 Your Online Guide to Italian Restaurants and Dining in Chicagoland
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Mangiare! Chicago-Loop |
Italian Village 71 W. Monroe Chicago, IL 312/332-7003 |
Vivere
The Vivere restaurant is well named. In Italian the word, "vivere", means "to live", and from the moment you enter this shrine to the good life, your senses will be bombarded with pleasurable stimuli of all kinds. The first indication of the treats that await you is the splendiferous aroma of Italian culinary excellence that makes you forget your worries and prepare yourself for a remarkable experience. Even before your eyes adjust to the subdued lighting you are swept into a distinct mood of celebration, as if the patrons at every single table in the establishment are proclaiming some significant achievement or happy milestone. Once you are seated you will immediately begin to enjoy the attention of an absolutely outstanding staff of serving professionals. I strongly recommend that you put aside your menu and order a favorite cocktail or beverage so that you may leisurely take in the visual delights of your surroundings. Formerly called the Florentine Room, the Capitanini family recently transformed this main-floor dining room into the Vivere, one of a trio of restaurants that is the Italian Village ( the intimate La Cantina is on the lower level and the rustic Village is upstairs). The result is a singular decor of expressionist elegance with a hint of art deco that suggests a sense of otherworldliness that intensifies your feeling of escape from the harsh realities of ordinary existence.
First consider your choice of gourmet appetizers, which includes a gigantic portobello mushroom, perhaps one of the tastiest dishes you have ever eaten. Now, how about some wine? You may very well find your choice on the Vivere "short list" (featured on this site), which itself offers you a wide variety of fine wines. But if you really love wine the way I do, ask for the complete list (actually, "book" is more descriptive). Herein is contained the most extensive selection of wines from the most well stocked cellar in Chicago! The entire spectrum of Italian viniculture is now before you in all of its glory. Each grand family of Italian wine -- Chianti, Barolo, Barberesca, Montepulciano, Merlot, Amarone and Brunello -- is represented with numerous selections. French champagnes of all brands and vintages also fill a goodly portion of this incredible list.
Italian art, architecture, music and craftsmanship share two common qualities -- conceptual brilliance and technical virtuosity. The same is true with the creation and preparation of the Vivere's remarkable fare. You can find various traditional pasta dishes in just about any first-class restaurant these days, but where else can you thrill your taste buds with dishes like Tortelli d'Astice con Salsa Bisque (Lobster-filled tomato pasta with a lobster-light cream sauce) or Agnolottini di Fagiano (Pheasant-filled pasta with butter, sage and Parmesan cheese)? The Secondi menu also offers a similar array of mouth-watering creations like Medaglioni di Vitello con Salsa Cremosa (Veal tenderloin with Porcini-pancetta-gin cream sauce) or Costoletta d'Agnello con Carciofi (Oak-grilled lamb chops and roasted artichokes with white wine, mandarin and basil sauce). Should you desire something more traditional, the Vivere chefs will prepare just about anything you want.
Conveniently located in the heart of the Loop, the Vivere is a perfect place to enjoy a memorable dinner after work or shopping or before any major show or sporting event.
Il viaggiatore
