Proprietors

Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant was established in 1993 by brothers Sayed Ahmad Shah and Sayed Nader Shah.

Prior to 1978, Sayed Ahmad Shah was a Supreme Court judge in Afghanistan. He is New York’s longest-established afghan restaurateur, run many successful afghan restaurants since the early 1980's, including Caffe Kabul, formerly on St. Mark’s Place in Manhattan, and Khyber Pass, also on St. Mark’s Place, which is under new management since 1997. Sayed has mentored some of the best afghan chefs, many of whom have moved on to establish other restaurants in New York and in Washington, D.C.

Sayed Nader Shah studied political science at Columbia University and joins his brother as a partner in Bamiyan. He brings a natural talent in the kitchen and a refined ease with customers.

The two brothers welcome you and hope you enjoy your visit.

Photographed for Time Out NY review, 2005

Articles

• Bamiyan Afghani Restaurant, by Barbara Paley-Israel, In Mamma's Kitchen website
• Business Disappears At Afghani Restaurants, Owners fearing bitter backlash, by Pascale le Draoulec, Daily News, September 18th 2001 Download print version (pdf)
• Tribal Counsel By Gregory A. Maniatis, Published Oct 15, 2001. New York Magazine Feature story interview with Sayed Ahmad Shah Download print version (pdf)

Book

• Contributed Aushe Keshida recipe for “Guns and Butter” chapter of Feasts: Menus For Home-Cooked Celebrations, by Leslie Newman. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1990. The New York Times author interview

Recipes

• Ab-Kishmish (raisin-almond drink), and Haf-miwah (seven fruits drink) featured on Good Morning America, April 10, 2007
• Lentil Soup featured on the In Mamma's Kitchen website, December 20, 2002
• Ambrosia featured on the In Mamma's Kitchen website, December 20, 2002