Persepolis

1407 2nd Ave./73rd St., Upper East Side, (212) 535-1100.

It is fun at Persepolis to make a meal of appetizers and salads. The flavorful Persian food includes Eggplant Mirza (a roasted puree with mint, tomato, garlic, and yogurt), refreshing Yogurt & Shallots, and Shirazi Salad (chopped cucumber, tomato, and parsley). Since I was with a vegan I shared Khorest Ghormeh Sabzi (a green vegetable and red bean stew) and Khorest Gaimeh Badamjan (a split pea, eggplant, and tomato stew). But what I really wanted was the Khorest Fesenjan (chicken with pomegranate and walnuts). However, our veggie items were served over a sour cherry rice and a dill-fava bean rice and were very tasty. I was here for a late lunch, so there weren’t many people dining then, but a man seated nearby was someone I recognize from PBS—but darned if I can remember his name or role, though I think it was a mystery.