Chef Gio Osso: 2026 Southwest Chef Series
For more than a decade, Chef Gio Osso has welcomed guests into his intimate Old Town Scottsdale restaurant.
As chef and owner of Virtù Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtù, Osso draws from his Italian heritage while embracing seasonal ingredients and flavors from around the world. His work has helped establish him as an enduring culinary voice in Arizona’s dining scene.
2026 BOSW Southwest Chef Series Hub
Chef Gio Osso at a glance
Restaurants: Virtù Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtù
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean and Italian
Website: virtuscottsdale.com
Instagram: @virtuhonestcraft
Chef’s Instagram: @chefgioosso
Building Virtù Honest Craft
After working in award-winning kitchens throughout the Phoenix area, Osso fulfilled his longtime goal in 2013 by opening a restaurant of his own.
He created Virtù Honest Craft inside Bespoke Inn in Old Town Scottsdale, drawing inspiration from his Italian heritage, Mediterranean food traditions and a love of gathering around the table.
The restaurant’s name references the Italian concept of virtù, associated with skill, strength and the pursuit of excellence. That philosophy appears throughout the restaurant, from its intimate dining room and garden patio to a menu that can change several times within a single week.
Virtù quickly attracted national attention. “Esquire” selected it as one of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2013, and the James Beard Foundation named it a 2014 Best New Restaurant semifinalist.
In 2020, Osso expanded his interpretation of Italian dining with Pizzeria Virtù, a Scottsdale restaurant devoted to the traditions and techniques of Neapolitan pizza.
Recipe for success
Osso’s cooking begins with a Mediterranean foundation but is never limited to one region. Italian flavors mingle with ingredients, spices and techniques drawn from his travels and broader culinary experience.
Handmade pasta, seafood and hearty meat dishes might take different forms from one visit to the next. The constant is a respect for the product, supported by precise preparation, bold flavor and attentive hospitality.
That combination gives Virtù a sense of spontaneity without sacrificing its identity. Guests may not know exactly what will appear on the menu, but they can expect food shaped by Osso’s personal point of view.
Chef Gio Osso’s impact on Arizona’s dining scene
Virtù’s continued presence tells an equally meaningful story. The dining experience is designed to evolve with its city while maintaining the craftsmanship and personality that first distinguished it.
Pizzeria Virtù extended his influence through a different expression of Italian cooking, giving diners another way to experience his attention to tradition and technique.
Osso’s restaurants have helped strengthen Old Town Scottsdale’s reputation as a destination for independent culinary experiences. His longevity, creative range and continued presence in the kitchen have made Osso an important part of Arizona’s modern dining identity.
Signature dish: Polpo
Polpo pairs charred octopus with lemon-marinated ceci, arugula and fennel insalata, balsamic and Calabrian chile butter. The tender octopus and bright salad balance the richness and gentle heat of the butter.
This elevated and unique dish has become a connection between Virtù’s earliest days and its evolving menu, giving longtime guests a familiar dish to revisit while introducing newcomers to Osso’s Mediterranean perspective.
Explore the 2026 Southwest Chef Series
This profile is part of The Best of the Southwest’s 2026 Southwest Chef Series, celebrating the chefs and culinary leaders shaping the future of dining across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas and Southern California.
