New Caversham Eatery Offers Persian Delights!

A Caversham riverside restaurant has new owners and a new name. Persian Palace, just north of Caversham Bridge since 2019, became Pathaan’s on the Saturday before the late May Bank Holiday.

Pathaan’s, which already has a branch in Slough, specialises in Persian, Afghan and Pakistani cuisine and has a riverside dining area with 12 tables.

Sayed Esrar, the director, explained: "What we have is a bit of a mixture of the food that we do. We do Persian, Pakistani and Afghani all combined. So we’ve got all three of these cultures together. It’s a bit of a mixture.

"We have another branch in Slough, which is really popular. So this is our second branch, and the third one is coming in Uxbridge.

"So in a couple of months, the third branch will be open as well."

Esrar says grilled dishes are a highlight, alongside a range of curries, vegetable sides, biryani and lamb dishes such as kabli pala and roj (slow-cooked lamb).

The previous owners ran into trouble with Reading Borough Council after the riverside seating was installed without planning permission sometime in 2024. The seating area holds 12 tables; the planning issue is understood to have been resolved subject to conditions. A planning application for a preliminary flood risk assessment for the riverside area is currently under consultation (reference PL/26/0736).

Majid Nagra, a Green councillor for Loddon ward, was spotted visiting with his family. After dining, he said: "We enjoyed the food and atmosphere of the restaurant greatly- the platter that we ordered came hot & fresh, with a large portion of rice and tender, juicy meat pieces.

"It was all well cooked and well seasoned. In terms of atmosphere, the staff were very polite and helpful throughout our visit.

"The river view from where we were seated also added to our dining experience.

"Overall, we are more than satisfied with dining at Pathaan’s."

The first Pathaan’s is in Farnham Road, Slough, next to the Checkout Superstore.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter