Foodie Chat (8): Bamiyan

Sure, Turkish food sounds exotic, but have you tried Afghani?

Bamiyan is one of those offbeat and reasonably priced dining choices in Murray Hill that serves Afghani cuisine. Afghanistan’s cooking tends to be light on spice and shares a lot with Turkish and Greek cuisine. However Bamiyan will never get confused with Turkish Kitchen which is only steps away. Some people will love the low-to-the-ground tables at the front covered in tapestries and embroidered pillows that smack of authenticity, and some will love that the owners here, in contrast to almost everywhere else, actually want you to take your shoes off. New York offers plenty of options for authentic ethical cuisine, but Bamiyan is among the oldest and best when it comes to Afghani food.

People all over the world make dumplings in their own way. Chinese dumplings are all about the fillings and use very simple dipping sauce, while Afghani dumplings are the opposite. Scallion Dumplings with Minced Beef Sauce Topped with Minced Garlic Yogurt Sauce are simply delicious, with its hearty and creamy minced beef sauce. The filling is almost bland and the crystal wrap seems to be made of rice rather than wheat.

Another appetizer we tried is Bamiyan Special Yogurt Dip with chopped shallots, cucumbers & garlic topped with olive oil, mint, cranberries & crushed walnuts. Sounds like a mouthful? And the plate actually has dip in three flavors. Most likely that you will like at least one. For me, the only one I was not crazy about was the cranberries dip, and that was mostly due to my peculiar taste against sweeties. The other two dips, however, were divine.

Being one of the icons of Mid East cuisine, Lamb Stew with Sweet Rice is always a safe bet in Bamiyan. Hearty but not overly heavy, it is loaded with all the spice and flavor you would anticipate in lamb stew. This is especially comfortable on a snowy winter evening.

If you are not in the mood for red meat, Chicken Stew with Brown Rice may be an option. The sauce is light but flavorful. Chicken, however, is not as tender as you may wish, which is normal for any chicken breast stew. And the brown rice is essentially "browned" (or stir-fried) rice, not the whole grain some health conscious low-carb diners may take at its face value.

The staff are unfailingly polite and usually you can walk in without reservation. If you don't like taking off your shoes or sitting at the low tables at the window, you can always find a spot in the spacious dining room with regular tables covered in white table cloths. Last but not the least, it has hookah in their lounge area which is a real mystery to me.

Address: 358 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Telephone: 212 481 3232