1. The food was VERY good (even so I did not have many vegetables on the menu). 2. It was not comfortable inside. The (who I think was) the owner talked loudly to someone else who I believe worked there, and we felt that we shouldn't be there. There weren't many people when we got there, and it just wasn't inviting. 3. The waiter seemed a bit freaked talking to us. 4. The bathroom was very dirty. (And it was still early in the day.) As I said, the food was good. But I need to enjoy the overall experience, so will not return. Definitely did not expect this. Several people had recommended this restaurant, so thought I would love it. read more

Given that this place is so highly rated on Yelp, combined with the fact that they serve Afghan food, I just knew I had to try it! After reading through all the reviews on Yelp, my friend and I just knew we had to try the Emperor Platter. According to their menu, it is designed for 2 (but could easily be split among 3 people). It starts with an appetizer, including shirazi salad and eggplant boorani accompanied by pita bread. This was actually my favorite part of the meal. The eggplant boorani was so delicious and served at the perfect temperature. For the main course, you get lamb kabob, chicken kabob, and one koobideh kabob (which I'm pretty sure was beef). The meat was pretty good, but nothing amazing. The platter also comes with grilled tomato and rice. In terms of proportions, my friend and I noted that about half of the plate was rice and half was meat. The platter comes with two different types of rice (a brown and a white). I thought the rice tasted really good. Overall, I thought the dish was pretty good but would probably try something else next time. In addition to the Emperor Platter, I also had the mango smoothie, which was delicious (although a little bit on the small side). In terms of service, I thought we were well-attended to. In terms of noise/ambiance, I thought the place was unassuming and pretty quiet. It is worth noting we came in the afternoon on a Sunday, which I would recommend (considering people say this place gets packed). Finally, check-in on Yelp for 10% off your bill. In sum, if you're looking for a new and different place to try, you should definitely hit up Sameem Afghan Restaurant. read more

Seriously under rated. The eating area is small and the ambiance is a little lacking but the food and friendly service makes up for it. The small eating area makes it seem homey in a good way. Kind of like a friend is having a casual dinner party. We arrived just in time to snag a table as we had no reservation on a Saturday night. For an appetizer we ordered: Eggplant Burani - Eggplant in a Seasoned Tomato Sauce, Seasoned with Garlic Yogurt and Dried Mint flakes. Served with Fresh Naan. $4.95 It was fantastically seasoned and prepared well. For our entrees we had: Mixed Vegetables Plate - Traditional Eggplant and Potato, Basmati Rice, and Spinach Served with Naan. $9.99 Everything was wonderful. Aromatic rice and seasonings filled my senses however the spinach was bland but in a nice way. Everything seemed so comforting. & Chicken Teekah Masala - Tossed in a zesty creamy tomato sauce served with Basmati Rice and Fresh Naan. $12.50 I didn't try this as I am not currently eating meat but the bf reported only good things about it. He said it was a little spicy and the tomato/ cream base really brought out the flavors. We will mos def hit this place up again. read more

We stumbled into this gem on our way back from the botanical garden. We ordered Sambosa and Pakowra Combo for appetizer and Mango Lussey. for Entree, I ordered Chicken Soltani and my mother-in-law ordered Fish Special. The Sambosa was very unique, very different from what we were used to but tasted good. Pakowra had a familiar taste. Chicken Soltani and Fish Special were both large portions enough for a lunch or dinner. I was extremely satisfied with the Chicken Soltani, the meat was very flavorful, and what I liked the most was the combination of grilled tomato and dried raisins in the yellow rice. My mother-in-law also liked the fish over spinach sauce. We will definitely go back to try more from their menu. read more

Had Sambosa, Chicken Karahi and Lamb Beriani on a trip to St. Louis. It was so good, that I actually came back and had dinner from there again after two days! Friendly staff, very family-like and welcoming feeling, which is what I like. read more

I gave Sameem's two stars, instead of one, because the appetizer platter we ordered was good. However, the goat korma was awful, and we should have sent it back, but did not. The so-called goat that they served us was actually a plate of bones, splintery and disgusting, with ligaments and gristle, and little to no meat. It was almost as if they had taken bones off a finished plate and put it on ours - insulting. Tip to Sameem's management: tell your staff to simply say we're out of goat, instead of scraping the bottom of the pot and serving people gristly bones. Just thinking about it makes me upset and insulted. read more

Sameem is my favorite restaurant in all of St. Louis; I have yet to eat anything here I don't enjoy! Favorite dish: Teekah Masala-- zesty and completely delicious. read more

This place was so good! It was fresh and so delicious. My personal favorite was the afghan muntoo. Seriously one of the best dishes I have ever had. Period. The decor is not much but the food speaks for itself. The beef kebobs I had were also very delicious, my only complaint was I wish I had for meat! Will definitely be a frequent visitor read more

Very pleased with the service and recommendations given to us by the staff. The sampler appetizer platter was mediocre and I wouldn't recommend it. The lamb shank and rice I had as my entree was tender and delicious. I enjoyed this place and I will be back to try other dishes. read more

Love this place and have never been disappointed. The chicken beriani and the shrimp beriani are my personal faves tho I also really love the chicken teeka masala. We always get the bolani appetizer and use loads of the spicy green chutney on everything. On this last visit they also had a new spicy red sauce for us to try, I think they said it was red chili sauce. We also loved that. The employees and owner are always very friendly and personable. Only complaint I can think of is that now that other people have discovered this place it can get very loud in the dining room. They could use some matter of soundproofing. Last night I could barely hear the friends sitting next to me at the table due to the loud din. The smaller entry room seems to have normal acoustics. read more

The place is small and cozy. The service was wonderful. Food was amazingly fresh and unique. Full of flavorful spices and accompanied by red chutney spicy and a green chutney that was good on most everything. I had the muntoo which was dumplings filled with beef covered in lentils yogurt and dried mint. Cant wait to go back and order the butter shrimp. I commented to the server that i loved the chai i ordered and he brought out a ziplock bag of some loose tea and the cardamom powder and told me how to make it at home. Five star service and food. Appetizer of sambosa, drinks, two entrees and one dessert for $37! Loved everything. read more

Found this place on yelp and was not disappointed. Chicken Biriana was the best I've ever had. Same with the Chai tea. Friendly staff-the owner came out and excitedly talked baseball for a while-even gave us complimentary rice pudding! (Which was excellent!) can't wait to come back! Don't miss this place! read more

Delicious. Everything we ordered was flavorful and came to the table piping hot. Our waitress was helpful and attentive. The menu had a wide variety of meat and vegetarian dishes. read more

Absolute best afghani food I've had. Authentic, pure quality cuisine. Service was fantastic. My own personal favorite spot in St Louis. Would highly recommend to anyone. read more

We are in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but if we ended up back in St. Louis for however long it would be imperative that we stop by Sameem. We went twice when we lived nearby. The food is amazing! We have tried the chicken curry, the butter chicken, the lamb kabobs, and the sambosas. The service is great, and the wait staff take every opportunity to make sure that your dining experience is memorable. read more

So freakin good... The chicken biryani here is just phenomenal... Great service, good location, fair prices.

This was my first time trying Afghan food and it was a pleasure! The service was really great and the food was delicious! I had the lamb which was soft and tender. The rice by itself is superb as well! It has a flavor of its own that is very comforting! Also try the mango lassi, its a refreshing yogurt like drink! read more

I've eaten here 3 times in the last 5 days. Wonderful food. The owner of the place offers the most excellent customer service I've seen in a restaurant in some time. The lunch specials are a great value. I really dig the chicken beriani. Huge portions and tons of spicy flavor. I also got the chicken teeka masala for dinner. Unlike the normal "Chicken Tikka Masala" you see at Indian restaurants, this version looks like it was skewered and then ladled with the tomato cream sauce on top. Very good flavor. You also can't go wrong with the pakowras for an appetizer. read more

I visited this place after reading the positive reviews from yelp.i did make the right choice.the lamb curry was awesome.i never had such delicious lamb curry in my life before. It is a must try.afgani kabab was so soft and delicious. It is a very small place but the food is great. read more

This is where one would need to go for dinner around the CWE district. A colleague and I shared the eggplant burani that came with pitas. I didn't care too much for the dry pitas, but the burani had a good combination of a smoky spices and the fresh, cool yogurt. The creamy eggplant wasn't at all bitter; it actually was slightly sweet. I had the grilled lamb kabobs for my entree and enjoyed the tenderness of the meat and the deep flavor. read more

Great place, people are kind. They always bring you so much food. You wont leave empty, i guarantee you! They also have some delicious deserts to try with their turkey coffee. If I'm in the area again, Ill definitely go there. read more

The food here is delicious, fresh and flavorful. The basmati rice is always perfect. If you have any questions about the dishes, the staff is happy to explain. Glad to hear they are expanding into the home next door so they'll have plenty of room! Owners Fahime and Qayum are friendly and always willing to chat. read more

Tasty tasty tasty!!! No need to add anything to the dish! That's rare for me. I got the lamb beriyani, and the lamb was a whole drumstick of fall-off-bone, tender meat. Sauces tasted fresh. The restaurant is also clean and the service is great! Having enough leftover for two meals is also a plus! read more

Since I travel extensively for work, there are few restaurants that can make an impression where I want to go back and eat there every day. This is one of them. Very impressed from food to the service. Definitely a "must go to place" in Saint Louis. read more

I have had food here many many times because it's close to work. The service is quick and the owner friendly. The eggplant and spinach with rice is always amazing. My friends took the chicken biryani which is not the best. The roast had by another one of my friends received positive gastronomical response. Falafel sandwich is another good light lunch. read more

They offer really delicious and authentic Afgan food with affordable price. The boss and waiters are friendly too. Their lamb leg rice is the best. A desirable place for casual but satisfying meals. read more

I absolutely LOVE this place. Food is always delicious and service is good. They are never overly busy or crowded so you can enjoy your meal and never have to wait. Great for take out or catering too. They are happy to sub things for you and the owner often stops by to make sure you're enjoying yourself read more

Try it out. Small place but cozy, friendly and informed staff on menu, food is good, owners always say hello, excellent value and price for what you get. Don't be afraid to try Afghani food. read more

Sameem is in our family's too 5 Fsvorite restaurants in St. Louis. We were regulars at Kebsb Palace (owned by the same people that own Sameems) and were Devestated when they left Ballwin. We were ecstatic to find that they opened Sameems and make every effort to visit them in the Grove. Not only is the food delicious and made with care, the owners of the restaurant are amazing and super hospitable. If you speak with them, the passion they have regarding their restaurant is super evident. Best Afghani and Persian food hands down. We love the kebabs and their sauces are amazing and made daily! If you have been interested in trying Arabic food go to Sameems! read more

Went for lunch with a group. Food was fantastic - fresh and nicely prepared. My first Afghani food experience, but it felt familiar as it has many overlaps with Indian and Persian. Chicken Karahi was delicious - some spice but not too much and the chicken meat was tender and from a nice cut. For appetizer, the Pashtoon Salad is fresh and delicious; the hummus is great; eggplant burani was a happy surprise even to those who don't normally care for eggplant; and seasonal cooked pumpkin was also delicious . Owner Fahime is delightful. I plan to return soon! read more

Amazing food, great vegetarian options, so much flavor. Wonderful ambiance and friendly staff. I had the chicken soltani and I'm stuffed and happy. They give you a lot of food, so you get your money's worth for sure. read more

Small restaurant with amazing dishes! I have never been disappointed here. I usually get their lamb with rice and it just falls of the bone. Their sambosas are good and their eggplant is as well. Just cute restaurant and great family that runs the place. Its very welcoming and you enjoy the food whether you dine in or take out. read more

I went for lunch today and it was wonderful. Was able to grab the table that looks out onto the street. Nice and cool despite the heat outside. The food was great - I ordered the vegetarian combo - but each time I've been there, no matter what I've ordered, it is good. The hummus has quite a bit of garlic. The wait staff offered to split our appetizer order with 2 pakowra and 2 sambosa, It was just the right portion size for the two of us. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because they need a better ventilation system in the kitchen. The air in the restaurant was heavy with the smell of grill smoke which permeated my clothes. Sometimes there are tables outside and sitting there is a way to avoid the thick smoke smell. read more

We were seated right away and immediately noticed how dirty the floors were. The service was great though--and we were checked on frequently. The food arrived quickly and was good. Will be back if I'm in the area but won't make a special trip. Prices very reasonable. read more

The service was slow, especially considering there was only 1 other table occupied at the time. I sat in the front window and there were more than a few flies buzzing around our table. They served excessive amounts of food but oh man was it delicious! I had left overs for days and I was not one bit upset about it! I think next time I might just do take out. read more

Absolutely delicious! First time here, will return! Party of 6, everyone had something different everyone loved their dinner. Feast for 6 app was amazing, great variety great flavors. Don't forget to get dessert. Owner checked on us, perfect service. read more

Amazing food. I shared a bunch of lamb dishes with my friends, all of the lamb was excellent, just falling off the bone. The service was fast and both the owner and our waiter were extremely friendly. read more

I seriously cannot believe how good this place is sometimes. Every time I come here I try something different expecting to be somewhat disappointed because my past experiences have been so good I never think future ones could possibly match them. It always proves me wrong, the food is always incredible. I think the curried lamb is my favorite plate, but everything else I've tried has always been outstanding. read more

Can't beat the butter chicken....just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Food is great and the service is fast. The owner brought us an extra dish; just for us to taste and to see if we liked it. A special place worth checking out! read more

Really great place. The atmosphere was comfortable and friendly - the owner was out on the floor checking in with guests, and that was kind of nice. They were fairly full at lunchtime on a week day, but not uncomfortably so. My friend and I shared the Mid-Eastern Feast appetizer which was good - we mostly liked it because we got to try several things. (All were things we'd had before other places, so it wasn't mind-blowing, but it was all good.) As an entree my friend got lamb qabelli palau which he loved. He'd been to Sameems a lot before but had never had it. He said the lamb was really good and he loved the rice. I got the Afghani muntoo and thought it was wonderful - I'd recommend it. It was just really good food, really great service, and a great time overall! I'll come back for sure next time I'm in StL. read more