Bella Balducci’s Mediterranean Cuisine: A Taste of Persian Delights in Kirkland

TL;DR the food is delicious and the bowls are huge (~2 lbs). We ordered the zereshk polo with chicken kabob, koobideh kabob, Greek fries, and baklava. All of the food was fresh and delicious, although the Greek fries can be skipped. The zereshk polo was an interesting taste with sweet barberries mixing with savory chicken, rice, roasted tomato, basil, and onion, worth a try at least once for the experience. The koobideh kabob meat was juicy and well-seasoned, unlike some other places where the meat is dry. The prices are high at face value, but the portions are huge; each bowl weighed ~2 lbs, enough to have a second meal.

Yummm yummm! Haven't met a Persian place I don't like yet.. well I have but I love Persian food. And they serve it here in a cute cozy atmosphere. Who would've thought I'd find a great tasting Persian food in a tiny strip mall! Well I did. Unassuming! Passed by a million times and never noticed it kind of tiny strip mall. Lady working here was so nice. Food Cornish game hen/ delicious Soltani : yummy Sirloin kabob : good Lamb shank: a ok. It was luke warm: the sauce is blend. They have this yogurt drink: it was tasty. Love the fluffy rice. In the most unassuming little strip mall. Who'd knew. Love their Cornish hen.

We started with the Greek salad as an appetizer, but it was just okay. The dressing was a bit heavy, and the tomatoes and red onions didn't taste very fresh. I also ordered doogh, but it tasted more like yogurt mixed with water rather than the traditional tangy, savory drink I was expecting. For the main course, we had the Soltani kebab, and it was really good--well-seasoned, tender, and cooked to perfection. Overall, the meal had its highs and lows, but the kebab especially the Barg one definitely stood out!

I have been coming here for years. This is my absolutely most favorite Persian Restaurant in Washington.

My only regret is not finding this place sooner! We got the flank steak and lamb plate with Greek salad and rice it was delicious! We also got a chicken gyro & hummus All the protein was cooked to perfection! So so so good!

Small hole in the wall establishment in a nondescript strip mall. Kebabs were delicious with too much rice. Get the half rice half salad instead. Portions are large, you'll definitely be taking over leftovers. Service is efficient, dont expect chit chat.

Bella Balducci's: Flavor and Fun! Bella Balducci's is the ultimate Iranian culinary delight, where your taste buds go on a joyride! From tender kebabs to fluffy rice and velvety hummus, every bite is heavenly. The staff treats you like family, making every visit heartwarming. For a meal that leaves you smiling, head to Bella Balducci's - where flavor meets fun! The lamb rack is one of the best I have ever had anywhere.

Small Mediterranean and Persian restaurant in the Juanita Beach area of Kirkland. Went on a weeknight and the place wasn't busy, but a few other groups showed up after us. Warm decor. Small two page menu with the usual items you'd expect. I got the soltani kabob platter for $30. It is flank steak kabob and a beef koobedish kabob served with basmati + yellow rice and a grilled tomato. Portion is quite big and two meals worth of food for me, with plenty of meat and rice. Really liked the steak kabob, and the koobideh, rice, tomato were good too. Food came out in reasonable time. Also had their ice cream, which is saffron ice cream with rose water and pistachio. Haven't had Persian ice cream in a while, was good to taste that flavor again. Other than the flavors, their ice cream is pretty creamy. Overall, enjoyed the food.

Well, visiting family in town. Was looking for a bite to eat before we got to the house. Found Bella Balducci's on Yelp. Reviews seemed to be decent. First impression: dirty. Tables, floors, windows...all dirty. Second: they didn't have falafel. What the heck? Greek restaurant with no falafel (Bella's menu has a lot of falafel dishes so super surprised here). Third: the server was extremely nice. We had our dog Thor with us and sat outside. He was nice enough to bring Thor some water. Wow, since it was our first time, the waiter gave us some baklava- on the house. He was even kind enough to ask if we had any "nut allergy" first. So while I would appreciate a thorough cleaning, the food and service were fantastic.