Unpretentious.  Good food.  Hopefully go back for the good wine.  Good price.  Good friend.  What more could you ask for?

A friend and I celebrated hump day by taking advantage of Triangle Restaurant Week and went to a new place for us both, Vivace in North Hills.  I will definitely pay a return (or two or three) visit!

They brought out delicious simple crusty bread slices with a white bean hummus type dip.  Good, simple.

We both ordered the salad: spinach, dried apricots, slivered almonds, and a prosecco vinaigrette.  Loved the attention of the dressing of the salad with the light vinaigrette and the sweetness (but not overwhelming) dried apricots.  Maybe the hand was heavy on the pecorino cheese, just a bit salty.

I ordered the pizza, minus the chicken since I’m going meatless.  The presentation was flawless, brought out on a wooden cutting board.  Thin crispy-edged pizza with olive oil, goat cheese, roasted garlic, pear, and red onion.  Simple.  Mastered.  I took one bought, slouched back on my cushioned-seat, and sighed.  Good food.  Such a pleasure.

My friend got the mussels in white wine sauce and linguini.  I tasted a mussel and tried some of the sauce.  Splendid.  And both meals provided us leftovers.

Dessert: cappuccino panna cotta with raspberry puree (dotted with 3 chocolate covered espresso beans) and biscotti.  Everything was good, nothing oh my goodness stellar (like the pizza).  I enjoyed it.  Brown colored desserts are not easy to photograph. But, neither of us (my friend nor I)  are HUGE coffee fans and we both enjoyed it!

So.  My plan: return for a visit.  Go late at night with a friend who wants to split a pizza, a glass of something, and sit there and talk, oh for hours.

And we had attentive wait staff and an enjoyable time!  Thank you Vivace.  Enjoy the photos.