Vivo
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 361-8366
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Halsted Street
- Directions:
- El: Green Line to Clinton; bus: 8 to Randolph St, 20 to Peoria St,
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri 11:30am-12am, Sat Sat 5pm-12am, Sun 5pm-10pm
Message from Vivo
We cordially invite you to our "dinner party!!"
- Perfect simple Italian food
- Sleek Chic setting
- Let Vivo Host your next Event!
Instant Offers
Paid advertisement by Vivo.
Editorial Review for Vivo – by J.P. Anderson
The Scene
Few of Randolph Street's chic eateries have aged as well as Vivo, whose stylish, stripped-down feel has kept the crowds coming for more than 10 years. The lofty dining room's exposed-brick walls are stacked high with wine bottles; lighting spotlights each white-clothed table, where young couples rub elbows with their neighbors in the tightly packed, buzzing dining room.
The Food
The upscale Italian menu is contemporary, with excellent meat and seafood dishes thrown in with the requisite pastas. Sun-dried tomato polenta with wild mushroom glaze is hearty and not too rich--a perfect starter. Pastas are good: Standouts include black linguine tossed with lump crabmeat, and rigatoni with sausage and peas in a creamy goat cheese sauce. Herb-crusted tuna is light and perfectly cooked; so is fillet with Gorgonzola sauce, almost upstaged by fragrant rosemary potatoes. For dessert, gelato is the only way to go.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Where to SitTable 70 in the converted elevator shaft above the dining room is primo, with its own private curtains. Be warned: You can request the table months in advance, but there's no guarantee you'll get it.
The ExtrasHave your next party in the sexy second-floor private dining room, which boasts a full bar and dramatic view of the skyline.
ParkingValet parking is $9.
User Reviews for Vivo
11/30/2008 Posted by trueblue80
I have always enjoyed hitting this unique spot in the west loop for a great meal and a great time. The service is not stuffy and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I have had the same server a few times and he always remember waiting on me and what wine I usually order. The most recent time I was there we got him again and he came up to the table and told us they were actually out of the wine I liked but he had already thought of some suggestions of different bottles I might enjoy just as much. He was right on, the new wine was fantastic. And I was pretty impressed by his ability to remember and offer something he knew we would enjoy. There is always a long list of specials to choose from. I ordered a bone in stuffed veal chop that was delicious, and my date ordered the rigatoni pasta with peas and goat cheese, which the waiter said was one of his favorites. If your looking for a very fine-dining, stuffy atmosphere, with robots as waiters, this is not the place for you. If you want to be in a fun and lively space with good food, service, and ambiance; then Vivo is the place. They also recently opened the new lounge next door and had a DJ playing the Saturday night we were there. We sat in the lounge after our meal for a night cap and had a great time. They are obviously still doing things right, since I was told they have been open for 17 years. I will definitely be returning again and again.
Pros: food, atmosphere, service
Cons: drinks tend to be a little pricey
11/24/2008 Posted by Freejack
I've been a restaurant owner in San Antonio, Texas for 15 years, so when I was in Chicago on business I decided to check out Vivo, based on a suggestion by a friend. For a busy Saturday night it was perfect! The service was impeccable. My server knew everything about ever bottle of wine on the list (I think he even mentioned he ordered the wine), and helped me pair with an excellent entree. I kept htinking to myself: "I wish I could find staff this knowledgable for my restaurants." After dinner me and my friends decided to check out the lounge for some more drinks. The atmosphere was great, the DJ played great music that fit the atmophere perfectly, and the bartenders were very friendly. Just when I thought to myself this place was perfect I noticed a very loud, older gentleman ordering the staff around. He was very angry and very bitter, and not to mention very intoxicated. Being in resaturants myself I assumed this clown was just some obnixious regular, so I asked the hostess, and she said: "Oh, thats the owner." I'm not sure if this man knows anything about running a restaurant, but that kind of image is really bad for business. ESPECIALLY if he's the owner! All in all Vivo is a great restaurant, and I would recommend it to anyone. I just hope the owner isn't there when they go.
Pros: Knowledgable staff, great food.
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