I visited this restaurant recently in Boston with high hopes, having traveled a long distance specifically to enjoy authentic Persian cuisine. Unfortunately, our experience was deeply disappointing and did not reflect the positive reviews or the photos posted online.To begin with, the online photos appear to be outdated — possibly taken during the restaurant's grand opening — and do not represent the current condition of the space. The restaurant is very small and not well-maintained. Cleanliness was a concern from the start, with dishes drying on the countertop, flies in the dining area, and a dusty glass shelf being used to store food items in plastic bags — all of which were quite unappealing. Upon arrival, we were not greeted warmly. The staff, all male, appeared unwelcoming and unfriendly. One staff member brought us the menu without a single word, no smile, and simply dropped it on the table without any explanation or suggestions. This behavior set a very uncomfortable tone for our visit.We ordered two Chicken Barg plates with rice, one hummus, and two Coca-Colas. The Chicken Barg was dry and lacked flavor, priced at $21.99 per plate. The hummus was coarse, not the smooth consistency one would expect, and also bland — priced at $7.99. The flatbread served with it did not seem fresh and resembled store-bought bread. The soft drinks were oddly served in coffee cups. Throughout the meal, no one came by to check on us, and the service remained cold and inattentive. The manager was loudly talking on the phone right behind our table, which further diminished any sense of professionalism or hospitality. We also felt quite uncomfortable as several staff members stared at us in a way that made us feel unwelcome and out of place. Our total bill was $67.80 — quite expensive given the quality of the food, service, and overall experience. When I asked for a copy of the bill, the manager misunderstood and snapped back, saying they don’t serve coffee — an odd and unnecessary interaction that further highlighted the poor communication and customer service. Overall, this was a deeply disappointing visit. I would not return and cannot recommend this restaurant. I urge the owners to post recent, accurate photos and address the serious concerns with cleanliness, staff attitude, and food quality. Customers deserve honesty, hospitality, and value for their money — none of which were present during our visit.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
John Cain
We had the pleasure of enjoying an authentic Persian meal with our Iranian friend! It was very good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE)
Delicious healthy food, awesome service. Love their new location.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
fran mahdi
Very disappointed Burnt kabob, salty appetizer (bademkan) Overpriced, Young girl serving was very nice
Shahabeddin Mohin
Hafez House of Kebab is a standout for anyone who loves authentic Persian cuisine. The kebabs are perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection—each bite bursts with rich flavors that keep you coming back for more.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff is friendly and attentive, making every visit feel like a special dining experience. Whether you’re a fan of traditional kebabs or trying them for the first time, Hafez House of Kebab is an absolute must-visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boneless Lamb Kabob
Tony Salehi
I ordered take out food from Hafez restaurant and drove from Watertown to Salem. The food stayed warm after 1 hour in the traffic. The Soltani and Koobideh dinner was enough for 4 people. The Barg skew was still juicy and tender and as for the beef Koobideh you can't get any better. The ratio of meat and fat was perfect and it tasted awesome too (highly recommended). Overall the quality, portion and taste was all there. Special thanks to chef Haddi, Mohsen and Majid to keep up the good work that made them famouse in Boston.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Qais Diodato
The food is really good , the place smells and filthy and too hot , no AC you can't enjoy the food
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 3
Parnian Mokri
You are transpired to a on the road cafe in Alborz mountain range.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yam
I usually don’t give a bad review for service if the food is good, but the service was so bad here it got in the way of the food.
I hate to leave a bad review, but our server (a senior gentleman) was the most impolite I have ever seen; very ill-tempered. Although the food was great, I would never go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Alireza Dolatabadi
Good food and decent sized. No kids menu. Service has a lot of room for improvement. Atmosphere definitely lacks, too
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Soltani
Narmin Karim Al Soor
If you want to eat Persian food, avoid this restaurant by all means. They do not even serve Persian food I have no idea why they made it look like an Iranian restaurant. They have changed the recipe of every Persian food by their own preference and fool us. Zeresh Polo is not the persian food you may know, it is pure nonsensical and I have no idea why they call it Zereshk Poli, also their Kebab is not Persian style and does not taste like that. Seemed like a scam to me.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Elham Alavi Nasab
Hafez Restaurant has amazing Persian food! The flavors are authentic, and the portions are generous. Highly recommend it if you’re craving delicious Persian cuisine!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Kabob, Soltani, Kebab
Anar Gojayev
I had a dinner there. Ordered a lamb kabob. The servant gentleman was less than enthusiastic. He acted a bit like as if I owed him something. Food was ok. It was a weird vibe overall. I unfortunately will not be able to recommend a place and probably will not go back myself.
I visited this restaurant recently in Boston with high hopes, having traveled a long distance specifically to enjoy authentic Persian cuisine. Unfortunately, our experience was deeply disappointing and did not reflect the positive reviews or the photos posted online.To begin with, the online photos appear to be outdated — possibly taken during the restaurant's grand opening — and do not represent the current condition of the space. The restaurant is very small and not well-maintained. Cleanliness was a concern from the start, with dishes drying on the countertop, flies in the dining area, and a dusty glass shelf being used to store food items in plastic bags — all of which were quite unappealing. Upon arrival, we were not greeted warmly. The staff, all male, appeared unwelcoming and unfriendly. One staff member brought us the menu without a single word, no smile, and simply dropped it on the table without any explanation or suggestions. This behavior set a very uncomfortable tone for our visit.We ordered two Chicken Barg plates with rice, one hummus, and two Coca-Colas. The Chicken Barg was dry and lacked flavor, priced at $21.99 per plate. The hummus was coarse, not the smooth consistency one would expect, and also bland — priced at $7.99. The flatbread served with it did not seem fresh and resembled store-bought bread. The soft drinks were oddly served in coffee cups. Throughout the meal, no one came by to check on us, and the service remained cold and inattentive. The manager was loudly talking on the phone right behind our table, which further diminished any sense of professionalism or hospitality. We also felt quite uncomfortable as several staff members stared at us in a way that made us feel unwelcome and out of place. Our total bill was $67.80 — quite expensive given the quality of the food, service, and overall experience. When I asked for a copy of the bill, the manager misunderstood and snapped back, saying they don’t serve coffee — an odd and unnecessary interaction that further highlighted the poor communication and customer service. Overall, this was a deeply disappointing visit. I would not return and cannot recommend this restaurant. I urge the owners to post recent, accurate photos and address the serious concerns with cleanliness, staff attitude, and food quality. Customers deserve honesty, hospitality, and value for their money — none of which were present during our visit.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We had the pleasure of enjoying an authentic Persian meal with our Iranian friend! It was very good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious healthy food, awesome service. Love their new location.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very disappointed
Burnt kabob, salty appetizer (bademkan)
Overpriced,
Young girl serving was very nice
Hafez House of Kebab is a standout for anyone who loves authentic Persian cuisine. The kebabs are perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection—each bite bursts with rich flavors that keep you coming back for more.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff is friendly and attentive, making every visit feel like a special dining experience. Whether you’re a fan of traditional kebabs or trying them for the first time, Hafez House of Kebab is an absolute must-visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boneless Lamb Kabob
I ordered take out food from Hafez restaurant and drove from Watertown to Salem. The food stayed warm after 1 hour in the traffic. The Soltani and Koobideh dinner was enough for 4 people. The Barg skew was still juicy and tender and as for the beef Koobideh you can't get any better. The ratio of meat and fat was perfect and it tasted awesome too (highly recommended).
Overall the quality, portion and taste was all there. Special thanks to chef Haddi, Mohsen and Majid to keep up the good work that made them famouse in Boston.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is really good , the place smells and filthy and too hot , no AC you can't enjoy the food
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 3
You are transpired to a on the road cafe in Alborz mountain range.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I usually don’t give a bad review for service if the food is good, but the service was so bad here it got in the way of the food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Awesome food and friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I hate to leave a bad review, but our server (a senior gentleman) was the most impolite I have ever seen; very ill-tempered. Although the food was great, I would never go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Good food and decent sized. No kids menu. Service has a lot of room for improvement. Atmosphere definitely lacks, too
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Soltani
If you want to eat Persian food, avoid this restaurant by all means. They do not even serve Persian food I have no idea why they made it look like an Iranian restaurant. They have changed the recipe of every Persian food by their own preference and fool us. Zeresh Polo is not the persian food you may know, it is pure nonsensical and I have no idea why they call it Zereshk Poli, also their Kebab is not Persian style and does not taste like that. Seemed like a scam to me.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Hafez Restaurant has amazing Persian food! The flavors are authentic, and the portions are generous. Highly recommend it if you’re craving delicious Persian cuisine!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Kabob, Soltani, Kebab
I had a dinner there. Ordered a lamb kabob. The servant gentleman was less than enthusiastic. He acted a bit like as if I owed him something. Food was ok. It was a weird vibe overall. I unfortunately will not be able to recommend a place and probably will not go back myself.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Beef or Lamb Kabob
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