Kabobs and Beyond Featured at The Kabob Palace

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant draws you in, but we've got a better idea. Each week, Town & Country-Manchester Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice.

Beyond the savory roasted kabobs featured in its name, Manchester's  offers a wide variety of authentic Afghani and Iranian (Persian) cuisines prepared using authentic ingredients. Owners Qayum Mohammed and Reza Amadian created the menu using recipes from their native countries that range from spicy Afghani dishes to milder Iranian specialties.

Housed in one of Manchester’s historic buildings, Kabob’s Palace’s main dining room incorporates the building's architectural elements such as pine wood paneling with Middle Eastern art and artifacts. While the dining room is small, friendly servers create a cozy ambiance and offer guidance through the menu.

To start, I recommend the sambosa, a triangular-shaped pastry filled with a spicy potato and scallion mixture and served with a cilantro chutney sauce and the eggplant and potato burani with flat bread. Afghani Pakowra (chick pea batter-dipped veggies) is another excellent appetizer that serves nicely as an introduction to Middle Eastern cuisines.

Kabobs are the menu's star attraction. Order beef, chicken, lamb or one of the traditional kabobs, such as the Persian Beef Koobideh Kabob, Afghani Chapli Kabob or the exotic Persian Soltani, a kabob made with a mildly spiced marinated chicken or beef, which can also be ordered spicy. Non-kabob specialties include Lamb Qubelli, a seasoned braised lamb shank served with seasoned basmati rice garnish with carrots and raisins and the Chicken Tikka Masala, which is similar to a stew, served with a side of basmati rice.

Desserts number four. My top picks--the Bamish, a doughnut-like pastry in honey syrup and a walnut or pistachio baklava. Both are priced at $1.95.

Cost: Dinner: $10.50-$27.95. Lunch specials average $7.95-$9.95

Kabob Palace

14424 Manchester Road

St. Louis M O 63011

636-230-8800

www.fastkabob.com