A Central Texas Italian restaurant known for its oak-fired pizzas and steaks is crossing state lines for the first time, with plans to open a third location in Scottsdale, Arizona. The expansion marks La Riv's first restaurant outside of Texas, where it currently has two locations.
From Temple to Scottsdale
La Riv currently operates restaurants in the Central Texas towns of Temple and Georgetown, according to WhatNow. The exact address of the Scottsdale restaurant hasn't been shared yet, the outlet reports, leaving diners in the dark on where exactly the new spot will land.
What has been made clear is the concept diners can expect to find once it opens. La Riv uses an imported Italian wood-fired oven fueled by oak to prepare pizzas, steaks, and other dishes, per the same report, and the restaurant's beverage program features an extensive wine collection alongside craft cocktails. The brand is built around combining traditional Italian cooking techniques with Texas ingredients and hospitality.
A Chef's Decade-Long Build-Up
The woman behind the concept, Vira Chudasma, is a Central Texas-based chef and restaurateur whose restaurants showcase fresh, handmade dishes drawing on Italian, American, and Indian flavors, according to her own professional site, virachudasma.com. Her hospitality career began in 2012, when she opened her first wine bar in downtown Belton, Texas, the WhatNow report notes.
Chudasma established La Riv in Temple in 2014, and a few years later brought the concept to Georgetown as well, per the outlet's account. Earlier this year, she also opened Sovian Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge in Georgetown, expanding her footprint within the same stretch of Central Texas before setting her sights on Arizona.
Bigger Ambitions, Longer in the Making
The Scottsdale move isn't a sudden pivot. In a June 2024 interview with Community Impact, Chudasma said she wanted to see La Riv reach multiple states, telling the outlet, “I would absolutely love to see La Riv in multiple states.” That same report detailed La Riv's Georgetown expansion, noting that location's opening fell on Nov. 9.
Chudasma has described her growth plans in similarly confident terms elsewhere. In comments to WhatNow's sister report on the chain's expansion plans, she said, “I absolutely love my job and we are continuing to grow.” With Scottsdale now set to become La Riv's third location overall and its first beyond Texas, that growth has officially crossed a state line.
