Armenian Taverna

What an absolute treat this is ! The venue was authentic, inexpensive and very traditional. Perhaps the best undiscovered restaurant in Manchester. The service was flawless, the food was exquisite and it had some classic Armenian folk music in the background to accompany the dining experience. The best part was definitely the Moldovan wine recommended by the waiter ! Delightful evening was had by all !

By far my favourite restaurant in Manchester. It is a hidden Aladdins cave, rested away from the hustle and bustle outside. The interior is rustic and looks straight out of Goodfellas. I believe it is family run and this adds to its charm. Getting a table has never been a massive hassle which is nice for anyone who doesn’t like to make plans (for example myself). The food is exquisite and changes subtly every time which you can’t say for your everyday chain restaurants. My favourite dish is their Armenian ghoulish. It is a beautiful dish but also wholesome and comforting, the meat has never been anything less than mouthwatering and tender. The manager is warm and welcoming and the staff are friendly too.

This little gem is quite well hidden but we had a truly fabulous meal there. The bacon wrapped prawns were sumptuous and my chicken dish (sorry I can’t remember it’s name, two words both beginning with k) was unsurpassable. I thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

I’d wanted to come here for a while as I’d only heard good things! The exterior gives you no suggestion as to what to expect; when we came down the stairs we were pleasantly surprised by the warm, intimate feel to the place. The food was delicious and arrived promptly. The food is great to share; we had meatballs and aubergine dip for starters and I had the Armenian Goulash for the main course which was delicious. The portion sizes were really generous, I couldn’t finish mine! This was topped of by great service, the waitresses were very attentive and friendly. This place is a real gem if you are looking for something intimate.

Amazing food, fantastic location, hidden away from the crowds, you will forget you are in Manchester. The goulash is to die for. Give it a try next time you are Albert Square.

I was meant to come here last Valentine’s day… but didn’t happen :(so I was glad I had the opportunity to come here last night.
Walking through the disappointing Xmas markets I was a bit nippy and hungry… when I saw the sign for this place so l thought why not?
Going downstairs led to a beautifully warm environment, the walls are painted in a beautiful warm red with Armenian motif. the waiter led us to a table adorned with candle light .
The waitress was really approachable and friendly… who informed us the card machine was not working, luckily I had cash on me for a change.
For a starter we ordered these things that resembled a samiosa… but when I cut into it it tasted fresh and balance of cheese and spinach was good.
For my main I ordered this veggie dish for a change… it was a type of dolmas filled with chick peas and kidney beans which were beautifully seasoned and the whole dish was full of flavour. It doesn’t look as great in the photo as it tasted.
My colleague ordered the lamb kebab which liked really good too despite its meatiness.
The whole meal came to an end with segments of orange. I admit the portions were just so, and I could have easily polished off a dessert.
Overall, a lovely cosey place that had food filled with flavour down to the last lettuce leaf. they offer Russian and Ukraine beer here too at £4.50 a pop but it’s good.
Customer service was fantastic, and portions were just enough without feeling over stuffed… I will come back :)

We came to the Armenian Taverna having heard good things about this hidden gem off Albert Square and I have to say that it was exactly what I was looking for — it really did live up to it’s reputation!
Ok so it was a fairly quiet Thursday night and our table of 10 was stuck down in the back but it still had a quaint and cosy feel to it. Put it this way, I reckon I could take my 93 year old grandma out here (she still enjoys a good meal out and a few glasses of wine) and she’d have a great time with all the waiters fussing around her and the warmth and friendliness of the owner. Don’t worry — it;s not just for old people — it’s traditional and authentic feel will appeal to most people.
I thought the food was fantastic — I’m not sure the names in Armenian as I basically was enjoying the conversation and as usual went for a recommendation but the vege meze selection to start followed by the pork kebabs with all sorts of vege sides and breads really hit the spot. When it comes to the food I had I’d struggle to identify it in a blind tasting against Turkish, Greek, Lebanese etc but that’s not such a bad thing and maybe I need to go more adventurous next time and try some real Armenian delicacies.
The only thing letting them down was their beer selection. No Armenian beer (come on — even the Ethopian restaurant down the road stocks Ethiopian and Eritrean beers) but I was tempted by the Ukrainian one — OH… you’re out of that… Leaving just Efes or Peroni — OH, dear…
Great atmosphere, great venue, great food — just need to get that beer selection sorted to make it more authentic.

I have walked passed this restaurant many times without realising it was here. Its a small entrance between a clothes shop and a bank and not that were advertised/​sign posted. The restaurant is downstairs and much bigger than I expected.
We were showed our table, which was kind of towards the back of the restaurant and near the toilets. There were loads of other tables we could have sat and it wasn’t as if they got lots of other customers booking in while we were there. Anyway…
I had never had Armenian food before but after reading the menu and reviews, I got an idea of what it would be. Nothing was massively different or unusual.
For starter, we all shared a ordered a couple sharing platters — a vegetarian one and a meat one. They looked very similar to one another really and this was confirmed after looking at the menu. Overall, it was pretty good.
We also got something called a Kagambov dolma. (Cabbage leaves filled with minced beef meat, rice, onion and herbs, delicately spiced). I really liked this and would recommend it.
For main, I had the Chef’s Mixed Khorovac (charcoal grilled lamb chops, chicken, pork, Lulu (minced lamb) served with rice and vegetables) — basically grilled meats with some veg and rice. It tasted nice — nothing amazing but still good. None of the meats was dry and overall tasty. For about £14, I think it maybe a bit on the expensive side for what it is,
The choice of beer was a bit limited. It was Efes or Peroni. They have a Ukrrainian beer but it was out of stock. Would have been nice to try but not their fault.
The service was a bit patchy — possibly down to the reason we were kind of on the other end of the restaurant when they waiters were at other side. One of us had to go up and actually get there attention and take our order.

I actually ate at this restaurant on the very first day I moved to Manchester back in November, so it has some fond memories. This was in my pre-​Yelp days and I never got round to reviewing it after being converted to the Unilocaling ways.
So obviously another visit was in order. I was the first to arrive, unfashionably early. The staff were friendly and welcoming, giving me an option of where to wait and offering drinks and such.
I was disappointed that they had ran out of the local beer (which I think they actually said was Ukrainian) so settled for Efes, which was fine, nothing new.
Service got patchier from here on in. It took ages for our order to be taken. Between the group we got two sharing platters, and I had a Madznov kebab.
Everything on the platter was delicious, even if I don’t really know what any of it was. Mopped up with as much bread as I could get my hands on, this was great.
I really enjoyed my main, especially the combination of lamb kebab/​tangy salad/​pitta in one mouthful. I was excited about the addition of a fried egg but the execution of this wasn’t great — a rubbery egg with a yolk fried so hard it had gone chalky, covered oddly in yoghurt. I could have done without it. The rice was tasty but I find rice a bit of a chore in general so left quite a lot.
Food was affordable. Not quite as cheap as some reviews would have you believe but fairly cheap for a decent amount of tasty food.

Having just got back from 10 days in Georgia, where the food was incredible, I was excited to sample the cuisine from its neighbour Armenia, which I had read had more of a Middle Eastern influence. That is certainly true with a lot of barbecued meats (kebabs) and starters like baba ghanouj. I wasn’t particularly paying attention to what I was eating off the mezze platter, but it was all pretty nice. My main I didn’t enjoy so much, I felt like the components (meat, egg, garlic) didn’t blend together as deliciously as I imagined, it just all felt a bit heavy. However my appetite might have been affected by (a) 10 days of eating cheese bread in Georgia (b) my lunchtime panini © aforesaid sharing platter. Others seemed to enjoy their mains, especially the BBQ selection.
Service was a bit gloomy, I thought, we weren’t made to feel very welcome.
A great shame there aren’t more regional drinks on the menu — maybe some delicious Georgian wine? Forgot to sample the Armenian cognac which was a major error, will have to go back!

«Excuse me, do you know someone called Barouyr Der Haroutounian?» I wasn’t even ashamed to ask the question and the answer was irrelevant. (It was a private joke and I was already texting two of my childhood friends, who both instant replied with glee and customary LOLs)
It’d taken me 20 years to venture into this place having first heard about it from a school friend with the aforementioned name. So discreet is the entrance to this place you’d be forgiven for walking straight past it as I nearly did.
Having planned to attend the Making Waves event at Trof (
) this event was a welcoming addition to proceedings.
Despite arriving late (something that never happens!) I discovered to my delight that the sharing platter starters hadn’t yet arrived. Score! The manager, attentively spotting me as the newcomer promptly handed me the menu as everyone had already ordered their mains. What would you like to order? A menu book that has a menu for a start please was my retort as I handed back an empty book.
A comedy value start to the evening and we were off. Before we get to the food it’s important to mention that despite the 3 stars, the décor would get 5 stars from me. Entering the basement one is instantly transported into a time warp. We discovered that the décor hasn’t been changed in over 25 years. Yep, I’d say! Film makers take note if you want to shoot a scene for a film set in the 60’s. Having said that, it does have an indelible charm to it. (If the magna carta-​esque paintings on the walls are your cup of tea)
The sharing platter was plentiful and the Madznov kebab was delicious, however my first ever Aremenian foodie experience left me feeling a smidgen underwhelmed. Aside from the obvious difference in terms of dish names, it felt very much like overpriced Arabic food. The kebabs were marinated well but lacked the depth in texture that you get from the Persian/​Afghan/​Lebanese/​Indian variety. It was like tasting a Kobeda’s distant cousin. It looks the same but isn’t. A stunt double if you will.
Ironically the best part of the main was the salad that came with it. The zesty seasoning was sensational and that’s no exaggeration. I duly went about the task of blanketing the meaty Kobeda wannabe with copious amounts of it. Granted after which, it did taste rather good.
Although the main was served on pitta bread with a side of boiled rice, the sharing platter came with what can only be described as another distant shy cousin of my trusted old friend, the naan bread. I can almost hear foodies (used to dining in places like East z East) saying something along the lines of «THAT’s not a naan bread, THIS is a naan bread» *Crocodile dundee voice* I guess once you’ve tasted the tandoori naan breads of the East there’s no going back. The sharing platter also played host to an array of different sauces and mezzes all of which I’m sure had various cool names. But in reality nothing stood out worthy of an honourable mention beyond what I’ve already tried at places like Petra and Beirut.
In conclusion if you’re looking for somewhere with a vibe that’s the polar opposite of your run of the mill Post-​modernistic city centre restaurant, give this a whirl. In fact, if Middle-​Eastern food is something you haven’t had the pleasure of delving into, you may even love it, and that’s ok. The staff are attentive and friendly and it’s certainly one to tick off on your foodie world adventures.
If however, like me you’ve tried off the radar cuisines like Afghan et al, it’ll probably be a bit bland for your taste buds. Which is not to say you can’t check it out for it’s décor and homely atmosphere. Areminain Taverna may have only got 3 stars from me, but gets a huge thumbs up for it’s uniqueness and warmth.

Pleasantly surprised with how good the food is. The place is secluded in between Virgin Money and a clothing store making this a hidden gem. The food is on the pricey side but it is well worth it of you’ve got a gourmet soviet card.

I had read about this place a lot and had wanted to try it so when my friend and I couldn’t decide on where to eat one Friday night we decided to try it. Located down in an underground lair and decorated like my grandma’s house, the restaurant was practically empty. The staff were friendly although not particularly efficient (the father/​son owners spent a lot of time reading the newspaper or eating their dinner while a poor girl ran around doing everything.)
My friend and I ordered the vegetarian mezzeh and a goulash to share and we were overwhelmed by the amount of food we were served. All of it was very tasty — amazingly tender lamb in the goulash and wonderful hummous, cheese and aubergine dip on the mezzeh. It was a feast and a half and we were both completely stuffed by the end of it. The big downfall was finding a large piece of plastic in the tabbouleh but they replaced this and gave us extra bread. Not that we needed it.
We shared a carafe of house white which was fairly average but cheap and we were given cherry flavoured digestives at the end of our meal. Overall it was an enjoyable evening and well priced for the amount of food we were given.

My friends and I visited the Armenian Taverna early on Saturday evening, following the recommendation of a colleague. The restaurant is opposite the town hall and at 6:30 (we were very hungry!) on a Saturday it was packed — always a good sign.
We ordered a mixture of meat and veggie things and it was all yummy. A special mention goes to my friend’s Armenian Goulash which according to the carnivores was delicious. My veggie mezze was yummy with traditional Turkish/​southern European/​Middle Eastern hummus, bureck and aubergine yumminess, there was also some yummy additional lentils.

A classic ethnic restaurant. Dine on delectable food from Armenia (similar to Greek, Turkish, or Middle Eastern), surrounded by memorabilia from there and from the business’ 45-​year history, all with attentive service and reasonable prices. We eat here almost every time we’re in Manchester.
Come hungry, because you’ll eat a lot! Sample a little bit of everything on the mezze platters. Everything seems to be good, but I suggest you try the Armenian goulash for an entrée.

I’ve been here twice now and would really recommend it. The décor hasn’t changed since it opened in 1968 and for me that’s part of the charm, but if you like a slick, modern experience you’re probably better off elsewhere! The food is great, though the vegetarian mezze is excellent and makes a good shared starter or a main for one, and the fish I had on my most recent visit was superb perfectly cooked with delicious sides of salad and rice. The prices are moderate. As it’s underground it’s probably a better option for the evening, but could be good on a rainy day too. It’s very quiet and really good for a convivial meal out with friends if you want to catch up properly. It wasn’t really busy on either visit, but the service was good.

I’m a sucker for Middle Eastern food and this is one of my favourites! Hidden away in a basement near the Town Hall, the Armenian Taverna has been providing tasty hummous, mezze, kebabs and more for over 25 years. Unfortunately, the décor doesn’t seem to have been updated since then, but that just adds to its charm.
I went here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary a few months ago. We booked a table in the early evening on a weeknight, so we had the whole place to ourselves! Still, I hear it gets pretty busy on the weekends. When we went, the service was great and the vegetarian banquet we ordered was delicious. Be warned though, there’s a huge amount of food!

Armenian Taverna is one of those tiny little treasure troves of a restaurant that is barely visible from the street. You really have to be told about this place otherwise you could quite easily pass it by.
Being a neighbouring country to Turkey and Iran, expect a lot of the cuisine to mimic Eastern European dishes such as Baba Ganouge and Ful (with slight differences to the spelling and presentation). The Mezze is great but there’s also national favourites such as Armenian Goulash or King Prawns which I highly recommend. I also tried the Cous Cous Bidawi, a taverna specialty using seasonal vegetables and their special Kosko grains. The décor too is rustic and intimate and has changed little over the years, adding to the overall authenticity of the experience.
The dishes are large here so beware, you might not save room for their wonderful Paklava desserts, but you can always buy a few to take away with you!

The Armenian survives for romance because it is interesting and novel.
Also recommended if you want to eat lunch or dinner quietly alone. The lighting is subdued and customers are not on display.
A good place for a social, business lunch, romantic or casual dinner. Very welcoming without complication.
A relaxing Manchester oasis (yes, I did say that) from urban noise.
Wonderful tastes and flavours from the many dishes.
Check the website menu and latest reviews.
We enjoyed a generous range of mezze (h) treats.
You will always need more of the wonderful bread.
With a long history Armenian T offers excellent value in M/​c centre.
The setting is discreetly signed. It is in the basement of a former celebrated Victorian building. It is just into Albert Square close to the Cross Street/​John Dalton Street junction and should be prized. You suffer no traffic noise when you eat.
Local Manchester residents and many famous guests have eaten this wonderful food in here and other Armenian food premises for years.
It still retains an impressive record of framed photos on the walls.
Variety, film, theatre, singing performers and local popular games’ players visited.
In addition, it has clean loos (always a main indicator)!
With low-​level intimate lighting in the taverna dining and bar area, there is an enjoyable personal atmosphere for discerning people. Live music sometimes.
The restaurant retains character wall paintings and artefacts.
Highly recommended for its national mix of Eastern European, Turkish, Mediterranean, Iranian and other influences. Armenia is a landlocked country which produces wine too.
Happy memories of a recent and former experiences of some of the best meals in the city.

A nice little place but not quite the experience I was expecting. The menu is reasonably sized for choice and reasonably priced, although I feel could be a bit cheaper for what you get. Very meat heavy dishes and mainly kebabs — quite tasty though and oh so filling. The bread was awesome, went great with the houmous and other dips — be careful not to fill up too much on this before your main as it’s easily done. The setting is quite outdated but cosy, some of the paintings look slightly creepy though!
Not bad, could be better I feel.