Dumplings, kebabs and cheesy bread boats can be found at the new Georgian Chef in Howell

You may have never tried Georgian dumplings, or even knew they existed.

But after leaving Georgian Chef in Howell — an authentic Georgian restaurant that opened Feb. 24 — it's a good bet you'll think these soupy dumplings (also known as khinkali) are one of the best foods you've ever tasted.

Owner Roini Mgaloblishvili is a Michelin Guide chef who cut his teeth in Brooklyn's famous Ubani Georgian Restaurant after emigrating with his family from Georgia in 2017. He can be found in the kitchen creating masterpieces with aromas that hit you as soon as you walk through the door.

His family — wife Margalita Chincharauli, their son Levani and daughter Irina — helps run the restaurant, which is draped with calming foliage and warm colors. They greet guests and graciously explain the menu — sharing tips on how to best enjoy the food.

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"We grew up eating this food ...," Irina said. "[Our] goal is for people to like and accept a new kind of food and flavor."

Levani taught us how to eat Georgian dumplings without wasting any of the delicious broth hidden inside. Hold the dumpling at the top and take a small bite, sucking out all the savory juices. Then you're free to enjoy the rest of the delightful dough pocket.

"(It's) wrapped, and then boiled, so it has a lot of soup in it," Irina added.

The family brought the spices used to create the addictive dumpling flavors from Georgia, she explained. They also brought several flavors of Georgian lemonade, such as pear, lemon and tarragon (our favorite).

"[My father's] food is really good, and we thought managing our own restaurant would be a better opportunity for us," Irina said. "Most people have really liked it because of the unique flavors."

After living in Brooklyn for six years, the family moved to Chesterfield Township (Burlington County) about a year ago. In Georgia, none of them were involved in the food industry: Chincharauli was a school principal and Mgaloblishvili was a rugby coach.

So the desire to share cuisine from their culture is a labor of love.

Be warned, though, the restaurant is hidden in plain sight. The Georgian Chef is tucked into a strip mall along Route 9. The sign above the restaurant reads Raine’s Kitchen, the Spanish place that used to be at this location. (The Georgian Chef sign is coming, they said, but it will take a few months.)

Soul-warming dishes include Adjaruli Khachapuri, a Georgian bread boat filled with gooey cheese and egg yolk. The bread is meant to be ripped and dipped into the creamy mixture while still hot.

"We make the cheese ourselves in the kitchen, ..." Irina said. "... It makes you full, but it doesn't make you sleepy ... "

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Another popular dish is the pork and beef, or lamb, lula kebabs. The ground meat on skewers is grilled and rolled into lavash bread. You also should try the eggplant rolls with walnut fenugreek garlic paste and fresh pomegranate (served cold); and the Georgian Traditional Salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, Georgian sunflower oil and crisp herbs.

Don't forget the Napoleon Cake, a melt-in-your-mouth puff pastry with whipped cream filling and crumbs.

The restaurant also does take out and catering. All the food is shareable, and that communal experience is very much a part of Georgian culture.

"There are a lot of Georgians in Howell," Irina said. "They know the food, but we've had mostly Americans and people who don't know our food [come in], and it's been great. We enjoy when people like it."

Go: 3720 Route 9, Howell; 732-276-6898, clover.com/online-ordering/georgian-chef.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Georgian restaurant in Howell features dumplings, new flavors