I'm used to just going to persian restaurants where the focus is the protein, like persian koobideh and kebabs and such. However, this restaurant's forte is in its stews. This place expanded my horizons and how I view persian cuisine. I already knew persian cuisine was great because of the flavorful kebabs, but this adds a whole new level of appreciation to the cuisine! I'd definitely highly recommend the Jujuni, its pretty sweet but we paired it with the bread and its really satisfying. We found ourselves wiping the dish clean, always wanting one more last taste. The braised lamb is so tender, as soon as we picked up the bone the meat immediately fell off. It was cooked to perfection, and the rice was really rich and had all sorts of fun textures because of the added components. As we were ordering, once the waiter found out this was our first time at the restaurant and we weren't sure what to order, the owner came and explained each dish to us and gave us recommendations based on what we were craving. Really personalized experience and a great intro to persian cuisine for those who have only have kebabs and koobideh before this. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Adas Polo + Braised Lamb Shank - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I came here when they first open. The menu has changed. We had chicken apricot and lamb shank Service is good. Food is good but it's not as good as I remember 3 stars 4 stars service read more

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Stopped by for an impromptu dinner shortly after a comedy show. It was around 7pm and the restaurant was pretty full. We managed to snag the last available table for the evening as I saw other patrons attempt to dine in and were told the wait is long. I used to work in the area and would constantly walk by the two restaurants but given my timings, they were always closed. Pomegranate had been on my bucket list for a very long time. Luckily I managed to do just that and the experience was very pleasant. Both the food and the service were excellent. I had the lamb shank, which melted off the bone from tenderness, accompanied by an aromatic rice and salad. Also ordered Fesenjaan, which was incredibly tasty! They had a limited menu available on the day that we went. I will for sure return just for the Fesenjaan. It's flavour profile was out of this world. The restaurant is nicely decorated too. You can tell it's a busy and popular spot. Highly recommend reserving in advance. read more

One of my favourite restaurants in the city, with a hard to find combination of uniquely delicious food and an intimate yet lively atmosphere. I always get the zeitoun parvardeh, which are olives marinated in a sweet and tangy walnut and pomegranate dressing. I like it so much that when walking by will often just take an order to go. Most recently I had the pom salad (feta, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, greens) and the kashk-e bademjoon (an eggplant dip with a tangy and salty whey that tastes very much like blue cheese) served with their house bread. My date had the adas polo, a lamb shank served with rice that is flavoured with dates, berries, and saffron. We didn't get it this time but the rose and pistachio ice cream is also divine. Definitely call in to make reservations, the restaurant is quite empty at 6:30pm but fills up very quickly. Until next time! read more

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Visited for a solo dinner for one. The decor and ambience of the restaurant is beautiful and tasteful. I ordered the Baqali Polo, I was under the impression this dinner would be flavorful but no flavor in the rice or salad. Lamb was okay, service was very slow for only a few tables booked and 3 servers. Mint tea was delicious read more

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We came here at 6PM on a Saturday with a group of 7. I'm not sure if I've had Iranian cuisine before, so I was excited to experience it amidst Pomegranate's vibrant interior (see attached photos for all the details!) I ordered the Shirin Polo with halal braised lamb shank. The rice was extremely fragrant, and the meat was quite tender, but I'm not sure if all the elements of the dish meshed together. We also got the Persian ice cream, which had rosewater, nuts, and pomegranate seeds. It was a large portion size (good for 2-4 people to share) and not too sweet. As our group didn't all arrive at the same time, we waited a bit to order. It felt like one of the staff was pressuring us to order as the table was booked at 8PM (though two hours ended up being plenty of time). Another of our servers was fantastic and super attentive throughout the night. Overall, Pomegranate is a great choice for its ambiance and cuisine. read more

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Two waitresses were nice, the 3rd one not so much. We asked for another table but she didn't acknowledge our request. Also we asked for a second menu and never got any. The food is good. The eggplant purée appetizer is very good. The rice with orange peels is way too sweet though. And the extra bread basket has only 5 tiny pieces of bread. The decoration is gorgeous but it gets very noisy in this tiny restaurant. read more

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I was super excited to try out the food at Pomegranate, as it is a very well known Persian restaurant in downtown toronto. This place is usually all booked up but I went in for an early dinner / late lunch with a friend! I think you can call to make reservations, so I highly recommend doing that. We were seated immediately but the hostess had told us we only had a 1.5 hour timeframe before their next reservation arrived. This was a bit odd but I think it's nice that they make an effort to stay on schedule. We ordered the Maast-o-museer, Gheymeh Polo, Fesenjaan, and two chais. The food was really really good!!! I was super impressed by how delicious everything was, even the rice was fragrant and fluffy! My least favorite was the maast, I found that the garlic was a little too chunky for my liking. The service was okay, I do wish there were some persian waiters / hosts. They also didn't really check in on us and we had to call them for attention, despite the restaurant being very empty. Overall, food was amazing, service was okay. I'd definitely come back for the ambience and food though! read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A lovely little restaurant that I've walked by a few times. Ambiance here is beautiful and a great place to annoy a meal with one person or a small group. We shared the pomegranate sangria and it was very tasty and the perfect amount for two! Both dishes were the lamb shank, but my rice had the orange peel in it. It's a bit sweet (the orange) so beware, but I loved it for what it was! People have commented on slow service, which I was nervous for, but service was smooth and food came out quickly with a restaurant that was about 3/4 full at the time! read more

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Just a warning you should make a reservation because you will have to wait an hour to get a seat, we were put on the wait list, inside you have middle eastern look for the ambiance, I ordered the Baqali palao it definitely is reasonably priced, the Lamb was tender with rice with dill but the lamb was bland, there was no flavour at all, I was pretty disappointed, but if you don't try it you never know, Afghan food like Kandahar is ten times better than this, but people like this place so I'm glad this place is surviving but for my liking I don't like the food, it was very bland big portion reasonably price that's the positive but very bland read more

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Was recommended by an Iranian colleague and the dinner I had there with friends turned out to be a great success. The stew dishes (chicken stew and mushroom stew) were very fresh and delicious. Lamb shrank was as good as expected. Polo and ice cream were such a delight with oriental and Persian tastes! Highly recommended! read more

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After hearing raving reviews about this place, I just had to go and give it a try! I got some great inside recommendations from a Persian friend, and so ordered based off those suggestions. My friend and I got the mirza qasemi to split and share. This eggplant / tomato / garlic dip was super fragrant, so much so that I thought the bread accompanying it was garlic bread! The texture was very interesting; I could distinctly see all the eggplant seeds and taste the fibres. However, the flavour was much less prominent than I was expecting - it had a much more muted taste than a similar hummus. We then each ordered our mains. All mains here are served with fluffy, seasoned basmati rice, mixed greens, and salad shirazi (a tangy mixture of red onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers). I ordered the qeymeh, a stew of yellow split peas and generous lamb chunks in a tomato sauce. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of picking a round, interesting, dark ball to eat first. My initial thought after consuming it whole was that it strongly resembled a Chinese chen pi (preserved mandarin). Only after looking back at the menu did I realize that it was sundried lime - no wonder! My friend got one of the specials of the day, an eggplant stew with some sort of tangy yogurt and lamb. I sampled a taste and hooooly, was this stew gamey! He ended up eating all his rice and still left some of the stew behind. Pomegranate is a super quaint place with lots of authentic decor and pieces. I expected the flavours to be a bit stronger, but the dishes are very lovely and unique! Would come again. read more

The staff is incredible kind and ensuring the customers were satisfied. The food did not take long despite they had a lot of customers. Even though we did not have a reservation, they were able to find a table for us very quickly which was amazing. The food was even better than expected. Starting with the appetizers, we got a couple but our favourite were Zeitoun Parvardeh and Kashk-e Bademjoon as both were quite flavourful, and the pomegranate gave a very particular enjoyable taste in the Zeitoun Parvardeh. We both got Boz Oormeh for entrees, the portions were perfect, the stew was extremely tasteful and rich perfectly complemented with the rice and salad. I would absolutely go back to try more delicious Persian food. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Kashk-e Bademjoon, Pickled Pleasures, Zeitoun Parvardeh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Unlike it's sister restaurant next door (Scheherazade), the Pomegranate specializes in serving entrée stews only. Walking in, my long-time excitement for Persian food was driven further by the beautiful decor here! My friend & I ordered a couple dishes to share and we were a fan of how they combined sour & savoury flavours into their stews, and of course their infamous ice cream! //THE FOOD// ALOO GHEYSI (4/5) - I absolutely loved the bright orange apricots and chicken stew. It added just the right amount of sweet and tad bit of sour with the juicy chicken. Wish this delicious stew portion was bigger for the price though. MORASA POLO (3/5) - Persians KNOW how to make their LAMB consistently right. The shank was very flavourful and moist. I didn't like the jewelled rice as much as I thought I would...I think the orange peel shavings was on the larger side and tasted too strongly compared with the other components of the rice. AKBAR MASHTI (5/5) - saffron and rose water ice cream. Tasted HEAVENLY with a custardy gooey thick texture. Loved the crunchy pistachio and almond slivers with the fresh pomegranate seeds. Definitely worth putting my lactose-sensitive belly through this haha DESSERT PLATTER (3.5/5) -this was interesting to try. The chickpea cookie had a very crumbly texture (reminds me of Chinese almond cookies). The saffron brittle tasted caramelly. Lastly, there a deep fried stringy dough soaked in rose water syrup (it was similar to the very sweet jalebi Indian dessert, but not as sticky). //OVERALL// Atmosphere was great although the service was OK since we felt rushed to leave. Otherwise we enjoyed their food even though we wish they had larger stew/meat portions for the price. They also have daily specials(off-menu items for ~$17) that I'm enticed to come back and try! TIP: You're allowed to sub the rather large rice that comes with each entrée for a basic green salad for no extra cost. read more

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Had this place on my list for YEARS. Finally an opportunity arose where I needed to order takeout, and none of my usual spots sounded quite right. I decided to give it a try! I had no idea what to expect or to order ... The beef stew with lentils was fantastic, exactly what I was picturing and hoping for. The biggest surprise for me was the pickle platter, usually a giant disappointment when I order that type of things, but the pickled flavours went great with my dish. I wouldn't say this is the type of flavour profile I'm likely to crave often (versus, say, sushi) but I would recommend and I did enjoy. read more

The food here is so good, truly authentic. Best Persian I've ever had from a restaurant. I fell in love with their kashk-e bademjoon with barbery flatbread. I also loved when they have Boz Qormeh on the menu, I've never found that anywhere else. Service was quick and the restaurant is beautiful decorated. Great for date night or dinner with friends read more

Note: the restaurant opens at 5pm, check the time before going there. This is a sister restaurant to Sherzade (it is next door). It is more vegetarian/vegan friendly, but at the same time almost every meal has an option to add a meat. Ambiance (3.5 stars): From the first look this place looks like you walked through a portal to Iran, from the wall colors and calligraphy, to the multiple ornaments (shisha, different vases...). The restaurant is self descried as cozy, and that explains it very well. It seats just around 30-40 people, with everyone being in close proximity. The washrooms are in the back, clean, but a bit warn down. Service: (3.5 stars) The server told us the specials and was able to explain the difference between all the meals and gave us suggestions on what to get. She was the only one working for part of the shift, so the service was naturally a bit slow. Food: (4.5 stars) The food is delicious, I got adas polo with braised lamb shank. (see picture) The meat was falling of the bone, and the rice was delicious. I originally was a bit skeptical that it would be too sweet, but it turned out to be perfectly balanced. Most of the people I was with were happy with the food, but were a it disappointed with the small portions. Most of the portions were in the $14-16 range. I would suggest getting an appetizer or desert as well to be really full. For the full worth, I would suggest going next door to Sheherezade. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've been told that Pomegranate served authentic Persian cuisine. All the dishes that we got were delicious! Since it was my very first time trying Persian food, every flavour was a surprise. What especially stood out to me was the lamb shank dish and saffron rice. I love saffron rice. For a person who generally doesn't like rice (besides Thai sticky rice), saffron rice comes close in 2nd place. Their portion sizes were pretty big!! I liked how it came w tons of side dishes :) definitely recommend to book a reso! read more

The service was terrible. They were disorganized (and the staff all had terrible breath) They are not able to provide separate bills. The food was not good. This was a huge disappointment because this place had amazing reviews before. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Toronto. Every time we visit we try to get a reservation in advance (we are not always lucky, and those visits suck). They have an amazing menu, and their specials are so unique and delicious! Every aspect of dining here is excellent. The decor, music and ambiance transport you to the middle east and create an exotic backdrop for your dining experience. The service is solid, even when they are very busy (which is pretty much always). Every time we have dined here we have been one small table in a full dining room, with only two servers working the room. Amazingly the food comes out pretty fast, and the servers are very attentive. On my last visit, we were there for Valentine's weekend (the weekend before Valentine's day). Not only was the place totally packed, but we witnessed 6 couples get turned away because reservations were full. So, reservations are HIGHLY recommended. I have eaten most things on the main menu, but here are the stand-outs for me personally: --The 'noon-o paneer-o gerdu' appetizer is so delicious! Enough for two people to share, it is basically, olives, cheese, herbs, walnuts and bread. I try to take a little of everything in each bite to savor how the flavors all meld together. This appetizer, versus some of the others, which are mostly dips, has more depth and complexity, with a variety of textures and ways to combine the various items on the plate in each bite, which means as you eat through it, you can constantly experience something new. Love, love, love. --The 'fesenjaan', which is a traditional walnut-pomegranate stew with chicken (you can also get a vegetarian version) is amazing. When the nightly specials don't grab us, this is our go-to. The portion is generous, and you get their saffron rice and a side salad on the plate. The entire dish is a feast for the eyes as well as your taste buds. If you aren't sure what to get, get this. --The 'baqali polo' is basically the Pomegranate-version of braised lamb shanks. The shanks are cooked to perfection, meat falling off the bone, and the rice, combined with the dill and fava beans provides a rich, tangy and just delicious backdrop to the velvety meat. Yum! Makes my mouth water now, weeks later. Whatever you do, MAKE SURE you leave room for the ice cream at the end. They have this rosewater-saffron-pistachio ice cream which is a great way to end the meal. The serving is large, definitely enough to share. And it is really well balanced between the rose water and saffron flavoring. Pomegranate also has a great wine list, and the servers are extremely knowledgeable: tell them what you like or ask them to make a recommendation. We have always been very pleased. Last comment, and perhaps the most important for those of you looking for an outstanding dining experience without breaking the bank: this place is a GREAT value. Most dishes are $16 or under, and for the amount of food you get, the atmosphere and food quality, there is just no way to go wrong. Don't forget to make your reservation though! read more

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My 300th reviews for my 2nd UYE event! Thanks Bijan V for organizing this UYE. If not I would have never ever cross my mind to try out Persian food or even coming to Pomegranate Restaurant. And of course fellow yelpers that makes the evening enjoyable! The Pomegranate Restaurant itself is small and cosy. I have to say the decoration is really exotic. I really like all those rich colours they used in everything. The blue ceiling, the colourful tables, the textiles used, the plates that decorated the walls! (good for interesting, colourful photos!!) It was really nice to have enough people so we can share the dishes! As I always have lunch alone and ended up it will take me a couple of times before I can tried out all the different dishes in a restaurant, but with all these dinnermates, I got to have a taste of everything! Since I was not the one that ordering I don't really know which is which item in the menu. For starter, there are 3 spreads with the bread. I really love the bread. It is freshly baked! I am eating the spreads because of the bread! There is also this greeny moldy looking yogurt drink that has mint and rose petal water. It is salty tasting with an acquired taste. Some complains it tasted like toothpaste. However, I find it goes really well with the lamb dishes, it naturalized the "lamb" taste and the other strong herbal tastes in the meat dishes. For 4 main entrees we shared, 2 of them are stews (chicken and lamb) and 2 of them are lamb shanks. They all comes with salad and rice. I do enjoy the taste of the stews, the favour is really complex... with all those spices and herbs. The lamb shanks though are really tender and juicy and cook to perfection. Even as a non lamb eater, to my surprise even I enjoyed the lamb dishes! For desserts, we have the persian tea... which go well with the super sweet desserts! The services is nice and friendly. Though we cannot stay longer to relax because our table is needed for another group of later dinners. The day bed at the back of the restaurant seems like a really relaxing neat place to have some finger food and a drink or 2 with friends! I have to say that the Persian spices and herbs does need to be get used to! I was burping the whole night! :) or was it from the cabornated green drink that I drank almost half a pitcher? BURP! BURP! BURP! read more

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Delicious, authentic Persian food in a meticulously designed traditional setting. Eating here feels like a trip back in time to my childhood in southern Iran, surrounded by persian rugs, poetry, and hand made crafts. What a gem!! read more

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*I actually ate here two nights in a row during a short trip to Toronto. It was so delicious! This is the best Persian restaurant I've had the pleasure of eating at in North America. The restaurant is managed by the same family owners at Sheherazade and Tavoos, three in Toronto. I had the lamb on jeweled rice with a side salad ($15.95), and on our first visit we also ordered the pomegranate reduction chicken stew (fessenjen). it was perfect. the decorations and attention to customer needs and detail were impeccable. so good that we went there again two nights later on our short visit to Toronto. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - lamb on jeweled rice. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I went here with my sister and we were both really happy about their food and recommendations. We will definitely come back again. read more

In the time of coronavirus, Pomegranate Restaurant is offering their wonderful Persian dishes for delivery (DoorDash and UberEats) and pick-up. They post their menus on Thursdays on a weekly basis, on both their Facebook page and Instagram. For pick-up, call them to pre-order. The limited menus include a selection of appetizers, mains and desserts that change weekly. I've ordered the Dizi (Abgoosht) with Barbari flatbread and torshi (a stew of lamb, chickpeas, white beans, potato, tomato and spices cooked for over 4 hours), and Mushroom Mosama with Saffron Basmati Rice (boneless lamb pieces cooked in a saffron sauce with button, king, and oyster mushrooms, topped with qoreh). Both were a good serving size and absolutely delicious. Highly recommended! read more

First of make your reservations in advance. It is extremely hard to go there spur of the moment. That being said I am very appreciative of them accommodating me (table for 1). Food: I had the lamb chops. It came with 7 pieces of succulent baby chops with a bed of rice and leafy salad. The salad is a salad. Nothing new, no special sauce. The grilled tomato is sweet and juicy. The rice was soft and able absorb the juice from the lamb. The lamb it self was tender juicy and delicious. End of that plate was a happy full customer but hey there is always room for dessert Their Persian ice cream (made out of rise water and garnished with nuts and pomegranate) is a must for ice cream lovers! One serving is good for 2 people...that being said it is very yummy tou might just want to order one for yourself and avoid a fight on "who got more" Service was wonderful. They did inform me that since I was a walk in they could squeeze me in for a 30 minute meal (which I accepted). In no way did they rush me. The closest they came to inform me about the next party was that they would be 15 mins late. Environment. It is a very chill environment with dim (not too dim) lighting to create a relaxed ambience. There is a lot to like about this place. I want to try all their options (paired with that ice cream naturally). Whether it be a Casual dinner with friends or Date night, this would be a great plave to have dinner in. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Lamb Chops - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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It is really, really good food. They smell and taste as well as it looks. I would recommend it for anyone to eat here. read more

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I just like the restaurant and want to appreciate their good service. They know what they are doing in this location and their neighbor sister restaurant "Shahrzad" and the other sister a few blocks to east called Tavoos. Thanks read more

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A friend suggested to eat at a Persian restaurant which I was iffy at first since I've never had this type of cuisine before. She said she went here many times and so I trusted her that it would be good. Entering the place early for dinner, the place was deserted and I was able to admire the interesting decor on the wall and the small pond at the entrance with goldfish. Less than an hour in there, the place was already packed for 6 pm dinner. Indeed, I was surprised!! Happy: The waitress was friendly and attentive. The menu is not large, so it was easy to pick a dish that I would like to try. The appetizers were decent in price and cheaper than I imagined for a restaurant. I ordered Mirza Qasemi which is: "charred eggplant puree in a mildly spicy garlic tomato sauce served with saffron basmati rice." The eggplant was placed in a small bowl and it was hot in temperature. I like the tomato taste that went with it. Even the rice was hot since I know the sides tend to be prepared earlier on. The 2 salads were nice, a mixed green and a shirazi (which is tomato, cucumber and onion chopped up with a vinaigrette sauce). I was definitely really full at the end as I devoured everything, except I left some rice behind. The eggplant had the right kick of spice and I liked how it was still hot while I was eating it. My friends got a chicken and lamb dish that looked similar to mind. They both liked the dish. It felt like a combination of Persian and Caucasian food (the salad). Not happy: We weren't able to get split bills so we had to calculate our own bills. Besides the eggplant dish, a different side would be nice to try instead of 2 salads that I know of. Perhaps another traditional Persian dish would be nice. The vanilla ice cream with infused rose water is quite interesting. At first, it feels like you are eating cold perfume which is weird. I had to get used to it, but at the end, enough was enough. I liked the toppings of chopped up almonds and pomegranate seeds. Verdict: It was certainly an experience and I was glad that I went there with friends. I don't think I would have gone there if she didn't suggested it. I wouldn't mind going back again and trying out their other dishes, especially their appetizers. read more

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This is one of my favorite Persian restaurants in Toronto . Specially if you wanna try the Persian's stew . I loved their khorosh Ghaimeh :) The atmosphere is really nice. The waitress are nice and polite. The decoration is kinda remind of Iranian cafe :) You would love the food. There is just no parking around it and u have to park somehow and walk a bit. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I was mind blown by the quality and the taste of my food at pomegranate restaurant. I've had persian food one before and it didnt stand out to me as a cuisine I loved but after visiting pomegranate, I'm in love with persian food. We ordered one of each appetizer to share and everything was super flavourful. Our overall favourite was the eggplant dish. For my main, I got the lamb and mushroom stew and oh boy, I was blown away by the layers and depth of flavours. It came with a super flagrant and fresh rice and a side salad and the whole meal was enough to feed me for two meals. Overall, super great value and quality and taste for the price! I will be coming back soon!! read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The atmosphere is great. It's all Persian and colourful. Service is a little slow but the food more than makes up for it. The lamb is out of this world with the jewels rice and there is a dish with chicken in a walnut and pomegranate sauce that is so wonderful! You need to get it for sure! read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I was craving Iranian food one day so I pulled my husband to the west side of downtown to pomegranate restaurant. I made reservations few hours before and was able to squeeze in for 7:00pm on a Friday. The server sat us down right the way even though we were early. We ordered the grilled eggplant dip with garlic, yogurt and walnut. That dish blew me away as the combination created a very interesting flavor and texture profile. We also order chicken breast stew with pomegranate walnut sauce. That dish was sweeter and more tangy than expected but it grows on you after a while. We also ordered the lamb shank with saffron rice with orange peel. My husband loved the lamb shank but thought the orange peel was a little exotic for his taste. The saffron rose water ice cream was simply delightful and not too sweet like normal incream keep in mind tho rose water isn't everybody's cup of tea Overall I liked this restaurant and would definitely come back and try out the other dishes read more

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Great vibe - literally feels like a cafe/restaurant on the streets of Tehran! The apps and the desserts were authentic and nicely done. The dolmeh was my absolute favourite! To be honest I was not too impressed with the main course, but that could be because I ordered the veggie option. I will say the portions were pretty big. Definitely worth trying out once and great for a date or a romantic night out in the city.. read more

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I ordered the fesenjaan with chicken for my entree, and had the rosewater ice cream for dessert (pictured below). The fesenjaan is a thick pomegranate and walnut reduction; not soupy like a stew or curry, but not solid either. Its texture was slightly granular and pasty (courtesy of the walnuts). The taste was decidedly unpleasant. The individual ingredients on their own would probably have tasted better; together, it became a blend of poorly paired flavors that didn't complement each other. The chicken was over cooked and dry, the reduction was dry, and the rice was dry. At least it was a large portion! On the other hand, the rose water ice cream was tasty, not dry, and had nice presentation. My complaint with it was that it was entirely frozen when it arrived, and as such was difficult to eat. My girlfriend and I had to wait for it to melt sufficiently to actually try it at all. Overall, the atmosphere is pleasant, with an option for one party to dine on a Persian-style bed or divan of sorts. The service was decent, if somewhat inattentive at times. Also, having different servers for drinks and food seems like overkill, and was confusing. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Persian food is a fascinating blend of cuisines from the Middle East - where spices and techniques are borrowed from regions such as India, Turkey, and the Levant, it also (a feature of Persian cuisine, due to its strong agricultural diversity) makes good use of fruits and vegetables. As an example: In most cuisines, you will not see such a liberal use of pomegranate seeds. The Persian love affair with pomegranates are another story, but know that they are fruit native to India, which was later cultivated in areas such as Iran. The Persian Empire, predating the Greek Empire, had a broad reach (China and India were both partners) - and it was through both trade and conquest, that it has become what it is today. Iran occupied an important place on the Silk Road, and this played a large part in evolving their cuisine. Iran also has had heavy influence from the the Muslim conquest, something that is still apparent today. Given all this, and our relatively strong Persian immigrant class, I am often disappointed by the lack of good Persian food in the city. Pomegranate, and its two sister restaurants, do a wonderful job of changing this. I particularly have a difficult time finding a restaurant that serves a more diverse array of foods than just 12 types of kebabs. Pomegranate is in a great area of the city for food, and as a consequence, I have been here a few times. Each visit has been a pleasure. Dishes are beautifully aromatic, and the taste does not disappoint. Persian food can be a tad unusual for those who are not used to Arab food, especially given the sweet notes which often characterize the dishes, but these are usually the unique features that distinguish this cuisine. These three restaurants: Pomegranate, Sheherzade, and Takht-e Tavoos, are fantastic and important for this city. Make sure to support, and enjoy the food. read more

I personally thought the food was good, but the rest of my table thought their meal was delicious! It was an authentic experience and the decor was very interesting to look at. The staff were very friendly and thorough when explaining the dishes to people who are not familiar with Persian food. Not a fan of the ice cream- it tasted like flowers. read more

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My wife and I have eaten here several times. The first time we went we loved the food, and were I writing based on that experience, I would give 4 stars. We found the owner a little quirky, but that added to the charm of the place. Sadly, each subsequent visit the quality and enjoyment has diminished. The last time we went we were rudely told we could only have our table for 30 minutes because they needed it for reservations. The place was empty except for two other tables, but what the heck, we thought we'd get quick service anyways. I wish we had gone elsewhere because whatever the chef did to the lamb I ate gave me the worst stomach I've had in years. The one nice bit of food is the warm pita bread, however, you don't get a lot in your order. Fortunately the portions are small, so you're not subjected to too much of the greasy, over-spiced meat. Well, it said lamb on the menu... Needless to say, I've been steering my wife away from making plans to return to the Pomegranate. read more

Unique and eclectic, come here for the stews and braised lamb and come back because of the great service, cozy and humble ambience, and because who doesn't like persian rice and stew?! Cute coy fish and decor make this an intimate spot to spend a couple hours with your favorite company. read more

Pomegranate Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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After having a set a high bar for grilled items at their sister concern next door I was looking forward to this spot. We were running a bit late so I was kinda starving when I arrived. The place was packed and they gave us a corner seat as that was the only table left. After going through the menu we ordered the following maast-o khiar for app, morasa polo and fesenjaan with chicken as mains. The menu is focused mainly on rice dishes from what I could tell. The app arrived and looked appetizing with a bit of color which is kinda the signature for this cuisine. The yogurt was very light the raisins and walnuts added a nice taste texture to this simple dish. Now for the main they did come with a side of salads which was very bland. The shank though tender was bit cold and was a small portion. Rice was very good. The chicken dish was poor with very little chicken and it seemed like it was later added to the dish and not cooked together. The rice on the side was again quite good but didn't save this dish. They do even have the seating where one can feel like getting the royal treatment on the Takht (Daybed) so if you enjoy that kind of thing by all means give it a try and call ahead for a reservation. Personally I would rather go to their spot next door sans the Takht. read more

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