Eating Out: A joyful lunch at The Pomegranate Persian, Great Ayton

Intrigued by the addition of a family-run venue offering authentic, Iranian cuisine to the village's growing gastronomic scene, I called in with my mam and sister on a Friday lunchtime.

The Pomegranate Persian Tea Room is tucked away in Park Square, just off the main High Street with its pretty green and statue of the young James Cook. It is run by husband and wife team Hamideh and Massoud Qafouri, and from the moment we stepped through the door, it felt as though we were dining with long-lost family members.

We were greeted by Hamideh and Massoud's son Yazdan, who showed us to an empty table and asked us if we were familiar with Iranian food – we were not, and he took the time to explain the menu, advising us on what might be good starting points to get to know the flavours.

Trying new things can be intimidating – who hasn't wanted to broaden their culinary horizons at some point but been put off by a fear of looking like an ignoramus, or left scratching their head at an impenetrable menu?

There was none of that at The Pomegranate Persian Tea Room – and the passion for sharing their dishes with new people clearly shone through.

On Yazdan's recommendation, I went for one of the specials, Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian barberry rice with pan fried, saffron-infused chicken (£13). It is a simple, yet classic Persian dish and arrived like a plate of cheery sunshine. On the side were a small dishes of chicken broth, and a smooth, tzatziki-like dip topped with dried rose petals.

Zereshk Polo Morgh - Persian barberry rice with chicken

The flavours were delicate, with the sweetness of the barberries counteracted by the cool tzatziki, and the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth delicious.

My mam went for the Grandpa One Pot Stew (baghala ghatogh) – fava beans and dill, served with a fried egg and saffron rice (£9.50). It was a hearty portion, but not too filling, and again, for a newcomer to Persian cuisine, the flavours were fresh, and interesting, but in no way overpowering.

The Grandpa One Pot Stew at The Pomegranate Persian Team Room in Great Ayton

My sister chose Soosis Bandari – spicy Persian sausage, caramelised onion and sweet pepper, served with a soft pitta bread and garnished with salad (£8). The light, fluffy pitta went perfectly with the heat of the sausage, and the contrast of the brightly coloured food against the blue plate made it a wonderful feast for the eyes.

Soosis Bandari - spicy Persian sausage with caremalised onion and sweet pepper

Dessert-wise, behind the glass counter there were an array of chocolate brownies and scones, but seeing as we wanted the full Pomegranate Persian experience, we each ordered a traditional baklava – pistachio and walnut, soaked in syrup – to have with what was left of our tea (Persian loose leaf for Claire and I, and citrus fruit loose leaf for our mam). The sharpness of the tea offset the super-sweetness of the baklava perfectly, but with my teeth clagging up from all the syrup, I confess I couldn't manage the full slice, and had to take it home to finish off later.

Traditional baklava at Eating Out: A joyful lunch at The Pomegranate Persian Tea Room - drenched in syrup and super-sweet

The final bill came to £48.50, good value, we thought, for three big portions, dessert and drinks. The service throughout, on a busy lunchtime with minimal staffing, was wonderful, with nothing too much trouble, and my many questions about the menu, dishes and flavours all answered knowledgeably, with bags of enthusiasm.

The Pomegranate Persian Tea Room is perhaps not what visitors to chocolate-box Great Ayton would expect, but the village is all the richer for having it. Vibrant, authentic food, served with passion in welcoming surroundings by people keen to spread the word about their nation's cuisine. As much as the food was colourful, packed with flavour and thoroughly satisfying, our visit was a joyful experience – something that is worth shouting about in these most difficult of times for the hospitality industry.

We are most grateful to the correspondents who told us we simply had to try out the Pomegranate Persian Tea Room – we'll certainly be back for more.

The Pomegranate Persian Tea Room

5 Park Square, Great Ayton, United Kingdom

01642 958764

Ratings (out of ten): Food quality 9 Service 10 Surroundings 9 Value for money 9