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frederik

It's good, but value for money was too low. So only three stars from me.

 

2 weeks, 2 days ago

penelope31

The buffet was good. The bread was great. Could have been more dishes for the value 88rmb

 

5 months, 3 weeks ago

fintanm

We used to like Rumi, we really did, but the place has gone so far downhill in the past year that we bid our final goodbye to the place last night. On our first visit we were really impressed by the bright white decor, the tasty starters and good kebabs. Unfortunately, subsequent visits have been a disappointment.

When eating at a mid-upper range place, you don't want to get a plate of dried-out hummus. The staff member we complained to nonchalantly told us that this batch was prepared a couple of days ago and proceeded to dump some olive oil on it. I don't think its too much to expect they make it on the day.

Speaking of the staff, they are ridiculously inattentive, the type you'd expect at some 10 RMB hole in the wall. Rude and unfriendly, I've never had a water glass filled without asking for it, and for the most the staff of Rumi can be found clustering in the corner in groups of 2 or 3 for a chat. The only time this isn't the case is on the rare occasion the boss emerges from his second floor office. For a brief few minutes the restaurant is abuzz with activity.

Then there's the dessert assortment plate. The menu promises a selection of three different treats, but they never, and I mean NEVER have all three. The staff have a unique way of dealing with this, simply giving you two types without upping the quantities of either. We really had to argue in order to get that extra baklava.

Last night we encountered all these problems we'd kind of come to expect, but the hummus plates were now smaller than before, the bread was doughy and the stuffed peppers weren't quite as flavorsome as we first remembered. The real tragedy is that it could be a really could be a really good restaurant, but the staff and inconsistent cooking really let it down. With so many dining options throughout the city, its impossible to contemplate wasting our time with Rumi anymore.

 

7 months, 1 week ago

isadora

Went to Rumi on a Friday night, it was quite full. Service was good, though they were a bit busy running around as big groups came in. Food was delicious! I especially liked the hummus,it really is so smooth and tasty. Bread that came with it was hot, crispy and soft all at the same time, yum! Lamb kebab was perfectly cooked and tender. Chicken stew with walnuts and pomegranate was so good, a bit sweet, nice walnut flavor and juicy chicken pieces. I wasnt such a fan of the eggplant puree, it had some sort of strange flavor that I couldnt identify.. Baklava was bit of a disappointment, not crispy and no balance of flavors. Not so keen on the white minimalistic decor, but I will definitely go back for the delicious food and oh, for the fresh juices!

 

8 months, 1 week ago

lisa_gay

I love Rumi's, but the food is inconsistent (why is the hummus so dry sometimes?) and the service just plain awful. The last two times I went I had to argue with the staff about something, whether the bill or my order (don't just think you can randomly swap some part of the dish without telling me!!). It just soured the whole experience.

That said, I still go because, when it's good....it's sublime.

 

11 months, 1 week ago

puzzleness

Loved the food!! I've been there 5/6 times !! But damnn when it comes to hookah Its abit of a disappointment! =/ Though i'd go there again for food!! but i do request the waiters need to learn how to start the hookah!

 

1 year, 4 months ago

epay

Rumi is one of my favorite non-Chinese restaurants in Beijing. I've been here 10+ times, but I don't recommend the kebabs. They're just boring meat.

The stews, appetizers, and salads are great, I've never gone wrong with any of them. If you love sour flavors, try the gormeh sabzi stew, some kind of green veggie with kidney beans and beef. The shrimp + tomato stew is another fave. The ground cashew+pomegranate stew is fantastic, but too sweet and rich to eat much of (split between 3-4 people?). Each stew comes with a mountain of rice -- enough for 2-3 people. Two people can easily share one salad, one appetizer, and one stew for a healthy, delicious and diverse meal, and leave satisfied/too full.

I don't know why there are so many complaints about the service here. I've never had a single issue, even when ordering for a table of 10, and making annoying requests about opening and chilling our brought wine. Also, you can almost always get a seat for 2-4 people, even without a reservation.

1 year, 4 months ago

mayaliu

The most spiritual restaurant in town. Amazing Persian cooking. All of my friends love Rumi. You probably know the best service you can find is probably the Pure Lotus. The service at Rumi is close to the level of Pure Lotus.
Though I wish they had the family cooking style Persian rice. I guess it's too complicated to make for a restaurant. Yum yum yum...

 

1 year, 7 months ago

moonrivermoca

Great ambiance for date night or dinner party with friends. Efficient service, delicious food and drinks, and atmosphere!

 

1 year, 8 months ago

mam

Saturday 21 aug 10pm hookah is great. Sunday 22 aug 3 pm hookah is very bad. Waiters tried to make it 4 times - no success. Please teach them.

1 year, 9 months ago

heathbeijing

I had a very bad experience at Rumi for my partners Birthday. I made a booking two weeks in advance via email but received no confirmation so I called them and spoke to the owner who confirmed a seat outside. He mentioned that they had a function inside but it wouldn't be a problem to sit outside.

We arrived and spoke to 3 people and no one knew we had a booking, everyone just said they had a function. I saw the owner just standing upstairs watching us. Finally the manger came over and said she knew about us (but nothing was setup outside) she then just suggested that we should come back next time an she would buy us dinner. She made no attempt to accommodate us outside. We ended up going to a much nicer place.

Don't go to Rumi's if you know they have a function, you will get terrible service and it could spoil you night.

 

1 year, 11 months ago

beijingprincess

I visited Rumi last friday night for my regular girls night out, and we had a great time. I tried to make reservations for the terrace, but the dozen times I called I was hung up on every single time and the email I sent got bounced back too. Despite every effort Rumi made to be un-reservations friendly, when we walked in at 8pm, we were quickly seated on the outdoor terrace. It probably helped that we brought half a case of wine with us (and therefore easily placated), but we found the service to be adequate and everything we ordered was delivered quickly. The hummus, baked eggplant and samosas (make your own appetizer platter) were all tasty, but not the best I've ever had. We ordered the set meal for four people (salmon, chicken and kofka kabob, a beef and a shrimp stew) plus a plate of kabob, a cucumber salad and a spinach yogurt. For the eight of us, this was more than enough food, especially when you add two plates of white rice and one seasoned rice that came as part of the platter. Again, the kabobs and stews were all yummy, but not the most fantastic I've ever had. We ended the meal with baklava (will not order ever again), saffron pudding (not my favorite) and an apple hooka (best part of dessert). Overall, we really enjoyed our evening, especially since we could BYOB. As some other patrons commented, I don't think this is a place that will wow you with its service or phenomenal food, but rather the outdoor area and the fact that this is the only Iranian place in the capital is a fair reason to return. It's a solid 3.5 stars.

 

2 years ago

bix

OMG, I just realised these people actually participate in the CW Awards...

Now read this carefully: when upon my visit several days ago I asked our waitress if they did, she had not a slightest idea what I was talking about, nor what City Weekend or Readers' Choice Awards were. Need I say more...

2 years ago

oldexpat

rumi of 3 years ago and rumi now is different. Though the nan breads are good,the kebabs run dry quickly after 5 to 10 minutes i dont know why? Before the owners used to be around ,now there is a philipino manager who doesnt know about the food much. She is okay but the chinese waitstaff is a hit or miss. Yes overall its down than what it was sometime ago.

 

2 years, 1 month ago

bix

Went there for the first time today, with my two kids. This place was voted one of the best family-friendly restaurants by beijingkids... well, anyone who's been, knows there are several flights of stairs to brave, small ones, but still. Imagine my aggravation when I found myself struggling to get the stroller with the baby in it up the stairs and then up again and finally down into the dining area, and the so called family-friendly staff just hanging around giving me blank stares!

We then proceeded to be seated at the table by the kids' play area. Once again, there are stairs that lead to the play area, concrete stairs with not a single inch of safety padding on them for the younger kids. Really, equipping the place with highchairs and putting out several toys does not make a venue kids' friendly!

And the "chic minimalistic decor"? What exactly does that refer to? Tables, the likes of which are found at California Beef Noodle King or the cheapest kind of aluminum "silverware"? For an almost 400 kuai dinner, mind you - sans alcohol and dessert, I'd like to have better.

Now to the food. The naan bread was very good, with the slightest cumin flavor to it, but again - I was totally put off by the way it came with a side of two airline-style mini packages of butter, placed on a saucer. For Christ's sake, how hard is it to present that very same butter in a more acceptable way?

For the main course we shared a salmon kebab, which tasted good albeit a tad dry and arrived with a copious amount of herbed rice and something that looked like large chunks of raw onion (?) Impression? Well... it' s a salmon kebab. Definitely not the best one I've had, and with that quantity of rice it looked more like Rice with a Side of Salmon, rather than contrarywise. I also ordered the boneless chicken with walnut and pomgranate sauce, and that was the highlight of my dinnner. Fabulous dish, hands down. The freshly squeezed juices are a fine addition to the meal too, and at something like 29 yuan per glass a great value for money. The apple-pineapple-ginger combo won my heart.

The service didn't however, to the extent where I decided to skip dessert and make my own coffee at home. Thing were being forgotten, my kids' last glasses of juice arrived way after I'd paid the bill (in which they were included) and pointed them out, and it was almost impossible to get anyone to our table, although there were only two more tables to be served at the time.

Too bad, after all the hype. I'll give it two stars. For the walnut and pomgranate sauce.

 

2 years, 1 month ago

laurabryant

This seems to be a popular location for tourists. Mostly filled with tourists and diplomats from different embassies. Fish is good and many BBQ dishes. Very simple but elegant decor. May be not a place for a romantic night, but you go for the food and experience.

 

2 years, 1 month ago

smithmartin

Nice Surprise! Super fresh, really tasty - portions are crazy big - you could split a kabob entree and have a few starters. Owners are gems!
Im totally going back. Try the chix kabob! Love the BYOB. Great place for family & kids.

 

2 years, 1 month ago

yesmaybe

do they offer a set lunch menu?

2 years, 2 months ago

addyinbeijing

An expensive meal but well worth it. Large portions, helpful staff, and a great introduction to Iranian cuisine. One of the best in Beijing.

 

2 years, 2 months ago

billyboy

really nice food. Portion are all big, and taste also ok. I think they should reduce the portion of rice that come with main dishes.

 

2 years, 2 months ago

cuteboy

Rice and the nan breads are good at rumi,but the kebabs if you are a slow eater,after 20 minutes they become hard and not soft enough for the meal.

 

2 years, 2 months ago

asianguy

I like the nan breads.The kababas however are bland not my real liking. I always ask chilli and extra gravy to make my way,but its ok. I avoid the evening rush time as the waiter always make mistake of giving my food to someone else and then again make my order its too long a wait.!

 

2 years, 3 months ago

sarah100

Found this place after walking past it and decided to try it after reading all the good reviews. I must say the reviews couldn't be more accurate. The food is great and the kebabs were without a doubt the best I've eaten. The service was fast and extremely friendly. On the night we dined here, the restaurant was quite busy (Saturday night), but had no troubles with anything whatsoever. I can't recommend this place enough.

My one piece of advise would be to go easy on the dips and bread as the rest of your meal will be filling. Oh, and not really the best place for a vego. They could eat here fine, but with kebabs like these, you can't visit Rumi and not try them!

 

2 years, 3 months ago

oilman

This is one of my favorites and so i go there pretty often. I love the hummus, stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbage, flavorful salads, lamb, sausage, etc. You cannot buy wine here but carry your own in and they are happy to have you drink it, so that saves some money to buy more of the yummy food!

 

2 years, 5 months ago

hopethenewlife

I enjoy the salmon.

2 years, 6 months ago

absentiment

i dunno. i love rumi, from the grilled meats to the hummus and service staff, not to mention the absence of a corkage fee. i haven't had the problems the rest of these reviewers have. i even had a group of 20 there and everything went exceedingly well, from the reservation to their apologies for not having fa piao and offering to send me one in the mail. perhaps if i ate there more often than once every two months i'd hit on a bad experience, but i've had nothing but positives.

 

2 years, 11 months ago

lotzforsale

Took my mom to this place yesterday and ordered a beef bbq plate and a chicken mushroom dish. The kebob was pretty good, but the sliced beef tasted like rubber. The taste to this chicken and mushroom dish was awful in every way. Too much mushroom, way too little chicken and the taste was just weird. Must say, the bread was pretty good. We heard lots of good ratings and gave it a shot, even though the bill was not cheap. If you're charging this much, don't cheapen out on the ingredients or at least make it tasty and edible.
I do have to give them credit for the spacious and nicely decorated restaurant.

But Guess what....My mom and I both woke up at 3am today ......we should of knew.....food poisoning to the max.

Maybe it's just bad luck ...but sorry, we're not heading back ever!

 

2 years, 11 months ago

chrissy_ysy

9.30 p.m. June 11th, 09 dead tired /hungry -just needed my favourite meal of barberry basmati rice with chicken and lamb kebabs.

Upon arrival... 1) Place was packed outside, but there was a long table half occupied on 1 end. We asked the waitress if she could separate the table to seat the both of us, Immediately got rejected, and she lead us to another table in a more crowded area. Funny thing, a couple came by right after us, and she magically separated the long table for them. (SIGH)

2) No menu, until we waved frantically for one.

3) I tried to place my usual order - somehow after eating this for the past 4 years over countless times, I was educated by this wonderfully difficult waitress... a) The dish doesn't exist AT ALL b) I MUST HAVE remembered wrongly c) I MUST HAVE been in another restaurant, NOT RUMI! d) NOPE, it cannot be prepared even with extra charge of the usual RMB 45 for the rice!

Needless to say, I walked out! Sorry no rating, I couldn't get my order thru!

2 years, 11 months ago

andybj

I love, love, love this place. Not only is the staff extremely friendly, but the food is cooked naturally so you feel great when you leave....and the next day. The vegetarian selection is very good and the saffron rice was exceptional. Plus, if you've got a question about the spices used in a dish, they clearly explain how they make it. The arabian manager came out a few times to personally check on us and to chat for a few minutes. I'm glad this gem is only a few blocks down the street.

 

2 years, 11 months ago

monkey99r

Been there a few times, I was wonderfully surprised the first time. But I have to agree with summer77's speculation up there. Certain dishes were definitely different from what I had in the summer, and they were not as tasty. Overall the food is still good, but I don't like the down slope.

The atmosphere is soothing, perfect to relax and enjoy your food. Unfortunately I don't see the service improving that much. I'm not being tough. There is a difference between being nice and offering good service.

 

3 years, 4 months ago

hongkonggirl

We were at Rumi after few hectic work yesterday and we were at Rumi. Off late I been liking the Sanlitun-the 1001 nights, to stroll thorugh . We ordered some humus, soup,the barbeques and rice.The had some good juice kept on the tables which we enjoyed.

All and all everything except the soup was quite tasty.I specially liked the rice. The kebabs could have been little more softer.

Though the prices are not cheap , its a good change restaurant.

Service was surely not upto the mark. They had missed to get one of the two kababs we ordered and persian tea arrived after our reminders. The waiters were trying but our server was new I guess.I have been used to now. Worth surely a trip if you have not had this type of food.

 

3 years, 5 months ago

lwest

First time is the charm at Rumi. Spacious and serene atmosphere make it easy to settle in for good conversation. Be warned, the Persian bread and hummus are good, too good. So, try not to overindulge as subsequent dishes come in healthy portions each as delectable as the other. For meat lovers in particular, the sample platter of lamb, chicken, salmon, and more is to be cherished. Each bite is tender, moist, and perfectly seasoned so that you can still apprecieate the richness of the meat. As the weather turns down, I'll definitely be turning into Rumi for warm smiles and a happy stomach.

 

3 years, 7 months ago

summer77

I've been a fan of this Restauarant every since they opened. Because of work and stuff, I have stopped going for a period of time and started going back again. Did anyone tasted any difference? It doesn't seem to be as good as 6 months ago. The meet was not as juicy and the taste was bland or with some sort of weird, baking soda flavor.

The cheeseburger was still good.

I jokingly asked them whether they changed owners and they said yes. Any confirmation?

3 years, 7 months ago

bushwacker

My boyfriend and I go to Rumi almost every Friday-- after a long week at work, their hummus, greek salad, naan, and chicken and beef kebab is the only thing we crave. We bring our own wine and sit outside for hours. Staff has been very attentive, and there's always someone around should you need anything. Not sure what happened to everyone else...

 

3 years, 10 months ago

go_swiss

This is really a favorite in Beijing! Fresh design (all in white ... in a city like Beijing!!!), perfect Persian food, a nice outdoor option in summer. AND 100 POINTS FOR THE OWNER, FOR CREATING A SMALL INDOOR PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS! ... for all family with kids: try to get the table right next to the children's playing corner, then you can really enjoy your dinner!

 

3 years, 11 months ago

chrissy_ysy

This place offers something that's missing in some restaurants... SPACE!

It's the perfect place to wind down over a cuppa mint tea, refreshing salads & oh, don't forget to try their shrimp dish & rice!

Not forgeting their absolutely lovely outdoor setting during warmer days.

Chicken Kebabs could do with a bit of improvement, but I owe it to the "muscleless" livestock in China (aka - ever wondered why fish & tofu has the same texture in China?)

4 years ago

rachels

Rumi is a gorgeous restaurant with extremely soothing ambience, and I find that the food there is authentic rather than bland, so if the latter is one's impression of the cuisine, I would imagine you'd find the cuisine of the middle east to be a bit boring. While more expensive than some others, the portions are also more generous, and the fact that they don't charge corkage for BYOB really keeps the bill quite reasonable. The cucumber and yogurt salad was particularly impressive, as was the warm, freshly baked Persian bread the wait-staff constantly replenished. I would only suggest that they produce their own chili sauce, as the Tabasco they offered me didn't quite mesh with the flavors of their grilled meats. Nonetheless, I had a lovely and relxing meal there, and will be sure to return.

 

4 years, 2 months ago

cynthjeany

I always like Rumi's white-ish decor... My friend recommended the Beef Koobideh and it's quite nice. The fact that they don't charge for corkage is just great. Just a little down side is the low ceiling on the 2nd floor... I'd much prefer dining in the ground-floor-high-ceiling space (oh and you'd better make reservation to secure those seats) :)

 

4 years, 2 months ago

beorn

I went back after the last review, but was equally disappointed. The got our dishes mixed up, and the service was only marginally better. I'll give it one more star since they didn't completely mess up everything, the food is unique, and the ambiance is nice.

 

4 years, 2 months ago

siennapc

While the prices seem a little high, the portions are immense and easy to share. I especially like the lamb ribs. The fresh fruit juices so delicious (I tried the honeydew melon one last week and have been thinking of it ever since) that the lack of alcohol doesn't even matter. I agree it can be difficult to get a waitress over to the table, and sometimes you have to ask for things several times. Also, I find the decor much more calming and elegant than "plain."

 

4 years, 2 months ago

xigor

Nice environment, I like the design of the restaurant.

I've been couple of times to Iran, and I confirm Rumi does cook authentic Persian food. It's an Iranian restaurant, so you shouldn't expect alcohol.

However, service is really not up to standard and I fully agree with Bjorn's comments above regarding the poor service and management problems.

 

4 years, 2 months ago

forest

I had lunch here a couple of days ago. I was very pleasantly surprised with the lunch menu. A large variety with prices ranging from 29 - 79 RMB for the meal. The chicken kebab was excellent. The humous though was not quite up to par (the best is still Bite A Pita).

Well worthwhile knowing about and frequently frequenting.

I rank it as a four.

 

4 years, 5 months ago

tombschrader

Judging from the clientèle, this places is popular with the Iranian community in Beijing. The hummus was solid, and the jujeh kabob had its moments (although several pieces were a little overcooked). Baklava at the end of the meal definitely was a great way to top it off. Maybe I'm just too used to meals juiced up with over-the-top spices, but it seemed like everything I had, with the exception of the baklava, was a bit on the bland side.

 

4 years, 6 months ago

pixienic

Just had the 'Set business lunch' and was great value for money! For sure a quiter location and the staff were decent. Not normally a fan of the 'plain' decor but here was good, can imagine its beautiful at night. The only tiny problem, is we didn't sit down and get served and be ready to leave within an hour so perhaps its a 'business lunch' aimed at those with about a 2 hour gap...

Mon-Fri 11:30 - 16:30 29RMB-79RMB

4 years, 7 months ago

beorn

Just putting my one star on the place. See above for explanation.

 

4 years, 8 months ago Updated See beorn's latest review »

beorn

Well, they're new, so I'll give them another shot. I just thought the service level we got was more that I would expect at much cheaper restaurants. Usually the manager/owner at new restaurants is all over the place ensuring service levels are high; that really wasn't the case when we went there last time.

4 years, 9 months ago

timpmurray

Beorn, You are a tough man! I went to Rumi last night. First you can take your own wine there and they dont charge corkage. The food was great, out of six dishes 5 were outstanding and one was ordinary. The staff were very helpful and pleasant.

So for stars I would give it 4 out of 5

4 years, 9 months ago

beorn

The good:

• Nice and clean interior design and ambiance
• Outdoor seating
• More quiet than 1001 Nights

The bad:

• No alcohol
• The food was bland and unexciting; we'd prefer 1001 Nights to this any day
• This place is quite a bit more expensive compared to 1001 Nights

The ugly:

• Wait staff was busy watching our neighbor table while we ordered, didn't get that we changed or order instead of adding more dishes
• Wait staff had the nerve to try to pack the extraneous dish on us... TWICE!
• Serious management issues for a place that's positioning itself to be so premium

I'd give it 1 out of 5 stars.

4 years, 10 months ago

collin

New date place Elegant but accesssible, this restaurant surprised me with its authentic take on fine Persian dining. It's a tribute to Beijing that a place as exotic and local as Rumi exists.

5 years, 4 months ago

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