As a longtime San Francisco Bay Area foodie, I've been spoiled by incredible international food and…read morebold, complex flavors, so I'm always excited when I find a restaurant that delivers that same sense of discovery. Delbar absolutely does. The food here stands on its own--layered, interesting and incredibly delicious.
I had been looking forward to dinner at Delbar Old Milton for two reasons: a long-overdue dinner with an old colleague and a serious craving for Middle Eastern food. After battling Atlanta-area traffic from Marietta--it took nearly an hour for what should have been about a 30-minute drive--I was ready to settle in, catch up and EAT.
I'd previously been to Delbar in Inman Park with a group and loved it, so expectations were high. Old Milton did not disappoint.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous. Warm, sophisticated and beautifully designed, with a Persian rug welcoming you along the entrance and complimentary valet parking--a huge plus. The young valet team was impressively polished and efficient.
I started with a Paper Plane, apparently my new financially irresponsible cocktail habit. Delicious, but these things are expensive! I blame the Italian liqueur. Two cocktails pushed north of $40, so perhaps I need a more economical signature drink.
Then came the food.
We started with the beet carpaccio: red beets, whipped feta, burnt honey, sour orange, pistachio and almond dukkha. Beautifully balanced--earthy, creamy, sweet, tart and nutty all at once.
I let my dinner companion take over ordering from there, which proved to be an excellent decision.
The Bandari Olovieh was the surprise of the evening: saffron-marinated smoked salmon with cream cheese, dill, chives, jalapeño purée, potatoes, Aleppo pepper, urfa, hot sauce, fried capers and cornichons, served with saffron potato chips. I'm not usually a salmon person, yet I loved this. The salmon was mild and delicate without the stronger flavor I sometimes associate with salmon or trout. And those saffron potato chips? Dangerous. I could happily eat a bowl of them.
We also had the koobideh kabob, made with ground beef brisket and lamb shoulder with onion and saffron, served over taftoun with grilled pepper, tomato and sumac onions. Tender, juicy and packed with flavor. Wrapped in that bread, it was almost like the world's most delicious little Middle Eastern slider.
By then, we were DONE. I had every intention of trying dessert, but there was simply no room. It was also getting late, and work was waiting for both of us the next morning. Next visit.
Service throughout dinner was friendly and knowledgeable. This is a menu where good servers matter. Ours could explain the dishes and ingredients rather than simply take an order, and that added to the experience.
Two small notes on the space. If Atlanta is doing its summertime furnace impression, I'd avoid tables near the doors leading to the patio. Every time they opened, a blast of hot air rolled through. Sit farther inside and enjoy the AC.
And while I loved the Persian rug and overall design, the faux flowers and wisteria covering the entrance pergola weren't my favorite. Atlanta sun is brutal on anything artificial, and the rest of the restaurant is sophisticated enough that the entrance deserves something equally polished.
Those are minor quibbles. The important part is this: Delbar is serving seriously delicious food in a beautiful setting with thoughtful service. If you're anywhere around Alpharetta or Roswell, make the detour. This place is not to be missed.
Life is too short not to eat well. Get out there and find your next meal!
Sorry, no photos;(