Shiraz Persian Cuisine in East Watertown Has Closed

A neighborhood restaurant that featured authentic Persian dishes has shut down.

According to multiple sources, Shiraz Persian Cuisine in East Watertown is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the Bigelow Avenue spot saying the following:

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Shiraz Persian Restaurant after 16 wonderful years. We have cherished every moment spent serving you and being a part of this community. Your support, loyalty, and shared love for Persian cuisine have been the cornerstone of our success and joy. We are immensely grateful for the friendships we’ve made, the stories shared, and the memories created within our walls. Shiraz has been more than just a restaurant; it has been a place where culture, tradition, and community came together. As we close this chapter, we want to express our deepest gratitude to each of you. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives. We hope that the flavors of Shiraz will remain in your hearts as fond memories.

Shiraz offered such dishes as torshi, zeytoon parvardeh, shirin polo, chicken soltani, beef kubideh, and baklava.

The address for the now-closed Shiraz Persian Restaurant was 72 Bigelow Avenue, Watertown, MA, 02472.

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Sabzi in Arlington Has Closed

A suburban restaurant that featured Persian fare has shut down.

According to a source (Aron Levy), Sabzi in Arlington is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the Mass. Ave. spot saying the following:

The size of our little restaurant just could not adequately sustain itself given the many pandemic hurdles and the ongoing staffing shortages. It has been a true privilege to serve this community. We have made many good friends and will forever treasure this experience.

Sabzi first opened a bit more than 10 years ago, taking over the space that had been home to Prose. The restaurant served a variety of kababs along with yogurt nd cucumber dip, noodle soup, sauteed eggplant, and baklava.

The address for the now-closed Sabzi was 352 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Cafe Vanak Opens in Belmont

A brand new Persian restaurant has opened in the western suburbs, and it has a connection to a market next door.

Eater Boston is reporting (via The Boston Globe) that Cafe Vanak is now open in Belmont, taking over a space on Belmont Street that is next to Super Vanak. The articles say that the new eatery offers Halal Middle Eastern and Iranian fare, including tabouli salad, grilled eggplant, stuffed grape leaves, lamb shank, saffron chicken, Persian stew, chicken kababs, and more.

The address for Cafe Vanak is 271 Belmont Street, Belmont, MA, 02478. The website for both Cafe Vanak and Super Vanak can be found at https://www.vanakfood.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Moby Dick Restaurant in Boston's Symphony/Northeastern Area Is for Lease

It looks like the future of a longtime favorite for college students may be in doubt.

According to a source, Moby Dick in the Symphony/Northeastern University section of Boston has a "For Lease" sign in its window, with a picture sent to us confirming this. The Huntington Avenue eatery, which has been in business for at least 20 years, has been known for its Persian fare, with its menu including a variety of kebob dishes along with such items as lentil soup, eggplant dip, hummus, baklava, lemonade with rosewater, and more.

The address for Moby Dick is 269 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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The Common Cafe & Kitchen in Natick Has Closed

A suburban restaurant that featured Persian fare along with live entertainment has shut down permanently.

According to an article from the Framingham Source, The Common Cafe & Kitchen in Natick is no longer in operation, with a Facebook post from the South Main Street eatery saying that "We tried hard but could not survive the epidemic." The dining spot, which Eater Boston says opened in 2016 and featured live music and open mic nights, offered such dishes as lamb chops, kabobs, falafel wraps, hummus, and saffron rice pudding.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Natick was: The Common Cafe & Kitchen, 9 South Main Street, Natick, MA, 01760.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Hafez House of Kebab Opens in Former Jasmine Taste of Persia Space in East Watertown

by Marc Hurwitz

A brand new Persian restaurant has come to the western suburbs of Boston, and it has moved into the space where another Persian dining spot had been.

Eater Boston is reporting that Hafez House of Kebab is now open in East Watertown, taking over the former Jasmine Taste of Persia space on Mt. Auburn Street in Coolidge Square. The post mentions that the new eatery offers such items as falafel roll-ups, lamb shanks, shawarma, beef stew, kebabs, and more.

Jasmine Taste of Persia closed in early 2017 after being in business for more than 10 years.

The address for this new Persian restaurant in East Watertown is: Hafez House of Kebab, 580 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Lala Rokh in Boston's Beacon Hill Is Closing

by Marc Hurwitz

A Persian restaurant in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood that has been around for nearly a quarter century is closing for good.

According to a press release, Lala Rokh on Mount Vernon Street is shutting down at the end of dinner service on Saturday, August 11, with the note saying that "We are immensely grateful to our mother without whom we and Lala Rokh wouldn’t exist. Mama Bina (as she’s been called by the staff) painstakingly trained chefs who knew nothing about the nuances of Persian cuisine. She visited Iran year after year—as recently as a few months ago—to bring back herbs, spices and other ingredients so essential to our authentic dishes. This is a task that is now too arduous for her to continue....Although we will miss Lala Rokh immensely, we feel the time has come to spend more time with our families." It is not known what might move into the space at this point in time, so keep checking back for updates.

Lala Rokh, which first opened in 1993, is part of the BiNA Family Hospitality restaurant group, which includes Bin 26 Enoteca, jm Curley and Bogie's Place.

The address for Lala Rokh is 97 Mt Vernon Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website can be found at http://lalarokh.com/

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Jasmine Taste of Persia in Watertown Has Apparently Closed

A Watertown restaurant that has been featured as a hidden gem on our sister site appears to have closed its doors.

According to several sources, Jasmine Taste of Persia on Mt. Auburn Street is locked up and papered over, with one poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page saying that a "For Rent" sign is displayed out front. Phone calls placed to the dining spot have gone unanswered, and its website shows no indication of its closure; as soon as we find out why Jasmine has shuttered, we will post an update here.

Jasmine Taste of Persia has been a spot that Boston's Hidden Restaurants featured as an under-the-radar spot to go to for Iranian and Middle Eastery fare, with the review being found at this link:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/Jasmine.html

The address for Jasmine Taste of Persia is 580 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

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Tooba's in Melrose Has Closed

A cafe north of Boston that featured Persian and Middle Eastern fare has closed, and it looks like a new dining spot may be moving into the space.

According to both The Passionate Foodie and a poster on the Chowhound site, Tooba's in Melrose is now closed, with both saying that a new restaurant is going to take over the Essex Street space. The Passionate Foodie says that an Italian eatery and pizzeria called Wood & Fire is moving in, though little other information is known about that place at this point in time.

Tooba's first opened its doors in June of 2013.

The address for the now-closed Tooba's (and the new restaurant moving in) is 35-37 Essex Street, Melrose, MA, 02176.

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Tooba's Is Opening in Melrose

A new cafe is going to be opening in Melrose, and it looks like it will feature Persian and Middle Eastern fare.

The Melrose Free Press is reporting that Tooba's will open on Essex Street, with the eatery offering soups, salads, and wraps, along with some "occasional specialty foods." A few items that will be sold at the 32-seat dining spot include yogurt with chopped cucumber and dry mint, falafel, pork tenderloin panini, vegetarian sandwiches, kabobs, and fruit smoothies.

If all goes as planned, Tooba's could be open in the next week or so, according to the article. It will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

[June 14 update: According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Tooba's is now open.]

The address for this new cafe in Melrose is: Tooba's, 35-37 Essex Street, Melrose, MA, 02176.

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Fiouna Catering Is Opening Fiouna's Persian Fusion Cuisine in the Fenway's Restaurant Row

The folks behind a Perisan catering company in Newton are opening a restaurant in the Fenway's "restaurant row."

The Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog is reporting (via the City of Boston website) that the owners of Fiouna Catering on California Street are looking to open a dining spot on Peterborough Street in the space where Umi had been (Umi was destroyed in a 2009 fire that took out most of restaurant row). The article mentions that a meeting is taking place tomorrow at Boston City Hall concerning the acquisition of a common victualler license for the spot, which may be called Fiouna's Restaurant. [May 15 update: The new spot is called Fiouna's Persian Fusion Cuisine.]

Based on their takeout menu in Newton, Fiouna's Persian Fusion Cuisine may be offering soups, salads, kabobs, stews, rice dishes, and more.

[May 15 update: Eater Boston states that Fiouna's Persian Fusion Cuisine is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant in the Fenway is 90 Peterborough Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Their catering website can be found at http://www.fiouna.com/

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.


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Sizzling House of Kabab Opens in Lexington

A new takeout spot has come to Lexington, and it looks to feature Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare.

According to the Lexington Patch, Sizzling House of Kabab is now open on Woburn Street at the Lowell Street intersection. The article indicates that the restaurant leans toward Persian/Iranian cuisine, though there are some American dishes as well. The menu at Sizzling House of Kabab includes such items as barley soup, stuffed grape leaves, baba ghanoush, mirzaghasemi (grilled eggplant sauteed in tomato paste and herbs), a tabouleh salad, beef and chicken shawarma sandwiches, lentil rice with chicken, kubideh kababs (flavored ground beef and hummus), eggplant teriyaki, and hot dogs, hamburgers, and roast beef sandwiches.

Hours for Sizzling House of Kabab are 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sundays.

The address for this new eatery in Lexington is: Sizzling House of Kabab, 321 Woburn Street, Lexington, MA, 02420. The phone number is (781) 652-0468. And the website can be found at http://sizzlinghouseofkabab.com/

For more information on Sizzling House of Kabab in Lexington, please go to the Lexington Patch article below.

Photo Gallery: New Restaurant Sizzles in Lexington

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Sabzi Opening in Arlington, Taking Over Former Prose Spot

A new restaurant is coming to Arlington, moving into the space where another eatery had been, and it looks like it may be featuring Persian cuisine.

According to the Arlington Patch, Sabzi is planning to open on Mass. Ave. (just east of Arlington Center) in the former Prose spot. It looks like the new restaurant may focus on Iranian fare, as "sabzi" is a Persian reference to herbs or greens. The Patch mentions that Sabzi will apparently be serving alcohol, as it received a beer and wine license earlier this week.

Prose, the restaurant that had been in the space that Sabzi is moving into, was an eclectic eatery that had been in business for about 15 years until closing this past New Year's Eve.

[July 13 update: According to posters on Chowhound, Sabzi is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant in Arlington is: Sabzi, 352 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474.

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Chaloos Restaurant Opens in South Easton

A new restaurant has just opened south of Boston, and it joins a handful of Persian dining spots that call the Greater Boston area their home.

Based on their website, Chaloos is now open on Washington Street (Routes 138 and 123) in South Easton, a short distance west of Route 24. The eatery appears to feature kabobs, but also serves Persian rice dishes, stews, wraps, and wood-oven pizzas, as well as appetizers such as grape leaves and falafel, and desserts such as faludeh (frozen rice noodles with rose water) and rollet (rolled cake filled with cream).

Chaloos is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The address for this new Persian restaurant in Easton is: Chaloos, 574 Washington Street, South Easton, MA 02375. The phone number is (508) 230-1888. And the website can be found at: http://www.chaloosrestaurant.com/

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

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Khayam Opens in Brookline

The owner of a Persian restaurant in Watertown has just opened another Persian dining spot in nearby Brookline.

According to Chowhound, the Brookline TAB and Wicked Local, Khayam recently opened on Harvard Street between Coolidge Corner and the Allston line, taking over a storefront that had been unoccupied for quite some time. The owner of Khayam also runs Jasmine, a tiny eatery on Mount Auburn Street in East Watertown that first opened about five years ago. [Note: Jasmine is one of the featured restaurants on our sister site, Boston's Hidden Restaurants. To read the review of that restaurant, please go to the following link: http://www.hiddenboston.com/Jasmine.html.] The article in the TAB/Wicked Local states that Khayam will be a bit like Jasmine, but the menu will feature more in the way of fresh bread, stews, and veal dishes.

The address for this new Persian restaurant in Brookline is: Khayam, 404 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446.

Thanks to the Chowhound poster who first alerted us of the opening of Khayam.

For more information on Khayam's opening, please go to the Brookline TAB/Wicked Local link below.

Winter brings pizza, sandwiches and Persian cuisine to Brookline

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Latest Review: Molana, Watertown

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Persian restaurant in Watertown called Molana. Located on a side street a stone's throw away from Watertown Square, Molana is a small but comfortable restaurant that has a slightly exotic, sultry feel to it. The food at Molana focuses on dishes from Iran as well as other parts of Central Asia and the Middle East, with a number of kabobs offered. Beef, lamb, chicken, and seafood dishes make up a good part of the menu at Molana, but there are also vegetarian options as well. To read more about Molana in the Watertown, please click on the link above.

Latest Review: Jasmine Taste of Persia in Watertown

The latest review that is on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a tiny restaurant on Mt. Auburn Street in East Watertown called Jasmine Taste of Persia. One of many ethnic food spots in the East Watertown neighborhood, Jasmine features both Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine, with emphasis on cuisine from Iran. Although the place has only 5 or 6 tables, they are a full-service restaurant (they also do a brisk takeout business). To read more about Jasmine Taste of Persia in East Watertown, please click on the link above.