Colbeh

Returned after a few years on Friday 4th March about 6.30 so wasnt too busy.

Had the kebab kobidah, whilst my wife had the "king of stews" - a walnut/pomegranate paste with pieces of chicken.

The kebabs were very nice, well made and juicy, and the rice was soft. Can't say anything positive about the stew though, it just doesnt work, with it's sweet curry-like paste. Just ended up taking out the pieces of chicken and eating with the rice

The quality of the food and the establishment have definitely diminished over the years. Just doesnt have that same professionalism and high levels of service as it used to have - I know it wasn't busy but it doesn't help when three of the waiters are half-sprawled at the back busy playing with their mobile phones.

It'll also help if the receipts were correctly itemised as I wasnt the only person there querying what I had paid for.

Would return, but probably just stick to the basic kebabs and not venture to trying out new things on the menu.
Comment on this reader review

Ali D - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Monday, March 07, 2011

Ate at Colbeh tonight, very good homemade persian bread. hummos and aubergine dips are tiny tiny portions but good. mains are large - we ordered lamb shank (37), chargrilled baby chicken (27), promogranate & pumpkin shredded chicken stew which was way too sweet for a main. the chicken and lamb shank were very good and about £10 each. total bill came to £60 for 4 people so pretty good value - very similar restaurant to Alounak across Bayswater tube station- the menu at Colbeh has more options for mains, both restaurants allow one to bring bottles of wine/alcohol and both restaurants tables are squeezed in, a little more so at Colbeh -very similar pricing. would definitely eat at both again!
Comment on this reader review

7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, December 29, 2010

this is a gem of a restaurant. i must say the food was excellent , the service was good and it was good value for money. being a very busy restaurant all our food came on time.i will recommend colbeh to anyone who likes to try the best persian cusine in town.
Comment on this reader review

mehdi
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 14, 2010

Good Food…Shame About the Attitude

Service was swift so our starter and main course arrived promptly and tasted delicious. I thought "What a find. I'm going to have to come back for more!". Before finishing my main course I ordered (a pot of) tea and shortly after some pastries similar to baklava. The daughter of the ? proprietor came by and asked my friend if we wanted anything else. When my friend said no she mentioned that there were people waiting and shortly afterwards the bill was placed on our table (we hadn't asked for the bill). A couple of minutes later her mother came round to tell us we had to leave and it wasn't an English restaurant (ie. we had overstayed our welcome)....outrageous considering I was still half-way through my dessert which I was going to pay for, naturally. It is a great pity: I walked out disgusted and determined never to return. The arrogance of Colbeh doesn't deserve customer loyalty. Besides, there are plenty of other polite Iranian restaurant
Comment on this reader review

Zeffy
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Saturday, October 17, 2009

I tried to book a table for two persons at the phone and was treated in an extremly unfriendly way. We were told to show up as they could not accept bookings for two guests only. Stupid enough we drove there and instead of a nice welcoming, the man at the door barked: I told you already.... the restaurant is full.

The manageress came and without any "hello", "good evening" or something similar, she told us in a very rough way, that she could not accept two guests only.

We are from Tuscany, friends of ours recommended this little and cute restaurant, we drove through the city to dine there, but the attitude of the manageress and the two waiters was more than arrogant.

By the way.... the restaurant was not full in that moment and it was half empty when we walked in front of it about 1 hour later.

I am happy that I did not leave any penny at that place, enriching people who do not know what service and hospitality means.
Comment on this reader review

Karin Dietz
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Saturday, April 04, 2009

A great little find, in Marylebone and a stones throw from the hustle ad bustle of Edgware. You can bring your own booze - be warned though the off license on Edgware was trying to charge £8ish pounds for a substandard australian red. The food is good wholesome persian cuisine and despite being in very posh street, the food is good value for money. As you enter you have to squeeze past tandoor where they make freshly baked nan bread. It's a cosy restaurant, with Persian paintings and images from the country decorating the venue, and is frequented by Iranians, which is always a good sign of good food. The food is good mixture, with a mixture of kebab style dishes and other Iranian staples. Had the Joojeh Kababb Bakhtair chargrilled whole baby chicken with spicy saffron sauce and Gouzi, lamb shank with special rice of pine nuts and raisins. Both were divine and the lamb just melted in the mouth it was that tender. All polished off with rose water and lemon sorbet - sadly they didn't have any rose water ice cream left. Would definitely go back to try some of the other dishes and savour the atmosphere more.
Comment on this reader review

KJ
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Saturday, March 28, 2009