Our review of this charming Tbilisi bakery in the heart of Mayfair
Bruton Place is fast becoming a foodie’s haven; this tiny street off Berkeley Square already boasts over ten places to eat and drink, cafes, restaurants, bars and a pub, with more set to open soon. And news has it that Bruton Place will be pedestrianised within the next two years, adding to its undoubted charm. As a regular visitor to Bruton Place, I have always enjoyed the diverse and unique food offerings available on the street. For example, there is a gorgonzola bar and restaurant that I believe is unique to London. Opposite my lunch destination, Entree Bakery, again unique as it’s London’s only Tbilisi bakery. To be precise, there are currently three Entrees in town, but more of that later.
As a regular visitor to Bruton Place, I have always enjoyed the diverse and unique food offerings available on the street. For example, there is a gorgonzola bar and restaurant that is unique to London. Opposite is my lunch destination, Entree Bakery, again unique as it’s the UK’s only Tbilisi bakery. To be precise, Entree has three bakeries in town, but more of that later.
I have popped into Entree for coffee a few times, but I am curious to learn more about it. about what the Bakeries of Tbilisi have to offer and to sample a few Georgian specialities.
Before I go into more detail about lunch, here’s a bit of background on Entree. The business started in 2008 in Georgia, introducing locals to a blend of local cuisine and French café culture—something new to Tbilisi. It’s no surprise that this family-run establishment became an instant success. Today, Entree has 16 bakeries and cafés in Tbilisi and eight in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Entree is a family business, managed in the UK by a brother-and-sister partnership. I had lunch with Sandro Pichkhaia, one-half of the management team, and during our conversation, a recurring theme was their commitment to “quality.” Entree has built a reputation as a high-end bakery and café by using only the freshest ingredients. All breads, sandwiches, main courses, and cakes are baked and prepared at their bakery, located in their first bakery in Notting Hill. These items are then delivered early each morning to their other locations in Kensington and Mayfair. Impressively, no product has a shelf life longer than one day. The menu offers a mix of Georgian favourites and café classics.
So to lunch, with Sandro’s advice, I’ve used the opportunity to try Georgian classics, including Kachapuri, a cheese pie, and alongside this, I was tempted by Chakhokbili chicken, which is a traditional Georgian chicken and tomato stew with fresh herbs, the sauce was full of flavour with the tomato and hint of garlic and spice, I loved the combination of both and really wanted to dip the Kachapuri into the tomato sauce but thought I better be on my best behaviour.
Also on offer were some of the freshest, most colourful salads I’ve seen in a long time.
The bakery offers a delightful selection of classic breads, including sourdough, focaccia, and rye bread, among others. These breads are also used to make a variety of sandwiches and rolls that look incredibly appetizing. I plan to try them next time.
In addition to a wide selection of savoury dishes, and a you would expect from a bakery there is also a large variety of sweet options to delight those with a sweet tooth. I chose a traditional walnut roll, as walnuts are one of my favourites and have the added bonus of being healthy—it’s a win-win! The walnut roll was delicious, and Sandro mentioned that the Georgian people use walnuts in many of their recipes.
I did not continue the health kick and indulge in many of the smoothies on offer; instead, I enjoyed a caffeine kick from the excellent coffee.
The bakery was full of diners, with queues of people collecting takeaways. A modest Sandro said he was pleased that all three of their bakeries are well-supported.
So I quizzed Sandro on the plans for the future; their vision is to open a few more bakeries in London with a new venue at Chelsea barracks due to open this year. The experience of running multiple outlets in Tbilisi has given them a formula for expansion on how to open more outlets without sacrificing quality, that word again. They are proud to remain a family-run business and have no plans to expand beyond a controllable level, and I think Sandro’s words would resonate with most of us; it has to be quality before profit.
Based on my visit, this policy appears to work well for both the team and customers.You can enjoy Entree at the following locations.
Entree Mayfair, 35 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 6NS
Entree Notting Hill, 138 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3QG
Entree Kensington, 10 Kensington Square, London, W8 5EP
If you want to read our article about all the foodie outlets in Bruton Place, you should look at our guide to Restaurants in Bruton Place. I highly recommend that you visit when you are in the area.
