Vivace Restaurant - Tucson, Arizona

Kylie B.

What a shame I’m limited to 5 stars. Marco and his team should be given every star in the nights sky.

With a one night layover before a long haul flight in the morning we chose to stay at Regala SkyCity for its convenient location to the airport. I would honestly come back again and again just for the food experience we had in the evening.

I was keen for something my body would appreciate and I found the 4 course Wellness set menu with a detox juice for $350HKD plus 10% service charge.

The menu was

Detox juice

Cucumber, apple, mint, lime and ginger beer

Such a refreshing blend of ingredients, so enjoyable that a glass of wine afterwards would just spoil any evening. If all non alcoholic juices tasted as wonderful the wineries and breweries would be feeling nervous.

Appetiser

Beetroot, chickpea, orange, walnut and rocket salad.

This was without a doubt the prettiest salad I have ever seen never mind tasted. The freshness of ingredients was only exceeded by the lightness and tantalising dance of flavours. Each segment of orange identical in size, carefully peeled to enhance the sweeetness and artistically positioned within the generous cubes of soft yet firm beetroot. The chickpeas were plentiful though not too much and their nuttiness complemented the generous smattering of walnut pieces. As an appetiser the portion could have been mistaken for a main meal - more than I needed / should have had but too delicious to leave unfinished.

Soup

Andalusian Gazpacho

I’ve never eaten gazpacho previously, aways expecting that a cold soup would be unpalatable and simply off. How incredibly wrong I have been my entire life. If all gazpachos are half the medley of flavours of Chef Marco’s then sign me up for a lifetime of this liquid gold.

The striking balance of tomatoes, peppers, onion and garlic and whatever other magical ingredients were added along the way, this surprising dish boasts benefits of weight loss. I see a new diet trend emerging and it might just be one to live by.

Entree

Grilled tuna fish with tomato, cucumber, green pepper and red onion salad with tzatziki sauce

What the menu fails to mention (aside from the stunning presentation) is that unlike most restaurants that charge additional fees for any sides at all - think protein only and you pay ++ for anything else, this cooked to a pink-so-blush tuna steak invites a baby carrot, a piece of char grilled zucchini and eggplant and a baby corn spear to share the plate.

The salad is reminiscent of a salsa verde and rests under the carefully sliced pieces of Tuna, allowing it to sit as proud as it rightly should while the elegant smear of just the right amount of tzatziki ties all of the flavours together.

Dessert

Low fat Greek yogurt with honey, lychees, raspberry and dark chocolate

By now I was certain I had read the price incorrectly and despite being sober as a judge I had advised our waitresses that this was, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest meal I had ever had in my 43 years of life.

As a foodie and having tasted some amazing things I do not make this call lightly or haphazardly and dessert hit the home run of four from four perfect courses. I couldn’t want for anything.

The lightness of the yogurt and fruit cut through the dark chocolate bitterness with ease and it was almost too pretty to eat.

We couldn’t help but applaud Chef Marco when we came personally to our table. A far cry from the cantankerous nature chefs are often known for, Marco’s friendliness, personality and warmth mirrors his food.

His passion to bring exquisite flavour to food for wellness is to be admired and please, please let chefs around the world copy the brilliance of this man.

Jaime S.

6 stars!!!! 2nd visit and I just can’t get over how good the food is. Hands down best restaurant in Tucson. Service is fantastic and friendly. Atmosphere is incredible, feels like you are actually in a Tuscan Village. Strongly Recommend.

Scott L.

Enjoyed a birthday dinner with my wife. She had a salmon dish and I had the chicken meatballs. Both were good and plenty

Annaliese D.

The vegan Bolognese was one of the best pastas I've ever had. The server informed me that they have a few off-menu vegan selections that are more veggie-based, so be sure to ask about those if you aren't a pasta person. They also have a gluten-free pasta if you are gluten-sensitive. The portion sizes are very generous. Maybe consider sharing a dish if you want to save a room for dessert 😉

Paul V.

I got a ginger ale and a Caesar salad. The ginger ale was delicious but paled in comparison to the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad was THE BEST I have ever had, served as a Caesar salad should be. No anchovies and no crazy additives. Just a natural and delicious salad! The portion size was HUGE! I couldn't even eat the whole thing, it was just TOO BIG. Also, the service was wonderful.

Brandon T.

The Seafood Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms at Vivace Restaurant were a rich and flavorful delight! The mushrooms were perfectly tender, generously filled with a well-seasoned seafood mixture that was both creamy and satisfying. The balance of flavors, combined with a light, savory sauce, made for a standout appetizer. A must-try for seafood lovers!

Swank D.

My favorite restaurant is no longer a favorite. I've enjoyed many meals there and have always brought my visitors to enjoy this restaurant. Until today.

My guest and I were seated next to a table of 10 very loud and boisterous individuals who were drinking. I asked to seated in a quiet area. There were many tables empty and available in the much quieter main dining area.

The waiter went to check for me about seating, the hostess appeared and very bluntly said they were busy and it is going to be noisy and there were no other tables available. Basically - take it or leave it.

At that point we had already placed our orders with the waiter and felt obligated to remain. And we did. But we couldn't hear each other over the noise from this large party that increased in proportion to the alcohol being consumed.

We ate quickly, skipped dessert and departed an hour after we arrived, and left passing through the still half empty main dining room.

An unnecessarily ruined lunch with a friend, and the loss of a longtime customer. It's not what we've come to expect from Vivace.

Ana P.

Absolutely phenomenal. Best Italian I’ve had in Arizona. The restaurant is beautiful and the food is chefs kiss. Very pleasantly surprised. Have gone twice already for business dinners and they all were super impressed. My favorite is the penne sausage and I was hesitant because I don’t eat or even like sausage but I’m obsessed. The bread and green sauce they give is amazing. Everything was so good. Highly recommend!