Namak: the warm, saffron-scented Iranian restaurant where you can discover Persian flavours

Even if you've already eaten Lebanese or Syrian food, you can't imagine the originality and warmth of Iranian cuisine, which is more rare in the capital. In the 9th arrondissement, rue Saint-Lazare, Rod and Arthur, two adorable childhood friends, are waiting to introduce you to this sparkling Persian cuisine, authentic and full of love, both traditional and modern, where pomegranate, rose, walnut, pistachio, black lemon and saffron are king.

Divided into two parts, the restaurant is welcoming with its bright, open kitchen and its first room overlooking the street, separated from the second, which resembles a traditional Middle Eastern lounge in subdued light, by a small corridor lined with posters of Iranian films and culture that takes us on a journey.

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We settle into this warm room, surrounded by the scent of spices, and take a look at the lunch menu, beautifully presented like a Persian passport. To begin with, here you won't find any Mediterranean mezze, but mazzeh, the Iranian version of these appetizing little hot or cold starters.

We opted for the Namak Houmous, served in a small portion and revisited thanks to the addition of peanut butter and black lemon. It's certainly the best we've eaten so far, with its incredibly creamy texture, lemony fragrance and light crunch provided by the whole peanuts, enjoyed with sesame barbari bread.

For the main course, it was a total discovery, with flavors we'd never tasted before, which were a real departure from Western habits. There's a lot of sweet and salty in the ingredients, which combine perfectly and make the palate sparkle with the pleasure of trying new things.

Curiosity pushes us towards the Mirza, made with a perfect egg, tomatoes and melting eggplant, accompanied by a special rice cake with egg, the tahchin, both airy and crispy, a comforting and welcoming dish, just like this cuisine that makes us feel like family.

There's something for everyone, vegetarians and meat lovers alike, which is why the generous Or Noir (Black Gold) caught our eye, as beautiful as it was good, with its carefully seasoned, simmered and shredded chicken leg, also accompanied by saffron rice and tangy barberry.

Chunks of walnut add crunch, and the sweetness comes through in the dates, though less so than in the pomegranate seeds, which explode in the mouth for a divine fruity, juicy addition.

Three desserts are on the menu, with a predominance of pistachio, of course, straight from Iran. As the flan was no longer available after the first service, we opted for the mi-cuit chocolat fondant, with pistachio, particularly intense and powerful in flavor, and cardamom, giving it a pleasantly salty aspect.

A little lighter, the sholeh zaard, traditional Persian rice pudding with saffron, served cold, is the perfect end to the meal, very fragrant with rose (which won't suit everyone), with a hint of black lemon, which sparkles under the tooth, a tasty dessert embellished with crunchy almonds.

Black tea with cardamom can replace coffee, and you can also try dough, a fermented yoghurt-based specialty, for the more curious! At weekends and in the evenings, don't miss the Persian cocktails, which we'll have to come back to taste!

Don't forget to book in advance, as the restaurant is often fully booked, and this success is understandable, as Iranian dishes are less well known than other local cuisines, but just as worth the detour, all at an affordable price!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.