By Yuanle Ma
Kalorama is a placid residential neighborhood in midtown Washington DC. Unlike most parts of the city, a complex of glass office buildings, it is elegantly decorated by some delicate residential houses and the quietness thereof. The Kalorama park, this tranquil lush garden, placates the haste and bustling of the city by its peacefulness. It is in this opulent neighborhood where Lapis, an exquisite Afghanistan restaurant, busily resides.
Unlike most parts of the Kalorama neighborhood which serve their DC residents with quietness and relief, Lapis offers them with excitement into the adventures of cuisine. In Washington, one’s diety can not be maltreated: distinguished DC steakhouses may offer them with some finest steak in the country, as luxure Asian Cuisine may seize their clients with luscious sushi. But out of all the admirable restaurants, it is the role of Lapis to seize the appetites of the DC residents with its alluring Afghanistan grill. The dishes of Lapis deliver something more than a pleasant experience of the tone; it is more to the enjoyment of the mind. For “afghan shepherd”, one of its signature dishes, it serves well cooked lamb chops with Afhgan rice and bread. The lamb is so properly grilled that it is fully covered with golden lamb oil on the surface, while it is accompanied by tempting sources and spices. The selection of rice is best characterized by thoughtfulness — the rice is not cooked too dry that its surface would turn hard , nor is it too moist that it would be sticky; it is in the state of almost perfection-soft and warm-decorated by Middleeastern pepper mixture. Finally, when proceeding to the Afgahn bread, the diner will find that the bread is perfectly soaked in the lamb oil and the spices; mixed with the taste of lamb and the sweetness of wheat, this bread itself has already turned into a delicacy.
Beyond the marvelous food, the decoration of the restaurant is another amazement. The first floor, with a delicate but not too sumptuous setting, welcomes its diners with the warmth of home. The bar which is located in the basement, is where the bustling and celebration reside; one would walk on well polished marble stairs, occasionally passing by some Greeco-Roman statues, into this basement full of classic decorations– it almost renders the illusion of being in a ancient classical temple which is constructed in a near east cave.
In this city where its people would rush from places to places, where the hustling of life often besieges the castle of peacefulness, Lapis is the harbor which would appease the tired hearts of its travelers with some delicious meals. A fine piece of pearl on the necklace of Washington DC becomes what Lapis is.
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