07/26/08

Head to Arianna's

by Colfax824

Poor service and small portions made for a miserable night out. If you go stick to the appetizers, salads, and side dishes. We ordered two vegetarian entrees and received two large plates of rice and two tiny cups of dal. Our bread was burnt and the dal lacked not only spices but salt. Our server was inattentive and bordered on rude. Head down the street to Arianna's!

• Pros: Appetizers and Salad
• Cons: Entrees were tasteless and expensive

05/16/08

Great food. Gracious and attentive service.

by ben_stein

I go to Kabul often and like it quite a lot. The owner / front-of-the-house guy; Wali, is always wonderful. Very gracious and always charming.

We are seated promptly, and the service is attentive without being overbearing or rude.

The food has some spice, but it is what I would call genuine spice - not just hot-pepper-hot. Not hot just for the sake of being hot. There are lots of vegetarian choices. I like the lamb too. And the skewered meatballs are always yummy. Oh; and make it a point to order something with pumpkin.

For dessert get a milk pudding with the pistachio nuts ground on top. The dairy perfectly balances the spicy -ness of the food. (again: it is not Hot <g>) I think this is why some dishes come with a sauce which includes yogurt - the dairy balances everything out.

I always feel very comfortable at Kabul. It's somehow as though you are eating at Wali's home. The restaurant is dark, cozy, and romantic, with exotic decorations everywhere.

All in all: very pleasant with really yummy food. And not just 'more good food' - it's distinctively different and wonderful.

• Pros: Yummy food in a pleasant place. Parking lot right across the street
• Cons: The parking pirates across the street raised their prices again!

12/24/07

yummy Afghan treat

by phlfrdm

If you are looking for amazing Afghani food in the city, don't go anywhere else! Aushok here is out of this world, and the fragrant chicken and rice dishes (laden with saffron and flavored with cinammon) are unbelievable. Samosa-type appetizers are also great too (order a few; portions are not too big here). Dinner comes with sesame seed flatbread and a yummy dipping sauce. Service is friendly; once we told the host we did not have a reservation, and he told us we might have to wait a while but then managed to sneak us in for a seat :) Skip the wiggly, flavorless deserts and the chai-like tea (which was more strong then sweet).

• Pros: Cozy ambiance
• Cons: mediocre dessert

11/04/06

It's quite average for me...

by felipe_bardeaux

I was quite excited when I found this place from citysearch. The 3 previous reviews were pretty much giving this place a highmark. However, I believe the restaurant was a bit overrated by the 3 previous reviews.

We were seated promptly which was good, the table service was not all that good however. Our waiter was not attentive. Once they brought out the food, nobody asked us if we need anything at all during our meal. I am afraid I can only say the food was ordinary - don't get me wrong, it's not bad but I was just not wow by it.

• Pros: Close to bars in old city
• Cons: Parking, Service

08/25/06

Excellent food

by missymcgee

The food was tasty as was the tea. Nice quiet atmosphere. If you are looking for something a little different you should check this place out.

08/02/06

Nice Quiet Restaurant - BYOB

by rkp2006

Recently went here with my wife. It is a nice small restaurant and the best thing it is a BYOB. Food is good... really liked the grilled vegeterian on the skewer. Friendly service. Avoid the rice pudding (custard)... too sweet.

• Pros: romantic, good food and service
• Cons: dessert not so good

03/31/04

Not Indian, Afghani!

by jbshabadoo

First of all, Kabul is not an Indian restaurant as the entry says, it's Afghani (that's two countries away!). This is simply one of the most enjoyable restaurants in Philly. The food is interesting, rich, and exotic. It seems like something you would have eaten in a rich trader's tent on the spice route 300 years ago. If you don't like spicy food (I do), don't worry--it's completely palatable, even to the most uncultured American palate. The service is respectful, professional, warm, and knowledgeable--all increasingly rare qualities nowadays. The atmosphere is a little sparse, but it doesn't matter. I bring out-of-towners here whenever I want to make a good impression.

• Pros: Exotic yet accessible, Excellent Service, Very unique