Peter Botros

Chef/Owner, The Stone House, Violette's Cellar, Corner House BBQ, & Sofia's Taqueria

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 Violette’s continues that mission with an ongoing pledge to donate a portion of proceeds to the Florina Cancer Center.

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. Sofia’s newest location, with its sprawling bar, private event space and covered outdoor dining, also hosts the largest Cinco De Mayo block party in Staten Island.

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 was announced in February 2023 and construction is underway at the newest location on Forest Avenue with a late spring opening.

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.

In June 2024, Chef Botros opened Blue Pearl.  Blue Pearl offers a vibrant and well-rounded menu focusing on fresh seafood with Asian flare and selections that will delight guests with all varieties of dietary restrictions and preferences. Its cocktail program highlights innovative mixology and a curated wine and sake list.  The attention to detail is only surpassed by the extraordinary ambience and seductive vibe.

Social Handles: @chef_peter_botros, @BreadButterHospitality