Vivere Offers Modish Elegance and Light Italian Food
The Italian Village, located right in Chicago's theatre district, is a distinctive little building (and a Chicago landmark) that offers three Italian restaurants to whet your pre-show appetite. Of these, Vivere (pronounced viva-RAY) is by far the most stylish, romantic and upscale. Of course, it's also pricey. Young chef Drue Kennedy gives dishes and visitors quite a lot of attention, and the wine list is to die for.
If you're looking for basic comfort Italian staples like spaghetti and meatballs or fettucine alfredo, you might want to check out one of the other restaurants instead (The Village, downstairs in the same building, is great for that type of thing). Vivere is all about light, contemporary gourmet cuisine with exotic ingredients in small, well-presented portions. The restaurant offers a book of a wine list-there are over 1,000 fairly priced wines from all over the world-with a knowledgeable sommelier to help you make your choices. This wine list is praised internationally and wins awards every year (and has for decades).
From the moment you step into Vivere you're in a richly textured atmosphere that's distinctive, modern and luxurious. Think red and gold and wood with white tablecloths, swirls and cones, everything modern and flatteringly lit. Jordan Moser designed the space, and it's been described as being "inside a giant caramel roll" by Centerstage Chicago. Reservations are a good idea, but not always necessary.
The chef's tasting menu ($70 per person for five courses) is a great choice for first-timers, but I also like the butternut squash ravioli. If you're a little more adventurous, there are unusual choices such as pheasant agnolotti and wild boar. You can order meats like salmon, ahi tuna and veal spiced with ingredients like saffron, sage, basil and lemon, along with lovely, delicate vegetable and bean dishes. Don't expect huge amounts of food, though. You'll spend a bit here; though you can get many wines for under $30 a bottle, you'll also lay out between $15-$35 for the entrees. There are desserts too. Don't even get me started.
Vivere is located at 71 W. Monroe Street, at the Italian Village-you can't miss the sign, it's lit up in neon. On the CTA Red Line get off at Washington; if you're driving, you can take I90/94 to the Monroe exit and go East on Monroe, a one-way street. Street parking is difficult, but there are pay garages there. For more information on the Italian Village, located across from the Shubert, I mean the LaSalle Back Theatre, go to its official Web site. You can access the link to Vivere from there.
