Maman Zari

Such a special and lovely place to celebrate with friends! This was a wonderful meal start to finish and service was so attentive and well timed.I wasn't sure what to expect from a Persian tasting menu, but we loved the veg forward dishes and the fact that there were vegetarian and pescatarian options. Presentation was fabulous and the food was delicious.The wine and cocktail menus were interesting and we enjoyed everything we had.I feel like this is a hidden gem that won't be hidden much longer. Go!

This was my first time doing a tasting menu, so I don't have anything to use as a baseline but Maman Zari knocked it out of the park. Albany Park is a trek for me, but I don't regret making the trip. From the flavors to the presentation, each course was well executed. For each dish, my friend and I had to take a moment to admire the plating and absorb the overview presented by our server. My favorite dish was the cherry wine dessert! I was skeptical based on the simple and straightforward description, but the texture of the ice compliments the sweet wine so well!!An affordable menu with a broad choice of menus (omnivore, pescatarian, and vegetarian), I highly recommend checking out Maman Zari for anyone interested in trying out a tasting menu for the first time.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable meal at Maman Zari last night.We tried the Omnivorous tasting menu and the Pescatarian tasting menu. Both menus were very good with inventive takes on familiar dishes, all beautifully plated. We enjoyed every course, our only complaint is that we both felt that the Pescatarian menu was a bit stingy when it came to the actual fish courses. Both the octopus and the cobia were tiny portions, especially the minuscule serving of octopus. They were sized as if part of a 12-15 course menu, rather than a 9 course one. With only 2 fish courses on the Pescatarian menu, we were expecting more fish. The wine pairings were excellent, we enjoyed every wine that we were served.The service was excellent, friendly and efficient. The room was pleasant and comfortable. All in all a lovely evening, we will return.Recommended.

The place: honestly, just lovely. Service was ON POINT. I don't think my water glass was ever empty, they were informative and helpful when answering our questions about our wine selection. It's small - maybe seats 30? But seems like a great place for an intimate dinner or small dinner with great friends. The taste: so I very much enjoyed the menu, but if you're not into beets or pomegranate, this might not be the place for you. I think portions were sized well. I personally loved the pomegranate arils (seeds) hidden in several dishes - the lentil soup amuse Bouche and the lamb meatball.My face: a big, contented smile. $85pp for the tasting menu is V reasonable in this day and age. I think we got 3 drinks total (2 glasses of wine and a cocktail). Total was $287 for two people. Enjoy!

I'm a true "Foodie"! No brag, just fact! I love and eat anything you put in front of me; from a $5.00 Double Double at In & Out to a $150 Tomahawk Steak at Gibson's Steakhouse, I am always "All In".The only cuisine I was having trouble liking was Persian; and I didn't know why, until tonight.Sure, living in Los Angeles for over thirty years, I've had my fair share of this cooking. Friends, weddings, my wife (who loves this food) or any given holiday I would tolerate it - barely.Well, this week it's my wife's birthday (whose age now ends with zero). She really wanted a Persian dinner for this special occasion. Of course I said "Yes", and went about finding the best restaurant for this occasion.Maman Zari, looked like the best of the best here in Chicago; and Oh Man, was it ever. The food being prepared in this kitchen was SO elevated, it made a Persian food skeptic like me, a true believer!So, how did this transformation happen? Well, of course this chef / owner at Maman was a master at his craft. But, the real reason I fell in love with this cuisine tonight, was our dinner was at 7:00. All of my prior Persian dinners started at 10:00 or 11:00 at night and I'm usually in bed at these hours. Persian food is so rich and flagrant, eating this cuisine at these hours was throwing my body clock into a tizzy-fit!The tasting menu here at Mama Zari covered every food group: poultry-duck, red meat-lamb, fish-sturgeon and a host of other completely foreign foods that were so good it spun me.The service was fantastic, the ambience was quiet and reserved and (we chose) the wine pairing with each of the eight courses was perfect.Was it expensive - Yes! Was it worth the price - Yes! You don't get this kind of wonderful food at a cut rate price. Each dish was not only elegant, it was delicious.Maman Zari was the only place that could "Flip" me into liking Persian food.

We chose Maman Zari for a special birthday dinner in December, and from the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional. The staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring that our dining experience felt friendly and warm. Not to mention, the restaurant's decor added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful setting.I was particularly excited about the Iranian food tasting menu, as it promised to take us on a journey through Persian cuisine, reminiscent of the dishes my grandmother and aunts used to prepare for us. While the concept was enticing, I have to admit that some of the dishes fell short of expectations.For instance, the Tahdig, which should have had a crisp texture, turned out disappointingly soggy. Additionally, the kebab, a staple of Persian cuisine, was surprisingly dry. These two main courses failed to make the impact I had hoped for, leaving me somewhat disappointed.I do acknowledge that it could have been an isolated incident, as other reviews suggest a more positive experience. However, when you opt for a tasting menu, there's little room for error, especially considering the price you pay for the overall dining experience. I genuinely hope Mama's continues to deliver consistently outstanding dishes to match their excellent service and welcoming atmosphere.

Such a lovely fusion of elegance and homeyness. The service is wonderful and few cocktails available both with and without spirits. The tasting menu comes in at $85 and is available for both pescatarians and vegetarians. Well portioned and very good! Would recommend: a welcome treat!

One of the most memorable dining experiences I've ever had. I had read about this restaurant in the Chicago Reader a few months ago. I wanted to try but was a bit apprehensive due to it being gourmet Persian food. (I'm used to Persian food spilling off of plates and the idea of a tasting menu didn't make sense to me.). I was very wrong. Each of the "winter" menu items was so delicately prepared and insanely tasty. There is no skimping on flavor. The kitchen expertly uses saffron in most everything. Exquisite. The service by all was second to none. The restaurant, although tiny and right next to the Brown Line, is perfect. The owners were delightful and personable. I cannot wait to return for their next menu!

I am really glad this beautiful spot is in the neighborhood with their tasting menus. I went with a friend and we thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu and we are so glad we tried it. The sekanjabin was also a delicious drink I really enjoyed. It's lovely to have a spot have delicious non-alcoholic drinks because often the focus is on alcoholic drink (which can be fun), but I'm glad they had this.Definitely a beautiful tasting menu experience I recommend everybody and rooting for this restaurant's success!

If you have not had Persian cuisine or you are already a big fan, look no further than Maman Zari, a new restaurant in the Northside neighborhood, Albany Park, in #Chicago . They switch their menu from time to time. This is a belated post when we got to go to try the last couple days of their Summer menu, which was phenomenal. It's hard to find a quality tasting menu for under $90, yet they accomplish it. Our tasting menu was 9 items starting from lighter dishes like Kuku Sibamani (potato, zucchini, pickle) to the fish and meat dishes, Mahi Sefid( Branzino), and the Shishlik (lamb). The most interesting dish was Faloodeh (Rice noodle sorbet). I'm not sure if I had an opinion on Persian food before coming here, but it certainly raises my expectation going forward. A quiet ambiance so easy to have good conversation. Staff is so friendly, and got to chat with the owner before we left!#persian #albanypark #chicago