While it is true that college students spend the better part of their four years of school eating, it never ceases to amaze me that so many different restaurants can coexist together–a pizza place neighbors a burger joint, just three doors down from Pho, which owns a second branch within a one-block radius. I’m talking about the Ave of course. And so when I found out that Tempero de Brasil, my original pick for this week’s bottomfeeder, had all but closed, I can’t say I was surprised. (It’s now open only six days a week for a narrow three hour time slot.) Luckily I don’t have to walk far to find an alternative. Caspian Grill is North of the Ave, just beyond the hustle and bustle of campus. It takes me a second to place the origins of the name, but after a glimpse of the oriental rugs inside and a quick refresher of my freshman geography course, I register it as a small family-owned Persian restaurant. The Caspian Grill is Iranian cuisine for those of you geographically challenged.Inside the walls are painted mustard yellow and a stage is positioned near the front entrance. Framed by Christmas lights and hanging lanterns, Caspian Grill occasionally features belly dancing performances here. The walls are decorated with intricate paintings of Persian men and women wearing traditional clothing, each image lavishly accented by gold. From the dining area, guests can watch the kitchen staff prepare their meals through a small window. It’s by no means fancy but there’s a certain panache to this place. I don’t know if it’s because I’m the only customer on a slow afternoon, or if it’s just the nature of the friendly staff, but the moment I’m seated, I’m treated like royalty. The waiter visits my table regularly, bringing me a basket of thin sheets of bread and my own pitcher of water (most restaurants on the Ave don’t even have sit-down service so I’m pretty enchanted by the hospitality). He also recommends several items on the menu. I order a lamb kabob and a shirazi salad. The “gourmet” coffee I select arrives a few minutes later, although it seems to just be an instant mix served in a glass as opposed to a mug. Coffee is coffee as far as I’m concerned, I’ll pick my battles, but at $4 a cup I guarantee that other smug Seattleites might disagree with this word choice. Though the food isn’t served for another 20 minutes, Shahram, my waiter–who even addresses me by name–comes back to check on me regularly. My meal ends up being a series of dishes, each served on its own plate. First there is the salad: finely sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions in olive oil, pepper and lemon juice. Again, nothing fancy, but it almost cleanses your palate for the heavy course that is to follow. Another complimentary salad with iceberg lettuce also arrives. Then there is the lamb kabob, served with basmati rice and a roasted tomato (also arranged on a separate plate). The kabob is simply seasoned but delicious. It’s so juicy that I spend a good 15 minutes wrestling with each piece in an attempt to cut them into smaller bite-size morsels. If for nothing more than its hospitality, Caspian Grill is worth a visit. The food is filling and a refreshing break from some of Seattle’s other, more delicate cuisine. At least this restaurant will be in the neighborhood for a while.