Of Armenian origin, Lavash means "good food". Lavash not only serves "'good' food", it serves some BOMB ASS good food...
Ever since Lavash opened its doors in 2007, I've been wanting to try it but it quickly fell off my radar. While trying to work off our Yelp bookmarks, my friend and I found that we both had Lavash bookmarked, so it became our next target.
On Tuesday, 5.10.11, my friends and I (party of 4) arrived at Lavash for our 7 PM reservations and were promptly seated despite there being a blunder with our reservations (they had us down as canceled).
F O O D / W I N E:
This was my 1st time having Persian food, but I love Greek and Mediterranean food which is very similar; i.e. grilled meats seasoned with dry spices.
There were only house wines available by the glass, so I ordered a glass of the House Pinot Noir ($7.50/glass). The pour was generous and the medium-bodied, bright fruit flavors with a slight acidity went perfectly with my rich, full-flavored meal.
*COMPLIMENTARY LAVASH PLATE: A GREAT START!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MnGeqFYFTsWjdWSvMyPO0w?select=NOQkTu9JGN07Ila1f3ZgnA
Together, the fresh lavash and the accompanying feta cheese, fresh mint and basil, cucumbers and succulent tomatoes created the perfect balance of creamy, salty and tangy with crisp, tangy freshness.
*YOGURT SALAD ($3.95): A MUST ORDER!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MnGeqFYFTsWjdWSvMyPO0w?select=B2pqgp8CjBLUb3AT8Ph4RA
I'm all about different flavor profiles and the yogurt salad was the perfect dipping sauce for the meat. While helping to balance some of the richness, the yogurt gave a fresh layer of creamy tangyness.
*DOLMA (4 for $7.50): The BEST Dolma EVER!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MnGeqFYFTsWjdWSvMyPO0w?select=mZ44Z8QCHsvsOxEVJisV0Q
Served warm, the dolma was generously filled with the savory beef and rice mixture. Balancing the richness of the beef was the tangy grape leaf while a dallop of the yogurt sauce gave it layer of creaminess and different tangy flavor component. Unlike, other dolmas I've had, this was mainly filled with beef which I appreciated.
*SOLTANI COMBO PLATE ($21.95) - Barg and Koobideh w/ Basmati Rice & Roasted Tomatoes ($21.95): MOUTH-WATERING!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MnGeqFYFTsWjdWSvMyPO0w?select=5s95L1z7WnPEggl2OVbAVw
Atop a sheet of fresh, flakey lavash bread was a skewer of filet mignon (barg), ground beef & lamb (koobideh), a generous mound of fragrant basmati rice with 2 roasted tomato halves and raw onions.
The koobideh was AMAZING! It was rich, succulent, and full of flavor with a hint of herbaceousness from the spices. The lamb added a hint of gaminess to differentiate it from just being ground beef. Although flavorful, the barg was a whole different story. It was sliced which drained out all its natural juices making it very tough and chewy. It tasted more like a improperly cooked sirloin steak than a filet mignon. For both meats, a dip into the yogurt salad added that punch of creamy tangyness while the sprinkle of sumac added a layer of tartness to give you that contrasting flavor profiles.
The accompanying basmati rice was perfectly cooked to an al-dente and the perfect canvas to the flavorful meats. The tender and plump roasted tomatoes and the crisp raw onions completed the entire dish giving it a ray of sunshine.
*MAKHLOOT - Half Bastani/Half Faloodeh ($6.95): OMG, SOOOO GOOD!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/MnGeqFYFTsWjdWSvMyPO0w?select=tuBIN5SubVfs-WeJavQw6A
The bastani, a Persian gelato with rose water, pistachio and saffron was seamlessly rich and creamy with a fragrant sweet floral flavor and a nuttiness from the crunchy pistachios. The faloodeh, rosewater sorbet noodles added a brightness to a dish with a light citrus flavor while adding a delicate crunchiness to the creamy gelato. The bastani and the faloodeh were like a Ying and Yang that worked in perfect harmony together.
S E R V I C E:
The staff at Lavash treats you like one of their family members with their friendly, hospitable and very attentive nature. They were quick to take our orders, food was brought out in a timely fashion, and our water glasses were filled like clock-work. However as they got busy, you had to flag a member of the staff if you wanted something which was understandable.
A M B I A N C E / D É C O R:
Like a cozy Mediterranean home, Lavash had a very welcoming and intimate feel to it with its mustard hued walls, fireplace and flickering candles. Tables are quite close with each other and the dining quarter was smaller than I imagined it, so it's more of a place for a party of 2-4.
P A R K I N G:
Street parking is a hit or miss but do allow yourself extra time as it's located in an area with other neighboring restaurants.
Lavash is a welcome change to the plethora of Asian restaurants in the Inner Sunset area. If you have a hankering to tickle your taste buds, this neighborhood gem will definitely take you on a culinary Middle-Eastern journey! read more