Getting to Know Universal – Vivo Italian Kitchen

Pop open a bottle of chianti and take the cannoli, today we are looking at Vivo Italian Kitchen at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk. This family-friendly modern Italian restaurant opened in 2014 to praise for its value for the food quality. We will review a recent trip to this popular restaurant in this article and see if this restaurant is worth a visit.

Quick Glance

• Location: Universal CityWalk
• Cuisine: Rustic Italian
• Service: Table service
• Price: $20-$34 per entree
• Touring Plans Rating: ★★★★, 86% reader approval
• Seating: Indoor and outdoor tables, indoor booths, bar

The Atmosphere

Vivo takes inspiration from city markets to create a modern atmosphere with lots of white and black tile. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, with outdoor seating under a large overhang with fans and heaters. Once inside the show kitchen is the central focus at Vivo with all booths, tables, and even counter seating facing the kitchen. The front half of the restaurant is bright and airy with large windows that let in sunlight while the back half of the restaurant feels like dining at a chef’s table with pantry supplies on shelves.

The interior of Vivo can get loud as the action and kitchen noises carry through the restaurant. It makes the restaurant feel alive but it might be too much for guests who prefer a quieter dining experience. Vivo does not feature live entertainment like at Bice and Mama Della’s in Portofino Bay Resort.

The Food & Drink

Vivo Italian Kitchen focuses on rustic Italian dishes inspired by the ingredients from the south of Italy. The stars of the menu are the classic pasta dishes from Florence and Rome like the Caciao e Pepe and squid ink linguini with mussels in addition to the stone-cold classics like pasta bolognese, fettuccini alfredo, lasagna, and eggplant parmesan. It’s not all pasta at Vivo – the menu includes other Italian classics like Neapolitan pizza, salads, seafood, and steaks.

On our food critic’s last visit, they enjoyed the dishes they received:

 The charcuterie board was 100% worth it too. That blue cheese especially, hidden under a piece of bread was so creamy and flavorful I wish I knew the brand. The pizza was hot and crispy with a flavorful above average crust. Pasta was spicy! Not a lingering heat just a really flavorful broth and noodles.

Don’t fill up on that bread service as dessert is right around the corner! Stracciatella, tirramasu, pana cotta, and flourless chocolate cake round out the menu with the star of the menu being the massive cannolli that might count as a child if you bring it into the park. Our reviewer noted the desserts were among the weaker options at the restaurant as they are rich in chocolate and sugar.

Speaking of children, there is a kid’s menu featuring familiar items like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken tenders, and meatball sliders. And for those who have to take care of the children, there is a full bar with wine and beer options (or for adults who’ve been around kids all day, like me).

The Opinion

Vivo has a special place in TouringPlans’ hearts as this was one of the first new CityWalk restaurants we covered for the blog in 2014. Vivo was the first new restaurant to open in a program that brought us Cowfish, Antojitos, NBC Grill Brew, and Toothsome. So does Vivo Italian Kitchen hold up a decade later? Yes, it does.

On our most recent trip, we found the food quality to hold up and the service is still among the best at Universal. Universal’s focus on daily fresh-made pasta still pays off all these years later with some of my favorite theme park Italian food. On my last trip to Vivo I got the lasagna and while I will not say it’s the best lasagna I’ve had (that title belongs to my Italian grandmother) it was among the best I’ve had at a restaurant. We would be remiss not to mention the incredible value for money at Vivo has slipped away – most pasta dishes are now priced in the $20s and entrees are in the $30s, a vast change from the days of $13-20 meals.

We recommend Vivo to all guests, especially families with kids.

TouringPlans Tips

• Save Time and make dining reservations at least two weeks before your trip.
• Vivo is only open for dinner and frequently fills up when the parks close, for a quieter meal dine in the early evening.
• Are you looking for a quick pizza fix? Skip Vivo and head next door to Red Oven, you’ll save money for very similar pies in a quick service venue.
• Annual Passholders receive a discount at Vivo – Premier passes receive 15% and Preferred passes receive 10% off their bill.

Have you eaten at Vivo in CityWalk? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!