קראו את המדריך בעברית · Read in Hebrew
Kosher dining · Upper West Side · Persian meat restaurant
By Zvi Zidon · English edition: October 11, 2026
In some kitchens, the bottom of the rice pot is a washing-up problem. In a Persian kitchen, it can be the part everyone wants. Tahdig—the crisp rice crust—is a good reason to look beyond the familiar steak-and-burger routine at Eshel.
At a glance: Eshel is a kosher Persian meat restaurant at 507 Columbus Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, listed by the OU. Plan around $100 per person for a starter, main and soft drink with tax and tip.
Saffron chicken skewers, ground-beef kebabs and rice give this Upper West Side meal a different center of gravity. Come curious, and leave room for something you would not automatically order at your usual grill.
The essentials
- Address
- 507 Columbus Avenue, between West 83rd and 84th Streets, Manhattan.
- Food & supervision
- Meat; Persian and Middle Eastern. OU supervision; source checked October 12, 2026.
- Published restaurant hours
- Sunday–Thursday, noon–10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed for Shabbat. The official site’s location section was rechecked October 12; confirm holiday exceptions directly.
- Dining options
- Restaurant seating, pickup and online ordering.
Restaurant website ↗ Google Maps
Build the meal around the Persian dishes
Start with tahdig. The contrast is the point: crisp rice meeting a spoonful of stew. Our October 5 menu check offered red stew, green stew, half-and-half or plain crispy rice. Half-and-half is an inviting introduction if you want to try both directions without ordering two separate starters.
For the main course, the useful question is not “Which one costs more?” but “Ground beef or pieces of beef?” Koobideh is the Persian ground-beef kebab; barg takes you toward beef pieces on a skewer. They satisfy different cravings. A more expensive skewer is not automatically the better choice for your evening.
Jujeh brings chicken and saffron into the conversation. For two people, chicken and koobideh with a shared tahdig would offer variety without turning the order into a tour of every menu section.
For a look at the saffron chicken skewers, salads and rice before you order, browse Eshel’s official photo gallery.
What does a complete meal cost?
Think around $100 per person for an individual starter, main and soft drink, with tax and tip. Here is what sits behind that planning figure, using the online menu checked on October 12, 2026:
- Tahdig $20 + koobideh or jujeh $47 + soft drink $6: $73 before tax and tip, roughly $93–94 afterward.
- Swap the main for barg at $59: $85 before tax and tip, roughly $108–110 afterward.
- Share one tahdig between two: roughly $80–97 per person with those mains, a soft drink, tax and tip.
These are sample orders, not average customer bills. The estimate uses 8.875% sales tax and an optional 18–20% tip calculated on the pretax subtotal. Online and dine-in prices can differ. Dessert, alcohol and special-event charges are extra. The recorded menu included an entertainment-fee item without clear applicability; ask about it if booking a performance evening. Open the current menu.
What diners talk about
Tahdig stood out in the customer feedback we reviewed on October 5, 2026. It is an appealing starting point if you are new to Persian food: a crisp, comforting dish that introduces the stews as well as the rice.
For the latest atmosphere and service reports, open the restaurant’s Google listing. For a date, the appeal is sharing dishes and trying a different cuisine. If a quiet table matters, ask about the evening’s plans when reserving.
A certificate worth actually reading
Our kosher source for this address is the OU listing, checked October 12, 2026. Before eating, look for a current certificate covering this specific branch. Certification can change after a guide is published.
Zvi’s experience as a kosher supervisor informs our approach: the word “kosher” on a sign is only the beginning. If you need particular standards for bishul Yisrael or Beit Yosef, ask the mashgiach or supervising agency directly. Do not infer them from the cuisine or the people dining nearby.
Separately, look at the NYC health grade. We prefer A; it reflects inspection findings, not a guarantee that a kitchen has no issues. B and C indicate less favorable grading results, and Grade Pending needs its own context. Check the city’s record by name and address; no current letter grade is claimed here.
Give lunch a neighborhood around it
The American Museum of Natural History makes a substantial nearby anchor, while Central Park offers a gentler walk before or after the meal. Our walking estimates are about 10–15 minutes toward the museum and 5–10 minutes to a nearby park entrance, depending on the entrance and your pace.
For Friday, put lunch first and respect the early closing time. Do not build a sightseeing plan that leaves the restaurant or the journey home squeezed against Shabbat.
For a different museum afternoon, compare the natural history museum with Intrepid farther south along the Hudson, or browse our kosher restaurant guides.
Before reserving
For a leisurely dinner, set aside about 90 minutes. Contact the restaurant to reserve and discuss step-free access or stroller space; accessibility details have not been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eshel a kosher meat restaurant?
Yes. This Persian meat restaurant is listed by the OU; our source check was October 12, 2026. Look for a current certificate for 507 Columbus Avenue when you visit.
Does Eshel offer pickup?
The restaurant offers pickup and online ordering through its official website.
What are Eshel’s Friday hours?
The published Friday hours are 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Holiday schedules can differ.
Sources: official restaurant website, online menu, and OU rechecked October 12, 2026; customer feedback reviewed October 5, 2026. No personal visit to Eshel is claimed.