Meal #39 – Armenia

We were warned by our Indonesian correspondent Naomi (who is currently frolicking around Europe with our Paris correspondent Lisa) that it was important to book before attempting to dine at Café Armenia. Ignoring her warnings we rocked up last Sunday for an Armenian lunch, only to find the restaurant closed – even though they advertise that they are open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner (it was even written on the door!). So taking no chances this week, we booked online – and for our troubles the booker received a complimentary glass of Armenian red wine…filled to the brim! Nice :)

Café Armenia
179 Booran Rd
Caulfield South
Open 7 days
9.30 – 2.30 for breakfast and lunch
5.30 – 11.30 for dinner

Café Armenia promotes itself as “The only restaurant in Melbourne where you can enjoy Armenian cuisine” and appears to be the hub of the Melbournian Armenian community; it is filled with the sound of families and friends speaking Armenian, and there is a stunning Armenian photo-landscape above a stage where live Armenian music is played on Saturday nights (unfortunately we left before this began). This eatery appears to be the most authentic cultural encounter we’ve experienced yet (including the horrid Armenian fashion sense, with females diners wearing leopard-print stretch tops and red snake-skin boots!)

This week’s amazing assortment of astute Armenian assessors were Rami, Caroline, Paul, Deb, Marty, Sai and Nick.

Entrée:

Beans – Dip with kidney beans, garlic, walnuts
Pickles – Cucumber, cabbage, cornflower, sweet and hot paprika
Eggplant – Eggplants, walnuts & garlic

Mains:

Soups:

Chanakhi – Spicy soup with beef, beans, potatoes and garlic in a special sauce
Solianka – Soup with ham, sausages, olives and lemon

Barbecues:
All served with fried potatoes and fresh vegetable salad

Lamb off the bone
Chicken
Vegetarian – tomato, capsicum, eggplant

Entrée:

Before the meal started we were treated with complementary pita bread and a spicy tomato dip. The pita bread was also used for the bean dip, which had a subtle flavour and a thick consistency. The pickled vegetables were great – the best being the cucumbers and the large, sweet paprika (chillies). The small, hot chillies packed a punch, especially when you were expecting the sweet chillies! The highlight of the entire of meal, however, was the eggplant stuffed with walnut and garlic paste, the three flavours mixing amazingly well.

Mains:

The two soups were well received, with large servings and chunky ingredients making them a great meal within themselves. The spicy chanakhi was considered the better of the two soups sampled.

The barbeque lamb was tender and juicy, with a wonderful taste that only comes with masterfully barbequed meat. The barbeque chicken was also tender and juicy, with a marinade that emphasised its natural flavours. We were disappointed that there were only six pieces served with each dish. However, the meats were served on large, sword-like skewers that made the meal seem far more dangerous and exciting than your usual night out.

Unfortunately the barbequed vegetables were not of the standard of the meat dishes, and were a great disappointment – especially as they were not served with the promised fried potatoes.

Overall:

Café Armenia offers an authentic Armenian experience, demonstrated by the fact that it is aimed at the Armenian community of Melbourne. The food, on the whole, was amazing (especially the entrées) and well priced. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the complimentary pita bread and dip was unexpected, but appreciated (as was the complimentary glass of wine for booking on the internet!). This restaurant offers a unique opportunity to not only taste an uncommon cuisine in Melbourne, but to experience the culture from which it arose.