Gheimeh
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."

Alborz

Alborz

820 Stockport Road, Manchester, United Kingdom

Vegan • Halal • Persian • Vegetarian


"Alborz is a wonderful hidden gem in Levenshulme that serves a variety of Persian and Middle-Eastern food, located on Stockport Rd you could be forgiven for thinking that Alborz is as unassuming as it's humble exterior suggests. However, what lies behind those modest doors is truly fantastic restaurant both in terms of food and service. The interior is understated and tasteful, furnished with Persian vases and ornate tea sets, the tables are close together to make the most of the limited space available but this lends a refreshing communal atmosphere to your meal. The staff were friendly and attentive and more than happy to talk you through the menu and explain the various dishes. We ordered the Mezze Platter to start, this consists of four different starters, and is ideal if you're not overly familiar with Persian cuisine, the homemade hummus was a particular highlight being both fresh and tasty. We then ordered the Alborz special grill for two, which looks as wonderful as it tastes, succulent skewers of koobideh and chicken accompanied by grilled vegetables, saffron rice and a freshly baked taltoon bread which was frankly quite ridiculous in its magnificence and is so large it came supplied with its own stand. This was a true delight to eat and I can highly recommend it. After all of that, we were overloaded with food and couldn't possibly consider having dessert and so, asked for the bill, which led to true surprise of the evening, all of this wonderfully authentic and fresh food came to a grand total of £42. This reflects tremendous value in a time where a meal for two can often prove quite expensive. Overall I would say that Alborz is definitely worth visiting if you're in the area and if you're not well then it's worth making the trip for. If you're a fan of Persian food or perhaps want to try something new then you would genuinely struggle to find such a quality dining experience at this price point."