Delicious food from appetizers, entrees and desserts, excellent wait staff and a neighborly owner in great decor. We love this neighborhood gem.
Dania A.
The owner made up for the food and service.. food was Okay and the waitress was annoying little rude but the owner was greatttt loved him! I would probably go back just for him. He deserves the whole 5 stars!
Michelle H.
Amazing meal! Service was exceptional explaining everything and making suggestions. Food was perfect!!
Jake T.
Phenomenal experience. Food, service, ambiance-- exceptional. Celebrated a friend's birthday and it could not have been a better experience. Truly one of the best Persian restaurants in Chicago, if not the best!
Mona T.
The staff at Caspian are exceptionally warm and friendly, and many of their dish flavors are wonderful and distinct. The prices are a little high, but reasonable overall. I came here for dinner to celebrate my birthday with a group of friends, and the staff were kind, inviting, and offered to store the cake in the fridge for us. While it was pretty empty on a Tuesday night, the interior is beautifully and intricately decorated, making for a very homey and comfortable atmosphere. My group of 7 shared everything family-style. For appetizers, we got the Fried Calamari and Kookoo Sabzi, and also got complimentary pita bread though it was a bit too dry and lacking flavor. The calamari was decent, though a bit too soggy and not crispy enough, and the Kookoo Sabzi had a spongey texture and mild taste. For entrees, we tried the following (**= especially recommend): - Kabob Platter for Two**: The grilled meats on this platter were absolutely delicious-- exceptionally tender, juicy; rich and robust in flavor.- Vegetarian Combo: I liked their hummus and baba ganoush; the flavors are strong and earthy.- Zereshk Polo with Chicken**: The chicken was again cooked excellently: it was juicy, tender, and very flavorful in the sauce. - Dizi Stew: A multi-stepped, resourceful dish with many components-- our server showed us how to make / grind up the stew to both eat and drink. The flavors were rich and earthy, though the price was a little steep for the portion size.We also tried the Dough yogurt drink, which is definitely more of an acquired taste, as it's very sour, but quite good. Many thanks to the wonderful staff for their attentiveness and hospitality, and for making my birthday dinner feel fun and special! I'll definitely be back in the future, especially for their richly flavored grilled meat dishes, which took the prize for me as some of the highlights of the meal.-- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5Food: 4.5/5Ambience: 5/5Service: 5/5Overall Value: 4.5/5
Gaz H.
3.5 Solid citizen and nice people with a kitchen that does the necessary. Delightful lamb. Steak and chicken were also good, but not as good as the lamb. Didn't get around to the dish as yet. Rice was competent and well executed. But it wasn't love. Maybe it was the bread tahdig instead of the rice-only version. Maybe it was something else.
Sunny T.
A really cozy Persian restaurant.The service was pretty good. Our server was very attentive and gave us good recommendations.The food portions were very generous, and we each had enough leftovers for another meal. The food was all pretty good too. Perfect for a rainy day or a cold winter day.
Len L.
Persian cuisine is one of my favorites in the city, I love the delicate morsels of protein and the fluffy dill rice that you get with charred tomato's and onions soaking with juices to make the dish very enjoyable. That is the what you expect not here in Caspian - or not what expected. We came in on a Sunday during dinner hours and there were a few tables there already and we sat near the kitchen. We were a party of 4 and they only had one menu available. We started off with a plate of hummus and fried calamari. The bread was not full and the hummus was a full plate and the calamari was freshly fried but the issue was the size of the squid was kid friendly small. We ordered our three entrée, one lamb kabob with dill rice and the other with beef and lamb shank. This should give us a good selection to start off with. The dishes came together which was expected. The dill rice was crunchy and not fluffy. Both proteins (lamb and beef) as portion was decent but the meat was over cooked and even with the steak knife I had issues cutting into it. The lamb shank was the moist and tasty and probably the best dish that we all enjoyed. Six dishes total and the bill was a little over $100. I noticed that there was a upcharge of $2.50 for the rice for every dish and asked. The owner said that only white rice came with the dishes and dill was a charge. I did not see that on the menu as online and in the menu, there in fine print did not state there was any charge for any variation of rice. Overall, the food was mediocre and to us it was very misleading to see that there was an extra charge for rice that was not fluffy and does not state a charge anywhere on the menu when you order a kabob dinner.
Kimi Z.
Caspian is an authentic Persian restaurant in Chicago that I highly recommend! The owner and staff are super friendly and the food reminds me of authentic Kabob from Iran. Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection, and the owner brought us fresh mint which paired well with the entrées. I particularly loved the desserts here. The flavors of the authentic cardamom chai, Persian rosewater-saffron-pistachio ice cream, and Pistachio baklava were out of this world.
Samuel A.
Delicious and authentic Persian food. The Koobideh is delicious - make sure to put some sumac on it for the ultimate experience. The Baba Ganoush is very tasty and has a nice roasted flavor to it. Last but not least the Persian ice cream (Bastani) is home made and so creamy. I have only ordered carry out from here so not sure about dine in experience, but even those times when I go to pick up the owner and staff are extremely friendly and good people. Make sure to visit.
Caspian Kabab has wonderful food with such a wide variety, there is something for everyone! The owner, Massoud, goes out of his way to ensure that everyone feels is happy and full! The sample platters are a great way to try a lot of different food. His homemade hummus, crabcakes, lamb kabobs, chocolate cake are the best and you have to try his tea! Thanks you, Massoud, for a great night out with the family!!!!! We'll be back!!!!
Taylor Barth
Great food and very friendly staff. You can't go wrong here.
Alex Sassani
What a hidden gem. Beautiful
decorations, gentle music, indoor fountain, friendly owner, and the best vegan Ghormeh Sabzi I’ve ever had If you want something different, something better than the usual, go
To Caspian. They also do kabob and sea food very well, but I am a vegan. If you go there, ask for Masoud…. And let them know Alex sent you.
VLW123456
Came here on a Tuesday night with some girlfriends. While our server was nice, it took a very long time for him to take our order. A table that had sat down after us got their entrees just as he was taking our order! And then they paid their check after our appetizers came out. Besides that, the food was very very good. Seasoned very well and tasted delicious. Good portion sizes as well. Good value. I would recommend this place but place your order quickly, or flag down the waiter so you can order quickly!
LotusPrins
This was certainly a surprise find and my love for Persian food and its people only grew more. We ordered sour berry chicken and it was delightfully tasty with an added tomato sauce and well seasoned chicken. The appetizer was a dip that was called eggplant omelet which we couldn't stop eating it was creative and delicious. The dessert was a typical Persian dessert that is made with pistachios and I could have easily had 4 of those. The ambiance was so Persian with a lovely water fountain ornate with decorative tiles. I felt was transported to Iran while I dined.
Delicious food from appetizers, entrees and desserts, excellent wait staff and a neighborly owner in great decor. We love this neighborhood gem.
The owner made up for the food and service.. food was Okay and the waitress was annoying little rude but the owner was greatttt loved him! I would probably go back just for him. He deserves the whole 5 stars!
Amazing meal! Service was exceptional explaining everything and making suggestions. Food was perfect!!
Phenomenal experience. Food, service, ambiance-- exceptional. Celebrated a friend's birthday and it could not have been a better experience. Truly one of the best Persian restaurants in Chicago, if not the best!
The staff at Caspian are exceptionally warm and friendly, and many of their dish flavors are wonderful and distinct. The prices are a little high, but reasonable overall. I came here for dinner to celebrate my birthday with a group of friends, and the staff were kind, inviting, and offered to store the cake in the fridge for us. While it was pretty empty on a Tuesday night, the interior is beautifully and intricately decorated, making for a very homey and comfortable atmosphere. My group of 7 shared everything family-style. For appetizers, we got the Fried Calamari and Kookoo Sabzi, and also got complimentary pita bread though it was a bit too dry and lacking flavor. The calamari was decent, though a bit too soggy and not crispy enough, and the Kookoo Sabzi had a spongey texture and mild taste. For entrees, we tried the following (**= especially recommend): - Kabob Platter for Two**: The grilled meats on this platter were absolutely delicious-- exceptionally tender, juicy; rich and robust in flavor.- Vegetarian Combo: I liked their hummus and baba ganoush; the flavors are strong and earthy.- Zereshk Polo with Chicken**: The chicken was again cooked excellently: it was juicy, tender, and very flavorful in the sauce. - Dizi Stew: A multi-stepped, resourceful dish with many components-- our server showed us how to make / grind up the stew to both eat and drink. The flavors were rich and earthy, though the price was a little steep for the portion size.We also tried the Dough yogurt drink, which is definitely more of an acquired taste, as it's very sour, but quite good. Many thanks to the wonderful staff for their attentiveness and hospitality, and for making my birthday dinner feel fun and special! I'll definitely be back in the future, especially for their richly flavored grilled meat dishes, which took the prize for me as some of the highlights of the meal.-- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5Food: 4.5/5Ambience: 5/5Service: 5/5Overall Value: 4.5/5
3.5 Solid citizen and nice people with a kitchen that does the necessary. Delightful lamb. Steak and chicken were also good, but not as good as the lamb. Didn't get around to the dish as yet. Rice was competent and well executed. But it wasn't love. Maybe it was the bread tahdig instead of the rice-only version. Maybe it was something else.
A really cozy Persian restaurant.The service was pretty good. Our server was very attentive and gave us good recommendations.The food portions were very generous, and we each had enough leftovers for another meal. The food was all pretty good too. Perfect for a rainy day or a cold winter day.
Persian cuisine is one of my favorites in the city, I love the delicate morsels of protein and the fluffy dill rice that you get with charred tomato's and onions soaking with juices to make the dish very enjoyable. That is the what you expect not here in Caspian - or not what expected. We came in on a Sunday during dinner hours and there were a few tables there already and we sat near the kitchen. We were a party of 4 and they only had one menu available. We started off with a plate of hummus and fried calamari. The bread was not full and the hummus was a full plate and the calamari was freshly fried but the issue was the size of the squid was kid friendly small. We ordered our three entrée, one lamb kabob with dill rice and the other with beef and lamb shank. This should give us a good selection to start off with. The dishes came together which was expected. The dill rice was crunchy and not fluffy. Both proteins (lamb and beef) as portion was decent but the meat was over cooked and even with the steak knife I had issues cutting into it. The lamb shank was the moist and tasty and probably the best dish that we all enjoyed. Six dishes total and the bill was a little over $100. I noticed that there was a upcharge of $2.50 for the rice for every dish and asked. The owner said that only white rice came with the dishes and dill was a charge. I did not see that on the menu as online and in the menu, there in fine print did not state there was any charge for any variation of rice. Overall, the food was mediocre and to us it was very misleading to see that there was an extra charge for rice that was not fluffy and does not state a charge anywhere on the menu when you order a kabob dinner.
Caspian is an authentic Persian restaurant in Chicago that I highly recommend! The owner and staff are super friendly and the food reminds me of authentic Kabob from Iran. Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection, and the owner brought us fresh mint which paired well with the entrées. I particularly loved the desserts here. The flavors of the authentic cardamom chai, Persian rosewater-saffron-pistachio ice cream, and Pistachio baklava were out of this world.
Delicious and authentic Persian food. The Koobideh is delicious - make sure to put some sumac on it for the ultimate experience. The Baba Ganoush is very tasty and has a nice roasted flavor to it. Last but not least the Persian ice cream (Bastani) is home made and so creamy. I have only ordered carry out from here so not sure about dine in experience, but even those times when I go to pick up the owner and staff are extremely friendly and good people. Make sure to visit.
Restaurantji Recommends
Caspian Kabab has wonderful food with such a wide variety, there is something for everyone! The owner, Massoud, goes out of his way to ensure that everyone feels is happy and full! The sample platters are a great way to try a lot of different food. His homemade hummus, crabcakes, lamb kabobs, chocolate cake are the best and you have to try his tea! Thanks you, Massoud, for a great night out with the family!!!!! We'll be back!!!!
Great food and very friendly staff. You can't go wrong here.
What a hidden gem. Beautiful decorations, gentle music, indoor fountain, friendly owner, and the best vegan Ghormeh Sabzi I’ve ever had If you want something different, something better than the usual, go To Caspian. They also do kabob and sea food very well, but I am a vegan. If you go there, ask for Masoud…. And let them know Alex sent you.
Came here on a Tuesday night with some girlfriends. While our server was nice, it took a very long time for him to take our order. A table that had sat down after us got their entrees just as he was taking our order! And then they paid their check after our appetizers came out. Besides that, the food was very very good. Seasoned very well and tasted delicious. Good portion sizes as well. Good value. I would recommend this place but place your order quickly, or flag down the waiter so you can order quickly!
This was certainly a surprise find and my love for Persian food and its people only grew more. We ordered sour berry chicken and it was delightfully tasty with an added tomato sauce and well seasoned chicken. The appetizer was a dip that was called eggplant omelet which we couldn't stop eating it was creative and delicious. The dessert was a typical Persian dessert that is made with pistachios and I could have easily had 4 of those. The ambiance was so Persian with a lovely water fountain ornate with decorative tiles. I felt was transported to Iran while I dined.