The Wake

I would have a hell of a time trying to find Armenia on a map. Chances are it’s near Turkey, but the whole Eurasian area is a mystery to me. The important thing is that there is a restaurant repping the region right here in Dinkytown.

Arax Armenian Cuisine (a poorly-chosen name if I’d say so myself; it evokes images of a chemical scare) is the newest addition to the pantheon of ethnic eateries that call our campus home. Located in the Dinkydome, Arax is in good company, with Little Taj Mahal Indian food right next door.

Arax operates a lot like a street vendor cart – there are a limited number of dishes, all of which are cheap, and the service is rapid-fire. The ambiance of the dining process is wholly excusable, seeing that the restaurant is nothing more than a food court counter. But the process is also commendable, because the staff is all personable and generous. A complaint I do have, however, is that the restaurant’s hours seem inconsistent and limited, as seemingly every time I’m in the Dome the stand’s gates are pulled shut.

With that said, the food is all right. Arax isn’t breaking new ground with their entrees, which are mainly chicken, beef and pork plate dishes which all include the following: meat, rice (a pilaf-esque seasoned side), salad with feta cheese, and a couple slices of pita bread. A highlight to the dishes is definitely the Tzatziki sauce (like Gyro sauce), which can be added to taste.

One may expect the culinary offerings from a country so foreign to be intimidating and overly adventurous. Armenian food, however, is quite tame in relation to other ethnic genres like Indian or Japanese. The meats are grilled and seasoned conservatively, but well, and the sides are relatively standard to Mediterranean and Eastern European dishes.

I would recommend Arax to someone who is just getting into adventure dining and is looking to expand his horizons. For $6 hearty portions and quick service, you can’t really go wrong here.

Overall: 6/10