Zarak: a modern Afghan restaurant to open in Vancouver soon
Vancouver’s new modern Afghan restaurant is almost ready to open. Zarak is expected to launch early next month, Dished Vancouver was told.
Brought to you by the talented people behind Surrey’s famous Afghan Kitchen restaurant, the new restaurant will open at 2102 Main Street.
Much like Afghan Kitchen, Zarak will offer customers modern and refined interpretations of Afghan dishes and flavors.
The Main Street destination will offer fine dining and sips in a space designed by Simcic + Uhrich Architects. Guests can expect pink walls inspired by Afghan mud houses as well as subtle brick and gold detailing.
There will also be references to kites inside the space. Partner restaurant Winnie Sun explained the importance of this as a symbol in the restaurant.
“Kite flying is a common pastime in Afghanistan and is considered by many to be an art form. It brings joy and smiles to families and is a symbol of hope to soar into the skies, despite the political turmoil inside the country, â€notes Sun.
“The kite was in fact banned by the Taliban in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. As Khaled Hosseini writes in The kite runner, “There are many children in Afghanistan, but few childhoods”, but the kite is a reminder of that childhood for Hassib, our partner who lived in Afghanistan until the age of 16, and we felt it was important to integrate into the restaurant of our dreams.
Zarak, like Afghan Kitchen, will always use family recipes, “mom’s recipes,†as the team puts it. The new restaurant will feature a beverage program including British Columbia and international wines, local beers, as well as a wide selection of cocktails, mocktails, coffees and teas.
Once open, the 70-seat restaurant will be open Wednesday through Friday for dinner service from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Zarak will open its doors to the public on Wednesday, December 8.
If you want to try and get a taste of this new place before then, tickets are limited for a three-course tasting dinner at the restaurant from December 2-5. These will go fast, so hurry!
Zarak
Address: 2102 Main Street, Vancouver
All photos courtesy of Zarak