Tavern Yerevan (Teryan Street)

Tavern Yerevan on Teryan Street is the branch at 91 Teryan Street of a four-venue chain that sets out to revive old Armenian recipes in a traditional tavern setting. The Teryan branch is in the Kentron district of Yerevan, and the other branches are at 5 Amiryan Street, 7 Paronyan Street and 29 Movses Khorenatsi Street, which gives the group a presence across the central city. The cuisine blends Armenian and wider Caucasian cooking, and the menu reads as a tour of the region's comfort food. Well-known orders include eggplant rolls, a cold starter of fried eggplant wrapped around a walnut or garlic filling; shashlyk, skewered meat grilled over fire; and Adjarian-style khachapuri, the boat-shaped Georgian cheese bread topped with egg, which reflects the Caucasian side of the kitchen. As with most Armenian taverns, tables are set for sharing, and a meal usually starts with several cold plates, moves on to grilled meat, and finishes with tea or coffee and sweets. The dining rooms follow the tavern theme with rustic decoration, wooden furniture and folk touches, and the atmosphere is convivial and often noisy when groups fill the tables. Dress is casual. The restaurant is open every day from 9:30 AM until midnight, so it works for a late breakfast, a long lunch or an evening meal. Armenian wine, local brandy and beer are the usual drinks. Prices are in the middle band, shown as two dollar signs, which suits families and groups. Individual diners and couples can often walk in, but groups are advised to phone ahead on +374 10 508800, particularly for evenings and weekends. Because the chain has four branches, visitors should confirm that they are heading to the Teryan Street address, since the venues share a name and menu style. The central location also makes it easy to combine a meal with a walk through the nearby streets of Kentron.