With a lot of Middle Eastern places to go to nowadays, Arya is a refreshing change of pace. The menu will tantalize your palate with truly authentic dishes made with a harmonious mingle of unusual spices and flavors. Exotic and festive, with Persian décor as the background, your eating experience is heightened to a new level. With subdued lighting, Arya adds a touch of elegance with the intricately designed lamps and chandeliers.

The first dish was Roti Chanai (P185). One of the staple orders when eating this type of cuisine. Bubba liked the crispy roti and the curry sauce that accompanied it, while I was biased with my preferred Roti (Prince of Jaipur or Long Grain –which I learned only Tuesday that it was replaced by a new restaurant in Rockwell). My preferred Curry sauces at those places are bursting with more flavors than the one I had in Arya. Arya’s version bore my taste buds.

Don’t judge a book by its cover –or in this case, don’t judge a restaurant by its starters.

I went through the next four dishes with much gusto like leafing through the pages of a John Grisham novel. Your eyes work double time as you become engorge with more information. The same with Arya, the plot thickens as you go from one plate to another. They couldn’t serve it fast enough. Chicken, beef, and fish kebabs are popular entrees and are accompanied by basmati or you can request for Biryani rice for an additional P58 (which the waiter forgot to tell us! A total No-no!)

On to the next plate which name I forgot, it’s a tomato type stew (P280 ++) that consisted ground beef, onion and fried eggplant served with pita. It had a mild spicy flavor to it. It was the least popular of the dishes we ordered. I ended up having to finish it since nobody wanted to. And I don’t want to waste good food –especially pricey ones! (And yea, that’s the reason I gain weight. I’m the garbage bin.)

Next chapter, Lamb dish served with Biryani rice. My mom really enjoyed this dish and we were fighting for the last piece of meat. Although I would have preferred a spicy sauce, we had to tone down the level of heat since my mom and sister were eating with us. It was a big shank of lamb cooked stew type with fried potatoes.

Persian dining wont be complete without a taste of their curry. The Chicken Curry was the highlight for me since it stood out from the rest of the dishes. It had exotic flavors and the curry sauce was distinctly original.

5^th order was Bubba’s Beef Kebabs. It was served with Basmati rice and roasted tomatoes. Tender beef cubes really made an impression on Bubba. I had a bite and was satisfied.

The tab worked around PHP 1,800 for all 5 dishes. Next time, I’ll be more mindful of the price for your reference.

I have a list of restaurants I’ve been meaning to try out and sometimes you just don’t know which one to prioritize. I’m glad that finally I was able to go to Arya. Thanks to mom for the Valentine treat! The way to a happy Valentine is through the stomach!

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/367/08_0214-_Arya