If you’re an adventurous diner constantly searching for unique flavors, you may want to take the challenge up a notch by trying out authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. It may not be as strong or spicy as that of Korean or Thai Cuisine, but it has its own share of distinct flavours and dishes that tickle the taste buds.
My friends and I had our first taste of authentic Middle Eastern dishes in Persian Square, an attractive restaurant in Metrowalk, Pasig City that stands out from the rest because of its lavish outdoor and indoor decorations. It exudes a classy ambience, inviting diners to come in through its beautiful double doors embellished with stained glass. Replicas of the iconic Persian horse are also placed outside to welcome visitors.
Immediately after passing through the double doors, Persian soil from the historic city of Shiraz welcomes visitors, promising authenticity and adding a bit of history to the dining experience. Diners will also notice a rendition of the remaining structure of the old Persian Palace (Takht E Jamshid Palace, built over 2,500 years ago), the centrepiece of the restaurant.
Inside, the restaurant is jazzed up with stylish Persian-inspired decorations, with blue, purple, and earth tones dominating its interiors. Of course, the restaurant lives up to its name, as they use square-shaped ornaments, plates, and drinking glasses. The “square” in Persian Square is everywhere—including the restroom, where the sink, toilet, mirror, and potted plants are all in squares!
We got started with Mirza Ghasemi, an appetizer made of grilled eggplant, sautéed onions and garlic with Persian spices, served in homemade tomato sauce; it’s one of the tastiest eggplant dishes I’ve tried. Our waiter recommended that we try it with pita and their delicious yogurt dressing, which tastes like a better version of shawarma sauce. It was heavenly!
Being the solid salad fans that we are, we always try out available salads whenever we eat out together. We had Persian Square Salad, with olives, cucumbers, carrots, green pepper, tomatoes, lettuce, and yogurt dressing. We’re not fans of the dressing and the “lettuce” they used, but we acknowledge the fact that this salad can serve up to four persons.
A Persian dining experience will never be complete without trying out the most popular Middle Eastern dish—kebabs! Persian Square’s delicious Kebab Platter, a sampler of beef, chicken, lamb, and grilled tomatoes and chillies, is well worth its price since the serving is good enough for four persons. We all loved how the lamb was cooked well, yet still juicy and tender.
Our Persian Square experience was pleasant overall. We all agreed that it’s one of our favorite restaurants, and we’d definitely go back to try other interesting items on their menu. Also, it holds the record for being the most photogenic restaurant we’ve been to!
