The Persian Grill Offers Traditional, Yet Familiar Cuisine

In the Lafayette Hill area, there stands a restaurant called that, in it’s mere existence, shines through the standard and usual eateries one would find in the neighborhood. 

With its unassuming exterior and welcoming and bright floral fishpond, I wasn’t sure what to expect having never tried Persian food before. Already settled in, a large family scanned the menu along with other tables of young people either finishing their meal or about to tuck into it.

The décor was comfortable, and yet not fancy, where traditional paintings decorated the walls and jars of dates sat on tables. Our host greeted me with a sincere welcome soon as I walked through the door. You can instantly tell this family-run restaurant took pleasure in the business they were providing.

Looking over the menu, there were many items with familiar components to them, but the regional names were unknown to me. Luckily, under each dish’s name descriptions were listed. The Persian Grill offers entrées that include either chicken, veal, or lamb. If dietary restrictions prevent you from consuming meat of any kind, there are other options.

I decided to try the Mirza-Ghasemi for one of the appetizers. The eggplant-based dish was made with onions and herbs and served with a basket of warm, firm wheat pita. Our server also offered butter for the pita, which was unnecessary since the Mirza-Ghasemi completely overshadows anything butter can offer.

Although our server could not tell us what was in the Mirza-Ghasemi besides eggplant, I can tell this dish was heightened with a hint of tomato, garlic, and sautéed onions. The flavors were such a smooth blend that after I recovered from the initial shock of not receiving a more pungent bite, I found myself unable to stop eating it.

I also chose the Seer, a pickled, aged garlic side dish, which I wouldn’t advise on ordering for date night. As raw garlic cloves may burn your throat if eaten whole, the pickled version removes the natural heat. The brine-soaked cloves were as tasty as one would find in a bowl full of fresh, crisp pickles.

The first entrée tried was the Shereen Polo. Traditionally served at Persian weddings, this slightly sweet, but savory orange-glazed Cornish hen was served with basmati rice. The rice is stand bright and bold along side of the hen. It is flavored and decorated with saffron, slivered almonds, candied orange peels, carrots, and bits of minced pistachio nuts.

My eyes popped as much as my taste buds when this dish was placed on my table. Beautifully plated with a huge serving for more than one guest, the Shereen Polo was an amazing compilation of colors, scent, and luscious taste. This authentic Persian dish would be an incentive to get married just to have an opportunity to eat it.

I picked the Chicken Soltani as the second entrée. This dish came with two skewers – one of boneless chicken breast and the other of ground chicken. Both were marinated with saffron and fresh lemon juice and grilled over a charcoal flame.

Unlike some ground poultry, the skewers were tender, juicy, and full of mild, exotic tastiness.  Between each piece of the saffron-flavored chicken breast were slices of green peppers and onions grilled to give it a slight char without overcooking it.

For the finale of the meal, The Persian Grill featured options that I was unfamiliar with from a dessert standpoint. Although not a vast selection, it was certainly diverse. There is the Faloodeh Shirazi, which is a Persian ice made with rice noodles and rose water, and ice cream called Akbar Mashtee.

Although more mainstream and familiar, the restaurant offers Baklava. Between the flaky, glazed, golden brown phyllo sheets was a sweet almond base. To give it color – even for just aesthetic reasons – the Baklava is topped with pistachio bits.

While some of the seasonings are exotic for some unfamiliar with the cuisine, offers dining options that you may have encountered before. All the dishes are mostly low in fat, nothing is fried, and some vegan / vegetarian options are available. You will find a familiar tradition in your dining adventure.