Saffron Kensington Restaurant — Restaurant in London

Truly awful restaurant, food and staff/management. I seldom write reviews, but I'm compelled to do so on this occasion. We ordered a selection of starters, Chengeh & Koobideh and Ghormeh Sabzi - which had a large piece of plastic in it that I nearly choked on. When I questioned the waitress Roya, she took it to the kitchen and confirmed that it was from the container that they heated it in. I appreciate that restaurants will cook and reheat things from containers, but there must be strict quality control to prevent parts of the container ending up in the customer's food. There was no apology from her whatsoever, she shrugged it off. Then to add insult to injury at the end she said "I've taken off service from the bill", but had surprisingly kept the Ghormeh on, because "the piece of plastic was at the bottom of it and had you noticed it on the surface of the stew, it would have been deducted". I told her that naturally after inserting a spoon into the stew, and by way of gravity, that piece of plastic would not remain on the surface for long and what she was saying was nonsensical. She then sent another gentleman over with the card machine. Only after she had seen that I had paid, she came back with a pen, paper and calculator to "tarof"/fake deduct the Ghormeh Sabzi from the bill, knowing that I would probably not want to quibble about it post payment. I told her that the payment had already been made. She then said "merci baraye Irani boodanetoon" which was some sort of swipe because she didn't appreciate being called out on her terrible customer service. The breadmaker then confirmed that Roya herself was the manager after I asked if I could speak to management! However, moments later another gentleman appeared as a "friend of the owner". He was apologetic and did not want me to mention this experience to others, but the damage had been done. He offered no real solution either and was speaking in platitudes. This restaurant failed at every level, from hygiene to food quality and customer service. As an Iranian myself, I know what good Iranian food is - this place won't offer that to you. It was average at best, and overpriced because it's in Kensington. The overall experience was a 1/10. I'm seriously concerned about the hygiene standards here, and would not recommend that anyone give them custom. No wonder it currently stands at 3.8 on Google reviews, people are mentioning the decline of this place under new management and it is definitely the case in my eyes.

I hope that the restaurant will use this to improve their quality and service in the future, as it is currently only serves as an embarassment to Persian...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Alounak Restaurant, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Located in a cozy corner of the city, Alounak offers an inviting and warm atmosphere that makes you feel at home the moment you walk in.

The menu is a delightful journey through Persian cuisine, featuring a wide variety of dishes that cater to different tastes. I started with the traditional Kashk-e-Bademjan, an eggplant dip that was perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavor. For the main course, I chose the Chelo Kebab Koobideh. The kebabs were incredibly tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection, paired with saffron-infused rice that was both fragrant and delicious.

One of the highlights of my meal was the attentive and friendly service. The staff at Alounak are knowledgeable about the menu and are more than happy to provide recommendations based on your preferences. They truly go above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience.

The ambiance of the restaurant is another noteworthy aspect. With its elegant decor, soft lighting, and comfortable seating, Alounak creates an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and relaxed. It's an ideal spot for a romantic dinner, a family gathering, or even a casual meal with friends.

To top it all off, the dessert selection is a must-try. I had the Faloodeh, a traditional Persian frozen dessert with rosewater, which was a refreshing and sweet end to a fantastic meal.

Overall, Alounak Restaurant is a gem that offers not only delicious food but also a wonderful dining experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy authentic Persian cuisine in a welcoming and elegant setting. I can't wait to return and try more of their...

Visited last night (Saturday) after looking for a good Persian restaurant in the Kensington area. We arrived at around 8:30 and only had to wait a couple of minutes for a table for two after we initially thought it would be too busy to get a table. At the front of the restaurant is a tandoori oven where they make the naan breads. So it's not all bad if you're waiting for table as the warmth and smell from the oven is quite satisfying!

As with most Persian restaurants, the décor inside is traditional and that's something we enjoyed inside Alounak. Including the homeware.

We ordered a starter each, Halim Bademjan, Boorani and a bread each. Both were tasty and filling. For main course we both ordered the Joojeh kebab (a skewer of chicken breast marinated in saffron & garlic served with rice). The portions were very generous and we found that again to be filling. Though that's a slight on Alounak. Personally I think it's a good thing.

We were then treated with a mint tea and a few sugar coated sweets. I think on the menu they are called "Special Iranian sweet" but can't be sure of that. We both enjoyed the mint tea. It was refreshing after the meal.

We were also pleasantly surprised by the bill. For what we ordered (in terms of quality and quantity) was good value.

We enjoyed Alounak and will definitely be going back...