Peter Botros

Peter Botros has been involved in the restaurant industry in some way, shape or form since he was thirteen years old. His passion for food and hospitality, coupled with his entrepreneurism, led him to realize his dream of opening his very own restaurant, The Stone House at Clove Lakes, in 2014 at the age of twenty-eight.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurial Studies from Fairleigh Dickinson University and double Masters Degree in marketing and finance. He became a well-respected Mortgage Banker and Senior Loan Officer with US Mortgage before turning his passion as a self-taught Chef into his full-time career in the hospitality industry.

Peter Botros is the cornerstone and founding partner of the Bread & Butter Hospitality family of restaurants: The Stone House at Clove Lakes, Chef’s Loft at The Stone House, Violette’s Cellar, Sofia’s Taqueria, Sofia’s Guac Bar, Sally’s Southern & BBQ and Rustic Pizza & Pasteria in Staten Island and The Binnekill Tavern and Tito Bandito’s in the Catskills.

The Stone House at Cloves Lakes, owned and operated since 2014 by Peter Botros, is renowned for lakeside fine dining, and weddings and events in its charming cottage nestled in the heart of Clove Lakes Park. A zest for developing new flavor combinations prompted Chef Botros to create a restaurant within a restaurant concept, Chef’s Loft at The Stone House, which offers an intimate multi-course wine paired dining experience prepared tableside exclusively by Chef Botros.
In November 2017, Chef Botros celebrated the grand opening of Violette’s Cellar in Grant City, a decidedly unique, casual fine dining restaurant with elevated and unexpected dining experiences. Famous for its Seven Day a Week Brunch Menu and gourmet, eclectic small plates for sharing, Violette’s offers private event rooms as distinctive as its menu, including a Speakeasy replete with a sliding bookcase entrance and peephole door. Chef Botros recently introduced Contemporary American Omakase, the ultimate seven or twelve course dining experience.

Violette’s Cellar is named for Peter’s mother Violette Botros, who lost her brave fight with cancer when Peter was just seventeen. Violette’s Cellar’s mission is committed to cancer treatment and research, having made and fulfilled one of the largest donation pledges to Staten Island University Hospital’s Florina Cancer Center and Bread & Butter Hospitality continues that mission by doubling that pledge.

In January 2019, Sofia’s Taqueria, Staten Island’s first and only Taco & Tequila Bar was born. Sofia's multilevel Bay Street location mixes authentic ambiance and a playful energetic vibe with its carefully curated furniture, art and décor. Featuring gourmet Mexican cuisine, hand crafted cocktails and more than 120 tequilas and mezcals, Sofia’s has an enclosed outdoor courtyard and upstairs level for private events. In September of 2021, Sofia’s Taqueria opened a second location in Eltingville that is nearly four times the size, but with the same great fiesta vibe. This location has a sprawling bar, private event space and covered outdoor dining.

With the wildly successful opening of Sofia’s Taqueria, in December 2019 the brand also created Sofia’s Guac Bar, a quick serve kiosk in The Staten Island Mall. In November 2022, Sofia’s Guac Bar expanded to a larger, permanent location in the center food court at the mall with a vibrant bar, counter service and designated seating. Sofia’s Guac Bar features signature cocktails and tequilas as well as all of Sofia’s quick serve Mexican favorites. A second Sofia’s Guac Bar opened in June 2023 on Forest Avenue in Westerleigh with indoor and outdoor seating, an inside bar, a walk-up margarita window and private event space.

In June 2020, mid pandemic, Chef Botros opened Rustic Pizza & Pasteria in Grant City. An artisan pizzeria, Rustic Pizza & Pasteria features homemade pastas, gourmet Italian specialties and a spectacular variety of hand-crafted specialty pies. Rustic’s cozy location, designed to service high volume take-out, delivery and catering, also has indoor and outdoor café style seating with BYOB.
In September 2020, also mid pandemic, Chef Botros opened his newest concept, Sally’s Southern, on Forest Avenue’s Restaurant Row. Sally’s features traditional southern comfort food with creative culinary flare and craft cocktails inspired by classic southern indulgences. In September of 2022, with the addition of house smoked BBQ to the menu, Sally’s Southern & BBQ was conceived. Sally ‘s Southern & BBQ’s namesake is Sally Curtis, mother of Peter’s business partner Philip Farinacci, and paying special homage to Sally after she lost her brave fight with cancer, the menu was developed with Sally’s handwriting replicated, some of her favorite recipes reimagined and her Live Love Laugh mantra prominently displayed and embraced.

AWARDS/ACCOLADES

Featured Chef at the prestigious James Beard House NYC for multiple years beginning in 2018. Most recently in February 2022 with a five-course scotch paired dinner. Featured Chef in 2018 at the Chefs and Champagne event.

Host of Friends of James Beard Foundation at Violette’s Cellar in 2018 and The Stone House at Clove Lakes in 2019, the first and only times The Friends of James Beard Foundation has visited a Staten Island restaurant.
Featured Chef and multiple Award Winner at the Food Network’s esteemed annual New York City Wine & Food Festival since 2018, most recently in October 2022 with Sally’s Southern & BBQ’s team taking the coveted People’s Choice Award at the Battle of the Boroughs and Sofia’s Taqueria a Judges Pick at Taco’s After Dark.

Serves on the Board of Directors of The New York City Hospitality Alliance 2020 to present.
Participating Chef in the prestigious annual Chef’s Tribute to City Meals on Wheels in NYC.
Featured Chef on The Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games.
Featured Chef at Chefs for Kids Cancer.

Multi-Year recipient of The Wine Spectator’s Award for Excellence and Open Table’s Diner’s Choice Award.
Two Time Judges Choice Winner and Two Time People’s Choice Winner at The March of Dimes Gourmet Gala.
Two Time Overall Winner, Three Time Best Dish Award Winner, Two Time Cork Award Winner and Best Dessert Winner at the Uncorked! Food and Wine Festival.

Five Time Winner and Defending Champion of the Lighthouse Point Legendary Soup Competition.
Four Time Winner and Defending Champion at Community Resources Staten Island Pasta Bowl.

Winner of People’s Choice Award for Favorite Restaurant and 20 under 40 Award Recipient from the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation.
Rising Stars Award Recipient from Full-Service Restaurant Magazine and First Place Recipient of The Staten Island Cookbook’s Cocktail Competition and Rising Stars Award. SIP Rising Stars Award Recipient.

Named to the Staten Island Power 100 List by City & State New York.
Gentleman of Distinction Award Recipient from World of Women and King of Staten Island Award Recipient from Schneps Media.

LGBTQ Ally Award Recipient from the Pride Center of Staten Island and named a Sunrise Day Camp Honoree by the Jewish Community Center.

PUBLISHED AUTHOR/WRITER:
Full-Service Restaurant Magazine Contributing Editor.

Industry Magazine, “Fare” Page Columnist. Every issue since 2019.
Staten Island Advance Contributing Writer

WHATS NEXT:
A lifelong Staten Islander, Peter is dedicated to his community, hosting several annual major fundraisers and festivals at The Stone House at Clove Lakes to benefit local charities and foundations including the popular Summer Winestock, The Big Cheese, Country, Brew & BBQ, and Beer & Bubbly Oyster Festival, where last year 10,000 oysters were shucked!
Annual events at Violette’s Cellar where proceeds go to The Florina Cancer Center and other charities include Meatballs & Mixology, Top Chefs Crush Cancer, Cocktails for Cancer and Scotch & Spirits Soiree.

Peter Botros, whose hallmark is innovation, is always thinking of his next concept, and he and his Bread & Butter Hospitality Team are currently developing plans for further expansion within the Tri-state area and beyond!