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Alborz
Category: Restaurants Persian/Iranian Persian/Iranian
2142 Center St(between Oxford St & West Entrance)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 848-8877
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Rob G. said: "Hard to decide if I'm going to give it 4 or 5 stars. I went here with 3 roommates and we had a great time for a very reasonable price. We had a round of drinks, a bottle of wine, two platters and two entrees and it came to $145 plus…" read more »
152 reviews for Alborz
Review Highlights
"Alborz is where I go when I want yummy Persian food."
(in 43 reviews)
"The plate also came with Saffron Rice and salad."
(in 17 reviews)
"...a perfect Koobideh (ground beef kabob) which was perfectly..."
(in 5 reviews)
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152 reviews in English
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Review from Mutant O.
Berkeley, CA
1/7/2012
The aroma that greets one at the door is luscious, enticing and savory.
The yogurt, cucumber, and mint appetizer looked so innocent and bland, but proved to be a wonderful accompaniment to our bread, and indeed, as a counterpoint to the rest of our meal.
The beef meatballs with angelic saffron basmati rice were perfection. The lamb with beans and potato looked so wonderfully Flintstone, a huge joint with serious goodness within.
We waddled a bit on our way out, but very happily. -
Review from Jon D.
11/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hi;
I grew up on Persian food in LA. OK not only that, but I think I have a good taste for it and quality. I am giving 4 stars as they are the best in the East Bay Area I found. There is a great place in Marin, but nothing like LA!
I think the portion sizes are simply too big. Save some of the value and out that in garnish and extras is my only feedback to them.... -
Review from Ben Z.
Berkeley, CA
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a Persian/Iranian-American myself, I have to say their food was pretty tasty. Took a girl on a date there; we shared an appetizer and an entree, which was more than enough, but for the price they charge, I deem it to be fair.
But, I was not too big of a fan of their tadigh (crunchy rice). It wasn't as crunchy as I would hope for it to be, or maybe my mom does a better job.
When I walked in, the Persian lady at the front immediately recognized I was a fellow Persian (and on a date), so she did everything to tend to us and make it as great of an experience as possible. For this, I truly applaud Alborz for great service; I was truly satisfied. -
Review from Ava G.
Hercules, CA
1/30/2012
Delicious food, excellent service. Prices are good too. I'll definitely be coming here more. And, easy parking either on the street or across the street.
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Review from Lia P.
[pronounced] Alburz; is a mountain range in Northern Iran.
I am not Persian, but I love me some Persian food!
I have been to this fancy classy Persian restaurant a dozen times with my close co-worker. We usually go here when we want to be super indulgent. On my first experience I was quite impressed since I have been able to have authentic Persian food from actual friends and family members. I could tell the place would be good when I noticed a lot of Iranians there.
The food is prepared right and so delicious. It was such a royal treat! And when I'm really in the mood for it, this is the only place I will go to
The space is quite small however to use of mirrors throughout give it a larger appearance. The décor, lighting and genuine hospitality of the wait staff make a quite comfortable fine-dining experience
Start your lunch off right with their Hummus and Yogurt Salad- a mix of home-made hummus, yogurt, cucumber, tomatoes and spices topped with feta cheese, served together with their version of complimentary warm pita bread.It sounds simple- but it will blow you away.
Moving on to the main course the kabob is a must, a Soltani combination will allow you to experience both the koobideh (ground beef) kabob as well as the barg (sliced beef fillet). We usually split dishes..she will order a skewer of chicken, I will order koobideh and we share since they give such generous portions. The jasmine rice is perfect! Very fluffy, airy and seasoned with such exotic flavors. It is presented very elegantly too because some of the rice on the bottom is white and on the top it is yellow because the use saffron seeds. {side note} Saffron flower seeds are very expensive, not the herb the actual saffron flower seeds.
There is a also a small bowl on each table with a baby spoon to add additional salt-like seasonings to your liking.
Wash everything down with a glass of aromatic Persian tea and you'll be raving for weeks about one of the greatest dining experiences in Downtown Berkeley. -
Review from Schuyler C.
Berkeley, CA
1/17/2012
I've gone to Alborz for at least a decade. It used to be my second favorite Persian restaurant in Berkeley, but then Papa's cuisine closed its doors and we started going to the more westernized Alborz. The food is good, and decidedly less greasy and aggressively-seasoned than most Persian restaurants (which is a good thing in my book). And Alborz has a nice, if somewhat dated, look. Service can be a little slow and difficult, as this isn't a family-run-and-super-attentive kind of restaurant, like so many other Persian restaurants, but just a typical California restaurant that happens to serve Persian food. So if you are expecting the owner to chat with you in Farsi and recommend whatever dish has been the most splendidly-prepared that day by his brother-in-law, this probably isn't the restaurant for you. But if you are looking o get some kebab or Khoresht without the chit-chat, Alborz will suit you well.
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Review from diana l.
Emeryville, CA
10/27/2011
OUTSTANDING
We've been here more times than I can count and have always had a completely wonderful experience. The ambiance is understated low key elegance in a causal sort of way and the food matches. High quality, authentic Persian dishes at a reasonable price. Another plus are the staff - very attentive and gracious. I've brought many a friend here - they thank me for introducing them to this terrific find and keep returning themselves. -
Review from JC A.
Oakland, CA
8/22/2011
A little pricey, but Persian food is my absolute favorite . Maybe I have some hidden heritage here, because this food is just so homey to me. I know how to make a few of the stews and the fabulous rice, so I feel I'm a good judge of the quality and flavor.
They are pretty good at our take out orders, mixing it up familiy style when the order is large. Which, I'll be honest, is whenever I order there. They have only shorted a small item us once out of may 20 times we have ordered. They are pretty far from us and yet I will shlep it there because the food is awesome!
Love the Gormeh Sabzi (green aromatic veggies, kidney beans, and meat stew over rice), chicken Barg (pounded, skewered, grilled, saffron chicken breast), saffron rice, any of the rices really (particularly with currants, cause I'm just like that) any mast, but particularly mast o'moussir (yogurt with shallots). Hubby loves their cinnaminy Ghemeh Bademjoon (tomato and yellow split pea stew with meat and eggplant, which you can get without the eggplant) which I add lemon juice to at home to give it a little kick. The Kashk Bademjoon appetizer (eggplant, yogurt, mint, garlic, heaven - I'm pretty sure its all in there).
Service is always lovely, even when they are crowded. I might go tomorrow for my birthday. . . -
Review from Eji O.
Vallejo, CA
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently visited Alborz on Halloween. In truth, as a passerby, I was drawn to the large portioned, colorful, tasty-looking food that current patrons were eating outside. After continuing to walk around the neighborhood, my guest and I eventually made our way back to Alborz.
Alright, so the decor was very dark, but in a romantic type of way. There was a beautiful large window as the store front, which brought in great light and allowed for people watching! The greeter, whom I think might have been the owner was very pleasant and accommodating. I ordered the chicken kabob thing with rice, while my guest ordered the filet mignon equivalent. My food was good, the chicken was a bit on the burnt side, but that could have just been a mistake. The dish also came with a fire-roasted tomato, which sounds much better than it tastes. What I received was a burnt, seriously burnt, mushy Roma tomato. Suffice to say, I left that lovely little feature on my plate. I tasted the filet mignon, which was juicy but a bit tasteless. My friend ate it all though, so I guess it was good enough. Overall, it was a nice restaurant and a pleasant experience. I didn't give the whole five stars because 1. There was dirt on the plates and I had dirty cutlery (a HUGE pet-peeve of mine) 2. My dish was rather burnt. But I'd be willing to give it another shot- maybe. -
Review from laurie g.
Martinez, CA
11/6/2011
This is my second favorite persian restaurant,.
It is very hard to find a really good authentic Kabob experience in the Bay Area that does all the other Main dishes and side dishes on the same level, too.
I have had the both Chicken and Lamb Kabobs, they were prepared very well, succulent and flavorful- not overcooked and bland, like so many I have tried at other restaurants.
The saffron rice is perfect in its consistency and flavoring, as well.
For me,the most important part of the persian experience is a seemingly strange mixture of ingredients that I learned years ago from my Iranian friends, but makes all the difference in eating traditionally.
When ordering your main dish, make sure you also get "mustomosir", a yogurt based preparation, and plenty of raw onions and roasted tomatoes.
When your entree arrives,( for me, i always order the Chicken Kabob)
mix the yogurt, roasted tomatoes and raw onions all together with the saffron rice, and take alternating bites of the grilled meat. OMG!!
Unbelievable flavors !! I hate roasted tomatoes and raw onions on their own, but this mixture of flavors is synergistic, and ungodly in its sinfulness.
This mixture alone is what makes me crave good persian food.
Ambience is very nice here, but not too stuffy, you can dress casual.
Parking is a difficult pain !! especially at peak times.Be prepared to shell out some extra cash at one of the lots.
Service was excellent, and food arrived fast, even on a Saturday night.
Recommended. Portions are HUGE, always have to take half home, don't understand other reviews saying opposite, maybe they have bigger appetites ?? It is expensive though, bring your plastic if your'e not carrying that much cash. -
Review from Jean L.
2/15/2011
It seems like you win some, and you lose some here. It depends on when you go.
According to the City of Berkeley's Environmental Health Food Facilities Violation Alborz is definitely still violating some major codes, including "Contaminated Equipment" (see: http://www.ci.berkeley... and search: Alborz), so I can definitely understand why some would get food poisoning there.
Having said that, luckily I was one of the people who didn't. Although we came when they were relatively slow no one approached us or even handed us menus/water for a good 30 minutes, until we got up to get the menus ourselves.
They serve you sangak with sumac and raw onions as a free appetizer, which is nice, and we ordered lamb kabobs, shish kabobs, and chicken koobideh. Pretty pricey towards the end of the meal, as the portions were on the small side.
The food is good, but now I'm scared of getting sick so I probably won't be heading back...Listed in: Eh Dates
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Review from raven f.
San Francisco, CA
7/28/2011
Outstanding, a friend and I went to have a change of pace and celebrate her birthday. I was pleasantly surprise, every dish we had from appetizer to desert was very good.
The service was wonderful, the ambiance was great. we did go on a Wednesday night.
Just one complaint, there was a young child whose piercing screams really threw a wrench in the otherwise soothing ambiance. -
Review from Saba S.
Mountain View, CA
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a traditional Persian restaurant with delicious traditional food. It has all the basics and a great restaurant for the daring person whom wishes to expand their horizons. I am an Iranian and truly enjoyed the food which we had.
Apps: salad shirazi= diced salad (below average)
Bademjoon=eggplant(amazing)
Tadeek and ghormesabzi=crunchy rice and herb/bean stew(good)
Main course: I had the Soltani (amazing). This is a steak skewer(barg) with a ground beef skewer(kubideh). The barg was smokey and tender while the kubideh was moist and juicy.
The wife had the joogeh kabob (chicken kabob) which also was excellent.
The nuance was great with sliding doors and Berkeley right outside.
The only gripe I have are the bugs right outside. Some of these get into the restaurant. Store owner needs to buy a Blower which attaches to the top of the door and blows air every time you open the door in order to prevent the bugs from coming in.
Highly recommended -
Review from Mel B.
Hercules, CA
12/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
A friend of mine has been dying to take us to a Middle Eastern restaurant and try some Persian food, so on one of our guys night out he was going to take us to Alborz. I was really excited to try it out since I've never had Persian food before. Disclaimer: this is a ROOKIE REVIEW ALERT.
As we went to Alborz this last Friday for dinner the food definitely did not disappoint. We ordered the Koobideh, it came with two skewers, so we asked if we can have one of each, the ground beef and the chicken. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Getting one of each was a great idea because switching up the flavors between each bite made the meal much more interesting. Also try the Somagh (the spice that comes with your meal) on your skewer and the rice to add more flavor. The plate also came with Saffron Rice and salad. To round it off, a bottle of Shiraz completes a great meal.
It was a very interesting first experience. I'll definitely be coming back to try out more from their menu. (Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.)
The location is also very nice. It's directly across from a parking lot, so the parking was very easy. The whole setting has that elegant Berkeley feel to it. It a great place to take a date. So why the heck am I here with a bunch of guys!!!
Oh well. NU-SHEH-JON!!! -
Review from Constance C.
East Bay, CA
11/30/2010
Decided to eat in Berkeley with my friend over the weekend when it was raining like crazy so we decided to take refuge at a restaurant.
Gheymeh Bodemjan. Chickpeas, Eggplants and Beef with a Saffron Rice. It was alright, but even better as leftovers the next day when all the spices soaked into everything. It kind of reminded me of this Chinese dish with soybeans and pork that my grandma used to make, so that might be why it was tolerable for me, it wasn't too impressive though.
Okay food, but I do think the one in Walnut Creek might be better.
See photos of food, http://potbellypanda.t... -
Review from Eli Y.
2/25/2011
If you haven't had Persian food then you don't know what you're missing, and this is a great place to get your feet wet or continue your Persian exploration.
The food here is very good. The koobideh (my go to, 2 skewers of minced meet made with some delicious spices, and a side of saffron rice) is always delicious. It's usually perfectly cooked and very juicy. At times it's a bit overcooked on the ends but it's still great. The joojeh (chicken skewers marinated in great spices with a side of saffron rice) is also delicious and a great choice. You can't really go wrong no matter what you order but these are my two favorite.
The dessert is also great. My favorite is the bastani (rose water ice cream, it tastes like eating what a rose smells like). This is great choice. If you're on a date I suggest getting this. It's a perfect size to share especially after the vast quantity of food that you probably just ate.
The service is great and pretty quick. It's also priced pretty similarly to most persian places.
The parking here isn't great though. There is a lot across the street but it costs $5 as a flat rate. And the street parking is nearly impossible to find.
This is definitely a great spot to try out.Listed in: Persian in the Bay
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Review from erin i.
Petaluma, CA
4/24/2011
First time having Persian food at a restaurant and WOW. The pomegranate chicken with saffron rice is something special.
It's a nice restaurant, and thus pricey for everyday dining, but I would definitely come back. -
Review from Ali M.
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
9/28/2011
I've been raised with Persian food all my life and have given a try to many restaurants in southern and northern CA.
One that sticks out for being probably one of the worse is Alborz in Berkeley. Typical Persian restaurants should be packed on a Saturday at about 1pm. When I drove from Marin to meet my parents halfway (they came from Walnut Creek) I asked them to meet at Alborz since its convenient. Well we met there and my folks ordered the Alborz for two and I ordered the soltani. The rice looked and tasted like as if it was made 5 days before and they just reheated the dish in the microwave. The barg was hard as a car tire and the koobideh was terrible as well. Long story short, the food gave the three of us the runs for 1.5 days and I can truly say that the experience was awful. Now I like giving the restaurants the benefit of the doubt, so I was brave enough to go back and get a stew dish, khoreshteh ghaimeh and it was very mooshy and water down.
By the way, the Walnut Creek Alborz is no better and I think one or both of them will be closing soon.
Its too bad, cause we need more good Persian restaurants like Sahalizaar in Belmont out in the bay area. -
Review from Suzana S.
San Francisco, CA
9/14/2011 1 photo
Pricey but really good food. It's very quiet inside but very nice and elegant.
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Review from Mike G.
11/16/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Some of the best Persian food in the Bay Area. 5 stars!
One tip: I usually order "Soltani" kabob at Persian restaurants, which is a combination one skewer each of Koobideh (ground beef kabob) and Barg ("filet mignon" kabob). The Barg here is not very impressive, although usually at other places it is the better. Save yourself 50% and just order Koobideh--they will give you two full skewers for half the price of Soltani. -
Review from angel a.
Berkeley, CA
3/21/2011
Delicious.
I understand what one of the yelpers said about the service not quite matching the warm decor.
I asked for two entrees.
Fezenjoon -waiter asked if I wanted chicken or meatballs. I asked for meatballs. Waiter confirmed I did not want the chicken, but the meatballs instead. However, I got chicken. And it was dry...
I also got the lamb. Yes, it WAS delicious. Somehow, I am a fan of raisins and sultanas with meat. :) I'm also a fan of when touching the meat, that it practically falls off the bone.
Lots of rice. Did I say lots of rice? I sure got lots of rice. lol.
The faloudeh, that was awesome. They serviced it with a slice of Meyer lemon.
I'll be back for the koubideh, if I can round up another person to go with me. -
Review from Saad A.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2011
Went in for a quick lunch before a movie. The service was super fast and the food was amazing.
I had beef meatballs in a pomegranate sauce over safron rice, and it was absolutely amazing! My friends had the chicken and beef koobideh, which went great when dipped in the pomegranate sauce. For appetizers, we had this thick, creamy hummus and a minty onion dipping sauce.
I'll definitely be going again! -
Review from F P.
Berkeley, CA
8/19/2011
Only 3.5 stars!? Are you kidding? Apparently Non- Persians are wasting their time rating this place. This place is AWESOME! Nuf said! Don't skip the deserts!
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Review from essie h.
Oakland, CA
8/19/2011
If its JuJu Kabob or Ghormeh Sabzi...its almost as good as a home cooked meal...and with out the over protective Persian parents.
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Review from Eva Leona Lerriqs S.
Berkeley, CA
7/24/2011
I love coming here, but had forgotten how huge the portions were. I ordered a chicken kabob dish that came with two skewers and a huge amount of rice. I had enough to take home; incidentally, I didn't finish dinner so that I could leave room for dessert--the iced noodle rose water dish. The only thing that bothered me about the meal is that in the not so recent past the restaurant used to include a small dish of yogurt with the lavash. This time around it was lavash and raw onions only. The yogurt helps to take the edge off the onions.
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Review from sara p.
Berkeley, CA
12/13/2010
Delish Persian Food, a bit pricey, but totally worth it! I love the Ghormeh Sabzi, Koobideh and chicken skewers.
My sister-in law and my niece eat here when they are in town, joining them is always a pleasure.
I've taken a coworker for lunch and he enjoyed the lamb dish.
I'd bring others with me in a heartbeat. -
Review from Kevin L.
Berkeley, CA
11/20/2010
Lackluster taste for overly priced dishes! Definitely authentic Persian food though, but the portions were pretty small and it really lacked any memorable tastes. It tastes just like D'yars actually, maybe even a little less tastey. I ordered the Shish Kabob and it was one large kabob over rice with a roasted tomato on the side. The tomato was pretty gross and the kebob was good, but I was still hungry afterwards, enough so that I picked up a topdog (three doors down) on my way back home.
Pros:
- Fancy atmosphere
- Authentic
- Variety of Persian Dishes
Cons:
- Slow Service
- Over priced
- Not Very Tastey Food -
Review from Anna V.
9/10/2010
At the time being, this one of the better Persian restaurants in Berkeley that I've tried. Still does not compare to some of the places that I go to in the South Bay, but it does satisfy my kabob cravings.
The dish I normally get would be the chicken kabob (i.e. joojeh) plate. The kabob is properly spiced and is quite tender, the rice there has always been fluffy and the meal is accompanied by lavish bread. I've also tried the salmon here before and while it was good, it did have a slight fishy taste to it that I was able to get over by squirting some lemon in it.
The meal could be considered a bit pricy, but for standard Persian fare, it's the right price. The service is a bit slow and the servers are a bit reserved, but not awful. -
Review from Nazmul C.
Berkeley, CA
8/16/2010
The service is impersonal and cold for a restaurant that seems to have a warm atmosphere. In retrospect, the Chicken Koobideh tastes like any other that I've had at other restaurants.
Also, our waiter charged an extra 2% gratuity charge (17% total) for a party of 5 when the menu explicitly stated that the extra added gratuity applied to parties of 6 or more. Even after confronting him about this discrepancy, the waiter said our using an extra table warranted this. ...seriously? We should've asked to see the restaurant manager. -
Review from Ian P.
Berkeley, CA
7/20/2010
Do you ever have a place that you walk by all the time, literally hundreds of times, but never go in? Well, that was this restaurant situated conveniently between BART and Berkeley campus. Finally, my friend Jonathan and I popped in for an early dinner and actually had a really tasty meal.
I had a great chicken koobideh kabob (saffron chicken) with saffron rice...do you sense a theme? Of course, one can never get too much saffron. The chicken was moist, delicious, tender (this sounds like chicken porn). Jonathan's lamb was maybe even better. I wouldn't have minded some veggies thrown in the mix though.
One big plus was the wine by the glass. It was actually a generous pour. I hate the restaurants that think a bottle of wine equates to 15 glasses. A little odd is the flat bread and butter they serve as a starter. Maybe with some hummus instead. All in all it was pleasant, although I can't really give them any points for value.
What is an "Alborz" anyway? Well, if you google, it looks like the name of lots and lots of Persian restaurants. Now if you google even more you discover it's a mountain range in northern Iran. And now you can try to impress your server when you come. -
Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2008 3 photos
Meat on a stick.
Anything on a stick, for that matter.
It's hard to go wrong.
Ground up, well... that's another story. Take hot dogs for example. I have close friends that no thanks to Pee Wee Herman and his hot dog tree to this day still have phobias. How I would get them to try the deliciously juicy beef and chicken kobiddehs here, I do not know. But I can confidently say that if you're a believer in meat consumption, this is the supreme form of its ground up existence. Imagine a burger flattened, flame-licked and thrown over a spit. Pair it with a splash of fresh lemon, grilled whole tomato, and fragrant rice and you'll begin to understand the most basic yet gastronomically delightful staple of Persian cuisine.
"Why three stars, Ligaya?", you may ask. And to this I scratch my chin and pull on its hairs and say in a feeble voice that I've had better. That the eggplant dip though bathed in green olive oil tasted like it was made days ago, and that the dolmas though warm lacked a zest of herbs. And that in ordering the paneer sabzi what I got was literally a plate of fresh basil, cilantro and mint, slices of cucumber and tomato, yogurt sauce and a chunk of feta. A little creativity, please.
A little wine to soothe the disappointment never hurts, right? Alas. Our cab as suggested by the waiter was as one-dimensional as the man himself. thought I'm not holding that against them. White tableclothes and all, I expect a level of reservedness though the fork and the knife had erroneously switched places with the spoon. Is that a Persian custom?
In conclusion: a fair option for a tasty meal but for the pennies and ambiance there are finer plates a-calling.Listed in: Downtown Berkeley
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Review from Jason R.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2007
I'm gonna let you in on a little secret because I like you.
I know it may seem like Persians are really nice, hospitable and good natured people, but they're sketchy as hell.
Hold on, relax, settle down. Don't think I don't see your cultural sensitiveitometer jumping off the charts. It's ok, I'm one of them.
I know, our media is painting Iran out as evil hatemongers. And I know, this is a new kind of war with an enemy who's face we can't see. I've heard it all just like you.
But I'm here to tell you that Persians will take your money and leave you unsatisfied. They will fool you with copious amounts of rice and sprinkle it with more saffron than your white ass ever knew existed, all used to mask the fact the meat they use in their kebab is of dubious quality.
And finally they will present you with a bill that seems pricier than you expected. Do the math. Make sure it's correct. I'm just saying..Listed in: Persian (just a fancy word for…
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Review from Daniel L.
7/9/2009 4 photos
After seeing so many glowing reviews on yelp, I came here for dinner eager to get reacquainted with Persian cuisine. The ambiance was quite elaborate with white table cloths, beautiful large windows, and the sparkly clean layout was nothing short of extravagance. I was there as their first dinner customer and conveniently asked the lone server about their lamb kabob. After I was told that the lunch item would come at the cost of dinner ($20+), I decided on their chicken kebob with basmati rice mixed with raisins, almond, orange peels, saffron, and pistachio.
The basket of warm lavosh was a welcoming sight but the side dish of half cut onion was not enough to intrigue. Portions were large with the chicken flavorful but slightly dry. I thought the basmati was rich and delicious, but the hint of white raisin was not enough to counterbalance the dominance of orange peels. Despite this, I enjoyed the use of saffron as the permeating flagrance was a delightful anchor.
Service was very attentive and friendly considering the crowd was slow to trickle in. The meal was not worth the value at $21.35 since I'm able to get it in Westwood for better and cheaper. 3 stars for the decent experience. -
Review from Trina M.
San Francisco, CA
9/1/2009 2 photos
Came here for lunch this afternoon with a friend after passing by this resturant so many times, I finally decided to change it up a bit. We ordered 2 Chicken Kabob and 2 glass of white wine ^^ Got buzzed off of that at 2pm in the afternoon =x haha how embrassing....
Fabolous service & fabolous food !! Our chicken had just the right amout of seasoning, very juicy and tender ^ ^ Their rice was very light as well as their salad. One of the best lunches I had in awhile. We sat near the window that opens all the way so it felt really nice ^^ enjoying the summer breeze while eatting and sipping on a class of wine =) it's as good as it gets =D Our bill came to roughly a little over $40. -
Review from Kathleen M.
San Jose, CA
3/12/2008
The husband suggested to a friend of ours to eat dinner with us here. When the food arrived I was seriously embarassed, especially given the steep prices. Alborz commands the highest prices I've seen in the Bay Area for Persian food ($18-$20 entrees). And the entrees weren't nearly as good as Pomegranate and Shalizaar which charge $5 less per entree.
My Persian Rankings
1. Khayyam's - Albany (the master - now closed - against which all Persian restaurants will forever be judged)
2. Pomegranate - Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Concord (great barg and joojeh kabob with zereshk polo; pomegranate chicken is good but sweet taste can be cloying)
3. Shalizaar - Belmont (I've only been to the old San Mateo location)
4. House of Kabobs - Sunnyvale
5. Chelokababi - Sunnyvale
6. Yas - San Jose (really impressive selection of polos - but other food is just OK)
7. Afghan Persian Kabob - Sunnyvale
8. Leila - San Francisco
9. Kabob House Halal - Santa Clara
10. Rose Market - Mountain View
11. ALBORZ - Berkeley
12. Bijan - Fremont (food too oily, and stews either too sweet or too ketchup-y)Listed in: Eating Within Walking Distance…, I Heart Persian Food
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Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
7/9/2009
This is a fancy restaurant that serves Persian cuisine and be prepared to pay for the ambiance! It is nice that they have cloth napkins, tall wine glasses, wood paneling, and other many embellishments, but the food is no much better than what you can get at any other hole in the wall. Dinner was not very busy at all and I never see many people here for lunch when I pass by.
The rice is buttery, but the shwarmas were salty, especially the lamb. However, the muskiness of the lamb was masked by lots of savory herbs. -
Review from Cath M.
Finally had a chance to go back here sans... Anyway, since my uncle hasn't tried Persian food--this was the perfect opportunity to do so since bro and I were craving it for awhile now.
We got here and there weren't that many people dining on a Saturday night. Recession. We got seated right away by our usual server.
Menu design changed (yes I noticed stuff like that...) and believe me ... I actually complemented the typography used - it was very clean and elegant.
Anyway... all 3 of us ordered koobideh, wine glasses for bro and I and beer for my uncle.
Food came out pretty quick... the grubbed came faster =)
Overall, food still consistent as well as service. Uncle was happy and so are we...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2008
I have to give credit to my brother who discovered this place.
The boy, my bro and the boy's friend… Read more »
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Review from Rebekah K.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2008
If you've never had Persian food, you should mos def try it.
I grew up eating Persian food & the only place that truly gets 5 stars is my Mom's cooking--wha? don't YOU think your mom makes the best food?
This place is good. Their Cheloh Kabob [ground beef fire roasted] is pretty good. I think they have the spices in a nice combination. Their Fesenjoon [ground walnuts with pomegranate] leaves much to be desired. It was a little on the watery side. And their Ghormeh Sabzi [lots of greens over rice] was pretty good too.
I ordered a Zulubiyah [sweet sugary yumminess] for dessert, but it tasted a little stale.
I think this place really deserves a 3.5, but I'll round it up to 4 for ambiance & the fact that they *are* authentic & don't make fun of me when I speak in Farsi. -
Review from Hootie H.
New York, NY
6/3/2007
Very mediocre. Rounding up from 2.5 stars to 3 because the location is nice.
Food is mediocre:
-joojeh kabob was eh
-rice was good, not great
-perhaps the most disappointing was the somac had no flavor, and was practically pink! what the hell is that?
Service, also mediocre. We were waited on by about 3 different people, and had to wave people down any time we needed something.
But, the meal ended on a good note, as the zoolbia was delicious. I wouldn't go back - especially not when Bongo Burger is right next door.Listed in: Back to my Roots
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Review from M T.
Berkeley, CA
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great Persian food and great service. I love the lamb koobideh and the saffron rice is very unique and a new treat for most people that I know.
The prices are on par with fine sit-down dining.
I know Persian cooking and I love this place.
