Behesht Restaurant — Restaurant in Montreal

This place is their new location at the corner of cavendish and st Jacques. Wonderfully decorated and truly a place of warmth and class.

Staff are friendly though some had difficulty speaking and understanding English - though Farci is a staple at this restaurant :)

The menu is wide and plated as good or better than in the photos. Pricing is on par with other Persian restaurant of this caliber. Portions were excellent. Freshness and quality are excellent.

Review. Salad was fresh, cold and crisp. Dressing was good but nothing special. Lamb shank stew (Baghali Polo with Mahicheh) - not recommended. Portion was on the small side. Meat was rubbery and the flavour was lacking. Something wrong likely how they cooked it as it’s supposed to be fall of the bone tender. It could be the cut they used and how they cooked it. The fava bean and dill rice was plentiful but overly seasoned with dill, the beans were hard and not tender, and the rice was very dry. It’s likely they prepared the typical rice and then added in the additional ingredient and then over cooked the rice - came with a small piece it tahdeek. Also, insufficient amount of stew / gravy. There was not enough to properly marry with the tough, dry and chewy meat.

Chicken kebab (chicken Koobideh). The chicken was cooked perfectly as well as seasoned beautifully. The portion was plentiful and came with perfectly cooked basmati rice that was fluffy and not greasy and came with a small piece it tahdeek.

Beef kebab (Koobideh) was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It’s was so juicy and fresh like no other restaurant has done to match. As per above, cake with and excellent tasting portions of basmati rice and a piece of tahdeek.

Yogurt with Persian shallot dip (Must Moosir) was perfect and balanced with a thick creamy yogurt and excellent on pita or combined with the proteins. Portion was very good and four people can easily share.

Eggplant dip (Mirza Ghasemi) was superb! Best in the city for sure. The smokeless was on point and the seasoning was perfectly balanced. It’s so good you just want to skip to pita and scoop it out with a utensil. Apparently this is their most ordered appetizer they sell. Portion was excellent and four people can easily share.

Dessert. I have included the dessert we had and lack the name of it as it’s also not mentioned in the menu. It’s essentially layered thin pastry (like a proper French mille feuilles) with cream filling in and around it covered with chopped pistachios. I hope I have recalled this properly. This was such a delicious light and flavourful treat away from the typical Baklawa. The only point here is the price ratio to the portion - either the price is too high for the portion or the portion should be larger as it’s no more two to (max) three small forkfuls.

We didn’t notice and mention of BYOB or the selling of any form of alcohol so plan not to consume here. This being stated, you really don’t need the alcohol as the atmosphere, service and food really make you very relaxed and satiated. It’s amazing how packed the place was and yet the demeanour of the customers was calm and the volume of the place was comfortable to be able to hear the person accepts the table from you. I mention this as if your like mane people, a restaurant with a more calm and quite atmosphere is actually an attraction especially for the elderly who may have hearing challenged.

All in all the place is great and will be returning for certain. As for the 4 star rating, this is solely due to the lamb shank stew. It was just too far from “earning a star” and until this dish is prepared properly I without the star, though a more accurate number for me would be 4.5 stars. This being stated I doubt I would order it again as I would not be sure that the chief or management/ ownership will conclude with the same assessment and instead be quite defensive of their food prep and likely not change a thing. I would welcome peoples feedback on this dish to let me know your experience and hopefully one day this dish will be prepared...

This restaurant isn’t ideal if you’re looking to find a bite somewhere and expect to get seats immediately, neither is there any space to wait except 2 chairs in a cramped foyer and entrance. We waited over an hour to get seats and quite frankly the set up, ambiance, and the practicality of the restaurant’s atmosphere were not worth waiting that long for. And neither was the food. If you really intend on waiting because your heart desires Iraqi food more than anything, I suggest having one of your own members from your party line up for you so the rest of the entrance isn’t crowded and you don’t feel hot and claustrophobic.

Inside the actual restaurant, the atmosphere is is stuffy, poor, and under ventilated. If you have problems with feeling suffocated, do not go to this restaurant. My sister experienced severe nausea from the lack of oxygen flow throughout the rest of the stay there (a universal experience for her whenever she is in a poorly ventilated area). She ended up having to leave her meal midway and step outside to breathe. You’ll find yourself sweating and the employees will be asking themselves what is up with the AC (a literal conversation I overheard). The architecture and design inside isn’t anything relatively new but reflects quite traditional styles so it isn’t all bad, but it feels stuffy and humid everywhere which veers you from noticing anything nice Additionally, just from standing in line you can see the understaffed work environment. There aren’t enough employees working and delays are everywhere in the restaurant. The servers themselves are nice, and the hospitality efforts are great, but it’s very messy. It’s more on the amount of the employees than it is on the actual employees themselves, they are not the problem; the number of them are.

The food was okay. My family and I have tried many Iraqi dining experiences and this one was mediocre. It is not worth spending 3 hours just to wait in line, wait more for food, and then eat. The wait for the food itself isn’t terrible. We got 2 orders of the chenjeh, an order of the vaziri, and the lamb shank. The lamb shank was a favourite for me and the koobideh was decently flavoured but nothing that stood out at all. The chenjeh was okay too. Lentil soup is nice and salad quantity is decent but it’s just an average salad with thousand island dressing. Complimentary tea is provided after your meal, and our total for 4 meals and 2 drinks (Ayran and a soda) was around 153 bucks CAD.

While the service and hospitality are sure to meet your standards, they unfortunately don’t make up for the uncomfortable atmosphere of the restaurant and excessively + unreasonable wait times. If you value your time and money I suggest opting for another spot that is more accessible friendly and can accommodate you...

🌟🍽️ This Persian and Iraqi restaurant is truly an amazing place, but it has its occasional drawbacks. The food served here is undeniably delicious and showcases the best of Persian and Iraqi cuisine. However, as someone who doesn't consume much salt, I found some of the dishes to be a bit too salty for my personal taste. 🍛🧂

Let's focus on the positives first. The menu at this restaurant offers a delightful array of Persian and Iraqi dishes, each bursting with unique flavors and aromatic spices. From fragrant saffron-infused rice to succulent kebabs and hearty stews, the culinary experience is a journey through the rich traditions and vibrant flavors of these two cuisines. 🍽️🌿

The attention to detail in the preparation and presentation of the food is commendable. The dishes are beautifully plated, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The flavors are complex, with a harmonious blend of spices and ingredients that tantalize your palate with every bite. The restaurant truly captures the essence of Persian and Iraqi cuisine, offering an authentic dining experience. 🌟🍛

However, it's important to note that some of the dishes may lean towards the saltier side. As someone who doesn't consume much salt, I found it to be a slight drawback. It's always a good idea to communicate your preferences to the staff, as they might be able to accommodate your request for less salt in your meal. 🙏🧂

Despite this minor concern, the overall experience at this Persian and Iraqi restaurant is truly remarkable. The flavors, ambiance, and hospitality combine to create a memorable dining experience that transports you to the heart of these rich culinary traditions. Whether you're a fan of Persian cuisine, Iraqi specialties, or simply eager to explore new flavors, this restaurant offers a satisfying and authentic taste of the Middle East. 🌍🍽️

So, if you're looking to embark on a culinary adventure through Persian and Iraqi cuisine, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit. Just keep in mind your preference for less salt, and you'll likely enjoy the amazing flavors and cultural delights that await you. Bon...