Chef Named for the Upcoming Somo SoPhi

Waldemar Stryjewski just left Prohibition Taproom for the Somo Hospitality Group. The chef is leading the kitchens at both the original Somo location in Manayunk (4311 Main Street) and the upcoming Somo SoPhi, set in deep South Philly at 3101 S. 13th Street. The restaurant group is run by designer/restaurateur James Morrissey. For Somo SoPhi, Morrissey is teaming up with Philly native/Green Bay Packers All-Pro guard Jahri Evans and his wife, Takia Evans.

Stryjewski, who goes by Val, spend the last couple years as executive chef at Prohibition Taproom (501 N. 13th Street), part of Michael Pasquarello’s 13th Street Kitchens. Previously, he held the same position at Lloyd Whiskey Bar, and before that worked at A.Kitchen and Le Cheri. The chef also spent time under Georges Perrier at Le Bec Fin. He’s already added a burger named after himself at Somo Manayunk: The Big Stryjewski has bacon, roasted mushrooms, pickled onions, and cheddar cheese.

Somo SoPhi is a bi-level, upscale sports bar with a ground-floor lounge and a cocktail bar and dining room with an open kitchen upstairs. The restaurant will also have outdoor seating on both a terrace and the sidewalk. It’s slated to open this spring.

Somo [official photo]