnocchi with lobster and spinach) . Actually, shared is a generous word. We each (there were five of us) enjoyed one bite and while it was very good (it should be upsized and served as an entree) I wish we would have been warned that it really was for one. We would have ordered additional appetizers. For my entree I ordered the Angolottini di Fagiano which was outstanding, and the portions were generous. I don't especially remember tasting the pheasant but the dish was delicious and I didn't leave anything on my plate. My husband had the Petti di Pollo Scottato con Zucchini e Arcobaleno Bietole (Chicken Breast) and it too was very good. I followed dinner with a double espresso and dessert - the tiramisu. While it appeared to be a generous portion, when I put my spoon in it all I found was whipped cream with very little cake and the cake was tasteless. There was not even a hint of coffee. This was a big disappointment for me. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert and when I went to Italy a couple of years ago I read everywhere to save money for a gelato every day. For me it was a Tiramisu. I ate it after every meal. I didn't bring it to anyones attention at the restaurant so I never gave them the opportunity to remedy the situation, but I would be cautious ordering their Tiramisu when you go. Overall the experience was outstanding. We all enjoyed the meal. Our bill came to $200 for five adults, including drinks. Very reasonable! I would definitely go back but I would want to try one of the remaining two restaurants.

For the price I did not feel there was anything exceptional or note worthy about this restaurant other than it being close to the hotel I was at. The food can be found at Olive Garden and the entire restaurant lobby had the smell of garbage. Will not go back.

Vivere is old school Italian eatery, with a cast of characters straight out of a Coppola movie. Excellent food and service, darkly lit and comfortable. It is a popular destination for theatre goers and the staff know show times and make every effort to get you served in time to see your show. Food is classic Italian, with plentiful portions and served quickly. Wait staff is very attentive.

This place is an Italian cheesecake factory. Garish design and overly salted food made for tourists who will think this is nice. You want design, go to Blackbird and there are many better Italian restaurants

Described as the fanciest of the Italian Village's three restaurants, Vivere is a festive, upscale venue on the main floor with baroque gold and velvet curtains and stained glass. It's like eating in a theater. Located at 71 West Monroe Street in downtown Chicago, Italian Village opened in 1927. The Florentine Room was constructed in 1961. Once called "Chicago's best Italian restaurant," by the Chicago Tribune, it was replaced by Vivere in 1990. Today, the other restaurants at the location are Tuscany and La Cantina, which was Italian Village's original eatery. But Vivere is as good as advertised, one of the finest Italian restaurants in Chicago. For starters, my wife and I chose minestrone, Caesar salad, and a choice of meats, cheeses and vegetables. For an entree, my wife selected ravioli, hand-crafted pasta stuffed with Trugole cheese, hand dipped Ricotta, Parmesan-Reggiano, toasted garlic, shallots, mushrooms and parmesan cream sauce. I couldn't resist the Veal Chop, grilled over Mesquite charcoal with braised brussels sprouts, roasted mushrooms and Pancetta. For dessert, we opted to share two unique and delicious creations--Bananas Two Ways, brulee and banana cake, and something called tulipano di frutta secca, a pastry wrapped around a mixture of dried cherries, walnuts and apples. Vivere offers a rare fine dining experience with the added European charm of Naples and Milan. Besides, it's fun to dress up for dinner once in a while.

Would not have found this place on my own had it not been for a recommendation. A quaint restaurant tucked in behind a bar, with tiles from a bygone era, with an impressive ambience. Food was good, as was service

Seems to be the overflow choice for the upstairs at Italian Village. Upstairs had a 45 minute wait but downstairs was only half full. A more "modern" menu and a little pricey. Still would pick the traditional restaurant upstairs.

The atmosphere was my favorite part of the restaurant; it has a great architecture and feel to the dining room. However, everything else about this restaurant was pretty average. The food was good, but not great. The service was fine; the staff was polite and efficient, but not overly friendly. The pricing was high for the experience. In summary, Chicago has many other great restaurants that would be much more enjoyable for this price point.

Vivere is a great restaurant. The food is great. The service is super, and the ambience is wonderful. We would not miss eating there when in Chicago.

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, 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 jolive 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. (Yummers!) I asked for a light touch on the anise seed, but it was so delicious that I didn't need to worry about that. My husband selected the beef Chitarra alla Bolognese which is pasta "ribbons" with beef and bolognese sauce (Very Good! I tasted this selection). 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 show, many of the tables were already reserved for a 6:00pm seating. We were fortunate to not have to wait for seating. I loved Vivere, but next time I will visit one of the other restaurants of the three, perhaps "The Village" to sample the recipes from Tuscany.

I visited this restaurant with a colleague. We looked at the menus displayed in the foyer. Decided we'd like to give it a try and were shown to our seats. Decor is unusual in an interesting, pleasant and inoffensive manner. We ordered drinks and were shown menus. To our surprise the menus had non of the things on it we had seen in the foyer! I asked the waiter and he said that we must have looked at 'The Village' menu - which was the upstairs restaurant. He said it was even more confusing when the restaurant downstairs was open too! The Vivere menu was 25-30% more expensive! We particularly wanted appetisers from the The Village menu. The waiter brought the 'other' menus and said that we could have items from either. Besides the confusion, the service is good, prices reasonable an the food is very tasty. A good find.

We dined here on a Saturday late afternoon (6 people). We couldn't get online reservations earlier than 5:30PM, but we stopped in around 4PM and they took us right away. Very Italian atmosphere, very low ceilings and very dim lighting. Menu selection was somewhat limited, and everything was a bit pricey. Food was OK, but small portions for the price. Drinks were very pricey. Our waiter was really good on the front end, but kind of ignored us toward the end of our dining. We finally had to take our payment to the waiter to get it processed.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal before seeing a play. The service is wonderful and if they know you are trying to eat before a play, they will make sure you get to the play on time. We had the antipasto all a givers which was a delicious assortment of meats, cheeses and olives. The lasagna was excellent and the portion size was just right. It also was not overly loaded with cheese, so you could taste the individual flavors in the filling. The ravioli with a creamy mushroom sauce was good also. We were celebrating a birthday and the waiter brought a delicious creme brûlée for us to share. It was heavenly, light and sweet. We also ordered the sea salt caramel and expresso gelato dessert - also a winner. They do have a fixe price theater menu if you are truly pressed for time.

We arrived to the restaurant two hours before the curtain which should have been plenty of time. Our server was attentive and quickly delivered our drinks and salad. And then we waited and waited. When asked when we could expect the main course, we were assured it was on its way, but it took another 15 minutes to arrive. My meal was gummy pasta with a cool red sauce, not heated through and it appeared to have been sitting under heat lamps for some time. My dinner partners meal was well prepared, so they either made one early or they forgot to prepare one timely but it was not up to the standard I had been given to believe was typical of this establishment. On the positive side, the ambiance was charming, the duo booths very comfortable and the restaurant is close to theaters in the district. Italian Village Restaurant is upstairs from this place. I am not sure if they share a kitchen but be aware of the wait time.

We went to this restaurant as a mistake. We was going to The Italian Village but didn't know that there were 3 restaurants in one building. The Vivere was on the main floor. The décor was very nice. The staff was great. We wanted spaghetti but their menu didn't have it. The waiter told us he would call upstairs to the Italian Village and have it sent down to this restaurant. Great service.

We originally reserved at the Village only to find out when we arrived it was up a very long staircase and no handicap access/elevator, fortunately they were able to seat us on main level at Vivere as we had my mother with us who's in a wheelchair. As to the food, very average. My daughter and I both had the pasta with a Bolognese, was a little bland and lacked flavor. The others went with the Ravioli, again OK. I would say the highlight was their caesar salad and the very attentive servers. We all tried different deserts and were amazed at the size of the creme brulee, two could have easily shared, and very good. Given we were attending "Book of Morman" the service was quick and gave us plenty of time to make the show.

My teenage daughter and I went here for dinner before watching a ballet at the Auditorium theatre. It was a bit on the pricey side (total was $100 without tip for the two of us) but I think it was worth it. Our waiter was very nice (even gave me a bandaid when he overheard my daughter looking for a bandaid in her purse). The food was tasty but not very big portions like the entrees at Cheesecake Factory. For example, our scallops appetizer only had 2 scallops with a bit of salad. It's more for dates, not for family with little kids. The ambience is warm, with dim lighting. The tiramisu (not on Vivere's menu but our waiter got it from the restaurant upstairs as they have the same kitchen) was very good.

Delicious steak and very convenient to CIBC theater which is down the block. Highly recommend when you’re looking for a tasty meal before or after show.

We visited Vivere in September. The service was lovely, as is the restaurant decor. Almost all the food was way too salty from the fish to the green beans. Take the Mortons away from the chef. For the price, there are better places in Chicago.

Best server I 've ever had and as an Albertan one of the best steaks I 've ever tasted out of province. Yes the food is a bit salty and the high prices are silly but they fed me with lots of time left to get to the opera curtain at 6:30 p.m. Bravo to Vivere!

After going to Italy annually, this place is seriously lacking.

We had to wait in the bar for a table, in spite of having a reservation, but we enjoyed the atmosphere there. The restaurant was very busy with pre-theater diners (us included), but we had plenty of time to make the curtain. The service started a little slow but not inattentive, but as diners left and servers were not as stretched, it improved greatly. The servers were definitely well-trained in the finer nuances of table service, (e.g. placing and replacing flatware just so; proper wine service; etc.). The restaurant was elegant and romantic, and the food was very good, especially the ravioli.

I make relatively frequent trips to Chicago but don't often get to the Loop area. On a recent trip, I happened to be staying in that area and a friend highly recommended any of the restaurants in the Italian Village. I ate at Vivere with a group of 14 people on a Saturday evening. I must say the service was perfection. The servers were omni-present but you would never know they were there. They knew just what wines to suggest in our meager price-range. The type of service you would expect at a pricey, fancy restaurant. However, for Chicago, Vivere is fairly reasonable for the type and quality of fare they present. Everything from $14 to $28 for an entree, not bad. The food was tasty and fresh (the majority of us order some sort of seafood) and the presentations were lovely. I will definitely be back.

I loved the location - liked the food, and plan to go back again... Went to see Book of Mormon, and stayed at the Palmer House Hilton. The restaurant is close to both of them, and had a very nice atmosphere in the Vivere section. This place is actually 3 restaurants, all run by the same family. The decor is art Nouveau in Vivere, and is very interesting. We sampled several dishes, all modern italian Bistro entrees - and they were all tasty and well presented. I liked the duck meat ravioli, and the seafood appetizer.

Vivere is a good restaurant with great atmosphere. It is part of the Italian Village trilogy. Service is good, but not overly friendly. Food is good as is selection.

We had a party of three couples celebrating a visit to Hamilton and an anniversary. The service was slow (a dining experience vs. eating), but our server kept up with our orders and made sure we did not run out of adult beverages. We ordered the Mushroom Ravioli, the Past Bolognaise, the spicy seafood pasta and the scallops. Everyone raved about he presentation and the quality of the food. We ate on the second level overlooking a portion of the restaurant and we liked the detail of the walls and ceilings. Our server presented us with a complimentary crème brulee for our anniversary. The prices were very reasonable for a Chicago landmark (part of the Italian Village).

The Gnocchi Di Tartufo Nero Con Astice E Spinaci homemade black truffle and potato dumpling, lobster, spinach, white wine shallot saucewas to die for. The Filetto Di Manzo Wagyu Con Asparagi snake river farms wagyu ribeye, parmesan whipped potatoes, asparagus, oyster mushrooms, green peppercorn brandy sauce was a large quantity and quite tasty, but it wasn't the best cut as I would have expected. It seemed like they trimmed off the most tender part for another meal. The salted caramel gelato with coffee and white chocolate mousse was a fantastic way to finish the meal. Highly recommended.

The pasta & seafood combo was superb, Split the salad it's enough for two. The lasagna looked delightful. The wait staff was attentive & BEST of all, if you are going to see Hamilton you CAN'T beat their Valet Rates All in Six Stars.

We were in Chicago for the opera,so our dinner reservation was a bit early at 5 PM. We were seated immediately at a nice table at the top of the stairs. We thought the decor classy and just right for dinner. The food itself was the disappointment.Hubby had the pork lasagne. He called it unremarkable and bland, and it looked like a cube of something smothered in gravy. It did not present pork in such a way as to make him thank God for pork. It was not a presentation that was new or fresh or exciting. It was simply layers of pork,gravy and pasta. I asked if there was a vegan menu, which there is not. Our waiter said that he could check with the chef to see if something could be adjusted. Oncoming back, he said that the chef was "too busy" to come up with a vegan dish but that he could make up some vegetables with risotto, which I accepted. The risotto was prepared well, but it was definitely nothing more than risotto with asparagus and carrot-- and butter. So much for vegan. Of course, this does not advertise a vegan menu. However, in this day and age I believe that restaurants should be better prepared for a special need. How hard can it be to do a little research, make up a dish dedicated to the vegan palette, and keep it on ice until needed? My vegan preference is not because of some moral concern; it is MD-ordered. (Bacon and cheese are HARD to give up!) Heart disease, diabetes, and cholesterol are family problems. Yet it is hard to find a restaurant that can accommodate both my needs and my husband's preference for meat. When will a vegan dinner become mainstream? Our waitstaff was attentive, polite and personable. It would be hard to improve on his performance. Thank you!

Do you kinda like upscale dining with a dose of cozy? Do you crave Italian with comtemporary nuance (i.e home made pasta with wild rice/mushroom sauce)? Do you dig small, old, initmate shadowy bars where the background music is FRANK and DEAN?...Then you gotta go to Italian Village Resturant...(which is multi level)....NOTE: Must do the BAR on street level and then dine in the VIVERE Resturant on 1st floor. Enjoy fellow travelers in life!

We visited this very nice restaurant on a girl's weekend, before the theater. The first question our waiter asked, was, "Were we on a time schedule?" That was very thoughtful. While the food was excellent, I at times, felt I was in a cafeteria. There were no partitions and it was a bit loud in spite of the carpet etc. Tables are very close together, with not much privacy. Prices were plenty, but no higher than other fine dining establishments in the area. Nevertheless, we enjoyed Italian Village, and I would recommend this restaurant.

Very good food. I started with the grilled octopus and watermelon which was amazing. main course was risotto. dessert was a sponge cake with ricotta and berries

We hosted a party here for our son's college graduation celebration. The staff was very helpful in helping us make arrangements for our party, the food was delicious and the service very attentive. It's busy, so be sure to make reservations.

On recommendation from some locals we headed to the Italian Village for dinner. There were 3 choices of different restaurants with 3 different menus. We chose the Vivere on the ground floor and glad we did. Overall it was a great experience the food was delicious and was presented beautifully. I wish I had taken a picture of my plate ... especially the zucchini flower appetizer! The size of the wine list was a bit overwhelming but we asked for help to find something within our taste and price range. Lisa was out server and made us feel and home and treated us well. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Vivere and I expect when I'm back in Chicago we may be back for a second visit.

My husband and I dined here with our 3 teenagers before seeing a show at the CIBC theater just before Christmas. What a perfect dining venue! We all loved the charming and whimsical decor of Vivere! We scored a lovely round table with plenty of room for five. Finding a table for 5 on the electronic reservation site was not possible, so I reserved for 4, and then called the restaurant to ask if our number could be increased to 5. I was so happy they accommodated us! At dinner that night we really appreciated the theater pre fixe menu which all of us took advantage of! The salads were lovely, and the creme brulee exquisite! We also loved the halibut and chicken entrees which were fantastic! Two of us ordered the pasta dish, which we found to be a bit heavy and rich for our tastes. We had reservations for 5:45 which was absolutely perfect before the 8pm show! Left a little time for photos inside and outside between dinner and Hamilton! Enjoy your special night out!

The third generation of Capitaninis now run the wonderful trio of Italian Village restaurants in the same building in downtown Chicago with Vivere as the high end choice. My wife and I have been coming for a date night for over 50 years and we have never been disappointed. Our preference is Vivere in which the architect Antonio Gaudi would have felt right at home. This is a special treat with a Northern Italian orientation and a wine list considered one of the tops in Chicago so expect to spend $$$. If we have out of town friends visiting it is our dependable go-to place to show off our town. However if we are bringing our kids or, now, our grandkids for a casual meal of spaghetti or pizza we go upstairs to The Village, an actual replica of a small Italian town. That we can do for $. For a pre or post theatre meal we will use the third restaurant downstairs, La Cantina which is often the choice of couples. Expect $$ at La Cantina and it is the favorite of a lot of locals. Vivere is for adults who are looking for a fine Italian meal and a great bottle of wine in a unique setting.

The food was good. Not exceptional, but good for the price. Not too much space. No windows, limited room to move. Great decor. It looks like a place Salvatore Dali would have created when he had a hang-over... Yes, the curls and the flowing curves with long flowing curtains... I enjoyed it. Specially the bar with the low clearance bar. If you are 6'6... duck!

We were able to walk down from the Palmer House (see review), only a block or so away. Service, food and atmosphere were all really good. I had a Fillet and it was excellent. The starters we ordered were very good but seemed pretty small for the money.

I was in town for a girls weekend. All four of us ordered different entrees. Each one was AMAZINGLY GOOD! The Mozzarella di Bufala was perfect...the most flavorful tomatoes I've ever had in the middle of winter! Our cocktails were beautifully crafted. Our waiter, Dane, was attentive and helpful throughout the whole meal and offered great suggestions. The atmosphere is fun and chic...great for any special occasion or just a nice night out. Without a doubt, the Affogato was the perfect end to a perfect meal!

Located in Chicago's famous Italian Village it is an upscale more sophisticated presentation of the food that made The Village famous. Colorfully and artistically appointed with attentive staff an imaginative incarnation of Italian favorites. The octopus appetizer though somewhat tepid was enjoyable. The Caesar was well-executed and generous in size. The tagallini with Bolognese was right on the mark As was the risotto. If you've eaten at the Village don't expect the same atmosphere at Viviere, it is more sedate and upscale and the proportions are manageable. If you want upscale Italian in a relaxed user-friendly atmosphere I had a recommend Vivere.

Great experience at this restaurant. Grilled octopus was delish, entrees yummy and so filling. Our server Cameron was a dream - funny attentive and so personable! When he found out it was a birthday dinner he brought a spectacular dessert on the house. Would definitely recommend!

We chose Vivere because of proximity to our hotel and to the theater ("Hamilton") that we were going to later, but also because of their website and menu. From the moment we arrived, we were treated warmly as special guests. We were seated immediately and very soon met our wonderful waiter who determined that we were, in fact, going to a show. There followed a perfectly served dinner where we never felt rushed. They timed things perfectly so we enjoyed our meal, but were finished in plenty of time to make it to our show. The restaurant was beautifully decorated for Christmas.

My friend and I were staying downtown and looking for Italian as a pre-race meal. I was a bit skeptical when we walked given that it was nearly empty on a Saturday night, but it is in the financial, down-town district, so I guess it's not that uncommon. I was pleasantly surprised. I had the saffron pasta with seafood, which had a lot of flavor, and they nicely accommodated my request to hold back on the spicy peppers. My friend had the gnocchi with lobster which was very good, and they happily made a double-order for her, which she loved. On the downside, the bread was over-toasted and a bit stale tasting, and nothing on the dessert menu grabbed me, but I was also being cautious with a big race the next morning, so perhaps next time I'll feel differently.

We ate lunch prior to attending the theater. Our food was delicious and the service was excellent. The decor was very old world and therefore cozy and intimate. Recommend as a place to go before or after attending the theater.

Waiter was more than willing to let us know that the kitchen staff were not up to the challenge of the evening. Waited well over an hour for our food. Food was more than disappointing. My ravioli was super salty!! The other dishes were not edible. They must have known because no one asked about our meal.

Some business colleagues and I stopped in here for dinner on a trip to Chicago. I do have to say that our service was excellent and our food was quite good. I thought it was a little pricey personally but was pleased and have no issues with the food or the service.

small little bar with Italian Village food and wonderful ambiance and decor. Long time bartender remembers you and your name. Prices are average for cocktails. Very quiet and intimate.

We did the three-course special menu for restaurant week. This is a great way to try the restaurant for the first time, but it was not our first time. I had the salmon. It was done nicely. It was very moist and not overcooked. It was a nice small meal before the opera. My wife was well pleased with her tortellini. We have eaten in the Italian Village upstairs many times--that is the place to go for volume with a family, but the quality here feels a bit more like a nice European meal. Many of the tables for two do not have much room. So, book ahead to ask for a bit more room. The service has always been great for us.

There's never a dull moment at Italian Village. With three Italian restaurants to choose from, each with its own trademark, you always have something to look forward to. In 1961, building on the success of La Cantina, the Capitanini family decided to open a third restaurant, The Florentine Room, which the Chicago Tribune once hailed as "Chicago's Best Italian Restaurant." Built on the ground floor of the Village's 71 West Monroe Street address, it was modeled on classic Florentine architectural motifs and was described as Chicago's first gourmet Italian restaurant. In 1990, the third generation of the Capitanini family closed the Florentine Room and opened the new and improved Vivere, with curvy, swirling architectural lines, brass fixtures, stained glass and dark, velvet curtains, lending a theatrical look to the dining experience. The food is as good as the atmosphere, lunch or dinner. My wife and I started with grilled calamari, minestrone and Caesar salad. For entrees, we chose the 14-ounce bone-in veal chop with mushrooms and smoked Pecorino polenta and the 20-ounce grilled USDA prime dry aged bone-in ribeye steak with roasted potatoes and vegetables. For dessert, we shared an extra large portion of creme brulee. It marked the first time we had dined at each of the three restaurants at Italian Village within a week--we did it on a whim--and we truly enjoyed the experience.

My friend and I stopped here for dinner after a day of walking and shopping. A little pricey but very tasty food. She had a pasta filled with pheasant and I had some ravioli with braised beef in it - very good. We weren't there to see a show but I appreciated that the waiters asked us if we needed to make it to a show so they knew if we were on a timeline. (the restaurant is near the Bank of America Theater and there were several diners who you could tell were on their way to see a show there)

In Chicago for a business trip and had to find a place to have a quick lunch. Chose Vivere and wasn't disappointed. My colleague had Agnolottini di Fagiano and I had ravioli di formaggii con pimodori. We both liked our meals. Got the 1/2 portions. And the bread was fresh and perfect with their olive oil! Great experience!

We ate here prior to a concert at the Chicago Symphony. It was an easy walk to the Symphony. The dinner was outstanding as was the waiter. And we loved the 2 person booths that felt like we were on a train.

Rigatoni was BOMB. Buffalo mozzarella was ok. Cute little old school Italian vibe. Service was good.

Food here is tasty, though not always intense. Many offerings are imaginative, such as the fresh fruit dessert. While the full wine list is great, the by-the-glass list isn't very comprehensive. Relatively good service, great decor, and a fine setting for an event meal. Slightly overpriced, but still worth checking out.

Had dinner before going to see Hamilton. Excellent service, especially the busboys, who were the best I've seen in a restaurant. Food was well prepared and presented. Good wine steward.

Definitely one of the best Italian restaurants I've been too. The entire staff was friendly and helpful with our selections for food and wine. The brought out a 2009 bottle of Italian wine for us to try - which we ended up buying because it was so good. Every dish was incredible.

We were looking for an Italian restaurant close to our hotel and hit the jackpot with this choice. We had the chicken entree (Amish airline preparation) and the risotto with crab and prawns. It was in the top 5 of our Italian experiences. The service was excellent and the food was equally excellent. Dessert was tiramisu was not the best we’ve had but the dulce le leche cheesecake was amazing. Would definitely recommend and look forward to returning soon!

Dined before going to play "Hamilton".Food very nice. Mushroom appetizer and beet salad excellent. Waiter Dane was the best - informative,personable, and unbiased in his recommendations. Nice place to eat before going to play down the street

Following a memorable matinee performance of “Hamilton” at the CIBC Theater, we ventured out into the rain in search of a dining establishment. A large sign a block away summoned us to “The Italian Village” which hosts three dining establishments under one roof. We chose Vivere, which had a bit more of a formal atmosphere than the adjoining establishments, and we were more than pleased with our choice. The decor has a “retro” appearance which the restaurant’s website accurately describes as “luxurious and whimsical.” The wait staff was friendly and attentive. There is an extensive wine list that was decoded with the help of the sommelier. We each decided on the prix fixe theater menu, a three-course offering consisting of soup or salad, an entree, and dessert, for $39.95. I recommend the ravioli di formaggio alla carbonara. Reservations are not required but can be made through the restaurant’s website, which is powered by Open Table.

Enjoyed lunch with a client. Great service and wonderful food. My guest is a regular and this was my first time. We both picked from the specials and had a great lunch and a productive conversation. My guess is that dinner with some one special would be even better. I recommend for an Italian meal in downtown Chicago - easy walk from the Hilton Palmer House

Within a couple minutes walk of the CIBC Theater where Hamilton is playing. Very convenient for a pre-show dinner. They are used to the theatrical crowd so know how to get you fed and to the show onetime. Excellent, experienced Old Style Chicago service with a lovely selection of pastas, salads, fresh fish and wonderful steaks. The preparation is Italian in flavor and they have something on the menu for everyone. One of the best wine lists i have seen at a Chicago restaurant. Highly recommended.

Four of us dined before a theater show. Service was great,food was outstanding. Because of the holiday season they were very busy. They made sure to get us out on time for the show and we did not feel rushed at all. The pheasant pasta,and all three other dishes were delish. Wine was good. Price like everwhere else a little high. Great place to dine if going to the Bank of America theater.

We dined at Vivere one Friday evening with several cousins. The ambiance reminded me of restaurants we experienced in Venice, Italy! The floor, ceiling, booths, staircases added to the charm and romance. We had very good, attentive service. My husband and I shared the excellent Caesar salad and Tagliorini Zafferano Alla Calabrese which is house made saffron pasta (like fettuccini noodles) sautéed with olive oil and garlic and Calabrian peppers, calamari, baby gulf shrimp and diver scallops. We enjoyed it very much! It easily serves the two of us adequately. We are in our mid sixties. The servings on everyone's meals were large. Vivere was an excellent choice for us that evening!

We love the excellent service and the vibrant décor here, and visit often when downtown. The menu is a bit more upscale than the sister restaurant upstairs, but they will gladly serve items from either menu. This is helpful for my mom, who has difficulty with the stairs and is sometimes in the mood for eggplant parmesan. We have enjoyed many different Vivere dishes, and have found some of the soups to be particularly magnificent. These are often vegetarian.

First time here. Not disappointed. We were in town for a show and this was across the street. Was recommended by tour group. Excellent service, attentive and not pushy. I had the Veal Saltimbocca while wife had the Chicken with Italian Sausage. All very flavorful. Nice atmosphere.

We ordered the Flatbread to share (perfect appetizer size) and then the Mahi Mahi and Beet Salad and were definitely pleased! Very fresh, tasty and light. The service and ambiance was fabulous as well!

Vivere is a Chicago dining destination. The most upscale of the three restaurants under The Italian Village roof (along with The Village and La Cantina) Vivere is a phantasmagorical art-deco den. Service is formal but congenial. The menu has interesting variations on familiar Italian specialties. There are highs and few lows. My ravioli with multiple cheeses and mushrooms was pleasant but little better than an Olive Garden preparation. The Pasta Bolognese and Seafood Risotto were well executed versions of classics. The vegetable lasagna was superb ... with our whole table of tasters incredulous that the preparation was meatless. The smoked scamorza cheese contributed a meaty robustness to the dish. The wine list is extensive and offers bottles ranging from the modest to many pages of multi-hundred dollar bottles. It's (very) easy to run up a tab of well over $100 per person ... which is not outrageous for the Loop, for a beautiful and well served meal in an artful dining room. But, $100 buys a LOT of ravioli at Olive Garden!

Booked for an anniversary dinner (2 of the party of 4) and not disappointed. The service is very quick (seems like they have many theatre goers) and very efficient. Service: attentive, but sometimes intrusive TBH Food: Simply exceptional Wine: Huge wine list, especially for those with deep pockets, ours OK, not brilliant, being a red, served just too cold. Value: $100+ per head including tips, for 3 courses including 1 bottle of wine. Summary: An exceptional restaurant of many years standing, let down slightly by intrusive service (interrupting conversation repeatedly, to ask how the meal was) and cold red wine. Will definitely revisit and would definitely recommend.

Went to this restaurant before going to see Hamilton. Very conveniently located near the theater. The service was outstanding. Our waitress, Heather, was impressively knowledgeable and attentive. The food was lovely, especially the home made pasta. The only criticism is that the cappuccino was not hot enough. Overall, we enjoyed dinner very much.

After seeing the play Hamilton, I took my wife and daughter to Vivere. We had previous success with Italian Village, so we wanted to try Vivere. The service was very good, and we even had the chance to meet the chef. He recommended his pasta and duck dish, so both my wife and I tried it. Excellent. My daughter had a pasta dish, and also enjoyed it. So if you are in the theatre district in Chicago, I would recommend Vivere for a fine dinner and good night out on the town.

We had a wonderful lunch here. Minestrone soap was excellent as was the pasta. The atmosphere in the restaurant is worth just going into. Very decorative and eclectic. The service was attentive and good. There are 3 restaurants to choose from when you enter the door and the other 2 looked very interesting. Would check them out next time in Chicago and would eat here again.

Before theater Vivere a perfect place to enjoy reliable fine Italian food, the buzz of anticipation for theater and the meal and generally good service. A favorite of locals and great for tourists!

We have come here quite often especially when going to the show. The pheasant pasta is a staple - you must have it! The Italian sausage and potato soup was excellent as well the veal chop was superb. The atmosphere is old-school true Italian.

After a day of shopping and then the theatre, Vivere was a great way to sit and relax for a spectacular dinner! Pheasant ravioli and duck were both richly delicious. Good wine list, good service, good atmosphere = very nice date night!

We hosted a dinner for our clients here while in town for a conference. The service was fantastic and the food was excellent. Everyone enjoyed it. We sat in the balcony so it had a nice intimate feel.

Awful food, service (?), prices. Convenient to the Goodman Theater, but this restaurant with its tiny portions and inedible food ruined what should have been a great night. I kept up a good front for the sake of my naive niece who chose it.

Had dinner there with my husband. Service was excellent, food was good but nothing special and the ambiance was also ok. They have an extensive wine list that amazed me - they must have hundreds. I'd say this is a perfect place to go when you're not expecting much but expect a fair overall experience.

The Italian Village restaurants. Legendary Chicago restaurants. The upstairs Village is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the city and we enjoy meals there several times a year. For whatever reason had not been to Vivere for many years. The food was exquisite and the service excellent. We plan on visiting again soon as our meal was absolutely delicious. Don’t chase the trendy new restaurants when you can have a most delicious meal at Vivere.

Only one word describes Vivere in the Italian Village restaurants, WOW. In all my life this has be in the top 5 restaurants I have ever been too. It is just fantastic all the way around. Here are some suggestions for anyone heading here. The Carpaccio is out of this world. I could sit and eat this all night. Also the poached pears and gorgonzola made a big hit at the table. Also I would strongly suggest that you try the balsamic calamari. Two members of our group had the pheasant pasta and the rest of had the saffron pasta and seafood. We tasted back and forth and I think I will have to go back several times to really choose which one was best. Just incredible dishes. I am afraid I cannot rate any desserts as we were too full to order anything outside of coffee. The wines our waiter suggested were excellent and this place is clearly heading to the top of my list of great places to eat.

Restaurant was a couple of minutes walk from my hotel which was very convenient. Our company reserve the upper portion of the restaurant. My party was approximately 40 persons. We had prearranged a customized menu for the party which was pretty good for the price per person. Our dinner consisted of 4 courses which were served pretty quickly. We were well served by the waiters who were very friendly and accommodating. Overall, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

The menu is diverse and appealing, however, the serving sizes were damn small. I recommend the pheasant-stuffed pasta dish. Other nearby European restaurants (Russian Tea Time and The Berghoff) are probably a better value.

My wife and I plus another couple ate at Vivere before a play recently. We were disappointed, first the service was slow, we had a 5:30 reservation and a 7:30 curtain. This should have been plenty of time. The first hint of trouble was the delay in getting water and our drink orders taken. At 6:55 I motioned our waiter over and told him we had to leave in 25 minutes, our food came shortly after this but we were rushed. The lasagna was not traditional lasagna, if you like lasagna with tons of spinach and smokey cheese, then you will love this, we didn't. The other dish we tried was very good, I don't recall the name, but it was noodles with meat sauce, not spaghetti, and it was quite tasty. For the price and reputation I certainly expected more and won't be going back to Vivere any time soon.