Afghan Kabob House — Restaurant in Charlottesville

We popped in to check out the spot partially due to the cuisine, partially to see the inside of Fellini's again.

What a lovely surprise - particularly quality and level of food we had.

Bear in mind that it's early days so it's building a following and the layout is a bit different, but the food is certainly the star. I saw a lot of people doing takeout, but the entrees are worth sitting and enjoying when they come out of the kitchen. Although the leftovers still rock as well.

We did the sabzi chalow, the manto entree, and borani badenjan.

First came a simple, house salad with yogurt and sumac. Nice, bright.

Then the borani badenjan appeared. Absolutely wonderful. I'm a fan of all eggplant dips - whether Syrian, Lebanese, Greek, Turkish, Persian, Indian...and Afghan. This one is tops. Again the freshness and delicateness was notable.

The manto were incredible as well. smallish dumplings with an incredible beef that was stew-like and had a light yogurt vegtable sauce that complemented it well. The side of chickpeas were also killer. Definitely try the appetizer manto if you're not ready to go all in on the entree.

The sabzi chalow was again very fresh and also subtle. Fresh spinach and chunks of lamb paired perfectly with rice.

Don't think of this as typical kabob shop eats. There's another level at work here and deserves to be explored. And supported.

Why all this praise and just 4 stars? Well, I would have given it 4.5 but Google hasn't figured out that nuance yet. And 4 would be for some service blips and the booth/table choices. I would suggest throwing some tablecloths on the tables, although that means more laundry and a new restaurant is already usually financially challenged without adding more expenses.

Anyway, anything sub-5 was forgiven when the food hit the table. And the longer they're open, the smoother the front and back of house will work. Given what's happening in the kitchen, that excellence will happen up front...

How exciting for one of my favorite restaurants to open a second location, right in the old Fellinis spot. I went with my husband’s family and we had 2 appetizers, the borani bondejan eggplant which was so rich, divine, annd flavorful along with Afghan flat bread, and the aushak leek filled dumplings for a lighter bite. We also each received a tasty salad with their signature yogurt dressing and sumac spice on top of the yogurt. I ordered the kabuli palow which is a tender lamb on the bone dish served with brown basmati rice and cooked raisins and julienned carrots. It came with a delicious side of stewed butternut squash. the kabuli palow is my favorite Afghan dish and the generous portions were fantastic. We also ordered the Sheer-e-yakh premium vanilla ice cream with rose water and pistachios and vermicelli noodle topping. Such a rich and creamy delicious way to end our meal! The owner and chef greeted us and was so friendly too. Spacious seating and elegant heavy rectangular dishes and silverware added to the elevated ambiance. Great value for the money! Next time you dine downtown, be sure to check out this gem. We can’t wait...

We’ve been eagerly waiting for this long-vacant spot to be filled, and now that it has, we couldn’t be happier. This experience was a dream, and a total feast of flavor

We tried the Borani Badenjan - melty, tender eggplant with a rich, savory tomato sauce and tangy yogurt drizzle. It was beautiful

The Kabuli Pulao was a triumph. Fragrant rice with a hint of sweetness from the carrots and raisins, mounded over tender, flavorful meat on the bone.

The Manto entree was equally impressive. Each dumpling was delicious, with a hearty filling and a perfectly balanced sauce. Comforting, satisfying, and full of flavor.

We finished with the Firnee, and it was the perfect sweet ending—silky, lightly spiced, and not overly sweet. A true classic done right.

This place is a gem, and we’re thrilled to have it in the neighborhood. We’ll absolutely be back! Raj was wonderful, and it was wonderful interacting with someone so passionate about the food and...