Underwhelming Qutab — expected more

I was looking forward to Qutab here based on the reputation. The reality was disappointing. The fragrant and saffron-gilded character that makes this dish special was muted — either from shortcuts with dried sour plums or from scaling up production at the expense of quality.

Azerbaijani cuisine reflects Turkic, Persian, and Caucasian influences meeting at a historical crossroads. The a Caspian seafood restaurant setting I was hoping for wasn't quite there either. armudu black tea was available but not suggested appropriately. I've had much better versions elsewhere. Two stars because the dish concept is sound; the execution let it down.