William Burris landed his first job in the restaurant industry more than 50 years ago and has owned restaurants in New Jersey and New York since the 1980s. Even as a successful union builder in the Mercer County area and head of a national senior care firm, he was always active in the restaurant business, earning a reputation as an innovator.

When William had the opportunity to open a new restaurant on Route 130 in Bordentown at the intersection of Route 206, he wanted to create a truly special place. He envisioned high-end, Italian cuisine in an upscale setting that would make people feel like they were stepping into a more exquisite place and time – a restaurant that people couldn’t stop talking about.

To create such a special restaurant, William knew he would have to assemble the perfect team. He conducted an exhaustive search and found Maurizio Peccolo, an award-winning executive chef who would conduct the kitchen symphony and prepare genuine Italian fare from scratch.

William then welcomed Giuseppe "Pino" Algeri, who William had known for more than 40 years, as the restaurant’s general manager. Hailing from the Calabria region of Italy, Pino has provided leadership at several of the most iconic establishments in the Northeast over the course of several decades.

The third major piece would be a first-class music program to replicate William’s experiences at Babe’s Steakhouse in Philadelphia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. William brought in maestro Dean Schneider to serve as musical director and entertain guests during and after dinner.

In December of 2022, one week before Christmas, Ristorante LUCCA & Piano Lounge opened its doors. Today, not only has William’s vision come to life, but construction is underway on Eventi Lucca, a two-story event center, as well as a new cigar lounge and an outdoor patio called AlFresco Lucca.

William’s relationships in the Mercer County business community have played a large role in his career success.

“I’ve known Hal English (Princeton Mercer Chamber President and CEO) for 30 years,” William said. “We were involved with various business associations and would see each other on a regular basis. I met our banking connections when they were with Yardville National Bank, which became First Bank. As a builder, I was very involved with the Mercer County Improvement Authority. Morris Rubino was the vice chair and actually introduced me to winemaking. Now I have my own wine group that bottles about 10,000 bottles per year, with some of best grapes in the world from the Suisun Valley in California.”

As a new restaurant in the Princeton-Mercer region, joining the Chamber and becoming a Bronze Sustaining Sponsor has created opportunities for the team at Ristorante LUCCA & Piano Lounge to engage the community.

“Chamber membership and events allow us to introduce people to a very unique concept,” William said. “Other places have dining and entertainment, but not the way we do it at LUCCA. I don’t believe there’s anything in Mercer County quite like this.”

Community engagement through the Chamber is paying off. Chamber members and event attendees have celebrated special occasions at Ristorante LUCCA & Piano Lounge. While most people tend to celebrate on the weekend, the LUCCA team has begun developing incentives to encourage guests to make reservations during the week. In other words, celebrate on your actual birthday or anniversary instead of waiting until the weekend!

Shannon Potash, Executive Director of Special Events at LUCCA, has met Chamber members from all walks of life and hopes to host Chamber events in Eventi Lucca, the new event center, when construction is complete.

"I enjoy attending Chamber events to network with other local professionals,” Shannon said. “I love hearing their stories, sharing mine, and having the opportunity to learn from one another. The speakers are always so interesting, and I always leave feeling energized and inspired."

Ristorante LUCCA & Piano Lounge has already earned a reputation for delivering a truly unique, fine-dining experience. Visit their website to learn more about their exceptional team, menu, and entertainment or make a reservation.