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The
Afghan Restaurant
reviewed by Diane Hudson May 2003
I love it when a restaurant experience conjures up flavors out of my past.
The Afghan Restaurant in Falmouth did just that for me. In particular,
the rosewater in the Norange-Palaw ($14.95) entree, savory seasoned pieces
of lamb under a mound of saffron rice, topped with almonds, pistachios,
orange strips, and cardamom, sent me traveling back in time.
But first things first. We started with the Aush ($4.95), a full-bodied
delicately seasoned noodle and vegetable soup with yogurt, ground beef,
and mint. Next, we slid into the Aushak ($5.50), delicious steamed dumplings
filled with leek and spring onions, topped with a vogurt, meat sauce,
and mint; Sambosa Goushti ($5.50), a nice tieep-fried pastry stuffed with
ground beef, chick peas, and a tangv sauce; and Pukawra-e-Badenjan ($5.50),
scrumptious batter-dipped, sauteed slices of eggplant topped with a yogurt
and meat sauce.
Entrees are served with Afghan bread (a flat bread purchased in New York
for the restaurant and, to my taste, somewhat dry) and an excellent, crunchy
salad (largely consisting of iceberg lettuce) dressed with a refreshing
vogurt and dill sauce. As several varieties of kebobs are offered here,
we decided to try the Kebab-e-Murgh ($16)and savored the perfectly broiled
chunks of chicken and vegetables and the accompanying spiced brown rice.
The Sabsi-Chalaw ($12.95), chunks of lamb in an onion- and garlic-flavored
spinach sauce served with aromatic spiced white rice, was a big hit, too.
Finding the lamb in the Kabuli Palaw ($14.95) a bit dry, we were delighted
that the Cahllaw Sabsi ($12.95) more than made up for this in its intricate
flavors. An "Afghan spinach stew," this thick concoction of fresh spinach
cooked with onions and garlic is totally satisfying and beckons for a
return visit. After topping everything offwitr two perfect desserts, Fimee
($'5.25), a light pudding with almonds and pistachios, and Baghlawa ($5.50),
delicious paper-thin lavers of syrup-soaked pastries with walnuts, we
set off contented with the meal, and a memory of a truly different different
night out.
US. Route 1, Falmouth, Maine Closed Mondays € 781-9998
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