Teddy Myers and Pretty Decent Concepts, the group behind restaurants like Wren and Wolf and Carry On announced a new Italian restaurant concept for which they collaborated with celebrity chef Scott Conant.
Roman God of Fire, in the works for two years according to Myers, is a ground-up project slated to debut at Hayden Ferry Lakeside in Tempe in early 2026.
True to form, Pretty Decent Concepts is setting out to transport the diners to another world. This time, it’s an old-world cathedral. Designed by Peter Max, the 8,000-square-foot restaurant consists of two parts, which Myers referred to “virtue and vice.”
The idea stemmed from a trip Myers took to Rome and the impression that the architecture, antiquities and sheer scale of what humans built centuries ago left on him.
Diners can expect elements like statues and arches in the restaurant, which is designed to look like a cross when viewed from above. According to Myers, a marble statue will be positioned horizontally in front of the host stand.
The vice part refers to a cocktail chapel, placed where the choir would be. The bar — called Forgive Me, Father —has elements like stained glass and a modern interpretation of organ pipes. Guests will enter it through the confessional.
What’s on the menu at Roman God of Fire
Myers approached Conant to design the Roman-inspired menu because he’s “one of the best in that style of food and the stars aligned because he happened to be available, and likes us.”
“I made the decision a long time ago to work with the best in the business and that suited me really well,” Conant said. “And I’m really excited to work with Teddy and team.”
“Fire” in the restaurant name refers to their wood-burning oven. Celebrity chef Conant and Ivan Gonzalez, the chef and culinary director for PDC, will work together to create a menu of Italian food with a fire element. Expect fresh pasta and pasta dishes like carbonara and amatriciana as well as fried artichoke and lamb. For dessert, the restaurant will have gelato in addition to composed desserts.
“No matter where I cook, I think of these three elements: honesty, integrity and soul,” Conant said. “It can’t be all show with no go.”
Conant wants to lean into the principles and integrity of Italian cuisine. “It’s not just a bunch of ingredients on the plate,” he said. “There’s rhythm to it. There’s grace to it. There’s a spirit to the Italian cuisine that needs to be adhered to and tapped into.”
How to visit Roman God of Fire
Expected opening: Early 2026
Details: 80 S. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe.
Reporting by Bahar Anooshahr, Arizona Republic
