If I said ‘Persian’ what would you think of? Cats? Rugs? Food? I always think of food so it’s no surprise that I was pondering what would be on offer long before I arrived at Patogh. I imagined plate after plate of dried fruits, nuts and sweetmeats. I was mercifully wrong. I would list the names of the dishes we ate but sadly I didn’t write them down, assuming I’d be able to crib them later from their website. That was a mistake we could both learn from. To kick off we had a meze of starters containing meatballs, a Persian version of Russian salad, feta with olives and an aubergine with whey dish (£8.95 for two). These were accompanied by pitta bread. All were good and complimented each other nicely. The bread was a bit of a let down as I’d anticipated something a little more adventurous than pitta. For our main we ordered the selection of grilled meats. This came with some excellent saffron rice topped with a superior sticky sauce that oozed pistachios and orange (£28.00 for two). We didn’t really have room for any dessert but I can’t resist baklava when it’s offered, so I managed to squeeze in a small plateful. The service was spot on. Every dish looked beautiful and you could taste the care and attention that had gone into our food. I’ve no idea how authentic any of it was but by the time the last flake of Baklava crossed my lips I couldn’t have cared one little bit. My only concern, the fact that they also serve an English menu, was quickly eradicated when I spotted two steaks arrive at the adjacent table. The lucky recipients couldn’t praise it highly enough, whilst I gave out a happy sigh of relief. So if somebody says ‘Persian’ to me now all I’ll think is, “When?”
2 Effingham Street, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9AT, 01843 852 631.
A Gastronomic Guide to Thanet 