Well, it’s been a week since I posted my last review. In that time I’ve enjoyed a conference, taken time off from work, gave myself a haircut and watched a fireworks show. Now I’m slowly getting myself back into my regular work routine just in time for the weekend to begin. So with an eye towards another day off I decided I’d take another walk up and down 45th Street in the Wallingford business district. Why I did this was more to see the sights while I awaited my restaurant du jour to open for dinner. While I’d like to say that in the past week and a half I’ve covered a majority of the Wallingford restaurants, to tell the truth it seems as though I’ve only scratched the surface. But I’ll let today’s dinner, at Kabul, be the final Wallingford restaurant for the time being. For now, let’s take a look at Afghan cuisine.

Disclaimer; when it comes to Middle Eastern food I am a neophyte. Before moving to Seattle I hadn’t even heard of a restaurant that served the food of the mid-East much less the cuisine of Afghanistan. What after all did they serve? I grew up in a house where pizza was international. Of course in my years I have learned to eat more than just steak and potatoes; I’ve expanded my horizons past roasted chicken. But even with that said, I still get a little nervous when trying new things. Will the spices be overpowering? Will attention be paid to the cut of meat being served so I don’t get some gristly science experiment? And what is this vegetable “mush” that you just served me? Oh yes, I’ve gone through all those questions at one time or another but I like to think of myself as an adventuresome person - at least somewhat, occasionally.

I wasn’t too surprised to find that I was the first person through the door. Turns out I have a knack for eating dinner way too early. This was something of a concern I must confess; an empty dining room, where are the returning patrons? While only a passing concern nevertheless my mind was to be put at ease as quickly tables began filling and the two waitresses became busy. But before this was to happen I was shown my table and asked if I needed any help with the menu items. The staff was very friendly, polite and quite attractive. I explained that this was my first try at Afghan cuisine which solicited a cooing, “Ah, a newcomer,” from my waitress. Fortunately for me the menu spells out quite plainly what the ingredients and spices are in each dish and having a fair hand in the kitchen knew enough of what was what to be able to quickly place my order.

For starters I chose a plate of Bolani ($3.50/single order, $6.00/double order) and a Casa beer. The beer stated, on its label, that it was the original beer of Casablanca. While I’m not sure of the veracity of that statement I can report, however, that the beer was quite tasty. As for the bolani, what arrived were thin triangles of crisply fried dough with a filling of scallion and potato. The soft, smooth potato interior was a nice foil to the crunchiness of the exterior, while the scallion and cilantro added an onion-y, slightly spicy flavor. Served alongside the turnovers was a cool, creamy yogurt dip that was spiked with a mild garlic flavor. My only issue was with the slightly greasy exteriors of these little packets. But it was only a minor complaint. The single order of bolani, with their two pieces, was just the right size to whet my appetite for the main course.

I actually had a bit of a hard time deciding on what to order for an entree. While there was one dish that would give me a sampling of several items, it was built for two. I was hungry but I knew there was no way I’d be able to defeat that monster alone. So my second choice was a Kabul Special (Seekh - $16.50, Bara - $21.50, Murgh - $16.50) with the Seekh option. The three options break-out quite simply as a choice of meats; Seekh for beef filet, Bara was lamb and Murgh was the chicken option. Each meat had its own unique seasonings and the moist medium-well cooked chunks of beef that arrived at my table were coated thickly with garlic, coriander and pepper. Even though the beef was cooked a little more towards well done than I’d typically order it, it was nevertheless juicy and flavorful. And the spices had just enough presence to add a kick of flavor without being overwhelming. Covering my skewer of beef as it arrived was Afghan bread. Something of cross between pita bread and phyllo, the bread was flaky and thin but soft and chewy as well. I found it was a nice way to eat the nibs of beef, I only wish I had been provided with more. Alongside the kebab was a thick slice of buttery textured eggplant that had been simmered under a tasty tomato sauce and drizzled with more of the tasty yogurt-garlic sauce. As I reread the menu I see that this is also served as a standalone dish by the name Badenjan Borani ($16.50). On the other end of the plate sat a small mountain of basmati rice. A long-grain rice, it was topped with julienned carrot and raisins. I’m not a fan of the raisin but this rice was great without them. Each grain held a heady, smoky cumin flavor that have not experienced before but found myself quite enamored with. On the side I was also presented with a small dish of salat, a cucumber and tomato salad, mixed with shallots and seasoned by a healthy sprinkling of dry mint. The mint added an extra layer of coolness to the juicy cucumber chunks that helped to cleanse the palate.

For dessert I ordered a dish of Firni ($3.50). Billed as a custard pudding it was a little looser than that in texture, more closely resembling a thick cream. But it was flavored with cardamom and rose water. This last ingredient gave the cream a floral, herbal flavor that was at once spicy and sweet. Spiked with sweet strawberries and topped with ground pistachio nuts, this little dish of goodness was a nice ending to my first-time Afghan dining experience.

Sometimes trying new things can be a disastrous experience. To tell the truth sometimes cuisine that I know and love can be irrevocably botched by a restaurant’s ineptitude, some examples can be found on a few pages throughout this site. But little Kabul restaurant, on a corner of 45th Street in Wallingford proved to be a great choice and has opened my eyes to what Middle Eastern cuisine can be. As my thoughts drift back onto tonight’s dinner I’m beginning to wonder what other places in Seattle serve similar cuisine. What places might I seek out that will introduce me to deep, yet subtle flavors? No matter what else I find in this Emerald City of ours I know I can always turn to one place to satisfy my Afghan needs. If you haven’t tried them yourself, make some time to go out on a limb and experience Kabul.