[title]
A welcome bowl of signature olives arrived while we were looking at the wall hangings and calligraphy that decorate what the menu proudly proclaims is ‘Europe’s first kosher Persian restaurant’.
Olive’s £18.95 set meal includes starters of sesame-crusted chicken wings, houmous and shirazi salad (finely chopped cucumber, onion, parsley and tomato, with an olive oil and lime dressing). Mirza ghasemi (an aubergine, garlic, egg and tomato dip) had a good texture and was mildly spiced and seasoned, while falafel came in five generous sized balls flavoured with black mustard seeds: crisp outside, light within. We added noon taftoon flatbread, freshly baked in a clay oven and studded with sesame seeds.
To follow, ghaime was very tender stewed lamb in a sun-dried lime and saffron sauce, served with split peas and a generous mountain of rice. Koobideh (fragrant spiced chopped lamb grilled on the skewer), also came with plenty of rice and salad.
Service is willing and swift; the staff provided mint leaf tea to make up for the disappointing lack of baklava.
You might not be eating haute cuisine at this restaurant, but you will find authentic cooking served in clean and calm surroundings.