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| - If you're looking for a laid-back dining experience, Samarkand Restaurant will be the place! I walked in on a Thursday afternoon and noticed no one was working the dining area...a man had set up 4-5 chairs together to create a makeshift bed and was dozing away! There was another family dining there at the time and we exchanged bewildered looks. Sensing the restaurant may be closed for a private event--the tables and chairs looked like they were prepped for a wedding banquet--I stuck my head into the kitchen to see of anyone was working on the back. There was a lady working and she said the restaurant was open and to have a seat!
After I was seated she came out with the menu and I ordered a pitcher of compote, samosas, and grilled lamb chops. The compote was ice cold and appeared to be freshly made earlier in the day. The meal came with a salad, which was also quite fresh, with lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, and rosemary in a dressing. It was quite tasty and the serving is generous.
The samosas came out hot and fresh with a tomato-based dip. The pastry is crisp and the filling is flavorful.
The main course, however, was less than my expectations. While the lamb was grilled well, came on a platter with sliced onions and mashed potatoes, the meat did not taste as fresh as I expected. It tasted more like something from a "reduced for quick sale" section of a Safeway meat department! Nevertheless it was edible and I did consume the entire course.
It seemed as if I came to Samarkand on a wrong day and I am convinced I should give it another chance the next time I am in town!
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