Persian restaurants are a dime a dozen in these neck of the woods. Shiraz has been on my list to…read moretry ever since we went for dinner at Sabzy (now closed) so we decided to give them a shot. This place is in the middle of nowhere! Well, unless you count Edmonton Casino as being a destination spot. It's also right by COPAS Latin Social Club. The inside is pretty basic with several tables and a TV was playing some Just for Laughs skits. Only one other family dined in but there were more people that came for take out. Service is very friendly and genuine. The older gentleman serving us I assume is also the owner. Menu is split into appetizers, entrees, kebabs and desserts. - Kashk bademjan ($6.99) - eggplant mixed with fried onion, garlic, dried mint and yogurt paste. These came with a side of pita slices. Wish they had been warmed up and slightly toasted. The eggplant was delicious; subtly smoky and great texturally. - Zeresk polo ba morgh ($11.99) - rice with chicken, saffron and barberries. Incredibly tender, juicy and flavourful. The barberries were a nice sharp addition to the rice. - Kubideh kebab ($12.99) - two skewers of ground beef or lamb, Persian herbs and spices. Served with rice and tomato. The tomato was the only vegetables included in the entrees so be ready to eat a lot of rice. The kebabs were well seasoned and totally worth the price! - Khoresht ghormeh sabzi ($10.99) with lamb shank ($4.99) - lamb stew with flavoured greens, red beans and dried Persian limes. Again, served with a plate of rice. Stew was fantastic with a lot of depth and flavour. - Shirazi salad ($3.99) - cucumber, tomato, onion, lemon juice and dried mint. The salad came out last but it was light, refreshing and a nice change of pace from the rest of our meal. - Baklava (one package) ($6.99) - a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened and held together with syrup. You get a box of baklava, which is from Cedar Sweets. Personally, I'd rather just go to the source myself but they were out of one of the other desserts we wanted to try. - Sholeh zard ($3.99) - rice, sugar, rosewater, saffron and cooking oil. I couldn't have described it better than Jboy, who said "it tastes like there's a flower bed in my mouth". Think of the sholeh zard as an incredibly light and fragrant rice pudding (sort of). Happy to have finally gone to check out Shiraz. If I'm ever in the Argyll area, I'll be back to try out the rest of their short menu.

Newly opened. Tasty food made fresh. Great selection of Persian food. Breakfast with a Middle…read moreeastern twist if you ask nicely.

Amazing experience! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The service was…read morefriendly and attentive without being overbearing, and the ambiance was warm and inviting. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to and recommending to others

I have eaten here many times, It is a go to for many people doing food pick ups. There are also…read moresweet treats in the display case. I usually order the beef lamb kebobs which comes with rice and salad and a grilled roma tomato. It's a great meal for about 18.00 plus tax. They often offer you a cup of tea for no charge just to be a good host. They do not serve alcohol just pop. I have heard them offer a table some more salad if they run out. Come here for some great food on a friendly atmosphere.

We stopped in today and had a really wonderful experience. From the moment we arrived, the owners…read morewere incredibly warm and hospitable. They made us feel genuinely welcome and even offered us a complimentary tea, which was such a thoughtful touch. The food was excellent. We ordered a Persian meal with grilled kebab, rice, fresh salad, and roasted vegetables. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully prepared. The rice was perfectly cooked, the meat was tender and well-seasoned, and the sides complemented the dish really well. The atmosphere was calm and comfortable, making it a great place to sit down and enjoy a proper meal. You can really tell the owners care about their guests and take pride in what they serve. Overall, it was a fantastic experience -- great food, kind service, clean and a welcoming environment. We'll definitely be coming back.

This place is run by great people they're so friendly and the service was unreal. It's nice and…read moreclean, there's cool old world art hanging.... but the food. Amazing. Nice big portions, good sized kebabs and lots of rice etc. They also serve free tea, pita and 6-7 kinds of yogurt dip for your meal. It's chill so no need to get dressed up. But I'd recommend it 10/10 times

This place was recommended to me, so I checked it out during the pandemic and stopped by for…read moretake-away. Tried the chicken tikka kebab and the veggie samosas. They were both delicious but the samosas were particularly good, and the fries they were with were also fantastic, hot and crispy. The restaurant was sadly empty with all the seating put away due to the shut down, but the proprietor was very carefully checking vaccine status of everyone who came by, even to pick up food. He was very sad about the pandemic; sounds as if they're really struggling, and have lost a lot of money during all the shut downs. I recommend giving this place a try and supporting a local business if you're in the mood for samosas or similar!

Afghan Chopan Kebab is another place that doesn't get much, if any, of the limelight. It blows my…read moremind how so many hidden gems are in town, yet every time I go to one, it's empty. This visit back in the summer was no different. Maybe because it was an early Tuesday evening? No clue. I love what they've done to the front as there's now a couple tables outside to sit and enjoy the food. I kind of wish that this faced the back of the building instead of the front where all you get to see is the endless amount of cars zooming by but that's beside the point. It's awesome to be able to sit outside now. The menu's have got a nice upgrade since my original visit. Love how there's an accompanied picture for each dish. - Spinach boulany ($9.95) - whole wheat crust stuffed with spinach and spices. Pan fried and served with yogurt and dry mint. These could have been a bit more crispy but the inside was flavourful and nicely stuffed with spinach. - Kebab platter ($39.99) - a mixed variety of skewers of chicken, beef and seekh kebabs. Two patties of chaplee kebab and three pieces of chicken legs marinated with herbs and special spices. Comes with a small rice and fries. The description fails to mention it also comes with a side of salad AND samosa's. Huge amount of food. Come hungry, really hungry. I believe the kebab platter (regularly $45.95) is on special Monday and Tuesday, which is an incredibly good deal. What can I say about the kebab platter that I haven't said before? Delicious, aromatic rice. Crispy fries worth eating. Meat on meat on meat. Seriously, you'll be carnivored out by the time you finish with this platter. My only wish is that they gave more of the accompanied sauces, but you can always ask for more. - Fresh fruit - we wanted to try their baghlava but they were out for the day. Our waiter/the owner was the nicest guy and brought out some fresh fruit and a dessert instead (almost like a custard/rice pudding). A nice mix of pineapple, grapes and honeydew. The honeydew wasn't ripen enough but c'est la vie. Next time you're in Chinatown and looking for a new place to eat, give ACK a go. Delicious.

This place tastes like home! It's beautifully decorated and the service was really nice. I ordered…read moretake out and the whole family really enjoyed it. Must check this place out!

Lamb shank was great, very flavourful and tender. It's served on the side of a very seasoned and…read morecolourful rice. The chicken kebab platter was a bit plain as the rice had very little flavor. Red tea was nice and hot and the service was good. We also had the deep-fried eggplant and a phyllo pastry filled with spinach and feta (similar to spanakopita) as appetizers. Both were delicious. I would recommend this place but the rice that had the seasoning was much more flavourful than the plain rice so I would keep that in mind.

I'm someone who will drive to any corner of the city (and beyond) in the name of food and this was…read moreevident when I recently found myself in The Palisades, an area that is just about as far north as you can get in Edmonton (and no where remotely close to where I live). If the Edmonton Journal is going to name Paramount Fine Foods as the Best Lebanese Restaurant 2021, I'm gonna try it! I made the trek across town on a Sunday evening, looking forward to the authentically fresh flavours of the Middle East that Paramount boasts about so enthusiastically. Founded in 2007 by Mohamad Fakih, a Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur, the first Paramount Fine Foods location opened in Mississauga, Ontario. The company now comprises of over 75 restaurants, becoming the fastest-growing Middle Eastern food chain in Canada. You'll find Edmonton's location in a rather large complex on the edge of town. (Not kidding, you can see the empty fields nearby.) The restaurant's modern exterior and tall stature includes a small patio space in the front before entering into the expansive interior. I was surprised by the spacious, airy dining area designed with taste in mind. Dark wood, tiled columns, and pops of rich colour set the stage for what feels like a higher-end dining experience. I noted some interesting features in the space which included a kids playground (I swear that this place isn't a defunct McDonald's) and a prayer room. Paramount was quite quiet on our visit and our server was gracious and attentive. The menu is a lot larger than I would have expected and I enjoyed flipping through its colourful pages; from starters, to salads, to wraps and mains. Plus platters that are perfect for large groups and even breakfast on the weekends! (I'm super intrigued about the breakfast and would love to try it!) As one does, I started my journey with a drink and zeroed in immediately on something called the "Paramount Special." It sounds like the thing to get! Topped with almonds, crushed pistachios, ashta cream and honey, I really wanted to try this epic beverage! However, our server regrettably informed me that they couldn't make it. It wasn't clear why but I assume that they didn't have all of the ingredients on hand? This was honestly the only low point of the entire meal. Instead, I settled for Strawberry Mango Juice (A blend of fresh mango and strawberries - $8.99). The drink actually took quite some time to arrive, meanwhile almost all of the rest of our food showed up before it did. However, it was worth the wait because this blend of fresh lush mangoes and ripe juicy strawberries was wonderful. You could tell that the beverage contained real fruit and I enjoyed the swirling kaleidoscope of bright colours. The rest of our order was delivered to the table lightening-quick! The feast began with the Mezza Plate (Choice of three: world-famous hummus, moutabbal, labneh, muhammara, or tabbouleh - $13.99) which seemed like a great option to try a variety of Paramount's dips. Served with the most pillowy freshly baked homemade pita bread, straight out of their wood-burning oven! I honestly could've set my head down on one of those pitas and had a nap. In choosing our dips we went for the Moutabbal, Muhammara, and Labneh. (We did not select the hummus because it was included in something else that we ordered and we opted out of the tabbouleh because we were already ordering a different salad.) Circling back to the pita bread, it arrived warm and fluffy. Tearing off pieces and using it to scoop up the various dips was a complete joy. The Moutabbal, made with fire roasted eggplant blended with tahini and garlic and topped off with fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh pomegranate seeds, felt familiar. Very similar to baba ganoush. However, ours was not topped with parsley or pomegranate seeds as described. Regardless, I loved the true fire-roasted flavour of the eggplant which came through in such a bold and beautiful way. Next was the Muhammara, made with fire roasted red peppers, crushed mixed walnuts, zesty onions, authentic spices, and herbs and topped off with extra virgin olive oil and parsley. (There was no parsley.) This was the dip that I knew the least about... And that I loved the most! The flavour was big and exciting and I loved the nuttiness! This one was an unexpected surprise and I would order it every time. Lastly, the Labneh, made with thick creamy labneh (a type of yogurt cheese) mixed with garlic, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, and topped off with their authentic zaatar seasoning, was also familiar. (Shout out to The Happy Camel, who's labneh I often purchase!) The version at Paramount was very enjoyable and I loved the creamy-cool texture. I swear that I could taste some mint in there as well. Some of the best salads come out of the Middle East - think tabbouleh and fattoush - and I had to order the latter to add some greens to the table. Paramount's Fattoush ($12.99) seemed like the way to go. I lov

"Not so elevated Middle Eastern Cuisine"…read more A terrific visit last November was memorable enough to have us crave Paramount Fine Foods while in Edmonton this evening. The big sign has the slogan " Elevated Middle Eastern Cuisine " thus raising the expectations we have had,, stemming from dozens and dozens of previous Paramount visits In Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver over the years... The decor is still very nice, four+ years or so after this Edmonton branch's opening; - modern, fast yet casual with table service. Tonight, the service was at times very slow and curt. We started with the lentil soup ($7.99) which came in a lovely ceramic bowl with deep fried pita chips. The soup was not liquidy; it had a very thick, "pudding-like" consistency and was super salty. It was definitely not fresh and appeared like it could have been reheated after being withdrawn from a cold, refrigerated bucket; not good. Next came the beef pie - which was nothing but a thin layer of ground beef on way too much dough ($6.99). Paramount is famous for its tabuli salad and of course we ordered it! (($10.99). Once it arrived to our table, we were shocked at the look of wilted parsley and the lack of dressing (it needed more tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil to revive it); total dissapointment. "Elevated cuisine" means that you would assemble the salad as it is ordered for maximum freshness; ours tasted like it was sitting in a refrigerated tub for several days; no! No! No! The main course, the bbq beef platter ($22.99) had seven tiny yet very tender sirloin steak cubes; the remainder of the plate had a lot of filler rice and pickled beets, dill, onions and a 2 oz container of humus; very good yes - but the portion of meat was tiny for the price. The star of the meal was definitely the shareable dessert: The knnaffe Nablusieh ($9.99): It is a subtly sweet baked cheese dessert topped with baklava style shredded filo strips and pistachios; and then, it is drenched in syrupy rose water; this lived up to what Paramount is known for in Ontario - simply delicious!!!!!! With the abundance of similar eateries in Edmonton, Paramount Fine Foods didn't live up to its slogan as, during tonight's visit, there was nothing " elevated " about its Middle Eastern cuisine. Hopefully, they will get it together moving forward - so the quality of the food served at this branch can actually live up to their founding Ontario roots. Here at this Edmonton Paramount, The higher menu prices do not match the overall very average experience offered... we know Paramount Fine Foods has the ability to "wow" us; maybe next time!

My favorite dish here is the Vaziri. I have had this dish on several occasions and the quality is…read moreconsistent. Both the chicken and koobideh (a mixture of beef and lamb) kebabs featured in this dish are exceptionally tender and tasty. The portion size is very generous. I eat out regularly all over Edmonton, and I have not found a meat dish that is be more succulent than this one. The owners are warm and welcoming. Always a pleasure to visit. Also worth checking out is the Iranian tea.

Our family has eaten here twice. Both the quality of food and the service have surpassed…read moreexpectations. The wraps were delicious. I had the chicken kebab wrap tonight and it had a delicious charcoal grill flavour. The platters are generous and all of the food felt like a healthy option for take out. The owners seem to also be the staff which resulted in a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere. Highly, highly recommend.