Didar Persian Cuisine, Concord

As chefs crown steamed basmati rice with golden threads of saffron and sear meat-laden kebabs over an open fire, the restaurant's dining room fills with the unmistakable aromas of Persian cuisine. Skewers of seasoned ground beef, jumbo prawns, and lamb chops roast above the flickering flames and smoldering logs of petrified wood, and the dessert selection balances the menu's savory entrees with rose-water-flavored ice cream with pistachios.

The sandstone-hued walls brim with Persian-influenced crafts and artwork, including paintings in circular wooden frames and earthen pottery. Although sconces illuminate most of the space, a crystal chandelier lights the patch of hardwood flooring in the center of the room, which functions as a stage for the belly dancers who entertain diners with their undulating routines on Friday and Saturday evenings.