The Westside has never been short on great Italian, modern American, or sushi, but a genuinely serious Persian restaurant had been missing from the Brentwood/Santa Monica rotation. That changed when Perse opened, tucked into Brentwood Gardens at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. Brad, our two daughters, and I went this past weekend to see if it held up to the buzz.
The Room Fills Up Fast
We had a 5:30 reservation at Perse and walked into a calm, architecturally clean room. By the time we left around 6:45, it was completely packed and lively. The outdoor patio is lovely, but it gets loud as it fills in. If you want a quieter conversation, go earlier or ask for an indoor booth.
Starters
The hummus was better than it needed to be, exceptionally creamy, finished with good olive oil. The Persian fries were the bigger hit at our table: crisp, well-seasoned, and gone within minutes with the girls around. We also tried the smoked eggplant and whey, and I’ll be honest: the fermented flavor was too dominant for my palate and I had trouble finishing it. If you love intense, fermented flavors, you’ll probably disagree with me completely: it’s clearly made for that audience.
The Tahdig at Perse Is the Dish to Get
Tahdig (the crispy rice from the bottom of the pot) is the real test of a Persian kitchen, and Perse’s smoked saffron version passes easily. It’s finished with pistachios, almonds, and barberries, consistently crunchy, with the saffron’s floral note balanced by the tartness of the berries.
From the Grill at Perse
We sampled three mains. The saffron lamb chops were the standout — six chops with a saffron crema and a black spice blend, cooked to a clean medium-rare with none of the gaminess lamb sometimes has. The filet mignon kabob (barg) was Brad’s favorite, butter-tender from what’s clearly a high-grade cut. The boneless chicken kabob (joojeh) surprised me: usually the “safe” order on a menu like this, but good, marinated well enough that every bite carried citrus and saffron.
Dessert
We split the dessert platter: a light, custard-like saffron delight with rosewater, the traditional saffron ice cream (bastani), aromatic and nostalgic if you grew up around Persian desserts, and a rich Bibi chocolate cake to balance out the floral notes.
Why Perse Is a Win for Brentwood
For a long time, if you wanted serious Persian food, you had to head toward Tehrangeles or Beverly Hills. Having a restaurant this good right in Brentwood is a real win for the neighborhood — a solid alternative to the local Italian mainstays, and a good setting for both a family dinner and a night out.
The smoked eggplant and whey wasn’t for me, but the rest of the meal was close to flawless. If you want a quiet dinner, go early. If you’re fine with a packed, lively room and love the “see and be seen” energy of a full LA dining room, the 7:00 PM slot is exactly that.
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