Dove Vivi

With vintage appeal, Dove Vivi carves out a niche with its deliciously filling pizza. There is a plethora of thin-crust, traditional style pizza places throughout Portland. Dove Vivi eschews this Naples-style pizza for a thick cornmeal crust. The restaurant has a definite Portland-feel with locally sourced food that will leave you feeling satisfied, but never overly full.

Dove Vivi is located near Southeast Portland’s 28th Avenue. This neighborhood is known for being home to many of Portland’s best eateries with the Cuban-inspired Pambiche and  the award-winning Navarre. Dove Vivi has a home-style feel with a hip and friendly staff.

Dove Vivi balances a hearty, cornmeal crust pizza without making it feel too heavy. With fresh ingredients and delicious salads, the meal will work wonders for understanding why Portland is such a hotbed for cooking talent.

The dining area is adorned with antique-looking light fixtures and the long wooden tables have a rustic feel. Many tables have flowers and they use old Ball canning jars for water glasses. In style with many of Portland’s best restaurants, Dove Vivi attracts a wide crowd from bike-pedaling hipsters to young families.

The restaurant is not very large and can be a long wait for larger parties. One option if faced with a long wait is to get your pizza to-go, but a good idea is to brave the wait and dine in. The ambience of the restaurant is wonderful and it is worth it once you sit down for your meal. Dove Vivi also offers outdoor seating which can be a treat during Portland’s summer months. 

Their pizzas can be ordered by the whole pie, half pie, or by the slice. For groups of 3 or more, a good idea is try a whole pizza with two different halves. This way, you can sample two pies for the price of one.

Portland’s many pizza restaurants offer visitors a wide range of choices. Dove Vivi beats out many of its competitiors by having innovative yet traditional pizza and salads. It serves food with effortless style and a laidback charm. You will feel the appeal of a neighborhood pizza joint, but with that little extra something to keep you coming back.

HelloPortland Tip: Looking for an old world drink? They serve Fentiman’s Dandelion and Burdock soda, a treat from many years ago.

- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

William Crane

William Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues. Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.