Great restaurant.
Simple food, done well.
Well flavoured.
Good cuts of meat, well-cooked and seasoned
Try the rose sherbet - you won’t be disappointed.
Priced well.
Good atmosphere
Amazing service amazing food, a family owned managed restaurant very friendly 👍👍👍 highly recommended for all Iranian food lovers not to be missed.
The food is not the best Iranian food but right up there. It is the closes to authentic Iranian food you can get in London. The staff are nice and decoration is ver well done.
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A cosy family-run restaurant in a pretty street in Notting Hill. I love this street just off Westbourne grove and lined up with a few genuinely good ethnic restaurants. Hafez is a classy Persian establishment with de finitely the best decor I've seen in an Iranian restaurant in London. Beautiful calligraphy paintinga dominate one end of the wall, whereas the opposite wall is adorned with beautiful antique cutlery. The place evokes an avant garde Persian glory ambiance reminiscent of the bygone Shah era, very different from the more casual nearby Sadaf and Alounak. We started off with the Kishk Bademjan and this was the best we've ever had; a warm dip of aubergines puree with a delightful mix of vegetables and keshek. The lavash bread was also very good. We then ordered the mixed grill and this did not disappoint. I often find that while Persian restaurants perfect their lamb, they don't always get the chicken right as they slightly overcook it. Not at Hafez. Their joojeh cubes are juicy and succulent. The kabab and lamb chops are very good, yet not better than the nearby Sadaf. This is definitely the most charming Persian restaurant I've been to in London and it charges a little premium for that. The food is very good yet one would probably expect it to be better. €30 a person.
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Very good neighbourhood Persian restaurant. Food is delicious (never tasted stuffed vine leaves as good as theirs), service very welcoming and ambiance down to earth and cosy. Really good for a date or also family dinners.
I have been coming here for 12 years and it has always been my favourite persian restaurant.
A nice, relaxed place, tastefully decorated, warm and caring staff and delicious home style food; a lovely experience every time.
For starters order the Masto Moosir (yoghurt with shallots), keshke baidenjaan(warm aubergine dip), salad olivieh (potato, chicken and egg dip) with some freshly made naan bread of course!
For mains I usually go for the koobideh which is two minced meat skewers with a side of rice and if you want to do it the right way ask them for a raw egg yolk which you mix in to the rice along with some butter and sumagh (tangy herb). I also highly recommend the ghemeh (lentils and meat stew) which u can dip into whilst eating your main.
They do not serve alcohol but you are welcome to bring your own; the shop next door has many wines etc to choose from.
Come here for a Sunday or mid week dinner and make sure you are hungry!
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Review
A cut above the rest.........for those who like the best !
We had the pleasure of visiting Hafez with overseas vistors who were keen to sample its Persian delights.Instantly impressed by the quirky decor,we particularly liked the hand-made artefacts which add to the bohemian/arty vibe to this place.
As for the food,authenticity is certainly the buzz word here.Delicious, oven warm lavash bread was the accompaniment to dips made with aubergine,garlic and yogurt,for example,which would suit veggie tastes in particular.A very substantial starter to share with friends.
We liked the fact that vegetarian and meat lovers alike are catered for with the array of sauces to accompany rice.Forget ordinary,think special.For example,rice accompanied by a relish made with interesting ingredients such as wild barberries.
But it was the melt-in-the mouth meat kebabs that we couldn't resist.The lamb dishes are the speciality of the Head Chef ( Farshid ).Our expectations were well and truly exceeded when it came to quality of the meat,especially the tenderloin cuts.
Equally good was the chicken marinated with saffron,olive oil and lemon.A very healthy option for the weight-watchers amongst the group.
The younger members of the party enjoyed the non-alcoholic Persian sherbet drink,great for the driver too.Infused with fruit,flower essences and herbs,it was hard to resist ordering more than one before moving on to the wine list.
Finishing with rosewater sorbet was the perfect end to a perfect meal,although we did manage to squeeze in some typical Persian sweets to accompany the speciality tea.
A thoroughly enjoyable experience which we intend to repeat soon.So grab a few friends and head down there yourselves......you will want to keep coming back !
Excellent cuisine and a lovely authentic atmosphere. Not to be missed will hopefully visit this little gem again
Beyond the meaning of delicious. For the past thirty years,
This is the finest & most delicious food i have ever tasted.
I have been to alot of Persian, Iraqi & lebanese restaurants but I never tasted such as this food.
Highly recommended .
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Incredible food! What a find!. As an Ex Pat I still travel to the UK about twice a year and came upon Hafez in Hereford Rd by chance. Not knowing Persian cusine I was a little unsure ,but let me say this was without doubt one of the tastiest meals I have ever had in any country and any cuisine. The décor is very artistic and the authentic setting creates a good atmosphere. As I often do when I travel I introduced myself as a "visitor" and first time patron and asked Chef (Farshid) for some recommendations. This turned out to be a smart move.
I almost spoilt my appetite on the delicious freshly baked Persian bread and appetizers. Mint, leaves, cheese (similar to feta), aubergine dip, with garlic, fresh yogurt, dip etc. Simple fresh, and delicious. Simply equisite Lamb chops, skewered chicken, minced lamb kebabs, followed. Perfect basmati rice with a cooked tomato and knob of butter came with the main dish. But the Lamb chops! You have to try them.I should also mention that the chicken kebabs were fantastic. How can something so simple taste so good? Boneless, zero fat, and succulent. The minced lamb kebab was also great, so tasty and not overly spicy, I don't know how he cooks them but I have never tasted grilled meats so good, and living in the states I have eaten a lot. Portion size is also just right here.
I chose a red wine with the food as I was having more Lamb dishes, and the prices were a pleasant surprise from the many overpriced wine lists in central London. It would be good to see a Pinot Noir on the list as it would pair well, and maybe some more varietals. Though full, I tried the Saffron ice cream which was delicious, really creamy and containing fresh Pistachios. I finally finished with Iranian tea and the selection of Iranian sweets. Very sweet,.. but they went well with the tea. I spent almost two hours in Hafez and felt unhurried and very welcome even though they had quite a few tables in and I was dining alone. It is not a huge restaurant so maybe a reservation is a good idea if you are travelling from across town? I will be telling all my London based friends about this one and wish Chef Farshid would consider opening a branch in Chicago!
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The Halal: All the meat and poultry is halal. No pork on the menu but alcohol is served here.
The Place: This quaint little Persian restaurant on Hereford Rd (off Westbourne Grove) stands out from its nearby rivals for its sophisticated (and unique) decor and aromatic food. The restaurant is cosy: small wooden tables, exposed brick walls mounted with silverware, imaginative chandeliers made from upside-down teapots and cups- it feels a bit Alice in Wonderland- but I really like it! The head chef, Farshid Ziafat, descends from a lineage of celebrated Iranian restauranteurs and chefs. He’s apparently a perfectionist and the food speaks for itself.
The Food: We started with a selection of mezze: cold baba ghanoush, hummus and kashk-e-bademjan ( a warm baked aubergine dip slow cooked with yoghurt, walnuts and mint. The cold mezze was good but if you’ve even been to the Middle East (or on Edgware road for that matter!) – this is nothing jaw-dropping. The warm aubergine was like Marmite- you either loved it or hated it. The smokiness brought about a deep meaty flavour. The bread was unanimously loved: soft and thin so you didn’t feel completely full before embarking on the main course!
For mains, we ordered several dishes for sharing. There were slow-cooked curries or ‘khoresht’. The presentation was homely shall we say- meat pieces floating in pools of gravy and standard white bowls did not look terribly inviting… Luckily the taste was better than the appearance! The house signature dish or ‘Fesenjen’, was a chicken curry cooked in a gravy of ground walnuts and pomegranate. This again left us divided on the table: slightly sweet and yet sour – perhaps just an acquired taste as I’ve heard the Iranians claim this is the best you will find outside of Tehran. The ‘Bademjen’ aubergine curry cooked with plenty of tomatoes and herbs had a rich depth of flavour. The ‘Ghormeh Sabzi’ was a curry of lamb cooked in parsley, coriander and fenugreek- pleasant. However, the true star ended up being the accompaniment of ‘Zereshk': fluffy aromatic rice cooked in butter and saffron with a relish of wild barberries, pistachios and almonds, this was heavenly!
We were desperate to have the grilled meats and ordered boneless chicken and the ground lamb kebabs or ‘Kubideh’. Succulent, moist chicken which melted in your mouth – I am salivating just thinking about it! The kebabs were very good as well but WOW the chicken!!!
Wash all the aromas and spices down with a glass of cold, sweet rosewater ‘Sharbat’. (Or mix with half a glass of water if you don’t want to immediately become diabetic!)
Before leaving, we were given a plate of complimentary Persian sweets: Jalebis and something reminiscent of a syrupy doughnut-hole. A lovely gesture to complete our meal.
The Price: Around £20 per person.
The Verdict: A great alternative to the usual Middle-Eastern affair: they’re not trying too hard to be authentic they actually are! I think the grilled meats were generally superior in taste and quality to the curries so when I go again, I’ll be ordering a bowl of barberry rice and a big plate of grilled chicken!
Delicious traditional food, very fresh greens and nuts. I loved the lentil soup and the rose sorbet in particular. We were 5 people with different dietary preferences and all found the experience good. The atmosphere and the decor were nice too.
Great decor and excellent food! The bread was warm and fresh from the oven, just perfect. I also really enjoyed the hummus and the Kashk-e Bademjan and the hummus. The charcoal grilled kebabs were juicy and flavorful. The rice could have been better, but aside from that, it’s definitely a 5/5.
Normally I'm not a bread person but their bread is so crispy and thin that it keeps you eating with your starter (i ordered mashed aubergine with garlic). The combination was super nice. The Lamb Kebab was also great, the meat was tender and still juicy. Perfect to go with the saffron rice. I like their saffron ice cream too as seen from other reviews but would love to try the rosewater ice dessert next time. Overall speaking, it has a home feeling and food was great.
The boneless chicken, was absolutely delicious! The flavors were on point, and the chicken was cooked to perfection. However, I did find the kushk to be a bit cold. I'd definitely recommend giving the chicken a try, but perhaps ask for the kushk to be served warmer it was still good tho
Oh my goodness this was AMAZING, honestly it was some of the best Persian food I’ve had since moving to London. I’m mainly vegetarian so it can sometimes difficult to find really good veg friendly Persian dishes that aren’t just the basics….so cue my excitement to find somewhere with Fesenjan on the menu!! Brought my mom here when she was visiting and she said it tasted like home. My favorite Persian food of all time since I can remember is mast-o-mousier so sharing that was a non-negotiable (it was incredible) and then my mom had the jujeh kabab with an extra skewer of kubideh and I had fesenjan with zereshk on the side because I only like rice if it has zereshk in it. We both loved the food so much. Not only was the food superb, the atmosphere was great and the staff were amazing. Def need to come back very soon. I would 10000% say whether you’re Persian, just love Persian food, or haven’t tried it but looking for a good place to give it a go- you won’t be disappointed coming here!
The food was nice for sure, but it didnt live up to the hype it had from some Persian locals. The Jujeh was a bit dry, the Barg wasn't the best. The kashkebadamjun was solid, the zeresh polo was nice as was the persian ice cream.
I love the food, it was tasty and well cooked. I should say the staff are really friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is wonderful. I truly love this place and anytime I want Persian dishes I will definitely go to this place.
One word for Hafez: warm. Went for a Sunday lunch, the lamb was flavorful and juicy, fresh salad on the side and oh the bread! Don't miss the saffron ice cream for sure.
One of my favourite Persian/ irani restaurants in London! Great food and great service. In summer, book in advance!
Charming and cosy place with delicious and quality food and great service. My partner highly recommended this place and I can see why, it hit the spot! We tried:
Kashk bademjoon : YUM! take with bread
mast moosir (shallot yoghurt) : MUST TRY
Kubideh kebab : great, mix with the tomato and sumac
Eggplant Stew: delicious
Tea : 1 is enough for 2
Faloodeh + 1 scoop ice cream : my partner thought this was genius for me knowing real faloodeh basting I wasn't impressed.
Tip: I saw ppl ordering half rice half salad shirazi which is great because full rice portion is pretty big.
Still a great meal. Would go again!
What a great find. Local restaurant with a homely vibe.
100% authentic Persian cuisine, absolutely delicious. The marinated chicken kabab was a highlight, great flavours and grilled to perfection.
Service was attentive and very friendly.
We had to ask for a goody bag because in addition to the food being delicious, the portions are huge as well.
We’ll definitely be back!
Nice place and great staff, the grills were really nice but the sauces were average.
One of many decent Persian restaurants in Bayswater. Service is efficient and polite if not the most friendly. Food is tasty but I felt that the lamb cutlets and koobideh were just a little on the dry side. Left the place very full and fulfilled.
Small, Cousy and delicious restaurant, great service..
its one of our favorite Persian restaurants in the town..
Our orders:
Zaytoun Hafez: YUM
Kaahk bademjan: not bad
Mirza Ghasmi: YUM
Humus: not bad, it is a UK based hummus🤣
Soltani: YUMM
Bakhteari( chicken and Lamb): YUM
was a wonderful meal, recommended.
We had a really good experience at Hafez! The dishes were really tasty, the atmosphere was beautiful and the staff was very nice. It is very worthy to go for a walk in this neighborhood and then stop here for an excellent meal. I am looking forward to come back!
Beautiful example of a Persian Restaurant in London. Once you step inside, it truly feels like you have gone back in time. The food is authentic, fresh and delicious.
Our Rating: 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Final Opinion: Outstanding and rememberable
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