The Pistachio in Thanet

My favourite takeaway! I miss being able to sit in The Pistachio and eat, but they have a takeaway service so that’s great! We order here regularly and the food is always super. Falafel wrap is gorgeous and the pizzas are top notch

My first time eating here and I was very impressed. We visited for my wife's birthday and the food was very tasty and reasonably priced. The staff were attentive and helped us preparing the happy birthday cake at the end. Will defo be going back again.

Went to the restaurant twice in one week, my wife is persian so expectations were high.....We weren't disappointed!!! The food was first class, every mouthful was a delight to savour. Brought back so many memories for my wife of good tradional home cooked food. All the ingredients were of the highest quality, well presented on the plate and all very reasonably priced. I am English and enjoyed the food immensely. I would not hesitate to recommend The Pistachio to anyone wanting to try Persian food for the first time, you will not be disappointed.One thing that made the difference between this and other Persian eateries is this one is family owned and run. You can tell Ali puts his heart and sole into his cooking, and his wife and son added to the experience with engaging conversations. Will definitely be dining here again next time we are in the area.10/10.

I love interesting and unusual food, and I find far too many ethnic food restaurants to be sadly formulaic. Not Pistachio! The best, most melt in the mouth, exotically spiced lamb shank I have ever tasted, and I'm from New Zealand, and love my lamb! There's nowhere for a chef to hide with a lamb shank. It has to be cooked long and slow, in the sauce, and this was. The tomato and bean Pilau that accompanied it was unusual, and complemented it nicely. Himself's chicken and kebab was a huge portion of deliciously marinaded smoky grilled chicken.Warm, helpful and friendly service from a couple who are clearly passionate about their heritage,and its cuisine. When we both ordered the same starter, (an aubergine dip with flatbread) they offered an alternative smoked aubergine dip, not on the menu, so we had different flavours to share. Both were glorious, complemented each other well, and the great wheels of crispy thin bubbly flatbread were baked to order.The other diners were from the same culture as the hosts, always a good sign in a restaurant selling ethnic food! Lovely atmosphere, service that felt more like genuine hospitality than service, generous portions, this place is one of the best ethnic restaurants I have dined in. Highlight of our weekend away!

Fantastic food served by the friendliest most helpful young man. The food was fresh, hot and very tasty in a lovely laid back atmosphere, the mixed grill was delicious and filling. The service really was quite exceptional! The young lad who I believe is one of the owners was attentive, polite, friendly without the sometimes sleazy approach you can experience in other restaurants. First class experience will definitely be back soon!!

We have been eating at this restaurant for a number of years and it’s such a great find. We are a half Persian family and so grew up with Persian stews and kebabs eaten both at home or in restaurants in London and of all the Persian restaurants we’d tried, the kebabs and hospitality at this place are the best. No ifs, no buts. It really feels like we’re eating at a friends house because there’s so much care and attention in both the food and the service. It tastes just like my aunty’s delicious food when she visited from Iran - I’m baffled that others can say it’s not authentic on here when they’ve not grown up with Iranian food.Last night I brought some friends to try, many had never tried Persian food before and were blown away. The only disappointment was that they couldn’t finish their plates because they’d ate too much of the starters (not a bad problem to have!) All of the food was delicious from the kashke badamjan to the joojeh & kebab koobideh. Each time we visit, Ali always says to call in advance if there’s any items not on the menu we’d like them to cook - you just don’t get that level of attention at other places.Thank you for hosting my friends and I last night and every other time we’ve been to your restaurant with family & friends. We drive an hour each time from Maidstone/the Isle of Sheppey to come and we wouldn’t bother making the trip if it wasn’t worth it each time. Keep doing what you’re doing.Looking forward to seeing you all again next time - I think we’re planning a trip next for my brother’s birthday in November and probably a few more in between to get our Persian fix!Ian Hajyzamanali

Ali and Fatima run a lovely family restaurant were you feel at home and eat delicious Persian food. The starters are full of flavours! The meat are so tenders it’s simply amazing... worth the journey!

I had lamb stew with plums accompanied by rice. Perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth meat and real depth of flavour to the sauce. Polite, attentive staff and very pleasant ambiance topped off a great dining experience. There’s not much competition in the area but if there were 50 other restaurants The Pistachio would easily hold its own.

Probably the worst service and restaurant in Kent. And don’t blame lockdown. Had to ask for menus three times been told that we were next 3 times when we stated we were ready to order. Absolutely rubbish I would never ever return it’s not quaint it not authentic it’s not good food. Absolutely the worst restaurant ever and filthy the place is derelict absolute shambles they should be ashamed and should be shut down.

Rustic restaurant with charm. The owner and his son ensured a memorable evening. Tasty Persian food. Feels like you are eating at a close family’s home. Would recommend. Will be back to try the Tashin!

We went for a meal last night for the first time & couldn't fault it. From the warm cosy atmosphere, the attentive service to the amazing food. This family run restaurant makes you feel so welcome it was like going to dinner at a friend's house. Will deffinatly go again.

Friendly service and lovely food- we were taken good care of which is great after so long not eating out. Will definitely come back.

Had a fantastic dinner last night, great service, lovely restaurant and most importantly amazing food, six of us on the table and we all couldn’t believe how tasty everything was, we will all definitely be returning again thank you for a good meal

This was a very last minute decision to order take-away in Birchington. We ordered off Just Eat and the food was probably with us 15/20 minutes later? All cooked thoroughly and hot. Managed to please both meat eaters and vegetarians with a variety of delicious food. Will definitely order again soon

Not my best eating out experience. Poor value only offset by government subsidy.Wine £7 more expensive than is posted on website. Try and find a menu.!!£17.99 for a £4 bottle of wine.£4.50 for a small bottle of beer.Draught beer pumps illuminated but only for show. £4.50 a small bottle.Starter with no garnish, no bread, no salad. Just 3 samosas in the middle of a plate.2 pre bought imitation kebab strips. Again apart from some dip, no dressing to make it look appetising.Do not order the stroganoff; straight out of a tin, heated and in a very small bowl. Looked like children’s portion.Not once did anybody check with us if everything was ok.The most boring and unappetising meal ever put before me.Far better multi cultural restaurants just down the road.

Have driven past this place a few times and thought it looked good. Finally decided to try it out with a friend and was not disappointed. Great food (greatly enjoyed by all our party, children included) and a warm welcome - we left very happy indeed (and full!). And the baklava? O.M.G. Soooooo good! Don’t leave without trying it, you won’t regret it. Highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be returning.

Between two of us we ordered the mixed grill, stewed beef with sour pomegranates. All delicious. The beef with pomegranates possessed an intriguing IMG combination of flavours. The kofte were a succulent and juicy delight.

After a long delay in receiving our takeaway we were shocked to find somebody else's order put in with ours, which of course by then we had opened not realising. Incredibly, the restaurant then called wanting it back half eaten! Will never use them again God only knows what you might be getting.

My wife June and I are not great fans of take-away meals but, as regular diners at the Pistachio since it started, we decided to try the take away service whilst the lock down is in effect. We were not disappointed. The same friendly service and the same excellent food. Obviously there cannot be the same close contact and banter that we are used to , but until things get back to normal it is still a treat. We recommend it.

Fantastic food and service provided by a lovely family. I could not recommend this place more for both dine-in and takeaway services if you'd like to try authentic Persian cuisine. They will always do whatever they can to make your experiences there one to remember. A great selection of dishes including a large number of options for vegetarians.

Well I was so lucky to win the mixed grill for two in a competition and we have just been, we love Pistachios and the quality of the food is fantastic in a really friendly atmosphere which cannot be beaten. Will definitely be back xx

I visited the Pistachio on a Saturday evening for a family meal. It was very cosy and the staff were very attentive, the chef even came out to say hello. There were three of us and we shared some hummus and a garlic and sesame naan bread which was very tasty and fresh. For main we shared the mixed grill for three people. It tasted amazing, full of flavour. It comes with rice but we swapped one of them for a chips. It was very good value for money.We were too full for dessert and my only question was, why did I not visit here sooner. I will most definitely be returning soon and will have to take advantage of the take away menu they provide in between visits. - thank you all at the Pistachio.

As previous reviews mention, the first impression on arrival is that you have quite mistakenly made your entrance through the back door! However, the cluttered scene that greets you gives way to a wonderfully cosy and comfortable restaurant decorated with interesting curios. More friendly and helpful staff you could not wish for and the delicious food is beautifully served with evident love and care. Various dietary requirements present no problems. Having satisfied hunger and tastebuds in equal measure, you come away feeling almost part of the family and considering when you may next be returning: next week is not too soon, is it?

Cosy and friendly for all ages, including a three year old. Owners very helpful and knowledgeable regarding our food intolerances/allergies. Varied menu and food full of flavour, a great lunch!

You walk through the door and almost instantly you hit the bar with a glass partition one side and a clyde oven thing on the other side so it is very cramped. The staff are attentive and it is a family run restaurant. The comfort areas could do with upgrading, they are up approx 6 uneven spiral stairs, which I struggled with as I have problems with my disability and if you are a lady who maybe on the more comfortable size there is no way you will be able to negotiate the stairs and fit in the WC. The food I feel is mediocre, I had the vegetarian falafel dish which could come with something else as it came with a chopped up bowl of tomato, cucumber and lots of salad dressing. We wanted to order the home made rice pudding and was told it was going to be another hour and this was about 8pm. Felt slightly disappointed with that.

The authentic and delicious food and the friendly service make this restaurant worth another visit. On arrival first impressions were disappointing as the decor could do with updating and the takeaway side of the business is prominent. However, once inside it had a good informal atmosphere and the food was presented well and tasted superb. The owners went to each table to talk to customers which was lovely. My Husband is Iranian and he was very pleased with his kebab. We will return to try more dishes!

We went to The Pistachio on the off chance today and it was brilliant. Fantastic food and we felt very welcome. Daniel and his Dad were lovely. We’ll be back.

We were recommended to eat here by someone we knew, and we were not disappointed. Great tasty food and welcoming friendly owners. A relaxed atmosphere too.

Went here for my mother’s 50th birthday as this place was recommended to us. The mix olives were really good, they were mixed with feta and herbs, hummus dip was probably the best we’ve ever tried and together with their speciality naan bread . We chose the mix grill dishes and some stews for main course and wow!! This was a proper mix grill , like nothing we’ve ever tried beforE . lamb chops cooked just how we like them, the Koubideh kebab was flavoursome, and saffron chicken was out of this world. Waiter looked after us well, Very attentive and friendly. Returninsoon

Such a shame as friend's had recommended this restaurant to us and was really looking forward to our meal together. Let's just start with firstly run out of hummus on a saturday night , not a good start for us as its our favourite starter ordered our drinks and some bread and dips . We recieved our drinks 10 to 15mins later after ordering , now both really hungry some 55 mins later we eventually recieved our bread and dips was actually fed up of waiting by now. We had ordered our mains and had eaten them and asked for the bill , a staff member came to table next to us to apologize to them customers about the wait and service and saying it was because they was busy with just eat tonight and the machine had not stopped , we didnt recieve an apology for our wait and I'm sorry but surely your customers in the restaurant should be priority first before just eat . You can't leave someone sitting for nearly an hour in your restaurant without any food late at night when they are hungry or perhaps employ more staff to cover just eat. The restaurant was nice , food was ok but the service and waiting ruined our night.x

One of 8 diners. Food was amazing. Honestly the best chicken I’ve ever tasted, full of flavour and tender. We enjoyed all our foods. Service was 5 stars, made to feel so welcome as if we were family friends! will be going back, Highly recommended

I visited today with a friend for lunch . We both had lamb kebab mine with rice ( SlimmingWorld) very tasty and tender . I could have eaten more. We had chocolate fudge cake for pudding very nice !

My friend and I decided to try something different for lunchtime as we were interested to try the famed Persian hospitality. The proprietor and Chef is a super chap with a kind and warm nature. We had a three course meal that was all superb with a takeaway for my Sons. All thoroughly enjoyed and I couldn't recommend it more. We look forward to returning soon.

Visited whilst on holiday. Nice little restaurant. Thoroughly enjoyed our food albeit we couldn’t tell the difference between two slightly different dishes. That said they were both great. The meat tender and moist & the rice really tasty.

Had been out for a day in Dungeness, Folkestone and Margate and couldn't find anywhere to eat, literally driving around and saw the outside of The Pistachio and thought this looks really nice and it's open!!

First visit to a Persian restaurant The food was well displayed and delicious with a great selection. The owner and chef talked to us and gave us recommendations, would certainly go again if I was in Birchington

You have probably never had Persian food before but don't alarmed because it's great !

We are here on the basis of a recommendation from our B and B. We were not disappointed! The food was fantastic and the staff were brilliant!

Recommended this place by a friend. We had a sharing meze for 4 people, the aubergine dip was to die for!! Followed by a mixed grill platter. The meat was bursting with flavour, cooked to perfection. Definitely recommend to anyone wanting to try something different to the usual Turkish etc.

Been thinking about trying the pistachio for a while so booked up at late notice this evening. We weren't disappointed. Attentive, polite staff and food full of favour. The mixed grill for 2 was just enough to finish and feel comfortably full afterwards.

We chose The Pistachio on the basis of TripAdvisor reviews and were not disappointed. The food was wonderful and freshly cooked, the hosts incredibly welcoming. It deserves to be full of people every night enjoying the fantastic food. It was our first meal out following our wedding and we couldn’t have been happier with our choice.

First time in this restaurant and it certainly won't be our last. The food and service was impeccable. The chicken and lamb I had was cooked perfectly as was all the dishes served. The owner /chef and his family couldn't be more attentive. 5 stars.

I found it difficult to find a decent place to dine in this part of Kent which also provides a good quality food. However The Pistachio restaurant ticks most boxes, from friendly staff to delicious food. If you wish to try something different I would definitely recommend this place. They also bake nice fresh bread which is worth trying. I very much liked Ghormesabzi stew with rice as main course and Crispy rice with stew as starter.

This was our first visit to this establishment

Came here for a birthday meal last night. The food was delicious and we were attentively waited on but didn't feel rushed or watched in any way. Really delicious food and the 5 of us had drinks, starters and mains for £80! Can't go wrong!

Our first experience and food was lovely. Very tasty and fresh cooked which meant it was a bit slow. However while we were waiting they brought complementary squares of hot naan bread with humous and another dip.Tables were well spread so we were not all crammed together. Ali the proprietor came over to chat. He is obviously trying his best and deserves to do well

My wife June and I booked into the Pistachio for my 72nd birthday,and I want to record my thanks to the "Pistachio Family". The food was excellent,and even though they were very busy they took the trouble to decorate the table and leave a card and chocolates as a present. We had a lovely evening and with treatment like that I could probably live for another 72 years!!

What a surprise!! Walked in on a cold Wednesday night to a warm restaurant and even a more warm welcome. I had never had Persian food before so we asked Ali the owner to cook us what he thought we might like!! And we loved it all,not only was it all we very flavoursome clean and tasty food there was loads of it. The service was brilliant and the price for what you got was outstanding, we are going back on Saturday to try his stone oven baked pizza with the kids well done Ali and Daniel

We have been here a few times, it is incredible! The staff are so friendly, its very clean and the food is amazing!

Lunchtime visit & what a fantastic place to eat, wonderful food beautifully cooked . Great staff made us feel welcome. So much choice we’ll need to go back soon.

We've been here before but this was the first time on a Saturday evening & the place was buzzing, great atmosphere. Food as always was very good, some interesting choices. Service was very friendly & Ali found time towards the end of the evening to chat to us.

Asked for a table while passing last night. Beautiful food, nicely served and a pleasant atmosphere - going back to eat my full body weight in delicious stuffed vine leaves and baklava!

Lovely fragrant Sunday lunch to warm the heart and take away the wintry chill. We couldn’t have had a warmer welcome, the place is delightful, the food full of gorgeous Persian flavours (although something for every palate). Looking forward to my next visit already.

Cozy place with a secret garden outside for the warmer weather. Wonderful warm welcome from Ali, and tasty food. Several options for vegetarians. We will be back!

Absolutely delicious, the food was very aromatic, which is to be expected of Persian food. I would say one of the best meals I’ve had in the area for a very long time

Looked on the Internet to find somewhere we had not been before as a group in Thanet. Fabulous service from start to finish. Welcomed for our get together Christmas lunch. Drinks, a reasonable price. Such a choice on the menu. Something to suit us all. Food hot, service unbelievably friendly and they could not do enough for us! Meals were fantastic. Thankyou to the chef. Really good value for money. Recommend to all and we will be back!

Every mouthful was an absolute treat for the taste buds. We asked for some assistance to help us make decisions as all dishes sounded delicious and every recommendation was seriously scrumptious.

We went last night having stumbled across the restaurant on a trip to Birchington. After checked the reviews on Tripadvisor we were happy that the quality would be ok. We were delighted to find that the food, atmosphere and the family that run the restaurant all exceeded our expectations. As a bonus there was live music that added to the ambience. They were a pianist and violinist, and just played some classical and mellow pieces at a background level. They stepped up the tempo once we had finished our meals, and lifted the atmosphere further.

We'd been meaning to visit this restaurant for some time and finally we have. I went with my son and we chose the mixed grill for two. It was beautifully chargrilled with grilled peppers and tomatoes plus saffron rice and a nice side salad. All delicious and nicely presented. For dessert we had the Persian rice pudding which was quite unusual with an exotic flavour. Also very nice and served with Persian chai tea. The price was reasonable.The owners are delightful people and very warm and friendly. Highly recommended by us

I have been wanting to try this Persian restaurant for some time and we finally did, and it was excellent. We had mixed grill for 2 people. We had plenty of food and it was really good. The meat was well cooked and juicy. The flavours are very delicate and not as strong as I expected but that suited my wife better. The kebabs are not the same as Turkish kebabs which was a nice surprise. We also had Persian tea and Baklava which were also excellent. The bill was a little high but not extortionate and the food was well worth it. Going back for my birthday in 2 weeks

Wasn’t really sure what to expect I’ve never had Persian food before.

Having had the builders in we needed a quiet night ,so we popped in for a meal. As always,the food was excellent and extra touches had been added to the presentation which added to the appeal. The whole evening was very relaxing and the owners took time to have a chat. It is often the case that good restaurants are quite impersonal , but the opposite applies at The Pistachio. My wife summed it up exactly when she said that it was "like being on holiday" ! Consistently good.

Dined here four nights ago with relatives. Lovely food - spoilt for choice - served by a very friendly and attentive family based staff. The lamb and chicken kebabs were delicious (quite large portions) and thoroughly enjoyed by all of us, including relatives who have never eaten middle eastern cuisine before. For desert there was traditionally and freshly made baklava - not the horrendous boxed stuff and my husband had the rice pudding. Both thoroughly delicious. The meal was rounded off with a complimentary Persian tea and then a very friendly goodbye from the chef husband and wife - making you feel that you were old friends and very special. What a shame this restaurant is not nearer our home.

Friendly, warm welcome. Food was delicious and full of flavour. This was our first time eating Persian food, we would highly recommended you eat here.

food is okey but the price is very expensive even the soft drinks start from £2.50. So dont know what to say

We cannot compliment this restaurant enough. Lovely attentive staff with amazing recommendations from our waiter. We had a combination of chicken and lamb both dishes were amazing. We ended our meal with a complimentary Persian tea thankyou for a lovely evening.

The food here was amazing! The kebabs were so juicy and the Ghormeh Sabzi was delicious! Highly recommend!

I heard good things about The Pistachio so wanted to give the food a try. We started with a take out, something I understand they have recently been offering and we were not disappointed. The food was ready for the exactly time we said we would collect.

This was our first visit to this lovely restaurant and will certainly be returning. We were made to feel very welcome and the staff were very happy to explain the dishes. My daughter is vegan and was very happy with her food. We were very full after our meal so didn't all have a desert, would have been good to have a vegan option but they said they would look into it for the future. The meat was to die for, so tender and moist. The music added to the atmosphere. A big thank you to the family and staff for looking after us so well. Will see you again soon.

We were visiting Whitstable and quite by accident discovered the restaurant. My wife and I love Persian food so we decided to try it. We weren't disappointed. The husband and wife team really made us feel very welcome. We had a fantastic meal and enjoyed the live music provided by two Bulgarian musicians. By the end of the evening half the restaurant was dancing.We had two starters and two different kebab's with safron rice and they were delicious.We enjoyed our meal and the entertainment very much.

Last Saturday, 5th May, my wife and I went to The Pistachios in Birchington.

Visited at lunchtime with friends. We were the only customers, which was a shame. The interior has a rustic charm, which will be even better once the garden is open. The front of house staff member was charming, friendly and helpful. Couldn't fault the starters. I found the main meal, whilst full of lovely flavour, a little dry for my taste. Would visit again and try something different from the menu.

We had heard of the restaurant but only decided as we headed into birchington that we would go there. Set in a 300yr old building there was a wonderful feel inside as we were warmly greeted. Sat at a table near another 3 couples we felt at ease as we looked over the menu.

Nice to have something different nearby, the food and service was very good. A little more Persian ambiance and it could be truly excellent!

Me and my husband went for the first time last weekend and were pleasantly surprised. The flavours were fab and the staff really friendly. Definitely one to go back to real soon

My wife and I wanted an alternative to the big chain restaurants at Westwood Cross and discovered this Persian restaurant which was a welcome change. The food was good, freshly cooked and plentiful. Don’t be put off thinking that Persian food is too exotic, I am sure it will suit those who like traditional food and, like myself, those who want something a little more interesting. Prices were reasonable and next time I will try the lamb shank which I am told is very good.

Wanting to try something new, so decided to take my mother to the Pistachio for Mother’s Day. The host warmly welcomed us and gave us some recommendations. The Menu had a lot of variety; we tried the Afshari Special which was a skewer of lamb and chicken with saffron rice, which both were really tender, my wife really enjoyed her lamb aubergine stew, and the kids loved their chicken steak fillet burgers. There is a good variety of wine and the Malbec we had went really nicely together with the food. The food, service and hospitality were all great and reasonably priced too. Would recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something new. Can’t wait to go back and try other foods on the menu as they all sounded great.

Quite a few of us on our visit. The BBQ meat skewers were great, beautiful tender meat, those of us that ordered from this selection were really happy with choice although didn't necessarily feel it was something specifically Persian.

16 of us enjoyed a lovely evening in this newly opened little restaurant in Birchington last night. The owners were absolutely delightful and made our evening special. They also welcomed our feedback and said they would take it on board. Half of us were Iranians so we had high expectations and are accustomed to well made good quality classic Persian food. Were all our expectations met? Nearly, but not quite. I discussed every starter and main dish with the owner and the chef. I’m not going to bore you with the details but on the whole the kebabs were all delicious and the lamb shank were cooked to near perfection. I would strongly recommend the Minced lamb kebabs (koobideh) and the lamb shank with rice and broad beans. There was room for improvement on the white rice which was just satisfactory for most palates but did not meet our expectations and one of the dishes with aubergines (khoresh bademjoom) lacked certain ingredients to conform with classic Persian cooking but again was just satisfactory. The food was however very fresh and the ingredients used of a high quality. And I really mean that. The deserts could be a little better presented and the vegetarian option a little on the small side especially for the £9.50 price for which one you can get two skewered of lamb kebabs and rice! Persian restaurants also pride themselves on bigger portion sizes especially on the rice front but the owners assured us that anyone who wanted more rice would get it next time around. The Persian tea could also be a little stronger and ideally some complimentary bread. All in all a fabulous night out with good food and company and a lovely family team working hard to bring something special and different to an area which needs just those things. We will be going back for sure and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with good quality Persian food. I have no doubt that this restaurant will go from strength to strength and my 7.5/10 review based on good food at very reasonable prices will soon be a 9 or 10/10. At £25 approx per head will get you a starter and bread and a main meal and a soft drink and desert. So prices are excellent making this a vey much let’s just try some Persian food restaurant.

We visited here in January, hospitality of the owners was a warm welcome, Persian cuisine was new to us and the waiter was happy to recommend dishes. Whilst the menu reads quite simple and some diners photos on trip advisor looked quite plain this doesn't do the taste or tenderness of the meat justice so please don't be put off by this. We had a lovely evening trying the stuffed pepper, mixed grill and pistachio ice cream. The bill was very reasonable. We would definitely visit agin, perhaps try the Sunday roast which relatives tried and recommended,

Another great evening with fabulous food. You always get a warm welcome and great service. It was lovely sitting by the fire almost like being at home but without the washing up

Went here as a large group and we were not disappointed. We were greeted by a young man as we arrived and have to say he provided a great service from start to end.The open fire created a lovely relaxing atmosphere we felt right at home. The food was delicious and I can safely say I have never had chicken so tasty. The passion of the owners comes across in the food and over all experience , I will be back here whenever in the area again!thank you for a lovely night!

Not sure the restaurant can cope with a large group without pre orders . It was 1 1/2 hours to the starter and even longer for the mains . Started at 12.30 pm and didn’t get home till 3.30 . Some of our groups food was dry . The food is generally tasty but by the time done our groups food arrived , they had lost the will to live . It’s a shame because they are nice people .

The Pistachio is in a great location. Cosy and quirky little restaurant. The customer service was good. The food was lovely, lots of different barbecue food to try. Everything was reasonable priced. They had a live band playing the violin when we went, which was lovely but it was a little to loud as we were sat right next to it. The decor could have been better as it looks a little bit dated and there is a large patch on the celling where it looks like the celling has come through and been temporarily patched up. Looking forward to going back and trying some other things on the menu.

Fabulous evening spent in this very friendly and welcoming establishment. Food was stunning, service exemplary, live music very entertaining, would definitely visit again.

A veriety of very tasty babecues and freshly cooked persian dishes .Very friendly stuff and reasonably pried We will be back!

Having spent much of my life in the Middle East, I was keen to see what this restaurant was like. I thought the food, the service and the knowledge of Persian food shown by the owner were all first class.

The homely atmosphere and friendly owners makes for a great evening.The chicken kebab and rice followed by homemade pistachio ice cream and baclava was excellent

I had some of the best lamb I have ever had at this restaurant, it was so tender that you could use a spoon to pull it off the bone, would definitely recommend the chefs special lamb dish - I can’t remember it’s name - I would definitely advise checking this place out if you want some awesome food!

Have been for a meal with my partner to try the Persian food. The owners were so attentive and took the time to talk us through the menu. Our second visit was a family outing for Sunday lunch. Live music in the background and the owners again were attentive warm and friendly, it was almost like joining a family for Sunday lunch. The food has been amazing and the warm welcome made both occasions very special indeed.

My wife and I decided last minute to try the new local Persian restaurant. Been meaning to go for a while. The staff and owner are very hospitable.....feel like your having dinner with the family. Very knowledgeable about their food and happy to explain or a deer any questions. The food is quite simply top notch delicious flavoursome food. The chicken I had and my wife's lamb were marinated with care and great skill. I recommend the lamb. The rice I had with my chicken was better than the rice is had in a michelin star restaurant in Hong Kong a few days ago......fluffy and flavour packed. The portion sizes are very generous. We had two starters and mains and 4 drinks....price of £55 a great price for superb food.

We fancied a Christmas Eve with a difference, ahead of the usual festive foodfest. Our host extended the friendliest of welcomes and his passion for Persian food and culture was infectious. The food was delicious - such wonderful flavour combinations. The Chilean merlot was very drinkable too!highly recommended for a warm welcome, delicious food and excellent service. The stuffed peppers and lamb shanks were divine!

Mid week visit, post Christmas for something a bit different & we weren’t disappointed.

Popped in on a Tuesday evening. It was very quiet. We sat by the fire, lovely and warm.

A cold, wet winter's night in Birchington , so off we went to The Pistachio. A table by the open fire , almost as warm as the welcome from the owner, a lovely meal, an excellent bottle of wine , festive surroundings , unobtrusive music , and no hurry! Highly recommended.

This is a great additional eatery to Birchington . The host and hostess afford the warmest welcome i have experienced in a very long time . The food is different to what alot of people would be accustomed to but the quality and presentation is first class . I would urge all locals to give this a try as they say variety is the spice of life .

The food is the restaurant is very good and reasonably priced. The owners and their family are lovely and make the evening extremely enjoyable. This was our second visit and we were welcomed like old friends. Not sure when the other commentator went but all we saw were happy diners who seemed to enjoy both the food and the service. The fried aubergine starter is fantastic.

Really lovely people but the food is pretty average and judging by the faces of the diners at the table next to us as well as our own opinion, it isn't that visually appealing or tasty. I guess I was expecting spicy or flavoursome cuisine and this was a bit bland for all of us. The bread we ordered as a side dish was frankly odd and tasted stale. It may be typical Middle Eastern cuisine, but we were told they buy it in from a specialist shop in London. I think they'd be better off with either baking their own or asking a local baker to come up with a tasty alternative. However, a lot of people disagree with me, so maybe it was just a one off. Lovely people and very friendly service, so I hope that's the case.

Service is superb, lovely staff, food is lovely this time we had starters of houmos and mint and yoghurt dip and I had a chicken skewer, Hubby had the same but with a meat skewer as well as the chicken.chicken was gorgeous so tender and marinated o perf3ction

We took advantage of the 20% off for Take Away and had the most delicious meal. Whilst waiting I was made to feel really welcome. The owner and his son chatted freely about their former experiences and future promotions and were an absolute delight. This restaurant really deserves to succeed. There is a public car par in the opposite Albion Road so use that rather than trying to find parking further along Station Road. We hope to go back for the Halloween 2-course special for £9.99. Bargain!