Arizona-born restaurant concept North Italia, locally and nationally known for its scratch-made Italian cuisine and craft cocktails, opens its newest location in Tempe. Situated in Novus Place, an entertainment district on Arizona State University’s campus in downtown Tempe, the new restaurant marks North Italia’s sixth outpost in Arizona and succeeds Peoria, which opened in October 2024.
Located on 697 S. Novus Place, North Italia Tempe is walking distance to ASU student and staff hot spots like Old Main, Noble Library, Hayden Library, and the ASU Art Museum. It is also conveniently near popular sports centers like Mountain America Stadium, Desert Financial Arena, Mullett Arena and Sun Devil Fitness Complex, in addition to the Tempe Improv, Tempe Town Lake Rural Road Bridge, and Tempe Beach Park.
The 9,787-square-foot dining space comfortably seats 157 guests in the dining room and features the largest indoor/outdoor bar of any other North Italia location. Ideal for taking in Arizona’s 300+ days of sunshine per year, the fully covered patio seats an additional 141 guests. Walls are donned with artwork that celebrates both the local Tempe community and Italian heritage, including a multi-dimensional mural showcasing the lore of a rooster – a symbol of good fortune and/or good luck in the kitchen per Italian tradition.
Led by four long-time Arizonians – Regional Manager Antonia Wagner, Regional Chef Chris Barch, Executive Chef Luis Arellano, and General Manager Matthew Shaloo – North Italia’s kitchen and operations teams are thrilled to welcome Tempe community members, neighbors and visitors to the newest location. During all meal periods and happy hour, guests can experience menu items like the shareable Zucca Chips, White Truffle Garlic Bread and Chef’s Board. Carb-load for game day with classic pastas like the Trottole Chicken Pesto and Spicy Rigatoni Vodka or hand-tossed pizzas like the Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto. Enjoy standouts from North Italia’s latest seasonal menu, like the Seasonal Vegetable Salad with butternut squash, brussels sprouts, pistachio, and more; the Lasagna Bianca al Forno with braised short rib, grana padano, provolone, and mozzarella; or the lunch-exclusive Hot Italian Stromboli packed with calabrese salami, Italian sausage, grilled piquillo pepper, red onion, ricotta, provolone, smoked mozzarella, basil and pesto. Complement any meal with craft cocktails and zero-proof options like the Marco Polo with Iwai Japanese whisky, Montenegro, honey, ginger, and fresh lemon, or the Piña No-Lada made with coconut, pineapple, fresh lime and bubbles. Jump Start the school day with the appropriately named zero-proof drink made with double expresso, chocolate, and cream, or choose between five different Spritz options during weekend brunch.
North Italia Tempe is now open for lunch on Mondays – Fridays from 11am – 4pm, dinner on Sundays – Thursdays from 4pm – 10pm, dinner on Fridays – Saturdays from 4pm – 11pm, and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 4pm. Reservations are encouraged through OpenTable.
On Friday, February 14, all North Italia locations including Tempe will offer a Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu perfect for celebrating that special someone, especially if their love language is Italian food. Alongside a selection of North’s signature menu items, the prix fixe includes new dishes like the Carne Di Crudo with beef tenderloin, black truffle, roasted garlic emulsion, picked red onion, shaved grana Padano, and grilled ciabatta, as well as the Lump Crab & Lobster Bruschetta with lemon aioli, watermelon radish, torn basil, Aleppo pepper, and grilled ciabatta. Pasta lovers can indulge in a new Lobster Tortelloni, and those who save room for dessert can savor the latest seasonal butter cake flavor – White Chocolate Spiced Apple Butter Cake – or the reimagined Hazelnut Torta, which may appear on North Italia’s next seasonal menu.
