Le Vartan

beeing married with an armenien i wanted to surprise my husband with an armen.restaurant in paris. first of all, the address above isn't correct, you'll find the restaurant arround the corner. we had to come twice, they have closed on monday.
at the entry my husband heard as the owner was making jokes in armenian about two nonarmenian women - guests.
the menu is all but armenien, there are turc, grec and other specialities on it. we were astonished not being served the traditionnal bred lavash(waiter: in paris, they don't make that. but: I already had lavash in paris earlier), water was very chlored (we then asked for mineral water), the entry (dolmas) were tinned food (if you know fresh dolmas, you can't imagine the impression...),after our complain, the waiter answered, that they sometimes make fresh ones. my husband heard, than the owner was asking wether we were armenians or not. the main dishes (we ordered diff. ones) were made of the same meat-bases, usually they are diff. dishes with diff. spices etc.... in paris it is not difficult to find fresh vegetables and herbs, we got half of a slice of a tomatoe each. armenian cuisine is not very rich, but they food on the plate (question of honour). wine was ok, like a bordeaux from any supermarket. we asked for an armenian wine, but after all that trickery food we don't believe, that they offered us armenien wine. the coffee was kind of a watered coffee soup, even not hot (I had wonderful armenian coffee in moscou, so I can argue). leaving the restaurant the owner was was hiding in the kitchen instead of saying good bye. very strange indeed. costs at le vartan: 45 € for canteen food, this is no exaggeration, I'm really disappointed, the only frustration at our last paris trip.