6000 Universal Studios Plaza
Orlando, FL 32819
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
It's nice to visit a sit down restaurant after along day at the theme parks. Vivo Italian Kitchen is a fantastic modern Italian dining option, conveniently located right within Citywalk Orlando. It's the perfect addition to any Orlando vacation due to the convenient location, affordable prices, great atmosphere, and accommodating staff.
Any Orlando tourist looking for a great restaurant experience to compliment a fantastic day at the parks should head over to Vivo one night for dinner. I really enjoy the food and ambiance here, not to mention the convenient access to other Citywalk attractions.
Vivo offers a traditional Italian menu featuring various appetizers (Calamari, Caprese, Antipasto, etc.), wood fired pizza, fresh salads and soups, pasta dishes (Bolognese, Chicken Ravioli, Gnocchi, and Lasagna to name a few), along with numerous Chicken, Seafood, and Meat based entrees (Halibut, Quid Ink Seafood, and Linguine and Clams to name a few).
An hour before dining, we talked with the chef about gluten-free options. Not only do they carry gluten-free pasta, they also offer 2 gluten-free soups, along with a few salads and sides. I have noticed that many restaurants in Orlando are very good with providing plenty of options for all sorts of dietary restrictions. I have rarely encountered a problem finding anything to eat within the touristy theme park areas.
The chef was also willing to create a homemade gluten-free breadsticks appetizer for us. This was great as we did not have to feel left out when everyone else at the table got bread. It was so good, that everyone at our table had to test it out! We truly appreciated the kind gesture, especially on such short notice. The gluten-free breadsticks (which had a nice garlic flavor), the Tuscan Bean soup, and the salad were all wonderful starters. The Chicken Marsala, with an abundance of sautéed mushrooms, GF pasta, and a tasty marsala wine sauce was just delicious. The Pomodoro, which includes GF pasta, tomatoes, basil, roasted garlic, and a white wine sauce, was just okay. In my opinion, it was too bland and needed more spices and oil. A simple marinara sauce would have been tastier. This was the only downside of the meal for our table. Other guests dining with us really enjoyed the Lasagna. A full list of wine and Italian cocktails are available to compliment your Italian dinner.
Prices are surprisingly affordable, considering it is a nice Italian restaurant located in a pricey theme park destination. Portions are pretty large considering the popular Universal location, and no one at our table left hungry. Overall, dinner at Vivo was just what we needed after a long day at Universal. Filling up with some comforting Italian food was what we all needed after putting in over 10 miles. Let's just say none of us felt guilty indulging in extra carbs.
As I mentioned above, the staff was wonderful. The chef made us a special appetizer with almost no notice. The staff is very accommodating when it comes to pleasing every guest, even those with strict dietary requests.
The design at Vivo is very appealing: sleek and contemporary. Everything is very clean and elegant in appearance, right down to the bathrooms. When looking into the open kitchen, you can see the homemade pasta hanging down to dry.
The attractively designed dining room, combined with unique modern decor, makes it a great place for a post theme park celebration or date.
Vivo's creative design elements, comforting home-cooked Italian entrees, catering staff, and convenient location at CityWalk make it the easy choice for dinner after your day at the Universal parks. I would definitely enjoy dinner here again on my next Universal vacation.
