Max Joy Co

Popped in to try a selection of items from their menu. We had Baghala Polo ( rice, broad beans and dill), fried fish and lamb shank. Really enjoyed the taste of all. The lamb shank was huge that we took home the remaining. Fish was Baramondi and well flavored, fried in oil like Persian mum style. 😝 We finished with saffron ice cream which was fantastic and the nearest to something we used to have in Persia. Highly recommended. Don’t miss their ice cream. 👍

(Edited to add review of new dishes at end) Quality of main dishes: 4/5 stars (3/5 for Sabzi Polo Mahi, 4.5 for Mirza Ghasemi) Service: 3/5 stars Ice-cream: 3/5 stars Service: it was my first time trying Persian food so I wanted to ask questions, but it was difficult because the owners weren't great at English. It was a bit stressful communicating as such, because I was not only navigating a new cuisine, but also trying to find out the specifics on ordering during lockdown. I ended up getting it done anyway, but wasn't entirely sure what I'd receive until I got it. Fortunately all 4 things I ordered on the phone ended up being correct. Also, the owners were friendly and at least seemed willing to help. Food: Zereshk Polo ba Morgh - homely, fragrant, and comforting overall. The barberries were the highlight, a refreshing burst of tanginess on the rice. The chicken was a little tough and not as flavourful as I thought it would be, but the rice was beautifully fluffy in texture. Baghali Polo & lamb shank - the sauce was the highlight for me; flavourful and tangy with tomato flavour I believe (and I love sourness). The broad bean rice wasn't as light or fragrant as the saffron rice, but still paired well with the sauce. Highlight: the tenderness of the lamb shank, the meat falling off the bone. It was a large piece too! Anaar Daneh Mosamma - chicken better this time; softer than Zereshk Polo's, and more flavour-infused as is probably intended. It was also tangy yet homely, with solid pomegranate bits from the sauce scattered on the meat and rice. The saffron rice was still lovely and aromatic. Fesenjan - creamy, nutty yet tart -- a combination of texture and flavour i'd never experienced before, yet delightful! The sauce was definitely the highlight. Unfortunately, the chicken chunks were on the drier, tougher side again. At least I could shred them into smaller pieces and cover them sauce, though. I would try this dish again, with the lamb next time probably; perhaps with a different meat it would be more moist/less overcooked. Saffron ice-cream - thankfully the rose flavour wasn't too empowering. Cherry ice-cream - sour, as described by vendor, and a sorbet to be exact. Date ice-cream - most tasty of the 3 flavours I bought. I don't know if it's a one-off experience, but all 3 ice-creams were surprisingly liquid despite being frozen all day. (I even moved the last one deeper into my freezer for a day just in case.) The cherry in particular may have a split a little -- I ended up leaving it unfinished, as it was just syrup at the end. They all melted quickly despite being eaten on winter nights, which was strange and unpleasant. I'd return to try the flavours I hadn't had before, but only really to explore Persian tastes. After that I'd look for more solid ice-creams elsewhere I think. I'd be happy to come back for the main meals though! ---- Ghormeh Sabzi - subtly fragrant, humble, herbaceous, and comforting to eat. Slow-cooked lamb quite nice with soft kidney beans that melt in your mouth. Sabzi Polo Mahi - salmon instead of white fish unexpectedly, and not battered I think so a bit tougher and not as flavourful as such. There was no pickled garlic, disappointingly. There were also broad beans in the rice? But it was herby and fragrant, lighter and nicer than Baghali Polo, with surprisingly pleasant patches of tanginess (maybe from lemon juice). Mirza Ghasemi - so tangy and intense I actually had to eat it with rice/bread! Eggplant taste somehow came through despite the strength of the garlicky, tomato-y flavours, while the scrambled egg was a delightful and welcome relief to all the sourness. It was a much-appreciated, almost creamy complement to the rest of the dip that I wish there was more of (think there was only 1 egg). Fesenjan lamb - better than chicken, but only really because the chicken was overdone last time. Perhaps it would've been better fresh; maybe the meatballs got drier and tougher when reheated.

With no international travel due to Covid, it's enough for me to be a taste bud traveller by eating something new. We visited Bastani Persian Restaurant to have lunch and it was a great experience. It's a cosy place with the (husband and wife?) owners cooking and serving the food and drinks. The menu has photos and description of the dishes. Everything we had is delicious - the rice, the main dishes, the Persian tea and the desserts. The had 5-6 different home-made ice creams. The saffron ice cream is amazing and I had never tasted this flavour anywhere else. Good to eat with friends so that you can share the dishes.