Vivo Kitchen — Restaurant in Sewickley

​​Visiting Vivo was the most insulting experience I've ever had at a restaurant, and I didn't even eat there.

My wife and I arrived about 30 minutes before the 7:45 pm OpenTable reservation I had made that afternoon for a small celebration. We figured it would be a non-issue, especially since more than half the tables were empty and OpenTable showed open slots from 5:30-on just a couple of hours earlier. When we approached the hostess stand and told the hostess and the owner that we were early, the owner told us to "take a walk around Sewickley for 10 or 15 minutes and enjoy the sunshine." We looked at each other, looked around the restaurant, then at the owner. She was serious. We were a bit shocked and left.

Ultimately, we appreciated the advice. We found a lovely place called Bruneaux, which had a diverse menu, excellent food, enjoyable service, and seated us immediately in their beautifully done outdoor patio.

We returned to Vivo to clarify what happened after I got an email from OpenTable saying I was a no-show for our reservation. We asked the hostess if we could speak with the owner, and when the hostess returned from the kitchen, she said that "the owner is busy and wouldn't have time to speak with [us]." I asked if we should wait to let things calm down, the hostess said no. We left laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

On the plus side, we had a fantastic meal and an enjoyable evening at a restaurant we wouldn't have discovered without...

My family and I have been eating well with Sam and his family now for over 15 years, and we've enjoyed every minute and every bite. Vivo Kitchen is a reinvention of his former restaurant, Vivo, with a hip vibe that combines well with the imaginative and tasty dishes. He's a master of the kitchen and really loves what he does, and you can see it and taste it in every gastronomic creation that comes to your table.

The staff is well chosen, and the bartender is really top shelf. If you don't see something that strikes your fancy on the drink menu, just tell Josh your tastes and preferences and he'll create something original that you'll love as though you've known each other for years. The tapas-style plates are small as they should be, but extremely full of flavor and assembled with the finest and freshest ingredients Sam could find for his menu. The decor is sleek and inviting, while feeling urban and hip at the same time.

After having been in restaurants in major cities around the world, and having tried tastes that span several continents, I am always intrigued by what I see on the menu at Vivo Kitchen. I'm also never disappointed with the choices I've made and the meals I've had. I highly recommend Vivo Kitchen, and suggest you bring friends along. It's a great place to gather, share stories, laugh, and try some interesting dishes...

Visited Vivo for the first time yesterday, and I have mixed feelings about this place. The atmosphere is great - small, but roomy enough, and great for a smaller group (2-4 people). Decent wine and spirits selection. The food was good, but not great - particularly for the price point compared to quality. My main criticism is that we felt quite rushed by service. I made a reservation for 5:45 PM with a friend, and an employee interrupted our conversation to tell us to leave our table at 7:15 PM (after being very obvious for 15 minutes prior to that by taking away anything that wasn’t physically in our hands) because “another reservation had arrived and they needed the table.” We left as to respect the other diners and the wishes of the restaurant - however, if there is a time limit on your table, this really is something that should be communicated in the reservation so that customers can plan accordingly. Unsure if they double-booked or if they took too many reservations than they could manage that evening, but I read other reviews indicating similar experiences. It was definitely awkward and made us feel unwelcome. Vivo certainly has its place in the Village, but I’d recommend planning a short stay if heading there - or going elsewhere if you are anticipating/desiring a...