However, Salerno said nothing compares to owning his own restaurant.
Salerno began his culinary career in the 1970s at the Fairmount Hotel in Dallas. He later joined the Anatole Hotel in Dallas. In 1985 he decided to open his first restaurant, Salerno Restaurant, in Flower Mound.
“I was putting in a lot of hours at those places, sometimes well over 80 hours [a week],” he said. “So I decided if I was going to put in that many hours I would do it on my own.”
In 1989, Salerno decided to open another restaurant—Gibbs Station—in Coppell, and in 1994 he opened The Grotto in Highland Village.
In 2014, Salerno gained the attention of a TV show called “Hungry Investors.”
The reality competition show seeks out diamond-in-the-rough restaurants and helps them make changes so they can meet their full potential.
As a result of the show, The Grotto was remodeled and rebranded to Bistecca—An Italian Steakhouse. “As soon as the sign and the name changed, my business went up 25 percent, and the show didn’t even air until two months later,” he said.
Salerno was able to incorporate The Grotto by naming his bar area The Grotto Bar and Patio.
The restaurant’s menu features South African lobster tails, duck, lamb chops, shrimp and steak.
Bistecca—An Italian Steakhouse
2300 Highland Village Road, Highland Village
972-318-0515
www.bisteccasteakhouse.com
Hours:
Monday-Sunday for dinner from 5-11 p.m.
