Went to this spot twice in the past week and everything was surprising! The food, the service, the…read moreviber were all top-tier among the Middle Eastern restaurants I have tried in Atlanta.
For food, I have tried complimentary Sabzi plate, Zafron Special, Grilled Chicken Wings, Khoresh Badenjoon and Lubia Polo. I will describe them detailly below.
1. Sabzi: sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, walnuts, herbs, feta. Served with perfectly baked Naan
2. Zafron Special: an interesting app with mashed eggplant, diced mango, chopped green onions, herbs, and chili oil. Had a refreshing heat and sweetness. Perhaps the spiciest dish I've ever had in Persian restaurants!
3. Wings: I have tried the wings in Delbar, Divan and Yalda before, but Zafron's were just next-level. Perfectly coated in Saffron marinade, nicely charred, amazingly crispy skin and juicy meat. The side sauce was sweet and slightly spicy, whcih paired well with the wings.
4. Khoresh Badenjoon: Basically beef, eggplant and tomato stew. Compared to the similar items in Rumi's, Delbar and Sufi's, this one has the boldest flavor. It does not have beans (so good for a FODMAP control diet) and used lots of dried limes and (whole) cardamoms, which created a very bright, sour base. Compared to Rumi's and Sufi's version, this one also had more, and larger chunks of beef, which gave more texture when you take a bite. The eggplant was delicious, but I wish it could be skin-on like the one in Delbar.
5. Lubia Polo: Basically green beans and diced beef cooked with rice. I only had Lubia Polo in Rumi's Sandy Springs before. In comparison, this one had more beef, and slightly less salty, but did not have as much tomato paste.
**Note** the comparisons are only for the purpose of a clearer description of the dishes.
For service, the waiting time for both food and check were reasonable, and the staff were all friendly. During my second visit my server gave me 0.5lb of baked naan and extra Sabzi when I asked for a to-go box for just the leftovers...
For vibe, it was quieter than many other popular Persian restaurants (but I like more noise haha), and thus walk-ins are possible. The trees inside the restaurant were beautiful.
In short, highly recommended. I will definitely visit again to discover more dishes!