David K.
Yelp
Komaaj has won accolades for its authentic Northern Iranian cuisine, which is centered on the use of herbs and sour/acidic flavors from ingredients like sumac, yogurt, lime, and pomegranate. The colorful salads/starters were a great way to start the meal, and we had the Cucumber Salad (Khiaar Dalar) made of chopped Persian cucumbers, radishes, and barberries with a green Dalar dressing (made of herbs) and topped with seeds; and the Naz Khatoun Dip, made of pureed roasted eggplant, walnuts, and pomegranate juice. But my favorite starter was the Beet Yogurt (Maast Labou), a thick, creamy pink-purple puree of red beets, yogurt, labneh, sumac, and herbs, served with crunchy squares of Naan Sangak (whole wheat flatbread) on the side.
For our main dishes, the Smoked Trout (Maahi Doudi) was topped with pomegranate molasses and served with Herb Rice (Sabzi Katteh) made with chopped dill, chives, and parsley; but my personal favorite was the roasted Smoked Salmon Belly, served with yogurt sauce and Turmeric Rice (Katteh Zard). Their signature dish was the Sour Chicken Stew (Morghe Torsh), which came with tender roasted chicken thighs in a walnut and herb stew, which had a distinctly sour, herbaceous flavor. Each of the entrees was served with herbs. greens, and slices of raw carrots and radishes on the side, whose bitterness balanced out the other flavors. Overall, this was a fantastic meal featuring a complex amalgamation of flavors, and the quality of ingredients, the service, and the elegant atmosphere were top notch!