Shinwari Kabab

See Gone, But Not Forgotten

Shinwari Kabab opened May 14 2009 where Ariana Kabob House used to be. They had a lunch buffet at a price of $6.99 (as of June 5) and a dinner buffet on Mondays. They had kebabs, non vegetarian, vegetarian and Halal options.

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2009-05-17 19:39:27   The owner was born in Pakistan but raised in Afghanistan and you can see both influences in the food. The lunch buffet options were fairly limited but executed well. A definite steal at $4.99 They didn't have a menu available but said they were intending to implement one. The mango lassi was good as well. The interior and exterior haven't changed since Ariana Kabob House. A great option for lunch and with some interior decor updates (and a menu!) it has potential to be a great dinner place as well. Definitely worth checking out. —OneLove

2009-05-22 16:34:00   We stopped in for the lunch buffet today. Yum! Perfectly spiced, great quality, and served with hot naan fresh from the oven. The price is now $6.99 for lunch or dinner buffet (I believe the $4.99 was an opening-day special), but it's still quite a bargain. Another awesome restaurant within walking distance. —RyanTucker

2009-06-05 02:53:15   Have been there last weekend. The food is terrific.The best kababs and most authentic Indian non vegetarian dishes available in Rochester. Would give a 5 star for the food. It has already become my favorite Indian restaurant in Rochester (I am not a vegetarian so cannot say about the veggie foods there). They also have biriyani (flavored rice with meat)- the only place in Rochester where you can find it. Do check it out. By the way, if you cannot handle too much spices then ask for lowest spices (they have 3 grades) —Mahul

2009-06-06 22:06:35   As of June 5 the ala carte menu is in place for evenings. Fairly standard Indian options as noted above with prices in the $8-15 range for entrees. Overall the food was quite good and they went out of their way to make us feel welcome last night. Spicing was very tasty, but a little uneven in application. Portions of my wife's mild chicken kebabs were hotter than the medium spiced saag lamb I ordered. The lamb was cooked on the bone which adds to flavor but makes it a little more work to eat than other places that use boneless lamb. I must say that this was the first Indian restaurant I have eaten at that uses ketchup as the side condiment instead of various chutneys. The decor is still very plain, except for the poster of Boston MA inside the front door. They still need to hit their stride, but we will be back again. —JGerek

2009-06-19 18:44:52   The lunch buffet here was delicious. I got there at noon and everything looked freshly made. The food was absolutely delicious. To put it nicely it seems like all efforts are placed on the food and not on the decor. I happened to enjoy the atmosphere though. Overall the food was fantastic. I will definitely return for another buffet and possibly dinner.

Best rice pudding I have ever had. —WindyPig

2009-07-07 14:49:02   I tried this place for lunch and it was pretty good. I specially liked their chicken shorba, which was light and perfectly done. Please don't be discouraged by the exterior, I had a good experience. Our server was very polite and friendly. The quality of food for the price ($6.99) is a great deal. I would go back there again!! —Foodie

2009-07-19 18:43:02   We went there for the Sunday buffet. We are vegetarians and the selection was large and quite delicious. Excellent! The place is clean and unassuming. We love Indian food and this was such a delight! —JohnDean

2009-07-19 18:47:18   Went to the luncheon buffet and thought the food was really delicious and a fantastic deal! As a vegetarian, there was an abundance of choices - all fresh and well prepared. The exterior isn't much to look at and can be off-putting, but don't let that keep you from experiencing venturing in and sampling the wonderful food. Very friendly service. —ldbasho

2009-07-19 21:15:41   I tried Shinwari for the first time today and was not disappointed. The reasonably-priced buffet included several well prepared vegetarian selections, as well as two wonderful desserts and well made Chai. I especially enjoyed the spicy chickpea selection. My mango lassi was delightful and refreshing. The restaurant is upstairs and set back a bit from the two businesses that surround it. That could make it easy to miss, but don't make that mistake. If you like Indian food, this is a great place to eat. —jcartisano

2009-07-27 10:39:38   Awesome food, and the owners are really nice. Don't worry about the (lack of) decor, the food makes up for it. —Everyonesacritic

2009-07-29 22:44:26   Just had a nice take-home meal from this place, one lamb dish and another with tomato sauce-soaked paneer. I was initially a disappointment that menu seemed so similar to that of a standard Indian restaurant, but I quickly realized that many familiar ingredients were being deployed in combinations that I hadn't previously experienced. Our medium spice dishes were seemingly not spiced at all, so don't be afraid to go with the hot if you're looking for a bit of extra flavor. The place was more or less deserted when we stopped by at around 7:30 on a Wednesday night: show this place some love so it doesn't go the way of its predecessors! —MaryAnneSchnarkles

2009-08-31 21:59:13   The dinner buffet is excellent, and a great deal. Great variety of tastes, some vegetarian dishes and very interesting desserts. Very amicable family staff. Complementary chai! —BoxerE

2009-10-12 14:39:07   Went for lunch buffet today. decent food, not a lot of items but whatever they had tasted good. Goat curry was good. Will definitely try ala-carte next time for the kabobs. —DeepBhatt

2009-12-30 11:28:51   We have been to this place on numerous occasions and we love it. According to me, they serve the most authentic Indian food in Rochester. Their kababs are really good. All other chicken dishes are great too..most important, they have varying tastes and it doesn't feel like its the same masala. Cheap in terms of price..great in terms of food. Dont be fooled by the exterior though. Worth trying it out..many times! —RocResident

2010-02-04 20:21:30   Is Shinwari Kabab closed? I stopped there for lunch one day and it was shut and the inside was empty. —MehulMalik

2010-02-09 21:57:30   Sigh. I am beginning to think this location is jinxed. The food was always so authentic and fresh here. A great loss for the Rochester Indian food scene. —OneLove