South Jersey Visionary: Ristorante Lucca

 

William Burris has always been a builder. Carpentry was the family business, and over the course of his career, he’s overseen the construction of everything from country clubs to nursing homes. For nearly 5 decades, he’s also been building his own restaurants, from New York to the Jersey Shore. 

But across that long and successful career, Burris always had another, even bigger vision: A culinary destination that offers the best in fine Italian food, entertainment and events. That vision is realized at Ristorante LUCCA, the iconic eatery Burris opened in Bordentown in late 2022. 

Step into a fairytale

Here, diners aren’t just treated to an impeccable meal. They’re transported to Lucca – a fairytale of a medieval Tuscan town in the fertile plains near the Ligurian Sea. “It’s a culinary masterpiece, a really special place to be,” Burris says. “It was easy to decide what to name this restaurant.”  

In Ristorante LUCCA’s elegantly appointed dining room, tables are set with sterling silver flatware and imported Italian dishes and glassware. The menus light up when opened, servers arrive promptly with antipasti of crusted bread and dipping oil, cured meats and olives, and the occasional amuse bouche. Every detail has been considered. 

Longtime South Jersey residents might remember the location as the former home of Mastoris Diner. The renovation gave the building a complete overhaul, but Burris wanted to be sure that its history, as a place that brings people together, carried over. “This was a spot where everybody I knew had breakfast,” he says. “People would meet at Mastoris three, four times a week. We wanted to create a different atmosphere, but keep people coming back in much the same way.” 

 

Introducing Eventi LUCCA

When Burris’ team was transforming the building into Ristorante LUCCA, Burris had a vision to add something bigger and better: A brand-new event center with a dance floor, two-story seating, a state-of-the-art lighting system and its own dedicated kitchen. Ristorante LUCCA has been a top choice for a standout meal for nearly three years. Now the new event center will offer a home for the most memorable occasions: weddings, parties and performances.

Burris expects constant weekend bookings at the event center upon its opening. But the beautiful new space won’t sit empty on weeknights. Instead, it will be South Jersey’s newest concert venue, hosting performers on the caliber of Andrea Bocelli and Sebastian Maniscalco. 

The concept is modeled on The Latin Casino, a legendary Cherry Hill venue that hosted performers like Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Louis Armstrong and others throughout the ’60s and ’70s. 

While music is already part of the experience at Ristorante LUCCA – Music and Entertainment Director Dean Schneider and other local musicians serenade patrons in the classic piano lounge – the new event center will offer a unique entertainment option, while paying homage to the region’s entertainment history. 

“The concept of dining and music isn’t something I invented,” Burris says. “It’s something I watched people do a great job with, and I’ve tried to replicate that. The impact of Latin Casino resonates with generations of guests. When you have something that works, there’s no reason you can’t hang on to that.” 

 

The Freshest & Finest

While Ristorante LUCCA offers a memorable experience on many fronts, you could say what’s most important is the meal itself. “From a dining standpoint, we’re doing what no one else is doing,” Burris says. “We sell Black Angus Prime steaks, and all wild – not farm-raised – fish. Everything we sell is the best product I can buy.” 

A perfect meal begins with exquisite ingredients, and Ristorante LUCCA’s head chef, Andrea Esposito, uses them to produce a masterful seasonal menu that blends traditional Italian cuisine with innovative twists on the classics. Burris and his team have thought of everything, including a diverse vegan and vegetarian menu, and gluten-free options. 

Burris himself is a connoisseur of fine dining and Italian food; he is the president of the Caterina de’Medici Gastronomic Society, a group dedicated to the knowledge and enjoyment of Italian cooking, wines and heritage. 

“The root of all of this is Caterina de’Medici, who was married off at 15 years old to the king of France,” Burris says. When she left Florence, de’Medici brought the entire kitchen staff along. “She taught the French how to eat,” Burris adds. “She’s the ‘queen of cuisine’ – all the dishes and techniques you think of as fine French dining, they really started with Italian food. Italy is the finest country in the world when it comes to culinary expertise.” 

Ristorante LUCCA offers the most authentic Italian dining experience you can get without crossing the Atlantic. Chef Esposito hails from Napoli, and general manager Giuseppe “Pino” Algeri is a native of Calabria. “I’d estimate that about 80 percent of our serving staff is from Italy as well,” Burris says.

The standout serving staff has a major role in shaping the dining experience. They’re experts in tableside service: especially popular tableside dishes, including a Caesar salad and the classic pasta dish cacio e pepe, but a large portion of the dishes on the menu can also be served tableside, “whether that means carving your steak or fileting your fish,” Burris says. 

A flawless, multi-course meal at Ristorante LUCCA is also accompanied by impeccable beverage pairings. The cocktail menu features house-made compotes, coulis and syrups, and an extensive wine list includes a thoughtfully chosen selection of Italian wines. 

The cherry on top is an extensive dessert menu ranging from a wide selection of gelato and sorbet flavors to traditional specialties like cannoli, ricotta cake, biscotti and an award-winning tiramisu.  

“All of that together adds up to an experience we have at Ristorante LUCCA that I’m not sure you could get anywhere else,” Burris says. “We’re providing what we think is the best opportunity in the region for a special evening. And that’s what we are: We’re special.” 

856-661-1900

ristorantelucca.com

BORDENTOWN