Just Excellent! Simple, no frills restaurant with comfortable atmosphere, friendly, hard-working…read morestaff and very authentic, delicious food. I've been going to this restaurant for years. It has only improved and the recent changes to menu and decor are even better. Thanks for being a true neighborhood staple. Keep up the great work!

The guy behind the counter but once going in the place is a bit run down. I could tell it seem…read morebetter days and would be helpful if they patched up the bottom drywall and fixed some of the flooring. But the main part: the food. I ordered the mixed Shawarma, which is lamb and veef inside. The meat wasn't juicy or flavorful enough, though there were spices that were added to it. Then the spice themselves didn't complement. The shawarma is well as I wanted it to. I like my pita to be extra crispy so it was a bit pale in comparison. And the first photo I took was at the end, which all I got was a big bite of pita rolled up. I take decently big bites too, so it was surprising I didn't bite into anything else. Their garlic sauce very good so that I'd recommend but the other items on the menu, aside from a salad, dish or plates, seem to Americanized.

Roksana's Persian Food Saved Our Graduation Celebration…read more I cannot thank Roksana's Persian Food enough. After another restaurant (Caspian Persian Cuisine) unexpectedly cancelled our graduation event catering at the last minute, we were left scrambling just hours before a gathering of 40 people. It was a stressful situation, and we honestly weren't sure how we were going to pull it off. Then we found Roksana's. Despite the extremely short notice, they immediately understood the urgency, stepped up, and delivered. The entire order was prepared on time, complete, and exactly what we needed. They even threw in a few extras, which was an incredibly thoughtful gesture during an already chaotic day. And the food? Absolutely incredible! Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Our guests loved it, and several people asked where the food came from. What could have been a disaster turned into a memorable celebration thanks to their professionalism, generosity, and outstanding food. It's easy to provide good service when everything goes according to plan. It's much harder to rise to the occasion when someone needs help at the last minute. Roksana's did exactly that. We are immensely appreciative and grateful. They didn't just cater our event. They saved it. Highly recommended, and we will absolutely be back.

This place is only take-out. The people on the staff are hospitable. I have been to this place…read moretwice. Twice we had the beef koobideh and twice we were left unimpressed. The koobideh was more eggy than it was beefy. It almost felt like that there was barely any beef in the koobideh. The second time we also had beef soltany, to give another item a try. This item was alright. You could taste the pomegranate molasses in the soltany. While the flavor was pleasant, I was expecting more char from the kebab (especially from the sugars in the pomegranate molasses) and for the meat to be more tender, after the staff hyped up this particular item. I also don't think that the price of $29 for this item was justified.

My husband and I went to Boston Shawarma house for a late lunch. I didn't quite know what to expect…read morebut now I am very glad I went. We started with the chicken pie it was very spicy, and the crust was very crisp It was good but a little more spice than I expected. I had the lamb Shawarma with tahini sauce. It was a very big sandwich and also very delicious. My husband had the chicken Shawarma sandwich which was just as large, but he had the garlic sauce and I think he wished he had the tahini sauce but then again it was very large The vegetables in the sandwiches were very fresh and crisp The owner gave us each of complementary falafel that was also very good If we are in the area again, we definitely will go back

Hard to believe they have 4.5 stars…read more The food is meh and overpriced. We had a veg combo plate, falafel/tabouleh sandwich and shawarma/fries/cheese sandwich. Also had a side of foul moudamas, and spinach/feta pie. The foul moudamas was so salty, it was inedible. The spinach feta pie was ok, but we were expecting two pieces as that is what is shown in the picture, but there was only one. The combo plate is fine. Grape leaves were mushy. Falafel is pretty good as is the tahini sauce. The salad is overdressed. Hummus good, but the spicy muhamara is overpowering on top of it. The sandwiches are large, but not great. Shawarma was mushy and the garlic sauce was more like thick garlic paste, needed to be mixed with something to be edible. The order was ready very quickly, I'll give them that. I would not go back, just not worth it.

Experience or training does not always change a person's initial reflex to certain situations…read more After all these years of food travels, or being immersed deeply in the culinary industry, I still often feel this immediate hesitance (or doubt) when entering an empty establishment. It doesn't matter that previous "walk/drive-bys" have seen fully seated tables. It's always in that moment of walking in and wondering if something had happened that I may just have missed. As per usual, I drift to the first comfortable spot, take a deep breath, and realign my thoughts as to why I was even there. Right. I'm hungry and I've been wanting to check out this spot since the very first night I drove by it months ago when exploring the area after the move. Two guys - two very different demeanors. One very friendly and welcoming (thank you). The other...well, uncomfortable (thank you too). I won't deliberate too much on it as the very Asian thing to say is...the food is what really matters. ***What a long-winded way to start this review but so much passed through my mind from the moment I got there, to ordering, and to getting my food. I lost track of time but the quietness there allowed me to recollect myself from another harsh culinary week to remember what mattered most.*** First bite in the every last bit, my eyes somewhat rolled out of their sockets. I don't know what it is. It wasn't perfect but it was good. There were places for correction but easily overlooked. So many unnecessary words to flow out but blocked by more bits of food shoveled in. Let this be what I choose to remember this place: I'm going to eat your whole menu, over time, several, several times over just because it's that darn good. Really moist and flavorful chicken. Really moist and flavorful beef koobideh and kebabs. Gosh, I seriously need more...and I shall. Thank you and see you soon.

This spot is run by a kind older gentleman. There are about 8 tables. There are huge windows and…read morelots of light. It is table service. The food is cooked to perfection. The chicken is juicy and flavorful. Rice is delicious and the yogurt dip was perfectly seasoned.

Weird. That's all I can say. If you're in the Brigham hospital area, this is an option in the food…read morehall. Imagine a gyro but as a burrito. I went here so you don't have to.

Convenient and affordable. It was a solid bowl taste-wise, but nothing particularly stood-out. Good…read morevalue for the portion size--had a sizeable amount of leftovers. A nice, quick meal

We landed in Boston yesterday for the World Cup, this is our first time in Boston …read more I ordered Indian food which was amazing and the rest of the family had pizza and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend everyone to visit in this restaurant

Literally the best pizza in Boston. You won't even know it's vegetarian! The service is immaculate,…read moreand the staff are extremely patient, especially with a restaurant full of children. I love the environment of this place, and it's super relaxing to enjoy even when busy.

I find myself traveling from Boston, just to get a taste of their Persian food…read more Everyone is so kind and hospitable!! I have had a bunch of their dishes and the 2 that stick out to me is the Kabab Koobideh and the Gheymeh Bademjoon! A great 3rd party space to meet other Iranians aswell! Their store front next to the restaurant has everything you could ever want to!!

We had a business lunch at Cafe Vanak in Belmont and were extremely pleased with our overall…read moreexperience. Vanak is small, with only 6 tables, though we noticed a brisk take out trade during our 3 hour visit. Vanak is not fancy and one needs to know that a visit here is entirely about great Persian fare. Be prepared to either wait for a table or to settle for take out. Reservations are strongly recommended. Vanak has an impressive menu covering beef, lamb, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes. Everything is authentic and is served with a more than generous portion of rice. The difference in dishes isn't just the protein; there are at least ten different seasoned rice on offer. Our entrees were shared by four people and three dishes were more than enough. The Lamb Shank with Fava Bean and Dill Rice is exceptional. The shank was slow simmered and the ample amount of meat was melt-in-your mouth delicious. The Dill Rice is uniquely seasoned and we highly recommend this dish. Chicken with Barberry and Saffron Rice is another interesting dish. The quarter chicken is also slow cooked and nicely savory. The Barberry adds an interesting taste profile to what would otherwise be a standard Persian dish. No Persian meal would be complete without Koobideh Kababs and Vanak's rendition is very nicely seasoned. The Kababs were served on a bed of Sangak, the rustic Perisan wheat bread. We finished with baklava which was topped with chopped pistachios and Saffron ice cream. The servings here are authentic and generously portioned. Vanak offers a unique change of pace for lunch which we recommend.

I appreciate that they allow substitutions without extra charge. For example, I ordered the tom kha…read moresoup without chicken, instead add broccoli and they did that without an extra fee. So nice of them! And I like that they clarified things with me to make sure they got my order right when I placed it on the phone, such as asking for mild spiciness. Their food also tastes very healthy and light (very little added oil thankfully) while still being flavorful. I really appreciate how nice their staff is - that makes me a loyal customer.

Love that there's a Thai Halal spot add to the Boston food scene!…read more Ordered takeaway and got a few things: -Pad see ewe: just the right balance of umami, crunch, and spice in the noodles, good balance of noodle to veggies. The lime gave it just the brightness it needed -Pad Thai with chicken: another excellent dish, the noodles were balanced (not too sweet either) -soup: this was the home run. Super delicious, aromatic, and flavorful broth, excellent assortment of veggies. Do note: the meat seems to be on-bone, and there are some solid spices that come in the soup. Doesn't bother me, but for those who aren't used to it, it may be a hassle. It came with rice which is a nice touch! Loved the packaging of everything - very thoughtful and kept all food hot despite delivery!