There's proof that there's more to Persian cuisine than a quick takeaway kebab. If you are yet to properly experience this simple, yet inventive fare, look no further than Shabestan.
Located at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, the restaurant serves up a grand selection of specialties, ranging from delicious starters to main dishes, as well as drinks and desserts, in a traditional setting that also offers beautiful views of the creek.
As soon as my dining partner and I took our seats, we were immediately presented with a selection of fresh salad items accompanied by a simple yoghurt dip and feta cheese served with a warm nan-e lavash: a thin pita-style bread that is baked in full view of diners in the restaurant's brick oven. Absolutely delicious, and the baker was continuously bringing us more freshly made bread to our table throughout the meal, which was a nice touch.
For starters, we opted for the nargesi, which comprises thinly chopped spinach mixed with a labneh-style yoghurt that simply melts in the mouth. Our second starter was the halim bademjan, which was recommended by the staff: a concoction of cooked minced lamb combined with eggplant. While I am not a big fan of aubergine, the lamb and accompanying spices hid the vegetable's taste well.
The starters were so good that by the time we tucked into our main courses, we weren't sure whether we would be able to finish even half of them, but the dishes were absolutely divine. We sampled three types of meats: baghalah polo ba mahicheh, tikkeh khodmoni, and chelo kabab-e-kubideh, which are a selection of chicken and lamb kebabs prepared in authentic Persian style, served with two types of rice. Cooked to perfection with just the right amount and types of spices, the meat dishes were surprisingly easy on the stomach as the chefs take care not to overdo it on the amount of oil or ghee used.
Finally, to top it all off we finished with a slice of bastani-e za'farani, which is special Persian ice cream flavoured with saffron and rosewater.
For the price, it's certainly not for everyday dining, but Shabestan is well worth visiting for a special occasion. Highly recommended.
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