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Friday Lunch Buddies: Italian @ Vivace

4/21/06 

Vivace
3118 Central Ave Se, Albuquerque, NM
(505) 268-5965  

But wait…how do you pronounce Vivace?  Vi-vaase?

Here are some tips:

  • v: like v in vase
  • i: like ee in meet
  • a: long like a in father
  • c: before e or i – like ch in chin
    • (otherwise – like c in cat)

Now doesn't Vivace sound a lot better? Laughing

Vivace Restaurant

We were fortunate to have been seated in the newly(?) renovated/expanded side of the restaurant (the side with the bar).  It was lightly dimmed and very classy!!! Smile

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Menu: 

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The prices were a bit higher than our usual lunches, but otherwise were reasonable for an Italian meal (<$10 before tip/tax).

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Complementary Appetizer

While we waited for our meals, we were given probably the best bread in town…we requested refills many many times! Bye

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And how could we not dip it in olive oil and balsamic vinegar?  So yummy!! Laughing

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Onto the main entrees: 

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Yeah…Nazim's fingers seemed to always find their way in… Foot in mouth

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I ordered the Conchigu Con Salsiccia E Panna (2nd page of menu).  "Shell Pasta with Sausage, fresh Rosemary, Diced Tomato and Crème".  I was pleasantly surprised by the mild spicy sauce.  It was wonderful!  While the dish was simple, each ingredient's flavor was well exposed in harmony (don't I sound just like the Iron Chef (Japan) commentators or Paula Abdul? hahahhaa…)  I liked it!  The pasta even had a bit of chewyness to it!

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We had a big turn out…12 people I think! (If you think I can't count, Frank is hiding behind Kuan and I'm taking the pictures)

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We had a long lunch around 2 hours…Poor Nazim thought he could leave at 12:30 — the exact time the food started coming out!  Oh well Wink But it was worth the wait! 

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And since the dishes had large portions, a handful of us actually had leftovers! I liked how they packed it up for us:

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Cozy in a white lunch bag: 

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That's awesome, don't you think?

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Vivace is most certainly a must-come-back restaurant — excellent atmosphere, very satisfying food and friendly service…did we really spend 2 hours there??????  Who cares! Tongue out

Hungry Cactus' final verdict: A