Almayass

Almayass Restaurant Review:

Almayass is the first North American outpost of a small Armenian-Lebanese family-run restaurant chain that began in Beirut and then dotted throughout the Middle East. The menu is mostly Lebanese with a few Armenian-accented dishes thrown into the mix. There are a small handful of entrées --- the tender lamb chops are a hit --- but one can dine on the mezze, or small plates, alone. Creamy, citrus-loaded hummus and pomegranate-sautéed chicken liver are both worth a try for first-timers. So is the mantee, small oven-baked ravioli-like morsels filled with ground beef and topped with a garlicky yogurt sauce. The wine list, which includes some very good Lebanese bottles, can be pricey, and house cocktails (the rosewater martini is lovely) are potent.