Omnivore - A visit to Sufi’s

New Persian restaurant on Peachtree

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One of my favorite memories of the years I was commuting to San Francisco for my psychotherapist’s training is a dinner party hosted by an Iranian acquaintance. She read Rumi’s poetry in mellifluous Farsi while we sampled sensuous plate after plate of regional dishes I’d never tasted before, many of them featuring lots of herbs and fruity flavors. And, hey, there was no belly dancing! Instead, we watched a video of the Whirling Dervishes, the Sufi order founded by the 13th Century Rumi’s followers.

There are a few good Persian restaurants in Atlanta, like Rumi’s Kitchen, but they are in the suburbs and quite a commute for intowners. And there are plenty of restaurants in town that call their menus “Middle Eastern.” But that broad category covers a lot of land, obviously — not that Persia didn’t at its zenith.

Now, a new restaurant, Sufi’s (404-888-9699), has opened at 1814 Peachtree St., next to R. Thomas, as I reported recently. I high-tailed it there alone after hearing about it and was quite impressed. The space, occupied for many years by Shipfeifer’s, has been transformed into an elegant, intimate spot with slightly tented ceilings, copper colors and an open kitchen with a direct view of the wood-burning oven.