Spokane Food Blog

Pulling up to Rose Cafe you can expect to see a grill master manning the BBQ with plenty of kebobs making a smoke big enough to send rescue helicopters.  The Cafe has expanded to a rather large dining area complete with a “Women’s” section placed away from windows and covered with a curtain entrance.  My lunch buddy Sardar and I were escorted to table 41 in the women’s section.

Of course I have to check out the bathroom before ordering and follow a great tradition that should be used more strictly in the USA, washing hands before eating.  This bathroom came with a men’s sign but all of the men in the cafe assured me it was unisex.  A “squatter toilet” –  not bad because sometimes a seat is not good in cold weather if you know what I mean.  But dressing for the scene with long coats and shirts and layers it can be a challenge.  Overall on a Kabul bathroom scale this could be a 2/4 star.  About average.  Working lights, relatively clean by comparison, without toilet paper (always bring your own!) and soap at the sink.

Sardar ordered a spicy lamb kebob and a pull-tab Fanta for 150 AFS ($3.00).  He also recommends dipping the meat in the Knorr’s spice sauce and eating it wrapped with a piece of bread.  I tried the new item on the menu: pizza.  It was a mushroom, corn, green pepper, vegetarian pizza, with some spicy sauce.  The cheese leaves much to be desired.  Overall, though,  it is a good place to eat when you are in the Kabul University area.  You will find the restaurant is packed inside with locals, and outside the front-door you will find men to repair the soles of your shoes instead of men with guns guarding the door.

A refreshing change compared to the “Foreign Passport Restaurants.”