Sofia NOLA

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.

The space is an ode to Sophia Loren (an old family friend of the restaurant's), 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.

Executive Chef Talia Diele drives the kitchen with her genuine passion for cooking and delivering a modern interpretation of Italian classics to the table. Talia 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.

"Adapting an existing culinary concept is never easy, but Chef Talia was able to help lay a superb foundation for us to evolve and develop in our own unique way.”