Thanks to Montreal’s large Iranian population, there is no lack of great Persian restaurants in town to taste the flavours of this unique culture. Iranian cuisine is characterized by touches of saffron, dried lime, cinnamon, and parsley. Most meals starts with an Ash Reshteh, a traditional three bean, six herb and noodle soup and it is customary to end your meal with a glass of traditional Persian tea.
This is my favourite Persian address in town and this place is a notch above the rest. The menu is finer and the dishes more refined. Plus, it is a BYOB place in a cool brick-walled local. A personal favourite of mine is the Fessenjaan, a chicken stew with pomegranate or walnuts.
Parisa is a slightly more sophisticated restaurant then most family-style Persian places. The dishes are quite delicious, like the classic ash e reshteh herb soup. Another good bet is the Ghormeh Sabzi, a red kidney bean and fine herbs beef stew.
This great location is eclectic and so are the owners. The focus on meals here is meze-style, which means ordering several appetizer type dishes. Try the Mirza Ghasemi dip, which is made with tomatoes and garlic-roasted eggplant.
Another Persian restaurant that has been around for a long time, Quartier Perse offers some of the finer Persian fare around. Enjoy the lovely decor with Persian carpets. The food is wonderful. Try one of the traditional lamb shanks offered with perfumed rice.
As the name suggest, this family-friendly restaurant serves up great kebabs – some say the best in town. The koobideh kebab, a minced meat skewer cooked on an authentic charcoal grill, is a must here.
What this places lacks in atmosphere, it makes up for with great food. You will often find groups of Concordia students or families gathering here. The food is quite authentic and dishes are hearty. Enjoy a Borani Esfanaj dip, a spinach and garlic yogurt dip served with pita.