What’s the word fresh in Persian? Taze! That’s something new I learned when my colleagues and I went to the new only opened restaurant at Two Rivers Mall with the same name, Tazeh. But this isn’t just a typical Persian restaurant; they’ve managed to incorporate local themes into the spot. It’s like the perfect blend between Mediterranean/Persian and Kenyan food cultures.
It’s become clear that having unique and eye-catching interiors is a trend that’s not about to die soon in the restaurant business. Tazeh clinches a top spot as one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in the city. With hues of mustard and orange around the walls, this quaint restaurant feels like home with an inviting and intimate touch. We couldn’t stop talking about the artwork in one section of the restaurant.
Imagine what tapestry would look like if it was painted on a wall, with hints of Persian, African and Kenyan heritage identifiers. It’s a real marvel. We took enough pictures to flex on the ‘gram before diving into the food and drinks.
Mr Mahdi Poosti, the Managing Director of Tazeh talked about the restaurant saying, “We came up with the concept about three years ago. There’s also one thing we decided to incorporate in nearly all the meals and that’s saffron.” And true to his word, when you have peep at the menu you, you realize saffron has been used in nearly all of the meals. This is the most expensive herb in the world and according to Mr Mahdi, it not only makes the dining experience worthwhile but also authentic.
Tazeh has also adopted an open kitchen concept. “Our open kitchen encourages transparency and to show people that they’re not only getting delicious food but also fresh as well,” says Mr Mahdi.
Milkshakes
We had the doogh and coconut milkshakes. Doogh is a Persian yoghurt, popular in countries like Iran. If you have an adventurous palate, give this a try. I, however, have to warn you that it’s super savoury, almost lingering on the bitter edge with a taste similar to Kenya’s maziwa mala. I had two glasses of this.
A sweet tooth will love the coconut milkshake. It has been one of the best shakes we’ve had in a while. Just picture yourself drinking your fave coconut cupcakes… now in liquid form. Excellence!
Main meals
We had the Koobideh wraps, Jujeh and falafel to our fill. Tazeh is generous with portions and you will feel the value for your money. Koobideh is a popular signature dish from the Persian street food selection made with minced meat and Tazeh made our wraps just perfect. They were flavourful and not too spicy given there are a number of spices used.
I am 100% vouching for the chicken Jujeh. Chunks of chicken are usually marinated in minced onions and saffron. Our jujeh was served with grilled tomatoes and crispy fries. The chicken had a bit of umami flavour and was satisfying. Pairing this with fries made the experience more wholesome.
When was the last time you had falafel? The falafel we had at Tazeh were crispy and delicious, accompanied by mouthful salad. The food was so filling one colleague had to have hers packed.
Offers
Have a cool mug or container that you can’t wait to use? Tazeh is giving you a 5% off on meals and drinks when you bring your own mugs and containers. And if you love burgers, you should definitely try the Crazy Burger on offer for Ksh 350.
