Chella, Chiswick, Restaurant Review

By Fiona Keating on January 7th 2010

There were many reasons why I was looking forward to this particular review. Firstly, it’s encouraging that the restaurant took the bold step of opening on Chiswick High Road around six months ago, when many food outlets are feeling the economic pinch. Secondly, because I was keen to taste some authentic Persian cuisine. Chella is a joint venture between Ara Chobanian and Chef Keyvan Barzegar, who are keen to mix traditional Persian food with a modern cosmopolitan atmosphere. 

There are plenty of starters to choose from, including Dolmeh, vine leaves stuffed with rice and aromatic herbs. It’s a familiar dish that anyone who has been to a Greek or Turkish restaurant will know. Other options included Kuku Sabzi (a herb omelette) and Oliviyeh (diced chicken, gherkin, eggs, potatoes, carrots and peas in a light coating of mayonnaise.  I opted for one of Ara’s favourites, the Ash-e-Reshteh, one of the oldest and most popular soups, made with Persian noodles, pulses and fresh herbs. 

This lush green soup tastes great dunked in the freshly baked Persian bread, and is a great choice if you’re looking for something that is not only really tasty but extremely healthy too. In fact, I felt this was so nutritionally nourishing that I could splash out on some red meat. The Barg is a fillet of lamb in saffron butter, served with rice, salad and tomato. The meat was meltingly tender and well seasoned with pungent spices that lifted it from the ordinary. 

The desserts ranged from traditional English – a lovely apple pie with ice cream – to the wonderful-sounding pomegranate jelly, a combination of Persian ice cream and sorbet. But I was a tad too cold for this, so opted for the Baghlava, parcels of filo pastry filled with ground almonds and pistachios, washed down with a coffee.

If you’re looking for a New Year treat with a difference, come to Chella with its wonderful flavours from the land that’s home to Persepolis, a reminder of the once great Persian Empire. 

142 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PU, 020 8994 6816

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