This month marks the tenth anniversary of the Great Falls-based Zamarod Afghan Restaurant. Owner Dor Niaz, ever-present and well-known for his authentic Afghan-inspired cooking, said that when he first opened, one of his now regular customers didn't think an Afghan restaurant in Great Falls would succeed.

“I told him I am the ambassador of food and will serve one person at a time, one day at a time. I am here to change that mentality and introduce that cuisine," Niaz said.

Niaz uses only natural ingredients to prepare his menu choices, just as his mother did when he was growing up in Afghanistan. "She is the source of all [the recipes]," he said. Niaz offers a variety of halal options, including lamb, chicken, and beef. For seafood lovers, there is salmon and cod. Vegetarian dishes are also available.

Season and availability permitting, Niaz harvests and adds to his dishes veggies and herbs like rosemary and sage grown in the large planters that encircle the outdoor dining area. If they would like, guests can pick the warm, sun-ripened garden tomatoes directly off the vines to be added to their fresh salads.

Zamarod Afghan Restaurant is cozy yet elegant and considered a local gem ten years after its debut. Coincidentally, the Dari word for emerald — a gem prized for its vivid, bright green hue — is zamarod. 

Niaz said one of his most requested dishes is the boneless beef short ribs with rhubarb sauce. He pairs it with a side of sauteed turnips and spinach, pulled from the heat, when still a lovely green, with brown sugar and ginger balsamic rice with almonds and raisins, completing the stunning dish. “That’s a winner, winner big time,” said Niaz. “We also have a lot of people who request a rack of lamb.”

Zamarod in Great Falls is tucked at the end of an unassuming strip mall and located at 10123 Colvin Run, at the corner of Walker Road. Dine in or weather permitting, on the outdoor patio. Take out, order for delivery, or ask about the available catering. Zamarod is open for lunch Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner Monday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.