Colbeh Persian Kitchen & Bar

After walking past this restaurant for many years and wanting to try it, I finally decided to give it a go. Went in on a Friday night, and they had a jazz band playing in the front entrance. First I must say that I hesitate to go in again, only because of the band. I absolutely love jazz so I thought it was nice, but from outside it was very loud. We decided to go in anyway and sit in the back of restaurant where hopefully it was not as loud. Unfortunately it was still incredibly loud in the back. And let me say I’m not some old person who complains about loud music, but when you want to have meal you would hope you could hold a conversation without screaming. The waitress then came over to tell us that there was a $ 5 cover for each person, and that the hostess probably didn’t tell us. And ironically when she first tried to tell us this we couldn’t hear a word she was saying. She literally had to shout directly into our ears to hear her tell us about the $ 5 cover. I can’t remember the last time I entered a restaurant with a cover, it was probably in my college days, and I can’t remember the last time I heard such a loud band playing a dining establishment. I think the Jazz band was a nice idea, but very badly executed… from the location of where the band was set up, the ridiculous idea of charging a cover, and blatant disregard to the actual volume of the music. When we mentioned how loud it was to the waitress she agree it was very loud, and then mentioned it was bad acoustics in the restaurants. I quickly pointed out that the band controls the volume on their equipment and the acoustics where not the issue. Needless to say we did not pay a cover or stay in the restaurant to eat. Sadly after this bad experience, I’m sure I will not return to actually try their food.

Food is delicious but a little pricey — I can’t blame them
though as there is a LOT of competition nearby. The falafel was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the veggie sandwich was delicious. I sat at the bar for lunch (which is actually quite beautiful) and was very pleased with the attentive service and friendly bartender. I would definitely return for dinner.

They close at 9:30pm on Sunday so the timings mentioned on their website are incorrect.

This is a very cool little Persian bar and restaurant! The Brussels sprouts were delicious and I also had lambs shank with saffron rice and seasonings. It was all excellent will be returning!

The food is great, but we didn’t have the best experience overall. We went for dinner at 7:00 on a Friday and the music was excruciatingly loud and we had a $ 5 per person «cover charge» show up on our bill. (Um, seriously? We had them take it off.) Not sure if the AC was broken or what, but it was also really hot in the restaurant. We recommend getting takeout!

I’m not sure what the deal with Colbeh is. The food is good, they have a pretty decent beer list, and the service is friendly. But every time I’ve been here (which, unfortunately, has only been twice) or walked past, it’s never even close to full. Maybe I’m part of the problem by walking past more often than I stop in.
The last time I was here, I tried the Cornish hen entrée, which was great. The Cornish hen was well-​seasoned, the barberries in the saffron rice were a wonderfully tart addition, and the portions were generous.
We started with the Colbeh trio, which includes their take on hummus and two eggplant dips. One is sauteed (I think) and the other is fried. I preferred the latter. The hummus was on the garlicky side, which some people love. My SO had the ghormeh sabzi, which is a beef and kidney bean stew. I was surprised when a green dish came out. I tried the color is due to a variety of herbs because that stew had insane flavor. I’ll definitely order that dish the next time I’m here. The menu notes that it’s the national dish of Iran.
Service has been good on both my visits. The servers are eager to answer any questions about the menu. The interior of the restaurant has really great ambiance. It’d be perfect for a date night.
Definitely worth checking out, if you haven’t yet.

We took my Persian Father-​In-​Law to this restaurant on a recent visit. He is now a big fan, as am I. We had all planned on having leftovers for the next day; there was absolutely nothing left on any plate. For an appetizer we had Kashk Badenjoon — Fried eggplants, cream of whey, crispy onion, & mint. I cannot fully describe how flavorful this dish was… I could have eaten two portions! My husband and FIL both raved about the Soltani Kabobs, and I was super impressed with my Ghormeh Sabzi. We also sampled some interesting drinks. The Crocus Kiss was especially unique: Saffron gin, honey, champagne, & lemon. Colbeh’s Margarita (Tequila, jalapeño, ginger syrup, lime juice, orange bitters) was a great version of the ubiquitous spicy margarita. The place was shockingly empty, which was nice because it was quiet, but a little worrisome. We will definitely be back. Minor glitches in the service (our entrees came out at different times, and a specific drink request was forgotten) but nothing that cannot be overlooked.

This was an interesting experience. A Persian restaurant that has live music… Jazz!!! It was awesome!!! Great food and great music… Crowded but a great experience!!!

I visited Colbeh last August for my ex’s birthday. At that point, this was the second restaurant out of three for the night so I wasn’t too hungry. Plus, the prices were more than what I personally wanted to pay so I stuck with a Moscow Mule. That drink was amazing, btw. We sat at the bar, but there were tables available. I noticed that this was a really nice, intimate restaurant. Perfect for family dinners (there were a few in there) or birthday dinners. The other people in my party complained that the amount of food didn’t satisfy their hunger (hence going to another restaurant) and they also felt that the amount of money spent wasn’t justified. I’d go back to see for myself though.

As a Persian, I’d avoid this place and do not recommend it. Rumi’s in Sandy Springs and Sufi’s in Buckhead offer much better quality food and larger portions at the same price. Not to mention overall guest service which suffers here. They even charge you for a sabzi plate and for raw onions which is the most basic pre-​course pallet cleanser traditionally and always free at all Persian restaurants. I was shocked to hear about getting charged for sabzi, and separately for 4 pieces of raw onion which were the outer undesirable layers. It’s fine to come here if you must have Persian food in Decatur and can’t drive to Rumis or Sufis, otherwise save your time and money if you want good Persian food.

When we first walked in I was a bit leery as the place was fairly empty, while the one next door was bursting with people. Luckily, we stayed.
Our waiter was excellent: friendly, helpful, efficient, and flexible.
All the food was fresh, delicious, and plated attractively. The kebabs with Cornish hen, kale salad, hummus, freshly made pita with black sesame seeds, eggplant stew (vegan), and the various rice side dishes were all outstanding.
We had a wonderful evening. Even though the restaurant started filling up, we were still able to carry on a conversation without fighting tons of noise.

I was seriously disappointed with this place. I love Persian food. My service was sub par and it wast the servers fault, there was only one server in the entire restaurants and she was at the bar, tables and trying to open the restaurant. I ordered a chicken kabob. It took extraordinarily long. When I got it, I realized that the chicken was flavorless, an odd orange color meaning there was food coloring on it for an attempt for it to look like saffron, and RAW. I ate it a little bit and just couldn’t anymore. I let the lady know that it wasn’t cooked and she just looked at me with a distraught look and said «really?». I don’t know or care if she was doubting me, but usually, you take it back and cook another one. So she did. I waited another 30 minutes before my food came back so they gave me some bread and hens and the bread was so fresh and delicious. When my chicken came back, it was still raw. I looked closely and noticed that there was spit on my tomato. I was so upset and didn’t even know what to say anymore because I was so uncomfortable. I asked for the check and they hadn’t even taken anything off. Again I didn’t say anything, left the tip. I will never be back and do not recommend this.

Food is solid but not worth the price. Service was terribly slow. They completely forgot the meal of one of the people in our group. It took 15 minutes for them to get her food out after the rest of the table had already been served.
Food is 4 stars. Service and price are 1 star.

NOTE the check in deal, 10% off your order, only works on weekdays… lame.
I came here for my cousin’s roommate’s birthday. I wasn’t able to eat, so this review is based on the one drink I had & the service. I ordered the Crocus Kiss. The description had me thinking it would be amazing, it really was not that great. I doubt I would order it again. The service was fair, we had a hard time finding our waiter. They did give is complimentary naan. I doubt I would come here again.

Wonderful food, great service, and very well designed interior. Last night, we brought our family in from out of town to have dinner. Half way through dinner, a live band started playing a very very loud set with a drum. No one in the restaurant could talk to each other, and the music was painfully loud given the size of the space and the acoustics of the room. Even the wait staff had to scream to be heard. Musicians were good but unfortunately not for this space/​environment. They also came on at 8 which seemed too early, people were still enjoying dinner and conversation. Would consider this place again, but only on nights without a band.

The food was great, when it came. We were seated in the bar area of the restaurant which meant the bartender was our waiter. We placed our order, and then the wait began. After more than 45 minutes witj no explanation our food came out, but there was a problem, our appetizer never came out. When I asked for it the guy who delivered the food asked, «So do you still want that?» After asking for it they delivered it within 30 seconds which means they must have it ready back there so why did it take that long originally. At no point during our meal did the bartender ever come back over to check on us, refill our drinks, or even bring us our check. We had to ask another bartender to bring us our check.
The food itself was quite good, but was very pricey for the portion sizes. The drink prices were reasonable, and I would have had another if our server had ever come back. The location is great, and the place looks nice on the inside, even though it looks more like an Italian restaurant that a Persian one.
We may try again, but it will definitely not be on a Saturday night, and I will certainly not sit in the bar again.

About Colbeh (from their website):
«We base our food philosophy on one of the world’s most ancient and refined styles of cooking. Fragrant rice, slow cooked stews, perfectly seasoned meats and the freshest vegetables and herbs are just the start of a wonderful Persian meal.
This tradition of cooking has been perfected over many generations in the warmth and comfort of home. In fact, in the Persian language of Farsi, Colbeh means „cabin“ and just like home we believe that the best food and the most comfortable seats are always saved for our guests.»
I got a voucher deal here and couldn’t get anyone to go with me so I visited by myself. C’est la vie. It was not busy and I was seated right away. If you want to try a few of their creations, the COLBEH COMBO is the way to go. You can pick any two ½ kabob and any one rice for $ 21. This was my choice and I went with the chicken and beef (shish).
Shish Kabob is charbroiled beef tenderloin cooked with onions & green bell peppers. Chicken Kabob is local marinated boneless chicken breast. The shish was better than the chicken. I was not a fan of the chicken, but the beef was OK. I also was not a big fan of the rice. And I usually LOVE rice. Service was a bit slow considering there were only a few people there. But my server was pleasant and helpful enough.

Great spot to listen to live jazz on Friday nights. I had the Lamb Shank and it was very good. My wife had the Combo Kabob. Great food, great atmosphere. We’ll be back again soon…

DO NOT COME HERE FOR GROUPS LARGER THAN 6! Besides that this place is pretty nice and I would consider coming here for a date. Their menu options and pricing are standard for this type of cuisine. I do wish the portions were a little larger, but that’s because I think they are tasty and want just a bit more. My order for the night was the Cornish Hen which came with a side of a nice rice dish. The meat was bone-​in for my dish, but not for the Chicken Kabob I tried. The rice was delicious with some dry fruits incorporated into the mix. The interior of the place was trendy with light music in the background. The location is perfect because it is in the square, right beside Brickstore. The staff was kind, but did have a few blunders here and there which may be due to lack of experience. Overall a nice place that has some work to do on the service end of things, but solid for the food.

Very nice spot in downtown Decatur. A former bar converted into a sleak Persian restaurant. The kept the best of the past, and turned the space into a very warm and inviting venue. I really enjoyed the exposed brick, dim lighting, and cozy interior.
As for the service, Shawn was our waiter and he was friendly and helpful.
The food was a hit all around. Both myself and my friend are vegetarians, and we had no trouble finding options on the menu. She ordered a kale salad, as well as a plate of brussel sprouts. I had a falafel wrap with a side salad. She let me try bites of her dishes and both she and I really liked what we had. The kale salad had nice texture with dates, jicama, and crushed walnuts and it was fresh and flavorful, while the brussel sprouts had pistachio and goat cheese in them, and just hit the spot! My falafel wrap was music to my tastebuds as it felt like a fusion between Indian and Middle Eastern, with potatoes blended in with the chickpeas (reminded me of a somosa made over!). The seasoning was very good and the portion size was just right, I enjoyed every bite! Surprisingly though the favorite of the meal was their very own house dressing that they served with both the kale salad and the side salad. Shawn was nice enough to give a rundown of how it was made, the highlight being that they use 3 citruses (orange, lemon, and lime) to give it a perfect punch. I never finish side salads when I eat out and this one, well, I was practically licking every last bit!
If you haven’t been, Colbeh is a place worth checking out for both food and décor. Not sure how busy they get on the weekends, but on a weekday lunch, we had no trouble snagging a table and service was quick.

The gormeh sabzi was delicious, authentic and tastes exactly how my mother makes it. Koobideh kabob was well spiced, but maybe a little too chewy. The only Iranian food I’ve had in Atlanta and it was pretty good! The brick and wood motif of the interior reflect the «urban loft» style that is very popular now, but not very interesting.

Went there on a Friday night after hearing a lot of good things about this place. The food did not disappoint. We ordered the felafel, and a three part appetizer that included the kashk badenjan, mirza ghasemi and some type of bread. Both the eggplant dishes were delicious. The felafels felt a little dry, but we’re still pretty good. For the main dish, I got the chicken kabob. It was tender and flavorful, and the rice was well seasoned without being perfumy. The only drawback was the volume of the live band. They played well, but it was extremely loud. It was hard to carry a conversation between me and two other friends. At one point, I just gave up talking and waited till the song got over. All in all, great food and atmosphere.

Rack of lamb and chicken wings. Need I say more. Cooked to perfection with that little bit of char you can only get from the grill. Seasoning is something special that these guys won’t share the recipe, but gives me cravings that always have me coming back for more. Service is excellent as always. Local Family business that I don’t mind paying for.

Incredible Persian food. We used the Scoutmob and had great deal. It is one of those places you can’t understand why it does not get enough attention. We will keep going back.

As my boyfriend is Persian, and I have had many a meal at his parents’ home, I feel like I have not only an affinity to Persian food, but an understanding of what is authentic, and what is not.
That said, I was highly impressed with Colbeh! From the delicious, warm tandoor bread to the tasty Gormeh Sabzi and saffron rice, it was a taste of (my boyfriend’s) home. Even his mom would appreciate it!
On a non-​Persian note, I also got a Bloody Mary, which was deeeeelish! I like to consider myself a Bloody Mary connoisseur, and this was one of the best in Atlanta — I especially loved the hint of Guinness.
The owner and my server, Sean, was incredibly friendly as well. We got to chatting a bit and he told me how he grew up in Tehran so he knows a thing or two about Persian food.
For anyone in the area looking to try a new cuisine, you must check it out!

This restaurant is just a great place to eat. The food is lovely (even though it does lack a little bit of flavor), and the service here is just unbelievable. Our waiter was so kind to us. We had our puppy with us since we took her to a nearby event, and we needed a place to eat. Colbeh has a few tables outside, and they allowed us to sit there with our pup. The waiter was kind and engaged conversation with us, and even asked if Bella needed a bowl of water. Getting back to the food (sorry); It was all beautifully served and tasted delicious. I was expecting the food to be a little spicier and more flavorful, but overall it tasted great. I would definitely come back again.

Really surprised by how bad our meal was here.
To be fair, Decatur doesn’t offer the best spots, but this place was particularly hokey.
Our hummus and apps started with a full half clove of garlic in it, which offered a less than pleasant experience. Next was falafel, which frankly was closer to potato latke than its menu listing.
Ordered the ½ lamb ½ veggie kabob. Really what I got was 2.5 oz of lamb, half an onion and 6 slices of green pepper.
Do not recommend.

So disappointed, my party of four watched, waited and repeatedly inquired as other parties received their food.
Manager offered a simple ‘oh well’ we were busy. Manager took great when I suggested it was discrimination. The gentleman protested too much
Food bland, service horrible

Confession– I started this review over 2 year ago.
We got a Lamb stew, sampler stew, and an appetizer– I just remembered that although the portions were small, everything was really tasty.
I’m pleasantly surprised that this place is still staying afloat next to Brickstore Pub. It’s been a while since a restaurant could hold its own. I hope it stays. I should go back. They have 16 beers on tap, so you should be able to find something to please you at the bar.

One of the very few Persian restaurants that stick to authentic Persian cuisine yet keep it modern.
My recommendation; Flafel as the starter along with the margarita and finally the chicken skewer.

The food was alright, nothing special. Not the best Persian food I’ve had, compared to some other restaurants in the city. The rice is the staple and what makes the meal, bet here was disappointing.
Customer service great. Ambiance very nice. Overpriced.