Underwhelming Ashak — expected more

I was looking forward to Ashak here based on the reputation. The reality was disappointing. The aromatic with cardamom and saffron character that makes this dish special was muted — either from shortcuts with saffron or from scaling up production at the expense of quality.

Afghan hospitality tradition demands feeding guests regardless of the host's circumstances. The a teahouse on the Silk Road route setting I was hoping for wasn't quite there either. fresh pomegranate juice was available but not suggested appropriately. I've had much better versions elsewhere. Two stars because the dish concept is sound; the execution let it down.