Gheorghe Vatafu
Executive Chef
Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, Gheorghe got his culinary start when he was young, learning from his uncle in the kitchen. At 14, Gheorghe began his cooking career at the Intercontinental Hotel in Bucharest while attending culinary school. Gheorghe trained under master chefs and competed around the world, giving him the opportunity to improve his skills and learn about different cultures and cuisines.
Gheorghe moved to the United States and became a US citizen in 2006. He began working at The St. Paul Grill as Sous Chef in 2011 and has worked his way to Executive Chef.
Billy Tam
General Manager
Born and raised in Hong Kong until the age of 14, Billy moved to St. Paul and began working at his family’s restaurant, Ho Ho Gourmet. Billy enlisted in the National Guard in 2001, with his seventh week of basic training coinciding with the events of 9/11. He served his country with distinction, being deployed to Iraq from 2005 to 2007.
Billy’s career in the service industry has seen him serve and bartend throughout downtown Minneapolis and manage various prestigious establishments. With a Mechanical Engineering background from the University of Minnesota, he has managed his family restaurant and several other notable restaurants in the metro area, including Seven Sushi and Steakhouse, Oceanaire Seafood Room, 801 Chophouse, and 801 Fish which he helped open.
Billy’s rich and diverse experience brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our team, and we are excited to see the exceptional contributions he will make at The St. Paul Grill. We hope you’ll stop in soon to welcome Billy!
