Café Toranj provides a distinct culinary experience centered on traditional Persian flavors paired with the foundational elements of a classic café environment. The menu features an array of authentic Iranian dishes that highlight aromatic spices, saffron infusions, and slow-cooked meat preparations. Guests encounter a fusion of robust Middle Eastern culinary techniques alongside standard beverage offerings typical of local coffee houses. Each plate emphasizes seasonal ingredients prepared to honor heritage recipes from Tehran and beyond. The interior design mirrors this synthesis by blending comfortable seating arrangements with subtle cultural aesthetic markers. This establishment functions as a primary destination for those seeking a nuanced intersection between Mediterranean-inspired refreshments and substantial Persian main courses served in a straightforward, functional space.
Café Toranj is widely celebrated as a cozy and beautifully decorated destination that offers an authentic taste of Persian culture and cuisine. Guests frequently praise the high quality, fresh ingredients, and rich, aromatic flavors of dishes like fesenjoon, albaloo polo, and various flavorful stews, with many highlighting the impressive selection of herbal teas and creative alcohol-free cocktails. While the vast majority of visitors describe the atmosphere as warm, welcoming, and reminiscent of home, experiences regarding service are somewhat varied; many diners report impeccable, kind, and attentive care, although a minority encountered challenges with wait times or unprofessional conduct. Overall, the restaurant is highly recommended for its unique culinary offerings, inclusive vegetarian and gluten-free options, and its inviting ambiance, making it a favorite spot for gatherings and meaningful dining experiences.
This is my new favourite place in the area. An incredible, varied & delicious menu (with great vegetarian + vegan options, a cozy, tasteful & authentic atmosphere, & kind patient service.
This is a great spot to get a Saffron Latte & sit in their comfy couch or tables with a book, to get their awesome cold & hot breakfasts, or to go for a nice dinner.
My friends & I got the Ash Reshteh (specialty soup - delicious), Albaloo Polo (loved the sour cherries with the saffron rubbed chicken), & the Nashtei Cold (breakfast platter).
Price point is reasonable. They have solid wifi (up to 30 mb per second download / 20 upload from where I was seated) which makes it a solid spot to get some work done.
First time here, definitely not the last time. There is clear love & care put into Cafe Restaurant Toranj, & I am wishing them success.
Absolutely delicious food! The flavors were rich & authentic, & everything was so fresh. The saffron cake was incredibly moist & full of flavor - paired perfectly with the tea. The service was also wonderful - warm, attentive, & welcoming. Toranj is a great spot for anyone craving quality Persian cuisine. Highly recommend!
We visited this Iranian brunch spot & had a great experience. The place was cozy & welcoming, & the food was fresh & well-prepared.
We tried two dishes:
Nashtaei 2 - A mix of potato pudding (Do Piazeh), lentil soup, a Persian-style omelette, & pinto beans, served with tea or coffee. Everything was flavorful & comforting.
Nashtaei 3 - A savory plate with sausage & tomato mixture (Bandari), boiled eggs, potato pudding (Do Piazeh), & pinto beans, also paired with tea or coffee.
The service was friendly & excellent, & the restaurant had a relaxed atmosphere & cozy ambience.
One thing we missed was the saffron ice cream, but we'll definitely be back to try it.
If you enjoy good food with rich flavors, this place is worth a visit! Highly recommended.
Jun 7, 2025
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Really delicious & simple meals that come out in style. I tried the Gheimeh Nesar Ageau which is a lamb rice plate with middle eastern dried fruits & spices. It was really fresh & tasted homemade. Not too strong of a flavor, it was delicious though. & then i also tried for the first time a saffron decaf latte with soy milk. It was a bit earthier & richer taste them coffee on is own. It just masked all the sweetness & made the coffee taste more mature to my palette. It was really good! This Iranian/Persian cafe is beautifully designed & perfect for hanging out or a date & to have Turkish coffee, tea, share plates & desserts & more. One small note is that there is some cleaning that could be done & service is not so attentive... you will have to get up & ask to be waited on. Also, plates are a bit pricey, but they are filling. My plate could've fed two easily.
I went to Toranj with my Persian friends. It is one of the best Persian places in Montreal. They have some of the most famous Iranian dishes but it is a bit pricey for some people & some choices. My friends ordered the traditional soup. I ordered saffron rice topped with cranberries, some almonds, & small chunks of meat (they were a few) with a very small bowl that has yoghurt & cucumber. I would prefer if the yoghurt salad was a bit bigger so I can enjoy the dish more as I do not like to eat dry rice without sauce or salad. The rose-saffron drink was nice & I was so nostalgic while drinking it. The decorations are so authentic & traditional. You can find some Persian products that you can buy. The waiter was nice & responsive. The washroom is a bit small but clean generally. They have good sweets (saffron cake especially) & other hot & cold drinks. I recommend trying this place & enjoy the delicious Persian food🥰
We were four friends getting together for a long overdue brunch. The food was delicious in that way where you can be totally happy with your menu choice but you still kind of wish you could have what your friends ordered too. One friend got there late & consequently ordered long after our - & other - tables had put in their requests. The server correctly predicted that our friend's meal would arrive long after we would receive ours so he offered the opportunity to change the order to something less time-consuming to make. I thought that was a very thoughtful thing to do, so props to the staff for their proactive offer. We all had a great time, chatting & noshing as friends do. I had & totally recommend the Nashtaei #3 - a sausage & tomato stew served with yummy saffron-coloured potatoes, eggs, pickles, & other yums. The Melrose platter across the table from me looked pretty amazing too. Maybe I'll try that dish next.
I have never had Persian food before & I'm also picky, so take my review with a grain of salt. I did like the food, it was amazing portions, very fresh & tasted good. I ordered a soup (Ash Reshteh) which wasn't my favorite. I think it was the dill. I also had do piazeh (the potatoes). Those were pretty good. Kind of reminded me in texture of potato salad, but a different taste. I also had gheimeh nesar (saffron rice with beef). This was my favorite of all the dishes. It has a really unique flavor with the chopped berries, pistachios, spices & everything. & the last dish I had was gham-bar polo shirazi which is like meatballs & rice with nuts & a lot of raisins. It's good but very sweet. I didn't expect that. It was my second favorite. It also came with a good portion of fluffy bread which i think was supposed to go with the soup. It also came with (i think) sour cream for the main dishes & a cup of cherry tomatoes, olives & pickles. I don't like sour cream or anything pickled so i can't speak for that, but my husband liked it. All in all, i think it you like Persian food you'd like it a lot. I liked it ok. I did agree with the person who said it's better with salt. Edit: I had some of the leftovers the next day & I liked it even more. It's hard to describe because the flavor combinations are so new to me. I will definitely order it again. It's a very satisfying & yummy meal. P.s. I went back & I ordered a similar rice dish to Gheimeh Nesar called Morasa polo. It's got chicken instead of beef. I LOVED it! I wish ordered more Do piazeh. Everything was just as good & I actually tried the white sauce that I thought was sour cream. It's not sour cream. LOL I don't know what it's called but it's very creamy & mild, not sour or tangy or garlicky. It was really nice & unique. Highly recommend ++++
I can't believe I only just discovered this gem... such a beautiful warm place to have coffee & cake or a meal with friends. The Iranian coffee was excellent (& I am picky about my coffee) & the toranj tea & saffron cake were exquisite. The service was a bit hit or miss... the gentleman was very helpful & welcoming but the woman was apathetic. Great vibes & excellent food, we had such a memorable time, can't wait to come back!!
Terrible service with yummy food! There is a section in the cafe that is behid a wall somehow & they are not able to see the section with sofa so this is the reason that they don't pay attention. The atmosphere is cute but needs a serious repairment cuz the coffee table that was infront of us was glued together & you could easily see the glue. The kadaif & saffron cake were very yummy.
