You might say The Pomegranate is responsible for turning exotic Iranian dishes like fesenjaan and aloo gheysi into household names for Torontonians. Danielle Schrage, co-owner and front of house manager, has collaborated with her husband Alireza Fakhrashrafi, co-owner and head chef, to reinvent the Iranian dining experience.
Danielle met Alireza (who is originally from Tehran) while immersed in Iranian Studies. After collaborating together on an Iranian print magazine, the couple decided to explore the cultures’ tastes more literally. Both were from academic backgrounds with no formal training in the restaurant business. Alireza “just happened to be a really good, obsessive cook,” Danielle explains. She recalls that her friends were concerned about their decision to open a restaurant, but their skepticism was only fuel for the fire. “Nobody had confidence in us,” Danielle laughs.
The couple approached the endeavor as researchers — observing the history, listening to peoples’ stories and experiences and recreating that for their community. With the knowledge, talent and passion, surely they had the right ingredients to make this work.
The Pomegranate on College Street first opened in 2004 and is now one of three restaurants owned by the duo. Of the three, this is the place for authentic home-style slow cooking as enjoyed in Iran.
maast-e saadeh
fresh creamy yogurt dusted with dried mint and rose petals
maast-o khiar
a blend of English cucumber, walnuts, raisins and rose petals in a rich creamy herbed yogurt.
maast-o museer
delicious creamy yogurt sprinkled with shallots.
spinach borani
dip of sautéed spinach, garlic and creamy yogurt.
kashk-e bademjaan
charred eggplant, persian whey, garlic and walnuts topped with crispy onion.
mirza qasemi
charred eggplant in a mildly spicy garlic tomato sauce.
noon-o paneer-o gerdu
creamy feta cheese, black kalamata olives, herbs and walnuts served with warm Barbary bread.
dolmeh (4 pcs.)
the ultimate in stuffed vine leaves with a lemony blend of rice and herbs (4 pieces).
zeitoon parvardeh
vegetarian caviar – a tapenade of green olives marinated in a pomegranate walnut sauce with a generous amount of fresh garlic.
pickled pleasures
pickled persian gherkins, aged garlic, shallots and a mixture of traditional vegetable torshi.
salad shirazi
english cucumber, red onion, and juicy tomato salad topped with herbs in an olive oil lime vinaigrette
the pom salad
our house salad – greens topped with feta cheese, walnuts, barberries, kalamata olives & veggies.
aloo gheysi
a stew of bokhara plums and dried apricots in a saffron sauce with boneless chicken pieces
qeymeh
a tomato-based tangy stew of yellow split peas, lamb chunks and dried lime topped with cinnamon.
mirza qasemi
charred egglplant purée in a mildly spicy garlic tomato sauce served with saffron basmati rice.
adas polo
lentils, dates and sultana raisins blended into a saffron basmati rice topped with crispy onion with barberries
morasa polo
jewelled rice – slivers of seville orange peel, almond and pistachio with diced carrots and barberries blended in saffron basmati rice served with a braised lamb shank
fesenjaan
a smooth rich stew of ground walnut and pomegranate syrup served beside a plate of saffron basmati rice
baqali polo
dill and large green fava beans blended into saffron basmati rice, served with a braised lamb shank, persian pickles
Drinks
House Wines, White Wines, Red Wines, Sparkling
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I've been to Pomegranate and its twin brother Sheherzade many times with different people. The place is simply amazing. They serve a very authentic Persian food made out of organic ingredients - it simply tastes like heaven! The atmosphere is very special too. You feel like you are in a museum. The walls and the tables are filled with hand-made art and old Iranian photographs so it makes you want to learn more about the ancient Iranian culture. The only downside is that it's very small so always make a reservation.
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