And if I had a boat, I’d go out on the ocean. And if I had a pony, I’d ride him on my boat. And we could all together go out on the ocean, I said, me upon my pony on my boat.

With a name inspired by the famous lyrics of Lyle Lovett, The Pony and The Boat Comfort Kitchen was bound to draw a music-loving crowd.

The new culinary concept by Tommy Karole, owner of The Paper Canoe, is bringing top-notch comfort fare to Kitty Hawk when it opens this fall. From local seafood to hand-carved turkey sandwiches to fried chicken, the restaurant is all about high-quality food prepared simply, and the casual-cool space isn’t too hard on the eyes either.

An inverted rowboat from the 1930s hangs above the expansive dining room, which also houses a cozy fireplace and a bar highlighting a selection of craft cocktails. The interior is actually the handiwork of Karole and good friends Chris Whitehurst, Gary Rader, and Billy Burley – who happen to be musicians in addition to contractors.

“There’s something about the energy in a building,” says Karole, comparing The Pony and The Boat to his other restaurant, The Paper Canoe – which has become a Duck mainstay over the last decade for its elegant cuisine and unpretentious,beach-cottage-inspired atmosphere. “When you walk into The Paper Canoe, there’s just that good feeling in there.”

From Left to Right: Gary Rader, Billy Burley, Tommy Karole, Chris Whitehurst, Bradley Workman.

That’s what he was aiming for in The Pony and The Boat, albeit with an even more casual atmosphere. To achieve his goals, he called upon old friends Whitehurst, Rader, and Burley and newcomer Bradley Workman.

Karole met Rader in a restaurant in Corolla back in 1998, and Rader introduced him to Whitehurst and Burley. Over the years, the group of friends worked on numerous design projects with Karole, including remodeling Karole’s own home.

This time, the project was a well-known building at Milepost 4.5.

“You know what makes this project fun?” asks Karole of the construction at The Pony and The Boat. “I’m doing it with guys that I’ve done work with going back 20 years. It’s like getting the band back together. We came together to build this restaurant.”

The group of friends collaborated on each part of the restaurant space, bouncing ideas off one another as they completed projects like burning and dying wooden slats for the ceiling of the reimagined dining room. “These guys do beautiful work,” says Karole, likening Whitehurst to the lead singer in their fictional band. “It’s been an effort of all of our minds put together to complete the job.”

The new space is planned to be unveiled in Fall 2020 alongside a lunch and dinner menu with the likes of house-smoked meats, vegetarian selections, fresh salads, and hot roast beef sandwiches. As the name Comfort Kitchen suggests, there will be something on the menu for all tastes.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Karole hopes to serve brunch with standouts like homemade biscuits and pancakes. But if The Pony and The Boat is anything like its sister restaurant in Duck, patrons can expect a menu that evolves over time.

Karole believes that talented people thrive when energy is high, and he’s proud of his team that knows how to take care of patrons. Team members like Head Chef Eric Anderson of The Paper Canoe are a big reason for the Duck restaurant’s success over the years. And when it comes to food, Chef Anderson is an expert at perfecting an idea.

“He is a big part in the development of the concept at The Pony and The Boat,” says Karole, noting that the menu is a collaboration much like the restaurant’s remodeling. “I trust him so much with the systems of a restaurant.”

While The Pony and The Boat will offer a more low-key atmosphere than The Paper Canoe, Karole emphasizes the importance of always using the highest quality ingredients – including local and regional seafood, local produce, all-natural chicken, and grass-fed beef from North Carolina. Anytime he talks about the food at The Pony and The Boat, his passion for fresh, real ingredients comes through.

“When it comes to restaurants, I’m somewhat of a control freak,” says Karole with a laugh. “I want it to be right. I buy anyone who works for me the best ingredients that I can find to work with. I want to put out the food that I’d like to be served when I go out to a restaurant.”

Once The Pony and The Boat officially opens its doors for takeout and socially distanced dining indoors and on the patio, Karole plans to spend his time between the new restaurant and The Paper Canoe, which similarly has roots in a song.

As for what Lyle Lovett meant by the lyrics of “If I Had a Boat,” you’ll have to listen to the song to find out for yourself. Karole recommends the live version.