Persian Gourmet

This place is in my neighborhood, so it’s kind of a shame that I only recently went there…
We got two appetizers — dolmades and hummus — and WOW, those dolmades were nom nom nom good… and pretty! The kebab portion was a bit smaller than I expected, but the flavor explosion in the meat made up for it. The falafel sandwich looked absolutely awesome, stuffed with fresh herbs — but unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try it.
…overall, very good food.

I’ve always wanted to try this place, but I’ve walked by a few times during ‘open’ business hours and they’ve appeared to be closed. Finally, I caught them when the sign and presence of the proprieter were properly present, so I got my Persian pigout on.
For an appetizer, my friend and I ordered the eggplant spread, and it was absolutely delightful. The portion of pita which accompanied the spread was woefully small but delightful. The spread itself was phenomenal, with crunchy bits of fresh fried shallot scattered throughout.
My friend ordered the tongue sandwich, which was basically a gyro with stewed lengua. I wasn’t a HUGE fan of the tongue– I guess I’m more used to the larger ‘chunks’ which are served in tacos, and this was more of a stewey, sloppy-​joe type of lengua. It was tasty enough, but the consistency bugged me a little.
I ordered the (damn I wish I could remember the name!!) soup of meatballs, walnuts, and pomegranate. It was absolutely wonderful, though frighteningly hot (temperate-​wise). Once it cooled off a little, it was great with a little bit of the rice that accompanied it. Very filling, this dish could easily be split by two even though it’s not a huge portion. I’ll definitely be craving this again, so you’ll be seeing me around.
The owner (I guess it was the owner?) who greeted us was quiet, but opened up a bit when I asked him about the ice cream. I’ve had Persian ice cream before, and it’s something to be experienced. Rose-​spicy-​pistachio wonderland, my dear people. A funny moment occured when I ordered the yogurt soda– he kinda of looked at me sideways for a second and asked if I had ever had it before– when I said that I hadn’t he tried to talk me out of ordering it. Understandable, it’s not a flavour that alot of people would enjoy, but it went absolutely perfect with the meal. I’m actually kind of craving it right now. For those of you who’ve had salty lhassi at an Indian restaurant before, you’ll notice a great similarity.
So– sounds great, you’re wondering why I only gave it three stars?
I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t overwhelmed. The ambiance is much more quick-​bite diner than Persian indulgence. You’re most likely to see the entirety of the clientele eating gyros and falafels than anything more adventurous, and I’d imagine that they’d be better served at one of Pete’s Greek Gestapo diners scattered throughout the city. Pretty much everything else on the menu is quite expensive, though pretty typical for Middle-​Eastern food in the city. Most of the kebabs are twelve dollars and up, which baffles me somewhat… but ah well, at least the food is tasty!
I’ll be back, and I won’t be surprised to see my star rating of this place go up when I get to know it a little better.

Had take out from here for dinner last night. The hummus is really good, I like that it has olives, tomatos and onion in it, yummy. The falafels were decent, a little crumbly and dry… but crunchy and flavorful. Next time we will totally eat in the restaurant to get the full experience. Since it is in my new hood I am planning to visit often!

An acquaintance recommended that I give Persian Gourmet a try, not long after it first opened. I’m usually a fan of Middle Eastern food, particularly vegetarian fare like falafel, hummus and baba ganoush. I seriously think I’m addicted to this stuff. So, needless to say, I was excited to check it out.
Man, was I not disappointed. Persian Gourmet is a cozy restaurant and hookah bar on South Broadway, ran by a husband and wife. It definitely has that authentic, homestyle feel, and the food is simply amazing. Everything I’ve tried there has always been fresh, made from quality ingredients and absolutely delicious. The prices are very reasonable, and the owners are friendly and attentive. Another plus is that they stay open late throughout the week, and even later during weekends.
Since discovering Persian Gourmet, I try to stop by whenever I can. Usually, I go for the falafel sandwich (made with fresh herbs and finely diced pickled vegetables), with some hot sauce and plain yogurt on the side. I also love their Kaske Bademjan (eggplant dip with fried onions and spices), served with pita bread. Unlike Baba Ganoush, it is served warm and is even more mouth-​watering. The hummus at Persian Gourmet is decent, though I must say I’ve had better. But, in the end — it’s just a matter of personal taste.
When it’s cold outside, you must try Aash — a vegetable bean soup that is so hearty and full of flavor, it will warm you up from inside out. And, when you’d rather cool off, check out their ever-​changing selection of freshly-​squeezed fruit and vegetable juice drinks, or Persian ice cream (with pistachios and saffron).
If you like quality Middle Eastern food that tastes home-​made, then by all means, give Persian Gourmet a try. Chances are you won’t be disappointed.

I was very disappointed by the food my friend and I experienced here. I was especially embarrassed to have taken a friend and get such mediocre food.
We both had Gyros, plus I had falafel and my friend had hummus. Her hummus was decent but the pita served with it was not the fresh baked bread another Unilocaler described. It was a cold whole pita, not too exciting.
The Gyros… oh my, where to start. The meat was those little pre-​formed meat flavored strips that were probably microwaved. They didn’t have any flavor other than beef. I really thought that we would be getting fresh Gyro meat that was shaved fresh when you ordered it. The Tzaziki was flavorless and did nothing to improve the flavor of the sandwich. The other condiments on the wrap were onions, tomato and pickles. When you combine flavorless beef strips, onions, tomato and pickle you get a Gyro that tastes like a McDonalds hamburger.
My falafel came out after we had already started our sandwiches, they looked promising. They were golden brown and crisp. They had a nice crunch, but the inside was luke warm, mushy and very bitter. They were not exactly what i was expecting.
Maybe I should have ordered something more authentic to really try what everyone raves about. Maybe I should have asked for a recommendation from the server. Or, maybe I should have just gone to Jerusalem… or even Garbanzo.

Best lamb kobideh in Denver!
I’ve driven by this place several times, but all they advertise is gyros, so I’ve never had the need to explore, especially from a Persian restaurant… Went there to meet friends that were already there, everyone had eaten already, they were having fun, smoking hooka and chatting… The owner came to greet us that just arrived; I’ve asked him if they had kobideh and he replied, beef and lamb. Bingo! Ordered the lamb kobideh, it was enough to feed 2 people, lamb was very well seasoned, and rice was perfect, side of grilled tomato and butter for the rice.
If you are looking for authentic Persian food, you have to try this place!

This place is so cool that when I walked into the hookah bar, it said: «HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAHA» on the mirror wall.
Too bad my birthday’s in August and it was the owner’s cousin’s birthday. Damn. I’m better off a Leo.
I haven’t wolfed down a gyro sandwich so fast before in my life. I don’t even EAT gyro sandwiches anymore. I guess that will have to change.
On top of that, they carry RC Cola. If you’re Middle Eastern, Iranian, Afghani or desi, you know what I’m talkin’ about.
You can also buy air fresheners shaped like Iran (with its flag colors) for $ 2.99. It was tempting, but I’m not sure the Nelson Mandela air freshener in my car would be too happy about that.

When I ordered from Persian Gourmet I was hungry. Now I’m hungry and angry. They were very nice on the phone when telling me that they didn’t have delivery tonight. So, my husband picked up. The chicken wasn’t edible so yeah, I’ll be having cereal for dinner. Thanks Persian Gourmet.

This may become a five star review after my next visit. In the mood for a gyros or falafel today, I remembered that I had this place bookmarked to try based on the reviews it has received from people whose opinions I value.
I was not disappointed. First off, the owner is as nice a man as you can imagine. Second, the lamb gyro was delicious. Third, when I asked about the difference between babaganoush and the eggplant dip that they offer, the owner not only explained it to me, but then gave me a sample in my togo bag. I tasted it and I am now hooked. Good call by the owner. If you are confident in your product, you don’t mind giving a little sample.
I will be back. Again and again. Add some hookah into the mix, and I can see spending some good time eating some good food with good friends.

I was craving a gyro the other day, so much so that I drove across town to Persian Gourmet. I was shocked when I walked up at 1 p.m. and it was closed. I started to get panicky. Are they closing down? What gives? Why aren’t they open on a weekday afternoon? Are they moving? Nooo! So I called them, they answered, and said come back in a few minutes and we’ll open up. Phew. Let me tell you, the drive and the panic is worth it when you’ve really got a yen for something. Clearly ya’ll can see I like to eat!
Their gyros are a bit different than what I’m used to. The bread is more of a thin pita wrap than traditional fluffy gyro bread. I could swear there were basil leaves on the top of the gyro meat. So fresh and flavorful! The combo comes with fries, which sort of negates the healthy sandwich idea, but I couldn’t resist eating them with hot sauce. Yum. And then I got an order of grape leaves to go. Just as delicious as I’d remembered.
One note: I stopped in here a few weeks ago and ordered a veggie option, dill rice with green veggies. I like dill, but they are not shy with it. Just a head’s up.

I enjoyed my meal at Persian Gourmet! It was VERY reasonably priced, my chicken sandwich was good. The sig. other got the gyro sandwich and we got side salads and some falafel! It was great, although the poor server was running around like a crazy person trying to accommodate everyone’s needs! They also had a cool selection of books and products… I would go back, although I really like the kebab place on Colfax, near the capitol building better. I love to support local family restaurants though– so if you have a chance, go for it!

Started with the cucumber and tomato salad. It was simple, full of onions and fresh. I had the falafel sandwich, very tasty and husband had the chicken kabob sandwich. The falafel was fried perfectly and full of seasoning. Pretty cheap for sandwiches. Shared a nice pot of tea and he gave us a pot on the house to go with the baklava. Now the baklava is very different than others, it’s not as flaky and a much stronger flavor as well. But still enjoyable. It’s right next to the Esquire theatre.

Went in here Saturday night… well Sunday morning around 2:15am…in search of ANYTHING that was open, my boyfriend and I walked into Persian Gourmet. Unfortunately my first Persian food experience was after way too many cocktails… Fortunately everyone in there was in the same boat!
They were out of gyros so we ordered the hummus, beef kabob sandwiches and baklava.
The hummus was oh so delicious, served alongside pita bread. Yum! I wanted more when it was all gone. I remember thinking the beef kabob sandwich was hard and unappetizing but my boyfriend liked it. The baklava was tasty but a little too greasy. I like Greek style better, it’s flakier.
Persian Gourmet closes around 3am on Saturday/​Sunday. This was by far my most adventurous late night eating ever! The owner was friendly. I told him I like to try everything once and he said, «so you’re not coming back?!»
I’ll definitely be back but probably for lunch or dinner, before 10pm!

This place is right down the street from my house, but I had been putting off trying it, probably because it doesn’t look like much from the outside. But they’ve been advertising their $ 3.99 falafel sandwiches and I had a craving, so…
I’m really glad I made it in. The interior is really nice and comfortable; there was a big family in eating, and a piano in the corner, and we were immediately greeted with some hot tea. We ordered some baba ghanoush to start; it was slightly thinner in consistency than others I’ve tried, but it was very good. The pita tasted really fresh as well.
For lunch, I had a falafel sandwich and my girlfriend had the beef kabob sandwich. The falafel was excellent, crispy on the outside, soft inside without being mushy. It was large and filling, more like a wrap than a normal pita sandwich. It had basil inside as well as some sort of pickle relish, which sounds strange but was really tasty. All in all, a great lunch, and we made it out of there for like $ 12. I also noticed they sell plastic take home containers of their hummus and such, I’ll definitely get some of that next time I’m there.

Good falafel and good hummus are my mainstay for any decent Mediterranean/​Persian/​Middle Eastern/​whatever (can you tell I’m a white boy yet?) restaurant, and this place works it out well on both points. Add to that the fact that they’ll deliver to my house, and this is a place I’ll enjoy often. I look forward to checking out the inside of the place, if that ever happens (I’m pretty damn lazy.)

I’ve got a weakness for falafel. It’s in my top five favorite foods. I have often driven by and been intrigued by Persian Gourmet’s sign for a falafel sandwich for only $ 3.99. Last night, I planned on running out to grab a couple but when checking out the menu online I noticed that they delivered within a 2 miles radius! Hallelujah!
We went a little crazy and ordered enough food to feed a large family. 2 Falafel sandwiches, hummus, baba ghanoosh, and a «Combination of Two» kebab with ground beef (long meatballs) and Royal (basically, steak) and it all came with rice and incredibly fresh pita from a local Middle Eastern bakery. It arrived unbelievably fast, it only took 15 to 20 minutes!
The falafel wrap was fantastic. And HUGE — burrito sized. It is the best falafel ever — crunchy on the outside, warm and smooshy on the inside. It has huge pieces of fresh basil inside that blew my mind. I unwrapped it and smeared some hummus inside which made it even more fantastic, if such a thing is possible. The hummus was thick and very tasty. The baba ghanoosh was a different texture and flavor than I was used to.
Even though I was totally stuffed from the falafel sandwich, I did venture into the huge amount of kebab that we ordered. I was a little surprised because it didn’t come on a stick, but it was very delicious and made assembly easier. I liked the steak more than the meatball.
I’m still a devotee of Jerusalem, but these super cheap and filing falafel sandwiches are sure to become a large part of my falafel consumption and the fact that they’ll deliver makes them even more attractive. I also plan on checking out the restaurant itself because the website mentions they have free wifi.

Welcome to Denvers newest hole in the wall of delight The Persian Gourmet.
The Persian Gourmet has not been around for long. They just opened up in the last few months. I found them while I was out posting fliers for a show on South Broadway. I happened to walk by and noticed a sign for Kebabs and Shwarma for only 4 dollars. Being the fact that the price was great and I had never heard of this place, I had to go in. It was an off beat time to walk in about 230 in the after noon. Well after lunch and way before dinner. I tend to eat at odd times. I get better service that way too.
The menu is very utilitarian. This really is reminds me of a family run place that puts all their love into the food. If the owner reads this. You need to be more descriptive in your menu. Tell the story of your food.
From what I was told there are specials that change all the time for dinner. One of them he showed me was roasted quail with walnuts and pomegranate glaze. Which to me sounded like heaven on a plate. I noticed they had all the standard things on the menu, but there were some other added things there that really peaked my interest. Like something called Super Barg (which is some form of beef roast), Persian ice cream with saffron and pistachios, roasted eggplant and red pepper dip. (I have had this many times in other places and have to recommend it. Its the Persian version of babaganoosh made with roasted eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes served warm.)
Ok enough speculation of what I want to eat there. What did I actually eat and why did that give me such hope for this place?
I went in for a quick lunch/​snack. For sandwiches they had chicken or beef Kabob. For vegetarian they had falafel and something else called kookoo (?). I opted for the beef kabob. Normally a kabob sandwich never sticks out in my head. Esp since I got use to good Turkish donor kebabs in Germany. But this one did. It’s served in warm flat bread rolled up around all the ingredients. The key to its delight were the ingredients inside. One of the things with Persian food is that Persians use a lot of fresh spices. My ex was from Azerbaijan while not technically Iranian it was part of Iran at one time so the food is almost the same. People in that part of the world tend to eat spices like we eat salad. Giant heaping portions of fresh cilantro, garlic, parsley and basil. Picture someone with a sandwich in one hand and a fist full of spices in the other. Alternating hands they eat out of. This kebab was not the usual. Inside was a perfectly season beef kebab that had been cooked on a long knife skewer over charcoal. It was perfectly seasoned with sumac being the main flavor I could pick out. This was paired to lightly grilled onions, and fresh tomatoes. Now here is what stuck out in my head the most. Rather than adding iceberg lettuce like EVERY other places, they chose to use fresh spices as the salad part. Inside this sandwich was fresh parsley and fresh basil in decent amount. This lead to a very complex tasting sandwich that left me wanting more. The only thing I wish was in side was just some plain yogurt. But maybe that is my personal preference.
So if you are looking for GOOD middle eastern food that has reasonable prices near downtown Denver, this is the place. I saw that next door in another room there is a hooka bar too. Don’t let the rather nondescript menu fool you. The food here has much more to it.