Caspian Persian Restaurant

This unassuming joint has had a few incarnations. Recently, and I hope for a long time to come, it is Persian cuisine.

Scott is my food buddy, my going out to restaurants and grocery store exploring partner in crime. Sometime I’ll write a post exclusively about him and how we food, but for now just know, we are back at and ready to make up for lost time.

We are taking turns and he picked Caspian, like the sea, Persian Restaurant at 4989 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH. It’s on the west side of Cleveland between Morse Rd and 161.

Because of our schedules we typically meet up at 4:30 in the parking lot of our destination on Friday evenings. Always the restaurant folks are just finishing getting set for dinner service and there are few customers so it’s slow and I can ask far too many questions. He doesn’t question as much because he does research before going anywhere new. But I’m full of them.

At this place the lovely woman generously gave her time to answer all my questions. Yay, to nice service workers. You are all amazing.

This is the stewed Chicken with very dark pomegranate and walnut sauce, plus the Mirza Ghasemi, which I nearly forgot to take a picture.

We ordered an appetizer of Mirza Ghasemi- smoked eggplant with tomato and egg, which was out of this world. Koobidah Kabob in Chicken and Beef, because I’m a sucker for ground meat. Both were excellently seasoned and not dry. I always worry about dry chicken. It was served with basmati rice, a roasted tomato and a salad. Oh we also had bread brought to the table. It was warm, and soft but chewy with sesame seeds on top.

Koobidah, in chicken and beef. Yum.

Everything was so good. The music playing was so good too!

Scott ordered stewed chicken with pomegranate and walnut sauce, again served with basmati rice. He immediately starting to plan his birthday dinner so he could share the place with his family. He order the Sholehzard -Saffron Rice Pudding and I ordered the Saffron Ice-cream made with rose water. It was nearly too beautiful to eat but of course I ate it. I feel like rose water desserts can be dangerous (like not really dangerous but iffy) because if the maker is heavy handed with the flavor they can be too much, too soapy or granny with the roses. This ice-cream was perfect.

All our food together was about $60 before the tip, as point of reference. I didn’t see alcohol. They had sodas and tea.

It was a fantastic start to our post-pandemic Friday dinners. I’m going to my best to capture meals out. Please hit me with suggestions of if you go out after reading my review tell me your thoughts. XO

Saffron Ice-Cream with pistachios and made with rose water.