New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Vivace Restaurant

by Alice E.
23rd May 2013

I love Vivace! The vibe is great, and the food is delicious! I also am grateful that they have a gluten free menu and the staff are knowledgeable about how important preparation is for coeliacs to avoid cross-contamination – makes it so much nicer to relax and enjoy your meal. The tapas are so good – particularly the haloumi and the chicken tulips. One of the best places to dine in the CBD.

by Navin
11th May 2013

Overall 3/5
Food 2/5
Service 4/5
Great customer service and ambience, food for the price was less ten average. $32 could have gotten me a much better lamb shank elsewhere. Overall not a bad place to host an event.

by K-Lee P.
17th March 2013

Two thumbs up to Vivace for delicious food, yummy cocktails and super awesome service . Myself, my sister and our friend had tapas and drinks on the balcony last night 16-3-2013, this was our first time dining there and we totally enjoyed our experience, we will definitely be back! And also a big thank you and 3 high-5′s to James who was the perfect waiter, now that’s what you call awesome service

by Thoughtful R.
24th November 2012

Vivace is one of the long standing High Street inhabitants. I was with a group of 10, and wanted to see how the restaurant stacks up on a Friday night with a large table. It’s a surprisingly large venue, with vaulted wooden ceilings, a balcony area over High St, plenty of indoor seating, private rooms, a separate bar area and an outside courtyard. The reception and initial services was very friendly and courteous. I hate being packed in when eating with a larger entourage, but we had plenty of room at our table in a mostly full restaurant. So far so good.
The group mostly ordered shared plates from the Tapas menu. Those that I tried – including mozzarella and goats cheese balls, grilled haloumi, calamari, and the bread and dips were all tasty and well presented. Everyone at the table commented favourably on their own selections. My previous experience at Vivace ordering mains was that they were basic and under-whelming, however the couple that selected them on this occasion were happy with what they chose. The pizzettes were generous, though rather over-endowed with cheese, to the extent that one was sent back, and it was happily replaced with one that was just right.
I didn’t have a dessert on this occasion, several were ordered by others and they were all eaten up with haste.
The service was always very friendly and started very well, but slowly faded through the night, making it hard for us to order a last round of drinks, and leaving us with a 25 minute wait to be able to order desserts. Side note: Why does this happen in Auckland restaurants? Keep up the positive attention consistently through to when you farewell me from the premises, that is the way to give a great experience.
I’ve been coming to this restaurant for many years, and I believe it is many years since the menu has changed. I’m talking 3 or 4 years at least, but it could be more. I think it’s a bad sign when a restaurant doesn’t innovate. Sure, keep some favourites, but give the chef a change to impress me, or at least give me a reason to come back.
Vivace is mostly competent but inconsistent, it lets itself down in several areas. Update the menu, keep the service consistent, and Vivace could become an icon of High Street.
3 stars from the ThoughtfulReviewer.com

by Genevieve V.
11th October 2012

A family members favourite therefore we had several birthday functions here as well as a Engagement party which was in separate room. The prices are reasonable and I like the dullness of the lights the decor is perfect and its nice that as a Smoker we are not forced to stand on a busy city street but are able to sit in the courtyard. Staff are friendly and the hot tappas are delicious

by Richard D.
2nd October 2012

Last Thursday 27th Sept 2012 a group of us (8) went to Vivace for a farewell lunch. I was extremely disappointed in the level of service we received. When we arrived we were not even given the courtesy of being shown to our table. Instead the woman at the arrival desk just pointed and said “there’s your table over there”. Just appalling. We were not told of any specials for the day and at one point the waitress threw the dessert menu across the table to one of my colleagues and kept leaning across the other side of the table when she should have walked around to that side.
Not up to the standard I would expect from a restaurant of this quality and considering we spent nearly $700. Will not go back which is a shame considering I have eaten there several times. Wake up Vivace!

by Sinead O.
26th September 2012

Been here a lot now since this is our new favourite. Great layout very big place.always the right temperature also with an outdoor area for smokers, vivace has an indoor fire pit. Service has always been perfect, friendly staff who respond to the customers needs with experience. The food here is Devine the kumera gnocchi is a fab and once when they had an optional set dinner menu I had a potatoe gnocchi that blew my socks off too, they are amazing with their pastas and have always cooked my steak to medium rare like I ask. Large portions of mains I can’t always finish them. Never been as part of a big group just 2-4 of us. I have never been disappointed by anything at vivace and can’t wait to have a function here.

by Patrick J.
12th September 2012

Was bought here by banking clients when I first moved to AKL – first thought as saw the old staircase was that clearly I wasn’t seen as an A list client as looked a bit dodgy from street. Completely wrong and was blown away by the slick but friendly staff, nice mix of people from old suits to the young & hip corporate types.
Discovered this is where these guys came when they wanted to feel relaxed while having a business lunch. They don’t take bookings at lunch unless you are with a big group but there seemed to be plenty of space & the group I was with never left the high bar tables in the bar. We shared tapas – all good & a few nice small weird beers and loved the crazy Scottish waitress. Will be back

by andy
16th August 2012

Had the Scallop and Chorizo hot tapas as entree which was OK. The Moroccan Lamb Pie main was spicey hot but the lamb was tough and the pastry horrible. The Tiramasu Cheescake dessert was nice.
We went with a big group and the single waitress seemed to take ages to take orders etc

by Kathryn A.
22nd June 2012

We really enjoyed our dining experience here. Tapas were fantastic as a shared starter. Highly recommend the goats cheese and mozzarella balls and lambs ribs! Timing was really good with the food coming out for quite a busy Friday night. My one and only downside about the evening was that we booked a table earlier in the day and when we arrived we had to wait at the bar for 30mins after our reservation time. Feeling slightly pressured to buy multiple drinks at the bar instead of being seated. All in all a great night

by Al K.
16th June 2012

Candles Candles and lots of Candles, WOW…love the atmosphere walking up the staircase opening the curtains and your mood will surely change..my wife and I were greeted by a friendly gentleman at the counter who took us to our table, next to the fire place. The place was a little noisy as there was a function happening, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying fine food and hospitality of the staff. Chicken tulips and Soy & Sesame Prawns for entrée we asked the chef to make then spicy to warm us up and it turned out to be an awesome dish must try if you love spicy food..mains where again mouthwatering I had fish of the day which was Snapper and my wife had Chicken fillets …Although the restaurant was very busy on the bar end, we were taken care off all the way to the end, very attentive and friendly staff..there was a small wait but that was expected when there are more guest then expected.. Definitely coming back again with friends this time…great place to mingle with friends or a nice romantic dinner…Vivace caters for everyone..

by Andy G.
3rd June 2012

been here quite a few times. always good food. had a work function in one of their private rooms which was a really nice space. excellent service. the main inside area has quite bad acoustics conversation-wise. beautiful sunny lunch spots on the deck too. the kumara gnocchi was really beautiful.

by Victoria
26th February 2012

One of my favorite city centre eateries. Went again recently with a big group . Fantastic food service and atmosphere always packed as a result!

This is somewhere I have been going to for a long time and over time it keeps improving. The food is quick tasty and varied. The kitchen is open so you can see the chef at work. Service is always top notch.

by Robin M.
28th July 2011

Thoroughly recommend the wine room for small party.

Great tapas and well trained staff.

Will go again.

by William L.
3rd July 2011

Very cool restaurant with several dinning areas. Great selection of food and all reasonably priced. Really awesome gnocchi! Have also been just for desert as it is open late. Well worth a visit!

by Emma
13th April 2011

Given a one star rating due to 2 out of the 4 of us firstly sending both of their Veal mains back because they tasted very bland and overcooked, secondly because what one of those meals was replaced with was the chicken risotto which tasted like a campbells chicken soup tin recipe. I could make much nicer food at home. Thirdly on leaving one of us wanted to give $5 more contribution to the bill which the ‘man’ behind the counter was totally confused about and then blamed us for there being a queue because HE had got confused. Used to be a good place, is no longer I’m afraid. Much better places out there!

by Julie
13th September 2010

Went to Vivace on Friday night with a small group of friends.
The food is not absolutely amazing, but good portions and tasty enough.
The wait staff were attentative and friendly.
The main issue with Vivace is their tendency to add a few extra drinks onto the bill. This happened years ago when I went here and then again on Friday night. We caught them out on it on Friday night, and there wasn’t even a real apology.
I am certain that they do it deliberately and often get away with it.
So this is a warning – especially if you are in big groups with a number of drinks being ordered – check your bill carefully.

by Ester
29th September 2009

We had a really lovely dinner here, the food was lovely, market fish – not something I would normally order. the wine list is truely amazing and the service was friendly, very attentive and non intrusive. Definately helped make the night of our engagement a truely special evening.

by tina a
23rd July 2009

Food is consistently good here, the wait staff are exceptional, they know us and are always friendly, but not intrusive.

We love the tapas as it suits the group that we dine with, which can be 2 to 10 people. The variety of tapas is good and the cannelloni is great also! Sometimes wish they would have a specials menu to expand the tapas as we end up having the same old things everytime.But they are good same old things.

I’d recommend this restaurant, it’s casual, friendly, buzzy with good food.

by Bobby
8th July 2009

I held a birthday dinner with 14 friends, booking was very smooth, and I was able to ask them how it was to be arranged. The people were always very helpful.

Food was excellent, everyone enjoyed their meal. Service was exceptional, if they keep up the high care they pay to serving their customers I will definitely be back. The place was nice, if a bit dark (hard to read menu).

There was a $15 cake fee which was unexpected but they did a good job of slicing and serving on plates with some cream and raspberry sauce.

Very good experience, will be back.

by Sara
22nd June 2009

I’ve been here so many times and have never been disappointed! Any time I want somewhere NICE to bring someone, especially out of towners.
Go for the belly pork entree and the individual pavs for dessert. OMG, it’s all good to be honest.
I even used one of their function rooms for my birthday last year. I love their food, the atmosphere, and if I could find out HOW they train their staff so well, I would bottle it!

by Louise
27th March 2009

Very difficult to be disappointed here – consistently excellent and interesting. I’ve been going here since they were in Vulcan Lane, take all my overseas visitors and recommend it to everyone. Everyone loves it.

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