Liverpool is currently home to a single Iranian restaurant.
Reyhoon, which opened last year on Lodge Lane in Toxteth has recently moved to Smithdown Road where it continues to bring a taste of Persian cuisine to the city.
The family-run restaurant serves up Iranian specialities alongside a flavour of Persia's ancient cultural heritage.
Behrouz Balak, 46, a former taxi driver, set up the restaurant after being encouraged by friends and family who tasted his dishes at family gatherings and barbeques.
He runs the business with his wife Sara Sangari, 39 and son Arian Balak, 19.
Together they are keen to introduce the wide range of Iranian speciality dishes to Liverpool.
Behrouz said: "We moved to Smithdown Road three months ago and we're happy so far. It was an Indian restaurant before, we've made a few changes of our own, and added a charcoal grill.
"People are still learning that we're here, what kind of food we're serving.
"What's really nice is that all of our customers have followed us from Lodge Lane."
Behrouz said: "There have been Persian restaurants in Liverpool in the past but they all have closed down because of lack of revenue, but my passion is to get the food out there so people can recognise Iranian cuisine."
"What we've noticed, is if somebody gives our food a try once, they will come back to try more of our dishes.
"You can't really compare Persian food, we have our own thing going on."
Behrouz and his wife moved to the UK from Iran 20 years ago, and lived in Scotland before coming to Liverpool in 2003.
He said: "There were challenges at first, but we love it here. We have lovely neighbours and as a family we're happy here."
"We find Scousers are really friendly people. I've heard from friends in other cities in the UK that people there are not like Scousers are."
The restaurant is decorated with pictures that gives hints of Iran's rich ancient culture and heritage.
Behrouz said: "The pictures come from the history of Iran of about 2500 years ago, when Iran was the biggest empire in the world.
"The picture on the front of the shop is Kourosh.
"Kourosh was the first king and he was for the benefit of the people. He was the first person to bring benefit for the people.
"A lot of the design of the pictures come from historical artefacts from the capital of the ancient empire, Persepolis.
"Iranians love this history."
Behrouz enjoys explaining to customers some of Persia's history.
He said: "We have three principles that come from ancient Iran culture - thinking good, talking good and doing good - and these three things are enough.
"Many people who come in here ask about the pictures, they want to know more about Persian culture - as well as our food."
Iranian food involves lots of barbeque dishes and stews. Behrouz's favourite is ghormeh sabzi, a herb stew that can also include lamb.
The name of the restaurant, Reyhoon, references one of the key herbs.
Arian said: "It's a word that means a kind of Persian basil. It's in nearly all the dishes, it's very popular in Iran."
For Arian, who has recently finished his education and now works front of house helping his parents to build the business, the lamb is his favourite part of Iranian food.
He said: "It's what I've grown up on - I just love it."
Reyhoon Restaurant is at 453 Smithdown Road, and is open daily. For more information, contact 0151 733 4444
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