Diba: Epsom’s Persian Jewel #review
Posted by Francesca De Franco on 19 Jun 2025
On the former Bill’s site, you’ll find Diba – a wonderful authentic Persian restaurant that boasts a great pedigree, having sister restaurants in Chelsea, Marylebone and Wimbledon.
Coming in from the pretty courtyard, you’re greeted with lovely décor that is elegant but welcoming; think twinkling lights and down lighters, cascading greenery and stylish yet comfy furnishings. It’s a generously sized venue but retains a warm, intimate charm.
We had high hopes about what was to come…
The Food and Drink at Diba
We kicked things off with a delightful, complex and full-bodied bottle of the Gérard Bertrand Cigalus Blanc (France) – served in a decorated glass featuring Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Shah of Persia – whilst we ate the table snacks and perused the menu.
The menu is comprehensive but not daunting, from wraps and stews to skewers and whole fish. For the starters, we opted for the mazeh (‘meze’) sharer, which consisted of a selection of five dishes:
Mast mosir – yoghurt with finely chopped shallots
Mast khiyar – yoghurt with cucumber and dried mint
Hummus – A really dialled-up version!
Mirza ghasemi – grilled aubergine, garlic, onion, eggs and tomato
Kashk bademja – lightly fried aubergine, onion, walnuts, herbs and garlic topped with whey
While there are some familiar dishes of Middle Eastern and Levantine cuisine, such as hummus and baba ganoush, there were many uniquely Persian plates. The mirza ghasemi, in particular, stood out; it was packed with rich, smoky flavours, and I was addicted to the kashk bademjan. These were all accompanied by fluffy, freshly baked naans. The portions were massive. We kept them all on the table so we could keep dipping in throughout the meal!
For mains, we decided on the show-stopping mixed grill for four, which was an absolute meat feast (don’t worry, there are also plenty of seafood, veggie and vegan options). There were four skewers of minced lamb, two skewers of lamb fillet, chicken fillet cubes and a skewer of whole poussin marinated in saffron and lemon juice. We also had the delicious saffron rice. The greedy person in the group (me) switched to a lovely smooth glass of Merlot to accompany the red meats. It was all absolutely delicious!
What we thought
The service was top-notch – genuinely friendly and attentive without ever being overbearing – and they were brilliant at catering to one of our party’s gluten-free needs; the setting was lovely, and the food amazing.
The portions are generous, so come hungry! It’s the sort of food you want to keep grazing on. However, it beat us, so we brought home a doggy bag, which made for a delicious lunch the next day!
Diba is perfect for anything from a date night to a family feast or relaxed dinner with friends. Whether you’re already a fan of Middle Eastern flavours or new to Persian cuisine, it won’t disappoint. I’d highly recommend it.
Find Diba @
6 South Street
Epsom
Surrey
KT18 7P
01372647700
https://www.dibarestaurant.co.uk/epsom/
Enjoy!
Fran xx
