Morae's Persian Cafe

Disappointed / Offended. Our family was served luke-warm, day-old (?) Basmati rice that had obviously been re-warmed. If you can imagine long grain rice that's been reheated and stirred so that the individual grains have become chopped short and close to mushy, that's what we got. Rice is such an integral part of a Persian meal, it was a real insult to be served this recycled rice. Even if the kabobs were fine, the whole meal was ruined. What made things worse, is that surrounding tables received freshly cooked rice. Maybe by the time they were preparing our meals, they ran out of cooked rice (?). All I can say is that this was not the way to treat a family of customers. We'll be looking elsewhere for our food. more

Too bad this is the only Persian restaurant in Tampa. Compared to the Persian food we've eaten in several other cities Morae's was pedestrian. We arrived a little after 8 on a Saturday evening hungry and ready for a delicious meal. We ordered the combination appetizer platter along with our meals (chicken kabob and fish kabob). After finishing our salads, which were swimming in a bitter vinegar, the waiter brought our entrees. I asked about the combination platter. He said ""all out"" and without apology turned around and walked away.Most of the ingredients for the appetizer platter were clearly visible on the shelves beside us. (Morae's doubles as a grocery store.) The kabobs were tasty, but not special. My fish kabob was not the grouper it was sold as (it was probably basa). There were no vegetables attached to the kabob.The rice was nicely seasoned. The waiter/owner never asked how we liked our meal. On the whole it was a disappointing experience. more

Ive been eating here for years, i think its the only persian restaurant in Tampa. The food is always delicious. and you always get a big portion. The prices are reasonable. the restaurant is small but decorated nicely with a cozy atmosphere. they sell imported persian foods and crafts. i would reccomend this restaurant to all persians in tampa, and to any non persian people looking for some delicious authentic persian cuisine. Pros: Best Authentic Persian Food in Tampa more

The service is outstanding. I have never met such friendly people in my life. They welcomed us with open arms, always made sure our drinks were filled, gave us tips on menu items, and gave us some information about a buffet they will be having soon. The food is exceptional and second to none. The restaurant is small but very nicely decorated. The price was very low for such high quality food. When I am in the Tampa Metro Area again this will be my first stop. Pros: Service/Welcoming, Great food, Great price. more

It is the only Iranian restaurant I know in Tampa. It is a simple restaurant with excellent food and attentive service. They recently changed name to Shiraz. And actually translated the items on the menu to English, so it is easier to know what you order if you are there for the first time. Pros: good food Cons: don't know more

For the American taste, this is an excellent restaurant to casually explore. The staff is always eager to explain the food and make notable recommendations. The greeting warm and welcoming, once inside you realise this is not a fancy restaurant but more the dining room of a gracious family. The place is very clean and tidy, the food is wonderful in it's choices from the novice to the daring experimental. Prices are quite reasonable considering the quality and quantity, you certainly won't leave hungry and possibly you will walk away with a new vision of persian food and Iranian hospitality. I love bringing inexperienced friends here and watch their delight and shock at the wonderful subtle flavors. Pros: Family oriented, Staff, Portions Cons: Decor, Location more

I am American, but most of the other people there looked and sounded Middle Eastern, which is cool. The food was yummy - beef, tomatoes, rice, and pita bread. It reminded me of a restaurant I went to when I visited Egypt last summer. The servers were nice and helpful, and they refilled my drink quickly, which I always appreciate. There were mostly men there; I was one of three females. If you would like a Middle Eastern experience, you should try this place. The prices are reasonable. Pros: Ethnic, Prices, Food Cons: Few Women, Dimly Lit, Small more