Lusin, located on Hay Hill in Mayfair, is London’s first Armenian restaurant.
Lusin, a new Armenian restaurant in the heart of London’s Mayfair, offers foods and flavors that can’t be found anywhere else.
Launched in 2011 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Lusin (which means moon in Armenian and is a symbol in Armenian culture) has been a huge success. The United Nations’ Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, was a big admirer.
Conveniently located in the middle of Mayfair, the restaurant serves a cuisine that draws inspiration from a variety of regions, including Armenia, the Levant, and even Eastern Europe. As We read that the meals were selected by Madam Anahid Doniguian, author of the Armenian cookbook “Yepelou Arveste,” and chef Marcel Ravin, we were looking forward to being gastronomically astounded by this traditional manner of cooking. He is the chef and proprietor of Monaco’s acclaimed Blue Bay restaurant, which has earned two Michelin stars.
Armenia is located in Western Asia, in case you were wondering. Located directly to the south of the Caucasus Mountains, this former Soviet Republic has borders with Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Famous people with roots there include the Kardashians and pop star Cher.
Ambience
With 100 seats spread out across two floors, the chic restaurant on Hay Street emanates Armenia. The entrance is framed by three monumental pillars carved with signs and symbols ranging from the “Tree of Life” to the “Eternity” symbol, reminiscent of Armenian Khachkar.
The interior was created by architect Maram Seddiq. The walls are clad with pink, violet, black, and anti-tobacco Armenian Tuff Stone, which is derived from the Armenian Mountains and comes in four different colors. Even though it’s a large restaurant, the dim lighting, soft colors, and hanging tinted spherical mirrors create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The blaring house music seems a little out of place. Background music that was either Armenian or Middle Eastern would have been perfect for this exquisite Armenian style.
Food & Drink
A Lusin salad with smoked-baked aubergine, topped with shredded cheese and a coulis of vegetables and herbs, was the first thing we ordered. The key component is a cheese native to Armenia called tressed cheese. It’s the perfect way to start the meal since it’s light and flavorful. Diced spring vegetables form the foundation of this salad, which is topped with shredded cheese, pesto made from fresh herbs, and a variety of fresh greens.
In the past, the staple of Armenian cuisine was the Lusin Kibbeh, which has now become famous worldwide. It’s made with a variety of meats, bulgur, and nuts, and then flavored with pomegranate molasses and traditional Armenian spices. The meal was quite wonderful.
Someone brought out the cherry kebab. These are skewers of charcoal-grilled kebabs doused with the house specialty cherry sauce. During the summer months of June and July, when they are at their sweetest, farmers in Armenia bring in their crop of sour cherries, which are then cooked to bring out their unique blend of sweet, sour, and salty flavors.
Not eating skewered meat would be wrong, of course. The chicken skewers and lamb chops were both tender and juicy, and they were served hot, fragrant, and generously seasoned with herbs, all of which we quite appreciated.
We had a pomegranate eclair, which was creamy with a surprising tart aftertaste.
We made a mental note to try the lavash-baked seabass with sun-dried tomato and the saffron Scottish mussel ragout the next time we visit.
A wide variety of alcoholic beverages are available, such as cocktails and Armenian wines, but we stuck to Charles Heidsieck champagne all evening to celebrate the novel and tasty dishes we had the pleasure of tasting.
More info: Lusin, Mayfair
Conclusion:
According to Lusin, their goal is “to convey a feeling of beauty with this food, via an inspired rich ambiance, bringing the visitors on a trip honoring ancient traditions and introducing new flavors.” Are they successful in doing so? We’re there, nearly. It would be beneficial for the Kardashians to visit.
