Ariana Restaurant Has Reopened in a Larger Space in Brighton

Ariana has finally reopened in at 384 Western Ave. in Brighton. The Afghan restaurant closed its original Allston location in February and built out the new location over the past six months.

Saturday was the first official day in business on Western Ave., Ariana co-owner Baheja Rostami said. Currently, the restaurant is only serving dinner, but lunch hours will be added as the staff gets comfortable in the larger, new kitchen and dining room, she said.

The new restaurant was built in a brand-new space and required installation of a kitchen, bathroom, plumbing, electricity, and even a fourth wall, Baheja's husband, co-owner Najeeb Rostami, said in May.

Ariana is nearly twice the size as it was on Brighton Ave, Baheja Rostami said. It is nicer, cozy, and has a private dining room, she added.

The menu has not changed in the new location. Ariana is one of two local Afghan restaurants, and the Rostamis got their start at the first one, Helmand in Cambridge, as previously reported. Ariana has ample lamb dishes, vegetarian fare, kabobs, korma, and the popular kaddo, baby pumpkin sugar-seasoned and baked, served with garlic yogurt and ground beef sauce.