Shabestan

Shabestan is a Persian restaurant by the Singapore River at Robertson Quay, in The Pier @ Robertson on Mohamed Sultan Road. It opened in 2013 and serves Persian and wider Middle Eastern food. Charcoal-grilled kebabs are at the heart of the menu.

The restaurant was founded by Puneet Agarwal, a former investment banker who runs several food businesses in Singapore. Chef Hany Moustafa Basyouni Gabr leads the kitchen, and the team makes its dishes from scratch. Saffron, pomegranate, barberries and dried lime turn up across the menu.

What to order

Most tables begin with mezze and warm Persian bread, then move on to the grill. The menu lists more than 20 kebabs, and each comes with rice and salad.

• Appetiser Platter: hummus, muhammara, the house cheese dip, kashk-e-bademjan and borani esfanaj, a dish of spinach and fried onions with dried yoghurt.
• Lamb Kubideh: minced lamb grilled on a skewer. The menu suggests a pinch of sumac on top.
• Saffron Jujeh: a whole spring chicken left for a day in saffron and herbs, then cooked over charcoal.
• Shandiz: pieces of young lamb on the bone, cooked over charcoal.
• Stews: ghormeh sabzi with lamb, red beans, herbs and dried lime, or fesenjan, with duck or chicken in a walnut and pomegranate sauce.
• Zereshk Polo with Chicken: half a chicken, cooked slowly, on saffron rice with tart barberries and pomegranate seeds.

Groups can share the Shabestan Platter or the Isfahan Meat Platter, which come in sizes for two or four people. For dessert, try faludeh shirazi, thin frozen noodles flavoured with rose water and served with sour cherry. The house saffron and pistachio ice cream is another good finish.

The setting

Shabestan sits on the river at Robertson Quay, a calmer part of the Singapore River lined with restaurants and cafés. As well as the indoor dining room, there are alfresco tables outside. It works for a relaxed dinner, a celebration or a long weekend lunch. There is also a private dining option for parties and events.

Good to know before you go

• Book through SevenRooms on the Shabestan website, or by phone or WhatsApp.
• There are separate vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus, so diners with these needs have real choice.
• On Sundays, the Silk Road Caravan Brunch offers free-flow mezze, bread, rice and ice cream, plus two main dishes per person.
• You can also order online for delivery.

Getting there

The restaurant names Fort Canning and Clarke Quay as the nearest MRT stations, and both are a walk away. Several bus routes stop close by, and The Pier @ Robertson has its own car park.

Nearby

Robertson Quay has plenty of other places to eat. Sushi Oono is also on Mohamed Sultan Road, and Restaurant JAG serves French food at Robertson Quay. For Italian, Rosso Vino is close by on Merbau Road. Our guide to Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay covers the riverside walk and what to see. You can also browse more international restaurants in Singapore or other restaurants in Orchard and River Valley.