Bamiyan

Run by Kabul-born restaurateur Haseeb Miazad, this cute cottage is named after the Buddhas of Bamiyan, two colossal statues blown up by the Taliban. Expect flavours somewhere between Persian and Indian with hints of the Mediterranean. The kadoo bolanee is pancake-thin bread stuffed with a layer of smooth, sweet pumpkin while the vegetarian ashaak (chive dumplings) are drizzled with chunky chickpea sauce and yoghurt. More substantial is the kabuli pallow, a chicken dish similar to biryani, and the fried eggplant (banjan boranee), a rich creation that tastes smoky and sweet.