AVA GRILL — Restaurant in Stockholm

Compared to other Persian restaurants in Stockholm, Ava restaurant stands out for its spacious interior and central downtown location. The quality of the food is consistently good, and the prices are reasonable for both the portions and the setting. Like most places in Stockholm, parking is paid, but that’s expected and not an issue unique to the restaurant.

The only downside we’ve experienced—on multiple visits—is with one of the male associates. Unfortunately, he tends to come across as argumentative and judgmental. For example, instead of simply letting us know there’s a charge for lime, he lectured us that lime is only served with fish. On another occasion, when we asked for a to-go box, he looked at the plate and commented dismissively about how little food was left. Situations like this leave us feeling uncomfortable.

It’s a shame, because Ava restaurant has so much going for it: great food, generous space, good quality, and fair pricing. If the customer service were improved, especially with this particular associate, it would easily be one of the best dining experiences...

I ordered a plate of "Koobideh" with "Baghali Polo" rice and a plate of "Ghormeh Sabzi," and they were delicious. The grilled dishes were tasty—not the best in the city, of course, but you will definitely like them. The rice would have been better with a bit of butter on the side, as is customary in Iranian restaurants, but it didn’t come with any. The "Tahdig" was dry and needed butter as well. The stew wasn't the best either (the "Ghormeh Sabzi" at "Farsi" restaurant is still the best in the city). It needed a bit more acidity and salt, and the meat was overcooked and shredded, but the stew was generally delicious. The ambiance was lovely and just needed some Persian music to complete the atmosphere! The tea was wonderful, especially with the traditional Iranian design. The prices are reasonable—not the cheapest, but you will get service worth your money. It's also close to T-Central, so you won't need to walk much...

It is a fairly newly opened Persian restaurant (so new owner). The decor is cozy and typically Persian, as is the background music. All the pickled vegetables in large glass jars as well as the large Samovar with the teapot create a cozy Persian atmosphere. The restaurant is large and spacious and you don't have to sit tight with other tables.

The menu consists of classic Persian dishes. The food is served a little impromptu and they ask who ordered what, even though the order is taken person to person (so they should know who ordered what).

The house wine was tasteless, it seems the wine lacked the necessary character to be served with the Persian dishes served. My Siah o Sefid was just okay (the chicken was good but the Kobideh was dry and tasteless).

It is a good restaurant and I hope that the shortcomings I experienced will be fixed with a little more experience and more customer...