So happy we decided to stop here for dinner. My family and I were headed to Towson for a franchised experience when we saw the highly rated but physically nondescript Villagio Cafe. Villagio is of the cadre of restaurants bringing other worlds to homes in America. Mr girls had never had Persian food but the basmati rice and flavorful tender kebabs were familiar. We loved the hummus and mast-o-khyar, the Anneslie family tour entree and the saffron pistachio ice cream. We even took an extra order home. Will absolutely be back, and highly recommend. Or server was attentive, kind and helpful. The ambiance was intimate, clean and cozy! read more

Food is amazing. I'm so glad it's in our neighborhood. And if it isn't in your neighborhood, it's worth the drive to come over here and check it out. read more

Some of the best Persian food I've ever had! First, ambiance was fantastic in the restaurant. Nice lighting, good service. The restaurant is on the smaller side but not so much that you're breathing down the next tables neck. The appetizer sampler cost $20 and was a fantastic sharing option for friends - came with fresh oven baked bread that was refilled free of charge. I especially loved their hummus. I ordered the Koobideh Kebab (ground beef), which was tender, juicy, and large. The rice also was light and flavorful. I only wish the dish came with a few veggies on the side and some tzatziki sauce but you can ask (and probably pay) for it. My friends enjoyed their salmon and lamb kebab. I tried my husbands Fessenjan, a sweet and sour chicken stew. It was sweet and delicious and came in a large portion and with rice. All in all, a fantastic place! Only tricky part can be parking, but there's metered street parking up front and free neighborhood parking nearby. read more

Villagio Cafe - Appetizer Platter - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My friend found this lunch spot for us. It wasn't too busy when we arrived but the longer we dined there, the busier it got. It's a lowkey casual restaurant. We ordered a few items to share. We got the Chicken Eggplant, grilled onions, and Idlewylde. They also brought out complimentary pita bread with butter. I don't believe I've had Persian food before but wow, was it all delicious. The kebabs were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. We even ended up getting their ice cream which was great. It was creamy and I enjoyed the pistachios in them. Service was fine but the food was great. We really enjoyed everything we got! read more

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First, this place is low key and has a family vibe. Recommend making reservations as they have many tables reserved, and you can tell they are local repeat visitors! The serve was perfect. Ava was so pleasant and friendly, coming at the right times to check on us. The hummus and baba ganoush were so good, we had to order extra pita to scoop it all up! The rack of lamb was good, but not my favorite. While good, I'm not a fan of that much sauce. Husband was happy with them! Looking around I'd definitely try the kabobs on our next trip. It is BYOB, which I appreciate'! read more

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This place has been recommended by many friends, and it overall met our expectation. 5 stars on service: the hostess and server were super friendly and attentive. In terms of the food, it was tasty! The hummus appetizer was excellent. For the main meal I got the lamb and my husband the beef. The servings were fairly big (but mostly the rice and vegetables). I did love all the flavor profiles and appreciate that it is Persian food as it is harder to find. Overall I found the food to be delicious, but it seemed just a tad expensive for what it is. The decorations of the place are a bit antiquated with art that doesn't necessarily match the theme (Parisian art?) as well as some strange devices on top of a wall (maybe some sort of drying fan thing) that took away from the eating experience. Overall, I did like the food and would love to return. read more

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The food here was excellent. The service was prompt and courteous. Overall we had a good time dining in this establishment.

Amazing Persian restaurant in Towson... the best Persian food in the area. You have to go to DC to find as good or better. The Koobideh is the best in the area. The tahdig is also superb. The Khoresh are all very well executed, and travel well. The rice is usually top notch as is the naan. You get grilled tomato with your order, but we always order extra, as they are usually on the small side. I highly recommend the mast-o-Khiar and mast-o-mosir. In terms of appetizers, they serve a good hummus and a great baba ghanoush. Personally since hummus is so ubiquitous at Mediterranean restaurants everywhere I recommend you go with the baba ghanoush. They do a decent Salad Olivier (Viggie Olovieh) but honestly it's not worth skipping over other dishes to get. I would order one for the table to share after everyone gets the entree and apps they want ordered if you want to try it. read more

Villagio has the most wonderful food. We had take out for Valentines Day, it was fantastic. The mushroom soup is the best I have ever had. We love the beef Koobideh Kebab which can feed us for several more meals with saffron scented basmati rice. We also got a Greek salad which was great. You can not go wrong with this little gem tucked in a row of stores on York Road surrounded by so many awesome communities. They even named some of their dishes after our community Rodgers Forge and others. It is great for walking to. The people working there are so kind. What else can you ask for? Thank you Villagio for being an awesome part of our community! read more

Our second visit to Villagio in two weeks. Wonderful service continues. We were seated quickly and enjoyed another fabulous dinner selection even though it was a busy Saturday night and we hadn't made a reservation. Our waitperson remembered us from our initial experience at the restaurant and amazingly recalled my order ! Exemplary staff. Cudos for outstanding service and food quality. read more

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My family and I love coming to Villagio for their flavorful, fresh and delicious food. Its a small place but we typically make reservations ahead of time and never had a problem. The service and food here are amazing. Portion sizes are large and great for sharing. We always get a variety of dishes including the kabobs, salad, soups, and stews. You can't go wrong with anything from the menu. Parking is street parking and can sometimes be crowded but nothing more than a block or two. Highly recommend this place for dining and even take out! read more

Villagio Cafe - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Such a gem! My favorite spot for Persian food by far. My family and I often order take-out from here and the service is great and our order is always ready on time. The eggplant appetizer dish is amazing, and you can't go wrong with any of the kebab platters. My favorite is their rice with dried fruits, it's so fluffy. I always have to get a meal here when I visit my family in Baltimore. read more

The food in this establishment is totally delicious! Ambiance isn't much but service was good and frequently when I've been there Owner stops at table! Impressive! Well worth a visit but it is a small establishment would recommend going at an off time. read more

This place was hopping! Glad we made a reservation for our girls dinner. The server was so friendly and the food was delicious. BYOB. A fun, cozy, casual atmosphere! read more

Villagio Cafe - App - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Love the atmosphere it was packed and everybody had a great time. We ordered all kinds of food we never had or heard of, and Turkish coffee and baklava. The food is so good, and the service is friendly and in places like this we ask a lot of questions to learn about the food, the culture, etc. This is one of my favorite spots in the area. Next time I'll ask why the restaurant sounds Italian. Cause back I will be. The pomegranate dish with walnuts, I believe it's a stew was yummy! read more

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Excellent doogh, very very good. Wish I could say the same about the kabob. Kabob barg as well as beef and lamb koobideh were all missing something and underseasoned. Rice dishes were okay, but also not quite right, kind of overdone and again not seasoned right. I got takeout and they were nice with quick service. The ambiance is exactly as pictured on here, but can't comment further as I didn't stay. Definitely not bad food, but doesn't really taste Persian. read more

Very good food and pleasant place. I enjoy trying different things, so the combination plates caught my eye, but I also saw the menu allowed skewers of various items to be ordered a la carte with a different entree. I had the Lamb Soltani, which was both lamb loin kabob and lamb koobideh kabob and came with the adas polo, or rice with sauteed onion, lentil, dates, raisins. It was all very good, though the occasional sweetness of the fruit in the rice was unusual. On another visit I had the Mahi Mahi, tender and delicious, which came with sabzi polo or rice with garlic, chives, parlsey, cilantro. At that time I did the 1/2 rice 1/2 salad option with an upcharge, but the rice was so good I could have eaten the full sizeable portion they provide. read more

Villagio Cafe - Lamb Soltani combo with Adas Polo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The appetizer sampler platter is amazing. Love to be able to get a little bit of everything. Great lunch specials too.

Love the food my friends and I went here very quiet. The service is just good. I will recommend it if you love Persian cuisine

So cozy and clean inside. A little neighborhood gem. The most delicious and freshest Greek salad I have ever had! The lentil soup is incredible and you have to try their tea, excellent presentation and flavor. Absolutely love this place! read more

Always fresh delicious food with great service. Never admitted a better food than home made except this one

I had been hearing great things about Villagio for a while and finally got a chance to try the food. It was quite good, with one absolute standout star and no major misses. I can't quite give it the full 5 stars but I would go with 4.5 if I could. The appetizers were very good with the highlight being the soft, warm pita bread. The baba and hummus were both very good though the hummus didn't quite reach the level of Zahav in Philly. If you want to try the best hummus you'll ever have, try Zahav. But Villagio's was quite good, and at just under $5 per order very reasonable. The absolute standout star and a must order is the Fessenjan stew. It is a thick sauce of pomegranate and walnut with sauteed chicken thighs. It is absolutely delicious. If you don't eat chicken this sauce would be amazing on veggies as well. The tang of the pomegranate goes perfectly with the earthiness of the walnuts and the savory chicken. And don't forget to scoop up some of the sauce with the pita bread. The chicken and lamb kebab dishes are very good and come with grilled onions and tomatoes which have a very nice flavor of their own. And the rice was cooked perfectly and complemented the food well. The dolmeh (stuffed grape leaves) were okay but nothing special and I would recommend trying other things instead. I look forward to going back and trying more. read more

Villagio Cafe - Chicken Filet Kebab - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Delicious Persian restaurant! The meat dishes are always flavorful and moist and I love you can pair with rice flavors (dill, saffron, etc.) and the portion sizes are plentiful. We have dined in and have catered for work - both great experiences. Service is always friendly and efficient! read more

The food and ambience is very good . Safran rice and eggplant dish are very delicious read more

These are the best Kabobs period / Persian food that exist in the USA. I've tried restaurants all over the east cost, midwest, and west coast. Nothing has come close Villagio. read more

Villagio Café is one of my go to spots in the area! I get both take out and dine in and both ways the food is consistently excellent. I tend to get the chicken kabob with rice and it is fantastic. I am also a huge fan of the tea and baklava! The service is lovely, with the staff being so kind and attentive. If you plan on going on a weekend I suggest arriving early or seeing if you can reserve a spot as the wait time can become long. The space is a bit small but has a super cozy feel with gorgeous interior. A great place to have a celebratory meal or just a fun night out! read more

Love this little neighborhood gem. Servers are efficient and friendly, food comes out hot and fresh, and of course tasty! They have space for groups, and catering. Veggie options! read more

Villagio Cafe - Front entrance and outdoor dining - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We live a block away and have been eating here since they opened... Just love the food! Service is great. The location is ideal, and it has a great atmosphere! read more

We are so happy we found this Persian restaurant in Towson. It definitely lived up to the reviews we read. Super fresh and delicious salads, apps and the combination platter we ordered (Stonleigh) was incredible. We added some lamb kababos and shrimp and bigger were also amazing. The shrimp marinade was outstanding. Waitstaff was friendly, accommodating and awesome. Highly recommend. read more

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Simple and delicious...perfectly executed Persian food that is a shockingly good value considering it's in Towson!

We met friends at Villagio's for dinner last night. Avery, our server, was friendly and attentive to our every need. Their menu is extensive; offering something for everyone. The ladies were in the mood for the Lamb Shank that came with saffron rice mixed with fava beans and dill weed. For my Lamb Shank, I asked to switch the rice to the saffron rice mixed with lentils, dates and raisins. The lamb just fell off the bone and the rice was a perfect combination of flavors. The guys decided on the Barg Filet Mignon and instead of just having just basmati rice, they made it a combo of rice and Greek salad for a slight upcharge. Even though the restaurant was full, we were had no trouble hearing each other (which was great). We really like their BYOB policy with no corkage fee. Thank you for a delightful evening! read more

Best Persian kabobs in the state. Came back years later-the kabobs still taste scrumptious. For 6 people, I got the chicken soltani which comes with chicken and beef kabob. Rice and naan bread came with it along with grilled tomatoes and some peppers. The rice was well cooked and the meat was succulent, juicy, and tender. I found the chicken better than the beef, but both were popular within my group. I wish some yogurt sauces/other sauces came with the meal to add more flavor or depth to the dish. The service was quick as they made all of this in less than 20 minutes. Beware, this place is pricey. But, it was worth it for the flavor and texture. read more

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Great food! Tasted authentic! The fish was well seasoned and perfectly cooked. The appetizers, especially the eggplant dip and hummus. Awesome service, very attentive staff! Cozy ambiance. Not a lot of parking spaces but that's to be expected. We had a great overall experience! read more

I truly appreciated their willingness to accommodate specific requests, ensuring that every detail was perfect.

This place is a hidden gem. I had never heard about it until a friend mentioned it in one of her Instagram posts. It can be hard to get a table so I suggest calling ahead and making a reservation. The appetizer platter is a must! A selection of many of their appetizers, it gives you a chance to try everything! Filling, though, so order main courses wisely if only two of you are sharing this! As far as mains go, the family style kabob platters are awesome - plenty of meats and salad/rice for 2-4 people. Serving sizes are plentiful, so err on the side of ordering less food. The gheymeh is wonderful, too. Service is very friendly and the place is BYOB so bring your favorite wine or beer to accompany your delicious meal. I asked about the name of the restaurant, as it doesn't exactly sound Persian. They said the owner just like the name and chose it. read more

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If I could give this place zero stars I would. We sat down and it was immediately an uncomfortable environment because the waitress was visibly arguing back and forth with a client on the phone. She then proceeded to send voice notes to someone complaining and venting about the situation in front of the customers. We ordered baba ghanoush, but texture, taste, and color wise it was off. We couldn't eat it after the first bite, so we sent it back to the kitchen. We are not ones to typically send food back, but it really just did not taste correct. The man in the back immediately started yelling and cussing continuously. We thought he would stop after the first few minutes but he continually kept coming out and staring us down and yelling about the situation. Because he was being aggressive and unprofessional we decided it would be best to pay for the bread we ate and told the waitress we were leaving. She then proceeded to beg us to stay because "He [the man in the back] would blame her." I just wanted a nice lunch date with my wife to relax and it ended up being a very stressful and unpleasant experience. read more

Outstanding Persian food with varieties of meat, rice and accompanying food. Family style or individual meals served fast.

Delicious Persian food. Good size portions for family meals. The large appetizer tray will feed 3-4 people. Friendly and attentive staff. Recently redecorated with new tables and chairs. Indoor/outdoor dining or carryout available. Worth the visit! read more

Somewhat disappointed after revisiting one of our favorite places for the first time since the pandemic. The Tajdig was rubbery and stale; the rice seemed to have just been boiled; the barg and lamb chops were pounded and flattened- we have never experienced anything like it. The lamb Kubideh was excellent as was the service. We were all left wondering whether the ownership had changed. Such a bummer. read more

Recently went here for lunch and I must say it was the best restaurant decision that I've made since Flemings. Everything about the restaurant was amazing. 5 stars is not enough to describe my experience here. read more