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Interpretive regional Italian fare in one of the county’s most romantic settings. Vivace Restaurant is one of our | Top 10 San Diego Romantic Restaurants |

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Dining room at Vivace, Carlsbad, CAWhether you are enjoying a weekend away at the sumptuous Four Seasons Aviara or dropping in for a gourmet meal, dinner at Vivace has never been better. Chef Bryant Wigger is adept at taking classic Italian fare to creative heights. Case in point: the beef carpaccio sings with bowtie arugula, pickled mushrooms and horseradish; a delicate veal loin is dressed up with Fontina cheese, escarole, cipollini onion crema and earthy black winter truffles; rabbit rests on lentils, pancetta and Brussels sprouts, enlivened with a kick of salsa verde. All pastas are made fresh daily by hand on-site. We like the chestnut fettuccine with braised duck and a medley of wild mushrooms. The lobster risotto, made with carnaroli rice, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Thai basil, is cooked to toothy satisfaction. The wine list has shifted to favor only Italian wines with over 140 labels from all over the boot-shaped country. Desserts include a rich chocolate polenta cake with espresso gelato, or the one-of-a-kind pine nut tart with grapefruit-yogurt sorbet and honey panna cotta. Glorious views are to be had from the deck high above the lagoon and sea as you savor this fine Italian cuisine.

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