Culinary Concepts
Somerset Culinary Concepts is a collaboration between Somerset Market Ventures, an affiliate of Somerset Development Company whose principals are Nancy Hooff and Jim Campbell, and Ziad Maalouf, an established DC and Baltimore restauranteur.
Ziad’s business acumen and vision has delivered consistent success throughout his career including working with the legendary Jean Louis Palladin at the Watergate Hotel, opening the stunning Lespinasse in the St. Regis Hotel, and owning and operating the popular Café Olé restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue for almost 20 years.
An award-winning development firm, Somerset Development Company specializes in revitalizing urban communities with a focus on development and preservation of affordable multi-family properties, historic preservation and mixed income residential properties. Somerset has completed multiple projects in Baltimore including Station North Townhomes on North Calvert Street, the historic preservation of The Flats at Professional Arts Building, a major renovation of Linden Park Apartments, and The Jordan Apartments on McMechen Street in Bolton Hill. In DC, Somerset has completed ten major developments including Portner Flats, Channel Square and the historic renovation of Hubbard Place.
As part of our community development strategy, Somerset and Ziad created Somerset Culinary Concepts focusing on Café Fili, a successful urban fast casual restaurant concept that brings both business and residential neighbors together in an effort to strengthen and revitalize a sense of community as well as benefit the neighborhood.
Café Filí Baltimore serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week with a full-service bar, grab-n-go market, and an extensive catering menu. The cuisine features the fresh flavors and lifestyle of the Mediterranean in a welcoming, friendly setting with open ceilings, vibrant colors, and comfortable booths that invite long leisurely lunches. Located on the ground floor of the Somerset-owned Professional Arts Building in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Café Fili Baltimore has become a neighborhood gathering place.
Café Fili DC, located at 2nd and G Streets on Capitol Hill, serves lunch and dinner seven days a week and weekend brunch. Healthy and flavorful cuisine brings community residents and local office workers into the café multiple times a week. The vibrant bar features a well-curated list of boutique wines, draft cocktails and nightly happy hours and a large patio offers al fresco dining on a tree lined street.
Plans for expansion will focus on the Baltimore area with a goal of opening three additional locations over the next 16 months (late 2026).