Vivo Ristorante Downtown - Edmonton

First time visiting this location and certainly was not disappointed. The ambiance and service were fantastic. Noise level was low and the food was absolutely delicious. A definite new go to place for us

Had one of the wood fired pizzas for lunch. The crust was great and the price was good but was a little flavourless. Also had the minestrone soup which was hearty and had good flavour. Server was very pleasant and the atmosphere was clean and inviting. All in all a good experience for a restaurant off the beaten track but the menu really didn't have much flare to it. Standard Italian fare done well.

Vivo Downtown YEG still has the brand new smell, having opened at the intersection of 105 Ave and 106 St NW, immediately north of Grant McEwan University and just west of Rogers Place. The downtown location has three venues, the Pizzeria, the Taverna, and the Ristorante. There is lots of parking on the premises. I made reservations for four through the Open Table app on my Android, but given that the location is an hidden gem, we did not need them. On the Friday before a long weekend there was lots of space, and by the time we finished a leisurely Mediterranean paced dinner two and a half hours later, we were the only patrons in the house. I have no doubt that as the word spreads about Vivo Downtown, it will be a hot ticket - so be prepared for "supply and demand" issues for table space as time goes on. Vivo serves "family style" - huge family sized portions that a replaced centrally and from which everyone takes their share. Keep that in mind as you order as teh menu can throw you off initially! The staff offered the attention one would expect from a top notch restaurant - from the General Manager Ryan who took the time to meet us, exchange some excellent banter and limoncello, to Jayce our server who walked us through the dining experience and made some great suggestions for dinner (including packing up teh extras since the portions are huge! The Chefs, SArdar the sous chef, Eva the dessert chef, and Derrick the pasta chef, all created a wonderful meal - and unfortunately Head Chef had left before we we thanked the kitchen for their attention.The wine list is expansive ranging from $55 to $750...we stayed at the lower end! As for the meal,,,,well...simply put, it was fantastico! We started with fresh homemade bread dipped in the house olive oil imported from Rome jacked up with roasted garlic and Gran Padano...it was a tasty diversion form the typical olive oil and balsamic. The two couples went different routes for antipasti...we chose the Caprese salad - with three or four varieties of locally sourced red and yellow tomatoes, coupled with fresh buffalo mozzarella and lovely balsamic reduction and fresh basil was tart and sweet, and chewy and smooth all that the same time; our friends chose the crunchy and zesty Caesar Salad - heads of romaine with grilled capers, croutons and a lovely dressing with fresh grated cheese.Prima piatti (first plate) was the rigatoni, In-house pasta tubes smothered in a lovely creamy tomato sauce peppered with chunks of grilled Italiano sausage. A dollop of mozzarella stirred into the rigatoni tempered the heat, as this dish packed a pleasing bit of spice that raised our core temperatures a few degrees. We ordered the full portion - and I was pleased that we did because it was unbelievable - but even after a substantial period of time chatting and drinking wine, we were still absolutely stuffed by the time our mains arrived.The secundi piatti (mains) was a beast of a serving. We order theefiletto - succulent beef tenderloin cooked to taste (a few slices were removed from the filet and cooked to well for my wife, as mine was a perfect medium rare). Our friends ordered the pollon - actually a half chicken - and like us, struggled to defeat it as the portions were huge. Rounded out the meal were some roasted potatoes and a beet and carrot dish. All well prepared, tasty, but again too much for us. Thankfully, the left overs were packed up and made for a nice cold lunch the next day,The weak would be finished there, but no meal is complete without a sweet. The ladies shared a chocolate lava concoction matched with gelato...a fitting end to a wonderful meal. A great experience with great food. We received service and attention beyond the norm, which could change if the restaurant is packed. Definitely on the list of our Edmonton go to places. Full recommend a visit before you have to join a waiting list.

This place was absolutely incredible the service the food everything about it was over-the-top best Caesar salad I ever had in my entire life!! Amy our waitress was the best waitress we've ever had!!

This was the best food I have ever tasted in Edmonton. WOW, this appetizers were unbelievable. Amy was world class, Cesar salads were worth the trip. Folks nothing bad to say except cannot wait to come back. The pollo dish was out of this world. I have been around the world but truly blessed to have eaten here. Jeff & Maxine