Vivoli Cafe & Trattoria

We use to love this place, but the service is lacking and so is the food. Last couple of times we came in the food was too salty and the servers messed up our orders, probably due to the fact that many of the staff do not speak or understand enough English. They opened up another location in Valencia so they might have forgotten about this one. They need a real chef in the kitchen to oversee the quality of food being prepared and sent out! We were disappointed on several occasions with not fresh salads, old vegetables or the quality of meat. I noticed all the reviews that were positive were from last year, hopefully they will improve the quality of food and service. We really like this place, hopefully they turn it around. For the prices they are charging they need a chef and/or manager on duty!

I did not have the best experience here. My drinks were never refilled and I never recieved the bread I asked for. The wait staff also seemed very annoyed by me as a customer. Not the best place in town...

Very poor experience. The bus boy spilled olive tempanade on my pants and down my leg. I realize that accidents happen but when the manager came over, he was very accusatory, like I was the guilty party. He did not even apologize until I told him how an apology would go a long way. He was extremely rude! No compensation was made. I wouldn't re-visit this restaurant if it were the last italian restaurant on earth.

I went like a week ago and I got surprised how friendly people were... I met the manager Luigi always helpful and very concerned about food and wine... the menu was so long so we didn't know what to get, so Luigi suggested us to start with Involtini di melanzane (we pratically clean the plate!), then I had teh pork medallion with strawberries and balsamic yummyyy!!! and my friend got the salmon with the potato crust and pesto sauce... MAMMA MIA!!!!
I would definitly go back to try something else...

8 years in NYC working in fine dining give me a little credibilty. The two one star reviews of this wonderful, albeit cramped, place are absurd. Your time means something to you? make flippin' reservation! Who walks into a popular, yet small, place and expects to be seated immediately? Comparing it to Olive Garden either mean you are a nasty vindictive little cuss, or you have no taste buds.

The pizza's are individual and very fresh and lite on the sauce. The five cheese is my favorite. The baked penne' (sort like brooklyn style baked zitti but more refined) is to die for. They use a real veal ragou for the sauce with just the right amount of meat. The fish is very fresh (I worked in seafood) and simply prepared. The pastas are all al dente' and their suace has a hint of beschamel.

There are no entree's over 20 dollars. most of the pastas run 12-15 bucks including the fruti de mare.

It is NOT fine dinning which is why it doesn't get the fifth star.

Still, dollar for dollar, Vivoli might be LA's best Italian restaurant. Dinner for two (two courses and one dessert) for about 60 bucks. Can't beat it. If your taste is Macaroni Grill, or Bucca de Beppe, or the flippin Cheesecake Factory. GET OFF THIS SITE PLEASE!

By the way the waiters ARE from Italy (at least four of the ones that have waited on me) you idiot!