Inside Bottega Salaria, Roman hospitality is a way of life. For owner Valerio Lombardozzi, the restaurant is not simply about serving Italian food in Fredericksburg, but recreating the atmosphere, connection and sense of community he grew up with outside Rome. From the menu and imported tile to the outdoor gathering spaces, nearly every detail reflects the rhythms of Italian culture and the feeling of home he found again in the Texas Hill Country.
The Roots of Roman Hospitality
I grew up in a small town outside of Rome, something very similar to Fredericksburg. My grandparents had a Roman restaurant for 55 years. That’s where I got my first experience with restaurants and hospitality. I decided to go to the next level, so I went to six years of culinary school. Having experience outside of my grandparents’ restaurant opened doors to many opportunities. I worked with the Four Seasons, worked with top-tier chefs, lived in different countries around Europe and learned three languages besides Italian. Eventually, I decided to go back to my roots and took a position back in Rome. Two weeks later, I met my wife and moved from Rome to Houston. In the States, I spent years in different cities and worked in different venues ranging from the Four Seasons to Michelin-star restaurants. After working for twelve years with the same company, I felt that it was time for me to fly away and build my own dream. I always felt that Fredericksburg was missing an authentic Italian restaurant. So I said, well, let’s get out of the stressful Michelin-starred world and go back to my roots.
From Rome to Fredericksburg; A Familiar Landscape
As soon as I stepped into the town of Fredericksburg, I felt a connection. To feel at home again while being so far away from Italy was important; the sense of community reminded me in many ways of where I grew up. People take their time to connect with one another. They are supportive of farmers and local products. The tradition of festivity in this town was a big plus, especially events like Oktoberfest. Even the walkability of Fredericksburg, you can tell that people really care about taking their time and connecting with one another. And, the landscape–there are so many aspects of Fredericksburg I enjoy, coming from Italy.
More Than Service
Roman hospitality means it comes from your heart. It’s doing something that you enjoy, something that you love. It’s connected to my roots, how I grew up. Everybody that comes to your home enjoys their time in a genuine way. One thing I realized when I came to the States is that many restaurants were focused only on executing everything perfectly, and there was no soul, even in a simple coffee shop. I go to the same coffee shops several times a week, and no one ever says, “Welcome back,” or, “Your usual?” For me, it’s like, why? Why don’t they take the time and make customers feel at home? Many tourists go to Italy and come back and say, the lifestyle is completely different than here, and it’s true. We welcome people and show who we are and what we do. Part of Italian culture is being together, enjoying the little things, enjoying moments, and not always living in the busy rush of life.
Bringing Italy to the Table
The menu is concept driven, not chef driven. I put it together myself based on how I grew up. Rome has been around for more than 2,000 years. Many recipes have been around for years and we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. What I brought to Bottega Salaria is a culinary experience rooted in my region of Italy. I put together the different dishes growing up in the area; what my mom was cooking, what my grandma made on Sundays, what I ate at my friends’ houses when their parents cooked. When I was going to the beach, what drink was I ordering? When I was going to the mountain to ski, what kind of drink was I looking for? Every piece of the restaurant, from the drink menu to lamps to tile brought from Italy reflects a piece of home.
Gathering, the Roman Way
Tex-Mex and Mexican are two different ways of cooking. We go above and beyond in what we do, but for people looking for Italian-American cuisine, Bottega Salaria is not that. It is an authentic experience of Roman cuisine. In country towns outside of Rome, the family-style culture of eating and sharing is big. La Fraschetta Romana is the casual outdoor community-table experience we wanted to recreate here. People who have dogs or want something more relaxed can come to the garden and order imported cheese, fresh homemade bread and the pizzas we make daily. Italian culture is about engaging with people; for us, it is happiness. We are not looking for a luxury experience, but something familiar and fun. Sometimes in Italy, you even bring your own food and they sell wine to you. But here, the only thing you have to bring is yourself. And joy.
Roman hospitality means it comes from your heart.
Bottega Salaria balances refined, upscale indoor dining with La Fraschetta Romana, an outdoor garden space inspired by the relaxed communal traditions of the Italian countryside.