Cafe Ararat
Russia
Café Ararat brings Armenian cooking to the ground floor of Ararat Park Hotel in central Moscow. Chef Narek Avagyan draws on recipes inherited through his family, with ingredients sourced directly from Armenia giving the restaurant a specific culinary foundation. The menu ranges widely across that repertoire. Herb and cheese pies, veal dolma, grain dishes and soups sit alongside fish and meats from the chargrill. The variety makes it possible to build a meal around vegetables, breads and smaller dishes as readily as a substantial grilled main course. Traditional dairy products, mountain herbs and Armenian grains recur across the menu, providing a thread between dishes. These details offer a more revealing introduction than simply describing the food as regional. The hotel's position near the Bolshoi Theatre makes Café Ararat a convenient addition to a cultural visit. Its distinctive attraction is the depth of the Armenian menu, allowing guests to explore a cuisine with its own ingredients and family traditions within the centre of Moscow.