198472 Mon Dec 16 18:58:39 -0800 2002 2 18 Manhattan 0 1058475 I'm looking for authentic Persian cuisine. I've tried Persopolis and it's good but not as imaginative as some of the dishes I've had in Iran. Any suggestions? Thanks. Mon Dec 16 18:58:39 -0800 2002 0 Robert R 1 1058479 Go to Great Neck, LI. Largest Persian community in the tri-state area. Plenty of Persian restaurants there. Mon Dec 16 19:21:58 -0800 2002 1058475 0 Nina 1 1058488 There's no cooking like home cooking... that said, my Persian husband's favourite restaurant in NYC is Ravagh at 11 E 30th St (212-696-0300). Their khask bademjan (roasted eggplant with yogurt) is sublime. For that matter, their eggplant khoresht (stew) with tiny sour grapes is very good too. Avoid too-sweet fesenjan (chicken with walnut-pomegranate sauce). OK kebabs, but since the place is/was kosher the chelow (Persian rice with a golden crust) is mediocre, made with oil and not butter. Worse, the crust appears to be based on (the horror) Wonder Bread. Perseopolis is uninspired. There is Patoug out on the Horace Harding Expressway that I have been to for large group dinners, but it wasn't better than competent. If you like kebabs in an informal setting, try Chio Pio Uzbek in Brighton Beach (3087 Brighton 4th St, 718-615-9221). The kebabs are very genuine, and their lagman (garlic/coriander lamb soup with homemade noodles, vegetables) is the best soup I've had in forever. Farsi is spoken. Modest but enjoyable. P.S. If you want to try cooking yourself, you can buy ingredients at Nader or Pars on 27th Street or Kalustyan's at Lex and 28th. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/195705#1044786 Mon Dec 16 20:18:37 -0800 2002 1058475 0 plum