Chef Massimo Fabbri takes exceptional pride in presenting his culinary creations, and San Lorenzo Ristorante + Bar is no exception!
San Lorenzo is Chef Fabbri’s most personal and passionate endeavor yet, paying homage to his family and hometown of Monsummano Terme in the Tuscan region of Italy.
When you step into San Lorenzo you're transported to Italy — from the food and wine, to the cheerful, slightly cheeky attitude and the exquisite space. The menu features simple but perfect preparation of fine, fresh ingredients from the Tuscan region; the classic dishes with which Chef Fabbri grew up. The warm surroundings feature layers of rich texture and elements of the Monsummano town crest.
San Lorenzo is named after Massimo's son, who in turn is named for San (or Saint) Lorenzo, the patron saint of chefs. The martyr took on this mantle when, as he was burning to death on a grill as punishment for disobeying orders and giving away the treasures of the church to the poor, he joked, "Turn me over, I'm done on this side!"
Monsummano Terme Crest
THE HEART + SOUL
Massimo Fabbri
Executive Chef + Owner
Executive Chef Massimo Fabbri grew up in Monsummano Terme, 30 miles northwest of Florence, Italy. As a boy, he aspired to be a chef, enrolling himself at the age of 14 at the hotel school at the Alberghiere F. Martini (famously located in nearby Montecatini Terme). Within a year, Fabbri was working at the four-star Parma & Oriente Hotel. After graduation, Fabbri accepted a position in London at the Tuscan restaurant L’Ombrello, where he discovered his passion for sharing his culture and cuisine.
In 2001, Fabbri fulfilled another dream when he moved to America, immediately joining Ristorante Tosca’s current managing partner, Paolo Sacco, at Terrazza in Washington, DC. When Sacco opened Tosca later that year, Fabbri followed him, gaining appreciation for simple, yet elegant, dishes crafted from locally grown products. While his time at Tosca afforded Fabbri new perspectives on food, Fabbri returned for a while to his native Italy in 2002. For almost two years, he delighted patrons in several upscale hotels in Montecatini Terme, as well as in villas in Florence, with his Tuscan specialties. Fortunately for Tosca, Fabbri returned to Washington in 2004. Enthused by his time in Italy, he re-dedicated himself to Tosca’s kitchen and clientele, enhancing Tosca’s reputation as one of the most prestigious restaurants in our nation's capital. From 2008-2016, Fabbri and Sacco also partnered together to open and run the popular Ristorante Posto in DC’s Logan Circle neighborhood, which specialized in wood-fired pizza and casual Italian cuisine.
This newest chapter is the culmination of Chef Fabbri's dedication and love for his craft thus far. And San Lorenzo is just the beginning...