Description
One of Manhattan's few Afghani restaurants, Bamiyan has ornate window dressings and magic carpet pillows that seem to disguise evidence of what may have once been a large corner diner. Along a window side, booths have been dropped to the floor, where a couple in a romantic comedy might sit cross-legged, experiencing new flavors together. The menu is large and includes many lesser-known dishes, though familiar kebabs are still stars. Hunks of lamb are tender, slightly charred, and full of flavor from a tangy marinade (lemon was detected). Another hit is the appetizer Boulanee Kadu, described on the menu as a spiced pumpkin turnover with a yogurt dipping sauce. This is an accurate portrayal, but lacks the important and pleasing fact that these delicate triangles are deep-fried, with a bubbly golden surface.
