Tehran Berlin - formerlly The Drunken Butler - is an intimate Persian restaurant in Clerkenwell by executive chef and co-founder Yuma Hashemi, that serves an exclusive multi-course feasting menu.
Yuma was born in Iran and grew up in Berlin, although the inspiration for his restaurant and its food is widely influenced by his time travelling the globe. In fact, Tehran Berlin originally started out as a modern European restaurant, serving a tasting menu inspired by the cuisine and flavours of Europe, Asia and beyond. Now, the restaurant solely serves a Persian feasting menu inspired by the food Yuma enjoyed with his family growing up.
What hasn’t changed, though, is its signature intimate dining style. The space is designed to replicate the look and feel of a living room, to create a warm and relaxed ambience so that guests feel as though they are entering a house. Large square and circular tables covered in opulent tablecloths fill the space, along with further homely touches: a gold drinks cabinet filled with premium spirits, book-lined wooden shelves, a huge purple rug and black and white photographs on the walls of Yuma as a child.
The multi-course menu starts with traditional snacks, such as bread with cheese and herbs, along with a variety of dips. The main event is a traditional Iranian rice dish, tahdig, with a crunchy golden topping and tinted yellow with saffron. This is served alongside a couple of meat stews and roast chicken, before finishing with a couple of sweet treats. While the menu’s core plates remain the same, various dishes are adapted to suit the seasons.
Yuma has also curated the wine list, with guests able to select a wine pairing with the meal or choose by the bottle. Discover a list of premium negronis, too, for a short and punchy aperitif.
The restaurant seats a maximum of 20 guests per sitting, with diners able to book an individual table, or a seat at the chef’s counter which overlooks the open kitchen.