Our General Manager, Michael Wirzberger is an ambitious South Philadelphia native who has been in the restaurant industry since he was old enough to work. A self taught sommelier, Michael brings to the restaurant a sincere passion for great wine and crafted cocktails. Since he has assumed the role of General Manager at Sampan, our beverage program has grown tremendously, much to the delight of our guests. With his background in fine dining restaurants such as Del Frisco and Capital Grill, as well as contemporary and traditional Asian cuisine, Michael brings to the table a unique understanding of the service industry and how to best anticipate and meet our guest’s needs in any setting.
Hometown: South Philadelphia 5 words to describe yourself: ambitious, organized, comical, picky, understanding
What is the one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
I don't eat cheese
If you could do anything else but this, what would it be? I would be a cabinet maker.
What is your favorite kind of food? Meat and potatoes.
What is your favorite cocktail? A gin gimlet.
What started your passion for the food industry? My father had a friend who was a chef and needed a dishwasher so at age 14 I stepped foot into a restaurant and haven't left since.
What is your favorite thing about Sampan? The diversity – from the food to the staff, everything about us is incredibly eclectic. The cuisine is not specific to a genre or age group so we are very fortunate in that we get to meet all kinds of different people on a daily basis.
What is the best thing you've ever ate? My grandmothers pickled red cabbage sauerkraut.
What makes a perfect dining experience? First, amazing service, then having your food expectations exceeded and all of your needs anticipated.
