Saffron

Trying to track down a decent kebab joint in Richmond is a pretty thankless task, so it’s probably no surprise that locals make a beeline for the skewered meat section of this traditional Persian restaurant. Popular choices include sumac-spiced lamb fillet, chicken and minced lamb served with a bit of salad and fluffy rice, while their ‘barg’ (slivers of lamb basted in saffron butter and arranged like fallen dominoes) is like an opulent version of a doner – don’t be fazed if the staff frown when you ask for some chilli sauce. Or for something more authentic, opt for one of the fragrant stews. Starters are mostly meze-style crowd-pleasers, while the dessert menu features old favourites such as baklava and paloodeh (homemade Persian sorbet threaded with rice vermicelli).