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Ararat Bakery
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ, Music Videos
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
15 reviews for Ararat Bakery
15 reviews in English
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Review from Cora P.
6/30/2010 11 Check-ins Here
Ararat is a great asset for the Lents Neighborhood. Not only do they pump out hours upon hours of deliciously waist increasing smells - they opened up a shop where we can purchase and eat the cause of these odors.
I regularly *nom nom nom* my way through their house made rugelach (they call it some other Eastern European name that I can't remember at the moment), and Nelli - the awesome owner - always insists on going into the back and bringing me out a extra-super fresh loaf of Russian Wheat or Ukrainian Bread right off the cooling rack. Beyond that, you can pick up various Slavic and Mediterranean staples (5 different kinds of bulgar and juices that will frighten your friends yet taste exquisite). Sure - it's a lot of food miles, but who produces rose syrup or canned cabbage leaves for cabbage rolls, locally?
Next door is a very mellow, very pan-European style lounge where they'll pour you a strong drink that will glow in the dark. One of the times I was there - the DJ was spinning Brazilian Girls - I approve.Listed in: Lents and FoPo
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Review from S Luc S.
7/25/2010
I was coming in to look for Nazook. It's great with some coffee. They only had the large package and I was hoping for a smaller one. No one was in the store, which I thought was weird, so I [proceeded to leave. As I was leaving, three men began to approach and walk towards me. One asked if he could help me, I explained what I was looking for and he told me that they only carried the larger package. The second one asked me if I took anything and pointed towards my bag. I said No, I was at the farmer's market.
Not cool at all!
If you have a sign on your door that says open, why not have someone at the cash register or the meat counter or even in the loungey part of the place.
Nice way to turn a local off of supporting your business. Jerk! -
Review from Abe I.
Portland, OR
Ararat is hilarious! It's a small, unlikely joint close in PDX where you can hear DJs of various quality* play house music while you dance away the night with Russians on a light up dance floor. Then at some point a belly dancer shows up and your surreal meter jumps to 11!
*I've heard they're usually good, but the last one I heard couldn't mix to save his headphones -
Review from Kelvin C.
Minneapolis, MN
2/2/2008
Hobnob with former Russian mafiosos, watch the belly dancer, and get down on the lit-up dance floor.
Ararat is one strange,strange little gem of a place. Great for people-watching. Closest thing you probably can get to an authentic Russian/Eastern European discoteque in fair Portland. It is definitely on the small side though - barely 20 people can fit on their rinky dink dancefloor.
Try the borscht - it's delicious. -
Review from Chris L.
5/9/2008
The Ararat has moved, and because of this, After Dark has moved as well.
I am good friends with the promoter, and was at After Dark starting day one at the Ararat. Because of the move, After Dark now has a new home.
Here is the updated information for those looking to dance to the best House Music in Portland! Tell them Twisted Lister sent you!
After Dark has a new home at
2410 N Mississippi @ Interstate
We run Saturdays from 2:30am - 7:30am
Get ready for some, deep, funky, thumpin' House music.
Live Lighting Experience by 1313 Effect
Tell your friends, show up on time and DANCE til dawn!
This event is 21+ and is hate and violence free. Thanks for your love and continued support. -
Review from Kenny H.
Updated - 11/24/2010
They have (2) bike racks now! I will make sure to drop by and taste the tasty when I get off work early enough to lock up and peruse.
Guess they are not open very late?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/6/2010
I went to Ararat on my bike commute home to Woodstock.
There was no bike rack.
I did not go in… Read more »
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Review from Kelly M.
Portland, OR
8/2/2007
What a weird place!
Russian bakery meets dance floor. By day you can get Russian and eastern treats and sweets. The cinnamon rolls and braided breads have earned particular praise and fame.
Then by night, Ararat throbs with European dance beats and the funny crowd it attracts to its light up dance floor. Truly a sight to be scene at all hours of the day and night. -
Review from Tiffany C.
Portland, OR
9/13/2009
Didn't manage to hit the club/bar, just made it to the deli. But my goodness, this place has some wonderful things. Great selection of meat, breads, pickled things (like baby eggplant! OMG) and Eastern European Jaffa Cakes. For 'mericans these are little cakes with jam on top, covered with chocolate. They are delicious.
The proprietor drug me into the club/function room to have a look around too. It was beautiful. And the cinnamon raisin bun she have me? Delicious. It's right off the Lents Green Line stop, so it's also pretty accessible. Well worth a stop in. -
Review from Matt e S.
Portland, OR
4/30/2007
First things first: I am one of the promoters that runs After Dark -- the ongoing House music night that takes place at the Ararat every Saturday from 11pm til 10am (that's right all night folks).
Now, with that said, here is why I love the Ararat:
1) Nelli and Avo. The owners are amazing people who love what they do and what they do is bake the BEST DAMN PASTERIES in town!
2) After Dark. Our baby has been running for over a year now and features the best House Music period. Out of town headliners play 3am-6am so you DO have a place to go when the rest of the bars close. Oh, and NO we don't serve all night - the bar closes at 2:30 and reopens at 7am.
3) The Food. Do you want authentic Armenian/Russian food? Beef Stroganov? Borscht? You name it, they've got it AND it is delicious.
4) Euro-dance Fridays. You will think you have been transported to Europe circa 1992 - and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The women are dressed to (their version of) the nines and the guys would LOVE to dance with YOU! This is a truly unique Portland experience.
5) Great parties and events wth a close in location plus ample parking. Nelli loves to help people celebrate their special days. Birthdays. Showers. Anniversaries. She will make it a night to remember and the restaurant can be yours. From the food to the flowers to the DESERTS, Nelli will have it covered.
6) The LIT DANCE FLOOR. Saturday night fever eat your heart out!!!
Support the Ararat. Support your local DJs.
Love to see YOU dancing!!! -
Review from Shauna M.
Vancouver, WA
5/28/2011 1 photo
We have driven by this place many times and finally decided to stop in and give it a try. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but they did have a nice little assortment of pastries / desserts. The owner was super nice and even offered to let us have some free pastries to "sample".
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Review from kristen p.
Portland, OR
8/25/2009
My friend and I danced the night away here! Such fun, and the vibe is very friendly. I think because this club pulls mostly from the Russian community in Portland, many people are friends, so you get that feeling. The music was fun, maybe not the absolute best, but like I said, we closed the place down dancing all night. Good, strong drinks for a decent price. The location has changed and is now at :
5716 SE 92nd Ave
Portland, OR 97266-4659 -
Review from Angelita F.
Sacramento, CA
9/16/2010
I am so glad I chose to come to this place while visiting from San Francisco. These people know how to party! The bartenders and the regulars (who are mostly Russians) were super friendly and my husband and I were felt very comfortable here despite the fact that neither of us is Russian. The DJ played such hot tunes I couldn't help but dance. Also, there is a good-looking crowd here, so if you are single and are into foreigners, this is a great place. I will be back to visit Portland soon and I will come back to this place.
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Review from KK B.
Seattle, WA
8/1/2007
cool party spot in the middle of nowhere.
loved the good house music late night on saturday i think, very weird, interesting hipster crowd - i prefer them to the crowd at aura.
cheap, strong, yummy, big drinks (at $5 or 6, vodka redbull in a big beer glass)...
minus one star because i couldn't understand logic behind putting shower curtain instead of door that you can actually lock for the private business in women's room.
wish i wasn't that tired that night and saw sun rising on the way home. ;-) -
Review from Lisa W.
Portland, OR
1/24/2007
The only thing I can say about Ararat as a bakery is that the smell emanating from it each morning as I walked to my old office was amazing--like honey almond kisses. However, the real noteworthy thing here is the late-night dancing on the weekends when it turns into an Armenian bar/disco! It is a crazy place--and high on the kitsch factor--80's era "classy decor," owners who treat you like family, and belly dancers and other indigenous entertainment in between DJ sets. There is a small cover after 11:00 (unless you are a pretty lady), but the drinks and food are reasonably priced and served late. There is a high concentration of immigrants here--Russians, Armenians, Pakistanis and Palestinians--all dressed in their disco finest--and the music matches the patrons--Euro house and techno, mostly. The only possible downsides to this place (depending on your tastes) are that it is a little smoky, lots of people are drunk, some of the men are a little aggressive, and many of the women dress a little trashy/Euro hooker. Go before the frat boy crowd starts flooding the place.
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Review from nam h.
Portland, OR
4/15/2007
aaahhh....I finally made it to the RAT a tat tat!!!!! This is probably the best place to hear house music in pdx on saturdays thanks to the peeps at Portland Housing Authority. a great after hours place too as the party goes on til 10am.....and yes I can now say I've closed it out!
