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Mahdi
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With an output in plastic doggie bags potentially warranting an offset of its carbon footprint, Mahdi is crowned king when it comes to unnecessarily large portions of lovingly prepared, artfully presented Iranian food. It’s not the homeliest of restaurants, its brick walls arching like the inside of a kiln, its waiters unduly serious and its tables cramped together almost uncomfortably. The abundance of decorative Persian trinkets verges on the oppressive – from micro-mosaic framed prints and coloured vases to a stuffed peacock watching forlornly from one corner. But if there’s better Iranian food being served in the capital, we’ve yet to taste it. The list of starters supplements the usual repertoire with rarities like ash-e reshteh, a smoky bean and noodle soup thickened with whey. Marinated chicken and lamb kebabs are succulent, super sized and served with perfectly fluffy rice, but you’d be foolish not to experiment with the more traditional Iranian dishes here, like baghali polo ba mahiche: rice with dill and broad beans accompanied by a melt-in-the-mouth lamb shank – so delicious you’ll be only too happy to tuck into the leftovers later at home that same evening, if you’ve room.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009
See also
- London’s best kebabs
Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.
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Details
- 217 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9JT
- Area: Hammersmith
- Tel: 020 8563 7007
- Category: Iranian
- Travel: Hammersmith or Ravenscourt Park tube
- Times: Meals served noon-11pm daily
- Price: Main courses £5-£12. Set lunch (noon-6pm Mon-Fri) £4.90 1 course. Unlicensed
- Credit cards: MC, V
- Licenced: unlicensed
- Services:
- Disabled: toilet
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I am a nice, simple, drama student that enjoys life and its strange little happenings. Ask me anything yeh fancy and will answer you as honestly as...
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Excellent meal with really nice subtly-spiced food. All served with real warmth and charm. A bit on the pricey side though.
Food was fantastic - huge portions, and delicious. We couldn't make sense of the menu as it was all in Arabic and the English translations made it sound like all the dishes were the same. But we had the wonderful number 37 which we all agreed was just perfect - fluffy, dill-flavoured rice with (I think) broad beans in it, which came with a tender lamb stew cooked in what looked like a butter & stock gravy. We also had a number 34, which was a tomato-ey, aubergine-y lamb stew, also fab, and a chicken skewer which was fine (& enormous) but not as special as the lamb dishes. The staff we charming in the end, although we had to get a bit cross at the beginning as we were completely ignored for ages. Overall, a fun & new cultural experience for three girls on a non-alcoholic night out, and because of the quality of the food - highly recommended. By the way - the pub next door does great cocktails for those who need to begin or end the night with a boozy drink!
Fantastic food. Friendly service. Big portions. Recommended!!!
A fantastic place. Amazing food.
The best and most authentic baghali plov in town! It's usually difficult to find a good khoresht (stew) in a restaurant, usually only the kabobs are good. I'm devastated that Daddy's in Sheperds Bush closed down, but Mahdi is truly excellent!