Samarkand

Tried this on a whim because I was very curious about cuisine from Uzbekistan.It was very good.I had beef/lamb shawarma, some fantastic dumplings as an appetizer and a good quality bottle of wine.My waiter was very friendly and professional.The prices were reasonable and the ambiance was warm, relatively quiet and inviting.I highly recommend this restaurant. It exceeded my expectations. I would definitely revisit and bring friends/family.

I asked the hotel for restaurant recommendations that provided complimentary shuttles. I choose this restaurant from the list provided by the hotel because I am not familiar with Uzbek cuisine even though I traveled to the Silk Road via Uzbekistan. This restaurant is located in a tiny unassuming strip mall consisting of other restaurants that provided other cuisines. When I entered the restaurant, it looked barren. It was not until I entered the dining room that it came alive with colorful murals, colorful walls and two televisions streaming non-stop pictures of Uzbekistan. It felt like I was back on the Silk Road. The menu was strange because I did not recognize anything on the menu. I asked the waiter to order for me. I must say, the bread is a "must". It was so interesting to look at. When it was served, it was a big gigantic deep fried ball. As it cooled down, it shrunk to a flat looking tortilla or pita bread. It was so delicious that I ordered another for dinner and another to take back to my hotel. I had no idea what I was eating. The food looked like any other recognizable dish except that it was cooked with different spices, herbs, etc. The clientele did not speak English. I am assuming they spoke Uzbek. The table next to me ordered a set menu that was served in tiers. That looked really good and yummy looking. It was an interesting experience for me. There was only one person working in the dining area. He did everything from taking orders, cleaning tables to serving food. He worked efficiently and fast with a nice attitude.

Central Asian & East European fusion cuisineThis place is located in a sleepy suburban mallBut don't let that fools you.As soon as you stepped into the dining room, you are transported to the exotic Samarkand.The decor are just sublime, Service are amazing like you're in a palaceThe foods!!! We started with a pickle plates, I don't know how those pickles can be that cunchyTabaka - Broiled Cornish Hen. I've heard about this dish but have never tried it. It is marinated and fried under a brick. It is so juicy and crispy in all the right places. The marination is heavenly.Liver Kabob - This kebab is cooked perfectly, at this time...This can easily be the best cooked "liver" in townChalagach - Grilled lamb chop, This again was seasoned so perfectly. I can't find any flawssome of this dish came with French fries which is good, but please order Rice on the side.There is a really humble dish of "Potatoes with Mushrooms" (appetizers). But is just so good. The potato were sliced thinly and crispy on edges, topped with sauteed onion and mushrooms. It is just flavor bomb.Also please order the bread. So My recommendation is order everything!HIghly recommend this place. Looks like great place for party too.

This place is a trip. It's def worth going for the experience. Whether that's the kitschy music or decor, it leans in. The food was simple but good. Would recommend for a group of friends wanting to venture out to the burbs and do something different.

Highlights:Exquisite Uzbeki decor makes for a great ambiance Mantu (like dumplings) and Chuchvara (like wonton soup) recommendedFood:Plov Samarkand (small)MantuChuchvara The chuchvara soup is similar to wonton soup though it has a distinctly Uzbeki flavor. There was some subtle spicing, and what I appreciated was that it was appropriately salted (in contrast to some wonton soups which can seem salty). Mantu was my favorite! These are similar to dumplings though this, too, had a unique set of spices/flavors. It was NOT spicy hot. Anyway the meat filling was tender and it was very delicious. Plov Samarkand When I asked the server what was the most uniquely Uzbeki dish, this is what he pointed to. I ordered the small. Perhaps because I had already eaten the mantu and chuchvara, I still had leftover plov. I found the flavor to be blander for the plov than the mantu/chuchvara. Also some of the rice seemed especially chewy, slightly less cooked than what I am used to (which could be my own preconceptions). I don't know if it was because I was full or maybe I don't know what the authentic taste is. I am glad I tried the plov (because it's as well-known an Uzbeki dish as can be said for Uzbeki cuisine in the US), though i preferred the Mantu (my #1) and the chuchvara (#2) over the plov. Service:The service was good, though they only had one server for the whole restaurant so he was understandably busy as more patrons arrived. I arrived around 6:00 on a Tuesday and there was only one other table. Though by the time I left it was at least half full. Ambiance:The decor was exquisite (see pictures and videos), seemingly matching some of the famous mosques of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. There was also a stage for live music. There wasn't any the Tuesday night I was there (not that I was expecting any).

I want to love this place so much but the food is very mediocre. We tried a lot of the offerings and I will start with the items I liked: Mantu - the dough was delicate and the meat filling was well seasoned and tasty. The Lagman was also pretty good - it is unexpected and unique and flavorful. My kids had the Chuchvara, which is similar to Russian pelmeni.Here is what I would stay away from: Plov - we had suck high expectations for this dish because it is an Uzbek staple but it was so bland! My husband got the large portion of the plov and it only had two edible pieces of beef, the rest was all grizzle. I would also steer clear of the desserts, we tried the Napoleon and the Medovik (honey cake) and they were both clearly store bought and awful. Do yourself a favor, skip the dessert. There is an Eastern European market (Fruit and Fish) two doors down that has much better desserts for sale.

A delightful restaurant hidden in a suburban strip mall. It's an Uzbek restaurant with some Russian flairs. When we walked in, it's as if we were transported somewhere else with the decor from floor to ceiling. We stopped by after a hike and I felt underdressed, though the wait staff did not blink. Even though I am a vegetarian I found plenty to eat, making a meal primarily out of starters An excellent lentil soup to start. The potato and mushroom dish was out of this world. The beet salad was an unexpected take -with a creamy dressing. The avocado salad was refreshing. My companion enjoyed the meat buns. The wait staff was attentive without being overbearing. I really liked this place.

We went to Samarkand for lunch over the weekend. The vibe was so cute, and at the time we went the restaurant was almost full of people who's culture the food was from. The staff were friendly and kind. The soup was phenomenal, hearty and healthy. We loved the Turkish coffee-- not bitter and slightly sweet. The samsa was pretty good, but definitely was elevated by the sauce it was served with-- garlicky and umami. The mains is where we had trouble-- both were very very oily, and the Plov was good but we wished there was more meat. The noodles had incredible flavor, but were so oily that we didn't want to take home leftovers. All in all I would recommend this restaurant. I want to try the kebab next time.

Excellent good, except for the Samarkand bread, we had authentic one near Philly so this doesn't match up. Their hospitality and vibes in the restaurant were great, little hidden gem in the back of the strip mall.

Food was good albeit a bit overpriced. We should have gone with many appetizers than get entree. Pluses- bread was fantastic so was the tea. Fish and chicken were so so. Dessert was okay too. Service was sufficient but could be more attentive. Inside decor is fantastic. Well maintained and clean.