Great Falls
Zamarod Restaurant
For: Afghani
10123 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls
After a short run, Mediterranee Restaurant closed earlier this year and turned into the Afghani Zamarod, opened in March. The space feels warm with golden yellow walls, a prominent chandelier and large paintings with soft brushstrokes of buzkashi, a national sport involving players on horses trying to capture a goat carcass. There’s also a serene scene of the Greek coastline. The menu moved from Mediterranean to Central Asian as baguettes made way for bready naan dotted with black and white sesame seeds. Instead of fries with mussels, potatoes are smashed and stuffed into a fried pastry, bulanee kachula. Better yet, chickpeas tuck into a somehow greaseless, but crispy fried triangle, sombosa. Sliding chunks of juicy chicken and rosy lamb off the skewer is a good idea for lunch, as the stewed lamb in the kadou palau is dry. Though it’s not on the menu, ask the kitchen for a platter of vegetarian sides: buttery spinach, baby-food soft squash and luscious eggplant. -Stefanie Gans
(June 2014)
