The Caspian

Quite nice traditional persian restaurant

Why this place isn’t busy, I have no idea!
My penchant for exotic food has led me to my new discovery — Persian cuisine. Where do I start??? It’s delicious, healthy, and incredibly sophisticated a cuisine can get. Upon the recommendation of an Iranian friend who eats there on a (very) regular basis, I skip along to Caspian with my taste buds tingling with excitement and anticipation of the delicious meal that I was about to sample. Well, what can I say??? It certainly didn’t disappoint! The food was fresh, piping hot, flavoursome, and best of all — very affordable! Two people can eat very well for £20 if you share a couple of starters and a main each. For a meal of that quality in London, it’s a big thumbs up from me!
Please try out Caspian and keep the family business going, you will not be disappointed!

I nearly didn’t go because of the negative review this month but I’m glad I tried it myself. Both my mother and I are very fussy Persian foodies and this place managed to exceed expectations. The only criticism I could give was that the portions were too big but that was fine I just took it home for the next day. We both had starters, salad olivia wasn’t the best but the Aubergine dish was good. We had mixed kebab with joojeh that was delicious. The meat was moist and the rice cooked perfectly. Atmosphere was very relaxed and staff friendly. Will definitely go back with a happy mummy.

Great neighbourhood restaurant in Lee. Huge portions of fresh Persian deliciousness, and honestly the best rice I’ve ever tasted. And extremely reasonable prices.

I was brought here last week by my good friend and am sad and ashamed to say that, although I’ve lived only a ten minute walk from here for 2 years and my flatmate for over 5, up until then we didn’t know it existed. Now I’ve been raving about it ever since and cannot wait to return and sample more delights from their beautiful menu.
I couldn’t decide for ages what to eat and then, after sharing the feta cheese and walnut starter with my friend with a side of Persian bread — of which there was a lot of and we could keep for enjoying with our mains — I decided to have the Lamb kebabs and rice. It was really tender, tasty and delicious.
We also enjoyed a glass of wine each — my friend had a house white and I had a house red (which was lovely) — and they came in fabulously ornate glasses.
Although when we went it was on a Tuesday evening so you wouldn’t expect it to be busy or packed, there was one other table there, I imagine the place fills up at the weekends. The service was really good; quick, friendly, polite and it seemed like a nice family run business which I hope does well.
I can’t wait to return!

I do not understand why this restaurant is not packed. Perhaps it needs to advertise more.
The rarely crowded dining room is attractively furnished and the family that owns it is always welcoming. The restaurant offers the usual kebabs and some quite unusual (at least to those of us not well acquainted with Persian cuisine) dishes. My favourite is a stew called Zereshk Polo that involves chicken, saffron, onions, sour cherries and other things. The accompanying rice is amazing.
The restaurant could do with a better wine list.
The prices are very low given the quality of the cooking.

Fantastic Iranian food at very reasonable prices. Kebabs tender and tasty. Rice wonderfully light and fluffy. Stews rich with spices, fruit and nuts. Service friendly but a little slow and wine list very short.

Finally… a Persian restaurant in South East London!
The Caspian brings a fine selection of Persian cuisine to south of the river.
For years, Persian, friends of Persians and just general foodies have longed to be able to travel to a Persian restaurant without having to traverse the chaos that is central and west London just to get there, whether by public transport or car.
Whilst the journey is often justified, a west London Persian restaurant is not very practical. This has all changed with the newly opened ‘The Caspian.‘
A family run restaurant that always seems busy, simply and tastefully decorated and situated in Lee, on the border between Greenwich and Lewisham, The Caspian has the full range of Persian cuisine that would satisfy anyone’s palate, Persian or not, vegetarian or not, sweet or savoury.
What’s more the prices are superb and the quality of the food is excellent, only surpassed by my childhood favourite, ‘Alounak’ (see my other review).
The Caspian certainly is as good as Behesht and has the whole range from the sweet Fesenjan to the savoury Ghormeh Sabzi. something which Alounak doesn’t even offer on demand (or even request).
For more on the menu and the prices, consult their website:

I heard a rumour that soon they’ll offer delivery too…
So support family owned exotic restaurants South of the River so us South East Londoners can hold our heads up high and enjoy our environs more with good local food.