Georgian restaurant Bread Boat officially held its soft opening Oct. 16 near the Upper Kirby area, officials confirmed.
The eatery was initially slated to open in early September but was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, officials told Community Impact via email.
Bread Boat’s location at 3835 Richmond Ave., Houston, is the first to lay down roots outside of its home in Austin, Texas.
From the oven
Khachapuri sits at the center of Bread Boat’s offerings, which is widely considered one of Georgia’s national dishes, according to the restaurant’s website.
The traditional form features a molded-by-hand boat of blistered dough that is filled with a mix of molten cheese, egg yolk and butter. The boat is baked until golden brown at the crust, perfect for tearing and dipping at the customer’s discretion.
However, Bread Boat’s open-kitchen approach is not limited to just the classics; its menu is experimental as well, per its website.
The restaurant’s half-and-half boats—which are not native to Georgia—incorporate the authentic flavors of centuries-old recipes into new interpretations. The Beef Boat is among these options. It is a half-traditional, half-slow-braised beef boat topped with tomatoes and aromatic spices.
Other Bread Boat specializations include Lobiani, racha bread served with mashed kidney beans, smoky bacon, onions and herbs; and Kubdari, a spiced ground beef Svaneti bread.
More details
Designed for two, Bread Boat’s entrees are meant to be shared in “supra” or feasting fashion, per its website. Customers who visit the location can expect counter service inside a thoughtfully designed space where food is baked to order every time.
They may also enjoy drinks from Bread Boat’s handcrafted lineup of Georgian wines, beers and lemonades.
The restaurant’s Dila-O Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane, which is available by the glass or by the bottle, is a traditionally fermented wine known as “Qvevri.” Standout flavors from its profile include honey and melon, according to its menu.
Can’t wait?
With doors now officially open, Bread Boat Houston welcomes customers for dine-in service. The restaurant is also accepting pick-up orders as of Oct. 26.
