A round khachapuri, cut into wedges with cheese spilling from the middle, is a persuasive reason to gather a few people for dinner. At Ararat, follow it with a mixed grill and begin the meal with basturma and grape-leaf tolma. That is already a table with plenty to pass around.
The restaurant is in Sunny Isles Beach, north of Miami Beach, at 18090 Collins Avenue. Its Armenian menu gives you a choice between cured meat, filled leaves, baked cheese bread and meat cooked over an open flame. Order across those preparations and the meal has variety before anyone starts debating individual mains.
Begin with the cheese pie
A khachapuri for the middle of the table
Choose the Signature Khachapuri Cheese Pie for a round, enclosed pie with a mixed-cheese filling. The browned top is cut into triangles; lift a wedge and the filling sits between two layers of dough.
Ararat also serves an Ajarian version, the boat-shaped style with an egg. For this order, stick with the round cheese pie. Its wedges are convenient to divide while the starters are being passed around.
Put the khachapuri within everyone’s reach and order it alongside the smaller plates. There is no need to turn the first course into a long procession before getting to the grill.
Two starters, different jobs
Basturma, lavash and grape-leaf tolma
Basturma is the cured-beef order: thin slices of spice-coated meat, served with lavash. Fold some into the flatbread and keep the rest of the board available for the table. It is a useful first choice when you want something to accompany a drink before the hot dishes arrive.
The Grape Leaf Tolma takes another direction. Its filling brings together ground beef, rice, onion and herbs, with garlic yogurt alongside. The small wrapped leaves are easy to portion between diners; put a little sauce on your own plate and take them one at a time.
If the khachapuri is already on the order, these two starters are enough of an introduction. Save the remaining appetite for the platter.
The main event
Let the mixed grill set the order
The kitchen’s focus on open-fire cooking makes the Mixed Grill Meat Platter the natural centerpiece. The menu combines lula kebabs with shish kebab and lamb chops, so it offers more range than choosing one cut for everyone.
Spread the order across the table with the flatbread and accompaniments. Grilled peppers, onions and rounds of potato make the platter feel like a meal you can build on your own plate, choosing a little of each component.
A beer is an easy accompaniment. The wine list also offers an opportunity to try an Armenian wine; choose a bottle with the table rather than ordering another food course simply to extend the meal.
Make it a Sunny Isles dinner
Keep Ararat for an evening when sharing is part of the plan. Start with the basturma and tolma, divide the khachapuri, and let the mixed grill anchor dinner. Check the menu before heading to Collins Avenue, particularly if a specific cut is the reason for your visit.
For another meal built around grilled meat and shared plates, save Mandolin Aegean Bistro too. Add Ararat to Plateback with your preferred starters and a photo of the platter, so the next group order is already taking shape.
