The Informed Drinker: In the Beginning, There Was Rum
![SXSW Announces a Couple Hundred More Showcasing Bands for 2010 [Lots of Austin Bands in the Mix]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/11/sxsw2010-music-thumb-110x110-460952.jpg)
SXSW Announces a Couple Hundred More Showcasing Bands for 2010 [Lots of Austin Bands in the Mix]
Why We Don't Like You: Texas A&M Aggies
![Preview: Legs Against Arms EP Release [Club de Ville / Saturday]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/11/deville_28nov2009_250-thumb-110x110-460659.jpg)
Preview: Legs Against Arms EP Release [Club de Ville / Saturday]
![Weekend Music Preview: Woven Bones Tour Kick-Off [Beerland / Friday]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/11/beerland_27nov2009_250-thumb-110x110-460924.jpg)
Weekend Music Preview: Woven Bones Tour Kick-Off [Beerland / Friday]
For anyone in love with Mideast cuisine, your list just got one restaurant shorter. Owners of Ararat restaurant announced today that their last night of business will be this Saturday, March 24.
No word on why they’re closing, but they’ll be going out with a bang, though, with a party in the backyard from 5pm-6am, complete with the Ararat Belly Dancers, live auction, Mideast food and beverages, live music by the Righteous Tidings, spoken word artists, drag kings, Turkish Coffee and Tarot readings, mystic fire performances and more. If that weren’t enough, it all wraps up with an after-hours dance party.
The party is $2 per person with dinner reservations, or swing by and throw down $10 for what sounds like a hell of a fun goodbye. (Bring your own beer or wine.)
Ararat Restaurant Farewell Party
Saturday, March 24, 5pm-6am
111 E N Loop
photo by uyinarmenia on flickr
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Hopefully the fire marshals will allow more than 49 people there ;)
Sad to see this place go...although their cork-fees were a little exorbitant.
Where's Louis Black? Does anyone know anyone on the SXSW staff? I'm sure this is on their list too right? Probably selling to make space for condos or a Wal-Mart. I think they're closing because they were shut down for having no permits to operate in the first place. They are claiming they didn't know you had to have a permit to sell booze and run a restaraunt. Damn city red tape.
They're shutting down because they've been managed poorly for a number of years.
A google search on the name "Ararat" will bring up numerous examples of bad reviews, primarily for their service staff and management's bad attitude toward their clientele.
I'm not at all surprised to hear they're closing - and it is quite sad, as they used to be a great place to take a date.
I agree with BD, the management was fairly poor. Nothing like feeling like you were intruding to pay someone else for dinner.
I couldn't even make a reservation there. I tried for weeks last year to get through and even when the place was open, no one ever answered.
I left about a half dozen messages asking for someone to call me back, because it was a slightly larger than normal group.
No luck.
I haven't been back in years and I can't say I miss it.
Hashish and running a restaurant don't mix.
I always found the question, "Do you have a reservation?" comical the handful of times I ate there. Do I really need a reservation on a Tuesday night at 9PM when there are only two other tables being occupied?!
Gotta agree with the other posts, service was a big problem. I will miss the spicy lamb though.
Out of curiosity, is that a picture of persepolis in Iran?
Ararat had an amazing vegetarian platter. I'm hoping those recipes aren't lost to us forever.
Boo freakin' hoo! No matter how tasty the food, the staff at this dump turned every dining experience into a mediocre one.
Aaron said it all: "Nothing like feeling like you were intruding to pay someone else for dinner."
Good riddance.
1. The staff was indeed terrible at this place.
2. The Mansaf was grand.
3. A fine place to drink wine and relax.
4. Someone please post a map of ancient Persia.
I'll miss it. The food was great. But that building could collapse at any given moment.
when a place supposedly authentic makes hummus that tastes like mustard, can you really feel sorry for them that they are running out of business? on top of their shoddy treatment of customers by staff and management? sorry. no tears shed here.
I liked their food a lot and I didn't have a problem with the attitude of the service people, but Ararat did seem like they were violating some health codes and their hippies-on-meth wait staff was kinda creepy. Meh. I'll miss their kabobs.