Iran: Shayan

There is a new(ish) Persian place on the block in north London. Well I knew of it but only got round to visiting it for the first time a month ago. And I returned to it for the second time yesterday.

Shayan serves typical Persian grub like Chelow Kebabs (Iran's national dish) with rice and butter, grilled tomatoes as well as other variations of grilled lamb and chicken.

I went straight for my favourite, the Chelow Kebab which costs the bargainous sum of £5.50. My mum ordered hers with naan bread. We also ordered the Salad Shirazi (finely sliced cucumber, tomatoes, onions, tomatoes and herbs).

It's such a simple marriage yet so satisfying. The kebabs were tender and grilled perfectly, and the rice melted in the mouth.

Service was super-fast though the atmosphere was somewhat lacking (the restaurant was empty on Saturday night). This was disheartening and worrying, as the food is wonderful but the fear a local gem might close looms. I really hope this won't be the case as Persian restaurants for me are usually quite far away or difficult to travel to.

Shayan has a take-away and delivery branch in Barnet too (154 Lancaster Road, Barnet, EN4 8AL, Telephone: 020 8441 0222). The Edgware restaurant also does take-aways.

Address: 311 Hale Lane, Edgware, HA8 7AX
Telephone: 020 8958 1480
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Tube: Edgware (Northern line)
Bus: 221, 240, 113, 186, 142, 251, 303, 292
Car: Pay & Display Monday to Saturday from 8:00am - 6:30pm, free after 6:30pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Link to google map

Iran: Mahdi Restaurant

Madhi restaurant has always caught my eye whenever I've been driving home along Finchley Road but it's only recently I had the chance to dine here. Less than a minute's walk from Finchley Road tube station, it's situated on a side street, a stand-out with its kaledoscopic window panes. I have to say, the outside of the restaurant is gloriously inviting but also gives the impression it's a small, cosy restaurant that's dimly lit.

Step inside and you couldn't be further from the truth. It's bright and spacious, with grand chandliers and transparent plastic table covers, which sends me back to the 80s and quite frankly, should have stayed there. It's the only ugly thing about Mahdi and you wonder why the owners have chosen such tacky table covers. Keeping the tables bare would have been much better, and a better contrast with the white decor. Lucky the food on the menu keeps your mind off the table covers...

For an Iranian restaurant, you can guess what's on offer - barbecued meat with rice and naan bread, of which the latter is baked within earshot of diners. It's something Iranian restaurants like to do and the sight and smell of freshly naan bread coming hot out of the stone ovens is divine. We toddled along on a week day so it was very quiet but I imagine this place is heaving on a Friday and Saturday night.

I was going to opt for two skewers of minced baby lamb with rice or naan bread (for a stupendous £6.90) but was coerced into settling for Mixed Grill of Baby Lamb and Chicken Kebab Skewers garnished with grilled whole tomatoes and lemon wedges for two people, served with a generous plate of rice each (£22.90). We didn't order any starters because we knew Persian food is served in generous portions.

The mixed grill was brought to our table in an awesome platter and I did wonder if we'd be able to finish it. It comprised of two skewers of minced baby lamb, one skewer of chicken fillet and one tender baby lamb fillet. I absolutely adore the rice they serve in Iranian restaurants - plain white with a dash of yellow colouring in the middle that tastes delightful and compliments the meat perfectly and at Mahdi, the plates of rice are huge. As I write this review, I can almost taste the rice in my mouth.


Towards the end of our meal, we were stuffed and I'm ashamed to say, there was quite enough meat left over as well as a plate of rice. I think the restaurant owners are used to this for they very happily packed up the left-overs for us to take home. The lady at the table next to us also requested for her chicken fillets to be wrapped up. When the food is that delicious, are you really going to want it to be thrown away?

A fantastic gem in the neighbourhood of North West London that's great for couples and large groups and offers immense value for divine Persian cuisine. There is also a Mahdi restaurant in Hammersmith.

Address: 2 Canfield Gardens, West Hampstead, London NW6 3BS
Telephone: 07951 073 371
Opening hours:
Tube: Finchley Road (Jubilee/Metropolitan)
Bus: 113
Car: Metered parking


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Persian: The Rose Garden

I've often passed the Rose Garden and wondered what it was like inside, so I was pleased when my family booked it for a birthday celebration. The impressive decor belies the fact that this used to be a carpet shop and it's surprisingly nice place despite the location on a grubby section of the Harrow Road.

We ordered the Sini Mazeh, an assortment of five starters with some freshly baked naan bread, followed by the Sini Kebab Makhsous (mixed grill) served with large plates of buttered rice. The portions were very generous and the food was delicious.

Although it promotes itself as an Afghan and Persian restaurant the menu is mostly Persian with only three Afghan dishes. The staff were quick and efficient and coped well with the demands of our large group.

I'd definitely eat there again and would recommend it over Behesht for equally excellent food and much nicer waiting staff. They even have a Shisha Lounge upstairs for some post dinner chillaxing.


Address: 203 High Street, Harlesden, London, NW10 4TE
Telephone: 020 8838 0007

Email: info@therosegardenlondon.com

Opening hours: Mon - Sun 11:30 am - 11:30 pm
Tube: Willesden Junction (Bakerloo & London Overground)
Bus: 18, 266, 226, 220, 260
Car: Meter parking available nearby.


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Iran: Behesht

Behesht on Harrow Road is a very popular restaurant with the London Iranian community. So popular that if you don't make a reservation on a Friday or Saturday night, you can find yourself at the end of a very long queue, which snakes out of the door.


Situated on a grubby part of Harrow Road on the Kensal Green-Harlesden boarder, this restaurant is a favourite of mine. I’ve been there several times for family celebrations, lured by the cheap and plentiful food which makes eating out with a large group extremely economical yet fun.


The starters and mains are served in huge portions which can easily feed two people and we have always come home with doggie bags, which have provided lunch and dinner the next day. Starters are priced around £3 per dish and mains between £6 and £10.


On our last visit 5 of us shared 3 starters: Greek salad (easily enough for a main course), Salad Oliveh (potato, egg, gherkins, sweet peas, carrot, lemon juice and mayonnaise with chicken breast) and some light and fluffy fresh baked Nan bread. For main courses we had a selection of their kebabs, the special chicken (all served with rice and grilled tomatoes) and the Khoresht Bademjan (fried aubergine, diced pieces of lamb and whole dried lime cooked in a special tomato sauce served with rice).


The rice was soft and fluffy and the meat was perfectly cooked and full of flavour, and the salads were fresh and crispy.


The restaurant itself is a double shop front and inside is divided into smaller rooms. From the main room you can see into the kitchen to watch the chefs at work. The walls are decorated with Persian rugs, pots and paintings and the whole place has a cosy family vibe.


My only grumbles are that they refuse to serve you tap water (which I believe is illegal). The waiters aren’t especially friendly but the service is brisk and efficient and to be honest, they don’t really have time to stop and chat when the place is that busy.

Address: 1084 Harrow Rd, London, NW10 5NL
Telephone: 020 8964 4477
Tube: Kensal Green (Bakerloo and North London Lines)
Bus: 18
Car: Parking can be difficult but you can park on the single yellow lines outside after 6pm

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