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.

Hidden gem... Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you! Inside - get ready to be delighted. My…read morehusband and I live in Marblehead and wanted to try a new place - one that served food we couldn't get in Marblehead or nearby. We stumbled upon Sina's and decided to make it our 'date night.' WOW! Did we get lucky!! Located just a 20 min from Marblehead, we arrived to a quiet restaurant, where we were on the late-ish side, arriving at 7:30 and they close at 8:30pm. The owner and a colleague were waiting on everyone and the owner was cooking, too. We ordered: - Homemade falafel (incredible!) $9 - Masto-Khiar: Creamy rich yogurt blended with fresh cucumber and mint, $9 - Beef Barg: Two skewers of ground beef combined with onion, and house seasoning - served with grilled tomatoes and rice, $26 - Shirazi Salad: Fresh diced cucumber, tomato & onion in a juicy lemon-mint dressing with olive oil -- served with warm pita bread, $9 - The evening's special was lamb shank served with roasted root vegetables (a huge portion!) $35 - A traditional yogurt beverage (just to experiment - it was slightly salty and interesting) - Doogh $5 - A glass of white wine $13 - Freshly made baklava $4 (perfect as a great small dessert finale) --- Total $128.48 with tax ($117 food/bev, $11.48 tax) We were warmly attended to by the owner, 'Bejan' / 'Bijan' (?) - the 'j' is pronounced like a 'zh' - like in 'bijou.' He and his wife - and their 2 children moved to the USA many years ago to create a better life. They opened this restaurant (decorated by their daughter) in honor of their late son, Sina, who was tragically lost to random gun violence in 2017 - in Lynn MA. Their son was studying to be a pilot and was working as a pizza delivery driver when the random violence took his life. Truly heartbreaking. Sina was just 24 years old. Sina's portrait hangs above the cash register. I highly recommend this place - 5/5 in all ways. We will be back.

The food was excellent -- the chef makes a delicious gormeh sabzi!! And, the ambiance is so…read moretastefully decorated. You can tell someone put a lot of love into the place. Loved sitting there and chatting with the amazing owner and chef who does it all. It felt like being welcome into someone's home. Couldn't recommend checking this place out more. It was delicious, clean, and filled with heart.

Chop Kabab, Westborough: Round Two (And Still the Reigning Champion). ​Going back to a restaurant…read moreyou loved the first time is always a gamble. What if the magic is gone? What if the chef was just having a flawless hair day the first time? ​Well, we risked it. We went back. And let me tell you, it was a bloody brilliant decision. ​Here is why Chop Kabab is currently holding my tastebuds hostage: ​The Lamb Kubideh: Absolutely scrumptious. It was so tender, juicy, and perfectly spiced that I'm pretty sure it bypassed my stomach and went straight to my soul. If "Lamb Ki-ideh" isn't its official name yet, they need to update the menu immediately because this dish is the key idea of a perfect meal. ​The Salad Shirazi: Crisp, tangy, and genuinely out of this eprld (and this world, too). It is the ultimate refreshing palate cleanser bright enough to make you feel incredibly healthy, which is great, because it justifies ordering twice as much meat. ​The Verdict ​If you are in Westborough and haven't eaten here yet, I don't know what you are doing with your life. Go get some kabab. ​10/10. Will absolutely be back for Round 3.

Few things in life are as fun or exciting as shall I say food?…read more I must say chop kebab is a taste of Persia that I thoroughly enjoy. I highly recommend the beef kebabs dinner plate. Don't forget the hummus and nan. I promise you you will thoroughly enjoy yourself no matter what you eat here the food is exquisite the people there are great and made me feel at home right away. I rate it three forks in a spoon. You guys rock! Nushe Jon Frankie

Charming little restaurant with pretty Persian tea sets and trinkets throughout. Owner is warm and…read morewelcoming. It was a fortuitous day as he made Ghormeh Sabzi Stew, the national dish of Iran, for us to sample, which was EXQUISITE. I'm surprised it wasn't on the menu, but hopefully this review will convince the owner to add it on!!! We also liked the Beef Sultani and Beef Koobideh. Next time I return I will call and ask if Ghormeh Sabzi Stew is available. It's a must try!

So, in the middle of the day on Easter Sunday the three of us decide we want to go out to eat, no…read morereservations, no pre-planning. After a quick YELP search, we called Shish Kabob who said they could accommodate us, so we headed right over. Once we got there, we were warmly greeted by the owner and his wife. The place was overall super comfortable and homey. we ordered an eggplant salad for an app with pita bread which was excellent and then for mains we ordered three different kabob platters: one ground chicken and beef, one lamb, and one chicken all came with rice and salad. I can only speak to the chicken kabob platter which was the only one that also came with a half lemon, and will say that it was overall delicious. The meat was well seasoned, the rice was warm and delicious and the salad was so good, that we got another big bowl to share. Overall Shish Kabob was a big win. We left with a takeout order of lentil and noodle soup along with a commitment to return in the future!

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 always thought Boston was lacking in REALLY good Persian food, and it turns out I just have to go…read moreout to Revere! Right off the bat, stepping in felt super nostalgic with the smells and vibe of the place (like grandma's house). The Koobideh was one of the best I have had ever (including CA restaurants). The texture was great, it had the perfect uniform chunks, it wasn't super spiced or burnt, just fab. I also normally don't order stews but the gheyme was also really good as well as the shallot yogurt. The lady who served us (perhaps also owner?) was the SWEETEST. She took the time to stop by every table several times and really get to know the customers. Also brought out some tea for us on the house for Nowruz, which was incredibly kind. I wish I'd found this place sooner, it really felt like home.

Got really lucky today. Got to try Persian food for the first time. The chicken was tender and…read morejuicy, rice was perfect, tomato and pepper were perfectly roasted. Also got cucumber salad that served with bread (no picture, husband got to it before I had a chance to take picture) - the bread was one of the best I've had. Crunchy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside yet thin. Ate too much didn't have room for desert. Added bonus, our server was very attentive and super friendly.

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.

Simply divine and excellent, no words honestly…read more Just minutes away from Gilman Square is Sarma, which holds some of the best Turkish and Mediterranean style food that I've had in my life. They do a unique, fusion-y variety of small plates that are great to share with friends and family. Service is wonderful. Their menu often changes, but there are a few things that are consistent. Their infamous black sea cornbread deserves all the hype. The avocado muhammara is excellent and creamy, paired well with the burrata. Love their harissa barbecue duck skewer. The fried chicken that comes around during the night is also solid. Other dishes that I love that I'm not sure are year-round: Asian pear salad, scallop crisp, and lentil nachos. I think Sarma can be a bit inconsistent at times. I've had very salty brussels sprouts and pastitsio before.

Sarma is a very popular tapas style restaurant located in Somerville, MA. The restaurant is booked…read morefar out by about a month. I kept checking daily for cancelations and signing up and after a few missed opening, I was lucky to snatch a reservation that opened up due to cancellation. This was a restaurant that my husband had wanted to try so I was diligently checking for cancelation before his surgery. We were so lucky to go just before he had surgery with the children. The restaurant does not have parking, however there is street parking. The vibe was lively and the staff were amazing during our visit. We tried a number of dishes but hands down my two favorite was the Black Sea cornbread and the fried chicken. I would totally order these again in a subsequent visit. You can let the waitress who serve you know that you want the fried chicken as it is not on the menu for ordering. The children enjoyed their lamb kothe sliders. We tried the warm gyro bread and the avocado muhummara. I think for a first time, it was worth getting. If visiting a second time, I would try something else though. Same for the octopus souvlaki, would try only once. The Tunisian brik tacos, which has tuna, was slightly on the salty side. We actually didn't finish this as well as the Brussels sprout bravas. Key takeaway, book a reservation but also check back for cancellations because they do turn up and you can sign up for emails to be notified of cancellations. Service and atmosphere are great. The cornbread and fried chicken are musts!!! See my pictures.

Ariana has ann array of choices of appetizers and entrees. Everything we ordered was delicious…read more The staff and owner are wonderful and welcoming. This is definitely a restaurant I will continue come to and bring my friends. The outside patio is such a pleasant place to eat in the summer.

OMG. Will 1000% be back. Everything from food and service to atmosphere was 10/10. A group of 7 of…read moreus came here on a Monday evening for dinner and staff at Ariana took great care of us. I ordered the Qabili entree and a shared a side of the lentils. Both so yummy. The lamb shank was tender, moist, and just perfect. I wish I hadn't ordered the lentils to share, because I could've eaten the plate all on my own. Portion sizes were huge as one entree was enough to have a full meal the next day.

Only reason anyone would know this place exists is either they stumbled on it or someone told them…read moreabout it. It is unassuming and semi-tucked away; you wouldn't actually notice them unless you're actively looking. However, that unassuming feeling disappears once you find yourself inside the establishment. There is this feeling that I cannot explain that sends shivers up my spine. One can't help but feel welcome here. Rose is an amazingly friendly soul that just puts you at ease with the tone of her voice. Even the other customers are friendly with the way they acknowledge you as you walk by towards wherever you're seated. There is happy banter in the air and friends of the establishment would often show up and make themselves immediately at home. You get the point. You're welcome here. But what makes it so special to me now is always the food. And for what they already offer to start, that states quite a bit to what I think of this place. There are many Persian/Middle Eastern fare in this area and most serve the usual so nothing seems to really stand out. That is, at least, until you order their Jujeh Kabob (grilled Cornish hen). Sounds simple, looks simple, but the depth of flavor and the tonguegasmic moments you have partaking of the dish changes their level in the culinary game in the area. It was so good, so so good, I felt completely blown away. I raved about it to Rose, who then told the chef-owner, and then told her I'd be back the next day just to try it again. No way it could be that good I thought. I had to come back again to make sure it was indeed the case (instead of ordering it for "dessert" right in the moment). Well, I showed up at lunch again the next day for exactly the same dish. I just had to. I was hooked. I was made a perma-fan. As I write this, I know I'm about to do what most crazy foodies do as they gain traction in their mind. Get ready and go get some more. Time to wrap this up and head there. See you around some time. Definitely recommend their Jujeh Kabob beyond words.

I hate to write a bad review, but I have to share our experience, because it was truly awful. The…read morefood was inedible. Grape leaves - paired with the fact that the oils were solidified/ congealed which is really unappetizing - had MOLD on them. The meat was legitimately mystery meat, the texture was rubbery for the lamb, and way too mushy for chicken. I have no idea where their ingredients are sourced from, but this was truly a "miss". We will never order from here again.