By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR
You won't see any servers at Lavash City Grill in Hackensack, where Armenian owners have adopted the fast-casual approach of higher quality food and counter service.
You're expected to pick up a tray and stop at soup, salad and other stations before paying for your meal and sitting down, as you would at Chipotle Mexican Grill.
And tipping isn't necessary.
As a sweetener, Lavash City Grill & Bakery is offering 10% off your bill through August.
EDITOR
You won't see any servers at Lavash City Grill in Hackensack, where Armenian owners have adopted the fast-casual approach of higher quality food and counter service.
You're expected to pick up a tray and stop at soup, salad and other stations before paying for your meal and sitting down, as you would at Chipotle Mexican Grill.
And tipping isn't necessary.
As a sweetener, Lavash City Grill & Bakery is offering 10% off your bill through August.
The new restaurant offers counter service, with soup, salad, meat and other stations.
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Marinated chicken and beef Lula Kebabs were served with tomato and yogurt sauces and Armenian lavash, a thin, unleavened flat bread baked daily in the restaurant.
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Our Saturday night dinner
Anna Yeritsyan, owner of Lavash City Grill & Bakery, says she offers homemade soups, salads, kebabs and other dishes -- all made from scratch.
The addictive Armenian lavash, a chewy, unleavened flat bread, is made without preservatives and baked fresh daily in the restaurant.
Yeritsyan says any leftover bread is discarded, and a new batch is baked fresh the next day.
On Saturday, we stopped in after 6 p.m. for dinner, unfamiliar with the counter service, and sat down at a table.
The restaurant was empty, and the man behind the counter brought us menus.
We started with three soups, Spas or Yogurt, Three Bean and Seafood ($2.50 each for small).
Then, we asked for three small salads, including one made with 10 roasted vegetables ($5 to $7 each), but before the man could bring us plates to sample each one, two other customers came in and he started waiting on them.
Eventually, my wife and mother-in-law ordered three, long Lula Kebabs -- two ground chicken, one ground beef -- served with two sauces and lavash ($26).
And each of us had a Carrot Apple Pear Smoothie made with juice, milk and ice ($4 each).
We enjoyed our dinner, despite the service problems, and I'd return just for the wonderful soups, salads and bread.
Take home leftovers
I asked the man to pack up leftover kebabs and the side dish of pilaf he forgot to serve us, and I also asked for small containers of hummus and muhammara ($1.50 each).
I also wanted lavash, and was given four unusually large sheets of the oven-blistered flat bread at no extra charge.
At home, I've made a couple of smoked wild salmon wraps, using the irresistible lavash spread with hummus, muhammara and tahini. Delicious.
Spas or Yogurt Soup. |
Seating is along one wall, opposite the service counter. |
Details
Lavash City Grill & Bakery, 331 Main St., Hackensack; 201-464-5445.
Counter service. Open 7 days, BYO. Metered parking and a free lot for shoppers nearby.
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