Like eating grandmas . I come solely for chebureki and I am never disappointed. Go to the deli for sweets and other treats on the way home. Daughter loves borscht. Kid friendly and not upscale just a good hearty meal read more

Tired of the same dull, old menu selections? I was. That's why when given the option to select the restaurant for my Birthday dinner I chose Ararat. Tucked unassumingly in a shopping mall in Mundelein, Ararat is a tiny hidden gem. With only about an 8 table dining room, it is a cozy, intimate venue, with a huge and amazing menu, featuring Armenian cuisine. A party of 4, we ordered drinks, 3 appetizers, and an entree for each of us. The portions were generous, delicious, and we probably over-ordered by at least one appetizer, but we wanted to sample and share as many dishes as possible. We began with glasses of tasty Armenian apricot wine. Our appetizers came out in sequence rather than all at once, starting with Italian Lady's Fingers. A mixed salad of cooked bell peppers, nuts, onion and prunes. Very good. Next we were served Khorovats, Armenian style grilled eggplant . Also an excellent dish. Last was beef and lamb dumplings, Khinkili. One of these large, juicy dumplings could have been almost half a meal by itself. I've tried khinkili in a number of restaurants, and these were the best I've eaten. Our entrees were Steak Kebab, Lamb Kebab, Lamb Rice Pilaf, and Frikasse, a chicken, mushroom, vegetable in sour cream sauce dish. All were very good, and were were saddened that we were all too full to try any of their baked goods desserts. The meal was excellent, the small dining room comfy and the service very good. One word of caution: If you plan to dine here you must be patient. Dishes were served as they were prepared, and apparantly little if anything is prepared in advance. The advantage is hot, fresh, and tasty dishes. The disadvantage is that there was a 10 minute delay between service of the 1st and 4th entree. We were in no hurry, so we did not mind. Also we were sharing our selection. For a casual, relaxed, delicious dining adventure I highly recommend Ararat. read more

See all

I was looking for vegetarian foods and found this place nearby. The khorovats and lobio caught my eyes. Called in to order, and took them a bit to pick up but the staff still seemed nice. When my husband went to pick up, there's no one at the restaurant and he shouted around but still no one showed up so he went to the backside to see if anybody was there. Eventually someone talked to him and asked if he was picking up food from yesterday because apparently someone called for the same orders but never picked up. Anyhow, my husband didn't get a good impression at all. The foods were in clear takeout containers. The Khorovats was kind of frozen, so I think it's not freshly made. But the Lobio was still a little warm so I think at least one of the two was freshly made. I microwaved the Khorovats, and they were both very tasty despite one not being freshly made. Khorovats have a darker flavor like roasted hummus or Baba ghanoush. The Lobio flavor is sweet and flavorful and creamy, really nice combo with Khorovats, the kidney beans were firmer than my liking but worked well with all the others. I think this is definitely one of those family-owned places who probably doesn't really care about pleasing customers the same western way and probably also care a lot about food waste. They have their dedicated clientele that would come back, so they don't really care about new customers. I don't mind it, but I can see how that can rub a lot of people the wrong way. read more

See all

This restaurant was next door to the Korean restaurant in my prior review. It features Armenian cuisine with a few dishes from the region in and around Russia. I counted 8 4-top tables with 4 more out on the patio. I was greeted by another diner who was friends with the owners that were in the kitchen cooking. One of the owners came out and gave me a menu and answered my questions. I told her I wanted a traditional and cultural experience. She told asked me what proteins I like. I chose lamb. So my order consisted of lamb kebab with Armenian style fried potatoes (based on their seasoning and garnish), as well as an Armenian grilled eggplant appetizer called Khorovats that is served chilled and an order of Georgian dumplings because I've never seen them on any menu before, so heck yeah I want to try them! The lamb was tender and nicely seasoned, the Khorovats was mostly one soft texture, but so savory, and some of the ingredients added life to the dish's presentation! The Georgian dumplings were amazing! The dough was perfect, IMO, because it wasn't too dense and it wasn't dry. The dumplings were filled with seasoned ground beef and garlic. This was one of the most memorable, beautiful, and delicious experiences I've ever had! I loved every moment, and I hope I get the chance to go back again soon! This is another restaurant worth going out of your way to visit! read more

See all

We just love Ararat! It has Georgian / Armenian cuisine. We had the kebabs today. Lamb and Chicken. The side salads are wonderful. Lovely atmosphere, you feel like you're someplace a bit exotic. The owner treats you like family. I don't know her name, but she's a gem. Very helpful ordering. Can't wait to go back. read more

Totally impressed by everything we ordered, which was unique, filling, and so flavorful! The combo appetizer plate was a hefty assortment of delicious garlicky and spicy dips with homemade bread, the lamb kabobs were amazingly juicy and well-seasoned, and the Chakhohbili (a tomato-based Georgian chicken stew) was unlike anything I've ever tried (and served in the most adorable miniature cast iron pan.) My absolute favorite dish was the sizable Mengrelian Khachapuri, a salty delicious flavor bomb of two different cheeses baked into flaky dough. My only regret is that we were too full for dessert :) Our server was very friendly and great about explaining things on the menu that we weren't as familiar with, and the old-fashioned china dinner plates gave it all a home-cooked feel. Great ambiance and even better food! read more

The food is made to order and is delicious. The owner made recommendations and explained the dishes. The eggplant rolls are amazing and so are the crepes and small dumplings. Wish I lived locally so I could try more! read more

Let me start by saying that the couple running this restaurant are very nice. Despite with other reviewers said these are Russian people they are not the cuddly. Let me give you a hug kind of people. These are honest, hard-working people that serve delicious Armenian and Russian food. Prices are fair, considering everything is made fresh order and with excellent ingredients. My son speaks Russian, and it may have afforded us a better dining experience, who knows. It is very far for us to travel over an hour, but we will definitely be back. The place is known for the kebabs. They absolutely have the finest kebabs you want. I also had the Palini they were by far the best Palini I've ever had in my life and I've had them all over. There are Romanian soup was to die, for they were kind enough to split my portion into two so my son could try it as well. Both bowls were empty. Dessert. We tried to the honey cake and the drunk cherry cake. We also took two desserts to go. Everything was homemade and delicious. If you're looking for homemade taste an old Armenian and Russian cuisine, you have to try the spot. Everything is authentic and made to order so it's gonna take a while. This is not a quick spot to grab a bite. This is an experience. Have a little patience with the owner. She is very nice , if you're nice. I cannot recommend this place any higher if you want to try Armenian or Russian food. As a bonus next-door is a European/Russian store that had quite a few Russian items in it . Full service deli bakery everything definitely worth a stop. read more

This place has really good authentic Mediterranean food. Everything was made fresh to order. With that being said the food does take some time to come out. I walked in and waited about 10-15 mins before someone came out to take my order. I was the only person inside but could hear people talking in the back. When the waitress did come out and took my order is was about another 35 mins before my food came out. The meat was very tender and had great flavor. The chebureki was amazing. I got mine with chicken and it was mixed with cheese, mushroom, cabbage and potatoes. Again this was made to order and was very hot (temp) and fresh. I'll be stopping back here again on my next trip. read more

See all

Another one in this little strip that I've seen for years and finally decided to try. Glad I did, but it was an interesting yet enjoyable lunch experience to say the least. Lets just say that the food we ordered was probably pretty good, but I can say that the food we were served was really great! They need some work on timing to deliver a better meal experience though. Super nice people. read more

If I could give no star, I would. We ordered Lamb Kebob and Chicken Kiev to go. Waitress was absolutely rude from the beginning. She gave us our food and a bag without even bothering to make it "to go" ready. Looking at the check, the price did not seem right to me as it wasn't as advertised online. The owner and waitress kept arguing online info was pre-Covid pricing. I understood that may be the case, but all the menu's on the table indicated otherwise. Upon inspecting the receipt again (photo attached), found that it was a misunderstanding. They rang up Shrimp Kebob instead of Chicken Kiev. We were refunded appropriately while the waitress took all the menus off the table. Came home to eat our order, only to find out the Lamb Kebob was actually beef. Will not recommend this place and not coming back again. I don't know how they are fooling people and still in business. read more

Ararat - Mediterranean Near Me - Mundelein, Illinois

The food was awesome. The khatchapuri (I.e., cheese pizza) was amazing. We loved the eggplant salad. We also loved the chicken stew - chakhokhbili. This was an out of the way gem. Show them some love. You will not be disappointed. read more

See all

Amazing soviet bloc food. Kinkal (dumplings) and other hearty fare are served with love. My online order was a little slow so I waited in the seating area. The mama arrived and yelled at her family to hurry up and offered me free dates while I waited. Then when my food arrived, she personally apologized and offered me an apple. How sweet is that!? Amazing food. Lovely little place. Right around the corner from the Russian bakery which is ridiculously good. Expect relaxed service. Expect food that fills your stomach and your soul. I will be back. read more

Service and quality of food s outstanding I consider Ararat one of the best Mediterranean restaurants around nw suburbs read more

We visited from out of town with our friends on a Friday evening (reservation is apparently not needed, however we had called ahead to book). It's a smaller family restaurant with few tables/chairs and only one server/greeter. There were a few vegetarian options (no vegan fyi) and food tasted good, however it took forever for food to show up!!! We were at the restaurant for over 2.5 hours with little kids and that's wayyyy too long for any restaurant. I'm sure they are working way too hard in the kitchen and at the restaurant how were the waiting was just not worth it. read more

First time eating here. Positive observation: Food was delicious and seemed fresh. Negative observation: Ordered diet sodas - cans were warm and waitress stated no ice available! At least store the cans in the fridge so they are cold to start with. After finishing our meal we were notified that they only accept cash. Big surprise as no notices were posted (on the entry door nor anywhere else) - had to drive to an ATM to withdraw cash and return to pay the bill. Suggestion for ambiance: Play authentic Mediterranean music overhead. read more

Food is amazing. The owners are very friendly and service is great. I highly recommend this place for authentic Armenian food. Very very good! read more

Randomly stopped for an afternoon meal. My lunch date thought there was a Mongolian restaurant in this spot which we realized had closed some time ago. I suggested we try since we were already there. (Side note: if you're not having the time to wait, I would not recommend. Serving times can drag.) The restaurant was empty and not a soul could be found but the TV was playing a European variety show and the setting warm so we stayed. Many minutes passed, more than 15 minutes and eventually a waitress appeared from the rear welcoming us. In my experience, not good signs starting off. The restaurant is known for Armenian and Russian foods. Odd fact. Both the waiter and the menu referenced a 24 hour wait for certain entrees. WHAT?!. Imagine being a walk in customer that has never set foot in there and to be told it requires 24 hours to try a select few entrees. This occurred twice with walk ins that arrived after us. Both mentioned knowing they served Russian foods and wanting specific entrees. Management should figure out a different approach to the lengthy wait. IE Having two menus. One for dine in customers and carryout which is available daily. A second menu for advance ordering only available via the web. It would clear up confusion. Their menu is not clear. Something about the arrangement does not work. How was the food. A mere okay and service was similar. There is a very sweet, 'mature' lady that works the dining area. She's a sweetheart but it feels like I'm getting bused by my Gramma. I had to hold back from busing myself. About their food. The amount of time for first plates to hit versus seconds was far too long of a wait. Also, some minutes after ordering appetizers, a strong odor of cigarette smell was wafting into the dining area. I really, really hope they were not smoking in the kitchen. The two of us had a giggle just then because we remembered during ordering, a different waiter /lady saying all the food was fresh and healthy. The khatchapuri and chebureki were nice though oily. They should consider allowing their stuffed items to sit awhile in the basket prior to serving. To allow excess oil to drip off before serving. I'd imagine they served us briskly due to the extended wait. We also ordered some other items.. It was something different to try but weighing the cost vs time (over an hour) and taste. I couldn't. Food is bland so if spice is a necessity, you might like to byob hot sauce. read more

First time trying diner there. Excellent home-style Armenian and Georgian dishes, cooked from scratch (so may take a bit more time - but they were upfront about it). All the food tasted absolutely fresh, and I could smell my chicken pilaf cooking while waiting for it. The service was what you would expect culturally - they were genuinely interested in making sure you enjoyed the food and concerned if you did not finish your plate. The desserts were indeed homemade and spot on - the baklava was dense with walnuts and not too sweet; the napoleon was very light and with perfectly made puff pastry, on the crispier side balancing the freshness of the cream very well. On a Sunday night, the place was calm but not deserted. The dishes match the cultural background; the music TV is slightly dissonant (not Eastern European/Western Asian) but actually playing good songs and not too loud. Another table had kids dining with them who did not seem out of place at all (appears very family friendly). We cannot wait to try them back for lunch - they seem to have excellent deals then - and to come back to try their drinks (Armenian coffee; yogurt-based drink; etc.). read more

Food was delicious. The food has a homemade goodness that few restaurants have today. Loved the salads, potato pancakes, fresh baked bread and the chicken kabob. All flavorful and served on lovely plates. Truly a great experience. I'll go back! read more

BUNCH OF CROOKS! The portions were scarce: plov dish was small with 3-4 small pieces of meat (beef instead of lamb), etc., but the worst of all was their stealing: they listed every item in the check x 1.1, thus covertly charging 10 % more for every item (e.g. 1 plov was listed as 1.1 x $..., 6 mantys was 6.6 x $..., etc.), and unsuspected customers did not even know that they were charged 10 % surcharge and paid tip on top of that. Scam!.. And on top of that the waitress was openly rude and answered my questions with "Do not bother me; I am working." A woman came in to pick her carry-out order and quietly asked them for her payment change, and that waitress called the owner who came out and loudly announced, "Oh, you want your $2 back. OK, I will bring it now; the waitress just didn't tell me about it" in front of people, and the woman was visibly embarrassed. What an unamerican service! read more

Profoundly disappointed with both the quality and quantity of food delivered in respect to the price paid. I don't like to leave negative reviews, but come on. Do better! I own and operate a food related business myself, I get the challenge of putting out a decent plate in a profitable manner... I also understand when I'm looking at less than $12 cumulative material cost for an order for 5 (different plates each) that went $130 after Yelp delivery fees. Feeling like I got "got"... read more

The sign out front says Mediterranean food but I would call this a Russian cuisine that I remember my Grandmother either cooking or talking about, with some Mediterranean influence. I stopped in for lunch with friends, great food and the owner is the best. I'd encourage you to order the appetizer sampler plate if you have a party of 4 or more people. Trust me that you will be glad that you did. As someone else mentioned, the home style bread basket is off the hook. Even if you avoid carbs- at least try one piece of the bread. The beautifully etched water glasses and delicate tea cups were charming; where else can you get a huge POT of tea for $2? I felt that the entrees were beautifully plated- in this case they are simple but beautiful. I had a wonderful avocado salad with cilantro, there were other great looking salads on the menu. If you are unsure what you want to order- ask for "the pictures" which illustrate what's on the menu. Others in our party had the "women's soup" (excellent) and lamb kebabs (excellent). Be aware that sides are easily substituted at no additional charge. If you are unsure what is available- please ask. You never know what you can get here until you ask. I hope to stop in some evening for dinner to try more of their dishes. A great place- just go try it! PS: Yes there is a Russian/East European deli in the same strip mall. If you can possibly afford the time, please go and visit them. read more

See all

So i am tuff on food reviews. I like to be honest. The place is small and not super appealing from the outside. Nbd. Staff was casual at best. Again NBD. The food was probably the best i have ever had. We ordered many small dishes and everything we got was fantastic. Not a single bad item or even item i thought could be dont better. 9 out of 10. read more

I found this place online randomly in wanting a different cuisine. I'm familiar with similar cuisine as I'm familiar with more general Mediterranean food but this one is specifically Armenian and some Russian as well. I found the atmosphere pleasant and nice. In normal times it would have been nice to eat in. The employee was very nice and welcoming. Was patient and explained the dishes and offered suggestions. The food was very good. Very tasty. I personally didn't like the texture of the eggplant dish as I expected I wouldn't but I tried it and gave it a chance. Otherwise everything was perfect and just the way I like it. Filling, tasty and unique. We also got two desserts a baklava and some angel something cake. Both very good and filling as well. I always love how these cuisines have desserts that are not made of fake colors and overly sweet frosting. They just look and taste real, authentic and delicious. There are some dishes that say 24 hr advance order which can be frustrating for a customer but I appreciate the intent on not wasting food and the quality of true authentic preparation as some things taking longer to prepare to do it right. Will definitely be back and was glad to have found this local friendly place. Always on the hunt for something different, authentic, local and delicious. This fits perfectly! read more

See all

We love Ararat! Their combination salad platter (not in the menu) is fantastic! The cuisine, flavors and combinations are just perfect. The fresh ingredients and home-made type of food makes Ararat a great Mediterranean and Georgian experience. read more

Food was good but the place looks old and no one else was there when we went. The service not that good

If you enjoy food made to order and don't mind waiting for it to be served, you might enjoy an evening at Ararat in Mundelein. Four of us spent two hours at the outside tables sampling some delicious Georgian and Armenian faire. Irene, the owner and cook, has run the place since 2006. It is located in an eclectic strip mall on Route 60. We enjoyed some Lithuanian and Czech bottled beer. Irene offers wine but only red. We shared a Georgian one-layer cheese pie as an appetizer. It came with a tangy yogurt sauce. Three of us had ke-bobs which were delightfully cooked on a charcoal grill. The Armenian potatoes served with them were crisp with a mild garlicy flavor. One of us ordered the potato pancakes with pork. He said they were great. Irene talked us into some baklava she just made to take home for dessert. This is a very casual restaurant that I look forward to visiting again. read more

See all

This is a hidden gem, without a doubt. My wife and I recently discovered this restaurant and had to check it out due to the uniqueness of the menu/cuisine compared to what else is available in the area. We loved the entire experience; from the warm decor, to the wonderful service the owner provided (she even told us stories about her food and how items were made), absolutely everything was lovely. The food here is clearly all made well and by someone with a passion for cooking. The dumplings, the bread-based dishes, and the appetizers are all excellent! Do yourself a favor though and call in to ensure they are open ahead of your visit. As this is a smaller, more intimate restaurant, private parties can rent out the entire place. Also, get it in person... It's a wonderful experience not to be missed by getting it delivered. Absolutely our new favorite restaurant in the Vernon Hills/Mundelein area. A bit of patience may be required at times but it is rewarded in droves each time. Can't wait to go back again soon. read more

This was an amazingly warm and authentic restaurant!!!! Fantastic food and amazing hospitality!!!!!!

I just had an amazing and amazingly filling meal at ARARAT restaurant. The starter was an Armenian soup called Chanahi. It was packed with wonderful ingredients: lamb, eggplant, bell peppers and tomatoes. I asked the owner and she said it baked in the oven for a few hours. I believe it. The flavors mesh together perfectly. For the main I had a Georgian dish Satsivi. It was tender chicken - the white meat - in a walnut sauce with all sorts of spices and herbs. Unusually it's served cold. I ate it with small pieces of bread. For dessert I had a poetically named dish called Fidelity of Swans. Wow! I've never had anything like it. It has 2 layers of meringue, two layers of crispy dough and condensed milk. The description doesn't do it justice. It's an Israeli dish. The owner reminds me of a warm and loving aunt. An unusually good meal! Bring a big appetite! read more

Never ever again! The place was very dirty, the restroom smelled horrible and looked more like storage for random things. The door to the kitchen was open and I was shocked by how dirty it looked. We ordered khinkali that came not cooked well, the soup was clearly just warmed up, everything tasted like yesterday's leftovers warmed up. No napkins, had to ask for forks as they were not on the table. Well and the service... the service was awful as the owner seems to hate Ukrainians. She made sarcastic comments to my mom and then I overheard her speaking badly of Ukrainian language when I went to use the restroom. Stay away from this racist place!!! read more

Was here for my best friend's boyfriend's birthday and we had a large group of about 20 people. The food is Armenian but def has hints of Russian (and the former USSR) as we had potatoes and meat, an amazing avocado salad, cheese pastries and stuffed pockets with beef (it sounded like it was called a Cheburashka- which is Russian for mouse-like-creature with big ears)- kind of like elephant ear pastries. The decor was fancy- all crystal glasses and fine china plates- it felt very European and classy. There are a couple of fish tanks and the inner walls are covered with Armenian tapestries and swords haha The service was really nice and the server seemed like an Aunt or your friend's older female relative- not like a waitress. The bathroom is really clean and there is a brick motif in the entire restaurant. The place is not that big but the food tasted very traditional! The best part about the food was the dessert- the "napoleon" as my Russian friends called it- was AMAZING! MELT IN YOUR MOUTH- perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess- layered pastry cake! The drive is way out of the way for me- but I will def be back if I am in the area! read more

Great Armenian food, very nice service. Large choices of soups, meats and salads Always available parking read more

Absolutely loved the food! Shashlyki are great, cooked to perfection! Giving 4stars only because they are not able to manage big groups of people! Granted it was a BIG group! The food is very tasty! read more

What makes this place so special is the owner. A woman who has a passion for the food she prepares, and the people she serves. The service was outstanding as she takes the time to tell you all about the food and tries to help you make a selection. The food was very good. The soups and bread are some of the best Eastern European food I have had in a very long time. The place is a bit on the small side, but that makes it feel cozy and welcoming. The only issue I ran into was the opening time, it is listed as 11am, but they actually open at 11:30. This was not a problem as we were still welcomed in and attended to. They also have some great desserts. Tiramisu, Napoleons and a few others. Some nice lunch specials for only $6.99! There is a Russian grocery store in the same strip mall if you would also like to purchase some specialty groceries. I hope to return again soon! read more

Ararat - Ararat dining room. - Mediterranean Near Me - Mundelein, Illinois

We love Ararat! The ingredients are fresh., consistent, filled with flavor, simple, and delicious. Go for the food. Get a lot of variety. Missing this restaurant is a mistake. read more

This would be one of my favorite places! I was looking for Georgian food for a long time and didn't expect much from one of the few (if not the only one) place out there, boy was I surprised...Very cozy atmosphere with friendly staff that know their food and customize it to your liking. Food is incredible and fresh so are the prices. Will recommend it to everyone, even if you think you don't like Georgian food...you just haven't tried ARARAT yet.. Very excited to try out new items on the new menu read more

This was my first time here but will certainly not be my last as it was nothing but a great experience from start to finish. We were treated as if family and felt extremely well taken care of. The food is always made fresh and is of very high quality. You can tell they take special care in providing quality food and service here. Definitely looking forward to coming here again! read more

Great Armenian shish kabob place. Servers prefer to speak Russian but can speak English. It's very unique inside with Armenian decoration, but the food is the reason I come. Very, very delicious and authentic. Lamb kebob is the best, as well as kachapuri. Even their vegetables are amazing. Reasonable lunch specials. (To the owners: The name of the place, Ararat, is something that I think mostly only Russians would realize means Armenian food. How many Russians in Russia would know about the Adirondacks? Maybe change/add to the name so more people would know what this place is, like "Ararat, Armenian Food" or something. But what do I know...) read more