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Ariana Grill Kabob House
Categories: Restaurants Afghan Restaurants Middle Eastern Afghan, Middle Eastern [Edit]
909 W Main StSte 102
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 872-9906
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Ariana Grill Kabob House
Review Highlights
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"The pumpkin curry was fantastic." In 7 reviews -
"Even the brown basmati rice with cumin was great." In 4 reviews
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"...with my brother - really great service and excellent food." In 2 reviews
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34 reviews in English
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Review from J C.
Charlottesville, VA
12/1/2011
I must admit I haven't branched out to many other kabob places, so my basis of comparison for the food is somewhat limited; that being said I think the food is very good. The chickpeas are amazing as is the rosewater pudding. I have tried most of the kabobs and they are very good. The eggplant dish has a great flavor, but I'm not a big fan of the texture.
The best part about Ariana Grill Kabob in my opinion is the service. The first time I went for dinner with my girlfriend after we had both had unexpected long days and were exhausted. We were going towards the end of the day, but the service was wonderful. They made us feel very welcome even though they were closing soon. I've also ordered through campusfood for delivery, but there was apparently an issue with the order and after waiting for ~1.5 hours I finally called. Ariana had never received the order and their kitchen was closing, so they comped my next meal and made good on the promise.
My parents were also in town recently and my girlfriend and I took them to Ariana's. Once again the service was excellent, and my parents thoroughly enjoyed the food. My dad has a bit of a sweet tooth and ordered the baklava, we essentially had to guard our plates after he finished his serving since he was attempting to sneak bites of everyone else's. Overall I'd definitely recommend this restaurant. -
Review from Laura T.
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Simple little place with tasty food. I was a tad bummed that many previous reviews raved about the pumpkin curry, which they were out of last night. The service, prices and deliciousness of the food made up for my slight disappointment.
The chicken Kebab was perfectly spiced; a beautiful pinky red that stood out from the brown hues of the soft, savory chickpeas and overflowing serving of basmati rice. Even the dressing on the simple salad was delightful.
Simple is good. -
Review from Riaz K.
Houston, TX
3/9/2012
My first time in Charlottesville and Ariana has not disappointed. Loved the Chapli Kebab (and I am very particular about my kebabs). The basmati rice and the side of veggies were flavorful and not neglected at all.
Charlottesville doesn't have many halal/kosher joints to offer. The fact that everything on Ariana's menu is halal redeems the quaint little town of this flaw.
The crew was great and everyone was pleasant. Will definitely go back again.
The only downside is that my carryout orders took a while to prepare. But they offer the option to order online...which is something I'll opt for next time. -
Review from Katherine M.
Charlottesville, VA
2/27/2012
My new favorite take-out/delivery spot! Super flavorful Afghani food. The kebabs are spicy and acidic, the chickpeas are soft and savory. I only wish they offered more vegetation options, particularly kebabs, and that the turnovers had more filling.
Try: Bolanee Kadoo and Spicy Fish Kabob -
Review from Chris R.
Falls Church, VA
4/21/2012
Food is good, but I expected fresh naan. Bread was disappointing.
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Review from Jim M.
Lake Worth, FL
4/30/2012
Delicious food and good service. The lunch specials are a great deal, especially the gyro platter
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Review from Lisa N.
4/15/2012
The perfect place for a late-night kabob craving. Ariana boasts an amazing combo (I suggest getting the lamb and chicken one, but my boyfriend loves the kubideh there) which includes a side such as chickpeas, naan, and rice. However, the white cucumber mint sauce is sold separately at a whomping $2.50/cup. Although the sauce is large and tastes good, most places I've been to give it for free. The prices are pretty steep as well (~$14/combo), unfortunately, but they do delivery which is a bonus.
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Review from Numma T.
Londonderry, NH
5/26/2011
Passing through Charlottesville and looking for someplace for lunch, my trusty sidekick, Lawyer Man, spotted the Ariana sign before I did. Since I had allowed him to choose the restaurant for lunch, we entered. We were greeted and seated immediately by a very friendly staff.
The restaurant, as noted by so many other yelpsters, was spotlessly clean. It is relatively small (seats 30 diners, plus a couple of tables on the outside porch), but there was a steady procession of folks coming in to pick up take-out orders. For a small restaurant specializing in relatively-unknown cuisine, located in an area saturated with restaurants, this place must have something going for it.
Lawyer Man ordered Combo #1: a skewer of chicken and one of kofka (spiced ground sirloin and onion). I had a combination of spinach (very well prepared), chick peas (nicely done), and the pumpkin curry (most excellent!) The food was absolutely marvelous!
The owner, a very friendly fellow, approached and inquired as to our satisfaction. When I commented that my lunch would have been enhanced by a cold beer, he offered to get me one from another nearby restaurant. When I told him how much I enjoyed the rice that came with lunch, he brought me another plate. He was more than just a little accommodating - he treated us like honored guests, and it made us feel honored to dine there.
I asked about the decor - the Afgan clothing displayed on the walls of the restaurant - and was treated to an explanation of the pictures and personal items on display. It was charming.
Finally, before we left, I ordered each of us a piece of baklawa for dessert. The server delivered the biggest chunk of baklawa I have ever seen - it was huge! We left feeling full.
Later that evening, Lawyer Man agreed to dine at the place of my choosing. We returned to Ariana. As we entered and caught the owner's eye, he quickly came to the front and greeted us like we were family. As we perused the dinner menu, he brought to us a plate of eggplant he had prepared off-menu. It was sliced and grilled, served with a sauce of ginger, mint, garlic, and yogurt. It was wonderful!
While Lawyer Man stuck with the chicken kabobs, I ventured out into Aushak - a bit like ravioli, but filled with scallions and leeks, and served with a sauce of spiced vegetables. If I were a cat I would have purred.
Afterwards, we enjoyed their other dessert, the firnee. Firnee is a mild custard that is flavored with rose water and cardamom before being finished with crushed pistachios.
Bottom Line: Make the trip, even if this is a little out of your way. Introduce yourself to owner Nemat Akram. Ask his advice about dishes to try. You'll be treated like honored guests, you'll have a marvelous dinner, you won't be hungry when you leave, and you won't spend a fortune. Mr. Akram earns every star that Yelp members have given him. -
Review from Shobelloby S.
New Orleans, LA
11/4/2011
On vacation with moms and was looking for some adventure and had lunch here. It was so delicious. I had the vegetarian combo plate (curry pumpkin, chickpeas, and spinach so tender you'll wanna slap ya mama...I did actually slap her after taking a bite.) Screw pumpkin pie, muffins and bread - the pumpkin curry was off the chain. My mom had the lamb and chicken kabob and said it was delicious as well. Lunch came with salad and a homemade yogurt lemon dressing of some sort and a piece of afghan bread, which is about the size of my leg. Not to mention that the place was indeed spotless and the bathroom was clean as well. Eat here. It's delicious. Do it.
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Review from Molly S.
Charlottesville, VA
Updated - 1/10/2011
The last time I went I decided to try something new (the fish) and was thoroughly disappointed.
I would still give 5 stars to what I usually order which is the vegetarian platter. The vegetarian platter is all kinds of delicious! Unfortunately, I can't vouch for the quality of anything else on the menu.Listed in: Midtown Charlottesville
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/11/2010
I absolutely love this place. I've ordered delivery and just recently ate in the restaurant itself.… Read more »
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Review from Jon W.
Corning, CA
12/16/2011
I usually enjoy ordering the kabob combos but on two occasions I have tried the fish dish and found it to be very disappointing as it has been try and a little small. Everything else is delicious and I would especially recommend the pumpkin curry.
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Review from Alex C.
Glendale, AZ
2/22/2011
I graduated and left Cville almost eight months ago and even now I'm tearing up thinking about how badly I miss Arianna.
I ordered it with a friend on a Campusfood binge trying to get away from the ubiquitous College Inn. I was immediately surprised by how much food they brought us. An order of lamb kabobs comes with brown basmati rice, several slices of thick and delicious Afghani naan, and a surprise side. If you don't specify, they'll randomly give you either cooked spinach (which is INCREDIBLE), curried chickpeas, pumpkin curry, or potato curry. All of these are delicious and so I was almost always content letting them bring me something at random (although how I do loooove that spinach). The food is always flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and piping hot even when delivered.
Going to the restaurant (which is in an old funeral home and rightfully creepy) is always a rewarding experience, because the severs are friendly, the smells are fantastic, and then you can have their piping hot green tea with cardamom, which is almost a religious experience.
Listen, I loved their food so much that I took my parents there after my graduation. You will only be hurting yourself if you miss out on this lovely restaurant. Just be prepared for some serious heartache when you do eventually have to leave it behind. -
Review from ken r.
Lexington, SC
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the best gyros I've had. Great place wish I lived closer. I would have never found it with out Yelp!!!
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Review from Elizabeth E.
Baltimore, MD
1/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great service and delicious food.
Start with Doogh - a yogurt drink. It's light and refreshing. I tend to get the house salad (and ask for a side of sumac to sprinkle on it!!) and either the vegetarian platter or just the garbanzo beans b/c they give you bread as well. So, doogh, salad, beans and bread is enough...well...until dessert!
Finish up with Firnee - a custard dessert. I should note that I HATE flan and this is nothing like it. It's sweet with a hint of lavender! Yums! -
Review from Jennifer E.
Norfolk, VA
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was in C'ville for business and had dinner here with my brother - really great service and excellent food. You have to try to pumpkin curry.
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Review from Ken T.
Catharpin, VA
11/18/2011
Overall good, kofta flavor was not my favorite and a bit too salty.
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Review from Mara Z.
Minneapolis, MN
9/16/2010
This place has some excellent food at very reasonable prices. It is a small restaurant (9 tables) with a casual atmosphere. The entrees come with a salad, rice and bread and it was a big lunch for 12 bucks including appetizer and tea. I had the spiced leek dumpling appetizer and the pumpkin curry. The appetizer was crisp and yummy and though fried, not oil at all. The salad was fresh and crisp, great yogurt dressing, the tomatoes were even fresh and flavorful. The pumpkin curry was fantastic. Big bold flavor while still delicately sauced, moist and tender but not crossing over to mushy. Even the brown basmati rice with cumin was great. If you are used to Indian naan, Afghani naan is not the same - it is thick and dense, great for collecting every bit of the curry sauce.
The service was friendly and quick. I noticed the waitress got compliments on the food from every table. It is a great place for vegetarian options and I highly recommend it! They also offer free delivery to the Hampton Inn (directly across the street). -
Review from Shawn S.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2012
Not great compared to other afghan joints I've been to. Lamb kabob only came with 5 cubes of meat. Rice was delicious. Pumpkin curry was not as good as I was expecting. Service was excellent.
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Review from Roger T.
Long Beach, CA
8/27/2011
I have to say that this is an absolute gem in Charlottesville. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was wonderful and the food was above reproach. I had a wonderful lamb combo, and sampled many apps. The meat was tender, the rice had wonderful and delicate flavor and our drinks were always full. If you are ever in town, check this place out.
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Review from Jennifer M.
Sterling, VA
2/17/2010
I have a new favorite take-out place. Specializing in Afghan foods, they offer many vegetarian options as well as meat kabobs (of course).
I ordered one of the combos last night. It came with a salad, bread, kofta (sirloin) kabob, lamb kabob, basmati rice, and your choice of a side. The combo portions are HUGE.
The bread was warm and a thick type of naan. Very hearty and went well with my meal. The salad was light, fresh, and refreshing.
The lamb was kind of chewy... overcooked. But the kofta kabob was perfectly seasoned, easy to chew, and absolutely delicious. All on a bed of seasoned basmati rice (I love my rice and I know good rice when I eat it). Thumbs up on the rice.
I got the pumpkin curry (Kadu Bouranee) as my side dish... it was so good I just want more. I'm salivating now as it is just thinking about it. Perfect blend of seasoning... sweet with a hint of heat. I'm thinking I'll just get pumpkin curry next time and an appetizer.
I also ordered a cup of their Afghan green tea, with Cardamon. It was very soothing, yet had a very full flavor which complemented the food well without overpowering my tastebuds.
So my opinion: Lovely. Just lovely. especially with the great prices. -
Review from Jen H.
3/23/2010
The food here is pretty good. I had the kabob but sampled a lot of different plates. The kabob was good but not great, but that may be because i'm accustomed to the Persian kabob. The gyro is also very good, definitely above average. The rice is good, and it seems like every little thing they have is pretty good. The creamed spinach was pretty standout for me with a lot of flavor. I wouldn't say they have huge portions. I finished my plate by myself...
I also really liked the farni. I love that panna cotta type texture! It has great, soft, flavor and the crunchy cardamom on top is a nice contrast. -
Review from M W.
Washington Boro, PA
3/7/2011
We were visiting Charlottesville from out of town and had a wonderful dinner here Saturday night. Found the restaurant on Yelp and agree with all of the reviews.
The restaurant is small and very clean, and the food plentiful and delicious (and not all that spicy). Staff was very friendly and made great recommendations since we'd never eaten Afghan before. Watching the way other diners were greeted and fussed over made me feel that we were in a restaurant that truly loved what they do. -
Review from Diane L.
Seattle, WA
9/19/2009
Yum. This place serves a solid kebab in huge portions. I really enjoy their vegetarian platter (chickpeas, pumpkin curry, mixed vegetables, spinach). All the platters come with a salad, rice, and bread.
Definitely a nice low key restaurant for lunch or dinner! -
Review from Michael M.
Washington, DC
1/12/2010
I've had two experiences with this place - both very good.
First time was a delivery order for a large group. Got a few of the 'Dinners for Four' - they included a wide variety of items - salad, a number of entrees, and dessert. Good mix of meat and veggie dishes served with rice and bread.
Second time was a pickup order. Got the tandoori chicken (not what I would typically view as an Afghan dish) based on a server's recommendation. It was fantastic. Came with a really good green sauce that had a nice flavor and paired well with the chicken. Again, the dessert - a very simple yogurt with what looked like crushed pistachios on top was a good way to complete the meal. -
Review from Jon L.
7/12/2010
Bob, bob, bob, ba ba Kabob!
Nice!
In C'ville for a thing, this place is just across from my Hampton Hotel,
Read the Yelpster reviews and was impressed.
It's billed as an Afghan Restaurant....hmmm...what does that really mean.
Middle Eastern food, yes...Kabobs...chicken, lamb, veggie, yes though I doubt they are imported from the middle east. I would say more spiced to the custom of the Afghan culture.
I had the chicken and lamb combo which comes with a salad, flat bread and a choice of sides. Nathan G was right on about the curry pumpkin, it was delicious.
You can carry out or dine in and they share a covered porch with the Asian Express next door which serves up sushi and such.
They have three nice little tables and a nice view of the comings and goings on Main St of C'Ville.
It was all good, the basmati rice was a bit dry, the salad was fresh and excellent with a nice cucumber house dressing.
The naan bread was OK, a little dry for my taste but I'm not an expert on naan bread.
Had a slice of backlawa to go, yes they spell it with a 'w'...must be an Afghan thing. It was above average and worthy of a recommendation.
The service was prompt, courteous and professional. They were quite busy for an early evening on a Monday.
All in all a nice dining experience and quite affordable at $11 bucks and change. -
Review from Nathan J.
Middleburg, FL
9/15/2011
My wife and I were feeling adventurous and decided to give Ariana's a try. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. We tried the kabob's and it was really tasty. The chicken was a little dry but the curry pumpkin for a side was well worth it. The rice was really well seasoned too. All in all it was a nice atmosphere and experience.
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Review from Scott L.
Charlottesville, VA
8/16/2010
Delicious and exotic, but with low prices and healthy portions. Good options for both vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Not good parking ootions so may need to park away and walk over.
The curry pumpkin dish was great. -
Review from S R.
Charlottesville, VA
12/16/2011
My favorite restaurant in Charlottesville! The food is always tasty, and the staff are incredibly nice and welcoming.
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Review from ishraq a.
Boston, MA
3/6/2011
imho best afghan food i've had- ranging from spots in nyc, philly and boston.
the place was clean and friendly, and the service was great.
i ordered a combo platter that had all their meats- lamb kabob, kofta, and chicken tandoori. it came with ample rice and salad.
the food was rich and the red meat was fresh. i took a side of the yogurt drink, and was even treated to on the house dessert.
this place left a great impression on me, and the next time im in town i will be sure to come back for a meal. -
Review from Andrew K.
Charlottesville, VA
2/13/2010
A great new option for college students who want cheap, filling meals!
I'm a total sucker for their vegetarian curries. You can get three curries, rice, bread and a salad for around eight bucks. Spinach and pumpkin are great, chickpeas and potatoes are good but a little bit on the bland side. I've only gotten the chicken kabob once, and it was rather dry. My roommates tell me that lamb kabob is much better.
Free delivery is a plus, and the woman that works the phone seems very nice. Overall, it's a healthy alternative to boring Chinese restaurants around here.
Disclaimer: I've never eaten in the restaurant, so I don't know what their service is like. -
Review from R Breeze W.
Brattleboro, VT
3/15/2010 1 photo
Really clean place with good cheap plates of food. Great sauces on the table, and quick non-invasive service. I love this spot!
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Review from nathan g.
Alexandria, VA
4/8/2010
in a town that has really pretty phenomenal food, this place falls just below mediocre.
the bread's not fresh, the restaurant was too hot, and the food was just kinda nothin'.
there is one exception--
the curry pumpkin was pretty amazing.
additionally, the service was actually excellent and accommodating.
eh. -
Review from Jon F.
Arrington, VA
5/19/2011
OK - wow, just wow. Had lunch here today & my mouth is still singing from the awesome flavor medley. As a kid we had Afghan neighbors & I fell in love with the food. Today's lunch brought back many pleasant memories. Go. Try. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from D K.
Charlottesville, VA
10/25/2010
Delicious! The prices are relatively low, the portions are huge, and the food is very flavorful. I'm a big fan of the pumpkin curry. I went with a group of 5; we ordered the dinner for four, plus a few items, and had more than enough food (appetizers, entrees, and even desserts with tea). Family style is definitely the way to go- it's the kind of restaurant where you'll want to try a taste of everything. We'll be back.
