Palladium

Palladium sits in Nor Nork, the residential heart where locals eat. It's an Armenian restaurant doing the straightforward cooking that works: khash in winter, lula kebab, grilled meats that don't pretend. The room fills with neighborhood families and groups of friends on weekends—not a tourist corridor. At 6500 dram for two you're in solid mid-range territory for this district, getting honest portions and no markup for location. Forty-one reviews averaging 4.6 suggests people come back. It's the kind of place where the kitchen knows what it's doing without fussiness.

Things to note: Nor Nork can get loud on Friday and Saturday nights with groups. English may be limited—bring a friend or have photos of dishes ready on your phone.