Samarkand Restaurant Glatt Kosher — Restaurant in Phoenix

I walked into the place at about 1 pm and the lights were off, there was no furniture, and the whole place looked dusty like it hadn’t been cleaned in a while. The first employee I come across was a prep cook, who seemed to be the only person who spoke English.

When I asked if the place was open, the prep cook was nice enough, but wasn’t sure how to answer, saying that he had only recently started, but that this wasn’t a sit down restaurant, it was take-out only.

Okay, makes sense why there is no furniture.

Then some woman comes out of the back (manager perhaps?), and asks if I am picking up a catering order. “No, I don’t have an order, I’d like to just order takeout, please.” (The place also didn’t smell like food, or really like anything was cooking, plus there were no sounds of any activity from the kitchen.)

I was then informed that there was no menu to even order from. Special of the day? Nope. The lady then told me politely that if I wanted food, I should go down the street to the Mexican restaurant.

100% this place is a front for some sort...

The food is the best I have ever tasted in my life. The land is boum melted in your mouth. Rise pilaf is the best ever. Meat with rise and healthy vegetables super flat kosher means clean in Jewish religion supervised and blessed by Rabbai. Tandoori bread is delicious crispy hot omg. 10 thumbs up. Worth every penny. Try you will not regret. Ask for the chef speacial fresh salad and salad with vinegar. Omg...

Every time I stop by they're closed. Every time I call to find out if they are open no one answers the phone and you can't leave a message. The woman owner is a nice person, but is unbelievably incompetent and way in over her head. She needs close the restaurant down and run her catering business out of a commercial kitchen. She's unbelievably short sided and incapable of running a...