Samira E.
Yelp
I don't typically write reviews, but my recent experience at Divan was so awful that it warrants public feedback. As someone who usually praises restaurants, this review serves as a stark warning about the flavorless food and horrendous General Manager and Chef.
We had made a reservation for eight well in advance, for my sister-in-law's birthday. Though she is from Bangladesh, one of her favorite foods is koobideh, and she was excited to try a new Persian restaurant in the area. I'm Persian-American and enjoy exploring local Persian cuisine to see different takes on classic dishes, so I was also eager. Sadly, from the moment we arrived, the evening went downhill.
Upon arrival, we sensed subtle disrespect from the staff. Despite reserving well in advance, we were seated in a dim and unpleasant area near the kitchen, away from the open and inviting dining area. Our table appeared hastily assembled with metal bistro chairs (the type typically used outdoors) and outdoor tables hidden under a tablecloth. It felt like an afterthought, as though they weren't prepared for us.
The problems only escalated when drinks arrived. Our cocktails were served warm with no ice and were so overpowering they were undrinkable. After requesting ice, they were still terrible--one guest even switched to juice, and I settled for a different drink that wasn't much better.
As for the food, it was abysmal. Starters like the Grilled Octopus were passable but unremarkable. However, several of the entrees were unacceptable. I ordered Cioppino, which arrived smelling rancid, with seafood so off-putting I couldn't stomach it. The Saffron Basmati Rice was flavorless and dry, lacking the buttery richness it should have had. The koobideh was enjoyed by the birthday girl, and another guest liked the Mahechay (braised lamb shank), but these were the only highlights. The Barg, however, was undercooked and shockingly pink despite being ordered medium well, and another guest described it as flavorless and unseasoned. Most of us left our plates untouched, but we received little attention from the server throughout the meal, making it difficult to voice our concerns.
Toward the end of the evening, I approached the General Manager to provide constructive feedback privately, hoping to salvage some dignity for the restaurant. To my disbelief, the manager--dressed in a tan suit and bow tie--reacted by yelling at me. He dismissed my concerns, raised his voice, and accused me of being the problem, citing the restaurant's many satisfied customers. His aggressive behavior was so shocking that I backed away toward my table. At this point, my family noticed the commotion and the interaction became humiliating. He stormed off, huffing that he would fetch the owner.
The owner, Cyrus, arrived shortly after and handled the situation professionally. He was apologetic, comped my Cioppino and rice, and offered complimentary desserts and tea for the table. While I appreciated his effort to make amends, the damage was already done. The night could have ended there, but it got worse.
As we were enjoying dessert, the chef approached our table uninvited, speaking to me in Farsi condescendingly and defensively. He insinuated that I was ignorant, claiming the Cioppino was supposed to smell the way it did and implying that I should have ordered something else if I didn't like how seafood is supposed to smell and taste. His arrogance and chauvinism were astounding. He also began to raise his voice at me, escalating the situation to the point where Cyrus had to intervene again to calm him down.
By the end of the night, I felt disrespected, uncomfortable, and still hungry. Despite Cyrus' efforts, the overwhelming rudeness of the staff--most of all the manager and chef-- as well as the low quality, flavorless food left a lasting impression. I ended up paying $40 for a mediocre octopus and a lackluster drink, which felt like a complete waste, given the dreadful quality and experience of the night.
This was hands-down the worst dining experience I've ever had, and I would not recommend Divan to anyone. While Cyrus' professionalism was appreciated, it wasn't enough to redeem this disaster of a night. There are far better Persian restaurants with higher quality ingredients and a much better value in the DMV, especially in the Tysons/Mclean area--avoid Divan at all costs.
