Bastani — Restaurant in Sydney

(Edited to add review of new dishes at end)

Quality of main dishes: 4/5 stars (3/5 for Sabzi Polo Mahi, 4.5 for Mirza Ghasemi) Service: 3/5 stars Ice-cream: 3/5 stars

Service: it was my first time trying Persian food so I wanted to ask questions, but it was difficult because the owners weren't great at English. It was a bit stressful communicating as such, because I was not only navigating a new cuisine, but also trying to find out the specifics on ordering during lockdown. I ended up getting it done anyway, but wasn't entirely sure what I'd receive until I got it. Fortunately all 4 things I ordered on the phone ended up being correct. Also, the owners were friendly and at least seemed willing to help.

Food: Zereshk Polo ba Morgh - homely, fragrant, and comforting overall. The barberries were the highlight, a refreshing burst of tanginess on the rice. The chicken was a little tough and not as flavourful as I thought it would be, but the rice was beautifully fluffy in texture. Baghali Polo & lamb shank - the sauce was the highlight for me; flavourful and tangy with tomato flavour I believe (and I love sourness). The broad bean rice wasn't as light or fragrant as the saffron rice, but still paired well with the sauce. Highlight: the tenderness of the lamb shank, the meat falling off the bone. It was a large piece too! Anaar Daneh Mosamma - chicken better this time; softer than Zereshk Polo's, and more flavour-infused as is probably intended. It was also tangy yet homely, with solid pomegranate bits from the sauce scattered on the meat and rice. The saffron rice was still lovely and aromatic. Fesenjan - creamy, nutty yet tart -- a combination of texture and flavour i'd never experienced before, yet delightful! The sauce was definitely the highlight. Unfortunately, the chicken chunks were on the drier, tougher side again. At least I could shred them into smaller pieces and cover them sauce, though. I would try this dish again, with the lamb next time probably; perhaps with a different meat it would be more moist/less overcooked. Saffron ice-cream - thankfully the rose flavour wasn't too empowering. Cherry ice-cream - sour, as described by vendor, and a sorbet to be exact. Date ice-cream - most tasty of the 3 flavours I bought. I don't know if it's a one-off experience, but all 3 ice-creams were surprisingly liquid despite being frozen all day. (I even moved the last one deeper into my freezer for a day just in case.) The cherry in particular may have a split a little -- I ended up leaving it unfinished, as it was just syrup at the end. They all melted quickly despite being eaten on winter nights, which was strange and unpleasant.

I'd return to try the flavours I hadn't had before, but only really to explore Persian tastes. After that I'd look for more solid ice-creams elsewhere I think. I'd be happy to come back for the main meals though! Ghormeh Sabzi - subtly fragrant, humble, herbaceous, and comforting to eat. Slow-cooked lamb quite nice with soft kidney beans that melt in your mouth. Sabzi Polo Mahi - salmon instead of white fish unexpectedly, and not battered I think so a bit tougher and not as flavourful as such. There was no pickled garlic, disappointingly. There were also broad beans in the rice? But it was herby and fragrant, lighter and nicer than Baghali Polo, with surprisingly pleasant patches of tanginess (maybe from lemon juice). Mirza Ghasemi - so tangy and intense I actually had to eat it with rice/bread! Eggplant taste somehow came through despite the strength of the garlicky, tomato-y flavours, while the scrambled egg was a delightful and welcome relief to all the sourness. It was a much-appreciated, almost creamy complement to the rest of the dip that I wish there was more of (think there was only 1 egg). Fesenjan lamb - better than chicken, but only really because the chicken was overdone last time. Perhaps it would've been better fresh; maybe the meatballs got drier and tougher...

It is an ice-cream shop which also provides dining or a cafe-restaurant which provides a huge variety of ice-cream. Either way Bastani Cafe, it doing it really good.

Ice creams are tasting thick, creamy and very natural. So far I have tried the ice creams with date, sour cherry, saffron and pistachio and all have been to die for.

The cafe closes very late which could on occasions be very useful (the latest I've tried sofar has been around half past nine.

Food is a variety from fast food Persian style sandwiches to more proper traditional iranian meals. I am not sure but the cooking style somehow appears and tastes to be of North of Iran which I really like.

For me the only small issue is the Faloodeh, my favourite Persian desert. It seems they pre-add lemon juice when they are making the syrup. I personally prefer without it so later I can add it to my taste. However I understand that many people like it this way. I have noted the same thing in couple of other places so can not complain about it.

Overall great food, great ice cream and...

On a whim I ordered through a delivery app because we didn’t feel like the usual suspects of pizza or Thai. Having never tried Persian food before, I had no idea what I was really ordering other than a brief description of what was in each dish. And soon as the food arrived I was enchanted with the delicious smells. We stuck with the vegetarian options, if that helps, but oh my word they were out of this world delicious. The egg & bean and eggplant one tasted so fresh, flavorful yet not heavy on the stomach like a butter and cream laden curry/stew can be. The saffron rice had a delicate flavor that complimented the stew. We ordered a falafel and another veggie sandwich that were delicious as well and good to split in half for a midnight snack or breakfast the next day to dip into leftover stew. The falafel was absolutely perfect in flavor and texture. I’m really excited to try more Persian food options in the...