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Sumac Cafe

4.8 (278 reviews)
ModeratePersian/Iranian
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sumac Cafe Photos

Business Info

SUMAC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Intimate
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Sumac Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Chris C.

I was lucky enough to die in here on New Year's Eve for lunch with my very best friend. We had such an amazing and lovely experience here. My friend is very familiar with Persian and Iranian food. She grew up with a friend with that background. So, she has learned how to pronounce a lot of of their food dishes with quite a specific and apparently very spot on accent. When we arrived at the restaurant, the manager, or maybe she was the owner, I am not sure.. she seated us at a small table by a window. The restaurant itself is not very large. There wasn't a line out the door or anything, but they were pretty busy. They had a couple of larger groups on one end of the restaurant and on the opposite side were a few two top tables. The manager welcomed us and asked where we were from. We had to bring our luggage with us since we were going to be leaving directly from the restaurant and heading to the airport afterwards. The manager asked where we were heading and whether or not we were just visiting Utah. She casually made Malta with us and she was just the absolute sweetest. My friend asked for her recommendations about different dishes that they offered. The manager was so over the moon and delighted by my friend's pronunciation of Persian/Iranian words. She quickly gave her a hug and they had a good laugh. You could tell they were both so happy. That really set the tone and vibe for our meal. It was fantastic. My friend ordered three different dishes, all of them, her favorites from growing up. The first of her three was the pita bread with that I believe yogurt based spread. The second of her three was the saffron rice with the beef stew on top. And the third of her dishes was the lamb chops. I ordered the one that shows two kebabs with rice and the charred onion and tomato. I did have a nibble of the saffron rice with the beef stew. That was very flavorful. I really liked the consistency and texture of the meat as well as all of the flavors that went along with it. I am not big on lamb so I did not try the lamb chops. I can't tell you that the kebabs that I had, both of them the ground beef, were absolutely fantastic. I actually wasn't able to eat more than half of my food. I ended up taking it home to my kiddo. They absolutely loved it. And I have to say, this was the best kebab that I've ever had. There is a spot that we considered to be a family favorite over in Glendale, but this top that for sure. The texture, flavor, juiciness, it was all too good to be true. If ever I bring my family with me again to visit Utah, I will be sure that we stop here. My Andre was about $20. It was definitely well worth it. If I had thought about it earlier, I probably would've asked the manager for more of the tomatoes and onions. I love both of those. She says that is the number one thing that she ends up, throwing away from people's plates, the charred tomato and chard onion. I love that. My dish also came with a charred, sweet pepper. I am particularly sensitive to peppers, especially ones that are related in anyway to any colored bell pepper. So, I did not take a chance on it. The manager did ask us to try it. So, my girlfriend took a big bite out of it. She said it was very sweet and very good. I had to trust what she told me. When my friend asked the waitress where those peppers were from or what type of variety they were, the manager actually came out to tell us that it's one that she buys from a store nearby. And although we were only two girls having lunch before catching a flight, I can definitely say everything that I had here was amazing. The flavors, the textures, the tenderness of not only the meat, but the rice and the pita bread, everything was amazing. If ever I return to Utah again, next time with my family, I will definitely make it a point to stop here. The kebabs were so good. I know my little one would just eat this up, no problem. They actually would probably kill the whole dish in one sitting. Although they do accept cash, and they definitely take card, cash for a change with something very difficult for them to scrape up. So, whenever possible, just reach for your card. They are much more easily able to handle that. Walking in we were just a party of two but I did notice that the restaurant filled up with slightly larger groups as time went on. We didn't need a reservation when we came, but it would be smart to make one if it all possible. Or, call and give them a heads up. I noticed it's a few other parties seemed to call and do that. It reduced their wait time. Would I come eat here again? I'd jump on a plane to do it!!! 10 stars!!! Thank you so much

Lilly K.

I love this place! They accommodate large parties, have wonderful proportions and the servers are all so kind. Excellent authentic iranian food, ive been back many times and love it. They do a beautiful haftseen for nowroz (persian new year)

Tiramisu
Aaron S.

Delicious food, attentive service, outdoor seating (and dog friendly). We were impressed at the amount of food given with the kebabs, and the flavors were fantastic. The lemon chicken kebab was our favorite, though they were all good. And the tiramisu for dessert was a perfect finish. We'll definitely be back!

Chicken Koobideh Kabob
Mario T.

I've been going here for years and wow the food is so so good! Service is fast and helpful, and it's a quiet setting. Highly recommend for authentic Persian food

Hummus and yoghurt cucumber mint
Erica L.

Lovely spot with a homey and cheery and cozy interior, friendly and attentive staff, and a wonderful menu. We shared: - * yoghurt with cucumber mint garlic and salt (a nice accompaniment to the meal, refreshing, yet rich, though the pita that comes with isn't great) - hummus (good, but standard, interestingly came with a Tabasco like hot sauce around the edges, and the likely think store bought pita wasn't great) - beef eggplant yellow pea stew on the tahdig as an appetizer (tahdig was an inch thick and really fried, much more so than I've had before at other Iranian places, and almost hard to chew, stew is a bit salty but overall pretty good and the eggplant was smoky and tender) -*koobideh minced chicken kebab and minced beef kebab (super flavorful and delicious and tender, the real standout, with basmati and a roasted tomato--salad wasn't the freshest and the roasted onion was still half raw) All in all, very much enjoyed our meal though there were a few elements that could have been better. We would still happily come back!

Lunch menu
Jaz L.

Good Persian food, clean, fast service. My only complaint is how high they have raised their prices. $27 for vaziri (chicken and meat plate) is a bit much specially for lunch.

Hummus
Cameron P.

Lunch at Sumac Cafe was an amazing time. The service was fast and friendly, and they were able to help us understand some of the menu options. The inside was nicely appointed--you can tell they put time and effort into the decorations and settings. The food itself was outstanding. The food was flavorful but light, perfect for a lunch before going back to work. The chicken barg tasted as though a grandma was cheffing it up in the back because of how comforting it was. Nothing was oily at all, and the chicken was juicy. What an amazing find, and I will be back soon!

Fesenjan
Douglas T.

Heard about this place from a friend and it did not disappoint! It was decently packed when we arrived around 8 o'clock. The parking lot here is a bit tight but there's plenty of street parking just across the street. The service was great! And the food was even better!! The place felt a little more upscale but nothing you truly have to dress fancy for. I would highly recommend coming here if you want to try Authentic Persian Cuisine!! The lamb shank and the fesenjan were delicious!

Ha B.

One of the girls in our group took us here as this is her favorite spot to go to. The food didn't disappoint and I finished my plate with no crumbs left behind!!! We also tried the mint yogurt drink that a lot of people were getting but didn't expect it to be savory?! (we left those drinks almost untouched but maybe it's a personal preference thing). Want to try other dishes next. Parking lot is tiny btw so be crossing your fingers for a spot if you come during peak hours. *edited to remove a star... since my credit card was charged more than the total amount. It's going to be resolved by the cc company but still annoying to deal with an unauthorized charge.

Filet ShishKebob
Maria B.

Gave it five stars 4 yrs ago and still do today. Fabulous Persian food. Lovely memories of a sweet friend's birthday here who is no longer with us, happy to enjoy it regularly and remember her sweet spirit. The lemon chicken is unreal, with a mint lemonade, a baklava and saffron tea...don't forget the hummus starter. A perfect meal every time!

Kebab plate
Cole D.

This place was super fun to eat at. The friendliest Persian staff. They answered all our questions with a smile every time. We got the eggplant hummus dip as an appetizer. It was OK. I like the walnuts in it. Then we got a kebab grill plate. This place comes with tons of rice. I would make sure to eat here if you are very hungry, like I was. The roasted tomato is fun. The kebab meat was soft and really fun to experience. Then we got a stew which had crunchy little small french fry-like toppings. This was our favorite part of the meal. I think because everything felt so dry, so a saucy stew with meat was really tasty. All came out to about $50 or so.

Lamb shank
Phoebe L.

The atmosphere is lovely and the servers are all so nice, and the food really blew us away! We started with the kashke bademjan. The eggplant was incredibly flavorful and perfectly complimented by the walnuts. Our favorite entree was the lamb shank because of how juicy and tender it was! The beef soltani was yummy too, and I really enjoyed the koobideh. The gormeh sabzi was good too and I can appreciate all the effort that went into it, but I think the flavor profile was too different for my palate. Definitely don't skip on dessert, and our favorite was the saffron ice cream!

Feb 2025
Pauline S.

Sumac Cafe sparked our interest when we saw that it has 5 stars with over 200 reviews. After eating here, I completely understand why. Also, you know that this is a good Persian restaurant when you see lots of Persians eating here! Parking: Small parking lot outside but when we went at 4pm on a Sunday, we had no trouble finding a spot. Ambiance/Service: It's a pretty big restaurant with two different rooms. I can see this place getting packed during a normal dinner rush though. The designs in the room we were in were very light and grand. Not sure what it looked like in the other room though. Our server was attentive and our food came out fairly quickly. Food: -I ordered Chicken Soltani($27): includes Chicken Barg, Koobideh Kabob, and saffron rice. Let me tell you, the kabob was probably the best I've ever had. It was so soft and tender and the flavors were just amazing! -My husband ordered the Beef Soltani ($30) which included Beef Barg (filet Mignon) and the Kabob. He really enjoyed his plate too. -For dessert we ordered Baklava ($5): also a must get! Overall: We were very impressed with this restaurant and wish we lived closer!

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4 months ago

Waited for much too long for lunch. They have one menu for lunch and dinner. And, the food was just okay, not inexpensive either.

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2 months ago

Greeted promptly seated quickly, and food was good overall great experience and will be going back!

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I love middle Eastern food and was craving a good one. This place has such great food, chill vibes. Their kibeh is amazing

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Zeitoon  Cafe

Zeitoon Cafe

4.7(69 reviews)
2.9 mi
•$$

I visited Zeitoon Cafe today for a professional lunch with two colleagues, and we were seated…read moreimmediately without a reservation. The space is very inviting, offering a cozy atmosphere with a mix of floor seating and booths that feels both comfortable and unique. Our waitress was fantastic--attentive without being intrusive, regularly refilling our cups and checking in to see if we needed anything. We were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary soup to start, which had a genuinely homemade, comforting feel. I ordered the Soltani, and it did not disappoint: the ground beef kabob was incredibly flavorful and practically melted in my mouth, while the steak was good, though slightly tough. The rice and grilled tomato were a perfect accompaniment known that tied the whole dish together nicely. Everyone in our group was very pleased with their meals, and I'll definitely be back and recommending Zeitoon Cafe to friends.

I really wanted to love this place. Actually, I called a month in advance to reserve a table…read morebecause it was a special family dinner. We traveled far. Walked in the place, it was empty. Half of the restaurant was being renovated. People were working on the remodel as we dined. I am sure it will be nice. We ordered quite a bit of food, what we got was the perplexing part. They brought a delicious barley soup, no explanation, but was nice. 3 of the 5 things we ordered were incorrect. I mean really? We were the only people in the restaurant! So many people checked on us to see if it was ok. I was embarrassed for them. The koobideh was fantastic but we ordered two mix- we really wanted to try the chicken. Fesenjun is delicious, I have never had with beef before, usually is chicken. The yogurt was good, needed a tad bit of salt. The gormeh sabzi never came, instead we got an eggplant curd, which was good but.... Overall good food but such a strange experience. We so bad wanted a great Persian family meal on a Friday night. Nonetheless, this place is a gem for the area. Try it, I hear they are adding Afghan food to their menu when the remodel is done.

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Zeitoon  Cafe
Zeitoon  Cafe
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Layla Mediterranean Grill And Mezze - Crab cake

Layla Mediterranean Grill And Mezze

4.1(331 reviews)
3.9 mi
•$$

Let me just start by saying, I love this place. The staff are amazing and well versed with their…read moreofferings, you can tell they genuinely care about their craft. Every item on the menu is carefully made with love and absolutely delicious. The coffees and teas on the menu complement the food items perfectly and make the experience even more special. The seating area is on the smaller side, but rather than feeling cramped or overcrowded, it felt intimate. I cannot wait to return to Layla's!

My wife and I stopped in for an early dinner on a Saturday. They had New England Clam Chowder as a…read morespecial and we ordered a bowl to share. I ordered the Beef Shawarma and my wife got the Musakhen with fries. The Clam Chowder was good. I've certainly had better, like at Market Street in town or at the Brigantine in the San Diego area. The server was kind of stumbling over his words when he described it and until it arrived I wasn't sure if it was going to be New England clam chowder or Manhattan. He proclaimed that it was the best clam chowder you'll ever get at a Middle Eastern restaurant and I can't really argue about that. The Beef Shawarma is served in a wrap that is open at both ends and cut in half. They put a small portion of pickled items on the plate and dust everything with sumac powder. The beef is thinly sliced. I really didn't enjoy the flavor. The greens in the wrap were extremely bitter and in my opinion it made for an unpleasant flavor. Maybe I just got extra bitter greens on mine but it was overwhelming everything else. I didn't like that the wrap was open, I had to lean over my plate as I ate because the sauce was dripping out and I didn't want to get it on my clothes. Eventually I gave up and used my fork to pull the meat out of the other half so that I could avoid the bitterness. The Musakhen (that's how it is spelled on the menu) was also a wrap. I tried a bite and I liked that better than the beef Shawarma but I still didn't really like something about the flavor. The fries were nicely crispy and fresh but there is a seasoning on them that really wanted to be on my fingers more than it wanted to be on the fries or my napkin. Like no matter how hard I tried to wipe it off there was still some of it on my fingers. Once again there was something about the flavor I didn't really like. My wife eventually offered up some of the aioli and it made it a little better but once again I didn't really like the flavor of the aioli. So for whatever reason the flavors there just aren't for me. My wife on the other hand was very excited about everything and was talking about all the things she was going to try the next time we visited. I didn't want to be a negative bummer during the meal but I was thinking she was going to have to come back with someone other than me. The restaurant is nice and they have very good service. There were a few other tables of large groups and it seems like this is a place that works well for get togethers. Parking is not adequate at all. We got a spot but only because we got there at 4:50 for dinner. I overheard other people talking about the trouble they had finding a spot.

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Layla Mediterranean Grill And Mezze - Bar area looks quieter than the main dining area, but the tables are high tops

Bar area looks quieter than the main dining area, but the tables are high tops

Layla Mediterranean Grill And Mezze - Hummus

Hummus

Layla Mediterranean Grill And Mezze - Lovely interior

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Lovely interior

Sumac Cafe - persian - Updated May 2026

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