We live in the Bay and upon recommendation we decided to venture into Vivo to see if it lived up to it’s reputation. WOW is all we can say! Sensational food and service to match! An authentic ambience that you can’t help but feel at home. Thanks to Vivo and their staff for a wonderful evening and mouth-watering food! Yummo!

Firstly, I don’t normally write reviews but felt compelled as I was so disappointed with my meal last wednesday night. It was my birthday and we decided to eat italian as we enjoy italian food. I felt a little uneasy once we had received our house wine and it was awful. The garlic bread was a joke. About now we should have left but you know the story I did not want to wreck a pleasant night.
Then my main came – oh dear – I think it was Prawns Romano or something like that. I received 3 prawns that were dry and inedible, the salad was a shave of carrot, a small pile of warm lettuce with one piece of tomato and one piece of cucumber. Hubbies medium rare steak was well done and the veggies were from the 1970′s.
I told the man, who appeared to be the owner, how disappointed I was, but he was not interested at all. We paid the bill and left. What a night, never again!

Dear Gabriele and Lina. Thank you so much for your wonderful food and also excellent service!
God bless you both!

See you next time.

Fingerlickin’ pan fried Calamari as a starter were very nice and very Mediterranean!

Service very nice.

But then:
The Saltimbocca a la Romana were a complete joke.
Not at all what the original recipe says. Ok, they were advertised as made from chicken breast, so far excusable as to get good veal in NZ is not very easy. Covered with cheese and a unidentifiable souce with some sprinkles of sage this meal tasted just very very bad.

All meals with the same veges….! Sounds like NZ 20 years ago.

Totally overpriced for the quality, genuity and size of the meals.

Disappointing, sadly.

We have eaten here more than 8 or 10 times over the past few years, as a couple and in large family groups of 8 or 10. We have never been disappointed, great food, great hosts. My partner is Swiss and I have traveled a lot and we both are so happy to keep returning to Vivos for genuine Italian food and atmosphere.

We dined here with another couple on a Sat. night and won’t be back. The veal saltimbocca was cut up like a stew and not schnitzel, the vegatables were stingey with only the smallest half a potato each and when we asked for more they said they had run out! The scallops were sent back as were not cooked and prices definatley did not refect the food. We felt sorry for the large table that came in after us. A very dissapointing nite.

Having dined here previously (albeit probably 2 years ago) I felt confident to book a table for 10 for a birthday celebration.

I must say I was very disappointed and doubt I’ll be back.

I had made my reservation way in advance and confirmed on at least two occasions, my point being that the kitchen couldn’t handle the number of people in the restaurant on the night- yet they’d had plenty of notice.

It took 1 hour from when we finally got to order until when our entrees arrived (not all together). My salad Caprese was presentable enough but not dressed with olive oil or balsamic. Worse, there was a hair on the accompanying garlic bread.

Our mains took another hour (approx) to dribble out of the kitchen – by then my guests and I were both tired and hungry……and lucky not to be drunk.

Dessert was like ordering from inflight “There is 1 tiramisu portion, 1 pannacotta portion etc” How can an Italian restaurant have run out of dessert (esp. Tiramisu!) on a Saturday night.

Yes, we should have complained, yes – we should have asked for a discount but i didn’t want to risk an embarrassing argument in front of my friends (we were trying to have a celebration). Also an ‘onto it’ proprietor would’ve noticed the delays, we did ‘chase’ up our meals twice, and done the decent thing.

I don’t intend to return, nor will – I think, the 4 other couples who were with us.

Had dinner at Vivo last night and it was wonderful. Food delicious and well presented together with great service.
Will definitely dine here again.

My husband and I eat regularly at Vivo. We love the food, the italian and sicilian wines and the wonderful friendly service from
Lina and Gabrielle. I would highly recommend to anyone.

are an Italian who was on holiday in New Zealand.
I stopped to eat at Vivo and I felt at home.
Flavors and culinary traditions, passed with excellence in the dishes from the cook Mrs. Lina.
Finally an Italian restaurant with Italian chef.
Excellent, I recommend

We had a group booking here for 30 people. What a fantastic time we had. The food was fabulous, the service great and friendly and a lovely atmosphere. We were very well looked after. Thank you so much for your fabulous hospitality. If we are back at the Mount we will be in to see you

My family and myself have been to “Vivo” a few times and although the menu is small the flavours are huge! a fantastic experience, a recommendation to all!!