We spent most of yesterday staring at our MacBook Airs at a local coffee shop right in downtown Madison.
While we got a lot of work done — trust me, I’m not complaining — I did want to sample the local cuisine. I mean, I didn’t fly 4,700 miles from Honolulu to Madison to eat oatcakes and bagels in a coffee shop!
So Derek took me to one of his favorite restaurants in Madison, a place he frequents so much he’s already got favorite menu items.
We walked — yes, walked in 20-degree weather — a couple of blocks from the cafe to Kabul Restaurant, a popular little restaurant serving a fusion of Afghani and Mediterranean cuisines.
And it blew away my expectations.
See what we ate:
Mashawa soup
Each entree comes with either a mashawa soup or salad. Of course, we got both. This traditional Afghani soup — very warm and comforting — is made with some kind of meat (usually lamb), a variety of beans, fresh dill, tomatoes and chick peas. It's like a Afghani minestrone. Perfect for the winter months.
Kabul Restaurant, 541 State St. in Madison, WI. Phone: (608) 256-6322
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7 Comments
I think I may have eaten here when I was in Madison three years ago. Either that, or it was another Afghani restaurant on State Street. The place I went to looked more like a hole-in-the-wall, though, so maybe they did renovations (or maybe it was a different place). Gah, I wish I took pictures of every place we ate; I only took pictures at L’Etoile.
I remember my friend got a lamb pilaf, which I was going to order. I don’t like getting the same thing as other people, so I got the lamb kebabs instead. My kebabs were dry and overcooked, but I tried her pilaf and it was amazing.
It must be the same place. It’s pretty much a hole-in-the-wall, but a little nicer than most.
OoOooO, L’Etoile! It’s on my list! You recommend anything?
The menu changes with what’s available. I think they try to feature fresh Wisconsin products, so it depends on what’s in season. I hope you guys get to go, though, every person I spoke to recommended L’Etoile.
BRRR!! What a difference from Hawaii!! The kebab looks like a great plate lunch!
Oh, what a great idea! Kebob plate lunch! I’d so wait in line at #EatTheStreet for that!
uncle ben’s rice?hmmm… Wonder if the Cat can find sticky white rice in Mad City?….
Looks very yummy!