STATETEN ISLAND Peter Botros, the founder and proprietor of Bread & Butter Hospitality in New York, provides thousands of meals to residents of Staten Island, each accompanied by a substantial amount of community service.
The Stone House at Clove Lakes, Violette’s Restaurant, Sofia’s Taqueria, Sofia’s Guac Bar, Sally’s Southern & BBQ, Rustic Pizza and Pasteria, Blue Pearl, and a number of other restaurants in upstate New York and New Jersey are all under the management of Bread & Butter Hospitality, a restaurant group that Botros founded in 2014.
At the age of 13, Botros started working in the hospitality sector, which he carried on with throughout his time in college. He held waiter, deli, and cook jobs at both well-known and beloved Staten Island establishments, including Domino’s Pizza, South Fin Grill, PepperJack Grill, Panini Grill, and Miggy’s Supermarket.
Botros briefly quit the hospitality sector when he was in his 20s. According to Botros, after earning my undergraduate degree in entrepreneurial studies, I immediately pursued a double master’s degree in marketing and finance. I worked as a mortgage banker for a while after I graduated. Although I did have some success, I must admit that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I enjoyed working at restaurants.
But shortly after Botros began working as a mortgage banker, he got some news that would change his life. He was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26. Regretfully, Botros was already all too familiar with the illness because his mother, Violette, had died of breast cancer nine years prior. After his mother passed away and he was recently diagnosed, Botros sought out intensive medical care and, in his own words, kicked cancer in the ass.
The next phase of Botros’ life was made possible by his triumph over breast cancer. Botros was given the chance to buy the old Lake Club, now known as The Stone House in Clove Lakes, shortly after he recovered. Botros seized the opportunity to return to a field he was already so enthusiastic about, knowing that he flourished in the restaurant industry.
Fighting illness helped me reflect on my life goals and what brought me joy, and I realized that I genuinely belonged in the hotel industry, recalls Botros. After opening The Stone House in 2014, I built The Chef’s Loft above it in 2016 since it was so popular right away. In 2019, when I had four restaurants, I opened Bread and Butter. We are currently among Staten Island’s biggest restaurant chains and employment.
Together with his partners Marc Zurlo, Ignacio Garcia, and Philip Farinacci, Botros currently manages over 15 restaurants, and he has multiple projects in the works. There isn’t a part of Staten Island that Botros isn’t feeding, and the restaurants provide a wide range of cuisines, including American, Italian, Mexican, and Asian-inspired. Botros restaurants are well known for their food and upbeat ambiance, but what really sets them apart is their commitment to philanthropy.
Bread and Butter Hospitality’s greatest dedication, aside from cuisine, is to community service. Every year, Bread and Butter organizes over a dozen events that are unique to each of their restaurants. These events include Summer Winestock, The Big Cheese, Country, Brew & BBQ, and the Beer & Bubbly Oyster Festival, where food is typically served at cost and the proceeds are donated to nonprofit organizations and local charities.
But Botros’ greatest love is spending time on cancer research, education, and care. Sally Curtis, the mother of Botros’ business partner Philip Farinacci, and Violette Botros, two cherished family members who passed away from cancer, are honored by the names of two of the group’s restaurants, Violette’s Restaurant and Sally’s Southern. The group committed to raising $250,000 for the Florina Cancer Center at Staten Island University Hospital over a seven-year period in 2017. The group exceeded that target in three years and then raised their pledge to $500,000. With more than $330,000 donated in previous years, Bread & Butter Hospitality continues to be one of the biggest supporters to the Florina Cancer Center, which opened its doors in 2023.
Over 500 people are employed by the restaurants combined, which significantly affects the areas where we operate. All of our employees and their families participate in the community service we provide. “Being able to use the platform in such a positive and impactful way feels great,” Botros says. Although owning a restaurant has always been my dream, I never imagined that I would reach this far. Without the help of my team, I couldn’t accomplish this. I’m fortunate to have the team I do, and every single person I work with is amazing.
Peter Botros will receive a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award in the Established Businessperson category in recognition of his achievements. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance offer the prizes in remembrance of Louis R. Miller, a West Brighton citizen and businessman who was also a community leader.
Botros has a lengthy and diverse collection of honors. Botros has received numerous accolades, including the Pride Center of Staten Island’s LGBTQ Ally Award Recipient, Full-Service Restaurant Magazine’s Rising Stars Award, City and State New York’s Staten Island Power 100 List, and the Jewish Community Center’s Sunrise Day Camp Honoree designation. The esteemed Friends of James Beard Foundation visited Staten Island restaurants for the first and only time in two consecutive years, at Violette’s Cellar (2018) and The Stone House (2019), hosted by Bread & Butter Hospitality.
“I think it’s always worth it, even though it takes time, effort, and money,” adds Botros. “I think a business should live its life trying to support the community around itself.” No matter how tiny the company is, everyone can follow our example and find a way to include charity in their business plan. Giving back isn’t a choice for us.
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