Shandiz Mediterranean Grill & Market — Restaurant in Plano

One star because Google doesn't have a zero rating. This is a low grade restaurant. Even from the outside it looks low-rent and down at heel. Once inside you will be greeted by a 1990's style interior which is careworn and well overdue a refit. What you won't be greeted by is a member of staff. You'll find someone in the warehouse behind the restaurant. The tables are old and dirty, as are the chairs, the cutlery, the plates and the floor. And when does the Persian experience include 2 large TVs prominently mounted? Now for the food. I was shocked to note that the kebabs are either chicken (expected) or BEEF (shocked!!). Beef kebabs in a Persian restaurant? I ordered the Salad Olivieh for starter. I couldn't taste or feel the texture of chicken in this dish at all. Just pale mush with bread. For main course I ordered Khoresh Bademjan, having been assured by the waitress that it is cooked fresh each day and that it is very good. It arrived suspiciously quickly, and turned out to be Khoresht Gheymeh with a couple of strips of eggplant (aubergine) across the top. Rice was also included. The lamb (or so I was assured) in this dish was tough and stringy. I can only think it had been frozen previously, or was several days old. This is the single worst dish I have had in a restaurant for many years. I shouted across the restaurant and asked for the cheque. The only other diners in the restaurant when I arrived had now left, so it was just me in there. When I was paying I explained that I was not happy. The waitress asked why I had not said anything earlier - I have a policy that I only complain when I am not going to eat anything more from the establishment in question. In summary, if Gordon Ramsay is looking at this, they need your help. Surely no-one goes the Shandiz more than once. They should really focus on the market and give the restaurant up - it's only going one way from here. Avoid Shandiz and take your custom elsewhere until they realise that their customers are not dim-wits who will accept any old rubbish put in front of them. And before anyone tells me that I don't understand Persian food, I grew up with it. I understand that...

Dude! I’m literally not the type to place bad reviews. I usually just accept it and let it be bc I don’t like messing with people’s businesses and livelihoods but THIS! The dude is nice and older. Felt a little bad for him at first. The FOOD though? Brother, charges $20 for a koobideh, one of the staple dishes in our culture. The rice looks like it came out of a child’s play kitchen lol. No lie. Then the kabob…each skewer was half underdone and half incinerated. What was this guy doing in that kitchen? It upsets me knowing someone is looking at this as he plates and let’s it pass to his customer. All I wanted was some decent food before my 12 hr shift. I’m not the type to make a scene or start conflict in person especially in public. I’ve gone here numerous times in a pinch and never ate food worth the price tag. You pay for convenience bc the location is decent honestly. Not a reason to let your money go. This is why people go to other Iranian restaurants and markets around town bc this guy is simply overpriced. Unfortunately the way the food looked made me realize the word around town is that this guy is overpriced. Present every customer with the same decent quality, I’m sure you were know for at one point, every single time. Come on man. Hey, at least the tomatoes...

So, I literally just finished eating at Shandiz 30 minutes ago. The moment I got home, I felt like I needed to write a review for this place. The owner was such a wonderful and kind man. We asked him to bring us his specialties, and our table of nine was floored when the food hit the table. He brought is a giant plate of saffron rice that was cooked perfectly, then a gargantuan platter of beef kebab, lamb shanks, and chicken kebab. For my vegetarian friend, he brought out a bowl of Gorme Sabzi (a Persian specialty of stewed greens and kidney beans). We feasted like kings. What really stood out was the lamb shanks, they were seasoned and cooked perfectly. The chicken kebab was also unbelievably perfect. It was also a pleasure to learn that all of the meat comes from the owner's butcher next door where he has a grocery store, and the majority of that meat comes from local farms. After what felt like an all star treatment, he served us complimentary baklava and tea after our meal. I truly wish I lived in Plano so I could eat at this...