winesdines: Soro’s in Old Town Temecula – Come To Papa!

Waleed Joseph Soro brings a lifetime of experiences with him to Old Town Temecula. He joined his dad in the restaurant business in Baghdad, Iraq when he was thirteen years old. “Papa” is Syrian and speaks Aramaic (“the language Jesus spoke”) Arabic, some Spanish, French and Italian (“restaurant language”) as well as English. The first thing you’ll notice about Papa is his infectious laugh. “There is not one person that comes here I don’t shake their hand.” There are hugs and kisses for the women.

Papa has a story to tell, several of them in fact, and one day he will write a book. The story begins with his parents running from the mountains during wartime. It follows their move from Iraq to Syria to Lebanon. Papa applied to come to the United States in the 1970s when war erupted in Lebanon. He took sanctuary in Greece for eight and a half months enjoying “nothing but good times, but I couldn’t wait to come here. When I got here I kissed the ground, I swear you.” From New York he moved to Michigan where he became a state champion in ballroom dancing. One night a woman came into the club where he was dancing. He asked his waiter friend “Who’s that beautiful blonde over there? She looks like Marilyn Monroe. Take her a bottle of champagne and tell her it’s from me.” The attraction was mutual and instant and he and Sherry have been together ever since.

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Soro’s Mediterranean Grill is at 28464 Front Street in Old Town Temecula. (951) 587-8082.

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