Sofia
interior

About Sofia

Our Story

Sofia began with Billy Blatty a local New Orleanian, whose resume consists of founding and developing the Barcadia brand, Belle's Diner, Ohm Lounge, and the Japanese Restaurant, Nagomi.

His latest endeavor has been the exciting opening of the restaurant Sofia in the Arts/Warehouse District, on Julia Street. The space is an ode to Sophia Loren (an old family friend of Billy's parents), with art and design elements that personify Loren's natural femininity and iconic beauty. Local artist David Gamble was commissioned to create a large Andy Warhol-style painting of Loren eating spaghetti. A dramatic chandelier made of broken plates and cutlery hangs above the 100-seat dining room where other eye-catching abstracts that personify Sophia's natural femininity and iconic beauty.

The goal for Sofia is to welcome every guest with bonhomie in a relaxed yet vibrant environment. The family style approach reflects the view that dining is communal, food is meant to be shared, and the raised seating is an attempt to unify both staff and guests in a cycle of synergy.

Billy's vision for Sofia began on a missed flight in Denver due to a snow storm. He took a friendly recommendation which brought him to Bar Dough, and a subsequent friendship with Culinary Creative developed. After many trips and discussions, Billy decided to open Sofia in New Orleans.

After enlisting Executive Chef Talia Diele and General Manager Peter Gordon to assist in the birth of this dream, Billy and team, are very excited to present this modern take on authentic Italian cuisine to the New Orleans market. "Our style and food is very unique, we are really proud to present this in a way that no one has seen before…I hope to contribute to the tradition of culinary excellence that makes New Orleans the torch-bearer for cuisine in America, but also more importantly, for my home."

Talia Diele

TALIA DIELE

If you can't find her in the kitchen she's most likely cheering "Who Dat?!" as a lifelong Saints fan. Talia Diele fell in love with cooking at a young age, learning to make homemade pasta, along with everything else, with love from her Italian grandmothers. After attending culinary school and graduating at the top of her class, Talia successfully opened six restaurants across the country from Colorado to Florida. In her spare time, Talia loves traveling to her favorite places, including Italy and Central America. "I love simple, bright flavors, where the quality of carefully selected ingredients can really shine," says Talia. After starting her own business, which eventually led to developing a product line for Whole Foods, Talia is excited to bring her passion for Italian cuisine to Sofia.

Billy Blatty

BILLY BLATTY

Sofia began with Billy Blatty a local New Orleanian, whose resume consists of founding and developing the Barcadia brand, Belle's Diner, Ohm Lounge, Nagomi - partnership with Chef Kaz, and the up and coming Bohemia. His latest endeavor has been the exciting opening of the restaurant Sofia in the Arts/Warehouse District, on Julia Street. The space is an ode to Sophia Loren (an old family friend of Billy's parents), with art and design elements that personify Loren's natural femininity and iconic beauty. His goal for Sofia is to welcome every guest with bonhomie in a relaxed yet vibrant environment. His family style approach reflects the view that dining is communal, food is meant to be shared, and the raised seating is an attempt to unify both staff and guests in a cycle of synergy. Billy's vision for Sofia began on a missed flight in Denver due to a snow storm. He took his brother's recommendation which brought him to Bar Dough, and a subsequent friendship with the restaurant's parent company - Culinary Creative developed. After many trips and discussions, Billy enlisted Culinary Creative as culinary consultants to his concept Sofia in New Orleans. "Adapting an existing culinary concept is never easy, but they were able to lay a superb foundation for us to evolve and develop in our own unique way. I hope to contribute to the tradition of culinary excellence that makes New Orleans the torch-bearer for cuisine in America, but also more importantly, for my home."