Downtown Tempe’s Mill Avenue is entering another lively phase, with nine planned restaurants and bars joining a recently opened Roman-inspired destination. The upcoming lineup ranges from burger counters and ice cream to craft beer, arcade games, sports and tropical cocktails, giving locals and visitors more reasons to linger around the district.
Key takeaways
- Nine restaurants and bars are planned for Mill Avenue and nearby downtown Tempe streets.
- Roman God of Fire is now open, with the connected Mea Culpa lounge expected next.
- New concepts will add burgers, Thai food, ice cream, pizza, cocktails, sports and arcade entertainment.
The openings reflect Mill Avenue’s continued shift toward destination dining and entertainment. Longtime casual favorites are making room for chef-led restaurants, polished lounges and venues designed to keep guests downtown well beyond a meal.
A theatrical new anchor
Roman God of Fire opened July 31 at Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Created by Pretty Decent Concepts with a menu developed by chef Scott Conant, the restaurant centers on ancient Roman-inspired food, including handmade pasta, Roman-style wood-fired pizza and steaks seasoned with fennel and Aleppo pepper.
The dramatic setting features towering statues, marble tables and low lighting. Its neighboring speakeasy, Mea Culpa, is scheduled to open Sept. 25. Guests will enter through a playful “confessional” experience before finding a modern cocktail lounge with light bites and weekend DJs.
Burgers, tacos and a new Glai Baan concept
Culinary Gangster is scheduled for Aug. 27 below Varsity Tavern at Mill Avenue and Fifth Street. The Valley burger chain will serve stacked burgers alongside quinoa bowls, salads, wraps, breakfast items and loaded fries.
Carmen, from restaurateur Julian Wright, is expected in late September or early October. Its tropical design will include tiki huts, bamboo and open-air spaces, while the menu will focus on Asian-fusion tacos, seafood and meat-based small plates paired with agave spirits.
Also expected in October is an unnamed restaurant from Glai Baan owners Cat Bunnag and Dan Robinson. The concept will occupy the historic Gov. Benjamin B. Moeur House and Hatton Hall near Seventh Street and Myrtle Avenue. Details remain limited, though the owners say it will differ from their acclaimed Phoenix Thai restaurant.
Ice cream, pizza and local beer
Novel Ice Cream will open in October inside the relocated House of Tricks bungalow. Its signature Dough Melt combines a warm glazed doughnut, house-made ice cream and crunchy cereal toppings. Guests will also be able to choose rotating flavors in cups, cones or tasting flights.
Phantom Fox Beer Co. and Goat and Ram are targeting an Oct. 8 opening in the former Illegal Pete’s space. The Mesa brewery and pizzeria will bring 20 taps, including Phantom Fox and Cider Corps pours, plus pizza, wings, cocktails, loaded fries, outdoor seating and screens for sports.
Sports bars and arcade entertainment
RePUBLic, from C.A.S.A. creator Scott Price, is planned for this fall near Sixth Street. The Irish sports bar will use pool tables from the former Mill Cue Club, preserving a piece of Mill Avenue history while adding a neighborhood-pub atmosphere.
Price is also developing Slab City Bar & Grill in the former Shady Park space on University Drive. The menu is expected to feature burgers and steaks cooked in beef tallow, along with beer, wine and cocktails.
Level 1 Arcade Bar has announced a future Tempe location at Mill Avenue and University Drive. The 5,000-square-foot venue will offer vintage arcade games, pinball, burgers, tacos, fried desserts, draft beer and signature cocktails. Together, these projects suggest downtown Tempe’s dining scene is becoming broader, more playful and better equipped for an evening out.
Sources
- New Tempe restaurants and bars opening soon on Mill Avenue, Phoenix New Times.
