Vivace — Restaurant in Charlottesville

Disappointed in Vivace for New Years Eve (12/31/2024). Vivace's has been one of our favorites "go to places" for special occasions. My Wife and I recommended it to friends who had never been. We were looking forward to sharing this place with friends. We had reservations at 6:15 p.m. and were on time at the restaurant. We were seated upstairs at a corner table which was ok with us. After sitting for about 20 minutes, we noticed the section to our left was clearing out, and the section to our right was enjoying their dinners. Both waiters and waitresses kept walking by without even acknowledging that we were there. Finally, a waiter came by (Leander S.) and said that there had been a mix up on who was covering our table and gave is a waitress's name. The waiter went on to finally offer us some bread and water and then disappeared. Another 10 minutes or so went by and this same waiter came back and said, "well I guess I'm going to be your waiter after all". We told him that was fine and could we order some wine and appetizers. He took our order and after a while he came back with the wine. The appetizers came out shortly after that. We placed our dinner orders with him and proceeded to enjoy the wine and the appetizers. We notice that the tables to the left had filled in after our arrival and those parties were ordering as we had, but for some reason all their food was coming out ahead of ours. It did not bother us that much until what happened at the end of the evening (I will explain in a minute). So, our food finally arrived. At this time, I had to ask for more water for the table. I had the chicken marsala and mashed potatoes. One of our friends had the same, however they had the pasta and sauce with theirs. The mash potatoes on my plate were ice cold and the chicken just barely warm. Our friend's pasta and sauce were cool as well. Our waiter finally came within speaking distance, and I asked to send mine back, but did not blame anyone because I mentioned I could see they were very busy. The waiter said he would speak to management about it and see if some type of discount could be given. My plate came back this time hot, but the potatoes were just above lukewarm. I did not want to send it back again, so I just went on with the dinner to save our group's time together. Our waiter came back to see if we had finished, but in his haste to give us the bill, I had to stop and asked about a dessert menu for the table, which he gave us. From this menu the wives ordered coffee. Upon bringing us their coffee our waiter also brought us the bill. He left for a couple of minutes and came back to pick up our credit cards. When he brought the receipts back for us to sign, he said to our table, there is another group that was waiting downstairs for our table. Now our wives had not even finished half their cups of coffee. Now grated this journey began at 6:15 p.m. and it was now 8:45 p.m., however there were at least four tables in our area which had been cleaned and sitting vacant for over 10 minutes. The restaurant stated for New Years Eve they were closing at 9:30 p.m., thus it was doubtful that anyone else was being seated at these vacant tables, let alone of all the time we had to wait just to be noticed for bread and water due to a server mix-up. Our table found this statement very rude and a poor showing on Vivace. In addition, there was nothing reduced from my bill for having to send my meal back (another waste of time). When we went back downstairs by the hostess table, no one was standing anywhere waiting and you noticed tables had started clearing out due to the 9:30 p.m. closing. This entire event on trying to show someone new Vivace's turned out to be a disaster and left a bad impression...

The food here is excellent 👌 And it's a beautiful restaurant, inside and out. The reason for my review is based on an issue I had with a party reservation. My husband and I had family coming in from out of state and wanted to treat them to dinner. Unfortunately, Vivace doesn't offer menus without prices, and the À la carte menus are only available for parties of a certain size (We had a total of 9 people and 2 children, one of them an infant). My family is very generous, and had they seen the menu prices may have insisted on contributing or felt awkward ordering the highet priced or alcohol/liquor, so I contacted the restaurant several weeks in advance and asked if I could create a copy of their menu without prices to be handed out at the dinner. They said yes-- which was very nice. So, I created the menu and sent it to the manager for approval. He said it was fine. They also said it would be okay to bring the menus to be handed out when we arrived. A couple of our family members got to the restaurant early and were given regular menus... That's obviously not the restaurant's fault. However, when my husband brought my 3 page menus in, someone shuffled them and gave them back to the table to take on their own. They were all out of order, so not only did I have to go around and correct this issue, but it was plainly obvious that I brought our own menus-- which I made clear everytime I spoke to someone at the restaurant I didn't want them to know. To add insult to injury, the waiter told my entire family that the menus were incorrect, and he wasn't sure why 😳 I reached out to the manager to thank them for the dinner (the food really was amazing) and to explain what happened, but I haven't heard back from them. It's really my fault for not just going with a catering hall, Vivace looked like a really nice Italian place-- which it was, but in this situation, a professional catering hall would have been better choice. I had reached out to the Wool Factory as well, but I heard back from Vivace first...so I went with them. In hindsight, the Wool Factory would have been a better choice for this event as they said they would be happy to accommodate our smaller party and would handle all of...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Wow, where do I even begin? My recent visit to Vivace was nothing short of magical! The very first thing that struck me was the sheer joy radiating from every corner of this incredible establishment. The staff? They’re not just employees; they’re beacons of warmth and friendliness, greeting everyone with genuine smiles that instantly make you feel at home. And the patrons? Laughter and good vibes fill the air, creating an atmosphere that’s simply infectious!

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, and let me tell you, his passion for hospitality is palpable! He was hands-on every step of the way, ensuring that my family had an unforgettable experience. Special shoutout for how attentive he was in accommodating my disabled family member. Access was a breeze, and that level of care truly made a difference.

Now, let’s talk about the food—oh my goodness, where do I even start? Each dish was a masterpiece, bursting with flavor and generously portioned. Seriously, you will NEVER leave hungry! From Italian classics that warm your heart to seasonal specials that showcase the best local ingredients paired with exquisite Italian imports, every bite is a celebration of culinary excellence.

The ambiance at Vivace is simply unmatched. The decor is inviting and cozy, making it the perfect backdrop for any occasion. Whether you’re in the mood for a lively night out while enjoying sports in the lounge, a romantic date night upstairs, or a joyous gathering in their spacious rooms or beautiful multi-level garden terraces blooming with vibrant vines and flowers, Vivace has it all!

This place truly has something for everyone, no matter the occasion. It’s the perfect spot for families, friends, or that special someone in your life. So come as you are and immerse yourself in the delightful experience that is Vivace! Trust me, you won’t...