Wow, what a disappointment! We've been huge fans of Ararat for years, always one of our favorite haunts for a cozy, romantic evening and fantastic food. Having visited this past week after a few months' hiatus, we were sorely disappointed, and had hoped it was a one-time deal. However, now that I've read all the reviews that seem to reinforce our experience, I'm sad to say we may not ever return. It's rare that we find an establishment that fails on all three critical elements of the dining experience: food, atmosphere, service. Our greeter and server were completely unaffected by our presence, and paid us little attention during our entire stay. What used to be a cozy atmosphere was washed out in the bright lighting that now permeates the room. We had to ask if the lights could be dimmed, but were told that too many people had complained about it being too dark (isn't that part of the allure at Ararat? that womb-ish, den-like feeling? Could they have added candles, perhaps, instead of 100 watt bulbs?). Our server forgot our appetizer, and instead of apologizing, claims he just ""didn't hear us"" order it (never once apologized, and I had watched him write everything down!). Our entrees (Sizzling Lamb & Sizzling Salmon) were far from ""sizzling""--both in terms of temperature and spice. We go to Ararat specifically for these dishes. We have worked in the service industry for years, and have never had enough reason to complain (understanding that there may be numerous factors contributing to a mediocre experience), but this was just plain BAD. When we offered our concerns to the other server (or manager?), she offered us dessert on the house, or to remake our meals (which were 2/3 finished), which we declined, but though she made the offer, there was no genuine sentiment of concern or apology in her demeanor. What has happened to Ararat? Can someone please save this former Austin favorite?
Pros: there aren't any, anymore!
Cons: perhaps it can still be saved
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