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Informal bar/eatery in a historic farmhouse since 1995 with refined Italian meals & outdoor seating.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2244 Ivy Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 979-0994
Website: http://www.vivacecville.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
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Vivace – Charlottesville
Located in Charlottesville, Virginia. C’ville’s Vivace Restaurant, locally owned, serving authentic and inspired Italian food to Charlottesville since 1995.
Book Your Vivace-Charlottesville Reservation Now on Resy
Vivace-Charlottesville. 2244 Ivy Road. Charlottesville, VA 22903. Get Directions. Your next favorite restaurant is a few taps away.
Vivace Restaurant | Charlottesville VA – Facebook
We have half pans and full pans of pasta, salads etc for your snow storm needs. Yummy love ❤️ Call us at 434-979-0994. We are are very busy tonight so please …
Reviews
Andrew Fraher
I was looking for a place to celebrate my 23rd wedding anniversary, and as we both love Italian food, this seemed to fit the bill. Our introduction to the business was the strange parking, as I drove around the building twice and settled on parking near the street. I walked up the hill to the not entrance, and there was a sign on the not entrance door that said not to park in the spots for the shops or the Sentara lot, as you would be towed. Given there was no parking available in the back of the restaurant, I parked in Sentara and was later told by our server that parking in Sentara was okay. Nothing confusing about that. Perhaps some signage would help. We were quickly seated, and our server came and took our drink order. It is a cozy restaurant with open seating, and the noise levels were reasonable. We had an early reservation at 5:30 (that’s early to us), and as the night went on and it got busier, we noticed the two servers were a bit overwhelmed. The table next to ours asked rather curtly if one of them would take our order. Our server was trying to keep up, and when I asked her if they were understaffed, she said no. Hmmm.
Okay, the food. We started with wdge sald for me and a hpuse special salad for my qife, and they were good. My wife ordered the chicken piccata and a Montepulciano to drink. The chicken was tasty and tender, and the freshly baked bread was the highlight of my meal. I ordered spaghetti aglio with a side of sausage and a side of meatballs, as I was looking for something light, a little spicy, and we both love meatballs. What I got instead was a dish that was overpowered with garlic and basically inedible. I tried four forkfuls, and then had my wife try it to see if I was being overly sensitive. She couldn’t eat it either. Same result with one of my daughters the next day, and the other daughter, the garlic queen, said it was good, although it was a lot of garlic for her. Prices were average for C’Ville. Big disappointment for the 23rd! I would not recommend this restaurant.
… moreOkay, the food. We started with wdge sald for me and a hpuse special salad for my qife, and they were good. My wife ordered the chicken piccata and a Montepulciano to drink. The chicken was tasty and tender, and the freshly baked bread was the highlight of my meal. I ordered spaghetti aglio with a side of sausage and a side of meatballs, as I was looking for something light, a little spicy, and we both love meatballs. What I got instead was a dish that was overpowered with garlic and basically inedible. I tried four forkfuls, and then had my wife try it to see if I was being overly sensitive. She couldn’t eat it either. Same result with one of my daughters the next day, and the other daughter, the garlic queen, said it was good, although it was a lot of garlic for her. Prices were average for C’Ville. Big disappointment for the 23rd! I would not recommend this restaurant.
Jean Doolittle
Delightful yummy place! I loved the atmosphere and really loved the food. Very great place for a special homey meal. If I didn’t live out of state I would come here often.
… moreDonna Mahan
We eat here 1-2 times a week. Not sure what is happening but we’ve had 2 bad experiences in a row. Last time our order came out incorrectly. My husband ordered the NY strip without the potatoes or demiglaze to cut out the carbs… neither was done. I requested artichokes added to my dish which also wasn’t done.
Tonight our dinner arrived 45 minutes after we had finished our appetizer and salad. The server never asked my husband how he wanted his steak cooked and by the time it had finally arrived, it was way overdone. By this time, it was also too late too eat so we asked for boxes. All the tables around us who had arrived after us, had already eaten. The poor server was left to make excuses and as per usual, not a word from management. This is consistent w vivace when there is a problem….never a peep from management! In most decent restaurants, management speaks to their customers but never a nice word, acknowdgement or inquiry from vivace management and we easily spend $150/visit for a table of 2!
… moreTonight our dinner arrived 45 minutes after we had finished our appetizer and salad. The server never asked my husband how he wanted his steak cooked and by the time it had finally arrived, it was way overdone. By this time, it was also too late too eat so we asked for boxes. All the tables around us who had arrived after us, had already eaten. The poor server was left to make excuses and as per usual, not a word from management. This is consistent w vivace when there is a problem….never a peep from management! In most decent restaurants, management speaks to their customers but never a nice word, acknowdgement or inquiry from vivace management and we easily spend $150/visit for a table of 2!
Gayathri Kavitha
The food is awesome, the experience not so much. I don’t really like the service because every time I book inside, they end up placing me outside even though we made the reservation three weeks in advance for indoor seating (and it honestly feels like they prioritize non-college students for inside). It’s always super cold outside — something about the setup is never warm enough.
I also don’t like that it feels like they don’t care as much when I’m seated outside. They often don’t keep silverware at the table and service takes noticeably longer. I wouldn’t even mind where I sit, but it’s so cold that I have to keep my jacket on the whole time, and the service is just worse when we’re outside.
Additionally, it doesn’t feel fair– I feel like I’m not being treated the same because we’re younger, even though we’re paying the same price for the food.
I’ve been going for the last few years, and honestly it’s some of the best Italian food in town, but I always leave not fully happy because of the service. The vibe also feels kind of judgy and not very welcoming, especially since my friend and I are younger than most of the people there. I forgot to mention this has happened 3 times over the last school year.
… moreI also don’t like that it feels like they don’t care as much when I’m seated outside. They often don’t keep silverware at the table and service takes noticeably longer. I wouldn’t even mind where I sit, but it’s so cold that I have to keep my jacket on the whole time, and the service is just worse when we’re outside.
Additionally, it doesn’t feel fair– I feel like I’m not being treated the same because we’re younger, even though we’re paying the same price for the food.
I’ve been going for the last few years, and honestly it’s some of the best Italian food in town, but I always leave not fully happy because of the service. The vibe also feels kind of judgy and not very welcoming, especially since my friend and I are younger than most of the people there. I forgot to mention this has happened 3 times over the last school year.
Steven W Henshaw II
It was my first time coming here. Me and my friend stopped here for dinner on 11/16/2025. We arrived there for dinner around 4:30PM. The service was okay, but that changed after our food arrived. I ordered Chicken Parmesan and a side Cesar salad for my entrée. The marinara sauce tasted like canned tomato sauce, not what I was expecting. The chicken cutlet had the distinct taste of a frozen chicken patty. The goat cheese and artichoke dip was wonderful. Our server could have been more attentive with checking on us, however, it wasn’t a terrible experience. I was expecting a better quality meal, considering I spent over $40 for myself alone.
… moreCarly Pisarri
This place is soooo cute. I wish I took more pics of the outdoor vibe but I was enjoying myself too much. The food here is absolutely made from old school recipes. So much flavor in everything. I loved how the bread was warm, flaky crust and a soft flavorful doughy inside. Our server was very helpful but they seemed to only have two or so waiters covering quite a large table spread. Worth the wait tho!
… moreKevin Wohl
Wonderful, relaxed 2 hour pre Anniversary dinner. Kit he being slow was no issue. We DINED ! Warm crusty Italian Bread and house salad were tasty and filled the time till the delicious and beautifully presented VEAL Picatta arrived. We enjoyed and recommend.
… moreAhri A
Vivace is hands-down one of my go-to spots in Charlottesville. It hits that sweet spot between upscale and welcoming, making it perfect for both a romantic date night or a more refined dinner with friends or family.
The food? Consistently excellent. The fra diavolo is a standout—spicy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. And don’t even think about skipping dessert—the tiramisu is rich, creamy, and just boozy enough to feel authentic.
The Caesar salad deserves a special shoutout. Add the white anchovies—seriously. It takes it from good to unforgettable. Their antipasti board is another must: a generous spread with quality meats, cheeses, and marinated veggies that feels rustic and indulgent at the same time.
The building itself adds to the charm. It’s got that warm, classic Italian vibe with a touch of old-world rustic flair. You feel like you’re in a timeless space the moment you step in.
Vivace nails the essentials: ambiance, flavor, service. Always a solid choice in the Cville rotation.
… moreThe food? Consistently excellent. The fra diavolo is a standout—spicy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. And don’t even think about skipping dessert—the tiramisu is rich, creamy, and just boozy enough to feel authentic.
The Caesar salad deserves a special shoutout. Add the white anchovies—seriously. It takes it from good to unforgettable. Their antipasti board is another must: a generous spread with quality meats, cheeses, and marinated veggies that feels rustic and indulgent at the same time.
The building itself adds to the charm. It’s got that warm, classic Italian vibe with a touch of old-world rustic flair. You feel like you’re in a timeless space the moment you step in.
Vivace nails the essentials: ambiance, flavor, service. Always a solid choice in the Cville rotation.
Brad Parker
If you like Italian, go here! Fresh ingredients, amazing atmosphere that welcomes one and all. They really take pride in what comes out on the plate. My pictures done do it justice, so go try for yourself. The food, the food, the food is so damn good! I got the filet, which came on a bed of risotto and some asparagus. I don’t even like risotto and I almost ordered seconds. It was so good, and creamy, and seasoned to perfection. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, with just a little “snap” when bitten. My wife had their house special pasta. Which has a Marsala style sauce that was very good. It was a little sweet, but it paired well with the sun-dried tomatoes and our wine. Highly suggest you try this place. Some were dressed up, but def not required.
… moreGeoffrey Voltz
Had my brothers surprise 70th here. Gave us a private dining room. Waitress was attentive and polite. Food was magnificent. Atmosphere was delightful. Prices weren’t ridiculous. Mussels and calamari were tasty and parking was plentiful
… more