Shiraz Grill

*Restaurant is closed*

For the last 3 years, I've been a judge for the Chili Cookoff at the Cascades Casino out in Langley.  As of last year, Sean has been my judging buddy as we embark on a sometimes fiery trip down chili lane.  Yup the ride back into town can be hazardous, but it has been okay up until this point.  Before the endless supply of chili ran through our bodies, we had to get some other food for lunch right?  Well, we ended up at Shiraz Grill for some Middle-Eastern and Italian food.  What?  Yes, that was our sentiment at first too.

Alas, it doesn't matter who makes your food or what type of fusion thing is going on, as long as it tastes good.  With that firmly in mind, we started with the Spaghetti al Bolognese. Although slightly soft, the spaghetti was caressed by a meaty sauce that was full-flavoured without relying on salt.  There was the sweetness of onions, the rich flavour of the slow cooked tomatoes and a noticeable cheesiness.  Next up, we tried the Linguine alla Pescatore that featured a bevy of well-prepared seafood including prawns, mussels, squid and baby scallops.  The significant amount of black olives ensured there was a salty wine-like finish after every bite.  We found the pasta in this dish to be much more al dente.

Lastly, we had the Soltani Kebob featuring one skewer of sirloin and one skewer of ground lamb.  Other than a few end pieces, the sirloin was fairly moist and sufficiently tender.  There was a nice char that help bring out the spices including a background hint of cinnamon.  As for the lamb, it was juicy and completely spiked with sweet onions.  Other than the usual lamb gaminess and spices, the onion aftertaste lingered long after.  So you know what?  Despite our concerns, the food (both cuisines) was decent and dare we say, tasty?  Yes, if we are ever out this way again, we wouldn't mind trying out more items.

The Good:
- More than adequate portions
- Friendly people
- Decent eats

The Bad:
- On the pricier side
- Cuisine confusion might scare some people