Sunnyvale's Afghani House is an old hand at making winning cases for fine Afghani dining. Contrasted against crimson carpeting, the restaurant's whitewashed dining room, curvaceous with arches, feels lush without being garish, and decidedly Afghani without being touristy. Resplendent with white linen and a copious number of potted plants, this midsize space, formerly a Mexican restaurant, is decorated with a tasteful and diverse collection of art and artifacts, ranging from a slipper to tapestries and paintings. Its bright, open ambiance favors elegant dinners over intimate meals for two. There are no daily specials and no seasonal accents.
Service is fast and attentive.
The selection of wines available by the glass is limited, none outstanding. Beer is probably a better choice unless you're aiming for a whole bottle of wine. Starters at Afghani House are meant for sharing. The kitchen makes excellent sambosa , crispy triangle purses of fried pastries filled with ground beef and chickpeas. Mantu , steamed dumplings fattened with minced onion beef, are also delicious.