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"People have always said I should open up a restaurant," Seastrom said. "It's much more encouraging to start a business here than in California.
"When people get down here (to downtown New Haven), now there's a place to get lunch or get dinner," she said.
The restaurant shares a symbiotic relationship with the nearby art galleries, Seastrom said. Both attract business to one another.
The fishing camp-themed restaurant attracts New Haven residents as well as those from other areas across the state, Wright said.
"This place has changed tremendously from what it was when we walked in the door. It was really important to use our imaginations," Seastrom said.
Their imaginations and food have attracted locals and visitors alike.
"We've had people in here from Hermann, Washington, St. Louis and all the way from Kansas City," Wright said.
Somebody's serves mostly locals during the week and fulfills the needs of some residents as a social outlet to meet friends over a drink, alcoholic or not, and a bite to eat, Seastrom said.
"So often people will be here, someone will come in that they know and they'll stick around and share a dessert or something together. I enjoy that," she said.
Menu items at Somebody's range from crispy green beans and roasted garlic spread for appetizers to salads including the Caprese, which includes fresh buffalo mozzarella, and burgers and sandwiches including the California burger, topped with guacamole, jack cheese and bacon, and the hot wing sandwich with shredded chicken topped with coleslaw.
"We took some of our favorite things and put them on the menu," Seastrom said. "I have to say, we have darn good burgers."
The restaurant also is expanding to add some finer dining in the same building.
The other side of the restaurant will have a separate entrance to keep it separate from the bar and grill portion, Seastrom said.
The new section will have a limited menu including some seafood, steaks and other items.
Once the expansion is open, which Seastrom said she expects won't be until after the beginning of 2010, the restaurant will be able to serve three needs for diners with its bar, patio and finer dining areas.
"The idea is to be nice enough that people want to come in and to be affordable enough that people come back," Wright said.
Seastrom, jokingly referred to as "Somebody" by family and friends, thought the name would work well for the restaurant.
Seastrom's business card lists her as "Somebody," and Wright's lists him as "Somebody Else."
Seastrom said she enjoys telling patrons the story of how she came to be known as Somebody, an event which occurred while at a Wal-Mart in Louisiana, Mo., near her brother's former studio in Clarksville.
Seastrom said another shopper asked her "You're somebody, aren't you?"
"It's always had a positive connotation," she said.
Somebody's is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5-8 p.m. for dinner Wednesday through Saturday and from 12-7 p.m. Sundays.
Carryouts and will-call where meals can be ready for diners at a specified time, good for those on a limited break from their job, also are available by calling the restaurant at 573-237-5565.
The restaurant is a smoke-free establishment.
