Middle Eastern Restaurant Ararat Returns as a Casual Walk-Up Window

Austin’s longtime but since shuttered Middle Eastern restaurant Ararat returns as a casual walk-up window serving to-go food and drinks on 2401 East Sixth Street. Now called Ararat ToGo, the new spot is found at the street level of condo building Pedernales Lofts, and has been open as of July 29 in the Holly neighborhood.

On deck are various Middle Eastern dishes, which are available, well, to-go. This includes hummus, dolmas, soups (both lamb and vegan options), filled savory breakfast pastries, muffins, cookies, and more. The menu will also expand in the near future.

As for beverages, there are crafted coffee drinks, like the Tall, Dark, & Lovely made with ganache, espresso, and steamed milk; or the Estival’s End mixed with milk steamed with vanilla bean and cardamom. There are also bubble teas with chai, matcha, and yerba mate, among other flavors, as well as regular hot and cold teas and espresso.

Ararat originally opened as a restaurant up in North Loop in 1994. Kelly Abshire, who had been a waitress there, took over in 2003, but closed it in 2007. Then she ran Ararat as a catering business in the meantime, while also taking over East Sixth coffee shop Hot Mama’s.

Hot Mama’s eventually closed in 2017. Abshire actually opened this current edition of Ararat in the same Hot Mama’s space, working with window manager and coffee and tea consultant Kate Hoermann. The name of the restaurant stems from the dormant volcano in Turkey, which contains the highest peak in the country.

Ararat’s hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays.

• Ararat ToGo [Official]
• Ararat ToGo [Facebook]