Persepolis Restaurant occupies a vivid yellow corner at 28-30 Peckham High Street. Part restaurant and part Persian grocery, it has a playful, personal character and offers an informal introduction to Middle Eastern flavours through an entirely vegetarian food menu.
The cooking draws on Persian ingredients such as herbs, pulses, rice, aubergine, pomegranate, saffron and warming spices. Dips, salads and other mezze invite sharing, while vegetable stews and substantial rice based dishes provide comforting depth without relying on meat.
A feasting menu is an especially useful way to experience the kitchen, allowing the restaurant to assemble a generous progression for the table. Vegan choices run throughout the selection, and the abundance of small dishes makes the venue well suited to mixed groups and curious diners.
Drinks continue the individual approach through Persian tea, Turkish coffee, yoghurt based doogh, juices and fragrant cordials. Persepolis is relaxed rather than formal, with the shop shelves and exuberant decor making a meal feel connected to the ingredients and culture behind it.
Address: 28-30 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5DT, England
Persepolis Restaurant Menu
Meze
A classic range of hot + cold appetisers. Our range varies every day (we make at least 26 types of houmous, for example) but is always most excellent. Just choose how many different things you want to try. Most people leave the selection up the chef. All of our meze dishes come either with hot bread from our tanour oven or an accompanying sauce. They can all be made vegan and gluten free.
Meze 1 plate
which will usually be houmous
Meze 2 plates
like, houmous + falafel
Meze 3 plates
houmous, falafel + salad maybe
Meze 4 plates
you get the idea
Meze 6 plates
Meze 8 plates
The Persepolitan Chilli & Garlic Meze
A mixed platter of our, er, hotter dishes. It’s all about the heat baby. Served with lots of bread and some cooling yoghurt (veganable, GF-able)
The Persepolitan Aubergine Meze
A trio of aubergine themed bites and dips served with bread (veganable, GF-able)
Starty Things
Sabzi Khordan
the most typical Persian starter of all—fresh herbs with walnuts, white cheese and warm bread (veganable, GF-able)
The Persepolis Salad Bowl
(veganable, usually GF)
Soup and/or Ash
ask for today’s potage options (veganable, GF-able)
Breaded Halloumi w/ Chilli Relish
Shor Nokhod
Afghan style spiced chick peas with coriander and chilli VG, GF
Cotelettes
a trio of Persian-style spiced potato bites served with mustard labneh VG
Pakora
seasonal root veg, grated, spiced and dunked in batter and served with a dill and saffron sauce VG, GF
Boregi
that’s pie to you. A trio of Lebanese/Turkish style pastries served with our home made sweet onion relish (mostly vegan, contains GLUTEN)
Lighter Bites
Pan fried Halloumi
with sesame and honey
Devilled
with harissa and raisins
Garlic mushrooms
No really. Cooked with za’atar, topped with whipped feta, and served on some Persepolitan garlic na’an
Flatbread wraps
choose from classic falafel or Arabic cheese w/Persian pickle…or ask for today’s specials. Served with relish + a chip garnish (veganable, contains GLUTEN)
Fattet
very posh fried bread with spinach and chick peas, tossed in our super sexy tahini sauce (VG, contains GLUTEN)
Bigger Mains
Borani Bon-Jon
a stack of garlicky aubergines drizzled with yoghurt and tomato sauce and served with thick bread (veganable, GF-able)
Courgette, white bean & seasonal vegetable stir fry
with saffron and dill. Served with barley bread. (Mrs.S’ go-to lunch) (VG, GF-able)
Khoresht
or hotpot. Our range of Middle Eastern stews is impressive: ask for today’s flavours. Served with rice, salad & yoghurt. (veganable, GF)
Pulao
Iranians make the best rice in the world, & here we showcase our favourites. Ask your waitbot what’s on the menu today. Served with pickles and stuff. (veganable, GF)
Jackfruit Shawarma
Back by popular request. Served on flatbread with spiced sweet potato fries and salad (veganable, GF-able)
Jujeh Kebab
cubes of tempeh marinated with Persian lime & saffron & seared with tomatoes & peppers. Served with rice & salad (veganable, GF)
Persepolitan Moussaka
Made w/spiced lentils, stacks of aubergines & potatoes & a lush white sauce. Served with Greekish salad. (VG, GF)
The Persepolitan Mixed Platter
comprising our hotpot, rice, & beans of the day, served with bread, salad Shirazi & yoghurt (usually VG, GF-able)
Brunchy Things
i.e. Eggs/Tofu – available ‘til 5pm only. All served with bread, GF or otherwise.
khorma malous
scramble with dates and fragrant baharat (veganable)
menemen
scramble with devilled onion and peppers (veganable)
dodo
with plantain and harissa (veganable)
chakchouka
our take on the Tunisian classic: eggs poached in a peppery tomatoey sauce
Sweeties
Banana, date and sesame ‘flambé’
served with kaymak and ice cream
Fresh fruit platter
served with honey and yoghurt
Persian cream cake platter
a selection of fresh cream naughtiness for 2 to share
Chillied pan fried apples
with barberry coulis and ice cream (allow 20 mins during busy times)
Cheesecake
handcrafted and baked, made with love by Brother Shopkeeper. Served with kaymak. Ask about today’s flavour.
Persepolitan Vegan Knickerbocker Glory
Affogato
Persian cookies crumbled with ice cream + a shot of espresso
The Tuck Shop
an OTT sundae containing all a Persian sweetie shop has to offer
Saffron Banana Split
Hot Paklava Meltdown
Turkish Delight Sundae
Iranian faloodeh or bastani
sorbet or ice cream
Regular tea for two with Persian pastries
Regular coffee for two with paklava or Turkish Delight
Teas
Fragrant Persian Tea with cardamom
Moroccan Green Tea with Mint
Fresh Peppermint Tea
caffeine free
Afghan Green Tea
separates the men from the boys
Saffron Tea with Nabat
that’s posh crystallised sugar to you
Ginger Tea with Orange, Lemon and Mint
vegan available, caffeine free
The Persepolis Cold Buster
an ancient blend of herbal magic, served with honey, caffeine free
Happy Flower Tea
a beautifully hued rose and hibiscus brew served w/ sugar crystals, caffeine free
Orange flower tea
served with honey or agave syrup, caffeine free
Sleepy Tea
our own blend featuring valerian and lavender. Heady stuff. caffeine free
Coffee
Nespresso
strong or mild, caff or decaff, black or white
Date and cardamom latte
decaff available
Turkish (aka Greek) Coffee
plain, medium or sweet, served with delight. No decaff available. This stuff is hardcore. And you can’t have it with milk
Iced Mocha Coffee with pashmak
Vegan Hot ‘Chocolate’ with carob and spices
Juices
Pomegranate or Sour Cherry Juice
Sharbat (cordial)
choose from rose, sour cherry, pomegranate or mint
Mango Smoothie with tamarind and ginger
veganable
Banana Smoothie with carob and halva
veganable
Melon smoothie with honey or agave syrup and rosewater
Mo’s Cucumber Granita
Oh my this is good.
Moroccan avocado smoothie w/almond + orange flower
Naturally vegan
Ab-e-Havijj va bastani
all the rage in downtown Tehran—carrot juice with an ice cream float (veganable)
Date Shake with cinnamon
a dreamy creamy treat (veganable)
Orange, Apple, Carrot or Mixed
From Mr. Shopkeeper’s Fresh Juice Bar
Pear and ginger
From Mr. Shopkeeper’s Fresh Juice Bar
Doogh
the classic fizzy, salty Iranian yoghurt drink