Kabob Garden - Afghan Kitchen and Banquet Hall — Restaurant in Calgary

Leaving this review with a touch of disappointment, I believe it's important for the owners to understand areas where they can improve. That's just how it is.

On a positive note, the food was quite good, and the serving sizes were decent 👍.

Regarding the service, after we entered and waited by the door, it took quite a while for a server to acknowledge us. Subsequently, there was another lengthy wait of about 20-25 minutes before another server attended to us. Interestingly, she seated people who arrived after us first, presumably because she was occupied behind the counter or serving other customers when we arrived.

I observed that there were likely 5 to 7 servers working on the floor, but they seemed to be handling multiple tasks and appeared confused about various things. It felt odd to approach the counter to place an order. Nonetheless, I did go to the counter and ordered some food, including 5 pieces of Mantoo, which are beef dumplings from Afghanistan.

The server I placed the order with was explicitly informed that we only required 5 pieces, and she acknowledged it. Despite the considerable wait for the food to arrive, I recognized that the restaurant was busy. However, they mistakenly delivered 12 pieces instead. I returned to the counter and spoke to the same server, who apologized for the error and assured me that I wouldn't be charged for the additional dumplings.

Another peculiar aspect was that despite ordering BBQ skewered beef and chicken, we were only provided with a spoon and fork, with no knife. Additionally, the server brought two raitas and two green spicy chutney sauces without inquiring if we desired them or not, resulting in wasted food as we didn't consume the green sauce.

After the food was served, there was no follow-up to inquire about our dining experience or if we required anything further. When I proceeded to pay, a different server presented the bill, which included a charge for 12 Mantoo pieces instead of the 5 we ordered. I reminded her of the mistake, and she apologized but didn't rectify the bill. Despite the error, I chose not to cause a scene as it was evident she lacked proper training, so I paid the full amount. It's not just about a few dollars; it's a matter of principle. Adequate customer service plays a crucial role in the food industry.

I genuinely hope that the owner or manager will take these points seriously and make improvements to ensure our next visit is a better experience than this one 🤞🙏.

Update: May 14 2024

Thank you to the owner for responding to my feedback with a positive attitude and willingness to learn/improve. I will for sure come back and try your restaurant again. Have...

Let me just start off by saying this was one of the best culinary experiences I've had here in Calgary. We came here to celebrate Eid and left with our expectations blown away.

They have a special floor seating area which we luckily got to have all to ourselves and there's even a sliding door for extra privacy. This is the first time I've come across a restaurant to finally offer this cultural Arab/Afghani/South Asian method of eating on the floor, which is far more comfortable that any table or chair thanks to the lush carpets that they've used. Interior decor in the room was also beautiful and great for photos.

The service we received was top class and really made the experience special (and made the 15% gratuity for the floor seating room more worth it). But the best part definitely had to be the food – different combinations of meat and rice and famous Afghani appetizers are essentially all they offer, along with sides and drinks, and every single thing tasted delicious.

Our lamb shanks, kabobs and tandoori chicken were all perfectly cooked and the quabli pulao rice full of authentic flavors. Tried bolani and mantu for the first time and I'd highly recommend it, especially the former which felt like a crisp, light aloo paratha. The mango shake they offer is also to die for (you can can literally taste how fresh it is) and enough to come back for alone. Did I mention that all this comes in crazy large quantities and very affordable prices to boot? One $16 platter is easily worth two meals for most and the $9 wrap was also huge.

All in all, this is not a place you want to miss out on and I can't wait...

My brother recommended me to try this place for Afghani cuisine (BBQ). I usually don’t give 5 stars easily but for this place whatever I tried was really spot on.

We went for a birthday dinner on a Friday night. The place was quite busy but the staff was very kind and accommodating. A party was hosted at the location while dine in was open as well. They have a decent area to host gatherings. The good thing is that they take orders till almost end of the closing time.

We ordered Bolani (afghani version of Aloo Paratha), Mantu (Dumplings), Kofta Kebab Platter with Kabuli Rice, Chicken Tandoori Kebob Platter with Plain Rice. The servings are generous. The food came fresh and piping hot. The star of the day was BOLANI with their special green chatni (dipping sauce) to die for. I loved mantu and kofta kebabs too. My parents really liked the chicken but I liked beef more. Rice were perfectly cooked and we’re complimenting and balancing the overall dish.

The serving time was around 20 minutes and was worth the wait. They do offer other dishes but not everything is for everyone’s palate. I really like the simplicity of the interior yet a touch of Afghani traditional stuff. They also have a carpeted area for floor seating if you want to have a meal in a traditional way.

The Bolani, Mantu and BBQ are highly recommended to try with your family and friends. This place is pocket friendly and worth the money. Everything is Halal.

(I got so much into food that I literally forgot to capture the photos for the main course...