Ladies' Night Cleveland

Vivo

         ‘Vivo’, in Italian, directly translates to ‘alive’. True to its meaning, Vivo, on the northern tip of Cleveland’s East 4^th district, is a sanctuary of life and animation during her happy hours (4:30-7:00pm, Monday through Friday). Arriving at 6:30pm on a Wednesday, we victoriously claimed the last remaining seats at the bar, which was otherwise occupied by well-dressed working professionals undoubtedly unwinding before their homeward journey.

After a minute or two of disrobing our winter gear, we carefully considered Vivo’s lengthy drink and appetizer menu. First things first: what to drink? (All alcoholic beverages were 25% off during happy hour.) We know an impressive martini list when we see one, and here we were in awe! The twenty-two listed martinis and signature drinks ranged from the beloved classics to creative and eccentric concoctions such as the Vivo Mediterranean (aperol, sweet & dry vermouth, lime, orange and soda) and Stolen Kiss (raspberry vodka, raspberry liqueur and prosecco). We chose the Vivo Mojito, and were not disappointed. In addition to the typical ingredients of rum, fresh mint, lime, soda and sugar, this mojito had an unusual twist- a pinch of chili. The inventive addition and talented mixing by Vivo’s primary bartender Carolynn produced a delicious pair of cocktails. Even more imposing than the martini selection is the extensive wine list, handpicked under the discretion of Jonathan, the suave general manager. We ordered the ’05 Masi Modello, a delightfully well-balanced red wine which was offered by the glass for a mere $5.25 (normally $7). On Jonathan’s recommendation, we also sampled the 2004 Il Falcole. An exotic floral bouquet was a precursor to the incredible rush of a multitude of fruit and flower notes (more than our unsophisticated palates could discern at once), with the most noticeable having a deep cherry flavor. If you are a wineaux, this is a must-try… On the other hand, if wine isn’t your bag of chips, many scotches and beers were also available and discounted for happy hour.

A wide range of appetizers were available during happy hour for half-off. Of those thirteen, we choose three to sample- the sweet and spicy calamari ($5), the burger ($8), and rare seared tuna ($10). Each dish had attractive plate presentation, and the portion size was nearly enough to qualify as a main dish. We were told calamari was their specialty- delicious bite-sized rings of lightly breaded calamari were cooked to perfection (with the occasional whole mini-squid), and were covered in a tangy sauce, mixed with carrots and scallions. The burger also received a rave review, nestled between herb-buttered bread crowned with smoked mozzarella, gorgonzola, pancetta and roasted garlic aioli. The final dish, the rare seared tuna was the most remarkable of them all. Slices of tuna were carefully placed on a bed of thin strips of mixed seasonal vegetables. A balsamic caper mint vinaigrette sauce was dribbled conservatively along the plate; the intensely flavorful sauce complemented the tuna very well, giving the dish a fresh, lemon zesty flavor.    

Overall we were very pleased with Vivo- the food, drink, service and ambiance was a highly enjoyable combination. So yes, another well-deserved, excellent review from us at Ladies’ Night Cleveland. But hey, if the stiletto fits… So, we’ll hopefully see you soon at 347 Euclid Avenue. Remember to invite the guys, since this one is an Equal Opportunity happy hour special. We’ll drink to love, life, and happy hour at Vivo- there is life in Cleveland yet.

12/12/2007