Mahdi Restaurant

We normally don’t go to the cinema around Hammersmith but this night we were meeting a friend that night as well so decided to pick a place in between where we live. I haven’t been out much around Ravenscourt Park so of course had to Unilocal search a few options. We decided to pick Mahdi since we usually don’t have the option of having Persian and there’s a Unilocal check in offer for 20% off!
We got there quite early for dinner time so we don’t feel too rushed — it was already starting to look busy around 6:30 for a Tuesday night. This place looks very promising. I checked in but unfortunately they didn’t honor the Unilocal offer — after contacting Unilocal to update this, seems like there’s nothing to be done? Who knows maybe its under new management? Oh well.
Between me and my husband, we order hummous to start which was great as it gave us a nice selection of flatbreads and the mixed grill for 2. The hummous was really good and great way to start out the meal. For the main, they brought out a huge — what looks like a party platter. I had to ask — is this really the mixed grill for two? To me it looked more like a plate for 4. Working through each of the meat, I really liked the lamb chop and the kebab. The chicken and beef was good too especially with the dips on the side. We were stuffed so asked for takeaway containers… We had enough leftover to have a really good lunch the next day.
If we had room for dessert, the selection looked great. Next time for sure!

We went to a very good value for money Persian restaurant, where they bake their own bread and the lamb shank is to die for.

I came here the other day because Unilocal gave me a 20% discount after I checked in here. But after we arrived, they said the discount not real working there, made me a kind of disappointed. But they will serve all customers some free pancakes and sauce for that, which will feed you up. And the original prices there are quite reasonable, didn’t cost us lot even without discount.

If there’s a better value lunchtime meal out there, march me to that place immediately.
A large skewer of deliciously grilled juicy chicken, a mountain of perfectly fluffy rice, two halves of grilled tomato, a basic fresh crispy salad, sweet chilli and a creamy delicious sauce to liberally apply… Wait for it…
I said wait…
£5.95.
That’s five pounds and ninetyfive pence.
Swap the chicken out for a delicious juicy lamb mince skewer instead for £6.50. Or if there are two of you, order one each and share. Remember, if she cuts, you choose.
You can order starters if you want (fresh baked flat bread is great. cold starters are fairly standard) but you may do a Mr Creasote half way through.
Delicious meal, bonkers price. Service is swift and sure, décor will feel a little challenging for some. If you’re one of them, just stare into your plate of yumminess instead, or gaze at the bill. More appealing than the stuffed peacock or the carpets draped over the benches.
Double the service charge out of guilt and still walk out feeling like Dick Turpin. Highway robbery. Bonza.

Brilliant food ruined by abysmal service. Put stuff on the bill that we didn’t order and then were abusive and rude when challenged.

Went here for a bday party. Large selection of lamb and chicken kebabs. Good quantity of food. Great value for money. But they don’t accept cards. They prefer all payment in cash. Apart from that everything is good. Good staff too. Made sure we were served promptly and cleaned up finished dishes regularly. Us being a large group we got good attention.
Would love to go there again.

This place was busy and glad that we booked, since we did have a large party. The food was good and the staff were really friendly. My highlight of my evening has to be the Nan which was freshly baked, which was nice on its own or with homous.
We a few of the mixed grills which come in the choice of being served for 2 people or 3 people. We ordered all ours to be for 3 people but it can be shared between 4 people. The mixed grills consisted of grilled lamb fillet, grilled chick fillet, grilled minced meat and grilled chick on the bone. This was all served with saffron rice with barberies and grilled tomatoes. My favourite of the grills has to be minced meat followed by the grilled lamb fillet. The chicken was nice but found it dry which you expect being grilled.
The meal was great served with Iranian aromatic tea and to warm up in the cold winter weather.
You will walk out not feeling hungry as the food is good and a decent portion size!

I have now dined here three times in as many weeks. Always had the usual starters followed by mix grills. The grills are par excellence being cooked and flavored to perfection. The prices are very reasonable too and don’t provide the usual London shocks. Definitely worth a visit. Always very busy so either book or expect a short wait.

I have been fortunate to have had some really excellent Persian food at restaurants in London and around the world, but unfortunately, Mahdi is not one of them. I found the food very subpar. I had the kubideh (minced lamb kebab) and it was really mediocre. I would not return here.

This review is based on experience eating the finest Persian cuisine in a restaurant as well as home-made…I would not eat here…
After hearing about this place from colleagues etc… decided to recommend the place to family who had invited close friends from abroad where iranian restaurants are rare… Arrived at the restaurant around 5.30pm and the restaurant was practically EMPTY… Our party of 6 was seated at a dinky corner of the restaurant and when asked why here when there were better seats, the restaurant said it was ‘short notice’ and no booking was made! Errrr if the restaurant is empty then what difference does it make?! It does not say anywhere that bookings HAVE to be made in advance. Anyway, so as for the treatment of customers that gets a ⁰⁄₁₀ for NO COURTESY!
Then as the orders for food were made, the soltani (1 barg & 1 koobideh) was not cooked well! The barg, did not even look like barg and was sooo difficult to chew… not like chewing beef usually… and definitely not like Soltanis in other Persian restaurants around the city. SO food gets a ¹⁄₁₀ for quality and presentation.
Upon leaving the restaurant, which was still empty and thus the excuse of not having a reservation and coming in last minute was a load of bull-​poo because had the restaurant been fully booked by the time the party had left then it would be understandable but to see the restaurant the same upon leaving and ebtering is a disgrace and inexcusable.
Lastly, feedback from our foreign friends is that they would not like to dine here again and I dont blame them, I will not dine here either.
Back to the other more reputable Persian restaurants where you get quality food and service.
The family and I have been to many Persian restaurants globally, this has by far been the worst one ever.

There are many Persian restaurants in London and some seems better and more authentic than others in terms of taste, atmosphere and selection. Mahdi is in my book, yet, the best and most authentic Persian cuisine I have tried in London.
Somewhat over the top however authentically decorated Mahdi welcomes you with the pleasant aroma of freshly baked naan bread made in a clay oven located right next to the entry as soon as one walks in. Another factor adding to this hospitable atmosphere is the friendly, greeting and smiling staff.
The menu is huge and contains all the essentials as well as some more unusual dishes from the Persian kitchen. Divided in cold or warm you could use the starters to make up your own Meze or order the mixed starts containing any 5. Among the cold a definite star is salad oliveh the Persian version of the Russian Oliver salad. Among the warm starters and especially if you are a fan of aubergine you should try Mirza Ghasemi and or Kasheke Bademjan. Another somewhat unusual but ever so tasty starter is the crispy, and it is truly crispy, rice served with stew on top. Our group being famished felt however that the size of starters weren’t big enough for the prices asked in opposite to the mains where portions become truly huge.
Especially and ridiculously huge is the mixed grill for 3 that in fact is enough food for 5 adults easy. And what superb grilled platter this was in regards of tenderness, Persian cuisine at its best truly showing the meaning of «fall of the bone» or «melt in your mouth» chicken skews grilled over charcoal. The spring lamb fillet was equally well marinated and tasty as the chicken but more influenced by onion than lime which is used to marinate the chicken. The minced meat kebab in comparisons to the rest faded away even though there was nothing wrong with it. The steamed basmati rice served with saffron and somewhat unusual but yet so pleasant barberry on top could have been a little more al dente but that is perhaps my personal preference and not a kitchen mischief. Speaking of real mischiefs it is somewhat annoying when waiters having forgotten the bread order solve the problem by sharing a bread basket in between two different tables especially when it is not complimentary.

Best home made Persian cuisine and friendliest staff. Outstanding value, great portions and fantastic for groups. A true gem!

Got some kind of a stew with lamb and kidney beans. Expecting something tasty, but I just didn’t like it. The bread was amazing though.

My friends and i went after a whole day at the pub so we were very hungry and it did not disappoint. They give you freshly made bread (you can watch them making and cooking it) and yummy dips for starters. My main was a chicken grill and it was huge but very tasty. I would go back just for the cumin yoghurt they give you on the side!
As for service, we did not encounter any problems, it was just straightforward really. If they did complain about us being tight (as seems to be a problem judging from other reviews) then we were completely oblivious to it!
It seems to be a popular place which is impressive because there are so many restaurants around that area so the competition is fierce.
Just thought i might point out that the nearest tube is Ravenscourt Park not Green park as stated at the top. This restaurant is in Hammersmith!

A little gem of a place to eat some really delicious Persian food. Deceptive from the outside, it sits quietly on a corner of Hammersmith’s King Street. Inside it’s warm and welcoming, a great feel of space; you can tell fun was had with the décor!
We sat at the table by the window next to the giant samavar.
I started with a pot of tea, a plate of the must have fresh herbs (sabzee) and the yoghurt dips (mast– o– mooseer and mast — o– khiar) with a basket of freshly baked bread. This was followed by joojeh kabab (chicken fillets marinated in saffron and lemon juice served with grilled tomatoes and saffron topped rice). The chicken was juicy, tender and delicious.
The others were pleased with their kabab koobeedeh, makhsoos and joojeh kabab on the bone.
Really good food, excellent value and great service. I will be back!

Authentic Persian food. My Persian friend took us here and she has been going here for decades with her mom and grandma. Be forewarned – there is no booze and no BYOB here, so get ready for a sober evening of very good food and lots of cardamom tea.
The menu is dominated by lamb and is split between kabobs and stews. The kabobs are absolutely enormous and come with a plate of rice that could easily serve a family of five. The stews were interesting – I think you either love or hate the lamb with pomegranate sauce – but I found it to be divine.
The desserts were a bit on the bizarre side – some rose-​water infused ice cream with pistachios and this weird lemon and rosewater ices with rice noodles.
I guess for those who love Persian food it is a 5+, but some of the flavors take getting used to (even though I love Mediterranean food in general).
Affordable, good service, and good food.

If you’re looking for Persian food, THIS IS THE PLACE!!! You must try the mirza ghasemi (dip made from tomatoes & aubergine), noon (flatbread), and chelo kebab koubideh (minced lamb kebab with rice). It’s the best rice you’ll ever eat, and definitely the best Persian kebab you’ll ever come across. I’ve eaten at almost all the Persian restaurants in London and this is by far the best. It’s also incredibly cheap, especially seeing as the portions are massive — you could easily share a dish between two, or save half for tomorrow’s lunch. I go whenever I can and I live no where near! It is well worth the visit.
The map on this thing is wrong by the way — it’s a 5 minute walk from Hammersmith tube.

Food was delicious. My husband is Iranian and he really like it. Fresh traditional iranian bread is baking inside restaurant (very interesting). I didnt like crowd and not to much privacy.
In the middleof dinner my husband lost his good mood, because he heard what staff is talking about guests. Very rude things! They were talking in Persian language, so not everybody could understand.
We will never go there again.

Great selection of grilled meat, amazing freshly baked naan bread.
Though the butter rice tastes out of this world, it can’t be good for you, although I have a feeling I’ll be ordering again, no matter how hard I try to swerve it and go for the sensible salad option.
Definitely a good place to go if you’re hungry as the portions are very good.

Mahdi (‘The Guided One’) is a Persian/​Iranian restaurant near Hammersmith.
The food is fantastic, the portion are huge.
The only thing is that there is little privacy because of the sitting arrangement but the deco is nice.
The kebab grills are amazing, the fresh bread and the starters as well.