'We're thrilled to be back on the A6 - it's so nice people haven't forgotten about us'

During the first lockdown in August 2020, the owners of a Persian restaurant in south Manchester decided to close their doors for good: not because they didn’t have enough customers, but because the weight of the pandemic had proved to be too much.

But, almost four years later, in the very same spot on Stockport Road in Levenshulme, the couple behind the Alborz restaurant have made the big decision - despite a volatile hospitality industry - to open back up again.

Named after the mountain range of the same name in Iran, the restaurant has a bustling menu serving the likes of traditional Koobideh minced lamb skewers and a slow-cooked Fesenjoon chicken stew. There are also plenty of grilled kebabs, vegetarian stews, rice dishes and noodle soups to choose from - all freshly made on site.

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Fronted by head chef Amir and his wife Nafis, who have asked just to use their first names, the couple say their passion for cooking authentic and traditional food has led them to reopening Alborz. But it came by chance when passing the premises one morning and noticing the shop was up for sale.

“We took the restaurant on from the current owners back in 2014 and ran it up until Covid,” Nafis tells the M.E.N. “That bit of time just became a bit much for us so we decided to close down back then and Amir went to work as a chef at a number of other places.

“But we always had our eye on it. With the restaurant being on the A6, we’d always pass it on our way into Manchester and we just spotted the lease was up for sale not long ago last year. Amir just decided to go for the opportunity - it was a popular restaurant and he always loved working there.”

In-between Alborz leaving and returning to the Stockport Road restaurant, the venue had been used as a shisha bar which had seen the pre-existing kitchen stripped out. It meant that the pair have had to spend the last few months focusing on planning permission and extending the site so it can function as a working restaurant once again.

Bar the brief time spent as a shisha lounge, the venue has been a Persian restaurant since 2000 so Nafis and Amir, who are both originally from Iran, felt it was appropriate for the site to come back to its roots too. It also meant the couple were able to reconnect with the Levenshulme area too - having moved away to another part of Greater Manchester following Alborz's closure in 2020.

“We’re just thrilled to be back here,” Nafis explains. “It’s so nice to see that people haven’t forgotten about us. There are other Persian restaurants in the area, so it’s not like we’re the only one here, but the fact that people have said they’ve missed us has been really touching. It’s really nice to hear.

“Levenshulme is a lovely and diverse area. We really love the atmosphere and the community vibe here.”

And the timing couldn't be more perfect. The reopening of Alborz last month came just on the eve of Nowruz - the Iranian New Year. Taking place on March 20 this year, the start of the new year in the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar is celebrated with the arrangement of seven items representing a 'haft sin', or the seven sins.

These symbolic items represent everything from a 'Seeb' apple, representing beauty and health, to a 'Seer' garlic, symbolising medicine and health. A Samanu sweet pudding is also used to symbolise sweetness and fertility, whilst a Serkeh vinegar represents age and patience. These are proudly stationed by the entrance of Alborz and, not only represents the Persian tradition, but also invites customers into Persian culture.

Being a vegetarian, Nafis says she has helped Amir create an extensive selection of meat-free dishes on the menu - something she believes is a rarity for a Persian restaurant.

“I think we’re one of the first restaurants in Manchester to introduce vegetarian Persian dishes to the menu,” she explains. “There’s quite a few vegetarian and vegan people around here so they've gone down really well.

“Persian food is all about the taste - there’s lots of flavours but it’s not really ever spicy. We’ve got quite a big menu, but there’s lots of stews and soups. It’s all very authentic.

"Because the menu is so big, it's hard to suggest things to people who have never tried Persian food before but even the customers have said you can’t really go wrong with anything. People often say they want to come back and try the other dishes."

And the response since opening their doors earlier this month has gone down a treat. Nafis says it's been 'great' to see familiar faces return, whilst the restaurant's social media pages have been filled with comments from people sharing their excitement at coming back to Alborz for the first time in four years.

But Nafis and Amir, who have two children together, say that they are aware that they are returning to a hospitality industry that has dramatically changed in the four years since they last opened. They have already seen price increases and changing customer behaviours but they believe that their authenticity and determination will be the secret to their success.

“We make everything from scratch so it is quite a lot of work but it’s worth it,” Nafis says. “I really do feel it’s why we stand out from a lot of the other restaurants.

“But we have noticed how things have changed. A lot of the ingredients Amir uses have to be imported, which all costs a lot more, and the cost of local ingredients - like meat and vegetables - as well as salaries and utility bills have all gone up too.

“It’s a really challenging time for restaurants but we are determined to make it work - it’s what we are passionate about.”

Alborz is at 820 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3AW. Click here for menu and booking details.