More than two decades after first opening its doors in 2002, Babbo Italian Eatery is expanding its original Arrowhead location — the restaurant where it all began. What started as a cozy 22-seat, bring-your-own-bottle neighborhood eatery has evolved into a 5,000-square-foot dining destination featuring a full private dining room, expanded bar, wine wall, updated patio, and the debut of a new To-Go Market where customers can sip, savor, and shop.
The reimagined space blends comfort and modern flair, complete with a state-of-the-art kitchen thoughtfully designed in collaboration with Babbo’s culinary team. The new layout includes a top-notch pizza oven, improved prep areas, and expanded storage, all reflecting the restaurant’s commitment to quality, efficiency, and hospitality.
The To-Go Market offers guests a convenient way to take the Babbo experience home, featuring freshly prepared charcuterie, lasagna, salads, gelato, and other signature items. Guests can also purchase Babbo’s house-made marinara sauces and salad dressings, as well as beer and wine to go.
“This expansion is deeply meaningful to our family,” said Charlotte Pollack, owner of Babbo Italian Eatery in a statement. “Babbo Arrowhead is where our story began. This project honors our roots, and my late husband Ken who founded Babbo, while also creating space to better serve our community in new ways. From the expanded bar and private dining room to the grab-and-go market, every detail was designed with our guests and community in mind. Babbo is all about the ‘The Love, The Family’.”
The Arrowhead location hosted a soft opening on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. This will be followed by a grand opening celebration on Nov. 13, to coincide with Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, a cause that has impacted the Babbo family. Babbo proudly supports the fight against pancreatic cancer in honor of Ken Pollack through community events including the Seena Magowitz Foundation’s Steppin’ Up Against Pancreatic Cancer Walk in Tempe on Saturday, Nov. 1 and the annual Baseball for Babbo fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
