If you are Middle Eastern, then this is where you need to eat when you are in NYC! And even if you aren't, you still need to come here! Located on the upper East Side of Manhattan, it's wedged in the middle of the west side of the block. On a sunny warm day you can sit outside in the patio. Inside you will find a huge mural of the OG map of Persia highlighting the mountain and water areas. We spent a while pointing out where our relatives once lived to the "Gen Z's" at our table:) The service was spot on. We had a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio to accompany our meal. Our waiter was timely with the refills:) The hummus, dolmas and main dishes were are incredible!!!! read more

See all

I came here to celebrate the holiday Mehregan. They were giving a special for the holiday, a free dessert. The vibe is very cozy and family driven. They were very welcoming ushering us to our table and explaining the holiday. We even got a photo to take home. Our waiter was very nice read all of the specials, very hospitable. I got fesenjoon as usual, it was very good more tart than usual though, chicken was melt off the bone. The rice with fava beans and dill was super tasty. The saffron rose ice cream was amazing. read more

See all

Excellent all around. The only thing I would improve is the amount of butter on the rice. Most restaurants serve pads of butter and you can choose if you want to add it to your rice. Having said that the meats were best I have had in any restaurant and I'm from Southern California where we have a lot of excellent Persian restaurants. The Tahdig and other appetizers were all delicious, and the service and ambiance was 1st rate. read more

We live in the area and have been wanting to come here for a while and are so glad we did! The food was so delicious and authentic! Even my Persian husband said it felt like his mother's cooking. The servers and owner were also very kind! Highly recommend! read more

The worst was sour cherry rice that was definitely not what is shown in the poplular photos of it. It had almost no sour cherry (maybe 2 or 3) and was extremely oily. The koobideh and shank was ok. The plate size was weirdly small. The service was great though. We had saffron ice cream for dessert which was again just ok, didn't worth not the price nor the calories spent. We also had Mirza ghasemi for appetizers which was basically oily fried eggplants, not mirza ghasemi!! read more

See all

So what makes this a one and done? Let me tell you... Server is abrupt. No introduction just are we ready? Tabbouleh was salty. Overpowered the flavors. Good enough to eat but barely. Mirza/Eggplant dip nothing to write home about. It was served hot and tasted like mashed eggplant. Pita was fresh and warm. Lamb kebab has no stick. No chunks of nice juicy tender lamb. It was thinly sliced thumb length pieces of lamb at a whopping price of $30. Was it good. Yes. Was it worth $30? No. Dark meat chicken. Described as marinated in onions, tomatoes and lemon juice. So naturally I expected it to be served with onions and tomatoes. The chicken although tender was the size of an infants fist. Got about five of these baby fists. Both dishes were served with rice. Server said I had a choice. So we chose rice w dill and favas. But beware for some reason there was a $4 charge for this. And the rice takes up one whole side of the plate. I get so frustrated when restaurants do this. It's like they're compensating for the dish. Again server wasn't friendly. Didn't ask at any point how are food was. Did ask if we wanted dessert. No Brought us a little tasting from the kitchen that tasted like cotton candy. This was a nice surprise. Ordered 2 drinks. A pomegranate and fig mojito. Both were watered down. I can deal with the lack of alcohol flavor but they imparted no flavor of their moniker. Pomegranate looked the part but did not taste it. The fig had one half of a dried up fig at the bottom. It tasted like a fig newton lol. But there is no way to expect it to add flavor. The ratios for these drinks were totally off. Maybe I shouldn't write this while I'm upset. I mean at least 20 minutes went by when the waiter dropped off the "dessert" with no check and never returned. So yeah, I'm mad. If I had a better server who was friendly like his counterparts I could've enjoyed the meal more. But sadly it's not the case. read more

Persepolis - Fig mojito - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Kudos to the team at the Persian restaurant Persepolis. Our 5 person tennis group was celebrating a birthday on a recent Monday night at 9:45pm which is a tough ask as many restaurants are either closed on Mondays or they close early. Our group got there close to 10 am and we were not rushed and warm service was extended. I never had Persian food before so I opted for something safe- chicken skewers with saffron and basmati rice. It was a bit buttery but overall fine. Everyone else enjoyed their dishes and A few items were provided as gifts to the table which was a nice gesture. Overall we enjoyed this establishment. read more

Great place to come for dinner- me and my husband actually came here on Valentine's Day and the place was decorated with balloons and had a cozy intimate vibe. They did not have a prefix Valentine's Day menu- which we were happy about! The waiter brought a basket of fresh rolls that was to die for. The saffron rice with chicken was delicious and I would highly recommend when coming here! Will definitely be back. read more

Persepolis - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Staff were very polite and helpful, the food was cold and not the best tasting. I would score my meal very average. Consider placing salt and paper on each table so we don't have to waste time and ask for it. Salt and pepper is a must on Persian tables. The ambiance looks cozy and very New York. I'm sure it could be entertaining on weekend nights. I recommend you improve your kababs, best wishes. Again super polite and friendly staff. Thank you read more

Persepolis - Inside view - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

See all

This restaurant surpassed our expectations. The service is excellent and exemplary. The portions are colorful and very tasty. If we lived in NYC, we would be regulars!!! read more

I won't let much time pass before returning here. The staff handled our needs promptly and warmly. The entire team performs well. This restaurant boasts a strategic position also. If in this area again, I'll stop in. read more

This spot helps define the neighborhood. The flavors here are unique to this establishment. Their staff delivers consistent quality service! The reputation of Persepolis is well-earned. I completely enjoyed my time here and will certainly be back! read more

The complete atmosphere promotes enjoyment of the food. Staff showed extraordinary kindness while solving every need. Costs seem questionable, though vibe is undeniable. You'll notice they prioritize fresh, seasonal components. This spot has its own personality. read more

Clear some time to visit this restaurant today. This restaurant has something unique. The kitchen delivers remarkable flavors. The team got every detail right. Even so, I'll definitely be back, perhaps regularly. read more

Atrocious food! No clue how they deem themselves purveyors of "persian" food! Bland as it could get! Rice was low quality and undercooked. What they did manage to do, however, was to entirely f*ck up the three kinds of kabaabs we ordered and that, friends, is quite an achievement in and of itself, so kudos for that I suppose. read more

Review of Persepolis NYC - Disappointing and Not Persian I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience at Persepolis was so out of sync with what a Persian restaurant should be that I feel compelled to share. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was completely off. It didn't feel Persian--at all. Instead, it came across like a Western fine-dining spot trying to wear a Persian mask for a crowd that seemed more into trendy cocktails and disco playlists than anything remotely Middle Eastern. There was no trace of Persian warmth, culture, or authenticity. It felt curated for a non-Persian, non-Middle Eastern crowd, like someone designed the restaurant through a Pinterest board titled "Persian Chic for Boomers." Now, the food: * Joojeh Kabab? Dry. * Regular Kabab? Also dry. * Salad Olivier? Easily the worst I've had in the city. No soul, no flavor--just mayonnaise and disappointment. Even the rice was served in a strange, overly stylized way that felt disconnected from the tradition. Normally, you'd expect the rice with some saffron, maybe a grilled tomato on the side, perhaps a simple salad--things Persian restaurants just do. Persepolis somehow managed to make it feel like a deconstructed fusion dish that missed the entire point. The presentation felt sterile and uninspired, almost as if the plates were styled by someone with no connection to Persian food. You could tell this place wasn't for the Persian community--not a single Persian or Middle Easterner in sight the night we were there. That speaks volumes. If you're looking for real Persian food and a space that reflects the culture's soul, this is not the place. Persepolis might appeal to a certain Western crowd looking for something "exotic" in appearance, but if you know Persian cuisine and care about authenticity, you'll walk away disappointed. I wouldn't recommend it. read more

The kitchen's skill was evident in every dish we sampled. The service quality showed both goodness and support. Delicious menu, efficient waitstaff, and employees who seem happy to see you. The amount of food matches what you pay. This spot deserves ongoing patronage. read more

I usually enjoy food at Persepolis, but this time fesenjoon was real disappointment. It wasn't even fesenjoon, barely any walnut in it, a lot of unchewable chicken and too sour. read more

I was really hoping I'd like Persepolis more than we ended up. The staff were very friendly and the service was great. However, the food itself was unfortunately lacking. The fesenjoon was very sour, presumably with too much pomegranate molasses. The lamb shank was similarly quite bland and watery. Sadly I can't recommend this place overall. read more

Apparently is a place coups have been planned... not sure if that's true but the internet lore of this place serving historic Persian food doesn't disappoint! Got the lemon chicken and the beef both really good and it's interesting all of the different types of rice there are to choose from... the Lima bean rice choice is a great one but if you want something sweet go for the cherry one! You can also go halfsies which is fun read more

See all

Persepolis is a great whole in the wall on the upper east side. The Persian food was great and the service was very fast. We ordered the grilled salmon kebab and the lemon chicken. You get to choose one of five rices to pair with your meal. The salmon kebab went great with the saffron and sour cherry basmati rice. The lemon chicken was great as well. The shepherd salad was also a great appetizer with grape leaves and feta cheese. read more

Persepolis - Salmon Kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

See all

The food was good though I am not too familiar generally with Persian food. Service was good. After we paid (when it was too late), I realized that we were overcharged for the lunch special and there was another random charge on the bill. Before to check your bill before you pay! read more

Excellent food. Elegant but unpretentious atmosphere. Service was great. Reason for review: I try to only review when I can add something. Some recent reviews were less than stellar. I am very glad we did not listen them, having been to this gem on many occasions, but not recently. Go and enjoy, as we did. read more

What a hidden gem!! Came here with a friend for Persian food and left with stomachs filled with super yummy food. We started off with the baba eggplant mash. Unlike the traditional baba ganoush that most people might be familiar with, this baba was less garlic-y and more with the goat cheese and other spices. Loved how this warm eggplant went so well with the bread they offered. The bread also comes with this peanut-y sauce that I haven't really had stand alone in Middle Eastern restaurants. The beef kubideh was SO JUICY! I was so surprised because most kebabs/kubideh I've had were on the drier side until I came here. The sirloin meat was chewy and marinated super well. Loved the side sauces that came with it. For entrees, you have the option of picking between 4 rices vs salad. I got the polo zereshk with barberries which was good but a little on the sour side from the berries (and surprisingly not sweet at all). My friend's polo baghali with dill and fava beans was very tasty so I plan to get that next time. We ended the meal with rose water ice cream and oh my I loved the subtle sweet rose aftertaste! It really reminded me of this Persian ice cream place close to my college. The ice cream was $11 for 3 scoops and you can even pick different flavors for each scoop. Staff were nice and food came out promptly. Loved the ambiance because it was a little dark (perfect for date nights or celebrations) but it wasn't too formal that I had to dress up or anything. Overall loved my experience and I will be coming back to try other things. read more

See all

Amazing Persian spot in the UES. My family often makes the trek in from Queens to eat at this spot since it's so great. My favourite are all the lamb dishes! I'd recommend getting a few and sharing if you're coming in a group. Lamb shank is so soft and moist and each bite is extremely tender and flavorful. My personal fave is the lamb kebab where you can easily pull off bite-sized pieces of lamb to eat with their wonderfully sweet rice. I also love the hummus here - it's so creamy and reminds me a bit of peanut butter. read more

Persepolis - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

It's been a while since we had a middle Eastern meal and much to our surprise to find Persepolis while visiting a friend in the Upper East Side which specializes in Persian cuisine. For Sunday brunch they offer a package of appetizer and entree for $22. They first served homemade bread and Shirazi salad; cucumber, tomato, parsley, cilantro with citrus juice that suited well with my wine of choice of Rosé. While my partner selected hummus. It was then followed by ground beef kebab with my choice of polo albalo (basmati rice with sour cherries) while my partner chose Basa fish with Polo Adas (Basmati rice with lentils and raisins) the dishes are flavorful and freshly made and just quite right. We didn't feel overwhelmed!. It was a good Sunday brunch, good customer service, and excellent value. We will come back here and try some other dishes on the menu when we are in the area next. read more

See all

Disappointed. This restaurant was recommended by a friend so our expectations were high but it did not even meet our substandard demands. The decor and roominess of the restaurant are quite nice upon entry. However service was slow and not welcoming or warm. The food was bland and lackluster all around. The gormeh sabzi had no dried limes and lacked tartness and it was watered down. The lentil soup was quite good but cold. The koobideh was very processed in appearance and taste. It was almost like a mashup - more like meatloaf in texture. The rice was saturated with fat - not sure if it was butter, margarine (which would be a nightmare) or a vegetable oil. The geimeh/vegetarian stew was bland as well and lacked any flavor. The Shirazi salad had no onions! Dishes came out very late. The orders were placed at the same time but one person would receive their stew while another person ordering that same stew would receive theirs 30 min later all while sitting awkwardly while others were all served. The saffron rice pudding didn't impress any of us, including the kids which was a big shock. Not sure if the owner's physical absence fueled this mediocrity. Perhaps things were much better in the past? Unfortunately, this was our first and will be our last time dining at Persepolis. read more

Persepolis - Koobideh - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

I was here with a bunch of others where we shared a lot of dishes. The Persian food here is different but good. The service was friendly allowing us to stay there for a long time and giving the person who was ordering for the table good recommendations. I personally got the "Baby Joon" which is Arak which is served with Voss Water on ice which came out as expected with a good sized pour of said anise flavored liquor along with said water on the side. On a similar note, they for some give free Voss Water as their tap water (or they fill old Voss bottles with tap water) which is a bit different. Their house made bread came out soon after ordering. It was tasty though my preference in Persian spots is sangak (just more used to it.) In terms of appetizers, we went with some eggplant dishes as well as the yogurt. Specifically they were: Baba (Baked eggplant purée, Persian goat cheese, walnuts and onion) This was a bit of a confusing dish with an odd presentation. While listed as as baba (as in baba ghanoush,) the ingredients were more similar to the Persian dish kashk-e-bademjan. What made sense then was that it was a bit of a mix of both though not exactly as good as either. I'm unsure if it worked exactly but it was interesting. I also found the plating odd as I couldn't help but think of cat food unfortunately though the pickles were nice. Mirza (Roasted eggplant purée, mint, tomato, garlic, and tangy yogurt) This was better. The tomato went well with the pureed eggplant and there was enough yogurt for tang and texture. I would recommend this one much more over the baba. Similar odd presentation. Yogurt trio . The trio came with three different yogurts. The cucumber which is the normal one you find in Persian spots was good while the shallots were great and the beet one was fantastic and overall this was a much better appetizer. Good quality yogurt. The entrees arrived next and there was soon a whole lot on the table (including the massive portions of rice.) The large mixed kebab was quite sharable. The meat on top was the saffron chicken which was very moist. The barg kabob (grilled filet mignon) was perfectly fine; not amazing like some other places but still tender. The koobideh was very good and quite tender. The meat was served with the usual accompaniments such as grilled tomato (didn't have as I don't like them) and torshi or pickled vegetables (cabbage as per usual) along with grilled onion and overall it was fine. The two types of rice she went with were the albaloo polo (my recommendation instead of the zekresh) and baghali polo. The former is sour cherry based and it was definitely one of the best I have had in the city so far in terms of flavor for the rice though it could have used more sour cherries mixed in. The baghali polo / rice with dill and fava beans was surprisingly good and equal to the best version I have had. The saffron rice on top of both was also fine and overall the rice was quite good. In terms of stews, we went with Ghormeh Sabzi and Fessenjan. The former (beef, leafy vegetables, green herbs, red beans and dried lime) was an alright version; definitely well stewed and the small amount of meat that was in there was tender. The latter (shredded chicken, pomegranate and walnuts) is my favorite Persian dish and I have no complaints about this version (outside of a personal preference being a more sour focused one but this was still fine and well stewed.) For dessert, I shared one with another person. We decided to get their combo which came with a piece of Persian style ice cream/bastani (rosewater, saffron, pistachio) which was on top of faloodeh (vermicelli noodles in an granita made from rosewater, sugar, and lime.) The ice cream was fine while the faloodeh was just alright. If you were to get dessert I would just go with the ice cream but I think it would just be better to go somewhere nearby. While the Persian food here was good, there were a few slip-ups. The rice (along with yogurt appetizer) of all things were excellent with those being the closest to the excellent places in New Jersey. I find it hard not to make comparisons to Ridgewood (no not Queens) which are just that much better when it comes to kabobs. If I was to go back, I would get the koobideh with albaloo polo and be quite happy with it. This place is a mid 3 for me though I will bump it up for the nice service and for the few very good options in the midst of everything. In terms of NYC places, it's definitely a good amount better than the Persian spot a good 10-15 blocks up from here. read more

See all

As someone who is of Persian descent, I was craving the classic dishes I grew up with. Anyone who has had Persian food knows of its great abundance and flavor, even from the simple base of saffron rice and up. We haven't had as many family gatherings since the pandemic which means way less delicious Persian food. I had been wanting to try Persian cuisine in the city for so long--I was really craving it. My mom and grandparents looked over some of the top places in the city and put their heads together and decided that Persepolis looked good in terms of dishes and price range. I took the train uptown with my roommate and stumbled upon a small, clean, and candlelit establishment. I could tell a lot of the customers and staff were Persian, which is honestly a good sign. There were some confused tourists next to me which was also funny, I witnessed them try their first kubideh and attempt to order it. APPETIZERS - complementary pita. I love free things. interestingly paired with plain tahini - I would recommend adding the Yogurt trio or hummus which to me feels more filling/classic ENTREES - Every Persian child knows that Ghormeh sabzi is a timeless classic. I had to try theirs to see how it would stack up, the Ghormeh would tell me everything I needed to know - My roommate got the regular version but I got the vegetarian which I've never seen on a menu before and I was happy about it. I was planning to get the regular but eat around the meat because it is that nostalgic for me - Definitely want to try the Polo Albalo (sour cherry rice) next time but didn't think it went that well with Ghormeh Sabzi. I opted for the plain rice - It was exactly what I wanted. It transported me. Great portion size - (I do consider myself an expert and extremely qualified on this dish btw) So, my only comment was I wish it could be slightly thicker and less watery and for the veggie version, more beans. Would probably give around a four and a half if yelp offered half stars because nothing beats my mamans, but I love to see a Persian business thriving read more

Persepolis - VEGETARIAN GHORMEH SABZI + POLO SEFID - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

Beware! Restaurant is rated a C and does not have NYC inspection poster in the window. Mice, rats, flies, poor food handling....visit at your own risk. read more

Honest review (04/11/23) **$25 lunch combo of an appetizer + entree w/choice of rice If you would like a quiet and dark atmosphere then I would recommend inside. But I liked watching people and cars while sitting in the patio section. I got the Hummus (appetizer) and basa fish in lemon sauce (entree) with polo baghali. The HUMMUS tasted fresh with the perfect mixture of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil and garlic. The BASA FISH was good, but way to buttery for my tastebuds, but with the rice it captured the buttery-ness. First time trying YOGURT & CUCUMBER which was nice and refreshing with the bread, but I would prefer hummus more than the yogurt & cucumber tho. My personal preference. The restaurant was not busy when we walked in and the server gave us enough time to look through the menu and have us order. There is only street parking which is hard to find, but an option is to take the train and walk :) There is restrooms inside too. Taste 9/10 Texture 9/10 Visual 10/10 Service 9/10 Definitely recommend coming to this restaurant if you are in the area. read more

See all

Tip 1: Lunch Prix Fixe $22 (one appetizer + entree) Tip 2: All entrees seem to come with rice, where you have 4 options (basic, sour cherries (slightly sweet), barberries (pops of tartness), dill/fava bean (herbal/savory)). Some friends shared all of our dishes, so we got to try a plethora of options. Complimentary bread seemed like focaccia bread, which was hot and nicely textured - crispy outside, fluffy inside Appetizers: nothing really stood out to me - Borani: this is literally just yogurt, which was nice on the entrees and such, but didn't realize that was the case - Dolmeh: rice-stuffed grape leaves, the covering is fairly sour - Lentil soup: very hearty and thick Entrees: - Saffron chicken: they ran out of dark meat, so we opted for white meat. It's drier pieces of meat and there was some flavoring, but not enough for my liking. - Gaimeh: the beef stew that sounded interesting given there was cinnamon and such. Even though it smelled amazing, the taste was very standard and unsurprising - not bad, just not very tasty either. - Basa Fish: GET THIS. This was the best entree by far, buttery and flavorful fish. - Vegetable Ghor-Sabzi: a vegetarian stew, this was also just fine to me All in all, all the rice and the fish were clearly the highlights. I preferred the cherry and dill rice, but my friend loved the tartness of the barberry rice. This place makes me want to come again and try other things, but might opt for off the prix fixe next time. read more

See all

I came here for one thing only--the Khoresht Gaimmeh (lamb stew w/ cinnamon, dried lime, and eggplant) I had some in DC and was cravingggggggg this!!! There are not that many Persian places in nyc and fewer with this specific dish. However, what made me impressed was not this stew but the Rose Saffron Ice Cream--truly the best flavor as it's so fragrant, creamy, and irresistible! My friend also got the Ground Beef Kubideh and it was also tender w/ generous portion sizes read more

Persepolis - Rose Saffron Ice Cream - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Was not that thrilled with the food. Has the pre fixe menu which looked really good but was only ok. The Branzini fish was so-so but probably the best dish we had. A little dry but tasty. The hummus and the stuffed grape leaves were good. The beef stew is memorable for the wrong reason - we could not finish it because unfortunately we did not find it that good. It had a strange taste - maybe it was our taste buds but it had a sour taste (not like gone bad) but it didn't have that savoury taste we were looking for. The service is good - the staff is very friendly. read more

See all

Sultani included kobideh and Fillet was very good . We liked shallots yogurt too. Serive was good too. We lijed outside sitting. read more

Persepolis - Sultani - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Pleasantly surprised with the food and experience. Located in the Upper East side is a small unassuming restaurant. When we walked inside we were not expecting the many tables with white linen table cloths. Service was very good and attentive, but there were only a handful of parties. We had their lunch specials. To start we had the yogurt and cucumbers. The portion was very large and was a nice compliment to the warm bread and pita bread. The hummus was excellent. It was very creamy and the tomato side was also very good. We tried the lemon chicken and dark meat saffron chicken. Each came with a large portion of basmati rice. This is not an authentic Persian restaurant but the lunch special was worth it. read more

See all

I've been here several times for the last 7 years. I love it!! The ground beef and sour cherry rice is amazing, and have never found it anywhere else. The yogurts appetizers are sooo yummy! You can ask for a shaker with sumac and douce your food in more! I put so much sumac on!! I love that stuff. This is one of my all time favorite restaurants!!! read more

authentic Persian Cuisine. don't forget the chai. Best tea. Chicken lule or kubideh was juicy moist Hot and delicious. i recommend the baghali polo but it made with dry dill and not fresh. Rice was cooked to perfection with plenty of butter and saffron read more

Persepolis - Shirazi salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - New York, New York

I honestly can't understand how this place is considered a Persian restaurant. The food is tasteless, stale, and colorless. Speaking only toward what my table ordered: Yogurt trio: no part of any of these yogurts was made in a traditional Persian fashion. The boorani didn't even have spinach in it. The mast o mooseer was straight labne ... and all of them were topped with shredded carrots ?? What? Eggplant Mirza: bitter, overwhelming. Not how it should taste. Saffron chicken: I can guarantee you there wasn't a single ounce of saffron on this dish. The chicken was barely marinated, it was tough, and it lacked the charcoal finish and flavor that is unique to Persian cuisine entirely. Baghali rice - disappointing. Bitter. No aroma. Also... since when is Persian food served with pickled red cabbage and a weird green sauce? Not Iranian at all... and no tahdig on the menu? Ambiance - no Persian tunes. Honestly none of the workers were even Persian. It really lacked the Iranian hospitality. Still on the search for good Persian food in NY. Persepolis was a strong no from me. read more

Update: Another wonderful dinner at this neighborhood gem. My vegetarian stew was delicious (still wish there was no butter in the rice!!!!). The Greek salad was good, but would have been nice to have had pepperoncinis, olives and red onions in it. The martini was perfect, as was the red wine. My friend enjoyed his lamb shank. The services was impeccable, and the background music was perfect. read more

See all