Roman (God of Fire) Officially Opens Today in Downtown Tempe
Roman (God of Fire) channels the grandeur of ancient Rome through a dramatic dining room designed by Peter Bowden and PETERMAX. Monumental classical sculptures, dark fluted columns, soaring arches, curved booths, marble-topped tables and layered amber lighting create what the restaurant’s founder describes as a modern Italian museum.
Mouth by Southwest marks the official opening of Roman (God of Fire), an 8,000-square-foot destination from Pretty Decent Concepts in Tempe’s Hayden Ferry Lakeside development. The restaurant centers the hearth in both its culinary identity and its immersive design.
The article directly credits Peter Bowden of PETERMAX with shaping the room. Drawing from ancient Roman architecture and old-world cathedrals, the design combines statues, arches, dark wood accents, intimate curved seating and warmly illuminated tables to create a theatrical setting rooted in history and hospitality.
The menu, led by James Beard Award-winning chef Scott Conant alongside executive chef Jared Porter and culinary director Ivan Gonzalez, emphasizes wood-fired Italian cooking, house-made pasta, seafood and prime steaks. Regional dishes include pizza bianca and carbonara prepared with guanciale.
Hidden within the project is Mea Culpa, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge entered through a confessional-inspired passage. Conceived as Roman’s indulgent counterpart, it extends the project’s themes of virtue, vice and Italian Catholic imagery into a distinct second experience.
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