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They're the oldest Persian restaurant in Toronto. It's family run and the owners are sooo nice. As a vegetarian, it really surprised me because they have plenty of vegetarian options. The food was absolutely delicious! I would a 100% come back here!
Pure comfort food. 4 of us ordered 2.5 entrée and the staff was nice enough to make the rice into 4 portions for us. All the kebobs were great. We asked for a dipping yogurt and the owner recommended the one with shallots. It was really good except for the steep price of $9. Good dining experience otherwise.
From the Persian decor that made me feel like I was in an art gallery / museum / family home to the amazing food, I felt like this was a special place that has been created with a lot of love! Between the doogh, lamb shank, and the warm eggplant dip, this was easily enough for two people. The servers are so friendly, the portions are generous and the prices are reasonable-- a definite win for this neighbourhood!
We went during lunch time right when they open we had 6 people. After us only another party of 4 arrived after during the whole lunch time so it was pretty quiet. I ordered lamb kebabs with rice, it had saffron colour on the rice but not too much. There was a little butter for the rice as well. The lamb was really well done, I'm not used to that, so it was a bit dry, but I've heard it's the Persian style. It didn't have the strong taste that lamb usually have maybe due to the well done cooking. The grilled tomato was refreshing, not too sour. It's a big plate, so nice portion for the price.
Really enjoyed my dinner here the other night. Our server was very accommodating. When I couldn't decide between the zeytoon parvardeh with soup or the platter he made a swap to include the olives. It was delicious and the exact type of meal that I was craving. My friend enjoyed their kebab as well. Next time, I plan on trying their vegetarian walnut, pomegranate, and mushroom stew. The food came out quickly, too. The interior is pretty standard, a casual spot to catch up with friends and enjoy some reliable and tasty Persian food. Prices range in the $20s-30s for most mains.
Friendly service and delicious Persian food! I loved their Mirza-ghasemi served with a side of naan barbari. They forgot the barberries with the rice for our Vaziri Kebab plate and when we asked for it, they were very generous and gave us a little cup full of barberies. I was also a big fan of their interior decoration which was very Persian-themed: Lion & Sun emblems, minakari plates on the walls, Qajari-style paintings, and classical santoor music playing in the background. My only complaint would be their limited hours -- they're only open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights which is disappointing for a Persian restaurant in the heart of downtown Toronto. Highly recommend this place!
Very cute restaurant. The food was good, the staff was very nice and accommodating. The service was good and fast. Really liked this place!!
They open for Persian breakfast on weekends from 10am!! Yelp is incorrect on the time to start listed as 12pm. Got there at noon and ordered pomegranate walnut stew with Fava dill rice and side of salad. Also got crispy rice and Persian rice pudding. Everything was delicious. We got our order to go and it was ready in like 10 minutes. Definitely worth visiting. Good quick service.
I was unfortunately disappointed by my experience ordering carry out from Darvish. I looked at the menu online then phoned in an order. I ordered the most-o-mooser and the fessenjoon. When I went to pick up the order, there was no bread. I said to the person working "there's no bread w/ the yogurt, but on the menu online it says it's served with Persian bread." He begrudgingly went back to the kitchen and came back with one piece of noon barbari for me. The fessenjoon was grainy and very oily (see photo). The walnuts were not cooked down enough. The rice and most-o-mooseer were good. Perhaps this place is better known for its kabobs, but I will not be coming back
It's noticeable: Darvish makes their food with less salt, and that's great. Portions are not as big as in some of the other Persian restaurant ms, but that's okay with me. The food was tasty. Service was good although it seemed that the young guy serving us was learning. Prices are okay. Ambiance is okay -small and cozy.
I visited this shop with some Iranian friends who recommended this place for authentic Iranian food. The interior gives a cozy feel and the owners are very friendly. It really feels like a family run business. The owners are very active in the community, and proudly display a photo taken with Justin Trudeau on their wall. I tried the lamb shank which came with dill and saffron rice. I got a huge serving of the lamb in rich savory sauce. The sauce very salty so a little went a long way. The meat was very tender and didn't taste gamy at all. I packed the lamb that I couldn't finish to go; it made a great second meal with some fresh rice and flat bread. In general, I thought what I tried was decent, especially if they just used less salt. I thought the lamb shank was good bang for buck compared to the kebabs. I'm not against going again to try the other items, but I probably won't be the one suggesting it.
I didn't expect Yonge street to have a happening persian restaurant, or anyplace I'd want to spend 3 hours, but we came in, enjoyed the live Persian music playing on a Saturday, and enjoyed a Persian feast. When I eat Persian food I like to think of eating in the way I did at my grandmother's house, with a bunch of different food on the table. I don't think I realized how hard this was to do until I tried to cook it myself, so going to a restaurant like Darvish makes this entirely possible in a way that is too hard at home! The Ghormeh Sabzi is good, and of course a must order, the Fesenjan very flavorful, and though I make mine with duck, that's okay. The kebabs are all good and flavorful, and every table has sumac on it because that's what you need to eat the kebabs! We had some Mast-o-Khyar, shirazi salad, and kashk-e-bademjan as a starter with some great barberi bread. Each appetizer was great, the persian beer with saffron was good, everything came together so well. The three hours flew by as we ate, drank, talked, and enjoyed every dish brought to use. By the end of the meal we were surprised at the time and excited for some tea and saffron ice cream. No Persian doesn't finish a meal with tea, so you must! I cannot wait to come back here, from Tahdig to Ghormeh SAbzi it's a hit, and from a price point it's a really good deal. read more
This is great spot for Persian food in downtown core. With a closure of a decent Persian food place nearby I was mostly relegated to delivery options which though decent aren't the same as getting something fresh of the grill. The setup is functional and somewhat cozy and seems like they cater mainly to the delivery crowd. Consistent flow of take out with a few people dining in. We shared an appetizer combo. The eggplant dip was very good. Hummus being decent with dolma being an acquired taste I feel. I didn't try the salad. I went for the combo of chicken and lamb kebab. I wish I had looked and chosen the bread and rice option as I can only eat this type of rice so much. The kebabs were very good with good quality meat and letting the meat shine with light seasoning. Service was courteous and they were accommodating as well for a person in a wheelchair. I enjoyed my meal and will return. They are somewhat close by and I do enjoy grilled food. read more
2 months ago
Decent persian kebabs and dishes. Not busy and allow you to stay for a while to catch up with friends. Friendly server, many Persian wall decorations. read more
3 months ago
They're the oldest Persian restaurant in Toronto. It's family run and the owners are sooo nice. As a vegetarian, it really surprised me because they have plenty of vegetarian options. The food was absolutely delicious! I would a 100% come back here! read more
1 year ago
Pure comfort food. 4 of us ordered 2.5 entrée and the staff was nice enough to make the rice into 4 portions for us. All the kebobs were great. We asked for a dipping yogurt and the owner recommended the one with shallots. It was really good except for the steep price of $9. Good dining experience otherwise. read more
From the Persian decor that made me feel like I was in an art gallery / museum / family home to the amazing food, I felt like this was a special place that has been created with a lot of love! Between the doogh, lamb shank, and the warm eggplant dip, this was easily enough for two people. The servers are so friendly, the portions are generous and the prices are reasonable-- a definite win for this neighbourhood! read more
We went during lunch time right when they open we had 6 people. After us only another party of 4 arrived after during the whole lunch time so it was pretty quiet. I ordered lamb kebabs with rice, it had saffron colour on the rice but not too much. There was a little butter for the rice as well. The lamb was really well done, I'm not used to that, so it was a bit dry, but I've heard it's the Persian style. It didn't have the strong taste that lamb usually have maybe due to the well done cooking. The grilled tomato was refreshing, not too sour. It's a big plate, so nice portion for the price. read more
3 years ago
Really enjoyed my dinner here the other night. Our server was very accommodating. When I couldn't decide between the zeytoon parvardeh with soup or the platter he made a swap to include the olives. It was delicious and the exact type of meal that I was craving. My friend enjoyed their kebab as well. Next time, I plan on trying their vegetarian walnut, pomegranate, and mushroom stew. The food came out quickly, too. The interior is pretty standard, a casual spot to catch up with friends and enjoy some reliable and tasty Persian food. Prices range in the $20s-30s for most mains. read more
3 years ago
Friendly service and delicious Persian food! I loved their Mirza-ghasemi served with a side of naan barbari. They forgot the barberries with the rice for our Vaziri Kebab plate and when we asked for it, they were very generous and gave us a little cup full of barberies. I was also a big fan of their interior decoration which was very Persian-themed: Lion & Sun emblems, minakari plates on the walls, Qajari-style paintings, and classical santoor music playing in the background. My only complaint would be their limited hours -- they're only open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday nights which is disappointing for a Persian restaurant in the heart of downtown Toronto. Highly recommend this place! read more
Business owner information
Vahid M.
Thank you for visiting Darvish Restaurant! We are glad…
3 years ago
Very cute restaurant. The food was good, the staff was very nice and accommodating. The service was good and fast. Really liked this place!! read more
3 years ago
Yum! Lovely Persian atmosphere serving tenderly grilled skewers, basmati and dips (along with other special dishes we haven't yet had the opportunity to try. Service was quick and friendly. Will be back! read more
They open for Persian breakfast on weekends from 10am!! Yelp is incorrect on the time to start listed as 12pm. Got there at noon and ordered pomegranate walnut stew with Fava dill rice and side of salad. Also got crispy rice and Persian rice pudding. Everything was delicious. We got our order to go and it was ready in like 10 minutes. Definitely worth visiting. Good quick service. read more
I was unfortunately disappointed by my experience ordering carry out from Darvish. I looked at the menu online then phoned in an order. I ordered the most-o-mooser and the fessenjoon. When I went to pick up the order, there was no bread. I said to the person working "there's no bread w/ the yogurt, but on the menu online it says it's served with Persian bread." He begrudgingly went back to the kitchen and came back with one piece of noon barbari for me. The fessenjoon was grainy and very oily (see photo). The walnuts were not cooked down enough. The rice and most-o-mooseer were good. Perhaps this place is better known for its kabobs, but I will not be coming back read more
3 years ago
It's noticeable: Darvish makes their food with less salt, and that's great. Portions are not as big as in some of the other Persian restaurant ms, but that's okay with me. The food was tasty. Service was good although it seemed that the young guy serving us was learning. Prices are okay. Ambiance is okay -small and cozy. read more
3 years ago
I visited this shop with some Iranian friends who recommended this place for authentic Iranian food. The interior gives a cozy feel and the owners are very friendly. It really feels like a family run business. The owners are very active in the community, and proudly display a photo taken with Justin Trudeau on their wall. I tried the lamb shank which came with dill and saffron rice. I got a huge serving of the lamb in rich savory sauce. The sauce very salty so a little went a long way. The meat was very tender and didn't taste gamy at all. I packed the lamb that I couldn't finish to go; it made a great second meal with some fresh rice and flat bread. In general, I thought what I tried was decent, especially if they just used less salt. I thought the lamb shank was good bang for buck compared to the kebabs. I'm not against going again to try the other items, but I probably won't be the one suggesting it. read more
I came here during one of the coldest nights of the year, so the Ash Reshteh (Persian Soup of Legumes, Fresh Herbs, and Noodles Topped with Whey) was very warming and hearty! The herbs used in the soup were super aromatic and added a nice blend of flavours - delicious. The small restaurant gave a nice, cosy atmosphere. read more
4 years ago
Food was amazing, hospitality was wonderful , polite staff, best area in down town Toronto read more
Business owner information
Vahid M.
Thank you for visiting Darvish Restaurant! We are glad…
3 years ago
Loved the family vibe as soon as I walked in. The server, Ryan, was well-dressed and very nice. They serve you barbari bread as a starter when you sit down. It's on Yonge St. in Toronto so it's in a good location. Decent prices. I ordered the joojeh (chicken) kabob and it was tasty. I'm a pretty hard critic when it comes to kabob since I'm Iranian and my dad is known locally (in Orlando) for his kabob. The chicken was definitely tender, the rice was not my favorite. I was looking forward to fluffy basmati and it wasn't really. I would definitely come back and try other things if I was in Toronto. Definitely a good spot if you're craving Persian foo read more
My first Persian cuisine was in Burlington and I loved it. So I am looking for similar Persian foods in Toronto but despite the good reviews for Darvish, I didn't really like it. I got a Lamb kabob take-out through Ritual. It came with Basmati rice, 1 grilled tomato, 1 lamb kabob and 2 small butter packets. The rice, mixed with the tomato, was really soggy but then it's also because it's take-out, so all the steam got condensed and added water to the food. But that's ok. The worst part is paying $17.99 + tax mostly because it's lamb, but the meat doesn't taste like lamb. Maybe it actually is, but I just couldn't taste unique flavour of lamb... I will keep on trying other Persian restaurant and hopefully will find one as good as my first Persian meal. Food: 2/5 Service: 4/5 Price: 2/5 read more
7 years ago
Took a friend of my daughters who had never tried Persian cuisine . We also mention how koobideh is my favourite and ghormeh sabzi is my daughters favourite . Everything was so tasty and the service was great . Promptly served and checked to make sure we were okay . Went on Sunday evening and no wait for a table . We were able to catch an 8pm movie no problem . We live in Thornhill and have many great similar restaurants and Darvish sure kept up . Will try it again if in the area . read more
6 years ago
12 years ago
I love this place. I always get the fesenjoon. The bread/pita is always warm and delicious. The rice is always buttery and has the perfect hint of salt. Darvish is a small restaurant hidden along Yonge Street. It's nicely decorated with Persian-esque antiques and decor. The prices are average but worth it considering the love that's put into the food. What appeals to me more about this place is the fact that it's solely run by a husband and wife. The wife runs the front as the server, and the husband does all the cooking. Coming to local, family run businesses gives you the warm, pampered feeling with that home cooked feel. I always recommend this place to friends. Definitely my favorite Persian spot in Toronto! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
10 years ago
Walked by this place all the time and always intrigued so when a gf wanted to get tgt I suggested this place. It's a small (about 5 tables that seats 4 each) almost look like family-operated eatery. We sat next to this lady who I suspected to be the owner as she was working in her laptop but also helped out the waitress. The decor is minimal but cozy. There's a cart sitting at the corner which I suspected to be for lunch buffet. For app, we ordered the house made yogurt mixed with mint and rose petals. It came with a bread basket. The yogurt was creamy and substantial. The smell of rose is wonderful. I didn't taste the mint so much. The bread also looked house made. I don't know what is called but it was fluffy inside and slightly crispy outside with the sweetness that's kinda like cornbread. I actually like the bread better with the butter...the yogurt? I could eat it on its own. I had the pomegranate walnut stew which was amazing. I wish there was more of it coz I had more rice than I can read the stew with. It has a vegetarian version as well. For the regular version it came with chunks of chicken. It's almost like curry but with different species range from the Indian ones. My friend had the koobideh and lamb shish kabob which she liked very much as well. For dessert we got faloodeh, which is rosewater sorbet topped with vermicelli. This is a very refreshing dessert which I think will be great for summer. Overall we liked this place. The only down was their alcohol selection is very basic- beer, red or white, kinda deal. When asked what kind of Red or white do they have the waitress looked confused. Though I suspect this is not the kind of place for drinks anyways. They do have a variety of tea. I really wish I had more room to try the Persian tea but maybe next time lol... read more
It was my first time trying Persian food and I was not disappointed! I had chicken with walnut and pomegranate - it was oddly sweet yet delicious and I couldn't stop eating it! My sister had the lamb shank and oh boy it fell off the bone. Speaking of perfect dishes! The lamb shank is milder than the chicken dish I had but it was still good. Will definitely come back for more Persian food. read more
Been here twice. Had the steamed chicken leg with barberry rice and the chicken kebab with rice. It was ok, but the chicken kebab was only available in white meat and I far prefer dark, so it could be much better. The chicken leg was a little bland but not bad at at all. The barberry rice was very tart - not my cup of tea but I'm sure a lot of people would like it. The kebab was quite good flavour-wise - the spices were subtle but nice. However, it was much dryer than if it were made of dark meat. The meal also comes with awesome flat-ish bread and butter. Service is friendly, though not super attentive. This place is more formal than all the Persian eateries I'm used to going to at Yonge & Finch/Steeles (aptly named Tehranto, lol). The settings are homey, it's a cozy little sit-down restaurant, and the prices are a little higher than the aforementioned places accordingly. The best thing about this place is the location. I would personally prefer to trek all the way to Yonge & Finch/Steeles though! read more
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More info about Darvish Restaurant
508 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 1X9
Canada
Bay Street Corridor, Downtown Core
Directions
(416) 929-8893
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http://darvishrestaurant.ca
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