With 45 years of innovative entrepreneurship in the restaurant industry, Mr. Burris is a successful business leader with an infinite passion and attention to detail in overall culinary excellence.  

In 1968, William obtained his first restaurant job at Gino’s Hamburgers where in a few months he was promoted to chicken cook. Working in various Italian kitchens throughout the 70’s and into the late 80’s, this passion led to the ownership of his first Italian restaurant “Orsini’s at Pennsauken” located at the Pennsauken Country Club in Pennsauken, New Jersey where performers such as Jerry Boyle, Paula Johns, and George Mesterhazy regularly appeared in the cocktail lounge with Benny DiGeronimo as the Maître d' and Frank Peluso behind the bar, and Chef Daniel Hover in the kitchen, a special era in time.

In 1992 William relocated to New York City where he and Chef Daniel Hover opened Truffles, a small restaurant on East 50th Street next to Lutece, which catered to those with a special pallet for winter black truffles, summer black truffles and the popular “White Truffles from Alba Italy,” which were available from October until February each year. The restaurant was sold two years later to Chef Hover and William relocated to North Jersey.

Once settled, William acquired the former Archer’s Steakhouse on Palisade Avenue in Fort Lee, New Jersey opening Limoncello, a Bistro and Italian Steakhouse which evolved into the late evenings as a nightclub featuring live performers nightly.

In 2001 William acquired the liquor license from Bay Village in Beach Haven, New Jersey, and in 2005 acquired Romeo’s Steakhouse in that same community renovating and with partners Robert Nugent and Eric Magaziner opened the “Black Whale Bar & Fish House” a seafood restaurant/bar, the restaurant is one of the most successful venues in this community.

In 2016, the wives joined as partners and together we acquired The Boathouse, a waterfront restaurant that existed for 60 years and opened “Parkers Garage & Oyster Saloon” with Chef Kyle Baddorf at the helm, a seasonal restaurant usually sold out for the summer once reservations are available each April.

The latest additional to our “Tide Table Group” occurred in 2019 with the acquisition of The Ketch (the former Acme Hotel which existed for 100 years on the bayfront on Beach Haven. “Bird & Betty’s”, a restaurant and nightclub has become one of the most popular restaurants at the beaches of New Jersey.

In addition to owning and operating restaurants in the tri-state area, William also serves as President for a not-for-profit organization, The Caterina de’Medici Gastronomic Society.  A society formed in 1984, William succeeds Mario Mele, the founder of the organization whose mission is to advance the knowledge of the food and wines of Italy. As President, William strives to promote excellence in educating and enhancing knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Caterina de’Medici and her influences on fine regional Italian foods and wines to its many members. 

Aside from his passion for grande cuisine, Mr. Burris is a Founding Member and Wine Maker of MountainView Winery. He is also Chairman of the South Jersey Wine Consortio, an organization of homemade wine makers throughout the Delaware Valley.  

Additionally, throughout his career, William was a proven leader in Senior Care, developing and building the performing facilities in their respective markets of over two billion dollars in healthcare assets.