Eating out in Morristown: Marjan Persian Grill
Owners Rick Manesh and wife Marjan, for whom the restaurant is named. Marjan Fine Persian Grill is located at 84 Speedwell Ave., across from Headquarters Plaza. (Staff photo: Karen Mancinelli)
By WILMA HURWITZ
SPECIAL TO MORRISTOWN THIS WEEK
Welcome Marjan Persian Grill to the dynamic Morristown restaurant scene. Just open a month on Speedwell Avenue, this charming restaurant is establishing an avid following for its distinctive Persian cuisine.
Marjan Persian Grill came about thanks to owner Rick Manesh's professional background and personal interests. Manesh had eight years of restaurant management experience heading up new property launches and management with Sbarro and Red Lobster restaurants. Eighteen years ago, he switched professions and became an authorized agent for AT&T Telephone Systems, securing and managing accounts with Morristown-area customers.
"An avid cook myself, I asked my telephone customers around Morristown if they would like this kind of cuisine," Manesh explained. "Many came to my home as guests, sampled different Persian dishes and praised what we served. We also didn't see a restaurant in town that featured Persian cooking — thus our reason to open Marjan Persian Grill."
What is "Persian" cuisine?
Manesh explained: "Persian is often confused with Middle Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine. The Persian style is old-fashioned cooking that has been around for centuries and features such ingredients as Persian-style dried lime and shallots. The meats for certain entrees are marinated overnight in other special seasonings so the flavor is complete through the meat. For stews (a very common Persian dish), these meats are gently cooked over a slow flame for many hours."
Let's hear from some recent diners about their first visit to Marjan Persian Grill:
Wendy Taffet, Morristown: "This is a new Morristown restaurant and the Persian cuisine sounded appealing. When we came in to dine this evening, it was so nice that they gave us samples of Persian entrees, like their signature walnut, chicken and pomegranate stew — very interesting flavors and texture.
"I ordered the shrimp scampi kebob from the menu (large shrimp marinated with lemon, saffron, olive oil and garlic) — very nice taste especially with the basmati rice and orange rind. Dessert was their Persian ice cream (a homemade ice cream flavored with rose water, saffron and decorated with slivers of pistachio nuts) — interesting flavor that is not your usual ice cream."
Soheil Motaghi, Paramus (originally from Teheran, Iran): "Tonight I selected the Kabob-e-sultani — a combination of one skewer of filet mignon (marinated in a special seasoning) and one skewer of Kabob-e-Kubideh (freshly ground sirloin mixed beef and lamb with special seasoning) with tomatoes and onions. One key factor in Persian cooking is that the quality of the meat depends on its tenderness. This was very tender and fresh and was prepared for us right after we ordered (not pre-made)."
Motaghi's wife Fariba: "I had the Kabob-e-Bakhtiyary (combination of filet mignon and chicken kabob). They use some special seasonings to marinate the meat that is so tender — melted in my mouth. Chicken had a great taste."
David Ramsey, Morris Township: "Not accustomed to Persian food, it was a bit adventurous for me to come here tonight. I am impressed by this style of preparation — the spices are a little different than what we are used to and very tasty."
Noel Ebrahim, Morristown (half-Persian lineage): "Spectacular — I'm stunned. It's authentic, it's fresh, and it's delicious. Their yogurt is made from scratch — this is what real yogurt really should taste like. They are truly replicating Persian culinary culture."
MARJAN PERSIAN GRILL
ADDRESS: 84 Speedwell Ave., Morristown
TELEPHONE: 973-889-8884
HOURS: Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.
CUISINE: Persian
LIQUOR: B.Y.O.B.
CREDIT CARDS: MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover
PRICE RANGE: $4.95 for stuffed grape leaves to $21.95 for the Kabob-e-Sultani combo of skewered marinated filet mignon and ground sirloin with special seasoning.
RESERVATIONS: Recommended on weekends.
DRESS: Casual.
THE SCENE: Headquarters Plaza office personnel, Hyatt Morristown guests, Morristown-area residents and Americans originally from Iran.
ATMOSPHERE: Warm and inviting.
OUTDOOR DINING: White wrought iron tables with chairs on sidewalk framed by canisters of flowers.
PARKING: Metered parking on Speedwell Avenue and in parking lots off Clinton Place. No charge on the meters after 8 p.m.
SERVICE: Gracious staff knowledgeable about the different Persian recipes.
OWNERS/MANAGERS: Rick Manesh and his wife, Marjan Javaherian. Originally from Teheran, Iran, they live in Green Village.
SPECIALTIES: Variety of kabobs flame broiled over an open fire, specialty basmati rices, exotic stews such as beef with eggplant and tomato or boneless chicken cooked in sweet/sour pomegranate sauce with crushed walnuts; Persian ice cream and special pastries.
WEBSITE: In progress.