Tehran is a very big and extremely busy city, by any definition cosmopolitan and with great potential, and in such a place what is most missing for those who are the more well-traveled is a variety of good restaurants. We were delighted to learn that a new restaurant was opening and we went there on its opening night last week.

The restaurant is in a great location, on the corner of Kamranieh Street and Farmanieh Street in the north of Tehran, on the first floor of the Koohenoor shopping centre building.  It is a charming restaurant, exquisitely decorated.  The chairs are most comfortable and there is a variety of seating arrangements.  The staff were attentive, polite and friendly.

There is a mezzanine floor upstairs which we thought would be fantastic for birthday parties or small business events.  Touch is a new venture by three great guys Human Karimi, Makan Meshkati and Dr Hamid Ehtesham, who are also behind the Lounge restaurant and the Food Connection.

We were very impressed with the lovely cocktail drinks that they served, and as they had taken the trouble to serve them in cocktail glasses somehow it felt like the real thing. The food, as we expected, was excellent.  First we were served a lovely tomato and basil soup, followed by a wonderfully tasty salad course, with fresh vegetables wrapped in rice paper.  This was followed by a main choice of either fish with tamarind and ginger, served with wild rice, or a deliciously tasty marinated steak – we ordered one of each and shared (as always).  They were both well presented and excellently cooked – the fish was most divine.

The last course, of watermelon baby cuts, cherries and apricots, served with a chocolate sauce, was most welcomed by our young nephews who were there with their mum Tina, herself the queen of cakes and desserts in Tehran.

We found the opening well organized except that some of the invited guests did not turn up on time or at all. The restaurant is decorated wonderfully yet due to space there are no toilets there and the public ones two floors down are just not acceptable for such a chic restaurant.  We hope the managers will find a solution soon.

We learnt that from next week us that they will be serving breakfast with three options and next month they will start serving brunches on Thursdays and Fridays.  I am sure that it will be prove to be very popular and successful.

Touch: 12 Koohenoor Shopping Center, Kamranieh Avenue, Tehran.

021 22832258,  021 22832268

We were recently talking to some friends about good restaurants in Tehran.  They introduced us to a new place called The Lounge.  Last week, our two godsons, Pouya and Nima had birthdays very close to each other and although we had a small party for them, they invited us to experience this restaurant.

This is a cozy little place near Niavaran, even though it is not on the main street and is not easy to find, once you get there it is worth the effort.   First of all you are delighted with some lovely

flower tubs just outside and a doorman who also helps with the parking with a broad smile and good manners.  The restaurant is long and narrow.  It is well decorated and practical, despite its narrowness.

The menu is a delight just to look at and is very well presented.  The food is good and beautifully decorated.  There is a good variety for all different tastes.  In the introduction on their menu it says that the idea behind the Lounge is to have foods and tastes from different countries served in a modern ambiance.

They use many herbs and species and they try to make an unusual marriage between different ingredients by using them in an untraditional way.   These are very demanding goals, and I must admit that some of them have been achieved.  They have a special house drink that I suggest you try it first as it does not agree with all tastes.  The service was medium since only one of the three who were there to help seemed to do their job, which meant that one was rather rushed.

The restaurant was opened about 18 months ago by two cousins who lived in Denmark. One of them moved to Iran permanently and the other lives with her family back in Copenhagen and comes and goes as often as she can.  When we went there the first time she was there and we chatted a bit about the restaurant.  She told me that they do a lot of catering for parties as well.  The second time we met Homan the owner-manager and he also told us about the brunches that they have from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and we promised ourselves there and then that we shall try it soon, as we love the idea of brunches anywhere.  We were given a very elegant, beautifully designed brochure advertising their cookery courses.

In my opinion the whole idea behind the Lounge pleases young people more, may be it is the size, the shape or design.  But it is for sure a good place to visit and to take your guests or treat yourself and the family once in a while.

We give good marks for food presentation and taste, above average for service, pretty good marks for ambience and quality, and over all we give them 7 out of ten.

We have a few pictures for you to get a feel of it.  Bon appetit!

The Lounge, 17 Erfani Alley, Mojdeh Street, Niavaran Avenue, Tehran.

Telephone 22715953