St. Vartan Cafe - Armenian Church 35th & 2nd

[sjauletta]

I am wondering if anyone knows anything about the outdoor cafe at St. Vartan's Armenian Church (on the corner of 35th and 2nd, I believe)...it's the massive church right outside of the Midtown Tunnel that looks like a fortress.

For the past few weeks, every time I have walked by there have been tables stacked up in the courtyard that were not being used...but tonight there was a full outdoor restaurant set up. I wasn't able to stop, but we saw a sign that said "St. Vartan Cafe."

If anyone has any info about what this is, how the food is, etc., please let me know.

Thanks,
Steve

[MOREKASHA]

Don't know about the Cafe, but didn't the Church used to run an Armeniam fest some years ago? Imagine the Armenian homecooking that could be available...

[bdhlambert]

i think the other replies are really unfair. i've lived in the neighborhood for a LONG, LONG time.

while there are alot of restaurants in murray hill. most are less than fair. While most cater to the just out of college crowd and are more about the pickup scene than anything. and a couple i don't mind ordering in from (blockheads) but wouldn't eat out at. there are perhaps 3 that step above that.

true st. vartan cafe is not union square cafe, but it does provide the neighborhood with a VERY nice outdoor setting and some sincerely decent food at reasonable prices.

my husband and i enjoyed a really nice dinner there last week and are planning on going this evening with our son. selfishly i'm hoping to keep st vartan in business. if only for the folks that think eating dinner at a restaurant doesn't mean cinema cafe.

if you lived around here you would really know what i mean.

[cocoman]

I haven't tried it yet, but as a 10 year veteran of Murray Hill, I can really relate to your suffering in the eating out selection close by.

[wleatherette]

we were really curious about this, too, and hoping for armenian food. however, it's apparently run by the cafe st. bart's team (a place about which i haven't heard anything particularly great).

[windycity]

It's funny because my first question was, "how is this legal for a church to keep proceeds from business sales," but apparently it is.

[princeofpork]

Never ate at St Varts but the food and St Barts is not good.

[sjauletta]

Good to know, thanks - I looked at the St. Bart's website, and it seems kind of pricey. And that's a great question, if it turns out the church can run a tax-exempt restaurant...

[ricky7]

just walked by it today and it reminded me of the place at st barts. not too many people were eating there on a weekday afternoon. didnt look at menu.