DINE
A Millennial’s Cup of Tea Throw out your preconceived notions and experience modern Persian cafe culture at Safa Persian Teahouse. By Leksey Maltzman Photography by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com)
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hen you hear the words “Persian teahouse,” what images come to mind? You probably imagine rich and colorful décor, dim lighting, and an older crowd. However, when you walk into Safa Persian Teahouse at 4165 Main Street, you are greeted by a well-lit, modern space with young customers studying and chatting. In addition to the fresh design, you still get the sense of Iranian culture in the teahouse with thoughtful interior touches such as Persian rugs, a map of Tehran, and hints of brass in the space — transporting you to the modern and trendy teahouse culture you w������ Tehran, Iran today. Amin Shirazi, whose parents previously owned and operated Persian restaurant, Ali Baba, in the same location, is the one behind the new teahouse concept and interior decorating. After watching his parents try to succeed in the restaurant industry with strictly Persian food, he decided he wanted to change the concept to welcome the people of Manayunk to Persian culture without stepping too far out of their comfort zone. “Persian food and pastries have always been something I thought had a lot of potential,” Amin shared, “It just needed to be done in the correct way to make it approachable and not overwhelming.” That’s how he decided a teahouse would be the perfect way to introduce a key aspect of Persian culture to Manayunk, all while keeping the concept and food menu simple. In addition to Persian teas, Safa’s extensive menu features tea blends from around the world. “The idea is you can come in and get any �vor of tea because most people think of teas as just black or green tea,” Amin said. “But we have 28
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11/2/2018 2:52:39 PM