(Chicago) – Lamb is my all-time favorite meat. But it’s not easy to find a restaurant that serves a decent lamb. If not prepared properly, it could smell and taste extremely gamey. I like my lamb a little gamey. Yes, you heard me right. This makes the meat distinct from the others. Some sensitive palates might find it foul-tasting. But to me, it is appetizing.
Mediterranean restaurants for sure know how to handle their lamb. It is their staple meat. And the vast cultural diversity in Chicago is an assurance that there is at least one good authentic Mediterranean place in the city. Actually, there are a few of them in my neighborhood alone. But my default go-to place when I crave for lamb and baklava in abundant quantity is the Persian restaurant in Andersonville area called Reza’s.
I like coming to this place on Sunday’s. They have a special brunch- a bountiful Mediterranean buffet plus a glass of Champagne. Since its brunch time, I prefer a splash of orange juice in my Champagne— opposite proportions of a regular Mimosa. Here’s how my brunch went:
Pastries and assortment of breakfast bread
Persian gravlax (smoked salmon)
Shrimp cocktail
Koubideh (juicy strips of charbroiled seasoned ground beef) + lamb shank Mediterranean style (a whole spring baby Lamb Shank, simmered in our own homemade tomato-based sauce, subtly seasoned)
Round 1: Grilled portobello Mushrooms, Zereshk Polo (Saffron, Currant Berry Rice), gravlax and pasta
Round 2: Beef and Lamb koubideh, lentil soup, lamb stew and my reversed Mimosa (more Champagne than orange juice)
Round 3: Persian Salad, Dill Rice, Falafel (Small, savory patties of cracked chickpeas and spices, deep-fried—a vegetarian “meatball”), Lamb Shank
Round 4: Pastries, Fresh Fruits, Baklava and Bamieh (A tender deep-fried pastry, lightly sweetened with syrup)
Ok, I admit. I made more than 4 trips to the buffet table. But I won’t incriminate myself here. One thing about me, which all of my groups of friends will agree, is that I am insatiable. I have a humongous appetite, especially if the food is good. For this brunch at Reza’s, my friends and I enjoyed the flavors of Persia for 2 hours- going back and forth to the buffet oasis, again and again and again.
5255 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL
(773) 561-1898 http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/