Shrewsbury Street | Page 68 of 100

Kadu Borani from Pomir Grill on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

For our Foodies adventure in October we visited the Pomir Grill on Shrewsbury Street and this quaint little, BYOB Afghan restaurant did not disappoint. Sparsely decorated and small, the Pomir Grill featured a very precise menu with only about ten entrees and a few appetizers, soups and desserts. We started our meal with complimentary afghani flat bread that was served with 3 delicious dipping sauces. My dining partner and I shared the Kachalu cutlets which were delicately fried potato patties filled with a deliciously spiced spinach filing. For my main dish I was torn between the kabob, the Kofta Chalow (meatballs) and the Kadu Borani (butternut squash) and eventually went with the Kadu Borani mainly because I had never seen butternut squash served as a main dish and was intrigued as to how they would prepare it. Served steaming hot with flavorful Zamarut Palaw (basmati rice and spinach) and a traditional salad, the generous helping of squash was tender and spicy, with a nutmeg and all-spice finish that left me wanting more when I was done!

The service at this family owned restaurant was outstanding, the food was fresh and sourced locally and my guess is that all the recipes used have been passed down from generation to generation. I can’t recommend the Pomir Grill enough! -JG

Aushak at Pomir Grill on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

My first experience eating Afghanistan cuisine made me wanting to come back for more. Pomir Grill, which opened in July, is a small, family-run establishment. The walls are covered with beautiful artwork painted by the wife, co-owner, and sole cook. The restaurant fits between 30-35 people, but has a comfortable waiting area in lieu of a bar (Pomir is BYOB).

Upon being seated, we were greeted immediately by the owner’s daughter who would be our hostess and server for the evening. I decided to start with the Kachalu Cutlets—a lightly, pan-fried potato dish filled with ground beef. The dish arrived with a crispy crust filled with piping hot, flavor-filled ground beef. The potato portion was well seasoned with bits of grated onion. The meat was tender and moist with a lemony hint. My husband and I shared the dish and wished we each had ordered our own.

For my main dish, I eagerly ordered the Aushak—pasta filled with leek and spinach served with beef sauce. The dish arrived and I could not wait to dig in. The pasta was piled high with seasoned ground-beef, lentils, and tomato drizzled in a cool yogurt sauce – a nice contrast in heat, flavor, and texture. The pasta was delightful. The aushak resembled ravioli, however, the dough was delicately thin. The filling was mild and was slightly overpowered by the meat sauce. When I return, I would order this dish again, but have the sauce on the side so that I can greater appreciate the pasta. The dish also has the option of being served with a garlic sauce which seemed like a tasty alternative.

The evening ended with the owners checking in on us and making sure we were satisfied with the food, service, and overall experience. I enthusiastically gave them my accolades: not only will I return, but I will eagerly spread the word to family and friends that the Pomir Grill is a must! -AV