Afghan Grill

• Cuisine(s): Middle Eastern
  Hours: Sun 12pm-9pm, Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, Mon-Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 12pm-10pm
  Price: $$
  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards
• Attire: Casual
  Features: Catering, Delivery, Kid Friendly, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Takeout, Vegetarian Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible
  Serving: Dinner, Lunch
  Alcohol: Full bar
• Reservations: Accepted, Recommended, Not Necessary
  Parking: Free, Lot Available

Description

Afghan Grill was alloyed in the crucible of war, and therein lies its exquisite culinary claim. In Pakistan, Afghan Grill chef and founder Asmat "Matt" Pikar witnessed a heated tussle between an Afghan refugee-driven from Kabul by the surging squalls of battle-and his landlord who was tormenting him over two months' back rent. Pikar, who once owned a house in Kabul, sympathized with the refugee and bought off the landlord. So the refugee, a former Kabuli restaurateur, taught Pikar the secrets of the kebab as repayment-and the seeds of Afghan Grill were planted. Pikar has leveraged that kebab magic with all of its concomitant exacting technique in trimming and marinating and coal-firing into a menu of authentic Afghan comfort food, the kind spread on dinner tables all over Kabul: bulanee(fried leek-filled turnovers)and kadu buranee (sautéed pumpkin with garlicky yogurt)and aushak (leek dumplings with yogurt). Much of Pikar's craft is heavily laced with saffron and coriander, adding heady aromas to this exotic dinner table drama: the gunpowder of this distinctive culinary warcraft.