the modern Iranian music playing softly through the room, and the friendly and attentive staff, go some way to generate a feel for the cuisine and to create a relaxed atmosphere.

The menu is the real attraction of Shiraz. Although describing themselves as specialising in Persian and Mediterranean cuisine, the Mediterranean dishes generally only appear with the kebabs and grilled meats. The owner of Shiraz is Iranian and prefers to dwell on his own culinary heritage, selecting the most popular dishes from across Iran for his menu.

Thus an unusual array of dishes (and Persian words!) spring up from the menu. If undecided the Shiraz Special Maze from the Starters menu is a good option, offering a taste of most items on the Starters list. This includes Shiraz's delightful humus which leaves a lemony tang with each mouthful; refreshing Masta Mousir, yoghurt dip mixed with wild garlic, and Masto Kheyar, yoghurt with finely chopped cucumbers and mint; tasty Pilaki - pinto beans in a tomato sauce; and two satisfyingly rich Dolmeh - stuffed vine leaves with rice and spices. Pitta Breads are provided to dish up the array of tastes, although these are separately priced.

When ordering mains it is hard to miss that Iranian dishes centre around lamb and chicken. All the meat is Halal which is sure to be a relief for some, but for one of the party who was not so sure about this method of preparing meat there is fortunately a very passable range of vegetarian dishes to choose from.

The vegetarian Moussaka was delicately flavoured, richly filled with vegetables, lentils and potatoes and topped with cheese. Served with salad and rice it was doubly filling. From the lamb dishes, rather than stick with kebabs, we selected the intriguing Khoresh Gheime Badenjan; a dish of yellow split peas and diced pieces of lamb, cooked in a saffron and tomato sauce. This stew-like dish left the lamb and vegetables exceedingly tender and its muted spices made for a rich and warming meal.

The cuisine at Shiraz is a step away from the ordinary; even the rice is prepared differently and is plump, non-sticky and especially fragrant, flavoured with Saffron. To add to the experience, belly dancing and piano concerts are performed about once a month. With prices for main courses averaging at around £9.50, and house wine costing £14.50, this moderately priced restaurant offers quality examples of popular Persian cuisine.