The Best Lunch Deal in the East Village – NYC

I’m still here. Considering the world at large, I’m alive and healthy, so that’s good enough. Health is wealth! Fortunately, it seems like we’re in the final stretches of quarantine and life may return back to normal, or at least normalish. In fact, indoor dining is starting at 25% capacity in NYC at the end of the month. I’m still squeamish about restaurant dining without a vaccine since I have a baby, but if I didn’t, I’d probably throw a little more caution to the wind. So for now, back to delivery/takeout!

I’ve been getting delivery/takeout for the last 6 months in the East Village, and let me tell you, this is the best deal for quantity, quality, and freshness. It’s the kebab lunch special at Ravagh Persian Grill for $15.

There’s multiple protein options [chicken, beef tenderloin, salmon (+$1), tofu, or ground meat (beef, lamb or chicken)]. And each platter comes with rice or quinoa, salad, roasted veggies, hummus, mast-o-khiar (yogurt dip), kashke bademjan (eggplant dip), and barbari bread (Persian flatbread). All really good fresh, healthy food, that’s much cheaper than the chain salad spots.

I always order the salmon kebab with quinoa (pictured at top; salmon is a dollar more but I like to pretend I’m a baller), and the salmon is always fresh and tender. No fishiness here.

 

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A post shared by Tia Kim (@tiajkim) on Sep 14, 2020 at 10:55am PDT

For my hubs, I usually order the lamb koobideh kebab (which I think of as Persian meatballs or meatloaf minus the roundness or loafness; pictured above, topmost). The kebab is more seasoned than the salmon, so it’s a nice mix to have a little of both. (I make us share everything ?.)

However, if ground meat is not for you, and steak is more your speed, the barg kebab (beef tenderloin) is juicy and perfectly seasoned.

And what to do with all the dips? Well, eat it with everything, including the delicious housemade Persian bread which for some reason is so tasty to me. It’s like pita bread but with a crust, so of course it’s delicious af.

Again, it’s just $15 for good quality food, and you would supporting a local business in the process. Just do it.

Stay safe and happy eating!

Ravagh Persian Grill (multiple locations; I visited the East Village location)
125 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10003 (map)

Visit Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pro Tip: Order at the restaurant instead of Seamless for a few dollars less. Also, if you do order on Seamless, check the address. There’s another Ravagh on 1st Ave, but it’s in Midtown.