Cafe Ararat
By Nathan Toohey
Cafe Ararat, in the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow hotel, is, if not literally, then at least symbolically the direct descendant of the legendary eponymous cafe. Its famous forebear was a much-loved fixture for many decades, frequented by diplomats, dignitaries and performers from the neighboring theaters.
The original closed in the 1980s but was reborn when the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow opened at the same spot in 2002. On the first floor of the upmarket hotel, the cafe aims to recreate the feel of the original, with murals depicting landmarks such as Mount Ararat and Lake Sevan. And in striving to recreate authentic flavors, the restaurant flies in its fruits and vegetables twice weekly from Armenia.
In honor of the upcoming Armenian Independence Day on Sept. 21, Cafe Ararat is offering a special menu from Sept. 14 to 23. Chef Narek Avagyan has created a selection of traditional dishes that are to be served "family style" -- in the center of the table to be shared by all.
The menu features four set selections, each with four dishes: vegetables and herbs, Armenian cheese, meats, and fish.
The vege and herbs selection (1,630 rubles) includes tomato and cucumber tartar; tabouleh with grilled capsicum salad; roast vegetable soup with gumbo pickles; and baked eggplant stuffed with tchichak pepper, herbs and tomato chutney.
The cheese selection (1,840 rubles) includes deep-fried suluguni cromesqui with yellow pepper dip and red tkemali sauce; goat cheese cream with lavash and walnuts; lori cheese soup with coriander leaves; and chechil puff pastry boeregs.
The meat selection (2,350 rubles) lists marinated beef salad with bulgur and olive oil; pan-fried chicken with tomato cheese sauce and okra; veal loin basturma in phillo pastry; and grilled pork chops, Armenian vegetables and roasted tchichak.
The fish selection (2,580 rubles) offers sturgeon salad with marinated chickpeas and pickles; kamrakhait in grape-leaf dolma with matzun; pan-fried belchlu with pomegranate sauce and steamed potato; and salmon tartar with khapama stew.
4 Neglinnaya Ul., 783-1234, noon-midnight, M. Teatralnaya