Local Favorite Restaurant Re-Opens With Grand Celebration After Yearlong Renovation

A favorite local restaurant has re-opened.Photo byPirata Studio FilmonUnsplash

If you want to do something right, it often takes time. Transformation doesn’t come quickly in business, regardless of the industry. And yet far too many attempts to make quick revamp and overhaul their appearance overnight. Rarely do these forced and speedy updated looks pay off. However, one local restaurant here in Tucson has spent the better part of a year updating, expanding, and refreshing both the interior and exterior to give guests an exceptional experience. Based on both the volume and quality of reviews the restaurant has received it’s already one of the best eatery destinations in the city. Will the improvements make it even better?

Located at 1745 East River Road (Suite 165), Villa Peru has been under construction since last fall. With an expanded interior, fresh decor, and an updated exterior, local owners hope the changes will only enhance the time guests spend enjoying some of the finest examples of traditional Peruvian cuisine.  

The menu itself has not changed much, but the look has. Walking inside, you’ll find far more than the typical mural hangups of Machu Picchu and photos of alpacas. Villa Peru wanted to further embrace both the cultural heritage and the breathtaking landscapes found throughout the South American country. Floor-to-ceiling murals of Montaña Arcoíris, better known as Rainbow Mountain, vibrantly draw the attention of anyone who walks inside, thanks to its brilliant use of pastel color and its close representation of the island on a sunny day. 

Large slabs of polished, live-edge wood hang from walls, bringing an organic warmth to the interior while also reflecting overhead light to brighten the room as well. There is even a large shelf adorned with Pucara bull sculptures. These bulls, most commonly photographed in Lima’s Parque Kennedy (yes, named for John F. Kennedy), can be found in some variations around the country and are said to bring peace, prosperity, and happiness. 

Villa Peru remains one of the top destinations in Tucson, if not the entire Southwest, for ceviche. The traditional raw fish dish comes in a number of variations at Villa Peru, so whether you’re hungry for a mild white fish, shrimp, octopus, or a unique mix, you’ll find it at the newly renovated restaurant. And, of course, you can’t forget to wash it down with a pisco sour. 

Following the grand re-opening, Villa Peru is open Monday through Thursday from 4 PM until 9 PM, on Friday and Saturday from 11 AM until 10 PM, and on Sunday from 11 AM until 8 PM.