Shabestan, Finest Persian Restaurant

Transported to Persia

"Speaking of under-rated restaurants, I wonder why more people are not beating down the doors of Shabestan, a Persian restaurant in Robertson Quay. The two times I was there, once at lunch and another at dinner, the restaurant had tables to spare.

It did not inspire confidence, but I had excellent meals both times.

A good way to start is with the Appetiser Platter ($35), a selection of five dips served with Iranian flatbread. All of them are delicious, but two stand out: Muhamara ($14 on its own), made with ground-up walnuts, pomegranate molasses, breadcrumbs, roasted bell peppers and spices; and Homemade Cheese ($14 on its own), a tangy, creamy concoction that I keep going back to with pieces of warm flatbread."

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— Tan Hsueh Yun, The Strait Times