Well, we went to Afghan Chopan and it was mostly delicious. Service was just fine, decor was quite pleasant. OF course, getting there from our hotel on Kingsway took a long time, but nobody was walking and I was doing the driving, so I don't know why anyone was making shor. "Why are we driving all this way when there are hundreds of restaurants everywhere?" My mother had left the choice of restaurant up to me, so I was not very pleased for about all the pressure before we even got there. One is always so susceptible to one's mother's grumpiness...
We started with the dumplings, which were delicious and unlike anything we have in Pakistan or India. Then we had chapli kabab, chopan kabab and chicken tikka, baingan bharta, and palak. The chopan were a bit dry, I have to say. The chapli were fine, the chicken was good, the vegetable dishes very tasty. The hari chutney was excellent.
But the rice was to die for! My mother and I analyzed it and are planning on experimenting to try to come as close as we can to replicate it. More cardamom than I usually use. Cloves. zeera. Probably cinnamon, but not so much that you can actually single it out. Raisins and almonds. I'm assuming it is made with broth/yakhni, not just water. Every grain separate...
Man, it was really good! We took the leftover rice home and had it for breakfast in our hotel room the next morning.
My mother agreed that it was definitely a lovely meal. Once we got there. Thank goodness.