Today some of my colleagues that are leaving decided to go to an Italian restaurant right at the edge of the green zone. This was the first time we ventured so far from the base. To get there we had to pass through what I guess was some kind of neighborhood. It was pretty run down. There were Afghan guards every 50 feet or so. We finally got to the checkpoint at the edge of the green zone where they made sure we had our badges to get back in. We then proceeded to the building on the corner. The outside looked like the rest of the buildings - run down, dirty, and overall uneventful. You would never guess there was anything important inside.
We stepped inside, then went through a big blast door. We then had to empty our pockets and go through a metal detector. Once we went inside another door the entire atmosphere changed. Inside was a very nice restaurant. It was well decorated and completely out of place from the look of it outside. It was kind of like a combination of the Olive Garden and the Cheese Cake Factory in how it looked. I ordered chicken parmesan and it was absolutely delicious. Below is a picture taken with a coworker’s camera. No, that is not wine in the wine glasses, it is just coke. While this was ACTUALY one of the few places anywhere around here where you COULD buy alcohol, we were all good and obeyed General Order 1...
The meal came out to be 40 to 50 bucks a plate, but worth it. After the meal we headed back. By now it was dark making the neighborhood all the more dingier. It was pretty surreal as we trekked back to the base. We got back safe and sound though. It is definitely not something to do all the time, but it was a very nice little adventure and some awesome food.
~David
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