The Mantu | Modern Afghan Cuisine — Restaurant in Richmond

I wanted to like this place so much, but it was not a pleasant experience. We had a reservation for four at 7 on a Friday night and were seated promptly. We were given a pitcher of water and three glasses (even though there were four of us), then waited for twenty minutes until our server came to take our order. It wasn't exceptionally busy, but I did notice that there were only two or three servers. After taking our food and drink order, it took another twenty minutes for our server to come back to the table and ask what our drink order was again. Ten minutes later the drinks arrived, which were not exactly what was ordered but close enough I suppose.

We eventually received our food about an hour and ten minutes after being seated. If the food was amazing I could excuse the poor service, but wow what a let down. I expected spices, but was surprised to taste one of the blandest dishes I could ever imagine. I didn't detect any seasoning whatsoever, no exotic Afghan spices, not even salt. I was incredibly let down because this place gets great reviews and the dishes looked appetizing, but there was no flavor in any of our four entrees, which is made even more painful by the inflated prices. $20 or $30 for an entree is fine, but the food better at least taste good.

Fifteen or so minutes after finishing, we asked for the check and requested it be split by what each couple ordered, but when the check was eventually dropped off it was all together. All good, that's what Venmo is for I guess. We waited another fifteen minutes for our server to pick up the check to no avail. At this point, the restaurant was nearly empty with maybe three tables seated that I could see. After waiting for God knows how long, I brought my payment to the bar. After all was finished, we had spent two hours in the restaurant. I won't be back and can't recommend anyone else...

6/5 stars!

The Mantu is a must-try for any foodie in RVA!

My family and I ordered take-out. We ordered: Potato Skins, Beef Mantu, Vegetarian Mantu (#1), Kachaloo E Dashi, Banjan Borani, Kabuli Pallow, and Zamarut Pallow, with naan, yogurt sauce and chutney on the side.

First off, the Beef Mantu was outstanding. When I read that only three pieces would be included, I was unsure - traditional mantu is wrapped in wonton wraps (which are quite small), but these were no traditional mantus; they were formed by hand in the shape of rose petals. The flavor did not play second-fiddle to the aesthetic.

The Banjan Borani and Zamarut Pallow were both incredible. Banjan in particular is one of my favorite Afghani dishes, and it did not disappoint! Pouring the yogurt sauce on top only made the dish more spectacular. The Zamarut Pallow was something I haven't had before, and I was taken aback by how delicious it was.

My family and I had the opportunity to talk to the owner, Chef Noori. He was very kind and offered to give us extra food, to which we politely declined. His dedication to sharing the often unseen aspects of Afghan cuisine and culture was inspiring. A reminder that people are not a reflection of their countries' media headlines.

As an Afghan-American, I cannot stress it enough - this is the best Afghan cuisine I've ever had at a restaurant. The food was very authentic, as if it came straight out of any of my aunt's kitchens. The key difference being that The Mantu's flavor was bolstered and improved upon by the professional technique of Chef Noori, the quality of his ingredients, and the care he took to hand-craft every aspect of the meal.

It is no exaggeration to say that the love Chef Noori has for Afghan cuisine and culture could be tasted in his cooking.

I will...

Absolutely fabulous! An experience that was just so simple. We had the restaurant entirely to ourselves. Just the two of us! Shocking actually after having such wonderful food! We had the Dolmeh to start with and I'm sorry that I forgot to get a photo. The cabbage was slightly to the tooth.. The stuffing was spicy and so flavorful. Don't mistake the spice for heat. It's not hot... Just a wonderful build of spices.. A beautiful preparation for the palate. The main course.... We both had the Beef Mantu which is very unusual for us. It's the dish in the pictures. It was wonderful.. Honestly some of the best food I have had in Richmond! It's comfort food that you'll want and you've never had before. It's obvious that passion and a love of simple, flavorful, aromatic food runs through the veins of the man that created the dish... Most especially for the cold weather! I will eat there again and again. For dessert we had the custard with a tart homemade cranberry jam... My better half obliterated it with a slight pause to ask if I wanted some. She was being nice. I had the bulgar wheat cooked in a saffron simple syrup topped with the same cranberry concoction. Beautifully clean and cleansing. Just the slightest hint of sweet saffron came through the warm temperature and tone of the bulgar wheat. Perfect!

Finally our conversation (at a very safe and masked distance) with Chef Noori just made it frankly one of the most pleasant dining experiences we have had in Richmond. The authenticity he projected and the humility he displayed was truly a connection I have not experienced since I left San Francisco.

Thank you Chef!

Do yourself a favor.... Keep an open mind and go. Be prepared to take some time. All of the dishes are prepared fresh. That takes time. Slow...