Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria

10/28/09

Right in the Neighborhood!

by LInda and Alan

Love walking in and having a big smiley "welcome". Like that they remember what I like and how I like it. Like the warm and friendly atmosphere and the very good service. Like that parking is right there. All very conducive to an easy and enjoyable evening out. Did I mention that I love the food!!!!

• Pros: Friendly at the Door and Friendly at the Table
• Cons: Non

09/13/09

No greater compliment can I give

by metropet2000

Vivoli Cafe is one of those little places you find through the sharing of great friends. In this case, I no longer have the friend, but I remain a loyal patron to the restaurant. From the warm welcome received when entering to the final double expresso I order before leaving, the experience remains one of excellence. From a consistently fine menu to a good list from which to choose an accompanying wine, one can only wonder how lucky to have Vivoli Cafe in our midst. My particular favorite dish is the Potato Crusted Salmon and any pasta dish. And they don't hesitate to please with a favorite ingredient. Finally, I think it's important to make mention that I'm not even related to the family.

• Pros: Hospitality !
• Cons: Have never found any.

05/02/09

Not as good as it use to be...Needs help!

by gtitravelclub

We use to love this place, but the service is lacking and so is the food. Last couple of times we came in the food was too salty and the servers messed up our orders, probably due to the fact that many of the staff do not speak or understand enough English. They opened up another location in Valencia so they might have forgotten about this one. They need a real chef in the kitchen to oversee the quality of food being prepared and sent out! We were disappointed on several occasions with not fresh salads, old vegetables or the quality of meat. I noticed all the reviews that were positive were from last year, hopefully they will improve the quality of food and service. We really like this place, hopefully they turn it around. For the prices they are charging they need a chef and/or manager on duty!

• Pros: close to west hollywood
• Cons: parking

03/23/09

poor service

by hellojennifer

I did not have the best experience here. My drinks were never refilled and I never recieved the bread I asked for. The wait staff also seemed very annoyed by me as a customer. Not the best place in town...

• Pros: good menu
• Cons: bad staff

07/26/08

Poor experience

by kimnichols

Very poor experience. The bus boy spilled olive tempanade on my pants and down my leg. I realize that accidents happen but when the manager came over, he was very accusatory, like I was the guilty party. He did not even apologize until I told him how an apology would go a long way. He was extremely rude! No compensation was made. I wouldn't re-visit this restaurant if it were the last italian restaurant on earth.

• Pros: The wine was good
• Cons: The manager was rude

05/15/08

complainings

by pigiulina

I went like a week ago and I got surprised how friendly people were... I met the manager Luigi always helpful and very concerned about food and wine... the menu was so long so we didn't know what to get, so Luigi suggested us to start with Involtini di melanzane (we pratically clean the plate!), then I had teh pork medallion with strawberries and balsamic yummyyy!!! and my friend got the salmon with the potato crust and pesto sauce... MAMMA MIA!!!!

I would definitly go back to try something else...

• Pros: everything was perfect...

04/28/08

LA 's Best Italian Value

by nareg

8 years in NYC working in fine dining give me a little credibilty. The two one star reviews of this wonderful, albeit cramped, place are absurd. Your time means something to you? make flippin' reservation! Who walks into a popular, yet small, place and expects to be seated immediately? Comparing it to Olive Garden either mean you are a nasty vindictive little cuss, or you have no taste buds.

The pizza's are individual and very fresh and lite on the sauce. The five cheese is my favorite. The baked penne' (sort like brooklyn style baked zitti but more refined) is to die for. They use a real veal ragou for the sauce with just the right amount of meat. The fish is very fresh (I worked in seafood) and simply prepared. The pastas are all al dente' and their suace has a hint of beschamel.

There are no entree's over 20 dollars. most of the pastas run 12-15 bucks including the fruti de mare.

It is NOT fine dinning which is why it doesn't get the fifth star.

Still, dollar for dollar, Vivoli might be LA's best Italian restaurant. Dinner for two (two courses and one dessert) for about 60 bucks. Can't beat it. If your taste is Macaroni Grill, or Bucca de Beppe, or the flippin Cheesecake Factory. GET OFF THIS SITE PLEASE!

By the way the waiters ARE from Italy (at least four of the ones that have waited on me) you idiot!

• Pros: excellent food value
• Cons: a little cramped

03/11/08

My new favorite Italian Restaurant

by foodieforsure

It's been awhile since I've eaten here but I'm always trying to get back. The service is impeccable and the food is out of this world. It is small and can get pretty congested but all that seems to add to the ambience. Their gnocchi is a must try and I get it everytime! The wine list is not huge but impressive none the less. Parking can be a problem but they do have valet if you don't feel like getting a parking ticket!! All around great little Italian place!

02/05/08

True Italian food here in LA!!! GREAT FOOD, FRIENDLY STAFF!! LOVE IT!!!

by divine01

Tiny little restaurant on Sunset that is sure to appease your need for italian! We ordered several dishes and enjoyed them family style, eveything was great! We had the ciopinno, lasagna, pizza, and linguine pescadore ALL WONDERFUL!! I have nothing ill to say, FOOD DIVINE, SERVICE FAB!!! The manager Luigi was awesome, definately ask his recommendations. BTW, save room for dessert.!!!! Those are great as well!! GO NOW!! You wont be disappointed! :)

• Pros: FOOD, SERVICE, DESSERT, REASONABLE!!!!! GO GO GO!!!
• Cons: NONE

01/23/08

AVOID COMPLETELY IF YOU VALUE YOUR TIME.

by SILVIRA

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING THIS RESTAURANT TAKE COMFORTABLE SHOES BECAUSE THE WAIT IS SUPER LONG IT IS DOUBLE OF WHAT THEY TELL YOU. THE RESTAURANT IS SMALL SO BASICLY YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE GET UP AND LEAVE TO BE SEATED. WE WAITED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR BECAUSE THE FOOD LOOKED DELICIOUS AND WHEN SEATED WE WERE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. OLIVE GARDEN HAS A BETTER TASTE AND THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSELY AUTHENTIC.

• Pros: THUMBS WAAAAY DOWN.