(312) 428-4881

71 W Monroe St (Dearborn Street)
Chicago, IL 60603 41.8806 -87.63

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Neighborhoods: Loop, Central

vivere-chicago.com/index2.htm…

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm

Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm

Sat 5pm-11pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 10.15.11

Category:

Restaurants

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite , Lunch Spot , Romantic Dining , Date Spot , Group Dining , Special Occasion Dining , Fine Dining , Notable Wine List , Theater District Dining

Cuisine:

Italian

Smoking Permitted:

At the bar

Editor's Tips

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What People Are Saying About Vivere

The Owner

Vivere

Owner

Designed by Jordan Moser, Vivere has become a world-renowned restaurant. Vivere has appeared on the Best New Restaurant lists of both "Esquire" and "Wine Spectator" magazines. It has won the Dirona Fine Dining Award since its inception in 1994. This contemporary restaurant features "new" Italian cuisine from all regions of Italy.

Provided by CityGrid

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – All swirly reds and golds, with hanging light fixtures and trippy copper sculptures, stylish Vivere is the mod, slightly rebellious youngster among the three Italian Village restaurants (La Cantina and Italian Village are the others). Despite its flashy style, the place is warm and intimate, thanks to cozy two-person booths and a low-ceilinged bar. The room teems with power-lunching businesspeople at noontime and theatergoing families and couples at dinner. – – The Food – Spaghetti and meatballs? Forget it. The light, contemporary Italian cuisine is as…

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
For $65, get five courses, including a sumptuous dessert sampler. Add $35 for wine pairings.
What to Drink:
Boasting more than 1,100 selections and 40,000 bottles, the award-winning wine list boasts more than 100 options less than $30.
ambiance
98.52999687194824% positive
  1. “Superb service, ambiance and interesting and unique contemporary Italian food.”
  2. “One of the most romantic restaurants in Chicago.”
  3. “The lighting, the mood, the atmosphere were perfect.”
  4. “Not sure what people liked at Vivere but my experience there was not so good, the place and decor is nice but all of us are there for the food and service.”
  5. “The atmosphere or decor is definetly romantic and original.”
  6. “The decor is romantic and chic and the chairs are so comfortable.”
  7. “Ambiance was romantic, and quiet.”
  8. “The design is comfortable and the Wine Director has great wines by the glass (reasonable $ ) and the Bottle List is unbelievable.”
  9. “It is alos a great date place as the mood and lighting are very romantic.”
  10. “This is a definite romantic date spot.”
  11. “Let me tell you, this restaurant was very romantic.”
  12. “Fantastic cuisine and ambiance”
  13. “The ambiance is incredible.”
  14. “The atmosphere and service are great.”
  15. “We are a new couple so the romantic setting was excellent.”
  16. “The decor is amazing.”
  17. “think its very romantic and a great date spot.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “would recommend the garlic infused mushrooms for an appetizer, they have an incredible onion-thyme cream sauce, and the pork tenderloin and madagascar salt prawns for dinner, you cant go wrong.”
  2. “The dessert didn't prove to be a good ending either.”
drinks
95.2400016784668% positive
  1. “We were delighted with the on the mark service, loved the Chef Drue who came personally to our table, the food was original and delicious, the wine list the best we have ever encountered, ( and we have been to France and Italy).”
  2. “The design is comfortable and the Wine Director has great wines by the glass (reasonable $ ) and the Bottle List is unbelievable.”
  3. “Outstanding wine list!”
  4. “Our waiter greeted us promptly and brought us a fabulous bottle of Merlot from Napa, I dont quite remember the winery, as the wine list is too die for and has so many bottles, it was hard to choose just that one.”
  5. “fabulous wine list - wonderful menu - the butternut squash ravioli is to die for!”
  6. “On top of the amazing wine, the food is outstanding.”
  7. “not knowing much about wine we were abit overwhelmed with the list of 45,000 bottles but the wine person Michael, went over selections very slowly and we had the most amazing bottle of wine for only $60.”
  8. “loved this place, the waitstaff is all about customer service even tho the place was rocking, my water glass and wine glass was always full.”
  9. “Rather boring food for such a nice dining room, service and wine.”
  10. “Great award-winning wine list.”
  11. “The wine list is a literal book and the sommelier is more than happy to help you find something perfect in your price range.”
  12. “great food/ great wine list/ great service”
  13. “The wine list is huge but the staff is helpful, they even let you taste the wines by the glass if your unsure.”
  14. “fabulous wine list!”
food quality
83.00000190734863% positive
  1. “loved the buternut squash filled pasta and the venison rib chop.”
  2. “The rib chops were in a fanstastic reduction and the Halibut was extremely fresh.”
  3. “My wife's dish was good, but both were overpriced for the quality.”
  4. “service was ok but the food is horrible and i really mean it that Olive garden is way better..., dnt go here.”
  5. “Not sure what people liked at Vivere but my experience there was not so good, the place and decor is nice but all of us are there for the food and service.”
  6. “The food was very good.”
  7. “The seafood was very dry and the service was rushed and not very friendly.”
  8. “would recommend the garlic infused mushrooms for an appetizer, they have an incredible onion-thyme cream sauce, and the pork tenderloin and madagascar salt prawns for dinner, you cant go wrong.”
  9. “May be good for pre-theater dining, but overall the food was lackluster.”
  10. “We couldn't have been happier, i felt like I had excellent food and a good date.”
  11. “Last time I had the Duck with the fresh figs and the Porcini Risotto.”
  12. “The chicken was very dry, and I was dissapointed in overall quality of food and service.”
  13. “Fantastic cuisine and ambiance”
  14. “Rather boring food for such a nice dining room, service and wine.”
  15. “On top of the amazing wine, the food is outstanding.”
  16. “The pork tenderloin is also excellent.”
  17. “great food/ great wine list/ great service”
  18. “For the main course the chicken was very very good, and my wife enjoyed her filet.”
  19. “Superb service, ambiance and interesting and unique contemporary Italian food.”
  20. “When my boyfriend and I want to have a nice meal out, we've been known to go to Vivere.”
  21. “We were delighted with the on the mark service, loved the Chef Drue who came personally to our table, the food was original and delicious, the wine list the best we have ever encountered, ( and we have been to France and Italy).”
  22. “The food is incredible.”
  23. “The food is unique not your typical red sauce Italian restaurant, the menu is seasonal.”
  24. “The food was not very tasty and seemed to be overpriced.”
  25. “An authentic Italian experience”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The food is unique not your typical red sauce Italian restaurant, the menu is seasonal.”
  2. “not knowing much about wine we were abit overwhelmed with the list of 45,000 bottles but the wine person Michael, went over selections very slowly and we had the most amazing bottle of wine for only $60.”
  3. “fabulous wine list - wonderful menu - the butternut squash ravioli is to die for!”
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Not sure what people liked at Vivere but my experience there was not so good, the place and decor is nice but all of us are there for the food and service.”
  2. “The prices are all very reasonable and this is a great place to take clients for lunch.”
  3. “It is alos a great date place as the mood and lighting are very romantic.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “Overall, I would not go back or recommend this place to friends.”
service
75.46000003814697% positive
  1. “We were delighted with the on the mark service, loved the Chef Drue who came personally to our table, the food was original and delicious, the wine list the best we have ever encountered, ( and we have been to France and Italy).”
  2. “loved this place, the waitstaff is all about customer service even tho the place was rocking, my water glass and wine glass was always full.”
  3. “The service was attentive but not overwhelming and we had a great time!”
  4. “The atmosphere and service are great.”
  5. “Our waiter greeted us promptly and brought us a fabulous bottle of Merlot from Napa, I dont quite remember the winery, as the wine list is too die for and has so many bottles, it was hard to choose just that one.”
  6. “The chicken was very dry, and I was dissapointed in overall quality of food and service.”
  7. “Attentive knowledgeable staff will assist you in selecting the perfect dining experience.”
  8. “service was ok but the food is horrible and i really mean it that Olive garden is way better..., dnt go here.”
  9. “Superb service, ambiance and interesting and unique contemporary Italian food.”
  10. “Not sure what people liked at Vivere but my experience there was not so good, the place and decor is nice but all of us are there for the food and service.”
  11. “Rather boring food for such a nice dining room, service and wine.”
  12. “great food/ great wine list/ great service”
  13. “often entertain guests from out of town and they always enjoy the care that the staff takes to ensure my dining experience is superb.”
  14. “The wine list is huge but the staff is helpful, they even let you taste the wines by the glass if your unsure.”
  15. “Like the Village the service is great.”
  16. “The seafood was very dry and the service was rushed and not very friendly.”
  17. “The service is always excellent, a bit more expensive than the other two restaurants at the Village, but worth every penny!”
  18. “My clients always enjoy the great service and personal touch”
value
81.25% positive
  1. “The food was not very tasty and seemed to be overpriced.”
  2. “The wine list is a literal book and the sommelier is more than happy to help you find something perfect in your price range.”
  3. “The wine list is huge but the staff is helpful, they even let you taste the wines by the glass if your unsure.”
  4. “The prices were very reasonable as well.”
  5. “My wife's dish was good, but both were overpriced for the quality.”
  6. “The prices are all very reasonable and this is a great place to take clients for lunch.”
  7. “The service is always excellent, a bit more expensive than the other two restaurants at the Village, but worth every penny!”
  8. “would recommend the Pollo Alla Cacciatora or the Pollo Alla Parmigiana, both are fantastic and the portions are good sized.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “had a bottle of the Grasso Barolo which was one of the best I jhave had in a long time.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/20/09

Try the Pheasant Ravioli

by bulldog2 at Citysearch

The pheasant ravioli is to die for! Quaint little nooks to sit and eat with privacy. The place is very chic yet, still feels cozy and not at all stuffy.

Will definitely be back!

  • Pros: Beautiful Decor
  • Cons: none
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/30/09

Excellent Food and Incredible Wine List

by davisjenn at Citysearch

I recently dined at Vivere, and it was amazing. We had been to the Village on many other occasions, but hadn't tried Vivere. We were very pleased.

We started with the Pesce Spada Crudo, swordfish, excellent, and then ordered, the Seared Alaskan Halibut and the Lamb Rib Chops. The rib chops were in a fanstastic reduction and the Halibut was extremely fresh. Our server was very knowledgable about the many wines, and I mean many, there are around 40,000 bottles in the wine cellar. Wow!!

We had an excellent time here and will definitley be back to try some of the other items on the menu.

  • Pros: Wine List
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/27/09

Great Ambiance, Service and Food!!

by bearsbob at Citysearch

Vivere is one of three restaurants at the Italian Village. I

think its very romantic and a great date spot. The wine list is incredible and if you have any questions about any of the wines, the sommelier can answer any, and I mean any, question you may have. I love the Roasted Duck in the banana parsnip puree and sherry glaze, its outstanding. The pork tenderloin is also excellent. My favorite menu item by far though is the Gnocchi- the white wine shallot sauce is to die for. I wish I could get my hands on the recipe!! The service is always excellent, a bit more expensive than the other two restaurants at the Village, but worth every penny!!

  • Pros: Wine list
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/20/08

Olive Graden is way better....

by rashad83 at Citysearch

Not sure what people liked at Vivere but my experience there was not so good, the place and decor is nice but all of us are there for the food and service.service was ok but the food is horrible and i really mean it that Olive garden is way better..., dnt go here.

  • Pros: not so crowded
  • Cons: Food really
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/06/08

Outstanding wine list!!!

by wilsjack at Citysearch

I was amazed the first time I went here the amount of wines that Vivere had in its Cellar. Over 40,000 bottles, and from several countries and wineries. The wine sommelier is so incredibly knowledgable, I was blown away. On top of the amazing wine, the food is outstanding. I wouldn't expect anything less from the owners of Italian Village, a Chicago Icon. I would recommend the garlic infused mushrooms for an appetizer, they have an incredible onion-thyme cream sauce, and the pork tenderloin and madagascar salt prawns for dinner, you cant go wrong. The atmosphere and service are great. Keep up the good work!!

The Details on Vivere

Place Categories:

  • great service
  • unique contemporary italian food
  • great date place
  • original decor
  • incredible ambiance
  • wonderful italian restaurant
  • original atmosphere
  • not very tasty food
  • helpful knowledgeable staff
  • great dining experience
  • romantic date spot
  • fabulous bottle
  • very disappointing experience
  • very enjoyable evening
  • all very reasonable prices
  • romantic setting
  • nice dining
  • very good chicken
  • best italian meals
  • perfect lighting
  • very dry seafood
  • beautiful manner
  • great gem
  • great awardwinning wine
  • excellent pesce spada crudo

As Seen In…

Best of Citysearch

Chicago

Best of Citysearch

Chicago

Message from Vivere

  • Fine Dining
  • Notable Wine List
  • Romantic

Designed by Jordan Moser, Vivere has become a world-renowned restaurant. Vivere has appeared on the Best New Restaurant lists of both "Esquire" and "Wine Spectator" magazines. It has won the Dirona Fine Dining Award since its inception in 1994. This contemporary restaurant features "new" Italian cuisine from all regions of Italy.

Vivere