What do you know about the Afghan restaurant in Clarksville?
I recently got an e-mail about Mimi's Kabob, an Afghan restaurant in Clarksville. I always appreciate it when restaurant owners tell me about themselves -- don't be shy -- although I wish they would do it just as they are about to open or soon after.
Only one Afghan restaurant has been successful in Baltimore, the Helmand. (I'm talking about places that offer more than kabobs.) At least two other ones I can think of have closed. The Helmand is so extraordinarily successful that it encourages others to try, I guess, but it can also make others look bad in comparison.
The same is true of Tio Pepe. No other Spanish restaurant in Baltimore has been able to compete, although a couple have tried.
Anyway, here's the e-mail about Mimi's: ...
I am writing to inform you about my restaurant Mimi's Kabob in 12345 Wake Forest Road, Clarksville, MD that opened last year. As one of the few restaurants in the area offering Afghan cuisine, we have found a steady following of customers who enjoy our authentic flavors, generous portions, reasonable prices, and great customer service. We want to extend an invitation to you to come and try some of our popular dishes such as lamb kabob, eggplant, pumpkin and much more. We invite your critique, both the good and the bad, as we are constantly looking to better our business.
Comments
I have eaten here and it is truly delicious and inexpensive.
Posted by: Wilcogirl | November 11, 2009 11:43 AM
We have been there many times, used to go to Maiwand Kabob but Mimi's is our place of choice. The kabobs are really good. When the bread is fresh from the tandori oven, it is amazing. My daughter loves their pumpkin. And, the last time we were there, we were the only non-Afghani folks in the restaraunt.
Posted by: Gert | November 11, 2009 12:56 PM
I have eaten there as I was looking for an alternative to Maiwand Kabob, as they had been disappointing me frequently. Unfortunately it doesn't compare favorably. None of the food was as delicious and it was actually somewhat tasteless, including the lamb kabob and the vegetable platter, plus it more expensive. I'll stick to Maiwand Kabob for my Afghan food cravings.
Posted by: *◄:o)╥╥~YumPorchetta | November 11, 2009 12:58 PM
Looking forward to trying Mimi's Kabob, I wonder if the grammatical error's from "YumPorchetta" indicate the subversive remarks of a "competitor?
Posted by: Tim L. | November 11, 2009 5:53 PM
Tim L., you must be new to this blog. Otherwise, you would have recognized YumPo as one of the frequent posters to D@L, and not as a competitor. (I assume, of course, that you aren't an owner or otherwise associated with Mimi's Kabob.)
By the way, someone who inserts an apostrophe in error's and also leaves off a closing quotation mark after "competitor is hardly in a position to criticize others' grammar.
Posted by: hmpstd | November 11, 2009 6:05 PM
How would grammatical errors be an indicator that someone is running a competing kabob stand? That may be one of the dumbest things I've ever read.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | November 11, 2009 6:25 PM
Oh, I don't know, RoCK. Skewering someone for grammatical errors is a lot like running a kabob stand.
Posted by: Lissa | November 11, 2009 7:02 PM
Man, I miss Afghan Kabob downtown.
You guys are breaking me up. You should go on tour. EL
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | November 11, 2009 7:21 PM
I think Mimi's is very good. Maiwand Kabob is one of my favorite places, and I think Mimi's compares well. Good kabobs. Lots of sides heavy on vegetables (like pumpkin or a vegetable-filled dumpling) but a flavoring of ground meat. Great way to eat. Other people have told me that the pizza (a hold-over from the prior establishment on the site) is pretty good too.
This is an old post about Mimi's: http://howchow.blogspot.com/2008/12/mimis-kabob-in-clarksville.html
Posted by: HowChow | November 11, 2009 9:17 PM
I haven'y yet eaten at Mimi's Kabob. Truth is I din't know it existed til now. But I have to give the owner credit for an intelligent, articulate approach to getting some much-needed attention in today's competitive climate. And if I'm in the Clarksville area around dinner time, I'll certainly give it a try.
Posted by: Michael A. Gray | November 12, 2009 8:10 AM
Tim L, 'fraid not. I'm just a terrible typist. Sorry to disappoint you and your conspiracy theory.
Blowing kisses to hmptsd, RoCK and Lissa for rising to my defense in my absence -- grazie mille, amici!
Posted by: *◄:o)╥╥~YumPorchetta | November 12, 2009 10:57 AM
Jasa Kabob, on Canton Square is very good. I've eaten there several times and have never been disapointed.
Posted by: RayRay | November 12, 2009 12:25 PM