Food review: Plenty to celebrate at new arrival

Norooz, which translates literally as '˜new day', is the name for the Persian New Year, or spring festival.
Ibrahim Mohmad, Nechirvan Anwar, Amir Mohamdi and Rebwar Fatah, of Norooz, London Road.Ibrahim Mohmad, Nechirvan Anwar, Amir Mohamdi and Rebwar Fatah, of Norooz, London Road.
Ibrahim Mohmad, Nechirvan Anwar, Amir Mohamdi and Rebwar Fatah, of Norooz, London Road.

It’s also the title of one of the newest additions to the international culinary offering on Sheffield’s London Road.

So it felt like the perfect place to escape the Christmas madness, after a frantic afternoon’s shopping at Meadowhall, and look ahead to spring and an end to the bitter cold.

Lamb Ghozi at Norooz, London Road.Lamb Ghozi at Norooz, London Road.
Lamb Ghozi at Norooz, London Road.
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It’s an unassuming little restaurant from the outside but there’s plenty to celebrate within.

The decor is simple but welcoming, with pine walls and atmospheric lighting making for a cosy setting.

Our attention was drawn, however, by what appeared to be a musket attached to the wall below a collection of pans gradually decreasing in size - presumably target practice for the frustated chef after a busy service.

There was nothing to be frustrated about, thankfully, during our visit.

Norooz, London Road.Norooz, London Road.
Norooz, London Road.
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It was a relatively quiet Monday evening and staff were friendly and attentive, taking time to explain the dishes to us.

To start, we shared the kashkeh bademjan, a fresh and tasty aubergine and yoghurt dip with which there was thankfully no skimping on the main attraction.

For mains, I opted for ghormeh sabzi, a vegetable and bean stew with lime and chunks of tender lamb cooked on the bone.

The lamb was falling off the bone and the slight bitterness of the sauce, typical of much Middle Eastern cookery, was a deliciously refreshing foil for the fatty meat.

Lamb Ghozi at Norooz, London Road.Lamb Ghozi at Norooz, London Road.
Lamb Ghozi at Norooz, London Road.
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My partner chose the chelo kebab chengeh, two skewers of grilled lamb tikka with grilled tomatoes, rice, naan bread and yoghurt.

The lamb was again cooked to perfection, with a nice pink centre, and was flavoured with a beautifully balanced mix of spices.

The huge naans were a sight to behold and we were also treated to a complimentary lentil soup, a hearty bowl of goodness to warm us up on arrival.

While I stuck with cola, my more adventurous partner tried the tangy yoghurt drink shinina, which was a bit much on its own but complemented our mains.

Norooz, London Road.Norooz, London Road.
Norooz, London Road.
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We finished our meal with the obligatory baklava, which was dripping with honey and crammed with nuts, though not as delicate as the very best we’ve had.

Our meal, including soft drinks and dessert, came to a very reasonable £28.50, and there’s plenty to celebrate here, new year or not.