The previous evening we had tried to eat at this restaurant, but they were full although mentioned that they were quieter at lunchtimes. So, that’s what we did.
There were a few tables taken, but it was clear that it really was much quieter at lunchtimes. The restaurant is located in a basement, but that gave it a bit more atmosphere and it felt like a traditional Armenian location. Having noted that, it is part of a small chain, but it’s very well reviewed online and clearly popular.
I went for the minced beef tolma (or dolma as they’re also called) and they didn’t look that appealing if I’m being entirely honest. However, they tasted much better and were actually just a little addictive. Soft on the outside, they were juicy and rich in flavour, with the sauce adding a little extra taste. Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that. The beer is Ararat from the Gyumri Brewery which was malty, bready and really quite generic.
Yes, it’s chicken and chips, but it’s also one of the restaurant’s special dishes and this worked beautifully. The chicken was tender and moist, the chips were crisp on the exterior and there was some seasoning to the outside of the chicken. It might not be a complex dish, but it came together together nicely.
I hadn’t had a breakfast, so I had also ordered this vegetarian soup which had a gentle flavour, but nothing outstanding. However, after putting a fair amount of chicken in from my previous dish, I created a really rather lovely chicken soup. I accept that’s not necessarily evidence of huge creativity, but it worked for me.
I really liked this restaurant, although it felt a little over-staffed and so service was perhaps over-attentive, but that’s not a complaint. The environment was clean, the surroundings were comfortable and it felt a genuine experience even though I’m aware it’s not just an individually owned restaurant. I’d certainly come back here again.