Simple -Great fresh bread -Great kabobs - in my opinion one of the better in area. Better than moby's. -Great quality meat. Free range. -Great Service.
(4)
Megan B.
Caspian has not only delicious food, but wonderful employees, and a very nice atmosphere. In comparison to the other "fast" kabob restaraunts, this has much more of an authentic and warm feeling. It is always very clean and they offer free house wine on the weekdays which is a definite plus!! I typically get the kubideh kabob with rice...it is delicious! I recommend this to everyone...you will really enjoy it!
(5)
Afshin D.
This place is just Fantastic!!! We loved it, everything was great! No kids menu though
(4)
C A.
What a find! A wonderful family friendly Persian restaurant located in the Kentlands between the Red Door Salon and Bone Fish Grill. My company and I had planned on going to another place then decided as we walked by, it looked very welcoming and decided to give it a try instead and are we glad we did! Were greeted by a gracious host and even though it was quite busy on the Saturday night we stopped in we were seated immediately. Every item we ordered was great. The bread was fresh out of the oven made to order as guests arrive. The eggplant appetizer was heavenly and the salmon kabobs plus the New Zealand lamb kabobs melted in our mouths. When was the last tine you knew the lamb kabobs you had were from New Zealand? Boy it makes all the difference in the world. To top the evening off, soon we heard upbeat strains of Middle Eastern music and out came the belly dancer! Beautiful and in a lovely purple costume, she danced with grace and elegance. The entire audience really got into it with several guests getting up to dance with her as did some children. Very classy indeed & what fun! Between the food and dancing (which we were told is on Friday & Saturday nights) this is one restaurant not to miss. They are also building a bar in the corner so patrons will be able to sit at the bar or order from the tables. Nice addition. I know we'll be back not only for the dancing but I must have another desert!
(5)
Cameron H.
Excellent tasting kabob with funny and friendly staff. Excellent selection of beer and wine as well.
(5)
P. C.
I was there for dinner with my husband's family. Sister-in-law and her family go there a lot and highly recommended this place. I ordered the joojeh Kabob (the Cornish hen one). Hubby ordered the shishlick (lamb on bones). The chicken was very flavorful, and I think the lamb was a little TOO flavorful (too salty). But they have good flavors. Price is reasonable. Their lunch price is cheaper for the exact same food. If you live around here, I would recommend trying this place out.
(4)
Pete D.
As we walk in with a larger group, we were greeted by either the owner or manager in a friendly manner. He quickly put a few tables together for us and we sat down. Menus were given to each person and he gave us some time to review the items. The server came by and took our drink order and I decided to give their "dough" a try. I didn't know what it was but he said it's a yogurt drink that had sparkling bubbles in it. When the server came by, he actually brought me their Persian iced tea by accident (which was unique, not bad if you're into teas). I mentioned it and the right drink was given to me. The dough was basically the yogurt dipping sauce for the pita, with bubbly water. I couldn't drink it and I asked the server to return it for a glass of water. No fuss there and the server was very nice about it. After our drink order, we were give warm pita and yogurt sauce. The two tasted delicious, the yogurt sauce had more flavor than most places I've had (Moby Dick's) and the wife and I liked it much better. For my entree, I had the lamb kabob and it was done well. The seasoning was just right, a nice crust on it, and was done medium-well as far as temperature. On their menu, it says rice or salad, but you can get half of each, so keep that in mind. Wifey got the Caspian combo, which was their ground sirloin and chicken breast. I had a bite of each and was a fan. Just like my lamb, even better than my dish, both the ground sirloin and chicken were very delicious. The chicken breast was tender and moist. The next time I come here, I'm definitely getting this. They also have filet mignon on their menu and something I'll eventually try too. The service was spotty, but not horrible. The manager (or owner) was very friendly and kept checking back with us. They had a handful of tables when our larger group landed, so I don't really blame them. The food still came out hot and fresh, we didn't wait long at all. This place beats Moby Dick's because of their well-seasoned meats. And the fact you get unlimited warm pita bread and awesome yogurt sauce (when you eat there) will have us coming back.
(4)
D C.
My wife and I wanted to escape the house for a little and decided to try this kabob place. We were welcomed at the door by an extremely polite gentleman who seated us. He was also our waiter. His attentiveness and professionalism were the bright spot of this meal. The place was strangely empty (one 1 other table taken) for 6pm on a Sat. The menu is okay... it's a kabob place that doesn't deviate much from that Iranian type of menu. We decided to try the gyro platter (with salad) and a chicken/lamb kabob combo. My wife liked the chicken kabob but I felt that it bordered being undercooked. She likes chicken to just barely be past the pink stage and I guess technically she is correct that it does stay moist better like this. Looking past the temperature though, it was just average; fairly tasteless. Nothing special here. The lamb kabob was overcooked and very fatty. Two of the five lamb chunks were inedible. The gyro platter was absolutely terrible. The shaved meat was about half of what most gyro places would have served and it was completely dry. I mean so hard that my standard issue metal dinner knife couldn't cut through it! I picked up a piece and clanked it on the side of plate. It had dried up and shriveled to be about the thickness of a pencil. There were about strips of meat that weren't quite as bad but close. I tasted one of them and it was surprisingly tasteless. The platter came with a salad and the waiter said he would split it in the back for each of us. He forgot so he just brought us a second salad which was nice of him. This salad was terrible. It was from the base of the iceberg head... that very white and thick section that you typically throw away then some carrot shavings on top. There were a couple tomato slices on top. Do you know that look that tomato slices get when they were sliced a day or more ago? These had that very sad, wilted look. My wife grew up on a south Jersey farm. She gets really picky about bad fruits/veggies. Honestly, we were both close to losing our appetites. The waiter came to check on us and asked how things were and I told him the truth. The gyro meat looked (and tasted) like it had been cut 6 hrs ago, then put under a heat lamp and the lamb was so chewy it was inedible. He quickly scooped up the gyro platter and the lamb to "show the chef". He also pointed out the owners were the ones occupying the other table in the restaurant. He said he would tell them too. Huh, imagine that. The owners were actually there. I guess this was good and I was sure they would come over, introduce themselves, apologize and ask how to make it right. At least I know if I owned a restaurant and was sitting right there when someone complained I would definitely get up and intervene! Nope. Nothing. They just kept sitting there. The waiter came out with basically the cook's defense about how fresh the gyro meat was and how they only use top grade lamb. Whatever. I am not stupid. I didn't ask for this but the waiter took the gyro off the bill which was a nice gesture. I will never go back to this place again. What bothered me the most was the poor quality control from the kitchen and the seemingly disinterested owners. I will not pay money to eat somewhere where an owner is willingly that negligent. I started having flashbacks of Kitchen Nightmare episodes where Gordon Ramsey inspects a kitchen to find the most disgusting conditions imaginable. It really made me wonder if things like that were going on in the back of this place. It made me wonder too if this is why the place was empty on a Sat night. If you want a good gyro then go to Ambrosia's in Rockville or Vasilis in Kentlands. Both places are very good. if you want a kabob then go to Moby Dick's in Kentlands. I should have just gone to Bonefish which was right next door.
(1)
Denis S.
Delicious kabobs, free persian tea refills, good place for a lunch.
(5)
Phillip P.
Food is great but giving 4 stars because it is a bit too pricey for what you get. Great lunch stop thoug and I usually make it in once a week.
(4)
Donna C.
So I went here because I had a craving for falafel. How disappointed was I when I looked at the menu and realized they didn't have falafel! poop! But whatever, I'm flexible. So I decided to get the Caspian Combo which is one chicken kebab and a kubideh(seasoned ground beef) kebab with bread. It was yummy! Slightly better than Moby Dick's in my opinion. What was far superior to other places was their bread. It was thinner but softer. Moby Dick's tends to be chewy. It's so good dipped in the cucumber yogurt sauce. One factor that influenced my high rating is the owner, or at least I think he's the owner. He was very welcoming. I wanted to order something for lunch the next day and asked his opinion about the gyros. He told me that I should get the chicken gyro, but then after some thought suggested I get the chicken kebab instead because I'll need to heat it up and the gyro has the veggies in the pita with the meat and I don't want warm veggies. How nice was that!!! The kebab was even cheaper. What a nice guy. The dining room is clean and nicely decorated with flowers on every table. A very nice place to go for a casual, yummy meal.
(4)
Ree S.
I was not impressed at all with Caspian and I will never return. My boyfriend and I wanted to try something new and since we like Moby Dick's we thought Caspian would be the same, or nicer. We were so wrong! We ordered carry out, or I would have totally complained before I left. i created a yelp account just to write about my experience! First off, I asked the lady at the front if the Gyro sandwich was sliced off the Gyro Spit. She said yes, it is sliced very thin. what a liar. The second I opened the box I could tell it was fake microwaved gyro meat. What a freaking disappointment, I was hungry and didn't want to waste $10 bucks so I just ate it. Made me sick the next day thinking about it, and it still does! The lettuce was not fresh, it was slightly brown. My boyfriend got the chicken platter. Chicken had zero flavor. Rice was okay, nothing special. We also got a slice of baklava, I thought it would be the whole square, nope the cheap place gave us one little triangle for $2.00. We also got the doogh (persian drink) which we normally always get a Mobys and it is DELISH! I watched the man at Caspian put half a cup of doogh, walk to the soda machine and put in SODA WATER for the other half. This place sucked. Just go across the street to Moby Dicks and save a good 8 bucks and get food that taste good. If I could give Caspian NO stars I would.
(1)
michelle b.
Amazing!!!! The best persian food in the area.....We tried the kabobs, the special, and some appetizer. I can honestly say they have some of the best kabobs I've ever had and we'll absolutely be back!!
(5)
Sophie C.
This place has EXCELLENT hummus! I tried the dolmeh as well, but didn't find them as impressive. For the entree, my husband and I shared the Kubideh Kebab, which is the ground beef selection. I did not care much for it, but I usually prefer chicken over ground beef, so take it how you will! I found the rice to be a little too buttery for my taste and the bread a little burnt. However, the service was great; our waiter was super friendly and very sincere. For that (and the hummus) I just might have to go back, except this time I will try a different kebab :)
(3)
Rob M.
Located in Kentlands Market Square shops this is one of two locations for this yummy kabob house. The other is in Germantown. My wife and I discovered this place one summer night when we did not want to wait 45 mins for a table at the restaurant a few doors down. We wandered in with our two toddlers and had a great experience. The staff are genuinely warm and friendly and very accommodating. I had the super combo which includes a filet of beef kabob, chicken kabob and the kubideh kabob, which is seasoned and broiled ground beef. Each one was fabulous, but the chicken stood out for me. So tasty and moist, and not on the dry side as often is the case with chicken kabobs. And they come on a bed of the most delicious rice Ive ever tasted! As an appetizer we ordered the hummus plate, which was very authentic and very heavy on the garlic. If you have vampires in your house, bring home some of this hummus and it will keep them at bay for weeks. My wife had a salmon kabob, which she said was "good" not great. We have since done carry out from here many times and she gets the seafood combo or the trout, the latter of which she says is VERY good. The food has been consistently good each time we've ordered and what has been most amazing to me is that I have never had to wait more than 15 minutes to pick up our food. They are fast! They have belly dancers on Sat nights but we have not checked that out yet. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Big K.
Recently went here for take-out. Got the Kalbideh w/ rice and was not impressed at all. The beef was bland and greasy. The rice was bland. The bread was cold and stale. The best thing was the grilled tomato and that was a stretch. I tried to spice up the dish w/ the cucumber sauce (bland) and the sumac (ok) but nothing really helped. I love persian food, I just didn't like this persian restaurant. It's possible that their other dishes are better, but the Kalbideh was pretty awful.
(1)
Melvin B.
Caspian is a small restaurant, but has a good atmosphere. The owner is also really friendly. We tend to eat on the early side of dinner, and he has come and talked to us a few times. We've ordered the fish and lamb kabobs, as well as the chicken gyro. The food is pretty good. The fish (salmon) and lamb kabobs give you a good sized serving of meat that is well seasoned and has a good 'char' on it- very tasty. The kabobs come with rice or salad (or you can get half of each). The rice is basmati, and the salad is a basic mediterraean salad (but no feta or olives). The chicken gyro is very large and a good order choice for the price. Love the pita bread (comes complimentary with the meal) and tzatziki sauce- it's not a thick or bready pita bread, but is whole wheat-esque and has good chew. You can even see them making the pita in the back. We like to put sugar on a plate, dip pita in tzatziki and then dip in sugar- so yum!! Overall a good dining choice/experience.
(3)
David H.
Nice atmosphere and authentic middle eastern foods. Great portions at reasonable prices. Lamb Kebob was excellent as were the lamb chops. Go for the 1/2 rice 1/2 salad with your meal...We'll be back.
(4)
K K.
Caspian is, dare i say it, the best "upscale" persian restaurant in the area. The taste/portions are great, the people are friendly and service is good. Prices are reasonable as well, and there's an unattractive belly dancer who lightens up the place on weekends, haha. Overall though if you're looking for top-notch food, and want it in a slightly cozier atmosphere than Yekta in Rockville, or the Moby Dick/Shamshiry madhouses, then this is it.
(4)
Kevin B.
Better than Moby, better than Vasilis. If you're looking for kabobs in the Kentlands, this is the place to go. The kids portions were more than my kids could eat. My wife had the filet kabob and was very pleased. I had the super kabob; chicken, beef, kubideh and all were excellent. I don't eat rice but it was decent enough as my family enjoyed it. Decor is not what I'd consider Persian but I'm not complaining (nor am I Persian) - it was clean and warm. The service is excellent. Service was provided by an older gentleman and he was not always at our table but attentive to our needs. My son had the apple juice which was fresh apple, carrot, and orange together. Not from concentrate, from the actual fruit and veggies. It was dark brown and frothy, like when you make your own apple juice. My daughter had the pomegranate juice and it was excellent as well. Make sure they put the Samar (sp) seasoning on the table. Very good compliment to the meat and rice. Persian friends told us, this is the place to go if you want Persian. We can't wait to go back.
(4)
kimberly w.
love caspian! the food is definitely better here than moby dick. this location is even better than the germantown location. the staff is very friendly, but the tv that's on is kind of distracting. gotta love the free drink at lunch!
(4)
John H.
Being middle eastern my standards for this kind of food are very high. I also have low expectations for service at middle eastern type places. Caspian always had decent food and below average service in my opinion. Recently I feel like things have changed and there is improvement in the service. I'm a fan of their mahiche (braised lamb shank). I also love their combo platters. I will say that I prefer moby dick's rice but caspian definitely wins in the kabob department. I see that they have events at dinner time such as belly dancing so that should be interesting.
(4)
Natasha S.
I had been wanting to try this place for a long time now. My partner and I walked in Friday night in hopes to celebrate Persian New Year. Typically, I spend this holiday with my Iranian family members. But since they are all in the west coast, I was feeling homesick and wanting nothing but to eat good Persian food. I had remembered I had bookmarked this place on Yelp and looked forward to it ALL DAY. We walked in a little before 7:00 PM and were told we couldn't dine in, because a private party that was being held at 8:00 PM. I was so bummed. I didn't give up and came back on that following Sunday. I had a huge craving for gorma sabzi which is a herb stew that my grandmother used to make for me in my youth before she passed, and it was always my favorite. I had ordered the tahdig with gorma sabzi, but they ran out of tahdig. I wanted it so bad, I ordered it even without the tadig which is crunchy rice. I was a little disappointed to see that they brought out the gorma sabzi in a tiny little bowl for $7. Keep in mind, they ran out of tahdig, so you'd think they'd improvise and add a little more than the tiny ass bowl. Strike ONE. We also ordered kashke bademjan for appetizer which is an eggplant dish that is served with bread. It was very good. But the bread was stale and old as all hell. This could have been a deal breaker, but we let it slide. We watched everyone else complain about bread and request fresh bread. We should have done the same. Strike TWO. I decided to order the lamb shank with baghali polo which is a dill and lima bean rice. The restaurant has it titled as "herbed rice" but it is the same thing. My fiance ordered the shrimp kabob platter which came with the same rice and steamed veggies. She thought her food was decent. I liked my food, but definitely have had better. Upon walking in, there is a huge sign that states "Free complimentary glass of wine with an order of an entree". We both ordered entree's and received no complimentary wine. Don't advertise something you can commit to. Strike THREE. The service here isn't stellar. The server's attitude wasn't good, and even though we were more than ready to order. He asked us to wait until he served a large table of 9 people, then took another couple's order even though they arrived after us. Additionally, I was still enjoying my almost full glass of Persian iced tea, before he decided to take it away when bringing out the check. At this point, I already knew we weren't coming back, but this was definitely another strike against them. It met my Persian craving, but after the multiple strikes. They're out. Not worth coming back. So many other great Iranian/Persian places in the Northern VA/MD area.
(2)
Yena S.
Disappointment, disappointment. Based on the good reviews here, I decided to pay a visit to check out the place. I placed a To-Go order of the Lamb Kabob platter ($13) on a not so busy Wednesday night. When I got home and opened my order, I was extremely, extremely disappointed. The pita bread was beyond the level of being SO stale, it was actually crispy. (As a UMD student who had access to freshly well-made, chewy & moist pita bread in the food courts everyday, it was pretty clear that the bread was crappy.) I was upset that they would give such dry, hardened, disgusting pita bread to their customers. The packaging of the food also showed that they didn't really care much of how their food was presented to their customers. 1)The picture will speak for itself--it looked as if the box had been shaken around a couple of times, and 2) The portions were simply scanty. I believe they should serve good food and be attentive of all customers, no matter how big/small of an order may be.
(2)
Scott M.
Been here many times and always good. However, since my last visit things have changed. I think the place may be under new owner/management. Chicken kabob came out w/5 fairly small chunks of chicken and a huge mound of rice. When ordering I very specifically and clearly asked the waiter to be sure that the onions were well cooked - no raw onion at all (last time they were a little on the raw side for my liking). The dish came with out any onion at all or green pepper. When I asked the waiter he said he will check. Check? He shouldn't have even brought it out like that. He eventually shows up w/a plate with chopped up raw onion. Umm, no thanks... Guy from kitchen came out, very apologetic and asked what it was I wanted. I said how about the grilled onion that was supposed to come w/the dish? He said he will take care of it. He did come back with some 1/2 grilled onion. I understand he wanted to hurry up and get it to me but they were way to raw for me to eat and I was almost finished by then anyway. Were were over charged for the dolmeh and there is a huge sign out front offering a free glass of wine w/dinner. Neither of us are drinkers but we were never even offered the glass of wine. The bread was really dry and hard. I let that go hoping for fresh stuff on the refill. The refill was more of the same. I didn't see the older couple that have always been there (the previous owners) and with the drastic change in operation I believe the place may well have been sold. Moby Dick is right around the corner, I will probably go there next time. I am very sad, I really liked this place.
(2)
Mona R.
Pretty good just like Moby Dicks. I'm Persian so I am very familiar with the types of food served here. Family owned and a friend of our family. The food is good, service is consistent, and great pricing for the serving sizes. I usually get the kabob kubideh with rice, or chicken, the shishlick (lamb) is great too. I don't really like their zereshk polo because it has raisins in it. Also, have belly dancing in the evenings on the weekends.
(4)
Jac S.
Kabobs were ok; nothing special. But what really knocks down the stars was the customer service. I called to order for delivery, and the person taking my order was extremely rude and actually hung up on me before even telling me the total or how long the food would take. The only redeeming grace was the actual delivery guy was nice. However, they won't be getting my business again.
(2)
Leilani R.
I haven't really experienced a kabob place being seated. I had a kabob entree to go from some other place which a was long time ago. I was referred to this place over the 'other place' nearby and was told that it was more 'homestyle' over the 'chain' restaurant, 'Moby Dicks'. Moby has about 3 locations that I'm aware of and I really wouldn't consider it a 'chain' but the person that referred me to Caspian works right in between both restaurants and within close distance. She would have better reference so I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly greeted and seated. I was then given pita which I enjoyed along with my class of delicious Chianti. The place was nearly empty but it was only mid-afternoon. I ordered the Caspian Combo; ground steak kabob and grilled chicken kabob. It came with jasmine rice and a roasted tomato. Wish I had more tomatoes. It was so good! I enjoyed the tasty beef kabob. It was very moist being a grounded meat. The chicken was also tasty but was very close to being dry. Something they need to watch. I ended up having to dip the chicken in the yogurt to help get it down (but not every bite). Overall, it was a good experience and the food was good. I'm not sure what 'homestyle' meant as this was my first sit down kabob meal. I would still like to try Moby Dick. After all, one should form their own opinions when making comparisons. :) Would I eat here again? I sure would. Stay tuned for my review of the 'chain-like' kabob place. ;)
(3)
Jackie O.
Caspian is so good! Friday and Saturday night they have belly dancers and music. Good costumer service & environment is good and peaceful.
(5)
Luana D.
Not going back !! I had been to the Caspian kabob in Germantown and thought it was the same place, but I do not think so. The food took more than 1/2 hour to come even though the place was empty. When the food came, the order was wrong... and to top things off, the food made us sick ! Obviously not going back. I wish I had gone to Moby dick !
(1)
Pavus G.
Excellent Persian food. Everything here is good. Great fish, very flavorful appetizers, good kookoo sabzi and other traditional dishes. This isn't just a Kabob shop, it's a proper Persian restaurant and is not overpriced. Peace.
(5)
Rai P.
Here's a tip. save your money, and go somewhere else. Basic menu, bland food for the price. Wait out the line for bonefish!
(2)
Amanda C.
Oh my gosh the gyros are huge! The meat is excellent and the service is so friendly. They even had a live piano player. Lovely place with great food and generous portions. Will definitely be returning here!
(5)
Jane S.
I love this restaurant! I now refuse to eat any lambchops which are not from here. They are the most delicious lambchops, (offered as "shishlick" on the menu) I have tasted anywhere. They give you four, and I usually end up taking two home with me to put into the freezer for a brownbag lunch later on. They also have very tasty pan-fried trout and excellent Cornish game hen kabob. This place also has the advantage of being nice and quiet Sundays through Thursdays (Friday and Saturday they have belly dancing), and I love quiet restaurants so I can talk with my husband without straining to hear him over the noise.
(5)
Mandana Y.
Delicious, incredibly affordable Iranian food! I always make comparisons to Moby Dick when writing reviews for Iranian restaurants, mainly because that tends to be non-Iranian's most common point of reference for this kind of food. Caspian has a more expansive menu and the prices are extremely comparable and fair. Moby's is fast food, this is a couple levels above that. I know families who have rented out the entire place for private events and many people who have used them for catering events and have heard nothing but great things. Caspian is pretty much a no-brainer. And go for something besides the kabobs, be adventurous and try the ghormeh sabzii. No one ever regrets it. :)
(4)
Phil C.
Today I wanted my friend to try kabobs at the Caspian. I always enjoy the pita bread and today was no exception. We both ordered the steak and chicken kebab platter. We both had side salads, I ordered the Greek which was tasty. The chicken kebabs were super, unfortunately the steak was unsavory. My friend asked hers to be well done and there was blood running out of it. My steak was cooked medium and that was on point.The problem was the meat tasted old, flavorless and had an after taste of liver. One of the staff noticed that my friend had removed the steak from her plate and asked if there was something wrong. I told him about the problem and he immediately offered to replace it with the chicken. "Out of sight". At certain restaurants you know what to order and what not to order, we will stay with the chicken---it is delicious. All is well at the Caspian.
(3)
Niana K.
Dinner tonight was perfect. The joojeh (cornish hen) kabob was so tender and moist, and it didn't have too much char like a lot of other kabob places have. I would order this again in a heartbeat. I also substituted the rice for a salad like one of the other yelpers suggested, and it was no problem at all. I wouldn't get the lamb and chicken kabob combo again though because the lamb was on another level whereas the chicken kabob was on the dry side. Good thing they gave us a generous portion of yogurt sauce to dip it in. I would just stick with ordering the lamb kabob. I was really impressed by the complexity of flavors from the marinate and seasoning on the lamb. It was also cooked perfectly, There was a sign by the door offering a complementary glass of house wine with an order of a platter from Sunday-Thursday. I guess I'll be back on a weekday.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Caspian is not my typical food choice, since the people I like to eat with are not always the most adventurous people. However, Since it was Father's Day, Kabobs it was. For Father's Day, they had Live Music and Belly Dancing which was really cool. I got the Lamb Kabobs, and I wanted to mention that they serve Gyros here. It's not on the menu but, if you ask about it, they will serve it to you. The Gyro is huge too! My sister really liked it. The Yogurt Dip was better than I've had in many places, I think because it was a little thinner that I usually see it served and I liked it better that way. Service was good. They were attentive, but we did have to get their attention several times to get water. It didn't really take away from the experience, so over all this place gets a 4. I think I like it better than Moby Dick's only because it's a real restaurant and not self serve.
(4)
K M.
Decided to give Caspian Grill a try on Saturday evening and to view some belly dancing. I can say this is my new favorite Persian restaurant beating the great Shamshiry. The owners are great and we spoke to them and they offered to show us their kitchen. I was shocked to see how clean their kitchen was. The filet mignon and chicken was the best I had in the DMV. Belly dancing was great too. Everything was perfect. They deserve more than 5 stars.
(5)
S. O.
Unlike Moby Dicks or your other kabob joints, Caspians is a sit down restaurant. We usually get the kubideh platter with rice. It's good and slightly cheaper than Moby Dicks maybe due to the fact that it's a full service restaurant. This place is located close to Red Door Spa in the Kentlands shopping center. The taste is comparable to Moby Dicks. It's a good alternative if you want to switch it up once I'm awhile.
(4)
A N.
Amazing! First of all, I'm Persian, so I know what good Persian food is supposed to taste like. With all due respect to those people who refer to Moby Dick, Moby Dick is to quality Persian food as McDonald's is to quality American food. It's a fine, but it's fast food and just okay. But this place was wonderful. It was the quality and portions of an upscale Persian restaurant but with an affordable and reasonably priced menu. They even had a few options for my not so adventurous friends. First of all, Persian food isn't that adventurous or exotic (for those who are afraid). We have wonderfully seasoned meat served with fluffy long grain rice. The seasonings are fairly normal, it's just that most American restaurants don't put that much time or effort to season or marinade their meat... but a good Persian restaurant does (especially this one). The only thing that was mediocre was their tadig, it tasted a bit stale.... but most non-Persians wouldn't order that any way. The doogh was wonderful too! I can't say enough nice things about this place. I wish I lived closer so I could dine there more often. A helpful tip for those of you who are on a diet or don't eat rice: Just ask them to replace the rice with salad (or do 1/2 and 1/2). This way you're getting the wonderful meats but not as many carbs. Nooshe Jan!!!
(5)
Shana K.
I got lunch takeout on a rainy day and no one was in the restaurant. Usually, I would take an empty house as a bad sign, but I was hungry and have been wanting to try their kabobs. I got the Kubideh lunch special and asked for it "with naan". Maybe I wasn't clear enough, because I wanted the kabob with the rice and a side of naan. What I got was the kabob on a giant piece of soggy pita-like bread. The homemade ice tea and the meat was amazing, but the yogurt sauce had a hair in it. Big bummer.
(3)
Josh B.
Terrible service, bad music, uncomfortable setting and mediocre food. Definitely not going back.
(1)
Alain H.
Had a great night here, their "Bademjoon Stew" is delicious. The food is very good, but they should work on their service! We also tried their dessert and it was authentically great ;) I would surely go back here again.
(4)
Jeff O.
Had dinner there last night (Sunday). They had sign up by the from door that each entree got a free glass of house wine Sun through (Thursday I think?). Nice and clean restaurant and restroom. Food was excellent. They brought warm pita and cucumber dill sauce when we sat down. It was excellent. The hummus app was creamy and tasty. We both got the lamb kabob. I got half rice and half salad with the dinner. My wife got all rice. The 1/2 and 1/2 was the way to go. There was plenty of each. I didn't even finish the rice. The basmati rice and lamb were excellent. The salad was very good. The service was very good until it was time to leave. Took a few minutes to get the waitresses attention away from her phone. Definitely going back.
(4)
Nikhil P.
Good food. Moderately priced. Great service. The restaurant was packed on a friday evening but the wait staff was very courteous and ensured that we didn't have to wait too long. The belly dancer was a welcome addition as well. The ambience is average but the food made up for it. Enjoyed the persian soup, Lamb Chops and Chicken sheesh kabobs. Loved the yogurt and cucumber sauce. Wasn't a big fan of the hummus (was a little too salty for our taste) and the wine list could use some more additions.
(4)
Natalie S.
Food is good and cheap. Great for a simple night out. Setting can be a little awkward as the restaurant is usually relatively empty and there is DJ music (and sometimes belly dancers) that come around to your table. Love the salmon kabobs!
(4)
Dee B.
I love me some kabobs, but I tend to gravitate toward Moby Dick, because they never disappoint and the prices are good (particularly when you consider not having to tip because MB isn't full service). But if you prefer a nicer, full service kabob experience, then Caspian is great. The chicken kabob I had was moist, the rice was good and not too buttery, and I liked that the salad was of better quality than at MB.
(4)
Fatima S.
The service for single clients is horrible. There was another client besides me on another table and we both were treated like we were not there. Once the food was served, the waitress never came to check on me. When I was done with the entree, I had to wait a good 20 minutes for her to even look my way so I could ask for the check. She took another 10-12 minutes bring the check.
(1)
Anita C.
My boyfriend and I usually order the Caspian combo (kubideh & chicken) when we come here. The naan is always nice, fresh, and soft. The kubideh is nicely seasoned, but I strongly dislike the chicken. The rice and chicken are much better at Moby Dick's, but Caspian's has a milder flavor akin to home cooking. I usually take it to-go to eat, but the host in the front is always really nice. You can tell they're trying to portray themselves as a nicer establishment, with a nicely decorated interior. Prices are about ~$9 for a meal. I'm a fan!
(4)
Janira H.
Horrible service, tried to make a delivery order over the phone and got hung up on because the person taking my order felt I was taking to long, then when I called back because I thought we lost connection he yelled at me and said "im very busy just give me your order" so disrespectful. I'm glad I didn't get the chance to spend my money at this joint.
(1)
Fara S.
Very good place to get halal kabobs! We go there often. Staff is friendly and food is always fresh!!! :)
(4)
Steven R.
Great food. The filet kabob was great. Greek salad was as well. 4 or 4.5 stars. Service was good and music wasn't too loud, nice atmosphere.
(4)
Adriana L.
Delicious food. We had dinner here. As soon as we sat down, they brought us warm homemade pita bread and their delicious yogurt sauce. So good! My husband had the super combo (delicious; I stole a little bit), our son the lamb kabob (really yummy - the rice was AWESOME), and I had the chicken shish kabob, which was perfect. The salads that came on the side were super fresh and perfectly seasoned. Service was efficient and very friendly. A great experience. We will back again for sure!
(5)
Heidi A.
Simply amazing. Didn't know what to expect but absolutely loved the kabob platters. Highly recommend it!!
(4)
Martha D.
I'm on some crazy minimal dairy, minimal gluten diet. So, when my family wanted to get dinner at Subway that night, I had to find something else. 2 doors down is Caspian's House of Kabob, full of plenty of options for folks like me! They have both dine-in and take out. Dining in on Friday and Saturday involves a Belly Dancer, something I'll have to bring my family back for :) There isn't a really comfortable place to wait for takeout so I'd call ahead or go in, order and then run an errand and come back. Takes about 10 minutes when they're not super busy. Anyway, the food is REALLY good. So good that my very unadventurous Dad has decided that he wants to start getting food from Caspian. Yay! I got the chicken shish kabob platter with rice and would certainly get it again. Spiced perfectly!
(4)
Barney S.
I went to Caspian last Friday night, for the first time, for dinner with my wife and had great time. Our friends had recommended this place to us and said they have authentic persian food. When we first arrived there was a man playing very nice songs on a piano keyboard and later we got surprised with a Belly Dancing show. I never realized that Gaithersburg had any type of restaurant with entertainment. I ordered the caspian combo, which was chicken and ground beef with rice and my wife ordered the chicken with salad. The beef was very tasty and the chicken was cooked perfect. I did see many other dishes that looked very tasty as well and made sure to ask my waiter the names, so I will try them next time. We had a great time and would recommend it to anyone to try this place.
(5)
John M.
Go there for lunch, and you can't get a better value for high quality food. For $8 you can a full meal that you can't finish. For dinner, a little more on the pricey stuff for the same stuff, but is has a good ambiance. Very good Persian food, not sure I have had better. At least not in this area.
(5)
Henry M.
Service at late lunch was polite and friendly, but the communication was poor. Nice decor, and the owner was interested in how we enjoyed our meal. That said: best Cornish hen of any sort that I've ever had. Obviously grilled at a very high heat, it was marvelously browned, but juicy and tender. Great bread, very good rice,nice finely chopped salad with fresh lime dressing, and the best doogh (a yogurt drink like a salty lassi) that I have ever had. Much better than Moby's, which is a block away, and signifcantly better than Yetka in Rockville, even though Caspian doesn't have their tender, tasty tongue sandwich. Thanks to Al Vaz for the recommendation!
(5)
Ade A.
Was thrilled that there was another place in the Kentlands that served kabobs. Was impressed with the large menu selection. Decided I would try something that would compare to Moby Dicks, the Kubideh. Moby Dicks kabobs are so much better! My order from Caspian was dry and almost tasteless. It probably didn't help Caspian's favor that they screwed up my order, giving me pita bread instead of rice. Anyways, I'm going to stick with Moby Dicks...they haven't disappointed yet!
(2)
Heather J.
I love this place. I used to go all the time when I worked in Rockville, and it never disappointed. The servers (may also be the owners?) are super friendly. The pita bread they serve is addictive, and they often bring extra yogurt sauce when they notice you're running low. I love the chicken kebab and usually order it with half rice/half salad. I am looking forward to my next trip back!
(5)
Elizabeth M.
The DC suburbs are awash in kabob restaurants -- many of them good. And the Kentlands has more than it's share; there's a Moby Dick's right across the parking lot from Caspian, and Moby Dick's is tasty and cheap. But Caspian is a different experience altogether. To start with, it's got a wonderful, inviting atmosphere, with attractive decor and a cozy feel. My experience with the service has been that it was warmly welcoming and attentive, without being overbearing. But what really makes Caspian stand out, for me, is the menu. Most of the kabob places I've been have felt largely interchangeable ... the same menu everywhere. Caspian has all the usual items, but adds some wonderful depth to it's menu with items like Joojeh kabob (Cornish hen -- which was fantastic!), salmon kabob, pan-seared trout, and interesting daily specials. Entrees run from about $9 for a single kabob with rice or salad, up to about $19 for a 3-skewer combo.
(4)
Joe M.
OK, maybe I am am idiot. I went here for either some beef or chicken kabob. What do I order, scallops?! So I am on a diet all the time and I see scallops and just react. So my plan was a mess from the start. I don't want to slam a place base in one meal, which probably isn't their strong suit, but Bonefish is right next door if I wanted fish. The scallops were small and a bit tough. Not a lot of flavor. The rice was very good, but the steamed veggies were just OK. The salad is not much to speak of, lettuce cucumber and tomato with a few carrot slices. Oil and vinegar. The atmosphere was very nice and clean and the service was excellent. I would probably go back to try what I set out to try initially. Based on the other reviews it may be best to stick with their strength. No scallops.
(3)
Luis g.
Flavorful dishes, great service, good prices. I tried their Mast-o-Mousier, a gentle appetizer (minced shallots in a tasty yogurt base) and truly enjoyed it accompanied by a serving of their bread (not sure what it is called). I followed that great opening with their House special: Seafood Combo, a perfectly flavored dish of salmon, scallops and shrimp that brought together true middle-eastern seasonings and great grilling technique. They offer a complimentary glass of wine with dinner. Of course, I could not resist having a perfect glass of Chianti to celebrate this middle-eastern feast.
(4)
Sina E.
I was invited here for dinner, so it was not my choice. However, I wasn't disappointed. I had Kubideh (beef kabob), and chicken kabob. The Kubideh was really juicy, and bigger than most places (like Moby D). The chicken kabob was tender, and was easy to break down. Everything was fresh. Ambiance and the decor were nice. The service was pretty good. We came during off hours, so it really wasn't that busy. This is definitely one of the better Persian Kabob places in the area.
(4)
Jojo S.
Hit or miss. They tend to over-dry the chicken. Occasionally it comes out just nice, other times it's dry and tasteless. The fillet and kubideh are your best bets. Rice is fair for this kind of establishment but it does lack flavor. I also feel like their yogurt sauce often tastes "off" (don't know if that's a freshness issue or a ingredients proportion issue). I like their baklava though. My advise - don't expect much.
(3)
Monkee C.
This was a nice find in Kentlands (though I haven't tried the other, numerous kabob-eries in the G-Burg yet). It's pretty cute and on the upscale end inside, despite the sub $10/15 menu range, with the only thing looking out of place is the to go pickup counter at the back - but that's really nitpicking. I ordered the caspian combo, which was one chicken and one kubideh kabob, plus rice or salad or half of each (salad was my jam this particular outing). The chicken was good, but the kubideh was really good, as was the salad and its dressing. Forgot to mention the hummus appetizer and pita, which were also tasty. Our server was extremely nice, though he looked like he just walked out of the shower (it was a little warm inside, but to be fair it was ridiculously hot outside for the time of year). Picked up a menu on the way out for future call in/pick up orders, something it looks like we'll be doing pretty often.
I love this place! I used to come here once every couple of weeks, then somehow forgot about this place. I came in today, and the guy still remembered me and my special order (1/2 salad, 1/2 rice with my kabobs -- and there's no extra charge for that). This place is so much better than other kebab restaurants. The minute you order, they hand you some of that flat bread and yogurt to munch on. At lunch, you get a drink free with your order. The meat (I always get the kubideh kabob), is 2X more than what you get at other places -- I always have to take some home. And it's soooo juicy. All this for $7.50 (at lunch) along with really friendly service -- what a great place!
(4)
Jason L.
I have to give Caspian a downgrade because of a couple of reasons. One their prices are bit too high for the product they serve. A recent trip there set me back close to $60 (including tip) for two kabob meals and some hummus. Rice is dirt cheap and the meats they use are good quality but not uber expensive cuts. I make hummus regularly at home and it is better than Caspian's (and much cheaper) The menu needs to expand. The whole menu is basically rice and proteins.
(3)
Lulu D.
The food here is good, I actually like it a lot. However I have had three or four carry out orders, out of maybe 8 that I have ordered in total, that were prepared wrong. I called to let them know about the amount of times it had been prepared incorrectly and they were not very receptive to providing a remedy or apologizing. After a little they agreed to give me a lunch on the house, but the next day I called about it and the Owner knew nothing about it and wasn't able to understand what I was talking about. He asked if I was persian and spoke farsi. I don't so I was excluded from being able to explain what happened. They did however still give me a lunch on the house when I called again the next day. So they at least also have good customer service. Just double check your orders when carrying out! And if you like spicy request it, it adds to the food!!
(4)
Jeff B.
Very good kabobs at a decent price. I've ordered both take out and sit in. The service and the quality has been consistently good. My wife likes the lamb kabobs, which seem to be cooked perfectly (never too dry). I usually order the chicken, which is also never dry. One of my favorite places in g'burg to go for kabobs. I also recommend their tabouleh salad which is always very fresh.
(4)
Lia M.
Everything was great about this restaurant. Service was friendly & attentive. The owners are so welcoming. The bf & I both had the lamb kabob with rice & salad and it was delicious. I do wish our server had told us the roasted tomato did not come with the rice/salad combo (you get one if you order the rice only), as that is one of my favorite parts of Persian food. We also ordered the hummus, which was awesome, especially with the warm pita bread. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Bill P.
Caspian does it just right...Javan in Bethesda block from work (expensive and white table-clothed) went under so I need me some NEW Persian......this one in Kentlands close to where I live. Owner very friendly and truly interested in your experience.....server very quick and friendly. Falafel and yogurt to start very yummy and comes to you quickly...... Got the combo $17 of chicken and lamb......very tasty and tender...... Balsamic rice and salad on the side......it is a good deal just the amount of food for a satisfying meal...... Moby Dick is more fast food style and crowded plus Bethesda is ok but Kentlands meh....... Will be back again and again esp. when can't get at bar at Bonefish :) They have take out and delivery which looks busy too......
(5)
Heike Y.
The food is good and fresh Persian food. The services is friendly and the belly dancer on the weekends is a cute touch. The price is right and the portions generous. I go there anytime and my family enjoys it too.
(5)
Darrin L.
Good food, great atmosphere, super friendly staff. I'm a fan of the lamb combo. The lamb shank (when it is available as the daily special) is good too. Gyros can be a little dry. Regular eat out/take out lunch or dinner.
(4)
Shieva R.
This place has amazing kabab!!! By far the best in the area! It seems very unassuming next to a fast food restaurant and set up as one its self, but the kabab is some of the best around honestly!
(5)
Laura D.
Loved the atmosphere. The belly dancer and live music were a great addition to our meal. I wish I could tell you what we ordered, but our friend did the ordering. If I had to guess, we essentially had most of what's on the menu on our table. Everything we had was delicious! The service was outstanding and we really enjoyed our meal. We'll be back!
(4)
choad x.
$18 for the super combo. Still hungry afterwards, although the belly dancing and packed house on a Friday night bumps the stars up by one. I bet yelp is going to remove this review for some extra cash.
(3)
Derryk A.
THOOM... SHARRAH RAH RAH THOOM.... THOOM SHARRAH SHARRAH THOOM goes the beat of the music. Some low tone zagahreets from some of the ladies in the crowd and very loud AYWAHs from some of the men.... Well okay mainly from me as I stood and cheered on the fiery red head beauty as she gyrated and twisted her way around the tables of the onlookers who are at their tables dining. She is performing her dance worthy of a Sultan or at least an honored guest. What lead us here today was that I wanted to do something a little different for wife's birthday but neither of us felt like venturing down to the city today. Yet I still wanted her to enjoy the evening in something different than just diner and a movie. So I've been meaning to bring her here for sometime now and on Friday and Saturday nights they have live entertainment in the form of Belly dancers. Located out in the very planned out mini town of the Kentlands out in Gaithersburg lies this little Persian/mideastern restaurant serving up kabobs and other great eats at fair prices. Typical entrees start in at about $10.00 and up to about $19.00 for a super combo. Best to order up a bottle of vino, better than by the glass and that way it makes the dance even more spirited. There was a couple of uptights there that should have had 3 bottles cause they acted like they did not appreciate the fabulous entertainment. Another large table was having what appear to be a small engagement dinner/party of about 12 or so people. So they can easily accommodate dinner parties of that size. Reservations are not required but on a Saturday with a large party then yes it would be best. If you can speak a little farsi then you are in like Flynn with the staff a show of respect and understanding for the culture goes a long way here. Good wait staff lots of attention very friendly. Our starter was a plate of "dolmeh" stuffed grape leaves in which wife didn't like at all. I thought they were good but too straight out of the fridge cold, no more than room temp would be preferred. Pita with dip could have been a little more brick oven fresh but quite nice none the less. Super combo consisted of nice moist chicken kabob, perfectly cooked kubideh kabob (ground lamb) and simmering tasty marinated filet steak kabob over Basmati Saffron Persian rice. Wife had grilled shrimp kabob of course which was about seven large grilled shrimp on a skewer over basmalti rice that had nice strong flavor, really good. Vegetables were only regular house salads with both our dishes nothing unique there. Good flaky Baklava and if you never had it before Persian ice cream makes for a very different tasting desert than what you might be use to flavored with saffron, rosewater, and chunks of heavy cream. Persian tea (be sure to drink it the Persian way with the sugar cube between your front teeth while sipping the tea) is a good way to finish out the dinning. Followed by further hip popping body twisting shimmies of the red hot bellydancer and joining in the dance is my way to finish the evening. Over all wife loved it despite the grape leaves and I loved that wife had a great experience there. So excellent we'll be back on another Friday or Saturday around the 8 O'clock hour. Daughtary kubaum.
(4)
R S.
Great intimate restaurant in the heart of Kentlands shopping center. Excellent bread, hummus and kabobs. Priced very reasonable and service is spotty. FYI. Bellydancer is only on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8pm.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kaveh A.
Simple -Great fresh bread -Great kabobs - in my opinion one of the better in area. Better than moby's. -Great quality meat. Free range. -Great Service.
(4)Megan B.
Caspian has not only delicious food, but wonderful employees, and a very nice atmosphere. In comparison to the other "fast" kabob restaraunts, this has much more of an authentic and warm feeling. It is always very clean and they offer free house wine on the weekdays which is a definite plus!! I typically get the kubideh kabob with rice...it is delicious! I recommend this to everyone...you will really enjoy it!
(5)Afshin D.
This place is just Fantastic!!! We loved it, everything was great! No kids menu though
(4)C A.
What a find! A wonderful family friendly Persian restaurant located in the Kentlands between the Red Door Salon and Bone Fish Grill. My company and I had planned on going to another place then decided as we walked by, it looked very welcoming and decided to give it a try instead and are we glad we did! Were greeted by a gracious host and even though it was quite busy on the Saturday night we stopped in we were seated immediately. Every item we ordered was great. The bread was fresh out of the oven made to order as guests arrive. The eggplant appetizer was heavenly and the salmon kabobs plus the New Zealand lamb kabobs melted in our mouths. When was the last tine you knew the lamb kabobs you had were from New Zealand? Boy it makes all the difference in the world. To top the evening off, soon we heard upbeat strains of Middle Eastern music and out came the belly dancer! Beautiful and in a lovely purple costume, she danced with grace and elegance. The entire audience really got into it with several guests getting up to dance with her as did some children. Very classy indeed & what fun! Between the food and dancing (which we were told is on Friday & Saturday nights) this is one restaurant not to miss. They are also building a bar in the corner so patrons will be able to sit at the bar or order from the tables. Nice addition. I know we'll be back not only for the dancing but I must have another desert!
(5)Cameron H.
Excellent tasting kabob with funny and friendly staff. Excellent selection of beer and wine as well.
(5)P. C.
I was there for dinner with my husband's family. Sister-in-law and her family go there a lot and highly recommended this place. I ordered the joojeh Kabob (the Cornish hen one). Hubby ordered the shishlick (lamb on bones). The chicken was very flavorful, and I think the lamb was a little TOO flavorful (too salty). But they have good flavors. Price is reasonable. Their lunch price is cheaper for the exact same food. If you live around here, I would recommend trying this place out.
(4)Pete D.
As we walk in with a larger group, we were greeted by either the owner or manager in a friendly manner. He quickly put a few tables together for us and we sat down. Menus were given to each person and he gave us some time to review the items. The server came by and took our drink order and I decided to give their "dough" a try. I didn't know what it was but he said it's a yogurt drink that had sparkling bubbles in it. When the server came by, he actually brought me their Persian iced tea by accident (which was unique, not bad if you're into teas). I mentioned it and the right drink was given to me. The dough was basically the yogurt dipping sauce for the pita, with bubbly water. I couldn't drink it and I asked the server to return it for a glass of water. No fuss there and the server was very nice about it. After our drink order, we were give warm pita and yogurt sauce. The two tasted delicious, the yogurt sauce had more flavor than most places I've had (Moby Dick's) and the wife and I liked it much better. For my entree, I had the lamb kabob and it was done well. The seasoning was just right, a nice crust on it, and was done medium-well as far as temperature. On their menu, it says rice or salad, but you can get half of each, so keep that in mind. Wifey got the Caspian combo, which was their ground sirloin and chicken breast. I had a bite of each and was a fan. Just like my lamb, even better than my dish, both the ground sirloin and chicken were very delicious. The chicken breast was tender and moist. The next time I come here, I'm definitely getting this. They also have filet mignon on their menu and something I'll eventually try too. The service was spotty, but not horrible. The manager (or owner) was very friendly and kept checking back with us. They had a handful of tables when our larger group landed, so I don't really blame them. The food still came out hot and fresh, we didn't wait long at all. This place beats Moby Dick's because of their well-seasoned meats. And the fact you get unlimited warm pita bread and awesome yogurt sauce (when you eat there) will have us coming back.
(4)D C.
My wife and I wanted to escape the house for a little and decided to try this kabob place. We were welcomed at the door by an extremely polite gentleman who seated us. He was also our waiter. His attentiveness and professionalism were the bright spot of this meal. The place was strangely empty (one 1 other table taken) for 6pm on a Sat. The menu is okay... it's a kabob place that doesn't deviate much from that Iranian type of menu. We decided to try the gyro platter (with salad) and a chicken/lamb kabob combo. My wife liked the chicken kabob but I felt that it bordered being undercooked. She likes chicken to just barely be past the pink stage and I guess technically she is correct that it does stay moist better like this. Looking past the temperature though, it was just average; fairly tasteless. Nothing special here. The lamb kabob was overcooked and very fatty. Two of the five lamb chunks were inedible. The gyro platter was absolutely terrible. The shaved meat was about half of what most gyro places would have served and it was completely dry. I mean so hard that my standard issue metal dinner knife couldn't cut through it! I picked up a piece and clanked it on the side of plate. It had dried up and shriveled to be about the thickness of a pencil. There were about strips of meat that weren't quite as bad but close. I tasted one of them and it was surprisingly tasteless. The platter came with a salad and the waiter said he would split it in the back for each of us. He forgot so he just brought us a second salad which was nice of him. This salad was terrible. It was from the base of the iceberg head... that very white and thick section that you typically throw away then some carrot shavings on top. There were a couple tomato slices on top. Do you know that look that tomato slices get when they were sliced a day or more ago? These had that very sad, wilted look. My wife grew up on a south Jersey farm. She gets really picky about bad fruits/veggies. Honestly, we were both close to losing our appetites. The waiter came to check on us and asked how things were and I told him the truth. The gyro meat looked (and tasted) like it had been cut 6 hrs ago, then put under a heat lamp and the lamb was so chewy it was inedible. He quickly scooped up the gyro platter and the lamb to "show the chef". He also pointed out the owners were the ones occupying the other table in the restaurant. He said he would tell them too. Huh, imagine that. The owners were actually there. I guess this was good and I was sure they would come over, introduce themselves, apologize and ask how to make it right. At least I know if I owned a restaurant and was sitting right there when someone complained I would definitely get up and intervene! Nope. Nothing. They just kept sitting there. The waiter came out with basically the cook's defense about how fresh the gyro meat was and how they only use top grade lamb. Whatever. I am not stupid. I didn't ask for this but the waiter took the gyro off the bill which was a nice gesture. I will never go back to this place again. What bothered me the most was the poor quality control from the kitchen and the seemingly disinterested owners. I will not pay money to eat somewhere where an owner is willingly that negligent. I started having flashbacks of Kitchen Nightmare episodes where Gordon Ramsey inspects a kitchen to find the most disgusting conditions imaginable. It really made me wonder if things like that were going on in the back of this place. It made me wonder too if this is why the place was empty on a Sat night. If you want a good gyro then go to Ambrosia's in Rockville or Vasilis in Kentlands. Both places are very good. if you want a kabob then go to Moby Dick's in Kentlands. I should have just gone to Bonefish which was right next door.
(1)Denis S.
Delicious kabobs, free persian tea refills, good place for a lunch.
(5)Phillip P.
Food is great but giving 4 stars because it is a bit too pricey for what you get. Great lunch stop thoug and I usually make it in once a week.
(4)Donna C.
So I went here because I had a craving for falafel. How disappointed was I when I looked at the menu and realized they didn't have falafel! poop! But whatever, I'm flexible. So I decided to get the Caspian Combo which is one chicken kebab and a kubideh(seasoned ground beef) kebab with bread. It was yummy! Slightly better than Moby Dick's in my opinion. What was far superior to other places was their bread. It was thinner but softer. Moby Dick's tends to be chewy. It's so good dipped in the cucumber yogurt sauce. One factor that influenced my high rating is the owner, or at least I think he's the owner. He was very welcoming. I wanted to order something for lunch the next day and asked his opinion about the gyros. He told me that I should get the chicken gyro, but then after some thought suggested I get the chicken kebab instead because I'll need to heat it up and the gyro has the veggies in the pita with the meat and I don't want warm veggies. How nice was that!!! The kebab was even cheaper. What a nice guy. The dining room is clean and nicely decorated with flowers on every table. A very nice place to go for a casual, yummy meal.
(4)Ree S.
I was not impressed at all with Caspian and I will never return. My boyfriend and I wanted to try something new and since we like Moby Dick's we thought Caspian would be the same, or nicer. We were so wrong! We ordered carry out, or I would have totally complained before I left. i created a yelp account just to write about my experience! First off, I asked the lady at the front if the Gyro sandwich was sliced off the Gyro Spit. She said yes, it is sliced very thin. what a liar. The second I opened the box I could tell it was fake microwaved gyro meat. What a freaking disappointment, I was hungry and didn't want to waste $10 bucks so I just ate it. Made me sick the next day thinking about it, and it still does! The lettuce was not fresh, it was slightly brown. My boyfriend got the chicken platter. Chicken had zero flavor. Rice was okay, nothing special. We also got a slice of baklava, I thought it would be the whole square, nope the cheap place gave us one little triangle for $2.00. We also got the doogh (persian drink) which we normally always get a Mobys and it is DELISH! I watched the man at Caspian put half a cup of doogh, walk to the soda machine and put in SODA WATER for the other half. This place sucked. Just go across the street to Moby Dicks and save a good 8 bucks and get food that taste good. If I could give Caspian NO stars I would.
(1)michelle b.
Amazing!!!! The best persian food in the area.....We tried the kabobs, the special, and some appetizer. I can honestly say they have some of the best kabobs I've ever had and we'll absolutely be back!!
(5)Sophie C.
This place has EXCELLENT hummus! I tried the dolmeh as well, but didn't find them as impressive. For the entree, my husband and I shared the Kubideh Kebab, which is the ground beef selection. I did not care much for it, but I usually prefer chicken over ground beef, so take it how you will! I found the rice to be a little too buttery for my taste and the bread a little burnt. However, the service was great; our waiter was super friendly and very sincere. For that (and the hummus) I just might have to go back, except this time I will try a different kebab :)
(3)Rob M.
Located in Kentlands Market Square shops this is one of two locations for this yummy kabob house. The other is in Germantown. My wife and I discovered this place one summer night when we did not want to wait 45 mins for a table at the restaurant a few doors down. We wandered in with our two toddlers and had a great experience. The staff are genuinely warm and friendly and very accommodating. I had the super combo which includes a filet of beef kabob, chicken kabob and the kubideh kabob, which is seasoned and broiled ground beef. Each one was fabulous, but the chicken stood out for me. So tasty and moist, and not on the dry side as often is the case with chicken kabobs. And they come on a bed of the most delicious rice Ive ever tasted! As an appetizer we ordered the hummus plate, which was very authentic and very heavy on the garlic. If you have vampires in your house, bring home some of this hummus and it will keep them at bay for weeks. My wife had a salmon kabob, which she said was "good" not great. We have since done carry out from here many times and she gets the seafood combo or the trout, the latter of which she says is VERY good. The food has been consistently good each time we've ordered and what has been most amazing to me is that I have never had to wait more than 15 minutes to pick up our food. They are fast! They have belly dancers on Sat nights but we have not checked that out yet. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Big K.
Recently went here for take-out. Got the Kalbideh w/ rice and was not impressed at all. The beef was bland and greasy. The rice was bland. The bread was cold and stale. The best thing was the grilled tomato and that was a stretch. I tried to spice up the dish w/ the cucumber sauce (bland) and the sumac (ok) but nothing really helped. I love persian food, I just didn't like this persian restaurant. It's possible that their other dishes are better, but the Kalbideh was pretty awful.
(1)Melvin B.
Caspian is a small restaurant, but has a good atmosphere. The owner is also really friendly. We tend to eat on the early side of dinner, and he has come and talked to us a few times. We've ordered the fish and lamb kabobs, as well as the chicken gyro. The food is pretty good. The fish (salmon) and lamb kabobs give you a good sized serving of meat that is well seasoned and has a good 'char' on it- very tasty. The kabobs come with rice or salad (or you can get half of each). The rice is basmati, and the salad is a basic mediterraean salad (but no feta or olives). The chicken gyro is very large and a good order choice for the price. Love the pita bread (comes complimentary with the meal) and tzatziki sauce- it's not a thick or bready pita bread, but is whole wheat-esque and has good chew. You can even see them making the pita in the back. We like to put sugar on a plate, dip pita in tzatziki and then dip in sugar- so yum!! Overall a good dining choice/experience.
(3)David H.
Nice atmosphere and authentic middle eastern foods. Great portions at reasonable prices. Lamb Kebob was excellent as were the lamb chops. Go for the 1/2 rice 1/2 salad with your meal...We'll be back.
(4)K K.
Caspian is, dare i say it, the best "upscale" persian restaurant in the area. The taste/portions are great, the people are friendly and service is good. Prices are reasonable as well, and there's an unattractive belly dancer who lightens up the place on weekends, haha. Overall though if you're looking for top-notch food, and want it in a slightly cozier atmosphere than Yekta in Rockville, or the Moby Dick/Shamshiry madhouses, then this is it.
(4)Kevin B.
Better than Moby, better than Vasilis. If you're looking for kabobs in the Kentlands, this is the place to go. The kids portions were more than my kids could eat. My wife had the filet kabob and was very pleased. I had the super kabob; chicken, beef, kubideh and all were excellent. I don't eat rice but it was decent enough as my family enjoyed it. Decor is not what I'd consider Persian but I'm not complaining (nor am I Persian) - it was clean and warm. The service is excellent. Service was provided by an older gentleman and he was not always at our table but attentive to our needs. My son had the apple juice which was fresh apple, carrot, and orange together. Not from concentrate, from the actual fruit and veggies. It was dark brown and frothy, like when you make your own apple juice. My daughter had the pomegranate juice and it was excellent as well. Make sure they put the Samar (sp) seasoning on the table. Very good compliment to the meat and rice. Persian friends told us, this is the place to go if you want Persian. We can't wait to go back.
(4)kimberly w.
love caspian! the food is definitely better here than moby dick. this location is even better than the germantown location. the staff is very friendly, but the tv that's on is kind of distracting. gotta love the free drink at lunch!
(4)John H.
Being middle eastern my standards for this kind of food are very high. I also have low expectations for service at middle eastern type places. Caspian always had decent food and below average service in my opinion. Recently I feel like things have changed and there is improvement in the service. I'm a fan of their mahiche (braised lamb shank). I also love their combo platters. I will say that I prefer moby dick's rice but caspian definitely wins in the kabob department. I see that they have events at dinner time such as belly dancing so that should be interesting.
(4)Natasha S.
I had been wanting to try this place for a long time now. My partner and I walked in Friday night in hopes to celebrate Persian New Year. Typically, I spend this holiday with my Iranian family members. But since they are all in the west coast, I was feeling homesick and wanting nothing but to eat good Persian food. I had remembered I had bookmarked this place on Yelp and looked forward to it ALL DAY. We walked in a little before 7:00 PM and were told we couldn't dine in, because a private party that was being held at 8:00 PM. I was so bummed. I didn't give up and came back on that following Sunday. I had a huge craving for gorma sabzi which is a herb stew that my grandmother used to make for me in my youth before she passed, and it was always my favorite. I had ordered the tahdig with gorma sabzi, but they ran out of tahdig. I wanted it so bad, I ordered it even without the tadig which is crunchy rice. I was a little disappointed to see that they brought out the gorma sabzi in a tiny little bowl for $7. Keep in mind, they ran out of tahdig, so you'd think they'd improvise and add a little more than the tiny ass bowl. Strike ONE. We also ordered kashke bademjan for appetizer which is an eggplant dish that is served with bread. It was very good. But the bread was stale and old as all hell. This could have been a deal breaker, but we let it slide. We watched everyone else complain about bread and request fresh bread. We should have done the same. Strike TWO. I decided to order the lamb shank with baghali polo which is a dill and lima bean rice. The restaurant has it titled as "herbed rice" but it is the same thing. My fiance ordered the shrimp kabob platter which came with the same rice and steamed veggies. She thought her food was decent. I liked my food, but definitely have had better. Upon walking in, there is a huge sign that states "Free complimentary glass of wine with an order of an entree". We both ordered entree's and received no complimentary wine. Don't advertise something you can commit to. Strike THREE. The service here isn't stellar. The server's attitude wasn't good, and even though we were more than ready to order. He asked us to wait until he served a large table of 9 people, then took another couple's order even though they arrived after us. Additionally, I was still enjoying my almost full glass of Persian iced tea, before he decided to take it away when bringing out the check. At this point, I already knew we weren't coming back, but this was definitely another strike against them. It met my Persian craving, but after the multiple strikes. They're out. Not worth coming back. So many other great Iranian/Persian places in the Northern VA/MD area.
(2)Yena S.
Disappointment, disappointment. Based on the good reviews here, I decided to pay a visit to check out the place. I placed a To-Go order of the Lamb Kabob platter ($13) on a not so busy Wednesday night. When I got home and opened my order, I was extremely, extremely disappointed. The pita bread was beyond the level of being SO stale, it was actually crispy. (As a UMD student who had access to freshly well-made, chewy & moist pita bread in the food courts everyday, it was pretty clear that the bread was crappy.) I was upset that they would give such dry, hardened, disgusting pita bread to their customers. The packaging of the food also showed that they didn't really care much of how their food was presented to their customers. 1)The picture will speak for itself--it looked as if the box had been shaken around a couple of times, and 2) The portions were simply scanty. I believe they should serve good food and be attentive of all customers, no matter how big/small of an order may be.
(2)Scott M.
Been here many times and always good. However, since my last visit things have changed. I think the place may be under new owner/management. Chicken kabob came out w/5 fairly small chunks of chicken and a huge mound of rice. When ordering I very specifically and clearly asked the waiter to be sure that the onions were well cooked - no raw onion at all (last time they were a little on the raw side for my liking). The dish came with out any onion at all or green pepper. When I asked the waiter he said he will check. Check? He shouldn't have even brought it out like that. He eventually shows up w/a plate with chopped up raw onion. Umm, no thanks... Guy from kitchen came out, very apologetic and asked what it was I wanted. I said how about the grilled onion that was supposed to come w/the dish? He said he will take care of it. He did come back with some 1/2 grilled onion. I understand he wanted to hurry up and get it to me but they were way to raw for me to eat and I was almost finished by then anyway. Were were over charged for the dolmeh and there is a huge sign out front offering a free glass of wine w/dinner. Neither of us are drinkers but we were never even offered the glass of wine. The bread was really dry and hard. I let that go hoping for fresh stuff on the refill. The refill was more of the same. I didn't see the older couple that have always been there (the previous owners) and with the drastic change in operation I believe the place may well have been sold. Moby Dick is right around the corner, I will probably go there next time. I am very sad, I really liked this place.
(2)Mona R.
Pretty good just like Moby Dicks. I'm Persian so I am very familiar with the types of food served here. Family owned and a friend of our family. The food is good, service is consistent, and great pricing for the serving sizes. I usually get the kabob kubideh with rice, or chicken, the shishlick (lamb) is great too. I don't really like their zereshk polo because it has raisins in it. Also, have belly dancing in the evenings on the weekends.
(4)Jac S.
Kabobs were ok; nothing special. But what really knocks down the stars was the customer service. I called to order for delivery, and the person taking my order was extremely rude and actually hung up on me before even telling me the total or how long the food would take. The only redeeming grace was the actual delivery guy was nice. However, they won't be getting my business again.
(2)Leilani R.
I haven't really experienced a kabob place being seated. I had a kabob entree to go from some other place which a was long time ago. I was referred to this place over the 'other place' nearby and was told that it was more 'homestyle' over the 'chain' restaurant, 'Moby Dicks'. Moby has about 3 locations that I'm aware of and I really wouldn't consider it a 'chain' but the person that referred me to Caspian works right in between both restaurants and within close distance. She would have better reference so I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly greeted and seated. I was then given pita which I enjoyed along with my class of delicious Chianti. The place was nearly empty but it was only mid-afternoon. I ordered the Caspian Combo; ground steak kabob and grilled chicken kabob. It came with jasmine rice and a roasted tomato. Wish I had more tomatoes. It was so good! I enjoyed the tasty beef kabob. It was very moist being a grounded meat. The chicken was also tasty but was very close to being dry. Something they need to watch. I ended up having to dip the chicken in the yogurt to help get it down (but not every bite). Overall, it was a good experience and the food was good. I'm not sure what 'homestyle' meant as this was my first sit down kabob meal. I would still like to try Moby Dick. After all, one should form their own opinions when making comparisons. :) Would I eat here again? I sure would. Stay tuned for my review of the 'chain-like' kabob place. ;)
(3)Jackie O.
Caspian is so good! Friday and Saturday night they have belly dancers and music. Good costumer service & environment is good and peaceful.
(5)Luana D.
Not going back !! I had been to the Caspian kabob in Germantown and thought it was the same place, but I do not think so. The food took more than 1/2 hour to come even though the place was empty. When the food came, the order was wrong... and to top things off, the food made us sick ! Obviously not going back. I wish I had gone to Moby dick !
(1)Pavus G.
Excellent Persian food. Everything here is good. Great fish, very flavorful appetizers, good kookoo sabzi and other traditional dishes. This isn't just a Kabob shop, it's a proper Persian restaurant and is not overpriced. Peace.
(5)Rai P.
Here's a tip. save your money, and go somewhere else. Basic menu, bland food for the price. Wait out the line for bonefish!
(2)Amanda C.
Oh my gosh the gyros are huge! The meat is excellent and the service is so friendly. They even had a live piano player. Lovely place with great food and generous portions. Will definitely be returning here!
(5)Jane S.
I love this restaurant! I now refuse to eat any lambchops which are not from here. They are the most delicious lambchops, (offered as "shishlick" on the menu) I have tasted anywhere. They give you four, and I usually end up taking two home with me to put into the freezer for a brownbag lunch later on. They also have very tasty pan-fried trout and excellent Cornish game hen kabob. This place also has the advantage of being nice and quiet Sundays through Thursdays (Friday and Saturday they have belly dancing), and I love quiet restaurants so I can talk with my husband without straining to hear him over the noise.
(5)Mandana Y.
Delicious, incredibly affordable Iranian food! I always make comparisons to Moby Dick when writing reviews for Iranian restaurants, mainly because that tends to be non-Iranian's most common point of reference for this kind of food. Caspian has a more expansive menu and the prices are extremely comparable and fair. Moby's is fast food, this is a couple levels above that. I know families who have rented out the entire place for private events and many people who have used them for catering events and have heard nothing but great things. Caspian is pretty much a no-brainer. And go for something besides the kabobs, be adventurous and try the ghormeh sabzii. No one ever regrets it. :)
(4)Phil C.
Today I wanted my friend to try kabobs at the Caspian. I always enjoy the pita bread and today was no exception. We both ordered the steak and chicken kebab platter. We both had side salads, I ordered the Greek which was tasty. The chicken kebabs were super, unfortunately the steak was unsavory. My friend asked hers to be well done and there was blood running out of it. My steak was cooked medium and that was on point.The problem was the meat tasted old, flavorless and had an after taste of liver. One of the staff noticed that my friend had removed the steak from her plate and asked if there was something wrong. I told him about the problem and he immediately offered to replace it with the chicken. "Out of sight". At certain restaurants you know what to order and what not to order, we will stay with the chicken---it is delicious. All is well at the Caspian.
(3)Niana K.
Dinner tonight was perfect. The joojeh (cornish hen) kabob was so tender and moist, and it didn't have too much char like a lot of other kabob places have. I would order this again in a heartbeat. I also substituted the rice for a salad like one of the other yelpers suggested, and it was no problem at all. I wouldn't get the lamb and chicken kabob combo again though because the lamb was on another level whereas the chicken kabob was on the dry side. Good thing they gave us a generous portion of yogurt sauce to dip it in. I would just stick with ordering the lamb kabob. I was really impressed by the complexity of flavors from the marinate and seasoning on the lamb. It was also cooked perfectly, There was a sign by the door offering a complementary glass of house wine with an order of a platter from Sunday-Thursday. I guess I'll be back on a weekday.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Caspian is not my typical food choice, since the people I like to eat with are not always the most adventurous people. However, Since it was Father's Day, Kabobs it was. For Father's Day, they had Live Music and Belly Dancing which was really cool. I got the Lamb Kabobs, and I wanted to mention that they serve Gyros here. It's not on the menu but, if you ask about it, they will serve it to you. The Gyro is huge too! My sister really liked it. The Yogurt Dip was better than I've had in many places, I think because it was a little thinner that I usually see it served and I liked it better that way. Service was good. They were attentive, but we did have to get their attention several times to get water. It didn't really take away from the experience, so over all this place gets a 4. I think I like it better than Moby Dick's only because it's a real restaurant and not self serve.
(4)K M.
Decided to give Caspian Grill a try on Saturday evening and to view some belly dancing. I can say this is my new favorite Persian restaurant beating the great Shamshiry. The owners are great and we spoke to them and they offered to show us their kitchen. I was shocked to see how clean their kitchen was. The filet mignon and chicken was the best I had in the DMV. Belly dancing was great too. Everything was perfect. They deserve more than 5 stars.
(5)S. O.
Unlike Moby Dicks or your other kabob joints, Caspians is a sit down restaurant. We usually get the kubideh platter with rice. It's good and slightly cheaper than Moby Dicks maybe due to the fact that it's a full service restaurant. This place is located close to Red Door Spa in the Kentlands shopping center. The taste is comparable to Moby Dicks. It's a good alternative if you want to switch it up once I'm awhile.
(4)A N.
Amazing! First of all, I'm Persian, so I know what good Persian food is supposed to taste like. With all due respect to those people who refer to Moby Dick, Moby Dick is to quality Persian food as McDonald's is to quality American food. It's a fine, but it's fast food and just okay. But this place was wonderful. It was the quality and portions of an upscale Persian restaurant but with an affordable and reasonably priced menu. They even had a few options for my not so adventurous friends. First of all, Persian food isn't that adventurous or exotic (for those who are afraid). We have wonderfully seasoned meat served with fluffy long grain rice. The seasonings are fairly normal, it's just that most American restaurants don't put that much time or effort to season or marinade their meat... but a good Persian restaurant does (especially this one). The only thing that was mediocre was their tadig, it tasted a bit stale.... but most non-Persians wouldn't order that any way. The doogh was wonderful too! I can't say enough nice things about this place. I wish I lived closer so I could dine there more often. A helpful tip for those of you who are on a diet or don't eat rice: Just ask them to replace the rice with salad (or do 1/2 and 1/2). This way you're getting the wonderful meats but not as many carbs. Nooshe Jan!!!
(5)Shana K.
I got lunch takeout on a rainy day and no one was in the restaurant. Usually, I would take an empty house as a bad sign, but I was hungry and have been wanting to try their kabobs. I got the Kubideh lunch special and asked for it "with naan". Maybe I wasn't clear enough, because I wanted the kabob with the rice and a side of naan. What I got was the kabob on a giant piece of soggy pita-like bread. The homemade ice tea and the meat was amazing, but the yogurt sauce had a hair in it. Big bummer.
(3)Josh B.
Terrible service, bad music, uncomfortable setting and mediocre food. Definitely not going back.
(1)Alain H.
Had a great night here, their "Bademjoon Stew" is delicious. The food is very good, but they should work on their service! We also tried their dessert and it was authentically great ;) I would surely go back here again.
(4)Jeff O.
Had dinner there last night (Sunday). They had sign up by the from door that each entree got a free glass of house wine Sun through (Thursday I think?). Nice and clean restaurant and restroom. Food was excellent. They brought warm pita and cucumber dill sauce when we sat down. It was excellent. The hummus app was creamy and tasty. We both got the lamb kabob. I got half rice and half salad with the dinner. My wife got all rice. The 1/2 and 1/2 was the way to go. There was plenty of each. I didn't even finish the rice. The basmati rice and lamb were excellent. The salad was very good. The service was very good until it was time to leave. Took a few minutes to get the waitresses attention away from her phone. Definitely going back.
(4)Nikhil P.
Good food. Moderately priced. Great service. The restaurant was packed on a friday evening but the wait staff was very courteous and ensured that we didn't have to wait too long. The belly dancer was a welcome addition as well. The ambience is average but the food made up for it. Enjoyed the persian soup, Lamb Chops and Chicken sheesh kabobs. Loved the yogurt and cucumber sauce. Wasn't a big fan of the hummus (was a little too salty for our taste) and the wine list could use some more additions.
(4)Natalie S.
Food is good and cheap. Great for a simple night out. Setting can be a little awkward as the restaurant is usually relatively empty and there is DJ music (and sometimes belly dancers) that come around to your table. Love the salmon kabobs!
(4)Dee B.
I love me some kabobs, but I tend to gravitate toward Moby Dick, because they never disappoint and the prices are good (particularly when you consider not having to tip because MB isn't full service). But if you prefer a nicer, full service kabob experience, then Caspian is great. The chicken kabob I had was moist, the rice was good and not too buttery, and I liked that the salad was of better quality than at MB.
(4)Fatima S.
The service for single clients is horrible. There was another client besides me on another table and we both were treated like we were not there. Once the food was served, the waitress never came to check on me. When I was done with the entree, I had to wait a good 20 minutes for her to even look my way so I could ask for the check. She took another 10-12 minutes bring the check.
(1)Anita C.
My boyfriend and I usually order the Caspian combo (kubideh & chicken) when we come here. The naan is always nice, fresh, and soft. The kubideh is nicely seasoned, but I strongly dislike the chicken. The rice and chicken are much better at Moby Dick's, but Caspian's has a milder flavor akin to home cooking. I usually take it to-go to eat, but the host in the front is always really nice. You can tell they're trying to portray themselves as a nicer establishment, with a nicely decorated interior. Prices are about ~$9 for a meal. I'm a fan!
(4)Janira H.
Horrible service, tried to make a delivery order over the phone and got hung up on because the person taking my order felt I was taking to long, then when I called back because I thought we lost connection he yelled at me and said "im very busy just give me your order" so disrespectful. I'm glad I didn't get the chance to spend my money at this joint.
(1)Fara S.
Very good place to get halal kabobs! We go there often. Staff is friendly and food is always fresh!!! :)
(4)Steven R.
Great food. The filet kabob was great. Greek salad was as well. 4 or 4.5 stars. Service was good and music wasn't too loud, nice atmosphere.
(4)Adriana L.
Delicious food. We had dinner here. As soon as we sat down, they brought us warm homemade pita bread and their delicious yogurt sauce. So good! My husband had the super combo (delicious; I stole a little bit), our son the lamb kabob (really yummy - the rice was AWESOME), and I had the chicken shish kabob, which was perfect. The salads that came on the side were super fresh and perfectly seasoned. Service was efficient and very friendly. A great experience. We will back again for sure!
(5)Heidi A.
Simply amazing. Didn't know what to expect but absolutely loved the kabob platters. Highly recommend it!!
(4)Martha D.
I'm on some crazy minimal dairy, minimal gluten diet. So, when my family wanted to get dinner at Subway that night, I had to find something else. 2 doors down is Caspian's House of Kabob, full of plenty of options for folks like me! They have both dine-in and take out. Dining in on Friday and Saturday involves a Belly Dancer, something I'll have to bring my family back for :) There isn't a really comfortable place to wait for takeout so I'd call ahead or go in, order and then run an errand and come back. Takes about 10 minutes when they're not super busy. Anyway, the food is REALLY good. So good that my very unadventurous Dad has decided that he wants to start getting food from Caspian. Yay! I got the chicken shish kabob platter with rice and would certainly get it again. Spiced perfectly!
(4)Barney S.
I went to Caspian last Friday night, for the first time, for dinner with my wife and had great time. Our friends had recommended this place to us and said they have authentic persian food. When we first arrived there was a man playing very nice songs on a piano keyboard and later we got surprised with a Belly Dancing show. I never realized that Gaithersburg had any type of restaurant with entertainment. I ordered the caspian combo, which was chicken and ground beef with rice and my wife ordered the chicken with salad. The beef was very tasty and the chicken was cooked perfect. I did see many other dishes that looked very tasty as well and made sure to ask my waiter the names, so I will try them next time. We had a great time and would recommend it to anyone to try this place.
(5)John M.
Go there for lunch, and you can't get a better value for high quality food. For $8 you can a full meal that you can't finish. For dinner, a little more on the pricey stuff for the same stuff, but is has a good ambiance. Very good Persian food, not sure I have had better. At least not in this area.
(5)Henry M.
Service at late lunch was polite and friendly, but the communication was poor. Nice decor, and the owner was interested in how we enjoyed our meal. That said: best Cornish hen of any sort that I've ever had. Obviously grilled at a very high heat, it was marvelously browned, but juicy and tender. Great bread, very good rice,nice finely chopped salad with fresh lime dressing, and the best doogh (a yogurt drink like a salty lassi) that I have ever had. Much better than Moby's, which is a block away, and signifcantly better than Yetka in Rockville, even though Caspian doesn't have their tender, tasty tongue sandwich. Thanks to Al Vaz for the recommendation!
(5)Ade A.
Was thrilled that there was another place in the Kentlands that served kabobs. Was impressed with the large menu selection. Decided I would try something that would compare to Moby Dicks, the Kubideh. Moby Dicks kabobs are so much better! My order from Caspian was dry and almost tasteless. It probably didn't help Caspian's favor that they screwed up my order, giving me pita bread instead of rice. Anyways, I'm going to stick with Moby Dicks...they haven't disappointed yet!
(2)Heather J.
I love this place. I used to go all the time when I worked in Rockville, and it never disappointed. The servers (may also be the owners?) are super friendly. The pita bread they serve is addictive, and they often bring extra yogurt sauce when they notice you're running low. I love the chicken kebab and usually order it with half rice/half salad. I am looking forward to my next trip back!
(5)Elizabeth M.
The DC suburbs are awash in kabob restaurants -- many of them good. And the Kentlands has more than it's share; there's a Moby Dick's right across the parking lot from Caspian, and Moby Dick's is tasty and cheap. But Caspian is a different experience altogether. To start with, it's got a wonderful, inviting atmosphere, with attractive decor and a cozy feel. My experience with the service has been that it was warmly welcoming and attentive, without being overbearing. But what really makes Caspian stand out, for me, is the menu. Most of the kabob places I've been have felt largely interchangeable ... the same menu everywhere. Caspian has all the usual items, but adds some wonderful depth to it's menu with items like Joojeh kabob (Cornish hen -- which was fantastic!), salmon kabob, pan-seared trout, and interesting daily specials. Entrees run from about $9 for a single kabob with rice or salad, up to about $19 for a 3-skewer combo.
(4)Joe M.
OK, maybe I am am idiot. I went here for either some beef or chicken kabob. What do I order, scallops?! So I am on a diet all the time and I see scallops and just react. So my plan was a mess from the start. I don't want to slam a place base in one meal, which probably isn't their strong suit, but Bonefish is right next door if I wanted fish. The scallops were small and a bit tough. Not a lot of flavor. The rice was very good, but the steamed veggies were just OK. The salad is not much to speak of, lettuce cucumber and tomato with a few carrot slices. Oil and vinegar. The atmosphere was very nice and clean and the service was excellent. I would probably go back to try what I set out to try initially. Based on the other reviews it may be best to stick with their strength. No scallops.
(3)Luis g.
Flavorful dishes, great service, good prices. I tried their Mast-o-Mousier, a gentle appetizer (minced shallots in a tasty yogurt base) and truly enjoyed it accompanied by a serving of their bread (not sure what it is called). I followed that great opening with their House special: Seafood Combo, a perfectly flavored dish of salmon, scallops and shrimp that brought together true middle-eastern seasonings and great grilling technique. They offer a complimentary glass of wine with dinner. Of course, I could not resist having a perfect glass of Chianti to celebrate this middle-eastern feast.
(4)Sina E.
I was invited here for dinner, so it was not my choice. However, I wasn't disappointed. I had Kubideh (beef kabob), and chicken kabob. The Kubideh was really juicy, and bigger than most places (like Moby D). The chicken kabob was tender, and was easy to break down. Everything was fresh. Ambiance and the decor were nice. The service was pretty good. We came during off hours, so it really wasn't that busy. This is definitely one of the better Persian Kabob places in the area.
(4)Jojo S.
Hit or miss. They tend to over-dry the chicken. Occasionally it comes out just nice, other times it's dry and tasteless. The fillet and kubideh are your best bets. Rice is fair for this kind of establishment but it does lack flavor. I also feel like their yogurt sauce often tastes "off" (don't know if that's a freshness issue or a ingredients proportion issue). I like their baklava though. My advise - don't expect much.
(3)Monkee C.
This was a nice find in Kentlands (though I haven't tried the other, numerous kabob-eries in the G-Burg yet). It's pretty cute and on the upscale end inside, despite the sub $10/15 menu range, with the only thing looking out of place is the to go pickup counter at the back - but that's really nitpicking. I ordered the caspian combo, which was one chicken and one kubideh kabob, plus rice or salad or half of each (salad was my jam this particular outing). The chicken was good, but the kubideh was really good, as was the salad and its dressing. Forgot to mention the hummus appetizer and pita, which were also tasty. Our server was extremely nice, though he looked like he just walked out of the shower (it was a little warm inside, but to be fair it was ridiculously hot outside for the time of year). Picked up a menu on the way out for future call in/pick up orders, something it looks like we'll be doing pretty often.
(4)Earl L.
As far as my experience with Persian food goes, I have only eaten at Moby Dick House of Kabob. Tonight however, my family and I visited Caspian House of Kabob. If anyone wants to know where the term "Shish Kabob" comes from, the term comes from Persian food--I used to erroneously use that phrase as a child. Caspian's menu includes chicken shish kabob, beef shish kabob, and even fish kabob. Regardless, Caspian's House of Kabob lives up to its claim of having "20 years experience in the restaurant industry" because all the dishes my family ordered were superb. The family-owned restaurant is clean and modern. The décor is sleek. There is an HDTV mounted on one of the walls; the tables are glossed, and table-side flowers are placed in a thin, tall vase. The lighting casts a nightly glow on the restaurant. As for the food, I ordered the Shishlick, which is a dish of four lamb chops marinated with the restaurant's special seasonings and "flame-broiled to perfection." The lamb chops certainly were flame-broiled. The thin bone that sticks out of the lamb meat snapped in half for two of the lamb chops because they were so burnt. However, the meat itself was not overcooked. The lamb meat was heavenly tender and juicy. I could see the fibers of the lamb meat cleanly stripping itself from the bone as I lavishly tore away at the dish. An incredibly nice crust also developed from the flame-broiling. There were patches of intense crunchiness but a more evenly spread out crust than not. The seasoning tasted somewhat fish-like but not in a negative way. The seasoning is definitely better than most other meat seasonings i've tasted. Also, I ordered my shishlick with salad because Caspian House of Kabob gives diners the option of order all-rice, half-rice and half-salad, or all salad. Such option is a relief for those who are careful about what they eat--since plain, white rice is nutritionally devoid compared to other whole grains. My dad ordered the ground chicken kabob which included a large amount of meat. The mustard colored chicken was soft and chewy. The seasoning, like the lamb chop seasoning, was tasty, but the texture of the ground chicken was somewhat of a disappointment. Overall, the ground chicken dish was a great value. Besides meat, Caspian House of Kabob serves a platter of euphorically delicious rice. Their rice is cooked to perfection, light, fluffy, and mildly salted. On top is a layer of yellow rice, and on the bottom is a mound of long-grain white rice. However, as a nutritionally-sound diner, I remind everyone to eat plain, white rice conservatively! As a whole, Caspian House of Kabob is a great place to eat at for a night out. Their prices are not overly cheap--most dishes are $12 and up--but some of the dishes are worth the price. If you like this, read more of my food writing at toastable.com !
(3)Paula N.
I love this place! I used to come here once every couple of weeks, then somehow forgot about this place. I came in today, and the guy still remembered me and my special order (1/2 salad, 1/2 rice with my kabobs -- and there's no extra charge for that). This place is so much better than other kebab restaurants. The minute you order, they hand you some of that flat bread and yogurt to munch on. At lunch, you get a drink free with your order. The meat (I always get the kubideh kabob), is 2X more than what you get at other places -- I always have to take some home. And it's soooo juicy. All this for $7.50 (at lunch) along with really friendly service -- what a great place!
(4)Jason L.
I have to give Caspian a downgrade because of a couple of reasons. One their prices are bit too high for the product they serve. A recent trip there set me back close to $60 (including tip) for two kabob meals and some hummus. Rice is dirt cheap and the meats they use are good quality but not uber expensive cuts. I make hummus regularly at home and it is better than Caspian's (and much cheaper) The menu needs to expand. The whole menu is basically rice and proteins.
(3)Lulu D.
The food here is good, I actually like it a lot. However I have had three or four carry out orders, out of maybe 8 that I have ordered in total, that were prepared wrong. I called to let them know about the amount of times it had been prepared incorrectly and they were not very receptive to providing a remedy or apologizing. After a little they agreed to give me a lunch on the house, but the next day I called about it and the Owner knew nothing about it and wasn't able to understand what I was talking about. He asked if I was persian and spoke farsi. I don't so I was excluded from being able to explain what happened. They did however still give me a lunch on the house when I called again the next day. So they at least also have good customer service. Just double check your orders when carrying out! And if you like spicy request it, it adds to the food!!
(4)Jeff B.
Very good kabobs at a decent price. I've ordered both take out and sit in. The service and the quality has been consistently good. My wife likes the lamb kabobs, which seem to be cooked perfectly (never too dry). I usually order the chicken, which is also never dry. One of my favorite places in g'burg to go for kabobs. I also recommend their tabouleh salad which is always very fresh.
(4)Lia M.
Everything was great about this restaurant. Service was friendly & attentive. The owners are so welcoming. The bf & I both had the lamb kabob with rice & salad and it was delicious. I do wish our server had told us the roasted tomato did not come with the rice/salad combo (you get one if you order the rice only), as that is one of my favorite parts of Persian food. We also ordered the hummus, which was awesome, especially with the warm pita bread. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Bill P.
Caspian does it just right...Javan in Bethesda block from work (expensive and white table-clothed) went under so I need me some NEW Persian......this one in Kentlands close to where I live. Owner very friendly and truly interested in your experience.....server very quick and friendly. Falafel and yogurt to start very yummy and comes to you quickly...... Got the combo $17 of chicken and lamb......very tasty and tender...... Balsamic rice and salad on the side......it is a good deal just the amount of food for a satisfying meal...... Moby Dick is more fast food style and crowded plus Bethesda is ok but Kentlands meh....... Will be back again and again esp. when can't get at bar at Bonefish :) They have take out and delivery which looks busy too......
(5)Heike Y.
The food is good and fresh Persian food. The services is friendly and the belly dancer on the weekends is a cute touch. The price is right and the portions generous. I go there anytime and my family enjoys it too.
(5)Darrin L.
Good food, great atmosphere, super friendly staff. I'm a fan of the lamb combo. The lamb shank (when it is available as the daily special) is good too. Gyros can be a little dry. Regular eat out/take out lunch or dinner.
(4)Shieva R.
This place has amazing kabab!!! By far the best in the area! It seems very unassuming next to a fast food restaurant and set up as one its self, but the kabab is some of the best around honestly!
(5)Laura D.
Loved the atmosphere. The belly dancer and live music were a great addition to our meal. I wish I could tell you what we ordered, but our friend did the ordering. If I had to guess, we essentially had most of what's on the menu on our table. Everything we had was delicious! The service was outstanding and we really enjoyed our meal. We'll be back!
(4)choad x.
$18 for the super combo. Still hungry afterwards, although the belly dancing and packed house on a Friday night bumps the stars up by one. I bet yelp is going to remove this review for some extra cash.
(3)Derryk A.
THOOM... SHARRAH RAH RAH THOOM.... THOOM SHARRAH SHARRAH THOOM goes the beat of the music. Some low tone zagahreets from some of the ladies in the crowd and very loud AYWAHs from some of the men.... Well okay mainly from me as I stood and cheered on the fiery red head beauty as she gyrated and twisted her way around the tables of the onlookers who are at their tables dining. She is performing her dance worthy of a Sultan or at least an honored guest. What lead us here today was that I wanted to do something a little different for wife's birthday but neither of us felt like venturing down to the city today. Yet I still wanted her to enjoy the evening in something different than just diner and a movie. So I've been meaning to bring her here for sometime now and on Friday and Saturday nights they have live entertainment in the form of Belly dancers. Located out in the very planned out mini town of the Kentlands out in Gaithersburg lies this little Persian/mideastern restaurant serving up kabobs and other great eats at fair prices. Typical entrees start in at about $10.00 and up to about $19.00 for a super combo. Best to order up a bottle of vino, better than by the glass and that way it makes the dance even more spirited. There was a couple of uptights there that should have had 3 bottles cause they acted like they did not appreciate the fabulous entertainment. Another large table was having what appear to be a small engagement dinner/party of about 12 or so people. So they can easily accommodate dinner parties of that size. Reservations are not required but on a Saturday with a large party then yes it would be best. If you can speak a little farsi then you are in like Flynn with the staff a show of respect and understanding for the culture goes a long way here. Good wait staff lots of attention very friendly. Our starter was a plate of "dolmeh" stuffed grape leaves in which wife didn't like at all. I thought they were good but too straight out of the fridge cold, no more than room temp would be preferred. Pita with dip could have been a little more brick oven fresh but quite nice none the less. Super combo consisted of nice moist chicken kabob, perfectly cooked kubideh kabob (ground lamb) and simmering tasty marinated filet steak kabob over Basmati Saffron Persian rice. Wife had grilled shrimp kabob of course which was about seven large grilled shrimp on a skewer over basmalti rice that had nice strong flavor, really good. Vegetables were only regular house salads with both our dishes nothing unique there. Good flaky Baklava and if you never had it before Persian ice cream makes for a very different tasting desert than what you might be use to flavored with saffron, rosewater, and chunks of heavy cream. Persian tea (be sure to drink it the Persian way with the sugar cube between your front teeth while sipping the tea) is a good way to finish out the dinning. Followed by further hip popping body twisting shimmies of the red hot bellydancer and joining in the dance is my way to finish the evening. Over all wife loved it despite the grape leaves and I loved that wife had a great experience there. So excellent we'll be back on another Friday or Saturday around the 8 O'clock hour. Daughtary kubaum.
(4)R S.
Great intimate restaurant in the heart of Kentlands shopping center. Excellent bread, hummus and kabobs. Priced very reasonable and service is spotty. FYI. Bellydancer is only on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8pm.
(4)