Boka Restaurant Group will bring a third concept, Middleman, to Wedgewood-Houston. It will open this spring alongside fellow Boka Restaurant Group concepts, including Chef Lee Wolen’s Italian eatery Alla Vita and Chef Gene Kato’s Japanese restaurant Momotaro, according to a release.
Middleman’s name is a nod to the historical figures who ran the underground bourbon trade and will center around Tennessee’s whiskey traditions. The space, designed by AvroKO, will aim to incorporate both classic and modern elements as well as both comfort and elegance.
The space, which will seat 83, will serve as a connecting space between Alla Vita and Momotaro, inspired by the European arcade where guests can gather and connect. Design elements will include symmetrical walkways, a glass atrium, collected artifacts and eclectic furnishings.
The cocktail program, helmed by Boka Restaurant Group’s director of beverage Ashley Santoro, will offer Nashville-inspired classic cocktails with elements of dry rub, pickled vegetables and other Southern elements. There will also be small-batch Tennessee whiskies, rare agave spirits and other liqueurs. A food menu will pair with the beverage program for gathering before and after dinner.
Restaurateurs Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm founded Boka Restaurant Group in 2002. The restaurant group has an extensive portfolio of chef-driven concepts, working with chefs such as Stephanie Izard, Chris Pandel, Lee Wolen, Gene Kato, Michael Solomonov, Christina Tosi and Brian Lockwood.
