Reza Toulabi Restaurant
(312) 664-4500
432 W Ontario St
Chicago,
IL
60610
41.8932
-87.6394
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central
What People Are Saying About Reza Toulabi Restaurant
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
This lively restaurant offers an extensive, exotic menu that boasts nearly 50 dishes. Hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel are favorite starters. Persian soup is a hearty combination of kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, noodles and mint in a yogurt-based broth. Entree highlights include two huge lamb shanks dripping with tomato-based sauce, plus fessenjan (Cornish hen) simmered in sweet-and-sour pomegranate sauce with finely crushed walnuts.
User Reviews
DrMonicaRose
February 10, 2009
I was recently in Chicago for a short visit and decided to try Reza's since it was recommended to me by my uncle (yes, he is Persian and so am I). The chefs must have changed since he's been there since he would never recommend the food that I had there. Either the chef does not know the proper spices to use, or they are trying to save money by substituting cheaper versions. The yellow coloring on the rice must have been food-dye since it wasn't saffron and the fesenjoon contained no pomegranate. The quality of meat was poor, the chicken in the fesenjoon was dark meat full of fat and the beef in the ghormeh sabzi was tough. Both dishes were served only slightly warmer than room temperature. We would have sent our dishes back, but given how poor the food was we did not want to waste our time trying anything else. Since we barely touched our food the waitress asked how it was and I attempted to be polite, I said it was "ok", she said "just ok? have you had Persian food before?", I said "yes, I AM Persian", she said "have you had these dishes before?" and I said "yes, many times". Well, I no longer feel polite and would like to warn others to avoid this restaurant so my response today is that I have been eating these dishes since I was in diapers, I know exactly what they are supposed to taste like, and that was the worse "Persian" food I've ever had.
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marilynbreeze
February 10, 2009
we ordered white zinfandel and chardonny and got sweet red wine.we told the waitress we thought there was a mistake she took it back to the bar and came back and said no that it was correct!! well we drank the BOX wine.then ordered a salad which came with no dressing(should have had lemon juice) next we ordered gohrmeh (sp?) sabzi and fessenjoon (sp?) received it cold supposed chicken breasts were dark fatty meat, beef in the sabzi dish was tough as leather.we will never go back or recommend this place
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Farwill
September 21, 2008
We went there with 15 of our friends and family members. Saturday night. The service was rude and late. They did not give a damn what we want or what we need. It was like being a needle in a barn. This was my first time experience but all my other friends have been there and ?loved? it. It was so bad that we had to get up with shame and walk out of the place after an hour of wait. The managers did not give a damn about us, the servers didn?t care. Honestly the only ones that did care were the servers assistants who brought us water and bread, It was embarrassing. Do not recommend it. You are in for a treat, but it is a different kind of treat.
read full reviewThe Details on Reza Toulabi Restaurant
The Extras:
A lunch buffet is offered Mon-Fri 11am-3pm for about $10, which includes soup, salad, vegetarian dishes, shish kabobs, lamb and more. A weekend brunch buffet is pricier but more extensive.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Gift Certificate, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard, Travelers Check
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Brunch, Lunch Spot, Business Dining, Family Style Dining, Group Dining, Food Delivery, Dine At The Bar
General Info:
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
Bar; Section
