Shiraz

98/100 Calverley Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent 01892 688688

We'd planned a date to come out to eat at Shiraz before the place had even been fitted or decorated. It was the thought of a culinary shift in our normal resturant choices that came with reading the words "Persian Restaurant" in typical gold lettering above the door. "We've got to eat there when it opens" my wife bellowed on seeing the sign. So this weekend we did. On entering the door we were greeted by typical Middle Eastern music and decor, you just can't help but love the slippers on the walls and the delicately painted portraits that probably adorn every such restaurant between here and Tehran.
Okay, down to the most important bit, the food. For starters we ordered Mirza-Ghsmi and Sal-Shirazi, which when it arrived can for all intents and purposes be called garlic paste and potato salad, for that's all they were. Although dipping into them with the fabulous flat Iranian bread that the waitress recommended was heavenly.
For main course I had the Chelo-Soltani kebabs of which one tasted mediocre and the other had a bizarre metallic taste (can anyone explain?), so much so that I couldn't finish it. My wife had the Gheymeh stew which she assured me was good. Both were served with generous helpings of saffron rice arranged on the plate in a style which was a bit too retro for me.
Feeling underwhelmed at this point, the desserts proved to be the highlight. We had Persian ice cream and Rullet, which presumably is the Iranian translation for Arctic Roll, we asked our waitress who rather honestly and somewhat apologetically said she didn't know as she wasn't Persian. The desserts luscious cream was hinted with rosewater which was just beautiful on the Palate and gave a pleasant end to the meal.
It was worth a try and good value, three courses for £42 including a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Perhaps Persian isn't my thing. Have you been, what did you think?

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Comments

[Anne]

My husband and I visited Shiraz this weekend and really enjoyed the meal. We enjoy Middle Eastern food and were delighted to find this local restaurant. We're both vegetarians, so chose the option of having some of the starters as a main course. We wished there could be a set vegetarian meze meal so one could try more dishes. We totally agree with your comments about the bread with sesame seeds, it was wonderful. We didn't have a dessert but clearly missed out!

[Ash]

My girlfriend and i went there last weekend as we were browsing through calverley RD, when we suddenley saw Shiraz persian cuisine, we thought we would try it. As we entered we found the decorations were very traditonal and romantic, as we sat down i ordered a bottle of there wine from their Shiraz list with the help of the waitress. For starters we had the smoked aubergine and the salad olieveih with their baked hot bread which was gorgeous i have to agree to, for main course we had the barbecued chicken with barberrys with pistachio and almonds which was just delightful, and my girlfriend had there new stew recommened by the waitress which had pomegrantic and fried walnut which she said was fantastic.
It was nice to see a family run business doing so well and very classy indeed, i truley enjoyed myself, and i definatley think for a night out its worth giving it a try.... Very resonable aswell..

[John Fasth]

wow...highly recommended...great food

[Jo]

I really love Shiraz and can't recommend it enough. I only wish it were more popular/widely known of so that when we go we're not the only ones there as has happened before. I'm of Iranian descent although don't have much family, so to be able to eat the cuisine of my childhood right on my doorstep is wonderful. The food is fantastic and I've always found the service friendly and efficient.
I wish more people knew about it so it filled up a bit more, eating in an empty restaurant makes me uneasy!