Bastani
Anar Persian Kitchen

Anar Persian Kitchen

349 Portobello Road London, W10 5SA, United Kingdom

Kebab • Persian • Chicken • Barbecue


"We were a group of local diners in our thirties who decided to have dinner at this restaurant. Unfortunately, we were the only patrons there all evening. The lady in charge was extremely bossy, rude, and deceitful, which really marred our experience. She seemed intent on pinching every penny from us, trying to convince us to order more expensive items instead of what we wanted. When it came to ordering the cheapest grill on the menu, Koobideh, she made it difficult for us to do so, insisting on selecting our starters for us. The starters turned out to be disappointing, with bland dips and a meager serving of bread. The main dishes arrived quickly, but the quality was lacking. My Koobideh was fatty and flavorless, requiring extra seasoning to make it palatable. The salads were unimpressive, with wilted lettuce and sparse toppings. We were not offered any tap water, only overpriced bottled water placed on the table to entice us to spend more. When it came time to pay, the lady declared that we would split the bill evenly, despite the fact that some of us had drinks and others did not. She refused to provide a bill and insisted I calculate it myself, which was suspicious. After paying, we realized we were short £35 and were met with hostility and arguing from the lady. Overall, she ruined what was meant to be a pleasant evening. I have lived in the area for ten years and know of many other Middle Eastern restaurants, such as Turkish Fez, Iranian Patogh's, and Lebanese Al Arez, which offer better food at a fraction of the cost without the deceitful tactics. It's no surprise the restaurant was empty."

Kookoo

Kookoo

518 Filton Avenue, BS7 0BB, South Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Cafés • Persian • Breakfast • Vegetarian


"We hadn't booked in advance but being a Wednesday night we successfully gambled on it not being full. For starters I ordered Marinated Olives With Walnuts Sweet Pomegranate Seeds. All starters are served with the most delicious Persian flat bread. As much as I love them I was not prepared for the vast quantity of olives I was served. I'd recommend ordering a starter each and sharing them as there's more than enough to go around. For main course I ordered the Slow Cooked Lamb With Herby Rice from the specials board. The lamb was served on the bone but it was so incredibly tender that the meat just fell away. The herby rice was a lovely accompaniment. Like the starters there was no skimping on the portion size, the rice alone could have fed me for days! I really wanted to try the Baklava for dessert but I stupidly ordered an additional flat bread with my main course that rendered me full to the brim. I'll let that be a lesson for next time, and there will be a next time as there are many more dishes that I wish to try. Considering the portion size the prices are more than reasonable. Two starters, two mains, an additional flat bread and four soft drinks came to £47. The decor is nice, the restaurant very much has a homely feel to it. Service was relaxed but attentive, at no time did we feel rushed but also we never felt ignored. If I had to find a down side it would be that they don't serve Tahdig, but I guess you can't have everything. This really is a small downside compared to so many plus points."