The kitchen's own picks
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Appetizers
The cold and the crisp, to open the table while the skewers are on the fire. Three yogurts, two dolmehs, the eggplant dips, and the things you scoop with lavash.
Maust o Khiar
Mixture of plain yogurt and chopped cucumber, flavored with mint.
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Maust o Moosier
Delicious plain yogurt flavored with chopped shallots.
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Maust Sadeh
Thick plain, homemade yogurt.
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Shirazi
A combination of fresh chopped cucumbers, tomato, onions, parsley and our delicious house dressing (olive oil and fresh lemon juice).
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Dolmeh
Cooked grape leaves, stuffed with rice, tarragon, onion, basil, parsley and fresh herbs.
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Falafel Plate
A combination of garbanzo beans with Mediterranean spices, mixed and deep fried to golden perfection, served with tahini dip and garlic sauce.
Butterfly Crunchy Shrimp
Hand breaded jumbo shrimp with clear tail.
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Calamari Ring
Wild caught, crispy panko breaded.
Mixture of plain yogurt and chopped cucumber, flavored with mint.
2 Maust o Moosier $5 / $10Delicious plain yogurt flavored with chopped shallots.
3 Maust Sadeh $5 / $10Thick plain, homemade yogurt.
4 Shirazi $5 / $10A combination of fresh chopped cucumbers, tomato, onions, parsley and our delicious house dressing (olive oil and fresh lemon juice).
Sautéed cooked baby eggplant, mixed with yogurt, flavored with sautéed onion, garlic and mint. Persian eggplant dip.
Charred baby eggplant blended with eggs, garlic and tomato.
Cooked grape leaves, stuffed with rice, tarragon, onion, basil, parsley and fresh herbs.
Cooked cabbage, stuffed with rice, tarragon, onion, basil, parsley and fresh herbs.
Blend of garbanzo beans, sesame tahini, garlic, fresh lemon juice and our special seasoning, served with bread.
Traditionally mixed and aged pickles, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant and herbs in grape vinegar.
Combination of fresh herbs, tomato, cucumber, olives, carrots, raisins, walnuts and feta cheese, served with bread.
Mixture of olives, walnuts, mint, cilantro, garlic, pomegranate molasses and olive oil.
Crunchy rice, topped with the stew of the day. Add extra topping $5.
A combination of garbanzo beans with Mediterranean spices, mixed and deep fried to golden perfection, served with tahini dip and garlic sauce.
Hand breaded jumbo shrimp with clear tail.
Wild caught, crispy panko breaded.
Salads
Shirazi, tabouli, and the house salad with dates in its pockets. Order one beside anything from the grill; the lemon cuts the saffron.
Shirazi
A combination of fresh chopped cucumbers, tomato, onions, parsley and our delicious house dressing (olive oil and fresh lemon juice).
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Tabouli
Mixture of chopped parsley, tomato, green onion, mint, lemon juice, bulgur, red onion and extra virgin olive oil.
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Greek Salad
Feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumbers, red cabbage, green pepper, and tomato on a bed of romaine lettuce with our house dressing (olive oil and vinegar).
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Darband Salad
Feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumber, red cabbage, green pepper, tomato on a bed of romaine lettuce with our house dressing (olive oil and vinegar). With walnuts, raisins and dates.
The dish →A combination of fresh chopped cucumbers, tomato, onions, parsley and our delicious house dressing (olive oil and fresh lemon juice).
21 Tabouli $14Mixture of chopped parsley, tomato, green onion, mint, lemon juice, bulgur, red onion and extra virgin olive oil.
Fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green pepper and red cabbage, with your choice of dressing.
Garden fresh romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, tomato, Caesar dressing, topped with Parmesan cheese.
Feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumbers, red cabbage, green pepper, and tomato on a bed of romaine lettuce with our house dressing (olive oil and vinegar).
Made with rich and creamy avocados, vibrant tomato, Persian cucumbers, bright red onions and mint.
Feta cheese, kalamata olives, cucumber, red cabbage, green pepper, tomato on a bed of romaine lettuce with our house dressing (olive oil and vinegar). With walnuts, raisins and dates.
Lunch Specials
One skewer, basmati rice, a garden salad, on the table fast. The same fire, the same marinade, a shorter wait.
Koobideh Kabob
One skewer of ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
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Chicken Kabob
One skewer of juicy charbroiled boneless chicken, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
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Cornish Hen Kabob
Delicious marinated chunks of Cornish game hen, skewered and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
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Salmon Kabob
One skewer of juicy salmon kabob, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
One skewer of ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
28 Chicken Kabob $16One skewer of juicy charbroiled boneless chicken, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
29 Cornish Hen Kabob $17Delicious marinated chunks of Cornish game hen, skewered and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
One skewer of juicy chunks of filet mignon, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
One skewer of juicy salmon kabob, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
One skewer of juicy mahi mahi, served with basmati rice and garden salad.
Beef
Six kabobs from the fire, in the order the kitchen would serve them: koobideh first, soltani last.
Koobideh Kabob
Two skewers of seasoned lean ground fillet charbroiled, served with fluffy basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
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Barg
Finest cut of beef tenderloin marinated in our delicious sauce, charbroiled to perfection, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
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Chenjeh
The most delicious and juicy chunks of tenderloin, skewered and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
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Soltani
Charbroiled juicy chunks of marinated tenderloin and a strip of seasoned ground beef, served with fluffy basmati rice and charbroiled tomato, onion and bell pepper.
The dish →Two skewers of seasoned lean ground fillet charbroiled, served with fluffy basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
Marinated chunks of filet mignon, skewered and charbroiled to perfection, served on a bed of fluffy basmati rice with charbroiled tomato, onion and bell pepper.
Finest cut of beef tenderloin marinated in our delicious sauce, charbroiled to perfection, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
36 Chenjeh $30The most delicious and juicy chunks of tenderloin, skewered and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
A combination of charbroiled finest cut of beef tenderloin and a strip of seasoned ground beef, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato, onion and bell pepper.
Charbroiled juicy chunks of marinated tenderloin and a strip of seasoned ground beef, served with fluffy basmati rice and charbroiled tomato, onion and bell pepper.
Chicken
Boneless chicken, chicken shish, Cornish hen, chicken barg and the chicken soltani. Saffron, lemon and yogurt in every marinade.
Boneless Chicken Kabob
Juicy chunks of charbroiled boneless chicken tender marinated in our special sauce, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
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Cornish Hen Kabob
Delicious marinated chunks of Cornish game hen, skewered and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
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Chicken Barg
Thick strips of juicy marinated charbroiled chicken breast, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
The dish →Juicy chunks of charbroiled boneless chicken tender marinated in our special sauce, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
Marinated juicy chunks of boneless tender with charbroiled onion and bell pepper, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
Delicious marinated chunks of Cornish game hen, skewered and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
42 Chicken Barg $27Thick strips of juicy marinated charbroiled chicken breast, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
Combination of one strip of seasoned ground beef sirloin and thick strips of juicy marinated chicken breast, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato, onion and bell pepper.
Lamb
Two plates. The shank that gives up the bone with a fork, and the rack you eat with your hands.
Baghali Polo Lamb
A whole baby spring lamb shank simmered in our homemade sauce, served with basmati rice mixed with dill and baby lima beans.
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Shishlik Lamb Rack Kabob
One skewer of juicy baby lamb rack kabob, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
The dish →Combination Platters
Two skewers on one bed of rice, for people who cannot choose. The Darband Special is three, and feeds a table.
Chicken and Koobideh
A combination of one skewer of juicy chunks of boneless chicken and one strip of seasoned ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
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Shish Kabob and Koobideh
A combination of one skewer of juicy chunks of filet mignon and ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
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Darband Special
A combination of three juicy skewers of boneless chicken, seasoned ground sirloin and delicious chunks of tenderloin, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato, bell pepper and onion.
The dish →A combination of one skewer of juicy chunks of boneless chicken and one strip of seasoned ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
A combination of two skewers of boneless chicken tender and juicy chunks of filet mignon, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
A combination of one skewer of juicy chunks of filet mignon and ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and charbroiled tomato.
A combination of a skewer of Cornish hen and one strip of seasoned ground sirloin, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
A combination of a skewer of Cornish hen and juicy chunks of filet mignon, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
A combination of a skewer of boneless chicken tender and juicy chunks of salmon, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
A combination of a skewer of Cornish hen and juicy chunks of salmon, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato.
A combination of a skewer of juicy chunks of filet mignon and a juicy chunk of salmon, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato, bell pepper and onion.
A combination of three juicy skewers of boneless chicken, seasoned ground sirloin and delicious chunks of tenderloin, served with basmati rice and a charbroiled tomato, bell pepper and onion.
Seafood
Salmon, mahi mahi, sea bass and shrimp, charbroiled or pan fried, with herb rice or fluffy basmati.
Butterfly Crunchy Shrimp
Hand breaded jumbo shrimp with clear tail.
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Salmon Kabob
Marinated filet of salmon, skewered and charbroiled to perfection, served with a skewer of vegetables and fluffy basmati rice.
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Creamy Garlic Shrimp
Served with fluffy basmati rice.
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Grilled Tilapia
Marinated filet of tilapia, seasoned to perfection and served with herb basmati rice.
The dish →Hand breaded jumbo shrimp with clear tail.
Hand breaded Alaska pollock, served with your choice of french fries.
Marinated filet of mahi mahi, skewered and charbroiled to perfection, served with a skewer of vegetables and fluffy basmati rice.
Marinated filet of salmon, skewered and charbroiled to perfection, served with a skewer of vegetables and fluffy basmati rice.
59 Creamy Garlic Shrimp $26Served with fluffy basmati rice.
Marinated fresh rainbow trout baked to perfection, served with herb rice. Oven baked or pan fried.
Marinated filet of salmon, seasoned to perfection and served with herb basmati rice.
Marinated filet of tilapia, seasoned to perfection and served with herb basmati rice.
Marinated filet of sea bass, seasoned and baked to perfection, served with basmati rice.
Pizza
Darband's nod to Little Italy, three blocks from the harbor. Halal, and one of them is a ghormeh sabzi.
Mushroom and Sausage
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Bolognese Pizza
Made with mozzarella and Bolognese sauce.
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Vegetarian
Mushroom, bell pepper, olive, onion.
Ghormeh Sabzi Pizza
The most unique Persian stew, Persian style.
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Cheese Pizza
Made with mozzarella and Bolognese sauce.
Mushroom, bell pepper, olive, onion.
The most unique Persian stew, Persian style.
Cooked baby eggplant and mozzarella cheese.
Gourmet Sandwiches and Wraps
Kabob you can eat with one hand. Wrapped in lavash with the house sauce, some with saffron rice inside.
Chicken Barberries Wrap
Juicy chunks of marinated boneless chicken with tomato, onion, lettuce and saffron rice with barberries and our secret sauce.
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Mediterranean Chicken
Juicy chunks of marinated, skewered and charbroiled chicken with onion, green pepper, tomato and lettuce with our special sauce and hummus.
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Shish Kabob Wrap
Juicy chunks of filet mignon, marinated, skewered and charbroiled with onions, green peppers and tomato.
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Persian Cheese Burger
Served on a brioche bun with tomato, lettuce, onion and your choice of cheese with Darband sauce, with a side of fries.
The dish →Charbroiled chunks of marinated boneless chicken with lettuce, tomato, onions and special sauce, wrapped in lavash bread.
The same as above with saffron rice, wrapped in lavash bread.
Juicy chunks of marinated boneless chicken with grilled onions, green peppers, tomato and our special sauce, wrapped in lavash bread.
Juicy chunks of marinated boneless chicken with tomato, onion, lettuce and saffron rice with barberries and our secret sauce.
80 Mediterranean ChickenWith hummus $15Juicy chunks of marinated, skewered and charbroiled chicken with onion, green pepper, tomato and lettuce with our special sauce and hummus.
Skewers of seasoned ground sirloin with lettuce, tomato, onion and our special sauce, wrapped in lavash bread.
Same as above with saffron rice, wrapped in lavash bread.
Juicy chunks of filet mignon, marinated, skewered and charbroiled with onions, green peppers and tomato.
Juicy chunks of filet mignon skewered and charbroiled with onion, green pepper, tomato and lettuce with our special sauce and hummus.
Skewers of seasoned juicy salmon with lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, onion and our special sauce, wrapped in lavash bread.
Hot pastrami with spicy mustard, Swiss cheese, tomato and red onions.
Grilled pieces of tenderloin with onions, bell peppers and melted provolone cheese.
Served on a brioche bun with tomato, lettuce, onion and your choice of cheese with Darband sauce, with a side of fries.
Special Persian Stews
The slow half of the Persian table. Herbs, dried limes, split peas, pomegranate and walnuts, simmered for hours and served over saffron rice.
Ghormeh Sabzi
Sautéed chopped fresh vegetables and herbs (parsley, green onion, cilantro and chives) cooked with sun-dried limes, red kidney beans and beef, served with basmati rice.
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Gheimeh Bademjan
Sautéed eggplant, onions, beef and sun-dried limes, simmered with yellow split peas in our special tomato sauce.
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Khoresh Gheimeh
Sautéed beef, yellow peas, sun-dried limes and special tomato paste, lightly spiced to perfection, served with basmati rice.
The dish →Baghali Polo Lamb
A whole baby spring lamb shank, simmered in our homemade sauce, served with basmati rice mixed with dill and baby lima beans.
The dish →Sautéed chopped fresh vegetables and herbs (parsley, green onion, cilantro and chives) cooked with sun-dried limes, red kidney beans and beef, served with basmati rice.
Gheimeh Bademjan $24Sautéed eggplant, onions, beef and sun-dried limes, simmered with yellow split peas in our special tomato sauce.
Ground walnuts, cooked with pomegranate sauce, served with chicken breast and basmati rice.
Mixture of baby imported okra, cooked with onion and spices in a tomato sauce and finished with pomegranate molasses.
Sautéed beef, yellow peas, sun-dried limes and special tomato paste, lightly spiced to perfection, served with basmati rice.
Baghali Polo Lamb $24A whole baby spring lamb shank, simmered in our homemade sauce, served with basmati rice mixed with dill and baby lima beans.
Baked chicken simmered in our special sauce, served with basmati rice mixed with dill and baby lima beans.
Juicy baked chicken, simmered in our delicious sauce, served on a bed of basmati rice mixed with barberries and saffron.
Rice Dishes
The center of the table. Saffron basmati, and the polos with dill, barberry, sour cherry, lentil and green bean.
Fluffy Basmati Rice
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Zereshk Polo
Fresh barberries and saffron mixed with basmati rice.
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Adas Polo
Fresh raisins, lentils, dates and saffron mixed with basmati rice.
The dish →Sautéed chunks of beef tenders and green beans simmered in tomato sauce, saffron and Persian spices with a touch of olive oil and garlic, mixed with basmati rice.
Fresh black sour cherries mixed with basmati rice.
Fresh barberries and saffron mixed with basmati rice.
Adas Polo $10Fresh raisins, lentils, dates and saffron mixed with basmati rice.
Fresh chopped parsley, dill weed, garlic and cilantro mixed with basmati rice.
Fresh dill weed and fava beans mixed with basmati rice.
Desserts
Faloodeh from Shiraz, sholeh zard, baklava, Persian ice cream, and the ones the neighborhood asked for.
Baklava
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Faloodeh
Rosewater and starch.
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Makhloot
Combination of Persian ice cream and faloodeh, with sour cherry syrup and pistachio.
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Sholeh Zard
Saffron rice pudding.
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Ferani
Rice flour cooked with milk, rosewater and sugar, chilled and finished with pistachio.
The dish →Rosewater and starch.
Makhloot $8Combination of Persian ice cream and faloodeh, with sour cherry syrup and pistachio.
Pistachio and date.
Saffron rice pudding.
Ferani $7Rice flour cooked with milk, rosewater and sugar, chilled and finished with pistachio.
Prices as printed on the current menu and subject to change. Ask about the daily stew and soup. Catering and large parties: (619) 237-8000.
All meat is halal. Dishes may contain nuts, dairy, gluten, eggs or sesame, and are prepared in a kitchen that handles all of them. Tell your server about any allergy before ordering.