Pars Cove Restaurant Reviews

We went to Pars Cove a number of years ago (NOT the date I was forced to pick) on a Groupon special $55 for 4 course meal. we took another couple. When we arrived the owner (I assume) said they'd give the same deal to our friends (we did not solicit this). The service was great, the food excellent and as we were leaving the same gentleman gave each couple a bottle of wine (FREE and unsolicited). We have been back several times since and plan to return again now that Covid restrictions are lifting. I just wish it was closer to our home for the drive home at night.

A long standing Chitown restaurant (>15 yrs i think). The food was good - above average; the menu choices were ok, the service reasonable and the prices acceptable - however there are so many more places to try in chitown that i'd probably not make a point of returning ,but equally wouldnt snub it.

We checked out Pars Cove with a Groupon for the 4 course menu, and it was fabulous! We got a sampler plate with hummus, tapenade, veggies, dolmeh and some other goodies, and we agreed hands down, it was the best hummus and tapenade we had ever eaten! We bought containers to take home! Our entrees were terrific as well. Some had the beef and lamb kofte, and I had fish kofte (I think that's what it was called), which is ground up and then packed into a patty, and served over rice. Very good! They even brought us ladies each a longstem rose. =-) Dessert was tasty vanilla ice cream with sautéed cherries and caramel sauce. I recommend it to anyone who likes Persian food or to try something new!

Wonderful food and service. Well priced. Best hummus on the planet. A favorite (and regular) spot to dine in Chicago.

This is a nice place, with a nice atmosphere. It's cosy, a bit romantic even. The service was good and friendly. We had the 4 course offer, which turned out to be a good deal: a selection of starters, a nice salad (you can also choose soup), an entree and dessert. And a bottle of wine was included! So when you are in the neighbourhood, do visit this lovely restaurant and enjoy it.

We chose Pars Cove based on TripAdvisor ratings - it was fantastic! It was Thanksgiving evening and our party of 6 were seated quickly. The ambiance is wonderful and the staff are very helpful and attentive. We had one of the special meals for 2 that included 2 mixed drinks, an appetizer sampler (hummus, eggplant kashk, olives, stuffed grape leaves, & a few other items including pita & grilled bread), soup or salad, choice of entree (the chicken ju-jah is delicious) & dessert (spiced ice cream topped with rose sauce & carrot cake) for $50. We all loved our choices & enjoyed trying every one else's, too! The Salmon Fesenjan was like nothing I've had before- the Walnut Pomegranate sauce was amazing. Treat yourself to this Persian gem, you won't regret it.

In an area of many competing eateries, Pars Cove can be easily overlooked. It is an unassuming walk-down with ethnic food. But it is a hidden treasure. We've dined there many times, once when there was a long line at a place next door. The ambience is very good--not loud, soft music. The service is prompt and courteous. The prices are very reasonable. And the food is on a Par (pun intended) with the best Middle-Eastern cuisine. They never fail to give extra touches. This time it was a long-stem rose with the bill. Even if ethnic cuisine isn't your preference, with the variety on the menu, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Great option for Iranian food, fresh, clean quaint atmosphere. Service was a bit slow, but owner was extremely inviting. Priced well for city.

Well I always say if the business is using Groupons they're more often than not close to going out of business. As for Pars Cove, Hmmm... the owner was running the front and cooking at the same time. He's at least 70 years old and had one waitress with no apparent experience. I give the owner credit for trying hard, but can't recommend the location on "trying hard" alone. Food was ok but overpriced. Very bland - even the food noted as spicy/garlic were very flavor weak. Too bad because I'm a big fan of Mediterranean and was hoping I'd live it.

Back again -- for the umpteenth time. Whatever you choose, Max will cook it up deliciously. This place is a gem -- but don't tell everyone! Salmon, chicken, hummus. Great Middle-Eastern food. If you haven't tried this cuisine -- try it here!

when they bring the wine...make sure that bottle is not open as they are serving cheap rotten wine.It is expensive and very poor service. Owner is not concentrating on customer service.

Just awful. We were a party of 5, and paid $69 for a Groupon that included 1 appetizer, 2 salads/soups, 2 entrees, 2 small ice creams and one sangria. Additionally, we ordered an entree with a soup, and an appetizer. We got YELLED, literally YELLED by the owner, indicating that we cannot order so little since we were using a Groupon. Who does that?!?!?! Extremely unprofessional and fake. I was forced to order an additional entree. Seriously... if I wasn't with more people, I would have literally walked out. The food was meh, the sangria tasted so bad I didn't even finish it. Very overpriced ($18-20 for a "ok" tasting meal). I will not be going there again and will not recommend it to anyone else.

Used my Groupon here last week. The food was even better than the last time we were here a few years back. Had the wine pairing with our four course meal and it was outstanding. The owner is still very hands on after all these years. A true Chicago gem!

Don't be fooled by it's humble appearance from the outside. This is a top notch restaurant with great Persian and Lebanese food. The appetizers are very good and I had the best lamb anywhere in the USA. All ingredients are high quality and the sauces are delicious. the dishes' components all work to compliment each other perfectly. The staff are very friendly and accommodating, service is fast and personal and prices are very reasonable. They often throw in some free samples of other appetizers and desert to sweeten the deal. The atmosphere isn't the most fancy in the world but it isn't bad either, much better in fact than the small front would suggest. All in all a wonderful experience I would wholeheartedly recommend.

One of my favorite restaurants. I live around the corner and come here a couple of times a year for a nice meal. If you go with the deal, it's very inexpensive for two people. Appetizer platter, bottle of wine, two entrees (up to $18 each) and ice cream for dessert for $60. I've had the chicken and lamb fesenjan and the lamb arabiata and everything has been delicious. The malbec included in the deal was also good. In additiom, my GF threw a surprise bday party for me here a few years ago and everything was great. The kicker for a romantic evening is that each lady receives a rose at the end of the meal. I think this makes a special evening a little more so.

Went here with my wife and enjoyed the shrimp appetizer, scallops and lamb kabob. Flavors were excellent and succulence of meats was as good as you could ask for. Very simple family feel inside and value for money.

Words cannot describe how wonderful the Persian food was. Excellent course after course. The ice cream dessert with honey and cinnamon was a delicious ending to a wonderful night.

I loved Pars Cove. I went there for a romantic dinner and it was lovely. Everything from the food to the atmosphere to the staff was fantastic. I highly recommend the hummus appetizer as well as the vegetarian fesenjan. I enjoyed the tea, as well. This restaurant was so great that my boyfriend and I decided about ten minutes into our meal that we were coming back. I can't wait!

i have been coming to this restaurant for years, and it's one of my favorites in the neighborhood. The food is always well fresh and well-prepared. The owner pays attention to every detail, and cares about the customers' dining experience. I highly recommend this place.

One of the best spot on town. The food is amazing, it is so authentic and made with love. Cozy atmosphere, fine music and Max (the owner) is the best! Highly recommended

We stopped here on a fluke and left thoroughly satisified with the place, our yummy meal and the wonderful ice cream dessert. Our female server was very warm and welcoming, took plenty of time answering our questions about the food choices and gave us beautiful roses on our way out. The appetizer and meal was served in an appropriate amount of time. The food was an explosion of flavors that we just don't get in the far suburbs. Maybe the only thing was that the wait staff was a tad slow in filling up my water glass but it was a hot day and I was drinking lots. We will definitely be back to try again!

I think this is the best Persian food I've eaten. Max Pars shows true hospitality and attention to his guests. The group took advantage of the special diners for 2: four courses with wine and desert, a great value. The ice cream desert is not to be missed!

We had a groupon to Pars Cove, and it was such a great find! This is the kind of place I'd love to become a regular! Their menu is fantastic, the prices are more than reasonable, the value is excellent even without the groupon. The menu has a few sections to it-- the appetizers (try the cold sampler, which came with our groupon... there isn't a bad thing on the plate and the hummus is especially memorable!), the kebobs, the meat & sauce mix-and-match section, and the seafood. We all ordered our entrees from the mix-and-match. I got the vegetarian fesenjan and it was phenomenal. I've had homemade fesenjan/fesenjoon made by some Persian friends before, and this was easily as good (sorry, Obie-- you'll just have to try this sometime!) At least you know it's authentic! Every entree also comes with vanilla ice cream and usually a honey drizzle, although ours had some mini-baklava and cherries on them, which was the perfect finish to the night. And as if that weren't enough, my mom and I both got roses from the presumed owner of the establishment. He came over and explained his handwritten bill to my dad, which included tip but charged for the least expensive entree (since we bought an extra one beyond what was included in the groupon) but ended with "you pay what you want to" So nice! The one thing that wasn't authentic was our Eastern European (?) server who admonished us for ordering the fesenjan sauce, warning us that it was sweet (it's not, it's more tart/tangy)... This is clearly their specialty, why would they have waitstaff cautioning guests against their specialty?? He was also really unfriendly and seemed really unhappy to be serving us. Our busboy though was fantastic, laughing and joking with us, giving us hints on what we would like and bonding over mutual vegetarian trials. He should get a promotion for sure-- or at least a raise!

How often do you get very tasty food at a terrific value! The server pointed out that the combination meal(with Fabulous appetizers) was way less $ than what we planned to order and it included a glass of wine, The wine was decent, not great, but an upgrade was available. We liked the variety of seating choices-outdoors, under the glass ceiling or in the back dining room with simple,attractive decor. Easy to reach via public transit as well as a fun neighbor for strolling.

Great Groupon experience! Max, the owner, was very hospitable. The lamb shank Fessenjan and sea bass were excellent! I would also highly recommend the baked eggplant app. Very good Sangria, but too expensive by the glass. Max gave my fiancé a red rose. Our second visit.

Have been passing this establishment for many, many years and after all of that time had finally decided to give it a try. There have been other restaurants in the area that have come and gone, but Pars Cove was still there. According to their sign they have been open since 1976. The restaurant is not all that big. You go downstairs to the dining area when you enter. There is a glass atrium where some of the tables were located so we asked to be seated there since it was later in the day and the sun was starting to set. Our server came over almost immediately and asked us what we wanted to drink and also provided us with menus. After some deliberation we decided to have the 4 course dinner which included a bottle of wine. The dinner included the sampler platter, soup or salad and your choice of two entrees. It also included ice cream for dessert. The sampler platter arrived with some bread. The platter included hummus, an olive spread, an egg plant spread, a version of potato salad and a stuffed grape leaf. All of the items on the platter were very good. I especially liked the hummus. I could have stopped eating after the platter because there was a great deal of food on it, but we were just getting started. After that were decided on the soup, which was lentil. Again a good portion of the soup was served. We then got around to the entrees. I had the spicy lamb...which could have been served as a lamb shank or as patties. I opted for the patties because I did not want to deal with the bone. The owner asked me how "spicy" I wanted the lamb and I said very. My dining companion ordered the lamb kabobs. Again the owner said if she wanted to change and have a combination of kabobs, one chicken or beef, along with the lamb it would be no problem to make that change. She decided to stick with both kabobs with lamb. Again good sized portions arrived. My two spicy lamb patties were over a bed of vegetables with two types of rice on the side. A spicy sauce had been ladled over the lamb, but they were not smothered in the sauce. Actually could have used a little bit more and a little more spice for me. The patties were done well and were juicy...not dried out. My guest had two skewers of lamb with some vegetables and the two types of rice on the side. She said the lamb was prepared well, but she could only eat one of the skewers of lamb because she was full. We ended up taking the other one home. Dessert consisted of a ramekin of vanilla ice cream topped with a strawberry slice dusted with cinnamon and a slight drizzle of caramel. A great palate cleanser. As were waited for the check we wondered aloud why it took us so long to come here. The food was very good and the amount you received was generous. The service was attentive and the owner kept checking on to make sure that we were OK and that we had received all of our food. Plus they were very accommodating if we wanted to mix and match things that were not necessarily on the menu. Unfortunately for us we discovered this place too late since we are moving out of Chicago in to very near future. Don't make our mistake. Go if you can...I don't think you will be disappointed.

I have NEVER, i repeat NEVER, felt so welcome and taken-care-of at a restaurant. Blown away by the attention given to each customer by the owner. We were a party of two, tourists who just randomly stopped at this restaurant coz the patio looked inviting on a gorgeous summer evening and the area didn't seem as crazy busy than downtown chicago. The hummus was delicious, the lamb in the sabzi was succulent! The servers and owner seemed hell-bent on going above and beyond any kind of service standard. In all my years of dining out in north america, I have never encountered service like this. Too bad TripAdvisor doesn't let me give more than 5 stars in this review. TWO THUMBS UP!

Pars Cove is a substandard Persian restaurant in North Chicago, located in a basement/ lower ground floor. I was fooled by the high online user ratings but in fact there is nothing to rave about: The server did not understand when asked if they standard Persian dishes (clearly she had never heard the names). The kababs were dry and overcooked - “well done”. The ambiance is terrible, with a gas fireplace blasting away like a furnace and music switching randomly from Iranian piano to Pavarotti and “Mambo Italiano”... But, you can have a meal for $ 30 so I probably shouldn’t have expected anything special...

My wife and 30 year old son dined here on a Sunday evening in September. A peek inside showed no one but I learned it was Game nite for the Bears. Glad we stayed. It is dimly lit which was nice and a small bar; located a few steps below street level it was a nice setting. It bills itself as Persian cuisine but don't let that scare you off . The service was fast, polite and knowledgeable. We ordered a cheese platter for $5; feta cheese,olives, mozzarella, tomatoes-very good. A few beers were $3 a piece. Hot flat bread plain and wheat was brought over and the cook stopped by with a sampling of hummus and egg plant. The entrees were terrific: my grilled lamb chops (4) at $18 were the best on a bed of grilled vegetables; my son got lamb shank on a bed of riceand my wife got an excellent chicken dish. Water was always filled . The cook/owner would comment from behind the stove how things were..great. Complimentary ice cream and honey and a rose for wife topped off a great dining experience. Total bill for 3: $63 with 2 beers. Love this place.

Pars Cove is on Diversey Pkwy, an oasis among shops, pubs, & busy residential streets. The food is fresh & expertly prepared, and service is friendly and attentive. We shared an entree special - appetizer, soup or salad, entrees, dessert and a glass of wine for each. The appetizer was amazing, the lentil soup satisfying, the entrees were delicious, and ice cream with honey & fruit to top it off...so good! They offered a discount for paying cash. I recommend Pars Cove for anyone wanting authentic Persian food, or just to try something different, while out & about in Lakeview.

We returned to Pars Cove on a brisk, chilly Chicago night after a few years absence from the city. Everything about the experience was terrific: food, ambience (because we were cold on arrival we got a small heated nook), and swift, friendly service. We made Mediterranean food choices, but would have no trouble venturing into the Persian choices on a future visit. In a rapidly changing city and neighborhood, Pars Cove demonstrated that long-term consistent excellence has its own benefits.

What can I say? This is one of my top % favorite restaurants in Chicago. I love everything about this place. The Ambiance. The service. The owner. The Price. And most certainly the food!!! It is my perfect intimate date spot!

This one of my favorite places in the neighborhood . I frequently eat here and it never disappoints me. The food is very well prepared and cooked. It is amazing that you can have a menu for $10 in which is included an small appetizer, lentils or salad as start, an entree to chose among different plates, and dessert. It is not strange that this place was opened in the 70's and it still lasts.

We are not from the area but it did come recommended. Also, I don't have much comparative reference as there are not too many Persian restaurants around. We did have a great meal and very nice waitress. We had the 4 course and were happy with all the dishes. Everything was served at a comfortable pace and other tables seem to be recognized as known repeat guests. I would send a friend here.

Ate the night before at the Signature Room and paid a ton; used a groupon at Pars Cover and enjoyed not only more reasonable, but BETTER food. Sea bass and and halibut cooked beautifully; appetizer plate comprised a nice variety; the Sicilian pinot grigio well chosen. And Max was there in person greet and supervise. Highly recommended; we will return.

Great little neighborhood restaurant in Lakeview. Service is warm and friendly and the food is very good. Portions are not especially large, so go ahead and order the appetizer sampler plate and try a variety of Lebanese specialties at the same time. Chicken dishes are very good,but if you like lamb try the lamb chopped. That being said, this recipe is not a "scene". It's mainly a neighborhood restaurant, tucked away downstairs and away from the crowds.

I went to Pars Cove figuring it would have lamb. It did, and I ordered some as a main course. But before the lamb came, I had devoured an eggplant dip and some hummus and a wonderfully fresh salad. I was stuffed before I saw my lamb. My impression is that the lamb was pretty ordinary, more or less what you could find in any Middle Eastern restaurant. But the appetizers and the salad were out of this world good.

The lamb skewers were delicious. Our waitress was friendly and knew about the items on the menu. Would definitely come again.

This is where we ate Thanksgiving Dinner. It is a Mediterranean Restaurant with the best food I ate while in Chicago. We were greeted as we entered and seated very promptly. The trays they brought us to eat on while waiting for our main meal were a meal themselves. There were different varieties of olives, breads, peppers, hummus, and two other spreads. I was afraid I was going to eat so much I wouldn't have room for my meal. I ordered salmon on rice. The salmon had a sauce on it that was the best I have ever had make from pomegranate and walnut. It was so delicious. When we finished out meal the waitress brought the ladies a beautiful rose. I don't know if that is the norm or just because we were from out of town. This is a place I would highly recommend if you are in the Windy City.

This is one of those understated restaurants that consistently delivers quality food and great service. Four of us dined, all ordering different dishes and each was fabulous. The appetizer platter is to die for along with the pita bread. Each of our entrees was delicious, fish, lamb, steak and chicken. The highlights were the chicken and the lamb. The rice served with the entrees and the tzatziki sauce was delicious. Dessert is a lovely vanilla ice cream with honey and fresh fruit. The service could not be better. The cocktails are generous and fair value. It is in a great location, easily accessible by public transportation.

Thanks to Groupon, I now know another gem in the city. We went with another couple and the four of us had a great time! We ate outside, had fabulous food, and a great deal... Yup, we need to go back! The food was unreal! We each did the four course plus wine dinner.... we ended up stuffed to the gills but happy! We had the appetizer sampler - OMG The humus, eggplant, etc...some of the best i have ever had! We had four different entrees, and each was better than the next! Dessert capped off the meal... We had great service, and great food. Feel free to email me with questions, but I would go back in a minute!

This is really not a foodie destination but instead a worthy neighborhood eatery, great for a dinner and a bottle of wine. The front room is bathed in light, has a really good feeling, and the staff is friendly and hospitable. There is also seating outside in front on Diversy, when and if it is warm and dry. Food was actually quite good. This place is really good for vegetarians, and we started with the Veggie appetizer platter which was very ecclectic, well presented, and quite tasty. This was followed by salmon for me and a veggie platter for my partner. Both were good with and served with a choice of sauces and soup or salad. The lentil soup was super good as was the salad. Entrees were OK, not great, but good. ZB

they were short staffed but the owner stepped in and took very good care of us. anything we asked for was brought with a smile. worth the trip for the food alone. enjoyed the combo platter. hummus was very good. would return again

These people run a scam. They have all the signs outside with deals, they says “those are summer deals” “those deals do not apply right now” even tho the sings makes very clear they are talking about tonight’s specials. They get you to come in, over charge you, then laugh. Stay away.

We had a delicious meal here; top quality ingredients, freshly prepared, good choice of veggie dishes and sensible sized portions. After a 3 course meal and clearing our plates, we felt pleasantly full. The prices are reasonable, the staff lovely and the ambiance welcoming. We ate inside downstairs, but you can also sit outside or inside at street level.

Came into the city for the afternoon with the family. We were looking for a different spot to grab a late lunch - not the usual places we go. I remembered seeing Pars Cove and thought let's give it a try. I have to say it was very good ! We sat outside - for a July afternoon it was a bit cool but nobody complained. Owner came to our table and gave us a complementary appetizer tray - there was hummus and stuffed grape leaves, but there was this walnut spread that was incredible. The mains were equally delicious. I had the Barg (flattened beef kabob) - so tender. This is a hidden trasure. Not fancy - but really nice.

Very nice cozy little place. This was my 2nd Groupon experience (much better than the 1st restaurant). The appetizer sampler was excellent. Very good lentil soup. The rack of lamp entree the only miss - the lamb was overcooked (medium-well, but still good flavor). The ice cream had an unusual honey syrup blend - had a perfume taste that I didn't care for, but my date liked it. The service was very friendly and very attentive. Had the lamb been cooked medium-rare I would have given the place 5-stars.

We joined friends here last evening for a delightful Persian dinner. We had a dish of multiple appetizers to share as a start while we conversed and it had a variety of items on it served with flat bread - the hummus was outstanding but every item was good. I had a lamb kabob which was succulent and delicious served with white and green rice and a cooked yellow pepper and a cooked whole tomato. Two others had the featured lamb shank, one with a spicy sauce and one with the walnut, pomegranate sauce and they both loved their choices. The fourth had scallops with a sweet sauce and rice and liked that choice. The service was attentive and good. And before we left, and the tradition for many years, the chef presented each lady with a red long stemmed rose! Quite a delightful place and I would recommend it to anyone liking Persian food.

The food is very very tasty , The dishes are varied , In the end, Iranian food is very, very tasty and also the staff are very welcoming and friendly.

Great food, Great service and Great atmosphere. Roses for the ladies. New favorite place to eat when visiting the north side!!

Our first time visiting with a sizable party including 4 kids. After asking few questions about our preferences, platters of owner-selected dishes began arriving with particular favorites being the lentil soup, tapenade, hummus, salmon, white fish, and chicken fesenjan.

Ok, this place could use a little bit of a facelift, but do not let that stop you from eating here. The food was fantastic - I highly recommend the Sampler Platter to start. The Dolmas may be the best I’ve ever had. The servers and owner were so nice - the perfect balance of attentive but not in the way. We were treated to a free dessert too.

Absolutely wonderful experience! The food is amazing and the servers gave good suggestions and advice. Quaint atmosphere - really a lovely evening. And I got a red rose!

I know everybody has rated this joint as 5 stars and in a way it certainly is but I had to cut a star short due to very tight space inside. And that is it, otherwise the food was fab and service even better. The owner seems very much into his passion. The business seems to be running pretty much on deals thru groupon and other similar websites. But don't let that fool you as I said, over all 5 stars except lack of generous space. By mistake, I paid $100 more than i was supposed to and owner comes back to give it back to me! very impressive and feeling bad that I am still giving him 4 stars but just trying to be fair for tripadvisor readers.

I went with a group from a wedding rehersal dinner and everything was outstanding. They served us family style and the food had such wonderful flavors...everything from the hummus and greek salad to the lamb shank and vegetarian platter. The service was attentive, friendly and made us feel like guests at their house. I can't wait to visit again!

We visited Pars Cove over Labor Day weekend. It was a Friday nite and the restaurant was empty so we wondered if the recommendation we'd received for a good Persian restaurant was wrong. But we were wrong! The food here is lovingly and carefully prepared as well as delicious. We had the appetizer sampler platter with hummus, grape leaves and assorted other delicious items. We ordered lamb kabobs and salmon dishes, both were excellent. My husband ordered a sangria which the owner said he made himself and my husband said it was excellent. This appears to be famiy run so the service at times was a bit slow, the only downside, but we were not in a rush. Several options for vegetarians. The owners work hard to make you feel welcome-the gave us a dessert gratis when we said we were too full to order, And the lady of the table got a free long stemmed rose. Nice touches. This is a hidden gem kind of place with reasonable prces. We will definitely go back the next time we are in Chicago!

Visiting from Kansas City, I thought I had found an authentic gem in the heart of Lincoln Park. Had I known how horrible the experience was going to be, I would not have wasted my time or money. I have NEVER, EVER had such HORRIBLE SERVICE in all of my dining experiences! We had a Groupon that I set on the table upon us being seated. The sever noticed it as she was pouring our waters with no greeting or introduction. Several minutes pass, I'm guessing it was the owner, comes to our table to inform us that with the voucher you can only order meals up to $18 and there would be an upcharge for pricier choices. Understandable, I'm good with that. Moving on, I order our wine. I ask for Tom Gore Cabernet Sauvignon. He informs me the wine that comes with the voucher is only Beringer. I purchased the voucher for $49, it stated on Groupon.com that the voucher was valued at $89 for a 4 course meal for 2 including wine. On the menu, a 4 course meal for 2 is offered at $79, which includes a bottle of wine up to $36 menu price-so I'm naturally thinking the voucher would cover that as it stated it was an $89 value. Tom Gore Cab was $36. But instead, we got a $24 bottle of Beringer. How does that add up to an $89 value? Disappointed in the false advertisement through Groupon. But to top it off, we had NO SERVICE. Our water glasses sat empty for nearly 25 minutes. The server completely neglected us. When our entrees arrived, I immediately asked for boxes, sealed our bottle, tipped like 5% (which I don't feel like the service rendered even that), and left a note on their paper table cloth and before leaving. The food was good, but the treatment from the owner and the lack of attentive service were extremely disappointing to say the least. It was horrible, honestly. If the owner does not want to treat groupon holders as paying customers, he should stop offering the vouchers through the website. Terrible experience!!!

Excellent food, great deal with the prix fixe. Wine, appetizer, 2 entrees, desert and long stem rose! Nice neighborhood. Not really fancy just pleasant. We sat outside. Lamb was delicious! Interesting sauces. Truly enjoyed the walnut and pomegranite sauce. Appetizer sampler a must! Tapenade and w/baked eggplant, best hummos ever!

Based on Trip Advisor reviews, we tried Pars Cove, on a quiet street near Lake Shore Drive in the Lakeview section of Chicago. We were in the mood for something different, and this restaurant delivered. On a quiet Monday night, our waitress handed us the menus, and, when many restaurants might have directed patrons towards more expensive choices, she told us of a $30 dinner special where we would receive a sampler of 5-6 of the restaurant's appetizers, soup or salad, a choice of ANY entree on the menu, AND, a full bottle of wine. We jumped at the suggestion. The appetizers were fresh, tasty, and decidedly Mediterranean, including stuffed grape leaves, hummus, and eggplant kashk. We both had the lentil soup which was delicately spiced and served hot. Also, we both chose lamb dishes, one a lamb shank falling off the bone, in a sauce spiced with cinnamon, and the other, boneless lamb in a delicious sweet sauce with honey and pomegranate flavors. Oh, and dessert was included - ice cream with a honey caramel sauce. The wine, a California Malbec, was more than acceptable. All in all, a great value. Service was not rushed and very pleasant. The restaurant, open since 1976, was a bit dated in decor, but the food and service more than make up for any faults in the decorating department.

My friend and I went to this restaurant because a friend told us about it. We did the special for 2 for $60. The food was amazing. I got the boneless lamb with the pomegranate sauce. This was amazing and so tender. The owner kept coming over and helping us decide what to get. He was so helpful and you could tell he just loved making people happy. We also got the hummus plate and everything was so fresh. The only negative is that the restaurants atmosphere could use. Facelift but don't let that stop you. Great food!

We found this place by accident and we were thrilled. We love Mediterranean so we had to try it out! We had the 4 course special with sangria. What a deal for $69 for the 2 of us. Great food, great atmosphere, and such a charming waitress! This place is a gem!

This casual, rather small restaurant is located about a block west of the northwestern corner of Lincoln Park (on Diversey). The menu is primarily Persian and the food seems quite good. Our party of four had lamb shank, chicken with a walnut/pomgranite sauce, chicken kebab and barg (grilled beef) and all were very tasty. The appetizer plate was excellent and included terrific hummus, dolmeh, Bulgarian feta and tapenade - in some respects the plate was more Turkish than typical Persian but, in any case, it was very good. Soup and salad and pita were all OK. Portion sizes are on the small size but they are sufficient. There are a number of vegetarian dishes as well as fish. Parking is on the street but generally not difficult.

On a Sunday early evening, the restaurant was empty, except 4 of us. Finding street parking was very hard to find. Food was decent served by not so knowledgeable waiter. The boss, who is passionate about his food was away. Menu is limited. All items on Appetiser platter were very tasty. Lamb dish was flavourful and the best entree of all we have tried. Wine selections are also limited. BYOB may be an incentive for more customers. We were slightly disappointed with this trip.

We had a wonderful experience at this Persian Restaurant on Diversey Parkway. We used a Travel Zoo coupon and the deal was spectacular. The food was plentiful and very tasty--our waiter, a young Russian man, and a lovely Iranian server were both very knowledgeable about the food they presented and spent some time telling us their stories. The hit of the evening were the owners, Mr. Pars and his wife. He spoke to us about his experience in the restaurant business and how he acquired the location we visited. We highly recommend this restaurant for all those who want a friendly and unique dining experience.

So many things about this restaurant make it fantastic. Not only was the food fantastic, but the owner himself came by to tell us about all of the options, and what he recommends. It has the kind of local charm that is missing from so many establishments. The ladies received a fresh rose after the meal. A friendly and warm touch. We chose the three-course meal option, which was not only a great value, but surprisingly delicious. Don't pass up the chef's chicken kabobs, which feature tender chicken wrapped in delicious bacon. The cocktails were fantastic; strong, but tasty. As others have mentioned, the hummus is especially unique and delicious.

We have dined here a couple of times now. On our most recent visit we sat towards the back but if you can get a table in front that's the place to sit! Front seating feels cozy and romantic, kind of like dining in a cave. The back, unfortunately, feels like sitting in the basement. Even so, the owner and staff are able to make your dining experience, no matter where you sit, feel special. Ladies are always awarded a rose at the end of the meal. We had the four course meal with appetizer sampler, soup or salad, entree and dessert. Appetizer sampler: Hummus, Eggplant Kashk, Tapenade, Shirazi Salad, Dolmeh. The humus is excellent! Eggplant Kashk is different than what I am used to tasting in an middle eastern eggplant spread. It's not bad but I am not quite sure that I like either. Tapenade is great! I like to use it with my hummus on the bread that they serve - also great bread! Shirazi salad is basically a tomato and cucumber salad - delicious. The dolmeh, stuffed grape leaves - I think these are the best I have ever had. Yum! Soup: We had the lentil soup. This past year was the year of the middle east. We did a lot of traveling there and learned that lentil soup is pretty much a staple everywhere. The lentil soup here didn't disappoint. Entree: I chose the chicken fesenjan and hubby had the lamb shank fesenjan. Fesenjan sauce is a walnut pomegranate sauce. It is wonderful. My chicken was good as was his lamb shank. Dessert: Vanilla ice cream with cinnamon and honey. So simple and yummy, I can do this at home and I think that I just might!

A real under the radar Persian restaurant in Chicago. The Chicago go to Persian joint was for a long time Reza’s. As a longtime Reza customer from the very beginning when they first opened to recently, I can attest to its slow and steady decline from greatness to mediocrity. So looking for a new go to Persian food restaurant, I got steered to this place thanks to Yelp. And boy could not be more grateful. This restaurant has been around for some time and is in a way an neighborhood institution. But as such it has flown under the radar. Thanks to yelp, it came to my attention and has become my new Chicago Persian food favorite. It is on the small side so I can imagine they do not have the warm bodies that drop buy and write reviews that help the ratings. Maybe a good thing for it will keep it a neighborhood secret spot for great Chicago Persian food. The wine list is small buy hey it is a Persian joint, not an Italian or other wine culture restaurant. The wine they do have is inexpensive and quite decent. The selection of dishes is not huge, but small and wide enough to manage something for everyone and yet still allow the kitchen to produce quality goods as opposed to Reza’s which is huge and simply licking in any quality anymore. To sum up, looking for great Persian food, this is the must go to choice!

This tiny unassuming, no frills restaurant is a find. The menu states it was established in 1976--not sure if it has always been at this location but the food represents years of serving guests unique, savory meals. We visited with a Groupon and were immediately welcomed by the older gentleman who greeted us, as well as worked all evening in the kitchen while a young gentleman took good care of us. The restaurant is in a "walk-down" location; a very narrow long space with a half dozen tables for two and one table for four in the front part with overhead, slating windows from street level. The kitchen space is open, and there are several small niches along the walls with 3 to 6 tables each offering a charming, intimate ambience albeit, very basic. It is obvious that guests arrive to eat rather than to bask in luxury. The cabernet, Italian wine was very nice after allowing it to "breathe" for several minutes and it paired very well with the dinners. The combo platter was tasty and included small portions of hummus, warmed pita bread, an olive salad, stuffed grape leaf, and a cold salad made with potatoes and fresh carrots.The lentil soup was rich, thick, hearty and served hot. The lamb shank (the star) with pomegranate-walnut sauce was rich, tender, and juicy, served with a thin long grain rice- the perfect companion to sop up the yummy sauce. The beef kabobs were well seasoned, tender and flavorful, also served with the unique rice. And the delightful dessert of vanilla ice cream topped with honey and cinnamon was a perfect exclamation point at the end of a lovely taste bud adventure. We were very satisfied without being "stuffed"...the portions were perfect! To end a lovely meal, our attentive server presented my husband with a long stem red rose to give to "the lady." How thoughtful and the only way to improve upon a lovely dinner. HINT: We found on the street free parking, one block south on Wrightwood. Be cautious, some areas require a local resident parking sticker.

A very warm atmosphere with friendly waiters and reasonable portions. The only problem with this is that if you know Persian food, you realize the food here is not authentically Persian. The taste good and the quality is high, however you may find the taste of the patty in "fesenjun" strangely similar to that of "Soltani" or "Barg". If you are into new experiences and modifications of Persian food, this might be the best place for you.

Absolutely fell in love with this cozy, warm and beautiful restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was charming and personable. Already looking forward to go back again. I can't believe it took me soo long to find this amazing gem in Chicago. Go, you'll leave very happy.

Overpriced and not very authentic. I was really disappointed because I would say Persian food is one of my favorites. Gourmeh Sabzi and Fesenjan are two of my favorite dishes of all times, but here they seemed not as well attended to as in other Persian dining establishments.

This is the cutest gem of a restaurant. Amazing food (the lamb was to die for), and the people are so nice. Would definitely recommend!!

Good friendly service. Very good hummus. We had the sea bass and salmon. Both were delicious. Good value, entree price includes lentil soup or salad and a small cup of vanilla ice cream topped with honey, strawberry sauce and cinnamon. Mmm mmm good!

Found this lovely intimate place on trip advisor. My husband and a friend and myself. Small quaint place. Owner was sweet gentleman who has been there since 1976. It’s great Greek/Mediterranean food. Roses given to the women in our party as well as personal service from owner. Huge portions. Would return everyday.

I took a huge group of people here. Some had never eaten Middle Eastern food others had. The response was unanimous. Great great food. Even the native Persians loved it!!!! I will be back again and again. A lot of good food, reasonable price and fantastic service. Can't wait to come back to Chicago again. Have eaten here every time I am there

We live nearby and love to go to Pars Cove on a regular basis. The food is always outstanding, as is the service ... and incredibly affordable! The dessert and complimentary rose at the end is always a sweet touch. We're lucky to have this restaurant in our neighborhood.

A dinner here reminded why we need to support unique restaurants that are part of what makes Chicago great. The owner treated us like family. The food was awesome. I am so glad they survived the pandemic because who needs another chain restaurant when you can have something unique like this. Good cocktails to start and each course was delicious. Wanted to try this place for years and now that I have will definitely be back.

I was super exited to try their food and had very high expectations. That is why I was a little disappointed, it was not as good as I have had at other places. Service was just above average, the food was good and the evening was great.

I keep going back to Pars Cove, because the food is so good, the service is so pleasant and the value is excellent. If you get a free (stunning) lentil soup, free ice cream, rose for the lady, all along with superb and interesting mains, you will keep going back too. The food is so fresh, the sauces so tasty and the atmosphere is always friendly, with family members keen to look after you.

Wonderful food, terrific ambiance, great service and reasonable prices. We missed seeing Max on this latest trip but have certainly enjoy his hospitality in the past. Personally I love getting a rose after the meal.

Pars Cove offers Persian food in a quaint setting. The charming owner is probably the friendliest host we have ever encountered. He actually offered us a discount on our meal. The food is delicious and very affordable.

My SO and myself recently ate at Pars Cove and had the Prix Fix meal. It was excellent. The waiter explained what each appetizer was on the shared plate, and offered good insight into the wines available with the meal. The main course was generous ( we each took home a sizable doggy bag ) and extremely tasty. the only problem is parking, very difficult to find a space, so leave plenty of time to find one.

We saw several nice reviews for this restaurant and were excited to both try something different and use a Google Daily Deal we purchased. Pars Cove is located near Lake Shore Drive on Diversey Parkway in the Lakeview section of Chicago. Although we had the Deal, Pars Cove offers the same package for a slightly higher price. Well worth it either way. The package includes a sample of 5-6 of the restaurant's appetizers, soup or salad, a choice of any entree on the menu. We also received a full bottle of wine. The appetizers were all very fresh and authentic Mediterranean. We had a stuffed grape leave, hummus, eggplant kashk, a potato salad, and an olive salad. We both had the lentil soup which was the right call. My wife had Halibit in a lemon and garlic sauce and I had the Scallops in a spice sauce. Both were excellent. We also received dessert - ice cream with a honey caramel sauce and raspberries and a Persian bakery item. We split a bottle of California Malbec which was nice. Definitely a very nice hidden gem that will be visited again. The chef/owner was very nice and the waitress was too.

We live outside of Chicago and found an online deal for this restaurant and decided to give it a go. It turned out great. The food was wonderful, the host (Max Par) was friendly and thoughtful and the restaurant was cosy. My husband had the red snapper, I had a chicken kabob dish, my daughter had the vegetarian plate and her boyfriend had the rack of lamb. All of us were very satisfied with the food. The only caveat for this place is that it is not fast. This is the kind of restaurant that you go to in order to have a leisurely dinner with good conversation. Do not plan to eat and run. My daughter and I did love the rose that Max gave us and we enjoyed talking to him about wine and his restaurant. Highly recommended.

We used a Groupon to get a 4 course meal-- read FEAST. Called for reservations and found a bus from the LOOP. The adventure was on! Nice neighborhood w/other eateries of interest. You can read details of the food and you can peruse the menu BUT it will not capture the excellence of the service. Jean greeted us at the door and steered us to a table under the glass front of the building. Unique for us. Our coupon was taken and the menus presented and explained. The young man was very knowledgeable about the food and the preparations, the limits of what we could order and the wine suggested. He did this with style and grace and humor. We were put at ease and excitedly awaited our food and drink. The sample platter was fun and, again, Jean carefully named and explained the items. The owner came by to ask if our main courses were selected and if everything was good. OH YES!!! Food delivery and presentation was outstanding. And, yes, pomegranate sauce on grilled salmon is unique and wonderful. Others were being seated and Jean stopped by each time to check on us and have a bit of conversation. His red wine suggestion turned out to be spot-on. The ice cream and the rose previously mentioned were nice touches. We caught the bus back to the Loop and were so satisfied and happy I don't think we said more than 10 sentences!! In some previous reviews there are episodes not matching our experience and every place will have a down day. Overall, in reading other posts, the ratings and experiences are so positive I must urge anyone reading this to take my enthusiastic recommendation and give this a try. I wish we lived nearby.