Arkan Mandi house — Restaurant in Sydney

I’ve been dining at this place on and off for a few years. It has changed a few owners over the years. Have usually found the food very average, may be a bit tasteless, but the prices were low. So you kind of get what you pay. The latest owner when he took over the shop put up the prices, which I didn’t mind too much. However, yesterday I went there, a new change was introduced, the portions gone much smaller and the food is just tasteless. Skewers were dry, fassolia soup was tasteless, also they forgot bread, and when reminded later they rushed baking it so it was doughy and I could taste the bitterness of the dough in my mouse. Worst of all they overcharged me by $8, which I picked up and asked the waiter to go through the bill and take off some of the extra charge, but she still end up overcharging me by $3 dollars. I’m not cheap, but the bill should’ve been $39, she said $47, that’s 21% extra, on top of smaller portions and very very average meal. I’d say make sure you add up your bill prior to paying, as they use a calculator and just punch in random prices and items.

I don’t think I’ll go back there anytime soon. Much better valued restaurants...

(3.5 stars) While I was sorry to see the back of the Afghani restaurant, Bakhtar, the Arkan Kebab House replacement scratches a similar itch. Coming from a neighbouring, Persian sensibility, it’s still a good place to eat a mix plate kebab ($21). In fact, this item is a direct carry-over from the old Bakhtar menu, with three kebab (chicken, lamb and mince) presented with a blackened tomato on an ornate platter. Charred golden turmeric marinated chicken eats well against pickles in pliable warm flatbread. Rather than presented on the plate, the pickles are self-service from a salad bar arrangement, where you can indulge in as many as you like.

It makes for an economical and healthy shared meal to eat a little meat, and a shared bowl of tabse badenjan ($7). In this Iranian dish, lentils are cooked in a rich blend of tomatoes and spice, with a quirky French Fries topping for some crunch.

For those breaking their fast here during Ramadan, there are platters of dates, and a bowl of thick and salty lentil soup to line your tummy for the cheap feast ahead. Even those who are not Muslim are welcome to partake of these...

Note that I have visited the restaurant before and was not letdown by the service. I have recently visited it and it slowly let me down from using the thongs , long wait times , and many more. Upon I entered the restaurant I took a seat and waited 5 minutes before being even noticed after I’ve waited 30-40 minutes for my food it arrived and it was not the same as before small portions of rice barely and saffron and the kebab tasted like a sponge before I was going to start eating I looked for a spoon but there was none but there was cleaning supplies on my table you would have thought that they did some cleaning.... but the tables messy bones on the table seats and floor . It wasent even a busy day with only two other costumers in the shop. Another thing to add on is there was iteams missing from the menu when ordered on the menu it would look beautiful and wavering with all the sides with it but none came. When revived I ordered the same dish and saw that one of the dish had missing iteams.

I am let down. The shop I knew before is no longer what it is now a it’s a expensive tasteless and...