Nice place, especially the patio in front of the park. The service was awfully slow (although nice), but the food was rather good, especially the lamb, which was delicious, and the baklava, quite atypical (served hot, very fresh, homemade).
Lisa R.
Amazing food and great ambiance! My go to spot for brunch. Fun buffet too. Lots of vegan choices.
Diane W.
The outdoor patio is very relaxed. Service is attentive without pressure to hurry. The food is not some generic Middle Eastern, but distinctively Persian--delicious!
Yalda Shahram
Anywhere that serves tahdig automatically with all their kababs is legit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service was fantastic, warm and wonderful
Jennifer A.
Bacheesos. *sigh* I was meeting a former colleague for lemonade as she was passing through town. 1888 has really good coffee, tea & lavender lemonade. (1888 is part of Bacheesos, but just drinks & pastries.)Since 1888 sold out of their savory treats, I decided to find a bite to eat next door. Who wouldn't? It's really beautiful in the patio area; away from the heat & they even have cloth napkins. As I walked into the area with my drinks, the waitperson said I couldn't sit in there. I was taken aback by his demeanor: I asked if he didn't want my money? I suppose the staff has to shoo customers from the coffee bar away often. He realized I wanted to order food, so I chose my table. He brought me menus for two people as I said my friend would be joining me. I asked for hummus and sadly they sold out. So I settled for Turkish feta served with bread & fresh herbs. I also ordered the lollipop lamb chops (2 for $12.00) and some beef kebab(served with yummy basmati rice & the crispy rice called tahdiq). My friend joined me & we caught up while eating our food. There was lovely music playing & it was very enjoyable. Price wise, it was excellent food. For lunch, it could be a little expensive- but not too expensive. If there was anything I had issue with, I'd say it was the yellow jackets or wasps: clearly the insects favored the food as well! A few swats with my napkin & a piece of my lamb chop discreetly placed away from our table- no more wasps. I've been there for dinner & their brunch in the past. Bacheesos doesn't disappoint. It doesn't feel like Oakland while you're immersed in the ambiance. Today was exceptionally nice. Those wasps made it a little scary, but we survived.I suppose I'd come back again if I knew there was hummus. It can be romantic for a couple, or an intimate dinner with friends & family. I hope the staff learns to be more diplomatic than just assuming I wasn't going to eat. I'm sure the staff have to deal with that a lot. I'm not sure why the young lady with a kenneled cat brought the animal into the restaurant, but maybe she stopped in for a legitimate reason- it looked odd. Bacheesos: you're still a shining star. Just know that there's people like me who notice every little detail. *air kisses*
Krishna Shastry
We were lucky. As the only patrons on a Thursday evening, we received the pick of the tables and doting service.We really enjoyed the Iranian food here. Having ordered exclusively vegetarian items everything was delightful.Recommend the following:dolmasMast-o-khiar (thick yogurt whipped w herbs & raisins)Sabzi - bread w/herbs, turkish feta & walnuts ( worked well with the khiar )Ghormeh-sabzi (vegan) which is apparently a 2000 year old dish…made fresh of course.Also, the pomegranate lemonade was fantastic! Will come back!
Catherine Casallas
I found the menu not really diversified. Very good food, clean, pleasant set.
Aly Osorio
I go to their walk up cafe, the mochi donuts from third culture bakery are amazing. I like the passion fruit one with cacao nibs.Great for if you’re walking around lake Merritt and need a quick coffee and a snack.
Avotoasty - 175 Bay Pl
Health Food, Juice Bar & Smoothies, Acai Bowls, Pet Friendly, Gluten-Free
Siam M.
This is literally my first review ever on yelp as far as any restaurants are concerned. Today, Sunday I stop by and it wasn't even planning to eat much as I was picking up some food for a friend of mine but I decided to have a little bite to eat and the food was excellent! This is the type of food that I grew up on. Great persian food I've been in the restaurant industry for over 37 years as a chef and business owner so I'm no stranger to eating out and trying all kinds of food but I wasn't expecting this! Food was flawless the filet kebab was perfect cooked through, juicy and soft and the rice was so good, the Persian stew( Gormeh Sabzi) one of my favorites and my wife's was the best we have had (I brought it home and we ate it standing up!).. waiting staff were great, prompt and genuine. Owners were so kind, knowledgeable .. they were cooking, coming out to greet guests and suggest a few things from their great varieties.. I wish this place was in Walnut Creek.. I guess Lake Merritt just became a destination!Thank you all so much as you made our day with your great food, service and value after a loooooong long time. Just go and see for yourself!! Order Persian everything!Baklava was ridiculously good.. made with honey and a ton of walnuts , pistachios etc!...Drove me nuts!! ;))
NT P
Delicious food, very rich flavours!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
James G. Gaston II
Very, very good food. Comfortable service pleasant staff. Ample portions.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crispy Rice
Arturo Hernandez
Food and Staff are great ? but I wish the lunch menu was extended to a further time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Alex H.
This is utterly unappealing, the taste and look is awful.The service is fast, but rude. The Ambiance is nice but it's a shame that food is so bad. I am sure other items are better but remove your "vegan listing from Yelp & Google immediately"
Super healthy food and very authentic
Nice place, especially the patio in front of the park. The service was awfully slow (although nice), but the food was rather good, especially the lamb, which was delicious, and the baklava, quite atypical (served hot, very fresh, homemade).
Amazing food and great ambiance! My go to spot for brunch. Fun buffet too. Lots of vegan choices.
The outdoor patio is very relaxed. Service is attentive without pressure to hurry. The food is not some generic Middle Eastern, but distinctively Persian--delicious!
Anywhere that serves tahdig automatically with all their kababs is legit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Service was fantastic, warm and wonderful
Bacheesos. *sigh* I was meeting a former colleague for lemonade as she was passing through town. 1888 has really good coffee, tea & lavender lemonade. (1888 is part of Bacheesos, but just drinks & pastries.)Since 1888 sold out of their savory treats, I decided to find a bite to eat next door. Who wouldn't? It's really beautiful in the patio area; away from the heat & they even have cloth napkins. As I walked into the area with my drinks, the waitperson said I couldn't sit in there. I was taken aback by his demeanor: I asked if he didn't want my money? I suppose the staff has to shoo customers from the coffee bar away often. He realized I wanted to order food, so I chose my table. He brought me menus for two people as I said my friend would be joining me. I asked for hummus and sadly they sold out. So I settled for Turkish feta served with bread & fresh herbs. I also ordered the lollipop lamb chops (2 for $12.00) and some beef kebab(served with yummy basmati rice & the crispy rice called tahdiq). My friend joined me & we caught up while eating our food. There was lovely music playing & it was very enjoyable. Price wise, it was excellent food. For lunch, it could be a little expensive- but not too expensive. If there was anything I had issue with, I'd say it was the yellow jackets or wasps: clearly the insects favored the food as well! A few swats with my napkin & a piece of my lamb chop discreetly placed away from our table- no more wasps. I've been there for dinner & their brunch in the past. Bacheesos doesn't disappoint. It doesn't feel like Oakland while you're immersed in the ambiance. Today was exceptionally nice. Those wasps made it a little scary, but we survived.I suppose I'd come back again if I knew there was hummus. It can be romantic for a couple, or an intimate dinner with friends & family. I hope the staff learns to be more diplomatic than just assuming I wasn't going to eat. I'm sure the staff have to deal with that a lot. I'm not sure why the young lady with a kenneled cat brought the animal into the restaurant, but maybe she stopped in for a legitimate reason- it looked odd. Bacheesos: you're still a shining star. Just know that there's people like me who notice every little detail. *air kisses*
We were lucky. As the only patrons on a Thursday evening, we received the pick of the tables and doting service.We really enjoyed the Iranian food here. Having ordered exclusively vegetarian items everything was delightful.Recommend the following:dolmasMast-o-khiar (thick yogurt whipped w herbs & raisins)Sabzi - bread w/herbs, turkish feta & walnuts ( worked well with the khiar )Ghormeh-sabzi (vegan) which is apparently a 2000 year old dish…made fresh of course.Also, the pomegranate lemonade was fantastic! Will come back!
I found the menu not really diversified. Very good food, clean, pleasant set.
I go to their walk up cafe, the mochi donuts from third culture bakery are amazing. I like the passion fruit one with cacao nibs.Great for if you’re walking around lake Merritt and need a quick coffee and a snack.
5/5 filet mignon kebab5/5 crispy rice5/5 hummus / pita2/5 chicken kebab - so dry, blandlarge portions!
Restaurantji Recommends
This is literally my first review ever on yelp as far as any restaurants are concerned. Today, Sunday I stop by and it wasn't even planning to eat much as I was picking up some food for a friend of mine but I decided to have a little bite to eat and the food was excellent! This is the type of food that I grew up on. Great persian food I've been in the restaurant industry for over 37 years as a chef and business owner so I'm no stranger to eating out and trying all kinds of food but I wasn't expecting this! Food was flawless the filet kebab was perfect cooked through, juicy and soft and the rice was so good, the Persian stew( Gormeh Sabzi) one of my favorites and my wife's was the best we have had (I brought it home and we ate it standing up!).. waiting staff were great, prompt and genuine. Owners were so kind, knowledgeable .. they were cooking, coming out to greet guests and suggest a few things from their great varieties.. I wish this place was in Walnut Creek.. I guess Lake Merritt just became a destination!Thank you all so much as you made our day with your great food, service and value after a loooooong long time. Just go and see for yourself!! Order Persian everything!Baklava was ridiculously good.. made with honey and a ton of walnuts , pistachios etc!...Drove me nuts!! ;))
Delicious food, very rich flavours!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Very, very good food. Comfortable service pleasant staff. Ample portions.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crispy Rice
Food and Staff are great ? but I wish the lunch menu was extended to a further time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
This is utterly unappealing, the taste and look is awful.The service is fast, but rude. The Ambiance is nice but it's a shame that food is so bad. I am sure other items are better but remove your "vegan listing from Yelp & Google immediately"