Flavours of ancient Persia at Camp

The Guide checked out Cafe Shadan, which may not impress you at first glance but makes up by offering authentic persian food at a steal

In the bylanes of Camp, in a rather inconspicuous corner, wafts the strong aroma of saffron-cooked rice and kebabs. You peek inside but are unimpressed with the ambience. Boasting of stark plain interiors, the eatery is teeming with mostly Irani students and looks like a haunt for college goers. We decided to reserve our opinions till after we sampled their cuisine. A warning for strict vegetarians, though, this place is not for you; and chicken lovers make sure you drop in before 3 pm or after 7 pm.



The eatery is named after the 20 something owner whose name "Shadan" means happiness, a feeling he likes people to experience through his food. Persian cuisine is notable for being diverse with each province offering their unique concoctions based on their culinary traditions. On the owner's suggestion, we ordered for Jujeh Kebab (Rs 90) without the rice and Ghormeh Sabzi (Rs 130) to start with. The Jujeh Kebab consisted of skewered chicken flavoured with lemon juice and a hint of saffron. The kebab was a tad dry but the owner offered us a fiery Arabian chutney, which was a great accompaniment with the kebabs. Make sure you ask for the chutney when you order for kebabs.

We soon realized that Shadan is a hangout mainly for those who enjoy beef. The Ghormeh Sabzi served with saffron rice offered a mixed herbed stew with meat and was simply delicious. The meat and the beans were tender and the sauce was well-blended. We were asked to add lemon juice for a better taste and we happily complied.

Since it was unthinkable to walk out of an Irani joint without tasting the Chelo Kebab, we ordered for it despite being satiated. The Chelo kebab (Rs 130) is the national dish of Iran and the kebabs are made with a variety of meat. It is a meal made of mutton/beef fillet and grilled on a skewer, served with butter, grilled tomato and raw onions on a plate of rice. It can be a complete meal by itself and does not need any accompaniment. We liked the dish as the meat was tender and tasted well but the Ghormeh Sabzi (which is their specialty) was definitely much better.

OPEN: All seven days
AT: Shadan Cafe, Shop 8, 930, Majestic Crown, Camp.
CALL: 9730339903