Jasmine Taste of Persia
580 Mount Auburn St, Watertown, MA, 02472
Jasmine Taste of Persia Menu
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Popular Items
Diabetics at Jason's Deli
Diabetics must not get carried away at Jason's Deli as there are several tempting items on their menu to easily spike your blood sugar. You can try the salads at Jason Deli's or start your meal with hot soup to ensure that you don't stuff too much while at Jason's Deli. You can also pick the right kind of sandwiches to complete your meal.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for Diabetics:
You must skip all kinds of sandwiches, wraps, and paninis at Jason's Deli for their high sodium content. Even among the salads, avoid the regular ones such as Chicken Club Salad, The Big Chef, Mesa Chicken Salad and go for the lighter versions. In addition, it is also recommended to avoid desserts totally while dining at Jason's Deli.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Jason's Deli:
Breakfast Sammy
Nutritional Facts: 250 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 370mg sodium, 23g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 12g Protein
Chicken Club Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 540 calories, 44g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 8g), 900mg sodium, 11g carbs, 3g sugar, 3g fiber, 24g Protein
Mesa Chicken Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 460 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 850mg sodium, 26g carbs, 4g sugar, 7g fiber, 22g Protein
Spinach Veggie Wrap
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 14g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 830mg sodium, 51g carbs, 5g sugar, 12g fiber, 16g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for Jasmine Taste of Persia
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Popular Items
High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Blood pressure patients mustn't indulge in sandwiches offered on Jason Deli's menu. Most sandwiches, whether Muffalettas or Po'boys, are high in sodium and could easily spike your blood pressure. Be careful while you order at Jason's Deli and opt for healthy food options such as salads, soups, or soups to ease your cravings.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Blood Pressure
Sandwiches must be avoided at all costs at Jason's Deli as they are loaded with sodium. You must also skip the paninis and wraps if possible and stick to healthy salads and soups while dining at Jason's Deli. Skip adding any kinds of salad dressing, extra cheese, croutons, etc. in your order to limit your sodium intake for the day.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Banana Nut Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 170mg sodium, 25g carbs, 14g sugar, 1g fiber, 5g Protein
A bowl of Fresh Fruits
Nutritional Facts: 390 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 45mg sodium, 23g carbs, 62g sugar, 9g fiber, 6g Protein
Pollo Mexicano (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 800 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 12g), 550mg sodium, 121g carbs, 14g sugar, 11g fiber, 30g Protein
Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 150mg sodium, 34g carbs, 17g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
Wild Berry Hibiscus Tea with Pure Cane Sugar
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 26g carbs, 26g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Watertown for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Jason's Deli
If you are concerned about your cholesterol, then you got to be very cautious at Jason's Deli. Most sandwiches available on Jason's Deli's menu are high in cholesterol and sodium content. You must choose wisely and opt for salads or soups to please your appetite.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Cholesterol
Avoiding foods at Jason's Deli can be trickier if you are a foodie. It is recommended to skip the heavy sandwiches which are both high in cholesterol and sodium at Jason's Deli. You must also avoid paninis and wraps at Jason Deli's or order the lighter version to reduce your calorie intake.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Jason's Deli
Blueberry Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 180mg sodium, 34g carbs, 19g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein
Nutty Mixed Up Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 430 calories, 21g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 810mg sodium, 41g carbs, 33g sugar, 3g fiber, 21g Protein
Texas Style Spud (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 830 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 11g), 740mg sodium, 139g carbs, 27g sugar, 14g fiber, 29g Protein
Jason's Deli Bottled Ginger Ale
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 36g carbs, 36g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Watertown for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on Jason's Deli
When did Jason's Deli open?
First Jason's Deli was started on 30th November 1976 at Beaumont, Texas, United States.
Where's the nearby Jason's Deli?
There are around 275 delis in 28 states of the United States. You can locate a nearby Jason's Deli by using our Restaurant Listings Directory.
When does Jason's Deli open and close?
Jason's Deli opens early in the morning daily at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM on weekdays and 3 PM on weekends.
Does Jason's Deli have a drive through?
Yes, Jason's Deli has a drive-through. Besides the drive-thru, Jason's Deli also set up Jason's Express especially for on-the-go families to make things faster. Drive-thru and take-out options help individuals and families to order and pick their meal quickly while on a busy schedule.
Does Jason's Deli serve gluten-free items on the menu?
Jason's Deli isn't entirely a gluten-free environment, but it does offer a gluten-sensitive menu. You can order food from the gluten-sensitive menu to ensure your food is gluten-free.
Does Jason's Deli serve vegan items on the menu?
Yes, they do. The vegan options are limited at Jason's Deli. You can try the organic vegetable soup, spinach veggie wraps w/o cheese, hummus, salsa, guacamole, and many other options from the salad menu.
Does Jason's Deli Cater?
Yes, it does. You can use Jason's Deli's catering service to serve hot and fresh foods to your guests. Whether you want to feed 5 or 5000, Jason's Deli's experienced team can handle your catering order and ensure timely delivery.
What's on Jason's Deli breakfast menu?
Jason's Deli serves a variety of different items on their breakfast menu. You can try the breakfast sandwiches or wraps prepared with fresh-cracked eggs. You can pick up breakfast as early as 6 AM at any Jason's Deli nearby.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli is a popular bakery restaurant in the United States. Jason's Deli started its operation in Beaumont, Texas on 30th November 1976. The bakery restaurant was started by four partners: Joe Tortorice Jr., Rusty Coco, Pete Verde, and Pat Broussard. Currently, the delicatessen restaurant chain operates in more than 268 locations across 26 states in the United States. Jason's Deli is one of the most successful restaurant chains with under 300 locations.
Deli Management Inc. owns Jason's Deli along with several other deli restaurants in the United States. Jason's Deli is famous for its standard deli style menu where the customers can order from traditional sandwiches to salads, baked potatoes, and pasta. After initiating a health drive in 2000, Jason's Deli successfully eliminated added trans-fat from its food in 2005, later got rid of high fructose syrup in 2008, and finally removed MSG from its food. Today, Jason's Deli offers a wide range of food items including vegan and gluten-free dishes.
Healthy Food Options at Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli offers a standard deli style menu which consists of traditional sandwiches, soups, pasta, baked potatoes, wraps, and salads. If you choose wisely and skip the extra sides or dressings as you order at Jason's Deli, you can find a good variety of healthy food options at Jason's Deli.
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Address :
580 Mount Auburn St
Watertown, MA, 02472 - Phone (617) 923-2999
- Website https://www.jasminetasteofpersia.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Joe U.
Great middle-eastern food for non-experts like me. I know the area is filled with Armenians and I'm not sure what a Persian place is doing here. All I know is that the dishes are tasty and a great value. Sorry, can't remember any names of the dishes - the beef one which has a long formed beef sausage-shaped chunk on rice filled with little lentils or something, is delicious. Any of the grilled veggies are tasty, such as the tomatoes and onions. The chicken was good and so was the lamb, also prepared similarly. The bread was decent. The hummus was very good. On top of that, they sell the homemade hummus and it's much cheaper than across the street at Sevan. In fact, all the prices are reasonable here. But don't look for fancy digs...actually, you get a bit worried at the "hominess" of it. My western mind is not used to it looking so, er, authentic. But that's a sign of the quality and taste of the food. Look around and take it all in, then eat up!
(5)Rachel T.
LOVE IT!!! My friend introduced me to this place and I have since been back at least a dozen times (for takeout). I am NEVER disappointed! The hummus is to die for, the chicken kabobs are always flavorful, and the rice PERFECTION. My favorite dish is the rice with cherries, nuts, and chicken kabob. There are a few tables for those looking to dine out. Great. Now I want some!!!!
(5)Jeffrey S.
This place is great. The seating area is small, so we've never stayed for dinner, and have only done take out, but it's our favorite place for takeout in the neighborhood. The salads are very fresh, the hummus is excellent, and the rice and kubideh are to die for. (As for older reviews that talk about falafel and shwarma, I don't remember seeing them on the menu, but maybe that's because I order Persian food at a Persian restaurant.)
(5)Matthew B.
Casual and wholesome, this is a great place to go for a break if you're out in Watertown. Coming back from Target on a late Sunday night, we decided to grab a bite to eat somewhere in Watertown and wandered into Jasmine. I'm no expert on Persian cusine, but the food was fresh, hearty, and fairly priced. We ordered the lamb kebab, which was no stick of dried meats, but rather four large juicy hunks of well-marinaded lamb served alongside a heaping portion of well-seasoned rice and grilled tomato. The cucumber & tomato salad was solid, they comped us some really wonderful pita and hummus, and the baklava for desser was thick and honeylicious. And did I mention that they have salty mint yogurt soda? Think about it...
(4)Anonymous P.
I thought this was just OK. Both my appetizer (an eggplant puree but not baba ghanoush) and chicken schwarma sandwich were bland. The sandwich was too dry and suffered from too much iceberg lettuce and not enough substantive filling. Totally makes me miss Zankou Chicken in LA. But neither item was bad or very expensive. Service was sweet. Don't go for the atmosphere.
(3)Sana K.
We went here for our anniversary dinner since we were looking for a nice zabiha place. The decor is nothing great but the food was amazing. We got the eggplant app, and for entre we ordered jujeh kabab chicken sultani and chicken waziri. Everything was done to perfection and the taste delicious we will definitely be going there again
(5)Ali R.
OMG! it was an awful experience eating there. 1. First of all, when we asked the waitress if she speaks Farsi she got mad (I have no idea how it could be interpreted offensive). Then she treated us like that till when we left the resturant. 2. There was a window air conditioner on the counter and it was the only one for the entire resturant. Guess what.. It was like you are eating in hell (93 degree outside) 3. Our waitress brought us some water and it was also hot. 4. The table was broken and not clean. 5. I had a Ghorme Sabzi. It was nothing like Persian Ghorme Sabzi but a combination of near-raw cube beef, plus some sort of vegetables. It was one of the worst Ghorme sabzis I've had so far. I don't even know why I agreed to pay $14.99 for that plate. I hope they reconsider both food and the way they treat costumers.
(1)Simon L.
Nestled along the windy part of Mt Auburn street, this Persian "Mecca" may not quite deserve quite such a moniker. The appetizer of four large falafel balls is simple. The ground chickpeas are seasoned heavily with garlic and chive. Despite the generous use flavor additives, these balls are hard, over fried and dry. Even adding large quantities of tahini sauce does not fix them. A mountain of fresh basmati rice topped with saffron seasoned rice arrives and is used as a bed for several meaty lamb chops. Despite their thickness, the chops are prepared to medium rare but lack any serious flavor - this is neither good nor bad - it's simply a portrait of the flavor of the lamb itself. Several charred varied color peppers and onions adorn the plate. Service was friendly.
(3)Al K.
I went here with a friend for the first time tonight. It's a very small place, and it was a bit grungy. I had the beef shwarma, which I enjoyed. We also shared the hot eggplant and mint appetizer and a plate of hummus. The hummus was bland, but everything else was well seasoned. Our waiter was attentive, without being overly so, and he was great about regularly refilling my water glass, which I appreciated.
(3)A. D.
4 stars? Please! Yes, there are a few things on the menu that are good. Some of the appetizers are great. However a few of the dishes that we took were quite mediocre. Furthermore, almost EVERYTHING in this restaurant -- from the furniture, the bathroom, even the folder that the bill comes in -- is broken. Looks like some old store which was hacked into a restaurant. And I don't mind that too much...what I DO mind is $20 dishes in what is basically a glorified grocery store.
(2)Hannah M.
Reviewed in twice in the Globe in quick succession, we decided to give it a try. Jasmine is a small restaurant on the corner of Mt. Auburn St. and a side street who's name I've forgotten. It is in a fairly heavily Middle Eastern area and has real authentic and OH SO TASTY Persian food. The entire restaurant seats 16 people and the food is made behind a bar in the dining room. There is one waitress and a the cook (who we think is also the owner). The pita is divine, baba ganoush is creamy and delicious as is the hummus. And the dolmas were unlike any we've had before (and we like to consider ourselves well-versed in the world of dolmas) - they are served slightly warm with a slice of lemon and melt in your mouth. We got roll-ups - a lamb, beef and falafal - and were impressed again. Service is a little slow, but the food is so worth waiting for!
(4)Vanilla P.
We got a menu in the mail, and decided to try Jasmine last night. I ordered the vegetarian plate, which came with hummus, rice, dolmas, Persian salad, and falafel. I really enjoyed the dolmas and hummus, but the rice was pretty bland and the falafel tasted a little burnt. The Persian salad was really fresh, and was a nice blend of tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion in a herbed dressing -- yum. The dolmas were very flavorful, and the grape leaves were nice and tender (sometimes they can be too stringy and hard to tear). Hubby ordered the beef shawerma, which was awesome. I had a couple bites, and the meat was flavored with a brilliant nutmeg / cinnamon flavor, so it was almost sweet at the same time as being savory. His also came with rice and hummus, and little pieces of flat bread. The vegetarian plate seemed a little overpriced to me ($12 for mostly rice), but the beef plate was a bargain at $14. So much beef, it was like a cheese steak sandwich, minus the cheese, the bread, and the excessive amounts of oil.... But with yummy flavor. The inside of the restaurant is pretty nice, with fancy tablecloths (under plastic tablecloths) and a big honkin' flat screen tv tuned to the National Geographic channel. It is small, but feels like everyone there is warm and close-knit. Seemed like all the patrons there last night knew each other. They have a good selection of cheesecakes, baklava, carrot cake, and bottled beverages. Also, you're able to see the kitchen, which is great since you know who's making your food, and can see that they're doing everything with care.
(4)A S.
Generous portions, good value. Beef kubideh is my favorite as well as the hummus. Small dining area though, I prefer take-outs anyway.
(5)Mary M.
Ordered takeout from here once. It was good food, I was a little surprised by a Persian restaurant offering middle-eastern food like falafel and shwarma. It was good, but it wasn't great. Being middle-eastern, I've had much better. It was nothing spectacular, hence why we haven't ordered takeout since august 08.
(3)Sutanuka L.
Loved the lamb shank!
(4)Lyrrem S.
I have eaten here several times, only once for sit-down service. The ambiance is decidedly odd; like someone decorated a take-out place with fancy furniture. But the food is great. I do NOT recommend most of their sandwiches or rollups. Somehow those don't seem to work. It's the appetizers and the dishes with rice that truly shine. It's almost as if someone told them that it was some sort of USA law that they offer the sandwich-type dishes but they don't really know how to make them taste good. This place has possibly the best hummus you have ever tasted. If you think you don't like hummus, come here with a hummus-loving friend and give it a try. There's also a soup that I refuse to tell you the name of... they're out of it about half the times I call and I sure don't want this to happen MORE often!
(4)yaka v.
You get what you pay for ... it's a bit "meh". No special reason to go back there, but I may get some take-out some day, in a pinch. The people are friendly though, so I feel a bit bad to give them only 3 stars. Ultimately, it's not their fault that local ingredients just don't taste like back home ... hence the extra salt in the hummus.
(3)Ryan S.
Ordered at home - delivery was as to be expected. The prices were great and portions were plenty. My friend said her falafel was not what she hoped it would be. My chicken kabob wrap was fine but nothing special. I don't know that I'll choose to eat here again.
(3)Kristine M.
Yum yum yum!!! This is a great place that unfortunately, I don't get to go to very often. I really like their dolmehs. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ambience is a little odd. It's small and it has TVs, which somehow seem overpowering for such a small space. I can't tell if they truly want to be a nice sit down place or more of a take-out place.
(4)Christina K.
One of my favorites. The food is really good and for a reasonable price they give you alot. The atmosphere is a bit gaudy but the staff is very pleasant. My favorite dish is shirin polow with chicken kabob. The beef soltani is good too.
(5)Andrew S.
Great shawarma!!
(5)Nausheen M.
I thought their wrap was very bland and tasteless. The chicken tasted dry and stale and their was too much veggie in it and very little chicken!
(2)Rich D.
I've had my fair share of Persian food at various restaurants throughout the country, and I have to say the quality of the food here is right up there with the best. The portions are right for the price (~$12 / entree). I recommend the beef kubideh or the chicken kabob, both of which are very tasty. As some others have said, this is definitely a take-out place, not somewhere I would go with a date or friends. The owner is very nice as well.
(4)Ian S.
My friend took me here, said they had great food. He warned me it was a dive, but I didn't expect it to be so dirty. Flies were everywhere, and when I opened my menu there were stains all over it and a piece of onion fell out. We waited 10 minutes for someone to show themselves, but nobody came out. My friend rang the bell on the counter and a guy who barely spoke English came out. He said waiter, waiter, no waiter, so we walked out.
(1)Mo A.
Excellent food in a very friendly atmosphere , really recommend for families & couples . The food is freshly prepared , with plenty of dishes . I really recommend the meat stew & the soup . Fresh Laban drink is an excellent start for your meal .
(5)Uncle A.
Surely this place has changed ownership since the previous reviews were submitted. Our party of four had intended to dine at Red Lentil, down the block, but the wait was over an hour so we ducked into Jasmine, instead, when we saw the list of 'Best of Boston 2011" award emblazoned on the exterior wall. It was empty. I should have known better. When we entered, the waitperson was in the process of spraying down and wiping off the tables with an obnoxious-smelling cleanser. We should have left then. But we are longtime friends who had converged on Watertown from various points outside of the city and our main purpose was to see and hang with each other. Cut to the chase. The ONLY positive thing I can say about our experience with Jasmine was the friendliness of the waitperson. She was sweet and attentive and when it was all said and done, I left my share of her deserved tip in cash intending for her to pocket it all. We ordered a variety of appetizers and khoresht fasenjan to share. Frankly, I make better INCLUDING the fasenjan which properly made is fairly involved. It was lousy and, while palatable, certainly not memorable. The falafel looked like 'road apples' and was dry and bland. The baba ghannoush, hummus and kashk bademjan were tasteless oily pools of mush. When we requested ice for our water, we were told there wasn't any ice but that she "would go down the street to get some if we wanted it". I'm sorry but this place is in shambles what with the exposed fiberglass overhead and the dirty orange extension cord draped along half way up the wall. When I stood up to make my way to the restroom (which was dirty and in disarray), I saw that the top of the food storage case was covered in dust. I'll stop, now. You get the idea. To sum it all up: NOT!
(1)Becca S.
We ordered takeout from Jasmine on Foodler, and it was fantastic! I ordered the Shirin Polo with Chicken (Saffron rice with carrots, orange peels, barberries, almonds & pistachios) . It was to die for! It is very rare that I go to a restaurant, order something, and never want to change my choice because that particular dish was so good! I was a little bit turned off by the prices of these dishes compared to other restaurants in the area, but based on the quantity of food and quality, it is worth it!
(4)Daniel B.
Jasmine isn't at all fancy, but the food is yummy! The standout dish was Khoresht Fasenjan, a chicken stew with pomegranate and walnut sauce -- absolutely delicious. A real "WOW" for the taste buds. We also had chicken kebabs with shirin polo (sweetened rice), which was very tasty though the chicken was a little dry; the vegetarian plate with humus, falafel and grape leaves, which was very good; an eggplant puree called kashik bademjan, which was excellent; and a spicy pickle appetizer called torshii, which was very good. Service was friendly.
(4)Kate J.
I adore Persian food. This establishment is a treat! The basmati rice is absolutely wonderful. I enjoy meeting a client here for lunch because the food is great every time and very affordable so you can try a few things and not break the bank. I have always found the waitstaff to be quite friendly. I guess if you are friendly and kind to them they will be kind back. I don't know how one might respond when confronted with a nasty customer so it is hard to say some of the other people who have left comments about the unfriendliness. I lalways make a point to take out some hummus to have the next day with some pita chips! A nice refreshing snack. The extra 5 percent discount when paying cash is a great little perk. Ask for he discount when dinning here!
(4)Alisa K.
Disappointed. Service was terrible - they tried to turn us away a few minutes before 9pm even though they close at 930pm. Food was mediocre- one of our friends is Persian and actually thought the food was terrible, not just mediocre. Although the portions were huge, the taste and execution were just not great (pasty hummus, watery stews). Chicken and lamb kubideh were all right but I've definitely had better. Overall, the food and service is much better at Khayyam and I have no idea why this place is so highly rated or why the hummus receives rave reviews.
(2)Lucy W.
Came back to have my usual chicken kabob/hummus/shirin polo lunch special since I was in the area...it's still delicious but service is painfully slow...now I remember why I used to call ahead and order to go (you should do the same...)
(3)Kristin N.
The baba ghanoush is amazing. Seriously. Try ordering something other than hummus since they give it to you as a starter if you dine in. There are only about four tables, so go at an odd hour or opt for takeout.
(4)Ambrose C.
Eating Kubideh in Watertown On a whim, I decided to contact someone to meet up for lunch. The person I contacted is a hard-working, friendly housewife that I know who likes to use the Yelp website. She has a hard-working husband that looks like Bob Vila (He is a guy who used to appear on American TV and likes fixing houses). She said to me that she wanted to eat here. She is also older than me and has children than are significantly younger than me. We met up, sat down at this place, and talked about a variety of things. These topics included American 1980's culture, the rising problems of the mental health of children in the USA, and a small country in Southeastern Europe called Armenia. We took advantage of this lunch special in which the main dishes are under $10. The friendly housewife that I know suggested that I should order a Kashk Bademjan as an appetizer. A Kashk Badenjan is a purée, which is a mashed blend of eggplant, onions and a Persian style cream. The smell was slightly pungent, but I really liked the tasty flavor, and it goes very well with the pita bread and some freshly cooked rice. I ordered a Beef Kubideh, which is minced ground beef with Persian style seasoning that is cooked on a kebab. It came with rice, salad and hummus. The beef had a nice and juicy flavor, The meat portions were fairly small, but one whole lunch special is enough to fill up a hungry stomach. The hummus was actually great. It tasted like it was freshly made and it tasted well with the salad and pita bread. The friendly housewife that I know and is older than me got a Chicken Shawarma, and she said to me she thought it was good. Service was okay, it was a little difficult to get the server's attention. The location is pretty good, it is located on a decent main street with a lot of different shops and restaurants. Overall, this is actually a nice and wonderful place to get Persian food, especially in a place like Watertown. I would highly recommend coming here for a Saturday morning lunch, since the prices are under $10 and the portions are really good. If you want a good introduction to Persian food, I would say that this is a good choice because I thought I had a good introduction, thanks to the friendly housewife that I know.
(4)Jb B.
There are three Persian/Iranian restaurants in close vicinity - Jasmine, here on Mount Auburn; Shiraz, a few blocks south on Bigelow; and Molana, over in Watertown Square. Jasmine is the smallest of the three. You probably couldn't bring a large group here, and I think in total there are only 4 or 5 small tables. Overall, the food is really delicious. The portions are large, especially the kebob dinners. They give you two skewers of meat. a large portion of rice, some vegetables, and also a basket of bread and some hummus. So, I like to come here when I feel really hungry and know that I can finish it all. It is not a fancy restaurant at all, but reasonably priced with good food and friendly staff. If you desire similar food with a larger group or more atmosphere, you could try Shiraz. But Jasmine is certainly worthy of your patronage and is not to be overlooked.
(4)Barbara A.
I finally got a chance to come here with apleasant Yelp "friend" on a lovely fall Saturday afternoon. It is a great location on Mount Auburn Street near all the east end shops. The place is small but we got there when it opened and being seated was no problem. I encouraged my friend to get the Kashk Bademjan which is made with eggplant and onion. I got to try some with some fresh pita bread and it was good but not great. Not sure why but the flavors did not meld well and I know how this dish should taste having grown up with it at home. The lunch specials are under $10 and the meal comes with rice, hummus, and salad. I got the chicken shawarma and again it was good but there is another place in Watertown that does a better one. I will come back here again because I thought it was a nice way to spend an afternoon.
(3)Sharon O.
I really, really enjoy the chicken kebab on basmati rice. Very moist and flavorful. Also like the baba ganoush and stuffed grape leaves. While the meat is one of the best in the area (where there are many like options), there's actually not that much of it for the price, so it's really 3.5 stars for me. Still, just need to have it sometimes!
(4)Tamarleigh G.
My sister is a big fan of Persian food, and so a bunch of my family came here once for a family dinner. We all enjoyed it very much, from the senior citizen right down to the toddler. Everyone left there with full stomachs and big smiles on our faces. I particularly recommend the various "side dishes" -- a vegetarian could make an excellent, excellent meal just by combining these rice dishes. They are super! I am especially a fan of the Albaloo Polo, the... actually, I am a big fan of all of them. One of them has lima beans, some have barberries, some have pistachios -- they are all delicious. But that stuff was just my personal favorite stuff. Everyone in the group ate different things, and things were shared around the table, and everyone was quite satisfied. The service was also quite good!
(4)Deborah J.
I went to this place last Friday, I like this place, it's a small place The Waitress was kind of rude, like she was on a hurry The food was good, large portions.
(4)Justin C.
I had a delicious and affordable chicken shawarma platter - chicken was juicy and subtly but perfectly seasoned. The hummus and tzatziki were tops. Loads of fresh pita. All this for like $22. I'll be back regularly for quick take out meals.
(4)Melissa K.
Good value. The lunches are under $10. I have tried the chicken kebab and chicken kubiduh, and both were delicious, served with homemade humus and finely chopped vegetable salad, which was really good. I like it here. Good place, and if you pay cash, you get a 5% discount. Worth checking out.
(3)G S.
I'm always looking for some good chicken kabobs. You will not be disappointed. If they had another location in Boston I would be set. I've visited here a few times and was always pleased.
(5)Eric H.
Wow. I am struggling to understand the disconnect here, but I fail to understand how so many before me have given more than two stars to this dump. Sheesh. I just this afternoon resolved to renounce my judgmental inner voice. Now here I am, on the horns of an ethical dilemma; one that is endemic to Yelp; how can I alchemize my unfortunate experience into words that benefit the owner as well as the public. But I cannot. So lookout - my experience was not good, and I am determined to say it like it is. Disclaimer: My wife and I are very discriminating customers, especially regarding food. This choice was not made lightly. I live nearby, and I've been waiting for months to come here, in part to support a local business. After reading very positive reviews on Yelp, I asked a trusted neighbor who was very positive and a regular customer. So late on a Friday night (tonight), after considerable deliberation, my wife and I agreed to this choice. The place looks charming from the outside, and after passing by it for months on my way home from work, the dice were cast for this catastrophic gastronomical experience. I knew I had made the wrong choice when I came through the door. The space had no intimacy or romance. The lighting was too bright. I stood bewildered for a long moment while I seriously contemplated exiting - which I wish I had. But did not. As is our custom, especially with new places, we ordered two appetizers and one entree. I could not finish, and left hungry. If they had served wine I could have benefited from those calories. The complimentary Hummus with Pita was ok - after adding my own lemon and salt. But not enough Garlic or Tahini for my taste. The falafel was ok - but not tasty. The watery sauce that they served with it was tasteless. I don't mean that as hyperbole - it literally had very little taste. The persian soup was not bad. I added some lemon and salt and finished it. The lamb kabab dinner was unpalatable. The meat did not taste good. Some pieces were tough. Although I love Lamb, I couldn't eat it. If you want great Lamb, go to Helmand, Araiana (Helmand West), or Sofra. The rice tasted (literally, and not figuratively) like cardboard, with a trace of mold. Argh! My standard practice is to take my leftovers home. Tonight was a rare exception.
(1)myrian m.
I really give it a 4.5 star rating. Food is fresh, flavors amazing. I ordered delivery and they arrived within 20 minutes, although the person who took my order said it would take longer. Food arrived warm, well packaged, and a couple of extra hummus - bread. I´m a huge fan and will continue ordering from here when I want something ´home-made-style.
(4)Qais D.
This is the best place in Watertown . small by size but u got Your food direct from the grill to your plate . fresh and light .love this... Read More
(5)Reid F.
Jasmine is a nice, small restaurant where I've had lunch twice. Because the kitchen is essentially one guy cooking, it can be a little slow. But the Persian food is made to order and quite good, particularly the shwarma, and kubideh.
(4)Charlene A.
I love the stews here. I've been to several Persian restaurants in the area and feel this is one of the best.
(4)J. B.
This may be my favorite restaurant in Watertown. I admit, I'm obsessed. When I lived nearby, I probably ate here 1-2 times a week. It's that good. The kebabs are to die for. When you're craving meat, try the beef Soltani -- you get a skewer of marinated steak pieces (I think tenderloin?) and a skewer of seasoned ground beef. I'm not even sure which I like better. The chicken barg is also excellent. Plates come with rice, hummus, pita, a tomato, cucumber and onion salad, and a small side of grilled veggies. They're a bit pricy ... wraps are definitely more economical, and they come in really good pita bread. I had schwarma here once upon a time and remember liking it, but I think the other offerings are better. The hummus is to die for -- I can't figure out what they do to make it so delicious but it's worth it to order an extra as a side. I usually get takeout here, but I enjoy it as a sit-down restaurant as well. It's VERY small with only a few tables, and really nothing fancy, but for some reason I find the atmosphere very pleasant, and the service is good. Other people must think so too because pretty much every time I come here, there are several parties dining in.
(5)Dan B.
I'm not an expert in rating Persian food, but I and my coworkers came here for lunch and really enjoyed it. They have great lunch specials, including some vegetarian options. I had the chicken shawarma plate which was great all around. The hummus was especially good and the handmade salad had a zesty flavor that was not over done. Considering the price (less than $40 for 4 people) and the quality of the food, this place should be busier than it seems for a Friday lunch time. The only downside is the scant street parking on that block. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Muttley D.
Wow, this place is great! You'd never be able to tell just walking by it on the street, it's in a block where the other storefronts probably outshine it...but the food is here is too great to pass by....go inside. What you will find is some of the best Persian food in Watertown/the Boston metro area...yes, it's that good. This is by far the best hummus I've had in town. And the kebabs are so good. I can't recommend it enough and I can't wait to go back and try some other things on the menu!
(5)Lisa W.
Note that the map on the yelp page points you to Mt. Auburn Cemetery instead of the actual location. Jasmine is actually further down Mt. Auburn St., on the corner of Lloyd St. and Mt. Auburn. Came here for dinner on a week night. The food was decent. We got the trio app with baba ganoush, hummus, and mint yogurt thingy. The previous posters are right, the hummus is pretty darn good. The rest of the dinner was ok - I got the lamb kabob which was slightly dry, and the boys both got beef shawarma that they enjoyed. Three stars instead of four because it just really didn't stick out in my mind besides the hummus, so I don't feel inclined to go back. But it wasn't a bad meal.
(3)Mike D.
So, excited to try a new place, we shot over to Jasmine to give it a try. Cool little hole in the wall with what appears to be a family run environment. I typically will never review a place unless I have tried it at least 3 times but I don't think I will be rushing back anytime soon. Here's why: While the fresh hummus was fantastic and the stuffed grape leaf were extremely flavorful, the lamb kabobs I ordered left something to be desired. The flavor right off the bat was explosive, very tasty and seemed very promising. However they were inconsistently overcooked,dry and sporadic chewy parts that were difficult to get through. I give the flavor a 5 and the final execution a 2. This however isn't what subtracted from my rating; The waitress seemed very nice when we got there but lacked any personality in which I look forward too when dining out. I like to see passion and excitement when it comes to my experience and she looked like she hated her life. Its unfortunate because when you come to a small place like this you expect the service to be intimate and focused, and I am sad to say it was far from it. She took our order, poured some warm water, dropped the food off and not one word was ever spoken. Next time I go back I hope she is more interactive, maybe spend sometime going over the menu and spend i will spend the extra 4 bucks to get 2 skewers instead of one. As a final note, when its 95 degrees out don't be afraid to pour some iced water for your guests, luke warm water is off putting when its that hot out!
(3)Kasem W.
Tiny small place but certainly fantastic. Authentic Persian food and reasonably priced as compared to other persian restaurants.
(5)Kelly O.
I have to bump Jasmine up to 5, it's perfection IMO. Tonight's meal (that was only a total of about $~12) consisted of: -i cup of black tea with cardamon: lovely, warming, tasty. -1 order of hummus with hot pita accompaniment, split between 2: after licking the bowl clean and ordering another to-go for after dinner, I've determined that this is probably the best hummus, period. Our sweet waitress told us "the hummus is really good tonight", and she was so right (but when is it not here?) -1 bowl of barley soup: a hearty soup with great flavor, I can fully see craving this during the cold nights of winter. -1 side of shirin polo: I realized tonight this may be my favorite meal/dish, ever... I cannot stress enough just how phenomenal this rice is, holy wow is it great. Like, from my dreams great. Our waitress was just adorably sweet and attentive throughout the whole meal, and the environment is just so homey and welcoming... it's quickly becoming my favorite winter food spot (something about it just screams "come in from the cold", it seems cozy in an odd way). The dining room is rarely filled, so make sure you go and give Jasmine a chance and your business because it's too good to ever fade away...
(5)Tricia G.
Fantastic hummus. Worth buying on a weekly basis from here. I always order the Shirin Polo- it's fabulous.
(4)Fred F.
I had the best Persian food ever. Be prepared for a "hole in the wall" restaurant experience but the food is outstanding. I had the chicken kabob and a side Greek salad. The veggies were fresh. The rice was very nice and the chicken out of this world. The homemade hummus is awesome. I wish I lived nearby.
(4)Jenny B.
Jasmine - yet another reason why I love Watertown. A cozy little restaurant, clean, nice and warm (in the winter), inviting, quick service. And the food is delicious! The hummus, as many people have pointed out, is exceptional. My boyfriend and I devour it like a pack of feral vegetarian wolves every time we get it. It's the kind of thing you go out of your way to order, sometimes two nights in a row if you're feeling bold. Their other dishes are usually pretty amazing as well -- I really haven't had much Persian food before moving to Watertown, and Jasmine has been a great experience for me. I find some of their salads to be a bit too acidic for my taste, but I particularly love their albaloo polo, which is basmati rice with sour cherries and a bunch of other delicious stuff, paired with the chicken kabob. So so incredibly good. Their rollups are also fantastic -- falafel and chicken kabob, to name a few. My only qualm about this place is that the water they serve is usually lukewarm, which I find slightly unappetizing. Never any ice, even if you ask for it. That said, once you are stuffing your face with hummus, chicken kebab, rice, etc etc, you hardly notice. Yum!
(4)Dee P.
Would have given this 3 stars when we first started ordering from them. I avoided it for a while because I knew that the former occupants of the space were a photo-finishing lab so I was kind of creeped out by potential chemicals, but what the hell, the other falafel place across the street is only open for lunch and doesn't deliver (WOT THE??) so when the same old boring stuff got old we started ordering from them. They would have gotten 3 stars just for having middle eastern food and delivering (unusual in Watertown-- why, exactly??) My son likes the falafel wrap but doesn't want cucumbers and other stuff on it, just lettuce and tahini. I like the works. Every SINGLE time we ordered specifying the two different wraps, they both came the same. Sometimes like his order, sometimes like mine. Not once did they get it right, and I swear I was explicit. That, and delivery usually takes 50 minutes to an hour and ten. We are about 15 blocks away. Unacceptable. ETA: Owner contacted me via this review and requested that I ask for him next time, so maybe try that? Dunno.
(2)Trelawney G.
i liked this place better than molana because it's a little cheaper but the food is at least as good. very friendly people, easygoing with my little kids, handled a large group well. but it's too small to seat many people in there, and it has no real ambiance. the lentils and rice (adas polo) is good, and they do a good job making the iranian dishes taste authentic. now that i'm a vegetarian it's harder to go to persian places, but i can still enjoy myself here.
(5)Mcslimj B.
Traditional Iranian food in a tidy storefront setting, more casual at lunch than dinner, and high quality all around: a great budget-priced intro to the joys of Persian cuisine. A food-nerd friend of mine recently remarked, "The flavors of Persian food are subtle; nothing hits me with a 'Wow!' or 'Kapow!', but everything is tasty and comforting." I'd go further, calling it a highly underrated cuisine, doubtless in part because of that subtlety. Boston is fortunate to boast a number of worthy budget-priced Persian restaurants, among which Jasmine Taste of Persia, located in a stretch of Watertown thick with indie restaurants and Armenian bakeries/grocers, has to rate highly. For starters, a large appetizer combination platter ($10) offers a choice of three dishes that include old Middle Eastern friends like creamy, fresh-tasting hummus, and typically Iranian dishes like torshii, housemade pickled vegetables, and kashk bademjan, a warm, coarse puree of eggplant, onions, and mint topped with a dollop of kashk, a sort of Persian sour cream, plus a stack of warm pita for scooping. Aash reshteh ($5), Persian noodle soup, is thick with fresh greens, vegetables, legumes, and aromatics, and substantial enough to make a light meal. The sandwiches that fly from the takeout counter at lunch are similarly hefty, like a chicken shawarma roll-up ($7), pita rolled around a generous amount of marinated grilled chicken breast sliced into chunks, bulked out with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and tahini. Well-proportioned salads are fresh, uncomplicated affairs, like the shirazi ($5) of chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, raw onion, and mint, simply dressed in olive oil and lemon juice. Entrées are big enough for two meals for modest eaters, built around piles of seasoned rice adorned with nicely charred grilled onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. To this filling centerpiece, lamb soltani ($20) adds two large skewers, one of perfectly cooked kebabs of marinated lamb, another of beef kubideh, which resembles a well-spiced beef meatball stretched out like a 14-inch casing-less sausage. Adas polo ($15) replaces the more simply seasoned rice of the kebab and kubideh plates with a fragrant pilaf of basmati, lentils, golden raisins, and sautéed onions, faintly tangy with yogurt, crowned with two groaning skewers of gorgeously saffron-tinted chicken-breast kebabs. Drink options include cardamom-accented black Persian tea ($1.50) and doogh ($3), a savory, lassi-like yogurt drink, as well as American soft drinks and bottled juices ($2). The sunny, 24-seat dining room is prettily decorated with Persian textiles, atmospheric with recorded Iranian folk music, and comfortable with unstintingly friendly service. For newcomers, Persian food combines familiar ingredients and techniques with an array of seasonings, spices, and herbs that many Westerners will find tantalizingly novel. Jasmine Taste of Persia offers a hearty, frugal introduction to the pleasures of this unsung cuisine.
(4)irfan m.
Let me clarify this "Restaurant is persian food, Not your typical shwerma $5 wrap place:.This place is great for their Kebabs. Try Chicken Barg, Beef Soultani, Beef Kubeideh. Do not listen to previous bunch of wimpiiisss.. I go there atleast 2 times/ month for sure. Avg Entree 14 bucks with great dill rice. Service is great. Try it with open mind, You wont regret it. This restaurant is not good for you, If you are looking for 1. Orchid on your table. 2.Personal butler. 3. You are expecting server to pick up your crums. 4. 32 Oz drinks with unlimited refills.
(5)Allison R.
Jasmine, Taste of Puke on Myself a play in one act * Lunchtime, slow day at work. Natasha: Phew, I'm glad this lame ass day at work is half over. Veronika: Tell me about it. This place looks great, and I can totally go for some schwarma. Natasha, approaching counter and awkward looking waitress woman: Hi, could I get a chicken schwarma rollup with falafel? --Waitress-thing gives blank stare-- Natasha: Like, in it? Mixed in? Waitress-thing asks sweaty man in back, who agrees to honour this freakish request and then proceeds to make our food slowly. --waitress-thing looks confused, writes up our order, and walks away-- Veronika, quietly, to Natasha: Weird service. Shouldn't this chicken be roasting on a spit thing? Natasha: I don't know. What's that smell? Veronika: Smells like old spices, right? Natasha: Or cigarette butts. Waitress: Your sandwich will be $9.43. Natasha pays grudgingly, receives a handful of nickels for change, and the girls proceed to the park to eat lunch. Veronika: This is bad. It tastes like the store smelled. Natasha: Eww. Let's not come back. Natasha throws her other half of the wrap away. And she never meets a sandwich she can't finish. *names of actual diners changed to protect their identity
(1)R B.
The hummus is extra good -- has more texture than most. It was the one thing that didn't make it into our leftovers, unfortunately. Everything else was decent. Fattoush was a little heavy on the parsley; I've liked it better elsewhere. But, parsley is really good for you, and how else are you going to eat it, but in salad like this or tabbouleh. A little disappointed that the sour cherries in the rice were clearly from a jar (I buy the same ones!) but the rice was still good, with almonds and pistachios. Chicken kebab was just okay, a little dry. Cat turned it down when I tried to share it (something I always find disarming). Ambiance is...interesting. It's part take out (big signs above the kitchen area) with tables crowded together (small space, understandable) and covered with plastic. That part was unappealing. It felt like Nana's house. I don't mind oilcloth either, this was like plastic sheeting.
(3)JW B.
Have been twice and love the food - fresh salads, things made to order, amazing hummus and baba ganoush, interesting rice combinations. And salted yogurt drinks! The staff is incredible friendly and accommodating, although a little on the awkward, untrained side. Be prepared to have to ask for things multiple times, although they will ALWAYS be then accomplished with a smile. Biggest caveat: the service is slooooooooow. Do not go there hungry!
(4)Leah L.
I'm glad to live close to Jasmine. It's great for an affordable sit-down lunch. The chicken shawarma roll-up is absolutely delectable, but what really slays me is the stuffed grape leaves served warm. The house hummus and whatever the eggplant dip-thing is called are wonderful too.
(4)Mohit A.
The juiciest & most flavorful kubides ever!
(4)Art P.
Overpriced, small portions, the food itself is adequate. You're better off going across the street to fordees.
(2)Bill M.
Sometimes you go through and go somewhere not because you actually like something, but your significant other does. I am not a fan of middle eastern food, I'll have the occasional gyro or something like that, but I generally tend to avoid it. It's just not something I will go and eat. My girlfriend, on the other hand, loves it, so tonight we went to Jasmine as she has been bugging and pestering me about, so I am judging this as a boyfriend more then a food critic because, eh...there wasn't much for me to go on. I got her a combination platter of Hummas, Baba Gaboosh (sp), and Stuffed Grape Leaves. She loved all of those, along with her entree of the Beef Kehabiah (ground beef kabob). I had the Lamb Kabob, it was tasty enough, but the fact that my girlfriend was enjoying herself, the food that was presented, the persian tea that she was drinking, well, I will tend to go back just to make her happy. One thing I didn't like though was that anything other then tea, well, I would have liked refills, but I didn't want to keep getting cans of coke. The dining area is tiny, and there was one waitress who was friendly (it was sunday night). Everything came out quickly so the service was good overall. So, girlfriend happy, the place is fine. She likes her middle eastern food, if she wasn't happy, it would have been a bad review. Though she did tell me that if she knew how big the combination plate was before it was ordered, she would have never ordered an entree since it was a pretty good amount of hummas and baba ganoosh.
(4)Ranjit V.
Everything was ok. Plates were big and full of food.
(3)Joe S.
My dad lives in Watertown (we're Armenian, go figure). Anyways we needed a new place to try for lunch so we stopped in here. Very tight space with few tables but it wasn't an issue on Sunday afternoon. The waitress came right over, greeted us and was very friendly. When it came time to order we noticed how cheap everything was on the menu. This is typical for Meditteranean/Middle Eastern food, but usually at the expense of taste/quantity. When I ordered the hummus our waitress said with some serious enthusiasm how their hummus was the best in the city. We were skeptical...since we are Armenian, grew up eating it, and while living in Cairo for a few months ate it all the time. I assumed I had spanned the taste spectrum for hummus, but I was wrong. It was hands down the best I've ever had, and it was a huge portion. We also got the Fattoush salad which was amazing and a lamb roll up which I really enjoyed as well. After the meal we chatted with the waitress about other Middle Eastern places in the area and she couldn't have been nicer. Don't be turned off by the Persian food thing...it is very similar to Middle Eastern/Meditteranean cuisine. Check them out!
(5)Dave Y.
This is a one of those small hole in the wall places that has excellent food, great ambiance and nice friendly service. Try the chicken barg, kubideh, any salad or any kabab entree, the food will never disappoint. Definitely coming back for more!!!
(5)Amina O.
I am shocked that there are not more reviews on this restaurant because it is probably one of the best middle eastern places I have ever been too. The food is authentic and I have been pleased with every dish I have tried. I love meats so I have tried different chicken kabobs, lambs, and shawarma. I can't say enough good things about this place. The owner is very friendly. I don't live in the area anymore but I used to be a regular, I forgot my wallet at home once (this was probably my 5th or 6th time in) and he told me to forget about it and come back whenever. How sweet is that! I love feeling like I am a valued customer at businesses I frequent and the owner here does a good job of that. I come in with my family a lot and when I come in alone he always makes sure to ask how they are doing. As soon as I am back in the Boston area I will definitely be back to Jasmine!
(5)Saskia S.
I have only gotten take-out from here, so cannot speak about their in-house food and experience. The food was not tasty, very bland, and very borring. Everything seemed as though it had been prepackaged and ordered in. Definitely not worth it.
(2)Winter T.
Visited this restaurant the other day with my family for lunch. After waiting nearly an hour for our food to come out, we had a fairly decent meal. Overall, I liked the food, but the customer service was bad.
(3)Brook T.
I disagree with these hummus reviews. It is SO salty. Maybe I just have a jaded view of hummus because I ate homemade since I was a child. Either way, I have had better. The chicken shawarma was meh. The amount of spice but in it negated any other flavor that was in it. A glorified chicken wrap from any pizza place.
(2)Natalia V.
I don't understand the rave reviews here, unfortunately. My boyfriend ordered the lamb kabob, and for $17 we were expecting more than a few pieces of lamb....I ordered the falafel plate, and when it came out - there was no falafel! They'd forgotten to add it. When I tried the falafel, it was dry and tough. The hummus was all right, but had no flavor and the pita bread was hard and stale. On the bright side, the tzatziki on my plate was good and the black tea we had was very good. Because of what you get for the price, however, i don't think we'll be back.
(2)Liz R.
I know hummus. A co-worker once gave me a giant tub for my birthday, I enjoy it that much. So it is with some authority that I give this place 4 stars instead of 3 because the Yelp is true: Jasmine's hummus is the best. The bean salad, however, is disgustingly sweet. So I would never order that again. I used to think the Chicken Barg was out of this world until last November, when visiting my sister in CA. We went to lunch at a Persian place in Glendale, and the Chicken Barg was a big as my head and half the price of what they charge here. And also, I've called for take out a few times and the phone has rung and rung with no answer. But the hummus...
(4)Jennifer K.
I went here for lunch recently on a Friday afternoon. Maybe I'm just not cut out for food outside my cuisine comfort zone, but I didn't really like it. The place was fine, the waitress was kind of meek- this drives me crazy anywhere it happens-, but overall she was ok. I just didn't love the food. Although... I did love the warm pita bread that kept coming and coming and coming .. :) I didn't like the hummus here.. and I love hummus... I had the beef lunch special, and I didn't like the taste of the beef... The side salad was good, but not what I'm used to when I hear the word salad. I should probably give more stars since nothing was actually WRONG, and I just didn't like it very much.. but I think I've just been underwhelmed by recent meals as a whole, and it's taken its toll on my reviewing.
(2)Lauren H.
My coworkers and I are huge fans of their lunch specials. The price is reasonable, and your order comes with yummy hummus, cucumber-tomato salad, rice and warm pita bread. They're quick too - by the time I call in the order and walk there, its ready. Try the chicken shawarma!
(4)Lauren G.
I have been here and ordered from here at least a dozen times in the last year and the food has always been great! Their hummus is creamy and delicious and I love both the beef and chicken kubideh. My only complaint on the food is the stuffed grape leaves (dolmeh)- I think they may have been from a can and would definitely skip and go for the tzatziki, hummus or torshii. The delivery service is also great- on time and accurate and they do a great job with catering (dinner for 50 on 2 days notice!) which is pretty unusual for such a small place. The restaurant itself is small but it has a warm cozy atmosphere and the staff is attentive but good about giving you space. Overall a local favorite!
(4)josh k.
I have been going (and more often ordering) from Jasmine for well over 18 months, and have not been disappointed yet. Just about everything from the Shirin Polo w/ chicken, to the beef kubideh, to the felafel has been really good and heartily devoured. The portions are quite big, for me to have leftovers is a rarity, but every time I get food from Jasmine, there is enough for dinner the next day as well They deliver pretty fast - even over to my place in Waltham. I have been actually telling people by work of mouth to give it a try. So yes, very tasty, and will broaden those culinary horizons, good stuff.
(4)here t.
Overall well-prepared and fresh and nicely presented; made to order so it takes a little longer. I couldn't reach for the 5 star because of some variability in the execution of the dishes (no, not the slaughter of them) and the sometime lack of zing some of the dishes. Also, you can spend alot, even doing take out if you're not careful as the prices are up there. But the vibe is great and the people and service is good and friendly...so definitely go. In the Get-It-Right department: The three bean salad is very sugary and, take note Mr. Jasmine, bean lovers don't want them sweet, really. A touch maybe, but lighten up on that sucrose. Its a great dish ruined by the sweetness. And though the yougurt cucumber appetizer is nice it also is either too sweet or thick or ..? well could be better. Nice hummus but could use a bit more lemon and tahini I'd say. Give me a ring and I'll help you out on these.
(4)Barney B.
Apparently you should be wary of a 'Persian' restaurant that serves falafel and shwarma. How do I know? A Persian death metal fiend once told me. this place serves them (not death metal fiends - the falafel, etc). And yet I still opted in for lunch delivery from here. I was smart enough not to order the above, and stuck with my standard Chicken Soltani - which was decently spiced and tender, but greasy. it was served with over-buttered hummus, and an equally greasy tomato/cuke salad. This was the heaviest Iranian food I have ever tasted. And though the weather outside warrants heavy food, I want it to be heavy for the right reasons - and this stuff just...wasn't. sidenote: I threw the leftovers out in my trash and my office now smells like fart. (not mine). not the thing that is pushing me to give this place a second try.
(2)Tracey N.
The first time I came in, I did take out. Yes, the TVs were overwhelming but at least they were showing "Between the Lions" on PBS. My ground beef wrap was good, and I wish I'd ordered the special with salad and rice. Then one day I got delivery. It was the worst falafel ever; dry, way too oniony and NO pickles! The people that run the place seem nice and service was pleasant. Local delivery is free which is a plus. I'd try other food options, and request not so much on the onions next time.
(3)Bethany F.
I went here a few weeks ago for lunch and it was great! It was my first real Persian food experience, and made me fall in love with the cuisine. I got one of the lunch specials (shawarma?) and it was so big that I got to bring some home to enjoy later! The place itself isn't too fantastic inside. It's kind of small and strangely cramped but worth the great deal I got for the lunch special. Definitely recommend this place as a Friday lunch alternative to the increasingly boring (due to going there too much) places in Watertown.
(4)allison o.
I'll admit, I'm not an expert of Persian cuisine. The one previous time I had Persian was take-out (not from Jasmine), I hadn't done the ordering and some of the flavors were appalling to me. This time I went with my husband and dined-in. Our waitress was SO NICE. I don't encounter people this nice very often. She was great. I should have asked for her recommendations. I'm not even sure we ordered things that are authentically Persian. He got chicken and beef Kubbideh and I got beef Shwarma. Both were good. The rice was tasty even though it seemed to be plain basmati rice. The star of the night was the hummus. I've never had hummus so good in my life. I think they hid butter in it somehow. It was smooth and delicious. I was eating it with a fork like mashed potatoes. YUM
(4)Tracy H.
Chicken Kabudeh was flavorful, and the eggplant side dish had tons of yummy spices. A real gem in the middle of watertown, and a great place for inexpensive and delicious food in the neighborhood! Hands down the best restaurant in the belmont/watertown area.
(5)R A.
Rarely do I take the time to write a review about hummus, but their hummus was pretty awesome. I put aside my manners for a moment to lick the bowl clean. If that's all I ate I probably would have left pretty satisfied, but then the food came and it was outstanding. The chicken & beef kubideh and shirazi salad were SO delicious. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Darius K.
This is a great informal place to come in, sit down, and have a bite of Persian food. The kebabs here are good; both the beef and the chicken kebabs are tasty, although if you're going to get kubideh get the chicken instead of the beef, as the beef's a little on the dry side. The salmon kebab here is also surprisingly good. Really, you ought to give it a shot if you like salmon at all. The kashk-e-bademjan (eggplant dip) is awesome, and I like the albaloo polo here (that's rice w/ sour cherries, which is really awesome).
(4)S L.
BEST HUMMUS I'VE EVER HAD! And I am a hummus snob. I used to get my hummus from the middle eastern markets across the street, but this wins. My fav dish is the shirin polow... chicken with pistachios and orange peels. My friend thought the orange peel taste was a bit overwhelming, but I loved it! I've gotten it with the chicken kabob and chicken kubideh. When I got kubideh, I wasn't a fan of the texture of it, but I think I'm just not a fan of ground chicken (my friends loved it). The chicken kabobs were delicious, very flavorful. Their meals are very well-balanced. I love the way they mix fruits, nuts, vegetables and meat. I just found out they deliver. I am excited. [From the reviews I am reading, it seems like most of the negative ones come from ppl who have had sandwiches, so I have been steering away from them and have just been getting the dishes. I plan on trying a sandwich sometime soon to see]
(5)Teresa C.
This review is for the grape leave roll-up only. It is wonderful however, please ask for pita bread to be used if you would like it be made the way it is indicated on the menu. The grape leaves are warm and melt in your mouth as you take every bite. To my surprise, they recently started making it with tortilla. I don't care for it with tortilla - it completely changed the taste.
(4)Mohammed J.
Jasmine is located right on Mt. Auburn St., not too far out of cambridge. It's a small place, but I've never had trouble getting a table. You can also order takeout. I can't say I know what Persian food is supposed to taste like, but I can say that the food here is delicious. I highly recommend their chicken kubideh, which is ground chicken, mixed with onions, spices and marinated in saffron then grilled on a spit. You can order the chicken kubideh with various combinations of rice, my favorite of which is the zareshk polo. This is rice, seasoned with saffron and cooked with berries (currants?) on top. In case you haven't figured it out yet, Persian food uses a lot of saffron, which is fantastic. The food more resembles middle eastern food in the types of seasonings they use, and is rarely, if ever spicy. Unlike middle eastern food, Persian food uses a lot of fruit ingredients like berries, raisins and orange peel. Finally, the freshly made hummus is to die for! By the time my meal arrives, the bowl of complimentary hummus is polished clean. As for the waitstaff, there seems to be a lot of turnover, so I've had service ranging anywhere from spectacular to agonizingly slow and clueless. For those of you who like to drink, I don't believe they serve alcohol at this restaurant, but I've seen people bring their own. Entrees range from about $12 to $20, but are enormous. You can easily make 2 meals out of it if you're a starving student.
(5)Liz O.
This is a review based on delivery only, because I've never been there. On the positive side, they did delivery my order promptly and it was accurate. The delivery person was nice, and they take credit cards over the phone. They have a web site so you can figure out what you want to order (unfortunately, the website has music that DOES NOT END until you close it and since my mute button is broken, I was already annoyed by the time I placed the order). Oh, wait that was supposed to be the positives. The food. I ordered hummus because everybody on yelp raved about it and the chicken kubides over rice with sour cheries and nuts. I figured it would have the most flavor and would be least likely to be dried out, plus I'd seen a few rave reviews. Okay, all of you who rave about the hummus.... Are you anti-acid in your food? The hummus has none of the acidity (from garlic and lemon) that makes hummus exciting. I don't tend to like a particularly acidic hummus, but this tasted like mushed up chickpeas with a ton of oil. I didn't even taste the delicate bitterness of the tahini. It was terrible. I found myself eating MORE of it to compensate for the lack of strong flavor - not the way I want to eat. The food wasn't dry. It was soaked with oil. The kubide reminded me of a skin-less chicken sausage with a lot of grease and not much flavor. I think there was some bland spice happening in there that made my burps taste funny, but nothing pleasing. The rice was very good. Greasy, but I think that was from the chicken. The sour cherries and nuts (pistachios and almonds) gave it sweetness and subtle texture. I normally hate white basmati rice, but I actually enjoyed it. I didn't think it was that cheap ($20ish) but then I realized I got 2 meals out of it plus I still have some hummus left over. But for the quality and calories of the meal, I won't be ordering again.
(2)Annette N.
This place is nice and low-key, an informal neighborhood restaurant. I think you can also get take-away if you like. I've been twice. I had the zereshk polo (chicken kabob with saffron rice and dried barberries, a Persian specialty) the first time, and chicken kubideh and polo (rice with almonds, orange peel, and other goodies) the second time. I went away happy. As soon as you sit down, they give you the yummiest and most refined hummus to keep you occupied while they make your meal. This is the place to eat if you need a bite after shopping in the area. The portions are very generous. We went for a walk in Mt. Auburn Cemetery to see the snowdrop flowers emerging, and stopped in here. Boy were we glad! Also, the owner is cute!
(5)Noah N.
I really love this restaurant, and being Iranian, I know proper Iranian food. Their rice is always nicely done, along with surprisingly juicy kabob and very potent salad shirazi dressing. They have Abali yogurt beverage availible, or standard American soft drink. I would recommend the Soltani, Kubideh, or Barg. All are very tasty. The restaurant is very cozy, and the flatscreen generally has some Irani tv or dancing of some kind. If you chat up the owner and get friendly, he may toss in some free tabouleh or something, too. Enjoy.
(5)