Shiraz Garden

We aren’t really spoiled for Persian food choices in Doha. Shiraz Garden on Salwa Road isn’t in the best location – long jams to reach there and hardly any parking available – but once there, the space is lovely.

There’s family-style private seating and an upstairs area as well. The plush velvet sofas and Persian carpet add to the cosy ambience.

The menu has plenty of options but two of the starters we order aren’t available. It seems the weekend special dizi soup isn’t available on a weekend, either. However, fresh bread and salad with some cheese and walnuts is served to the table while we wait
for our starters.

We settle with a kashk e bademjan which is a small portion of aubergine and onion purée flavoured with yoghurt, olive oil, mint and a few other herbs and spices. The fried shrimp with garlic and tartar sauce is big on flavours.

We try the Shiraz mixed grill and baghali polo ba mahiche. There’s a brilliant tomato and onion sauce served with the rice, beans and wonderfully tender meat. It has hints of dill and saffron. The mixed grill includes a kebab kubideh that is simple but really hits the spot. The kebab barg is thinly sliced and basted with butter and saffron but it leaves an aftertaste which we’re not too pleased about. Our favourite is the well-spiced jujeh kebab.

The service is good but the food is hit and miss. The menu does have a lot of options that might bring us back, and hopefully next time we actually get what we ask for.

WHAT IS IT...
A Persian eatery in the middle of the city

WHY GO...
For a few good dishes and fast service