1245 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 440-4321
Categories: Middle Eastern, Persian/Iranian
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
3/5 star rating
4/6/2008
Alborz Persian Cuisine...
1. MEAN hostess
2. OK food
3. Nice ambiance
I came here for lunch today after reading numerous positive reviews from native SF Yelpers (I'm visiting from LA). I'd give this place a 3-1/2 because:
1. Not exactly the friendliest hostess. I was the only one in there at 12 pm, and I came in smiling and happily gushing to the hostess (presumably the owner) how lovely the place was and how I've heard lots of great things about this place. She was cold, abrupt, and just sat me at my table.
Upon reviewing the standard Persian fare listed on the menu, I couldn't decide which stew I wanted: Ghormeh Sabzi (stew with lean beef, kidney beans, cooked with finely chopped chives, parsley, and scallions) or the Gheymeh Bademjan (stew with lean beef, lentils, dry lime, cooked in tomato sauce and topped with fried eggplant). "Which is more popular?" I asked cheerfully. The hostess coldly responded, "Both are popular," leaving me no knowledge or choice but to pick something at random.
"Is the Gheymeh Bademjan heavy?" I asked nervously, "I had a lot of BBQ last night and I want to try something light."
"No, not heavy" she snapped.
The Gheymeh Bademjan ($13.95) came out in a small bowl akin to a side order of soup and a large plate of rice. The stew was 50% OIL with physical traces of the original ingredients listed in the stew description. I was shocked. I'm paying $15 for this crap???
The food was decent, but what do you expect when you're eating a small bowlful of lard? Of course any dish laden with fat will taste decent. The rice and bread were good, though, but I can make a better mastakhiar (yogurt) on my own.
BTW, minutes after I arrived and through the duration of my meal, tons of Iranian patrons came in, all of whom were curiously treated wonderfully by the all too accommodating hostess. I'm not Iranian, btw.
I would NOT come back here. The food is overpriced and the quality is mediocre; about 2 levels above the hideous Greek chain, Daphnes.
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