So-So Food For Sheezy: Deezi's Cafe Persia in San Jose

[katya]

We met up with some friends to go to Zeni, but then when we arrived Zeni was closed for Ethiopian Easter. We noticed the new Persian restaurant storefront a few doors down and ate there instead. (Note: Zeni is supposed to be open Sundays but this is the third time I’ve been burned trying to eat there, and oddly, the second time I ate Persian food nearby instead.)

At Deezi’s my husband was the most impressed with the high def TV. I was the most impressed with the complimentary starter of feta, herbs, a large raw onion, and bread to wrap it all in. I’ve only seen that before at Shalizaar (my favorite Persian restaurant). What were none of us were impressed by? Sadly, the kabobs.

There’s not a lot ambiance-wise going on except for the giant TV. You order at the counter and wait for your order to be brought to your table. It was really hot inside but then again we went on a day with record temperatures.

The people who worked here couldn’t have been nicer. One even brought us a complimentary order of Mast-O-Musir (a yogurt spread with shallots) which we agreed was the best part of the meal.

My husband and I sampled the menu. We shared a small Shirazi salad ($2.99), which consisted of tomatoes and cucumbers and was fine but wasn’t really anything other than an antidote to all the beef. We also had a small Tah Dig with Ghormeh Sabzi ($5.99). For the uninitiated, Tah Dig is the crunchy bottom of the rice bowl and Ghormeh Sabzi is a beef stew that goes on top. It tastes better than it sounds. Usually. I have to say this was the worst Tah Dig that we’ve had. The stew was runny and the rice was loose and broke apart. (That description sounded way more fecal than I intended.)

We got a large order of Koobideh ($8.99) which was ridiculously big – two skewers when we could have gotten by with one. Their Koobideh consists of two skewers of spiced ground beef. It was moist but lacked flavor. It was definitely the best kabob ordered, however. My friends thought the chicken in their Joojeh Kabob ($13.99) was dry. I thought it was moist but again, lacked flavor. Their sirloin kabob (I can’t remember the name but it was about $15.99), was the biggest disappointment, especially for the price. The beef was chewy and not tender at all.

The portion size of all the food was truly impressive for all the food and we came nowhere near eating everything. The prices are high, however, for the ambiance and food quality.

The lesson to be learned is to go to Yas for Persian food next time Zeni is closed (and there will be a next time – “Ethiopian Easter” my ass!). But stopping in at Deezi’s for Mast-O-Musir isn’t a bad plan either.

2 stars for entrees + 1 star because of nice people here and Mast-O-Masir and complimentary herbs/feta = 3 stars out of 5

My Persian Rankings

1. Khayyam's - Albany (the master - now closed - against which all Persian restaurants will forever be judged)
2. Pomegranate - Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Concord (great barg and joojeh kabob with zereshk polo; pomegranate chicken is good but sweet taste can be cloying)
3. Shalizaar - Belmont (I've only been to the old San Mateo location)
4. House of Kabobs - Sunnyvale
5. Chelokababi - Sunnyvale
6. Yas - San Jose (really impressive selection of polos - but other food is just OK)
7. Afghan Persian Kabob - Sunnyvale
8. Leila - San Francisco
9. Kabob House Halal - Santa Clara
10. Rose Market - Mountain View
11. DEEZI’S CAFÉ PERSIA – SAN JOSE
12. City Kabob, Sunnyvale
13. Alborz - Berkeley
14. Kabob House - Pleasant Hill
15. Bijan - Fremont (food too oily, and stews either too sweet or too ketchup-y)

Melanie Wong's "Deezi Café – Persian in Campbell"
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/388129

hhc's "Deezi's Cafe Persia (Persian), San Jose - Anyone try it?"
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/621999

Deezi's Cafe Persia
1312 Saratoga Ave.
San Jose, CA 95130
[phone]

[rworange]

Was it 19 Apr? Ethiopian Easter ... and other holidays to check for
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/86/public_holidays/Africa/Ethiopia.html

Fasika
http://bluenileforawhile.blogspot.com...

[Melanie Wong]

Thanks for checking it out. Sorry to hear about the kabob experience . . . Persian kabobs aren't highly seasoned, so texture, charring and moistness are even more paramount.

[katya]

True. Koobideh is one of my standbys at Persian restaurants and I prefer the versions at House of Kabobs, Kabob Afghan & Persian (only good thing I tried there; restaurant goes by a few different names), and Chelokababi. Coincidentally all are in Sunnyvale.