Rumi's Kitchen

Named after the 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi's Kitchen brings a literary elegance to the Avalon district and the wine list shares that ambition. The categories alone — Sparkling, Rosé, Viognier, Vidiano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cab Franc, Zinfandel, Mediterranean Reds, Malbec, Red Blends, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and even an Interesting Whites section — signal a program that thinks carefully about what belongs next to saffron and sumac.

The breadth here is the story. Most Persian restaurants limit their wine list to a page of safe picks. Rumi's goes deeper with dedicated sections for Viognier, Vidiano (a rare Greek white), Cab Franc, and Mediterranean Reds. That kind of curation suggests someone on the beverage team understands that Persian cuisine needs aromatic whites and medium-bodied reds, not just Cab and Chard on autopilot. The Interesting Whites category is a welcome signal that experimentation is encouraged.

The by-the-glass program covers all the major categories with enough variety to let you match individual courses. This matters at Rumi's because a koobideh kebab demands a different wine than a fesenjan stew. The range from sparkling through full-bodied reds means you can pour your way through a multi-course Persian feast without repeating a varietal.