Kebab change at Shiraz

Hubby and I ate at Shiraz in Holiday Manor this week. We had not been for a while. As usual, the kebabs were great, but one change was an unhappy one for us. Usually, the meal included a couple grilled onions, which were always among our favorite things about the meal. Now, there is a pile of raw chopped onions, and if you want grilled onions, they are listed on the menu board for a dollar extra. Not a happy change for us, and the onions were totally wasted as neither of us ate them.

I noticed this change as well the last time we ate there. Still delicious, but I did really miss those grilled onions on the kebab. I also just tossed the raw onions that came with it. Of course, I'm sure others like them that way - next time I'll just ask them to leave them off, as I feel bad throwing food away.

[Robin Garr]

I'm almost reluctant to bring this up, but the last two times I've eaten at Shiraz (once at Clifton, once at Holiday Manor), I had a bad feeling that "chainization" was setting in. The owner, who generally keeps a tight rein on things, was not there, and I found service spacey and food preparation good, but not as good as I remembered from Shiraz's early days. It's too soon to call a trend, and I really hope it's not slipping. But I'm concerned, and wonder if any of you have either noticed similar issues - or, perhaps better, have NOT noticed them.

Aren't 3 of the locations still owned by the original owner and 2 owned by others? I don't know if it's an actual franchise, or totally different owners. And now I can't remember which location goes with which owner.

[Robin Garr]

Aren't 3 of the locations still owned by the original owner and 2 owned by others? I don't know if it's an actual franchise, or totally different owners. And now I can't remember which location goes with which owner.

That sounds like J. Gumbo's, which went through an interesting chaining trajectory on its own, and bounced back at several locations when the original owner bought them back. I don't know about how the Shiraz expansion works.

It's what the owners told me one day while I was eating at the Holiday Manor location. I just didn't memorize which location was owned by whom. (who?)

[Robin Garr]

It's what the owners told me one day while I was eating at the Holiday Manor location. I just didn't memorize which location was owned by whom. (who?)

Dunno, Leah, but it's worth tracking down. I know I used to see the owner (Ramin?) at Clifton a lot, then he appeared to move his base of operations to Holiday Manor. We normally eat at those two, and I can't help noticing that when he's not on the premises, service and, to a lesser degree, food quality have dropped off a bit for us. Again, I'm talking only on the basis of one visit to each, and I'm not ready to declare it a trend in a published review at this point, I'm just askin'.

The last vegetable kabob I had from Shiraz was nearly all onion chunks. Very disappointing, as the kabobs I'd had there before had lots of peppers and squash and such. I just don't find a big chunk of onion on its own very appealing.

I noticed not long after opening the Frankfort Ave location they began cutting in half the bread used in the Kabab. The smaller bread size made the kababs harder to eat. The change with the onions is not surprising to me.

I hesitated to say anything either, but... We were very excited that they were opening a location on Poplar Level. It's much more convenient to the Highlands than any of the others.

We got carry out from it twice. The first time I got a panini made with quinoa. They quinoa wasn't cooked. Or at least it wasn't cooked enough. It was crunchy and black, rather than almost transluscent and creamy like it always had been. They also left the raisins off the rice - we'd paid extra for them.

So the second time I chose the felafel. It was both dry and oily on the inside and hard as a rock on the outside. Clearly it wasn't freshly cooked.

I know it isn't a carry out only issue, because we used to get carry out from the Frankfort Ave location.

I'm very disappointed.

I noticed not long after opening the Frankfort Ave location they began cutting in half the bread used in the Kabab. The smaller bread size made the kababs harder to eat. The change with the onions is not surprising to me.

I've been to yours and the one on N. Hurstbourne.

I didn't see the meal specials like they have at Hurstbourne. Did I miss them, or do you not have the kabab, side, and drink combos?

The eggplant is my favorite dish, but I found that I liked it better at the Frankfort location because it didn't burn my mouth!

It's what the owners told me one day while I was eating at the Holiday Manor location. I just didn't memorize which location was owned by whom. (who?)

Dunno, Leah, but it's worth tracking down. I know I used to see the owner (Ramin?) at Clifton a lot, then he appeared to move his base of operations to Holiday Manor. We normally eat at those two, and I can't help noticing that when he's not on the premises, service and, to a lesser degree, food quality have dropped off a bit for us. Again, I'm talking only on the basis of one visit to each, and I'm not ready to declare it a trend in a published review at this point, I'm just askin'.

Ramin owns Frankfort Ave., Holiday Manor and Popular Level. Mo owns N. Hurstbourne, not sure of the other location.

I would have sworn that the onions were always raw unless you asked for them grilled, at least at the Frankfort Ave and Holiday Manor locations, but I could be wrong.

My husband always asked for his without onions because he doesn't like them raw.

There have been a lot of changes to the menu recently: combos, changing the names of items to make them look more American, and a few new items. I haven't seen a decline in quality, however, at least not at Holiday Manor.

Eliza,
When Shiraz first opened at Holiday Manor (the only location we've been to), I always got either the steak or chicken kebab - and LOVED that there were grilled onions on the stick. I guess I will just have to order them separately now.

Mary Beth, I get it now. I usually get the koobideh - recently renamed the ground beef - and it has raw onions.

I did notice the dollar charge for grilling.

The menu gets longer every time I go. Usually a warning sign; doing just a few things well is easier in a counter service place.