Vivace is such a gem in Raleigh. The ambiance is warm and lively, perfect for a date night or dinner with friends and or colleagues. The service was attentive and friendly, and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. I highly recommend the calamari, salmon and meatballs! Great ambiance, great service, and great food always a winning combination. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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I attended a baby shower here on a Sat. It was not super busy which was nice for the event but it did start to fill up. The waiter was excellent. Brought trash bags for the gift wrapping paper, a treat for the mom to be, etc. The bread service was delicious. I ordered the Butternut Squash pasta which was good but didn't blow me away. read more

Vivace - Butternut Squash Agnolotti - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Our local-local. Great fried calamari. Perfect mussels Great sauces. Good bar crowd of locals. Chris will make you want to return again and again. Normally flawless service. read more

Sorry but I was underwhelmed to say the very least. I have never gone to a place where even the salad was bland. I'm not sure what kind of dressing they use but it was not well distributed throughout the salad, flavorless and dull. There were a nice spread of options but the flavors were just not there. We started out with a calamari that was actually good, but the aioli tasted like ranch at best. The calamari is generously portioned and even included shrimp, which was a pleasant twist. I ordered a lemonade and was quite surprised to find out that it was not homemade, rather a Minute Maid. It tasted like syrup. Okay let's get into the pasta dish. Very small portion size. I got the papperdelle which was in a less than saucy bolognese sauce and a dollop of goat cheese crema. The crema tasted more like sour Greek yogurt. Although I could taste a hint of goat cheese, I think maybe some cilantro or parsley may have complemented the sauce a little more. I also added two meatballs, and they were quite dry. There's nothing worse than dry meat in a pasta dish that is supposed to be rich. My guests did not seem really enthusiastic about their dishes either. The saving grace was the server, Matthew. Matthew was really eager to assist and answered any questions that we had. Also, there is a good amount of parking here and it's located in a nice area. Also, I will say that the music was OK, but the ceiling seemed like it needed work or that it was in the process of being reconstructed. I would not call this an intimate setting, rather just a casual dining environment. Again, this is just my opinion, please visit and make your own determinations. read more

Vivace - Bolognese Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Normally, this is my wife and I's favorite restaurant. However, we were very disappointed with our last visit. Their menu had almost completely changed their menu, removing our favorite dishes like the 4 cheese ravioli. Meatballs, our favorite appetizer there, had gone completely down hill. They were dull in flavor and the sauce was watery. I hope they go back to what worked well. read more

Great Italian! Highly recommend making a reservation; they have indoor and outdoor dining. My partner and I split the Pappardelle pasta and a Caesar salad. We told the waiter we were splitting the dishes, and he so kindly had the kitchen split the dish onto two plates before it got to the table. They were both delicious! Got the tiramisu for dessert. Highly recommend. read more

Vivace - Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Vivace has a nice vibe as a local restaurant in Raleigh. Inside was very warm and welcoming. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and wine. He had a great personality and was engaging with the table. I ordered the Market Fish which was Wahoo. It was crunchy on the outside and flaky in the inside and well seasoned. The sides were ok but under seasoned. The table order a calamari app that was well cooked and plentiful. Overall a good experience. read more

Vivace - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I've been to Vivace in Raleigh for both cocktail hour and dinner and every visit has been wonderful. The interior is stylish and perfect for a classy night out in North Hills. The drinks are great and the service is consistently impressive. Our server was so friendly and made the experience even better. It's not pictured but for dinner I ordered the pappardelle bolognese and WOW.. easily one of the best I've had. Rich, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I will definitely be back to try more of their menu. read more

Vivace - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Vivace Restaurant is the Perfect Venue for a Couples Dinner, An Elegant Birthday Party, or a Solo Lunch Date. My Tastebuds Danced in My Mouth as I Savored Every Bite! Sara was Very Attentive and Answered All of My Questions About the Menu and the Venue. read more

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Excellent dinner! Service was great- attentive but not annoying. Food was delicious. Calamari appetizer was perfectly fried. Caesar salad had a perfect dressing to greens ratio. Scallop risotto was phenomenal, and a large serving. I would definitely recommend and return. read more

I love this place, it's my favorite Italian restaurant at the moment. The caprese is amazing and the bread, I recommend getting both. I usually get the pappardelle pasta as it is delicious. Service is always amazing and they time the dishes coming out perfectly. read more

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Vivace is a fun, upscale Italian restaurant that is nice but doesn't feel too stuffy. I went for a friend's birthday party, and I'd say that this is a great restaurant to celebrate an occasion. The service was phenomenal. The wait staff was super attentive and very kind. Even though the restaurant was very busy, they definitely went the extra mile to make sure we were taken care of. The bread was 10/10. I absolutely loved it. I ordered the sweet potato gnocchi. It was definitely a filling portion of food. It was flavorful, but I'd say it was a little bit scant on the meat. I also tried the brussels sprouts and the bruschetta. The bruschetta was a fun take because it also featured beets. The brussels sprouts were solid, but nothing to write home about. Overall, I think this is a great place to have a ladies night or a date night with a solid menu. However, I'm giving a 4 only because I don't think the menu has enough draw to have me run back quickly. read more

Vivace - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food was okay at best. The steak was the chewiest steak I've ever eaten. Mussels were okay but broth was not flavorful. Service was great but food wasn't worth the price. We won't be back. read more

We've been several times over the past couple of years. The first time was pretty good. The next time, not good, and we swore to never return. Well, we returned. What a mistake. The food was absolutely awful. We both got paninis. Mine was inedible, with "chicken" that could chip a tooth. No kidding, I literally could not bite through it. So I ate the bread, which wasn't bad, since they didn't make it in house. The worst part of the meal was the side of pasta salad. It was ice cold and looked like it had been in the fridge for weeks. They didn't even bother to fluff it up to look fresh. A square-ish blob of grossness. The wait staff asked once if everything was good and I shook my head "no". She left and never came back. 1 star is generous for this place that seems to be circling the drain. read more

Absolutely love Vivace! Great spot for a quick bite and a glass of wine or if you're looking to celebrate a special day. Been several times, food and service are always consistent. A north hills must! read more

We were a party of 6 on a Monday evening for dinner. This rating is based upon a wide number of dishes sampled. The appetizer meatball was tasty, served in a nice rich marinara sauce, and was 4 stars. The Brussels sprouts was the super star and was fantastic. The bruschette was average. 1 person ordered a mushroom pizza, and the other a Margarita pizza. Both pizzas were served on a thin crust that was so crunchy. It was hard to chew. On the other hand, 2 people enjoyed scallops and said that was one of the best dishes eaten. The restaurant was very noisy, and twice a person seated at the next table bumped into one of our guests. Considering how expensive items were, we expected everything to be delicious. read more

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Absolutely delicious Bolognese!! The service is always outstanding as well!! They have an amazing wine list as well. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in North Hills. read more

Vivace - Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had a great time celebrating our anniversary here at Vivace. They were incredibly kind and helpful with gluten-free options as well as helpful with modifications. They gave us champagne as soon as we sat down to celebrate, which was a kind touch. We started off with the bread basket which my gf said was a bit tough (the artisan bread) but the other bread was fluffy and perfect. She also had the meatballs which she said were very warm and comforting. A great way to start off the meal. I had the caprese salad (gf) and it had good proportions of tomato/mozzarella and the pesto sauce brought it together. For our entrees, we had the cacio e pepe (Gf) and the ravioli. My pasta was excellent. We added tuscan kale and chicken to it and it was really satisfying. My gf said the ravioli was delicious and it smelled so good. Our waiter was patient as we like to wait in between ordering to make the food come out more spaced and the food came out quickly and hot. My only take is the set up of the restaurant is a little wonky and every now and then we would be bumped by people because the tables are too close together. Overall, would totally come back again. read more

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These comments are based on my dinner yesterday, Thursday 11/6/2025, and reflect my opinion only. The ambiance and wait staff were superb, but the dishes ordered were as follows: 1. My Cesar salad dressing was lack luster and fairly bland. 2. I had the Pork Osso Bucco which was terrible over salted which kind of ruined the entire dish for me. 3. The amount of tables created over crowded environment and the noise level was intense, making conversation at our table difficult at best. read more

We really enjoyed our dinner and our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu. He gave us great suggestions and we look forward to going again sometime soon! read more

We really enjoyed our dinner last night. The bartender made amazing cocktails. From the Caesar salad to the chicken thighs, cappellini with shrimp. The flavors on everything were spot on. read more

The chicken in my panini was so tough I could barely chew it. The pasta salad appeared to have been scraped off someone else's plate. This place used to be good, but not anymore. Avoid! read more

The food...starting with the appetizer Fried Calamari! Was the best Calimari I ever had! I've had lots Calimari app. in my time (I'm old) and I look forward to eating at Vivace every time. And my entree of Veal Marsala was outstanding! So tender...so delicious...so comforting to know every time I eat here...I'm going home with a happy face! Anytime I/we get a "back home visitor," they're going to end up at Vivace. A little pricey...but Soooo worth it! read more

Parking: plenty of parking but was at a busier time so it was hard to find space Food: food was great. bruschetta was tasty and a great start to the meal. the gnocci was delicious and a great flavor combo. the cannoli was a great way to end the meal with a different taste on the classic flavor. could have been a bit more creamy but still good Service: service was slow and took awhile to get to us and take our order Ambience: the a/c went out so it was super hot on the inside. after several attempts to move our table we finally settled with sitting outside on their patio area read more

Vivace - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Came to this restaurant recently for my brothers graduation lunch and we had used the private room for this event. The restaurant was first impression in a nice shopping center and the ambiance was lovely with all of the wine bottles on the wall and the lighting of the room. The service was great, especially since I walked in a bit late to take care of my son, the staff right away got me a drink and tried to ensure I was taken care of. I did get the harvest salad and it was scrumptious! Our party order appetizers and everyone raved about their meals. This is a great Italian spot to check out if you're in the Raleigh area. read more

Vivace - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Mushroom pizza delicious. Mussels appetizer not great. Orange cake dessert amazing. Highlight of our lunch. Cappuccino way too small.

This place is still absolutely amazing!!! Their food is excellent. They have a beautiful outdoor seating area. Service is quick. I've never been disappointed. You can call for reservations. read more

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This use to be one of my favorite restaurants, it has really gone downhill. I ordered the scallops and they were fishy tasting and even sandy. It was very humid out that night and the restaurant was very stuffy. The ambiance was disappointing, largely due to the music. It was poorly chosen, and didn't match the setting, which made it hard to enjoy the experience. They were playing pop music which is not appropriate. The wine was of noticeably poor quality, which further took away from the experience. I had ordered a glass of Chianti. Farina in North Raleigh completely blows this place away! read more

Went on an early Saturday afternoon and sat on the patio. It wasn't too busy which was nice. We were promptly seated and waiters on. I went to try the paninis and of course had to have the sangria! Mark had the short rib panini and I got the chicken. Both were good but I would choose the short rib as my fav. The pasta salad that came as the side was tossed in a marinade with grilled veggies. Great food great service as moderate prices. Will save this as a place to visit against read more

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Food: calamari, brussel sprouts, caesar salad, pappardelle bolognese, cheese ravioli -- ALL DELICIOUS! Service: 10/10 Alex our waiter was impeccable and other staff were also very attentive. It was just all perfect. Everything was phenomenal. When does that even happen these days. Best review I've probably ever given. read more

Solid food but nothing to really write home about. Similar menu to their other restaurants, so nothing super exciting. Service was great and the food was pretty good. There just wasn't anything enticing to get us back. Standard Italian without much flair-kind of a local Olive Garden if you will. The space was beautiful, though. The patio is nice but it is right outside so people will navigate through there to get to stores. read more

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Vivace is a nice Italian restaurant in North Hills. It does get busy so make sure to make reservations. I wish the tables were spaced apart just a little more as it was a little tight inside. The restaurant has both inside and outside dining. We chose to sit inside on the hot summer day. We had excellent service and we were a larger group. I went with the Four Cheese Ravioli. It was delicious. The flavors went together well. I'd order it again. read more

Vivace - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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From start to finish the staff and service were extremely friendly and professional. On a busy Friday night, the restaurant was packed and quite loud but not to the point of being overwhelming. Our server (can't remember his name) provided excellent recommendations on wine and entrees and always made sure to check on us to ensure we had everything we needed all while tending to multiple parties of various sizes. We ordered salads to start, mine being a Caesar, wife's a house, and our 8yr old ordered a kids Caesar. His salad was the exact same size as mine for $4...the only thing it didn't have was the white anchovy which he wouldn't have touched anyway. It was an excellent value. The salads were fresh and delicious. For entrees I went with the pappardelle, my wife had the four cheese ravioli and added grilled chicken, while my son had the kids cheese pizza. We all loved our entrees and the portions were more than ample. All in all it was a great "elevated" dining experience at a very reasonable price. Will definitely return when in Raleigh. read more

Vivace - Kid's cheese pizza - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Delicious food, service was a bit slow but friendly staff. I would definitely recommend read more

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Vivace is my favorite restaurant in North Hills. The calamari, ravioli, pappardelle, and espresso martinis are amazing. The staff is so kind and attentive, shout out Brian. read more

I will preface by saying this was a very busy weekend for restaurants and this was the only Italian place I could get reservations at. So by no means was it my first or even fourth choice. So it came out to being just that. A place that worked out but never one I will say I am going to unless others are booked up. Issues primarily came down to dry and flavorless Brussel sprouts, rather mediocre and blah tasting veal, pasta/sauce that came with the meatballs that tasted like it belonged in Olive Garden, overcooked and oversalted salmon and tableside bean paste/spread that should've been replaced with simple olive oil/butter. On the bright side, the lamb was delicious, the mussels were perfectly cooked and in a wonderfully prepared broth (used tableside bread instead of absolutely charred/hard bread slices that came with meal). Speaking of which tableside bread was absolutely delicious and warm. Outdoor seating was great, with only downsides being several cars in the parking lot overrevving loud exhausts (could happen anywhere). Service was nothing to complain or praise, it did feel like as soon as it was understood that we weren't doing alcohol that the enthusiasm diminished (but I cannot say that with certainty). Overall ok experience, not going back unless once again there is no other place to go to and we need to take family/friends in town to an Italian dinner out. read more

Went for dinner and was awesome! Got the buffala negra cocktail to start and was great. For appetizers we got the prosciutto and peach pizza and Brussels sprouts. Pizza had a great crust, crispy and flavors were awesome. Brussels sprouts had nice big pieces of pancetta and a nice combo of savory and sweet. The pappardelle was one of the best I had. Could tell the pasta was fresh and the sauce was perfect. Service was great, didn't feel rushed at all and let us finish our appetizers before jumping into our entree orders. Will def be back! read more

It was sooooooo good! I loved the gluten free homemade pasta which I was able to have substituted in with any dish. I added flat ironed steak and it was cooked to perfection. My mojito was on point. The service was impeccable. I loved everything about my dining experience. read more

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Really great food and service! It's always a favorite for us. For sure get the brussels sprouts!

My mom and I met for dinner in North Hills and decided to check out Vivace. The restaurant is spacious but it was a beautiful day so we decided to dine outside. We started off with a round of drinks, a beer for me and a glass of Pinot Grigio for her, and the meatballs. For our meals I ordered the sweet pea & mascarpone agnolotti and my mom ordered the pappardelle. We were stuffed so I got a piece of tiramisu to take home. Overall, I think it was a little expensive for what it was but it was good and so was the service. read more

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