That's amore (parte due)

Vivace, you were too good to resist! My friend Nicole was in town for the weekend a couple of weeks ago and she INSISTED we eat at Vivace. Obviously, this suggestion was not met with much resistance. Shelly, Anna, Nicole, and I traveled to Metropolitan Avenue for another scrumptious meal.

For an appetizer, we had the calamari served with a spicy tomato aioli. The calamari wasn't the best I've ever had but it was very good. I had a hard time eating the little octopus (octopi??) that were in their full form. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but directly seeing the animals I'm eating makes it a little hard to continue. We also had some more of their delicious bread with white bean spread.

For the entrees, I had the chili capellini with lump crab, Nicole had the veal saltimbocca, Anna had the scallop risotto, and Shelly had one of the night's specials, the halibut.

My capellini was SO GOOD! I was a little hesitant because the description included "melted tomatoes" but when the waitress described the dish, I knew I could handle it. The pasta was made with actual chili in it so the pasta itself was spicy. The sauce was just a mild broth and the crab was added to the top. This dish is not for the faint of heart. I love some spicy food, but this was pushing my spice meter pretty far up there!

This dish is hot, hot, hot!

Nicole's veal came with fresh mozzarella ravioli and a porcini butter sauce. Anna's scallop risotto was a risotto that Tom Collichio would be proud of, and Shelly's dish was wonderful as well.

Halibut special - so pretty!

Scallop risotto

Veal Saltimbocca

For dessert, Anna and I both got the bittersweet chocolate molten cake although she got the vanilla gelato with hers and I had coffee gelato with mine. Shelly and Nicole got the peach crostata and the tiramisu and both ate half of each (a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself). The tiramisu was tasty but, as always, not as wondeful as Mike's Pastry Shop (why oh why can't you come to Charlotte??). All in all, another fabulous dinner at a wonderful restaurant with great friends. However, considering I have stuffed myself twice to the point of almost bursting at this place, I won't be going back for awhile. When I do, moderation is the theme (if that's even possible)!