Fast-a-thon 2008.
A hall full of people breaking their fast together – Muslim and non-Muslim – in an interfaith celebration of diversity.
Some might remember this night for its beauty in bringing people together of all backgrounds and faiths. Or, if you’re me, you might remember it as the night you fell in love… with Afghan cuisine. The moustachioed, big-bellied server of food would certainly remember me as the girl who had four helpings and asked if he had a restaurant. Sadly, the answer was no and thus I have been waiting for years to get my fix of Afghan food.
As you can imagine, I was rather excited when I heard that Bamiyan had opened in Five Dock.
I was even more excited when I saw that Bamiyan has an average rating of 8.4/10.
I’m not particularly familiar with Five Dock but this restaurant is easy to spot, given that it’s situated in a bright yellow converted house.
The house-like appearance adds to the homely feel of the place, which is only compounded by the fact that it’s a family-run business. And by homely, I certainly don’t mean ugly- in fact, Bamiyan has an elegant, intimate feel, enhanced by hanging lanterns and Afghan decor lining the walls.
We take our seats and immediately notice the fancy folded napkins and pretty Afghan rug hanging on the wall.
Having already perused the menu online, my friend and I settle down to the serious business of ordering. We decide on the Mantoo main ($21.90) and a Seekh Kebab Daggy ($19.90). I also get a Sweet Lassi, which the waiter informs me will be cherry flavoured. The menu has a lot of options people will recognise from Pakistani or Indian restaurants such as Butter Chicken and Lamb Rogan Josh, but we’re keener to try the Afghan specialties.
I had already read on Eatability reviews that this is not the restaurant to come to if you are in a hurry, but let me repeat it for you: do not come here in a hurry. They first bring out my Lassi, but then there is at least a 20-minute wait until the first main arrives.
The Cherry Lassi is very sweet and thick. It doesn’t particularly taste like cherry; my friend and I agree that it mainly tastes like sweet yoghurt. I love yoghurt, so this works for me.
The mains finally arrive, one after the other. Serving sizes are quite reasonable – it looks like a lot of food for two people.
For those who aren’t familiar with it, Mantoo is a type of dumpling filled with meat and spices, often served with a yoghurt sauce. These particular ones are filled with beef and topped with a chickpea and yogurt mint sauce. They are pleasant and mild, but both my friend and I feel that they are somewhat lacking that extra oomph that we had expected.
Unfortunately we come to the same verdict with the Seekh Kebab Daggy. The meatballs are tender but lacking a strong flavour, as is the accompanying sauce.
It comes with a fresh Naan, which is soft and great for mopping up the sauce.
My friend and I think that perhaps the high reviews on Eatability are from people who haven’t tried Afghan food before and enjoy the milder flavours. We agreed on a rating of about 7/10: the ambience is nice and the food is pleasant, but nothing spectacular. The bill comes to approximately $46 between the two of us, which is reasonable considering the nice setting and good serving sizes.
I would try it again, but might stick to grilled meats as opposed to the saucier dishes. The banquets and set menu options also look like good value for money, starting at $22.
So if you’re looking for a place to go for a relaxed evening in a quiet, elegant location, you may want to give Bamiyan a go.
Happy eating – or as some Afghans say, nosheh jon!
MV Foodista
[stextbox id=”warning” color=”000508″ bcolor=”064B70″ bgcolor=”B0CAD9″]*Please note that this restaurant is BYO. If you are unsure about the Halal status of any restaurant reviewed, please consult a Shaykh.[/stextbox]