Lusin Opens as First Armenian Restaurant in Mayfair

Lusin Mayfair launched this week as the first Armenian restaurant in London’s Mayfair. Created by Mira Foods, who already have award-winning Lusin restaurant outposts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lusin is an authentic Armenian restaurant with cuisine influenced by the vibrant cultures of Eastern Europe and the Levant.

The entrance to Lusin on Hay Hill Street showcases three pillars that have hand-made carvings resembling Armenian Khachkar, symbols and signs from the “Tree of Life” to the “Eternity” symbol. The interior, seating 100 across two floors, has been designed by Architect Maram Seddiq. The walls feature Armenian Tuff Stone that is originally sourced from Armenian Mountains.

Lusin’s Gastronomic Concept

Lusin’s mission is to evoke a sense of beauty through cuisine, with an inspired rich atmosphere, taking the guests on a journey celebrating old traditions and introducing new tastes with their special recipes. Lusin’s authentic Armenian dishes were created by Madam Anahid Doniguian, author of the Armenian Cookbook “Yepelou Arveste”, and curated by chef Marcel Ravin.

Armenian cuisine is as ancient as the history of Armenia. A combination of different tastes and aromas, the food often has quite a distinct aroma and is closely related to eastern European and Mediterranean cuisine, with various spices, vegetables, fish, and fruits combining to present unique dishes.

Western Armenian cuisine is very similar to Lebanese, Greek and Turkish cuisine. This is why you’ll often find on the table various kinds of mezzes such as hummus, tabbouleh, Moutabal or Dolma. In Eastern Armenia, it’s more influenced by the Russian Cuisine, where the meal usually starts with what is known as matzone (yoghurt) or flavored chicken with lots of herbs.

The Lusin Mayfair Dining Experience

The London menu has been curated by 2 Michelin-star chef Marcel Ravin with innovative dishes such as the Famous Cherry Kebab made from spiced kebab skewers, perfectly charcoaled, and then covered with the moreish signature home-made cherry sauce.

We began our meal with a glass of champagne, before moving onto Armenian pomegranate juice. You’ll see pomegranate a lot through the Lusin menu, as it represents the Armenian nation as one of the unofficial national fruits, with its symbolic association with fertility.

Soon after the champagne arrived, the food started coming out thick and fast, with a vast selection of mezzes landing on our table. The authentic Armenian Itch and Fattoush salads were a delight to the tastebuds, while the cold appetizers of Hummus with Pine nuts, Lusin Signature Eggplant Roll, and Lentil Kofta were well received by our table of six.

The appetizers were accompanied by the famous Armenian lavash bread, which is UNESCO-listed. Armenian dinner tables are rarely without huge piles of this tasty flat bread that is the cornerstone of Armenian cuisine. So important is this humble dish that it was placed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.

The hot appetizers, however, were where Lusin really shone. Sujuc Rolls, Cheese Borak, and Lusin Kibbeh were unbelievably moreish and we could have easily eaten more of these dishes. The Signature Lusin Kibbeh was an especially popular dish on our table. Prepared with a special recipe of mixed daily-fresh meat, Bulgur & nuts, seasoned with distinctive Armenian spices, and savoured with pomegranate molasses.

The main dishes consisted of Lobster Manti, Red Pilaf with Black Truffle, a Mixed Grill, and The Famous Cherry Kebab. The Cherry Kebab was our favourite dish throughout the entire meal, and really was something special. The Sour Cherries are sourced from Armenia, after picking season around June-July of every year, and cooked adding sweetness to elaborate a distinctive mixture of sweet, sour, and salty flavour.

With satisfied bellies full to bursting, the desserts arrived. Armenian Honey Cake, Lemon Tarte, and a Pomegranate Éclair impressed the entire table, with the honey cake being the stand-out dessert. Made from an Armenian family recipe, the sumptuous honey and walnut cake is made from Armenian forest honey, which is made in abundance in Armenia due to the mountainous landscape providing the bees with plenty of trees and flora.

Seated on our table was Arleen Ouzounian, the Armenian founder of Nazani Tea who will soon be supplying Lusin with a selection of Armenian herbal infusions. Not only was she an invaluable fountain of knowledge throughout the meal, but she also handily had a caddy of Armenian Wild Mountain Mint with her, which won a Great Taste Award in 2018. So we ended our meal with steaming pots of hot water filled with steeping mint from the Lavlar Mountain in Armenia – surely there was no better way to end our Armenian experience at Lusin Mayfair!