Tucked away in the Crossroads Shopping Center, surrounded by the flashy blur of grab-and-gos and chain restaurants, lies this tiny, unassuming gem, a diamond in the rough, a delicate fig tenderly ripening in the shade amid a jungle of barbaric fast-casual weeds. If this sounds too poetic, you clearly have not yet tried the zereshk polo, which will have you reciting ruba'i, ghazal, and mathnawi like a boss. Yes, Pars is classified as "Greek/Mediterranean," and yes, they have falafel and hummus and gyros, but the star here is the solidly Persian cuisine: juicy chicken kabobs, sumptuous eggplant khoresht, inimitable pomegranate soup, and the aforementioned zereshk polo - tender chicken swimming in spiced broth to pour on a platter of rice fortified with sauteed onion, dried barberries, crushed pistachio, and slivered almond. Oh, sweet, sweet Suite 502 - the best-kept secret on Burnet - you are lyrics to our lips.
Pars Mediterranean Supermarket & Deli
8820 Burnet Rd. #502, 512/452-4888
www.austinparsdeli.com
Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Support the Chronicle
Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Support the Chronicle