Meet Hero: A new Italian restaurant in Phoenix (with a Japanese twist)
Hero, which opened Oct. 30 at 1030 N. First St., marks the Phoenix debut of Prescott-based Vivili Hospitality Group. The modern Italian restaurant combines traditional Italian cooking with Japanese influences, offering a new dining experience in Roosevelt Row.
Hero is the first of three concepts Vivili Hospitality Group is bringing to the neighborhood, with PIZZANISTA! and Bar Saint Bruno also planned nearby.
Need more? Read more: 2026 BOSW Southwest Chef Series
Italian classics meet Japanese influences
Under the direction of culinary director Yuji Iwasa, Hero’s menu draws from Italian traditions while incorporating ingredients and techniques associated with Japanese cooking.
Handmade pasta takes center stage, including agnolotti di plin with ricotta, lemon and brown butter miso, along with black spaghetti vongole featuring clams.
Other highlights include tuna crudo with yuzu kosho, pistachio, extra virgin olive oil and Maldon salt, and charred octopus served with ceci bean salad and romesco.
The chicken “katsu” parmigiana has a twist, combining Japanese-inspired breaded chicken with vodka sauce and melted mozzarella. Seafood selections include branzino alla piccata with tomatoes, capers and lemon.
The cross-cultural approach continues through dessert, with black sesame panna cotta and matcha tea-ra-misu among the offerings.
The BOSW experience
The Best of the Southwest team member Angela Anderson recently visited Hero and came away impressed with both the food and the restaurant’s atmosphere.
Want a closer look? Visit @thebestofthesouthwest on Instagram for a firsthand look at Angela’s dining experience, including the dishes and design details that caught her attention.
Cocktails with an international perspective
Hero’s beverage program, developed in collaboration with Los Angeles cocktail veteran Vincenzo Marianello, draws inspiration from classic cocktails while incorporating Italian, Japanese and Southwestern ingredients.
Cocktail examples include:
- The Arizona Spritz: Aperol, St.-Germain, watermelon juice, prosecco, soda and thyme
- Mayan Bliss: Tequila, lychee liqueur, lime and habanero with a tahini rim
- Sicario: Mezcal, Cynar and apricot liqueur
- Dunhill Smoke: Japanese whisky with two Italian amari and bitters
A design-forward addition to Roosevelt Row
The restaurant’s interior, designed by Built Inc., creates a series of connected spaces, each with its own visual identity.
A curved, sculptural bar serves as the centerpiece, framed by softly illuminated arches. Throughout the dining room, terrazzo surfaces, patterned textiles, dramatic drapery and custom lighting contribute to the restaurant’s distinctive aesthetic.
A 2,500-square-foot patio is also planned, featuring wood trellises, greenery and colorful seating designed to create a garden-like outdoor dining experience.
More restaurants are coming from Vivili Hospitality Group
Hero represents the first step in a larger Phoenix expansion for Vivili Hospitality Group, founded by Skyler Reeves.
The hospitality company, known for Prescott restaurants including The Barley Hound and Rosa’s Pizzeria, is also developing two additional concepts near Hero.
PIZZANISTA!, a fast-casual pizza restaurant created in collaboration with Los Angeles restaurateur Salman Agah, will bring its signature pizza concept to the neighborhood.
Bar Saint Bruno, an intimate cocktail bar inspired by one of Reeves’ mentors, is also planned.
To learn more, visit phxhero.com.
