Naroon

By night, this Persian restaurant in Fitzrovia is dimly lit, with jazz playing in the background and tightly packed tables, all filled with post-work catch-ups, and third dates who are finally ready to admit they don’t like sharing plates. The jujeh at Naroon is perfectly juicy and the tender lamb shank is nicely pink, but the dips can be hit or miss. The hummus is a little bit bland and the bread is crispy but not as tempting as freshly baked bread usually is. The downstairs dining room is a welcome surprise you’d only discover by looking for the toilet or booking a table for eight on a weekend, and even then, we’d much rather be upstairs. It’s a safe option for buttery grilled koobideh, and we like this spot for a last-minute dinner around Oxford Street.