Kabob Palace 595 Notre Dame Ave.

If there is one thing I love to find in a restaurant, it is mystery.
No, not the kind of mystery where I am dubious about the quality or cleanliness, but the kind of mystery where I can't readily identify the flavours and start asking, "What is that? It's so good, and I don't know why!"
Kabob Palace http://www.kabobpalace.ca/ did just that.

First, we had the zeytoon parvardeh, crisp green olives rolled in crushed walnuts and "mountain spices", then drizzled with a sweet and tart reduction that reminded me of pomegranates.

Next, kashke bademjan, a dish of crushed fried eggplant topped with fried onions, garlic, mint and whey. Smoky and smooth, it came with fresh pita.

For entrees, we shared a couple of their stews. Ghormeh Sabzi, a stew of fresh vegetables, red beans and lamb was minty with a citrus undertone, the dish sumptuous and satisfying.

The other stew, fesenjan, was comprised of chicken breast, pomegranate paste, walnuts and spices. Tart and a bit sweet, the dish was brimming with flavour. It was best served on rice, to mellow it a bit, but the flavours were amazing and filled with mystery.

We didn't get to the kabobs, but will be going back very soon to give them a shot. They look great and are huge.

One dish that really stood out was the zereshk, sweet and sour red berries and pistachios fried in butter and served as a topping for rice. These little dried berries brought the light and fluffy rice to life.

The pistachio cake was delicious and not too sweet. I highly recommend it especially if you want a dessert that is more savoury than sweet.

Kabob Palace is the place for delicious Persian fare, hands down.