Citrine: Chef Peter DeRuvo, Restaurateur Nick Neuman to Open Italian Restaurant in Tempe

It’s been about three months since we told you that well-known local chef Peter DeRuvo had quietly re-entered the metro Phoenix dining scene after a brief stint working in the Second City. For about six months, now DeRuvo’s been at EVO in Scottsdale, bringing back his signature style of Italian fare that includes a selection of handmade pastas inspired by different regions of Italy.

Now he’s got a second project in the works. 

In just a few weeks, DeRuvo and restaurateur Nick Neuman (also of EVO) will open Citrine, an Italian restaurant in Tempe. The sister restaurant to EVO takes over the space briefly occupied by Revo Pizza and connected to the Tempe Transit Center. 

Citrine will serve wood-fired dishes, housemade pastas, charcuterie, bruschetta, and more. The restaurant will seat 75 inside and 40 people on an outdoor patio. There will also be a 30-seat bar with taps pouring everything from Fernet (the bitter, Italian herbal liqueur) to wines (including two Arizona-made selections) and 10 types of Arizona-made craft beer.

The restaurant will offer lunch, happy hour, and dinner and will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily starting in September.  

Though not located right on College Avenue, Citrine will be just steps from one of Tempe’s hottest dining areas. In July, restaurant Eliot Wexler opened a fourth location of his Nocawich restaurant not far from the soon-to-open Citrine spot, and already Wexler’s generating buzz with imported New York City favorites such as Russ & Daughters smoked salmon, H&H bagels, and knishes from Yonah Schimmel. Other popular dining spots in the area include Postino Annex, Snooze, and the Tempe classic House of Tricks. 

For more information visit the Citrine Facebook page.

Citrine
200 East Fifth Steet, Tempe
www.citrinetempe.com