The Pomegranate Restaurant

You might say The Pomegranate is responsible for turning exotic Iranian dishes like fesenjaan and aloo gheysi into household names for Torontonians. Danielle Schrage, co-owner and front of house manager, has collaborated with her husband Alireza Fakhrashrafi, co-owner and head chef, to reinvent the Iranian dining experience.

Danielle met Alireza (who is originally from Tehran) while immersed in Iranian Studies. After collaborating together on an Iranian print magazine, the couple decided to explore the cultures’ tastes more literally. Both were from academic backgrounds with no formal training in the restaurant business. Alireza “just happened to be a really good, obsessive cook,” Danielle explains. She recalls that her friends were concerned about their decision to open a restaurant, but their skepticism was only fuel for the fire. “Nobody had confidence in us,” Danielle laughs.

The couple approached the endeavor as researchers — observing the history, listening to peoples’ stories and experiences and recreating that for their community. With the knowledge, talent and passion, surely they had the right ingredients to make this work.

The Pomegranate on College Street first opened in 2004 and is now one of three restaurants owned by the duo. Of the three, this is the place for authentic home-style slow cooking as enjoyed in Iran.