What a nice place to meet up with some friends for a Post-New Year's Day lunch! I was brisking it down Yonge street and once I got past the 401 Games store, I had to slow myself down just so I could keep an eye out for the restaurant's signage. Like alot of the commerical places in most of the downtown core, the inside of Darvish was slightly obscured by the dimness of the windows so it was a bit difficult to see into it. But once I went through the door the lay out of the tables and Persian decor was just like what I had seen in the photos in on here. There was one imprint of what looks like a Sheppard or Warrior on some sort of skin still hanging on the closest to the kitchen. But the one item than stood out was this big oval-shaped vintage looking clock which a couple of my friends just had to point about. While looking over the menu I had a yogurt based drink called Doogh which has its various counterparts in most other Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries. If anyone is familiar with Lassi then this a more simple version of it.The only thing that this particular drink would need to make it more palatable for people who are new to it is a touch of honey or sugar syrup to slightly sweeten it. I've had another version of it before, including the Lassi and I still have to get used to strong taste of unsweetened yogurt in it. The friendly and gracious hostess brought us two baskets of tasty looking flat-bread, which I only had the mind to try once our meals were brought over. The bread was slightly thick to-the-feel and the crisp texture of it made me thing of those slender looking bread-sticks that seem to be a rare novelty only in some French and Italian restaurants. But the best and most soothing way to eat it was to pair it up with the dish that I order. This was something that I already had in mind when I was looking at the menu on-line and it was the Aubergine (Eggplant) Stew. For some reason I wanted to try a dish that had some nutrients in it and when I came across this dish and saw that it had a balanced combination of pulses, vegetables and meat, I just wanted to get it when I was at the restaurant. It was also nice to dip the bread into the gravy from time to time and the pieces of veal were big enough to the bite that I could get enough flavor of the meat and the spices and other seasons that were involved in the stew. "Comforting" is definitely the one word I used to describe it. I think every main dish came with a serving of two-colored rice and the Lamb Shank came with a fava dill rice which gave it a distinct green hue and also one of my friends received a colorful garnish of what looked like pomegranate seeds on her bed of rice which a delightful red hue to it. Everyone else's dishes which included a Chicken Shish Kebab and Koobideh dishes also looks delicious and those dishes came with a whole char-grilled tomato, something that I wish was included with my stew :-) Well, having read that Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine always plays a strong role for the dining culture of the locals on special occasions, it was momentus that my one friend chose our get-together to be at Darvish and the food (and my drink) we had really served that purpose on the second day of January 2017. read more

See all

If you are in downtown and want to go to a Persian restaurant and try some delicious middle Eastern food this is the place. Try Sultani kebab and Fesenjoon stew. Don't forget to start with Kashke Bademjoon read more

It has a poor food per value and the food was truly not impressive. Yet it sure is quick. I would still expect MUCH better food for the prices they charge and I would not order from there again. I did not visit in person - ordered using an app. read more

Been there many times, and I like the food. But not the best of Persian food I have had.... There aren't many other Persian restaurants on Yonge, so that's your only bet around there. If you make a trip to Little Italy though, You'll find a few Persian restaurants that I would rank 4 and 5-star. read more

Food was good and no complaints about that. However, I ordered a vegetarian walnut stew and even pointed to the item I wanted when I ordered it. They brought out a plate with chicken on it and I told the waiter that this isn't what I ordered, and he took it away and replaced it with the original one I ordered. I was surprised when I got the bill and was charged for both items and the staff refused to give me a refund. It was uncomfortable having to argue with them for 10 minutes to even get my money back for something they messed up (and I didn't even get to keep). read more

Darvish is my go to spot for Persian food in the city because the food is good and its close to my home. I am not sure how it compares to other Persian restaurants in the downtown core, but on its own I do like it. I normally get their khoobide kebab, which is the ground beef kebob. Its juicy, flavourful and charred just right. Their fesenjoon is also good. The dishes come with a sizable portion of your choice of fava dill or another type of rice and charred tomatoes or salad. I recommend the fava dill rice and the tomatoes. The server--- the same woman who always works there--- is very nice and the ambience of the place is relaxing because of some really lovely soft music that they play in the background. Prices are in the $11 to $17 range and given the very large portion sizes it is worth the price. One star off because I had a bad experience with their lamb shank stew which was too boney. read more

I've been looking for a good Persian place downtown for quite some time. Darvish is just North of College on Yonge, in the spot another restaurant called Tempus used to be. (The shop actually goes by both names: Darvish or Tempus.) It's a moderately sized restaurant, long and rectangular, with an exposed brick wall to your right and mirrors and bench seating on your left. There is a fair amount of seating, so you could accommodate a fairly large group. My wife and I sat at a table for two near the back. We ordered kashk-e baadenjaan to start; it's an eggplant dish I like a lot. I ordered a chicken and beef kebab plate as my main. I always get kebabs whenever I go to a Persian place. It's how I rate them against one another. (I also just like kebabs a lot.) My wife ordered the ghormeh sabzi, which is a Persian stew. We both agreed the chicken kebabs and the kashk-e baadenjaan were excellent, that the beef kebabs were quite good, and that the ghormeh sabzi was a bit watery. I think overall Darvish is a nice place to eat -- the fact the food is so cheap is a nice plus. Most of the mains were around the $12 mark, appetizers were under $7. Darvish is definitely worth checking out. I've been several times since my first trip there and it's always been great. read more

I was a tourist from Orange County California, where lots of persians live, so I would say I have a good idea what "good" persian food is. and MMMMMmmhm, this place was sooo good! I had the joujeh kobideh and tried some of the barg as well. Best persian spot ever!! Super authentic, food made with love!! Bathrooms were clean so I wasn't uncomfortable to use afterwards (since most downtown restaurant bathrooms are usually gross) Loved the area this place was in too read more

If you are looking for good quality Persian food, this is a place for you there food is very delicious, and the new owner is very kind. I will recommend this place to everyone. read more

I come to Darvish quite often. While their food is nothing of the overwhelmingly spectacular sort, it is homey and comforting, and that's perhaps what's most charming about this place. It has become somewhat of a set protocol for my boyfriend and I to come here and order a kashk-o-bademjoon (eggplanty appetizer served with bread), a stew dish of some sort, and a glass of doogh. We tried the kabobs once, but they weren't exactly memorable, so I won't further elaborate on those. Although I normally love gheymeh-polo, the most outstanding main dish we've tried so far at Darvish would be the baghali-polo. A steamed lamb shank, the meat was oh-so-moist and juicy, falling right off the bone. And of course, the juices from the meat were mmm good with the fava bean and dill rice. 3-stars for food. +1 star for the lady managing the front. Sweetest person ever. read more

I hope the owner will take this as a good gesture to help them improve, and I'm not complaining. It looks like a family run Restaurant which definitely needs improvement on the food quality, Kebabs were little over cooked, had grilled pink tomatoes which should of Ben Red. The owner was very friendly, and I think adding a little of Persian culture to their service would go a long way such as Sabzi (Parsley) and onion plus a little feta cheese, showing and presenting the culture it's respecting who we are and the customers. Overall they did good. read more

Absolutely in love with this restaurant. Great food and fantastic service!! Favourite Persian restaurant.

Hands down the best Persian food in GTA! Great food, great atmosphere, and the best service!

The food is amazing! The service is also fantastic. Loved everything about Darvish restaurant.

Cute, quiet Persian restaurant right on Yonge Street north of College. Service was pleasant, and the food arrived promptly. My friend and I split an appetizer which was a dip made from eggplant and other things (I don't remember exactly) served with bread. For my main course, I had kafta kebabs with a roasted tomato and rice, and my friend had chicken in a pomegranate sauce, also with rice. The serving sizes were very generous. The only problem was that, for the most part, the food was bland. The dip didn't really taste like anything, and my kebabs seemed boring even before I was finished the first of the two. Fortunately my companion shared some of the sauce from his dish, which helped give my rice some flavour. He had the opposite problem that I did - he grew tired of the rich pomegranate-taste before he finished. Overall, not a bad place, and I suspect that some of the dishes are much better than others. read more

Came here tonight with around 15 classmates, so we took up all but 3-4 tables in this cozy restaurant. My Persian classmate wanted to show us some good Persian home-cooking. I had the Gheymeh Polo (cinnamon beef stew with basmati rice). It was very good, rich and comforting! Although I must admit I don't have much experience in this area. The service was amazing, the wife of the chef does front of the house and the husband cooks in the back, and she was very nice. In terms of value, it's around 8-15 for an entree. read more

Wonderful Persian restaurant! The food was authentic and the staff members were very friendly. Would definitely recommend!

A very good food and a very hospital hostess. We recommend this restaurant for am iranian eatery. read more

My favorite place to go for a quiet,delicious and peaceful lunch. Best Persian food, wonderful and beautiful owner who goes over and above to make sure you are happy and satisfied. dishes here are perfection. Over the years I have had them all. Music is calm and the decor is like being in a Persian home. Welcoming, and generous with time and hospitality. This place is the hidden jem on yonge street. read more

Darvish Restaurant - Best lunch ever!!! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Gheymeh Bademjoon is excellent. If you like sweet dishes, try the Fesenjoon. If you like tart dishes, try the Ghormeh Sabzi. Other dishes are also very good. Make sure to sprinkle some sumac spice (available in a shaker on every table, in lieu of pepper) - it has a nice lemony taste. This food is more unique than other offering on this stretch of Yonge St. Service is warm and friendly. read more

Truly good Persian food is made at home. Delicacies such as ghormeh sabzi and fesenjaan require lengthy cook times as well as passionate attention from the cook - which is no surprise as to why these fine dishes aren't usually found in restaurants. Enter Darvish - a cozy Persian spot just off of bustling Yonge Street - and one finds a slice of the city. People of various backgrounds, Persian, Canadian, Asian, and American, all in search of fine Persian dining. This place is clearly a family affair. A family-run establishment which seems to have a steady clientele of Persian-Canadians and others who seem like this is their weekly home away from home. Warm bread and appetizers come out of the kitchen quickly and entrees are quick to follow. Try any of the Persian specialties, such as fesenjaan (pomegranate stew) and gheymeh (split pea stew) or one of their fine chelo kabobs. Careful attention is paid to presentation as the food is pleasantly brought out to you. After filling up, treat yourself and your dining companion(s) to a pot of hot Persian tea, which seems to refresh and complete your brief culinary trip to the Middle East. read more

ordered through uber for wings and kebobs. salty and over cooked wings. kebabs not even tasty to real persian food. they provide large quantity with rice to cover for lack of food quality. avoid! read more

The ambience and the restaurant itself isnt much to brag about, but the food is actually good. we we're all pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the service of the server (owner) I tried the kubideh kabab (ground beef/lamb kabab) and my girlfriend tried the Mirza ghasemi( bbq eggpalnt, garlic, tomato and egg dish form north of Iran) since she's a vegetarian and both were good. the kubide was a bit dry only because it had no/very little lamb mixed with it, but the flavor was great. Again if you want a high class Iranian restaurant this is not the place to go to, but I personally care about the quality of food and service more than anything else and would go back again if im in the area. read more

Terrible service, understaff! Food was cold and we waited a long time. Proof of vaccination was never checked! Only one staff managing the floor, take out and answering the phone... no manners or customer service! Never again! read more

I go to Darvish a lot since I live close by and it is absolutely wonderful. This is the first place that I and many of my friends who i've taken there have tried Persian food and every one of my friends has found it amazing. My partner and I got there regularly and the waitress / owner is wonderful and very friendly. The place is very quiet which I love because it takes you away from the bustle of yonge street. It is cozy and very clean, small place with about 8 tables of 2-4 and 1 larger booth type seat to the back. I love their flatbread that is served as an appetizer before the meal come out! I always get the fesenjoon on the menu (chicken with walnut and pomegranate sauce) and my partner always gets the gheymeh polo ( lentils and chicken with potatoes / eggplant) Ive also had the lamb shank before which is quite filling and personally I like the fattiness of the lamb, it makes it succulent. I once bought my sister here on her vacation to Toronto and the server gave us a free appetizer on the house, she is one of the nicest people n the restaurant industry, great place for date night =) read more

I believe this was the first persian restaurant in toronto but what a shame now its the worst. Their kebab is soooo tiny and their rice looks so cheap. I took my non persian friends there and even they were shocked. But their service is pretty good. read more

I'll have to retract a bit of my excitement this time around. I wanted to go and get some good persian food that I'm lacking from back home but unfortunately Tempus didn't deliver. I found their chicken kebobs to be... not what they're supposed to be.. weren't really tasty at all and they didn't serve you like a proper persian place is supposed to! You know, persian bread with herbs, cheese, onions, etc there was nothing! Also I just realized that half their menu isn't even persian food. It's too bad, I guess for a proper persian meal, I'll have to head waaayy up Yonge street to Little Iran (Yonge and Steeles-Finch area) read more

Checked this place out after visiting the Aga Khan museum. The decoration in this small restaurant made me feel like I was still in the museum. I ordered the Fesenjoon which is a stew with pomegranate paste and chicken breast pieces. The flavour was a bit like Thai sweet curry but without the coconut base. I liked my husband's order of Chicken and Lamb Kabob better, especially the chicken kabob. The menu says it was marinated in saffron, lemon juice, and herbs. I really liked the taste, although the dish is a bit pricey at $25+. I also tried the yogurt-based drink with mint. The combination of flavour was both rich and refreshing. It was also not very sweet, which is great. read more

Darvish Restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

This was my first time eating Persian food. I didn't realize that it was more of a sit down place; I always feel like the Yonge strip is just fast food places and hole in the wall dive-y places. It was a pleasant surprise to walk in to a nicely decorated, if deserted, restaurant. While I had a super late lunch there, they had a few calls for pick up, so perhaps most people just get food to go. I learned that Persian food is really a mix of many different types of cuisines I'm already familiar. Still, I wanted to try something new. So I ordered the Walnut Pomegranate Stew. It came with pieces of chicken breast in the stew and a side of saffron rice. The prices weren't cheap, but the portion was excellent. I am a big fan of stewed meats and rice, but what was interesting about this one was it was sweet. Generally, the stews I've had are more savoury, and the difference was shocking but in an appealing way. I definitely couldn't eat it every day, but I enjoyed it a lot. My partner had the Chicken Soltani dinner, which was two kabobs (chicken and minced beef) with a side of rice and a grilled tomato. He seemed to enjoy his meal as well. I will come back, but it might not be for awhile. That's mostly due to the price and the extremely slow service. The staff was very nice, and maybe it's a cultural thing, but it was as if we had all day to hang out at the restaurant. But again, this could have been an off day or time. read more

Pretty authentic Persian food in what looks like a family restaurant. Founded crowed with local people so I though I'd give it a try. Glad I did. read more

Great food, friendly and lovely people, so clean and cozy. The owner served the food by herself and took great care of us! This became my #1 restaurant in Canada from first visit. Highly Recommend!! read more

I love Persian food, and I am in Toronto from NY for two days and came to Darvish because the other two popular Persian places didn't have tables. Can't tell you about those places but this place Darvish is wow, the sultani was just right, delicate and delicious. The owners are wonderful, if you want authentic great Persian food, this is the place. read more

First off great friendly service and absolutely not rush or pressure. The food was tasty but lack the smokiness that I would like with the meat. I haven't had anything else in the area but I'd go back for more. read more

Koobideh is really good. My friend was here for the first time and enjoyed the favabean rice so much that they requested more. read more

Friendly service, attractive décor, tasty food. The beef kabobs were excellent as was the vegetable stew. The music was soft classical... ok but it might've been nice to hear more traditional Persian or middle eastern music. Maybe they play different music and like to change it up occasionally. read more

Peyman the owner is very nice and friendly, He offers the best dish of the restaurant "all kebabs patter" the food was great and fresh. I definitely come back to this place read more

The food was horrible, the Ghorme-Sabzi tasted so different (in a bad way), very small portions despite their high prices. I seriously do NOT recommend this place at all if you are looking for a good Persian food. read more

Great Persian food with very reasonable prices. I'd especially recommend pomegranate/walnut stew.

We were in the area for vacation and wanted to eat Persian food. Based on the reviews we picked this place. It was smaller than expected though the food was good. The kabobs were the best from everything that we ate. read more

D and I was really in the mood for Persian food. We had previously tried two other places - one was close to College and Bathurst and the other one was in Burlington. This place was close to home. This place is very small, but when you walk inside, you get a welcoming feeling. I ordered a dish that had pomegranate in it. It was really good! I had really enjoyed it. The service is good here too. The lady is very friendly and personable. I think, I have found a good place near home that will satisfy my Persian food cravings and I wouldn't have to go all the way to Burlington. read more