Diba Restaurant brings the rich flavors of Iranian and Persian cuisine to NDG, located on Somerland Avenue in Montreal. Enjoy a diverse menu featuring succulent kebabs, aromatic stews, and saffron-infused rice in a welcoming and cozy setting. Perfect for a unique culinary experience.
Our Specialties
Persian cuisine, kebabs
Amenities, services & more
We accept: Master Card, Visa, Interac, Mobile Payment, Contactless Payment
Diba Restaurant is praised for a warm, welcoming atmosphere and high quality Persian cuisine, with fresh, flavorful kebabs, well seasoned dishes, and generous portions served in a stylish, clean setting. The in house bread and tahdig add a comforting, authentic touch, and the service is consistently attentive in a vibe that is both lively and inviting. While some reviews note the prices can be higher than other Persian spots, the overall experience is described as excellent, with many saying it stands among the best Persian dining options in Montreal.
We've been to many Persian restaurants in Toronto, & on a previous trip to Montreal, we weren't too impressed by the Persian food scene. But Diba is in a different league. We had some of the best Persian dishes we've ever tried.
The staff were professional, friendly, & always ready to help. One of them even went out of her way to charge one of our phones in the staff room. That kind of service really stood out.
The atmosphere was warm & inviting, & the food was fantastic. We ordered Platter #1, which came with a mix of Persian kebabs & a Gheimeh stew. Everything was delicious, especially the tah-dig-the crispy saffron rice-which was absolutely perfect.
We had such a great experience that we recommended Diba to all our friends in Montreal. We'll definitely be back next time we visit!
Jul 7, 2025
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The torsh kebab was basically pomegranate molasses you could buy from supermarket; the food was so expensive & the waitress was grumpy, made mistakes with bills & blamed it on us; the mistake doesn't matter but she could be more helpful & didn't help separating bills.
Diba Restaurant, with its high ceilings, warm interior decor, & use of neutral tones, creates an incredibly calm & inviting atmosphere for its guests. The young & well-trained staff move gracefully between tables like a synchronized dance team. Their attentiveness is almost mind-reading, as they approach your table before you even signal for them.
Dear Mehrsa is an exceptional host, extremely nice, very friendly, respectful, polite, & hardworking. She ensured that every aspect of our dining experience met our expectations with enthusiasm & care. For quite some time now, she has happened to be our host by chance, & each time, she has provided us with the best service with great care & grace.
Our host tonight was Dear Ghazal, who was exceptionally so nice, courteous, & resourceful. When we ordered the Chenjeh kebab & were informed it was unavailable, she quickly coordinated with the kitchen upon noticing our excitement & managed to fulfill our request.
Before diving into the details of the food, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dear Ghazal for her wonderful hospitality this evening.
I'll include the receipt so you can see the exact prices as of today. Please note that the Chenjeh kebab was served with rice, while the other kebabs were served without.
• Bonab Kebab: Exceptionally tender & flavorful. I can confidently say it's one of the most delicious kebabs you'll find in Montreal.
• Chenjeh Kebab: The flavor was delightful.
• Shishlik Kebab: It was unbelievably tender a so really delicious.
• Koobideh Kebab: Compared to Bonab kebab, I'd definitely choose Bonab. But I have to say, Diba's koobideh kebab has a really enjoyable flavor on its own.
One standout feature of Diba Restaurant is their in-house bread baking. This sets the restaurant apart, giving it a unique charm. A touch of melted butter is added to their fresh taftoon bread, making it taste like a slice of heaven.
Overall, I would recommend it specifically for Bonab kebab.
Bon appétit!
Nice people , kind & polite service people, clean & welcoming environment & most importantly a reasonable price. You may have some issues with finding a parking space.
Definitely recommended.
I always say , check Persian Cuisine & its very difficult to get disappointed.
Here are some details about the food :).
Starter, Bread & Cheese : 3.5 Stars.
Bread was awesome & fresh so this part is a good 4.5 Stars.
I would give it more stars if there was a bit of Salted Butter & better mix of herbs instead of just Parsley.
You will also get some walnuts although I would take some time to make them look fresh by soaking them in water the nigh before.
Rice : 4.5 Stars.
Big portion, delicious & well cooked with a nice Tahdig & Saffron.
Kebab Barg : 4 Stars with some compromise
Tender, well prepared & cooked. The only missing part is the preparation over charcoal.
Kebab Koobideh: 3.5 Stars.
Nice big portion but grinded more than what it should have been grinded. Maybe they can stick to only 2 times grinding instead of 3 or 4.
I was not able to recognize the taste of lamb as it should be mix of lamb & beef chuck.
I would add 1 to 2 percent more salt & I would definitely avoid grinding the onion with beef & lamb.
& for sure charcoal. BBQ was missing.
Joojeh Kebab ( Chicken breast ) : 3.5 Stars.
I would say acceptable but could have been marinated a bit better. Pieces were too thin so it dries out over the heat before it gets to proper internal safe temperature.
Ghormeh Sabzi : Hardy & with a lot of compromise 2 maybe 1.5 Star.
Definitely not recommended .
Good large portion but not right mix of herbs. Fenugreek was missing. Herbs were not fried properly & the sourness of Limo Amani ( dried Lemon ) was definitely missing.
The best I have ever had in Canada was in the city of Sherbrook. So you will not missing anything if you skip the stew part.
Salad Shirazi : 4.5 Stars .
Very delicious, well prepared.
Most importantly & rightly they use juice of unripe grape (This part is great).
I would give it a good 5 star if the portion was bigger. For that price , it should be at least 2 times bigger.
Tea: 5 Stars.
It was so good that I cannot give it a 4.5 because of the glass size :) . I would like my glass of tea a good 1.5 to 2 times bigger than that , I mean I like a real regular size glass.
Please note that what I am writing here is based on my standards & compared to real top notch Persian food. So a 3.5 out of 5 stars considering expertise & ingredients you get here in Montreal is still good.
May 6, 2025
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Diba has some positives-the staff are warm & welcoming, the food is well-presented, & the flavors are solid. However, it's hard not to compare it to Naeb, which is run by the same owner & chef, Aras.
The biggest letdown at Diba is the value. The prices are higher than Naeb, but the portions are noticeably smaller. For example, the Bonab kebabs were significantly smaller at Diba, which was disappointing given how hearty they are at Naeb.
I had an amazing experience at this Iranian restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, the ambiance was warm & inviting, & the staff were exceptional. A special mention goes to Ms. Golnar, who was incredibly kind, friendly, & professional. Her wonderful attitude truly added to the overall experience. Everything about this place was simply outstanding. Highly recommended👍
Update: Unfortunately, our recent visit to this restaurant was quite disappointing, especially compared to our wonderful first experience. The quality of the food had noticeably declined - the kebab was dry, the rice was watery & lacked the authentic flavor we expected. Service was also much slower; despite the restaurant not being busy (it was a weekday), it took over an hour just to place our order. Additionally, several times when we requested something, it was either forgotten or significantly delayed. While the staff remained polite & courteous, the overall service & food quality left much to be desired this time. I hope the management addresses these issues, as this restaurant has great potential.
As a result, I am reducing my original 5-star rating to 2 stars.
'Absolutely amazing experience! The flavors at this Iranian restaurant are authentic & rich, each dish beautifully prepared. The atmosphere is warm & inviting, making it perfect for a cozy meal with friends or family. We ate the Kebab Negini, & it was incredibly delicious - tender, flavorful, & perfectly cooked. Highly recommend!'
The kebabs are unbelievably tender, & the rice is packed with flavor! Hands down, one of the best Iranian restaurant experiences I've had so far. The service is great, & the vibe is super cozy-perfect for a get-together with family or friends.
& you have to try the kebab Torsh. It's a game-changer!
We had an absolutely delightful evening at the restaurant! From the warm & welcoming staff to the impeccable service, everything was perfect. The ambiance made our dinner even more enjoyable, & the kebabs were simply exquisite-each bite bursting with flavor. A special mention to Somayeh, who truly made our experience exceptional. It was a night to remember!
Diba is worth the trip! A warm, inviting spot where food quality matches great service. The kebab torsh was exceptionally tender, & every dish was beautifully presented-true respect for customers. Well done, Diba
This Persian restaurant was an absolute gem! After we placed our order, they brought out freshly baked bread with walnuts, cheese, & herbs-a delightful complimentary touch that set the tone for the meal. 😋🍞👍
The food itself was outstanding. Every rice dish came with a beautifully crisp Tadig, with lavash Tadig in the center & rice Tadig surrounding it-a perfect combination of textures that made every bite incredibly satisfying. 🍚🤤🌟
The kebabs were top-notch, made with high-quality meat & expertly grilled. The Bonab Kebab, made from ground mutton, was exceptional-juicy, flavorful, & perfectly charred. The Kubideh was rich & tender, while the Kebab Tursh had a delicious tangy marinade that elevated its taste even more. 🔥🍖💯
Beyond the food, the restaurant had a warm & inviting ambiance, & the service was excellent. The staff was attentive, ensuring a great dining experience. If you're a fan of Persian cuisine or just love well-crafted food, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended! ✨👏😊
Feb 15, 2025
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I had an incredible dining experience at Diba Restaurant . The food was absolutely delicious, with authentic Persian flavors that took me straight to Iran. The kebabs were juicy & perfectly grilled, & the saffron rice was fragrant & fluffy. The service was warm & welcoming, making the entire evening even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a genuine Persian culinary experience, this is the place to go.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is really chic & family friendly. Staff were numerous & really nice. For starter, they brought cheese & freshly baked bread, both really delicious, I wish we could have ordered more bread. We ordered some Salad Shirazi & Mast moosir, salad shirazi wasn't good at all, but Mast Moosir was great. For the main course, we tried different kebabs, their koobide is not the best in town but the quality was acceptable. I enjoyed their kebab Torsh better.
I recently visited Diba, a newly opened Iranian restaurant in Montreal, & it was a wonderful experience. The attention to detail is impressive, making the atmosphere quite pleasant. The warm fresh bread served with cheese, herbs, & walnuts as a welcome is both nostalgic & delightful. The portions are generous, & the prices are reasonable for the quality of food served. The kebabs are especially delicious, & our dining experience was thoroughly enjoyable. Diba will definitely become a regular spot for us."
The service was very good albeit we received items we ordered as appetizers very late as well as drinks after our main course - the portions were big although the kebabs left to be desired - very pricey for what it is & I am not a fan of the concept of the kitchen in the basement - some plates were only room temperature when received at the table unfortunately. 200$ meal is a bit much in comparison to other places I would not go back in a rush back for example Gheimeh Stew small portion very little meat in mine for 24$ is too much .
