Hector was doing his Mr. Snax impersonation today: Starter in one place, Main Course in another.
Sholeh Persian Restaurant (146 Nelson Street Glasgow G5 8EJ) was open mid-afternoon which is certainly in its favour. The Lovely Waitress was mopping the floor as Hector entered. She explained the rain meant people were trailing in muddy footprints. So much for Summer,
Located directly across the road from The Village, Hector studied the Menu for Sholeh on his last visit there. The section of the Menu entitled – Meat Khoresht – had potential. Persia, Iran shares a border with Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the Geographical Source of Hector’s Favourite Cuisine, surely Hector was in for a treat?
I briefly occupied a table for two while the floor dried, then took a booth at the window. Hector voluntarily sat at the window? To sit and gaze across to The Village was full of irony, the vast number of Meals consumed there, and the now preference for the outstanding Karahi Palace just along the road. Nelson St., Tradeston will be re-born, one day.
Sholeh? I had to ask. Flame – I was informed. Down to business.
The Ghormeh Sabzi (£8.50) ticked all of Hector’s boxes. Slow cooked Lamb, Parsley, Fenugreek, Sun-dried Lime, Coriander, Chives, Red Kidney Beans (?). This read like a Classic Hector Curry, Lamb with Herbs, The Bradford Curry?
Naan was the only Bread on the Menu. I asked if others were available, and so Rice it was. Hector cannot do a Naan justice on his own.
Hector has dined in these premises in a previous incarnation, they served very average Curry, not a good idea at this locus. The mezzanine remains, the layout is quite contemporary, very well done.
The waitress brought the Ghormeh Sabzi holding it carefully in two hands. Soup! In fact Soup would be an understatement. Suppose The Man from Bradford had been served this.
A very Dry, Sesame Seed topped Naan then arrived. No Rice? In our discussion about Bread the Waitress had evidently put me down for both. The Naan was offered but declined, I could not eat all that, anyway, the Soup would need the Rice. A large portion of Boiled Rice was brought in an instant.
The Lamb was very Tender, but there was not much of it – a Village Portion? There was a floater, this was half a Lime. Green Soup. This Dish simply did not look attractive. It was lacking in Seasoning, Spice had also been overlooked. As I have written many times about Afghan Cuisine, is it really Curry? Maybe this was never meant to be. I was here for something different, this was Different. I didn’t like it. When had Hector ever written these words? I found the Flavour emanating form the Green Soup to be unpleasant at times, Musty. Always seeking a variety of Textures, the Red Kidney Beans were too much of a juxtaposition for the tender Lamb. This did not suit the Hector Palate at all.
The Waitress had to ask, I had to convey my disappointment.
I don’t know how you could use all these ingredients and end up with this. Is Parsley the dominant ingredient?
She mentioned – Herbs. Indeed, the Flavour was recognisable, it’s what is served in the poorest of German Curry Houses when they include Spinach that had been cooked forever.
I don’t think the Lamb and Beans work together. I came for something different.
The Bill
£10.80. £2.30 for the Sparkling Water.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was accepted. The waitress then realised that I would be writing this review. She admitted that some like this Dish and some do not. It remains one of their more popular dishes.
I said I would be fair, after all, this is just one reviewer who happened not to like this particular Dish. I could have had a Kebab, but IMHO there’s nothing Special about cooking a Kebab.
The Fesenjan does sound delicious!
Further Research
Other sources inform me that Ghormeh Sabzi is the Iranian National Dish. Google Images show this Dish in a variety of forms, even Dry, but no other image has it as Wet as Hector was served today.
Zwarg!