Vivo Italian Restaurant – Chicago, Illinois: A rustic Italian trattoria with a stylish ambiance, the Vivo Italian Restaurant at Randolph Street in Chicago is a cross between upscale and casual dining, ideal for a first date or a business lunch. High ceilings and exposed brick-walls stacked with wine bottles give the place a laidback chic appeal that can break any stiff or awkward conversation, or the lack thereof.

The menu was far from extensive with just a few starters and salads, eight pastas (aside from their handful of specials) three seafood dishes and five meat dishes. I really couldn’t care less about a limited menu so long as the food is out-of-this-world great; I understand if the chef would want to focus on a few but impeccable dishes that guests will crave for again and again. This wasn’t the case with this restaurant, however, as I would soon find out.

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We ordered the Filet Mignon on a Gorgonzola-roasted Leek Cream Sauce served with Rosemary Scented Potatoes. The filet was a beautiful, tender, juicy cut of meat but was not juicy enough to make up for the too dry potatoes. We also had the Lightly Breaded and Pan-fried Chicken Breast served with Arugula, Fresh Tomatoes and Rosemary Scented Potatoes. The dish was satisfying enough but lacked something to make our eyes pop out from delight.

Other dishes we tried were the Rigatoni all Buttera—Rigatoni with Italian Sausage and Peas in a Goat Cheese-Tomato Sauce (the presentation was not impressive but the dish was well-prepared and thoroughly enjoyable), and one of their specialties—Ravioli del Giorno. It was easy to see why this was one of their specials as it was absolutely delicious and perhaps the highlight of our dinner. The best part of the night, however, was the dessert, Tiramisu. It was as moist and melts-in-your-mouth good as tiramisu comes.

The food at the Vivo Italian Restaurant is undoubtedly good and worth the money but falls short of being amazing for one to truly rave about it. Their serving portions were generous but I would rather they focused on better quality than more quantity.

Their wine list was more extensive than their menu and we were able to pick out a nice, moderately priced wine—Elk Cove Pinot Noir at a reasonabe $63.00.

The service was personable and friendly, and was in-step with the overall casual but upscale feel of the restaurant. While I enjoyed dinner at the Vivo Italian Restaurant, I doubt if I would go back to eat there again. Rating, Between Bombastic and Not.

What I liked: The service, the causal yet upscale atmosphere

What I didn’t like: No one thing that I didn’t like but there was nothing that wowed me

Rating: Between Bombastic and Not

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