Samira Restaurant

The dumplings here are very fresh. It's rare to find dumplings that are both handmade and rolled out that thin. So that brings this to 5*. Bread is also excellent.To be comprehensive--the rice and sauce for the dumplings weren't _as_ impressive, and would be 4*. But the dumplings are just so fresh that I'm rounding up.

Food: Amazing flavors! Portions were very filling. A group of 5 of us each ordered an entree and shared it. Kebabs and the Salmon platter were easily shareable. The Cornish hen was tasty but small in portion size. Service: Good customer service! Attentive without being overbearing. My only critique is not of a server but there were bussers/hostess that could have assisted the server with removing dirty dishes or refilling water; however they were in the back near the restrooms on their phone. I drank a lot of water and had to use the restroom multiple times and each time they were tucked away in the back in their phone. Our server was amazing but had multiple tables.Ambiance: Great! Everything in dining space was comfortable and looked nice.

So, I travel a lot and this place was positively a delightful find. The food was the absolute highlight, it's become a staple for when I come back. This was easily some of the tastiest food I've ever had, I had the eggplant appetizer which was spicy, savory and delicious in every way. My dinner of lamb was also wonderful, the generous portion of lamb was surprising in the best way. Top that off with the fact that it was delicious and you can't lose! The atmosphere is charming and welcoming in here. You walk in and get this kind of nice mix of classic Afghan and just a hint of America which is plesant. There's no overly loud music, the ambiance is just lovely, it's a win overall. Finally service-wise, this is the only area I wasn't totally thrilled. The server was a little less than attentive, yes we got seated quickly, yes we got our order taken quickly, then she disappeared. Not a huge problem but I felt thats the only thing separating this from a 5-star review. All in all really well done, and it's family owned which just makes it even better definitely give them a try!

I had never tried Afghan food before, but I eat some (less adventurous) Indian and Pakistani dishes, so I was apprehensive of messing up my order and getting something I couldn't handle or didn't like. But the restaurant was very nice. Upscale experience. The waitress was patient and instructive, so the meal was very good, and the experience delightful.I'm glad I didn't take my mother here. It's not a place for picky eaters who refuse to try things they don't know. But of you are open minded, they will help you through it.

The service here was absolutely stellar! The waitresses did a wonderful job, were knowledgeable, considerate etc. the starter eggplant dish that is served upon sitting was delicate and delightful. Loved the garlic, olive oil and spice that came with the dish. The bread is perfectly airy and central to enjoying the dish as well as eating the baba ghanouj with - delicious! Listen, I love lamb but a problem I always face in America is that lamb is over cooked and tough. The lamb in the quabili pallao was soft, melt in your mouth, oh so good! This has got to be one of the best afghani restaurants I've ever been to in America. I should also note that the dumplings were delicious! Pro tip: if you like spicy order the spicy chili chutney!

Upon arrival, you receive a eggplant dish that tastes pickled, and it's absolutely heavenly. You also receive a basket of the most buttery afghani bread. Lentil soup was very good, explosive, and tasty. Side salad was decent, but the dressing was not very pleasant. It was a balsamic, which I generally love -- but it was a bit overpowering. Baba ganouj -- preface this to say, I am incredibly bougie when it comes to baba as I'm a bit of a snob about it. I have high standards, can't help it! With that said, this baba ganouj was in my top 10. It was DELICIOUS. Manto -- steamed beef dumplings which were so delicate and good. The yogurt sauce that tops the dumplings was an absolute dream. Lamb Pallao -- absolute HEAVEN. the lamb was perfectly fork tender and melted in your mouth. Don't skip the spicy chutney! For photos of the food, see my most wonderful dining partner Ata's review. The service was stellar and the restaurant is beautiful. I'm glad we found this diamond while wandering around Bloomington.

Outstanding food, outstanding service! I was in Bloomington today and had dinner at Samira and it was excellent. We ordered two lamb dishes, both were extremely flavorful and very tender. Our waitress was great too. Highly recommended!

You really can't go wrong with any of the items on the menu. I especially love all the vegetarian food--I think I've tried all the vegetarian options and loved them all!

Best food in bloomington by a large margin. Everything is good. Good service and vibes.

Delicious food. Service usually good. Parking can be a challenge, expect to park at least a block away and walk over. Still giving 5 stars on the strength of the food even though one time I made a reservation for 6 people and they then took a huge group that evening (or the huge group just showed up?) and couldn't honor our reservation. Would give them more than 5 stars if the service could reach consistently great.