Almas Restaurant — Restaurant in London

Overall: Delicious food spoilt by poor service and attitude by the management.

Pros: The main dishes were pretty good, the rice was excellent, some of the best I’ve tasted from a Persian restaurant. More consistency in the Tahdig would be good; some were crispy, some were soft.

One of the best dishes is the Joojeh, I highly recommend it. Also one of the best Joojeh dishes I’ve had in London.

Cons: We were seated at a table which wasn’t properly cleaned. There was sugar grains on the table and some sort of liquid. No menu, cutlery, napkins, nothing.

After sitting for 10 mins waiting for a menu, I managed to ask for a menu to place my order (almost impossible to catch the waiter as he was so busy), then was left for another 10 mins even though I said I was ready to order; this is not the waiters fault, he could barely breathe juggling the amount of things he had to do waiting all the tables by himself.

After placing the order, the starters took around 30 mins to arrive. The starters were rather small portions compared to other places for a lesser price.

Since the time of being seated the food arrived after an hour. If there was cutlery/plates/napkins missing on the table I had to go and ask for it at the till, getting it myself. The main food was being placed on a table full of empty starter plates, the waiters didn’t seem properly trained to make space on the table or remove them before serving the main food. Or they were so overwhelmed with how understaffed it was they couldn’t think straight.

No salt and pepper in sight, I asked for sauces and they didn’t arrive.

Furthermore: I thought it would be good to speak to the management rather than writing this review as they are a fairly new restaurant and perhaps needed critical feedback. Also, it was an opportunity to right their wrongs. Boy was I in for a surprise.

After explaining my poor overall experience I was merely told maybe next time we’ll do better and apologised with an excuse that it was a busy day and that they already wavered the service fee. I explained that if a customer comes with such a negative review there might not be a next time, they should offer an incentive or a discount; I was then met with a such absurd attitude. The manager (I assume he is one of the managers/owners) looked down at his pocket and laughed saying “no way we will give discount” as if I was trying to rob his money.

To dig their grave even further, another member of staff confronted me, he seems like he wanted to know what went wrong to rectify the problems; when I explained my experience again, he deflected any blame and said that they had done me a favour by letting me dine without a booking, even though this restaurant doesn’t do bookings, and there was a free table. When we arrived at no point were we asked if we had booked. When anyone arrived no one was asked if they had booked.

Apparently it was my fault that: Place is understaffed. the service was extremely slow No menu given No napkin given Table was unclean Starter portions were small Food arrived so late

I hope this was a one off, but the management’s response and blaming me for their wrong doing left me no choice but to write this honest review. I hope no one else has a poor experience...

I have no idea how idea how this establishment has attained five stars but I can assure the reader the food and service are FAR from five stars.

I'm a massive fan of Persian cuisine and I always reserve it for special occasions. I have my favourite Persian restaurants but I do like to try new ones now and then like Almas. Ever since seeing Almas restaurant I've always wanted to go seeing it from the outside and the superb looking plated food from Google reviews as well as it's five star reviews from patrons.

So finally came my 11th wedding anniversary and I had a chance to go to this establishment and what a disappointment it was!

I ordered:

Lentil soup and chicken wings for starters

Maksoos kebab (barg and koobideh) Joojeh kebab (boneless chicken skewer)

2 drinks (lemonade and Pina colada)

Starters were good, I had no gripe, but the mains were a joke! Traditional aromatic Persian flavours just weren't there! Mains were just plain bland! The barg kebab received tasted gone off or even rotten and the salad received with it was a joke! Just a few pieces of red onion, carrots and cabbage! Joojeh kebab had just five small pieces of chicken. Only good meat was the koobideh, but I would still call bland and lacking persian flavours. The rice was just plain white rice with a slight hint of Persian flavours and a crispy outer layer. Usual grilled tomato. Only good thing about the mains was the plating - it visually looked scrumptious.

Service was hit and miss with some waiters friendly but one waiter plain rude who demanded we pay service charge - service charge payment is optional at all restaurants is optional at all restaurants! Please relay this to all your staff if you are reading this dearest owners if Alma's. One good thing was the call waiter gadget - this is brilliant and all restaurants need to adopt these equipments which allow customers to call waiters at the push of a button.

If you are reading this then please don't let the reviews and photos fool you - food and service here are a joke. For me the best Persian food in London is from Mahdi restaurant - don't bother with Almas.

£56 spent at Almas were absolutely...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Almas Restaurant, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The ambiance was inviting, the service was impeccable, and most importantly, the food was absolutely divine.

To start, I ordered the Nan bread, which was freshly baked, warm, and had the perfect balance of chewiness and crispness. It was a delightful beginning to the meal, setting the stage for what was to come.

Next, I indulged in the Mirza Ghasemi, a traditional Persian dish that was bursting with flavor. The smoky eggplant, tomatoes, and garlic came together in a harmonious blend that was both comforting and exotic. Each bite was a journey through the rich culinary heritage of Iran.

For the main course, I couldn't resist trying both the Zereshk Polo ba Morgh and Baghali Polo ba Mahiche. The Zereshk Polo ba Morgh, a saffron-infused rice dish with tender chicken and tangy barberries, was a symphony of tastes and textures. The Baghali Polo ba Mahiche, featuring fragrant dill rice with succulent lamb shank, was a true feast for the senses. Both dishes were cooked to perfection, with flavors that danced on my palate.

Throughout the meal, the staff at Almas Restaurant provided top-notch service, attentive without being intrusive. The atmosphere was cozy yet elegant, making it the perfect setting for a memorable dining experience.

In conclusion, Almas Restaurant exceeded all expectations. From the exquisite Nan bread to the flavorful Mirza Ghasemi and the indulgent Zereshk Polo ba Morgh and Baghali Polo ba Mahiche, every dish was a masterpiece. If you're craving authentic Persian cuisine in a welcoming atmosphere, look no further than Almas Restaurant. This is a culinary gem that deserves all the praise...