North Italia has opened its newest location in Peoria.

The Peoria restaurant marks North Italia’s fifth location in the Grand Canyon State, with a sixth slated to open in Tempe in early 2025.

Located in The Park at 83 entertainment district within the Peoria Sports Complex, North Italia is walking distance to the Enclave at Arrowhead apartment complex, Arrowhead Crossing shopping mall and Arrowhead Towne Center. It is also conveniently situated near hotels, corporate offices, a movie theater, Arizona Broadway Theatre and more.

Whether guests are looking for game day eats during fall ball or spring training, a midday lunch spot post-shopping spree, or happy hour after work, this new Peoria outpost will quickly cement itself as a family-friendly staple within the neighborhood, a news release stated.

The nearly 10,000-square-foot dining space seats 310 guests and includes an indoor/outdoor bar with a large, fully covered patio. The space also boasts three murals by Brilly Design Co. that are unique to the Peoria location, in addition to artwork that pays homage to Arizona’s desert landscape and the surrounding community.

Led by two long-time Arizonans, Regional Chef Chris Barch and Regional Manager Antonia Wagner, the kitchen and operations teams welcome Peoria neighbors, Arizona foodies and travelers alike to the newest North Italia location.

As a treat to North Italia’s home state, guests of the newest location will be the first to taste the concept’s fall/winter menu before it rolls out to all North Italia locations nationwide on Oct. 30. Guests can cozy up with seasonal updates made to their go-to orders, featuring the season’s best ingredients like butternut squash, beech mushrooms, rapini, dates, pumpkin, Brussels sprouts and more.

Surprise tastebuds further with new dishes including:
• Lasagna Bianca al Forno, a white lasagna featuring classic bechamel sauce with fresh rosemary and thyme infused into the milk and topped with a savory braised short rib ragu
• Buratta di Stagione made with red wine poached pear, Sicilian pistachio crumble, affinato and served with grilled ciabatta
• Hot Italian Stromboli with calabrese salami, Italian sausage, grilled piquillo pepper, red onion, ricotta, provolone, smoked mozzarella, basil and pesto (lunch only)
• Pumpkin Praline Butter Cake made with toasted mallow, pumpkin seed praline, and white chocolate crema

North Italia’s craft cocktails include the Marco Polo featuring Iwai Japanese whisky, Montenegro, honey, ginger, and fresh lemon, as well as the brunch-only Carajillo made with double espresso, Licor 43, Caffè Borghetti, and hazelnut. Plus, the fall/winter menu is also debuting a new non-alcoholic beverage program featuring mocktails like the Piña No-Lada, a fan-favorite from this year’s Summer Sips campaign, in addition to the Limonata Rossa made with black cherry, fresh lemon, and soda, and the Just Peachy with white peach, raspberry, lemon and ginger beer.

Reservations for brunch, lunch and dinner are encouraged through OpenTable.

To view full menus or place takeout and delivery orders, visit NorthItalia.com.

North Italia Peoria is now open for lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., dinner Friday-Saturday 4-11 p.m, brunch Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and dinner Sundays from 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Taking place one week after opening, North Italia would like to invite Peoria and the surrounding communities for a celebratory ribbon cutting 9-10 a.m., Oct. 16.

Hosted by the Peoria Chamber of Commerce and city officials, the ceremony will culminate with a mixer and passed bites at North Italia. Visit peoriachamber.com/events for more information.

North Italia was conceived by Fox Restaurant Concepts founder Sam Fox in Arizona in 2002. Since then, the neighborhood Italian restaurant has expanded to nearly 40 locations across the U.S. and counting.