2008 November > Tastes of Our Town

The cultural landscape continues to grow in Oshawa with the welcome sight of several ethnic restaurants taking their place amongst the comfort food classics. Quality Sushi, Indian and Thai cuisines are becoming easy to find throughout the downtown core. But unique to the area is Cyrus Restaurant – the sole provider of homemade Persian food for quite a distance. Cyrus Restaurant is located at 563 Ritson Road South, just off the 401 and north of Bloor Street. Owners Cyrus & Denene Amini had a bustling restaurant called Parsi in downtown Toronto for several years. The birth of their daughter caused them to re-evaluate their priorities. Having lived in Durham for more than a decade, they were aware of the lack of Persian restaurants in the region; they also knew of the large Muslim community that reside here. Those factors all combined and led to the opening of Cyrus Restaurant in March of this year. The restaurant has quickly become an unexpected favourite of the residents and businesses of the neighbourhood. Not that there weren’t cynics. Cyrus originally hails from Iran and has had to spend some time educating patrons about his cuisine and culture. He has worked hard to create a warm, inviting environment that is reminiscent of his home. Most of the décor was purchased during family trips back to Iran, the music reflects the culture, and the menu is completely Persian. He’s more than happy to report that the local community has been welcoming and receptive to embracing the new enterprise. Denene admits to being surprised and thrilled at how quickly they became busy and had a steady stream of regular customers. All of the food at Cyrus Restaurant is Halal. Persian cuisine relies heavily on the use of herbs rather than spices to accentuate the flavour, with saffron and parsley being the staple supplies of the kitchen. For my meal, I chose the Koobideh. The ground beef kebab is a good introduction to the style of cuisine – the perfect blend of familiar fare with a different twist. Accompanied by fresh salad, basmati rice and Persian tea, the healthy meal has become a favourite with my young kids as well. The chicken schwarma plate is also a delicious choice offering a flavourful meal at an excellent price. The traditional Persian pastries are also proving to be a popular new addition to the menu. Cyrus Restaurant is open Tuesday – Friday 11am to 9pm, Saturday noon to 9pm and Sunday 11am-7pm. In the warm weather, the front patio is a popular spot to relax. For a healthy, delicious taste of something different, a visit to Cyrus and Denene will not disappoint. You will walk out with a new favourite restaurant and some new friends as well! For information, phone 905-448-0892.