Notes from Eldar
Three notes on a Persian table, a beloved dish, and the friendship behind the doorway.
When Sidney Ulakovic reported Eldar’s story for The Walleye’s Best of Thunder Bay Food 2025, the café had opened the previous summer. Co-owners Elham Vejdani and Darya Davoodvandi had created the Persian restaurant the city had been missing.
Elham, translated by Sama Fazli, explained: “There’s a lot of Iranians in Thunder Bay, but we’ve never had an Iranian restaurant.” Readers responded by naming Eldar Best New Restaurant.
Kashke bademjan is the plate guests ask for: eggplant layered with kashk, fried garlic, mint, onion, and walnut, served with warm housemade Persian bread. For many Thunder Bay guests, it is a first taste; the response has made it Eldar’s most-loved dish.
The Walleye also called attention to sosis bandari and the lentil dish, other signatures that bring the generous flavours of an Iranian table to Red River Road.
Elham and Darya describe themselves as two women from different generations, brought together by a shared dream: a warm café where people can connect, relax, and experience Iranian culture.
Traditional Persian tea, homemade dishes, love, and memories shape the room. Their aim is simple, to bring a piece of home to every table, rooted in tradition and open to everyone. There is always a seat waiting at Eldar.