The Divan Experience

We love Persian food. So when Divan opened a new restaurant just down the street from us we wanted to give it a try. Since we pick up orders still, we looked at the menu for options. The website did not have an order out option so I emailed and asked if they did. We would need to call rather than use an app, so we did. The prices are high compared to Moby Dick that we go to regularly since we moved to DC sixteen years ago. But this would be considered a “higher end” place. But they had paella on the menu - which was different and something we wanted to try since there aren’t any Spanish restaurants near us. So we ordered that and a few of the traditional items that we always get - soup, eggplant appetizer, herb/egg appetizer, yogurt and French fries! When we drove up the restaurant itself was very nice with outdoor seating. We used to go to that same spot when it was another restaurant and we walk past it on the weekends during our morning walks. That’s when we knew there was going to be a new restaurant there. It looked really nice when we opened the packaging. But the bread was a huge disappointment! The food was “average” but the fries were really good! When we looked at the reviews there were raves about the service - and that I believe. The people working there are outstanding in the usual Persian way - but the food was just “okay.” It definitely is a place to try for the ambiance and presentation and perhaps for out of town guests. Perhaps we didn’t select the right items. But for take home? I think Moby Dick will do. And now Maman Joon will be opening soon. In all honesty, bringing food home rather than dining in tends to always be a disappointment. We rarely dine in any more. Maybe we should start again because we really have forgotten that whole experience. 

Divan Restaurant

Moby Dick will be upset. It’s our favorite go to Persian take out restaurant. We have been going there for almost fifteen years. The first place we visited was in Georgetown, then in Arlington, and now there is a shop just a couple of blocks away from our northern Virginia condo. A second favorite is Yekta in Rockville. But we haven’t been there since the pandemic. It’s a great sit down place. There are also a few other Persian options in town but we aren’t impressed with any of them. When we lived in the Midwest Reza’s in Chicago was a favorite. While on our morning walk in the neighborhood the other day we noticed signs for a new restaurant in the little strip mall just down the street. Prior to this new place that will be coming on the fall were Greek and Mediterranean fare. But the new place is called Divan - another Persian restaurant and it is supposed to open in early fall. It sits between two Thai places and an Italian place that is moving in from another location. I tried looking up Divan, but couldn’t find much of anything. There doesn’t seem to be any other similar locations around here. So, it might become another option for our favorite kabobs and such. But nothing will ever take the place of Moby Dick. Nothing beats it!