The Helmand is one of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. The apps, bread, and entrees are amazing. I am a big fan of the lamb lawand which comes with a side of tasty spinach. I also love the stuffed vegetarian pepper. I normally don't order vegetarian entrees but this is so satisfying and yummy. Also a big fan of the pumpkin appetizer and of course the bread is fantastic with all the dipping sauces. The wine list is good too and they have a full service bar.
(5)
Elena E.
Service: 5 stars, everyone is very attentive, food comes out extremely fast. Not the place for a long relaxed meal, they get you in and out pretty quick. Food: 4 stars. Delicious bread with 3 dips are brought to the table. It's definitely enough such that you don't have to order an appetizer. Though there are great appetizers - I especially love the pumpkin. The vegetarian special is my go to entree which includes the pumpkin, eggplant, spinach, and okra. But I think all of the vegetarian dishes are great. I wasn't as impressed with the meat dishes. Atmosphere: 3.5. Large room, yet still has a warm feeling. Tables are a bit close together though. Also, free parking in lot next door.
(4)
Dave F.
First time I've been there for at least 15 years. Food was as good as I remember but the service was rushed (hence 3 stars vs 4 star rating). We were also seated in the back room which was loud and took away from the experience so make sure you ask to be seated in the main room.
(3)
Rohan D.
Fantastic food, packed with lots of flavor. Be sure to get the pumpkin app
(4)
Alex M.
Great food for a reasonable price.
(4)
Angad S.
Extremely disappointed with the food we got for take out. This place is way overrated. First off, the dishes are way overpriced. The prices listed on Google were different from the prices they had in their restaurant. In terms of the food, the lamb was rubbery and just wasn't what i had expected. The naan was a hard dry bread. The biryani may have been a bit of a saving grace. Overall, i thought the food was bland. It was a great letdown especially since i was expecting a good treat on my birthday.
(1)
Kate T.
I would rate the food here highly, and the atmosphere was friendly. The free naan bread with every meal was delicious, would go again.
(5)
Susanna L.
This was one of the best meals of my life!! It was my first time trying Afghani food, and it's AMAZING HERE. The Kaddo was really the most memorable dish (appetizer), because the flavors are just so unique. Pumpkin with beef and yogurt sauce? Sounds strange, but somehow it WORKS. I got the Qabelee, and it was also really good. They give you a ton of juicy pulled lamb buried under a mountain of fluffy flavored rice with carrots and raisins. The perfect combination of savory and sweet. Our entrees were all pretty big, most of us couldn't finish our food, and we walked away fully stuffed and very happy with ourselves. I also really like the design of the restaurant, it feels at once upscale and authentic/homey, and the servers were great.
(5)
Craig S.
Wow. Recommendation from hotel. Owner came across as a bit surly. But the waitress was amazing and the food was fabulous. Lamb was exceptional. Appetizers run $7-8, entrees $20-30.
(5)
Nina J.
The service was very disappointing. We made a reservation in advance, and waited more than 20 minutes while there were empty tables and the hostess seated every group that walked in after us - including those that said they did not have reservations. We inquired about it multiple times and kept getting blown off by the hostess until she decided she was ready to seat us. The food was good, but there are other excellent Afghani restaurants in Boston that I would much more gladly return to.
(3)
Teresa S.
Alright this is a first for me. I had never been to an Afghan Restaurant before. I had heard many good things about this place. So I was excited to go. We had reservations for 5. Good thing too, because the place was packed. We arrived a few min. early. We had to wait just a bit. The smell inside the place was so wonderful! Warm, spicy , and fragrant. It was painted a deep warm yellow in side and decorated almost like a home. It is a small place which makes it cozy. It was rainy and misty outside at 7:00pm so it made it so nice as the fire was going from the Brick oven,which you could see in the dining area. We all got something a little different. I got Lamb, of course I love it and love to try it in different places. It was fantastic. A type of Lamb stew, with a side of eggplant. That was a vegetable side you could order. One of us got Chicken, one Lamb chops and another the vegetarian signature dish. That too was fantastic. Everyone's meal was awesome. Allen got something with meat that he too said was awesome. We were also served some fantastic flat bread with 3 different spices to spoon on. Oh I am so looking forward to going back. Now I know why everyone loves it!
(5)
G M.
After having Afghan in San Fran, I fell in love with the food from this region so whenever I visit a city, the first thing I do is search for Afghan. The Helmand's delivery was spot on, my waiter was attentive and the food, oh the food here is some of the best I've had on the east coast! Highly recommended are the following items which are my "goto" dishes: 1) Aushak with the meat sauce rocks my world! You can also get the Aushak in vegetarian form which I've also had and for me, the meat sauce adds the final dimension to take this dish into outstanding. For dessert, the Feereney, a cream pudding served with fresh fruit is a must have. My Afghan meal is not complete until the Feereeney is gone! Cheers
(4)
Alex G.
This was my first foray into Afghan food and I loved it! We went Saturday night of last week, we called ahead an hour was when we wanted to eat (8:30ish) and made a reservation. The place was very busy so we were glad we made a reservation because we were seated right away. The service was excellent. Bread and chutneys are brought our right away. I had the vegetarian special that was very generous portions of spinach, pumpkin, eggplant and ocra surrounding a little hill of special rice. My boyfriend had a lamb dish with mushrooms that was good but mine was definitely better. Great ambience in this place and such good food. Don't miss it! *My boyfriend is Afghan so he was the harshest critic - thought it was great!
(5)
Suzanne S.
My best friend and I came here because she is vegetarian and it was near our hotel. It was absolutely fabulous - we were both very pleasantly surprised! The bottles of wine were good and reasonably priced so we both got one and took the leftovers to our room. The food was wonderful - had the pumpkin and the eggplant and the leek raviolis and everything was delicious - the bread is wonderful also. The service was very friendly and accommodating. We were very disappointed to learn that their San Francisco restaurant is closed as we would go there often.
Awesome food. Everything we tried was delicious. First time and Afghan restaurant, will not be the last. Everyone in our group liked every dish, that includes some very picky kids. Good vegetarian and meat dishes alike. Highly recommend.
(5)
Holly C.
On my first visit I fell in love with this place! I'd never had afghan food before so I didn't quite know what to expect. We were dressed pretty casually as it was earlier on a Saturday evening. But that didn't seem to matter. The service was good, no complaints. They were attentive to our needs. I haven't stopped thinking about the food since. We had the Mourgh Challow and the Showlah. The Mourgh had the right blend of tang and cream, served over the Challow rice was a nice pairing. The Showlah was amazing, the flavor of the spinach in the poblano was tasty - even though this was not my dish I had food envy. The food was served non-spicey but you could add spices as you needed. I was content with the flavor and didn't feel the need to add anything. I look forward to when I can return. We didn't get wine with the meal so that's definitely something to try with another dish next time. And bread - need more of that bread.
(5)
Danielle S.
For my birthday, I was looking for a place with good food that could accommodate 10+ people without too much advance notice. A friend who has lived in Boston for several years recommended Helmand and I was pleased with the outcome. The service was wonderful and the food was even better. To start, we ordered an assortment of appetizers, all of which were good. For the main, I got the Kabuli (rice with lamb). The meat was super tender and delicious. I definitely recommend The Helmand and will be returning soon.
(4)
Tony P.
I've always wanted to appreciate Middle Eastern food. I've kept trying one Middle Eastern restaurant after another (including many 4+ stars rated ones) in vain hopes that I'd eventually, some day, fall in love with the cuisine. Every time I ended up disappointed. It's like a lesbian trying to convince herself that she'll eventually find the man of her life. Then I met ... The Helmand. My whole world turned upside down. It was a Saturday afternoon, my guy buddy and I had been out all day, feeling hungry and adventurous when we saw The Helmand on Yelp. Nearby, Afghan food, 4 stars on Yelp? Hell yeah . We've had so much fun all day by that point, how shitty can the food be to make it a bad day, right? The place looked like what I'd imagine a typical Afghan restaurant would look like, though that probably doesn't say much. When we came in, looking at the interior design gave me the initial feeling that I'm gonna have to a cheapskate and order some appetizers (then go home and stuff eggs and bacon down my throat for the night). They gave my friend and I a corner table with a candle on it- perfect spot for a romantic couple on a date (how thoughtful of them...). Your author reveled in locking eyes with his (perfectly straight) buddy with electric tension besides the burning candle. For 1.2 seconds. Prices were surprisingly not through the roof. They have complimentary fresh-baked flatbread, eaten with 3 amazing dipping sauces (hot chilli, yogurt & cilantro, and jalapenos & cilantro - my favorite). Tip: put them ALL on your bread at the same time. I probably got weird looks from the people on the next table, but IDGAS - too good. So good in fact that I later used the rest of them sauces on the chicken salad that was my main dish. The Mourgh Chicken with Salad, on the specials menu that night, though not unique, is probably 2x better than what you imagine when you think 'chicken salad.' The grilled chicken was soft and flavory complimented very well by the grilled tomatoes, avocado and other grilled veggies in balsamic vinegar. Honestly I'm probably exaggerating how good the chicken salad was due to low expectations and the positive impressions I had gotten. Nevertheless the whole combination of atmosphere, unique food and service made it a great dinner. In short, I credit this place with changing my long-standing perception of Middle Eastern eats. I'll keep trying new Middle Eastern restaurants, but for now The Helmand will be my go-to in Boston.
(4)
Varun S.
Excellent food. The best waiters. Great selection for vegetarians as well. Although I tried the mourgh challow the showla looked very appetizing. Would definitely return.
(5)
Derek D.
Some of the best Lamb i have ever had. Not to spicy, not too mild, just well flavored and seasoned! The flatbread that is served with the meal is also a really nice change to what you get usually in restaurants in the US, and the dipping sauces were amazing also. Everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their meal.
(4)
Kavya S.
This was my first time trying Afghan food, and I loved it! The restaurant is a bit far away, but my friend and I trekked through the snow to get there because we had heard such great things about it. The menu is a bit overwhelming. Each dish has multiple lines of description, and every dish almost sounds like another dish you had just read on the menu. NOTE: This is a great restaurant for vegetarians--so many options to choose from! After asking the waitress for her recommendations (she was incredibly helpful!), my friend and I split the Vegetarian Aushak appetizer and then I had the Vegetarian Mantwo entree. Both dishes were very flavorful in a unique way and had a variety of textures. I honestly don't think I've had any food quite like the food that I had at The Helmand! I thoroughly enjoyed the meal! My friend equally loved his meat dish and ended up eating part of my vegetarian dish as well. Few Tips: -- It's a bit far away from public transportation, so be prepared to walk (try not to go on a day with terrible weather like I did). -- The restaurant gets crowded. I went on a Tuesday night, and it was a little over half full; if you are going on a weekend, I'd recommend making a reservation. -- The bread is AMAZING but don't eat too much of it while you wait for your food, because it's easy to get filled up before your entree even arrives. -- Ask the waiter / waitress for advice: they are very familiar with the popular dishes on the menu!
(4)
Jenn Z.
Good pumpkin appetizer with a relatively big selection of entrees to choose from. Would've liked to try the dessert but the entree & appetizer kept me full. Service could've been a bit more attentive because they completely forgot my friend's tea.
(3)
Rajesh K.
This restaurant took our reservation and still made us wait for 25 mins... Staff were friendly but the service wasnt good... The food is ok, seemed bland to me. The ratings for this place seems overrated. The Appetizer Kaddo was really good.
(2)
Larry B.
Good bread, good food, very nice service. I tried the famous pumpkin dish - it was nice but not worthy of the cult following it has inherited.
(4)
Joe T.
Fancy, exciting atmosphere. Smells wonderful. Great place for vegetarians--lots of interesting vegetarian dishes!
(4)
Corey L.
Stopped in on a Friday night at 9:30pm, place was still packed. I liked the ambiance of the place, sort of like a big living room. My lady friend and I started with a Kadda Borawni - which was great. Slices of pumpkin in a sugary glaze sitting in a yogurt sauce w some ground meat drizzled on top. Really good. Next, we had the meals, I had the chowza, a lamb dish w three lamb chops with rice, bread, and sauteed eggplant. Really good. Didn't have strong lamb flavor, which is good b/c I don't like that. It wasn't worth the $26 though. My lady friend had a vegetarian dish with a potato stew and spinach dish. Was quite good. For dessert, we had Bucklawa - which was quite incredible. Yeah, so we quite enjoyed the meal and overall experience.
(4)
Mariam C.
Head waitress/ hostess must be replaced! Food was great, leaving me with a smile until this head waitress scolded me for having ordered a cab that came too soon!?!
(4)
Ben M.
I'm compelled to balance my Yelp karma by praising The Helmand with a five star approval. I do not want to suffer the fate of so many yelping yelpers, who use this opportunity to express only dissatisfaction. Instead, I'd prefer to be a silent hand that raises up the services that are doing things right (e.g. The Helmand). In the case of The Helmand, the book is much better than the cover. Do not be deterred by the facade and distance from the places where great cuisine prevails. I was overwhelmed by the comfortable ambiance, aromas, pleasant sights and sounds. Accordingly, the flavors followed suit. My inner vegetarian was more than appeased by offerings of eggplant and okra; and the carnivore was satiated by morsels of lamb grilled to perfection. This particular evening at The Helmand ranks among the greatest all-around dining experiences I have ever had in Cambridge.
(5)
Pamela S.
Amazing food and lovely ambiance. I wanted something different and delicious. And I found it. The Banjan was melt in your mouth delicious.
(5)
Stuart H.
Really enjoyed last nights dinner. Lamb was tender and potatoes just brilliant. I'd go again.
(4)
Saurav A.
Don't miss the DWOPIAZA. The food and service is amazing. The menu makes you want to order everything. The baklava and feerni are to die for.
I went here on a Saturday night - it was pretty packed and we were lucky to get seated quickly because we beat the rush. The decor is nice, the plates and glasses that are used are quite colorful and give the restaurant a nice, soothing look. The bread was very good -- they gave us flatbread with some sauces on the side. It was quite full-bodied and had a very fresh taste. For entrees, I got a lamb dish. The rice was very different than the jasmine rice I'm used to, but it was good as well, although perhaps a bit too oily for me. The lamb was a bit overcooked, but still had some taste (I ordered medium but probably should have gone for medium rare). Overall, a pretty pleasant dining experience.
(4)
Hayley B.
Helmand is SO good and SO moderately priced. I came here in the fall as it is within a mile and a half of my house and I had never been. I had also never had Afghan food, but I had an idea of what I would be eating. The meal exceeded my expectations. The environment in the restaurant is comfortable and the service and food pair well with the atmosphere. I had the vegetarian special pumpkin entree and it was DELICIOUS!! The flavors are wonderful. I went a few months ago and can't remember what I had for appetizers but they were all delicious. I would eat here anytime, especially if I was looking for a unique meal for a great price. Highly recommended!
(5)
Doogie H.
As a major Foodie- I hope this review helps! I went to The Helmand for a bachelorette dinner, party of 7. I've never been before but have only heard amazing feedback so I had high expectations. The food was very good, timing of food delivery also good. The flavors reminded me of indian, but seemed to be "americanized". Lots of food choices- and a little pricey ranging from $17- $35 for entrees, but the serving size was fair for the cost... they are only open for dinner so I suppose they need to price the food accordingly. No time for dessert this time. Ordered a couple bottles of white wine (their wine selection is lacking), and both bottles needed to be sent back for chilling as it was just slightly colder than room temp. Despite the minor flaws, I would definitely go back, the ambiance was nice, dimmed lighting but not too dark, music volume was just right in the background and staff seemed willing to help with encouragement :) Keep up the good work!
(4)
Roxana F.
Oh so, so, so good. What you need to get: Kaddo (baked pumpkin with a garlic yogurt sauce) holy.wow. Lamb (I bet any of the lamb dishes are stellar) Vegetarian special THE BREAD. Sheerekh ice cream Holy goodness. Everything here is so FLAVORFUL. I am Iranian and as such I am very defensive of my motherland's food, but our neighbors have pretty damn good food as well!! Wow! The vegetarian special is a plate full of goodness: eggplant (which I typically don't like), kaddo, okra, spinach, and rice. Typically I would order something else if I read all of this was being served on one plate, but this was a surprising exception. Everything.is.so .flavorful. I've also had their kourma challow, which is rice with green beans, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, and some other veggies. Again, incredibly flavorful. Both times I have come here my companions have ordered lamb dishes, and have raved about them. I wouldn't know but I assume that means it's good ;) Definitely try out this little gem. I wish it wasn't in the middle of nowhere...I am closer to Ariana in Allston, but I think The Helmand is definitely better.
(5)
Mark D.
First time having this type of food and I have to say I am a fan. At first they tried to seta us in the back room which had no heat (don't do it in the winter) but we asked to be move to the from t room which is much nicer. The service was SLOW at first then we ordered our drinks and app and dinner then everything came out at once. The bread with dipping sauces were FABULOUS!! The app and our meals were incredible and I will be going back. As MUST try!
(4)
Alex K.
Afghani food at its best. Thank you! I came here just 10 minutes before closing time, and the hostess encouraged me to stay instead of getting take out. I'm so glad she did because I had an incredible late night meal. I had the Lamb Lawand which came with rice and sauteed spinach. All the chunks of pieces in this stew were so flavorful and delicious. And the spinach was a surprise that added great balance and texture to the meal. The rice was beautifully cooked and prepared I'm so glad I got to have some authentic Afghani food again. The meal was served with bread and a typical Indian variety of chutney and yogurt. I didn't know this was also an Afghani thing. But the combination of flavors were wonderful. The ambiance of the restaurant is very unique. There are so many great pieces throughout the big open dining area, and a small garden near the front door. The wait staff was super attentive. Since it was very late, I was very appreciative of their hospitality. Great food & Great service.
(5)
Blake A.
Amazing! So, I would fail to do it justice to describe how amazing the food is here. So, you can read one of the hundreds of other reviews. Get the Kaddo. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. Also, I had the Aushak with meat sauce as my entree, and it was also fabulous. I'd avoid the Bowlawni, unless you truly want a hot pocket like item filled with leaks/scallions or spiced potatoes. They were ok, but not as fabulous as the other two dishes. I'd definitely go back here in a heart beat. We sat by the wood fire that was cooking the breads (which were amazing), and the service was excellent. Decor was described to me as if Pier One had a restaurant. I'd say pretty accurate, but it worked really well for this place.
(5)
Angela A.
Great food and I can't get enough of the bread they serve before the meal (they cook it right in the dining area). I enjoy the vegetarian options, so often other restaurants only offer an array of salads or a tomato mozzarella combo-boring!! There's a nice, warm atmosphere complete with beautiful accents of blue and yellow.
(4)
Laurie J.
The staff was very accommodating for a last minute change in our reservation. Wonderful homey feel. The food is amazing. The pumpkin appetizer knocked it out of the park but really every bite was delicious.
(5)
Michele H.
It's been a while since I've eaten here, but this is a solid place. Lamb is very flavorful, and the spices are abundant but not overwhelming. Lovely atmosphere with the smell of woodsmoke throughout. For the uninitiated, Afghan food is somewhat similar to Indian cuisine, in that you'll find a lot of meat or vegetable stews served with rice. The flavor profile is entirely different, without the same curry backdrop. I hope to be back soon.
(5)
B L.
It was pretty good. The place was crowded, we went on Saturday night, so i recommend to call and make an reservation (we called only one hour prior to our arrival). At the beginning you get complementary Afghan bread with three dips. I had Ma-He Berian which is filet of trout pan fried, it was on the specials list and it was 16,95$ the prices are from 15$ til 25$ for entrees. The sizes are pretty big but manageable. Our waiter wasnt the fastest because the place was packed full, but he was very friendly and helpful. all in all i would go there again.
(4)
Toni L.
This place is Halloween and Thanksgiving mashed into a restaurant. Food: Pumpkin, sweet buttery pumpkin. I dunno if the squash is a major crop in Afghanistan or what, but they have lots of the delicious orange stuff. I came here with my friend while visiting for a conference and neither of us really knew what to expect. We started out with bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). Even though the bread was pretty flat, it still had a great texture and came with red, green, and yogurt dipping sauces ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The red one was mildly spicy. What's more, they give you enough of this stuff that you can enjoy it throughout the meal with the various sauces in the dishes. My friend and I split the mourgh challow ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) and the vegetarian version of the kaddo ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The mourgh challow is sauteed chicken with yellow chickpeas and tomatoes and comes with a pretty small serving of rice ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). I liked this dish, but it was far too small of a serving to foster an addiction. The kaddo, which is baby pumpkin served with yogurt sauce, was out of this world. How do I describe what it tasted like? It was reminiscent of a very thick, and less sweet version of a fruit roll-up covered in sweet cream. Needless to say, my friend and I were racing toward the last bite of this one. Atmosphere: Judging from the portion sizes and prices, this place seems to cater to people with cash at their disposal. It's also very gorgeous inside the restaurant ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). Every nook and cranny holds a unique seating area that looks like it was modeled after a rich collector's house or a cultural museum. Even the waiting area between the front door and the restaurant (I'm sure there is a word for this in places that get snow... sorry, socal n00b here) is richly decorated. You'd never guess what was inside judging from the exterior by the parking lot though ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). Service: Even though it's apparently that this place is popular, the hostess was super nice. The waiters and waitresses in here pay fine attention to service, pouring the water with one hand behind their back, etc. Also, there is a coat and bag check at the front. Synopsis: I love the kaddo, but the prices and portions are probably too high for what you get. I'd much rather trade some of the fancy service for cheaper and/or more plentiful food.
(4)
Jessie E.
YES! Just do it. The kaddo. Any lamb dish. The breads. Yummmm
(4)
Anindita D.
If you haven't been to this place you must , one if the best restaurant I have ever been . And I have to many around the world . Every dish I have tried was amazing . Their bread that comes with three different sauce is just fabulous . You can't go wrong no matter what you order . But please make a reservation as it's always booked
(5)
Evan B.
I am a bit ignorant when it comes to Afghanistan, I just assumed they boiled rocks to make soup as there has been perpetual turmoil. I was wrong and their food is great. I will attempt to help you understand what is Afghani food. It is a mix of Moroccan style middle eastern, and Indian food. While you may not be able to envision this, the result is good amounts of flavor. This location is great, as it is a upscale table cloth clad dining experience, which means you can stay with in most people confortzone while trying a new cuisine. The meal starts with some great flat bread and three sauces. A pepper chutney straight from India, a chillie paste straight from a Chinese table and a yogurt tiziki straight from the middle east. The vegetarian selection here was great. We started with the soup of the day which was rich, and full of veggies and handmade noodles with a splash of labne to make it richer. We then had two pastry pockets, on with leeks and greens the other with potato, they were good and made in the brick fire oven however they did not blow me away. For the main course we had a pablano chillie stuffed with greens and it came with great side of a super flavorful eggplant dish (sorry I did not get the names($13.95) We also had the pan fried trout that came with rice and a tomato dish, it was good but not as exotic tasting as I would have hoped. Overall service was decent and the ambiance would make it a great date spot.
(4)
Ariel Z.
Very good food and atmosphere (thanks to the woodburning oven in the corner...a nice touch). The warm flatbread goes quick on our table, but you can always order more. Thank the Lord. I highly recommend the Kaddo (baked pumpkin in tomato and ground beef sauce), the Mantwo (dumpling-like but with a very flavorful sauce of ground beef and spices), and the Aushuk (raviolis with yogurt, tomato, and ground beef sauce...my personal favorite). However, I really dislike the location! Easy access to the Lechmere stop, but kind of sketchy to walk around late at night. Maybe I am just paranoid. Also, great for big groups and a must try if you are in the area!
(4)
Nicole B.
We were very intrigued to try Afghan cuisine and found the food to be quite good, but pricing and service not so much. As an appetizer we had the Bowlawni special that consisted of three crunchy pastries, one pumpkin/squash, one scallion/leaks, and one spiced potato. These were really terrific, except that I felt pressured to eat them because our entrees came out while we were still having the appetizer! Since we were at a small table for two, there was NOT enough room on the table for us to have the appetizer/dinner plates on at the same time. As I finished the appetizer, the dinner plates sat hanging half on the table half off. Someone could have easily passed by and knocked the plates over. The wait staff was friendly, but we really did not enjoy the pacing of our meal. It definitely seemed like we being rushed out (it was a Saturday night). Otherwise I thought the vegetable special was yummy, but $17 for vegetables was kind of pricey. I would have rated higher if it wasn't for the prices and rushed feelings.
(3)
Eunice E.
We came here on a bustling Friday night, and I was pleasantly surprised by a few things. First, even though we were seated at a sort of makeshift table RIGHT next to the bread cutting station, it was actually one of the best--if not THE best--tables in the restaurant! The servers quickly brought over an extra chair, silverware, and transformed the one-seater into a quiet table for two in a matter of seconds... impressive. And the best part of being right next to the bread was the ability to ask for seconds... in a very discreet manner, of course. :o) But in all seriouness, the bread was amaaazing. As were the chutneys with which it came. My favourite was the cilantro mix--tangy, refreshing, light... followed closely by the mint yogurt. But, really, all of them were good, and our waitress was kind enough to get us more when we asked (more bread, more chutneys!). We started with the kaddo, which is the most flavourful dish I've eaten at any Afghani restaurant. Wow. Sweet, savoury, sensational. The pumpkin is tender, the ground beef is spiced to perfection. It was like a symphony of flavours in my mouth. Yum. I've had kaddo at other restaurants both in D.C. (where there are tons of wonderful Afghan restaurants) as well as around the area, but this tops 'em all. A "must-try," to be certain. We then split orders of the qabalee and the aushak, both of which were delicious and filling. My all-time favourite is the qabalee... it's got it all: meat, rice, carrots, raisins, scrumptiousness. And they cooked it well here. Plus, I have to mention that the dishes all came out in a very reasonable amount of time. No needless waits here. We ended our meal with a baklawa, which was a bit too sweet for my tastes (which means it was SUPER SWEET), but it's always good to try. Anyway, I'm definitely coming back... for the service, for the ambiance (home-y, warm yellow on the walls, you feel like you're in a friend's informal living room / dining room), and most certainly for the food!
(4)
Lily S.
I was very pleasantly surprised by my experience here! Ended up coming here with a couple coworkers for a quiet dinner and I was super nervous since I had perused the menu in advance, having not been familiar with Afghan food, and was horrified to find out that it sounded a lot like Indian food. Indian food is literally the one cuisine I shall not touch. Curry and my digestive tract do not get along, let's leave it at that. I was happily surprised to find that the restaurant menu is actually a lot more extensive than what they show online, and that contrary to other yelper's experience, the wait staff was extremely pleasant. It's been too long now for me to remember what actual dish I had, but it had lamb in it and was great! Definitely a much more mild and less abrasive version of any Indian food I've tried (primarily at Tantric downtown). We had a few appetizers as well and both the house white and red wines. Everything was great! My only complaint would be is the place is a little too crowded--like you felt a little too close to the tables on either side. Also, while i enjoyed the old fashioned and cozy decor inside, the couches they have out in the foyer/waiting area really need to be replaced. When i sat down, i sort of felt like a cloud of dust should have been exhaled by the piece of furniture.
(4)
Shahla A.
Worst service ever!!! These people definitely need a class on how not to stare at people while they are trying to eat. I asked for lemons and the waitress actually said no! I asked to speak to the manager.. he was even more shady than the waitress... save your money and time..food wasn't even all that. I've been all over the world and I know good Afghan food..this was bland...idk what those other "reviewers" are talking about.
(1)
Stephen G.
I and a coworker went here on the recommendation of our boss, and it was GREAT! We split the Kaddo appetizer - pumpkin with meat sauce. It's lots better than it may sound, and we could have just eaten that all night. It also came with really good bread. I had Qabelee for my main disk. The meat was hidden under the rice, and was probably the tenderest lamb I have had. The rice was excellent with the raisins and carrots adding a good sweetness. I finished with the Bucklawa dessert. I liked this because it wasn't dripping with honey like it often is, and was good and dense. Highly recommended if you're anywhere near!
(5)
Ryan P.
Simply amazing- very unique atmosphere, great staff who explain the menu very well, charming manager/owner who appreciates your patronage and lets you know that he's glad your there. Two of us are vegetarian and adored our unique menu choices- very beautiful eggplant and pumpkin dishes. Two of us ate lamb and beef and said it was the best they had had at a restaurant in ages. Great location- out of the way but easy parking, and again- lovely meals. Get a reservation.
We went to the Helmand for dinner before a show at the Museum of Science. Got the reservation 1 day in advance and I'm glad we did! When we arrived at the restaurant it was completely packed! Super convenient free parking lot across the street. The flatbread was delicious and warm, and the served sauces were great. Not too spicy overall. We had the potato and chickpee salad, qabelee for entree, and the rice pudding with pistachio for dessert. All were EXCELLENT. The qabelee was reasonably priced, especially once you realize that there is a TON of lambmeat -- not too fatty and no bones -- underneath the pile of delicious rice. It was a generous portion; enough for 2 meals! The rice pudding was rice and delicious. Not overly sweet. And again, reasonably priced. An excellent restaurant for trying new and interesting foods, and won't break the bank. 5 stars!
(5)
Swati M.
Scrumptious delicious yummmmyyyyyyy... A must must go for vegetarians... Appetizers to soup to main course to desserts.. Everything is jus perfect... The complimentary bread basket is also very delicious....
(5)
Aaks L.
Oh My God! Met friends here for Friday night dinner and had an awesome experience! We had a reservation for 4 and were promptly seated on our arrival. Our friends ordered Bowlawni and Kourma Challow (vegetarian) and seemed to love it. We ordered Dwopiaza and Mourgh Challow (lamb and chicken entrees) and loved the authentic spicing!! Service was good and the food exceptionally good. Would love to go back when in town!
(5)
David C.
If you want a review of the food at The Helmand, check out the one I wrote for Ariana. The menus at both places are identical, but prices at the Cambridge flagship are inflated by at least 30%. For that reason, I see no reason to check it out (unless you really hate Allston, in which case I guess I wouldn't blame you). I'd still be inclined to give The Helmand four stars (the food is really that good) if it weren't for the curt and hasty service. When my party of four arrived promptly for our seven o'clock reservation, the hostess glanced at her list and mumbled something about it being a few minutes. Those few minutes turned in to nearly twenty, and I got the feeling that our reservation was lost somewhere in the shuffle (there were multiple tables open that we could have easily been seated at). And when our meal was said and done (in less than an hour, things moved so swiftly), we got up from the table only to have it swooped in on by busboys from all over. It was tacky with a capital T.
(3)
Phil P.
Highly recommend this place. Very friendly, not a long wait and the food was great. Never had Afgan food before. It's similar to other food from the region, but with its own twists. They offer a number of vegetarian specialties.
(4)
George K.
The food will blow your mind, top quality food that tastes amazing, everything is perfect. You cannot try everything in one visit, its one of those places you just keep going back to so that you can try everything, staff is nice if you want to go out for a proper meal, this is the right place where you will actually like what you eat 100% and get what you pay for the lamb is amazing, i thought it might be too strong and gamey but it turns out they know how to actually cook it properly so that the lamb taste does not overpower other ingredients, they actually marinate it in vinegar since lamb has a very strong taste, try it to see whats up! they have parking across the street and give you a validation (free parking) inside is very clean and decorative Dont waist a fortune on french food that is only as big as your spoon, this restaurant definitely serves top quality food for the right price and experience. THIS RESTAURANT IS A MUST Go TO DESTINATION IF YOU ARE IN MASSACHUSETTS ! 10/10 Dont forget to order the full course meal (appetizer, soup, main, desert w/ coffee. you will leave happy.
(5)
Hodor Z.
SPOILED MEAT!!! DO NOT EAT! Service is horrible and they take plates away way too fast. Ordered lamb leg, ate 1 piece before I realized the meat is spoiled. Spoiled lamb meat is very easy to detect because of it's smell. I've eaten lamb my entire life, and this was definitely spoiled. Plus, this is not an authentic afghan cuisine, nowhere near it. Tasted more like Indian if anything. And restrooms are horrible, worse than at McDonald's. But nothing beats spoiled meat. Save yourself some cash and go somewhere lese.
(1)
Andrea L.
If it has lamb in it, order it! I've never had lamb done as well as it's served at the Helmand -- the grilled chops are amazing, charcoaled on the edges and juicy in the middle. The vegetables are also fantastic -- the eggplant is beautifully grilled with interesting tomato and yogurt sauces on top, and the okra is also delicious. The flatbread is good, maybe not as fluffy as I was expecting, but still a great accompaniment to the meal.
(5)
M L.
I waffled between three and four stars, but only because of the so-so service. Waitstaff is pleasant, just not overly attentive. I'm a stickler for checking back periodically to refill beverages. Ultimately, though, the food was delicious. The chef gladly prepared my vegetarian plate to vegan standards. Get the kaddo (pumpkin) appetizer. It looks like a jell-o mold and tastes like candy. My wife ordered a lamb dish and enjoyed it.
(4)
Shao L.
EXCELLENT food! If you haven't, you must try Kadoo, it's the best. Go for lamb, it's all pulled except for one (can't remember the name). I've tried Qabelee and Chowpan and personally, Qabelee is very nicely done if you are not into thick sauce. Service is prompt and friendly. However, I can't say the same to the host. She needs to lighten up a little bit!
(4)
Elaine L.
Delicious food and excellent service. The waiter knew a lot about the dishes and refilled our water frequently. We began our meal with the kaddo appetizer - the combination of sweet pumpkin and savory beef works surprisingly well together. My friend and I ordered the kourma challow and mantwo. Both dishes had tender meat and good flavor. We'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Frank Q.
Lamb is the best. Well cooked with flavor and juicy. Recommend. Downside: Fish is dry and terrible. Don't order. Would give five star if the fish is taken off the menu.
(4)
Nicole S.
Went a couple months ago, and the food was delicious. I loved the pumpkin appetizer and highly recommend. Lamb was good too. The bread basket is amazing and the dipping sauces were good too! DON"T get the salad, it's literally a bed of salad with random chunk of 'roasted' vegetables and chicken (which was a little dry). Overall great food.
(4)
Umair K.
I discovered this place years ago by mistake and been a customer since. Amazing food, atmosphere is great, and overall very friendly staff. They do however need to upgrade their plates, tables and chairs.
(5)
Guillermo M.
Food was amazing. We had the bowlawni and the kaddo for appetizers and both were delicious and very different. The bowlawni was very tasty and the kaddo was on the sweet side. For entree we had the chowpan and also everything in the plate was really good. Dessert didn't disappoint at all: "their cake" was delicious. Would love to come back and try more stuff.
(4)
Anthony D.
Had to wait a half hour to be seated for our reservation. No apologies or concessions. Not acceptable.
(1)
Azi Z.
I was really excited about trying this place as a few of my foodie friends had raved about it. As I wasn't very happy with it the first time, I decided to give it another try but not much changed. The food is OK, but not great as I had high hopes and expectations. The ambiance is nice and since the place is of a larger size compared to most Boston/Cambridge restaurants, the wait is reasonable and they do also take reservations. I loved the fresh out-of-the-oven bread with the sauces. The first time I had Aushak, which I was just mediocre and the second time I ordered lamb, which was not done well at all unfortunately. I would probably go back again with friends - even if for the bread only! - but would not be too excited about it.
(3)
Bill L.
Went with a group of 6. Three ordered vegetarian options and done well. Three others ordered lamb stew, chicken and meatball. Lamb stew which the waiter strongly suggested was tough bland - like chewing on stewed rubber. The chicken was dry but flavorful. The meatball was okay I rate restaurants for their food. I will comment on service. The waiter needs a refresher course on customer empathy and service. While perusing the menu, he was just rude. His recommendations were not suggestions but came across as orders. When we ignored his recommendations, his facial expressions were just bad. I would not go back to this place, there are better options
(3)
Jill L.
This is one of the best places around the city. Everything on the menu I have ever tried (I've been about 8 times) has been incredible. From meat to veggies, I'm always impressed. It's a warm atmosphere with open fireplace they cook their fresh bread in. Then they bring you the warm bread and three different homemade dipping sauces to pick on while you review the menu. One of my favorites!
(5)
Marin J.
Visiting my old stomping grounds. Had never tried Afghan food before, so I had no idea what to expect. We ordered Banjan Pan-fried eggplant seasoned with spices, then baked with fresh tomatoes, served on yogurt garlic mint sauce. $7.50 Kaddo Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. $7.50 Both listed as appetizers. We ordered something else but I can't recall. I can however, recall the bread. Watching the bread being made right next to our table. And eating it minutes later. I would have just sat there happily, next to the open brick oven, and eaten the bread the rest of the winter. (yes, it was cold winter in Cambridge). After the cold, after the wait ('d certainly consider making reservations for the future). We received our food and after two forkfuls, I could certainly understand what the fuss was about. Divine
(5)
Amanda G.
Wow this place was amazing. I've never had Afghani food and of course I ordered the vegetarian meal that resembles Indian food, my favorite. But everything was delicious. The warm bread right out of the oven with an option of a cilantro sauce was prime. Didn't hurt being next to the brick oven in the cold of winter. It's true the pumpkin app was amazing. It's true my friend's lamb dish hidden in rice was a surprise for my taste buds and it's true the line can be long - so get there early on a week day. Loved this place.
(4)
Mandrita D.
I have been here many many times - brought my friends and family too! I love The Helmand! It's an all time favorite. My favorite item on the menu? the chowpan! This is a rack of lamb that comes with rice pilaf veggies and poached pear.The lamb is seasoned really well and cooked the way you want. The rice and veggies that come with it are also nicely spiced - not as rich as Indian food is, but not bland like boiled veggies either. If you watch what is being served at other tables, while you wait for your food, you would see that it's a favorite across the board! The bread served with 3 different condiments while waiting for your food is delicious - usually hot, you can see a chef baking them in a huge brick oven nearby! The desserts are great too - the feereney and the sheerekh are my favorite. Cons - The place being really popular (and my review doesn't help, I know ;)) service can sometimes be a bit slow, it's fairly noisy and it is difficult to get reservations, so plan ahead. Also, these days if you order Coke, they give you a tiny bottle (smaller than a can) with no refills and charge $3.25 for it, the bottle was not even cold. What happened to just serving soda and free refills?!
(5)
H. A.
Well, I finally let bygones be bygones and ate another Helmand meal. Here's the wonderful thing: The food is fantastic! Recommended: Qabalee, the veggie ravioli appetizer, kaddo appetizer, and the perma-special with cheese and pepper.
(4)
Stefanie J.
The Helmand was my first attempt at Afghan food, and it made me a fan! The food was delicious. Also, they were able to accommodate a large group for a birthday party. Overall, I was very satisfied.
(4)
Darren P.
This was my first time eating Afghan food and as such, I was a little nervous trying a new cuisine. However, I was so glad I did. The food was delicious and the service was great! I had the trout special which came with an eggplant side dish and rice with walnuts and dates. Everything was delicious and cooked just right. I definitely will go back and I highly recommend this restaurant. It is great for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The free bread they bring you from the brick oven is also delicious!
(5)
Rachel W.
Went here last night for dinner. I've been here a few times over the years and it's still just as great. I had never ordered the full carafe of house wine before (a steal at $25). It was more than enough wine for the 3 of us. I ordered the lamb which was of course, phenomenal. The bread they bring is absolutely delicious, they also bring with the bread 3 dipping sauces (one yogurt, one hot sauce, and one green one which had walnuts so I didn't try that one, but I heard it was delicious) We also ordered the cake and cream/fruit for dessert to split which was again, phenomenal. It was pretty busy for a Friday night, but the waiter was attentive and pleasant. The hostess who we checked in with could have been a bit more pleasant, but I actually think that's just how she is everyday if memory serves me correctly so don't be put off by her general attitude. Dinner ran us at $95 before tip for the 3 of us with wine and 2 desserts which I think is actually pretty reasonable at Boston/Cambridge standards. This is a great date night spot, really cool interior, great service, and awesome food.
(4)
Cameron B.
I was 10 min late for my table and BAM, it was gone! 30 min later, we were seated and downing our first bottle of wine while contemplating who was going to get what so we could try the WHOLE menu. Lamb, steak, rice, egg plant; yes, they may sound like your standard Afghan regional foods; but Helmand does them to perfection. We started out with the Aushak, meet ravioli that were juicy and tender and the Kaddo pumpkin that was rich and flavorful. Knowing how good the lamb is here, I kept it simple with the Chowpan. Huge lamb shanks, seared to perfection and perfectly salty off-set by the egg plant and rice. It was the perfect size and perfectly cooked. The rest of the table enjoyed Qabelee, the prime rib and the veg platter. Everything was perfect, came out shockingly fast and disappeared just as fast. The service was friendly and efficient and we were turned out into the night to walk off our food babies! Helmand is a Cambridge must!!
(4)
David S.
The Boston location is as good as the San Francisco one. My favourite is the kabili. My wife's is the kofte. The flatbread and dips are delicious. I went on a Saturday night and it was crowded but they managed to fit me in, which was excellent.
(4)
Darrell M.
Last night was my third visit to the Helmand and probably my last. I enjoyed the food during my other visits but didn't even get that far this time. We were seated promptly and our server appeared with menus right away. 25 minutes later he came to our table to say "sorry for the wait" and then left. After 5 more minutes we left. Sadly when I complained on the way out the guy in charge seemed not to understand why we would leave. Two stars because the food was good the other times, and the water guy kept us well hydrated.
(2)
Julie P.
Delicious vegetarian food, attentive service, and nice ambiance!
(5)
Michelle P.
So, the kaddo is amazing. I want it as a main dish. The pallow was beautifully seasoned and the lamb was tender and flavorful. Some of the best lamb I've had, really. And this is one of those places where the bread they give you at the beginning of the meal comes out warm and soft! Our server (I think his name was Peter?) was delightful--we had an overall excellent date night at the Helmand. My only beef with the meal was that the tomato based sauces in several different dishes tasted exactly the same and I'm not sure why. The tomato based sauce on the eggplant side dish and the tomato based sauce on my mourg chicken...basically the same thing, and just sort of uninteresting.
(4)
Gaunt Z.
Lamb dishes were excellently done!
(4)
Phil L.
Not a five but excellent overall. My Seekh Kabob was a little on the medium well side (even though we asked for medium). Service was prompt and direct but not overly friendly. The Kaddoo appetizer was simply incredible. I could have that as a separate meal. The prices are very reasonable (we had four people and it was just over $110 with tip - of course none of us drank alcohol this evening). There is plenty of parking and it was free (I had to place a sticker on the dash of the car). I would repeat (actually it's my second time here).
(4)
Khan A.
It was my first time ever trying Afghanistan food and I was so happy I go there. The food are amazing. We didn't got any appetizer the homemade bread they bring us with different sauces was good enough. U can actually see the bread coming out of the oven and it's smell so good;) regarding sauces they have u for bread u enjoy made of yogurt, mint and something else;) it was very good. I'm not a big fan of hits so I didn't try one of the hot sauce spices but my friend love it. And third sauce look liked pesto sauce it was ok. For the actual order I got Chapendaz marinated steak, grilled with a puree of grilled tomatoes, hot peppers, onions and cumin seeds served with lentils, wheat barley and spinached rice. $26.95 . It was pretty good. I really enjoy steak, it was juicy and perfectly cooked. Love rice. The rest ingredients was ok. My friend got Quabelly, Pallow rice baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed julienne of carrots. $20.50. I'm not a big fan if lamb but it was good. I try couple spoons. And my other friend got Therka Kabob( Prime Rib of Beef; marinated in puree of onion, sun-dried baby grapes and garlic, then grilled and served with sauteed lentils and pallow rice. $22.95) I love rice and beef . We all share so I got a chance to try everything. I love each dish which is rare for me;) . As for deserts we got Ferreney ( Cream pudding topped with fresh kiwi, mango, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry. $5.95) . The fruits was fresh and it was great ending of my dinner. Coming back soon;)
(5)
Xavier M.
Last night I went with a friend to Helmand. I like the Zagat review, where they talk about an exquisite Afghani restaurant in the desert of East Cambridge. We started with an apetizer, Kaddo, made with pumpkin, yogurt and toped with ground beef. It was tasteful and lighter than I thought. Then I followed it with a Seekh Kabob, with really yummy grilled veggies, rice and eggplants. The food was good, but nothing impressed me. Didn't order any wine but it looked like they have a list of reasonably priced wines. The toilet could get a nicer look.
(3)
Kaitlyn O.
I went here with a party of four. Great restaurant! The sauces are all so tasty. It also has excellent vegetarian options. It's hard to go wrong here. Also, the service is very good and nice. The location is a bit off but don't let that deter you - at least you can find some street parking!
(4)
Bhavika P.
Very nice ambience, courteous staff and amazing food. Loved the hot breads, bendi and kaddoo. Pullow and challow rice both taste delicious. The entrees are of decent quantity for one person. Great place for vegeterians as they have a lot of veg options. Lamb, chicken and beef all tasted good as well. Do not forget to try phirnee in desserts. If you are not a very fruits person ask for phirnee without fruits...it is simply awesome. Make sure you have done a reservation to avoid long waits. They do offer free parking so ask about it at the reception.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
Excerpt from their menu: Kaddo Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. $7.50 On the menu, Kaddo (aka bliss) is listed as an appetizer and a side dish. I'd like to add to those classifications: dessert, breakfast, dinner, midnight snack, afternoon tea, anytime you want to want to feel blissful. Anything I try here is amazing and surprising. My taste buds have never experienced these flavors before, and they fall in love, every time, like in a Taylor Swift song. It's like... the first kiss, it's flawless, really something.... it's fearless.
(5)
James B.
Really good food, and a lot of appetizer options! I strongly recommend the vegetarian special--a sampling of several vegetables with rice. They serve complimentary warm brick oven-baked bread at the beginning that is really good.
(4)
Yuan W.
Is there anything I can say that 510 reviewers haven't already said? Nevertheless I feel compelled to write a review for Helmand since it's such a unique and delicious restaurant. When my friend first suggested coming here I was a little skeptical since I had basically no knowledge of Afghan food. If I had to sum it up, it's as if your favorite Indian curry had a lovechild with hummus. Many of the dishes have rich, flavorful sauces without the spiciness of Indian food and there's abundant vegetables in everything, reminiscent of something Mediterranean. Helmand has great vegetarian options. As an omnivore, I still end up gravitating for the veggie entrees since you get huge portions of really flavorful yummy and filling vegetables. My favorite is the Kourma Challow, which is this wonderful mix of saucy, tomato and spinach filled goodness on top of rice. If you want meat, the Kourma Challow with lamb is also great. Going backwards here, but for appetizers, the Banjan, which is an eggplant in yogurt sauce mix is so good. Overall the flavors here are just so homey and warm but also memorable without being in your face. The atmosphere matches the food perfectly as well. The restaurant is full of warm red and yellow colors, with really beautiful paintings of pastoral life in Afghanistan on the walls. It feels like stepping into someone's living room. There is also a huge open oven in the middle of the restaurant where you can see them baking fresh bread. It's a really novel experience to sit at one of the tables right by the oven. If that doesn't make you hungry, not sure what will. Make sure to make a reservation since this place gets packed. It's good for both large and small groups.
(5)
Lama B.
This was my first experience ever with Afghani food, and although, as Zeina pointedly mentioned, Afghanis who don't live in palaces probably don't eat this food, I LOVED it. Definitely order the baby pumpkin with meat sauce and yogurt. Have the eggplant appetizer as well. Order one of the salads. You cannot go wrong with any of the stews, the vegetarian dishes or the lamb dishes. The lentils were killer! Generous portions, aromatic rice, good sides. All around, really great, flavorful food! The desserts were also amazing, as was the coffee! This place is really excellent and I will definitely be back when in Boston.
(4)
shoaib a.
I came here for iftar (Ramadan breaking of fast meal) on a rainy Tuesday night. The Helmand looks like the sorta place where getting a reservation for a party greater than 2 might be a good idea. However, as I'm in Boston for work and find myself eating a many a meal solo, I had no problems finding a table. The decor is very nice as compared to other Afghani establishments and quite comparable to other $$$ ethnic restaurants. I ordered the Aushak as an appetizer and the rack of lamb with rice for my entree. As I was there to break my fast, I asked for, and the waiter was kind enough to bring, some dates (customary to break fast with). The dates weren't crappy dates either. They were the good kind! All of the items came out surprisingly quick. The Aushak was very tasty and went great with the home-made afghani bread. The lamb was perfectly cooked and very well seasoned. I don't generally eat all my rice as to not overload on carbs but it was very difficult to leave any left. (It could have been that I was fasting and hadn't eaten in over 16 hrs!) All in all, the Helmand was a great pick for dinner and I look forward to going back. Yes, it can get pricey especially if you drink and/or order an appetizer. My meal - appetizer, soda, and entree put be back $40.
(5)
Yue Z.
Service: 4 Food: 4 Ambiance: 5 I'm a huge fan of this place for the ambiance. it is great for groups (plenty of room) AND for small intimate dining (quiet). They bake the bread fresh from an real fire oven you can see from the main dining space. And it is delicious. It was arguably my favorite part of the meal. For appetizer, we ordered the kaddo (pumpkin), which was super sweet but altogether delicious and the Bendi (Okra), which was well balanced with the tomatoes. For entree, any Leg of Lamb is delicious, but so is their Theeka Kabab (beef) and Mourgh Challow (chicken). I personally preferred the seasoning on the lamb more, though the beef is very tender as well. The rice and side dishes were also delicious. Definitely worth a try. The desserts were mediocre. I would skip the dessert and order more appetizers Their wines and alcohol selection is also unoriginal. We were hoping for some special Afghan drinks but were disappointed.
(4)
Gabi R.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars. Nice experience, I'd come back, but not without trying out other places like nearby Lala Rokh. Food: -I appreciated the flexibility - I wanted the date & walnut rice that came with one of the specials, and they subbed it for the challow that was supposed to come with my entree. -The lamb was tender and juicy. I hit the spot for a longish craving I'd had for lamb. What was lacking was: 1) the leg of lamb had been deboned, so I didn't have the fun eating it that way, nor the visual experience of a leg of lamb (I'm a woman who loves her meat.) 2) the flavors were mild (but not in the mildly aromatically powerful way) - they were a little underwhelming. I've eaten a lot of Afghan food in my life, so I don't expect spice, but I do expect POWERFUL flavor, and that just didn't come through in my lamb. -The bread was amazing. And it was fresh out of the oven, evidenced by the fact that it became tough within 10 minutes. Amazing. Service: Everyone was very sweet, my water was full all evening, and they non-invasively made menu suggestions & recos when I asked for them. Excellent service. Ambience: nice place to go with a professor or for an above-casual dinner with friends. I went with people I was catching up with after a long time so it was a pleasant change. It would also make a good date spot for a "test the waters" first date - except that it is way out there away from MIT.
(3)
Jolene S.
Awesome food from beginning (bread w/butter and dips) to end (after dinner mints). The food was so good that I didn't even needdessert (though I was tempted to try it having glimpsed the cake being broughttoother tables). As an introduction to this cuisine--I'd highlyrecommend the "special" entree which includes spinach, pumpkin, okra,and more--truly scrumptious. Nothing here disappoints. Highly recommended. Make reservations--we got lucky or we would have had to wait two hours...
(4)
Andrew R.
4.5 stars but going on the side of 5 because, dangit, you just have to choose. The pumpkin app is other-worldly. Perhaps, scratch that, definitely the best pumpkin I've ever put into my mouth. There is no way you will not love this dish. The bread is pretty awesome. Get that green sauce on it and scarf. Be prepared to eat a ton of rice. It's damn tasty rice since they flavor it with some killer spices (not spicy), but it's a ton - especially compared to the amount of the actual dish you ordered. That said, on to the dishes: The meatball one is so-so. It's lacking a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. Skip it and instead get what essentially amounts to the chicken curry (last chicken dish on the list, bottom of the page). Not quite your typical curry and you're gonna love it because of that. It's got its pluses, it's got its minuses, but dear lord, get that pumpkin!
(5)
Meg C.
Wow. I was so disappointed with this place. We went with friends, big night out as a special 'adults only' evening. We chose from a list of well-reviewed restaurants we'd been wanting to try. The food was fine. In case you go in clueless, like me, the food is very similar to Indian, which I like thankfully. Yes, there was a lot of lamb (my husband had it, and said it was decent), and some good vegetarian options but nothing really memorable. They gave us a wine list but were not forthright with cocktails and beer so there was a bit of confusion. It didn't help that the wait staff really wasn't helpful- almost uninterested actually. The tables are really close to one another- which doesn't mind me when eating, but it was kind of hear to get to/from the table without banging into other diners. And the bathrooms were kind of gross- outdated and dirty. If this place gets such good reviews on a consistent basis, put a few bucks into cleaning up the bathrooms, printing cocktail/beer menus, and hiring friendlier staff.
(2)
Lil O.
the food here is really, really good. i've been a few times and always forgotten how good it is. i recommend getting the pumpkin thing as an app. not a huge fan of the location, but i'm not going to hold it against them. i've also had to wait here for a long time before when i didn't have a reservation, so i'd plan accordingly. lamb dishes are the way to go, but i also love lamb, so i might be biased.
(4)
Lisa W.
Mmm.. our first experience with Afgan good. Was at the mall and found this via yelp nearby, so we just headed over there on a whim. We were definitely underdressed for the restaurant (shorts and tank tops vs. lots of old people in business casual), but no one treated us any different, so it was quite pleasant. First, the bread. MMMM!!! It was fresh - we sat next to the oven where it was being made fresh in the oven. The sauces that came with it were great, too, I totally overate on the bread. (And the waiter packed the leftover bread with our stuff!!). We got the pumpkin app.. it was a little too sweet, but still delicious. I got the lamb kabob and the husband got some other lamb dish. Also yummy. The service was a bit slow.. I think they needed more staff for a full house on a Saturday evening, but our waiter was quite sweet. Overall impression - delicious food, slightly slow service, a bit pricy.
(4)
T J.
Definitely worth the trip to Cambridge on the green line....the food was great: we ordered two entrees and an appetizer--though I would recommend not getting an appetizer at all....it wasn't memorable, and the fresh flat bread with the dipping sauces is more than satisfactory as an appetizer to hold you up until the main course arrives. Was a bit disappointed with the quantity of meat in the non-vegetarian entree, but the food itself was very tasty and satisfying. Looking forward to making the trek back to Lechmere sometime :)
(5)
Garth G.
I have been to Helmand 4 times now, and each time it has gotten better and better. Last week when I visited with my date, the food was prepared quickly...which usually makes me nervous. But it was absolutely amazing. We ordered the Sabzi Challow and the Chapendaz. Both meats were succulent, juicy, and tasted amazing. The Chapendaz was a tad rarer than ordered, but I loved it. I usually find that restaurants disappoint over time, this has been the opposite. So GOOD.
(5)
Susan Z.
Came as part of a large group on Friday night, thankfully with reservation ahead of time. I thought the banjan and kadoo appetizers were very good - the owner had recommended them to us. We split seekh kebab, mourgh kebab, and mourgh challow. I personally loved the mourgh challow because I prefer my meats stewed rather than grilled. It was extremely tender and the sauce was delicious - if you like Indian chicken curries I bet you'll like this, too, though the texture and flavor is different. For the seekh kebab, I put the bread yogurt on it and it was quite good like that. I really liked the eggplant that came with the seekh kebab. The mourgh kebab tasted a bit too charred for me but that's a matter of opinion. I like their differently-cooked rice and appreciate that each kebab plate comes with vegetables and rice. The servers were all very kind and polite, and very accommodating for such a large group, and honestly the service is what tipped it up to 5 stars 'cause they were just so darn nice. Next time I'll want to try the boned-in lamb.
(5)
Jessica R.
I can't say enough good things about Helmand. The service and ambiance are just fine, but really, we're all here for the food. It's spicy, it's fascinating, it's tender meat, it's toasty bread with sauces. Try the aushak--dumplings with beef, yogurt and mint. Try the Qabalee--tender lamb under cinnamon and cardamom rice with carrots. Try any of the fish specials, especially the one with figs! My boyfriend is a lamb lover (so to speak), and said this is the best lamb he's ever had. And I lived in the area for 6 years, and Helmand always topped my favorite restaurants list. I can't say anything here that will do the food justice, so really, just go. If you want to keep the price reasonable, just don't order wine.
(5)
Sarah G.
I was thinking about restaurants the other day and I realized someone I never managed to write up this awesome awesome place!!! And what do I remember most?? The Kaddo-- Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce--and they mean beef sauce. I know it may sound weird, but it is simply amazing. I could eat so much of that and be completely content in life. It is just so good! A definite must order if you go. You really can't go wrong with their main dishes either. Yes, this place isn't the cheapest in the world, but I can tell you that if you order something here you should be pretty much guaranteed to have a good time. Their lamb dishes I would push higher up than their chicken dishes, but they use so many fresh herbs and spices and whatnot it really is hard to go wrong. And the portions are pretty big too. And you get to choose from two types of house made rice both of which are super tasty. Very inventive dishes you can't get at most places too! So why not 5 stars? Well the service was a little slow. We had to wait a long time for our table and we had a reservation event, and we would have liked a little more guidance from our server about what was in some of the dishes. That being said, clearly the food wowed me here, so it should definitely wow you too!
(4)
Mitch Q.
It's a great place for a romantic date. Their bread is freshly made daily. We had a table near the oven so it smelled fabulous! It did get a little hot, but we did ask for a table near the oven table. For whatever reasons, our entrees came out really salty. Saltier than Chinese food. Everything else was good though.
(2)
Asiandentist C.
Excellent food and very reasonable price. Need reservations!
(5)
Chris M.
This is four-stars for the food--everything was good and the fresh bread coming out of the central oven was great. Atmosphere felt a little like I was in a big room rather than at a special table so I don't recommend it for a romantic evening but if you have a big group, I remember them having several tables that can accommodate 6+. Would go here again.
(3)
Liliana C.
The Helmand treated us to some very delicious food. Like some other reviewers, we also liked the pumpkin kaddo. There was some very yummy complimentary bread and sauces - especially the cilantro chutney. Extensive wine list but not a lot of beer options. The lighting in the restaurant was also very dim and detracted from the dining experience. It was very quiet which some might enjoy but felt a little awkward for us.
Thanks, Yelp for a great find right across the river from Boston. Was in town on business and had a Sunday night dinner here. - Was quite crowded, but luck was on our side, and we got a table rather quickly. - Warm, inviting, slightly upscale atmosphere (white linen table clothes, warm lighting, etc). - Prices very reasonable and portions a nice bang for the buck - Good service, a tad slow on the water refills - Yummy, warm bread served with a trio of sauces - Vegetarian options (and plenty of them) - Surprisingly mild (in terms of spice level) I'd definitely recommend this place to family and friends (and you!)
(4)
Steve S.
Came here for team dinner in the summer. very nice lamb dishes. of the appetizers, the ravioli and the eggplant ones were the most memorable. The service is very friendly, great place.
(5)
Jessica B.
My aunt took us out to The Helmand last night and I was in for a surprise. I thought it was my first visit, but when we entered I realized we had eaten there once before. While that meal was particularly forgettable, this one was much better. The standout is the food. The flat bread is delicious. My husband and I ordered off the specials menu. He had Chilean sea bass and I had a salad with grilled vegetables and chicken. I've been eating my way across the greater Boston area one chicken salad at a time, and this one was unusual and delicious. The warm grilled vegetables and vinaigrette dressing with a mustardy taste were delicious. One negative is that if you are seated with your back to the corridor across the side of the restaurant, every server that walks behind you brushes past your seat. Now some people probably wouldn't notice that, but unfortunately I'm not one of those people. Service is not overwhelmingly friendly, but the food and shabbily exotic atmosphere make it a nice place for a meal. Reservations recommended.
(4)
Skip W.
This restaurant has it all and will be my first 5 star review. Atmosphere, service, food and quality. I still think about this experience and compare all others to this awesome dinner. If you are near Cambridge and don't go here you will have missed an experience of life time.
(5)
Jeff M.
Amazing food. The kaddo borawni is a pumpkin dish with sugar, yogurt garlic cause, and ground beef sauce. The kaddo borawni is my favorite dish in all of Boston. Simple and stunning. All other pumpkin in the world is pale in comparison. The lamb lawand (lamb sauteed with onion, tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, fresh cilantro, yogurt and spices with spinach and rice) is delicious. What am I talking about? Everything I have ever ordered here is delicious! Every time I go back to Boston, this place always come to mind.
(5)
Alana L.
4.5 stars if I could. The Helmand does very good Afghani food. It's not the best food I've ever had, but it's also best to remember that they spice subtly for a more American palate. It's also a little pricey since they're trying to be a little more upscale than they actually are, but that's really no slur on them and the food is good enough that I'm fine with ignoring it. Went in with a party of 3 on a Monday around 8. Not too busy, and they happily seated us without a reservation. Our waiter was very attentive and professional, and patiently answered all the questions of one of my dining companions who had never had Afghani food. We started with the bowlawni and the kaddo. The bowlawni were nice and crispy, with flavourful fillings and a nice texture. The kaddo blows me away every time. Oh, if I could eat it by the bucket, I'd die fat and happy. The flavours mix perfectly - the sweet and sour and savoury and tender and delicious. I might have eaten the lion's share, but when something's that good, it's every man for himself. I had the aushak as my entree, which are leek and scallion filled ravioli with ground beef, red sauce, and yogurt sauce on top. They have a lovely flavour and texture themselves, but are very filling. I could only finish half. For dessert, we opted for the rice pudding and the crème caramel. The former was well done, though probably thicker than most people might expect of a rice pudding. The texture is more like gelatin. That said, it was excellent, and the cardamom and pistachio worked exceptionally well together. The crème caramel was pretty par for the course. Good, but nothing special. The Turkish coffee was almost syrupy, as you'd expect it to be, and with the caffeine jolt from that, I bounced happily out the door. I'll be going back, of course.
(4)
Jaclyn P.
Helmand was excellent! Everything from the service to the ambiance was great and the prices are very decent. The food is so flavorful and full of spice and life. The beer list was a little limited as well as wine by the glass options - they seemed to cater more toward the selling of full bottles of wine. The back wall of the restaurant is completely covered by a display of the wine bottles. You really get the feeling that you're enjoying an authentic Afghan experience. The restaurant is warm and inviting with a large bread oven to one side and a working fireplace to the other. It is loud and vibrant and a lot of fun. The spinach and cheese stuffed pepper was perfect and the eggplant and tomato sauce appetizer was also delicious. The chutneys were also a big hit. They have plenty of options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Highly recommended!
(5)
Ann S.
It's overpriced, the service was kinda rude and the food wasn't that great. It was an ok experience though.
(2)
Alisa K.
I think this place is good but a touch overrated. Had their kaddo and banjan challow (pumpkin and eggplant) and it was solid but nothing mindblowing. The food comes out fast. The service is satisfactory. I only wish some of their meat were halal. Overall, I prefer Ariana's in Allston.
(3)
Nicholas K.
I was here last Friday night. I thought the ambiance was very nice. Classy setting that is very adequate for a date or just a relaxing dinner, nothing too fancy, though. The service was great as well. I read some reviews for Helmand before writing my own review, and many people commented on poor service. I settled down for a longer dinner and the service seemed very accommodating, even though we took a long time to order at each stage of the meal. We started with the kaddo and the eggplant dish. They were both fabulous. These were, hands down, the highlights of the meal. For main courses, I went with the spicy meatballs and my date went with the vegetarian ravioli. The meatballs were pretty standard and not even remotely spicy, if that is scaring you off. The ravioli was quite bland. I thought that the onions in the ravioli were pretty overpowering. In retrospect, I should have gone with a lamb dish, and I would highly recommend that you do so. Passing up the appetizers, however, would be your biggest mistake--those alone were good enough to net Helmand a 4 out of 5 in my book. The kaddo might be the best single dish I've had in Boston. Consider passing up the entree.
(4)
Lynne S.
I've been to the Helmand several times and tried several different dishes and I can honestly say I've NEVER been disappointed. The bread is amazing - it comes out of the oven like a surf-board and it's fun to watch them cut it up into little pieces. It's even more fun to eat it with the three little dipping sauces they give you - the yogurty mint one is my favorite. For appetizers we tried the Bowlawni, brick oven baked twin pastry shells, one filled with leeks and scallions the other filled with spiced potatoes. They were both delicious but I liked the leek and scallion one slightly better. We also tried the Kaddo, pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin. It was a little too sweet for me but everyone at our table loved it. Lastly, we tried the Banjan, pan-fried eggplant seasoned with spices, then baked with fresh tomatoes, served on yogurt garlic mint sauce ---- mmmmmm, this one was definitely my favorite. I was pretty full by the time we finished our appetizers but I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the rest of my meal. The Qabelee is one of my favorite dishes. I'm always torn between getting it or trying something new. This time I decided to try the Qoremay Ma-He, fresh Sea Bass pan fried, then sauteed with onion, peeled tomatoes, garlic, ginger, sun dried tomato, radishes and potato served with Challow rice. The fish was so light and delicious and the flavors of the accompaniments were so wonderful. It was a birthday celebration so we had to get dessert, but we were all so full we decided to just split one. We decided on "Our Cake," a homemade cardamom and pineapple cake served with ice cream on pomegranate sauce. We chose correctly. It was delicious! The restaurant is always crowded so a reservation is recommended. The service is amazing, the prices are very reasonable and the food is always delicious. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Sarah M.
I'm in the minority here, but I was unimpressed by Helmand and left fairly disappointed after reading all the great reviews here on yelp. Maybe it was just overhyped and my expectations were too high. the bread was great. I thought the kaddo (baked pumpkin) that everyone raved about was too sweet, although I did like the mantwo quite a bit. My entree - grilled beef with sides was disappointing. The beef was cooked medium - medium/well, which was IMHO a waste. Meh. Serivce was okay -- server was less than friendly, but adequate. It was good, but not great. I probably won't go back.
(2)
Samantha G.
I had ordered over the phone and was told my order would be ready in ten minutes. When I showed up ten minutes later, we had to wait for an additional ten minutes for our food, so our experience with The Helmand didn't start off so well. There were also some problems with their credit card system so we had to wait for that too, which made us kind of unhappy, but I guess that's not really their fault. We had ordered the Chowpan and Kaddo and Banjan Challow. Both were ok and came with six pieces of bread, which was better than the food itself. I've eaten better Afghani food back home in LA and it was cheaper too. Overall, I might consider coming back here again but it wouldn't be a frequent thing; only when I'm craving Afghani food.
(3)
F A.
This is such a unique restaurant. Love the atmosphere and food here. Their lamb (in any entree) is always delicious, and their flatbread basket is wonderful to start with. Casual, yet very nice as well. Never had Afgan food before this restaurant, but a definite must try!
(4)
Mike O.
Great meals every time I go. Maybe it's because the Karzai family owns this place and insists on excellence? Everyone is right about the kaddo. I don't even like pumpkin and I love this dish. Love the flatbread. Dipping sauces are a bit liquidy for me, but they do pack a punch. The Qabelee (Afgan rice with raisins and lamb) is also quite good and surprisingly mellow.
(5)
Veronica A.
Really reliable for good flavor. Love the living room/homey feel to this place and I can appreciate the parking that isnt so challenging. I go there often and am never disappointed.
(5)
Sarav C.
Last evening, me and a bunch of friends dinned at Helmand. Since we were coming from work, we were are all tired, cranky and dressed in casuals. There is a back room which is lot quieter and smaller than the main room. We endedup getting a table in the backroom and it really helped us to relax and enjoy the evening. We ordered an appetizer and entrees for us and started chatting and having a good time. The food arrived in the order we asked for and they even accommodated our need to have a family style dinner. The service was excellent, courteous, pleasant and very close to home. its always refreshing to see smiling waiters and staff. Stuffed Sea bass, Trout and Eggplant pumpkin were our main courses. Every dish was well done and tasted heavenly. The ambiance was great and I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to try Afghani food.
(5)
Derek B.
As someone who wasn't sure I'd even like Afghani food, I not only LOVED it, but am thinking of the next time I go back. To start, I don't even like pumpkin anything, but another friend ordered the kaddo, baked pumpkin, and I was in heaven. Despite the many foreign dishes and unknown ingredients, the wait staff was extremely helpful in making recommendations, educating us, and even finding great wines (also pretty reasonably priced) to pair with our choices. We had a large group of about 9 and benefited from ordering family style. Everything was so fresh, and while I never thought of Ravioli as an Afghani specialty, even that was amazing.
(5)
Bill S.
Fabulous! Great vegetarian fare. Highly recommend it for anyone who wants a great dining experience. Excellent service, great presentation and above all excellent food. Ate there last night and if I return to Boston will certainly go back.
(4)
Haley T.
A fantastic place for a nice date. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. However, reservations are a necessity. Waiting for seating is uncomfortable despite the provided couches-two is not enough. And don't come early either-in my two experiences here I had the misfortune of arriving early, and had to wait not only the 15 minutes before my reserved time but 20 more in on the sagging couch in the cold entrance hall. However, the food was well worth the wait. The pumpkin appetizer was very sweet on it's own-but apparently the yogurt sauce balances it perfectly. The menu offers a larger-than-usual selection for veggie folk. The vegetarian platter had diverse flavors and a pleasantly spiced rice. I thoroughly enjoyed the nan-a cross between a flavorful focaccia and indian naan. It's cooked fresh in a wood oven in the dining room. The other highlight was the baklava-I have yet to have a peice of baklava so rich and spicy! The turkish coffee was also a treat. I highly recommend the Helmand for omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike.
(4)
Christopher M.
It's been 5-6 years since I've been at The Helmand and I hate to admit this but I think about the meal I ate there about once or twice a month. (yes, I know that is very sad, but it was that good. I had Chowpan (grilled lamb with sauteed eggplant and rice) and Kaddo (baked pumpkin with yogurt and ground beef). If you've never had Afghan cuisine (and if you have already tried Indian or Lebanese and enjoyed it) then you should try it. You will be pleasantly surprised. The next time I'm in Cambridge I will be eating at The Helmand.
(5)
Cequesta K.
After itching to try something new, a friend and I decided to try our hand in some Afghan food, and I must say.....this place has been embedded in my brain ever since! The decor is really pretty, but for some strange reason has a very spanish vibe (which is odd considering it, you know....not a spanish restaurant) We started out with the Kaddo and let me just say that pumpkin yogurt+ ground beef= utter amazement! For an entree I ordered the lamb and spinich with okra (I forgot the actual name of it, sorry!) Which was laced with taste! (Cheesey I know, but damnit its the truth!) All and all my experience was great, look forward to going back!
(4)
Alexandra B.
Dear. Sweet. Jesus. Afghan food is now on my list of top 5 cuisines. I have to say, it was a busy night, our waiter wasn't particularly attentive, but the quality and taste of the food more than made up for it. The bread and three dipping sauces were divine. All of the vegetarian appetizers were amazing. I'll be back again! And again. And again...
(5)
Rayid G.
Excellent restaurant - probably the best afghani restaurant i've been to. The bread was great and fresh. The koufta challow was amazing - i'm going back there just for that!
(4)
Allyson Y.
Oh how i miss you, Helmand! I moved 3,000 miles away, with no afghan fare near or far, but still dream of your kaddo bowrani, my absolute favorite! I have since learned to make my own kaddo (requiring the arduous effort of peeling, sauteeing, and roasting a pumpkin--can you can tell how often this happens?!), but it is no comparison. Until we meet again, Helmand!
(4)
lesi w.
Very un-assuming restaurant hidden in Cambridge with great food and service. Went on a Monday evening and the place was packed, highly recommend getting reservations before hand. What we ate - Fresh made bread was amazing with many different dipping sauces. - The lamb and spinach was tender and delicious - Also had the pumpkin and eggplant dish. Which was also amazing. The pumpkin was sweet almost like desert, very good complement to the eggplant.
(4)
Peter W.
I was glad that we made reservations. I was even more glad when I called and told them we were going to be 10 minutes late and it would be ok. We arrived and was surprised to see the placed packed. Not many restaurants can claim to be busy on a Tuesday night. Helmand's can. We had a couple of bottles of wine and main entree. We did not have time to try appetizers since we were running late. I had the Chow pan which is the only lamb dish served on the bone. It was well prepared, a fairly good portion, and very tasty. The rice was amazingly fragrant and fluffy. I look forward to coming to this place again!
(4)
Adam E.
Delicious.
(4)
S K.
The food here is very delicious! I've never been disappointed. Like everyone else is saying, try the: - Pumpkin, kadoo, and qabalee - if you like lamb, they have several options to choose from - overall, a great place, good food, nice atmosphere, and reasonable prices for a nicer type place.
(4)
G J J.
Good food, great bread for appetizer. The fried turnover type appetizer was really great. As a vegetarian, I cannot rave about the meal itself. Perhaps it is really phenomenal for lamb lovers, since they seem to serve a lot of that. Otherwise good food and would certainly visit again - if not just for the appetizers and baklava dessert. Do not order the turkish coffee!! They don't know how to make this, and it is filled with cardamom and NO sugar...
(4)
Ali A.
Staff was extremely helpful. Food was AMAZING. We didn't have a reservation on a busy saturday night and they still sat us within five minutes. This place is wonderful for vegetarians. It has an entire section of entrees just for veggies. The half carafe of wine was very reasonably priced, and good at that (we got white). I got the "special" vegetarian entree. It consisted of a plate of baked pumpkin, eggplant, spinach, rice, and okra. It was spiced very well. All of the flavors in the dish complemented each other. I work very close by and will definitely be returning.
(5)
Heather G.
I finally made it here to try what everyone's been raving about. While I think it was a very good meal, I did not feel like it was a 5-star meal. For apps, we got the kaddo and the bowlawni. I will agree that the kaddo is delicious - easily the highlight of the meal. Though, if you're looking for light, pumpkin-y goodness, you won't find it in this dish. It is very rich and sweet, almost like pumpkin pie dessert before a meal. Nonetheless, it's a must-try but light eaters should think about sharing this app with a dining partner. The bowlawni was like a very skinny and flat Hot Pocket filled with potatos, spices, leeks, and scallions. This app was less-heavy and less-sweet, and had a good ratio of flaky-crust to filling. For entrees, we had both the Qabelee and the Chapendaz. The Qabelee was the better choice, as it was simple but had a very unique flavor combination that i'd never tasted before. The Chapendaz was basically just a thin piece of beef with some spinach rice and a bit of spiced-sauce. It wasn't bad, just very unremarkable. The beef was not of exceptional quality, so I'd stick with the lamb in the future. Overall, the apps really made the meal the most memorable, though i would order the qabelee again if I went back.
(3)
Susan J.
My boyfriend and I have opposite tastes, so it can be tough for us to agree on a restaurant. I'm a vegetarian, and he loves a thick, juicy steak. But we could both find something good on the menu. I had the Kaddow (fried then baked pumpkin) with eggplant and callow rice, and the BF even tasted some of the rice and pumpkin off my plate because it looked that good (normally he wouldn't touch veggie-based food unless it was fried and breaded). It's usually crowded, but the atmosphere is warm and cozy, and the soft, warm bread is AMAZING!
(4)
Chad F.
I have been here a few times for job-related dinners, and I enjoyed their food every time. It's a great place to take a visitor to. Very tasty.
(5)
Solomon C.
My friend brought me here for my birthday, it's classy yet casual. The clay oven in plain sight is nice touch. It's not just for show, they actually make bread in it and the bread is phenomenal. I have Indian food fairly often and i have to say that this is very close, if not the same thing? I've never had afghani food so i don't know. The lamb lawand is pretty much a bland curry-like substance poured over lamb, potatoes and intricate spices with indian rice and spinach. They have a pretty extensive selection of international wines so you SHOULD find something you like. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Stephanie G.
Ohhh I love this place. The food is delicious, decently priced, and they will give you as much bread as you want with fantastic sauces including a yogurt sauce. I love the vegetarian dishes, appetizers (especially anything with eggplant mush, sooo yummy), the salads, they just do the food really well. I was originally bummed that the cocktail options are not that great, then I reminded myself that this is an afghani restaurant. Last time I was there the service wasn't that great, but I'm hoping it was a fluke and giving it five stars anyway because it's delicious and fairly inexpensive.
(5)
Liz H.
If you like meat that you can cut with a fork, please try the chapendaz. You won't be disappointed. I know it's hard when there are a bevy of other delicious lamb and beef options, but it was so good I had it twice in one week. The eggplant that comes with it is equally amazing. A solid full pour of house red for around $7 complements it well, and though my boyfriend and I can go through 7 baskets of bread we still ordered appetizers. I wasn't the hugest fan of the aushuk but the meat sauce that accompanied it was amazing. The mantwo were better. Baklava was different than european baklava (much nuttier and much less syrup) but still fantastic, as was the sheerekh (HIGHLY RECOMMEND). Nothing but good, good things to say. Definitely make a reservation.
(5)
Blaise F.
One of those amazing restaurants that makes you eat slowly, like your subconsciousness is forcing you to savor the meal. Make reservetions in advance! They gratiously seated us after 30 minutes wait on a Thursday night. The vegetarian special is amazing and the house wine is surprisingly good as well.
(5)
Peter Y.
One of the best restaurants I've been to in Boston. The food is fantastic! Many have mentioned the baby pumpkin and the lamb main courses as delicious, and I haven't had the pleasure of trying to meatballs yet. However, I can say that even the bread they give you is out of this world. It comes hot from this big open fire oven, and they give you three different sauces to dip it into. I thought that I was going to choke from eating so much bread, but I couldn't stop myself. Definitely worth a visit. Oh, and everything is reasonably priced too.
(4)
Lauren H.
I have absolutely nothing with which to compare The Helmand, because it was my first foray into Afghan food. So this review might be about the restaurant, but it might also be about Afghan food in general. Either way, they are both freaking delicious. I have no idea what I ordered. I was a bit of a lost soul when looking at the menu, though I was put at ease when they had Anchor Steam (one of my all-time favorite beers) available. I think I ordered something that had yogurt and something that looked like pot-stickers, and that it was one of the most incredible things I've ever eaten. Highly recommend branching out and trying this place. I'm just sorry I waited so long.
(5)
Ian D.
Was that Hamid Karzai over in the corner booth? Seriously, his brother owns the place and anytime Mr. President is in town, it is closed for a special family meal. Our Afghani roommate said his mother made better Lamb Challow, but not having any such comparisons to make, this was by far the best I've had. When our nation is engaged in military action overseas, we should feel a duty to experience the culture being engaged. Be a part of some gastro United Nations work by spending an evening at Helmand. Oh, amazing place for a romantic date.
(5)
Emily L.
This restaurant is incredible! It's on the expensive side, but the food is wonderful! Everything is flavorful and fresh!
(5)
JW B.
Having a hard time deciding on a rating for Helmand, since my experience ranged from high highs and low lows. The food was tremendous. Dips & bread are wonderful, as everyone claims. Around the table we shared two eggplant apps, the kaddo and the mantwo, all very very good. (Personally, I thought that the kaddo was sickeningly sweet, but I don't like sweet things...) I had the Showla for my main, a vegetarian dish with spinach stuffed poblanos and a rice/bean mixture that was like risotto - really yummy BUT pretty darn oily. Everyone else was pleased. The service though? Ugh. Not surly, but, blase - like they kept forgetting we were there. And how could you? Seven of us sitting at a round table in the middle of the room! It took a GOOD five minutes to get menus, and then at least another five for someone to come round with water & ask about drinks. Throughout the meal, trying to get our waiters attention to order more beers or get more water was a total joke. OK, it was Saturday night, but it was only 7pm - and there were staff & waiters everywhere buzzing around. Actually getting them to help you, though, was another story... I will admit that the service left a bad enough taste in my mouth to drown out the wonderful food tastes - and warrant questioning a return trip.
(2)
Noopur S.
My experience here has been absolutely fabulous but only after I was seated. Mind you! I have been to this place ummmm one two many times;) Getting a reservation is near impossible task and the lady who answers the phone is so rude or perhaps just doesnt speak good English. Once you get here the seating takes so darn long ..... any day of the week!! Aah! But once you are past these hurdles the service is quick .... oooh!! I so love the fresh outta the oven flat bread and oooh! the sauces to go with it ... my favorites in order - green, red and white. I feel the appetizers are slightly smaller in portion than I'd like them to be but taste awesome anyway. My favorite in the main menu is the Mourgh (Chicken) Challow. It is so flavorful and there is always so much that I bring back a doggy bag each time:) I have always been so stuffed with my dinner that I never made it to the desert. This is defnitely not a cheap eat every week kinda place, although I might be guilty of that. But the prices are worth everything and more.
(4)
Cecilia L.
I don't know how the Helmand manages to do such delicious things with food. People's eyes become stars when this place comes up. I've heard more than one person say it was the best meal they ever had. And incredibly affordable! I went here for the first time with a nice boy from match.com . Though the setting is super-romantic, nothing emerged between us. However, gastronomically it was amazing. I especially push the Helmand on vegetarians. I love meat but I would be happy eating the ravioli dish and the vegetarian mixed platter for the rest of my life. Order wine. Try to score a seat near the oven where you can watch them bake ginormous loaves of bread. And make a reservation -- we've had an hour wait on a Tuesday.
(5)
Raphael K.
So delicious! Great vegetarian options as well! Went on a Friday night with two friends. Food prep took just the right amount of time.
(5)
Jonathan D.
This place is straight up tasty. We came here last night after work and were seated within 10 minutes for a table for 5 - the place was busy but they tend to turnover their tables fast (great when waiting, not so great while enjoying your meal). We all shared the Kaddo appetizer - which according to their menu was a pan fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned w/ sugar and other great sauces. This was great, a must have, if you will. It's also just the right size and can be used as a dip for the bread they serve as well! For dinner I had to make a game-breaking decision between the Chowpan - rack of lamb and the Chapendaz - a beef tenderloin, and eventually went w/ the Chapendaz. Honestly, I don't think I could have made a better choice - the meat was cooked very well and had all the right flavors. The side portions of puree'd tomato and the like were also nice selections w/ the beef.
(4)
Sami W.
A question: if a restaurant messed up your bill to your advantage, would you say anything, or keep your mouth shut, pay the bill and get the hell out as quickly as possible? My answer: Hell yeah!! (Especially when someone is out of work!) (they forgot to bill us for a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc) This was the first time I had Afghani food, and this place did not disappoint. We showed up at 8:30 for a 9pm dinner reservation on a busy Saturday night, and we were seated right away. We started off with the delicious eggplant appetizer (forgot the name). Then I ordered the Beef Kebab (forgot the name) which was amazing! The service was smooth and prices were reasonable. I had a great experience, not sure I'd give it 5 stars if it wasn't for that free bottle of wine! Definitely recommendable!
(5)
Elaine M.
The other night, I was craving something ethnic and different for dinner, and opted to come here based on the excellent Yelp reviews for it as well as the fact that I had never had Afghan cuisine before. Being that it was a Friday evening and we did not have a reservation, we were told that the earliest table for two would be available in two hours. We weren't in any kind of rush, so we said that was fine, and we simply walked to the nearby Cambridgeside Galleria mall to shop and kill time. When we came back, we were seated immediately. Overall, the food hit the spot. It was definitely ethnic and different, and it was quite delicious. The bread reminded me of cut up pieces of Indian naan bread, and the green sauce (an evidently cilantro-heavy sauce) was my favorite of the 3 sauces they gave us. We started off with the kaddo as our appetizer, which I really liked. It was a pumpkin/garlic-yogurt/beef dish that exhibited multiple flavors like sweetness and tanginess all at the same time, yet it somehow all worked--and really well, I might add. My entree was the dwopiaza. The lamb was very flavorful, and I found the pallow (rice) to be quite addicting. For dessert, I ordered the bucklawa, which was realllllly sweet--a little too sweet for my tastes. Overall, I had a very good dining experience here. I just wish it were a little cheaper.
(4)
Bob F.
Hidden Gem of Cambridge. I really have nothing to compare this to, because I've never tried Afghan food anywhere else, but I find this restaurant to be really unique and delicious. They have fresh-baked flatbread, with dipping sauces that alone is worth coming for (if you get pick-up, they'll give you the bread and dipping sauces as well). I always get the Mourgh Chicken w/ Salad; it's not that unique, but beats any grilled chicken salad I've had elsewhere. My favorite dishes are the appetizers, though, specifically the kaddo (fried pumpkin), Aushak (Raviolis), and Bowlawni (pastries with potato / meat - kinda like samosas). I recommend sampling one or a few of these if you go. The pumpkin is delicious, but hard to eat a whole plate of - better to share than get a plate of your own.
(5)
Billy Su B.
helmand's mascot would be a baked sexy baby pumpkin. sweet buns, mm.. EAT: 1. kaddo- it's like a decadent candy appetizer. naughtly pumpkin. 2. bowlawini- scallion and leek stuffed shells, baked in an oven. hot PIZZLE, give me more. 3. THE BENDI- okra. SWEET MOTHER OF DONG, i'll have another i ate other things too, but those are the must-eat highlights. *VERY* veggie-tarian friendly, HOT HOT date spot. *great service go forth, embarrass yourself by ordering things you can't pronounce. to hell with chubby thighs and jiggly' buttcheeks, go over-eat.
(5)
Paul G.
The food gets a 5, the ambiance only a three. After waiting 20 minutes at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, we were ushered to a cramped table in a back room with a vaulted ceiling. The problem with vaulted ceilings is that the combine and amplify sounds. There was nothing on the wall and only a small rug on the floor to absorb the noise, so the crowded room was deafening. And because of the bouncing soundwaves, we were actually able to hear quiet conversations at tables across the room. Ambiance aside, the food was fantastic. We started with an appetizer of Mantwo, which consisted of two pastry shells filled with vegetables. The leek filling was particularly interesting. Main courses were koufta challow, a delightful blend of meatballs and a kind of Afghan pasta, and a wonderful plate of lamb chops and seasoned rice. The real surprise was the bakhlava. Being from Boston, we're familiar with the honey-drenched confection served at Greek-owned restaurants all over the area. So we were surprised to be served a thick, semi-dry pastry seasoned liberally with cardamon and pistachio. It was a completely different flavor from the standard Greek fare and a wonderful treat. Top that off with a bottle of South American wine at $18 and we had a complete dinner for two for $70 without tip. An outstanding value. If we could have heard each other talk, this place would have rated a five. As it was, the cacophany was too much of a negative to merit such a high rating.
(3)
Rachel C.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this amazing restaurant? Incredible food, good service, extremely reasonable prices, vegetarian-friendly, wonderful wines, great atmosphere. This place has everything. Also, Make Reservations!! It gets packed in here.
(5)
Purvi R.
*Sighhh...When can we go back to The Helmand?* As I am writing this review, over a month after I was here (bad Purvi R., bad) I can still taste the delicious bread and chutneys in my mouth. Goodness this place was delicious. I wholeheartedly, 1000% believe all the hype, and support it with this review. It is important to make reservations, but if you can't do that, send your boyfriend to wait for a table while the rest of your party arrives (thanks love). Luckily, we were seated right as I arrived making our party complete. I'm surprised that the waiter didn't have to whip out a washcloth right away, seeing as I was drooling the entire way to the table as I passed the wood-fire bread oven and saw what people had on their tables. We ordered up a bottle of red while mulling over the amazing menu and deciding on appetizers. And devouring the first round of bread...goodness those chutneys were amazing. Try the green with the yogurt...unreal. Ahem...where was I. Ah yes, we decided on sharing a couple of appetizers (vegetarian aushuk and kaddo) and each ordered up our food. Oh, the food. I got the showla, and it was ShowLoveAtFirstBite. If we hadn't gotten an order of bindi on the side, and if I hadn't housed like 4 baskets of their bread, I would have licked that damn plate clean. Luckily, I got my chance a couple of days later with the leftovers :) Another bottle of wine later, and lots of laughs and love-grunts about the food, the 4 of us concluded our meal way too full for dessert (sad!). But it's a meal I won't soon forget, and can't wait to do over. Epilogue: The one thing I did not absolutely love was the service. I thought it could have been much much better, and the waitstaff just didn't seem enthusiastic at all. If I worked around all this lovely food, I think I would just be so happy all the time, I don't understand.
(5)
Shannon S.
My first Helmand experience was a good one. We arrived on time to the Helmand for our reservation for a table for 10 and were seated in about 10 minutes (they had to clear and reset the table from the last party) but the seating was comfortable. It's a cute little place. One large room a friendly, helpful staff. It was comfortable and subtle which I liked. We sat down and proceeded to look through the menu. I selected a bottle Pinot off the menu that was around $35. And started to look through the menu. There were a lot of things that grabbed my attention, but Russ and I eventually settled on getting the Kaddow ( Baked Pumpkin )side the Mantow desert (Homemade pastry shell filled with onions and beef. Served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce.) (Kaddow), he chose the Spicy Meatball entree, and I chose the Chopendez - Marinated tenderloins of beef with Rice and Vegetables. I greatly enjoyed everything I tried and found everything to be interesting, flavorful and delicious, but I was very taken with the Baked Pumpkin and also thought my entree were the highlights out of what we ordered. If I went back I'd get an appetizer & side of Baked Pumpkin because it really was so incredibly good! After being impressed by the food, I was shocked to go into the bathroom and discover that they were not quite as charming as the Helmand. They were small and unkept and very Allston bar style, if you catch my drift. A weird thing to comment on, but it gave me a pretty strong impression after so nice a meal. Overall, I'd say that it was affordable, delicious and might not make it into the most regular rotation, but I did have an enjoyable evening.
(4)
Rose S.
If you are looking for something different from the usual French, Italian, Thai food... this is the place! Home made flat bread and wonderful flavors!
(4)
Molly S.
Two friends and I came in at 6pm with no reservation - and the hostess didn't seem thrilled with that, but she brought us to the back room, and things only improved from there. Our waiter was friendly and attentive, and joked around with us as we worked out the Afghani pronunciations. The service was fast, the food was great, and the deserts were HEAVEN. Maybe it's just me, but do you ever have those nights were you just want desert and wine? Like, a lot of each? This is the place for it! I'm sure a few more go-rounds and I'll figure out what's what-around Afghani food. Very similar to Indian food, but different spices, methods, meats.
(4)
Ellen C.
I would kill for their kodda recipe. Baby pumpkin has never been so delicious. My mom and I had dinner at the Helmand last night, and there was not one thing wrong the experience. Not one. We had reservations (which you need, even on a weekday evening -- the place was busy), and we were seated immediately. Our waiter - a sweet older man - was there with menus and a water pitcher within seconds, and back a couple minutes later to take our drink order. (Two glasses of the house sauvignon blanc. I don't know a thing about wine, but it was tasty.) The dining room is large and decorated with what looks to be authentic Afghan artwork, crafts, and copperware. It's pretty but not gaudy, with high ceilings and fresh flowers on every table. There's plenty of space between tables, so you're not squeezing by anyone to get to the restroom, and there are sofas and chairs for people who are waiting to be seated. We split the kodda appetizer, which was the best thing I've tasted in years. I'm so not kidding -- this beats Cuchi Cuchi's garlicky shrimps any day, and I love me some garlicky shrimps. For the main course I had the kourma challow and my mom had the beef mantwo (large ravioli stuffed with beef and onions). Both were wonderful -- interesting spices, hot but not too spicy, generous portions. And all the food came out FAST. No waiting around, even though they were very busy. I'll be back, often, with many friends. You should go too.
(5)
Mimio G.
Helmand offers outstanding, authentic and tasty afghan food. Surprisingly this place is very reasonable on your wallet for the service and food that you receive. Booking essential. Highly recommended.
(5)
Joie G.
Wow! I'm in town for a conference and this place was highly recommended by our instructor and the concierge. This is my first time eating in an Afghan restaurant but I have had Afghan food at a friend's house. We started with the Bowlani (pastry filled shells with leeks and potatoes), Banjan (eggplant) and Kadoo (baby pumpkin). We had bread with the three dipping sauces - a yogurt mint base, chilles tomato base and a cilantro, vinegar, oil. They were all flavorful and I could not decide which one is my favorite. We ordered the Mourgh Challow (boneless chicken with split pea, curry, yogurt) and the Vegetarian Special. For desert, we tried the Pudeen and Feereney. I highly recommend you add this to the top of your "must do" list in the Boston area and make a reservation. Parking is a little difficult and the "T" can get you there easily too. Everything was perfect.
(5)
Archana V.
What can I say that 450 other reviews did not?! Helmand is the kind of restaurant you want to take out of towners to so they understand how awesome Cambridge is! I've been here over 5 times and never had a bad experience. I've tried all of their lamb dishes and a fried trout special and liked everything. I especially love the mildly spiced fragrant rice that comes as a side with most dishes. Yes, it's pricey but its really good food!
(5)
Clodel G.
This one of the places where it's good, but it wouldn't be my priority to go back here. Soooo. It's just okay. Pluses were the Afghan bread and the cinnamon flavored rice. Lamb was good. But the service felt like TGIFriday in an Afghan restaurant.
(3)
RJ U.
Excellent food. I second everybody's good reviews of the place. I haven't been there recently but had gone several times between 2001 and 2006 when I'd lived there or when I'd visit friends in Boston. I still remember the challow, the kebabs, the chowpan of lamb, the manto (mantwo?), and desserts containing pistachios (I'm forgetting names, sorry). This basically could be a 5 or a 4.5, but I've already raved about so many other things on Yelp, and frankly, the food is overshadowed by the Persian restaurant Lala Rokh, across the river in Boston.
(4)
Stephen Y.
The Helmand is one of the places I bring out of town guests to blow them away with the quality of the food available in Cambridge. All their dishes show an excellent sensibility for how flavors work together. This is most evident in their popular kaddo, which combines candied pumpkin, tangy yogurt sauce, and well spiced beef together in a fascinating medley. As far as the other entrees go, all the lamb dishes I've tried have been very well prepared, making use of the strong flavor of lamb without letting it become overpowering.
(5)
Mike T.
Okay, I went to this place on many recommendations, and it was good. The flatbread they give you at the beginning of the meal is pretty awesome (don't eat it all, you'll want to save a bit to mop up your entree). I had the beef mantwo as my appetizer-- big, hearty dumplings. And, like everything on the menu, served with yogurt. Well, not EVERYTHING. But if you don't like yogurt, probably best to eat somewhere else. I had koufta... well, basically, the afghan version of malai kofta as my entree. Only it had meat in it. Specifically, spicy meatballs in a rich, peppery sauce. It was very good, but not amazing. I think that's my take on Helmand in general. Good, but not quite outstanding. I found the food and atmosphere pleasant, but won't be coming by regularly. Sidenote: Portions are large here, everyone in my party of 3 needed doggie bags.
(3)
Renee H.
This is a great place to take people. Awesome atmosphere! You walk in and it feels like you were just welcomed into some one's personal dining room. It was such a warm feeling. The appetiser was just okay. We had the Bowlani. I didn't like the breading too much, and the spinach stuffing was a little too strong. The main coarse and bread w. sauces more than made up for it! I had the Kabuli, and it was great. The flavor is cooked in, there was no sauce, but it was delicious and there was a huge portion of lamb. The carrots were a little too sweet for me, but mixed in were a nice touch. My sister had the Mourgh Challow which was DECADENT!! This is my suggested eat here! It tastes like a curry, but different. So yummy. Unfortunately there was no room for dessert. One thing I would have liked is some kind of special Afghani drink, like a special tea, or rose drink, or something like that.
(4)
Emily O.
Really, really delicious Afgan cuisine. I am familiar with Persian food and recognized some of the same flavors in Helmand's dishes. Although I was a bit apprehensive about the kaddo due to mixed reviews, I ended up loving it. A hefty slice of pumpkin is served with yogurt sauce and finely minced beef on top. No Aunt Libby's here- the pumpkin is custardlike, savory, and works well as a root vegetable with the meat sauce. The "mantwo" (beef pie) was extremely flavorful. The Koufta Challow (beef meatballs) were meaty and rich, and served on a HEAPING pile of challow rice. The Qabelee was quite good- lots of unexpected flavors, like cinnamon and allspice. I am not normally a fan of raisins, but those in the Qabelee were a lovely addition. Ambience was interesting. We were seated near the wood-burning oven, where a chef was preparing flatbreads by hand. I enjoyed mine with the cilantro pesto sauce, a nice deviation from butter (although the butter at Helmand is sweet and high-quality). Highly recommended! Don't forget to make reservations.
(4)
Ren T.
Simply put..this is an orgasm for your mouth. Medium sized nondescript place (meaning a ninja would have a hard time finding it), always packed for dinner. You have to call and make reservations ahead of time. Fatty American sized portions also await you. mmm yeah.
(5)
Sandra C.
Nice restaurant that serves Afghanistan food. The only place I know of in Boston. Their meat dishes can turn out a little dry, but their vegetable dishes are wonderful. Dress is a little nicer than casual, but you can wear jeans and it's fine. They also have great deserts like Baklava, rice pudding, etc. Their bread is really delicious and it comes with three wonderful dipping sauces. I recommend getting the mantwo it is delicious!
(4)
Arik C.
Such a great deal for a night out. Afghani food is similar to Indian but with its own style. Paid $70 for 2 apps, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. Can't beat it! Very diverse and friendly staff and the place is packed. Highly reccomend it.
(5)
Michael B.
Not sure if it lives up to the hype, but the food was pretty good. I ordered the Kadoo (the pumpkin appetizer) and Aushak (leek ravioli entree). The bread before the meal was delivered quickly and had a hint of a nutty savory flavor of its own, like naan but better. I was seated right in front of the baker, who was churning out loaf after loaf of bread right in front of me. Wasn't too happy that he was touching the cooked bread right after handling the raw dough, but decided to chance it. Anyway, service was very prompt - the Kadoo came only a couple of minutes after I ordered it. The pumpkin was amazing, as was the yogurt sauce. I didn't order the dish vegetarian (they let you do that), because I wanted to try the "authentic" dish on my first try, but the beef detracted from rather than adding to the dish. I'd definitely recommend the appetizer, but get it without the beef. The Aushak took longer to come out, and I was less impressed by this dish. While the appetizer was a delicious melding of flavors, this just tasted like its raw ingredients put together. There was none of that delicious food synergy going on. It was still a good meal and the portions were sizable, but I'd probably try something else on the menu next time. Service was friendly and attentive, food was good, portions were quite filling, and price was about what I'd expect for an "exotic" restaurant in this area. Overall, it was a good experience, and I look forward to going back next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Min L.
This place was recommended to me as a good restaurant to try out with my best friend on her birthday. I enjoyed the meal so much that in the months following this meal, it became THE place for me to bring people on special occasions. I've tried various things each time, and I've decided that the following dishes combined make a perfect meal at The Helmand: appetizer: kaddo (the pumkin dish everyone raves about) entree: qabelee (rice baked with lamb tenderloin, raisins, and glazed juienne carrots) dessert: turkish coffee and sheerberaing (rice pudding) The kebab dishes are a close second for best entrees, and in the event that I'm not as excited about the stuff I order (which has only happened once so far), I'm still happy that I went because the oven baked bread + dipping sauces are SO AMAZING and totally worth the trip over. The place is always packed when I'm there (the wait is long without a reservation) and some of the tables are too close together, but all in all, the seating is cozy and I usually realize by the end of the meal that the place has emptied out without my noticing.
(5)
Kevin B.
Everything is delicious, service is excellent. Often busy - make a reservation. Ignore the desolate surroundings, east cambridge needs customers!
(5)
Morgan F.
Finally made it here the other night -- and I was impressed! As a vegetarian there were LOTS of good and yummy options and for not too expensive. Tyler B and I had to go back and work after -- so we passed on wine, but they had a GREAT wine list with prices that were really reasonable. It was much nicer than I imagined -- and except for a very loud MIT undergrad discussing the politics about big pharma companies she undoubtedly just learned that day in class, there was a great feel to the place. In the end we walked away having spent less than $40 with tip for the two of us to each have a full dish and split an appetizer -- and we even had leftover to bring home!
(5)
Russel S.
Forgot about this place! Haven't been here in a while and let me tell ya, on a cold snowy evening like this one, there aren't many establishments that are as inviting as Helmand. OK, the big reason this place is so excellent on a cold night is that they have this giant oven right off of the main dining area and it keeps the whole place nice and toasty. And the food doesn't suck neither. Alright, so instead of my typical vague you-should-go-here-cause-the-food-is-so-awesome type review, I'm gonna do the play by play/ instant replay since I just ate there tonight: For appetizers, in my party of three, we shared the following: *mantwo - kind of like a peking ravioli but with tomato and yogurt sauce *kaddo - if you've ever had middle eastern food, this is like pumpkin kibby, it's fairly sweet too, it came with the same tomato beef sauce as the mantwo *banjan - kind of like the kaddo, but with eggplant instead Also, the apps were accompanied by the nan-like bread that they bake right there in the oven next to the dining area. You get three dips/sauces for your bread: a yogurt dip, a spicy red pepper dip and a vinegar/cilantro. dip. Let's just say, I stuffed my face with the appetizers. Seriously, if my dinner friends had gotten up to go the bathroom, I would have eaten everything. OK, maybe not, but I would have eaten more than my fair share. They would have come back and been like, "did you eat ALL the kaddo?" and I woulda had to say some ridiculous shit like, "oh sorry, I didn't think you liked that one." Anyway, back to the menu. The play by play: I had the Sabzi Challow for my entree. Now, if you've had Indian food before, imagine saag paneer plus lamb chunks and minus the cheese. The entree also included some okra in a tomato sauce and challow rice. The replay: the lamb was cooked perfectly tender and moist. The spinach was delicious and really tasted like Indian saag (in a good way). The okra reminded me of Armenian dishes I've had before - very squishy and tasty- I know okra ain't for everybody, it does have a funny texture, I like it. I don't know what challow means, but in my book it means delectable. The rice had a nice fluffy texture and flavor that was almost like saffron. Overall, very satisfying. After all the appetizers I had wolfed down, I couldn't even finish my Sabzi Challow. OK, I did finish it, but then I felt gluttonous. Just because I couldn't stop the momentum at that point, I also rocked the sheerberaing, which is a rice pudding with cardamon and pistachios. You pretty much could serve me dog food as long as you sprinkled some pistachios on it, so I wasn't disappointed on that front either. To be fair to the rest of ingredients, the sheerberaing, as a whole, was delightful. OK, that sounds kind of gay to say delightful, but that sounds kind of homophobic to say delightful sounds gay, so let's just say I liked it a lot OK? Thank you. Alright, so the next time you're trying to figure out where to go to eat, go here. It's great food. One last tidbit - what I find interesting about Afghan food is that it totally makes sense geographically. With Afghanistan being between Iran and rest of the Middle East on one side and Pakistan/India on the other, you absolutely see the blending of those cuisines. You got your kibby and your saag. You get baklava and your nan. You have the. . .OK, maybe that's not so interesting, my dinner friends didn't think so either. Social studies class is over. Class dismissed. Don't forget your homework: EAT AT The Helmand. SOON.
(5)
Ming C.
I was tenacious about trying Afghan food. But it's worth the try! It comes with Nan (I think that's how you spell it) Flat bread made fresh. You watch it being baked. It comes with three dipping sauces, Red Spicy, Cilantro sauce and its mild, and this yogurt based white sauce. Three equally good, but my bf and I loved the Cilantro one the best. The bread was so addicting. Both my bf and I love meat. He tried the lamb chops and I had the beef kabobs. They have two kinds of rice, so make sure you read it and see which you like best. Both dishes were delicious. They equaled out all the flavors. And to freshen up your palette, they have a steam pear. It was not sour nor spiced up. It was really simple and good. I hate this portion of mushy red stuff, it was good. It was like curry, but not really. And it wasn't spiced up either. It's pricy. But well worth it to try something unique! You can park across the street from the restaurant. Once you walk in, the hostess will ask you where you parked. I'm sure they give you some sort of ticket. Unfortunately I didn't know about it first hand.I heard they had a private lot because of the reviews from below, but I couldn't find it. So apparently it's in the garage across the street.
(5)
Barney B.
Long overdue review. very meat-focused - in fact if you look at their online menu, one of the vegetarian items is covered in ground beef sauce - ok this is obviously a mistake, but it leads you to believe that it won't be as veggie-friendly as Indian food. And of course, that's where the comparison to indian food should stop, because even though the names of the dishes seem similar to the anglified names at your typical Punjabi offerings, there really is no comparison. and that's ok - even though I love Indian food - I think I love Afghani food as well. The use of pumpkin in so many dishes seemed appropriate for this time of year. the ravolis tasted out of this world - and the grains were hearty, without seeming bland the decor/vibe felt a bit odd though. I have read reviews taht the fireplace adds a bit of warmth to the place, but I didn't feel it. The room is a bit too cavernous to have anything remotely like a cozy feel - and the tables are a bit close to each other, which to me is less-than-comfortable. but a return visit is guaranteed, because the service and nosh were dead on and the menu was unlike anything you can find in the plethora of copy-cat restos out there. what more can you ask for in a dining experience?
(4)
Shivani G.
Our trip to Helmand on Friday was like revisiting my first kiss with my husband-- it was sweet, exciting and full of potential for future happy moments. As always, we were greeting by a happily not to long wait on a bustling Friday night. The wait was pleasant because, according to my husband, we sat on the world's most comfortable restaurant couch. At our table, we were quickly served a basket of warm bread and condiments consisting of a yogurt raita, a fire-roasted pepper sauce and a coriander chutney. I think all would agree that you could just have these two things and leave Helmand a happy customer. We ordered the vegetarian kaddoo in which pumpkin is prepared into a candied state that could be called a confection. I had the roasted poblano stuffed with spinach and black eyed pea pilaf. My husband had a lamb dish. We each savored each bite so that our senses were satiated with half of our dishes and we were treated with the leftovers for lunch today. The woman who packed up our dinner was even kind enough to pack up the bread for us. Yay for elegant cuisine that cradles its patrons without pretention! I hope we make Helmand a regular treat.
(5)
Alena D.
I wish I would have had a better experience, but I thought this place was awful. That being said, my friend loved it and thought it was very authentic and well done. I personally did not like the food, I also dislike Indian cuisine for similar reasons. However, there were several major problems with the restaurant that were not food related: 1. They didn't have half of the menu available. (Fair enough, business must be good) 2. The servers rushed us to order, did not pick up used plates or silverware. (Touche, it was about an hour before closing and I'm sure people were antsy to get home.) 3. Our waiter broke the cork of our wine into the bottle and then served it to us. I had large and small pieces of cork floating in my drink. (Delicious.) Then on to the food. What I don't particularly like about Indian food and apparently Afghani cuisine (at least the American version) is the homogenization of the plates. It's huge bowl of many ingredients mashed together into one large plate of liquefied food. This was very much the same experience. The flavor was good (except for the okra which was just hands down disgusting) but it was incredibly boring to eat and the servings were way too large. Not worth $70 for two people. Beginning to end, it was a disappointment.
(2)
Sara S.
Came here to celebrate my favorite Yelper, Susie A's, birthday. Yay! Sus is obsessed with pumpkin AND trying new and different places, and seeing that The Helmand is known for their pumpkin dish and she'd never been here, I thought this would be the perfect place to celebrate. It was pretty darn good. The first thing you notice is the cozy, intimate setting of The Helmand. You literally feel like you are dining in someones living room. I love watching the 'breadmaker' making huge "loafs" of flat Afghan bread, similar to Indian Naan, but a little more crisp and salty. I could eat just the bread and sauces alone! We started with vegetarian Aushak- two medium sized dumplings filled with scallions, served with yogurt mint and yellow split peas. They were very good, healthy, and a great start to the meal. I'm a big texture person, and I love the wrapping of the Aushak dumplings- chewy, but thin. All the flavors meld perfectly, without anything being too spicy or overwhelming. For my main course, I had the Mourgh Kabab- Char-broiled marinated chicken breast, served with sauteed spinach and pallow. The chicken was similar to any typical Middle-Eastern kabob, but slightly dry. I prefer my chicken dry, but I can see some people not being happy. The sauteed spinach was great- similar to Saag from an Indian restaurant, but without the heaviness of cheese or heavy yogurt. Rice was great, and it also came with a half of a grilled red pepper, green pepper, and pear (!). As a side dish, I got the vegetarian Kaddoo (the real reason why we came in the first place)- pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce. I was suprised that the Kaddoo was chunks of pumpkin, unlike other places I've been where it's mashed. Anyhow, the flavor was great, but very, very sweet. Almost like a dessert! Overall, a great dining experience. I would love to give The Helmand five starts, but the service was incredibly rushed. While we were enjoying our bread and leftover sauce from our appetizer, the waitress rushed in and attempted scooped up my friends plate. Then, when I was finishing my meal, my plate was picked up mid-chew. I do NOT like to dine rushed. I will be back to try all their vegetarian offerings, as well as their seafood. Oh, and maybe to pick up a huge slab of their bread for my next house party. Think they'd let me?
(4)
tina y.
Damn, I think they put crack in their food. When you're eating it, it's basically like good, solid, Middle Eastern home cooking, right? Expertly seasoned, cozy dishes along the lines of roasted lamb, spiced rices, pureed tomatoes with onion and eggplant, etc. Pretty normal stuff. Except it's not just good, it's ridiculously excellent. I had no idea even a simple broiled tomato could taste so good. It's just like a whole tomato, with char marks on it and whatnot, but that tomato, my friend, it is a Tomato of Ultimate Pleasure. And, to be absolutely repetitive, their kaddo is remarkable. Today I am eating leftovers, and I am still astounded by how good this food is. In fact, I am having trouble eating my lamb kebab--I do not want to swallow it. HIGHLY recommend reservations, even on Monday night, unless you think standing outside for 40 minutes, staring at other people gorging themselves on delicious food, is fun.
(5)
Emily S.
Mmmmmmmmmmm.... For me, ambiance is often more important than food. I went to the Helmand with some acquaintances from college I hadn't seen in forever and this was the perfect setting. Upscale ambiance without being cold, intimidating or pretentious. It made us feel like adults but had enough warmth to facilitate nostalgic reminiscing. The only thing off about it was that the table layout was hard to navigate around coming, going, and heading to the bathroom, but part of that probably stems from the fact that the tables are laid out in a way that evokes a banquet. When a restaurant puts all their tables in a row it can feel industrial. Service was what I will describe as "unrushed." It seemed a little slow but I think that's just in comparison to your standard TGI Fridays turn-them-damn-tables hyperactive waiting attitude. The servers were courteous and let us take our time. We sat around talking for too long after our meal and never felt like we were being pushed out. And the food? OMGz. I'd never had Afghan food before so I have no idea what I'm talking about, and I liked some things better than others, but good lord the Kaddo was like candy. And the bread and sauces alone are worth going for. I liked the food, could totally eat it again in a heartbeat, but what wowed me was the experience as a whole rather than any particular dishes. The deserts looked amazing but we were so stuffed by the time it came to order desert that we passed. The menu can be a little limiting if you don't like lamb because 60% of their non-vegetarian menu is lamb. But they have many vegetarian options.
(5)
Chi N.
Bread when you sit down: Awesome. Appetizer: Fantastic. Dinner: Lovely. Dessert: Just right. Cost: Very affordable. Service: What the f---? Did these people graduate from the McDonalds school of waitering and pissing customers off. I used to be a regular to Helmand and never have I consistently noticed service this bad. Honestly, this place would be run by the IRS and you'd get better service. I know we bombed their country and all, but I'm not even white, and it still feels like I'm Genghis Khan'ing their villages everytime I go there (what, too soon?). But really the food is *very* good and almost makes up for the fact they probably spit in it. So definitely go if you haven't been, this place is quite the Afghani bomb (what, too soon, again?).
(4)
Annie P.
I would go back here just for the Banjan. Don;t know what that is without going to their menu and looking at the descriptions? What are you??? Not cultured??? Joke. It's actually "Pan-fried eggplant seasoned with spices, then baked with fresh tomatoes, served on yogurt garlic mint sauce." and it's a killer melt in mouth appetizer. We all picked different entrees and was pleased to find the nicely plated dishes were none the same in taste. Our tastebuds sure had explosions of flavor here and there. Go for a bottle of red if you're going lamb-ed out. Even after reading about the bad service but great food everyone bluntly talks about.. we went here for a birthday celebration anyway. Calling for reservations due to their popularity was a pain in the ass. As long as you don;t have more than 4 people.. just walk in. Service during dinner was off a little but nothing to go sour about... well.. for some reason.. and this is why I've been hesitant about going back.. and this can get gross so watch out....... all four-six of us had to run to a bathroom after our meals. Like immediate action please run. Also they have a FULL BAR even though it is nowhere to be seen. How do I know this? The waitress shamelessly told us about 5 billion times.
(3)
Paul B.
Amazing setting and incredible food! Run do not walk. Delicious appetizers especially the ravioli and baby pumpkin. You will flip for the homemade bread and sauce tray.
(5)
Joe R.
Excellent Afghan restaurant near the Cambridgeside Galleria. Just about the only thing you could fault this place on is location - it's kind of far from anything else. Service was great, the decor is unique & interesting, it has that hip vibe, and every one of the six or so dishes I split with friends was outstanding. DO NOT MISS the pumpkin dishes if you eat here. Being a midwest kid, I barely even knew pumpkins were edible until I hit Burma Superstar in SF. Helmand works more wonders with this gourd than a tribe of New Guinea natives.
(5)
Tikkatikka m.
The service, even over the phone is abhorrent! We called to make reservations for a table of 6, the woman was curt and said that if we had even one less than our full reservation she would not seat us and she will be working that night so she would know! Talk about vindictive without reason.
(1)
Adam W.
Fantastic, interesting food at very reasonable prices. Also, plenty of vegetarian options for those interested in that. Also, very interesting ambiance.
(5)
Jessica R.
Right across the street from the den of corporate sin known as the Cambridgeside Galleria you will find the Helmand. I went there on a date with a guy from okcupid that didn't go too well. But the food sure was tasty! A surprising number of choices for vegans are featured on the menu. The food is sort of like indian, but not.
(4)
Joan D.
I had read reviews similar to the ones here, so went to Helmond with sky-high hopes. Perhaps I was expecting too much? Both times I dined there I left quite satisfied, but not gushing with praise. The dishes, particularly the pumpkin ones mentioned here, are very good. And the bread is way better than your average bread basket. If you are at the Cambridgeside Galleria and hungry, you should DEFINITELY go here. But.... on both visits the the service was a bit brisk, making me feel rushed in and out the door.
(3)
Roshni R.
i first dropped in on the helmand back in '01 at the recommendation of a friend--back then it was just beginning to bustle with word of mouth excitement. the food is truly superb--take the basics of persian cuisine but infuse it with the zest of indian spices, and you have the beginnings of afghan fare. the roast pumpkin with meat sauce appetizer may sound bizarre, but it tastes heavenly. they also serve a full-grain bread (kind of like pita) with various sauces (red, green, and yoghurt). the entrees are mostly meat based, seasoned to perfection. the decor combines minimalist islamic elegance with asiatic brightly colored washes--a lovely balance.
(5)
Angie B.
When I lived in Cambridge a few years ago, the Helmand was one of my favorite restaurants. It really set the standard for Afghani food for me, and every other Afghani restaurant I've been to, even in Fremont CA, has not been as good. Since I am in town visiting relatives, I thought I'd try the Helmand again to see if it is still as good as it was. I was not disappointed. The Qabalee was amazing -- this is the only place I've been to that caramelizes the julienned carrots on this dish, and it really makes it. I also tried the Kaddow, and thought it was delicious, if a teeny bit too sweet. Another great thing about this restaurant that I never knew before (when I was carless) is that there is actually a small parking lot across the street. When you come into the restaurant, you can get a free parking permit to park there for 2 hours. If you are driving in from the burbs, this is a huge help.
(5)
Juliette V.
It is a unique alternaitve to your traditional american meat and potatos kind of place. The meats are well seasoned and grilled nicely. The veggie dishes are delicately prepared. The atmosphere is romantic with white table linens and flower centerpieces.
(3)
Kunney T.
I am a picky eater. I don't discriminate when it comes to putting things in my mouth, but I sure as hell distinguish a lot. Up until Helmand, I have yet to find a place that made dishes consistently well. I could not find a flaw with any of the dishes here - whether it be texture or taste. Fresh flat bread, made from an oven exposed to the public less than 50 feet from any open table. The BEST pumpkin I've ever eaten. Lamb perfectly cooked and flavored. I can go on and on and on. If I only had one place to eat at when I'm in Boston, this is it.
(5)
Tim C.
I was very impressed with this place. The decor and ambiance are both great. We came here on a Sunday night and the place was pretty packed, luckily we had reservations and were seated immediately. Even though the place was packed, it did not feel cramped at all given that the tables have plenty of space between them and the high ceilings of the restaurant. We had the Afghan ravioli to start, it was excellent. The warm bread and sauces were great as well. I had the Theeka Kabob as my entree and it was sooo good. This was my first time having Afghan food and I was very impressed. I noticed that they also have a restaurant in San Francisco, so I'll definitely try and hit them up again when I'm out there.
(4)
Meganarama n.
The food here is PHENOMENAL but the rest detracts from their stars! If you have never had Afghan food, you really must go here but be sure to call ahead for a reservation!! They rarely can accommodate walk-ins. Also, it behooves you to arrive early because there really is no parking available and if you are so much as 30 seconds late, the very unfriendly host or hostess (I have dealt with both) will disallow your reservation. Seriously, I had a reservation for ONE and they refused me when I arrived one minute late. They could not have possibly had a table ready one minute earlier but they did not care. If the food were not so damned delicious and if this were not the only Afghan restaurant around, I would have told them where they could shove my reservation but alas - I was at the mercy of the Afghan equivalent of the soup-nazi! You should cooperate to the fullest and perhaps never look them in the eye and maybe even back away slowly as you leave but DO go here and try the yummiest food you could ever imagine! I actually have reservations about posting this review for fear of being recognized and possibly banned from the establishment. If that happens, I'll have to send my good buddy Elaine in to retrieve my take-out... hopefully she won't screw it up for me!
(3)
Alex Z.
Expect to wait, even if you have a table reserved. The dining room is loud, but still manages to feel cozy somehow. The fresh baked flat bread is fantastic. As is the food, excellent, home made, simple, but tasty. The wait staff are generally sub par, but it still makes for a good experience. The food is very affordable and well priced.
(4)
Reid F.
Excellent preparations of Afghani food, including a wonderful Qabele. Overall, fine food in a clean, pleasant environment.
(4)
Christopher S.
Havne't been in years but still remember it being delicious. Perhaps Boston's MOST authentic Middle Eastern cuisine (so I'm told by friends who've lived in Iran).
(4)
Ryan L.
This place does get busy and you will probably need a reservation to get a seat but the food is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Decor is swank with a little middle eastern flair. can't go wrong here, just be sure you make reservations.
(5)
Rachel D.
oh HELL YES! Helmand is my top choice whenever i come back to Cambridge to visit my family. make sure you get the kaddo - baby pumpkin topped with ground meat and yogurt sauce. it's gasp-out-loud delicious.
(5)
E. A.
This restaurant has excellent food, that is flavorful and the portions are pretty big, too. My one complaint is that each time I have gone here, the waitstaff try to rush you through dinner. They try to take your entire order drinks, appetizers, and main course very quickly. This time, we had gone with friends and really wanted to make a night out of the dinner. When the waitress came over, I asked if we could please order some wine and appetizers and order the main course after that. She said that the food comes out right away, and they liked people to order all together. I said that we didn't want the meals to come out right away, and that was why we wanted to space out the ordering. She asked if we had a reservation, to which I asked "why is there a time limit on the table." She replied that there was and that we had to order all together, but she would try to space it out for us. She also brought white wine and wasn't able to chill it until most of the bottle was gone and then handed me the bucket instead of putting the wine in. She also did not pour the wine. Again, the food is great, but the service is rushed.
(3)
Rachael K.
This place is amazing! Excellent atmosphere, great menu, fantastic service... Tasca in Brighton was my favorite place for a long time but it has been replaced by Helmand, thanks to the great service and really interesting food. We can't wait to go back and try more of the dishes!
(5)
hilary c.
Amazingly tasty food at reasonable prices. Higher end feel to the design, decor and table amenities. Watch the bread makers handle baking sheet plus sized pieces of bread in the clay oven. Try the dessert that is the Afghani equivalent of baklava. So dense you can cut it with the side of your fork and it doesn't fall apart, so enjoy slice after slice.
(4)
buckminster f.
this place lives up to the hype as concerns their hearth baked bread and pumpkin appetizer. they have an employee whose job it is to solely attend to the bread oven. what a blessing he is. the three sauces that accompany the bread are truly delightful. my favorite is the green one, which is a perfect blending of tart, sweet, and spicy. we also got the leek ravioli, which was not as tasty as the pumpkin but still very good. i loved the combo of yogurt and ground beef/tomato sauce on both appetizers so much i had to use the bread to lick the plates clean. the entree- we shared the meatball in tomato sauce- was less stunning. it tasted almost like a mashed up, oversauced meatloaf. still, the worst part of the meal was the "homemade" cake we had for dessert, which was basically a waste of stomach space. next time, we'll go and order off the appetizer menu and get dessert someplace else.
(4)
Omoniyi A.
My absolute FAVORITE restaurant in the Boston area. There is nothing on this menu that is not fantastic. The best dish is the kaddo which is brown sugar, pumpkin, yogurt, and ground beef togther - doesnt sound right but it is honestly the best thing you will ever put in your mouth. Helmands is pricey and Ive been told difficult to get a table at (although ive eaten there several times with mo problem) so book in advance, maybe just for a special occassion. But seriously this is an eating experience not to be missed. And again go hungry, because the complimentary bread is so amazing you will eat extra just to hold yourself over until the next time you get to have some again.
(5)
Sarah G.
I had never had Afghani food before, and absolutely loved this. I was coming straight from the gym so opted for take-out over staying there, but the atmosphere there was warm and inviting with a comfy leather to sit on and wait. I wasn't sure what to order, so asked for suggestions from the hostess. She told me that the Showla was popular, so I opted for that, along with the Aushak and the Bowlawni. Everything was SO tasty! I'm definitely coming back here. The flatbread that came with the meal came with three dipping sauces, and the green and red sauces were superb. The red sauce was sweet at first, but then came back and had quite a kick at the end. I love when the flavor of a sauce changes like that. The Bowlawni (something like a filled flatbread) were delicious, but I must say that the potato one was much better than the leek and scallion filled one. Leek and scallions also filled the Aushak (a ravioli), but for some reason the filling tasted much better in the ravioli than in the Bowlawni. The Showla was insanely good - somewhat of a mishmash of rice and beans and a filled poblano pepper - but didn't have any of the kick I was expecting from the poblano (the hostess had mentioned that it was spicy), but perhaps that was just due to the peppers that night. All in all, an excellent meal!
(5)
Alyssa H.
Like the Helmand needs another stellar review! This restaurant is just so good. The wait staff is friendly and so efficient. No sooner have you sipped your water, or finished an appetizer when someone gracefully swoops in and removes your dirty plate, or refills your drink. But I come here for the food. Reasonably priced, and so delicious. My favorite is the baked pumpkin with yogurt and tomato meat sauce. Upon my last visit i tried the raviolis filled with leeks topped with yogurt sauce - I was not disappointed. The bread is divine - freshly baked in their clay oven. The wine list has a range that can fit in anyone's budget.
(5)
Alex K.
Excellent Afghan restaurant not far from MIT. The service is excellent, the food comes out quickly, and the experience is overall excellent. Every dish had a unique and delicious flavor and combined together to form a solid meal. The wine list is extensive and very reasonable, it is worth selecting a wine to complement your meal. Will certainly be returning to this place.
(4)
Alexandra L.
Helmand is another restaurant that graces the same block as my office - if only it was open for lunch I could be in serious trouble financially. The food is absolutely delicious - I started with the classic Pumpkin first course - and from there my memories blurs because I was too busy eating to really process any other information. My main had currants, beautifully roasted chunks of Lamb seasoned with loads of spices (but to perfection and not a step over or under it). My waitress was a bit odd - too hovery and also not good at offering advice (everything is delicious was her phrase), I always like waiters/waitresses to offer things a bit off the beaten path, or draw attention to some of the classic dishes.... Regardless though, some of the best food in Cambridge by far.
(4)
Dennis L.
This place might be a nightmare for the claustrophobic, despite its high ceilings, but the space is put efficiently to use. The smells of the food and watching the bread being constantly made in the dining room make for a comforting sensation in the experience rather than seeing a truly busy kitchen with food flying around. The food at the Helmand has been wonderful. The bread is great, the three sauces in tandem delightful on their own or together. I just try mixing combinations or on their own as I munch away, though I really like the yogurt and mint simply together. The hot pepper sauce definitely has a bit of a kick that can overwhelm the others, so I have that on its own or just very slightly mixed as a proportion. The Kaddo, or pumpkin, is sinfully sweet for an appetizer. If it weren't for the tomato and meat sauce on top, you'd think it were a dessert. Both pasta dishes (aushak and mantwo) are flavorful, the sauces relatively light compared to marinaras that we in Boston have been overexposed to, but just as flavorful somehow, the pastas firm and stuffed. The meat dishes are a bit dry for some, but still flavorful, the lamb kabob I had done just right to be easily cut and still juicy. I only somewhat liked the Koufta Challow (meatballs) because it felt a little blended together. I like to taste the individual elements of the food, but the sauce seemed to overwhelm its contents. It was good, but hard to make out the individual parts. For desserts, the light yogurt at the bottom of the Feereney has been great, being very soft and not ultra-viscous like what we're used to getting at the supermarket. The fresh fruit on top feels almost like a garnish to me. The flan-like pudeen was alright, but not spectacular. It does cleanse the palette, but the feereney seems to do a better job. If I have an issue with this place, it is the service. You have to ask to get your water glass filled and each time I was here, it took a while for service. You get the feeling that you're being marooned on a deserted island every time the waiter walks away. Last time, it took about 15 minutes of waiting after we decided on dishes. At least the food comes out very quickly to compensate somewhat. Minimal checking in on the table after the food was served (i.e. none until we were done eating and waiting for the dessert menu). But the food is so good and flavorful that I can't knock the restaurant too much. Dishes to try: Kaddo, Aushak, Mantwo, Feereney, the bread and its sauces.
(4)
Lauren G.
Food was good but the portions were a bit meager and the service a bit inattentive. Had dinner at Helmand last night with friends. The Kaddo is out of this world (sounds crazy but pumpkin + ground beef + yogurt is indeed a winning combination)! The bread is also great- warm and freshly made (you can literally see them making it as you are waiting for your table). The table itself was really, really small- there just was not enough space for the food, water glasses and our plates. After attempting to juggle things, serve each other and not knock anything over we managed to just about achieve an equilibrium (as long as no one breathed out). Our table was also really close to the table behind us- which means the waiters bumped my chair every time they walked by- which just gets annoying. For the entree I had the Kofta Cholaw and the food was good, hot, just spicy enough, the rice was fragrant. However there were 2 meat balls... medium meatballs at that. A bit scant considering the $14 price tag. The Baklava for dessert was really good- as was the tea. Overall the service was slow. The waiter was inattentive- not rude... just busy with other tables. We waited over 10 minutes from the time we sat down to when we ordered, no one refilled the water glasses (the whole dinner) and the check meandered over to us about 20 mins after we finished dessert. If I could do a split score I would... 4 stars for the food; 2 stars for the service. If you want good Afghan food- but don't mind waiting or the fact that it might not be the best value for money in town then go for it... for me it is just an occasional visit!
(3)
T T.
I don't understand how this restaurant is rated so highly in Zagat. I've been to The Helmand twice, and the quality of the food was inconsistent; I would say the food was okay at best for my first trip, but it was deplorably bad my second trip, which is why I am only giving it a star. The Aush soup was lukewarm and tasted vaguely of Chef Boyardee, and the lamb dish I ordered was extremely dry, the seasoning overwhelmingly salty. The service was very slow. The decor of the restaurant is pretty nice and welcoming, which is the only good thing I can say about it.
(1)
Monica S.
This restaurant is excellent. Reservations have to be made early or you find yourself not getting a place on the weekends. Once you have eaten here, it is easy to understand why this is the case. Service is polite. The food is well seasoned and presented in the most wonderful way. The wine is good. However, beware of the carafes of house wine. It terms of body and taste, it was lovely, but went straight to both my and my boyfriend's head.
(4)
Rachel J.
One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The atmosphere is a little interesting - feels like you're in someone's living room almost - but the food is AMAZING! Try anything with pumpkin in it.
(5)
Desiree D.
One of my favorites for food. They serve unusual and flavorful selections and I've never had anything there I haven't enjoyed. The tables are a bit close together and the ambiance is fair, but a very nice dinner for the price. Two thumbs up.
(4)
E C.
One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants I have been to. To start, they provide fresh oven-baked flatbread with three special house sauces. My favorite was the green sauce which had jalapeno, walnut, cilantro and vinegar (the red sauce had sweet chili pepper, but was a bit spicy for my taste; the white sauce was a yogurt sauce with a hint of mint). I ordered the mashara soup (lamb, mung beans, yogurt soup) which was delicious- who would have ever known that yogurt could be used in so many different ways! Then the vegetarian special entree which comes with their 2 most famous appetizers- the eggplant steak and the sweet pumpkin (my favorite) with yogurt sauce. I will definitely revisit Helmand before going back to the Bay Area.
(5)
Deb F.
Had to go again (and looking for an excuse to do so. Hey, crossing the river is a big deal!), and we did. Still MMMMMMMM!!!! Took about 10 minutes to be seated for our reservation, but the after-dinner mints were delicious and the couch was comfortable. Apps: Banjan (eggplant) - good. A little small to share with 4 people, but still worth getting. We liked it better than last visit's aushak (leek ravioli). Kaddo (pumpkin) - this is what people always tell you to order and they're right. I didn't expect the pumpkin to be pureed or as sweet as it was, but somehow all the flavors (sweet pumpkin, meat sauce, and yogurt-mint sauce) work beautifully. Will DEFINITELY get it again. I had to get the chowpan (rack of lamb) again and it was just as good as I remembered. Everyone agreed that the char complimented the lamb beautifully. The eggplant and rice sides are also good. Entree 2 - seekh kabob (leg of lamb). It sounded more exotic than it was ("marinated in a puree of onion, sun-dried baby grapes and garlic"), but it was a good, solid choice. However, it was no chowpan. Entree 3 - Chapendaz (beef tenderloin). Good, but I think Helmand does lamb better. I didn't try the sides, but the orderer was happy with his dish. Entree 4 - Koufta Challow (meatballs). I sometimes find non-Italian meatballs can be a little dangerous to order (sometimes too weird in texture or flavor), but these were really delicious. They're served in a bowl with sauce and a plate of rice. We figured they were supposed to be spooned over the rice. Maybe not, but it worked. The only negative to this entree was that there were only 2 golfball-sized meatballs. Desserts were good, but not the strongest part of the meal. Bucklawa (baklava with pistachios) was fine, although a little dry. The pudeen (creme caramel) was my favorite. Nice texture and not tooth-achingly sweet. The rice pudding (sheerberaing) had a nice, creamy texture and lovely cardamom flavor. "Our Cake" was fine, but not so fabulous I would get it again. The coffee is mighty tasty--even the decaf (we also had regular). Soda is served in those shorty plastic bottles, so not the best value. Still my favorite restaurant!
(5)
John L.
mmm Afghan food -- my first and only encounter with it but a very convincing one as I've returned a few times. Oh the pumpkin goodness.... They're only open for dinners I believe and often there are lines -- it's a large restaurant and often packed. I do have to agree with another reviewer that the service is the only real downside, forgetting some tables. An absolute treat, I love taking people here for the first time!
(4)
Jocelyn C.
***UPDATE, 8/13/07: Went here last night again, after not eating here for almost a year... wow, they've downgraded a lot! The appetizers were still really awesome, but the entrees... not so much. My lamb was way overcooked, and the spinach had no flavor at all. My boyfriend's beef looked almost boiled, like they didn't even try to cook it properly at all. Then we ordered dessert, and the cream pudding with fruit was lumpy and not at all as good as I remembered it. Sad times, Helmand! You used to be fantastic, but yesterday's visit is making me rethink my opinions of you. One star off! The food here is INCREDIBLE. The service, not so much. Make sure you make reservations, and make them well in advance... and make sure you're still patient enough to wait around for your reserved table.
(3)
Augie C.
Best afghan I've ever had. Went last night, this place seems always busy. Highlights include: Perfectly crispy and thin flat bread. It comes with 3 sauces, white green and red. The green sauce is minty and spicy and tangy and just plain great. My Chowpan (rack of lamb) was perfect. They figured it out, they split it into 3 pieces, the lamb was grilled perfectly, and it had the right amount of juiciness, spiciness, tartness. The texture was perfect. Very Highly Recommended.
(5)
Sean M.
I used to invade The Helmand when George Bush(43) was still safely playing executive with baseball teams and couldn't point to Afghanistan on a map. It was great then and it still is. When you try to pin down this cuisine it helps if you already have sampled different Arab cuisines, at least North and South Indian, Turkish, and Persian. Applying gastronomic-graph theory you may perceive the essence of the wonder that is Afghan food and appreciate it. Drop the American hurried attitude, eat multi-course meal so relax take your time. Have desert (Sheerberaing) and Turkish coffee. * obtaining a good table is essential, prefer the alcove seating. * I like the lamb, Chowpan. * at last count they had 2 stores SF, and Boston (DC closed snif) * have you noticed how everyone mentions pumpkin...take the hint try it (baby pumpkin)
(4)
Annie W.
worth every penny. very nicely done middle-eastern food, wonderful service, lush decor. ranks on par with my favorite middle-eastern restaurant in NYC.
(4)
Koko H.
I could eat their yogurt sauce by the spoonful. Everything was delicious.
(5)
Patrick F.
Great food, great value. A nice quiet dining room. It can get busy so be prepared to wait if you have no reservation.
(5)
Ashok P.
The first couple of times I visited Helmand, I had to wait for about 1/2 hour for my table, even though I had a reservation. My annoyance vanished after I tasted the exquisite cuisine, and Helmand quickly became my *favorite* restaurant in the world. The food is delicious and healthy. The decor is understated and refined. The vegetarian in me always leaves happy. The Helmand in Baltimore unfortunately does not even compare to the Cambridge branch, with respect to the food or the decor. Both are owned by members of Afghan President Karzai's family.
(5)
Jason A.
Despite America's stance of Afghanistan....I've gotta say that I'm a fan of the food. We sure had fun trying to pronouce the dishes, but it was well worth the effort. We had the dumplings first....filled with ground lamb I believe with a yogurt type sauce....just enough novelty and spice to make for a good start. I had the chicken skewers which were AHHHHMAZING. Big chunks of chicken sans actual skewer, moist, flavorful, and juicy. I can still taste it! The rice made an excellent addition to the dish. I'm not really a huge fan of butternut squash....actually, I don't think i've really had it until I came here. I was skeptical, but boy, did they prove me wrong! The squash was tender and a little sweet, and with the addition of the yogurt sauce, it was terrific. Luckily, I got to take home the leftovers!!! It's a little pricey, but seeing as how I didn't choose the restaurant or pay, it was allllllll gooooood. Needless to say, my friend scored major points!
(5)
Leta H.
I was in Cambridge last week for a business meeting and several of our friends suggested we eat here. Wasn't sure what Afghan food was, but we were treated to an absolutely delicious meal. The place is crowded (you need a reservation- we walked over from our hotel at 7pm and were told there would be a 1 hour wait so we made sure to all the next day, for a reservation). My husband ordered a lamp dish, I ordered a rice and chicken entree, along with several different appetizers and the cardoman ice cream (out of this world). Highly recommended- a must
(4)
Bevin C.
For a long time this was my favorite restaurant in the area. It probably still is, actually. I've been on so many dates here. I really like the service - they are the epitome of aloof, but not in a bad way. I don't want to know my waiter's name when I go to a restaurant. I do not want him to be chatty, or make jokes, or be goofy. I want him to bring me food as quick as he can. I want him to be around when I need something. I want him to take my plate away when I'm done. They do that here. When you close your menu at the Helmand, the staff are at your table within 30 seconds. If you leave your menu open, they won't come. It is like a light switch. I think it is cool. The food is so amazing. Everybody has already commented on it, so I won't waste time going on and on about it. But lord knows I could. This restaurant is run by Hamid Karzai's two brothers and sister. Is it just my imagination, or do the busboys at this restaurant have more bling on then your typical busboy?
(5)
Heather T.
Pretty good, I especially liked the pumpkin thing and some of the pastry with potato stuffing and yogurt thing, but not the meat kebab thing, because they didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked at it came out overdone. I loved our waiter as he reminded me of Alfred, the butler from Batman. Silly? Perhaps. But it gets a star. I'd eat here again to try some of the other offerings. Who knows - if I get a good meat dish, I might add another star!
(3)
Korri Leigh C.
Ok I'm a believer. I read all the fabulous reviews on Yelp and was concerned that The Helmand wouldn't live up to the hype. I was wrong, the food is a ridiculous bargain with $5 apps and $10-17 entrees. The food is unique and delicious. Make a reservation, this place is packed by 7 o'clock any day of the week, and for very good reason. Love it love it
(5)
Rob P.
If you are spending much time in the Boston area you really should make it a point to try this place. I have also been to the one in San Francisco and I give this one a better score. The food, particularly for vegetarians, is worth the trip. The pumpkin, the bread, the sauces, the Aushak (Afghan ravioli) are hard to describe (particularly to visitors who resist the notion of Afghan food) but exceptionally balanced in spices and fresh tasting. However, it is best to go other than Friday and Saturday as these are busy times. I have not had the problems with service that others have mentioned except on one occasion. I am saddened that this food has not reached a wider audience but I know it does take some convincing to get many people to go.
(5)
Alyssa N.
Complex flavors sometimes fight for prominence on one plate. Subtle Pallow rice could be overpowered by the sharp chicken in the Mourgh Kebab. The spinach was good at first, when it was hot, but as it hit room temperature, it didn't seem too different than most generic spinach side dishes. Don't miss the Kaddo appetizer - it's sort of sharp and sweet and salty all at once. Dessert was tasty. The Backlewa was very much like Baklava, but with like a zillion more flavors. The creamy custard with fresh fruit on top was sort of like flan. Service can be very slow. We were there a good 10 minutes before someone came to our table (aside from the nice young man who filled our water glasses). There was a weird brown thing I scraped off the inside of my wine glass. I liked this place enough to come back. But I've got to figure out what I'm allergic to first. A throat closing up is an unpleasant end to any meal. This came later on in the meal, I have no idea what it was to. Thank goodness for the CVS at the nearby Cambridgeside Galleria, where you can get Benadryl in a pinch.
(3)
katherine m.
personal politics regarding its ownership aside... this is one of the best afghani restaurants i've found in boston. it's a bit crowded at times, so make a reservation. the food is simply presented, but absolutely delicious.
(4)
Renee G.
"Do you think they meant for the building to look like it belongs in Afghanistan or is that just a coincendence?" my friend asked as we approached the squat, square structure at 7 or so on a Friday night. We didn't have a reservation, but almost immediately the hostess led us through the main dining area to a separate, smaller one in the back. As soon as we sat down, our waiter filled our water glasses and brought over a basket filled with crusty flatbread and a raita, a pepper sauce, and a chutney to dip it into. All three were quite good - we easily finished the first bread basket and the waiter was quick to bring more. To start, we split the Kaddo, and I must say that while it was one of the strangest flavor combinations I've ever experienced, that is in no way a bad thing - it was delicious. The pumpkin was very sweet, and it contrasted with the rich meat sauce and the creamy, delicately garlicky yogurt sauce exquisitely. I could easily have eaten a plate by myself. For our entrees, we decided to split the Seekh Kabob and the Khorma Challow. Despite the fact that they were both lamb dishes, they were very different from one another and equally wonderful. The Seekh Kabob was grilled to perfection and served with fragrant, spiced rice and sauteed eggplant. The Khorma Challow came in a vegetable-studded sauce and was accompanied with a plainer basmati rice. It was much too much food for two girls, but we did our best and managed to finish most of it. The dessert - bucklawa - was the best thing I ate all night. Unlike Greek baklava, it featured walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. The honey caramel gave it a disconcertingly orange color, but it had soaked into the phyllo dough so completely that I was able to eat it with only a fork - unheard of! I will admit that when it comes to baklava-type confections, I prefer something that borders on sickly-sweet (all the better to balance out the strong coffee, I say) so for someone who doesn't this could be a bit cloying. The atmosphere was comfortable, and seemed authentic without being over the top. It was moderately crowded when we arrived, and filled up soon after we sat down, but the room remained fairly quiet, good for conversation. Indeed, it was quiet enough that we couldn't help but be distracted by scuffling and banging sounds coming from the other side of the wall we sat against. "It's the raptors. They've learned how to open doors," my friend deadpanned, and I dissolved into hysterical laughter for several minutes, thereby ruining the peaceful scene for our neighboors. (And if you have no idea what that means, it's high time you rewatched Jurassic Park. Time has done nothing and everything for it.) You really can't take me anywhere.
(3)
Kylie S.
With the first bite of my dinner here I realized that I have a new favorite restaurant. I ordered the special, which was a dish with black-eyed peas and a poblano pepper. Sorry I don't remember the details but every bite was incredible and I felt good after eating the meal as well--a sign of food that is actually good for you. The staff were all really sweet and helpful. The meal was totally affordable. I don't know what else to say--it was just amazing. I can't wait to go back and I now want to learn how to cook Afghani food.
(5)
Bader A.
Delicious food. One of the best restaurant in Boston.
(5)
Jacky K C.
good portions for a fine dining-like restaurant. bread is hot and sickening good; lamb is memorable. too bad the location looks like crap, and parking's not exactly easy to find.
(4)
Ravi P.
If you're reading this on a mobile device and quickly want to know what to order: Kaddo (pumpkin thing). Get it. Now for the review. This food is amazingly delicious. I used to work down the street and on late nights in the office, would order here a bunch of times (once in a while, when I think I need a break from Helmand, I'll do nearby CPK or Cheesecake Factory, only to realize that I made a terrible mistake). That said, I've tried most of the dishes here, and the kaddo is what I order consistently every time. The taste of the pumpkin is divine. As for the main entree, definitely get a lamb dish or if you're vegetarian, do something with eggplant. You'll also get bread to start - which is warm and delicious. I've eaten inside the actual restaurant maybe 2 or 3 times, but have done takeout many many times. The ambiance is nice, and it's kind of cool to note that the owner of this restaurant is a relative (brother?) of Afghani President Hamid Karzai. The staff is pretty friendly and nice, and it was a pleasant experience. The only minus is that ordering takeout over the phone is a nightmare. You're put on hold for a while - one time, I think they forgot that I was on hold. A plus for takeout though is that they give you copious amounts of bread (actually - way too much) but it will last you through the night if you're working very late. Definitely good memories of eating here. Moral of the story: Eat here.
(5)
Lee H.
Wonderful big flavors, especially the grilled marinated meats. Sides and appetizers delicious. Desserts are OK. Nice decor, round tables a little uncomfortable when you're with a big party (it's hard for me to sit with my legs together for a long time). Service somewhat uneven. Prices modest considering the quality. Try it.
(4)
Janie W.
Best, most tender and moist lamb ever. The end. And the fish special was delicious too. Everything was perfect and the portions large so I always leave stuffed.
(5)
Amy Z.
Wow, this place was great. The dining area has a formal atmosphere, what with the dim lighting and wine glasses at every place setting. The prices are a little high ($12-$15 a plate), yet nowhere near what you'd expect upon walking into the place. The menu selection wasn't very impressive -- there were about 8 entrees including meat, and about 8 equivalent entrees without the meat. I think every entree on the menu included yogurt, by the way, but my vegan sister got hers without it. My food (the vegetarian leek ravioli) was appetizing, and my two sisters ordered some dish involving pumpkin, which they adored, and I kind of wish our friend had given me a little more eggplant from her dish (called "Special") to try because it was goooooood. (Then again, for me all eggplant is gooooood.) They've got my favorite dessert wine -- Essensia orange muscat.
(4)
Bryanne R.
Colorful, delicious, and surprising! SO GOOD! Such a random location -- across from the Galleria in East Cambridge...bonus I can walk there. Really cool decor and atmosphere in the restaurant. It's very big and has lots of seating. We had a late reservation on a Friday, but it was worth it. The food was incredible. Be careful not to eat too much bread before your food comes out! Here's what I had: GOTTA try the Kaddo Appetizer -- it's delish! Entree - Mourgh Challow - there's LOTS of it too! (((Chicken breast sauteed with spices and yellow split-peas, then sauteed with yogurt, cilantro and curry, served with challow))) Dessert -- Our Cake -- great to split after a filling meal. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Mieko O.
Just ate at Helmand this evening with my boyfriend and we were pleased to get a seat without a reservation. The food was good and the service...well it was chaotic and unusual as we had different waiters serving our tables and a waitress who reached across our table to ask about our wine choice. We had kaddo and the bowlawni for appetizer along with the warm flat bread that is made on the premises. For dinner we ate the chowpan and aushak which were flavorful and delicious. The bucklawa was sweet and the Sheerberaing was not so sweet but like any other rice pudding with cashews. Our dishes came on time, but it seems the service is managed a bit chaotically. A good place for a fancy meal.
(4)
Jake S.
The Helmand was my first experience with Afghani food, and it was quite good. We were quickly brought flat bread and three sauces to go with it. The green sauce was some kind of cilantro sauce that was just a little spicy and a little sweet - we all agreed it was the best of the sauces. We also had two appetizers - one was some kind of dumplings with meat inside and the other was an eggplant dish with tomato on top (sorry, I don't remember any of the names of the dishes we had). Both appetizers were excellent, and the yogurt sauce really added a lot to them. Entrees were also very good - I got a curry that was very flavorful. My two friends who were with me also really enjoyed their food, and we were all happy with portion sizes. Lots of reviews on Yelp talk about bad service, but our service here was pretty good with one minor issue. Just a minute or so after handing us menus, our server came by and asked if we were interested in appetizers. We ordered some appetizers and told him we'd be a few minutes to figure out entrees, and he informed us that we had to order everything all together so we would need to immediately decide on our entrees. This irked me a bit, but after this, the service was good. Overall, this place is definitely worth going to. It looked like it tends to get a bit crowded, so make reservations or be prepared to wait.
(4)
Erik L.
I came here once for a birthday dinner, actually it was my birthday. We were there with a group of about 10 people. Dinner didn't start off well when they held a $50 deposit on my friends visa card when she reserved the table. Service was bad in that it was rude. The staff was not friendly, not patient, and generally did not appear to be impressed that we are paying their wages. The food was not bad, but it wasn't great. Overall, its not a place I would go back to. Yes, the atmosphere is nice, the decorations are great, but that just makes the negatives so much worse - its like a slap in your face. I wouldn't bet my life on the fact that you CANNOT have a great experience here, but if it were up to me: spend your money elsewhere.
(2)
Paul J.
I visited The Helmand in Baltimore a couple years ago and absolutely fell in love with Afghani food. Needless to say, a few days before my trip to Boston, when I discovered another "The Helmand" (although I'm not certain they're related), I had to return. The exterior of this place is fairly non-descript, but by no means frightening. Walking in, I was greeted by a harried, rather unfriendly-looking woman struggling to maintain her composure as she juggles seating a steady stream of guests walking through the door and a persistent beckoning from the telephone. She appears to be the only non-native person working here? Anyway, I'm seated at a small table right next to the naan oven. I'm a sucker for good bread, and fresh baked naan makes my toes curl in delight! Anyway, my waiter is a friendly young man - very attentive - who quickly brings me my naan with an assortment of sauces and butter. The bread did not disappoint. On to the main dish.... I ordered the vegetarian Kourma Challow. The challow rice was cooked just right and had a delicate balance of spice. The delicious tomatoey, stewed Kourma had large, hot & hearty chunks of carrots and potatoes with the occasional green bean and onion thrown in for good measure. Like the rice, and to my liking, the level of spice was fairly subdued compared to other central Asian food I've had. The dish was finished with a side of decent, if not very memorable spinach. That aside, despite the generous portions, I had no problems cleaning my plate. I finished up my visit with a piece of 'Our Cake'. The cake was okay, but the ice cream with pomegranate sauce and pineapples was yummy. All in all, it was a very enjoyable meal and I'll definitely return the next time I'm in town. That said, I never saw the woman at the front escape the wicked and cynical throes of frowniness....
(4)
Ahsan H.
An absolute must for Pakistan/Afghan cusine in Boston area. Great ambiance and decor that includes a clay oven that fills the air with the aroma of fresh naan bread. Most of the dishes are quite good but I always go there for Seekh Kabob and Chowpan. Both are lamb dishes. The banjan (eggplant) appetizer is quite good as well. The service is quite slow but the food more than makes up for it.
(5)
S S.
The best thing about Afghani food to me is the the Naan and the Tandoor. But I was dissapointed in Helmand. The naan was kind of inspid. My fish dish had tons of potato on it. The food didnt seem fresh or taste great! The tables were pretty close to each other. Ofcourse, you cant find parking in the area. Our menus were so crumpled up and torn that maybe it was picked from the dumpster outside. The only wine by the glass that you can do is their house wine!! Noone, once came to ask us if the food was ok? Our waiter sort of dissappeared on us. I remember going to Helmand couple of years ago and was impressed by the restruant at the point. Not this experience though!
(2)
Soumeya B.
My experience at this place so bad...it's not even worth wasting my time to write about it. So I will be brief. I went there twice. Once I had food and the second time I just walked out. The first time I went I ordered sabzi challow, the meat was semi burned and the rice too dry. The tables were close so it was a little uncomfortable, you heard too much personal information and your own conversation will be heard. Not the right place for a date or business meal. They were not worth a second chance but I still gave it to them. The second time I went there, I was with a party of three. The Maitre D' asked if we "can get done by 7;30" which basically gave us an hour to eat and get out. A lot of tables were empty so we we were surprised by the request.. We decided to not stay and walked out. Definitly not worth it.
(1)
Dave J.
Hands down best food in Cambridge. We ordered based on the yelp reviews, and all 5 dishes that we got and the two appetizers were all outstanding. The service is not the best, but the food is fantastic. I will be coming back here again for sure!
(5)
Daniel H.
Excellent. Try the baked baby pumpkin dishes.
(5)
Dan C.
When it comes to rating a restaurant I took a date to I am usually colored by how the date went, if she throws up on my shoes, the restaurant was bad; if I throw her shoes up, the restaurant was good. Helmand, on the other hand, was so good it could not be colored by how the date went. First, let me say the restaurant almost looks like it is undercover, posing as a dilapidated nondescript building. The inside is gorgeous, though there is a couch and coffee table when you first walk in reminiscent of a hair salon. We stopped right when it opened, 5pm, without reservations and were told that we would have to be out by 6:15 as the tables were all reserved. Sitting down we were surprisingly allowed to take our time by the waiter who suggested a great Spanish red wine, which we proceeded to finish off. The mantwo and the cracker/bread were delicious with an assortment of dipping sauces. Though the chowpan stole the meal with its tenderness and pallowrice. The trout was also quite good. After that we were on our merry way with this guy content no matter how bad he was going to mess up another first date. Bottom line: A great place in terms of food, wine, and decor. Make those reservations early too. A bit more expensive than your typical 1st date place with most entrees in the $18+ category, but worth it. Remember, a gentleman always pays on the 1st date, hands down.
(4)
Brian K.
Great date place and great value! This place is also hard to get a reservation to and be sure not to get turned off by the person who answers the phone! This place is great and you really get a lot for your $. You can get 2 entrees, an app or 2, a nice bottle of pinot noir(La Crema (Sonoma) with tip and be out the door for under $100! For an app, try the Kaddo! For dinner try any of the lamb dishes Also, the bread they bring is unreal and the green sauce with it is the best thing I have ever tasted! Enjoy!
(5)
Dave L.
What can I say that has not been said? Great food. Really really unique + tasty bread. An interesting use of the space. Totally unique to the area.
(5)
Lindsay D.
From the minute my dad and I walked through the door of Helmand to the moment we left, the experience was great. Ambiance? A+ Staff? A+ Food? There is no description. We started out with 2 veggie apps - an Afghani ravioli and two puff pastries stuffed with various goodies - and both were oh my goodness out of this world. I highly recommend the puff pastries however; the potato one is absolutely amazing. Onto the main course - My "Special" entree (pumpkin, spinach, eggplant, and ocre served with a very light rice and cool yogurt sauce) was delicious - seriously, the meal's name should be changed to "I am Delicious". My father seemed to enjoy his lamb something or other as well and it's a credit to the kitchen that everything was cooked exactly to his specifications. When dessert time rolled around my sweet tooth and caffeine urges kicked in (shocking, I know) and were plenty satisfied. Rich coffee with extra cardemon and a custard/fruit dessert thing? SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD. Oh, Helmand, I will definitely be back. Frequently.
(5)
John F.
I've only been once, but it made quite the impression. The fresh cooked bread from the big stone oven in the restaurant was amazing, and the various dipping sauces supplied with it were very good. The food was delicious and not super-expensive, which I'm a fan of, and it was similar to Indian but different enough to be new and exciting. The staff was especially friendly, and very helpful in helping us decide on what to have. Putting this place next to the Similans has caused a terrible conflict in my head when near the Galleria; namely, which do I go to? This place, whenever I'm there, is often crowded, and with good reason.
(4)
Rose K.
W-O-W! The Helmand gave me an amazing dining experience. My date and I started out with some vegetarian ravioli appetizers. The topping and stuffing on those was excellent. Then, I got the vegetable kourma, which came with rice, anda spinach side. Fantastic. My boyfriend got a lamb and rice dish that he loved. We had some rice pudding and green tea for dessert. Both were extremely cardamom-y. Very refreshing. After a quick look over this Yelp page, the few people who have given the Helmand less-than-stellar reviews generally mention brusque servers as the reason. I have to say that our server was really cool - friendly, funny, and she sang "Happy Birthday" to another gentleman in the restaurant. From now on, I absoluely will recommend this place to anyone visiting the Boston area as a MUST (along with L.A. Burdick's for the hot chocolate). Y'all are quickly becoming this Texan's favorite food town!
(5)
P. C.
The food was good - a friend and I split two vegetarian entrees (Khorma Challow and Showla) and enjoyed both dishes, along with the bread. The house white wine was decent and affordable. The service was terrible. It took a long time to receive the menus initially, and then forever until the drinks and bread. When the server (not the waiter) brought the entrees to the table a short time later, he *literally* took the plate out from under me while I was still eating my bread! And I mean that I had just taken a bite, was chewing, and had my hand and the rest of the bread dangling above the plate at the time. The waiter was hard to read - he could have been well-meaning but it was hard to tell. He asked for ID when we ordered wine, and then indicated that it was a joke... but since we are still at an age where it's not completely unreasonable to be carded I found the joke to be a bit offensive. He also didn't check on us at all thoughout the meal and I ran out of water early on; it took me 10 minutes to flag someone down to help me. We were seated in the back room, a smallish, stuffy (no air flow) room cozy enough that I accidentally bumped the chair of the person behind me twice. The main restaurant has a much nicer ambiance. A mediocre dining experience despite the tastiness of the food.
(2)
KoreanSoup S.
Sorry for the short review. Just catching up on yelping on my favorite place. Helmand is fan freaking tastic. Great food and good ambience. I will be back!
(5)
Natalia T.
I was there last night (Monday) and the place was completely packed! This was my third visit, and as always the food was absolutely delicious! Our server was a great guy, who complemented all of our choices from the menu We didn't feel rushed, we didn't feel like we waited forever for our food ... the timing was just perfect. Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back there!!! The hostess however was pretty much useless, since she just pointed towards our table, and we had to wait for the waiter to bring us menus ...
(5)
kim s.
Almost everything here is exceptionally good. Standouts are the chicken kabob and rack of lamb. My only complaint is that all my clothes smells like smoke after every meal.
(4)
Jonathan R.
Five stars for vegetarian food and wine (including solid, affordable house glasses). Four for ambiance. Negative three stars for uppity owner-cum-matre d' endlessly arguing when he screws up your reservation by 15 minutes AND THERE ARE TABLES FREE ANYWAY. (I swear he gives me some kind of attitude every time.) But always a total gem, once you're actually allowed through the door.
(4)
Katie Y.
They're very good at their lamb dishes. My friend who is a lawyer said that the rack of lamb was excellent. He is quite a snob, but has good taste. I love their desserts and special rice too. I also like their decor.
(5)
Leon B.
The Helmand has never let me down. I have been here probably at least 6-7 times, and have always left satisfied. The food is great, exotic, interesting, and consistent. The atmosphere is really neat, and I have never felt it to be over-crowded, and they seem to be able to handle large parties pretty well. It's fun to watch them make the bread, which happens to be excellent. The prices are entirely reasonable for the food. The service is quite good, though not perfect (sometimes it takes a little longer than I'd like to get someone from the waitstaff to bring water, etc). This last bit is the only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars (really, I'd like to give 4.5), but they can be very busy so sometimes the service is a bit slow on things like water. Food-wise, the Helmand is impressive. With a wide range of meals, including good vegetarian options, one can go several times and get very different food. The caramelized pumpkin with meat sauce (or without, if you'd prefer) is fantastic, and a very unique flavor combination. The various ravioli-like dishes are wonderful, as are the kebabs (well seasoned, cooked just right so as to be very tender). The fish dishes I've had (don't remember which, I think they were specials) were excellent. Desserts are great, though the cake seemed a bit on the bland side to me. The other desserts I've tried (the pudding, the cream caramel, the baklava) have all been fantastic. All in all, a great experience.
(4)
K D.
Four stars for authentic (spicy) food. One star off for the weird vibe. Tables are very small and placed too close together. Menus are photocopies and don't feature the beverages. Bathrooms are not as nice as you would expect. But the naan is excellent, portions are adequate but not overwhelming. We had the beef kofta and the vegetarian special. Very quick service, enabling us to catch the movie we planned to see at Kendall Square Cinema. Oh, and people go on about the kaddo, but it's just baked pumpkin with tons of sugar in it. Best to pass on it.
(4)
H and K.
Love The Helmand. Never been let down. The "Our Cake" is amazing.
(4)
Becka D.
Definite thumbs up on this place. I had reservations, so we were seated right away (even though we showed up about 20 minutes early). Food and drink service were both quick, and our waitstaff was always close by in case we needed to grab her. I had never tried Afghani food before, so i didn't really know what to expect. The basic idea is similar to other Middle Eastern food. Rice with veggies and sauces. Lots of lamb options. Some chicken and a decent vegetarian menu. I had heard good things about the baked pumpkin, so we got that as our appetizer. Definitely worth it. It's interesting in a good way. The decor is great too!
(4)
Mohamed A.
The Helmand was my first experience with Afghani food. I've been going there when I was studying in Boston. It became a ritual to visit this place once a month. Whenever I visit Boston I make sure I drop by. I hadn't had the chance last time though, and I wish I had. Make sure you make a reservation it gets crowded. I usually order Chapandez or Baghali Polo. Both are amazing.
(5)
Terry T.
Wife decided to try something new and made reservations (we fondly remember going for Ethiopian and Moroccan food in Cambridge and she found this gem after asking her friends). It's literally beside the Galleria, so even for people like us who are a little nervous about driving in the Boston/Cambridge area could find our way there (plus parking is easy). We enjoyed our appetizers - I had a great lamb soup (forgot the name), while my wife enjoyed her salad. Our table was right by the big wood burning oven and we could see them bake and slice up the fresh flat bread which was kind of fun for the both of us. We also enjoyed our entrees. My friend who's been to an Afghani rstaurant in DC told me the spice palate was going to be a cross between Greek and Indian food and he was pretty close. My lamb was delicious (basic rack of lamb) but I was envious of my wife who went for something more exotic that looked like an Indian chicken curry only it had a twist - semi-sour and refreshing with chickpeas. Dessert was great, we got some sort of custard with fresh fruit on top, and it was light and refreshing. The atmosphere of the restaurant was elegant yet you could feel comfortable dressing casually. We were lucky to have a baby sitter for the kids and we enjoyed a great night out. All in all a new favorite to check out.
(5)
Ja H.
I like it a lot! Though the attitude of the host/hotess is not as comforting as the great food. My husband liked it until he got bored with the regular menu. All-in-all, it's great to have Afghani food in the area.
(4)
William M.
This is my favorite restaurant in Cambridge. I've lived here for 6 years. I'm a meat eater, but this place feels healthy and I bring my veggie-friends here and they always love it. What else is there to say?
(5)
Rinn S.
Afghan food made palatable for people who won't eat goat-kababs. Yes, Helmand is good. Yes, the decor is nice. Yes, the portions are large. But it's way over-rated and thus ALWAYS crowded. And what is the obsession with putting pumpkin in everything?? The boyfriend saw not one single hint of pumpkin during his time in Kabul and I'm not convinced that pumpkin belongs in half of the dishes here. But for those of you who don't hate pretentious pumpkin propegating and don't mind a wait, this is a pretty tasty place.
(4)
Roberto C.
Big fan of these guys - service is excellent & the food is very unique & reasonably priced. I didn't talk politics w/them, but I'd love to have talked w/Helmand's owner (Mahmood Karzai) about what's going on over there - esp since his little brother is Hamid. Would love to hear what he thinks.
(4)
Gabe M.
Great ethnic vibe, with great flat bread and good good. Lots of lamb dishes. Service was average. Seating was kind of cramped, but otherwise enjoyable.
(4)
Christopher T.
One of my favorites in the city. The food is just incredible and reasonably priced to boot. If you like lamb you have to go to Helmand's and don't forget to get the Kaddo for an appetizer (baby pumpkin, yogurt and ground beef) . It may sound weird but your tastebuds will thank you for it!
(5)
Stockton M.
We were treated terribly and it is the only restaurant in the Boston area to which I will not go back. I had gone twice before and on those visits enjoyed great food and so-so service. The awful service occurred on the third visit, when I brought friends. When we arrived, i told them we had a reservation for 6. They said the table would be ready shortly. 45 min later I asked why the delay b/c there was an open table. I was told that the open table was for another reservation and that we didn't have reservation! Why they didn't botgher to mention this when we arrived I do not know. Everyone very surly and rude by the mother-hen of the restaruant (the owner I think). They said they could seat 4 of us but the other 2 couldn't stay (there was no room!!!). We argued with them only b/c it was too late in the night to go anywhere else at that point. They decided we could be all be seated if we waited another 45 min (1.5 hours total !!!). We stupidly did, then were treated like garbage during the meal. My visiting friends were offended multiple times by everyone (waitstaff, hostess, presumed owner). We then were told after 45 minutes that we would have to finish up and no dessert because it was getting late). The food is good but the service is not just terrible but personally offensive, something other reviewers confirm. I will never eat there again because I have too much self respect. With little Afghani choices in Boston, I may have to learn to cook the cuisine myself, although I've heard there may be another smaller Afghani choice.
(1)
Liza H.
Authentic Afghan food. I like to eat here because I am too lazy to cook this stuff at home. Favorite appetizers: Kado borani (pumpkin), aushak (ravioli stuffed w/leeks) and Mantwo (definitely way too much work for my hands). Entrees: Chapandaz and Morgh Challow. The piping hot naan style bread served right out of the fire is delightful too. The desserts leave a lot to be desired. Just load up on dinner and rub that big old food baby or save space and go someplace else for sweets.
(4)
Jim C.
Terrific place; make a reservation. The kaddo with anything is terrific, there are fantastic vegetarian offerings and the lamb ribs are a great value. I eat here twice a month and I always have been very happy.
(4)
S H.
So here I am with review #122 of The Helmand. What more is there to say? Great Afghani food, excellent service, knowledgeable staff, great for those who love their meat and their veggies. You'd expect the prices to be higher... Just go but call weeks ahead for your reservation. UPDATE: I've finally determined that only their appetizers and the free bread are good. The entrees somehow disappoint, but usually you're so drunk at that point, anything tastes good.
(3)
Mags L.
best afghani food i've ever eaten. okay - only afghani food i've ever eaten, but it was outstanding. the bread? i mean, the bread! everytime i've come here has been w/vegetarian friends and while i'm generally not a good girl and have a tendency to not eat my veggies, all the non-meat dishes served were delightful.
(4)
gator N.
The food was delicious! The pumpkin appetizer was fantastic. Very cute location, comfortable. The cake dessert was also a favorite, the rice pudding was interesting in a good way.
(4)
X X.
OMFG-- Helmand. I went there last night for my birthday. I had made reservations for 7PM on a Sunday night (yes, I made my own birthday dinner reservations... I'm a little too much of a 'planner'), even though reservations seemed intuitively unnecessary for a school night, but yet again, Yelpers gave it to me straight. Helmand was really moving. However, for what ever reason, they didn't have my reservation down. Well, I know the reason: I called on Friday night, and they were busy, and the hostess wrote it down somewhere and forgot to transfer it to the reservation book. It's as simple as that. I even think it was the hostess working that night. But whatever. My date and I watched the host and hostess confer in whispers about where to seat us-- there's this sh*t seat up front, which puts one party's head literally 3 inches from where the bread-baker cuts the (absolutely amazing) bread. It's hard to describe but I'm sure anyone who's been to Helmand (or has had the poor fortune to sit at that seat) can tell you what a truly crappy idea putting a table there is. Honestly, I'd rather wait, but as I saw them gesturing toward the table, telling me they couldn't find the reservation, I was preparing to grin and bear it at Crap Table. And then, with a stroke of belated birthday luck, we were diverted to an AWESOME table, right along the partition near the wood-burning bread oven, which smelled and felt delicious all the chilly November night. My relief was great, but I did feel a lot of pity (and a little guilt) seeing the poor couple that got seated at said table later on in the night. But on to the meal! I'd never had Afghan food before. Only in the recent years has my palate expanded to include such exotic foods as "hummus" and "onions" (I was truly the most obnoxiously picky child... my poor parents), so this was a big leap for me, but one that I was psyched to take. Honestly, I have a hard time even remembering what we ordered, but I will tell you that it was delicious, and most of it I liked, and that's saying something (I hate cilantro, and that kinda ruined a dish for me, but that's no one's fault). We were totally stuffed and happy by the end. I was also totally charmed by the interior of Helmand, which I found to be warm and inviting, and with sincere reminders of the cuisine's roots in the Middle East without over-exotifying it, e.g. trying to pretend we're not in Cambridge. Everything seemed just about right. Our waitress was very gracious and really good vetting food with my dining companion's life-threatening nut allergy in mind, particularly in a cuisine so bathed in nuts. In the end, with two entrees, one appetizer, and a carafe of wine, it came to around $45 including tip. An excellent deal for an excellent place. I'll be back, Helmand-- and this time, I hope you take my reservation. And please, don't seat me at the crap table!
(5)
Laura M.
Okay, there are currently 48 reviews of this place, so I doubt I'll be saying anything new. I'd never tried Afghan food but found it to be similar to Indian/Middle Eastern that I had tried. Everything we tried was tasty, but I thought the Mantwo was the most unique dish. Plus it sounds like a sentence on Law and Order. My date and I got an appetizer, two great entrees, a half-carafe of wine and all the delicious bread we could want for around $50 (including tip!). Definitely recommended.
(5)
Mark S.
I've been one time. The food was good, and service was decent. The most memorable quality of this restaurant was the back room where we were seated. All the parties sitting around us seemed to be having a good time. It was loud, but I enjoyed it for the time we were in there. Plus, that carafe wine (full) is more than what you think. It is more than the two glasses you can squeeze out of a regular bottle of wine....not complaining, just commenting. I would recommend it.
(3)
Shang S.
I've been here three times over five years and every experience was good. Their pumpkin kaddo (appetizer) is to die for, and so is the bread they serve at every meal. I love sitting in the large room by the oven, but if you're likely to get cold, bring a sweater on cold and busy nights for they might seat you in the slightly chillier side room.
(5)
Nausheen M.
This Afghani restaurant is so far the best I've had in Boston. I just love their food! This place usually needs reservation...it is always packed. Also, I felt that this is not a kid's friendly place. They do have highchairs but that's the only kid related thing there. There is no kids menu...and they do force you to leave your stroller outside even if your kid is sleeping! I gave them four stars because their food is really good. There is a parking lot right across this place but I don' t think it belongs to the restaurant. we went after 6pm on a Wednesday and parked there and didn't get towed.
(4)
Sarah R.
My brother and I took our mom and stepdad here when they visited back in April. I originally felt apprehension at taking them to an Afghani restaurant. My mother has acid reflux and therefore cannot handle very spicy food, and my stepdad does not have the most adventurous palate. However, it turned out to be a fantastic dining experience. The food was fresh and delicious and mild enough for everyone. Each person ordered a different dish and we shared. The house white wine was a great complement to the meal. It's a very intimate environment with lovely decor with a very unassuming exterior, located in the shadow of Cambridgeside Galleria. I'd definitely come back here again. The food was delicious, inexpensive, and very filling.
(5)
Lynette M.
Get the spinach and the pumpkin sides!
(5)
Kelly S.
Service is quite lacking. The food is however quite good without being unforgettable. As a vegetarian it was nice to have quite a few choices for your appetizer and entree. While my appetizer was quite exquisite (caramelized eggplant with tomatoes and yogurt sauce), the entree (leek ravioli) was kind bland in itself but powered spices were then abundantly sprinkled as a topping. Not exactly a refined and subtle dish. The wine list is quite eclectic but fairly well priced and selected. The atmosphere is convivial but not very intimate. Bathrooms could really use a makeover.
(3)
Samantha S.
I went here with a group of very adventurous eaters last week, and everyone was very happy with our experience. Its a cozy atmosphere, even in the middle of the restaurant you don't feel like you have to scream to talk across the table. There was a decent selection of vegetarian options, though I sort of felt jipped by the ratio of veg dishes to meat options. It was my first time eating Afghan cuisine, so I have nothing to compare it to. The flavors and spices are similar to Indian food, but the presentation was totally different. I got some veg special, which was a plate of spinach (the best part of the plate) eggplant, okra, rice, and other clearly unmemorable vegetables. Don't expect too much vegetarian protein here, and the gaddo veg version is so sweet they should serve it as dessert. My friends all got meat dishes, and loved them dearly, so I guess this is a good place to go if you like meat! Other than the fact that our waiter seemed like he could not converse above a whisper, I have nothing bad to say about the Helmand.
(4)
P L.
Every time I have eaten at Helmand the other members of my group have gotten great food. I have never been super satisfied with what I order. The first time we went we got the pumpkin appetizer and it was fantastic. The second time it was just alright.
(4)
Samantha B.
I dream about this place--literally. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and I've been finding every excuse to return since. He had a great meat dish he liked and I had a vegetarian sampler plate. The pumpkin is godly. The second time we returned, they even remembered us and were so friendly. It's priced right and the atmosphere is beautiful. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston--by far.
(5)
Ossama A.
Excellent, well priced dishes. Very tasty, nice decor, good service, recommended. I'm guessing its associated with The Helmand restaurant in San Francisco, since their menus are the same.
(5)
karan K.
I thought that I had reviewed this place since I have been eating there for 13 years. But I guess not. Easily the best South Asian restaurant in the Boston area. Cannot be compared to the cheap Afghan kebab joints in NY or DC. I think of this as a top level Indian restaurant in Bombay, but with a judicious use of spices. I only eat red meat dishes here, as the Afghans are not exactly fish eaters. I tried a dining partners fish once and was underwhelmed. All the grilled meats are excellent; the Chappendaz, the Theeka Kebab, the Chowpan. Aboid the sauteed ones. The Chicken is well Chicken. Tastes like every other thing. The vegetarian options are surprisingly very good, considering that the Afghans are such meat lovers. Maybe its only a stereotype. The sabzi Challow, Khorma challowm, Showla and Dolma; all good. The appetizers are also all good, especially the Banjan. Eggplant never tasted better. The one star off is because of the service. In one word it "Sucks" ! Big time. They allow only 1.5 hours betweeen seatings and the waiter will start hovering over your table when your time is up. The fact that you have a reservation does not guarantee you a seat at that time. I have had to wait upto 45 mins to get a table. I have finally given up. But the food is too good to avoid so we land up on a weekday at 5.30 or 6, eat in an hour and are on our way.
(4)
MTL L.
Definitely a great place for any hot/spicy food lover out there. This is definitely one of those hole in the walls to take any guest to. My favorite is the koufta challow (spicy meatballs). The flat bread is also very cool.
(4)
claudia g.
Soooo delicious. Very nice atmosphere. They bring you this amazing fresh bread that they bake in the oven in the dining room, with several chutneys. There are many vegetarian options. Definitely get the kaddo appetizer, which is pumpkin with yogurt sauce. I did not have any idea pumpkin could be so good. The challow is really good too. The service is very good. The deserts are probably my least favorite thing there. They aren't bad, just not my taste.
(5)
alyson a.
Food was great! The lamb was really good - lots of vegetarian food options too. 4 stars for the food. Minus 1 star for the wait and for the service. Our waitress tried. Note "tried". Wasn't able to give recommendations or even to check on us. We saw other foodrunners and servers more than her. Also, we had reservations but still had to wait about 20min before we got a table. Plus the fact that the hostess ignored us for 10min didn't really help. The place was so small that we were basically bumping elbows with our neighbors. But still, the food saves the review. Expect a long wait (even with reservations).
(4)
LOIS T.
How Helmand came to Cambridge is an interesting story. A number of years ago my daughter who lived in Cole Valley, San Francisco took me to the Helmand in North Beach. She said"Mom get your taste buds ready for the most exciting,unusual and delicious food you have ever tasted." Well it turned out to be everything she said. We were having so much fun and laughing a lot and Mahmoud came over to talk to us. He asked me where I was from and where I worked. I gave him my business card from Hermes. About a week later he called and asked me " Do you think they would like my food in Cambridge to which I replied they would love it". Little did I know this was Hamid Karzai's brother. He was asked on T.V. when his brother became president of Afghanistan " What advice would you give your brother? He replied"no advice,I'm a business man!" I hope he is safe and well. The food is always perfect and although he is no longer there I have always loved the food and have never been disappointed. Lois
(5)
Amy T.
I love this place. I have been here three times and I have been completely satisfied and thrilled about my food every time. I had never tried Afghan food but I am newly-obsessed by Indian, so I have been prompted to open my trap for all new flavors lately. The pumpkin/squash thing with yogurt and ground meat.... yum. and I am not a a big meat eater. But I have to be honest - they had me at hello - when they come to your table, they brign thins great bread and THREE DIP-TYPE things... anytime you give me stuff to dip other stuff into - I am yours! there is a cilantro dip and a yogurt dip and a spicy red dip.... heaven.
(4)
S K.
Excellent food! Can't say I've had Afghani food outside of this restaurant, but I almost don't want to try it from anywhere else, because I can't imagine it tasting better... I can't really speak to the service issues, because every time I've been here has been for a social occasion, so I didn't really notice the service--I remember our servers as very friendly and accomodating. Highly recommended!
(5)
Andres M.
It was good food but I was not super excited about it. I guess I was expecting something more exotic, most of the dishes tastesd pretty similar to me. I tried a really good Afghan restaurant in NYC so I was kind of hoping something similar. Maybe this is more authentic, I don't know. I would like to go back, although it's a bit pricey for a grad student stipend.
(4)
Lou S.
I hesitated for a while between two and three stars but eventually chose two in order to factor in the disappointment this place turned out to be... East Cambridge is rife with good food, and Helmand was heralded on Yelp as the best around. Not so. In chronological order: 1. This restaurant is packed even on Mondays, so make a reservation. Packed means noisy, so don't take your hard-of-hearing uncle there if you want to save him a very bad experience. 2. The bread they cook in their huge wood oven is addictively delicious. Beware. 3. The baked pumpkin would be excellent as a dessert as it is tastier and sweeter than what I had to top off my dinner. No salt at all in this appetizer. 4. The Banjan Borawni - or fried eggplant - was amaaaazing, I'm still salivating just thinking about it. 5. But the so-called leek raviolis, or Aushak, came in EXACTLY the same sauce as the eggplant, except that their taste didn't complement as well. Oh, and these are not leek raviolis, but scallion raviolis. And I think it's revolting and nonsensical to lie to your customers about such a thing. "What if someone walks in who can actually tell the difference between the oniony scallion and the more expensive and subtly-flavored leek? No, customers are too ignorant, they will never notice!" 6. The meat of the lamb kebab was fragrant alright, but it was so very tough that it was hard to cut and harder to chew. Unforgivable. 7. The Mourgh Challow and Kabuli are mostly rice with a few chunks of fragrant but dry chicken and lamb, respectively. It makes the $20 or so you pay for most entrees seem totally over priced. 8. The rice pudding dessert is pleasant, but doesn't live up to the reputation of the desserts at Helmand, which I had been sung about repeatedly. 9. The cardamom tea is awesome. Really. It makes you want to replicate the experience at home. What? It's that easy? Yes it is, no need to go to Helmand for a sip of deliciousness. 10. The service? Mediocre and unfriendly. Waited a long time before they took our order and before they brought us bread, had to die of thirst before they poured us water - with chunky ice cubes that clattered against our teeth. But when it came to taking away our dishes, bringing the check and the coats, they were, well, super fast... Not a very subtle way to get rid of us. I might come back a second time to give them another chance and because virtually everyone I know looooooves it, but I would be very, very cautious.
(2)
Rave M.
I've been to the Helmand a dozen times or more over the past ten years, and it remains one of my favorite Boston-area restaurants. Lovely atmosphere, wonderful food (the mantu is my favorite), and I've never had bad service here. Minus one star for this car-less Boston resident who has to go all the way to Lechmere on the E line to get here.
(4)
aaron t.
Great environment, and enticing menu. Am still not sure what I ate there, but it was good, and made me tired soon after, meanign it was a good meal. I;m a type that likes refreshing meals, hence the 4 star, but the food here is for sure humble, spicy, and warming.
(4)
Georgia Y.
Helmand is really awesome. I'm vegetarian, and I found the food very delicious. The atmosphere is really neat - an open oven nearby and lovely decor, and the waitstaff are formal and attentive. Definitely take a date here. And if you think you might be iffy on Afghani food, take it from me: if you enjoy Indian or Middle Eastern food, Helmand is worth a try.
(5)
Nicole M.
delish! the best parts were the grilled meats and the fresh bread with sauces - very happy with this place!
(4)
Pat M.
I've been twice since I moved to the area and was impressed both times. The place was packed on both occasions, once a Wednesday night, the other a Tuesday night, I couldn't believe the popularity of this place during the week. But after sitting down and trying the food I could see why. Every dish we tried was either very good to excellent, not at all what I was expecting. Moreover, the price is excellent for the quality of the meal. The first time my wife and I ate here we split an app, had 2 entrees, two deserts, a full carafe of wine, and tea for around $50. Try getting that at any place across the river! Also, the menu has quite extensive offerings for vegetarians. The service was mediocre, but because the food was so good we were able to overlook it and we will definately return on a regular basis.
(4)
Anuj S.
I went here after reading the reviews and it was everything I expected. There is 2 hour parking right across the street for Helmand customers, T accessible, and there is a cab stand just nearby. The ambiance was really nice and comforting. There is a direct view of the fire stove from where you're sitting. This was my first time here and the waiter was very friendly and helpful. As for the most important part, the food was delicious. Me and my friends tried several of the lamb dishes and the ravioli dish. I think my favoriate part was the bread and dips before the meal came. The pumpkin appetizer was out of this world. I got there around 5:30-6:00 in the evening, and there were several familes (with babies). But later in the evening, it was mostly couples.
(4)
Alyson L.
Fantastic menu, very reasonable prices. The only con is they don't serve lunch, only dinner.
(5)
Angelo S.
One of the very best restaurants in Boston. Unlike the posts below, I've always found the service to be highly attentive, friendly, and talkative (in a very good way). The food, as all the posts say... is subtle and exquisite mixing a variety of flavors that includes light touches of sweetness, mintiness and freshness. If you don't try it, you know you'll regret it.
(5)
Michael T.
I like the food a lot. The Kaddo is like nothing I have ever had, baked baby pumpkin with a ground beef sauce (never would have imagined something like that), it was very tasty. Some of the guests are dressed nice and others not so much, the kind of crowd I like. The prices seemed reasonable to me and the service was pretty good.
(4)
Tom L.
One of the best values in Greater Boston and one of my overall favorites. I could dine on the flatbread -- baked fresh in an oven in the middle of the dining room! -- and trio of dipping sauces alone. They do incredible things with pumpkin and grilled lamb. Great vegetarian options. Menu never changes but if it ain't broke...
(5)
Moomin M.
I had heard raves about this place and went with high hopes; however, the staff at the door were very rude about the fact that we did not have a reservation--and this was the tone of the whole evening. The service is terrible, and this place is really overrated--the food was only so-so. I agree with the other reviewer who noticed the resemblance of the flavors to Chef Boyardee. If you want good Afghan food without all the hype, try Himalayan Kitchen on Mass. Ave. beyond Porter.
(1)
J L.
It has been a while since I've been to Helmand. Not sure why, because every time I went it was absolutely DELICIOUS. When any of my friends tell me they are going to dine there, I tell them, you HAVE to get the baby pumpkin dish - appetizer or entree, I believe. I've had all sorts of entrees over the years: the steak, sea bass, etc. I love the open space where the oven is on display, perfuming the entire restaurant in breadness. The chutneys are amazingly explosive in your mouth. *SIGH* I need to go there soon.
(4)
Steve N.
i would go back just for the Kaddo. who doesn't like pumpkin in their appetizer?
(3)
Raja V.
Great food. Nice setting. Good service. Good value... good lamb entree for $18
(5)
sizz m.
worth the trip. food is above avg. place is small so make a res on sat.
(4)
Monet N.
I'm not an Afghan cuisine expert since I've only eaten this particular type of food a couple of times but if it tastes good then thats all that matters. I ordered the Khorma Challow (leg of lamb sauteed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, green beans, potatoes and spices served with lentils and challow rice) and that was really good. The others got a vegetarian version of mine and the Chowpan (half rack of lamb marinated, grilled and served on a bed of Afghan bread with sauteed eggplant and pallowrice). We even ordered the Kaddo (pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce) that was good a bit sweet if you don't have the ground beef sauce on it and the Bendi (Okra sauteed with onion fresh tomatoes, black pepper and garlic) was good as well. The service was good and the atmosphere is very intimate. Good place I can see why it is popular.
(4)
Rebecca Y.
Looking for something unique? I conned two friends into trying the Helmand with me. We ordered primarly off the "appetizer"/first course menu so we could try many different things. The food was all outstanding. Very fresh and flavorful. I would recommend this place highly!
(5)
So S.
Love this place! Serves Afghani food and everything there is soooo delicious. Love the mantwo (like the meat one better than the popular pumpkin) w/ yogurt, banjan and the lamb is soo great. Never had a bad meal here! Very intimate and nice wood burining stove. Great date place and not very expensive for the excellent food. Should make reservations 'cause it gets packed fast!! Wait staff is pretty slow-----so just try to savor your meal rather than rush it.
(5)
Lala L.
You can get a very satisfying meal here. The first time I went, we tried every appetizer on the menu. Great experience! There's a squash dish that has this meat sauce over it- very intersting, and they have really good chive dumplings and these crispy dumplings that has 3 different fillings...almost like a mini dosa. Don't forget the bread, which is baked right there in the wall in the dining room. Fresh bread with an assortment of dips. The entrees are really good too, and the right portion. They serve alot of lamb and steak, even tho i'm not much of a red meat eater, I still liked all the dishes that I've tried. The atmosphere is great too.
(5)
Priya C.
So AMAZING! This restaurant is fantastic. There are tons of vegetarian options and they are so reasonably priced. This place seems to always be packed no matter what night of the week it is (they are only open for dinner and closed on Sunday night or Monday night) so def. make a reservation. This place actually prices vegetarian food like it should be- not as much as meat! My boyfriend, a very serious carnivore, also loves this place. The naan (bread) is fresh out of the oven and the dipping sauces are so delicious (especially the green one (coriander)). I love the bowlani for an appetizer (the potato one is better than the leek but they will not substitute which is a little annoying). I really like the dish (can't remember the name for some reason- I think it is the Shorwma) that is a pepper stuffed with spinach and cheese and comes with mong beans. Doesn't sound as good as it is! The service is not great though- they often neglect you for long periods of time, so you have to flag them down. But still def. worth it.
(5)
Dale O.
We ate there a couple of weeks ago and this was one of the best restaurant meals I've had in a very long time. The wait was about 45 mins on a Tuesday evening, (and not exactly in a high-density pedestrian or tourist zone) but it was DEF worth the effort--don't be discouraged. Dinner with appetizers, a generous carafe of house wine (pretty good), main courses and dessert was around $60 which I thought was very reasonable for food that's pretty much out of this world. We picked this place at random out of the Frommer's guidebook, which warns of "inattentive" service (or words to that effect). I'd agree with that assessment, but he quality of the food overshadows any problems in that area.
(5)
Alice K.
Fantastic! While I have no litmus test for authenticity (and therefore can't tell a thing about creativity), the food is reminescent of various South Asian and Mediterranean cuisines, while remaining highly individual and tasty. Bread is baked in front of you in a brick oven; all tables are equipped with three delicious sauces to go with. Highly recommended: the pumpkin/yogurt/ground beef dish, comes as an appetizer and an entree. Only unfortunate quirk: reservations are recommended, but good luck getting them, as the phone is intermittently manned by someone who hangs up on everyone. Human interest feature: Helmand is allegedly run by Hamid Karzai's immediate family.
(5)
Enrique D.
well it was my first go at afghan per say, but ive had iranian, israeli, egyptian, morroccan,etc. many middle eastern foods...so i was expecting something familiar its accross the cambridge galleria mall..and it looks like such a humble low key place on the exterior. easily missed. plain white building , nothing fancy. but inside its warm, inviting and just makes u want to sit and really eat. its quiet and relaxing, the service was very curteous.i loved it here. i went with an afghani , so they knew exactly what each plate was....and so as usual, i ordered about everything on the menu. i cant sit here and remember the names...too difficult, but every plate was better than the one before it. i have to say i really want to go back. if u read other reviews written by normal people, who dont have a personal vendetta for some very specific incident, u will find that most reviews are a testament to how really great this place does food. its simply terrific.
(4)
Katie L.
While looking for a place to grab a quick dinner in Cambridge near our hotel, we stumbled across Helmand and said, "hell yes." We started with Kaddo for our appetizer, a pumpkin dish that was really a huge highlight of the meal. The accompanying sauces were outstanding,as was the freshly baked flatbread. I had the vegetarian Kourma Challow for my entree and ate the whole thing. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Awesome.
the helmand is the only afghanistan cuisine in town. the restaurant has been increasingly popular since it was discovered by locals after 9/11. every dish here is fabulous. the bread served with every meal comes out of the fire fresh and delightful. highly recommended is the side of pumpkin which comes with some dishes and the lamb. decor has an obvious middle eastern influence. gets crowded on weekends.
(4)
Ana M.
This Afghan restaurant in Cambridge is very good. Do yourself a favor and get the Mantwo appetizer. Also, be prepared to have someone roll you out of here - the portions are very filling. I am not kidding when I say that this is the site of my first-ever food coma.
(4)
David C.
excellent, might need a reservation
(4)
Khalid M.
I'm a fan! Not a Boston native but on a recent visit, I stumbled across this Afghan restaurant. Here in Southern California I don't come across many Aghani restaurants or they just don't do a good job of advertising them! Anyway, The Helmand is the real deal, guys. Their Chapli Kababs are fantastic. Portion size is decent as well. Service could be improved but I give them a pass because both times we went, the restaurant was very busy and the staff did the best they could. I'm going to be visiting this restaurant whenever I'm in Boston.
Very good food and excellent atmosphere. I had the Kaddo for an appetizer... Very sweet pumpkin and yogurt, more like a dessert than an appetizer. But very tasty. I had the special sea bass lying In a bed of spinach rice. Excellent dinner. The pan fried bread with the sauces is very good as well. I enjoyed the white (cucumber) and red (fiery) sauces best. Overall, I rate this a 4 star. No complaints, but I'm waiting for that one restaurant that knocks my socks off before I give a 5 star.
(4)
Alex E.
Wow. I had never had Afghan cuisine before coming here, and I was absolutely blown away. They have amazing vegetarian options (be sure to specify that you want the vegetarian version because most of the dishes have both a meat and vegetarian option. I suspect this is the reason why so many people were surprised by meat in their dishes). I had the vegetarian special, which was basically a sampler of 4 different dishes and some rice. The pumpkin and eggplant were AMAZING!! I could eat that pumpkin for dessert, it was so sweet and absolutely delicious! The our server was very sweet, but the bussers/food runners were a little unenthusiastic. Not necessarily rude, but it was enough to dampen the mood a bit. And the Turkish coffee was not really like what I had in Turkey, and also very inconsistent: My friend's cup was full of grounds and I had barely any in it.
(4)
Charlie B.
Me and coworkers made a special trip here on a recent business trip. One of my coworkers is a big fan and wanted to visit. Listen to folks on here and get the kaddo! We shared other entrees and appetizers family style and everything was really delicious. I knew from the moment they brought out the tasty bread with a few sauces on the table I was going to enjoy it! The only dish I didn't love was the fish dish, which I cant' remember how it was prepared I just remember thinking it was underwhelming. They somehow manage to take dishes that read like they could be heavy dishes on the menu and turn them into something that tastes fresh and light. I had only had Afghani food one other time in DC years ago and this was much better! I love any chance to try a new cuisine and this place manages to stand out on its own and offer up a unique and delicious experience! Y
(5)
Alan G.
Pros: + Delicious food + Friendly service Cons: - Service was somewhat slow Came here with my best friend for dinner on Tuesday. I made a reservation for 7:45pm. We were seated almost immediately. We ordered the Aushak for appetizer, Sabzi for a side, Seekh Kabob and Mourgh Challow for entrees, and Feereney and Sheerberaing for dessert. We also got bread and dip. There were 3 dips for the bread. The white "mild" dip was a mixture of cucumber and yogurt, the green "medium" dip was a mixture of cilantro and something else, and the red "spicy" dip was also a mixture of something that I forgot, unfortunately. But all three were really delicious. The Aushak was a ravioli with leeks and scallions topped with ground beef sauce, served on yogurt-mint. The Sabzi was some sort of sauteed spinach. Both were great. The Seekh Kabob came with 5 chunks of lamb, which was tender and delicious. The Mourgh Challow came with three large chunks of chicken, and was also great, though I preferred the Seekh Kabob as it had more flavor. The desserts were also delicious. My friend got the Feereney, which was a cream pudding with various berries. I tried some and it was good, though a bit too creamy for my taste. I got the Sheerberaing, which was a rice pudding with pistachio and cardamom. It was sweet and soft, and the cardamom added a unique flavor to it. Overall, the food was fantastic. Our server was also super friendly to us. However, I think the service was a tad bit slow. We never got our water refilled, and had to wait for a while between courses and getting the check. We didn't leave the restaurant until 9:30, and we didn't linger after finishing our food. It could have been because the restaurant was understaffed at the time, but by the end of our meal we were only 1 of 5 tables, and still had to wait a decent amount of time to see the dessert menu and our check.
(4)
Grace M.
Enter the Helmand and be greeted by the smoky, delicious smell of fresh-baked flatbread coming from the beautiful oven facing the interior. The food is simple, delicious fare and my visit was the first time I'd tried Afghani cuisine. It was to me, very much like a mix between Indian and Persian (this being a very good thing!). I had a fish dish which was excellent and most everyone else in my party had the lamb. Everyone was pleased and I do highly recommend this place! :) p.s. OMG the pumpkin/squash appetizer..
(4)
K L.
I brought a party of 7 on a Saturday night... it wasnt that busy. First of all, we had to ASK for the bread... They brought it out with BUTTER although everyone around us had sauce. We then asked for sauce, all were somewhat underwhelming. The bread itself is so yummy and had a fried dough-like texture. Yum. I had one of the lamb dishes. The lamb itself was overcooked and bland. I tried my friends steak, which was the opposite: seasoned so well and delicious. The rice was very yummy! All in all it was just OK. My socks werent knocked off. OH and yes, get the pumpkin/beef sauce appetizer. Yum. The service was terrible. I think they just started offering open bar options...they have no idea how to make a drink. I ordered vodka, soda with a lime. The waiter had me repeat that order 2x and looked so confused. When the drink came back, there was maybe half a shot (if that) of vodka in the drink. Not good. They also took our order and placed the wrong dish in front of everyone. The guy who placed our dishes actually asked "who got the lamb"... dude there's like 7 different lamb dishes on the menu, you need to either specify or know which guest ordered what. Totally disorganized and generally bad service. I wouldnt go back, but I wouldnt turn people away either. Don't expect anything great...
(3)
Ann J.
Helmand is officially my new favorite restaurant in Boston. Having grown up in the Middle East, I have high standards for food from the region. On too many occasions have I walked into a Middle Eastern restaurant only to be disappointed. However, I'm pleased to say that the Helmand far surpassed my expectations! I have to admit the prices are a little steep but hey, you pay for quality right? Right when we sat down we got a basket of bread with three dipping sauces. Each were delicious and the bread was perfect. My boyfriend had been to the restaurant before and made sure we ordered the Kaddo as an appetizer. Piece of advice...ALWAYS ORDER THE KADDO. I think I could eat that dish every day of my life and not get sick of it. For our main dishes we both had the kofta. The portion was huge but it was so good we both cleaned our plates! The tomato sauce was seasoned perfectly and the meatballs were cooked to perfection. Sometimes Kofta can be dry or bland but this dish was exactly what I hoped it would be. Afghan food can seem a little intimidating but trust me, the Helmand is by far one of the best restaurants in Boston.
(5)
Steven W.
The food was good, the atmosphere was nice and the price was decent but our service was very bad. This place has very good reviews so maybe my server just had a bad night. Regardless, being seemingly forgotten about several times did not make for the best experience.
(2)
Kerri Y.
You cannot go wrong ordering here. Everything on the menu is beyond delicious and super flavorful. You must start with the Kaddo: pumpkin/yogurt/ground beef dish. It is beyond delicious. I a sucker for this dish and the Helmand did not disappoint. For dinner I had Chowpan (Half Rack of Lamb on Afghan bread with sauteed eggplant and rice). The eggplant was just amazing. I could have had an entire plate of this and been happy. The lamb, which I ordered rare- was super tender and flavored perfectly. I ended the meal with Homemade ice cream served with pistachio and cardamom. I think there were some dates on the ice cream as well. It was a great combination. There is just enough food- good portion size. I left satisfied but not overly stuff. Overall I had a great experience here and would highly recommend it.
(4)
Daniel C.
This is probably the best Afghan food I've ever had! A bunch of us came here for dinner after a long day of meetings. According to my coworkers, the restaurant belongs to the brother of a former president of Afghanistan. The flat bread is baked fresh on site - there's a baker scooping out a huge piece the size of a door mat every so often from a wood burning oven. It had three options of dipping sauce: white, red, and green - all good in their own way. My entree was the CHOWPAN, which was grilled rack of lamb over flat bread, served with herbed basmati rice and stewed eggplants. I got the lamb cooked medium, and it had a perfect sear with a salty crust. The meat was super tender and with little effort fell off the bone and was super juicy. I wish they offered more than three pieces, but they were still good sized! I have not yet had lamb this good at any other restaurant period. For dessert, I had their homemade ice cream, which came with generous four little scoops in a bowl with pistachio, candied figs, and some sort of berry sauce. The combination of flavors and textures was really amazing here. I regret not taking pictures at the table - I was surrounded by coworkers who said it was bad form since the wife at home would be very envious! This restaurant is worth a trip to Boston as the quality was too notch at super reasonable prices.
(5)
Raina B.
I was not expecting to be particularly blown away by Afghan food, but I loved it!! Come for great food, but don't expect service or the ambience to be decent. We both are vegetarian, so we ordered dishes to share. We got the vegetarian Aushak - so good!!!! My favorite of the night. We had the Showla - the flavors weren't as rich or strong, but still pretty good. Their bread and sauces are so good. We kept eating it and then adding the sauces to everything else! We had awful service. It seemed that our table wasn't in anyone's section, so we had to ask several times for the menu and to place our order. My friend had a train to catch, and it took ages to get our check - and when we did get the check, there were so many issues with payment! I tried to pay cash and my friend tried to pay by card, but the card machine wasn't working at first and apparently only the manager is allowed to handle cash - and the manager was out taking a phone call. My friend was getting really late so we literally got up, found the waitress, took her card back, and she left to get a cab while I waited another 10 min to finish paying the bill. Completely absurd.
(4)
Laleh J.
I thought the food was delicious. The bread was fresh with good dipping sauces.
(4)
Rabia Q.
Excellent service, excellent food, a little louder than I like. Would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Boston. The pineapple cake is absolutely delicious.
(5)
Kent L.
Here on business, other Yelpers pointed me to this terrific spot for vegetarian Afghan food. (Meat available, too - lamb, beef, chicken, fish). Super friendly, capable and attentive service from a helpful woman with a Hungarian accent. I was dining by myself, and I was pleased at how quickly the food arrived - attractive and piping hot. As good as the vegetarian menu looked, I was lured by the pan seared trout with sauteed eggplant, and one of the most interesting and flavorful rice side dishes I've ever eaten. The meal comes with complementary bread (sort of naan-like, I suppose) and sauces which were similar to what you'd find in an Indian restaurant. The restaurant at dinnertime was lively but not really noisy. It is comfortable and looks as if someone took care to decorate in an authentic-looking Afghan interior. It probably won't win any style awards, but it's sufficiently charming. Lots of people were dining in groups, so it looks like a popular place to meet for dinner. (Beer and wines are available, but be aware that bar is fairly basic/simple.) I would definitely return return here.
(4)
Domonique L.
First time trying Afghan food and I was so pleasantly surprised! Delicious flavor combinations that I would have never thought of. Pumpkin with ground beef sauce was delicious! Lamb ravioli was to die for. The sauces and bread were fresh and tasty. Would recommend it to anyone! Loved the atmosphere and staff. Very helpful in recommending dishes.
(5)
Meryam B.
My vegetarian review of Helmand: the sweet pumpkin appetizer with yogurt sauce is delicious. The other vegetarian options are decent- to be expected for a restaurant with a meat heavy menu. Despite the lack of exciting options for vegetarians, I would return just for the sweet pumpkin appetizer (and ask that it be sweetened slightly less). My co-diners ordered lamb and beef, which looked great.
(3)
Ahmed A.
Here's the breakdown: The food was pretty good. Kaddo- 4 stars Pellaew- 4 stars Chappli kebob- 2,stars - it was undercooked and raw in the middle. Chappli is never that thick. The rice pudding- 2.5 average. Service - 1 star. Our waitress was super pushy about ordering more and more food. Two appetizers when we wanted one. She rolled her eyes when we insisted on one. She forgot put cole, never came back to check on us then forgot our tea. I almost felt like she was on something. The busboys were sort of rude and seemed bothered when ever we asked for anything. Good food + terrible service = 2 stars
(2)
Jess M.
I love it here. The food is amazing, ambiance is nice, and service is excellent. I try to come here as often as I can, but I just found out this new delivery service ( Postmates.com ) actually orders/picks up/delivers from Helmand. No local food delivery service does, so I was pretty excited. I tend to order the same things over and over since I love them, so here's a run down of my favorites. Aush (noodle soup) Meat Auschak (Afghan ravioli with tomato meat sauce and leeks) Bread that comes with dinner (amazing and freshly made)
(5)
Jesseca T.
We were in Boston for the 4th and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to have Afghani food, which is one of my favorites. We were here on Sunday the 6th, so it was not crowded at all, although we made a resy since we'd heard it was often busy. Their pumpkin dish was delicious, and their bread was exception also. The spinach was ok, not awful, not fantastic. Husband reported that lamb was done right, he's greek so he knows lamb, or at least has strong opinions about it. The Bolani (sp?) was great, this is such a yummy app. Wine selectionwas fine, prices were reasonable, and ambiance was good. Unfortunately, our waiter was rude about my simple request for a children's menu. My daughter has been to more 4 star restaurants than many adults I know. She is civilized, polite and quiet. She was also made to feel very unwelcome by our waiter, which ruined the meal for us of course. We just couldn't find something on the menu that she was excited about, yet he could not even be bothered to pretend to ask the kitchen to make up some butter and noodles when I asked if there were anything easy they could do. She ate bread and butter for her dinner. When I asked if there were something he could do he said no, and stopped talking. That's the response I got. Not..."sure but it'll cost ya" or "i'm so very sorry, that's just not possible because the kitchen is very busy" but simply NO. I have been treated better in McDonalds. Unfortunate. I do business in Boston and at least once a year I have $2500 to spend in marketing money to host an event at a local restaurant for 20 or so partners. I also have a long memory and don't appreciate my daughter being made to feel unwelcome. We have worked hard to make sure we can go out and enjoy a nice meal with her, all it takes is a little flexibility. Nuff said ? And yes, I tipped 20%, I always tip 20% because I worked in a restaurant for ten years and know all about the back end. But I won't tip 20% again 'cause I won't be back. :(
(2)
Sonia D.
I absolutely love this place and always forget about it which is sad. I came to dinner on a Saturday night and was able to get a reservation with no issue. There restaurant was busy but not packed. The atmosphere is cute and cozy, looks like someone's living room. They bake this amazing bread in the oven that is in the middle of the floor which is cool. They also have 3 awesome dipping sauces. Definitely, check this place out if you are looking for a great, cozy place that serves great food with amazing middle eastern spices
(5)
Laura P.
Went to The Helmand for the first time at the suggestion of a friend. We went on a week night around 6pm and there were only a few people there. An hour later the place was packed. It was also my first time at an Afghani restaurant so I asked the server for a beef entree recommendation. I had the Chapendaz, it was delicious, I cleaned the plate! There were tons of great flavors, I would definitely order this dish again. My only criticism, if you can even call it that, was that all the sides had a similar texture. Like I said, great flavors but I like texture and everything had a soft consistency.
(4)
Desiree D.
I found out about this place years ago, when just visiting town. Now that I've moved here, Helmand is my favorite dinner go-to with friends in Cambridge. We basically alternate here with trying other places that strike our fancy, but always, always find ourselves coming back. After many trials, these are our all-time favorites, all worth 5 stars: *Kaddo - Absolutely delicious pumpkin topped with yogurt sauce, with or without meat: we always go with, and one friend has ordered it for dessert, too. *Banjan - wonderful eggplant, also with yogurt sauce, mint and tomato. *Theeka Kabob/Prime Rib - Can we just order extra plates of this meat, please? So much rice and lentils just feel like filler with this magnificence... this is fantastic! *Sheerekh for dessert - Homemade ice cream with pistachio and cardamom spices, yum! Things we all have slightly different emphasis on: *The bread is great, fresh-baked on site, great sauces to taste with. (I'm sensitive to wheat, so lose out here.) *2 of us love lamb and like the lamb dishes as well; the 3rd of our regular party finds it a little greasy, but apparently thinks that of most lamb. Not much for cocktails, but it's not that type of restaurant. Excellent wine selection; lovely spiced tea, too. Ambiance is good, colorful and open; most of room by default set up for parties bigger than 2. A little on the loud side in the open room many nights; may need a reservation. The back room is a little quieter but also more closed in; if you dress like a bum you might be seated there, too. (We came in after the gym a couple of times... =) Net: delicious!
(5)
Vivian C.
Went here with family on a recommendation from my physics GSI from college who had gone to MIT--very tasty! The environment feels a little buttoned up when you first walk in, but they are not strict about enforcing dress codes. Portions are generous and the food very flavorful. Very veg friendly if you have a mixed group. We went with one of the lamb shank dishes, a fish special and the veggie combo platter, all of which were fantastic. Great dessert (get the rice pudding!), too. Only qualm from being a spoiled California girl is the wine and beer list were a little sparse and not unique to the region or cuisine.
(4)
Vic G.
3.5/4 stars since they really don't have any competition in Boston area. I don't know any Afghan restaurant around. Most important tip: for Thursdays through Sundays - always call ahead and reserve else you won't get a table. That's simply because of the fact that there aren't other Afghani restaurants around. They have great desserts. Main entrees are decent too. I tried the lamb dishes - a different one last 2 times I was there. Not bad. I find this place much better than Lala Rokh which doesn't have the best service and is way too expensive. Ambiance at Helmand is far better too. Great service to boot. I have been going there since 2004 and the quality of their service and food hasn't change one bit.
(4)
Roger M.
Great lamb and amazing service. Definitely a repeat.
(4)
Sarah L.
We've been here twice on trips to Boston. It is so good, I would drive from Connecticut just to eat here. Seriously. It is that freaking good. They make this flat bread in the house that comes up before your meal that is to die for! They bring it warm to your table. My only complaint year is that they didn't seem to be receptive to any changes or alterations to a dish which kind of pisses me off. I just ask for a salad with chicken kebabs on it and they wouldn't do it. Both of these items were on the menu. Come on. Had Kaddo pumpkin app both times and it is a delicious, beautiful thing that I had never had before. Also had the Mourgh (chicken) salad - a daily special- Chowpan- rack of lamb, and Green Tea. Can't remember what entrees we had the second visit but they were both excellent. Come here if only for the bread!!
(5)
Jared I.
We had a reservation for 6:30 for 6 people but only 5 were able to attend. My girlfriend and I arrived a little early and we were promptly seated. We were immediately asked if we would like something to drink but we asked to wait for the rest of our table to arrive. Once the rest of the party sat down we were again asked for drinks. This was a little overbearing on the part of the waitress. One person in our party clearly ordered a glass of the Cabernet Sauvignon from California but was served a white wine. The waitress did remove the white and bring the correct wine. Overall the food was decent but not worth the price. Prior to receiving desert, spoons were rudely thrown on the table by the waitress. Furthermore we were charged $1.45 for the white wine that was incorrectly poured. In summary, the service was average and the food was not worth the price.
(2)
Jacob-Kiki H.
The lamb was so good...actually everything was so good but the lamb was to die for. We came with a large group and had very good service, even changing is to a larger table once it opened up. Very attentive waitress kept the glasses full and fresh plates coming
(5)
Matt O.
Food was excellent, wide variety of flavors very well blended. Service was a bit slow, but otherwise good.
(4)
Ghaida K.
This is one of my favourite restaurants here. It's only a walking distance from my flat so I like to come here when I'm craving food that is (somewhat) similar to the food at my home, since there no Saudi restaurants anywhere. It does the job right and I always leave extra happy and very full. However, I think the menu could use a little more variety. Perhaps offer the same dishes but without meat? After a few visits, I've eaten almost everything I thought I would like. The only reason one star is missing from this review is the service, unfortunately. P.S. I avoid the middle eastern pastries here like the plague because it's far from tasting authentic and I end up getting upset. Have them at an actual Arabic restaurant. Arax supermarket out in Watertown has a great bunch. P.P.S I never leave without having the ice cream!
(4)
Binh L.
4 stars for food and that extra star is for thoughtful service. I love the kaddo!The sweetness of the pumpkin is rounded out by the savory beef sauce. It's hard to imagine, but a brilliant combo. My only concern was that there was not enough beef sauce so I was a little overwhelmed with the remaining pumpkin which was overly sweet on its own. I still enjoyed this appetizer tremendously. I got the kourma challow. The lamb was tender and overall tasty, but I didn't feel the dish had the same cohesion as the other dishes I observed. (I tried my friend's steak - delish) The leg of lamb (actually chunks of lamb) was separated in a curry-like sauce with green beans. The challow (rice) is served with a side helping of lentils and garnish of green onion and one singular baby carrot. It was a little disjointed, but I just mixed everything together and yums. I think I would have liked a little more depth in the kourma, but still tasty. Service is excellent. I brought the attention that a drink didn't come out, but I was charged for it, and it was addressed with the utmost professionalism and politeness. I was really impressed with how they handled it. Helmand -- hell yeah.
(5)
Jane S.
The pumpkin here is delicious. Seems like authentic Afghan food. The service is excellent. We ate so much we had no room for dessert - but we ordered it to go!
(4)
Christine J.
Good Afghan food! What a treat to have these rare cuisines in Cambridge! The taste wasn't at all weird or far fetched as you might expect when you hear "afghan food". It taste very similar to our "american" palate. Go try it for yourself.
(4)
Ashley N.
This place has been recommended plenty of times from different people and highly spoken of. I tried it for the first time and I was not much of a fan & very disappointed. In my opinion it is overrated & I'm so sad to rate it low, because I was really looking forward to it. Plenty of things to choose from, but I felt like if someone were to give me a recipe, I could easily recreate it. We got: -Theeka Kabab: prime rib was medium well and could have made it at home, but better. Lacked flavor and could have been a lot better. -Koufta Challow: a bit spicy though enjoyable -Seekh Kabob: Lamb was okay, but nothing spectacular With that said, everything our table got was simple and just okay. Seemed like it needed a bit more flavor. The appetizer kaddo which is the only thing I would recommend & something definitely I could not make. Service was not great either. Our waitress was not helpful at all and seemed like she just wanted us to leave. I'll request a different waitress next time I go. Prices for the food were a bit over priced but you're paying for the experience. This place is good for people who do not mind sharing food and want the experience. After writing this review, I want to believe I went in on a bad night. & I will try this again, not anytime soon though. But like I say, I always have to try a place twice in order to say it is really good or really bad. As of right now, I've experienced better food and experience.
(2)
Katherine E.
To keep it short: The food here is absolutely amazing. The vegetarian platter is ridiculously good. I would eat it every day for the rest of my life if I could. I wasn't blown away by the flatbread, but maybe I just don't really like flatbread. The service sucks. The hostesses are rude. Do not miss your reservation. But seriously, the food is good enough that I can deal with the rudeness. I recommend this place to everyone.
(4)
Priscilla T.
I stuffed myself silly on the flat bread here. It's really fun to watch them bake it and take it out of the brick oven and slice it up :) Everything was super tasty except I made the slight mistake ordering my main (something steak...) - should have stuck to the traditional stuff. Anyway, very generous portions so be prepared to waddle out of the overly carpeted, cozy, homey dining room.
(4)
here t.
Well, it is a very nice space, but I don't get all the fuss about the food. oh fer three was the batting average for us, in the "wow" department. It good, interesting but well it doesn't distinguish itself in any particular way. But go there, have an time and see if you can find something that isn't brownish, and savory-ish, and flavory-ish.
(3)
Avigail C.
My boyfriend and I came to this restaurant without knowing we needed a reservation, and with the restaurant absolutely full we thought we would never get to eat! However, the owner was kind enough to give us someone else's place due to their tardiness. The food was great!, the waiter was very kind and attentive, and the prices were fair.
(4)
Jennifer N.
The Helmand has long confused me - tonight was no different. On the one hand, this is a restaurant that clearly aspires to distinctiveness. They make some serious efforts to create an atmosphere, and with a few small moves -- blue water glasses, painted walls, some big carpets -- it has worked. And they certainly have a few dishes that they make that are consistently good (i.e. the kaddo, the bread). But it also seems to me there is far too much at the Helmand that just doesn't work, and that hasn't worked for a long time. I also find the Helmand's prices confusing - on the one hand, this is not an expensive restaurant; on the other hand, it's not a cheap restaurant and it's pricey enough ($17-$20 entrees) that the service should be far more sophisticated, friendly, and streamlined than it is. The biggest problem here is service. It all starts with the host or hostess who, in my experience, is generally flustered and unfriendly (added to it is that the host now asks you to check any large -- i.e. backpacks -- bags because the space is so crowded now. This makes walking into the restaurant feel more like going to an airport than going out to dinner). Once escorted to a table, a waitress greets you and, in all likelihood, you will never see that person again because the person who brings your food, your bread, and your drinks is not your waitress. This means that when you want something -- like salt or water, as we did tonight -- you will ask the person you thought was your waitress, and you'll never get what you want. Other small service problems fall under the umbrella of my pet peeves: serving food at different times (I believe everyone should get their entrees at the same time), clearing plates at different times (I believe plates should only be cleared when everyone is done, and not a moment before that), and, most annoying, serving the entrees while people are still eating appetizers (I believe entrees are served after appetizers, unless otherwise requested). All of this to say, there's an element of clumsiness to the Helmand's service. All of this would be forgivable if the food was divine, and there have been times when I have found it amazing, but tonight just wasn't one of those times. I had the veggie special, which I love because it's a sampler plate -- but tonight it was really unremarkable: limp, soggy okra; a slimy piece of eggplant, and even the often-masterful kaddo was slightly off (a bit hard, I think). And it wasn't just my food that was off - my husband's kabob was overcooked and undersalted, and our friends' kabobs were also relatively flavorless. My hunch is that the Helmand occupies such a distinctive niche in the Boston eating scene that people forgive the huge service problems. But, in my mind, huge service issues coupled with lackluster food constitute a serious problem. It's unlikely that I'll be back here.
(2)
Zoe P.
Fresh, simple food in a pleasant atmosphere. So why only three stars? Oh, I don't know. It's pricey? It all tastes kind of the same? Nothing blew me away and I was dining with a large party and we ordered lots of different dishes and appetizers - pastries, lentils, fish, meats, green vegetables, kaddo, nut cake - it was like a parade of mild, sweet, aromatic, tender kept marching past over and over again. My favorite thing was maybe the bread, or the brick oven in which the bread was baked. Or the fact that other large parties of young and old were having leisurely meals at long tables covered in white table cloths.
(3)
Mary B.
For the adventurous eater, getting to try a culture's cuisine for the first time is a real treat. A pumpkin flavored treat, that is. I've been wanting to try this spot for a while and finally made it. Not even getting pulled over by a zealous Cambridge po-po could stop me (smiles and a generous dose of Southern charm got me out of trouble once again.) I'd recommend reservations as they were definitely full on a lazy Wednesday evening. Service throughout the meal was good, quick but not hover-y. It took a while for me to decide my order because I wanted to try everything... such an array of concoctions with veggies and tons of spices makes me weak in the knees (SWV 4eva). While we were waiting to order, we dove into the bread basket like jackals. The bread is kind of what they serve Cosi sandwiches in, but instead of its poor imitation this was actually really tasty. I was totally enamoured with the pistachio pesto spread. For an appetizer, we got the bowlawni, which were like Afghan hot pockets filled with leeks and scallions or potatoes. They were pretty good, and the cream sauce they were served with was out of this world. I ended up going with a fish special with sun dried tomatoes. It was lovely... the portion size was generous, the flavors were on point... definitely something you want to slow down a bit and really enjoy. Other folks at the table got the pumpkin entree and a lovely chickpea and potato salad... everything looked gorg. I could not walk away from this place without trying the bucklawa, their variation on baklava. It did not disappoint and I enjoyed the subtle differences from what I'm used to from this dessert - less flaky, more honey. I hope to pay another visit to The Helmand, show love to my pistachy friend, and have another gourmandventure.
(4)
Wendy O.
I would eat the baby pumpkin EVERYDAY if I could. Honestly, it's the only thing I want to eat for the rest of my life. That's all.
(5)
Sheila B.
4.5 stars if you will.. Been coming here for a decade, and come about once a year or so, definitely a call ahead type of place. The chicken dishes, murgh chalow ( chicken& rice) and the one with spinach, are great choices. both are, tender grilled meat, cooked and seasoned well, with some nice vegetable sides. I don't do lamb, but everyone raves about the kebabs , so just do it. The appetizers are all pretty good my favorite being the nanjan ( egg plant). Also the awesome naan-like bread from clay oven is ridiculous with the dipping sauces..Only downsides are , (1) service a little curt (2) feeling like you are being watched, (3) location, east Cambridge, not where you think of for dinner. It's also great for groups , we like to bring our out-of-towners here. See you next year for dinner !
(4)
Ana R.
This time we had dessert!! My group of six shared the cream pudding with fresh fruit (so refreshing!), the rice pudding with pistachios (texture was so-so but the taste was yummy) and the "our cake" (our favorite!). Once again, the pumpkin appetizer - can't say enough about it and will try to make it at home because I can't wait until the next time I go to Helmand. Also tried the eggplant appetizer, also delicious. Tried a bit of all the entrees on the table and nothing dissapointed. JUST GO! Don't be intimidated by the cuisine. The waiters are actually friendly if you ask for recommendations or how spicy a dish is.
(5)
Jeff M.
After being voted one of the best 50 restaurants in Boston magazine and seeing all the great reviews on Yelp I am really surprised with my experience at The Helmand. The decor and the service did not do it for me. But more importantly the food quality and taste was not very respectable. The pumpkin appetizer was seriously pretty gross. Canned pumpkin is never good. I don't think fresh pumpkin would have worked either. The quality of everything seemed pretty low and the tenderloin was over temperature. I'll never go back here.
(1)
Kyle B.
I'd never has afghan food before. I told the waitress to bring me her favorite plate, it was the lamb chops and they were OUTSTANDING!!! I tried everything at the table and the flavors were incredible. Service was great, can't wait to to back!
(5)
Rui W.
It's been five years since my last visit here and it's still a great eat!! The wood fire oven baked bread is so fresh and yummy, with the 3 dipping sauces. This time, I rotated my dipping little bit, go from the yogurt sauce to the cilantro sauce then to the hot pepper sauce, then repeat from yogurt again. Your tongue will have lots of fun with the rotations. My wife and I both like the Mantwo (appertizer) which is the Afghan version of beef ravioli. My wife got the Chowpan (1/2 rack of lamb) a must have at Helmand, if you can eat medium or rare, go with that as her medium well is little burned, but the flavor is still good. I got the Dwopiaza (tenderloin of lamb) which is well seasoned and cooked very tenderly.
(5)
Lana J.
Want to try something new? This was my first time trying Afghan cuisine, and I loved it! My boyfriend ordered the lamb chops with eggplant and rice on the side, and I took a sort of lamb stew with mushrooms and spinach. The temperature of my plate could have been a little hotter, but besides that, the flavors were very delicious. I tasted the lamb chops and wow, they were amazingly grilled and so tender! I will get that next time! Love the bread they serve, and it is baked in the oven in front of you in the restaurant. You can dip it in different sauces like yogurt or spicy cherry pepper sauce. We also had some delicious soups as appetizers. Would come here again.
(4)
K C.
Some of the dishes are pretty good. But it's too costly for the quality/quantity of food. The kaddos suck big time. New York, Chicago even Pittsburgh has better and more inexpensive options. The rice was delicious (1 star), the lamb was also good (1 star); parking isn't bad. But the veg options were very ordinary. Felt bad for our vegetarian friend who was with us. The room is dark (not in a romantic way) like a dungeonish way and VERY loud, you will bump into your neighbor's table and hear everything they talk about. Service isn't that good either. Not going back there again.
(2)
Frank G.
fun, warm, atmosphere. classy enough to impress.
(4)
Ama N.
You get three small ass ribs from the rack of lamb dish. Taste amazing but my stomach was still growling....at least feed us!
(4)
Katie W.
Perfect marriage of indian and Mediterranean food! The bread was fantastic with the trio of dipping sauces--spicy, cilantro and yogurt were great. I started with the Banjan--eggplant with yogurt sauce was great and had a fantastic smokey flavor. I had the Lamb Lawand for dinner and was very surprised at how tender the lamb was. Great sauce, fantastic spinach and flavorful rice. I cleared my plate! We came here with a group of 12 and they were fantastic at handling the large group. Will def be back!
(5)
Jess L.
Thanks to everyone who posted before me - I went based on these recommendations! Everything was very yummy. It is sort of in the middle of nowhere on a nowhere street, but the food is delish. I got the Vegetable Special - it wasn't a special, it's called that - which included okra, spinach, and pumpkin. The bread they put on the table is great. We got a great Mulbach wine, too. My rice pudding was a little dry. The flan dessert was good. The ambiance is very friendly, and the staff were knowledgable and kind.
(4)
Josephine L.
Oh, Kendall Square. You don't offer much in the way of culture or entertainment, but when you do restaurants you do them well. Hungry Mother. EVOO. And The Helmand. I can't speak on the authenticity as the only other time I've had Afghan cuisine was during a food festival in my high school world issues class from an Afghani classmate. It was delicious, but it didn't make me an expert. But I'm going to assume the food is pretty authentic considering The Helmand is owned by Hamid Karzai's brother. In any case, it's just delicious. My friend and I split the Kaddo to start. Fried pumpkin with yogurt garlic sauce and seasoned ground beef. Oh God, it was like the UN was invited to my mouth and everyone brought beer! So many diverse flavors and textures. Incredible! For entrees, this is the place to go if you love lamb. There are so many lamb dishes to choose from. After agonizing for an embarrassingly long time, I finally settled on the Khorma Challow. Leg of lamb sauteed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, green beans, and potatoes, with challow rice. Hello, UN party no. 2! Oh, you brought strippers this time? That's nice! My god, this dish was delicious. The lamb was so tender and flavorful and the melding of all those vegetables created the most heavenly stew to mix with rice. My friend had the Chapendaz and raved about how delicious it still was after being microwaved and eaten again the next day. They have a really great wine list and the waiters are good at suggesting pairings. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with rugs, blue glassware and various other almost kitschy touches that make the room colorful and lively without being too sleek or modern. Come here so your food senses can experience the equivalent of a raging kegger with the coolest people in the world. There's nothing like The Helmand.
(4)
sean g.
Oh. MY GOD! The delicious smells that smack you in the face the second you walk in the door actually brought a tear of joy to my eye. I instantly knew that I would fall in love wtih the food, and I was not wrong. Fresh baked bread right there, and if you love lamb this is the place. Amazing afghan experience.
(5)
Manpreet K.
Had dinner here on a cold, blustery & wet Friday evening. This was my second time & it won't be the last. The place was abuzz, but we were seated promptly for our reservation. The ambience is a bit dry & quiet. The menu offers a lot of lamb entrees but also a good selection of vegetarian fare. I love their bread & accompaniments - warm & fresh out of the brick oven. We decided to share the eggplant appetizer (banjan), it was good but not great. I ordered the Lamb Lawand. Although, the sauce reminded me of a lot of the Indian flavors I am used to, it was delicious nonetheless. The meat was so juicy and tender. My other half had the Murgh Kabab with spinach and rice - again, the most tender meat I've had in a long time & flavorful. The rice was seasoned perfectly and was in perfect company with the meat & veggies on the plate. Service was okay - the server was non-intrusive and just fine. This is a perfect place to dine on a cold day - rich flavors of the cuisine & a glass of wine will warm you up in no time!
(4)
Sara S.
Yum. Perfect for all of your friends with their diverse dining needs. Great dishes for vegan, omnivores, those who are gluten-free, everyone. Good sized portions, too.
(5)
Natasha A.
Helmand is delicious. Though I would not go as far as 5-star delicious, it is definitely worth a frequent visit. The food centers around grilled meats, especially lamb, although most dishes have a vegetarian equivalent. Pumpkin, raisins, grapes and yogurt sauces also make a frequent appearance on the menu. The lamb chops (Chowpan) were particularly delicious. I also liked the scallion and leek ravioli. Accompanying trio of sauces (yogurt/min, cilantro/walnut and sweet chili) add a nice touch. The bread is fantastic. Service was quick. One tiny complaint - steak knives would help with meat dishes and tables were very small, making it hard to share dishes. Otherwise, perfect. There is plenty of parking on the adjacent side streets, both metered and by Cambridge permit. The Galleria also offers reasonable parking prices in the evening. Reservations are highly recommended. Helmand gets packed.
(4)
Nishith J.
My wife, toddler, and infant had 6:30pm reservations on Fri Oct 13, 2012, and we arrived at 6:42pm. When we arrived the hostess did not acknowledge us and remained on the phone for a few minutes. Several minutes (~10) later, she looked for our table and informed us that the table was given to another party, since they have a policy of holding tables for only 10 minutes. As we were waiting, they seated 2 other parties of 4. When I made the reservation I was not asked for any contact information. I've heard this place has decent food, but the absurd reservation 'policy' (which does not appear to be written anywhere) and the dismissive hostess will keep us away. It should be noted that my family goes out to dinner all the time and has never been turned away.
I'll repeat what everyone else says: order the KADDO appetizer. Then order one for your friend, and steal it because one isn't enough. It's a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth lump of baked pumpkin covered with yogurt and (optionally for carnies) minced beef. Consistently delicious. I also recommend the aushak (leek ravioli in yogurt sauce) and the seekh kabob (grilled lamb with side dishes). If you go really early you can actually get a seat, otherwise be prepared for a long wait. I will say that they don't seem to be as friendly as they were a few years ago, but the food is still among the best in Cambridge.
(5)
Kenneth F.
The best meal I have had in Cambridge, and arguably the best meal I have had in the entire surrounding area. The pumpkin appetizer is a great way to start the meal and also perfect for sharing with others. For entrees, the star of the meal was the Chowpan (the rack of lamb). Comparable to the other place where I've had the best lamb ever, Kokkari in San Francisco. Another entree to get is the Chapendaz, which is a super tender beef dish. Definitely check it out when you are in the area...you won't regret it! Check out my pictures too!
(5)
Stacey W.
I don't have that much experience with Afghan food, but if the Helmand is a good representation, then Afghan food is DELICIOUS.
(4)
Lauren P.
I love taking out-of-towners to unique restaurants with inventive flavors and Helmund is at the top of my list. The kaddo (pumpkin with yoghurt and meat) is a must-do appetizer. Their freshly baked bread is amazing! I love ALL their lamb dishes but Lamb Lawand and Seekk Kabob are my favorites. I highly recommend choosing lamb over the chicken offerings. Make a reservation - this place is always packed!
(4)
Ellie W.
Helmand is by far my FAVORITE spot in Boston for Middle Eastern eats. Well, ok, I don't really know of many other places, but I'm pretty content with Helmand--enough not to really have to seek other restaurants. I'm not sure many can top this place. It's a good idea to make reservations, since you may be waiting awhile without them. In that time, your stomach may hate you and self destruct just by smelling the myriad spices and delicious aromas floating around the restaurant. The ambiance is quite nice, with dim lighting and a homey Middle Eastern feel. It feels like you're in a giant dining room in Afghanastan--and definitely smells like it. Great for small group dinners and probably dates as well. I normally DESPISE lamb (bad lamb experiences--and I'm still convinced that most of the time, when not made well, it tastes like what a soggy, unwashed gym sock smells like), but the lamb here is superb. The ONE time I can enjoy it without secretly spitting it out in a napkin. If a restaurant can change my mind about lamb tasting like gym socks, it's got my approval!
(5)
Maha H.
The ambience is nice in this restaurant and I like their wood-fired oven where you can see the bread and other dishes being cooked. However, i was not too keen on the food in general. Felt it was too greasy. Generally not a fan, but the ambience is nice so would be nice to come here with a crowd.
(3)
Anne W.
A jewel in Kendall. Pleasantly surprised by the nice decor.. spacious layout.. and the lack of a wait. I made a reservation and there was no problem. We arrived a little late... seated immediately. Now I know people are like.. what is Afghan food exactly? It is very similar to Indian food in my opinion. Affordable prices. The soup was amazing.. I got a lamb and spinach dish which was decent. We also got a bottle of wine and the house wine.. we each paid $30! Amazing value for this place! Great date spot... sure to surprise whomever you take.
(4)
Dan G.
Just lovely! Finally after many years, I've arrived. The atmosphere was nice and I loved the wooden table in the middle. I can see that if it was really packed, the seating would be awkwardly close to someone else. One thing was the hostess was a little, meh at first. "Can I help you?" No you cant, but you can ask how many and seat us, ho! We were seated next to the wall of wine, which too, was a tad awkward. Aside from that the service was great, a lot of people working on a monday night means that never an empty glass. Ok FOOD TIME! This was my first time eating Afghani and I must say I enjoyed it. It was a bit milder than Indian, but a lot of the dishes were very similar. They brought out a flat bread with some dipping sauces, a mint/cilantro, hot pepper and a cool yogurt. I was a huge fan of the mint/cilantro, one of the best I have ever had YUUUUMMMMMMM. The menu was very easy to read, everything was well explained and accurate on the plate. We started with the leek ravioli, which was very good. I got the koufta which came served with a heaping mound of deliciously spiced rice, sooo goooooooood I wanted to lick the plate, and so I did! I would like to come back, they seem to specialize in lamb, but you can get veg entrees, lamb, chicken or beef, but its mostly lamb which is aweeesssoooome. Can't wait to come again.
(4)
Jessica S.
Amazing food. The pumpkin appetizer is awesome. Got the beef with lentils. My friend got lamb. Desserts were good. A friend of mine also raves about this place. Can park for 2 hours in the lot if you go inside to get a sticker for your car
(5)
Jungmin L.
The pumpkin appetizer was a bit too sweet, but the slight meat/tomato flavor went really well with the fleshy pumpkin. Pita-style grilled bread and the accompanying sauces were all great. Especially the yogurt/cucumber sauce, which is seasoned very well. Lamp chops had amazing grill flavor, with a great spice that brought pleasant lamb flavor but masked any gaminess. Cooked medium, it was great. The eggplant sautee and rice that come with it are also delicious. Chicken dishes are also very good, because the cooking has been done perfectly; the spinach side dish is also great. All in all very unique and good.
(4)
Francisca W.
(review dated 2/09): except for the little bloopers about seating and all, which probably affected the service afterwards, it was a good experience. shared appetizers: kaddo (pumpkin) and mantwo (beef dumpling). kaddo was great (couldn't put my fork down), mantwo... so-so. had the sabzi challow (lamb pieces w/basmati rice) for entree; lamb was surprisingly tender, and cooked medium rare just as requested. meal was completed w/some sort of rice pudding w/cardamom on: nice & refreshing w/the taste of pistachios, too. street parking in the area wasn't difficult, given that our rsvn was made for, like, 6pm. don't know about later in the day, though. :)
(4)
Kelly O.
4.5 stars, possibly even 4.75. This place is one of my absolute favorites in the city. I'm a total whore for Middle Eastern flavors, and this place just knocks it out of the park. I completely agree with the rest of Yelp, the kaddo app (veggie for me) is soooo ridiculously scrumptious, you'll want to order 10 of these just for yourself. In fact, I may do that the next time I come here, 10 kaddos for my app/dinner/dessert pleasekthanks... In terms of actual entrees, the qabelee is my favorite, this dish plus the lamb at Oleana completely turned me from a lamb virgin into an unabashed lamb lover. From the description "pallow (Afghan-style rice) baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed julienne of carrots", it sounds a little simplistic and sort of bland compared to the rest of the exotic-sounding menu, but in actuality the flavors are subtle but spot on and the lamb is very tasty, tender and spiced so nicely, mmm... I've tried a lot of the other lamb, chicken, and veg dishes, all of which are superb as well, but the qabelee (and the kaddo of course!) keeps me coming back for more. The freshly baked flatbread with dipping sauces you get upon arrival is excellent as well (be careful, one of those sauces is pretty spicy, I found out the hard way), and the turkish coffee and tea with cardamom are great meal finishers (the desserts are OK but nothing to rave about really). It can be hard to get a table here because it's so popular, and service is generally OK but mostly hit-or-miss, but ignore all that and go try it for yourself, Afghan food- especially at the Helmand- is not to be missed.
Amazing food. Great service, our waiter certainly wasn't a chit-chatter but he was very attentive. The energy in the room was so positive. It was loud but the space handles it well and it never felt too loud. I want to try everything on the menu - we will defintely be back.
(5)
M S.
Victim of their own success ? Or simply and deeply impolite. The worst welcome ever. My fiancee and I went there with my parents, we arrived 5 minutes late, and a group, very familiar with the place apparently, got a table right before us when then arrived 15minutes after; and the main lady at the reception, apparently daughter or at least very close to the owner, simply told us" you are late by 5minutes, so either you behave, or I give you the ugliest table in the room" ... The neighborhood is so dead and quiet, that with my parents there were no way we would leave and try something else at that time, so we calmly waited. The aggressive lady was kind of wrongly behaving still, which we ignored again. Finally the waiter was ok, and food was descent, but clearly nothing worse living this experience.
I never had a bad meal here. Ever. Here are some factoids: 1) Always make a reservation especially on the weekends. Even with the reservation, they will make you wait 5-10 mins minimum. 2) Service is slow. (This is what causes the previous bullet.) Also wait staff isn't too attentive. They tend to "forget" your order for a refill or extra bread or more napkins. 3) Street parking is available on the side street. I never had trouble finding a spot for dinner. 4) Meals are mostly between $20-$30 range. But the food is always delish. Afghani cuisine is awesome. This restaurant is a must-go!
(5)
L. S.
I took my partner here for his birthday, and it was overall a great experience. I called about an hour before we left to make reservations, and I'm glad we did. Even though it looked half-empty when we arrived, and it was 7pm on a Wednesday, the hostess informed me that they weren't seating anyone without reservations. All of the food was delicious - the free bread and its accompanying sauces, the kaddo (baby pumpkin in yogurt sauce, just a bit too sweet for me but overall great), the mourgh challow (amazing curry sauce on the chicken), and the chowpan (lamb done just to my partner's liking). It's certainly a bit pricey; the food is very good, but I'm not sure that it's $25/plate good. Still, it'll remain on my radar for special occasion meals. I never knew I liked Afghani food before, and now I've started to crave it from time to time, so it must have been pretty good!
(4)
Ana C.
I've been going to Helmand for five years now and I've enjoyed it every time. I also haven't met anyone who wasn't happy with their food. The fresh, oven-baked bread served with three sauces is delicious and I always have to watch out not to fill up on it. I also like their sour soup - the Aush - and some of their appetizers - the Kaddo (sweet pumpkin dish) and the Banjan (eggplant). Out of the entrees, my friends really like the Mahberian (trout). I think the service is quite good, we've never has to wait long to get our food or our glasses of water filled. The restaurant can get crowded on Friday and Saturday for dinner, so try to make reservations, but we've always gotten a table pretty quickly on other nights of the week.
(5)
Melissa M.
Read all the reviews and decide if you wanna go to The Helmand. I was apprehensive to try a new cuisine, but I was very happy with my choice of the Kaddo appetizer and for my entree, I chose the spicy meatballs. They were spicy, but delicious. I though the Kaddo was exquisite. I can't explain it....just try it. The service was very nice and the restaurant is beautiful. The three toppings for the naan bread went from kinda spicy, to spicy, to very spicy. I enjoyed the very spicy one. The dessert was fairly good too, fruit and yogurt. The yogurt was a lot more tart than most places. It was a nice ending to the spicy meal. I shall return.
(4)
Raffaella P.
These three stars are the result of a combination of different factors. First and in my opinion, most remarkable thing is the food price. The menu available on their website reports prices lower of the actual ones. For example we had a Chowpan for the price of $26.95 (while online it is priced $23.95) and a Dwoplaza at $21.95 vs the $19.95 of the website. So, the website is quite misleading for the reader. Besides, the menu we had to chance to look at were just photocopies in black and white with none of the nice and very helpful pictures reported online (so we looked at our iphones to get an idea...). I really liked the very fresh flatbread just made in front of us in the oven, with a delicious trio of sauces. The above mentioned entrees were very good, simple and tasty. Also the wine (we had 1/2 carafe of red housewine) well enhanced the taste of the food, which really gives the idea of being authentic and traditional. However, I can say that overall this has been a good dinner, but definitely overpriced. Considering also the location (not very easy to reach walking) and the atmosphere, which we expected to be cozier and classier, I don't think we will go back.
(3)
Christian v.
DO NOT COME HERE WITH A FAMILY We have been coming here for 7 years. Food is usually very good. But the last time we came, we were greeted in such a Nasty condescending way by the hostess because we had a stroller. She was very snippy in explaining to us that that they do not accept stroller. The tone and attitude were unacceptable. Will never come back.
(1)
Heather S.
Yes, all Yelpers, again, you haven't let me down. The Kaddo (sweet soft, but not too soft pumpkin) is AMAZING. It reminds me of this storybook I had as a kid where the little boy in it wished for all vegetables to become candy, and he loved it until he got sick of it. Though, I don't think I'd ever get sick of this pumpkin dish! It's light and delicious, especially when combined with the spicy spinach on the Vegetarian plate called, "Special." Not to be confused with the daily specials. Other things were good, but not great -- like the boneless chicken was tender and moist, and the rice was decent, but really, I'd come here for the Kaddo. We also loved the red spicy-sweet sauce with their piping hot bread and butter. The combination of the sweet plus the mellow of the butter, was fabulous. What we didn't love was the acoustics in this place. Yes, we were there on a Saturday (and yes, we made reservations ahead of time: quite necessary!), but, it's always busy, and, it was really, really loud. This is a problem of the ceiling not the people. Wish they could fix that. Also, they don't have any options -- other than House options -- for white, rose, and red wines. You can only get wine by the bottle (unless it's the house option). That sucks. Other than those two things, it's a great meal.
(4)
Lisa I.
The food at Helmand is absolutely delicous. Others were raving about Ariana so I checked it out, but I think Helmand is much, much better. The crowd here is generally older than other spots in Kendall so definitely don't go here with a loud group of friends. It is a white table cloth type place with great food and wine. Perfect to take your parents to. The lamb is incredible and the Kaddo is really interesting. It was too sweet for my taste, but everyone else loved it. If you haven't tried Afghani food, there is no better place to go.
(4)
Lia M.
Always a great time - food & service are excellent. It can get warm in there, due to the oven. Definitely make reservations because it can get crowded. Prices are very reasonable. Parking is easy - street or the garage at Cambridgeside. I have been here with a huge group, and service was great then as well. The bread with 3 dipping sauces is delicious. For an appetizer, the kaddo (baked pumpkin) is amazing. I have had a few different lamb dishes, and all were tasty. For dessert, try the baklava or pineapple cake.
(5)
H T.
My name is Hana and I am very hard-headed. I really don't like to admit that I am wrong. I said that I dislike Helmand's food and service, and that was that. There are tons of other places that I can get good food with awesome spices. However, I'd have to admit that having a second go at this restaurant was not.... half as bad. Okay, I admit, it was good. See 4 stars. Maybe it was just the wine, the occasion, the people I was with. :-) One nice tip I learned was it's best if you mix the 3 sauces that come with the bread together. And don't get the special pumpkin dish (bland), instead get the Bowlani as appetizer and Showla as the entree. Maybe I'd have to go there again to confirm how good it is. ^_^
(4)
O K.
Great food and service!! owned by the karzai family but you cant hold that against them lol kaddo apps are very delicious.. as is the mantoo.. the brick oven stove adds a nice flare.. def worth checking out
(4)
Cathy T.
My first Yelp! review, here goes... :) To start, complimentary fresh bread made from the wood-burning oven on one side of the dining area was brought warm with three dipping sauces! We got the special entree which came with four appetizers and rice. It was baked pumpkin (kaddo), pan-fried eggplant (banjan), sauteed spinach (sabzy) and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes (bendi). My friend and I loved the assortment and agreed that it was the perfect amount to sample each one. The kaddo--fried baked baby pumpkin seasoned w/sugar & served on yogurt and garlic sauce--was delicious and the most unique item of the bunch, but we agreed that it was too sweet to enjoy in a larger portion. It's definitely worth a try, though! For my entree, I had the Chowpan, a rack of lamb marinated, grilled and served on a bed of Afghan bread with sauteed eggplant and rice. It was done well but wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Service was prompt and the decor and layout were very inviting. It felt like you were eating in someone's house complete with a cushy couch with magazines in front for folks who are waiting for a table.
(4)
Snuffles B.
Helmand is the bigger, more sophisticated older version of Brighton's Ariana. Literally, same menu, same wall color, same decorative theme and good service. To be scientific about the whole thing, I ordered dishes that I've also had at Ariana: Kaddo, Auschak, Mourgh Challow, Sheerekh, Threw in a Banjan and Pudeen to try some new stuff too. Dish for dish, Ariana's tastes better and are cheaper. But Helmand is still delicious, and is has that certain je ne sais quoi that Ariana lacks that makes me want to come back.
(4)
May N.
I ate here about a week ago on a Friday night and enjoyed a great meal with some friends. They begged for a reservation early that afternoon and squeezed one in for 7-8:30. These friends showed up 30 min late, but we got seated immediately and did not feel rushed. We dived into the freshly-made bread and sampled the kaddo - both delicious. All of us ordered different entrees and they were all delicious. My sabzi challow was perfectly seasoned spinach and beef with rice. My partner ordered the vegetarian version, khorma challow, which included green beans, carrots, cauliflower, turnips and potato sauteed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger and cilantro served with sauteed spinach and rice. The others got the chapendaz (grilled beef tenderloin with served on a sauce of grilled tomato, hot peppers, onions and cumin seeds with lentils, wheat barley and rice) and the mourgh challow (chicken breast with spices, yellow split-peas, yogurt, cilantro and curry, with rice. Great food! Busy restaurant was busy, but service was attentive. Street parking easily found. Reservations strongly recommended.
I will keep this short and sweet. +: Fantastic food. There are few rivals to Helmand's offerings in the Boston area so far as I have experienced. Their bread is fresh baked in plain view of the restaurant. The atmosphere is really warm and great for groups. -: Awful customer service. I came here with a few friends for a birthday dinner. (with a reservation). Upon walking inside we weren't even asked if we had a reservation, or even greeted. Instead, the hostess simply said, "You cannot bring your bag in here, I will need to take it. Oh, is that birthday cake you have? Yeah...that will be $1.50 a slice." In short, we brought a small bday cake that we were hoping to share at our table, but were informed that it would cost us $1.50 to slice our own cake! All along I was thinking to myself, "here I am, about to spend a lot of money on a nice dinner, I made a reservation, I'm here on time...and this is how we are treated?" So...if you can make it to your table in one piece and not have to pay to sit down - this place is for you. Like I said, the food was terrific the dining experience as a whole? Just OK.
(3)
Liana K.
what can say that 271 have not yet said? Not much. I got their baby pumpkin veggie special and it was devine. I'm also an addict for their bread. Carbs for the win. We got there at 5pm sunday as they were opening and there was already a few people waiting!
(5)
Kelsey M.
Oh my goodness this place is good! Had a little wait with on placing our orders but the staff is so friendly and personable that you don't mind. The bread and sauces are just the start of what will be a great meal. We were a party of 3 and everything tasted unique and delicious. The hostess that checked us in and took our coats was very welcoming. A definite must-go!
(5)
Jen H.
I am not a foodie. I am not an adventurous eater. I am, however, a fan of Helmand. I've come here twice now... once with my boyfriend, and once with him and a couple of his friends. Service has been great both times, although our waitress last time seemed to be incapable of smiling. She was super serious. I am assuming that was just her personality, not that she had distaste for our table, but I digress. The food was quite flavorful, and a lot of it. I haven't been able to finish my meal either time, so luckily my boyfriend volunteered to clear my plate for me. If you're in the mood to try something different (I mean, really... how often do you get to try Afghani food?). If you're in the mood for something tasty. If you're in the mood for good service. If you're in the mood for a filling meal.... for any of these reasons and more I haven't experienced/thought of.. I would try Helmand.
(4)
Mimi W.
The food here is very good. There are a lot of interesting flavors and it seems like a good date restaurant. I'd warn against sitting by the brick oven as it got very hot and I had to migrate to another table to get relief. Beef was a little tough, they could have chosen more tender cuts, but overall, pretty good.
(4)
Christopher T.
Overall, the prices were a bit steep, but what really hurt was my stomach about an hour after my meal. While staying at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge, MA during a recent trip, I was looking for some good food in the area--Cambridge/Boston. One of the first things that popped up on Yelp was Helmand which turned out to be a stones throw away from the hotel. So after a full day of walking around Boston, what better way to cap it off than partaking in cuisine you don't have everyday. Upon entering this place, my partner and I were promptly seated and provided menus. I opted for the lamp lawand--sauteed leg of lamb, served with sauteed spinach and challow rice. My partner ordered the mourgh challow--a variation of chicken curry with challow rice. While waiting for the entrees we were provided nan-e afghani (naan) and three dipping sauces (yogurt, cilantro, and chili paste). The nan-e was really good. It's a bit more dense than naan you would get in Indian cuisine, and paired with the cilantro sauce it made for some palate-satisfying deliciousness. The entrees came out surprisingly fast, almost like it was ready-made. This was a bit disappointing to me if only because I like to have some time to converse over a meal. Saying that, I'd rather have meals come out quickly than having to wait a long time for them. My dish was good, but not great, nor was the mourgh challow. I felt like the prices were kind of steep for what it was. After I returned to the hotel, my stomach started hurting real bad. I'm not sure if it was because of the food at Helmand, but it sure didn't help.
(2)
Purple S.
Good ambiance and a nice place for large groups. Can get crowded so you may have to wait a bit. The food is ok, but I only tried their chicken dishes. In the appetizers list, the 'bendi' was ok, but didn't like the ravioli much.
(4)
Donna W.
Fantastic food, the cardamom black tea is wonderful and the pallow rice was to die for. We will come back next time we're in town. The only down side was that service was slow since the restaurant was full.
(5)
Angel C.
I aaaaaalmost gave this place 5 stars because the food is delicious, but the service towards the end of the meal left a sour taste in my mouth. I sometimes factor in service if I want to round up or round down on the number of stars. The fact that I'm deducting a whole star says a lot. (Yeah, I know, most people care a lot about service. For me, it's *mostly* just about the food.) I sat down and waited a few minutes before anyone showed up. Then, we got menus, but no water. Hello! We eventually got our water, and service was ok for a while. Skip to the end of the meal. We asked them to pack our leftovers, and we had some bread left, so we asked for that too. They brought back a bag with 2 food containers (for 2 people), and the bread was just placed on top of the top container. Bag, container, bread. Seriously!? At least put it *inside* one of the containers. Better yet, wrap it in a paper towel or tin foil. Ugh. Then we had to wait a while for them to take our dessert order, again after we were done with dessert to ask if we wanted anything else, and then again while they were processing the credit card. This all happened around 10pm, so the place wasn't that busy. However, the flavors you'll find at Helmand are awesome. Just like everyone else says, get the Kaddo - pumpkin with meat sauce and yogurt. Sounds kinda weird, but it's outstanding. Sweet and savory - yum! Then we got the Mourgh Pallow (Challow exchanged for Pallow) and the Kourma Challow. Very tender meat (chicken and lamb, respectively) with a delicious blend of spices and amazing rice. I love when they fancy up the rice! For dessert, we had the "house cake", which is a pineapple cake with vanilla ice cream sprinkled with cardamom and a drizzle of pomegranate sauce. The cake and ice cream are fine, but it's the addition of the cardamom and the pomegranate sauce that make this dessert stand out. It's too bad they lost the fifth star at the end.
(4)
Aboud Y.
Love it! One of the better, more consistent restaurants in the Boston area. The atmosphere is nice, service friendly and professional, and the food delicious. I've liked just about everything I sampled here. At least one of the Karzai's is honest and knows what he is doing!
(4)
Marguerite T.
One of the best meals I've ever had - seriously. My husband and I had 0 experience with Afghan food, so we honestly knew nothing about any dish on the menu. Everything we ordered turned out to be amazing. I had the qabelee and fell in love (super flavorful rice baked with lamb and raisins), he had lamb lawand (sort of curried lamb, some of the most tender and flavorful lamb I've had), and our aushak appetizer was really unique and yummy. The bread alone was worth the trip. Service was great and friendly; atmosphere was cozy; and seriously, the food.... so good! Only downside was the price, but it's our fault for not investigating better before we got there. We'll be saving this just for special occasions rather than random Friday nights, I think.
(5)
J K.
The first comment about this place is the guy up front who is seating people is a complete prick! If you could avoid that jerk than the food isn't all that bad. But first impressions are tough to shake.
(2)
Kelly A.
I had been meaning to try the Helmand for quite some time now, and last night it finally happened. We got there around 7:20, put our name on the list, and were told it would be about a 15-minute wait. That turned into a 50-minute wait, but we passed the time enjoying the lovely smells emanating from the kitchen. When we sat down, we were greeted with some unbelievably good hot flatbread that was accompanied by three most delicious dipping sauces: a minty-yogurt sauce, a spicy pepper sauce, and a cilantro sauce. They were all so good that I ate a second piece of flatbread so I could continue enjoying them. We ordered our drinks, but our waiter forgot them. We reminded him later, and he brought them over and then took our orders. I decided to try the leek ravioli, while my dining companions went for three different vegetarian entrees and the pumpkin appetizer. They raved about the pumpkin, and everyone loved their entrees. Then I ordered another drink and the waiter forgot. So I had to remind him again, and then he brought it. When I was getting full, my friends tried some bites of my ravioli, and they all haaaated it! I don't know why, because I thought it was delicious, but they found the things quite odious. So I guess I'm glad that I'm the one that ordered them, as we all ended up being very pleased with our own dishes... The waiter introduced us to the dessert menu and my friends got the cream pudding with fruit and a Turkish coffee; we went for the cake and green tea. The desserts came, the coffee came, but once again, the waiter forgot my green tea. We were halfway done with the cake, so we reminded him. And then he brought it. But at that point it was not as useful in washing down the dessert since most of it was already gone. The cake was quite delicious, served alongside some ice cream with pineapples, figs, and pomegranate sauce. So while everything was quite good, the service was lacking, hence the lack of a 5th star. I would like to return to try some of the other vegetarian specialties, which all looked awesome.
(4)
Particular P.
Want to impress a girl on your fourth or four hundredth date? Take her to Helmunds, she will appreciate your cultural diversity and the amazing food. Have her order the steak, Helmunds to my is home to all time favorite steak, the Chapendaz. I don't know how they make the steak but I suspect they have a very large man in the back with a very large meat tenderizer because I like to call it butter steak. It is melt in your mouth tender. Then order 1/2 or a full carafe of the house red switch is always delicious. Between the steak and the wine I think you will both be in a for a great evening. Helmunds is a Particularly Preferred destination.
(5)
Marc P.
I really enjoyed the food. The kaddo (pumpkin-based appetizer) and the showpan (lamb entree) were great. My biggest gripe was that I felt like they rushed me in and out. I wanted more time to savor the dishes but instead felt a bot rushed.
(4)
Jeff D.
Food and service were right on. Delicious eggplant, delectable lamb. One note: Yelp info suggests that it is not suitable for kids. We brought two punchy/tired kids (2 and 4) and had no trouble. The staff were very accommodating. Great experience.
(4)
Jessica W.
I've loved the Helmand for several years now. The ambiance is perfect for a special occasion meal, without feeling stuffy. Both vegetarians and meat eaters will be happy with the food. First, that fresh baked flatbread. I like having options in butter, and three sauces, but my favorite is the green walnut-vinegar one. It's hard not to just fill up on the flatbread. The vegetarian aushak appetizer is fantastic. It's like ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served with a yogurt sauce and a carrot sauce. The sauces totally make the dish. Give me all your sauces and bread, and I could be very happy. But there's more delicious food? Oh, you spoil me, Helmand. One of my favorite vegetarian entrees is the kaddo and banjan challow, which is baked eggplant and pumpkin, served with challow, a specially seasoned rice. The eggplant, which comes with a tomato sauce, is on the salty side, and it's nicely balanced by the sweet pumpkin. And the rice--I wish I knew the secrets to making challow so I could make it at home. I sometimes forget about the Helmand because of its location--I don't think Cambridgeside Galleria-area and "fine dining"--but a trip just to the restaurant is definitely worth it.
(5)
Alyssa J P.
Delicious food! If I didn't get lost in Kendall constantly I'm sure I'd come here more often.
(4)
Jahan H.
I really wanted to support this restaurant but there were some strange instances that cost them a few star. Background: I was dragging someone special out for a dinner in East Cambridge and I wanted things to go well, particularly since this was her first time trying Afghani cuisine. So I called a few hours ahead to make a reservation. Arrival: As soon as we arrived, I gave my name to the hostess and mentioned my reservation. I recognized her voice from my phone call earlier. It seemed like they had "lost" my reservation and made us wait while they scrambled to find a table. Now this was a weekend dinner situation so the place was already crowded. We had wait a while for the table to open up. Seating: We were finally seated in this separate section from the main restaurant. Ordering: Since my family is from the region, I pretty much knew what to order. So we both placed the orders for appetizers + entrees. The apps came super late and were followed shortly by the entrees. But what was really messed up was that we hadn't even finished the apps when the server actually took the plates away. She was not amused neither was I. Food: The food was actually not bad. Think Persian + Indian = Afghani. I am exaggerating of course and I don't want Afghani people to get upset. Overall Experience: I would be willing to give Helmand another try if their location was more accessible and the service was a bit more coordinated.
(2)
D H.
I've been here a couple times over the years. If I had to guess, this is what "authentic" Afghani tastes like. Somewhat similar to Indian, though without the heavy sauces. Many dishes are centered around delicious marinated meats. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Sarah C.
2.5, bumped up to a 3 because of the yogurt dip. Came her a while back for a birthday with about 10 girlfriends. We're an adventurous bunch, we'd had Polish food a few weeks before and Indian the bday before that and were really excited to see what Afghan food was all about. This place is NOT for groups. This place is for a quiet date night dinner, or a dinner with your parents. We'd made a reservation a few weeks previous - I understand that 10 people is a lot but making 10 girls in party dresses wait outside for 20 minutes while you rearranged tables was poorly planned in my opinion. The worst was they sat us, a big loud birthday party, in the middle of the restaurant where we could be the most annoying to the most people...Once seated we were waited on by 2 very formal waiters, I agree it would be nice if the waiter smiled once in a while or didn't stare at you while you ate, but I chalked it up to being cultural so it didn't bother me. We ordered a few bottles of house wine and apps to share. Before the food came out we got some yummy bread that slightly resembled Naan. The complementary bread come with several dipping sauces the best being the mint yogurt. Yes, this was tasty. Highlight of the evening! For apps we got the Banjan, fried eggplant in tomato sauce, and the Kaddo, pan- fried pumpkins. Both were extremely good. The Kaddo was the favorite with sweet pumpkin and yogurt making an excellent combo. Both are small - we ordered 3 of each and could have used more. Girls at my tabled ordered a variety of main dishes from the adventurous rack of lamb to totally vegetarian dishes. I'm a rice lover so I was excited to try out the Koufta Challow, beet meatball in Afghan spices with veggies and rice. I honestly wanted more flavor. Not necessary spice, but flavor. Something unique that would forever stand in my mind as Afghan. It tasted like an Indian curry, disappointing especially with the $15 price tag. The lamb I tried was good, maybe I should have gotten that. After we'd annoyed enough people, drank all the wine, picked at our meals and paid the very large bill (place seemed a bit overpriced of the menu items they were selling) we could almost hear the waiter sigh a breath of relief that we were leaving. I might come back for a date night when I feel like something different - well maybe if someone has any great recommendations of entrees to order.
(3)
Karen D.
Sadly, I was disappointed. I had the lamb kabob and the meat was kind of dry without a lot of flavor. There were also some chewy inedible pieces. The sides were very good, but $25 is too much to pay for eggplant and rice. The service was so-so and our waiter didn't check on us until we were almost done eating.
(2)
Andrew P.
Mr. Concierge at my hotel recommended this following my request for "something low key and ethnically delicious." Nice job dude. After marveling at the brick oven at the front of the restaurant, while dunking pieces of airy Afghan bread freshly pulled from said oven into a variety of minty, spicy and yoghurty dips, I bowed to the nudge nudge recommendation of the waitstaff and paired the Chowpan rack of lamb with a juicy glass of Malbec. Don't expect meticulous plating or delicately frenched bones. Do expect gnaw-the-bone inducing flavor charred lamb with just the right amount of gristle. Paired with a heaping of roasted eggplant mashola and rice spice heaven. Kept a good thing going with a Turkish coffee slurry and house made vanilla ice cream with cardamom, pistachios and squeezed pomegranate juice. Seriously? Curse you finitely bound stomach. Definitely try this place if you have the chance.
(5)
Whine Snob L.
Not glamorous, just wonderful. Must do: 1) Eat the flatbread. It seems like such a basic item, but, paired with the sauces, it is fantastic. I could eat this as a meal. 2) Get the pumpkin. Meat or no meat is your call - it is wonderful both ways. Sweet, smooth, just the right tang from the yogurt sauce.... Seriously, you've never had pumpkin like this before. The rest of the food is wonderfully executed food which combines flavors you're probably not used to. Like others have said, the plating is straight-forward, but that fits the food-first atmosphere.
(5)
Yasmin E.
FANfreakinTASTIC! i'm not one to usually dish out 5 stars, but when i tell you the food here is something else...it's SOMETHING ELSE!! the ambiance was quaint, simple (just how i like it). you could use the experience as a quiet dinner for two, or a fun semi-sophisticated place for a bunch of friends. since the tables are rather small, you won't be able to fit a huge group (at most 6-8), but since people aren't screaming at the top of their lungs to make convo at this place, you'd wanna keep it small anyway. try the Mantwo for an appet. (Homemade pastry shells filled with onions and beef. served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce. Vegetarian Mantwo also available). for an entree try the vegetarian eggplant special and/or the Mourgh Salata (very light weight but delicious dinner choice if you're being seated after 8pm). and DONT let the outside presentation of this place deceive you. it looks simple outside, but it's a world of YUMMMMM as soon as you set foot in the door and are hit with the warm scent of naan :) Bon Apetite!
(5)
Chris M.
Excellent place if you want to eat healthy, different, and filling food. I will say that their menu is somewhat limiting, especially for vegetarians. This might add to the experience for some, but personally I like the long-term process of making a decision, and then second-guessing myself in the last minute pressure of the order-placing moment. While you're deciding, they give you a big basket of the MOST DELICIOUS baked-five-minutes-ago bread and three yogurt-based sauces to prepare your taste buds. They give you more bread too, if you finish it off. It's dangerous. I actually opted out of an entree, I got a mushawa soup and a salad of potatoes and chick peas with delicious cilantro vinaigrette dressing. Definitely not a bad choice for a main course. Bread is made to put things on, so I put the salad on the bread and was satisfied. My turkish coffee was a good end as I was feeling sleepy, but I had forgotten that the finely ground sludge is left at the bottom of the cup, resulting in a 'wtf' moment. Got over it. Tried my friends' deserts, would definitely recommend the pudeen.
(4)
Wendy K.
The Helmand lost a star in this update, because the morning after, my boyfriend and I were MSG hungover. He was up most of the night with a racing heart rate and an insatiable thirst, symptoms we both experience after cheap Chinese food, and I was so thirsty in the morning I drank three or four cups of water right off the bat. MSG is not the devil, and I suppose it's possible that MSG is not to blame at all, but it seems that there was an inappropriate amount of it in the rice dish my boyfriend ordered, Qabelee, and in my meal as well. I ate less of my meal than bf ate of his, so that could be why he had worse symptoms. Beware!
(4)
Team O.
We want to hire the chef to cook for us every day. As organic farmers, we work with fresh vegetables constantly. The simplistic way in which these (easily locally sourced) vegetables were prepared amplified their natural goodness to perfection. The waiter was kickass, patient, and determined to help us select the menu options that would most satisfy our taste buds. It was good. Real good. Wait until you try the pumpkin.
(5)
Heidi L.
3.5 stars The Helmand is definitely better than A-OK...but not enough to be 4 stars on Yelp. The Helmand is conveniently located on the green line, very close to the Galleria mall (that's good). They also have a parking lot so you don't need to find street parking yourself (just make sure you check with the receptionist). Based on some other reviews, I expected to see a cramped/crowded/smelly tiny place. What a surprise! The restaurant is pretty roomy and the decor makes you feel like you're someone else' living room. The three of us ordered 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts. The best dishes were the eggplant (appetizer) and the crowpan (entree). For some reason, the eggplant feels very home-made (like you could make it yourself at home!) and it was cooked perfectly. I don't really like eggplant in general but this one was good. The Crowpan...WOW, I think it was one of the best lamb chops I've ever had in Boston. No gamy taste at all and the meat was super tender!!! One downside was the tomato/pumpkin thing....I totally thought it was nasty, though my husband enjoyed it..... Aside from these 2 dishes, we also ordered Aushak (Okay), and the pumpkin with beef sauce appetizer (forgot the name). The pumpkin was too sweet...so if you don't LOVE pumpkin, do not order. The other entree we ordered was the curry chicken (the very last one on the menu)....hmmm, it almost tasted like Indian curry. Chicken was tender, overall not bad. Then....dessert time! If you're like me who likes american style dessert, pay the check and go somewhere else for desserts. This is strictly my opinion but their desserts were nasty, bad, no good at all. We had the caramel pudding (too sweet, like something from supermarket but it was home-made), rice pudding (meh, friend said it was good), and their cake (I couldn't swallow it at all.....). To be fair, the other two people seemed to enjoy the desserts. Service was okay, not bad at all (like some other reviewers said) but definitely not great. For me, the price point is a little bit high for the food and the service. I probably won't eat here again any time soon.
(3)
Lyd K.
The food was unbelievable and I went with a very fussy food snob who ate everything in sight. Two of us split 3 appetizers, ordered soup, and desserts (we were hungry!) The vegetarian with us ordered a tasty looking entree - he ate the entire thing. All of the food was delicious and I cannot recommend this place enough. Everything was fresh and well seasoned - service was excellent and the place was clean and comfortable. I eat out very often (3Xs per week) and this place is way up there for me. It is wise to make reservations because this place is no secret and it fills up.
(5)
H L.
My niece and her husband invited me to dinner on a Saturday night, and they suggested the Helmand. After reading other Yelp reviews, I figured we would have a good meal, and I was not disappointed. We started our meal with two appetizers - the Aushak (ravioli) and the Kaddo (pumpkin). Both were quite good, but the Kaddo was surprisingly and uniquely tasty. Great combination of flavors. For our entrees, we ordered the Chowpan (1/2 rack of lamb), the Sabzi Challow (beef with Afghan seasonings), and the Koufta Challow (beef meatballs). Lamb was a touch over-charred but still quite good. Great entrees. My only issue with our meal was that the wait staff was a touch pushy, and we felt rushed. It was understandable considering how many were standing at the front waiting for an open table. Reservations are a must. Full-disclosure: I had not had Afghan food before my meal at the Helmand. My (ignorant) impression was that it was a cross between Indian and Middle Eastern flavors. But since I have no context for comparison, I wondered about authenticity. Food was great, but were we really eating true Afghan food? (Is Bucklawa - aka Baklava - really Afghan?) Or were we just eating a great meal prepared with spices native to that region? Feel free to comment and inform my ignorance.
(4)
Brian D.
The reviews of this place are genuinely schizo. I seriously had no idea if I was going to be stepping into a land mine riddled cafeteria or the type of joint where I would be ridiculed for not being able to recite the menu entrees in a regionally correct accent. Afghan dishes? Are you kidding me? That's dope as as well, Afghan dope. I mean, well, strike that. Let's stay a wee more culturally sensitive. That is super duper! The place is right there (points at something). Like, right on the line of being either totally great or just totally passable. The service to start with swings unpredictably even during a single meal between stellar and lackluster. The food, which others have described (and remembered) much better than I could dare to is quite good. Not 'knock your socks' off but rather 'tasty'. Lots of lamb, tons of vegetables, very interesting flavor combinations that really reminded me of Northern Africa cuisine. These guys handled a party of 11 quite well minus the few inconsistencies between orders and delivered food items (For those that could tell after a haze induced by 4+ bottles of wine). Bonus, man, they have a full liquor license. Get gin buzzed and strike out mercilessly at the appetizer menu. Wreak havoc on your guys and see what tomorrow has to say about the matter. All in all, I would absolutely give this place 3.5 and I will certainly be back again.
(3)
Mike Z.
I've heard a lot of good things about this restaurant, but never had the chance to try it out. The place was not as fancy as I would have thought, but the setting was cozy enough. The bread that they served was pretty good: I loved the cilantro dip. The other two dip was meh. We ordered all of the appetizers on the menu, but I only thought one of them was good: the Mantwo. The Bowlawni was decent. For entrees, I got the Chowpan. It's definitely one of the better lamb that I've had in the Boston area, but mine was a bit overcooked. It wasn't gamey or anything, but it could've been more tender. The tea that we had afterwards was not hot enough. The service was good, the waitress did not come too often or too few times. Overall, it was a good experience, though the price was a bit on the steep side.
(3)
Christine L.
I went here with a large group (12 people). Service- Not terrible... probably worthy of about 18% from my average 20% tip. Food- We got the pumpkin w/ meat sauce, which was not well balanced in terms of taste. It tasted like pumpkin and fluff topped with meaty Ragu. My boyfriend got the lamb which looked delicious, and he seemed content, but not blown away. I got the meatballs, which were literally two small meatballs in a pound of sauce. This was highly dissatisfactory given the price of the meal. A woman from another party went and vomited in the bathroom, which I hope was from the food, but would not be entirely surprised given what I ate. Overall, it felt to me like a bad version of indian food, and for $12 I could have gone to Cafe of India and had a MUCH better meal.
(2)
J. M.
Fabulous decor and highly quality food but with inattentive and slow service. And a striking hostess with transfixing eyes. Not recommended if you're starving or seeking quick and slavish service. Try reserving a table before going.
(4)
Matthew D.
Really enjoyed the lamb! Very large wine menu. It was a nice, business-casual type of atmosphere. The staff was very friendly! Definitely enjoyed it!
(5)
Joanna E.
A thing I do with my boyfriend is picking out a fancy, ethnic restaurant for special occasions. The Helmand was probably one of the best restaurants out of the ones I've checked out in Boston. The decor was really nice and warm. The food was amazing and our waiter was really helpful in explaining the menu items. Would love to go again.
(5)
Stacy B.
Funny... reviews are much more pleasant and star-filled when a customer gets fresh food at a reasonable price. Transparency! Who knew?! (Much like myself before yesterday) if you miss fresh jasmine rice, authentic dishes prepared with crisp vegetables, homemade breads and pastas, all at prices that keep you from digging your nails into the table, then I suggest you get your butt over to Helmand. Our hearty and appropriately portioned meal of: two appetizers, two entrees, a bottle of wine, and after dinner coffee kept our stomachs happy, our conscious clean (the meal is not all fatty-like), and our bill under $80. Food choices are a-plenty, and offer opportunity for trying some new things. I can't get over how satisfying the spinach side dish is. And guess what? They have a parking lot. A real, bonafide parking lot. For parking. For parking your car. And you don't have to pay for it. It's real parking. And it's free. Recommend making reservations (it's always packed in there, and now I know why), showing up early, and coming with an empty stomach. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
(5)
Vanessa E.
Could be the greatest afghani food I've ever had this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Only other place that could be better is in West LA or Glendale haha. But here's the nitty gritty. First of all, don't bother showing up if you don't have reservations for dinner. They get booked up immediately and then you walked all the way from the kendal stop for nothing. What you want to go for at The Helmand is the LAMB. Wowzers. That lamb just fell to pieces in the really thick and creamy sauce which I then put on EVERYTHING. The bread is so soft and dreamy that ur going to want a pillow of it to sleep on. Basically, this place rocks and I wish I could give more details, but I'm at a loss for words. I live in LA, study in Boston, and NYC is practically my third home by now. I know my ethnic food and I know you wont be disappointed!
(5)
Lynette S.
Loved so much about the place: atmosphere, massive wine list (though only 3-4 wines available by the glass...!), huge fire place, service, parking around the corner (see the hostess for a ticket for your dash). theres also tons of street parking pr you could park inthe galleria parking garage for under $5...), reasonably priced menu (appetizers looked great but did not try them) & really cool, detailed, helpful web site! ****But, I do not recommend the sea bass (it was on special). it was thick, flshy, fleshy gobs and chunks. Yuck! I left it and filled up on other food and drink offerings. I am a huge sea bass fan and have never not liked it before. A friend who tried it agreed...Next time, I'll go chicken... I went with 6 other people and they ordered a variety of entrees, all of which they liked...
(4)
Sasha B.
To start off, the house red is exceptionally well priced and delicious. We were seated right next to the bread oven, where we could see (and more importantly smell) the giant circles of flat bread coming out. It comes to your table warm, and with several delicious dipping sauces. I haven't opened the menu yet and I'm pretty happy. The pumpkin appetizer with meat was surprisingly good, an interesting mix of sweet and savory. I had the lamb kebab which was really stand out. Jacob says it is better than the lamb kebab at Turkish Family Restaurant which he ate at once a week for 6 months when he first moved to Brookline. Jacob had lamb lawand, which was also delicious, but paled next to the flawless kebab. Too bad we agreed to share.
(5)
Kelsey B.
Fellow vegetarians, go here now! Came here for dinner with my parents on a Saturday night while they were in town visiting. My parents and I are vegetarian and we were looking for somewhere unique to go to dinner and found this place on yelp. We were seated right away at a nice, quiet table. The server took a good 10 minutes to come bring us water, and by that time we knew what we wanted to order so he took our order right away. To start we shared the Aushak (leek and scallion ravioli) and the Aush (vegetable and noodle soup). They bring out fresh hot bread to munch on with your meal and a variety of different sauces (spicy, pesto, and a yogurt sauce). For entrees we got Kourma Challow, Sabzi Challow, and the social eggplant and baked pumpkin dish. The eggplant and pumpkin is out of this world tasty. I couldn't get enough of the sweet and savory combination and cleaned up my plate. This is a great place to get some dishes to share as everything is so unique and the portions are huge! I would rate this 5 stars with the food quality, however the server was pretty awful and slow, but I will defiantly be back for the food!
(4)
Tom T.
Wow, you get what you pay for. It isn't terribly expensive, it's what it should be. The food is excellent. I've never had lamb so moist and soft. Charred perfectly. I ordered medium and it was actually medium. The veg was also great, especially the pumpkin and the spinach. Top notch service. I recommend.
So after the mixed reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect... ...my husband and I went to Helmand's for a work dinner. The restaurant was chosen by a Boston local and we heard raves from the people in our group who have eaten here before. We arrived and were seated at our cramped table. We had a group of 14 but they had to split our party into two tables next to each other. It ended up being a dinner for 10 and then for 4 because we never got to interact with the other table. They wouldn't let us pull the tables together or do an "L" table! My husband and I tried the bowlawni for appetizer. The spiced potato one was decent, although bland compared to the yummy samosas we have come to love at Helmand's Indian competiting restaurants. The leek/scallion ones were not so good - they were too strongly flavored with the scallions and were quite chewy. For dinner, I got the Kourma Challow which was flavorful and decent. I would have liked for it to have been spicier and with a kick. The lamb was also on the tough side for my tastes. My husband had the Qoremay Ma-He (sea bass). It was very fishy and also bland. I think the biggest detractor was the service. The hostess wasn't rude but she wasn't polite either. The waiter forgot one of our party's order, then when she finally got his attention to order, he messed it up... they didn't excuse themselves while serving/taking away plates - you better hope that you don't get stuck in the crossfire when they're going for the plate... and lastly, they were very rude when several party members wanted to order non-alcoholic drinks! To be honest, the best part of the meal was the free bread with trio of dipping sauces and butter... We probably won't be back. We'd rather hit up one of our dependable Indian restaurants instead!
(2)
Michael C.
Thsi was my first experience with Afghan cuisine and it was worth it. For those who don't know what to expect I would describe it as a combination of indian and greek food. Lots of lamb, some curries (or somethings like it). The biigest surprise of the meal was the kaddo, which is a baked pumpkin dish with beef and yogurt, don't come here without getting it.
(4)
Zinah A.
I have lived in Cambridge most of my life and couldn't believe I had not yet walked through the doors of the HELMAND. To be honest...I have had friends that worked their in the past for years and I heard horrible stories of how the wait staff is treated. I have even been told by several individuals that the owners take a percentage of their tips...but on the request of a good friend who really wanted to go I went to HELMAND. The hostess was very flat & hot the most hospitable woman...and the servers I had to work really hard to get a smile. (But under circumstances if the owner's are taking the tips from them it is understandable.) We ordered the Banjan which was delicious. My husband doesn't like eggplant but loved this dish. We also ordered the Bawlani a pastry that although very popular fell FLAT. The pastry was dry & the filling was just tasteless. I did love love the sabzi challow, tender lamb with spinach & rice! Oh very yummy! We overalled were okay with the Helmand service was efficient, & courteous & just only because of that Lamb dish I might return.
(3)
Frank S.
Fast service, great food. Our group of eight ate family style, sharing 7 dishes.
(4)
Shannan H.
Had a lovely meal here last night. The restaurant has a nice, cozy ambience and the staff were friendly, though a little disorganized. The lamb chowpan was delicious - well seasoned and at a perfect medium rare, just the way I like it! The eggplant and tomato side was also very tasty! Also quite enjoyed the rice pudding dessert. The Bendi (okra side dish) was just okay.
(4)
Steve S.
I never have had Afghan cuisine....I am a fan of Pakistani and Indian, so it didn't seem much of a stretch. Helmand is an interesting place with couches welcoming you along with an unfinished concrete floor. It is a large place with a wood burning stove on the right and no direct lighting at all. However, it seems to work Some of the food is exceptional. The ravioli app was fantastic with crispy shells and different insides. My friend ordered the pumpkin entree with a light meat sauce. It was a wonderfully different dish You will never carve a pumpkin the same way again
(4)
May W.
Their baked pumpkin with garlic yogurt and minced meat is my favorite! Great service and fair prices. I loved their lamb as well. I've been here twice and made reservations for when my parents arrive. Delicious meal!
(4)
AB H.
Consistently delicious. I love the baked pumpkin. We also had ravioli dish that was excellent. The service is also impeccable. I appreciated the small parking lot that they have across the street as well as that diverse clientele.
(4)
Andrea H.
Just do it. Seriously. This place is a-freakin'-mazing. To start off with, they bring you this flat bread with a choice of three condiments for it. The green stuff is so good that we have been trying to figure out how to make it at home (we've come close with Hungarian Hot Peppers, white vinegar, cilantro and garlic pureed in the blender, but it's still no cigar. We may need to add Pine Nuts). I want to bottle that green stuff and put it on everything. I've had a few meals here, but I usually default to the Vegetarian Special, which is described as "A platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, served with pallow." I've also have the Sabzi Challow (veg version) and the Aushak (again, veg version), the Showla, and, when I'm in a meaty mood, the Mourgh Kabab, Mourgh Challow, and Qoremay Ma-He (sea bass). I stick with the house red wine, and water here, which is more than sufficient. I don't usually get desserts there (since Christina's Homemade Ice Cream isn't far away), but have had their cake (called "Our Cake") and pistachio ice cream. I've not noticed any problems with the service -- it seems that we are usually in and out of there within an hour of arriving (why, yes, we do practically inhale our food). One thing: MAKE RESERVATIONS. The place is incredibly popular, even on weeknights. They can give you a temporary permit for their parking lot across the street, but if you don't mind a bit of a walk, Bent Street is almost entirely meters rather than permit parking. I used to live on Spring St. in East Cambridge, and we really do miss being able to walk a few blocks to here!
(5)
Jeremy Y.
It's pretty good. I ordered vegetarian dish. And it was tasty. The spinach is cooked tastier than some Afghan restaurant I've been. Would visit them again hopefully.
(4)
Emily G.
Absolutely. Need. To. Go. Here. Period. Many people have never had Afghani food and therefore, don't really know what to expect when walking into The Helmand. Know this. You will get great service, interesting food with awesome flavors, and a great variety where anyone can find something they will enjoy. Oh, and their desserts totally kick bootie. Anything pumpkin related rules here. Pumpkin Raviolis are my favorite and Kaddo is a must-get appetizer. Don't forget the creme carmel. It is WAY better than creme brulee. If anyone is having a birthday party soon, or some relatives are in town, be sure to make reservations at this place. You won't be disappointed. Oh, and be sure to make a reservation. You will definitely need it, especially during peak hours. (Also, just as a side note, they have ample parking - added bonus.)
(5)
maya s.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in the Cambridge/Boston area. The menu offers great food for meat eaters, veggies, and fish lovers. The flavors are all unique but delicious, and the meals can be ordered in tappas size apps, so that newbies can 'try a bit of everything'. The Kaddo is outstanding, the lamb is delicate, slow cooked and delicious, and the prices are very reasonable. Ask to be seated in the front room if you would like a more sociable experience, with a fireplace, and more attentive service. Also this restaurant books up EVERY NIGHT, so definitly make reservations, or come very early (5pm) or late (9pm).
(5)
Luke B.
Holy smokes! Helmand is AMAZING! Simple put, you WILL NOT be disappointed with Helmand. If you are disappointed...well, I dunno, something might not be right with your taste buds...just sayin'... First things first, park in their private lot, if possible. If not, look a block towards the river for non-permit parking (for non-Cambridge residents). As for food, the bread that comes before your meal is fantastic. Personally, I use all three sauces, but some find the red too hot. I've been known to have many pieces of the bread. As a quick tip, if you're looking at wine, the house white is really good and really affordable. Also mentioned by others, the Kaddo is a MUST HAVE! If you're up for another appetizer, the Aushak is great! It's described as "Afghan ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served on yogurt-mint topped with ground beef sauce," and is a very light yet flavorful dish. It can be served as an entree or app, just like the Kaddo. As for desserts, I've had a bit of everything...YES, I've been here more than 3 times, GIVE ME A BREAK! I've had the following desserts and have ranked them from favorite (1) to still pretty good (5): 1) Pudeen (aka Creme Caramel) - One of the best I've ever had. I think Creme Caramel is better than Creme Brulee BTW. 2) Feereney (Cream pudding topped with fresh kiwi, rnango, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry) - Light, but incredibly flavorful dessert. A nice finish to a great meal. 3) Our Cake ("Homemade cardamom and pineapple cake served with ice cream on pomegranate sauce") - Pretty tasty and a great mix of flavors. Definitely a shareable dessert. 4) Bucklawa (You know what this is!) - This thing is DAMN tasty, but bucklawa can be a little heavy for me sometimes. Great dessert to split. 5) Sheerberaing (Rice pudding w/ pistachio and cardamom) - Good, but just not as good as the other 4.
(5)
Beth R.
Great tasting food! The tables were a little too close and the staff was a little disorganized. I have no complaints about the food and recommend the Kourma Challow (lamb) in particular!
(4)
Susan N.
There's almost no point in me writing a review since so many good things have already been said about Helmand. But I'll write one anyway. The food is superb. Afghani is pretty much a blend of Middle Eastern mixed with Indian, which to me is like heaven. The best of both worlds. Even the boy, who is a very picky eater and thinks anything beyond steak and burgers is exotic, loved this place. Is there an entree I recommend? Yes. All of them. The only thing that sucks is the wait. Make a reservation. If not, be prepared to wait for up to and over an hour. Maybe visit the mall across the street to kill time.
(5)
Marcos R.
Last Friday marked the third occasion I've been to The Helmand. This restaurant has become my first choice to introduce out-of-town friends to some exotic and exquisite cuisine. As others have mentioned, the kaddo is a sure bet, in that it will be something new that most people will love. You also have to love the grilled vegetables in some of their menu offerings. Last time I had chapendaz (a tender beef dish) that was perfectly juicy and well cooked. The decor of the restaurant as well as the sometimes aggressive and rushed service forces me to take out a star.
(4)
Betty M.
So great. Lamb was cooked to perfection. Service was fast and friendly
(5)
Kylie B.
We went to The Helmand for an early Valentine's Day. Parking was helped by the nearby lot (shared with Calumet), but I imagine that can fill up fast. Go inside and get a red tag for your dash so you don't get towed. We started with Kaddo for an appetizer. This struck me as similar to sweet potato pie, but we kicks from the yogurt and meat sauces that set it apart. If you like sweet potatoes, I have a feeling you'll enjoy baby pumpkin cooked here. Had pumpkin at a Burmese restaurant--wasn't a fan. It is great here. My entree was Theeka Kabab, which was good, though my meat was a bit chewy. The sauteed lentils on the side were the star of the dish, in my opinion, but my pallow rice was lovely as well. I think pallow had a bit more flavor than Ross' challow. Dessert was the rice pudding, which I've never had. The cardamom and pistachio was a bit grainy on top and combined for a minty flavor. Was tasty once you got use to the texture. The best thing (besides the Kaddo, I am a real big fan) was the bread. Thin and buttery, floury on the outside, soft on the inside. It was delicious, I didn't even need toppings. We didn't do drinks and dinner ended up at around $50, so I'll definitely go back.
(4)
Juju W.
It's expensive. Great service. Food is OK.
(3)
Rekha M.
I've been here before and loved it. This time was quite a disappointment, hopefully a one-off. It's a great place for groups, thanks to its size. The appetizers were great - roast eggplant, potato in pastry - though the pumpkin app was too sweet. The real disappointment came with the main course - the trout was poorly filleted, mostly raw, and way over salted. The sides were fine, but what I'd expect from a downtown lunch cafe, not a sit down restaurant. The trout absolutely fell into the send-it-back category, but I was having such a nice time with my friends I didn't feel like interrupting the flow of our meal. I'd been wanting to return for a long time, but after last night's meal, I think I'm done with Helmand.
(3)
Rudy W.
excellent food. good service and nice atmosphere. I had the Theeka Kabab , my friend had Chapendaz and Chowpan they all great. we have been back for a couple of times, has been trying different dishes. closing with Bucklawa
(4)
Bridget B.
Surprise surprise, another glowing review for the Helmand. Honestly, they could serve the worst Afghani food on the planet and I wouldn't be able to tell you as I have absolutely no basis for comparison. Their pumpkin kaddo (with or without beef) is super tasty, one of my favorite dishes. I could honestly just get a plate of that and be sated and happy, sitting in the warm, fire lit dining area. They have lots of vegetarian options, the lamb is fantastic, and I even like their -house- wine. I'm torn between 4 or 5 stars for one glaring and oft mentioned reason: their service can be incredibly sub standard. It's surprising since so much attention is paid to the food and the atmosphere that you practically need to tackle your server to get more water or flatbread, but those are the breaks I guess. If you're feeling gluttonous, the bucklawa and a pot of Turkish coffee are a great ending to any meal. Also - MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE. I've never seen this place not packed to the gills.
(5)
larry m.
I went with a party of 11 and got there a little early. The hostess was extremely nice and said that they were setting up the table and to have a seat. A waitress came over, asked if I wanted a drink and brought it over in about 30 seconds. First impressions are key for me! For an appetizer I had the Kaddo....it's a pumpkin dish and hard to explain. It looks awful and the texture is a bit weird but it has an amazing taste. Like I said...hard to explain but you have to try it yourself. For my entree I ordered the Lamb Lawanda. It's chunks of lamb sauteed with some vegetables and "spices" which give it an orange color. It was excellent. The lamb was perfectly cooked and the orange sauce had a nice little tang. For dessert I ordered a grappa but never got it. That is my only complaint. Otherwise, the place is very nice...they have an open air wood fired oven in the middle and the place smells like heaven. If only I could have smoked from a hookah afterward would this meal have been perfect. I'll be back.
(4)
Benhour H.
overpriced, and not the authentic afghan cuisine.
(2)
David M.
I want to marry The Helmand! BUT IT'S NOT LEGAL IN MASSACHUSETTS... yet.
(5)
Sneakers A.
Delicious. Flatbread was fresh and warm from the oven, served with a great trio of sauces. We tried the baby pumpkin, ravioli with onions, and eggplant appetizers - all were fantastic, with the pumpkin standing out for it's unexpected sweetness. The chapendaz (marinated beef) entree was tender and flavorful, and it was perhaps even outdone by the grilled tomato and pepper side that it's served with. Everything I tried was wonderful, and I look forward to working through the rest of the menu on future visits.
(5)
Anya A.
Excellent Afghani food, reminded me of my grandfather's own recipe. This is THE place to get lamb; the Chowpan (half rack) was spectacular. The flatbread was also fantastic; I never want to eat dinner rolls again. Went on a Friday night around 9pm, and there was no wait -- but the cozy dining room wasn't empty, either. We'll be back!
(5)
Chris R.
Who is leaving all those high ratings, really, I wonder? This is one the most mysteriously over-rated restaurant in Cambridge. This is one inexplicably over-rated restaurant in town. We, in a party of 4, ordered most all raved about menu items. All were just Meh. I would've given it 1.5-2 stars based on the quality of the food. But the unmatched price tag bumps it down to a one star. Decor is blend. Service is normal. We were relieved not to get one of the oddly placed tables bordering the curved half wall squished along the walkway. We had an elderly waiter who was so soft spoken, that we strained to hear. Food is blend and not particularly fresh tasting. Price tag is on par with better Cambridge restaurants.The qualify of food one gets for it though... This over-hype completely mystified us.
(2)
Jamie F.
When I chose this restaurant for my monthly collegiate reunion dinner, I braced myself for the groans (yes, from recent undergrads) and low attendance. Not everyone was fond of ethnic food, especially something so foreign as Afghan cuisine. Even so, the 12 of us went with open minds. Note: credit card info required upfront for advanced (large party) phone reservations - understandable, but dislike! Loved the warm and cozy atmosphere inspired by the homey decor: an entire back wall featuring a vast collection of wine, high ceiling, marigold-colored walls, and a fireplace (even though it was filthy). Seating at the large, center dining room table also played a special effect. Service was fine, not stellar. A few of us ordered wine by the glass, which were generous pours. They also served bottled beer. The fresh baked bread was warm, fresh, and so delicious that we couldn't resist requesting a second basket (WARNING: my friend swore that the waitress gave him the *evil eye*). There were mixed reviews about the kaddo app (pumpkin with meat sauce) - some loved it, others complained it being too sweet. My khourma challow (lamb with onions, tomato, garlic, potatoes) was absolutely delectable - might be the best lamb I've ever eaten. Pretty much everyone was satisfied with and surprised by how great Afghan food tasted. I'm not dying to return, but I would recommend trying if you're looking for something different than the chain restaurants offered at the nearby Galleria mall.
(4)
Ukyo T.
I've never had an experience quite like this. Here is why: 1. My friend made a reservation a week in advance for a table of 11. B/c they had already given their "largest" table away, they placed us down as 2 parties. On the day of the event, the 2 tables could not be place close together. The hostess informed us that they knew best, and therefore they insisted that for my friend's birthday dinner, having 2 tables sitting in opposite side of the restaurant was the right thing to do. 2. B/c it was my friend's birthday, we brought in our own cake. The restaurant was going to charge us $1.50 for charging each person the waiter cut the slice of cake for. This is so b/c we were not ordering dessert from their menu -- I don't think this restaurant sells cake. The hostess also informed me that other restaurants don't allow people to bring cakes to their restaurant. Sometimes decent food does not justify bad service.
After months of hearing how awesome The Helmand is, my friend (who loves Helmand) and I ventured out last night. The first thing that struck me was how packed it was for a Sunday night! I mean, people were lined up out the door! Thankfully, we had a reservation (which we had to switch to a later time,without any problems). We were seated in the back room, which felt like the kids room at a fancy dinner. Small, with about 8 tables back there. Our waiter came right over, but during our meal, service was lackluster. My friend recommended the pumpkin appetizer (kaddo). We got the vegetarian version so I don't know how beef and pumpkin would taste (in my mind gross). The kaddo comes with a yogurt garlic sauce, which surprisingly tasted great! Sweet but garlicky--very yummy! The server brought out three dipping sauces, a yogurt garlic one, a lemony mint one (very good, btw) and a spicy red one. Also a big basket of bread, which was delicious (especially with the mint sauce). I really didn't know what to order or expect, so I had the shabzi challow; my friend had qabelee. My meal was sauteed spinach mixed with tender chunks of lamb, on a bed of the best rice! It also came with a side of okra and tomatos, that were stewed. I put the yogurt sauce and the mint sauce on top and it was fantastic! The qabelee had the same rice with lamb, raisins and carrots. She loved it. The reason this doesn't get 5 stars is the service. We had to flag the water guy down, and it was next to impossible to get our waiter's attention. In addition, the back room is crowded so moving around is difficult. The ambiance could be improved (it seemed a bit dated) and having a designated waiting area would help. Regardless, I really do look forward to coming back--great tasty food and not too expensive make Helmand worth a visit, even if you have no idea what Afghani food is.
(4)
Chris B.
The owner (presumably -- she was definitely at least the manager) was a bit controlling -- she yelled at us even! We were seated next to the bread oven, and the bread chef smiled at us and said something like 'here you go' (sorry, this is from memory a month later), and then put the bread on the counter separating the oven area from our table. So, we take it, and we thought it was awesome we were able to watch our bread come fresh out of the oven to us. Then the owner runs over, and sternly tells us that the chef always puts the bread there for the whole restaurant, and we shouldn't do that. Yeah, well, the bread chef knew to put the bread on the far end of the counter when he wanted to send it away... so... dear owner, please don't yell at your patrons when your own staff is trying to do a nice thing. Sad. The rest of the food was adequate. We ended up having a very work-focused discussion over dinner, which means that the food was good enough to not notice, while also not being great enough to notice. One specific comment about the food -- the meat sauce with pumpkin dish was unhappy on a plate -- I love pumpkin (classic Japanese dish, in tempura, etc.) but this preparation really was challenging for me. Pretty average meat sauce, with pretty unremarkable pumpkin (was it canned?), made for a messy blast of competing flavors (sweet, savory) all within a consistently soft texture.
(3)
Amelia M.
Admittedly, when I try a new place on someone else's suggestion, I don't always look up information in advance. So I got a bit nervous when I walked in and saw flower vases and crisp white linens on the tablecloths ("there goes my grocery budget for the week! hope this is worth all the ramen i'll be eating") Naturally I was quite relieved to see that food was quite reasonably priced on the menu, vegetarian options were available (I'm rather a carnivore, but my co-diner is fish-only) and the staff was incredibly helpful. Was thrilled at the fast service, since I arrived 15 minutes late (damn green line trains) and digesting my own spleen for energy. Food arrived quickly, but we didn't feel rushed to leave, which is a problem at some other Cambridge-area establishments (*cough* Central Kitchen *cough*) I can't actually pronounce the thing I got (chicken, spinach, rice...delicious) but it was AMAZING. I'd never had Afghan food and sort of expected standard middle-eastern fare, but this was actually halfway between Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. S'pose that befits food from a nation which happens to be situated between the Middle East and India. Supposedly, this place is owned by none other than the brother of Hamid Karzai. To be honest, I'd have trouble staying away if it were a joint venture between Kim Jong Il and Osama bin Ladin.
(4)
Kaye B.
It isn't often that I visit a place in a distant city, and then think about said place for months afterwards, and tell everyone going anywhere in New England that maybe, just maybe they should consider eating in Cambridge one night. Helmand was super yummy. Loved the kaddo. I'm definitely going to try to master the recipe this fall. Loved the lambchops. Service was a bit slow, but it was the Marathon weekend. I hope to grace the beautiful city of Boston again, and I can guarantee that when I do, I will eat at Helmand again, too.
(4)
L. F.
I've only been here once, but we will definitely be returning, and as it stands right now, I can't think of a bad thing to say about this place. We went on a Friday night, and had made a reservation. They're not open during the day, but you can call anytime after 4, and we made a 7:15 reservation. I think we got lucky getting a spot in their parking lot (it's across the street from them, DON'T park in the one in the back), but it looked like there would have been street spots available if we needed one. Even though the place was packed, they seated us quickly, just remember to ask for a parking pass for their lot if your car is there! Now, about the food! For appetizers we ordered Aushak and Kaddo. Both were amazing. The pumpkin was tender and juicy and I could have eaten just that all night. It is sweet (it's pumpkin), but the yogurt and beef sauce on it balance it nicely, and I liked it with the bread, as well. I ordered Mantwo for my entree, and I was definitely glad I did. Same beef sauce that came with the Kaddo, only now it was covering these delicious beef-filled pastries (basically like ravioli or dumplings). Let's just say my left-overs didn't last long. For dessert we all shared the Feereney (custard-y pudding with fruit on top), and Sheerberaing (rice pudding with pistachio and cardamom). Both were great. I really like rice pudding, so I was partial to that one, but they really were both very good. We ordered pots of green tea while we were there, so be aware that it comes served with cardamom in it. I think it's delicious, but if you're not expecting it, it might surprise you. All in all, it came to about $100 for four people, with apps and dessert. Not bad at all, and definitely worth it!
(5)
Erica P.
My husband and I went here for a friend's birthday. We were both extremely underwhelmed by the food AND the service. First of all, we had a reservation. That being said, we waited about half an hour, and then the staff couldn't put two tables together, so we ended up sitting at two different tables that weren't even near each other. For all the raves I had heard about the food, I was disappointed. My husband is a vegetarian, and we ordered the baked pumpkin. Unfortunately, it came covered with ground beef (even though it was listed as a vegetarian appetizer - umm, hello, last I heard cow was still an animal, not a plant). My chicken kabob was extremely overcooked and dry. All in all, a pricey meal that just isn't worth it.
(2)
Karl R.
I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. This is my favorite restaurant in the whole city. The bread they serve here is baked fresh (you can see the guy making it in the brick oven) and tastes delightful. Here are my dish recommendations (I can't seem to bring myself to order anything else): - Kaddo appetizer: AMAZING! Ordered this once in the fall and I had a hard time sharing with the rest of the table. The perfect fall/winter appetizer. - Qabelee (lamb, raisins, carrots): Just thinking about this dish makes my mouth water. I order this every time. The lamb is always very tender and the sweetness from the raisins give it a nice balance. It eats likes comfort food. I've had some of the other dishes, and they are always good, but some aren't as memorable as others. This restaurant is also a good option for vegetarians, so it is safe for co-workers and friends. If you make reservations, try to insist to be seated in the main room. They added a back room that feels a little cramped to me. The atmosphere of the main seating area is MUCH better (plus you can watch the baker bake that delicious bread).
(5)
Doreen X.
This was quite possibly the worst service I've experienced in a long while. The two person tables are tiny and can only accommodate one bread basket and two plates comfortably. You'd think the waiters would understand this, but apparently no. We ordered two appetizers, which came at different times. One of them, the waiter had to inquire whether we ordered it. Then, before we were done with the appetizers, the waiter came with our entrees. In order to utilize every square inch of the table, he shoved the plates onto the table sending utensils clashing into our plates. It was plain rude. Then, to add insult to injury, the waiter didn't bother to clear our empty appetizer plates for the ENTIRE meal. It was only when my dining companion finished that the waiter cleared his plates, but not mine. Not only did our waiter have attitude, but we had to wait for everything: our water glasses went dry and the bread basket didn't come until 20 minutes into the meal. What really drove me crazy was that the adjacent table received decent service. Yeah, I still get carded every once in a while, but my greenbacks are worth just as much as a middle-age couple's. Helmand, get your act together. The food isn't crazy good (friend commented that the bread tasted like Cosi's, kaddo was more like over-candied yam) and the service is insanely bad.
(2)
Toyoko O.
This place is fantastic! I'm a vegan and my boyfriend a meat-eater, and they had great options for the both of us. I had the vegetarian special of the day. The vegetables were fresh and very well prepared. The atmosphere and decor were great, although it was a tad loud. The service was also fantastic. I've been to a few restaurants in Boston which are just overpriced and overrated, but that's definitely not the case for the Helmand. Highly recommend!
(4)
American A.
Great food. It's worth atleast a visit. Service is also good.
(4)
Cindy W.
Never really had much experience with Middle eastern food. My friend took me there there and ever since then it as opened my eyes and this place is amazing. Yes, the wait is lengthy, however sometimes it worth the wait. The meat comes right off the bone and their sauces are very flavorful. Its good to bring a friend who knows his stuff.
(4)
Sarah V.
I still think about the Helmand. I think about the Pumpkin dishes and I get reallllly hungry. It is -so- good.
(5)
Arnaz M.
Great place which is always full. We learnt that the hard way - One a 10F day in the winter we showed up expecting it to be empty. Hmmm, I think it was JUST a 45 min wait. The Cambridge crowd just laps this place up. If you like Indian food but find it too spicy , you might love Afghani cuisine. Almost everything is great and most wines go really well with this cuisine. Love the feerney dessert!
(5)
Huan z.
I heard so many good things about this restaurant and I had a higher expectation on it. The food is very well prepared, very yummy. Lamb dishes are very delicious. But for someone's family who use to cook for the palace of Afghanistan, I think the rice should taste better. and battery operated candle is just an turn off for me. By the way, I like the small room at the back. It's very private.
(3)
Kimberly P.
Woot woot! My first Boston restaurant garnering a 5 star review. I picked the Helmand out of pure curiosity - I've never had Afghani food and why not try it? Pure genius, Kim P. Pure genius. First great thing about this place: they explain EVERYTHING. Don't you hate it when you go to a place and the entire menu is in a different language and the descriptions are one or two words that do not give you any clue about what the dish actually is? Not the Helmand... you can actually go here and not have to worry about looking like an idiot and ordering something without knowing what it is. Second: the wines are so reasonably priced. You can get a carafe of the house wine for $10. Love it! Third: The food is yummy for my tummy. So delicious. From the naan like bread served with three sauces to the main dishes, I had nothing to complain about.... Well... actually one thing. Though the server was very nice, I felt like she was trying to pressure me into getting more things. The dialogue went sort of like this: Me: I was wondering how big the appetizers were because I wanted to try two apps instead of a main course, the Kaddo (pumpkin with sugar, yogurt sauce and ground beef... delicious! although next time I might try the vegetarian version) and the Bowlawni (two stuffed pastry puffs) but I wasn't sure if that would be too little or too much food. Server: You dont want an entree? What type of meat do you like? If you like lamb we have a great lamb entree,... Me: I wanted to try the two dishes I mentioned and that is why I was asking about the size to see if it would be comparable to an entree. I'm really not that hungry. Server: Well, you could just get those but an entree would really be better. How about.... Me: I just want those two dishes. Thanks. Server: Oh. Ok. (insert forlorn look here). And what would you like as your appetizer? Yea... it really was that bad. But otherwise, great service and great food. I will definitely revisit this gem. Double pat on my own back.
(5)
S. M. S.
Great flavors. Overpriced. Crowded. Winter food.
(4)
Lisa P.
This place is an easy 5 star! Went here last night for a nice dinner with my boyfriend and his parents. I will start at the beginning with some important facts to know before you go. A must know for this place is that you HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION!!! They are very good about taking reservations and keeping to them, which in Cambridge is not an easy task to find! They do have a parking lot, but it only has room for about 10 cars so parking is pretty much limited to on-street meter parking. We were running about 15 minutes late due to traffic for our 5:45 reservation so I called to let the hostess know we were going to be a little late. She was VERY pleasant and seemed genuinely appreciative for the call. After finding an on-street spot we walked in and were able to still sit with our reservation at the reserved table for our party. In my book a restaurant that is busy to this level and still knows how to maintain a reservation deserves all the compliments and recognition in the book for it! A++ so far. Now down to the good stuff!! The menu was exotic but understandable with excellent descriptions for each item. I had never been for Afghan food before and neither had my boyfriends parents, so having a well described menu was very helpful! For our appetizer we just couldn't choose between two different options so we decided to get both the Bowlani and the Kaddo. The house bread and three dipping sauces that come before your meal are truly spectacular. The yogurt and celery sauce was clearly the favorite of the table as there was just a little drop left by the time it was cleared from the table. The close second was the hot red pepper sauce followed by the cilantro, pepper and walnut sauce. All of the flavors were so vibrant and clear. The Kaddo came out from the kitchen first and I am quite the pumpkin fan but what came out was like nothing I had ever tasted! The sweetness of the pumpkin and the sugar balanced with the savory ground beef sauce and yogurt garlic sauce. The pumpkin was so smooth and just melted in your mouth but wasn't the sweet pumpkin you would expect. This was by far the PERFECT was to start off the meal and certainly set my expectations high for the rest of my meal. The Bowlani was second which was kind of sad for the poor Bowlani because after the Kaddo there was really no way it could live up. The leek and scallion one was a bit too strong for my liking and that seemed to be the general feeling of the table except for my boyfriend who is a lover of a strong flavor. The spiced potato one was a perfect consistency and spiced to the right level. This was by far the favorite of the two and went very quickly. If it were up to me I would suggest to them to offer them separately or together as an option. For our main meal it was actually quite unusual because each couple ended up getting the same thing. My boyfriend and I each ordered the Mourgh Challow and his parents each ordered the Koufta Challow. My suggestion to anyone who eats here, before you add your food to the gigantic pillow of rice that is placed in front of you just take a few bites of it as is and enjoy each flavorful bite. We would each go around the table trying to guess what the hint of each ingredient we were tasting was, just in the rice alone. All I know was that the challow rice was fantastic and quite frankly a delicacy all on it's own! The chicken in my meal was so tender I could pull pieces apart with little to no effort of my fork and the curry sauce was perfect in its yellow color and fragrant aroma and taste. My boyfriends parents were very intrigued by our meals and kept "sampling from our side of the table each time following the bite with an mmm or a yum. They felt as if their Koufta Challow was a little bit too tomatoey and had a bit of an italian influence. They said that the meatballs were very good but from all the sampling going on from our dishes it seemed as if they may have enjoyed ours more. Our waiter was very attentive throughout our entire meal and made sure that our water glasses were full and our entrees were staggered an appropriate time from our appetizers. The price is very reasonable considering the amazing quality of food you get as well as location. All and all I was truly impressed and am already looking forward to my next trip!
(5)
Jess K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. The pumpkin is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten, it has perfect texture and flavor. There are good vegetarian options and all the dishes are reasonably priced. Be sure to make reservations, they are very popular. Several times the service has been less than stellar. I felt a bit ignored by the wait staff a few times when they realize I'm just going to order an entree instead of an entree, bottle of wine, appetizer, dessert, coffee, etc. However, the food is good enough for me to keep going back.
(5)
David J.
I like Helmand a lot. The food is unique and easily my favorite part about the place. The food is very flavorful and you can't get anything else like it in the area. The Mantwo and the Kaddo really stand out in my mind. I've been here about a dozen times. The decor is also charming in my opinion, it makes me feel comfortable. My only complaint would be that the service is occasionally a little off. Aloof or inattentive servers. I'd also suggest making reservations because they can get booked up on the weekends.
(5)
Mark H.
Excellent food. I'm not from Afghanistan so I can't tell you how authentic it is, but it is very tasty. I had the mantwo, and it was delicious. The bread is great, and watching the breadmaker stretch out and bake loaf after loaf is pretty inspiring. I wanted to go home and make a wood fired oven, but it would pretty much take up my entire kitchen. We had a carafe of the house red wine and found it very good. For the money, I'd probably order that every time in Helmand. The wait staff seemed pretty serious but the service was quite good. Pretty easy to get to from the subway. Make a reservation for sure, we had one and walked right past others who had to wait. Good thing, because when you get in there it smells good and you want to start eating!
(5)
Richard C.
I went in to Helmand last night and was absolutely appalled at the treatment they gave me. I am handicapped and use a mobility scooter to get around. I went with my marketing manager, who is black (I am Chinese), and we arrived around 8pm for dinner. Before we got there, my scooter's battery had died on me and so my marketing manager had to push me and my scooter into the restaurant. We were met at the second door into the restaurant by the person at the check-out desk, who informed me that since we did not have a resrvation, that sorry we could not be accomodated. She did not say that we should sit and wait for a table which may take some time. Instead she did not leave us that option at all. And while we decided to wait for a table in the small area between the first anf second set of doors into the restaurant, I decided that I should make use of the time to get my battery charged while we waited. So i asked my marketing manager to detach the battery which is the size of a small box, and asked the desk person if she could help us charge the battery somewhere, maybe behind the desk or somewhere else in the restaurant where they may have an outlet available. Instead, her reaction was both shocking and insulting to me. She said, "We do NOT have anywhere where we could help you get this charged!" That to me was pure discrimination on her part. I could not believe my ears. My marketing manager was so furious he told me that we should simply leave at that point. And I totally agreed. And I swore I would neveer patronise that place ever again, even though i had great experience there several times before. I cannot believe that they would discriminate against colored people and disabled people they did last night with us. This kind of action should never have been tolerated, and any management that does not train their employees with sensitivity training and tolerates this kind of action should not deserve any business from anyone these days. I wished only that I could give them a negative star rating.
(1)
Ilona K.
This is my FAVORITE restaurant. Long story short, the experience has always been very pleasant for me... the food is simply delicious!! Everything is flavorful, very well seasoned and succulent. The bread and sauces they serve are such a tease... my favorite sauce is the white one (yogurt, cucumbers, mint...) You must try the Kaddo dish, very different! And, i usually get the Mourgh Salata... There is another restaurant that opened in Allston called "Ariana" that is very similar... They are ALWAYS packed... you need to make a reservation!
(5)
R A.
The freshly backed bread was pretty yummy, but I am a sucker for bread so this doesn't mean all too much. I had the Chicken Kebab since there was not anything else on the menu I could eat or had any interest in. If you don't eat lamb, fish, or yogurt on your meat, you might be out of luck here. I won't take any stars off though just because I am so picky. What I ordered was alright and tasted fresh, but it was definitely not even close to being worth 17 dollars. I know that I didn't order anything very exciting and perhaps shouldn't have such high expectations, but I can get Kebab that tastes way better for less than half that price elsewhere. For instance, Aceituna Cafe is only a few blocks away and has fantastic Mediterranean food. I was told by another person in my party that the fish they ordered did not taste that great and we both agreed that the meal was overall quite bland. Service was a definitely poor here, especially for a place in this price category. Wait staff wasn't particularly friendly and we found them to be inattentive.
(2)
Steven P.
Hello friend. Do you enjoy food? Do you enjoy good food? Do you enjoy really deliciously good food? Do you want to try something different for a change? If so, the Helmond may be what you are looking for! I came here on the weekend and didn't need a reservation. The service was great and the place had a nice atmosphere. The food was excellent, and they had many vegetarian options. i suggest trying that Kaddo, at least as an appetizer. I thought that the pumpkin might taste strange, but I was wrong. It was absolutely delicious!
(5)
Don W.
I really liked The Helmand. The bread as really good. The kaddo was delicious. The chowpan was really nice and the Lamb Lawand was very tasty. In other words, it was all good, without exception. And to top it off, we had a bottle of wine that was perfect. But I'm going with four stars for this one because it has to be damn near perfect for five stars. The space would have been tight if all the tables were filled, but fortunately they weren't. The entree came out while we were still working on the appetizer, but nothing else was rushed. The service and the food were good, but the reviews for this restaurant are so good that maybe my expectations were unrealistic. So I'm a little torn, but the official definition of four stars is "I'm a fan" so I'm okay with that. I want to try some other things on the menu too, but I probably won't get a chance because I don't live nearby. Too bad, it's a really nice restaurant.
(4)
Joshua C.
Delightfully good food. I don't like lamb. In fact, I really hate it. But I tried it at this restaurant, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. That goes to show just how good the food at this restaurant is. My dad, who's not a big fan of ethnic food, came here with me and really enjoyed the place. He always talks about coming back and eating there. Make sure when you go, to make reservations. Other than that, make sure you order a few appetizers, because they are really delicious and one of the best treats at this place.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Last night was the second time I've been to Helmand. After finally finding someone to go with me (which has been surprisingly difficult, I'm not that bad of company and who doesn't like good ethnic food?), my friend and I ventured off to Cambridge. We arrived around 8:45, and the next table for two was available around 9:15-9:30. No big deal since the Cambridgeside Galleria is just around the corner. It was a Friday night, after all. However, the mall was closing and the area became kind of dead, except for at the restaurant where it was still decently busy. We came and waited on the pretty couch inside which had a selection of magazines to browse through. Unexpected, but kept my friend and I amused. I may or may not have ordered the same thing I ordered the first time I went. Regardless, it was delicious. We started off with the Kaddo (baked pumpkin). We ordered it regular, with the meat sauce (vegetarian is also an option, and also good, but more dessert-like since it doesn't have that savory touch). They also give out bread with the meal, which is a flat bread which resembles naan a little. They also give out plenty of sauces to use with all of your meal: a cilantro sauce, red chili pepper sauce, and a yogurt. The yogurt tasted great on everything! For an entree, I ordered the theeka kabob (meat, some veggies, lentils, pallow rice), and my friend ordered another dish which was a chicken in sauce with Afghan spices over challow rice. Both were amazing! My meat was great, but I advise to order it medium or medium well. I ordered it medium and it was still quite pink in the middle. The flavor of my friend's dish was deep and unique. We were trying to puzzle out the spices used in the "Afghan spices" but are still unsure. There are two different kinds of rices as my friend pointed out. The challow has one or maybe two spices, and the pallow has those spices plus nutmeg and cinnamon, although it is surprisingly fairly savory, not overly sweet. For dessert, we ordered the bucklawa, which is a pastry with walnuts, pistachios, and maybe other kinds of nuts as well. It was awesome. Comfortable for the two of us to split, but a reasonable portion for one person if you have a reasonable appetite. The dish had another unique flavor that my friend and I also couldn't identify; whatever it was, it really made it stand out. It was also reasonably priced at $3.95 I think. So while a little on the pricey side for my taste, it was so good I will be a repeat customer. The bill for the two of us came out for less than $50, with appetizer and dessert. Definitely worth it. The atmosphere of the restaurant is what I hope to adorn one of my dining rooms with someday...goldenrod walls, elegant furniture, Persian pottery (one of my favorites), bright blue water glasses, a wood-burning stove, and some traditional Afghan clothing on display. One of the greatest meals I ever had. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The waiter, nearing the end of the shift, wasn't the most exuberant fellow last night, but the food was so good I can't really complain one bit. Service in general was reasonable in speed. We definitely took our time, so no problems. Apologies for the long-winded review, but I think this place deserves all the props I've given it. Definitely my new favorite restaurant.
(5)
Samantha B.
Delicious! The food is like a milder, more earthy version of Indian. I usually get a pumpkin concoction that is ultra flavorful, rich, and mildly spicy. Their bread is heavenly! And you can't beat the cilantro chutney. One time we got to sit right next to the oven and see the guy making the bread. The atmosphere is great- I love all of the beautiful pottery and photos they have throughout. Don't ask me why, but I just adore the blue glasses. The service is never what I'd call 'bad', but not always great. One time I had a lady with serious crazy eyes. She looked like the type who walks backwards just so she can keep on creepily gazing. It kinda stinks that they don't have designated parking, but if you happen to be in the galleria, it's a perfect place to stop in for dindin (because what's your other option? Cheesecake factory, ahhhhh!) So yes, please try, and enjoy.
(4)
Julie L.
I had heard good things about Helmand before going there, so I was prepared to pay the hefty prices. However, after eating there I realized it was WAY overpriced and WAY overrated. Maybe it's because there are few (if any) other Afghan restaurants to compare it to in the area, so people get excited about it since it's a novelty. When we got there my husband and I were seated right next to the oven where they bake the flat bread. This was cool to see, but it felt like we were sitting in about 100 degree weather. Also, as the waiters would come by the oven they would yell (I'm not exaggerating) in Spanish at the male employee who was cooking the bread. Needless to say it was awkward to be caught in this cross-fire, not to mention the multitude of Spanish being spoken kind of killed the Afghany vibe the restaurant seemed to be going for. Next, we ordered some appetizers (I can't remember exactly what they were, but I remember they were just "meh"). About 5 minutes after bringing out appetizers they brought our entrees, so we were scrambling to eat everything while it was still warm. Needless to say everything got cold REALLY fast. The bread had a so-so texture, and I felt like it a wanna be Indian Naan--but with a lot less flavor and not as good as a texture. Despite the disappointing appetizers and entrees we decided to try one more time. We ordered the "homemade dessert" with some sort of fruit syrup--I think it was supposed to be pomegranate. The cake was dry, crumbly, and relatively flavorless. Again, a huge rip off. Despite, the less-than-satisfying food/desert, the service was also rather medicore. I only got my water glass filled once during the entire meal. This experience was all on a week-night when they weren't completely slammed. I can't imagine how bad things would get on a weekend. I would not recommend this place unless you want to pay a lot of money for less than mediocre food and service.
(2)
Ashley P.
First, I have to say thanks yelp for this find. The food was great, nothing was left on any of our plates. The lamb was so tender. The bread was brought out promptly and we couldn't get enough of it. The building is unassuming, so it was a bit hard to find right away. We were given only two options for reservations, 5pm or 9pm, granted it was only a day before when I made them. We arrived early and they accommodated us immediately. I found the service prompt and available.
(5)
Maria B.
This might just be my new favorite restaurant! I had been curious about the Helmand for months and months ever since I used to work down the street and would pass it often, pondering what exactly Afghani cuisine was like. Finally I had a chance to find out! We walked in on a Monday night and the place was super busy- but still had a laid back attitude. The hostess was very nice and sat us within a matter of minutes despite the fact that we didn't have a reservation. The decor alone deserves 5 stars. It is set up in a way where it feels like you're walking into a family home rather than a restaurant. They have an extensive wine list (including South African wine which is always a treat in my eyes), and their menu is mouth-wateringly delicious (although I honestly have yet to try all of it- but give me a break this was my first time here!) We started with the "banjan" appetizer- pan-fried eggplant in a yogurt and tomato sauce. It was made in record time and arrived looking ever so delicious. I could already tell that this was going to be like a home-cooked meal- 'kak u babushki' (like my grandmother) would make food- very simply and without any unnecessary flair- just plain delicious. Oh- and you also get served delicious Afghan bread with dipping sauces. For our main course we shared the chowpan entree- a half rack of lamb with rice and vegetables. Everything again was cooked perfectly and tasted like someone's grandmother or mother just cooked it up in the kitchen and brought it over for you to try. For dessert I had their version of baklava ("Bucklawa"), which was seriously THE best I've ever had. Just the right amount of sweet, everything tasted fresh and flavorful, and it was paired perfectly with the rich Turkish coffee. Seriously, other restaurants should take note of what this place does- provides a casual and cozy atmosphere, great laid back but attentive service, simply delicious no frills food and decent pricing. I am really excited to go back and try out the rest of their menu asap!
(5)
Emma S.
Just came back from a lovely and very valuable dinner, with great service. Mmmm... will dream about the food tonight.
(5)
Graham C.
Ah Helmand. The place which is owned by Hamid Karzai/Nouri al-Maliki/Osama Bin Laden's brother/uncle/nephew. I've been here twice and had very good Afghan food. Granted, this is the only place I've had Afghan food. The place is kind of small, and so I tried to call ahead but got a busy signal all the time. That's because I noticed the hostess walks around with the cordless phone always looking for people who are finishing. My friend and I waited about 20 minutes. Upon seating, we asked the waitress for wine recommendations, perhaps something native. She then told us she wasn't a wine person, more of a beer girl. That's cool, but perhaps some suggestions? She then disclaims "This really isn't my kind of place." We were floored and joked with her about her quitting during her shift. So then she comes back for the food order and I reference the previous comment and she is all "let's never speak of that again." And then she proceeds to tell me that everything on the menu is excellent and she couldn't recommend any one thing because they were all so good. It was almost as if someone overheard and twisted her ear back in the kitchen. Food was great, the tables were really jammed into that back room, and the house red was fine. Overall an odd experience, and given the prices I'd rather go to Lala Rokh, which I know is persian and not afghan, but I prefer beef to lamb anyway.
(3)
wsl l.
A new update from my prior review. I took away a few stars. If you have ever been to Helmand, you would know that service isn't always up to par. Turn around time is fast, and for the most part they are polite about it, but it's normally rushed as they want you in and out. My past experiences here have been pretty good. No big parties of more than 4ppl and I stuck with my usual. Until.. I was here recently for my surprise b-day dinner. I sat together with some of my closest friends at the biggest table in the restaurant. We ordered apps of -okra, salad, pumpkin and others I can't really think of. .. For entree, I usually go with the rack of lamb but decided to go with the trout instead. yes, trout. what was I thinking? Per our waiter, it was conveniently the last one and I almost feel now that I was conned into it. It was definitely not fresh and was overwhelmed with this fishy taste. DISGUSTING. I took two stabs at it and couldn't do any more. Not only was my food bad, but the service got progressively worse. Granted that we were there for about 1 1/2 hrs and they probably had big groups waiting ,but we had a few bottles of wine, apps and entrees. Throughout the night we got nasty stares from the host and the host pulled our waiter aside at least 3x.. It got worse when our waiter came to clear off the table. Since when does someone say "hey lady, could you pass the plate down" ?? WTF? So now we are at the end of dinner. I'm thinking, ok, we have been here long enough and we should leave soon, but what is a birthday without cake and it was a Finale tiramisu cake. I am sitting at the front of the table and I see our waiter go towards the freaken open oven to pick up the Finale box. It was sitting there near heat the whole entire time. So the cake was mushy and everyone had to eat cooked, melted cheese. I was soo perplexed... I dont know how long it will take for me to let this go... but I wont be coming back anytime soon.
(2)
D. H.
I adore this restaurant--it's my favorite place by far. The freshly baked bread comes to the table all warm and wonderful and with tasty dipping sauces. I've never ordered anything here that I didn't like but the vegetarian special (baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, served with pallow rice) tops my list. We frequently bring out-of-town friends and relatives here and they've always loved it too. Their pumpkin specialty (kaddo), either vegetarian or with meat, is absolutely divine. That pumpkin is the closest thing I've ever found to ambrosia... nom nom!
(5)
Miri R.
One of my favorite restaurants... ever. I could eat Kaddo seven days a week. This is middle-eastern home cooking at it's absolute best... like if your grandma was a five-star chef. Every single thing I've tried there was delicious, but frankly, I could be happy with just munching their delicious bread with the dipping sauces and sipping a shot of fresh brewed Turkish coffee...
(5)
Mel M.
I've never had to make a reservation as a single as late in the evening as here, which was my first hint that it would be great. I've since eaten here a few times, and never been disappointed with a single dish. The owner is very personable and has stopped by to chat each time. The staff is very nice as well. The one dish I remember specifically is the pumpkin with meat sauce on the top, and it's just absolutely amazing.
(5)
Eric E.
I have to admit that before I walked in the door, I had a lot of preconceptions about this place. Having recently overcome my Indian aversion, Middle Eastern is pretty much the only cuisine I dislike, and I had lumped Afghani in with the typical chickpea and tabouli dishes thats make me spit my food into my napkin and ask to be excused. In addition, the restaurant looks like an office building from the outside, so much so that I would drive by with out-of-town guests to tell them about the Afghani place that everyone raves about (but which I'd never been to), but frequently couldn't find it. It could definitely use a new sign. Anyhow, once we found the joint and walked in the door, my whole world changed. Or at least, my whole world of preconceived notions about Helmand. The decor and layout were beautiful, a rich yellow paint adorned the walls, and the bread oven was open to the room. The tables were spread out just the right amount, to give a cozy yet still private feel. As I looked around i saw one big party of 8, and a lot of dates. My gf said it felt like we were in someone's living room. A romantic, comfortable atmosphere. First thing our waiter did was bring us some bread and take drink orders. I usually don't eat the bread, needless carbs yadda yadda, but they brought 3 little sauces for it so i figured I had to try it all. I'm glad I did, as they were some new flavors my tongue had never tasted before. I think one was mint cucumber yogurt or something? For drinks, when there is a house red wine available, i usually take it, and so there was at Helmand. Damn it was good. The waiter was very good, and he took our food order and didn't even laugh when I took a chance at pronouncing the menu items. (You'll notice a lot of these reviews refer to "the lamb and rice dish" as opposed to "Dwajuwmskaispist" or whatever.) The food was delivered expediently, first round was some sort of baked pumpkin with ground beef and some wacked out ravioli with mint, garlic, beef, scallions, etc. Both were excellent, although the pumpkin is very sweet, and a couple of times I was unsure whether I liked the meat+sweet combination. Then we had a lamb and rice dish which was also delicious. I don't think I've ever had better lamb, except at my sister's wedding. I can't give it 5 stars, because I've only been there once. But if this is what they eat in Afghanistan on a day to day basis, then I don't feel so bad for them anymore.
(4)
Ben K.
The Kadoo (roasted pumpkin) is the stuff of that dreams are made of, and everything else I've eaten here (leek dumplings, eggplant, lamb) has been stellar. We're talking explosions of flavor on the tongue. The ambiance is delightful and the service has always been excellent. I've gotten away sharing 3 appetizers between 2 people and am pretty satisfied. This place is definitely worth the trek for me to Kendall Sq.
(5)
Rosie Z.
Food is average, the ambiance is good enough - your typical "ethnic romance" type of decor. It is expensive for what it is (basically stewed meat, some veggies and rice)
(3)
Elizabeth K.
I've been eating here for years and this place never fails to disappoint. And everyone I've dragged in to eat here has given it the thumbs up too. I always find the dishes are well balanced with just the right amount of spice to make it interesting without being either too spicey or too weird. The bread (hot from the brick oven in the center of the room) is to die for, and free with the meal. They have a nice selection of vegetarian friendly options and the appetizers something you MUST get - they are awesome. I particularly recommend the eggplant and the pumpkin dishes. Their single glasses of wine are a little limited but the overall wine list is not, and the house varieties have always been lovely. The service is crisp. Secret hint - if you don't want to make reservations, go Monday-Wednesday. The place is packed on Fridays and Saturdays and probably Thursdays, too. I wish Yelp had a decor category for "nice ethnic" - the kind of place that is clearly decorated nicely, but not so overdone you feel overwhelmed.
(5)
Neurosurgeon X.
I ate here a few times when I lived in Boston. The food is pretty decent. I can't remember the details though.
(4)
Deepa C.
My dad loved being treated like royalty. He was in his element whenever he was offered rose water to wash his hands before a meal, if he was called by name by the waitress, if scotch glasses were automatically refilled. And he loved the Helmand. The decor and menu are both executed well. Service is well rehearsed and smooth. Sitting down for dinner here makes you forget that you drove by a Best Buy on your way there. I would recommend the Helmand for a nice night out, if you want to treat the parents (or vice versa) or to impress a business client or date. Its class, chef and atmosphere make you appreciate Boston's diversity and style.
(5)
John W.
This is one of the best restaurants for Cantabrigian vegetarians to visit. I recently came here with several friends and we shared an appetizer order of Bowlani (pan-fried pastry shells garnished with yogurt mint, one filled with leeks and scallions, the other with spiced potatoes) and Kaddo (pan-fried then baked pumpkin seasoned with sugar). Yum! For my entree, I ordered the Aushak (Afghan ravioli filled with leeks, served on yougurt and mint sauce, topped with yellow split peas and carrot sauce), but my ladyfriend ordered the Special (a platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach, and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes) which i think i like slightly better than the Aushak. Double yum!
(5)
Nhu V.
This place serves amazing food...PERIOD. It is my favorite restaurant. When they seat you and bring out the bread, make sure that you don't put butter on it. That's a total waste...instead enjoy the 3 sauces that they bring out. If you're not into spicy stuff, then go with the white yogurt, cucumber sauce. You can't go wrong with either of their ravioli appetizers (one has leeks and the other has chick peas in it) and I always get the Mourgh Chicken Kebabs as my entree. The only thing knock on them would be the stink eye that you get if you decided to stop by on a whim and didn't call in advance to make a reservation. Otherwise, you gotta check this place out.
(5)
Orly M.
We went to the Helmand for our company holiday party last night and it was an all-around wonderful experience. I had been to Ali Baba Tandoor (see review) and had a craptastic experience, but the Helmand has returned Afghan food to glory. The food is what you would expect -- somewhere between middle eastern food and Indian food. It is filling but also rather light. I am Israeli and I work with 3 Iranians, so we were VERY excited for the bread. I am not generally a bread person, but that's partially because the bread here doesn't compare to the stuff in the Middle East -- fresh and fluffy pitas, laafa, it's all the food of my dreams. The bread at Helmand was like a taste of home for us. In fact, after our huge meal, my boss said "well, i'm totally stuffed, but I'm looking at that bread coming out of the oven and I could go for more." The sauces they give you are great -- the cilantro one is especially good and I also really like the chilli one. Dip your bread in there and mmmm. We ordered almost every appetizer. They were all delicious. I especially like the eggplant and the pumpkin (kaddo) ones, but the meat filled ravioli is also awesome. I got this soup called aush that was absolutely amazing, I could eat that stuff every day. The salad was standard but came with a very tasty pomegranate dressing. Miraculously, as far as I can tell my clothing didn't end up covered in bright purple splotches. I got one of the specials -- it was sea bass with potato and beans, served with challow. Sounds average but the spices and tender fish were really great, and I was glad I had a relatively light fish option rather than the lamb that many of my dinner companions opted for. We're a pretty multicultural bunch -- Chinese, Persian, Israeli, American -- and everyone loved their dinners. The wine list was great and after a couple of bottles everyone was merry. Dessert can be skipped -- nothing was really remarkable. We got the pudding covered in fresh fruit, and ice cream with figs. It was aight. I got a Spanish coffee which was kind of funny at Helmand. A couple of the guys I work with got the Turkish coffee and said it was pretty bad, so i'd steer clear of that. Lastly, there was the service -- everything came out fast, maybe too fast in fact. Our water and wine was promptly replenished but we didn't feel rushed or watched. A great, laid back eating experience when you want a meal that's a little different.
(5)
Marian N.
amazing... delicious... fresh warm flatbread from the oven. cozy ambiance... friendly service... love it!!!
(5)
kathy r.
Bummer this is kind of in an out-of-the-way spot... or on the other hand, maybe it's easier to get in than it would be if it were in the South End. Really great food- I agree with Stephen Y., if you have anyone from out of town who's not a pure meat-and-potatoes picky eater, this place rocks. Many of my friends' parents LOVE it, and our group of friends does too.
(5)
Dan v.
After 233 reviews, what more can one say about this place. Five starts for the food, four stars for the atmosphere, and four stars for the price. Not having a car makes this place a bit of a hassle for me to get to, but I've always put this place as one of my favorite restaurants in the Cambridge area. Congratulations Helmand. 4.3 stars to you!
(4)
Tom E.
The Helmand is a great example of how good Yelp is. I really want to give this place just over 4 stars - which is exactly what it averages with all the yelp reviews so far. Collective taste wins out. But this isn't any local secret - it's well known and lauded by Zagat et al - so how else does yelp help out? Well, I was specifically after somewhere classy but not too dear in East Cambridge that had nearby parking and a sweet appetizer (yeah - strange request). A quick skim of the previous reviews confirmed all of this was here... and told me more - like what to order and to expect a wait. So when we rolled up unannounced, and were told there would be a 35 minute wait, we'd already started planning a walk around the Galleria whilst we awaited their call. Seamless. So thanks Yelp and thanks to Helmand too. The food was excellent and the class of the restaurant was above the price paid. I'm amazed at what they've done with a horrid building with 3 tiny windows. The tight seating and overbearing proximity to our two neighboring couples (Mr & Miss J-Date and Prof Get-Me-Out-Of-MIT with Mr Moneybags-Merck) ruined this from being 5 stars, but 4.25 is still lovely. Well done everyone.
(4)
Kristin K.
I rarely walk out of a restaurant and can't stop thinking about how good it was - that happened here. I can't believe how much flavor they get into such simple ingredients. This is truly a five star eatery. First of all, the bread. They bring bread to your table but it's not like anything I've had before. It's fresh baked (you can watch the guy making it in an open fire oven) and so delicious. It's a textured flat bread that somehow manages to be crispy, soft and chewy all at the same time. They serve it with butter, and three kinds of "chutneys" or sauces - all fantastic. I got the vegetarian special plate, hubs got some kind of vegetarian stuffed pepper. I could not believe how delicious it was. I had never had Afghan food and was kind of expecting a mix between middle eastern and Indian - but it was much better and really unique. Only being in Boston for a week and having few dinner opportunities it says something that we're hitting this place up twice.
(5)
Marc B.
Excellent food, couldn't tel what the names were but everything we ordered was great.
(4)
Christine K.
I've never had Afghani food before, so I didn't know what to expect when I came here, but WOW. First off, I LOVE their dipping sauces with the bread. 3 types: yogurt, spicy, and cilantro. Mix them all together, or eat them all separately, they will not fail to satisfy your palate. The ravioli appetizer (Aushak) is so good - especially as a dipping sauce for the bread, too! I couldn't get enough of it, and was sad it was only an appetizer. But they actually have an normal sized dish of the same thing. Score! For next time. My favorite dish was the Qabelee: pallow (Afghan-style rice) baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed julienne of carrots. I never eat lamb because I don't like the taste of it, but WOW. The way this dish was prepped, you could not taste the distinct lamb flavor, but was still flavorful, tender, and SO delicious! Generous portions too, for good prices. The beef in the Chapendaz is also SO tender and good! I'm glad to have found out that they have a restaurant in SF too - on my side of the coast!
(5)
Maria P.
I was afraid to go the Helmand because after reading all these amazing reviews on yelp I had sky-high expectations which I knew could possibly never be met (even by my favorite restaurant back home). I have never had Afghani food before but I think that if Afghani food is always this good, bring it on! My friend and I went to this restaurant around 6 pm and parked in the Calumet lot opposite the restaurant (I think someone else mentioned this already but it's worth mentioning again, get a two hour parking pass from the restaurant or you will get towed). We didn't make a reservation (thinking that it was a weekday) but the restaurant looked pretty full. We were seated fairly quickly (about 15 minutes) which was great (sit on the big cognac brown leather couch with a table full of magazines in front of it, it was super soft and comfy. I would have taken that couch home had they given me the opportunity). To start with, my friend ordered the banjan which was an eggplant dish topped with tomato sauce and yogurt sauce. It was amazing and I don't even like eggplant! My friend inhaled most of it before I got back from the bathroom though, so I'm definitely ordering it again when I go back. The freshly baked bread was fabulous-light, fluffy and piping hot! The dipping sauces were great, the yogurt was my favorite by far. For our entrees, I got the morgh (chicken) kabob (with spinach and challow rice) and my friend got the qho re mey (their special of the day- sea bass with rice and lentils along with tomato sauce and vegetables). The chicken was great, perfectly cooked and seasoned and the challow rice was the perfect accompaniment. The spinach was pretty good too although I would have appreciated it if they had offered a choice of side dishes with your meal (as opposed to a preset one with each entree). My friend's sea bass was spectacular, just the way the spices hit you as you slowly worked your way through the meal was amazing (I should know, I ate half of her portion). I don't even know how we both had space for dessert after this but I knew that I didn't want to leave the Helmand without trying something off their dessert menu so I ordered the pudeen (creme caramel) and my friend ordered the shereekh (spiced home made ice cream). The creme caramel was perfect. It wasn't sickeningly sweet so that was a definite plus. I can't say the same about my friend's ice cream however, it was overly spiced (in my opinion) and a little too sour. Although, my friend seemed to enjoy it very much so maybe it's just a matter of differing taste buds? The service wasn't great but it wasn't horrifyingly bad either. The waiter seemed reluctant to suggest anything from the menu and we had to keep looking for someone to fill our water glasses. He was timely though with the entrees and dessert and I guess they were just understaffed that night as I saw him rush all over the place while I was eating. The atmosphere was great and I loved all the photos that adorned the walls along with the lighting which made it seem very cozy. In short, like most of the other reviews say, go to the Helmand you won't regret it!
(5)
Lynn H.
So I know it's been said over and over now by fellow Yelpers, but holy pumpkin. The kadoo is unlike anything I've ever tasted! The eggplant (that also comes with the Vegetarian Special) is remarkable as well. And the bread. I could have just sat there all night eating the fresh-from-the-oven bread. Yes waitress, I think we will have a 4th basket of bread. Atmosphere of the place is also great. We went on a Thursday night and it was bustling. It's intimate enough to bring a date and down to earth enough to bring the whole family. Also seems like a great place to bring out of town visitors because how often do you go out for Afghani food? This place is definitely unique, delicious, and worth a return visit.
(5)
Tushar S.
There are very few places that I like so much and where I like to go back every few months just to get one particular dish, this is one of them. For the people who know what a foodie I am, I'm not 5 star impressed with a place or a dish easily. The meal starts with brick oven baked naan which comes as the appetizer (like chips and salsa at a Mexican joint), served with 3 amazing sauces. Followed by the my favorite dish here, Quablee (Slow cooked, tender boneless chunks of lamb in afghani spices under a bed of perfectly seasoned bed of rice, topped with sweet carrots and resins). I have never been disappointed by this dish and am impressed by the consistency which the place has maintained.
(5)
Robert D.
Fantastic food and fast service. Everything on the menu is great. Might want to make reservations at the busier times.
(5)
Kristine A.
This place makes delicious food & the atmosphere is great. You should make reservations since it's always pretty damn busy. They have very nice people working there. Their menu is vegeatrian friendly as well. Gotta love thier pumkin dish, marvelous!
(4)
Betty P.
Helmand is where I learned to love pumpkin in a non-Jack o' Lantern kinda way. I am rarely one to order something vegetarian, but please do yourself a favor and order one of the pumpkin dishes at Helmand. Parking is relatively easy even on weekends since there isn't too much else nearby but the mall. Worse case scenario park at the mall. The place has a nondescript building facade, but definitely NOT nondescript food! Prices are great and they place gives off a cozy vibe so definitely a good date place. And any place that serves water in cobalt blue glasses gets brownie points from me.
(5)
Jenny L.
I finally made my way back to Helmand a year after my first visit. Since it was one of my early dining experiences in Boston, I thought I was going to find better. But when I came back here for my second meal, I realized this is as good as it gets in Boston...and apparently my expectations have decreased since I first moved here... Anyway, still loved the KADDO. It is a must if you come here. I got the Lamb Challow for my entree this time - spinach sauteed with chucks of lamb and Afgan seasonings, served with challow rice which was tender, flavorful and just fantastic. The leftovers were just as good the next day.
(5)
Andrew C.
The Helmand is an Afghan restaurant found in an unassuming location next to the Cambridge Side Galleria. Four of us went in for dinner on the Saturday before Memorial Day 2009 to celebrate my friends' one month wedding anniversary. -Wine- We did not have any wine, but The Helmand offers a pretty reasonable wine list with the major wine regions all represented. Bottles ranged from $22 to upwards of $80. -The Food- The Afghan bread comes straight from the brick oven to your table. This is the centerpiece of the dining room and the bread-maker baked tirelessly for the length of our stay. The three accompanying sauces tasted like yogurt, chili, and something resembling cilantro - all very flavorful. We started with two appetizers - the Mantwo and the Banjan - both started a party in my mouth. These appetizers were portioned like tapas and had just enough for four people to taste. For the entree, I had the Chowpan (Half rack [3 pieces] of lamb with sauteed eggplant and pallow rice). The lamb was grilled to perfection, simply seasoned, and tasty. I was a little perplexed that I didn't get a steak knife to cut my meat, but I made due with the standard (butter) knife and had no issues cutting the lamb. The lamb pieces sat on top of more Afghan bread which became soggy, so that wasn't good. The pallow rice was infused with flavor unlike anything I've had before, but it wasn't bad. After the bread, two appetizers, and our entrees, we had no room for any of the desserts! -Atmosphere And Service- As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by a three-person couch set up as the waiting area. It was a comfortable late-afternoon so most parties waited outside. My party had reservations, so we didn't have to do much waiting. The dining room felt very cozy with all the tables in close proximity. As close as the tables are arranged, there weren't any issues for the wait staff or other diners to move around the dining room. -Conclusion- The Helmand is a great treat for special occasions and get-togethers. The food might seem pretty strange at first, but there is something for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. Keep your mind and your taste-buds open!
(3)
John P.
Great food, large portions, and reasonable prices. Dinner for 2 with a $35 bottle of wine, salad, soup and 2 entrees was $85!!! I will definitely be returning.
(4)
N B.
The place is not as good as I thought after reading the reviews. Its over crowded. The place is smelly. The tables sit very close next to each other. Bad service- our waiter didn't take the order until 15 min. The waiter was trying to push us to order appetizers and desserts. Food is overpriced. It's somewhat like Indian food but I think Indian food tastes better than this. The ambiance of the place is not so pleasant. Definitely not for a romantic dinner.
(1)
Wyatt G.
Vegetarians and vegans BEWARE. My wife and I are both vegan. She ordered the vegetarian special, which is described as: "A platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, served with pallow." It is also served with yoghurt on top, which she had to scrape off. Annoying. I ordered the Sabzi Challow. I missed that it was described as having lamb in it, as it is listed as a "Vegetarian Entree". I found out that my dish had meat in it after I had started chewing on it, which is very disconcerting when you've been a vegan for five years. The incompetence and absurdity of putting meat dishes in your vegetarian section astounds me.
(1)
Zizzles A.
The Helmand is the closest thing to the perfect restaurant I have ever seen. It's clean, not really chic, but the decor is nice in a comforting way. The food is not only amazing, but also novel, and to top it off, it's very affordable. To start, you get a basket of house baked bread with 3 sauces free of charge. The bread is amazing. It's thicker, a little more glutenous than a naan, and it's a little harder on the outside. The Chowpan, Theeka Kebab, Seekh Kebab are all delicious and great for people who like to eat large cuts of meat like steak or chops. The garnishes are distinctly middle eastern, and because of my own general dislike for slabs of meat (except the Chowpan, god I love rack of lamb), I found that the sides, for their novelty and just simple goodness, outshined the meat. The kaddo is a roasted pumpkin with meat and yogurt sauce. The texture is just heavenly, but it's very, very sweet, and difficult to eat more than a few bites of. An order is like a quarter of a pumpkin, so 1 to share with several people might be a good idea. It is as sweet as many western deserts, which is to say very sweet, and yet it's an appetizer. My favorite dish here so far is the Mantwo. The pastry shell itself reminds me of the dough used to make Shanghai style xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. Inside is a meatball, and outside it is covered with a chickpea sauce, yogurt sauce, and a tomato sauce. It looks a little messy at first with its white, yellow and red sauces all put together in a disorganized way, but once you try it, few things will ever look more appetizing. The tomato sauce is a little sweet, the chickpeas provide a starchy kind of richness, while the yogurt sauce brings tartness and delicious dairy fat to the whole thing. Interestingly enough, many of the deserts are not as sweet as the Kaddo. I've had the Pudeen and the cake, both of which are good, but I usually prefer the Fereney. It's a cream or milk pudding topped with fresh fruits. It's barely sweetened, with all kinds of fatty milky goodness which goes perfectly with the fresh fruit. It looks deceptively healthy so watch out. If you're going on the weekend, a reservation is pretty much a must. Otherwise, it is simply recommended since they're not too efficient with walk ins.
(5)
Kai L.
Great food, great service, great price, and great ambiance! It has many vegetarian dishes, very unique tastes. I love their pumkin dishes and their fruit/yogurt dessert was very freshing. Not to miss their bread, free, but great!!! You can see how it's made too. The price was affrodable. Definitely a great place to dine out!
(5)
Janak S.
Okay, I'm still at the restaurant and I'm so pissed off that I need write something. The food is okay and I don't really have much in the way of complaint. But the service was just atrocious. We called ahead of time and had a reservation for 12. They then attempted seat us at three different table. When we protested and suggested we at least get to sit near each other, we were told that they know best about how to place tables!! But the most ridiculous event of the evening was when the birthday cake came out. We had brought the cake with us. After they seved us the cake, the waiter sheepishly informed us that he would have to charge us $1.50 per cut!!! This has got to be the most bizarre thing I've heard of, and when complained we were told all restaurants do this. When we asked them to name one, he looked at us like we were pink Martians doing an Elvis impersonation.
(1)
Maiya S.
There are places where I'm willing to overlook inattentive, unprofessional service in favor of amazing food. This isn't one of those. After our appetizers (which were quite delicious), the waiter cleared our plates and for each of us took the dirty knife off the appetizer plate and placed it back on the white tablecloth. He even scraped the food left on the knives against the plates. What?? Moreover, my dinner companions had to saw through their overcooked ribeye entrees with table knives, because no stake knives were offered, and the servers were nowhere to be found. After our entrees (which were just okay...not transcendent as other reviewer's 5 stars seem to indicate) the waiter thrust dirty and crumpled dessert menus into our hands before the dinner plates were even cleared. This place is very noisy, and not very friendly, and the quality of the food does not make up for all the ways it's rough around the edges.
(2)
Gunther F.
This is the third time I have been to the Helmand, but probably the first time in more than two years. We went there on a Saturday night, and could only get a reservation for 9:30, which worked out well. The place was very busy, and we had to wait a bit before we got seated, and also to get service once we were seated. We each had a kabob plate, which come with rice and vegetables, were well done, and truly delicious. Portions are just about right, and the food is nicely spiced and nice to look at as well. I was also impressed by how affordable this place has remained; we paid less than US$ 60 for a dinner including some wine and desserts, which is rare these days in Cambridge. The only reason I did not give this place 5 stars is the rather weird interior design; for some reason the owner decided to paint the walls in a rather strong yellow color, and install so many spotlights on the ceiling that you feel like sitting in a hotel lobby rather than a cozy restaurant. If that doesn't bother you, definitely check out this place - hard to find better food around here for similar prices.
(4)
David D.
The Kado ans Ashak are a MUST!
(5)
Mike G.
My wife and went in to Helmand last night for a date night. Because of kid's sports early this morning, we made an early reservation for 5:30. This was a good idea because between 6 and 7:30 the restaurant filled up and they had people waiting outside. We were worried we'd be late for our reservation because of miserable traffic south of Boston, but made it just in time. Thank goodness for their parking lot! Sure, it's ridiculously small (maybe room for 10-12 cars) and we did a 9-point turn to get out of the lot, but with the early reservation we had no problem getting in. First impression was pretty good. The decor is bright and colorful. My wife was initially overwhelmed by the aroma of spices, but soon adjusted. The wait staff was very attentive and we had a trainee working with us. Granted, having a young, Irish girl as a waitress in an Afghan restaurant was unusual, but she was very nice. I hope she enjoys her summer working in Boston, but that's not the point here. I did feel the wait staff was kind of hovering (for all the tables, not just ours). They weren't right next to the tables, but I almost felt like someone would take a sip of water and someone would be there within a minute to top off the glass. Not bad, not off-putting, just a trifle odd. While we had no problem with the rudeness mentioned in some previous reviews, I did see how those impressions get made. Another couple was shown to their table by the hostess WHILE SHE WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE! She went to the table, pulled back a chair and walked off all while carrying on her conversation. I'm no Emily Post, but that's just bad business and it's easily fixable. So the food should be mentioned in a review, I guess. As a preface, I recently returned from a year in Afghanistan and I contributed greatly to the restaurant economy of Kabul. Kebabs and naan were a big part of my diet, but we also ate more... elaborately? Coming in, I was very aware that Afghan food in America would be different than Afghan food in Kabul. Sanitation and quality of ingredients are the two most obvious reasons. We started with the fresh naan and the dipping sauces. My wife liked the yogurt sauce (I don't do yogurts) and we both loved the jalapeño sauce. I want the recipe so I can eat it with every meal for the rest of my life! We each had an appetizer, which showed up very quickly. She had the kaddo (the pumpkin dish) and loved it and I had the mantwo. Now, mantwo is something I ate quite frequently and it was always vey popular when we'd get it. The Helmand version was good, but different. The shredded beef and onion mixture in the dumpling were heavily onion-flavored, moreso than in Kabul. Again, very good; just different. Literally, as we were finishing the last bites of the appetizers, the main courses showed up. My wife had the aushak (beef, yogurt and mint dumplings) and I had the qabelee, which is my absolute favorite dish. The profound are generous and the food is delicious. I wasn't sure how I'd like the qabelee with black raisins because the golden raisins I'm used to were so plump, sweet and amazing. I'm not sure what raisins they use, but they were bigger than the raisins we have for the kid's snacks. The flavor was very authentic and, well, it made me very happy. Between the appetizers and the naan and the meals, we skipped dessert. Plus, that gives us an excuse to come back! The only blemish was the fact that I kind of felt a litle rushed. Between the omnipresent waiters and the immediate food service, I felt we were on a tight time schedule. We arrived at 5:30 and were out the door at 6:30. For a quick bite, not a bad deal, but I was on a date with my wife. I'm glad my wife made us a reservation because the food was great. She got to try something different and I got to try a US version of something I really like. We'll definitely come back and I can see us bringing friends for a nice evening without the kids.
(4)
Laura A.
if you're lucky enough to score a reservation, this is the best afghan food in the city. LOVE the showla, black eyed peas, yum! the atmosphere inside is really intimate and a great place to go with your partner or with friends. ETA jesus christ the service. it's terrible. it's such a nice, relaxing atmosphere but then it's kinda stressful when you have to literally flag down your server every time.
(4)
Wyndi A.
YUM! Don't be fooled by the exterior -walk inside and eat some great food. There is plenty for meat eaters and veggies alike. Though I gotta tell ya, the menu made this vegetarian (ok- I eat fish) almost jump the fence. Good lord! Ok - the service is not consistently great - but I am about the food people. THE FOOD!!! YUM. Go. Eat. Be satisfied.
(4)
Penelope T.
The food was amazing. We got all veggie appetizers and I got a veggie special and I was so satisfied with my meal. So good. mmmmmm
(4)
J. H.
The food and atmosphere at Helmand is first rate. It is a shame that their service drags them down. Getting a reservation here is a nightmare.. not because they are so booked but because they've been known to disconnect and hang up on you a million times before you finally get through to make your reservation.. but even then, they lose your reservation by the time you show up at the restaurant. The waiters often forget about tables for long periods of time leaving diners staring at eachother over their empty plates. But, as I said earlier, the food is divine... from the fresh flatbread cooked in wood-fired oven on one side of the dining room, to the lamb kabobs and veggie options. Despite the service issues, Helmand is still one of my favorite dining establishments in the Boston area.
(5)
alison s.
Two words: flavor explosion. This place never fails to satisfy me. I'm a vegetarian and a pretty picky eater--this place has plenty of veggie options as well as meat dishes. I would describe Afghani food as pretty similar to Indian food, but different. I love the "bowlawni" appetizer. It's two "hot pocket" looking pastries, one filled with spicy potatoes and the other with leeks and scallions. And pan-fried. YUM. My favorite entree is the "showla", which is a dish of black eyed peas and mungbeans sauteed with onions and garlic and then baked, served with a poblano pepper filled with spinach and cheese. Didn't know they had poblanos in Afghanistan, but I'm not complaining! The only bad thing about this place is that there always seems to be a wait, even on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. So make a reservation or get there early. I think you will be pleasantly surprised if you have never eaten Afghani food before.
(4)
Larry G.
Absolutely great food. Plenty of choices for the timid, vegetarians, carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, Daleks, Lutherans, whatever. My favorite restaurant in Cambridge, and a great value at twice the price. The food is unbelievably great tasting. Go there now.
(5)
Nina Y.
I loved this place! It's the first time I've ever had Afghan and I was blown away. Although I'm not vegetarian, I had the vegetarian special (baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, with rice. $14.95). Service was good, and my friends and I left very happy.
(5)
Ali L.
Good Afghan food outside the Bay Area is VERY hard to find and Helmand delivered big time. In fact, this Helmand is much better than its namesake in San Francisco. Though, they only gave us two fairly sized bolaniis for our appetizer and my cousin's aush was overly greasy the rest of the food was excellent. My sabzi chalau was great, the sabzi was excellent but I think there was just a little too much lamb and definitely not enough rice. What I did like though was that they mixed it up and gave you some okra alongside it and the okra was very good. My cousins' qabili palau and kormai morgh were both excellent as well but again, the dishes were kind of small for $14 a piece and since the rice was the cheapest ingredient of all three I was left to wonder why they would skimp on it? Aside from those small faults it was amazing and that's coming from a REAL Afghan who grew up in Fremont and has been to all the best Afghan restaurants in the country.
(5)
Meredith K.
I love this restaurant! I came to discover it in a very random way. When I was visiting San Francisco back in 2000 I wanted to try a local ethnic restaurant and had done some searches online and in my zagat guide and came across the Helmand. I thought hey I've never had Afghani food, never heard of this place, why not give this place a try? So I called the restaurant and made a reservation. When I got there and looked at the menu I saw that they had a second location in Cambridge! I couldn't believe it. I go 3,000 miles across the US to a restaurant I could go to in Cambridge! So I asked one of the folks serving us (who turned out to be the owner) and it turns out his brother is the guy that runs the Cambridge restaurant. He recommended the Kaddo - and WOW is it FANTASTIC. I cannot go here and not order this dish! Anyway, the experience was so great in San Francisco I couldn't wait to get back home to Boston to check out this restaurant - and it's just as good (and a much shorter trip!) I've brought friends here, gone on dates here - it's a great place for both. Also in the winter when it's cold and nasty outside - sitting near the big stone oven is so cozy and warm.
(5)
Scott F.
Major points off because the service was dreadful. A full HOUR after we ordered our food, our waiter came back and said... " what did you order again?" uh... yeah. Then he brought out the wrong appetizer. And then the waiter laughed at me when I suggested we get a discount. Yeah, that wasn't a joke, buddy. I didn't particularly care for the food when it (eventually) arrived, but that's just a matter of taste. It seemed like quality food, just not for me.
(2)
Dan N.
phenomenal!!!! i barely survived. the food is thick, rich, and delicious. and the bread! i can't get enough of it! the prices are great for the quality of food and service. I would eat here every day if i could. great wine too!
(5)
Matt W.
Helmand is awesome!! The roasted pumpkin is amazing As is every other dish. Will definitely be back again.
(5)
Emily A.
Really delicious food. The bread, cooked right on site in the large wood fired stove, was amazing, especially with the hot sauce. The dishes are on the expensive side, but the ambiance in Helmand is really lovely. The pumpkin special right now is so sweet and yummy-- as were the appetizers with leeks and potatoes.
(4)
Lina G.
I ate here a long time ago but I remember it like it was 3 weeks ago. You don't come across too many afghani restaurants in these parts so I was happy to see one so close to home. This place is great. The food, service and ambiance (I love using that word). There were at least 15 of us and the service was great. This is a big party and can be stressful for the server but I didn't get this vibe. Everything came out on time and it was hot and deeeLICious. It's also a romantic place and highly recommended for a date night.
(4)
Julian H.
What's that you say? They made you wait even though you had a reservation? And then your waiter took a while to turn up? Well, as soon as the basket of hot chewy wood fired flat bread shows up, you'll start to forgive them. And when you get the pumpkin dish and the leek ravioli you ordered, (you did order those things, right?) you'll forget all about anything else. Delightful. Nice rugs too, FWIW.
(5)
Ted S.
My second dinner at The Helmand, and I can't wait to go back. Unbelievable food, impeccable staff, great atmosphere. This time I had the dwopiaza, and I will have that again next time, it was so good, but don't take that to mean that there aren't a lot of excellent choices to be made from their menu. Go and enjoy!
(4)
Ryuji S.
Food and waitstaff are very good at this restaurant and the price is reasonable. If you are not afraid of unknown food and love to try new thing, this is definitely one of the places that you must go. Their stewed legs of lamb are very tasty, and sea bass and trout dishes are also excellent. If my date does not like the food there, I might determine that she is not open minded enough for me, or does not have good taste for food. So you can use this restaurant as if a strip of litmus paper.
(5)
Jenny K.
The food was fantastic, but a couple of "know before you go" tips that would have made my visit much more pleasant. First, the restaurant will not, under any circumstances, split a check on a credit card. When I went out with a group, and two of us decided to split the large bill, the proprieter gave us a sigh and a roll of the eyes - as if we were the tackiest people just for asking! He was rude to us when we asked if it was possible to make an exception. On a separate occasion at a friend's party, I had to leave early. I was given a "lecture" by the same proprieter about how rude it was for me to leave! I thought that was none of his business, and a very inappropriate way to talk to a customer. Finally, the place is always busy. I agree with other posters about reservations getting lost, and have waited as long as 45 minutes for my reservation. I would say plan ahead for parties larger than two, and have someone check in early. I like the food and the atmosphere, but I also think that the staff are inflexible. I would not say that they are big on customer service, but they deliver on food.
(3)
Lisa K.
Amazing food...the pumpkin appetizer yuuuuuummmm. Everything is good- the lamb and beef are so tender. All of the veggies are fresh and tasty. The person, BS., that said "the food is freaking stunning"...it sums it all up perfectly. It's always busy when I go there and I would recommend making reservations first. Sometimes it feels a little squished with tables right next to each other but it's one of my favorite restaurants. They have something for everyone and the coffee and dessert is also very good.
(5)
Proteus D.
Apparently this 'was' owned by Wali Karzai, the now dead governor of Kandahar. I was visiting our Cambridge office which is nearby attached to the mall. Wanted a quick and local bite and a colleague recommended this spot. And I'm very glad they did. The food here is very high quality. Started off with the flatbread. Really fresh, warm and tasty. Served with three dippings a sweet chili, yogurt cucumber and a cilantro. Yum, yum. Then I went for the chicken special. Grilled chicken with a salad and grilled vegetables. Perfect and just what I was in the mood for. Healthy and very, very tasty. The salad was all fresh and lots of leafy, dark green additions. The grilled veges ... squash, zucchini etc were also very nice. Peppered with walnuts and figs. All very agreeable. By colleague had lamb chunks, rice and what looked like spinach. He said it was great. Quick service even though it was busy. I have never been to Afghanistan but the interior seemed like it would probably be quite genuine. All it all a great experience, different and I will be back for sure.
(5)
Jason M.
Best Afghani in the Boston area.
(5)
Lily Z.
Should love it but didn't. The atmosphere is very nice. The staff were very nice and did a good job but to me the food was disappointing. The pumpkin - which everyone seems to love- was too sweet for me and I had heartburn for the rest of the night from the ravioli. I like the dipping sauce that comes with the bread though. Wouldn't go back again but I know a lot of people would and do love it.
(3)
Anonymous P.
This was one of the best dinners I have had in Boston, as well as the best value in Boston. Our dinner tonight, with appetizers, two shared sides, a large carafe of wine, and complimentary bread came to $53. It was comical how good the food was for that price--we would have paid $100. Every single item was exquisite. My chicken kabob was the best I've ever had. Service was poor, but I think it was more for lack of sense than lack of effort. It really didn't matter. I would give this restaurant seven stars if I could. Oh, by the way, we did not feel rushed at all. In fact, we felt the waiter was kind of slow. I can imagine if you're trying to sit there and chill for a half hour after you finish they might get frustrated, given the long lines. But that's totally understandable--the restaurant doesn't have a bar, and a line of people are huddled near the door. update (10/7/06): wasn't as impressed the second time. sea bass wasn't very fresh, was overcooked. still decent. i guess since it was 7 stars last time, i'll keep it at five stars for now.
Okay, seriously, this place is AWESOME and one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area! I really cannot say enough good about it. The food is simply amazing! Great ambiance, attentive waits staff, well priced and delicious! Reservations strongly suggested. I have been here on weeknights and weekends and this place fills up quickly.!
(5)
Sarah C.
I had wanted to go to this place for the longest time.... I can't believe that it took me so long! After all the recent great reviews of the Helmand restaurants... I'll TRY to make this quick..... Definitely make a reservation on any night that you plan on going.. starts to get packed quick around 6/6:30. No wines by the glass but the bottle list is actually really wonderful and very affordable! (try either Portuguese red :) ) The pumpkin appetizer is a MUST! A friend of mine told me I absolutely had to try it otherwise he would never talk to me again lol... man I'm still thinking of the perfectly textured roasted pumpkin, with delicate sweetness, and simple yogurt sauce... :drool: The lamb was out of control.... It is so often terribly dry at other restaurants... this was sooo juicy. Trout was honestly a bit boring... no sauce... nice and crispy though... good spice. There are more interesting things on the menu to try. The homemade pistachio ice cream with cardamom, figs, and dates was a perfect ending.... I seriously cannot wait to try the rest of the menu.. seriously I intend on eating straight through it all :) Unfortunately you cannot order your appetizer before you decide on dinner.. you must order all in one shot. The staff likes to get dishes off the table... this made me feel a bit rushed as I like to pick..... The service needs some tweaking for sure but the intoxicating aromas, warm, welcoming 'Autumn' atmosphere, and mouth watering entrees at affordable prices make up for very average (at best :/) service. Great for a date... or long lazy dinners with adventurous friends :) This place is perfectly priced.... There are restaurants all over Boston that don't even compare to this place as far as atmosphere, quality, and quantity that charge twice as much.
(4)
Michael T.
This place kicks arss...want to impress on a first date; seem worldly and in the know and looking for good food? This is the place. I agree...the open layout can be crazy and loud sometimes. I guess Cambridge intellectuals don't have a "going out" voice, but if you're lucky, ask for a table in the small backroom. I know not everyone can be as charming as me, but give it a shot and ask...you can really get a good conversation going. The pumpkin appetizer is def. worth the trip, there is obviously a lot of lamb options, as well and the bread basket and dipping sauces are really good. The last time I was there, they did end up rushing us out, but that was probably because they wanted to close the restaurant and go home to their families. Once you've won the girl and are only going there for the food...try eating from the appetizer menu...lots of cool stuff. Enjoy...
(4)
jim b.
I'd give it a 4.5 for food, 2 for service. Sorry, the waiter was just plain rude, and it didn't strike me as an I'm having a bad day type of thing. Seated fine, menues fine, dipping sauces arrive, no bread. Ok, no biggie. Waiter comes by to take order, order a bottle of wine and then said we wanted to start with an appetizer, response: "I have to take your whole order at one, I will return." In a bit of shock, but my companion asked if we could have some bread, response "After I take your order!". He then left for 5 minutes. Food was fantastic, really. Prices fair. But dang I've never...
(3)
Elise W.
After reading the reviews on Yelp, I had to check it out. It was AMAZING and quite possibly the best food I have had in the Cambridge/Boston area! This was also my first time trying Afghan cuisine, and boy am I glad I did. I will definitely be back! We had the Theeka Kebab and Koufta Challow for entrees - so delicious! We tried the Kaddo which was quite a treat! (It's pumpkin and beef and yogurt which sounded weird to us, but trust me, it was a good combination of flavors!) For dessert we had the Homemade Cream Caramel (this is the same as flan) and Feereney (delicious cream with fruit on top). I'm craving this again today and luckily, have plenty of leftovers (the entrees are a very decent size). Call ahead for a reservation - this place it popular. They have parking, but make sure you get a parking permit so you don't get towed. Another plus is the atmosphere - warm and pleasant and the tables are spread out so you don't feeled crammed in at all! TRY THIS PLACE!!!
(5)
Danielle P.
What an experience this place is, the food is delicious! The atmosphere is nice, but comfortable and not stuffy. I would recommend making reservations, as it is very busy. I'd never had Afghani food before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The flatbread that they serve right off is very tasty, and comes with a variety of three sauces. The sauces taste like they are made out very fresh ingredients like cilantro and peppers. For an appetizer we had the banjan, which was tangy and satisfying without being too filling. For entrees we had the koufta and mourgh challows. Both were spicy, especially the koufta, but not crazy hot. Just really nice, complex seasoning that made everything taste bright and warm. This is the kind of food that could fix a bad day. The wait staff and owner were nice, and the prices were reasonable. The only things that I can say anything negative about are that my dessert ("our cake" on the menu) wasn't particularly special, and the bathrooms were messy. Overall I loved it, and would definitely recommend.
(4)
Liz H.
There are two restaurants that I have a problem getting reservations for anytime of year in Boston - Grotto (which I have yet to try) and The Helmand.So I was floored when I rang and made a same day reservation only 4 hours before being seated. Even on a Tuesday it was packed and as I savoured their amazing warm flatbread I still couldn't believe we weren't sitting in the foyer sipping pre-dinner drinks and hoping that someone would cancel or leave early. That's how popular this place is - and for good reason. The food is amazing (I could eat just the bread and still have a page long review. Thankfully I have made it past that and onto a menu that is full of flavour and colour - with plenty for veggie lovers and those who prefer some meat on the bone. My favorite dish is the Aushak - pillows of ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, covered in yoghurt/garlic/mint sauce, split peas and a carrot sauce. And, no - I didn't get paid to say that! Service is friendly, but don't plan on rushing through dinner. Guess that leaves all the more time to enjoy the food! The location is a little odd but still walkable from the T (Kendall) and there's metered parking (or if you're fortunate enough to own a Cambridge resident sticker the streets are paved with empty spaces). Actually, I am kind of glad The Helmand is where it is - a more obvious and prominent location would see it go the same way as Grotto . . . then I would really be missing out!
(5)
Phil D.
I just had dinner at Helmand and it was fantastic. It always is. I always wish I could take back the one time I ever went to the Cheesecake Factory in the Cambridgeside Galleria--I'd go to Helmand instead. The bread is fantastic--I think the best tables are the ones right by the oven, so that the baker can pass you the bread himself. The one time I couldn't finish my entree (because I ate too much bread), I had half my meal wrapped to go and the man at the fireplace slipped in a basketload of bread. I toasted it the next morning and it was phenomenal with some marmalade. The portions are perfect, by the way. It's rare to actually need to take anything as a doggy bag. I am just a total pig for the bread and will eat two baskets on my own, alternating between dipping sauces. Everything on this menu is delicious. Spices are perfectly balanced--this is an insanely hard thing to do, but the seasoning always hits home. Anything starch is surprisingly fluffy and light--the rice alone is just incredible, and potatoes of any kind are outstanding. Even friends who don't really like "Middle Eastern" or "ethnic" foods love this place. And so do I!
(5)
Kate S.
The food here is fantastic, but the ambience leaves something to be desired. The pumpkin dishes (I prefer the one without meat) are unbelievable, as is the bread. I was also amazed by how tasty some of their fish specials have been (particularly given that Afghanistan is a landlocked country though it has plenty of rivers). There are also LOTS of veggie options. That said, Helmand can be crowded and loud with a bit of a wait. I've always had very fast service, but this can be a bad thing - it seems like they are starting to usher you out the moment you put that last bite in your mouth. In short - great place if you want to eat some AMAZING food (similar to Indian & Middle Eastern), but not the place to go for a romantic date.
(4)
Jane C.
I came here on a rainy miserable day looking for comfort food. I had the lamb in a tomato sauce with peas, which was very good, the meat was tender and soft, pulled apart well, and while the sauce was good, I wish that it had more spice. I was surprised that it didn't have more oomph, kind of the reason you go to a place like this. Luckily it came with a side of spicy lentils, which was absolutely stunning - it was just what I wanted that day, warm and spicy, not too hot though, and just a small portion so as not to weigh you down later : ). The appetizer, phyllo filled with spiced potato, was also delicious - the spices were in the family of cumin, those fragrant heavy peppery ones, and it had a bit of saltiness too, I can't ever resist spicy salty potato, a weakness from childhood.
(5)
Chris S.
Great menu and excellent, home-like atmosphere. Loved the large dining tables. Would eat here again.
(4)
Stef G.
This was our (my husband and my) first time to have Afghan food, so my review should be taken with a grain of salt (no pun)...I found the food to be delicious and very affordable. I tried much recommended Kaddo and it was delicious. My husband even liked it and he doesn't usually like pumpkin. We also ordered Banjan (eggplant) as an appetizer and it was also delicious. Our entrees were also good (grilled chicken kabob and chicken curry). The ambiance was great, very lively even on a early Sunday evening. Our waitress was great, very friendly, but not overbearing. As the place got busier, she was a little less attentive, but not so much so that it spoiled the evening. I would highly recommend Helmand to my friends and will most likely go again. Reservations are highly recommended for Fri./Sat. night, since it was almost full on a rainy and cold Sunday night.
(4)
Kathleen M.
The second you walk in this place, you know your meal is going to be amazing! The smell of all of the wonderful spices hits you and you start salivating, wondering in the back of your mind if these guys are trying to do some Pavlovian-type experiment to keep you coming back. Later, you realize that no experimental funny business is necessary...you're coming back, often! If you like lamb (prepared at least 5 different ways), this is the place for you! If you like beef (I had the most amazingly delicate beef tenderloin, surrounded by a grilled tomato sauce, lentils, and flavorful spinached rice), this is the place for you! If you like chicken (at least 3 dishes), this is the place for you! If you like fish (2 choices), this is the place for you! If you're a vegetarian (several choices, and they will even convert some of the meaty dishes to veg by changing out the sauces), this is the place for you! If you like amazing flatbread with three delicious dipping sauces (a raita-like yogurt-mint sauce, a cilantro-walnut sauce, and a hot chili-based sauce), this is the place for you! If you like pumpkin (with garlic-yogurt sauce and ground beef sauce, who knew?), this is the place for you! If you like ravioli (what? ravioli? yes! ravioli stuffed with leeks and scallions served atop a yogurt-mint sauce and topped with a tomatoey-beef sauce), this is the place for you! If you like attentive, friendly service, this is the place for you! If you like interesting, intense mixes of flavors, this is the place for you! If you like all of this at a ridiculously reasonable price (dinner for 4 with apps, meals, and wine for $120!), this is the place for you! In my opinion, this place is a "must go" in Cambridge. They're often crowded, so reservations are highly recommended. They are, however, quite accomodating. We showed up at 10:15 p on a Friday and they had no problem seating and serving us, and did not rush us to leave. I just wish they were open for lunch. I'd be there at least once a week!
(5)
Says L.
This is surely a place not to be missed. Pros: Impressive service and awesome food. Cons: Tables are way to close to each other especially for couples Very limited choice of wine served by glass.
(4)
Andrew W.
I love this place. The food atmosphere and pricing are all FANTASTIC. It's only ok place for a date, only because it's so formal that it could be potentially awkward. The last time I went here, they were SUPER accommodating. I called last minute for a reservation for a table of two, and said that I would only be getting drinks and apps, I got a half liter of wine and 3 apps for $32. They had me in and out in about 45 minutes!!!! Thank you so much guys! I don't however recommend doing that. The Helmand is a place to go to have a fantastic dinner in a wonderful atmosphere, don't rush it! Two of the three times I have been there they have put my table for two right next to the bread oven, which makes for amazing ambience. The food is delicious, and they have many vegetarian items which is nice. Once a date ordered some type of stuffed pepper which was extremely spicy, so be careful of that. On top of the 5 star service and delicious food, the pricing is so inexpensive. Entrees hover around $10, apps at $8. The house wine is $10 for a 1/2 liter thats wild. Go here if you love food. oh and you really need reservations.
(5)
Tracy S.
Love this place. I discovered it for the first time about 5 years ago and just went again this past Friday. It's still spectacular. Lots of interesting dishes, with a healthy choice of vegetarian options. And what a cozy atmosphere with lusciously warm colors, fabrics, and an open hearth oven where many items are cooked. Service was excellent. You MUST make reservations, even mid week. And there is no bar to sip a cocktail at, while you await your table. But I still give this place 5 stars. It's phenomenal!
(5)
Bree R.
I love this place. The food is so good! The owner is a very sweet man who always makes me feel so welcome. My favorite thing to get is the "Special Entree" under the vegetarian section. Don't get me wrong, i am a big meat-eater, but you get a great variety of dishes in one. It has roasted pumpkin with yogurt sauce, grilled eggplant, okra and spinach. Each has such great flavor and the pallow rice with raisins and carrots really completes the dish beautifully. Yum! You really need to call ahead for reservations though, they always seemed booked. They do keep a couple of two-tops for walk-ins though.
(4)
C S.
My favorite restaurant in the Boston area. DELICIOUS food and good service. The only thing is you really need to call with a reservation... even if they aren't busy they can be a little snooty if you come without one. Best food = chowpan (lamb chops) and the pumpkin appetizer. The bread is amazing!!!
(5)
Sutanuka L.
love the lamb shank... yummmy
(5)
a r.
Great food, very interesting, great selection for vegetarian, beautiful place and friendly service
(5)
Mabel C.
I've never had Afghani food before, and this place did not disappoint. My friends took me here for my birthday and we shared all the dishes. I really liked their baby pumpkin, and you can't go wrong with any of their lamb dishes.
(5)
Katia M.
For my money, I liked the food at Ali Baba Tandoor just a little bit better. The food is still good here, and of the two, of course, it's got the better ambiance. I kind of want to give it 3.5 stars, but I can't (someday, yelp, will you give me that option?). The bread starter is tasty, the food was really good and there was a lot of it on my plate, and the decor is very neat. In the main room. I made a reservation and was seated in the back, where they had a space heater going. Bah. Also, the bathroom was freezing. Bah again. Our service was spotty at best, but the house wine was reasonably priced, and the turkish coffee was full of grit, just the way I like it. And the baklava? Mwa, just lovely. But I couldn't get past the fact that I was looked on with disdain by the hostess and maybe the servers. So, take it as you will.
(4)
Ian S.
I went with my boyfriend to Helmand on the rave reviews that I had seen for it in the Zagat guide. It didn't hurt that my roommate gave me a $50 certificate so that our meal for two (one appetizer and entree each) cost us only $11 total. I'm happy to say that Helmand, for the most part, lived up to expectations. I called at 4 PM on a Friday night to make a reservation (slightly annoying that their reservation line isn't open earlier in the day, but it's not a major inconvenience) for the same night, and the hostess rejected my request for 7:30 PM but good-naturedly offered 6 PM, which was just fine by me (they were booked solid for the 3 hours between 6 and 9 PM). I was impressed that I could still land a reasonable dinner reservation calling only 2 hours ahead on the first night of the weekend. As it should be (unlike at other Cambridge restaurants such as Fire+Ice), food was the major attraction at Helmand. We ordered 3 staples of the menu - kaddo (pumpkin), aushak (ravioli), and lamb lawand - and one of the evening's specials, quoremay mahe (striped bass cooked with roasted tomatoes, potatoes, and radishes and served with challow). The three regular dishes were fantastic: the kaddo was like eating candy for appetizer, and aushak and lamb lawand were both very flavorful. I was a bit concerned about my bass, however, as it came to the table slightly rubbery still and glistening in the middle; my understanding of bass was that it should be white, firm, and flaky when done. I deferentially inquired of the waitress whether the bass' preparation was intentional, and she assured me that it was "exactly as it should be cooked" after consulting with the kitchen. So be it. I ate the rest of the dish but was not blown away by the texture. Nevertheless, I appreciated the waitress' non-judgmental effort to make sure that I was satisfied with my dish. At $30 per head, Helmand is a perfectly reasonable and delicious place for a quasi-fancy dinner. My only complaints are: 1) Afghan food doesn't seem to lend itself to the same type of exacting presentation as does, say, French fare, as the kaddo was quite beautifully presented as a glistening wedge of gold while both the lamb lawand and aushak came out looking like sloppy cafeteria plates; for the price, I wouldn't mind a bit more precision and thought given to plating to make the food even more appetizing. 2) I am of the opinion (and my boyfriend tells me that I'm crazy) that the maitre'd has an attitude. In general, I think that the service at the front of the house is not as good as the table staff, as the hostess and host (he looks like the owner) had a haphazard system of fielding phone calls while their customers waited in line. They seemed more concerned with getting diners in and out of the restaurant than with the quality of the total experience; at a world-class establishment, you can have one without sacrificing the other.
(4)
EZ R.
Service: so-so. Been here three times, and one time it was attentive, one time they forgot i was there, and one time, which seems to be the norm, they visited our table sporadically, and my glass sat empty for longer than is permitted for anything over a 3-star rating. Food: so-so. The lamb is generally good, as are some of the appetizers, but nothing here really blows you away, and the food, contrary to what i read in one review on here, is most certainly not better than anything in the middle east, forgetting for a moment that Afghanistan isn't exactly known as a core member of the middle east club. Stick to the kebabs and the yogurt based apps and main courses. Also, be warned. I don't know how they do it, but the food here has some bizarre expanding quality. Once it gets in your belly, it doubles in size. I have never left this place without either suffering an acute food coma, or the sensation of my stomach expanding dangerously close to bursting. Dessert: so-so. their baklava is nothing special. I most decidedly have had better elsewhere. In sum: either you really like lamb, or you go once for the novelty, and no need to return.
(3)
Rachel H.
Oooooommmmgeeeeeeeee!!! Literally...like...for REAL...THE BEST FOOD I'VE HAD IN THE BOSTON AREA. Went there one night w/ my roomie for a splurge, and boy did we leave happy. After eating their kadoo (sp?) my roommate had an orgasm. The bread and dip they bring you were amazing. All of our main dishes were delish, but not the stars of the show. Then, after the homemade icecream and balklavah, it was all over. Heaven. We were both so giddy from being STUFFED with good food that we were singing on the train and dancing in the streets. HOWEVER, the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was because we had the WORST waitress I've ever seen. When we asked her about an item on the menu, she informed us that she didn't eat things that looked weird, so she had never tried any of the food. When it came time for dessert and we tried to order something off the menu, she looked at us confused, and said that she could check if the chef could do that...ummm...what?? it was written right there. then, to top it all off...she got our bill wrong. WOMP. Oh well, we'd go back any day.
(4)
Rozzie M.
A little overrated in my opinion. Seems like the food has been dumbed-down for American audiences. I prefer strong flavors and fresh food and everything we tried was stewed and rather flavorless. Best thing was the grilled eggplant. Rice pudding was over thickened, although I did enjoy the cardamom accents. Perhaps we caught them on an off night, but our experience was just OK.
(3)
Katy T.
Fantastic food. The pumpkin dishes are outstanding. The atmosphere is perfect, and the photos on the walls are intriguing. The authentic decorations are truly lovely. We felt very welcomed and taken care of by our waiter, and we really enjoyed our meal. It's located across from the Cambridge Galleria, so take a walk across the street next time you are there and have dinner somewhere interesting instead of at a chain restaurant inside. Interesting thing about the Helmand is the owner of the restaurant is the brother of the President of Afghanistan!
(5)
JJ G.
I have been having serious Helmand cravings and we finally got there recently, and you know what- it was everything I had hoped for and more. I love this place. I love the food, I love the price, I love those little bowls of sauce they give you to dip that amazing bread it. I love pumpkin kaddo with yogurt sauce I love those funny ravioli things I love their marinated meat, and their rice, and... just go. What more can I say? It's so inexpensive the only reason not to is that you can't get a reservation
(5)
Stephanie Y.
I came into this restaurant skeptical but ended up loving it. The kado (honeyed pumpkin with beef) was an amazing combination of the really sweet and salty. The fish was fresh and complimented nicely with the specially prepared rice. The spinach lamb dish was a little bit heavy for me, but my boyfriend really liked it. If you're looking for something unusual but good, this is the place.
(4)
Joel Z.
Every dish I tried here was delicious.
(5)
Robert L.
Visited for the first time recently. We had a great meal and a great overall dining experience. Here's what we had, based on reading some Chowhound reviews. Started with apps: pumpkin kaddo, which is a sort of pan-friend chunk of sweetened pumpkin with ground beef and yogurt sauce and mantwo, which is a beef filling in a soft pastry shell, with chickpeas and yogurt sauce. Both delicious, with subtle layers of spicing. We both had lamb dishes, the lamb chops (chowpan) were incredible, among the best I have ever had. The other dish, basically a lamb curry, was excellent as well. Bread that accompanied the meal with dipping sauce was fresh and tasty. Had "baklawa" for dessert, which was a really good piece of baklava, and Turkish coffee to cut the sweetness. Caveats- make reservations, and hope you get a decent table. Otherwise it is a very packed room, and you will be sitting on top of other people. Out waiter was friendly, but I'm not so sure about some of the bus staff and especially the hostess. Maybe dealing with Cambridge types for so long has burned them out?
(5)
Peter S.
My first experience with Afghani cuisine - Wonderful! Exceptionally friendly, unobtrusive service and absolutely superb food. Great vegetarian selections. I wish I lived closer! n.b. They have a parking lot across the street, but you must ask inside for a card to put on your dashboard to show you are 'legit.' No prob. - Nice, nice night out!
(5)
Chance X.
The BEST middleeastern food I've ever had. Better than the food I had in Middle east!!!!! Their signiture lamb dish is sooooooo good. Their free bread and dipping sauces are sooooooo perfect. I am speechless...
(5)
mickey l.
You cooked my lamb perfectly. Your waiter was charming. Your food is totally cheap for how great the quality is. The quantities are too massive, how hungry do I need to be? The flavors did not knock my socks off, per say, but they were sublime and well balanced. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy.
(4)
Hamid N.
Good food, a bit pricey to though. Definitely try Qabelee and Chupan kabab.
(5)
Stephanie T.
Awesome food, great price. I love the pumpkin dish! My SO and I both can't get enough of this place.
(5)
Ligaya T.
Amazing, flavorful Afghani cuisine, which as some yelpers mentioned is a taste blend of Middle Eastern and Indian. The restaurant is an expansive, open room, brightly lit and welcoming. Enjoyable with a group of friends, perfect place to take the parents and comfortable for a date. There was a steady stream of folks coming in the entire night, so reservations are recommended. Two people, app, two entrees, a bottle of wine and dessert. $60. Nuff said.
(4)
Monica T.
I love this place, I have not tried their sister restaurant in San Francisco. I miss the Kado, yummy pumpkin with minced meat and spices.
(5)
Sky L.
delicious eggplant and sweet sugary pumpkin goodness
(5)
Michelle P.
Unexpectedly lovely atmosphere and unique food for the area. But have some Pepto handy. I'm just sayin'.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Hammy E.
The Helmand is one of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. The apps, bread, and entrees are amazing. I am a big fan of the lamb lawand which comes with a side of tasty spinach. I also love the stuffed vegetarian pepper. I normally don't order vegetarian entrees but this is so satisfying and yummy. Also a big fan of the pumpkin appetizer and of course the bread is fantastic with all the dipping sauces. The wine list is good too and they have a full service bar.
(5)Elena E.
Service: 5 stars, everyone is very attentive, food comes out extremely fast. Not the place for a long relaxed meal, they get you in and out pretty quick. Food: 4 stars. Delicious bread with 3 dips are brought to the table. It's definitely enough such that you don't have to order an appetizer. Though there are great appetizers - I especially love the pumpkin. The vegetarian special is my go to entree which includes the pumpkin, eggplant, spinach, and okra. But I think all of the vegetarian dishes are great. I wasn't as impressed with the meat dishes. Atmosphere: 3.5. Large room, yet still has a warm feeling. Tables are a bit close together though. Also, free parking in lot next door.
(4)Dave F.
First time I've been there for at least 15 years. Food was as good as I remember but the service was rushed (hence 3 stars vs 4 star rating). We were also seated in the back room which was loud and took away from the experience so make sure you ask to be seated in the main room.
(3)Rohan D.
Fantastic food, packed with lots of flavor. Be sure to get the pumpkin app
(4)Alex M.
Great food for a reasonable price.
(4)Angad S.
Extremely disappointed with the food we got for take out. This place is way overrated. First off, the dishes are way overpriced. The prices listed on Google were different from the prices they had in their restaurant. In terms of the food, the lamb was rubbery and just wasn't what i had expected. The naan was a hard dry bread. The biryani may have been a bit of a saving grace. Overall, i thought the food was bland. It was a great letdown especially since i was expecting a good treat on my birthday.
(1)Kate T.
I would rate the food here highly, and the atmosphere was friendly. The free naan bread with every meal was delicious, would go again.
(5)Susanna L.
This was one of the best meals of my life!! It was my first time trying Afghani food, and it's AMAZING HERE. The Kaddo was really the most memorable dish (appetizer), because the flavors are just so unique. Pumpkin with beef and yogurt sauce? Sounds strange, but somehow it WORKS. I got the Qabelee, and it was also really good. They give you a ton of juicy pulled lamb buried under a mountain of fluffy flavored rice with carrots and raisins. The perfect combination of savory and sweet. Our entrees were all pretty big, most of us couldn't finish our food, and we walked away fully stuffed and very happy with ourselves. I also really like the design of the restaurant, it feels at once upscale and authentic/homey, and the servers were great.
(5)Craig S.
Wow. Recommendation from hotel. Owner came across as a bit surly. But the waitress was amazing and the food was fabulous. Lamb was exceptional. Appetizers run $7-8, entrees $20-30.
(5)Nina J.
The service was very disappointing. We made a reservation in advance, and waited more than 20 minutes while there were empty tables and the hostess seated every group that walked in after us - including those that said they did not have reservations. We inquired about it multiple times and kept getting blown off by the hostess until she decided she was ready to seat us. The food was good, but there are other excellent Afghani restaurants in Boston that I would much more gladly return to.
(3)Teresa S.
Alright this is a first for me. I had never been to an Afghan Restaurant before. I had heard many good things about this place. So I was excited to go. We had reservations for 5. Good thing too, because the place was packed. We arrived a few min. early. We had to wait just a bit. The smell inside the place was so wonderful! Warm, spicy , and fragrant. It was painted a deep warm yellow in side and decorated almost like a home. It is a small place which makes it cozy. It was rainy and misty outside at 7:00pm so it made it so nice as the fire was going from the Brick oven,which you could see in the dining area. We all got something a little different. I got Lamb, of course I love it and love to try it in different places. It was fantastic. A type of Lamb stew, with a side of eggplant. That was a vegetable side you could order. One of us got Chicken, one Lamb chops and another the vegetarian signature dish. That too was fantastic. Everyone's meal was awesome. Allen got something with meat that he too said was awesome. We were also served some fantastic flat bread with 3 different spices to spoon on. Oh I am so looking forward to going back. Now I know why everyone loves it!
(5)G M.
After having Afghan in San Fran, I fell in love with the food from this region so whenever I visit a city, the first thing I do is search for Afghan. The Helmand's delivery was spot on, my waiter was attentive and the food, oh the food here is some of the best I've had on the east coast! Highly recommended are the following items which are my "goto" dishes: 1) Aushak with the meat sauce rocks my world! You can also get the Aushak in vegetarian form which I've also had and for me, the meat sauce adds the final dimension to take this dish into outstanding. For dessert, the Feereney, a cream pudding served with fresh fruit is a must have. My Afghan meal is not complete until the Feereeney is gone! Cheers
(4)Alex G.
This was my first foray into Afghan food and I loved it! We went Saturday night of last week, we called ahead an hour was when we wanted to eat (8:30ish) and made a reservation. The place was very busy so we were glad we made a reservation because we were seated right away. The service was excellent. Bread and chutneys are brought our right away. I had the vegetarian special that was very generous portions of spinach, pumpkin, eggplant and ocra surrounding a little hill of special rice. My boyfriend had a lamb dish with mushrooms that was good but mine was definitely better. Great ambience in this place and such good food. Don't miss it! *My boyfriend is Afghan so he was the harshest critic - thought it was great!
(5)Suzanne S.
My best friend and I came here because she is vegetarian and it was near our hotel. It was absolutely fabulous - we were both very pleasantly surprised! The bottles of wine were good and reasonably priced so we both got one and took the leftovers to our room. The food was wonderful - had the pumpkin and the eggplant and the leek raviolis and everything was delicious - the bread is wonderful also. The service was very friendly and accommodating. We were very disappointed to learn that their San Francisco restaurant is closed as we would go there often.
(4)Vivian R.
Without exaggeration, the food is exquisite. The kind where you are torn between slowly savoring the flavors and wanting to inhale everything in front of you. The service is always great despite how crowded this popular restaurant gets. Although we've been lucky with walk-ins, I would recommend reservations. There is another Helmand in San Francisco that someone told me is owned by the same folks, but I think it is better in Cambridge. It may be the better décor. Food - 5 Décor - 5 Service - 4
(5)Guillermo T.
Awesome food. Everything we tried was delicious. First time and Afghan restaurant, will not be the last. Everyone in our group liked every dish, that includes some very picky kids. Good vegetarian and meat dishes alike. Highly recommend.
(5)Holly C.
On my first visit I fell in love with this place! I'd never had afghan food before so I didn't quite know what to expect. We were dressed pretty casually as it was earlier on a Saturday evening. But that didn't seem to matter. The service was good, no complaints. They were attentive to our needs. I haven't stopped thinking about the food since. We had the Mourgh Challow and the Showlah. The Mourgh had the right blend of tang and cream, served over the Challow rice was a nice pairing. The Showlah was amazing, the flavor of the spinach in the poblano was tasty - even though this was not my dish I had food envy. The food was served non-spicey but you could add spices as you needed. I was content with the flavor and didn't feel the need to add anything. I look forward to when I can return. We didn't get wine with the meal so that's definitely something to try with another dish next time. And bread - need more of that bread.
(5)Danielle S.
For my birthday, I was looking for a place with good food that could accommodate 10+ people without too much advance notice. A friend who has lived in Boston for several years recommended Helmand and I was pleased with the outcome. The service was wonderful and the food was even better. To start, we ordered an assortment of appetizers, all of which were good. For the main, I got the Kabuli (rice with lamb). The meat was super tender and delicious. I definitely recommend The Helmand and will be returning soon.
(4)Tony P.
I've always wanted to appreciate Middle Eastern food. I've kept trying one Middle Eastern restaurant after another (including many 4+ stars rated ones) in vain hopes that I'd eventually, some day, fall in love with the cuisine. Every time I ended up disappointed. It's like a lesbian trying to convince herself that she'll eventually find the man of her life. Then I met ... The Helmand. My whole world turned upside down. It was a Saturday afternoon, my guy buddy and I had been out all day, feeling hungry and adventurous when we saw The Helmand on Yelp. Nearby, Afghan food, 4 stars on Yelp? Hell yeah . We've had so much fun all day by that point, how shitty can the food be to make it a bad day, right? The place looked like what I'd imagine a typical Afghan restaurant would look like, though that probably doesn't say much. When we came in, looking at the interior design gave me the initial feeling that I'm gonna have to a cheapskate and order some appetizers (then go home and stuff eggs and bacon down my throat for the night). They gave my friend and I a corner table with a candle on it- perfect spot for a romantic couple on a date (how thoughtful of them...). Your author reveled in locking eyes with his (perfectly straight) buddy with electric tension besides the burning candle. For 1.2 seconds. Prices were surprisingly not through the roof. They have complimentary fresh-baked flatbread, eaten with 3 amazing dipping sauces (hot chilli, yogurt & cilantro, and jalapenos & cilantro - my favorite). Tip: put them ALL on your bread at the same time. I probably got weird looks from the people on the next table, but IDGAS - too good. So good in fact that I later used the rest of them sauces on the chicken salad that was my main dish. The Mourgh Chicken with Salad, on the specials menu that night, though not unique, is probably 2x better than what you imagine when you think 'chicken salad.' The grilled chicken was soft and flavory complimented very well by the grilled tomatoes, avocado and other grilled veggies in balsamic vinegar. Honestly I'm probably exaggerating how good the chicken salad was due to low expectations and the positive impressions I had gotten. Nevertheless the whole combination of atmosphere, unique food and service made it a great dinner. In short, I credit this place with changing my long-standing perception of Middle Eastern eats. I'll keep trying new Middle Eastern restaurants, but for now The Helmand will be my go-to in Boston.
(4)Varun S.
Excellent food. The best waiters. Great selection for vegetarians as well. Although I tried the mourgh challow the showla looked very appetizing. Would definitely return.
(5)Derek D.
Some of the best Lamb i have ever had. Not to spicy, not too mild, just well flavored and seasoned! The flatbread that is served with the meal is also a really nice change to what you get usually in restaurants in the US, and the dipping sauces were amazing also. Everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their meal.
(4)Kavya S.
This was my first time trying Afghan food, and I loved it! The restaurant is a bit far away, but my friend and I trekked through the snow to get there because we had heard such great things about it. The menu is a bit overwhelming. Each dish has multiple lines of description, and every dish almost sounds like another dish you had just read on the menu. NOTE: This is a great restaurant for vegetarians--so many options to choose from! After asking the waitress for her recommendations (she was incredibly helpful!), my friend and I split the Vegetarian Aushak appetizer and then I had the Vegetarian Mantwo entree. Both dishes were very flavorful in a unique way and had a variety of textures. I honestly don't think I've had any food quite like the food that I had at The Helmand! I thoroughly enjoyed the meal! My friend equally loved his meat dish and ended up eating part of my vegetarian dish as well. Few Tips: -- It's a bit far away from public transportation, so be prepared to walk (try not to go on a day with terrible weather like I did). -- The restaurant gets crowded. I went on a Tuesday night, and it was a little over half full; if you are going on a weekend, I'd recommend making a reservation. -- The bread is AMAZING but don't eat too much of it while you wait for your food, because it's easy to get filled up before your entree even arrives. -- Ask the waiter / waitress for advice: they are very familiar with the popular dishes on the menu!
(4)Jenn Z.
Good pumpkin appetizer with a relatively big selection of entrees to choose from. Would've liked to try the dessert but the entree & appetizer kept me full. Service could've been a bit more attentive because they completely forgot my friend's tea.
(3)Rajesh K.
This restaurant took our reservation and still made us wait for 25 mins... Staff were friendly but the service wasnt good... The food is ok, seemed bland to me. The ratings for this place seems overrated. The Appetizer Kaddo was really good.
(2)Larry B.
Good bread, good food, very nice service. I tried the famous pumpkin dish - it was nice but not worthy of the cult following it has inherited.
(4)Joe T.
Fancy, exciting atmosphere. Smells wonderful. Great place for vegetarians--lots of interesting vegetarian dishes!
(4)Corey L.
Stopped in on a Friday night at 9:30pm, place was still packed. I liked the ambiance of the place, sort of like a big living room. My lady friend and I started with a Kadda Borawni - which was great. Slices of pumpkin in a sugary glaze sitting in a yogurt sauce w some ground meat drizzled on top. Really good. Next, we had the meals, I had the chowza, a lamb dish w three lamb chops with rice, bread, and sauteed eggplant. Really good. Didn't have strong lamb flavor, which is good b/c I don't like that. It wasn't worth the $26 though. My lady friend had a vegetarian dish with a potato stew and spinach dish. Was quite good. For dessert, we had Bucklawa - which was quite incredible. Yeah, so we quite enjoyed the meal and overall experience.
(4)Mariam C.
Head waitress/ hostess must be replaced! Food was great, leaving me with a smile until this head waitress scolded me for having ordered a cab that came too soon!?!
(4)Ben M.
I'm compelled to balance my Yelp karma by praising The Helmand with a five star approval. I do not want to suffer the fate of so many yelping yelpers, who use this opportunity to express only dissatisfaction. Instead, I'd prefer to be a silent hand that raises up the services that are doing things right (e.g. The Helmand). In the case of The Helmand, the book is much better than the cover. Do not be deterred by the facade and distance from the places where great cuisine prevails. I was overwhelmed by the comfortable ambiance, aromas, pleasant sights and sounds. Accordingly, the flavors followed suit. My inner vegetarian was more than appeased by offerings of eggplant and okra; and the carnivore was satiated by morsels of lamb grilled to perfection. This particular evening at The Helmand ranks among the greatest all-around dining experiences I have ever had in Cambridge.
(5)Pamela S.
Amazing food and lovely ambiance. I wanted something different and delicious. And I found it. The Banjan was melt in your mouth delicious.
(5)Stuart H.
Really enjoyed last nights dinner. Lamb was tender and potatoes just brilliant. I'd go again.
(4)Saurav A.
Don't miss the DWOPIAZA. The food and service is amazing. The menu makes you want to order everything. The baklava and feerni are to die for.
(5)Kelsey C.
The Helmand makes amazing food, and there are few in the world who don't know this considering the celebrity status of the owner. But that's not all that brings me to the Helmand. The service is solid, the elegant décor is a delight, and the ambiance is to die for. ...And so is the Kaddo, a dish of melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin with sweet honey and a smooth cover of garlic yogurt. If you love lamb and you love good lamb, the Helmand is the place for you. The Qabelee has chunks of tenderloin, buried treasure under a plate of pallow rice. The plump raisins and julienne carrots add a sweet glaze. After each individual chew of the Aushak, a new spice breaks through. Scallion and leek are refreshing, and the yogurt cream is rich. The lightly spiced chickpeas are firm, and the ravioli is soft with bitter-fresh mint and a sweet carrot sauce. The Baklava is a flawlessly layered square of lighter-then air pastry grounded by nuts, honeyed heaven at its best. Several people have complained that the Helmand is identical to a nearby place called Ariana, a gripe I fail to grasp. You found two otherworldly Afghan restaurants in the same great city. Woe is you. If Ariana is truly as good as the Helmand, quit your whining and go to both.
(5)John W.
I went here on a Saturday night - it was pretty packed and we were lucky to get seated quickly because we beat the rush. The decor is nice, the plates and glasses that are used are quite colorful and give the restaurant a nice, soothing look. The bread was very good -- they gave us flatbread with some sauces on the side. It was quite full-bodied and had a very fresh taste. For entrees, I got a lamb dish. The rice was very different than the jasmine rice I'm used to, but it was good as well, although perhaps a bit too oily for me. The lamb was a bit overcooked, but still had some taste (I ordered medium but probably should have gone for medium rare). Overall, a pretty pleasant dining experience.
(4)Hayley B.
Helmand is SO good and SO moderately priced. I came here in the fall as it is within a mile and a half of my house and I had never been. I had also never had Afghan food, but I had an idea of what I would be eating. The meal exceeded my expectations. The environment in the restaurant is comfortable and the service and food pair well with the atmosphere. I had the vegetarian special pumpkin entree and it was DELICIOUS!! The flavors are wonderful. I went a few months ago and can't remember what I had for appetizers but they were all delicious. I would eat here anytime, especially if I was looking for a unique meal for a great price. Highly recommended!
(5)Doogie H.
As a major Foodie- I hope this review helps! I went to The Helmand for a bachelorette dinner, party of 7. I've never been before but have only heard amazing feedback so I had high expectations. The food was very good, timing of food delivery also good. The flavors reminded me of indian, but seemed to be "americanized". Lots of food choices- and a little pricey ranging from $17- $35 for entrees, but the serving size was fair for the cost... they are only open for dinner so I suppose they need to price the food accordingly. No time for dessert this time. Ordered a couple bottles of white wine (their wine selection is lacking), and both bottles needed to be sent back for chilling as it was just slightly colder than room temp. Despite the minor flaws, I would definitely go back, the ambiance was nice, dimmed lighting but not too dark, music volume was just right in the background and staff seemed willing to help with encouragement :) Keep up the good work!
(4)Roxana F.
Oh so, so, so good. What you need to get: Kaddo (baked pumpkin with a garlic yogurt sauce) holy.wow. Lamb (I bet any of the lamb dishes are stellar) Vegetarian special THE BREAD. Sheerekh ice cream Holy goodness. Everything here is so FLAVORFUL. I am Iranian and as such I am very defensive of my motherland's food, but our neighbors have pretty damn good food as well!! Wow! The vegetarian special is a plate full of goodness: eggplant (which I typically don't like), kaddo, okra, spinach, and rice. Typically I would order something else if I read all of this was being served on one plate, but this was a surprising exception. Everything.is.so .flavorful. I've also had their kourma challow, which is rice with green beans, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, and some other veggies. Again, incredibly flavorful. Both times I have come here my companions have ordered lamb dishes, and have raved about them. I wouldn't know but I assume that means it's good ;) Definitely try out this little gem. I wish it wasn't in the middle of nowhere...I am closer to Ariana in Allston, but I think The Helmand is definitely better.
(5)Mark D.
First time having this type of food and I have to say I am a fan. At first they tried to seta us in the back room which had no heat (don't do it in the winter) but we asked to be move to the from t room which is much nicer. The service was SLOW at first then we ordered our drinks and app and dinner then everything came out at once. The bread with dipping sauces were FABULOUS!! The app and our meals were incredible and I will be going back. As MUST try!
(4)Alex K.
Afghani food at its best. Thank you! I came here just 10 minutes before closing time, and the hostess encouraged me to stay instead of getting take out. I'm so glad she did because I had an incredible late night meal. I had the Lamb Lawand which came with rice and sauteed spinach. All the chunks of pieces in this stew were so flavorful and delicious. And the spinach was a surprise that added great balance and texture to the meal. The rice was beautifully cooked and prepared I'm so glad I got to have some authentic Afghani food again. The meal was served with bread and a typical Indian variety of chutney and yogurt. I didn't know this was also an Afghani thing. But the combination of flavors were wonderful. The ambiance of the restaurant is very unique. There are so many great pieces throughout the big open dining area, and a small garden near the front door. The wait staff was super attentive. Since it was very late, I was very appreciative of their hospitality. Great food & Great service.
(5)Blake A.
Amazing! So, I would fail to do it justice to describe how amazing the food is here. So, you can read one of the hundreds of other reviews. Get the Kaddo. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. Also, I had the Aushak with meat sauce as my entree, and it was also fabulous. I'd avoid the Bowlawni, unless you truly want a hot pocket like item filled with leaks/scallions or spiced potatoes. They were ok, but not as fabulous as the other two dishes. I'd definitely go back here in a heart beat. We sat by the wood fire that was cooking the breads (which were amazing), and the service was excellent. Decor was described to me as if Pier One had a restaurant. I'd say pretty accurate, but it worked really well for this place.
(5)Angela A.
Great food and I can't get enough of the bread they serve before the meal (they cook it right in the dining area). I enjoy the vegetarian options, so often other restaurants only offer an array of salads or a tomato mozzarella combo-boring!! There's a nice, warm atmosphere complete with beautiful accents of blue and yellow.
(4)Laurie J.
The staff was very accommodating for a last minute change in our reservation. Wonderful homey feel. The food is amazing. The pumpkin appetizer knocked it out of the park but really every bite was delicious.
(5)Michele H.
It's been a while since I've eaten here, but this is a solid place. Lamb is very flavorful, and the spices are abundant but not overwhelming. Lovely atmosphere with the smell of woodsmoke throughout. For the uninitiated, Afghan food is somewhat similar to Indian cuisine, in that you'll find a lot of meat or vegetable stews served with rice. The flavor profile is entirely different, without the same curry backdrop. I hope to be back soon.
(5)B L.
It was pretty good. The place was crowded, we went on Saturday night, so i recommend to call and make an reservation (we called only one hour prior to our arrival). At the beginning you get complementary Afghan bread with three dips. I had Ma-He Berian which is filet of trout pan fried, it was on the specials list and it was 16,95$ the prices are from 15$ til 25$ for entrees. The sizes are pretty big but manageable. Our waiter wasnt the fastest because the place was packed full, but he was very friendly and helpful. all in all i would go there again.
(4)Toni L.
This place is Halloween and Thanksgiving mashed into a restaurant. Food: Pumpkin, sweet buttery pumpkin. I dunno if the squash is a major crop in Afghanistan or what, but they have lots of the delicious orange stuff. I came here with my friend while visiting for a conference and neither of us really knew what to expect. We started out with bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). Even though the bread was pretty flat, it still had a great texture and came with red, green, and yogurt dipping sauces ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The red one was mildly spicy. What's more, they give you enough of this stuff that you can enjoy it throughout the meal with the various sauces in the dishes. My friend and I split the mourgh challow ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) and the vegetarian version of the kaddo ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). The mourgh challow is sauteed chicken with yellow chickpeas and tomatoes and comes with a pretty small serving of rice ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). I liked this dish, but it was far too small of a serving to foster an addiction. The kaddo, which is baby pumpkin served with yogurt sauce, was out of this world. How do I describe what it tasted like? It was reminiscent of a very thick, and less sweet version of a fruit roll-up covered in sweet cream. Needless to say, my friend and I were racing toward the last bite of this one. Atmosphere: Judging from the portion sizes and prices, this place seems to cater to people with cash at their disposal. It's also very gorgeous inside the restaurant ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). Every nook and cranny holds a unique seating area that looks like it was modeled after a rich collector's house or a cultural museum. Even the waiting area between the front door and the restaurant (I'm sure there is a word for this in places that get snow... sorry, socal n00b here) is richly decorated. You'd never guess what was inside judging from the exterior by the parking lot though ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ). Service: Even though it's apparently that this place is popular, the hostess was super nice. The waiters and waitresses in here pay fine attention to service, pouring the water with one hand behind their back, etc. Also, there is a coat and bag check at the front. Synopsis: I love the kaddo, but the prices and portions are probably too high for what you get. I'd much rather trade some of the fancy service for cheaper and/or more plentiful food.
(4)Jessie E.
YES! Just do it. The kaddo. Any lamb dish. The breads. Yummmm
(4)Anindita D.
If you haven't been to this place you must , one if the best restaurant I have ever been . And I have to many around the world . Every dish I have tried was amazing . Their bread that comes with three different sauce is just fabulous . You can't go wrong no matter what you order . But please make a reservation as it's always booked
(5)Evan B.
I am a bit ignorant when it comes to Afghanistan, I just assumed they boiled rocks to make soup as there has been perpetual turmoil. I was wrong and their food is great. I will attempt to help you understand what is Afghani food. It is a mix of Moroccan style middle eastern, and Indian food. While you may not be able to envision this, the result is good amounts of flavor. This location is great, as it is a upscale table cloth clad dining experience, which means you can stay with in most people confortzone while trying a new cuisine. The meal starts with some great flat bread and three sauces. A pepper chutney straight from India, a chillie paste straight from a Chinese table and a yogurt tiziki straight from the middle east. The vegetarian selection here was great. We started with the soup of the day which was rich, and full of veggies and handmade noodles with a splash of labne to make it richer. We then had two pastry pockets, on with leeks and greens the other with potato, they were good and made in the brick fire oven however they did not blow me away. For the main course we had a pablano chillie stuffed with greens and it came with great side of a super flavorful eggplant dish (sorry I did not get the names($13.95) We also had the pan fried trout that came with rice and a tomato dish, it was good but not as exotic tasting as I would have hoped. Overall service was decent and the ambiance would make it a great date spot.
(4)Ariel Z.
Very good food and atmosphere (thanks to the woodburning oven in the corner...a nice touch). The warm flatbread goes quick on our table, but you can always order more. Thank the Lord. I highly recommend the Kaddo (baked pumpkin in tomato and ground beef sauce), the Mantwo (dumpling-like but with a very flavorful sauce of ground beef and spices), and the Aushuk (raviolis with yogurt, tomato, and ground beef sauce...my personal favorite). However, I really dislike the location! Easy access to the Lechmere stop, but kind of sketchy to walk around late at night. Maybe I am just paranoid. Also, great for big groups and a must try if you are in the area!
(4)Nicole B.
We were very intrigued to try Afghan cuisine and found the food to be quite good, but pricing and service not so much. As an appetizer we had the Bowlawni special that consisted of three crunchy pastries, one pumpkin/squash, one scallion/leaks, and one spiced potato. These were really terrific, except that I felt pressured to eat them because our entrees came out while we were still having the appetizer! Since we were at a small table for two, there was NOT enough room on the table for us to have the appetizer/dinner plates on at the same time. As I finished the appetizer, the dinner plates sat hanging half on the table half off. Someone could have easily passed by and knocked the plates over. The wait staff was friendly, but we really did not enjoy the pacing of our meal. It definitely seemed like we being rushed out (it was a Saturday night). Otherwise I thought the vegetable special was yummy, but $17 for vegetables was kind of pricey. I would have rated higher if it wasn't for the prices and rushed feelings.
(3)Eunice E.
We came here on a bustling Friday night, and I was pleasantly surprised by a few things. First, even though we were seated at a sort of makeshift table RIGHT next to the bread cutting station, it was actually one of the best--if not THE best--tables in the restaurant! The servers quickly brought over an extra chair, silverware, and transformed the one-seater into a quiet table for two in a matter of seconds... impressive. And the best part of being right next to the bread was the ability to ask for seconds... in a very discreet manner, of course. :o) But in all seriouness, the bread was amaaazing. As were the chutneys with which it came. My favourite was the cilantro mix--tangy, refreshing, light... followed closely by the mint yogurt. But, really, all of them were good, and our waitress was kind enough to get us more when we asked (more bread, more chutneys!). We started with the kaddo, which is the most flavourful dish I've eaten at any Afghani restaurant. Wow. Sweet, savoury, sensational. The pumpkin is tender, the ground beef is spiced to perfection. It was like a symphony of flavours in my mouth. Yum. I've had kaddo at other restaurants both in D.C. (where there are tons of wonderful Afghan restaurants) as well as around the area, but this tops 'em all. A "must-try," to be certain. We then split orders of the qabalee and the aushak, both of which were delicious and filling. My all-time favourite is the qabalee... it's got it all: meat, rice, carrots, raisins, scrumptiousness. And they cooked it well here. Plus, I have to mention that the dishes all came out in a very reasonable amount of time. No needless waits here. We ended our meal with a baklawa, which was a bit too sweet for my tastes (which means it was SUPER SWEET), but it's always good to try. Anyway, I'm definitely coming back... for the service, for the ambiance (home-y, warm yellow on the walls, you feel like you're in a friend's informal living room / dining room), and most certainly for the food!
(4)Lily S.
I was very pleasantly surprised by my experience here! Ended up coming here with a couple coworkers for a quiet dinner and I was super nervous since I had perused the menu in advance, having not been familiar with Afghan food, and was horrified to find out that it sounded a lot like Indian food. Indian food is literally the one cuisine I shall not touch. Curry and my digestive tract do not get along, let's leave it at that. I was happily surprised to find that the restaurant menu is actually a lot more extensive than what they show online, and that contrary to other yelper's experience, the wait staff was extremely pleasant. It's been too long now for me to remember what actual dish I had, but it had lamb in it and was great! Definitely a much more mild and less abrasive version of any Indian food I've tried (primarily at Tantric downtown). We had a few appetizers as well and both the house white and red wines. Everything was great! My only complaint would be is the place is a little too crowded--like you felt a little too close to the tables on either side. Also, while i enjoyed the old fashioned and cozy decor inside, the couches they have out in the foyer/waiting area really need to be replaced. When i sat down, i sort of felt like a cloud of dust should have been exhaled by the piece of furniture.
(4)Shahla A.
Worst service ever!!! These people definitely need a class on how not to stare at people while they are trying to eat. I asked for lemons and the waitress actually said no! I asked to speak to the manager.. he was even more shady than the waitress... save your money and time..food wasn't even all that. I've been all over the world and I know good Afghan food..this was bland...idk what those other "reviewers" are talking about.
(1)Stephen G.
I and a coworker went here on the recommendation of our boss, and it was GREAT! We split the Kaddo appetizer - pumpkin with meat sauce. It's lots better than it may sound, and we could have just eaten that all night. It also came with really good bread. I had Qabelee for my main disk. The meat was hidden under the rice, and was probably the tenderest lamb I have had. The rice was excellent with the raisins and carrots adding a good sweetness. I finished with the Bucklawa dessert. I liked this because it wasn't dripping with honey like it often is, and was good and dense. Highly recommended if you're anywhere near!
(5)Ryan P.
Simply amazing- very unique atmosphere, great staff who explain the menu very well, charming manager/owner who appreciates your patronage and lets you know that he's glad your there. Two of us are vegetarian and adored our unique menu choices- very beautiful eggplant and pumpkin dishes. Two of us ate lamb and beef and said it was the best they had had at a restaurant in ages. Great location- out of the way but easy parking, and again- lovely meals. Get a reservation.
(5)Victoria K.
I had never tried, nor even considered trying Afghan food before some friends suggested it recently. Apparently the Helmand is very popular, and so I was definitely intrigued to try my first taste of this new and exciting cuisine. A large wood-burning oven open to the dining room is where the famous flatbread is prepared. A single cook mans this station, baking constantly to provide enough bread for all the hungry diners. We really loved the bread (I can see why it's "famous"), especially with the incredibly flavorful dipping sauces that accompanied it. The trio of sauces includes a yogurt and mint sauce, a cilantro, walnut, and jalapeño sauce, and a red chili sauce (from mildest to most flavorful/spicy). I enjoyed them all, but absolutely fell for the cilantro, walnut, and jalapeño sauce. It was delicious without being really spicy. Filling up on bread is pretty easy to do before your meal even arrives :) Luckily one of my fellow diners suggested tring a couple appetizers instead of an entrée and suggested we could share! I'm a big fan of sharing, and so we selected 4 appetizers to try. The first was the Mantwo, homemade pastry shells filled with onions and beef, served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce. The description of pastry shells is a bit misleading. I thought these were more like dumplings. These were very flavorful, an incredible balance of flavors considering all the different ingredients used in one dish (I found this to be common with everything we ate). The meat sauce was delicious and unlike other "meat sauces" I would imagine served with pasta. It was nicely spiced without being spicy, and was served with many dishes on the menu. They obviously love their meat sauce :) Vegetarian Mantwo is also available. We also enjoyed the Aushak, Afghan ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served on yogurt-mint topped with ground beef sauce. Veggie-based dishes such as this one can be served without meat sauce too, to keep them vegetarian. Leeks and scallions must be a popular vegetarian filling, as another appetizer we later tried had the same filling. A great mild oniony flavor, again paired with yogurt and meat sauce. A very nice and incredibly unique version of "ravioli." Each Aushak was fairly large and the appetizer serving came with two. Most of the appetizers are also available in entrée portions. Next we tried the Bowlawni, brick oven baked twin pastry shells, one filled with leeks and scallions the other filled with spiced potatoes, garnished with yogurt and mint. These guys were completely vegetarian with a crispy exterior unlike the softer doughs encompassing the previous appetizers we had. One had the same leek and scallion filling as the Aushak, while the other had a lovely spiced potato filling not unlike potato fillings I've encountered in Indian cuisine. In fact, I would say that Afghani cuisine is a cross between Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. Some of the entrées seemed reminiscent of curries, in fact. Finally (and I'm glad we saved this appetizer for last) was the famous Kaddo, pan-fried and then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. This was perhaps the most unusual, but also a highlight. The pumpkin was super sweet, almost dessert-like, and yet it was served with two savory sauces, namely the ground beef sauce (a vegetarian version lacks the sauce). Although it sounds strange, I loved the sweet-savory element of this dish. The spiced and somewhat salty meat sauce was a really unique compliment to the sugary pumpkin. Even though it contained meat, I joked that this was our dessert course :) I'm really glad that I was able to experience an unfamiliar cuisine and that I really enjoyed it! I've been a pretty adventurous eater for some time, and yet this was foreign territory. If any of you are in the Boston area and looking for a new and satisfying dining experience, I highly suggest you head to Cambridge and check out the Helmand.
(4)Jacqueline R.
We went to the Helmand for dinner before a show at the Museum of Science. Got the reservation 1 day in advance and I'm glad we did! When we arrived at the restaurant it was completely packed! Super convenient free parking lot across the street. The flatbread was delicious and warm, and the served sauces were great. Not too spicy overall. We had the potato and chickpee salad, qabelee for entree, and the rice pudding with pistachio for dessert. All were EXCELLENT. The qabelee was reasonably priced, especially once you realize that there is a TON of lambmeat -- not too fatty and no bones -- underneath the pile of delicious rice. It was a generous portion; enough for 2 meals! The rice pudding was rice and delicious. Not overly sweet. And again, reasonably priced. An excellent restaurant for trying new and interesting foods, and won't break the bank. 5 stars!
(5)Swati M.
Scrumptious delicious yummmmyyyyyyy... A must must go for vegetarians... Appetizers to soup to main course to desserts.. Everything is jus perfect... The complimentary bread basket is also very delicious....
(5)Aaks L.
Oh My God! Met friends here for Friday night dinner and had an awesome experience! We had a reservation for 4 and were promptly seated on our arrival. Our friends ordered Bowlawni and Kourma Challow (vegetarian) and seemed to love it. We ordered Dwopiaza and Mourgh Challow (lamb and chicken entrees) and loved the authentic spicing!! Service was good and the food exceptionally good. Would love to go back when in town!
(5)David C.
If you want a review of the food at The Helmand, check out the one I wrote for Ariana. The menus at both places are identical, but prices at the Cambridge flagship are inflated by at least 30%. For that reason, I see no reason to check it out (unless you really hate Allston, in which case I guess I wouldn't blame you). I'd still be inclined to give The Helmand four stars (the food is really that good) if it weren't for the curt and hasty service. When my party of four arrived promptly for our seven o'clock reservation, the hostess glanced at her list and mumbled something about it being a few minutes. Those few minutes turned in to nearly twenty, and I got the feeling that our reservation was lost somewhere in the shuffle (there were multiple tables open that we could have easily been seated at). And when our meal was said and done (in less than an hour, things moved so swiftly), we got up from the table only to have it swooped in on by busboys from all over. It was tacky with a capital T.
(3)Phil P.
Highly recommend this place. Very friendly, not a long wait and the food was great. Never had Afgan food before. It's similar to other food from the region, but with its own twists. They offer a number of vegetarian specialties.
(4)George K.
The food will blow your mind, top quality food that tastes amazing, everything is perfect. You cannot try everything in one visit, its one of those places you just keep going back to so that you can try everything, staff is nice if you want to go out for a proper meal, this is the right place where you will actually like what you eat 100% and get what you pay for the lamb is amazing, i thought it might be too strong and gamey but it turns out they know how to actually cook it properly so that the lamb taste does not overpower other ingredients, they actually marinate it in vinegar since lamb has a very strong taste, try it to see whats up! they have parking across the street and give you a validation (free parking) inside is very clean and decorative Dont waist a fortune on french food that is only as big as your spoon, this restaurant definitely serves top quality food for the right price and experience. THIS RESTAURANT IS A MUST Go TO DESTINATION IF YOU ARE IN MASSACHUSETTS ! 10/10 Dont forget to order the full course meal (appetizer, soup, main, desert w/ coffee. you will leave happy.
(5)Hodor Z.
SPOILED MEAT!!! DO NOT EAT! Service is horrible and they take plates away way too fast. Ordered lamb leg, ate 1 piece before I realized the meat is spoiled. Spoiled lamb meat is very easy to detect because of it's smell. I've eaten lamb my entire life, and this was definitely spoiled. Plus, this is not an authentic afghan cuisine, nowhere near it. Tasted more like Indian if anything. And restrooms are horrible, worse than at McDonald's. But nothing beats spoiled meat. Save yourself some cash and go somewhere lese.
(1)Andrea L.
If it has lamb in it, order it! I've never had lamb done as well as it's served at the Helmand -- the grilled chops are amazing, charcoaled on the edges and juicy in the middle. The vegetables are also fantastic -- the eggplant is beautifully grilled with interesting tomato and yogurt sauces on top, and the okra is also delicious. The flatbread is good, maybe not as fluffy as I was expecting, but still a great accompaniment to the meal.
(5)M L.
I waffled between three and four stars, but only because of the so-so service. Waitstaff is pleasant, just not overly attentive. I'm a stickler for checking back periodically to refill beverages. Ultimately, though, the food was delicious. The chef gladly prepared my vegetarian plate to vegan standards. Get the kaddo (pumpkin) appetizer. It looks like a jell-o mold and tastes like candy. My wife ordered a lamb dish and enjoyed it.
(4)Shao L.
EXCELLENT food! If you haven't, you must try Kadoo, it's the best. Go for lamb, it's all pulled except for one (can't remember the name). I've tried Qabelee and Chowpan and personally, Qabelee is very nicely done if you are not into thick sauce. Service is prompt and friendly. However, I can't say the same to the host. She needs to lighten up a little bit!
(4)Elaine L.
Delicious food and excellent service. The waiter knew a lot about the dishes and refilled our water frequently. We began our meal with the kaddo appetizer - the combination of sweet pumpkin and savory beef works surprisingly well together. My friend and I ordered the kourma challow and mantwo. Both dishes had tender meat and good flavor. We'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Frank Q.
Lamb is the best. Well cooked with flavor and juicy. Recommend. Downside: Fish is dry and terrible. Don't order. Would give five star if the fish is taken off the menu.
(4)Nicole S.
Went a couple months ago, and the food was delicious. I loved the pumpkin appetizer and highly recommend. Lamb was good too. The bread basket is amazing and the dipping sauces were good too! DON"T get the salad, it's literally a bed of salad with random chunk of 'roasted' vegetables and chicken (which was a little dry). Overall great food.
(4)Umair K.
I discovered this place years ago by mistake and been a customer since. Amazing food, atmosphere is great, and overall very friendly staff. They do however need to upgrade their plates, tables and chairs.
(5)Guillermo M.
Food was amazing. We had the bowlawni and the kaddo for appetizers and both were delicious and very different. The bowlawni was very tasty and the kaddo was on the sweet side. For entree we had the chowpan and also everything in the plate was really good. Dessert didn't disappoint at all: "their cake" was delicious. Would love to come back and try more stuff.
(4)Anthony D.
Had to wait a half hour to be seated for our reservation. No apologies or concessions. Not acceptable.
(1)Azi Z.
I was really excited about trying this place as a few of my foodie friends had raved about it. As I wasn't very happy with it the first time, I decided to give it another try but not much changed. The food is OK, but not great as I had high hopes and expectations. The ambiance is nice and since the place is of a larger size compared to most Boston/Cambridge restaurants, the wait is reasonable and they do also take reservations. I loved the fresh out-of-the-oven bread with the sauces. The first time I had Aushak, which I was just mediocre and the second time I ordered lamb, which was not done well at all unfortunately. I would probably go back again with friends - even if for the bread only! - but would not be too excited about it.
(3)Bill L.
Went with a group of 6. Three ordered vegetarian options and done well. Three others ordered lamb stew, chicken and meatball. Lamb stew which the waiter strongly suggested was tough bland - like chewing on stewed rubber. The chicken was dry but flavorful. The meatball was okay I rate restaurants for their food. I will comment on service. The waiter needs a refresher course on customer empathy and service. While perusing the menu, he was just rude. His recommendations were not suggestions but came across as orders. When we ignored his recommendations, his facial expressions were just bad. I would not go back to this place, there are better options
(3)Jill L.
This is one of the best places around the city. Everything on the menu I have ever tried (I've been about 8 times) has been incredible. From meat to veggies, I'm always impressed. It's a warm atmosphere with open fireplace they cook their fresh bread in. Then they bring you the warm bread and three different homemade dipping sauces to pick on while you review the menu. One of my favorites!
(5)Marin J.
Visiting my old stomping grounds. Had never tried Afghan food before, so I had no idea what to expect. We ordered Banjan Pan-fried eggplant seasoned with spices, then baked with fresh tomatoes, served on yogurt garlic mint sauce. $7.50 Kaddo Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. $7.50 Both listed as appetizers. We ordered something else but I can't recall. I can however, recall the bread. Watching the bread being made right next to our table. And eating it minutes later. I would have just sat there happily, next to the open brick oven, and eaten the bread the rest of the winter. (yes, it was cold winter in Cambridge). After the cold, after the wait ('d certainly consider making reservations for the future). We received our food and after two forkfuls, I could certainly understand what the fuss was about. Divine
(5)Amanda G.
Wow this place was amazing. I've never had Afghani food and of course I ordered the vegetarian meal that resembles Indian food, my favorite. But everything was delicious. The warm bread right out of the oven with an option of a cilantro sauce was prime. Didn't hurt being next to the brick oven in the cold of winter. It's true the pumpkin app was amazing. It's true my friend's lamb dish hidden in rice was a surprise for my taste buds and it's true the line can be long - so get there early on a week day. Loved this place.
(4)Mandrita D.
I have been here many many times - brought my friends and family too! I love The Helmand! It's an all time favorite. My favorite item on the menu? the chowpan! This is a rack of lamb that comes with rice pilaf veggies and poached pear.The lamb is seasoned really well and cooked the way you want. The rice and veggies that come with it are also nicely spiced - not as rich as Indian food is, but not bland like boiled veggies either. If you watch what is being served at other tables, while you wait for your food, you would see that it's a favorite across the board! The bread served with 3 different condiments while waiting for your food is delicious - usually hot, you can see a chef baking them in a huge brick oven nearby! The desserts are great too - the feereney and the sheerekh are my favorite. Cons - The place being really popular (and my review doesn't help, I know ;)) service can sometimes be a bit slow, it's fairly noisy and it is difficult to get reservations, so plan ahead. Also, these days if you order Coke, they give you a tiny bottle (smaller than a can) with no refills and charge $3.25 for it, the bottle was not even cold. What happened to just serving soda and free refills?!
(5)H. A.
Well, I finally let bygones be bygones and ate another Helmand meal. Here's the wonderful thing: The food is fantastic! Recommended: Qabalee, the veggie ravioli appetizer, kaddo appetizer, and the perma-special with cheese and pepper.
(4)Stefanie J.
The Helmand was my first attempt at Afghan food, and it made me a fan! The food was delicious. Also, they were able to accommodate a large group for a birthday party. Overall, I was very satisfied.
(4)Darren P.
This was my first time eating Afghan food and as such, I was a little nervous trying a new cuisine. However, I was so glad I did. The food was delicious and the service was great! I had the trout special which came with an eggplant side dish and rice with walnuts and dates. Everything was delicious and cooked just right. I definitely will go back and I highly recommend this restaurant. It is great for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The free bread they bring you from the brick oven is also delicious!
(5)Rachel W.
Went here last night for dinner. I've been here a few times over the years and it's still just as great. I had never ordered the full carafe of house wine before (a steal at $25). It was more than enough wine for the 3 of us. I ordered the lamb which was of course, phenomenal. The bread they bring is absolutely delicious, they also bring with the bread 3 dipping sauces (one yogurt, one hot sauce, and one green one which had walnuts so I didn't try that one, but I heard it was delicious) We also ordered the cake and cream/fruit for dessert to split which was again, phenomenal. It was pretty busy for a Friday night, but the waiter was attentive and pleasant. The hostess who we checked in with could have been a bit more pleasant, but I actually think that's just how she is everyday if memory serves me correctly so don't be put off by her general attitude. Dinner ran us at $95 before tip for the 3 of us with wine and 2 desserts which I think is actually pretty reasonable at Boston/Cambridge standards. This is a great date night spot, really cool interior, great service, and awesome food.
(4)Cameron B.
I was 10 min late for my table and BAM, it was gone! 30 min later, we were seated and downing our first bottle of wine while contemplating who was going to get what so we could try the WHOLE menu. Lamb, steak, rice, egg plant; yes, they may sound like your standard Afghan regional foods; but Helmand does them to perfection. We started out with the Aushak, meet ravioli that were juicy and tender and the Kaddo pumpkin that was rich and flavorful. Knowing how good the lamb is here, I kept it simple with the Chowpan. Huge lamb shanks, seared to perfection and perfectly salty off-set by the egg plant and rice. It was the perfect size and perfectly cooked. The rest of the table enjoyed Qabelee, the prime rib and the veg platter. Everything was perfect, came out shockingly fast and disappeared just as fast. The service was friendly and efficient and we were turned out into the night to walk off our food babies! Helmand is a Cambridge must!!
(4)David S.
The Boston location is as good as the San Francisco one. My favourite is the kabili. My wife's is the kofte. The flatbread and dips are delicious. I went on a Saturday night and it was crowded but they managed to fit me in, which was excellent.
(4)Darrell M.
Last night was my third visit to the Helmand and probably my last. I enjoyed the food during my other visits but didn't even get that far this time. We were seated promptly and our server appeared with menus right away. 25 minutes later he came to our table to say "sorry for the wait" and then left. After 5 more minutes we left. Sadly when I complained on the way out the guy in charge seemed not to understand why we would leave. Two stars because the food was good the other times, and the water guy kept us well hydrated.
(2)Julie P.
Delicious vegetarian food, attentive service, and nice ambiance!
(5)Michelle P.
So, the kaddo is amazing. I want it as a main dish. The pallow was beautifully seasoned and the lamb was tender and flavorful. Some of the best lamb I've had, really. And this is one of those places where the bread they give you at the beginning of the meal comes out warm and soft! Our server (I think his name was Peter?) was delightful--we had an overall excellent date night at the Helmand. My only beef with the meal was that the tomato based sauces in several different dishes tasted exactly the same and I'm not sure why. The tomato based sauce on the eggplant side dish and the tomato based sauce on my mourg chicken...basically the same thing, and just sort of uninteresting.
(4)Gaunt Z.
Lamb dishes were excellently done!
(4)Phil L.
Not a five but excellent overall. My Seekh Kabob was a little on the medium well side (even though we asked for medium). Service was prompt and direct but not overly friendly. The Kaddoo appetizer was simply incredible. I could have that as a separate meal. The prices are very reasonable (we had four people and it was just over $110 with tip - of course none of us drank alcohol this evening). There is plenty of parking and it was free (I had to place a sticker on the dash of the car). I would repeat (actually it's my second time here).
(4)Khan A.
It was my first time ever trying Afghanistan food and I was so happy I go there. The food are amazing. We didn't got any appetizer the homemade bread they bring us with different sauces was good enough. U can actually see the bread coming out of the oven and it's smell so good;) regarding sauces they have u for bread u enjoy made of yogurt, mint and something else;) it was very good. I'm not a big fan of hits so I didn't try one of the hot sauce spices but my friend love it. And third sauce look liked pesto sauce it was ok. For the actual order I got Chapendaz marinated steak, grilled with a puree of grilled tomatoes, hot peppers, onions and cumin seeds served with lentils, wheat barley and spinached rice. $26.95 . It was pretty good. I really enjoy steak, it was juicy and perfectly cooked. Love rice. The rest ingredients was ok. My friend got Quabelly, Pallow rice baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed julienne of carrots. $20.50. I'm not a big fan if lamb but it was good. I try couple spoons. And my other friend got Therka Kabob( Prime Rib of Beef; marinated in puree of onion, sun-dried baby grapes and garlic, then grilled and served with sauteed lentils and pallow rice. $22.95) I love rice and beef . We all share so I got a chance to try everything. I love each dish which is rare for me;) . As for deserts we got Ferreney ( Cream pudding topped with fresh kiwi, mango, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry. $5.95) . The fruits was fresh and it was great ending of my dinner. Coming back soon;)
(5)Xavier M.
Last night I went with a friend to Helmand. I like the Zagat review, where they talk about an exquisite Afghani restaurant in the desert of East Cambridge. We started with an apetizer, Kaddo, made with pumpkin, yogurt and toped with ground beef. It was tasteful and lighter than I thought. Then I followed it with a Seekh Kabob, with really yummy grilled veggies, rice and eggplants. The food was good, but nothing impressed me. Didn't order any wine but it looked like they have a list of reasonably priced wines. The toilet could get a nicer look.
(3)Kaitlyn O.
I went here with a party of four. Great restaurant! The sauces are all so tasty. It also has excellent vegetarian options. It's hard to go wrong here. Also, the service is very good and nice. The location is a bit off but don't let that deter you - at least you can find some street parking!
(4)Bhavika P.
Very nice ambience, courteous staff and amazing food. Loved the hot breads, bendi and kaddoo. Pullow and challow rice both taste delicious. The entrees are of decent quantity for one person. Great place for vegeterians as they have a lot of veg options. Lamb, chicken and beef all tasted good as well. Do not forget to try phirnee in desserts. If you are not a very fruits person ask for phirnee without fruits...it is simply awesome. Make sure you have done a reservation to avoid long waits. They do offer free parking so ask about it at the reception.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Excerpt from their menu: Kaddo Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. $7.50 On the menu, Kaddo (aka bliss) is listed as an appetizer and a side dish. I'd like to add to those classifications: dessert, breakfast, dinner, midnight snack, afternoon tea, anytime you want to want to feel blissful. Anything I try here is amazing and surprising. My taste buds have never experienced these flavors before, and they fall in love, every time, like in a Taylor Swift song. It's like... the first kiss, it's flawless, really something.... it's fearless.
(5)James B.
Really good food, and a lot of appetizer options! I strongly recommend the vegetarian special--a sampling of several vegetables with rice. They serve complimentary warm brick oven-baked bread at the beginning that is really good.
(4)Yuan W.
Is there anything I can say that 510 reviewers haven't already said? Nevertheless I feel compelled to write a review for Helmand since it's such a unique and delicious restaurant. When my friend first suggested coming here I was a little skeptical since I had basically no knowledge of Afghan food. If I had to sum it up, it's as if your favorite Indian curry had a lovechild with hummus. Many of the dishes have rich, flavorful sauces without the spiciness of Indian food and there's abundant vegetables in everything, reminiscent of something Mediterranean. Helmand has great vegetarian options. As an omnivore, I still end up gravitating for the veggie entrees since you get huge portions of really flavorful yummy and filling vegetables. My favorite is the Kourma Challow, which is this wonderful mix of saucy, tomato and spinach filled goodness on top of rice. If you want meat, the Kourma Challow with lamb is also great. Going backwards here, but for appetizers, the Banjan, which is an eggplant in yogurt sauce mix is so good. Overall the flavors here are just so homey and warm but also memorable without being in your face. The atmosphere matches the food perfectly as well. The restaurant is full of warm red and yellow colors, with really beautiful paintings of pastoral life in Afghanistan on the walls. It feels like stepping into someone's living room. There is also a huge open oven in the middle of the restaurant where you can see them baking fresh bread. It's a really novel experience to sit at one of the tables right by the oven. If that doesn't make you hungry, not sure what will. Make sure to make a reservation since this place gets packed. It's good for both large and small groups.
(5)Lama B.
This was my first experience ever with Afghani food, and although, as Zeina pointedly mentioned, Afghanis who don't live in palaces probably don't eat this food, I LOVED it. Definitely order the baby pumpkin with meat sauce and yogurt. Have the eggplant appetizer as well. Order one of the salads. You cannot go wrong with any of the stews, the vegetarian dishes or the lamb dishes. The lentils were killer! Generous portions, aromatic rice, good sides. All around, really great, flavorful food! The desserts were also amazing, as was the coffee! This place is really excellent and I will definitely be back when in Boston.
(4)shoaib a.
I came here for iftar (Ramadan breaking of fast meal) on a rainy Tuesday night. The Helmand looks like the sorta place where getting a reservation for a party greater than 2 might be a good idea. However, as I'm in Boston for work and find myself eating a many a meal solo, I had no problems finding a table. The decor is very nice as compared to other Afghani establishments and quite comparable to other $$$ ethnic restaurants. I ordered the Aushak as an appetizer and the rack of lamb with rice for my entree. As I was there to break my fast, I asked for, and the waiter was kind enough to bring, some dates (customary to break fast with). The dates weren't crappy dates either. They were the good kind! All of the items came out surprisingly quick. The Aushak was very tasty and went great with the home-made afghani bread. The lamb was perfectly cooked and very well seasoned. I don't generally eat all my rice as to not overload on carbs but it was very difficult to leave any left. (It could have been that I was fasting and hadn't eaten in over 16 hrs!) All in all, the Helmand was a great pick for dinner and I look forward to going back. Yes, it can get pricey especially if you drink and/or order an appetizer. My meal - appetizer, soda, and entree put be back $40.
(5)Yue Z.
Service: 4 Food: 4 Ambiance: 5 I'm a huge fan of this place for the ambiance. it is great for groups (plenty of room) AND for small intimate dining (quiet). They bake the bread fresh from an real fire oven you can see from the main dining space. And it is delicious. It was arguably my favorite part of the meal. For appetizer, we ordered the kaddo (pumpkin), which was super sweet but altogether delicious and the Bendi (Okra), which was well balanced with the tomatoes. For entree, any Leg of Lamb is delicious, but so is their Theeka Kabab (beef) and Mourgh Challow (chicken). I personally preferred the seasoning on the lamb more, though the beef is very tender as well. The rice and side dishes were also delicious. Definitely worth a try. The desserts were mediocre. I would skip the dessert and order more appetizers Their wines and alcohol selection is also unoriginal. We were hoping for some special Afghan drinks but were disappointed.
(4)Gabi R.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars. Nice experience, I'd come back, but not without trying out other places like nearby Lala Rokh. Food: -I appreciated the flexibility - I wanted the date & walnut rice that came with one of the specials, and they subbed it for the challow that was supposed to come with my entree. -The lamb was tender and juicy. I hit the spot for a longish craving I'd had for lamb. What was lacking was: 1) the leg of lamb had been deboned, so I didn't have the fun eating it that way, nor the visual experience of a leg of lamb (I'm a woman who loves her meat.) 2) the flavors were mild (but not in the mildly aromatically powerful way) - they were a little underwhelming. I've eaten a lot of Afghan food in my life, so I don't expect spice, but I do expect POWERFUL flavor, and that just didn't come through in my lamb. -The bread was amazing. And it was fresh out of the oven, evidenced by the fact that it became tough within 10 minutes. Amazing. Service: Everyone was very sweet, my water was full all evening, and they non-invasively made menu suggestions & recos when I asked for them. Excellent service. Ambience: nice place to go with a professor or for an above-casual dinner with friends. I went with people I was catching up with after a long time so it was a pleasant change. It would also make a good date spot for a "test the waters" first date - except that it is way out there away from MIT.
(3)Jolene S.
Awesome food from beginning (bread w/butter and dips) to end (after dinner mints). The food was so good that I didn't even needdessert (though I was tempted to try it having glimpsed the cake being broughttoother tables). As an introduction to this cuisine--I'd highlyrecommend the "special" entree which includes spinach, pumpkin, okra,and more--truly scrumptious. Nothing here disappoints. Highly recommended. Make reservations--we got lucky or we would have had to wait two hours...
(4)Andrew R.
4.5 stars but going on the side of 5 because, dangit, you just have to choose. The pumpkin app is other-worldly. Perhaps, scratch that, definitely the best pumpkin I've ever put into my mouth. There is no way you will not love this dish. The bread is pretty awesome. Get that green sauce on it and scarf. Be prepared to eat a ton of rice. It's damn tasty rice since they flavor it with some killer spices (not spicy), but it's a ton - especially compared to the amount of the actual dish you ordered. That said, on to the dishes: The meatball one is so-so. It's lacking a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. Skip it and instead get what essentially amounts to the chicken curry (last chicken dish on the list, bottom of the page). Not quite your typical curry and you're gonna love it because of that. It's got its pluses, it's got its minuses, but dear lord, get that pumpkin!
(5)Meg C.
Wow. I was so disappointed with this place. We went with friends, big night out as a special 'adults only' evening. We chose from a list of well-reviewed restaurants we'd been wanting to try. The food was fine. In case you go in clueless, like me, the food is very similar to Indian, which I like thankfully. Yes, there was a lot of lamb (my husband had it, and said it was decent), and some good vegetarian options but nothing really memorable. They gave us a wine list but were not forthright with cocktails and beer so there was a bit of confusion. It didn't help that the wait staff really wasn't helpful- almost uninterested actually. The tables are really close to one another- which doesn't mind me when eating, but it was kind of hear to get to/from the table without banging into other diners. And the bathrooms were kind of gross- outdated and dirty. If this place gets such good reviews on a consistent basis, put a few bucks into cleaning up the bathrooms, printing cocktail/beer menus, and hiring friendlier staff.
(2)Lil O.
the food here is really, really good. i've been a few times and always forgotten how good it is. i recommend getting the pumpkin thing as an app. not a huge fan of the location, but i'm not going to hold it against them. i've also had to wait here for a long time before when i didn't have a reservation, so i'd plan accordingly. lamb dishes are the way to go, but i also love lamb, so i might be biased.
(4)Lisa W.
Mmm.. our first experience with Afgan good. Was at the mall and found this via yelp nearby, so we just headed over there on a whim. We were definitely underdressed for the restaurant (shorts and tank tops vs. lots of old people in business casual), but no one treated us any different, so it was quite pleasant. First, the bread. MMMM!!! It was fresh - we sat next to the oven where it was being made fresh in the oven. The sauces that came with it were great, too, I totally overate on the bread. (And the waiter packed the leftover bread with our stuff!!). We got the pumpkin app.. it was a little too sweet, but still delicious. I got the lamb kabob and the husband got some other lamb dish. Also yummy. The service was a bit slow.. I think they needed more staff for a full house on a Saturday evening, but our waiter was quite sweet. Overall impression - delicious food, slightly slow service, a bit pricy.
(4)T J.
Definitely worth the trip to Cambridge on the green line....the food was great: we ordered two entrees and an appetizer--though I would recommend not getting an appetizer at all....it wasn't memorable, and the fresh flat bread with the dipping sauces is more than satisfactory as an appetizer to hold you up until the main course arrives. Was a bit disappointed with the quantity of meat in the non-vegetarian entree, but the food itself was very tasty and satisfying. Looking forward to making the trek back to Lechmere sometime :)
(5)Garth G.
I have been to Helmand 4 times now, and each time it has gotten better and better. Last week when I visited with my date, the food was prepared quickly...which usually makes me nervous. But it was absolutely amazing. We ordered the Sabzi Challow and the Chapendaz. Both meats were succulent, juicy, and tasted amazing. The Chapendaz was a tad rarer than ordered, but I loved it. I usually find that restaurants disappoint over time, this has been the opposite. So GOOD.
(5)Susan Z.
Came as part of a large group on Friday night, thankfully with reservation ahead of time. I thought the banjan and kadoo appetizers were very good - the owner had recommended them to us. We split seekh kebab, mourgh kebab, and mourgh challow. I personally loved the mourgh challow because I prefer my meats stewed rather than grilled. It was extremely tender and the sauce was delicious - if you like Indian chicken curries I bet you'll like this, too, though the texture and flavor is different. For the seekh kebab, I put the bread yogurt on it and it was quite good like that. I really liked the eggplant that came with the seekh kebab. The mourgh kebab tasted a bit too charred for me but that's a matter of opinion. I like their differently-cooked rice and appreciate that each kebab plate comes with vegetables and rice. The servers were all very kind and polite, and very accommodating for such a large group, and honestly the service is what tipped it up to 5 stars 'cause they were just so darn nice. Next time I'll want to try the boned-in lamb.
(5)Jessica R.
I can't say enough good things about Helmand. The service and ambiance are just fine, but really, we're all here for the food. It's spicy, it's fascinating, it's tender meat, it's toasty bread with sauces. Try the aushak--dumplings with beef, yogurt and mint. Try the Qabalee--tender lamb under cinnamon and cardamom rice with carrots. Try any of the fish specials, especially the one with figs! My boyfriend is a lamb lover (so to speak), and said this is the best lamb he's ever had. And I lived in the area for 6 years, and Helmand always topped my favorite restaurants list. I can't say anything here that will do the food justice, so really, just go. If you want to keep the price reasonable, just don't order wine.
(5)Sarah G.
I was thinking about restaurants the other day and I realized someone I never managed to write up this awesome awesome place!!! And what do I remember most?? The Kaddo-- Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce--and they mean beef sauce. I know it may sound weird, but it is simply amazing. I could eat so much of that and be completely content in life. It is just so good! A definite must order if you go. You really can't go wrong with their main dishes either. Yes, this place isn't the cheapest in the world, but I can tell you that if you order something here you should be pretty much guaranteed to have a good time. Their lamb dishes I would push higher up than their chicken dishes, but they use so many fresh herbs and spices and whatnot it really is hard to go wrong. And the portions are pretty big too. And you get to choose from two types of house made rice both of which are super tasty. Very inventive dishes you can't get at most places too! So why not 5 stars? Well the service was a little slow. We had to wait a long time for our table and we had a reservation event, and we would have liked a little more guidance from our server about what was in some of the dishes. That being said, clearly the food wowed me here, so it should definitely wow you too!
(4)Mitch Q.
It's a great place for a romantic date. Their bread is freshly made daily. We had a table near the oven so it smelled fabulous! It did get a little hot, but we did ask for a table near the oven table. For whatever reasons, our entrees came out really salty. Saltier than Chinese food. Everything else was good though.
(2)Asiandentist C.
Excellent food and very reasonable price. Need reservations!
(5)Chris M.
This is four-stars for the food--everything was good and the fresh bread coming out of the central oven was great. Atmosphere felt a little like I was in a big room rather than at a special table so I don't recommend it for a romantic evening but if you have a big group, I remember them having several tables that can accommodate 6+. Would go here again.
(3)Liliana C.
The Helmand treated us to some very delicious food. Like some other reviewers, we also liked the pumpkin kaddo. There was some very yummy complimentary bread and sauces - especially the cilantro chutney. Extensive wine list but not a lot of beer options. The lighting in the restaurant was also very dim and detracted from the dining experience. It was very quiet which some might enjoy but felt a little awkward for us.
(4)Jeremy K.
While Afghani cuisine was a first for me and I came expect a good meal, I left completely blown away. This type of cuisine isn't something that one comes across often but when one of my best friends told me that he wanted to go, I gladly volunteered and made the reservation. Having never had food from Afghanistan and having heard good things, I knew that I'd have to try it. The great thing about Afghan food is that it's a great hybrid of Indian food and Middle Eastern food, mostly because of the numerous spice routes from back in the day. Whether your dish has cumin, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon or nutmeg, or maybe all of the above, each dish is tasty and tastes exotic, and from the very moment I walked in and smelled them, emanating from the kitchen, I knew that this meal would be terrific. I sipped on a Glenlivet from their full bar as I arrived much earlier than my dining companion but once he finally arrived, we were able to glance at the menu while noshing on some flatbread and three dipping sauces (one hot, one mild one and one yogurt one, each delicious). We decided to start our meal with an order of their kaddo appetizer ($7.50) which they are famous for. It features a pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. While I'm not usually a fan of pumpkin this had to be one of the best dishes that I've ever had... ever, let alone Boston. Absolutely incredible and it took a lot of restraint for us to not order a second one. It's sweet, it's tasty, the textures are toothsome and the honey flavors come through; just incredible stuff. It almost felt like having a dessert as an appetizer but honestly it was well worth it, especially since the dish had many layers of flavor. After devouring and cleaning out that dish in mere instants, I decided to follow my waiter's advice and get their other signature dish, the chowpan ($27) which features a half a rack of lamb which has been marined and grilled, served on a bed of Afghan bread with some sautéed eggplant and some pallow rice. Pallow rice is rice that's been boiled then drained of water, seasoned with canola oil,cardomum, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin seed and black pepper and then baked. It's amazingly tasty and not wet at all, and almost fluffy. The spices aren't overwhelming and pair well with the type of long grain rice that they use. The highlight of the dish though was the rack of lamb which... might... be... the best lamb I've had. Juicy, lean, tender, well seasoned and charred to a perfection as well. The spices created a symphony of flavors for my palate unlike any other lamb I've had. It just worked well and despite the hefty price of the dish, which is a lot more expensive than the other entres, it was all worth it. The eggplant was pretty good as well but it was sautéed with some bell peppers which I can't eat so I had to stop eating it after a couple of bites unfortunately. The bread under the lamb soaked up some of the juices and was wonderful as well. All in all this restaurant is an absolute gem. I must confess that despite having lived in Kendall Square for over five years, I had never dared venture into this establishment to much of my dismay. I was missing out significantly but no longer as I'll be returning... soon. The service was great and the decor charming. I'm a huge fan of what they do here and look forward to returning. My only complaint is that they have a full bar but no menu. They don't have cocktails which is fine but how about a beer and spirits list? PS: good thing their kaddo isn't readily available to go or I'd be swinging by there every single day to get my fix. Honestly it's that good.
(5)Mark M.
Thanks, Yelp for a great find right across the river from Boston. Was in town on business and had a Sunday night dinner here. - Was quite crowded, but luck was on our side, and we got a table rather quickly. - Warm, inviting, slightly upscale atmosphere (white linen table clothes, warm lighting, etc). - Prices very reasonable and portions a nice bang for the buck - Good service, a tad slow on the water refills - Yummy, warm bread served with a trio of sauces - Vegetarian options (and plenty of them) - Surprisingly mild (in terms of spice level) I'd definitely recommend this place to family and friends (and you!)
(4)Steve S.
Came here for team dinner in the summer. very nice lamb dishes. of the appetizers, the ravioli and the eggplant ones were the most memorable. The service is very friendly, great place.
(5)Jessica B.
My aunt took us out to The Helmand last night and I was in for a surprise. I thought it was my first visit, but when we entered I realized we had eaten there once before. While that meal was particularly forgettable, this one was much better. The standout is the food. The flat bread is delicious. My husband and I ordered off the specials menu. He had Chilean sea bass and I had a salad with grilled vegetables and chicken. I've been eating my way across the greater Boston area one chicken salad at a time, and this one was unusual and delicious. The warm grilled vegetables and vinaigrette dressing with a mustardy taste were delicious. One negative is that if you are seated with your back to the corridor across the side of the restaurant, every server that walks behind you brushes past your seat. Now some people probably wouldn't notice that, but unfortunately I'm not one of those people. Service is not overwhelmingly friendly, but the food and shabbily exotic atmosphere make it a nice place for a meal. Reservations recommended.
(4)Skip W.
This restaurant has it all and will be my first 5 star review. Atmosphere, service, food and quality. I still think about this experience and compare all others to this awesome dinner. If you are near Cambridge and don't go here you will have missed an experience of life time.
(5)Jeff M.
Amazing food. The kaddo borawni is a pumpkin dish with sugar, yogurt garlic cause, and ground beef sauce. The kaddo borawni is my favorite dish in all of Boston. Simple and stunning. All other pumpkin in the world is pale in comparison. The lamb lawand (lamb sauteed with onion, tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, fresh cilantro, yogurt and spices with spinach and rice) is delicious. What am I talking about? Everything I have ever ordered here is delicious! Every time I go back to Boston, this place always come to mind.
(5)Alana L.
4.5 stars if I could. The Helmand does very good Afghani food. It's not the best food I've ever had, but it's also best to remember that they spice subtly for a more American palate. It's also a little pricey since they're trying to be a little more upscale than they actually are, but that's really no slur on them and the food is good enough that I'm fine with ignoring it. Went in with a party of 3 on a Monday around 8. Not too busy, and they happily seated us without a reservation. Our waiter was very attentive and professional, and patiently answered all the questions of one of my dining companions who had never had Afghani food. We started with the bowlawni and the kaddo. The bowlawni were nice and crispy, with flavourful fillings and a nice texture. The kaddo blows me away every time. Oh, if I could eat it by the bucket, I'd die fat and happy. The flavours mix perfectly - the sweet and sour and savoury and tender and delicious. I might have eaten the lion's share, but when something's that good, it's every man for himself. I had the aushak as my entree, which are leek and scallion filled ravioli with ground beef, red sauce, and yogurt sauce on top. They have a lovely flavour and texture themselves, but are very filling. I could only finish half. For dessert, we opted for the rice pudding and the crème caramel. The former was well done, though probably thicker than most people might expect of a rice pudding. The texture is more like gelatin. That said, it was excellent, and the cardamom and pistachio worked exceptionally well together. The crème caramel was pretty par for the course. Good, but nothing special. The Turkish coffee was almost syrupy, as you'd expect it to be, and with the caffeine jolt from that, I bounced happily out the door. I'll be going back, of course.
(4)Jaclyn P.
Helmand was excellent! Everything from the service to the ambiance was great and the prices are very decent. The food is so flavorful and full of spice and life. The beer list was a little limited as well as wine by the glass options - they seemed to cater more toward the selling of full bottles of wine. The back wall of the restaurant is completely covered by a display of the wine bottles. You really get the feeling that you're enjoying an authentic Afghan experience. The restaurant is warm and inviting with a large bread oven to one side and a working fireplace to the other. It is loud and vibrant and a lot of fun. The spinach and cheese stuffed pepper was perfect and the eggplant and tomato sauce appetizer was also delicious. The chutneys were also a big hit. They have plenty of options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Highly recommended!
(5)Ann S.
It's overpriced, the service was kinda rude and the food wasn't that great. It was an ok experience though.
(2)Alisa K.
I think this place is good but a touch overrated. Had their kaddo and banjan challow (pumpkin and eggplant) and it was solid but nothing mindblowing. The food comes out fast. The service is satisfactory. I only wish some of their meat were halal. Overall, I prefer Ariana's in Allston.
(3)Nicholas K.
I was here last Friday night. I thought the ambiance was very nice. Classy setting that is very adequate for a date or just a relaxing dinner, nothing too fancy, though. The service was great as well. I read some reviews for Helmand before writing my own review, and many people commented on poor service. I settled down for a longer dinner and the service seemed very accommodating, even though we took a long time to order at each stage of the meal. We started with the kaddo and the eggplant dish. They were both fabulous. These were, hands down, the highlights of the meal. For main courses, I went with the spicy meatballs and my date went with the vegetarian ravioli. The meatballs were pretty standard and not even remotely spicy, if that is scaring you off. The ravioli was quite bland. I thought that the onions in the ravioli were pretty overpowering. In retrospect, I should have gone with a lamb dish, and I would highly recommend that you do so. Passing up the appetizers, however, would be your biggest mistake--those alone were good enough to net Helmand a 4 out of 5 in my book. The kaddo might be the best single dish I've had in Boston. Consider passing up the entree.
(4)Lynne S.
I've been to the Helmand several times and tried several different dishes and I can honestly say I've NEVER been disappointed. The bread is amazing - it comes out of the oven like a surf-board and it's fun to watch them cut it up into little pieces. It's even more fun to eat it with the three little dipping sauces they give you - the yogurty mint one is my favorite. For appetizers we tried the Bowlawni, brick oven baked twin pastry shells, one filled with leeks and scallions the other filled with spiced potatoes. They were both delicious but I liked the leek and scallion one slightly better. We also tried the Kaddo, pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin. It was a little too sweet for me but everyone at our table loved it. Lastly, we tried the Banjan, pan-fried eggplant seasoned with spices, then baked with fresh tomatoes, served on yogurt garlic mint sauce ---- mmmmmm, this one was definitely my favorite. I was pretty full by the time we finished our appetizers but I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the rest of my meal. The Qabelee is one of my favorite dishes. I'm always torn between getting it or trying something new. This time I decided to try the Qoremay Ma-He, fresh Sea Bass pan fried, then sauteed with onion, peeled tomatoes, garlic, ginger, sun dried tomato, radishes and potato served with Challow rice. The fish was so light and delicious and the flavors of the accompaniments were so wonderful. It was a birthday celebration so we had to get dessert, but we were all so full we decided to just split one. We decided on "Our Cake," a homemade cardamom and pineapple cake served with ice cream on pomegranate sauce. We chose correctly. It was delicious! The restaurant is always crowded so a reservation is recommended. The service is amazing, the prices are very reasonable and the food is always delicious. What more could you ask for?
(5)Sarah M.
I'm in the minority here, but I was unimpressed by Helmand and left fairly disappointed after reading all the great reviews here on yelp. Maybe it was just overhyped and my expectations were too high. the bread was great. I thought the kaddo (baked pumpkin) that everyone raved about was too sweet, although I did like the mantwo quite a bit. My entree - grilled beef with sides was disappointing. The beef was cooked medium - medium/well, which was IMHO a waste. Meh. Serivce was okay -- server was less than friendly, but adequate. It was good, but not great. I probably won't go back.
(2)Samantha G.
I had ordered over the phone and was told my order would be ready in ten minutes. When I showed up ten minutes later, we had to wait for an additional ten minutes for our food, so our experience with The Helmand didn't start off so well. There were also some problems with their credit card system so we had to wait for that too, which made us kind of unhappy, but I guess that's not really their fault. We had ordered the Chowpan and Kaddo and Banjan Challow. Both were ok and came with six pieces of bread, which was better than the food itself. I've eaten better Afghani food back home in LA and it was cheaper too. Overall, I might consider coming back here again but it wouldn't be a frequent thing; only when I'm craving Afghani food.
(3)F A.
This is such a unique restaurant. Love the atmosphere and food here. Their lamb (in any entree) is always delicious, and their flatbread basket is wonderful to start with. Casual, yet very nice as well. Never had Afgan food before this restaurant, but a definite must try!
(4)Mike O.
Great meals every time I go. Maybe it's because the Karzai family owns this place and insists on excellence? Everyone is right about the kaddo. I don't even like pumpkin and I love this dish. Love the flatbread. Dipping sauces are a bit liquidy for me, but they do pack a punch. The Qabelee (Afgan rice with raisins and lamb) is also quite good and surprisingly mellow.
(5)Veronica A.
Really reliable for good flavor. Love the living room/homey feel to this place and I can appreciate the parking that isnt so challenging. I go there often and am never disappointed.
(5)Sarav C.
Last evening, me and a bunch of friends dinned at Helmand. Since we were coming from work, we were are all tired, cranky and dressed in casuals. There is a back room which is lot quieter and smaller than the main room. We endedup getting a table in the backroom and it really helped us to relax and enjoy the evening. We ordered an appetizer and entrees for us and started chatting and having a good time. The food arrived in the order we asked for and they even accommodated our need to have a family style dinner. The service was excellent, courteous, pleasant and very close to home. its always refreshing to see smiling waiters and staff. Stuffed Sea bass, Trout and Eggplant pumpkin were our main courses. Every dish was well done and tasted heavenly. The ambiance was great and I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to try Afghani food.
(5)Derek B.
As someone who wasn't sure I'd even like Afghani food, I not only LOVED it, but am thinking of the next time I go back. To start, I don't even like pumpkin anything, but another friend ordered the kaddo, baked pumpkin, and I was in heaven. Despite the many foreign dishes and unknown ingredients, the wait staff was extremely helpful in making recommendations, educating us, and even finding great wines (also pretty reasonably priced) to pair with our choices. We had a large group of about 9 and benefited from ordering family style. Everything was so fresh, and while I never thought of Ravioli as an Afghani specialty, even that was amazing.
(5)Bill S.
Fabulous! Great vegetarian fare. Highly recommend it for anyone who wants a great dining experience. Excellent service, great presentation and above all excellent food. Ate there last night and if I return to Boston will certainly go back.
(4)Haley T.
A fantastic place for a nice date. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. However, reservations are a necessity. Waiting for seating is uncomfortable despite the provided couches-two is not enough. And don't come early either-in my two experiences here I had the misfortune of arriving early, and had to wait not only the 15 minutes before my reserved time but 20 more in on the sagging couch in the cold entrance hall. However, the food was well worth the wait. The pumpkin appetizer was very sweet on it's own-but apparently the yogurt sauce balances it perfectly. The menu offers a larger-than-usual selection for veggie folk. The vegetarian platter had diverse flavors and a pleasantly spiced rice. I thoroughly enjoyed the nan-a cross between a flavorful focaccia and indian naan. It's cooked fresh in a wood oven in the dining room. The other highlight was the baklava-I have yet to have a peice of baklava so rich and spicy! The turkish coffee was also a treat. I highly recommend the Helmand for omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike.
(4)Christopher M.
It's been 5-6 years since I've been at The Helmand and I hate to admit this but I think about the meal I ate there about once or twice a month. (yes, I know that is very sad, but it was that good. I had Chowpan (grilled lamb with sauteed eggplant and rice) and Kaddo (baked pumpkin with yogurt and ground beef). If you've never had Afghan cuisine (and if you have already tried Indian or Lebanese and enjoyed it) then you should try it. You will be pleasantly surprised. The next time I'm in Cambridge I will be eating at The Helmand.
(5)Cequesta K.
After itching to try something new, a friend and I decided to try our hand in some Afghan food, and I must say.....this place has been embedded in my brain ever since! The decor is really pretty, but for some strange reason has a very spanish vibe (which is odd considering it, you know....not a spanish restaurant) We started out with the Kaddo and let me just say that pumpkin yogurt+ ground beef= utter amazement! For an entree I ordered the lamb and spinich with okra (I forgot the actual name of it, sorry!) Which was laced with taste! (Cheesey I know, but damnit its the truth!) All and all my experience was great, look forward to going back!
(4)Alexandra B.
Dear. Sweet. Jesus. Afghan food is now on my list of top 5 cuisines. I have to say, it was a busy night, our waiter wasn't particularly attentive, but the quality and taste of the food more than made up for it. The bread and three dipping sauces were divine. All of the vegetarian appetizers were amazing. I'll be back again! And again. And again...
(5)Rayid G.
Excellent restaurant - probably the best afghani restaurant i've been to. The bread was great and fresh. The koufta challow was amazing - i'm going back there just for that!
(4)Allyson Y.
Oh how i miss you, Helmand! I moved 3,000 miles away, with no afghan fare near or far, but still dream of your kaddo bowrani, my absolute favorite! I have since learned to make my own kaddo (requiring the arduous effort of peeling, sauteeing, and roasting a pumpkin--can you can tell how often this happens?!), but it is no comparison. Until we meet again, Helmand!
(4)lesi w.
Very un-assuming restaurant hidden in Cambridge with great food and service. Went on a Monday evening and the place was packed, highly recommend getting reservations before hand. What we ate - Fresh made bread was amazing with many different dipping sauces. - The lamb and spinach was tender and delicious - Also had the pumpkin and eggplant dish. Which was also amazing. The pumpkin was sweet almost like desert, very good complement to the eggplant.
(4)Peter W.
I was glad that we made reservations. I was even more glad when I called and told them we were going to be 10 minutes late and it would be ok. We arrived and was surprised to see the placed packed. Not many restaurants can claim to be busy on a Tuesday night. Helmand's can. We had a couple of bottles of wine and main entree. We did not have time to try appetizers since we were running late. I had the Chow pan which is the only lamb dish served on the bone. It was well prepared, a fairly good portion, and very tasty. The rice was amazingly fragrant and fluffy. I look forward to coming to this place again!
(4)Adam E.
Delicious.
(4)S K.
The food here is very delicious! I've never been disappointed. Like everyone else is saying, try the: - Pumpkin, kadoo, and qabalee - if you like lamb, they have several options to choose from - overall, a great place, good food, nice atmosphere, and reasonable prices for a nicer type place.
(4)G J J.
Good food, great bread for appetizer. The fried turnover type appetizer was really great. As a vegetarian, I cannot rave about the meal itself. Perhaps it is really phenomenal for lamb lovers, since they seem to serve a lot of that. Otherwise good food and would certainly visit again - if not just for the appetizers and baklava dessert. Do not order the turkish coffee!! They don't know how to make this, and it is filled with cardamom and NO sugar...
(4)Ali A.
Staff was extremely helpful. Food was AMAZING. We didn't have a reservation on a busy saturday night and they still sat us within five minutes. This place is wonderful for vegetarians. It has an entire section of entrees just for veggies. The half carafe of wine was very reasonably priced, and good at that (we got white). I got the "special" vegetarian entree. It consisted of a plate of baked pumpkin, eggplant, spinach, rice, and okra. It was spiced very well. All of the flavors in the dish complemented each other. I work very close by and will definitely be returning.
(5)Heather G.
I finally made it here to try what everyone's been raving about. While I think it was a very good meal, I did not feel like it was a 5-star meal. For apps, we got the kaddo and the bowlawni. I will agree that the kaddo is delicious - easily the highlight of the meal. Though, if you're looking for light, pumpkin-y goodness, you won't find it in this dish. It is very rich and sweet, almost like pumpkin pie dessert before a meal. Nonetheless, it's a must-try but light eaters should think about sharing this app with a dining partner. The bowlawni was like a very skinny and flat Hot Pocket filled with potatos, spices, leeks, and scallions. This app was less-heavy and less-sweet, and had a good ratio of flaky-crust to filling. For entrees, we had both the Qabelee and the Chapendaz. The Qabelee was the better choice, as it was simple but had a very unique flavor combination that i'd never tasted before. The Chapendaz was basically just a thin piece of beef with some spinach rice and a bit of spiced-sauce. It wasn't bad, just very unremarkable. The beef was not of exceptional quality, so I'd stick with the lamb in the future. Overall, the apps really made the meal the most memorable, though i would order the qabelee again if I went back.
(3)Susan J.
My boyfriend and I have opposite tastes, so it can be tough for us to agree on a restaurant. I'm a vegetarian, and he loves a thick, juicy steak. But we could both find something good on the menu. I had the Kaddow (fried then baked pumpkin) with eggplant and callow rice, and the BF even tasted some of the rice and pumpkin off my plate because it looked that good (normally he wouldn't touch veggie-based food unless it was fried and breaded). It's usually crowded, but the atmosphere is warm and cozy, and the soft, warm bread is AMAZING!
(4)Chad F.
I have been here a few times for job-related dinners, and I enjoyed their food every time. It's a great place to take a visitor to. Very tasty.
(5)Solomon C.
My friend brought me here for my birthday, it's classy yet casual. The clay oven in plain sight is nice touch. It's not just for show, they actually make bread in it and the bread is phenomenal. I have Indian food fairly often and i have to say that this is very close, if not the same thing? I've never had afghani food so i don't know. The lamb lawand is pretty much a bland curry-like substance poured over lamb, potatoes and intricate spices with indian rice and spinach. They have a pretty extensive selection of international wines so you SHOULD find something you like. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)Stephanie G.
Ohhh I love this place. The food is delicious, decently priced, and they will give you as much bread as you want with fantastic sauces including a yogurt sauce. I love the vegetarian dishes, appetizers (especially anything with eggplant mush, sooo yummy), the salads, they just do the food really well. I was originally bummed that the cocktail options are not that great, then I reminded myself that this is an afghani restaurant. Last time I was there the service wasn't that great, but I'm hoping it was a fluke and giving it five stars anyway because it's delicious and fairly inexpensive.
(5)Liz H.
If you like meat that you can cut with a fork, please try the chapendaz. You won't be disappointed. I know it's hard when there are a bevy of other delicious lamb and beef options, but it was so good I had it twice in one week. The eggplant that comes with it is equally amazing. A solid full pour of house red for around $7 complements it well, and though my boyfriend and I can go through 7 baskets of bread we still ordered appetizers. I wasn't the hugest fan of the aushuk but the meat sauce that accompanied it was amazing. The mantwo were better. Baklava was different than european baklava (much nuttier and much less syrup) but still fantastic, as was the sheerekh (HIGHLY RECOMMEND). Nothing but good, good things to say. Definitely make a reservation.
(5)Blaise F.
One of those amazing restaurants that makes you eat slowly, like your subconsciousness is forcing you to savor the meal. Make reservetions in advance! They gratiously seated us after 30 minutes wait on a Thursday night. The vegetarian special is amazing and the house wine is surprisingly good as well.
(5)Peter Y.
One of the best restaurants I've been to in Boston. The food is fantastic! Many have mentioned the baby pumpkin and the lamb main courses as delicious, and I haven't had the pleasure of trying to meatballs yet. However, I can say that even the bread they give you is out of this world. It comes hot from this big open fire oven, and they give you three different sauces to dip it into. I thought that I was going to choke from eating so much bread, but I couldn't stop myself. Definitely worth a visit. Oh, and everything is reasonably priced too.
(4)Lauren H.
I have absolutely nothing with which to compare The Helmand, because it was my first foray into Afghan food. So this review might be about the restaurant, but it might also be about Afghan food in general. Either way, they are both freaking delicious. I have no idea what I ordered. I was a bit of a lost soul when looking at the menu, though I was put at ease when they had Anchor Steam (one of my all-time favorite beers) available. I think I ordered something that had yogurt and something that looked like pot-stickers, and that it was one of the most incredible things I've ever eaten. Highly recommend branching out and trying this place. I'm just sorry I waited so long.
(5)Ian D.
Was that Hamid Karzai over in the corner booth? Seriously, his brother owns the place and anytime Mr. President is in town, it is closed for a special family meal. Our Afghani roommate said his mother made better Lamb Challow, but not having any such comparisons to make, this was by far the best I've had. When our nation is engaged in military action overseas, we should feel a duty to experience the culture being engaged. Be a part of some gastro United Nations work by spending an evening at Helmand. Oh, amazing place for a romantic date.
(5)Emily L.
This restaurant is incredible! It's on the expensive side, but the food is wonderful! Everything is flavorful and fresh!
(5)JW B.
Having a hard time deciding on a rating for Helmand, since my experience ranged from high highs and low lows. The food was tremendous. Dips & bread are wonderful, as everyone claims. Around the table we shared two eggplant apps, the kaddo and the mantwo, all very very good. (Personally, I thought that the kaddo was sickeningly sweet, but I don't like sweet things...) I had the Showla for my main, a vegetarian dish with spinach stuffed poblanos and a rice/bean mixture that was like risotto - really yummy BUT pretty darn oily. Everyone else was pleased. The service though? Ugh. Not surly, but, blase - like they kept forgetting we were there. And how could you? Seven of us sitting at a round table in the middle of the room! It took a GOOD five minutes to get menus, and then at least another five for someone to come round with water & ask about drinks. Throughout the meal, trying to get our waiters attention to order more beers or get more water was a total joke. OK, it was Saturday night, but it was only 7pm - and there were staff & waiters everywhere buzzing around. Actually getting them to help you, though, was another story... I will admit that the service left a bad enough taste in my mouth to drown out the wonderful food tastes - and warrant questioning a return trip.
(2)Noopur S.
My experience here has been absolutely fabulous but only after I was seated. Mind you! I have been to this place ummmm one two many times;) Getting a reservation is near impossible task and the lady who answers the phone is so rude or perhaps just doesnt speak good English. Once you get here the seating takes so darn long ..... any day of the week!! Aah! But once you are past these hurdles the service is quick .... oooh!! I so love the fresh outta the oven flat bread and oooh! the sauces to go with it ... my favorites in order - green, red and white. I feel the appetizers are slightly smaller in portion than I'd like them to be but taste awesome anyway. My favorite in the main menu is the Mourgh (Chicken) Challow. It is so flavorful and there is always so much that I bring back a doggy bag each time:) I have always been so stuffed with my dinner that I never made it to the desert. This is defnitely not a cheap eat every week kinda place, although I might be guilty of that. But the prices are worth everything and more.
(4)Cecilia L.
I don't know how the Helmand manages to do such delicious things with food. People's eyes become stars when this place comes up. I've heard more than one person say it was the best meal they ever had. And incredibly affordable! I went here for the first time with a nice boy from match.com . Though the setting is super-romantic, nothing emerged between us. However, gastronomically it was amazing. I especially push the Helmand on vegetarians. I love meat but I would be happy eating the ravioli dish and the vegetarian mixed platter for the rest of my life. Order wine. Try to score a seat near the oven where you can watch them bake ginormous loaves of bread. And make a reservation -- we've had an hour wait on a Tuesday.
(5)Raphael K.
So delicious! Great vegetarian options as well! Went on a Friday night with two friends. Food prep took just the right amount of time.
(5)Jonathan D.
This place is straight up tasty. We came here last night after work and were seated within 10 minutes for a table for 5 - the place was busy but they tend to turnover their tables fast (great when waiting, not so great while enjoying your meal). We all shared the Kaddo appetizer - which according to their menu was a pan fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned w/ sugar and other great sauces. This was great, a must have, if you will. It's also just the right size and can be used as a dip for the bread they serve as well! For dinner I had to make a game-breaking decision between the Chowpan - rack of lamb and the Chapendaz - a beef tenderloin, and eventually went w/ the Chapendaz. Honestly, I don't think I could have made a better choice - the meat was cooked very well and had all the right flavors. The side portions of puree'd tomato and the like were also nice selections w/ the beef.
(4)Sami W.
A question: if a restaurant messed up your bill to your advantage, would you say anything, or keep your mouth shut, pay the bill and get the hell out as quickly as possible? My answer: Hell yeah!! (Especially when someone is out of work!) (they forgot to bill us for a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc) This was the first time I had Afghani food, and this place did not disappoint. We showed up at 8:30 for a 9pm dinner reservation on a busy Saturday night, and we were seated right away. We started off with the delicious eggplant appetizer (forgot the name). Then I ordered the Beef Kebab (forgot the name) which was amazing! The service was smooth and prices were reasonable. I had a great experience, not sure I'd give it 5 stars if it wasn't for that free bottle of wine! Definitely recommendable!
(5)Elaine M.
The other night, I was craving something ethnic and different for dinner, and opted to come here based on the excellent Yelp reviews for it as well as the fact that I had never had Afghan cuisine before. Being that it was a Friday evening and we did not have a reservation, we were told that the earliest table for two would be available in two hours. We weren't in any kind of rush, so we said that was fine, and we simply walked to the nearby Cambridgeside Galleria mall to shop and kill time. When we came back, we were seated immediately. Overall, the food hit the spot. It was definitely ethnic and different, and it was quite delicious. The bread reminded me of cut up pieces of Indian naan bread, and the green sauce (an evidently cilantro-heavy sauce) was my favorite of the 3 sauces they gave us. We started off with the kaddo as our appetizer, which I really liked. It was a pumpkin/garlic-yogurt/beef dish that exhibited multiple flavors like sweetness and tanginess all at the same time, yet it somehow all worked--and really well, I might add. My entree was the dwopiaza. The lamb was very flavorful, and I found the pallow (rice) to be quite addicting. For dessert, I ordered the bucklawa, which was realllllly sweet--a little too sweet for my tastes. Overall, I had a very good dining experience here. I just wish it were a little cheaper.
(4)Bob F.
Hidden Gem of Cambridge. I really have nothing to compare this to, because I've never tried Afghan food anywhere else, but I find this restaurant to be really unique and delicious. They have fresh-baked flatbread, with dipping sauces that alone is worth coming for (if you get pick-up, they'll give you the bread and dipping sauces as well). I always get the Mourgh Chicken w/ Salad; it's not that unique, but beats any grilled chicken salad I've had elsewhere. My favorite dishes are the appetizers, though, specifically the kaddo (fried pumpkin), Aushak (Raviolis), and Bowlawni (pastries with potato / meat - kinda like samosas). I recommend sampling one or a few of these if you go. The pumpkin is delicious, but hard to eat a whole plate of - better to share than get a plate of your own.
(5)Billy Su B.
helmand's mascot would be a baked sexy baby pumpkin. sweet buns, mm.. EAT: 1. kaddo- it's like a decadent candy appetizer. naughtly pumpkin. 2. bowlawini- scallion and leek stuffed shells, baked in an oven. hot PIZZLE, give me more. 3. THE BENDI- okra. SWEET MOTHER OF DONG, i'll have another i ate other things too, but those are the must-eat highlights. *VERY* veggie-tarian friendly, HOT HOT date spot. *great service go forth, embarrass yourself by ordering things you can't pronounce. to hell with chubby thighs and jiggly' buttcheeks, go over-eat.
(5)Paul G.
The food gets a 5, the ambiance only a three. After waiting 20 minutes at 9 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, we were ushered to a cramped table in a back room with a vaulted ceiling. The problem with vaulted ceilings is that the combine and amplify sounds. There was nothing on the wall and only a small rug on the floor to absorb the noise, so the crowded room was deafening. And because of the bouncing soundwaves, we were actually able to hear quiet conversations at tables across the room. Ambiance aside, the food was fantastic. We started with an appetizer of Mantwo, which consisted of two pastry shells filled with vegetables. The leek filling was particularly interesting. Main courses were koufta challow, a delightful blend of meatballs and a kind of Afghan pasta, and a wonderful plate of lamb chops and seasoned rice. The real surprise was the bakhlava. Being from Boston, we're familiar with the honey-drenched confection served at Greek-owned restaurants all over the area. So we were surprised to be served a thick, semi-dry pastry seasoned liberally with cardamon and pistachio. It was a completely different flavor from the standard Greek fare and a wonderful treat. Top that off with a bottle of South American wine at $18 and we had a complete dinner for two for $70 without tip. An outstanding value. If we could have heard each other talk, this place would have rated a five. As it was, the cacophany was too much of a negative to merit such a high rating.
(3)Rachel C.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this amazing restaurant? Incredible food, good service, extremely reasonable prices, vegetarian-friendly, wonderful wines, great atmosphere. This place has everything. Also, Make Reservations!! It gets packed in here.
(5)Purvi R.
*Sighhh...When can we go back to The Helmand?* As I am writing this review, over a month after I was here (bad Purvi R., bad) I can still taste the delicious bread and chutneys in my mouth. Goodness this place was delicious. I wholeheartedly, 1000% believe all the hype, and support it with this review. It is important to make reservations, but if you can't do that, send your boyfriend to wait for a table while the rest of your party arrives (thanks love). Luckily, we were seated right as I arrived making our party complete. I'm surprised that the waiter didn't have to whip out a washcloth right away, seeing as I was drooling the entire way to the table as I passed the wood-fire bread oven and saw what people had on their tables. We ordered up a bottle of red while mulling over the amazing menu and deciding on appetizers. And devouring the first round of bread...goodness those chutneys were amazing. Try the green with the yogurt...unreal. Ahem...where was I. Ah yes, we decided on sharing a couple of appetizers (vegetarian aushuk and kaddo) and each ordered up our food. Oh, the food. I got the showla, and it was ShowLoveAtFirstBite. If we hadn't gotten an order of bindi on the side, and if I hadn't housed like 4 baskets of their bread, I would have licked that damn plate clean. Luckily, I got my chance a couple of days later with the leftovers :) Another bottle of wine later, and lots of laughs and love-grunts about the food, the 4 of us concluded our meal way too full for dessert (sad!). But it's a meal I won't soon forget, and can't wait to do over. Epilogue: The one thing I did not absolutely love was the service. I thought it could have been much much better, and the waitstaff just didn't seem enthusiastic at all. If I worked around all this lovely food, I think I would just be so happy all the time, I don't understand.
(5)Shannon S.
My first Helmand experience was a good one. We arrived on time to the Helmand for our reservation for a table for 10 and were seated in about 10 minutes (they had to clear and reset the table from the last party) but the seating was comfortable. It's a cute little place. One large room a friendly, helpful staff. It was comfortable and subtle which I liked. We sat down and proceeded to look through the menu. I selected a bottle Pinot off the menu that was around $35. And started to look through the menu. There were a lot of things that grabbed my attention, but Russ and I eventually settled on getting the Kaddow ( Baked Pumpkin )side the Mantow desert (Homemade pastry shell filled with onions and beef. Served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce.) (Kaddow), he chose the Spicy Meatball entree, and I chose the Chopendez - Marinated tenderloins of beef with Rice and Vegetables. I greatly enjoyed everything I tried and found everything to be interesting, flavorful and delicious, but I was very taken with the Baked Pumpkin and also thought my entree were the highlights out of what we ordered. If I went back I'd get an appetizer & side of Baked Pumpkin because it really was so incredibly good! After being impressed by the food, I was shocked to go into the bathroom and discover that they were not quite as charming as the Helmand. They were small and unkept and very Allston bar style, if you catch my drift. A weird thing to comment on, but it gave me a pretty strong impression after so nice a meal. Overall, I'd say that it was affordable, delicious and might not make it into the most regular rotation, but I did have an enjoyable evening.
(4)Rose S.
If you are looking for something different from the usual French, Italian, Thai food... this is the place! Home made flat bread and wonderful flavors!
(4)Molly S.
Two friends and I came in at 6pm with no reservation - and the hostess didn't seem thrilled with that, but she brought us to the back room, and things only improved from there. Our waiter was friendly and attentive, and joked around with us as we worked out the Afghani pronunciations. The service was fast, the food was great, and the deserts were HEAVEN. Maybe it's just me, but do you ever have those nights were you just want desert and wine? Like, a lot of each? This is the place for it! I'm sure a few more go-rounds and I'll figure out what's what-around Afghani food. Very similar to Indian food, but different spices, methods, meats.
(4)Ellen C.
I would kill for their kodda recipe. Baby pumpkin has never been so delicious. My mom and I had dinner at the Helmand last night, and there was not one thing wrong the experience. Not one. We had reservations (which you need, even on a weekday evening -- the place was busy), and we were seated immediately. Our waiter - a sweet older man - was there with menus and a water pitcher within seconds, and back a couple minutes later to take our drink order. (Two glasses of the house sauvignon blanc. I don't know a thing about wine, but it was tasty.) The dining room is large and decorated with what looks to be authentic Afghan artwork, crafts, and copperware. It's pretty but not gaudy, with high ceilings and fresh flowers on every table. There's plenty of space between tables, so you're not squeezing by anyone to get to the restroom, and there are sofas and chairs for people who are waiting to be seated. We split the kodda appetizer, which was the best thing I've tasted in years. I'm so not kidding -- this beats Cuchi Cuchi's garlicky shrimps any day, and I love me some garlicky shrimps. For the main course I had the kourma challow and my mom had the beef mantwo (large ravioli stuffed with beef and onions). Both were wonderful -- interesting spices, hot but not too spicy, generous portions. And all the food came out FAST. No waiting around, even though they were very busy. I'll be back, often, with many friends. You should go too.
(5)Mimio G.
Helmand offers outstanding, authentic and tasty afghan food. Surprisingly this place is very reasonable on your wallet for the service and food that you receive. Booking essential. Highly recommended.
(5)Joie G.
Wow! I'm in town for a conference and this place was highly recommended by our instructor and the concierge. This is my first time eating in an Afghan restaurant but I have had Afghan food at a friend's house. We started with the Bowlani (pastry filled shells with leeks and potatoes), Banjan (eggplant) and Kadoo (baby pumpkin). We had bread with the three dipping sauces - a yogurt mint base, chilles tomato base and a cilantro, vinegar, oil. They were all flavorful and I could not decide which one is my favorite. We ordered the Mourgh Challow (boneless chicken with split pea, curry, yogurt) and the Vegetarian Special. For desert, we tried the Pudeen and Feereney. I highly recommend you add this to the top of your "must do" list in the Boston area and make a reservation. Parking is a little difficult and the "T" can get you there easily too. Everything was perfect.
(5)Archana V.
What can I say that 450 other reviews did not?! Helmand is the kind of restaurant you want to take out of towners to so they understand how awesome Cambridge is! I've been here over 5 times and never had a bad experience. I've tried all of their lamb dishes and a fried trout special and liked everything. I especially love the mildly spiced fragrant rice that comes as a side with most dishes. Yes, it's pricey but its really good food!
(5)Clodel G.
This one of the places where it's good, but it wouldn't be my priority to go back here. Soooo. It's just okay. Pluses were the Afghan bread and the cinnamon flavored rice. Lamb was good. But the service felt like TGIFriday in an Afghan restaurant.
(3)RJ U.
Excellent food. I second everybody's good reviews of the place. I haven't been there recently but had gone several times between 2001 and 2006 when I'd lived there or when I'd visit friends in Boston. I still remember the challow, the kebabs, the chowpan of lamb, the manto (mantwo?), and desserts containing pistachios (I'm forgetting names, sorry). This basically could be a 5 or a 4.5, but I've already raved about so many other things on Yelp, and frankly, the food is overshadowed by the Persian restaurant Lala Rokh, across the river in Boston.
(4)Stephen Y.
The Helmand is one of the places I bring out of town guests to blow them away with the quality of the food available in Cambridge. All their dishes show an excellent sensibility for how flavors work together. This is most evident in their popular kaddo, which combines candied pumpkin, tangy yogurt sauce, and well spiced beef together in a fascinating medley. As far as the other entrees go, all the lamb dishes I've tried have been very well prepared, making use of the strong flavor of lamb without letting it become overpowering.
(5)Mike T.
Okay, I went to this place on many recommendations, and it was good. The flatbread they give you at the beginning of the meal is pretty awesome (don't eat it all, you'll want to save a bit to mop up your entree). I had the beef mantwo as my appetizer-- big, hearty dumplings. And, like everything on the menu, served with yogurt. Well, not EVERYTHING. But if you don't like yogurt, probably best to eat somewhere else. I had koufta... well, basically, the afghan version of malai kofta as my entree. Only it had meat in it. Specifically, spicy meatballs in a rich, peppery sauce. It was very good, but not amazing. I think that's my take on Helmand in general. Good, but not quite outstanding. I found the food and atmosphere pleasant, but won't be coming by regularly. Sidenote: Portions are large here, everyone in my party of 3 needed doggie bags.
(3)Renee H.
This is a great place to take people. Awesome atmosphere! You walk in and it feels like you were just welcomed into some one's personal dining room. It was such a warm feeling. The appetiser was just okay. We had the Bowlani. I didn't like the breading too much, and the spinach stuffing was a little too strong. The main coarse and bread w. sauces more than made up for it! I had the Kabuli, and it was great. The flavor is cooked in, there was no sauce, but it was delicious and there was a huge portion of lamb. The carrots were a little too sweet for me, but mixed in were a nice touch. My sister had the Mourgh Challow which was DECADENT!! This is my suggested eat here! It tastes like a curry, but different. So yummy. Unfortunately there was no room for dessert. One thing I would have liked is some kind of special Afghani drink, like a special tea, or rose drink, or something like that.
(4)Emily O.
Really, really delicious Afgan cuisine. I am familiar with Persian food and recognized some of the same flavors in Helmand's dishes. Although I was a bit apprehensive about the kaddo due to mixed reviews, I ended up loving it. A hefty slice of pumpkin is served with yogurt sauce and finely minced beef on top. No Aunt Libby's here- the pumpkin is custardlike, savory, and works well as a root vegetable with the meat sauce. The "mantwo" (beef pie) was extremely flavorful. The Koufta Challow (beef meatballs) were meaty and rich, and served on a HEAPING pile of challow rice. The Qabelee was quite good- lots of unexpected flavors, like cinnamon and allspice. I am not normally a fan of raisins, but those in the Qabelee were a lovely addition. Ambience was interesting. We were seated near the wood-burning oven, where a chef was preparing flatbreads by hand. I enjoyed mine with the cilantro pesto sauce, a nice deviation from butter (although the butter at Helmand is sweet and high-quality). Highly recommended! Don't forget to make reservations.
(4)Ren T.
Simply put..this is an orgasm for your mouth. Medium sized nondescript place (meaning a ninja would have a hard time finding it), always packed for dinner. You have to call and make reservations ahead of time. Fatty American sized portions also await you. mmm yeah.
(5)Sandra C.
Nice restaurant that serves Afghanistan food. The only place I know of in Boston. Their meat dishes can turn out a little dry, but their vegetable dishes are wonderful. Dress is a little nicer than casual, but you can wear jeans and it's fine. They also have great deserts like Baklava, rice pudding, etc. Their bread is really delicious and it comes with three wonderful dipping sauces. I recommend getting the mantwo it is delicious!
(4)Arik C.
Such a great deal for a night out. Afghani food is similar to Indian but with its own style. Paid $70 for 2 apps, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. Can't beat it! Very diverse and friendly staff and the place is packed. Highly reccomend it.
(5)Michael B.
Not sure if it lives up to the hype, but the food was pretty good. I ordered the Kadoo (the pumpkin appetizer) and Aushak (leek ravioli entree). The bread before the meal was delivered quickly and had a hint of a nutty savory flavor of its own, like naan but better. I was seated right in front of the baker, who was churning out loaf after loaf of bread right in front of me. Wasn't too happy that he was touching the cooked bread right after handling the raw dough, but decided to chance it. Anyway, service was very prompt - the Kadoo came only a couple of minutes after I ordered it. The pumpkin was amazing, as was the yogurt sauce. I didn't order the dish vegetarian (they let you do that), because I wanted to try the "authentic" dish on my first try, but the beef detracted from rather than adding to the dish. I'd definitely recommend the appetizer, but get it without the beef. The Aushak took longer to come out, and I was less impressed by this dish. While the appetizer was a delicious melding of flavors, this just tasted like its raw ingredients put together. There was none of that delicious food synergy going on. It was still a good meal and the portions were sizable, but I'd probably try something else on the menu next time. Service was friendly and attentive, food was good, portions were quite filling, and price was about what I'd expect for an "exotic" restaurant in this area. Overall, it was a good experience, and I look forward to going back next time I'm in the area.
(4)Min L.
This place was recommended to me as a good restaurant to try out with my best friend on her birthday. I enjoyed the meal so much that in the months following this meal, it became THE place for me to bring people on special occasions. I've tried various things each time, and I've decided that the following dishes combined make a perfect meal at The Helmand: appetizer: kaddo (the pumkin dish everyone raves about) entree: qabelee (rice baked with lamb tenderloin, raisins, and glazed juienne carrots) dessert: turkish coffee and sheerberaing (rice pudding) The kebab dishes are a close second for best entrees, and in the event that I'm not as excited about the stuff I order (which has only happened once so far), I'm still happy that I went because the oven baked bread + dipping sauces are SO AMAZING and totally worth the trip over. The place is always packed when I'm there (the wait is long without a reservation) and some of the tables are too close together, but all in all, the seating is cozy and I usually realize by the end of the meal that the place has emptied out without my noticing.
(5)Kevin B.
Everything is delicious, service is excellent. Often busy - make a reservation. Ignore the desolate surroundings, east cambridge needs customers!
(5)Morgan F.
Finally made it here the other night -- and I was impressed! As a vegetarian there were LOTS of good and yummy options and for not too expensive. Tyler B and I had to go back and work after -- so we passed on wine, but they had a GREAT wine list with prices that were really reasonable. It was much nicer than I imagined -- and except for a very loud MIT undergrad discussing the politics about big pharma companies she undoubtedly just learned that day in class, there was a great feel to the place. In the end we walked away having spent less than $40 with tip for the two of us to each have a full dish and split an appetizer -- and we even had leftover to bring home!
(5)Russel S.
Forgot about this place! Haven't been here in a while and let me tell ya, on a cold snowy evening like this one, there aren't many establishments that are as inviting as Helmand. OK, the big reason this place is so excellent on a cold night is that they have this giant oven right off of the main dining area and it keeps the whole place nice and toasty. And the food doesn't suck neither. Alright, so instead of my typical vague you-should-go-here-cause-the-food-is-so-awesome type review, I'm gonna do the play by play/ instant replay since I just ate there tonight: For appetizers, in my party of three, we shared the following: *mantwo - kind of like a peking ravioli but with tomato and yogurt sauce *kaddo - if you've ever had middle eastern food, this is like pumpkin kibby, it's fairly sweet too, it came with the same tomato beef sauce as the mantwo *banjan - kind of like the kaddo, but with eggplant instead Also, the apps were accompanied by the nan-like bread that they bake right there in the oven next to the dining area. You get three dips/sauces for your bread: a yogurt dip, a spicy red pepper dip and a vinegar/cilantro. dip. Let's just say, I stuffed my face with the appetizers. Seriously, if my dinner friends had gotten up to go the bathroom, I would have eaten everything. OK, maybe not, but I would have eaten more than my fair share. They would have come back and been like, "did you eat ALL the kaddo?" and I woulda had to say some ridiculous shit like, "oh sorry, I didn't think you liked that one." Anyway, back to the menu. The play by play: I had the Sabzi Challow for my entree. Now, if you've had Indian food before, imagine saag paneer plus lamb chunks and minus the cheese. The entree also included some okra in a tomato sauce and challow rice. The replay: the lamb was cooked perfectly tender and moist. The spinach was delicious and really tasted like Indian saag (in a good way). The okra reminded me of Armenian dishes I've had before - very squishy and tasty- I know okra ain't for everybody, it does have a funny texture, I like it. I don't know what challow means, but in my book it means delectable. The rice had a nice fluffy texture and flavor that was almost like saffron. Overall, very satisfying. After all the appetizers I had wolfed down, I couldn't even finish my Sabzi Challow. OK, I did finish it, but then I felt gluttonous. Just because I couldn't stop the momentum at that point, I also rocked the sheerberaing, which is a rice pudding with cardamon and pistachios. You pretty much could serve me dog food as long as you sprinkled some pistachios on it, so I wasn't disappointed on that front either. To be fair to the rest of ingredients, the sheerberaing, as a whole, was delightful. OK, that sounds kind of gay to say delightful, but that sounds kind of homophobic to say delightful sounds gay, so let's just say I liked it a lot OK? Thank you. Alright, so the next time you're trying to figure out where to go to eat, go here. It's great food. One last tidbit - what I find interesting about Afghan food is that it totally makes sense geographically. With Afghanistan being between Iran and rest of the Middle East on one side and Pakistan/India on the other, you absolutely see the blending of those cuisines. You got your kibby and your saag. You get baklava and your nan. You have the. . .OK, maybe that's not so interesting, my dinner friends didn't think so either. Social studies class is over. Class dismissed. Don't forget your homework: EAT AT The Helmand. SOON.
(5)Ming C.
I was tenacious about trying Afghan food. But it's worth the try! It comes with Nan (I think that's how you spell it) Flat bread made fresh. You watch it being baked. It comes with three dipping sauces, Red Spicy, Cilantro sauce and its mild, and this yogurt based white sauce. Three equally good, but my bf and I loved the Cilantro one the best. The bread was so addicting. Both my bf and I love meat. He tried the lamb chops and I had the beef kabobs. They have two kinds of rice, so make sure you read it and see which you like best. Both dishes were delicious. They equaled out all the flavors. And to freshen up your palette, they have a steam pear. It was not sour nor spiced up. It was really simple and good. I hate this portion of mushy red stuff, it was good. It was like curry, but not really. And it wasn't spiced up either. It's pricy. But well worth it to try something unique! You can park across the street from the restaurant. Once you walk in, the hostess will ask you where you parked. I'm sure they give you some sort of ticket. Unfortunately I didn't know about it first hand.I heard they had a private lot because of the reviews from below, but I couldn't find it. So apparently it's in the garage across the street.
(5)Barney B.
Long overdue review. very meat-focused - in fact if you look at their online menu, one of the vegetarian items is covered in ground beef sauce - ok this is obviously a mistake, but it leads you to believe that it won't be as veggie-friendly as Indian food. And of course, that's where the comparison to indian food should stop, because even though the names of the dishes seem similar to the anglified names at your typical Punjabi offerings, there really is no comparison. and that's ok - even though I love Indian food - I think I love Afghani food as well. The use of pumpkin in so many dishes seemed appropriate for this time of year. the ravolis tasted out of this world - and the grains were hearty, without seeming bland the decor/vibe felt a bit odd though. I have read reviews taht the fireplace adds a bit of warmth to the place, but I didn't feel it. The room is a bit too cavernous to have anything remotely like a cozy feel - and the tables are a bit close to each other, which to me is less-than-comfortable. but a return visit is guaranteed, because the service and nosh were dead on and the menu was unlike anything you can find in the plethora of copy-cat restos out there. what more can you ask for in a dining experience?
(4)Shivani G.
Our trip to Helmand on Friday was like revisiting my first kiss with my husband-- it was sweet, exciting and full of potential for future happy moments. As always, we were greeting by a happily not to long wait on a bustling Friday night. The wait was pleasant because, according to my husband, we sat on the world's most comfortable restaurant couch. At our table, we were quickly served a basket of warm bread and condiments consisting of a yogurt raita, a fire-roasted pepper sauce and a coriander chutney. I think all would agree that you could just have these two things and leave Helmand a happy customer. We ordered the vegetarian kaddoo in which pumpkin is prepared into a candied state that could be called a confection. I had the roasted poblano stuffed with spinach and black eyed pea pilaf. My husband had a lamb dish. We each savored each bite so that our senses were satiated with half of our dishes and we were treated with the leftovers for lunch today. The woman who packed up our dinner was even kind enough to pack up the bread for us. Yay for elegant cuisine that cradles its patrons without pretention! I hope we make Helmand a regular treat.
(5)Alena D.
I wish I would have had a better experience, but I thought this place was awful. That being said, my friend loved it and thought it was very authentic and well done. I personally did not like the food, I also dislike Indian cuisine for similar reasons. However, there were several major problems with the restaurant that were not food related: 1. They didn't have half of the menu available. (Fair enough, business must be good) 2. The servers rushed us to order, did not pick up used plates or silverware. (Touche, it was about an hour before closing and I'm sure people were antsy to get home.) 3. Our waiter broke the cork of our wine into the bottle and then served it to us. I had large and small pieces of cork floating in my drink. (Delicious.) Then on to the food. What I don't particularly like about Indian food and apparently Afghani cuisine (at least the American version) is the homogenization of the plates. It's huge bowl of many ingredients mashed together into one large plate of liquefied food. This was very much the same experience. The flavor was good (except for the okra which was just hands down disgusting) but it was incredibly boring to eat and the servings were way too large. Not worth $70 for two people. Beginning to end, it was a disappointment.
(2)Sara S.
Came here to celebrate my favorite Yelper, Susie A's, birthday. Yay! Sus is obsessed with pumpkin AND trying new and different places, and seeing that The Helmand is known for their pumpkin dish and she'd never been here, I thought this would be the perfect place to celebrate. It was pretty darn good. The first thing you notice is the cozy, intimate setting of The Helmand. You literally feel like you are dining in someones living room. I love watching the 'breadmaker' making huge "loafs" of flat Afghan bread, similar to Indian Naan, but a little more crisp and salty. I could eat just the bread and sauces alone! We started with vegetarian Aushak- two medium sized dumplings filled with scallions, served with yogurt mint and yellow split peas. They were very good, healthy, and a great start to the meal. I'm a big texture person, and I love the wrapping of the Aushak dumplings- chewy, but thin. All the flavors meld perfectly, without anything being too spicy or overwhelming. For my main course, I had the Mourgh Kabab- Char-broiled marinated chicken breast, served with sauteed spinach and pallow. The chicken was similar to any typical Middle-Eastern kabob, but slightly dry. I prefer my chicken dry, but I can see some people not being happy. The sauteed spinach was great- similar to Saag from an Indian restaurant, but without the heaviness of cheese or heavy yogurt. Rice was great, and it also came with a half of a grilled red pepper, green pepper, and pear (!). As a side dish, I got the vegetarian Kaddoo (the real reason why we came in the first place)- pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce. I was suprised that the Kaddoo was chunks of pumpkin, unlike other places I've been where it's mashed. Anyhow, the flavor was great, but very, very sweet. Almost like a dessert! Overall, a great dining experience. I would love to give The Helmand five starts, but the service was incredibly rushed. While we were enjoying our bread and leftover sauce from our appetizer, the waitress rushed in and attempted scooped up my friends plate. Then, when I was finishing my meal, my plate was picked up mid-chew. I do NOT like to dine rushed. I will be back to try all their vegetarian offerings, as well as their seafood. Oh, and maybe to pick up a huge slab of their bread for my next house party. Think they'd let me?
(4)tina y.
Damn, I think they put crack in their food. When you're eating it, it's basically like good, solid, Middle Eastern home cooking, right? Expertly seasoned, cozy dishes along the lines of roasted lamb, spiced rices, pureed tomatoes with onion and eggplant, etc. Pretty normal stuff. Except it's not just good, it's ridiculously excellent. I had no idea even a simple broiled tomato could taste so good. It's just like a whole tomato, with char marks on it and whatnot, but that tomato, my friend, it is a Tomato of Ultimate Pleasure. And, to be absolutely repetitive, their kaddo is remarkable. Today I am eating leftovers, and I am still astounded by how good this food is. In fact, I am having trouble eating my lamb kebab--I do not want to swallow it. HIGHLY recommend reservations, even on Monday night, unless you think standing outside for 40 minutes, staring at other people gorging themselves on delicious food, is fun.
(5)Emily S.
Mmmmmmmmmmm.... For me, ambiance is often more important than food. I went to the Helmand with some acquaintances from college I hadn't seen in forever and this was the perfect setting. Upscale ambiance without being cold, intimidating or pretentious. It made us feel like adults but had enough warmth to facilitate nostalgic reminiscing. The only thing off about it was that the table layout was hard to navigate around coming, going, and heading to the bathroom, but part of that probably stems from the fact that the tables are laid out in a way that evokes a banquet. When a restaurant puts all their tables in a row it can feel industrial. Service was what I will describe as "unrushed." It seemed a little slow but I think that's just in comparison to your standard TGI Fridays turn-them-damn-tables hyperactive waiting attitude. The servers were courteous and let us take our time. We sat around talking for too long after our meal and never felt like we were being pushed out. And the food? OMGz. I'd never had Afghan food before so I have no idea what I'm talking about, and I liked some things better than others, but good lord the Kaddo was like candy. And the bread and sauces alone are worth going for. I liked the food, could totally eat it again in a heartbeat, but what wowed me was the experience as a whole rather than any particular dishes. The deserts looked amazing but we were so stuffed by the time it came to order desert that we passed. The menu can be a little limiting if you don't like lamb because 60% of their non-vegetarian menu is lamb. But they have many vegetarian options.
(5)Chi N.
Bread when you sit down: Awesome. Appetizer: Fantastic. Dinner: Lovely. Dessert: Just right. Cost: Very affordable. Service: What the f---? Did these people graduate from the McDonalds school of waitering and pissing customers off. I used to be a regular to Helmand and never have I consistently noticed service this bad. Honestly, this place would be run by the IRS and you'd get better service. I know we bombed their country and all, but I'm not even white, and it still feels like I'm Genghis Khan'ing their villages everytime I go there (what, too soon?). But really the food is *very* good and almost makes up for the fact they probably spit in it. So definitely go if you haven't been, this place is quite the Afghani bomb (what, too soon, again?).
(4)Annie P.
I would go back here just for the Banjan. Don;t know what that is without going to their menu and looking at the descriptions? What are you??? Not cultured??? Joke. It's actually "Pan-fried eggplant seasoned with spices, then baked with fresh tomatoes, served on yogurt garlic mint sauce." and it's a killer melt in mouth appetizer. We all picked different entrees and was pleased to find the nicely plated dishes were none the same in taste. Our tastebuds sure had explosions of flavor here and there. Go for a bottle of red if you're going lamb-ed out. Even after reading about the bad service but great food everyone bluntly talks about.. we went here for a birthday celebration anyway. Calling for reservations due to their popularity was a pain in the ass. As long as you don;t have more than 4 people.. just walk in. Service during dinner was off a little but nothing to go sour about... well.. for some reason.. and this is why I've been hesitant about going back.. and this can get gross so watch out....... all four-six of us had to run to a bathroom after our meals. Like immediate action please run. Also they have a FULL BAR even though it is nowhere to be seen. How do I know this? The waitress shamelessly told us about 5 billion times.
(3)Paul B.
Amazing setting and incredible food! Run do not walk. Delicious appetizers especially the ravioli and baby pumpkin. You will flip for the homemade bread and sauce tray.
(5)Joe R.
Excellent Afghan restaurant near the Cambridgeside Galleria. Just about the only thing you could fault this place on is location - it's kind of far from anything else. Service was great, the decor is unique & interesting, it has that hip vibe, and every one of the six or so dishes I split with friends was outstanding. DO NOT MISS the pumpkin dishes if you eat here. Being a midwest kid, I barely even knew pumpkins were edible until I hit Burma Superstar in SF. Helmand works more wonders with this gourd than a tribe of New Guinea natives.
(5)Tikkatikka m.
The service, even over the phone is abhorrent! We called to make reservations for a table of 6, the woman was curt and said that if we had even one less than our full reservation she would not seat us and she will be working that night so she would know! Talk about vindictive without reason.
(1)Adam W.
Fantastic, interesting food at very reasonable prices. Also, plenty of vegetarian options for those interested in that. Also, very interesting ambiance.
(5)Jessica R.
Right across the street from the den of corporate sin known as the Cambridgeside Galleria you will find the Helmand. I went there on a date with a guy from okcupid that didn't go too well. But the food sure was tasty! A surprising number of choices for vegans are featured on the menu. The food is sort of like indian, but not.
(4)Joan D.
I had read reviews similar to the ones here, so went to Helmond with sky-high hopes. Perhaps I was expecting too much? Both times I dined there I left quite satisfied, but not gushing with praise. The dishes, particularly the pumpkin ones mentioned here, are very good. And the bread is way better than your average bread basket. If you are at the Cambridgeside Galleria and hungry, you should DEFINITELY go here. But.... on both visits the the service was a bit brisk, making me feel rushed in and out the door.
(3)Roshni R.
i first dropped in on the helmand back in '01 at the recommendation of a friend--back then it was just beginning to bustle with word of mouth excitement. the food is truly superb--take the basics of persian cuisine but infuse it with the zest of indian spices, and you have the beginnings of afghan fare. the roast pumpkin with meat sauce appetizer may sound bizarre, but it tastes heavenly. they also serve a full-grain bread (kind of like pita) with various sauces (red, green, and yoghurt). the entrees are mostly meat based, seasoned to perfection. the decor combines minimalist islamic elegance with asiatic brightly colored washes--a lovely balance.
(5)Angie B.
When I lived in Cambridge a few years ago, the Helmand was one of my favorite restaurants. It really set the standard for Afghani food for me, and every other Afghani restaurant I've been to, even in Fremont CA, has not been as good. Since I am in town visiting relatives, I thought I'd try the Helmand again to see if it is still as good as it was. I was not disappointed. The Qabalee was amazing -- this is the only place I've been to that caramelizes the julienned carrots on this dish, and it really makes it. I also tried the Kaddow, and thought it was delicious, if a teeny bit too sweet. Another great thing about this restaurant that I never knew before (when I was carless) is that there is actually a small parking lot across the street. When you come into the restaurant, you can get a free parking permit to park there for 2 hours. If you are driving in from the burbs, this is a huge help.
(5)Juliette V.
It is a unique alternaitve to your traditional american meat and potatos kind of place. The meats are well seasoned and grilled nicely. The veggie dishes are delicately prepared. The atmosphere is romantic with white table linens and flower centerpieces.
(3)Kunney T.
I am a picky eater. I don't discriminate when it comes to putting things in my mouth, but I sure as hell distinguish a lot. Up until Helmand, I have yet to find a place that made dishes consistently well. I could not find a flaw with any of the dishes here - whether it be texture or taste. Fresh flat bread, made from an oven exposed to the public less than 50 feet from any open table. The BEST pumpkin I've ever eaten. Lamb perfectly cooked and flavored. I can go on and on and on. If I only had one place to eat at when I'm in Boston, this is it.
(5)Tim C.
I was very impressed with this place. The decor and ambiance are both great. We came here on a Sunday night and the place was pretty packed, luckily we had reservations and were seated immediately. Even though the place was packed, it did not feel cramped at all given that the tables have plenty of space between them and the high ceilings of the restaurant. We had the Afghan ravioli to start, it was excellent. The warm bread and sauces were great as well. I had the Theeka Kabob as my entree and it was sooo good. This was my first time having Afghan food and I was very impressed. I noticed that they also have a restaurant in San Francisco, so I'll definitely try and hit them up again when I'm out there.
(4)Meganarama n.
The food here is PHENOMENAL but the rest detracts from their stars! If you have never had Afghan food, you really must go here but be sure to call ahead for a reservation!! They rarely can accommodate walk-ins. Also, it behooves you to arrive early because there really is no parking available and if you are so much as 30 seconds late, the very unfriendly host or hostess (I have dealt with both) will disallow your reservation. Seriously, I had a reservation for ONE and they refused me when I arrived one minute late. They could not have possibly had a table ready one minute earlier but they did not care. If the food were not so damned delicious and if this were not the only Afghan restaurant around, I would have told them where they could shove my reservation but alas - I was at the mercy of the Afghan equivalent of the soup-nazi! You should cooperate to the fullest and perhaps never look them in the eye and maybe even back away slowly as you leave but DO go here and try the yummiest food you could ever imagine! I actually have reservations about posting this review for fear of being recognized and possibly banned from the establishment. If that happens, I'll have to send my good buddy Elaine in to retrieve my take-out... hopefully she won't screw it up for me!
(3)Alex Z.
Expect to wait, even if you have a table reserved. The dining room is loud, but still manages to feel cozy somehow. The fresh baked flat bread is fantastic. As is the food, excellent, home made, simple, but tasty. The wait staff are generally sub par, but it still makes for a good experience. The food is very affordable and well priced.
(4)Reid F.
Excellent preparations of Afghani food, including a wonderful Qabele. Overall, fine food in a clean, pleasant environment.
(4)Christopher S.
Havne't been in years but still remember it being delicious. Perhaps Boston's MOST authentic Middle Eastern cuisine (so I'm told by friends who've lived in Iran).
(4)Ryan L.
This place does get busy and you will probably need a reservation to get a seat but the food is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Decor is swank with a little middle eastern flair. can't go wrong here, just be sure you make reservations.
(5)Rachel D.
oh HELL YES! Helmand is my top choice whenever i come back to Cambridge to visit my family. make sure you get the kaddo - baby pumpkin topped with ground meat and yogurt sauce. it's gasp-out-loud delicious.
(5)E. A.
This restaurant has excellent food, that is flavorful and the portions are pretty big, too. My one complaint is that each time I have gone here, the waitstaff try to rush you through dinner. They try to take your entire order drinks, appetizers, and main course very quickly. This time, we had gone with friends and really wanted to make a night out of the dinner. When the waitress came over, I asked if we could please order some wine and appetizers and order the main course after that. She said that the food comes out right away, and they liked people to order all together. I said that we didn't want the meals to come out right away, and that was why we wanted to space out the ordering. She asked if we had a reservation, to which I asked "why is there a time limit on the table." She replied that there was and that we had to order all together, but she would try to space it out for us. She also brought white wine and wasn't able to chill it until most of the bottle was gone and then handed me the bucket instead of putting the wine in. She also did not pour the wine. Again, the food is great, but the service is rushed.
(3)Rachael K.
This place is amazing! Excellent atmosphere, great menu, fantastic service... Tasca in Brighton was my favorite place for a long time but it has been replaced by Helmand, thanks to the great service and really interesting food. We can't wait to go back and try more of the dishes!
(5)hilary c.
Amazingly tasty food at reasonable prices. Higher end feel to the design, decor and table amenities. Watch the bread makers handle baking sheet plus sized pieces of bread in the clay oven. Try the dessert that is the Afghani equivalent of baklava. So dense you can cut it with the side of your fork and it doesn't fall apart, so enjoy slice after slice.
(4)buckminster f.
this place lives up to the hype as concerns their hearth baked bread and pumpkin appetizer. they have an employee whose job it is to solely attend to the bread oven. what a blessing he is. the three sauces that accompany the bread are truly delightful. my favorite is the green one, which is a perfect blending of tart, sweet, and spicy. we also got the leek ravioli, which was not as tasty as the pumpkin but still very good. i loved the combo of yogurt and ground beef/tomato sauce on both appetizers so much i had to use the bread to lick the plates clean. the entree- we shared the meatball in tomato sauce- was less stunning. it tasted almost like a mashed up, oversauced meatloaf. still, the worst part of the meal was the "homemade" cake we had for dessert, which was basically a waste of stomach space. next time, we'll go and order off the appetizer menu and get dessert someplace else.
(4)Omoniyi A.
My absolute FAVORITE restaurant in the Boston area. There is nothing on this menu that is not fantastic. The best dish is the kaddo which is brown sugar, pumpkin, yogurt, and ground beef togther - doesnt sound right but it is honestly the best thing you will ever put in your mouth. Helmands is pricey and Ive been told difficult to get a table at (although ive eaten there several times with mo problem) so book in advance, maybe just for a special occassion. But seriously this is an eating experience not to be missed. And again go hungry, because the complimentary bread is so amazing you will eat extra just to hold yourself over until the next time you get to have some again.
(5)Sarah G.
I had never had Afghani food before, and absolutely loved this. I was coming straight from the gym so opted for take-out over staying there, but the atmosphere there was warm and inviting with a comfy leather to sit on and wait. I wasn't sure what to order, so asked for suggestions from the hostess. She told me that the Showla was popular, so I opted for that, along with the Aushak and the Bowlawni. Everything was SO tasty! I'm definitely coming back here. The flatbread that came with the meal came with three dipping sauces, and the green and red sauces were superb. The red sauce was sweet at first, but then came back and had quite a kick at the end. I love when the flavor of a sauce changes like that. The Bowlawni (something like a filled flatbread) were delicious, but I must say that the potato one was much better than the leek and scallion filled one. Leek and scallions also filled the Aushak (a ravioli), but for some reason the filling tasted much better in the ravioli than in the Bowlawni. The Showla was insanely good - somewhat of a mishmash of rice and beans and a filled poblano pepper - but didn't have any of the kick I was expecting from the poblano (the hostess had mentioned that it was spicy), but perhaps that was just due to the peppers that night. All in all, an excellent meal!
(5)Alyssa H.
Like the Helmand needs another stellar review! This restaurant is just so good. The wait staff is friendly and so efficient. No sooner have you sipped your water, or finished an appetizer when someone gracefully swoops in and removes your dirty plate, or refills your drink. But I come here for the food. Reasonably priced, and so delicious. My favorite is the baked pumpkin with yogurt and tomato meat sauce. Upon my last visit i tried the raviolis filled with leeks topped with yogurt sauce - I was not disappointed. The bread is divine - freshly baked in their clay oven. The wine list has a range that can fit in anyone's budget.
(5)Alex K.
Excellent Afghan restaurant not far from MIT. The service is excellent, the food comes out quickly, and the experience is overall excellent. Every dish had a unique and delicious flavor and combined together to form a solid meal. The wine list is extensive and very reasonable, it is worth selecting a wine to complement your meal. Will certainly be returning to this place.
(4)Alexandra L.
Helmand is another restaurant that graces the same block as my office - if only it was open for lunch I could be in serious trouble financially. The food is absolutely delicious - I started with the classic Pumpkin first course - and from there my memories blurs because I was too busy eating to really process any other information. My main had currants, beautifully roasted chunks of Lamb seasoned with loads of spices (but to perfection and not a step over or under it). My waitress was a bit odd - too hovery and also not good at offering advice (everything is delicious was her phrase), I always like waiters/waitresses to offer things a bit off the beaten path, or draw attention to some of the classic dishes.... Regardless though, some of the best food in Cambridge by far.
(4)Dennis L.
This place might be a nightmare for the claustrophobic, despite its high ceilings, but the space is put efficiently to use. The smells of the food and watching the bread being constantly made in the dining room make for a comforting sensation in the experience rather than seeing a truly busy kitchen with food flying around. The food at the Helmand has been wonderful. The bread is great, the three sauces in tandem delightful on their own or together. I just try mixing combinations or on their own as I munch away, though I really like the yogurt and mint simply together. The hot pepper sauce definitely has a bit of a kick that can overwhelm the others, so I have that on its own or just very slightly mixed as a proportion. The Kaddo, or pumpkin, is sinfully sweet for an appetizer. If it weren't for the tomato and meat sauce on top, you'd think it were a dessert. Both pasta dishes (aushak and mantwo) are flavorful, the sauces relatively light compared to marinaras that we in Boston have been overexposed to, but just as flavorful somehow, the pastas firm and stuffed. The meat dishes are a bit dry for some, but still flavorful, the lamb kabob I had done just right to be easily cut and still juicy. I only somewhat liked the Koufta Challow (meatballs) because it felt a little blended together. I like to taste the individual elements of the food, but the sauce seemed to overwhelm its contents. It was good, but hard to make out the individual parts. For desserts, the light yogurt at the bottom of the Feereney has been great, being very soft and not ultra-viscous like what we're used to getting at the supermarket. The fresh fruit on top feels almost like a garnish to me. The flan-like pudeen was alright, but not spectacular. It does cleanse the palette, but the feereney seems to do a better job. If I have an issue with this place, it is the service. You have to ask to get your water glass filled and each time I was here, it took a while for service. You get the feeling that you're being marooned on a deserted island every time the waiter walks away. Last time, it took about 15 minutes of waiting after we decided on dishes. At least the food comes out very quickly to compensate somewhat. Minimal checking in on the table after the food was served (i.e. none until we were done eating and waiting for the dessert menu). But the food is so good and flavorful that I can't knock the restaurant too much. Dishes to try: Kaddo, Aushak, Mantwo, Feereney, the bread and its sauces.
(4)Lauren G.
Food was good but the portions were a bit meager and the service a bit inattentive. Had dinner at Helmand last night with friends. The Kaddo is out of this world (sounds crazy but pumpkin + ground beef + yogurt is indeed a winning combination)! The bread is also great- warm and freshly made (you can literally see them making it as you are waiting for your table). The table itself was really, really small- there just was not enough space for the food, water glasses and our plates. After attempting to juggle things, serve each other and not knock anything over we managed to just about achieve an equilibrium (as long as no one breathed out). Our table was also really close to the table behind us- which means the waiters bumped my chair every time they walked by- which just gets annoying. For the entree I had the Kofta Cholaw and the food was good, hot, just spicy enough, the rice was fragrant. However there were 2 meat balls... medium meatballs at that. A bit scant considering the $14 price tag. The Baklava for dessert was really good- as was the tea. Overall the service was slow. The waiter was inattentive- not rude... just busy with other tables. We waited over 10 minutes from the time we sat down to when we ordered, no one refilled the water glasses (the whole dinner) and the check meandered over to us about 20 mins after we finished dessert. If I could do a split score I would... 4 stars for the food; 2 stars for the service. If you want good Afghan food- but don't mind waiting or the fact that it might not be the best value for money in town then go for it... for me it is just an occasional visit!
(3)T T.
I don't understand how this restaurant is rated so highly in Zagat. I've been to The Helmand twice, and the quality of the food was inconsistent; I would say the food was okay at best for my first trip, but it was deplorably bad my second trip, which is why I am only giving it a star. The Aush soup was lukewarm and tasted vaguely of Chef Boyardee, and the lamb dish I ordered was extremely dry, the seasoning overwhelmingly salty. The service was very slow. The decor of the restaurant is pretty nice and welcoming, which is the only good thing I can say about it.
(1)Monica S.
This restaurant is excellent. Reservations have to be made early or you find yourself not getting a place on the weekends. Once you have eaten here, it is easy to understand why this is the case. Service is polite. The food is well seasoned and presented in the most wonderful way. The wine is good. However, beware of the carafes of house wine. It terms of body and taste, it was lovely, but went straight to both my and my boyfriend's head.
(4)Rachel J.
One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The atmosphere is a little interesting - feels like you're in someone's living room almost - but the food is AMAZING! Try anything with pumpkin in it.
(5)Desiree D.
One of my favorites for food. They serve unusual and flavorful selections and I've never had anything there I haven't enjoyed. The tables are a bit close together and the ambiance is fair, but a very nice dinner for the price. Two thumbs up.
(4)E C.
One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants I have been to. To start, they provide fresh oven-baked flatbread with three special house sauces. My favorite was the green sauce which had jalapeno, walnut, cilantro and vinegar (the red sauce had sweet chili pepper, but was a bit spicy for my taste; the white sauce was a yogurt sauce with a hint of mint). I ordered the mashara soup (lamb, mung beans, yogurt soup) which was delicious- who would have ever known that yogurt could be used in so many different ways! Then the vegetarian special entree which comes with their 2 most famous appetizers- the eggplant steak and the sweet pumpkin (my favorite) with yogurt sauce. I will definitely revisit Helmand before going back to the Bay Area.
(5)Deb F.
Had to go again (and looking for an excuse to do so. Hey, crossing the river is a big deal!), and we did. Still MMMMMMMM!!!! Took about 10 minutes to be seated for our reservation, but the after-dinner mints were delicious and the couch was comfortable. Apps: Banjan (eggplant) - good. A little small to share with 4 people, but still worth getting. We liked it better than last visit's aushak (leek ravioli). Kaddo (pumpkin) - this is what people always tell you to order and they're right. I didn't expect the pumpkin to be pureed or as sweet as it was, but somehow all the flavors (sweet pumpkin, meat sauce, and yogurt-mint sauce) work beautifully. Will DEFINITELY get it again. I had to get the chowpan (rack of lamb) again and it was just as good as I remembered. Everyone agreed that the char complimented the lamb beautifully. The eggplant and rice sides are also good. Entree 2 - seekh kabob (leg of lamb). It sounded more exotic than it was ("marinated in a puree of onion, sun-dried baby grapes and garlic"), but it was a good, solid choice. However, it was no chowpan. Entree 3 - Chapendaz (beef tenderloin). Good, but I think Helmand does lamb better. I didn't try the sides, but the orderer was happy with his dish. Entree 4 - Koufta Challow (meatballs). I sometimes find non-Italian meatballs can be a little dangerous to order (sometimes too weird in texture or flavor), but these were really delicious. They're served in a bowl with sauce and a plate of rice. We figured they were supposed to be spooned over the rice. Maybe not, but it worked. The only negative to this entree was that there were only 2 golfball-sized meatballs. Desserts were good, but not the strongest part of the meal. Bucklawa (baklava with pistachios) was fine, although a little dry. The pudeen (creme caramel) was my favorite. Nice texture and not tooth-achingly sweet. The rice pudding (sheerberaing) had a nice, creamy texture and lovely cardamom flavor. "Our Cake" was fine, but not so fabulous I would get it again. The coffee is mighty tasty--even the decaf (we also had regular). Soda is served in those shorty plastic bottles, so not the best value. Still my favorite restaurant!
(5)John L.
mmm Afghan food -- my first and only encounter with it but a very convincing one as I've returned a few times. Oh the pumpkin goodness.... They're only open for dinners I believe and often there are lines -- it's a large restaurant and often packed. I do have to agree with another reviewer that the service is the only real downside, forgetting some tables. An absolute treat, I love taking people here for the first time!
(4)Jocelyn C.
***UPDATE, 8/13/07: Went here last night again, after not eating here for almost a year... wow, they've downgraded a lot! The appetizers were still really awesome, but the entrees... not so much. My lamb was way overcooked, and the spinach had no flavor at all. My boyfriend's beef looked almost boiled, like they didn't even try to cook it properly at all. Then we ordered dessert, and the cream pudding with fruit was lumpy and not at all as good as I remembered it. Sad times, Helmand! You used to be fantastic, but yesterday's visit is making me rethink my opinions of you. One star off! The food here is INCREDIBLE. The service, not so much. Make sure you make reservations, and make them well in advance... and make sure you're still patient enough to wait around for your reserved table.
(3)Augie C.
Best afghan I've ever had. Went last night, this place seems always busy. Highlights include: Perfectly crispy and thin flat bread. It comes with 3 sauces, white green and red. The green sauce is minty and spicy and tangy and just plain great. My Chowpan (rack of lamb) was perfect. They figured it out, they split it into 3 pieces, the lamb was grilled perfectly, and it had the right amount of juiciness, spiciness, tartness. The texture was perfect. Very Highly Recommended.
(5)Sean M.
I used to invade The Helmand when George Bush(43) was still safely playing executive with baseball teams and couldn't point to Afghanistan on a map. It was great then and it still is. When you try to pin down this cuisine it helps if you already have sampled different Arab cuisines, at least North and South Indian, Turkish, and Persian. Applying gastronomic-graph theory you may perceive the essence of the wonder that is Afghan food and appreciate it. Drop the American hurried attitude, eat multi-course meal so relax take your time. Have desert (Sheerberaing) and Turkish coffee. * obtaining a good table is essential, prefer the alcove seating. * I like the lamb, Chowpan. * at last count they had 2 stores SF, and Boston (DC closed snif) * have you noticed how everyone mentions pumpkin...take the hint try it (baby pumpkin)
(4)Annie W.
worth every penny. very nicely done middle-eastern food, wonderful service, lush decor. ranks on par with my favorite middle-eastern restaurant in NYC.
(4)Koko H.
I could eat their yogurt sauce by the spoonful. Everything was delicious.
(5)Patrick F.
Great food, great value. A nice quiet dining room. It can get busy so be prepared to wait if you have no reservation.
(5)Ashok P.
The first couple of times I visited Helmand, I had to wait for about 1/2 hour for my table, even though I had a reservation. My annoyance vanished after I tasted the exquisite cuisine, and Helmand quickly became my *favorite* restaurant in the world. The food is delicious and healthy. The decor is understated and refined. The vegetarian in me always leaves happy. The Helmand in Baltimore unfortunately does not even compare to the Cambridge branch, with respect to the food or the decor. Both are owned by members of Afghan President Karzai's family.
(5)Jason A.
Despite America's stance of Afghanistan....I've gotta say that I'm a fan of the food. We sure had fun trying to pronouce the dishes, but it was well worth the effort. We had the dumplings first....filled with ground lamb I believe with a yogurt type sauce....just enough novelty and spice to make for a good start. I had the chicken skewers which were AHHHHMAZING. Big chunks of chicken sans actual skewer, moist, flavorful, and juicy. I can still taste it! The rice made an excellent addition to the dish. I'm not really a huge fan of butternut squash....actually, I don't think i've really had it until I came here. I was skeptical, but boy, did they prove me wrong! The squash was tender and a little sweet, and with the addition of the yogurt sauce, it was terrific. Luckily, I got to take home the leftovers!!! It's a little pricey, but seeing as how I didn't choose the restaurant or pay, it was allllllll gooooood. Needless to say, my friend scored major points!
(5)Leta H.
I was in Cambridge last week for a business meeting and several of our friends suggested we eat here. Wasn't sure what Afghan food was, but we were treated to an absolutely delicious meal. The place is crowded (you need a reservation- we walked over from our hotel at 7pm and were told there would be a 1 hour wait so we made sure to all the next day, for a reservation). My husband ordered a lamp dish, I ordered a rice and chicken entree, along with several different appetizers and the cardoman ice cream (out of this world). Highly recommended- a must
(4)Bevin C.
For a long time this was my favorite restaurant in the area. It probably still is, actually. I've been on so many dates here. I really like the service - they are the epitome of aloof, but not in a bad way. I don't want to know my waiter's name when I go to a restaurant. I do not want him to be chatty, or make jokes, or be goofy. I want him to bring me food as quick as he can. I want him to be around when I need something. I want him to take my plate away when I'm done. They do that here. When you close your menu at the Helmand, the staff are at your table within 30 seconds. If you leave your menu open, they won't come. It is like a light switch. I think it is cool. The food is so amazing. Everybody has already commented on it, so I won't waste time going on and on about it. But lord knows I could. This restaurant is run by Hamid Karzai's two brothers and sister. Is it just my imagination, or do the busboys at this restaurant have more bling on then your typical busboy?
(5)Heather T.
Pretty good, I especially liked the pumpkin thing and some of the pastry with potato stuffing and yogurt thing, but not the meat kebab thing, because they didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked at it came out overdone. I loved our waiter as he reminded me of Alfred, the butler from Batman. Silly? Perhaps. But it gets a star. I'd eat here again to try some of the other offerings. Who knows - if I get a good meat dish, I might add another star!
(3)Korri Leigh C.
Ok I'm a believer. I read all the fabulous reviews on Yelp and was concerned that The Helmand wouldn't live up to the hype. I was wrong, the food is a ridiculous bargain with $5 apps and $10-17 entrees. The food is unique and delicious. Make a reservation, this place is packed by 7 o'clock any day of the week, and for very good reason. Love it love it
(5)Rob P.
If you are spending much time in the Boston area you really should make it a point to try this place. I have also been to the one in San Francisco and I give this one a better score. The food, particularly for vegetarians, is worth the trip. The pumpkin, the bread, the sauces, the Aushak (Afghan ravioli) are hard to describe (particularly to visitors who resist the notion of Afghan food) but exceptionally balanced in spices and fresh tasting. However, it is best to go other than Friday and Saturday as these are busy times. I have not had the problems with service that others have mentioned except on one occasion. I am saddened that this food has not reached a wider audience but I know it does take some convincing to get many people to go.
(5)Alyssa N.
Complex flavors sometimes fight for prominence on one plate. Subtle Pallow rice could be overpowered by the sharp chicken in the Mourgh Kebab. The spinach was good at first, when it was hot, but as it hit room temperature, it didn't seem too different than most generic spinach side dishes. Don't miss the Kaddo appetizer - it's sort of sharp and sweet and salty all at once. Dessert was tasty. The Backlewa was very much like Baklava, but with like a zillion more flavors. The creamy custard with fresh fruit on top was sort of like flan. Service can be very slow. We were there a good 10 minutes before someone came to our table (aside from the nice young man who filled our water glasses). There was a weird brown thing I scraped off the inside of my wine glass. I liked this place enough to come back. But I've got to figure out what I'm allergic to first. A throat closing up is an unpleasant end to any meal. This came later on in the meal, I have no idea what it was to. Thank goodness for the CVS at the nearby Cambridgeside Galleria, where you can get Benadryl in a pinch.
(3)katherine m.
personal politics regarding its ownership aside... this is one of the best afghani restaurants i've found in boston. it's a bit crowded at times, so make a reservation. the food is simply presented, but absolutely delicious.
(4)Renee G.
"Do you think they meant for the building to look like it belongs in Afghanistan or is that just a coincendence?" my friend asked as we approached the squat, square structure at 7 or so on a Friday night. We didn't have a reservation, but almost immediately the hostess led us through the main dining area to a separate, smaller one in the back. As soon as we sat down, our waiter filled our water glasses and brought over a basket filled with crusty flatbread and a raita, a pepper sauce, and a chutney to dip it into. All three were quite good - we easily finished the first bread basket and the waiter was quick to bring more. To start, we split the Kaddo, and I must say that while it was one of the strangest flavor combinations I've ever experienced, that is in no way a bad thing - it was delicious. The pumpkin was very sweet, and it contrasted with the rich meat sauce and the creamy, delicately garlicky yogurt sauce exquisitely. I could easily have eaten a plate by myself. For our entrees, we decided to split the Seekh Kabob and the Khorma Challow. Despite the fact that they were both lamb dishes, they were very different from one another and equally wonderful. The Seekh Kabob was grilled to perfection and served with fragrant, spiced rice and sauteed eggplant. The Khorma Challow came in a vegetable-studded sauce and was accompanied with a plainer basmati rice. It was much too much food for two girls, but we did our best and managed to finish most of it. The dessert - bucklawa - was the best thing I ate all night. Unlike Greek baklava, it featured walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. The honey caramel gave it a disconcertingly orange color, but it had soaked into the phyllo dough so completely that I was able to eat it with only a fork - unheard of! I will admit that when it comes to baklava-type confections, I prefer something that borders on sickly-sweet (all the better to balance out the strong coffee, I say) so for someone who doesn't this could be a bit cloying. The atmosphere was comfortable, and seemed authentic without being over the top. It was moderately crowded when we arrived, and filled up soon after we sat down, but the room remained fairly quiet, good for conversation. Indeed, it was quiet enough that we couldn't help but be distracted by scuffling and banging sounds coming from the other side of the wall we sat against. "It's the raptors. They've learned how to open doors," my friend deadpanned, and I dissolved into hysterical laughter for several minutes, thereby ruining the peaceful scene for our neighboors. (And if you have no idea what that means, it's high time you rewatched Jurassic Park. Time has done nothing and everything for it.) You really can't take me anywhere.
(3)Kylie S.
With the first bite of my dinner here I realized that I have a new favorite restaurant. I ordered the special, which was a dish with black-eyed peas and a poblano pepper. Sorry I don't remember the details but every bite was incredible and I felt good after eating the meal as well--a sign of food that is actually good for you. The staff were all really sweet and helpful. The meal was totally affordable. I don't know what else to say--it was just amazing. I can't wait to go back and I now want to learn how to cook Afghani food.
(5)Bader A.
Delicious food. One of the best restaurant in Boston.
(5)Jacky K C.
good portions for a fine dining-like restaurant. bread is hot and sickening good; lamb is memorable. too bad the location looks like crap, and parking's not exactly easy to find.
(4)Ravi P.
If you're reading this on a mobile device and quickly want to know what to order: Kaddo (pumpkin thing). Get it. Now for the review. This food is amazingly delicious. I used to work down the street and on late nights in the office, would order here a bunch of times (once in a while, when I think I need a break from Helmand, I'll do nearby CPK or Cheesecake Factory, only to realize that I made a terrible mistake). That said, I've tried most of the dishes here, and the kaddo is what I order consistently every time. The taste of the pumpkin is divine. As for the main entree, definitely get a lamb dish or if you're vegetarian, do something with eggplant. You'll also get bread to start - which is warm and delicious. I've eaten inside the actual restaurant maybe 2 or 3 times, but have done takeout many many times. The ambiance is nice, and it's kind of cool to note that the owner of this restaurant is a relative (brother?) of Afghani President Hamid Karzai. The staff is pretty friendly and nice, and it was a pleasant experience. The only minus is that ordering takeout over the phone is a nightmare. You're put on hold for a while - one time, I think they forgot that I was on hold. A plus for takeout though is that they give you copious amounts of bread (actually - way too much) but it will last you through the night if you're working very late. Definitely good memories of eating here. Moral of the story: Eat here.
(5)Lee H.
Wonderful big flavors, especially the grilled marinated meats. Sides and appetizers delicious. Desserts are OK. Nice decor, round tables a little uncomfortable when you're with a big party (it's hard for me to sit with my legs together for a long time). Service somewhat uneven. Prices modest considering the quality. Try it.
(4)Janie W.
Best, most tender and moist lamb ever. The end. And the fish special was delicious too. Everything was perfect and the portions large so I always leave stuffed.
(5)Amy Z.
Wow, this place was great. The dining area has a formal atmosphere, what with the dim lighting and wine glasses at every place setting. The prices are a little high ($12-$15 a plate), yet nowhere near what you'd expect upon walking into the place. The menu selection wasn't very impressive -- there were about 8 entrees including meat, and about 8 equivalent entrees without the meat. I think every entree on the menu included yogurt, by the way, but my vegan sister got hers without it. My food (the vegetarian leek ravioli) was appetizing, and my two sisters ordered some dish involving pumpkin, which they adored, and I kind of wish our friend had given me a little more eggplant from her dish (called "Special") to try because it was goooooood. (Then again, for me all eggplant is gooooood.) They've got my favorite dessert wine -- Essensia orange muscat.
(4)Bryanne R.
Colorful, delicious, and surprising! SO GOOD! Such a random location -- across from the Galleria in East Cambridge...bonus I can walk there. Really cool decor and atmosphere in the restaurant. It's very big and has lots of seating. We had a late reservation on a Friday, but it was worth it. The food was incredible. Be careful not to eat too much bread before your food comes out! Here's what I had: GOTTA try the Kaddo Appetizer -- it's delish! Entree - Mourgh Challow - there's LOTS of it too! (((Chicken breast sauteed with spices and yellow split-peas, then sauteed with yogurt, cilantro and curry, served with challow))) Dessert -- Our Cake -- great to split after a filling meal. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Mieko O.
Just ate at Helmand this evening with my boyfriend and we were pleased to get a seat without a reservation. The food was good and the service...well it was chaotic and unusual as we had different waiters serving our tables and a waitress who reached across our table to ask about our wine choice. We had kaddo and the bowlawni for appetizer along with the warm flat bread that is made on the premises. For dinner we ate the chowpan and aushak which were flavorful and delicious. The bucklawa was sweet and the Sheerberaing was not so sweet but like any other rice pudding with cashews. Our dishes came on time, but it seems the service is managed a bit chaotically. A good place for a fancy meal.
(4)Jake S.
The Helmand was my first experience with Afghani food, and it was quite good. We were quickly brought flat bread and three sauces to go with it. The green sauce was some kind of cilantro sauce that was just a little spicy and a little sweet - we all agreed it was the best of the sauces. We also had two appetizers - one was some kind of dumplings with meat inside and the other was an eggplant dish with tomato on top (sorry, I don't remember any of the names of the dishes we had). Both appetizers were excellent, and the yogurt sauce really added a lot to them. Entrees were also very good - I got a curry that was very flavorful. My two friends who were with me also really enjoyed their food, and we were all happy with portion sizes. Lots of reviews on Yelp talk about bad service, but our service here was pretty good with one minor issue. Just a minute or so after handing us menus, our server came by and asked if we were interested in appetizers. We ordered some appetizers and told him we'd be a few minutes to figure out entrees, and he informed us that we had to order everything all together so we would need to immediately decide on our entrees. This irked me a bit, but after this, the service was good. Overall, this place is definitely worth going to. It looked like it tends to get a bit crowded, so make reservations or be prepared to wait.
(4)Erik L.
I came here once for a birthday dinner, actually it was my birthday. We were there with a group of about 10 people. Dinner didn't start off well when they held a $50 deposit on my friends visa card when she reserved the table. Service was bad in that it was rude. The staff was not friendly, not patient, and generally did not appear to be impressed that we are paying their wages. The food was not bad, but it wasn't great. Overall, its not a place I would go back to. Yes, the atmosphere is nice, the decorations are great, but that just makes the negatives so much worse - its like a slap in your face. I wouldn't bet my life on the fact that you CANNOT have a great experience here, but if it were up to me: spend your money elsewhere.
(2)Paul J.
I visited The Helmand in Baltimore a couple years ago and absolutely fell in love with Afghani food. Needless to say, a few days before my trip to Boston, when I discovered another "The Helmand" (although I'm not certain they're related), I had to return. The exterior of this place is fairly non-descript, but by no means frightening. Walking in, I was greeted by a harried, rather unfriendly-looking woman struggling to maintain her composure as she juggles seating a steady stream of guests walking through the door and a persistent beckoning from the telephone. She appears to be the only non-native person working here? Anyway, I'm seated at a small table right next to the naan oven. I'm a sucker for good bread, and fresh baked naan makes my toes curl in delight! Anyway, my waiter is a friendly young man - very attentive - who quickly brings me my naan with an assortment of sauces and butter. The bread did not disappoint. On to the main dish.... I ordered the vegetarian Kourma Challow. The challow rice was cooked just right and had a delicate balance of spice. The delicious tomatoey, stewed Kourma had large, hot & hearty chunks of carrots and potatoes with the occasional green bean and onion thrown in for good measure. Like the rice, and to my liking, the level of spice was fairly subdued compared to other central Asian food I've had. The dish was finished with a side of decent, if not very memorable spinach. That aside, despite the generous portions, I had no problems cleaning my plate. I finished up my visit with a piece of 'Our Cake'. The cake was okay, but the ice cream with pomegranate sauce and pineapples was yummy. All in all, it was a very enjoyable meal and I'll definitely return the next time I'm in town. That said, I never saw the woman at the front escape the wicked and cynical throes of frowniness....
(4)Ahsan H.
An absolute must for Pakistan/Afghan cusine in Boston area. Great ambiance and decor that includes a clay oven that fills the air with the aroma of fresh naan bread. Most of the dishes are quite good but I always go there for Seekh Kabob and Chowpan. Both are lamb dishes. The banjan (eggplant) appetizer is quite good as well. The service is quite slow but the food more than makes up for it.
(5)S S.
The best thing about Afghani food to me is the the Naan and the Tandoor. But I was dissapointed in Helmand. The naan was kind of inspid. My fish dish had tons of potato on it. The food didnt seem fresh or taste great! The tables were pretty close to each other. Ofcourse, you cant find parking in the area. Our menus were so crumpled up and torn that maybe it was picked from the dumpster outside. The only wine by the glass that you can do is their house wine!! Noone, once came to ask us if the food was ok? Our waiter sort of dissappeared on us. I remember going to Helmand couple of years ago and was impressed by the restruant at the point. Not this experience though!
(2)Soumeya B.
My experience at this place so bad...it's not even worth wasting my time to write about it. So I will be brief. I went there twice. Once I had food and the second time I just walked out. The first time I went I ordered sabzi challow, the meat was semi burned and the rice too dry. The tables were close so it was a little uncomfortable, you heard too much personal information and your own conversation will be heard. Not the right place for a date or business meal. They were not worth a second chance but I still gave it to them. The second time I went there, I was with a party of three. The Maitre D' asked if we "can get done by 7;30" which basically gave us an hour to eat and get out. A lot of tables were empty so we we were surprised by the request.. We decided to not stay and walked out. Definitly not worth it.
(1)Dave J.
Hands down best food in Cambridge. We ordered based on the yelp reviews, and all 5 dishes that we got and the two appetizers were all outstanding. The service is not the best, but the food is fantastic. I will be coming back here again for sure!
(5)Daniel H.
Excellent. Try the baked baby pumpkin dishes.
(5)Dan C.
When it comes to rating a restaurant I took a date to I am usually colored by how the date went, if she throws up on my shoes, the restaurant was bad; if I throw her shoes up, the restaurant was good. Helmand, on the other hand, was so good it could not be colored by how the date went. First, let me say the restaurant almost looks like it is undercover, posing as a dilapidated nondescript building. The inside is gorgeous, though there is a couch and coffee table when you first walk in reminiscent of a hair salon. We stopped right when it opened, 5pm, without reservations and were told that we would have to be out by 6:15 as the tables were all reserved. Sitting down we were surprisingly allowed to take our time by the waiter who suggested a great Spanish red wine, which we proceeded to finish off. The mantwo and the cracker/bread were delicious with an assortment of dipping sauces. Though the chowpan stole the meal with its tenderness and pallowrice. The trout was also quite good. After that we were on our merry way with this guy content no matter how bad he was going to mess up another first date. Bottom line: A great place in terms of food, wine, and decor. Make those reservations early too. A bit more expensive than your typical 1st date place with most entrees in the $18+ category, but worth it. Remember, a gentleman always pays on the 1st date, hands down.
(4)Brian K.
Great date place and great value! This place is also hard to get a reservation to and be sure not to get turned off by the person who answers the phone! This place is great and you really get a lot for your $. You can get 2 entrees, an app or 2, a nice bottle of pinot noir(La Crema (Sonoma) with tip and be out the door for under $100! For an app, try the Kaddo! For dinner try any of the lamb dishes Also, the bread they bring is unreal and the green sauce with it is the best thing I have ever tasted! Enjoy!
(5)Dave L.
What can I say that has not been said? Great food. Really really unique + tasty bread. An interesting use of the space. Totally unique to the area.
(5)Lindsay D.
From the minute my dad and I walked through the door of Helmand to the moment we left, the experience was great. Ambiance? A+ Staff? A+ Food? There is no description. We started out with 2 veggie apps - an Afghani ravioli and two puff pastries stuffed with various goodies - and both were oh my goodness out of this world. I highly recommend the puff pastries however; the potato one is absolutely amazing. Onto the main course - My "Special" entree (pumpkin, spinach, eggplant, and ocre served with a very light rice and cool yogurt sauce) was delicious - seriously, the meal's name should be changed to "I am Delicious". My father seemed to enjoy his lamb something or other as well and it's a credit to the kitchen that everything was cooked exactly to his specifications. When dessert time rolled around my sweet tooth and caffeine urges kicked in (shocking, I know) and were plenty satisfied. Rich coffee with extra cardemon and a custard/fruit dessert thing? SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD. Oh, Helmand, I will definitely be back. Frequently.
(5)John F.
I've only been once, but it made quite the impression. The fresh cooked bread from the big stone oven in the restaurant was amazing, and the various dipping sauces supplied with it were very good. The food was delicious and not super-expensive, which I'm a fan of, and it was similar to Indian but different enough to be new and exciting. The staff was especially friendly, and very helpful in helping us decide on what to have. Putting this place next to the Similans has caused a terrible conflict in my head when near the Galleria; namely, which do I go to? This place, whenever I'm there, is often crowded, and with good reason.
(4)Rose K.
W-O-W! The Helmand gave me an amazing dining experience. My date and I started out with some vegetarian ravioli appetizers. The topping and stuffing on those was excellent. Then, I got the vegetable kourma, which came with rice, anda spinach side. Fantastic. My boyfriend got a lamb and rice dish that he loved. We had some rice pudding and green tea for dessert. Both were extremely cardamom-y. Very refreshing. After a quick look over this Yelp page, the few people who have given the Helmand less-than-stellar reviews generally mention brusque servers as the reason. I have to say that our server was really cool - friendly, funny, and she sang "Happy Birthday" to another gentleman in the restaurant. From now on, I absoluely will recommend this place to anyone visiting the Boston area as a MUST (along with L.A. Burdick's for the hot chocolate). Y'all are quickly becoming this Texan's favorite food town!
(5)P. C.
The food was good - a friend and I split two vegetarian entrees (Khorma Challow and Showla) and enjoyed both dishes, along with the bread. The house white wine was decent and affordable. The service was terrible. It took a long time to receive the menus initially, and then forever until the drinks and bread. When the server (not the waiter) brought the entrees to the table a short time later, he *literally* took the plate out from under me while I was still eating my bread! And I mean that I had just taken a bite, was chewing, and had my hand and the rest of the bread dangling above the plate at the time. The waiter was hard to read - he could have been well-meaning but it was hard to tell. He asked for ID when we ordered wine, and then indicated that it was a joke... but since we are still at an age where it's not completely unreasonable to be carded I found the joke to be a bit offensive. He also didn't check on us at all thoughout the meal and I ran out of water early on; it took me 10 minutes to flag someone down to help me. We were seated in the back room, a smallish, stuffy (no air flow) room cozy enough that I accidentally bumped the chair of the person behind me twice. The main restaurant has a much nicer ambiance. A mediocre dining experience despite the tastiness of the food.
(2)KoreanSoup S.
Sorry for the short review. Just catching up on yelping on my favorite place. Helmand is fan freaking tastic. Great food and good ambience. I will be back!
(5)Natalia T.
I was there last night (Monday) and the place was completely packed! This was my third visit, and as always the food was absolutely delicious! Our server was a great guy, who complemented all of our choices from the menu We didn't feel rushed, we didn't feel like we waited forever for our food ... the timing was just perfect. Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back there!!! The hostess however was pretty much useless, since she just pointed towards our table, and we had to wait for the waiter to bring us menus ...
(5)kim s.
Almost everything here is exceptionally good. Standouts are the chicken kabob and rack of lamb. My only complaint is that all my clothes smells like smoke after every meal.
(4)Jonathan R.
Five stars for vegetarian food and wine (including solid, affordable house glasses). Four for ambiance. Negative three stars for uppity owner-cum-matre d' endlessly arguing when he screws up your reservation by 15 minutes AND THERE ARE TABLES FREE ANYWAY. (I swear he gives me some kind of attitude every time.) But always a total gem, once you're actually allowed through the door.
(4)Katie Y.
They're very good at their lamb dishes. My friend who is a lawyer said that the rack of lamb was excellent. He is quite a snob, but has good taste. I love their desserts and special rice too. I also like their decor.
(5)Leon B.
The Helmand has never let me down. I have been here probably at least 6-7 times, and have always left satisfied. The food is great, exotic, interesting, and consistent. The atmosphere is really neat, and I have never felt it to be over-crowded, and they seem to be able to handle large parties pretty well. It's fun to watch them make the bread, which happens to be excellent. The prices are entirely reasonable for the food. The service is quite good, though not perfect (sometimes it takes a little longer than I'd like to get someone from the waitstaff to bring water, etc). This last bit is the only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars (really, I'd like to give 4.5), but they can be very busy so sometimes the service is a bit slow on things like water. Food-wise, the Helmand is impressive. With a wide range of meals, including good vegetarian options, one can go several times and get very different food. The caramelized pumpkin with meat sauce (or without, if you'd prefer) is fantastic, and a very unique flavor combination. The various ravioli-like dishes are wonderful, as are the kebabs (well seasoned, cooked just right so as to be very tender). The fish dishes I've had (don't remember which, I think they were specials) were excellent. Desserts are great, though the cake seemed a bit on the bland side to me. The other desserts I've tried (the pudding, the cream caramel, the baklava) have all been fantastic. All in all, a great experience.
(4)K D.
Four stars for authentic (spicy) food. One star off for the weird vibe. Tables are very small and placed too close together. Menus are photocopies and don't feature the beverages. Bathrooms are not as nice as you would expect. But the naan is excellent, portions are adequate but not overwhelming. We had the beef kofta and the vegetarian special. Very quick service, enabling us to catch the movie we planned to see at Kendall Square Cinema. Oh, and people go on about the kaddo, but it's just baked pumpkin with tons of sugar in it. Best to pass on it.
(4)H and K.
Love The Helmand. Never been let down. The "Our Cake" is amazing.
(4)Becka D.
Definite thumbs up on this place. I had reservations, so we were seated right away (even though we showed up about 20 minutes early). Food and drink service were both quick, and our waitstaff was always close by in case we needed to grab her. I had never tried Afghani food before, so i didn't really know what to expect. The basic idea is similar to other Middle Eastern food. Rice with veggies and sauces. Lots of lamb options. Some chicken and a decent vegetarian menu. I had heard good things about the baked pumpkin, so we got that as our appetizer. Definitely worth it. It's interesting in a good way. The decor is great too!
(4)Mohamed A.
The Helmand was my first experience with Afghani food. I've been going there when I was studying in Boston. It became a ritual to visit this place once a month. Whenever I visit Boston I make sure I drop by. I hadn't had the chance last time though, and I wish I had. Make sure you make a reservation it gets crowded. I usually order Chapandez or Baghali Polo. Both are amazing.
(5)Terry T.
Wife decided to try something new and made reservations (we fondly remember going for Ethiopian and Moroccan food in Cambridge and she found this gem after asking her friends). It's literally beside the Galleria, so even for people like us who are a little nervous about driving in the Boston/Cambridge area could find our way there (plus parking is easy). We enjoyed our appetizers - I had a great lamb soup (forgot the name), while my wife enjoyed her salad. Our table was right by the big wood burning oven and we could see them bake and slice up the fresh flat bread which was kind of fun for the both of us. We also enjoyed our entrees. My friend who's been to an Afghani rstaurant in DC told me the spice palate was going to be a cross between Greek and Indian food and he was pretty close. My lamb was delicious (basic rack of lamb) but I was envious of my wife who went for something more exotic that looked like an Indian chicken curry only it had a twist - semi-sour and refreshing with chickpeas. Dessert was great, we got some sort of custard with fresh fruit on top, and it was light and refreshing. The atmosphere of the restaurant was elegant yet you could feel comfortable dressing casually. We were lucky to have a baby sitter for the kids and we enjoyed a great night out. All in all a new favorite to check out.
(5)Ja H.
I like it a lot! Though the attitude of the host/hotess is not as comforting as the great food. My husband liked it until he got bored with the regular menu. All-in-all, it's great to have Afghani food in the area.
(4)William M.
This is my favorite restaurant in Cambridge. I've lived here for 6 years. I'm a meat eater, but this place feels healthy and I bring my veggie-friends here and they always love it. What else is there to say?
(5)Rinn S.
Afghan food made palatable for people who won't eat goat-kababs. Yes, Helmand is good. Yes, the decor is nice. Yes, the portions are large. But it's way over-rated and thus ALWAYS crowded. And what is the obsession with putting pumpkin in everything?? The boyfriend saw not one single hint of pumpkin during his time in Kabul and I'm not convinced that pumpkin belongs in half of the dishes here. But for those of you who don't hate pretentious pumpkin propegating and don't mind a wait, this is a pretty tasty place.
(4)Roberto C.
Big fan of these guys - service is excellent & the food is very unique & reasonably priced. I didn't talk politics w/them, but I'd love to have talked w/Helmand's owner (Mahmood Karzai) about what's going on over there - esp since his little brother is Hamid. Would love to hear what he thinks.
(4)Gabe M.
Great ethnic vibe, with great flat bread and good good. Lots of lamb dishes. Service was average. Seating was kind of cramped, but otherwise enjoyable.
(4)Christopher T.
One of my favorites in the city. The food is just incredible and reasonably priced to boot. If you like lamb you have to go to Helmand's and don't forget to get the Kaddo for an appetizer (baby pumpkin, yogurt and ground beef) . It may sound weird but your tastebuds will thank you for it!
(5)Stockton M.
We were treated terribly and it is the only restaurant in the Boston area to which I will not go back. I had gone twice before and on those visits enjoyed great food and so-so service. The awful service occurred on the third visit, when I brought friends. When we arrived, i told them we had a reservation for 6. They said the table would be ready shortly. 45 min later I asked why the delay b/c there was an open table. I was told that the open table was for another reservation and that we didn't have reservation! Why they didn't botgher to mention this when we arrived I do not know. Everyone very surly and rude by the mother-hen of the restaruant (the owner I think). They said they could seat 4 of us but the other 2 couldn't stay (there was no room!!!). We argued with them only b/c it was too late in the night to go anywhere else at that point. They decided we could be all be seated if we waited another 45 min (1.5 hours total !!!). We stupidly did, then were treated like garbage during the meal. My visiting friends were offended multiple times by everyone (waitstaff, hostess, presumed owner). We then were told after 45 minutes that we would have to finish up and no dessert because it was getting late). The food is good but the service is not just terrible but personally offensive, something other reviewers confirm. I will never eat there again because I have too much self respect. With little Afghani choices in Boston, I may have to learn to cook the cuisine myself, although I've heard there may be another smaller Afghani choice.
(1)Liza H.
Authentic Afghan food. I like to eat here because I am too lazy to cook this stuff at home. Favorite appetizers: Kado borani (pumpkin), aushak (ravioli stuffed w/leeks) and Mantwo (definitely way too much work for my hands). Entrees: Chapandaz and Morgh Challow. The piping hot naan style bread served right out of the fire is delightful too. The desserts leave a lot to be desired. Just load up on dinner and rub that big old food baby or save space and go someplace else for sweets.
(4)Jim C.
Terrific place; make a reservation. The kaddo with anything is terrific, there are fantastic vegetarian offerings and the lamb ribs are a great value. I eat here twice a month and I always have been very happy.
(4)S H.
So here I am with review #122 of The Helmand. What more is there to say? Great Afghani food, excellent service, knowledgeable staff, great for those who love their meat and their veggies. You'd expect the prices to be higher... Just go but call weeks ahead for your reservation. UPDATE: I've finally determined that only their appetizers and the free bread are good. The entrees somehow disappoint, but usually you're so drunk at that point, anything tastes good.
(3)Mags L.
best afghani food i've ever eaten. okay - only afghani food i've ever eaten, but it was outstanding. the bread? i mean, the bread! everytime i've come here has been w/vegetarian friends and while i'm generally not a good girl and have a tendency to not eat my veggies, all the non-meat dishes served were delightful.
(4)gator N.
The food was delicious! The pumpkin appetizer was fantastic. Very cute location, comfortable. The cake dessert was also a favorite, the rice pudding was interesting in a good way.
(4)X X.
OMFG-- Helmand. I went there last night for my birthday. I had made reservations for 7PM on a Sunday night (yes, I made my own birthday dinner reservations... I'm a little too much of a 'planner'), even though reservations seemed intuitively unnecessary for a school night, but yet again, Yelpers gave it to me straight. Helmand was really moving. However, for what ever reason, they didn't have my reservation down. Well, I know the reason: I called on Friday night, and they were busy, and the hostess wrote it down somewhere and forgot to transfer it to the reservation book. It's as simple as that. I even think it was the hostess working that night. But whatever. My date and I watched the host and hostess confer in whispers about where to seat us-- there's this sh*t seat up front, which puts one party's head literally 3 inches from where the bread-baker cuts the (absolutely amazing) bread. It's hard to describe but I'm sure anyone who's been to Helmand (or has had the poor fortune to sit at that seat) can tell you what a truly crappy idea putting a table there is. Honestly, I'd rather wait, but as I saw them gesturing toward the table, telling me they couldn't find the reservation, I was preparing to grin and bear it at Crap Table. And then, with a stroke of belated birthday luck, we were diverted to an AWESOME table, right along the partition near the wood-burning bread oven, which smelled and felt delicious all the chilly November night. My relief was great, but I did feel a lot of pity (and a little guilt) seeing the poor couple that got seated at said table later on in the night. But on to the meal! I'd never had Afghan food before. Only in the recent years has my palate expanded to include such exotic foods as "hummus" and "onions" (I was truly the most obnoxiously picky child... my poor parents), so this was a big leap for me, but one that I was psyched to take. Honestly, I have a hard time even remembering what we ordered, but I will tell you that it was delicious, and most of it I liked, and that's saying something (I hate cilantro, and that kinda ruined a dish for me, but that's no one's fault). We were totally stuffed and happy by the end. I was also totally charmed by the interior of Helmand, which I found to be warm and inviting, and with sincere reminders of the cuisine's roots in the Middle East without over-exotifying it, e.g. trying to pretend we're not in Cambridge. Everything seemed just about right. Our waitress was very gracious and really good vetting food with my dining companion's life-threatening nut allergy in mind, particularly in a cuisine so bathed in nuts. In the end, with two entrees, one appetizer, and a carafe of wine, it came to around $45 including tip. An excellent deal for an excellent place. I'll be back, Helmand-- and this time, I hope you take my reservation. And please, don't seat me at the crap table!
(5)Laura M.
Okay, there are currently 48 reviews of this place, so I doubt I'll be saying anything new. I'd never tried Afghan food but found it to be similar to Indian/Middle Eastern that I had tried. Everything we tried was tasty, but I thought the Mantwo was the most unique dish. Plus it sounds like a sentence on Law and Order. My date and I got an appetizer, two great entrees, a half-carafe of wine and all the delicious bread we could want for around $50 (including tip!). Definitely recommended.
(5)Mark S.
I've been one time. The food was good, and service was decent. The most memorable quality of this restaurant was the back room where we were seated. All the parties sitting around us seemed to be having a good time. It was loud, but I enjoyed it for the time we were in there. Plus, that carafe wine (full) is more than what you think. It is more than the two glasses you can squeeze out of a regular bottle of wine....not complaining, just commenting. I would recommend it.
(3)Shang S.
I've been here three times over five years and every experience was good. Their pumpkin kaddo (appetizer) is to die for, and so is the bread they serve at every meal. I love sitting in the large room by the oven, but if you're likely to get cold, bring a sweater on cold and busy nights for they might seat you in the slightly chillier side room.
(5)Nausheen M.
This Afghani restaurant is so far the best I've had in Boston. I just love their food! This place usually needs reservation...it is always packed. Also, I felt that this is not a kid's friendly place. They do have highchairs but that's the only kid related thing there. There is no kids menu...and they do force you to leave your stroller outside even if your kid is sleeping! I gave them four stars because their food is really good. There is a parking lot right across this place but I don' t think it belongs to the restaurant. we went after 6pm on a Wednesday and parked there and didn't get towed.
(4)Sarah R.
My brother and I took our mom and stepdad here when they visited back in April. I originally felt apprehension at taking them to an Afghani restaurant. My mother has acid reflux and therefore cannot handle very spicy food, and my stepdad does not have the most adventurous palate. However, it turned out to be a fantastic dining experience. The food was fresh and delicious and mild enough for everyone. Each person ordered a different dish and we shared. The house white wine was a great complement to the meal. It's a very intimate environment with lovely decor with a very unassuming exterior, located in the shadow of Cambridgeside Galleria. I'd definitely come back here again. The food was delicious, inexpensive, and very filling.
(5)Lynette M.
Get the spinach and the pumpkin sides!
(5)Kelly S.
Service is quite lacking. The food is however quite good without being unforgettable. As a vegetarian it was nice to have quite a few choices for your appetizer and entree. While my appetizer was quite exquisite (caramelized eggplant with tomatoes and yogurt sauce), the entree (leek ravioli) was kind bland in itself but powered spices were then abundantly sprinkled as a topping. Not exactly a refined and subtle dish. The wine list is quite eclectic but fairly well priced and selected. The atmosphere is convivial but not very intimate. Bathrooms could really use a makeover.
(3)Samantha S.
I went here with a group of very adventurous eaters last week, and everyone was very happy with our experience. Its a cozy atmosphere, even in the middle of the restaurant you don't feel like you have to scream to talk across the table. There was a decent selection of vegetarian options, though I sort of felt jipped by the ratio of veg dishes to meat options. It was my first time eating Afghan cuisine, so I have nothing to compare it to. The flavors and spices are similar to Indian food, but the presentation was totally different. I got some veg special, which was a plate of spinach (the best part of the plate) eggplant, okra, rice, and other clearly unmemorable vegetables. Don't expect too much vegetarian protein here, and the gaddo veg version is so sweet they should serve it as dessert. My friends all got meat dishes, and loved them dearly, so I guess this is a good place to go if you like meat! Other than the fact that our waiter seemed like he could not converse above a whisper, I have nothing bad to say about the Helmand.
(4)P L.
Every time I have eaten at Helmand the other members of my group have gotten great food. I have never been super satisfied with what I order. The first time we went we got the pumpkin appetizer and it was fantastic. The second time it was just alright.
(4)Samantha B.
I dream about this place--literally. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and I've been finding every excuse to return since. He had a great meat dish he liked and I had a vegetarian sampler plate. The pumpkin is godly. The second time we returned, they even remembered us and were so friendly. It's priced right and the atmosphere is beautiful. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston--by far.
(5)Ossama A.
Excellent, well priced dishes. Very tasty, nice decor, good service, recommended. I'm guessing its associated with The Helmand restaurant in San Francisco, since their menus are the same.
(5)karan K.
I thought that I had reviewed this place since I have been eating there for 13 years. But I guess not. Easily the best South Asian restaurant in the Boston area. Cannot be compared to the cheap Afghan kebab joints in NY or DC. I think of this as a top level Indian restaurant in Bombay, but with a judicious use of spices. I only eat red meat dishes here, as the Afghans are not exactly fish eaters. I tried a dining partners fish once and was underwhelmed. All the grilled meats are excellent; the Chappendaz, the Theeka Kebab, the Chowpan. Aboid the sauteed ones. The Chicken is well Chicken. Tastes like every other thing. The vegetarian options are surprisingly very good, considering that the Afghans are such meat lovers. Maybe its only a stereotype. The sabzi Challow, Khorma challowm, Showla and Dolma; all good. The appetizers are also all good, especially the Banjan. Eggplant never tasted better. The one star off is because of the service. In one word it "Sucks" ! Big time. They allow only 1.5 hours betweeen seatings and the waiter will start hovering over your table when your time is up. The fact that you have a reservation does not guarantee you a seat at that time. I have had to wait upto 45 mins to get a table. I have finally given up. But the food is too good to avoid so we land up on a weekday at 5.30 or 6, eat in an hour and are on our way.
(4)MTL L.
Definitely a great place for any hot/spicy food lover out there. This is definitely one of those hole in the walls to take any guest to. My favorite is the koufta challow (spicy meatballs). The flat bread is also very cool.
(4)claudia g.
Soooo delicious. Very nice atmosphere. They bring you this amazing fresh bread that they bake in the oven in the dining room, with several chutneys. There are many vegetarian options. Definitely get the kaddo appetizer, which is pumpkin with yogurt sauce. I did not have any idea pumpkin could be so good. The challow is really good too. The service is very good. The deserts are probably my least favorite thing there. They aren't bad, just not my taste.
(5)alyson a.
Food was great! The lamb was really good - lots of vegetarian food options too. 4 stars for the food. Minus 1 star for the wait and for the service. Our waitress tried. Note "tried". Wasn't able to give recommendations or even to check on us. We saw other foodrunners and servers more than her. Also, we had reservations but still had to wait about 20min before we got a table. Plus the fact that the hostess ignored us for 10min didn't really help. The place was so small that we were basically bumping elbows with our neighbors. But still, the food saves the review. Expect a long wait (even with reservations).
(4)LOIS T.
How Helmand came to Cambridge is an interesting story. A number of years ago my daughter who lived in Cole Valley, San Francisco took me to the Helmand in North Beach. She said"Mom get your taste buds ready for the most exciting,unusual and delicious food you have ever tasted." Well it turned out to be everything she said. We were having so much fun and laughing a lot and Mahmoud came over to talk to us. He asked me where I was from and where I worked. I gave him my business card from Hermes. About a week later he called and asked me " Do you think they would like my food in Cambridge to which I replied they would love it". Little did I know this was Hamid Karzai's brother. He was asked on T.V. when his brother became president of Afghanistan " What advice would you give your brother? He replied"no advice,I'm a business man!" I hope he is safe and well. The food is always perfect and although he is no longer there I have always loved the food and have never been disappointed. Lois
(5)Amy T.
I love this place. I have been here three times and I have been completely satisfied and thrilled about my food every time. I had never tried Afghan food but I am newly-obsessed by Indian, so I have been prompted to open my trap for all new flavors lately. The pumpkin/squash thing with yogurt and ground meat.... yum. and I am not a a big meat eater. But I have to be honest - they had me at hello - when they come to your table, they brign thins great bread and THREE DIP-TYPE things... anytime you give me stuff to dip other stuff into - I am yours! there is a cilantro dip and a yogurt dip and a spicy red dip.... heaven.
(4)S K.
Excellent food! Can't say I've had Afghani food outside of this restaurant, but I almost don't want to try it from anywhere else, because I can't imagine it tasting better... I can't really speak to the service issues, because every time I've been here has been for a social occasion, so I didn't really notice the service--I remember our servers as very friendly and accomodating. Highly recommended!
(5)Andres M.
It was good food but I was not super excited about it. I guess I was expecting something more exotic, most of the dishes tastesd pretty similar to me. I tried a really good Afghan restaurant in NYC so I was kind of hoping something similar. Maybe this is more authentic, I don't know. I would like to go back, although it's a bit pricey for a grad student stipend.
(4)Lou S.
I hesitated for a while between two and three stars but eventually chose two in order to factor in the disappointment this place turned out to be... East Cambridge is rife with good food, and Helmand was heralded on Yelp as the best around. Not so. In chronological order: 1. This restaurant is packed even on Mondays, so make a reservation. Packed means noisy, so don't take your hard-of-hearing uncle there if you want to save him a very bad experience. 2. The bread they cook in their huge wood oven is addictively delicious. Beware. 3. The baked pumpkin would be excellent as a dessert as it is tastier and sweeter than what I had to top off my dinner. No salt at all in this appetizer. 4. The Banjan Borawni - or fried eggplant - was amaaaazing, I'm still salivating just thinking about it. 5. But the so-called leek raviolis, or Aushak, came in EXACTLY the same sauce as the eggplant, except that their taste didn't complement as well. Oh, and these are not leek raviolis, but scallion raviolis. And I think it's revolting and nonsensical to lie to your customers about such a thing. "What if someone walks in who can actually tell the difference between the oniony scallion and the more expensive and subtly-flavored leek? No, customers are too ignorant, they will never notice!" 6. The meat of the lamb kebab was fragrant alright, but it was so very tough that it was hard to cut and harder to chew. Unforgivable. 7. The Mourgh Challow and Kabuli are mostly rice with a few chunks of fragrant but dry chicken and lamb, respectively. It makes the $20 or so you pay for most entrees seem totally over priced. 8. The rice pudding dessert is pleasant, but doesn't live up to the reputation of the desserts at Helmand, which I had been sung about repeatedly. 9. The cardamom tea is awesome. Really. It makes you want to replicate the experience at home. What? It's that easy? Yes it is, no need to go to Helmand for a sip of deliciousness. 10. The service? Mediocre and unfriendly. Waited a long time before they took our order and before they brought us bread, had to die of thirst before they poured us water - with chunky ice cubes that clattered against our teeth. But when it came to taking away our dishes, bringing the check and the coats, they were, well, super fast... Not a very subtle way to get rid of us. I might come back a second time to give them another chance and because virtually everyone I know looooooves it, but I would be very, very cautious.
(2)Rave M.
I've been to the Helmand a dozen times or more over the past ten years, and it remains one of my favorite Boston-area restaurants. Lovely atmosphere, wonderful food (the mantu is my favorite), and I've never had bad service here. Minus one star for this car-less Boston resident who has to go all the way to Lechmere on the E line to get here.
(4)aaron t.
Great environment, and enticing menu. Am still not sure what I ate there, but it was good, and made me tired soon after, meanign it was a good meal. I;m a type that likes refreshing meals, hence the 4 star, but the food here is for sure humble, spicy, and warming.
(4)Georgia Y.
Helmand is really awesome. I'm vegetarian, and I found the food very delicious. The atmosphere is really neat - an open oven nearby and lovely decor, and the waitstaff are formal and attentive. Definitely take a date here. And if you think you might be iffy on Afghani food, take it from me: if you enjoy Indian or Middle Eastern food, Helmand is worth a try.
(5)Nicole M.
delish! the best parts were the grilled meats and the fresh bread with sauces - very happy with this place!
(4)Pat M.
I've been twice since I moved to the area and was impressed both times. The place was packed on both occasions, once a Wednesday night, the other a Tuesday night, I couldn't believe the popularity of this place during the week. But after sitting down and trying the food I could see why. Every dish we tried was either very good to excellent, not at all what I was expecting. Moreover, the price is excellent for the quality of the meal. The first time my wife and I ate here we split an app, had 2 entrees, two deserts, a full carafe of wine, and tea for around $50. Try getting that at any place across the river! Also, the menu has quite extensive offerings for vegetarians. The service was mediocre, but because the food was so good we were able to overlook it and we will definately return on a regular basis.
(4)Anuj S.
I went here after reading the reviews and it was everything I expected. There is 2 hour parking right across the street for Helmand customers, T accessible, and there is a cab stand just nearby. The ambiance was really nice and comforting. There is a direct view of the fire stove from where you're sitting. This was my first time here and the waiter was very friendly and helpful. As for the most important part, the food was delicious. Me and my friends tried several of the lamb dishes and the ravioli dish. I think my favoriate part was the bread and dips before the meal came. The pumpkin appetizer was out of this world. I got there around 5:30-6:00 in the evening, and there were several familes (with babies). But later in the evening, it was mostly couples.
(4)Alyson L.
Fantastic menu, very reasonable prices. The only con is they don't serve lunch, only dinner.
(5)Angelo S.
One of the very best restaurants in Boston. Unlike the posts below, I've always found the service to be highly attentive, friendly, and talkative (in a very good way). The food, as all the posts say... is subtle and exquisite mixing a variety of flavors that includes light touches of sweetness, mintiness and freshness. If you don't try it, you know you'll regret it.
(5)Michael T.
I like the food a lot. The Kaddo is like nothing I have ever had, baked baby pumpkin with a ground beef sauce (never would have imagined something like that), it was very tasty. Some of the guests are dressed nice and others not so much, the kind of crowd I like. The prices seemed reasonable to me and the service was pretty good.
(4)Tom L.
One of the best values in Greater Boston and one of my overall favorites. I could dine on the flatbread -- baked fresh in an oven in the middle of the dining room! -- and trio of dipping sauces alone. They do incredible things with pumpkin and grilled lamb. Great vegetarian options. Menu never changes but if it ain't broke...
(5)Moomin M.
I had heard raves about this place and went with high hopes; however, the staff at the door were very rude about the fact that we did not have a reservation--and this was the tone of the whole evening. The service is terrible, and this place is really overrated--the food was only so-so. I agree with the other reviewer who noticed the resemblance of the flavors to Chef Boyardee. If you want good Afghan food without all the hype, try Himalayan Kitchen on Mass. Ave. beyond Porter.
(1)J L.
It has been a while since I've been to Helmand. Not sure why, because every time I went it was absolutely DELICIOUS. When any of my friends tell me they are going to dine there, I tell them, you HAVE to get the baby pumpkin dish - appetizer or entree, I believe. I've had all sorts of entrees over the years: the steak, sea bass, etc. I love the open space where the oven is on display, perfuming the entire restaurant in breadness. The chutneys are amazingly explosive in your mouth. *SIGH* I need to go there soon.
(4)Steve N.
i would go back just for the Kaddo. who doesn't like pumpkin in their appetizer?
(3)Raja V.
Great food. Nice setting. Good service. Good value... good lamb entree for $18
(5)sizz m.
worth the trip. food is above avg. place is small so make a res on sat.
(4)Monet N.
I'm not an Afghan cuisine expert since I've only eaten this particular type of food a couple of times but if it tastes good then thats all that matters. I ordered the Khorma Challow (leg of lamb sauteed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, green beans, potatoes and spices served with lentils and challow rice) and that was really good. The others got a vegetarian version of mine and the Chowpan (half rack of lamb marinated, grilled and served on a bed of Afghan bread with sauteed eggplant and pallowrice). We even ordered the Kaddo (pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce) that was good a bit sweet if you don't have the ground beef sauce on it and the Bendi (Okra sauteed with onion fresh tomatoes, black pepper and garlic) was good as well. The service was good and the atmosphere is very intimate. Good place I can see why it is popular.
(4)Rebecca Y.
Looking for something unique? I conned two friends into trying the Helmand with me. We ordered primarly off the "appetizer"/first course menu so we could try many different things. The food was all outstanding. Very fresh and flavorful. I would recommend this place highly!
(5)So S.
Love this place! Serves Afghani food and everything there is soooo delicious. Love the mantwo (like the meat one better than the popular pumpkin) w/ yogurt, banjan and the lamb is soo great. Never had a bad meal here! Very intimate and nice wood burining stove. Great date place and not very expensive for the excellent food. Should make reservations 'cause it gets packed fast!! Wait staff is pretty slow-----so just try to savor your meal rather than rush it.
(5)Lala L.
You can get a very satisfying meal here. The first time I went, we tried every appetizer on the menu. Great experience! There's a squash dish that has this meat sauce over it- very intersting, and they have really good chive dumplings and these crispy dumplings that has 3 different fillings...almost like a mini dosa. Don't forget the bread, which is baked right there in the wall in the dining room. Fresh bread with an assortment of dips. The entrees are really good too, and the right portion. They serve alot of lamb and steak, even tho i'm not much of a red meat eater, I still liked all the dishes that I've tried. The atmosphere is great too.
(5)Priya C.
So AMAZING! This restaurant is fantastic. There are tons of vegetarian options and they are so reasonably priced. This place seems to always be packed no matter what night of the week it is (they are only open for dinner and closed on Sunday night or Monday night) so def. make a reservation. This place actually prices vegetarian food like it should be- not as much as meat! My boyfriend, a very serious carnivore, also loves this place. The naan (bread) is fresh out of the oven and the dipping sauces are so delicious (especially the green one (coriander)). I love the bowlani for an appetizer (the potato one is better than the leek but they will not substitute which is a little annoying). I really like the dish (can't remember the name for some reason- I think it is the Shorwma) that is a pepper stuffed with spinach and cheese and comes with mong beans. Doesn't sound as good as it is! The service is not great though- they often neglect you for long periods of time, so you have to flag them down. But still def. worth it.
(5)Dale O.
We ate there a couple of weeks ago and this was one of the best restaurant meals I've had in a very long time. The wait was about 45 mins on a Tuesday evening, (and not exactly in a high-density pedestrian or tourist zone) but it was DEF worth the effort--don't be discouraged. Dinner with appetizers, a generous carafe of house wine (pretty good), main courses and dessert was around $60 which I thought was very reasonable for food that's pretty much out of this world. We picked this place at random out of the Frommer's guidebook, which warns of "inattentive" service (or words to that effect). I'd agree with that assessment, but he quality of the food overshadows any problems in that area.
(5)Alice K.
Fantastic! While I have no litmus test for authenticity (and therefore can't tell a thing about creativity), the food is reminescent of various South Asian and Mediterranean cuisines, while remaining highly individual and tasty. Bread is baked in front of you in a brick oven; all tables are equipped with three delicious sauces to go with. Highly recommended: the pumpkin/yogurt/ground beef dish, comes as an appetizer and an entree. Only unfortunate quirk: reservations are recommended, but good luck getting them, as the phone is intermittently manned by someone who hangs up on everyone. Human interest feature: Helmand is allegedly run by Hamid Karzai's immediate family.
(5)Enrique D.
well it was my first go at afghan per say, but ive had iranian, israeli, egyptian, morroccan,etc. many middle eastern foods...so i was expecting something familiar its accross the cambridge galleria mall..and it looks like such a humble low key place on the exterior. easily missed. plain white building , nothing fancy. but inside its warm, inviting and just makes u want to sit and really eat. its quiet and relaxing, the service was very curteous.i loved it here. i went with an afghani , so they knew exactly what each plate was....and so as usual, i ordered about everything on the menu. i cant sit here and remember the names...too difficult, but every plate was better than the one before it. i have to say i really want to go back. if u read other reviews written by normal people, who dont have a personal vendetta for some very specific incident, u will find that most reviews are a testament to how really great this place does food. its simply terrific.
(4)Katie L.
While looking for a place to grab a quick dinner in Cambridge near our hotel, we stumbled across Helmand and said, "hell yes." We started with Kaddo for our appetizer, a pumpkin dish that was really a huge highlight of the meal. The accompanying sauces were outstanding,as was the freshly baked flatbread. I had the vegetarian Kourma Challow for my entree and ate the whole thing. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Awesome.
(4)Matthias J.
I went to Helmand's yesterday evening and had an overall very positive experience. We got there 30 minutes late for our reservation and the hostess (owner?) was very friendly and assured she would seat us as really soon, which she ended up doing. Obviously, she didn't kick anyone out for us, but my point is that she was very friendly, when she could have easily said "you're 30 minutes late and now you'll have to wait and we'll see what we can do". My wife and I ordered the Vegetarian Special entrée (baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra) as a shared appetizer, while I had Chowpan (Rack of Lamb marinated, grilled and served with sauteed eggplant ) and my wife had the Mourgh Kabab (Char-broiled marinated chicken breast, served with sauteed spinach and rice). For desert we had the Bucklawa. The food was very good, but not as "exotic" as I had expected. If someone had presented this food to me and told me it was Greek, Lebanese, or from northern India, I would have totally bought it. My point is that this is not like going for Ethipian food, were you eat with your hands and get a pancake rather than silverware). I was expecting very spicy food which it was not. We shared half a carafe of the OK house Chardonay ($10). The Bucklawa was really good. One thing that surprised me, was the speed with which the dished were delivered. If you are looking for a romantic dinner, you need to chew really slowly, 'cause you can't count on slow service to stretch the evening.
(4)Shirley Y.
the helmand is the only afghanistan cuisine in town. the restaurant has been increasingly popular since it was discovered by locals after 9/11. every dish here is fabulous. the bread served with every meal comes out of the fire fresh and delightful. highly recommended is the side of pumpkin which comes with some dishes and the lamb. decor has an obvious middle eastern influence. gets crowded on weekends.
(4)Ana M.
This Afghan restaurant in Cambridge is very good. Do yourself a favor and get the Mantwo appetizer. Also, be prepared to have someone roll you out of here - the portions are very filling. I am not kidding when I say that this is the site of my first-ever food coma.
(4)David C.
excellent, might need a reservation
(4)Khalid M.
I'm a fan! Not a Boston native but on a recent visit, I stumbled across this Afghan restaurant. Here in Southern California I don't come across many Aghani restaurants or they just don't do a good job of advertising them! Anyway, The Helmand is the real deal, guys. Their Chapli Kababs are fantastic. Portion size is decent as well. Service could be improved but I give them a pass because both times we went, the restaurant was very busy and the staff did the best they could. I'm going to be visiting this restaurant whenever I'm in Boston.
(5)Margaret Z.
My boyfriend and I happened upon The Helmand as we were coming back from a walk to explore the MIT Campus. We were actually looking for a smoothie joint, but of course it was closed for Memorial Day, so we trudged along 1st St back to our hotel. The Helmand is adjacent to the Cambridgeside Galleria mall, but the exterior is quite unassuming. I even commented on the fact that there was a restaurant specializing in Afghan cuisine, which I had never seen before. As we were trying to decide what to eat after our sunset cruise, we kept coming back to The Helmand and decided to give this new cuisine a try. The restaurant's interior is beautiful - very true to the culture without being gaudy or tacky. I was also surprised by how many people were still there at 9 PM, and by the non-stop flow of diners who came in after us. This reassured us that we made the right choice. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful in giving us recommendations, since we were unfamiliar with the menu. Boyfriend ordered the "Mourgh Challow" (sautéed chicken in yellow split peas and fresh tomatoes, served with challow) while I opted for the "Koufta Challow" (combination of lamb and beef meatballs seasoned with sun dried baby grapes, paprika, turmeric in hot green pepper, green peas and fresh tomato sauce and served with challow). Challow refers to the type of rice - there is a helpful little blurb on the menu about the difference between challow and pallow rice. I will spare you my surely inaccurate Sparknotes version. We were also given freshly baked flatbread with 3 types of dip: the classic tzatziki yogurt dip with cucumber, a mild dip with cilantro and walnuts, and a spicy dip with red chilis. All were delicious and made in-house. Our entrees came very quickly with a huge helping of rice and meat. The portions are HUGE! I was definitely shoving it in by the end of the meal, but I couldn't leave any amount unfinished. For both of our dishes, the meat was extremely tender without any signs of dryness. They also packed a TON of flavor. My mouth was practically numb by the end from the Afghan spices but it was fantastic. I was surprised that there is also a location in Baltimore, MD. Will definitely try to make a trip out there to try some other items on the menu.
(5)Rick P.
Very good food and excellent atmosphere. I had the Kaddo for an appetizer... Very sweet pumpkin and yogurt, more like a dessert than an appetizer. But very tasty. I had the special sea bass lying In a bed of spinach rice. Excellent dinner. The pan fried bread with the sauces is very good as well. I enjoyed the white (cucumber) and red (fiery) sauces best. Overall, I rate this a 4 star. No complaints, but I'm waiting for that one restaurant that knocks my socks off before I give a 5 star.
(4)Alex E.
Wow. I had never had Afghan cuisine before coming here, and I was absolutely blown away. They have amazing vegetarian options (be sure to specify that you want the vegetarian version because most of the dishes have both a meat and vegetarian option. I suspect this is the reason why so many people were surprised by meat in their dishes). I had the vegetarian special, which was basically a sampler of 4 different dishes and some rice. The pumpkin and eggplant were AMAZING!! I could eat that pumpkin for dessert, it was so sweet and absolutely delicious! The our server was very sweet, but the bussers/food runners were a little unenthusiastic. Not necessarily rude, but it was enough to dampen the mood a bit. And the Turkish coffee was not really like what I had in Turkey, and also very inconsistent: My friend's cup was full of grounds and I had barely any in it.
(4)Charlie B.
Me and coworkers made a special trip here on a recent business trip. One of my coworkers is a big fan and wanted to visit. Listen to folks on here and get the kaddo! We shared other entrees and appetizers family style and everything was really delicious. I knew from the moment they brought out the tasty bread with a few sauces on the table I was going to enjoy it! The only dish I didn't love was the fish dish, which I cant' remember how it was prepared I just remember thinking it was underwhelming. They somehow manage to take dishes that read like they could be heavy dishes on the menu and turn them into something that tastes fresh and light. I had only had Afghani food one other time in DC years ago and this was much better! I love any chance to try a new cuisine and this place manages to stand out on its own and offer up a unique and delicious experience! Y
(5)Alan G.
Pros: + Delicious food + Friendly service Cons: - Service was somewhat slow Came here with my best friend for dinner on Tuesday. I made a reservation for 7:45pm. We were seated almost immediately. We ordered the Aushak for appetizer, Sabzi for a side, Seekh Kabob and Mourgh Challow for entrees, and Feereney and Sheerberaing for dessert. We also got bread and dip. There were 3 dips for the bread. The white "mild" dip was a mixture of cucumber and yogurt, the green "medium" dip was a mixture of cilantro and something else, and the red "spicy" dip was also a mixture of something that I forgot, unfortunately. But all three were really delicious. The Aushak was a ravioli with leeks and scallions topped with ground beef sauce, served on yogurt-mint. The Sabzi was some sort of sauteed spinach. Both were great. The Seekh Kabob came with 5 chunks of lamb, which was tender and delicious. The Mourgh Challow came with three large chunks of chicken, and was also great, though I preferred the Seekh Kabob as it had more flavor. The desserts were also delicious. My friend got the Feereney, which was a cream pudding with various berries. I tried some and it was good, though a bit too creamy for my taste. I got the Sheerberaing, which was a rice pudding with pistachio and cardamom. It was sweet and soft, and the cardamom added a unique flavor to it. Overall, the food was fantastic. Our server was also super friendly to us. However, I think the service was a tad bit slow. We never got our water refilled, and had to wait for a while between courses and getting the check. We didn't leave the restaurant until 9:30, and we didn't linger after finishing our food. It could have been because the restaurant was understaffed at the time, but by the end of our meal we were only 1 of 5 tables, and still had to wait a decent amount of time to see the dessert menu and our check.
(4)Grace M.
Enter the Helmand and be greeted by the smoky, delicious smell of fresh-baked flatbread coming from the beautiful oven facing the interior. The food is simple, delicious fare and my visit was the first time I'd tried Afghani cuisine. It was to me, very much like a mix between Indian and Persian (this being a very good thing!). I had a fish dish which was excellent and most everyone else in my party had the lamb. Everyone was pleased and I do highly recommend this place! :) p.s. OMG the pumpkin/squash appetizer..
(4)K L.
I brought a party of 7 on a Saturday night... it wasnt that busy. First of all, we had to ASK for the bread... They brought it out with BUTTER although everyone around us had sauce. We then asked for sauce, all were somewhat underwhelming. The bread itself is so yummy and had a fried dough-like texture. Yum. I had one of the lamb dishes. The lamb itself was overcooked and bland. I tried my friends steak, which was the opposite: seasoned so well and delicious. The rice was very yummy! All in all it was just OK. My socks werent knocked off. OH and yes, get the pumpkin/beef sauce appetizer. Yum. The service was terrible. I think they just started offering open bar options...they have no idea how to make a drink. I ordered vodka, soda with a lime. The waiter had me repeat that order 2x and looked so confused. When the drink came back, there was maybe half a shot (if that) of vodka in the drink. Not good. They also took our order and placed the wrong dish in front of everyone. The guy who placed our dishes actually asked "who got the lamb"... dude there's like 7 different lamb dishes on the menu, you need to either specify or know which guest ordered what. Totally disorganized and generally bad service. I wouldnt go back, but I wouldnt turn people away either. Don't expect anything great...
(3)Ann J.
Helmand is officially my new favorite restaurant in Boston. Having grown up in the Middle East, I have high standards for food from the region. On too many occasions have I walked into a Middle Eastern restaurant only to be disappointed. However, I'm pleased to say that the Helmand far surpassed my expectations! I have to admit the prices are a little steep but hey, you pay for quality right? Right when we sat down we got a basket of bread with three dipping sauces. Each were delicious and the bread was perfect. My boyfriend had been to the restaurant before and made sure we ordered the Kaddo as an appetizer. Piece of advice...ALWAYS ORDER THE KADDO. I think I could eat that dish every day of my life and not get sick of it. For our main dishes we both had the kofta. The portion was huge but it was so good we both cleaned our plates! The tomato sauce was seasoned perfectly and the meatballs were cooked to perfection. Sometimes Kofta can be dry or bland but this dish was exactly what I hoped it would be. Afghan food can seem a little intimidating but trust me, the Helmand is by far one of the best restaurants in Boston.
(5)Steven W.
The food was good, the atmosphere was nice and the price was decent but our service was very bad. This place has very good reviews so maybe my server just had a bad night. Regardless, being seemingly forgotten about several times did not make for the best experience.
(2)Kerri Y.
You cannot go wrong ordering here. Everything on the menu is beyond delicious and super flavorful. You must start with the Kaddo: pumpkin/yogurt/ground beef dish. It is beyond delicious. I a sucker for this dish and the Helmand did not disappoint. For dinner I had Chowpan (Half Rack of Lamb on Afghan bread with sauteed eggplant and rice). The eggplant was just amazing. I could have had an entire plate of this and been happy. The lamb, which I ordered rare- was super tender and flavored perfectly. I ended the meal with Homemade ice cream served with pistachio and cardamom. I think there were some dates on the ice cream as well. It was a great combination. There is just enough food- good portion size. I left satisfied but not overly stuff. Overall I had a great experience here and would highly recommend it.
(4)Daniel C.
This is probably the best Afghan food I've ever had! A bunch of us came here for dinner after a long day of meetings. According to my coworkers, the restaurant belongs to the brother of a former president of Afghanistan. The flat bread is baked fresh on site - there's a baker scooping out a huge piece the size of a door mat every so often from a wood burning oven. It had three options of dipping sauce: white, red, and green - all good in their own way. My entree was the CHOWPAN, which was grilled rack of lamb over flat bread, served with herbed basmati rice and stewed eggplants. I got the lamb cooked medium, and it had a perfect sear with a salty crust. The meat was super tender and with little effort fell off the bone and was super juicy. I wish they offered more than three pieces, but they were still good sized! I have not yet had lamb this good at any other restaurant period. For dessert, I had their homemade ice cream, which came with generous four little scoops in a bowl with pistachio, candied figs, and some sort of berry sauce. The combination of flavors and textures was really amazing here. I regret not taking pictures at the table - I was surrounded by coworkers who said it was bad form since the wife at home would be very envious! This restaurant is worth a trip to Boston as the quality was too notch at super reasonable prices.
(5)Raina B.
I was not expecting to be particularly blown away by Afghan food, but I loved it!! Come for great food, but don't expect service or the ambience to be decent. We both are vegetarian, so we ordered dishes to share. We got the vegetarian Aushak - so good!!!! My favorite of the night. We had the Showla - the flavors weren't as rich or strong, but still pretty good. Their bread and sauces are so good. We kept eating it and then adding the sauces to everything else! We had awful service. It seemed that our table wasn't in anyone's section, so we had to ask several times for the menu and to place our order. My friend had a train to catch, and it took ages to get our check - and when we did get the check, there were so many issues with payment! I tried to pay cash and my friend tried to pay by card, but the card machine wasn't working at first and apparently only the manager is allowed to handle cash - and the manager was out taking a phone call. My friend was getting really late so we literally got up, found the waitress, took her card back, and she left to get a cab while I waited another 10 min to finish paying the bill. Completely absurd.
(4)Laleh J.
I thought the food was delicious. The bread was fresh with good dipping sauces.
(4)Rabia Q.
Excellent service, excellent food, a little louder than I like. Would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Boston. The pineapple cake is absolutely delicious.
(5)Kent L.
Here on business, other Yelpers pointed me to this terrific spot for vegetarian Afghan food. (Meat available, too - lamb, beef, chicken, fish). Super friendly, capable and attentive service from a helpful woman with a Hungarian accent. I was dining by myself, and I was pleased at how quickly the food arrived - attractive and piping hot. As good as the vegetarian menu looked, I was lured by the pan seared trout with sauteed eggplant, and one of the most interesting and flavorful rice side dishes I've ever eaten. The meal comes with complementary bread (sort of naan-like, I suppose) and sauces which were similar to what you'd find in an Indian restaurant. The restaurant at dinnertime was lively but not really noisy. It is comfortable and looks as if someone took care to decorate in an authentic-looking Afghan interior. It probably won't win any style awards, but it's sufficiently charming. Lots of people were dining in groups, so it looks like a popular place to meet for dinner. (Beer and wines are available, but be aware that bar is fairly basic/simple.) I would definitely return return here.
(4)Domonique L.
First time trying Afghan food and I was so pleasantly surprised! Delicious flavor combinations that I would have never thought of. Pumpkin with ground beef sauce was delicious! Lamb ravioli was to die for. The sauces and bread were fresh and tasty. Would recommend it to anyone! Loved the atmosphere and staff. Very helpful in recommending dishes.
(5)Meryam B.
My vegetarian review of Helmand: the sweet pumpkin appetizer with yogurt sauce is delicious. The other vegetarian options are decent- to be expected for a restaurant with a meat heavy menu. Despite the lack of exciting options for vegetarians, I would return just for the sweet pumpkin appetizer (and ask that it be sweetened slightly less). My co-diners ordered lamb and beef, which looked great.
(3)Ahmed A.
Here's the breakdown: The food was pretty good. Kaddo- 4 stars Pellaew- 4 stars Chappli kebob- 2,stars - it was undercooked and raw in the middle. Chappli is never that thick. The rice pudding- 2.5 average. Service - 1 star. Our waitress was super pushy about ordering more and more food. Two appetizers when we wanted one. She rolled her eyes when we insisted on one. She forgot put cole, never came back to check on us then forgot our tea. I almost felt like she was on something. The busboys were sort of rude and seemed bothered when ever we asked for anything. Good food + terrible service = 2 stars
(2)Jess M.
I love it here. The food is amazing, ambiance is nice, and service is excellent. I try to come here as often as I can, but I just found out this new delivery service ( Postmates.com ) actually orders/picks up/delivers from Helmand. No local food delivery service does, so I was pretty excited. I tend to order the same things over and over since I love them, so here's a run down of my favorites. Aush (noodle soup) Meat Auschak (Afghan ravioli with tomato meat sauce and leeks) Bread that comes with dinner (amazing and freshly made)
(5)Jesseca T.
We were in Boston for the 4th and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to have Afghani food, which is one of my favorites. We were here on Sunday the 6th, so it was not crowded at all, although we made a resy since we'd heard it was often busy. Their pumpkin dish was delicious, and their bread was exception also. The spinach was ok, not awful, not fantastic. Husband reported that lamb was done right, he's greek so he knows lamb, or at least has strong opinions about it. The Bolani (sp?) was great, this is such a yummy app. Wine selectionwas fine, prices were reasonable, and ambiance was good. Unfortunately, our waiter was rude about my simple request for a children's menu. My daughter has been to more 4 star restaurants than many adults I know. She is civilized, polite and quiet. She was also made to feel very unwelcome by our waiter, which ruined the meal for us of course. We just couldn't find something on the menu that she was excited about, yet he could not even be bothered to pretend to ask the kitchen to make up some butter and noodles when I asked if there were anything easy they could do. She ate bread and butter for her dinner. When I asked if there were something he could do he said no, and stopped talking. That's the response I got. Not..."sure but it'll cost ya" or "i'm so very sorry, that's just not possible because the kitchen is very busy" but simply NO. I have been treated better in McDonalds. Unfortunate. I do business in Boston and at least once a year I have $2500 to spend in marketing money to host an event at a local restaurant for 20 or so partners. I also have a long memory and don't appreciate my daughter being made to feel unwelcome. We have worked hard to make sure we can go out and enjoy a nice meal with her, all it takes is a little flexibility. Nuff said ? And yes, I tipped 20%, I always tip 20% because I worked in a restaurant for ten years and know all about the back end. But I won't tip 20% again 'cause I won't be back. :(
(2)Sonia D.
I absolutely love this place and always forget about it which is sad. I came to dinner on a Saturday night and was able to get a reservation with no issue. There restaurant was busy but not packed. The atmosphere is cute and cozy, looks like someone's living room. They bake this amazing bread in the oven that is in the middle of the floor which is cool. They also have 3 awesome dipping sauces. Definitely, check this place out if you are looking for a great, cozy place that serves great food with amazing middle eastern spices
(5)Laura P.
Went to The Helmand for the first time at the suggestion of a friend. We went on a week night around 6pm and there were only a few people there. An hour later the place was packed. It was also my first time at an Afghani restaurant so I asked the server for a beef entree recommendation. I had the Chapendaz, it was delicious, I cleaned the plate! There were tons of great flavors, I would definitely order this dish again. My only criticism, if you can even call it that, was that all the sides had a similar texture. Like I said, great flavors but I like texture and everything had a soft consistency.
(4)Desiree D.
I found out about this place years ago, when just visiting town. Now that I've moved here, Helmand is my favorite dinner go-to with friends in Cambridge. We basically alternate here with trying other places that strike our fancy, but always, always find ourselves coming back. After many trials, these are our all-time favorites, all worth 5 stars: *Kaddo - Absolutely delicious pumpkin topped with yogurt sauce, with or without meat: we always go with, and one friend has ordered it for dessert, too. *Banjan - wonderful eggplant, also with yogurt sauce, mint and tomato. *Theeka Kabob/Prime Rib - Can we just order extra plates of this meat, please? So much rice and lentils just feel like filler with this magnificence... this is fantastic! *Sheerekh for dessert - Homemade ice cream with pistachio and cardamom spices, yum! Things we all have slightly different emphasis on: *The bread is great, fresh-baked on site, great sauces to taste with. (I'm sensitive to wheat, so lose out here.) *2 of us love lamb and like the lamb dishes as well; the 3rd of our regular party finds it a little greasy, but apparently thinks that of most lamb. Not much for cocktails, but it's not that type of restaurant. Excellent wine selection; lovely spiced tea, too. Ambiance is good, colorful and open; most of room by default set up for parties bigger than 2. A little on the loud side in the open room many nights; may need a reservation. The back room is a little quieter but also more closed in; if you dress like a bum you might be seated there, too. (We came in after the gym a couple of times... =) Net: delicious!
(5)Vivian C.
Went here with family on a recommendation from my physics GSI from college who had gone to MIT--very tasty! The environment feels a little buttoned up when you first walk in, but they are not strict about enforcing dress codes. Portions are generous and the food very flavorful. Very veg friendly if you have a mixed group. We went with one of the lamb shank dishes, a fish special and the veggie combo platter, all of which were fantastic. Great dessert (get the rice pudding!), too. Only qualm from being a spoiled California girl is the wine and beer list were a little sparse and not unique to the region or cuisine.
(4)Vic G.
3.5/4 stars since they really don't have any competition in Boston area. I don't know any Afghan restaurant around. Most important tip: for Thursdays through Sundays - always call ahead and reserve else you won't get a table. That's simply because of the fact that there aren't other Afghani restaurants around. They have great desserts. Main entrees are decent too. I tried the lamb dishes - a different one last 2 times I was there. Not bad. I find this place much better than Lala Rokh which doesn't have the best service and is way too expensive. Ambiance at Helmand is far better too. Great service to boot. I have been going there since 2004 and the quality of their service and food hasn't change one bit.
(4)Roger M.
Great lamb and amazing service. Definitely a repeat.
(4)Sarah L.
We've been here twice on trips to Boston. It is so good, I would drive from Connecticut just to eat here. Seriously. It is that freaking good. They make this flat bread in the house that comes up before your meal that is to die for! They bring it warm to your table. My only complaint year is that they didn't seem to be receptive to any changes or alterations to a dish which kind of pisses me off. I just ask for a salad with chicken kebabs on it and they wouldn't do it. Both of these items were on the menu. Come on. Had Kaddo pumpkin app both times and it is a delicious, beautiful thing that I had never had before. Also had the Mourgh (chicken) salad - a daily special- Chowpan- rack of lamb, and Green Tea. Can't remember what entrees we had the second visit but they were both excellent. Come here if only for the bread!!
(5)Jared I.
We had a reservation for 6:30 for 6 people but only 5 were able to attend. My girlfriend and I arrived a little early and we were promptly seated. We were immediately asked if we would like something to drink but we asked to wait for the rest of our table to arrive. Once the rest of the party sat down we were again asked for drinks. This was a little overbearing on the part of the waitress. One person in our party clearly ordered a glass of the Cabernet Sauvignon from California but was served a white wine. The waitress did remove the white and bring the correct wine. Overall the food was decent but not worth the price. Prior to receiving desert, spoons were rudely thrown on the table by the waitress. Furthermore we were charged $1.45 for the white wine that was incorrectly poured. In summary, the service was average and the food was not worth the price.
(2)Jacob-Kiki H.
The lamb was so good...actually everything was so good but the lamb was to die for. We came with a large group and had very good service, even changing is to a larger table once it opened up. Very attentive waitress kept the glasses full and fresh plates coming
(5)Matt O.
Food was excellent, wide variety of flavors very well blended. Service was a bit slow, but otherwise good.
(4)Ghaida K.
This is one of my favourite restaurants here. It's only a walking distance from my flat so I like to come here when I'm craving food that is (somewhat) similar to the food at my home, since there no Saudi restaurants anywhere. It does the job right and I always leave extra happy and very full. However, I think the menu could use a little more variety. Perhaps offer the same dishes but without meat? After a few visits, I've eaten almost everything I thought I would like. The only reason one star is missing from this review is the service, unfortunately. P.S. I avoid the middle eastern pastries here like the plague because it's far from tasting authentic and I end up getting upset. Have them at an actual Arabic restaurant. Arax supermarket out in Watertown has a great bunch. P.P.S I never leave without having the ice cream!
(4)Binh L.
4 stars for food and that extra star is for thoughtful service. I love the kaddo!The sweetness of the pumpkin is rounded out by the savory beef sauce. It's hard to imagine, but a brilliant combo. My only concern was that there was not enough beef sauce so I was a little overwhelmed with the remaining pumpkin which was overly sweet on its own. I still enjoyed this appetizer tremendously. I got the kourma challow. The lamb was tender and overall tasty, but I didn't feel the dish had the same cohesion as the other dishes I observed. (I tried my friend's steak - delish) The leg of lamb (actually chunks of lamb) was separated in a curry-like sauce with green beans. The challow (rice) is served with a side helping of lentils and garnish of green onion and one singular baby carrot. It was a little disjointed, but I just mixed everything together and yums. I think I would have liked a little more depth in the kourma, but still tasty. Service is excellent. I brought the attention that a drink didn't come out, but I was charged for it, and it was addressed with the utmost professionalism and politeness. I was really impressed with how they handled it. Helmand -- hell yeah.
(5)Jane S.
The pumpkin here is delicious. Seems like authentic Afghan food. The service is excellent. We ate so much we had no room for dessert - but we ordered it to go!
(4)Christine J.
Good Afghan food! What a treat to have these rare cuisines in Cambridge! The taste wasn't at all weird or far fetched as you might expect when you hear "afghan food". It taste very similar to our "american" palate. Go try it for yourself.
(4)Ashley N.
This place has been recommended plenty of times from different people and highly spoken of. I tried it for the first time and I was not much of a fan & very disappointed. In my opinion it is overrated & I'm so sad to rate it low, because I was really looking forward to it. Plenty of things to choose from, but I felt like if someone were to give me a recipe, I could easily recreate it. We got: -Theeka Kabab: prime rib was medium well and could have made it at home, but better. Lacked flavor and could have been a lot better. -Koufta Challow: a bit spicy though enjoyable -Seekh Kabob: Lamb was okay, but nothing spectacular With that said, everything our table got was simple and just okay. Seemed like it needed a bit more flavor. The appetizer kaddo which is the only thing I would recommend & something definitely I could not make. Service was not great either. Our waitress was not helpful at all and seemed like she just wanted us to leave. I'll request a different waitress next time I go. Prices for the food were a bit over priced but you're paying for the experience. This place is good for people who do not mind sharing food and want the experience. After writing this review, I want to believe I went in on a bad night. & I will try this again, not anytime soon though. But like I say, I always have to try a place twice in order to say it is really good or really bad. As of right now, I've experienced better food and experience.
(2)Katherine E.
To keep it short: The food here is absolutely amazing. The vegetarian platter is ridiculously good. I would eat it every day for the rest of my life if I could. I wasn't blown away by the flatbread, but maybe I just don't really like flatbread. The service sucks. The hostesses are rude. Do not miss your reservation. But seriously, the food is good enough that I can deal with the rudeness. I recommend this place to everyone.
(4)Priscilla T.
I stuffed myself silly on the flat bread here. It's really fun to watch them bake it and take it out of the brick oven and slice it up :) Everything was super tasty except I made the slight mistake ordering my main (something steak...) - should have stuck to the traditional stuff. Anyway, very generous portions so be prepared to waddle out of the overly carpeted, cozy, homey dining room.
(4)here t.
Well, it is a very nice space, but I don't get all the fuss about the food. oh fer three was the batting average for us, in the "wow" department. It good, interesting but well it doesn't distinguish itself in any particular way. But go there, have an time and see if you can find something that isn't brownish, and savory-ish, and flavory-ish.
(3)Avigail C.
My boyfriend and I came to this restaurant without knowing we needed a reservation, and with the restaurant absolutely full we thought we would never get to eat! However, the owner was kind enough to give us someone else's place due to their tardiness. The food was great!, the waiter was very kind and attentive, and the prices were fair.
(4)Jennifer N.
The Helmand has long confused me - tonight was no different. On the one hand, this is a restaurant that clearly aspires to distinctiveness. They make some serious efforts to create an atmosphere, and with a few small moves -- blue water glasses, painted walls, some big carpets -- it has worked. And they certainly have a few dishes that they make that are consistently good (i.e. the kaddo, the bread). But it also seems to me there is far too much at the Helmand that just doesn't work, and that hasn't worked for a long time. I also find the Helmand's prices confusing - on the one hand, this is not an expensive restaurant; on the other hand, it's not a cheap restaurant and it's pricey enough ($17-$20 entrees) that the service should be far more sophisticated, friendly, and streamlined than it is. The biggest problem here is service. It all starts with the host or hostess who, in my experience, is generally flustered and unfriendly (added to it is that the host now asks you to check any large -- i.e. backpacks -- bags because the space is so crowded now. This makes walking into the restaurant feel more like going to an airport than going out to dinner). Once escorted to a table, a waitress greets you and, in all likelihood, you will never see that person again because the person who brings your food, your bread, and your drinks is not your waitress. This means that when you want something -- like salt or water, as we did tonight -- you will ask the person you thought was your waitress, and you'll never get what you want. Other small service problems fall under the umbrella of my pet peeves: serving food at different times (I believe everyone should get their entrees at the same time), clearing plates at different times (I believe plates should only be cleared when everyone is done, and not a moment before that), and, most annoying, serving the entrees while people are still eating appetizers (I believe entrees are served after appetizers, unless otherwise requested). All of this to say, there's an element of clumsiness to the Helmand's service. All of this would be forgivable if the food was divine, and there have been times when I have found it amazing, but tonight just wasn't one of those times. I had the veggie special, which I love because it's a sampler plate -- but tonight it was really unremarkable: limp, soggy okra; a slimy piece of eggplant, and even the often-masterful kaddo was slightly off (a bit hard, I think). And it wasn't just my food that was off - my husband's kabob was overcooked and undersalted, and our friends' kabobs were also relatively flavorless. My hunch is that the Helmand occupies such a distinctive niche in the Boston eating scene that people forgive the huge service problems. But, in my mind, huge service issues coupled with lackluster food constitute a serious problem. It's unlikely that I'll be back here.
(2)Zoe P.
Fresh, simple food in a pleasant atmosphere. So why only three stars? Oh, I don't know. It's pricey? It all tastes kind of the same? Nothing blew me away and I was dining with a large party and we ordered lots of different dishes and appetizers - pastries, lentils, fish, meats, green vegetables, kaddo, nut cake - it was like a parade of mild, sweet, aromatic, tender kept marching past over and over again. My favorite thing was maybe the bread, or the brick oven in which the bread was baked. Or the fact that other large parties of young and old were having leisurely meals at long tables covered in white table cloths.
(3)Mary B.
For the adventurous eater, getting to try a culture's cuisine for the first time is a real treat. A pumpkin flavored treat, that is. I've been wanting to try this spot for a while and finally made it. Not even getting pulled over by a zealous Cambridge po-po could stop me (smiles and a generous dose of Southern charm got me out of trouble once again.) I'd recommend reservations as they were definitely full on a lazy Wednesday evening. Service throughout the meal was good, quick but not hover-y. It took a while for me to decide my order because I wanted to try everything... such an array of concoctions with veggies and tons of spices makes me weak in the knees (SWV 4eva). While we were waiting to order, we dove into the bread basket like jackals. The bread is kind of what they serve Cosi sandwiches in, but instead of its poor imitation this was actually really tasty. I was totally enamoured with the pistachio pesto spread. For an appetizer, we got the bowlawni, which were like Afghan hot pockets filled with leeks and scallions or potatoes. They were pretty good, and the cream sauce they were served with was out of this world. I ended up going with a fish special with sun dried tomatoes. It was lovely... the portion size was generous, the flavors were on point... definitely something you want to slow down a bit and really enjoy. Other folks at the table got the pumpkin entree and a lovely chickpea and potato salad... everything looked gorg. I could not walk away from this place without trying the bucklawa, their variation on baklava. It did not disappoint and I enjoyed the subtle differences from what I'm used to from this dessert - less flaky, more honey. I hope to pay another visit to The Helmand, show love to my pistachy friend, and have another gourmandventure.
(4)Wendy O.
I would eat the baby pumpkin EVERYDAY if I could. Honestly, it's the only thing I want to eat for the rest of my life. That's all.
(5)Sheila B.
4.5 stars if you will.. Been coming here for a decade, and come about once a year or so, definitely a call ahead type of place. The chicken dishes, murgh chalow ( chicken& rice) and the one with spinach, are great choices. both are, tender grilled meat, cooked and seasoned well, with some nice vegetable sides. I don't do lamb, but everyone raves about the kebabs , so just do it. The appetizers are all pretty good my favorite being the nanjan ( egg plant). Also the awesome naan-like bread from clay oven is ridiculous with the dipping sauces..Only downsides are , (1) service a little curt (2) feeling like you are being watched, (3) location, east Cambridge, not where you think of for dinner. It's also great for groups , we like to bring our out-of-towners here. See you next year for dinner !
(4)Ana R.
This time we had dessert!! My group of six shared the cream pudding with fresh fruit (so refreshing!), the rice pudding with pistachios (texture was so-so but the taste was yummy) and the "our cake" (our favorite!). Once again, the pumpkin appetizer - can't say enough about it and will try to make it at home because I can't wait until the next time I go to Helmand. Also tried the eggplant appetizer, also delicious. Tried a bit of all the entrees on the table and nothing dissapointed. JUST GO! Don't be intimidated by the cuisine. The waiters are actually friendly if you ask for recommendations or how spicy a dish is.
(5)Jeff M.
After being voted one of the best 50 restaurants in Boston magazine and seeing all the great reviews on Yelp I am really surprised with my experience at The Helmand. The decor and the service did not do it for me. But more importantly the food quality and taste was not very respectable. The pumpkin appetizer was seriously pretty gross. Canned pumpkin is never good. I don't think fresh pumpkin would have worked either. The quality of everything seemed pretty low and the tenderloin was over temperature. I'll never go back here.
(1)Kyle B.
I'd never has afghan food before. I told the waitress to bring me her favorite plate, it was the lamb chops and they were OUTSTANDING!!! I tried everything at the table and the flavors were incredible. Service was great, can't wait to to back!
(5)Rui W.
It's been five years since my last visit here and it's still a great eat!! The wood fire oven baked bread is so fresh and yummy, with the 3 dipping sauces. This time, I rotated my dipping little bit, go from the yogurt sauce to the cilantro sauce then to the hot pepper sauce, then repeat from yogurt again. Your tongue will have lots of fun with the rotations. My wife and I both like the Mantwo (appertizer) which is the Afghan version of beef ravioli. My wife got the Chowpan (1/2 rack of lamb) a must have at Helmand, if you can eat medium or rare, go with that as her medium well is little burned, but the flavor is still good. I got the Dwopiaza (tenderloin of lamb) which is well seasoned and cooked very tenderly.
(5)Lana J.
Want to try something new? This was my first time trying Afghan cuisine, and I loved it! My boyfriend ordered the lamb chops with eggplant and rice on the side, and I took a sort of lamb stew with mushrooms and spinach. The temperature of my plate could have been a little hotter, but besides that, the flavors were very delicious. I tasted the lamb chops and wow, they were amazingly grilled and so tender! I will get that next time! Love the bread they serve, and it is baked in the oven in front of you in the restaurant. You can dip it in different sauces like yogurt or spicy cherry pepper sauce. We also had some delicious soups as appetizers. Would come here again.
(4)K C.
Some of the dishes are pretty good. But it's too costly for the quality/quantity of food. The kaddos suck big time. New York, Chicago even Pittsburgh has better and more inexpensive options. The rice was delicious (1 star), the lamb was also good (1 star); parking isn't bad. But the veg options were very ordinary. Felt bad for our vegetarian friend who was with us. The room is dark (not in a romantic way) like a dungeonish way and VERY loud, you will bump into your neighbor's table and hear everything they talk about. Service isn't that good either. Not going back there again.
(2)Frank G.
fun, warm, atmosphere. classy enough to impress.
(4)Ama N.
You get three small ass ribs from the rack of lamb dish. Taste amazing but my stomach was still growling....at least feed us!
(4)Katie W.
Perfect marriage of indian and Mediterranean food! The bread was fantastic with the trio of dipping sauces--spicy, cilantro and yogurt were great. I started with the Banjan--eggplant with yogurt sauce was great and had a fantastic smokey flavor. I had the Lamb Lawand for dinner and was very surprised at how tender the lamb was. Great sauce, fantastic spinach and flavorful rice. I cleared my plate! We came here with a group of 12 and they were fantastic at handling the large group. Will def be back!
(5)Jess L.
Thanks to everyone who posted before me - I went based on these recommendations! Everything was very yummy. It is sort of in the middle of nowhere on a nowhere street, but the food is delish. I got the Vegetable Special - it wasn't a special, it's called that - which included okra, spinach, and pumpkin. The bread they put on the table is great. We got a great Mulbach wine, too. My rice pudding was a little dry. The flan dessert was good. The ambiance is very friendly, and the staff were knowledgable and kind.
(4)Josephine L.
Oh, Kendall Square. You don't offer much in the way of culture or entertainment, but when you do restaurants you do them well. Hungry Mother. EVOO. And The Helmand. I can't speak on the authenticity as the only other time I've had Afghan cuisine was during a food festival in my high school world issues class from an Afghani classmate. It was delicious, but it didn't make me an expert. But I'm going to assume the food is pretty authentic considering The Helmand is owned by Hamid Karzai's brother. In any case, it's just delicious. My friend and I split the Kaddo to start. Fried pumpkin with yogurt garlic sauce and seasoned ground beef. Oh God, it was like the UN was invited to my mouth and everyone brought beer! So many diverse flavors and textures. Incredible! For entrees, this is the place to go if you love lamb. There are so many lamb dishes to choose from. After agonizing for an embarrassingly long time, I finally settled on the Khorma Challow. Leg of lamb sauteed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, green beans, and potatoes, with challow rice. Hello, UN party no. 2! Oh, you brought strippers this time? That's nice! My god, this dish was delicious. The lamb was so tender and flavorful and the melding of all those vegetables created the most heavenly stew to mix with rice. My friend had the Chapendaz and raved about how delicious it still was after being microwaved and eaten again the next day. They have a really great wine list and the waiters are good at suggesting pairings. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with rugs, blue glassware and various other almost kitschy touches that make the room colorful and lively without being too sleek or modern. Come here so your food senses can experience the equivalent of a raging kegger with the coolest people in the world. There's nothing like The Helmand.
(4)sean g.
Oh. MY GOD! The delicious smells that smack you in the face the second you walk in the door actually brought a tear of joy to my eye. I instantly knew that I would fall in love wtih the food, and I was not wrong. Fresh baked bread right there, and if you love lamb this is the place. Amazing afghan experience.
(5)Manpreet K.
Had dinner here on a cold, blustery & wet Friday evening. This was my second time & it won't be the last. The place was abuzz, but we were seated promptly for our reservation. The ambience is a bit dry & quiet. The menu offers a lot of lamb entrees but also a good selection of vegetarian fare. I love their bread & accompaniments - warm & fresh out of the brick oven. We decided to share the eggplant appetizer (banjan), it was good but not great. I ordered the Lamb Lawand. Although, the sauce reminded me of a lot of the Indian flavors I am used to, it was delicious nonetheless. The meat was so juicy and tender. My other half had the Murgh Kabab with spinach and rice - again, the most tender meat I've had in a long time & flavorful. The rice was seasoned perfectly and was in perfect company with the meat & veggies on the plate. Service was okay - the server was non-intrusive and just fine. This is a perfect place to dine on a cold day - rich flavors of the cuisine & a glass of wine will warm you up in no time!
(4)Sara S.
Yum. Perfect for all of your friends with their diverse dining needs. Great dishes for vegan, omnivores, those who are gluten-free, everyone. Good sized portions, too.
(5)Natasha A.
Helmand is delicious. Though I would not go as far as 5-star delicious, it is definitely worth a frequent visit. The food centers around grilled meats, especially lamb, although most dishes have a vegetarian equivalent. Pumpkin, raisins, grapes and yogurt sauces also make a frequent appearance on the menu. The lamb chops (Chowpan) were particularly delicious. I also liked the scallion and leek ravioli. Accompanying trio of sauces (yogurt/min, cilantro/walnut and sweet chili) add a nice touch. The bread is fantastic. Service was quick. One tiny complaint - steak knives would help with meat dishes and tables were very small, making it hard to share dishes. Otherwise, perfect. There is plenty of parking on the adjacent side streets, both metered and by Cambridge permit. The Galleria also offers reasonable parking prices in the evening. Reservations are highly recommended. Helmand gets packed.
(4)Nishith J.
My wife, toddler, and infant had 6:30pm reservations on Fri Oct 13, 2012, and we arrived at 6:42pm. When we arrived the hostess did not acknowledge us and remained on the phone for a few minutes. Several minutes (~10) later, she looked for our table and informed us that the table was given to another party, since they have a policy of holding tables for only 10 minutes. As we were waiting, they seated 2 other parties of 4. When I made the reservation I was not asked for any contact information. I've heard this place has decent food, but the absurd reservation 'policy' (which does not appear to be written anywhere) and the dismissive hostess will keep us away. It should be noted that my family goes out to dinner all the time and has never been turned away.
(1)Chris C.
My monthly dinner group recently ate at the Halmand, which we hadn't visited since 1999! Ratings and summary comments: Food: 4 Decor: 3.5 Service: 3 Overall: 3.5 The Helmand, by menu, was a unique combination of flavors reflecting Indian and Middle Eastern influence. However, business of the venue seems to have overwhelmed the other aspects of the meal. While food was "flavorful", with particular interest in the kaddo, the bread was cold, and some of the entrees were only lukewarm. While service accommodated the large number of people, the size of the venue did not, as a party of 6 was seated to a table that really was meant for fewer diners, and we were seated very closely to other diners. To say that the sentiments were mixed is somewhat generous; most of the previous diners were left with feelings of nostalgia for how the experience had been in the past. While the food remained interesting, it's perhaps more ideally suited to a quieter night of the week. Unedited comments follow: "I really like the food here, especially the kaddo. I think the flavors are nice take on sweet, spicy, and savory - really awesome (especially that kaddo!). I do feel that the portions were more modest than they had been in the past, but I still left feeling sated. I thought the service was decent, given how busy it was, but certainly the bussing could have been more attentive. I actually do like the decor, but our seating was cozy that particular evening - I think a party of 6 *could* fit around the table we sat at, but it was a bit of a squeeze. I know they're popular, but I thought we should have had a bigger table. All in all, the quality of the food was great, and the quality of the company was better; thanks so much, again for coming!" "Food: 3.75 the food was interesting, and portions fine, but maybe I'm jaded, but it didn't feel that unique to me Service: 3.5 service was fine Décor: 3 I'd give it a 4 because it's a warm, comforting interior the gold walls and the big bread stove, but there were way too many tables crammed way too close together, so it looses a star for the greed over diner comfort factor. Overall: 3.5, I guess I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be, or as I remembered us being last time we were here (#30 in 1999)" "I really wasn't impressed with this restaurant,... sorry... Food: 2.75- The food on my plate was lukewarm. I knew it wasn't looking good when the soda came to the table in a bottle with a papered straw. The bread at Cosi's is also baked in a oven like they have, and I say even better. The quality of the meat was good though, and I like good meat (haha) Service: 4.00 The service was good in lieu of how busy they are. Décor: 2.75 There were too many tables. I felt like we were on top of each other, meaning other tables. I could hear other tables' conversations, and it seems like we were in sweat shop to turn restaurant profits. On the other hand, it is a very popular restaurant, and they are trying to meet mass need. Overall: 3.00 It was not like I remember it to be at all. I was also much younger, and maybe my standards have changed in my older age.. Nonetheless, for the price of the entrees as well, I would not recommend the restaurant based on this experience. Again apologies for the negativity, but asides from the company, it was kind of an unpleasant dining experience." "Food: 4 - the Kaddo is my favorite thing on the menu and it has always been delicious every time its been ordered. My main dish was also very good, the meat was cooked well. My one criticism was that of the flat bread being cold. Usually the bread is brought to table while it is still warm. Maybe because the restaurant was really full on the subject evening, the bread was always on the cooler side Service: 4 - Service was fine considering the restaurant was packed. Décor: 3 - While the overall atmosphere and decor of the restaurant is pleasant, on this evening I felt we were all somewhat crowded. I think if they would have sat our party in the back room it may have been more comfortable. Overall: 3.6 - Having been there a couple of times before, the food and service is usually great although I do think some things may have been a tad off due to just how full the restaurant was on this evening. Still it was a great dinner and I am happy to have finally made it to a First Friday!!!!"
(3)Jonathan M.
I'll repeat what everyone else says: order the KADDO appetizer. Then order one for your friend, and steal it because one isn't enough. It's a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth lump of baked pumpkin covered with yogurt and (optionally for carnies) minced beef. Consistently delicious. I also recommend the aushak (leek ravioli in yogurt sauce) and the seekh kabob (grilled lamb with side dishes). If you go really early you can actually get a seat, otherwise be prepared for a long wait. I will say that they don't seem to be as friendly as they were a few years ago, but the food is still among the best in Cambridge.
(5)Kenneth F.
The best meal I have had in Cambridge, and arguably the best meal I have had in the entire surrounding area. The pumpkin appetizer is a great way to start the meal and also perfect for sharing with others. For entrees, the star of the meal was the Chowpan (the rack of lamb). Comparable to the other place where I've had the best lamb ever, Kokkari in San Francisco. Another entree to get is the Chapendaz, which is a super tender beef dish. Definitely check it out when you are in the area...you won't regret it! Check out my pictures too!
(5)Stacey W.
I don't have that much experience with Afghan food, but if the Helmand is a good representation, then Afghan food is DELICIOUS.
(4)Lauren P.
I love taking out-of-towners to unique restaurants with inventive flavors and Helmund is at the top of my list. The kaddo (pumpkin with yoghurt and meat) is a must-do appetizer. Their freshly baked bread is amazing! I love ALL their lamb dishes but Lamb Lawand and Seekk Kabob are my favorites. I highly recommend choosing lamb over the chicken offerings. Make a reservation - this place is always packed!
(4)Ellie W.
Helmand is by far my FAVORITE spot in Boston for Middle Eastern eats. Well, ok, I don't really know of many other places, but I'm pretty content with Helmand--enough not to really have to seek other restaurants. I'm not sure many can top this place. It's a good idea to make reservations, since you may be waiting awhile without them. In that time, your stomach may hate you and self destruct just by smelling the myriad spices and delicious aromas floating around the restaurant. The ambiance is quite nice, with dim lighting and a homey Middle Eastern feel. It feels like you're in a giant dining room in Afghanastan--and definitely smells like it. Great for small group dinners and probably dates as well. I normally DESPISE lamb (bad lamb experiences--and I'm still convinced that most of the time, when not made well, it tastes like what a soggy, unwashed gym sock smells like), but the lamb here is superb. The ONE time I can enjoy it without secretly spitting it out in a napkin. If a restaurant can change my mind about lamb tasting like gym socks, it's got my approval!
(5)Maha H.
The ambience is nice in this restaurant and I like their wood-fired oven where you can see the bread and other dishes being cooked. However, i was not too keen on the food in general. Felt it was too greasy. Generally not a fan, but the ambience is nice so would be nice to come here with a crowd.
(3)Anne W.
A jewel in Kendall. Pleasantly surprised by the nice decor.. spacious layout.. and the lack of a wait. I made a reservation and there was no problem. We arrived a little late... seated immediately. Now I know people are like.. what is Afghan food exactly? It is very similar to Indian food in my opinion. Affordable prices. The soup was amazing.. I got a lamb and spinach dish which was decent. We also got a bottle of wine and the house wine.. we each paid $30! Amazing value for this place! Great date spot... sure to surprise whomever you take.
(4)Dan G.
Just lovely! Finally after many years, I've arrived. The atmosphere was nice and I loved the wooden table in the middle. I can see that if it was really packed, the seating would be awkwardly close to someone else. One thing was the hostess was a little, meh at first. "Can I help you?" No you cant, but you can ask how many and seat us, ho! We were seated next to the wall of wine, which too, was a tad awkward. Aside from that the service was great, a lot of people working on a monday night means that never an empty glass. Ok FOOD TIME! This was my first time eating Afghani and I must say I enjoyed it. It was a bit milder than Indian, but a lot of the dishes were very similar. They brought out a flat bread with some dipping sauces, a mint/cilantro, hot pepper and a cool yogurt. I was a huge fan of the mint/cilantro, one of the best I have ever had YUUUUMMMMMMM. The menu was very easy to read, everything was well explained and accurate on the plate. We started with the leek ravioli, which was very good. I got the koufta which came served with a heaping mound of deliciously spiced rice, sooo goooooooood I wanted to lick the plate, and so I did! I would like to come back, they seem to specialize in lamb, but you can get veg entrees, lamb, chicken or beef, but its mostly lamb which is aweeesssoooome. Can't wait to come again.
(4)Jessica S.
Amazing food. The pumpkin appetizer is awesome. Got the beef with lentils. My friend got lamb. Desserts were good. A friend of mine also raves about this place. Can park for 2 hours in the lot if you go inside to get a sticker for your car
(5)Jungmin L.
The pumpkin appetizer was a bit too sweet, but the slight meat/tomato flavor went really well with the fleshy pumpkin. Pita-style grilled bread and the accompanying sauces were all great. Especially the yogurt/cucumber sauce, which is seasoned very well. Lamp chops had amazing grill flavor, with a great spice that brought pleasant lamb flavor but masked any gaminess. Cooked medium, it was great. The eggplant sautee and rice that come with it are also delicious. Chicken dishes are also very good, because the cooking has been done perfectly; the spinach side dish is also great. All in all very unique and good.
(4)Francisca W.
(review dated 2/09): except for the little bloopers about seating and all, which probably affected the service afterwards, it was a good experience. shared appetizers: kaddo (pumpkin) and mantwo (beef dumpling). kaddo was great (couldn't put my fork down), mantwo... so-so. had the sabzi challow (lamb pieces w/basmati rice) for entree; lamb was surprisingly tender, and cooked medium rare just as requested. meal was completed w/some sort of rice pudding w/cardamom on: nice & refreshing w/the taste of pistachios, too. street parking in the area wasn't difficult, given that our rsvn was made for, like, 6pm. don't know about later in the day, though. :)
(4)Kelly O.
4.5 stars, possibly even 4.75. This place is one of my absolute favorites in the city. I'm a total whore for Middle Eastern flavors, and this place just knocks it out of the park. I completely agree with the rest of Yelp, the kaddo app (veggie for me) is soooo ridiculously scrumptious, you'll want to order 10 of these just for yourself. In fact, I may do that the next time I come here, 10 kaddos for my app/dinner/dessert pleasekthanks... In terms of actual entrees, the qabelee is my favorite, this dish plus the lamb at Oleana completely turned me from a lamb virgin into an unabashed lamb lover. From the description "pallow (Afghan-style rice) baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed julienne of carrots", it sounds a little simplistic and sort of bland compared to the rest of the exotic-sounding menu, but in actuality the flavors are subtle but spot on and the lamb is very tasty, tender and spiced so nicely, mmm... I've tried a lot of the other lamb, chicken, and veg dishes, all of which are superb as well, but the qabelee (and the kaddo of course!) keeps me coming back for more. The freshly baked flatbread with dipping sauces you get upon arrival is excellent as well (be careful, one of those sauces is pretty spicy, I found out the hard way), and the turkish coffee and tea with cardamom are great meal finishers (the desserts are OK but nothing to rave about really). It can be hard to get a table here because it's so popular, and service is generally OK but mostly hit-or-miss, but ignore all that and go try it for yourself, Afghan food- especially at the Helmand- is not to be missed.
(4)Deanna D.
The food-Fantastic! The ambiance- warm and cozy The service- friendly and helpful The bread- fresh from the oven, airy but crispy served with tasty sauces: cilantro, yogurt garlic and onion chutney (?) The wine- the house white complemented the food very well Reservation---Highly suggested! It was Fri. night around 9pm and the place was packed and it was still busy when we left. Obviously people know and this place must be good! We started off with the Aushak which are ravioli, filled with leeks and scallions, served on yogurt, garlic and mint sauce, topped with yellow split-peas and carrot sauce----very flavorful and delicious! I had the Vegetarian Special which is a platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sautéed in fresh tomatoes served with pallow rice--very yummy!! The pumpkin was definitly the highlight but the entire dish was delicious. The seasoning seemed simple but the flavors were fantastic! My cousin had the Sabzi challow which is spinach sauteed with chunks of lamb and afghan seasonings it was also very tasty. The lamb was really well seasoned and very tender. We had no room for desert but we will next time. It was my first experience trying Afghan cuisine but it has left me wanting more. We will be back!
(5)Liz M.
Amazing food. Great service, our waiter certainly wasn't a chit-chatter but he was very attentive. The energy in the room was so positive. It was loud but the space handles it well and it never felt too loud. I want to try everything on the menu - we will defintely be back.
(5)M S.
Victim of their own success ? Or simply and deeply impolite. The worst welcome ever. My fiancee and I went there with my parents, we arrived 5 minutes late, and a group, very familiar with the place apparently, got a table right before us when then arrived 15minutes after; and the main lady at the reception, apparently daughter or at least very close to the owner, simply told us" you are late by 5minutes, so either you behave, or I give you the ugliest table in the room" ... The neighborhood is so dead and quiet, that with my parents there were no way we would leave and try something else at that time, so we calmly waited. The aggressive lady was kind of wrongly behaving still, which we ignored again. Finally the waiter was ok, and food was descent, but clearly nothing worse living this experience.
(2)Sarah P.
This was my first foray with food from Afghanistan, and I was delighted. Every dish was packed with favors that blended perfectly and subtly. The kaddo appetizer was delicious and highly recommended (sweet pumpkin with meat sauce), as was the banyan (roasted eggplant and tomatoes.). My favorite entree was the qabelee, lamb covered with pallow rice, a sweet rice flavored with cinnamon, raisins, and glazed carrots. Other favorites included the Murgh challow (curry chicken with split peas), the Koufta challow (a spicy meatball dish not for the faint of heart), and Sabzi challow (sautéed spinach and beef.). End the meal with the cake and Turkish coffee, and you'll have a perfect meal.
(4)Gizem D.
I never had a bad meal here. Ever. Here are some factoids: 1) Always make a reservation especially on the weekends. Even with the reservation, they will make you wait 5-10 mins minimum. 2) Service is slow. (This is what causes the previous bullet.) Also wait staff isn't too attentive. They tend to "forget" your order for a refill or extra bread or more napkins. 3) Street parking is available on the side street. I never had trouble finding a spot for dinner. 4) Meals are mostly between $20-$30 range. But the food is always delish. Afghani cuisine is awesome. This restaurant is a must-go!
(5)L. S.
I took my partner here for his birthday, and it was overall a great experience. I called about an hour before we left to make reservations, and I'm glad we did. Even though it looked half-empty when we arrived, and it was 7pm on a Wednesday, the hostess informed me that they weren't seating anyone without reservations. All of the food was delicious - the free bread and its accompanying sauces, the kaddo (baby pumpkin in yogurt sauce, just a bit too sweet for me but overall great), the mourgh challow (amazing curry sauce on the chicken), and the chowpan (lamb done just to my partner's liking). It's certainly a bit pricey; the food is very good, but I'm not sure that it's $25/plate good. Still, it'll remain on my radar for special occasion meals. I never knew I liked Afghani food before, and now I've started to crave it from time to time, so it must have been pretty good!
(4)Ana C.
I've been going to Helmand for five years now and I've enjoyed it every time. I also haven't met anyone who wasn't happy with their food. The fresh, oven-baked bread served with three sauces is delicious and I always have to watch out not to fill up on it. I also like their sour soup - the Aush - and some of their appetizers - the Kaddo (sweet pumpkin dish) and the Banjan (eggplant). Out of the entrees, my friends really like the Mahberian (trout). I think the service is quite good, we've never has to wait long to get our food or our glasses of water filled. The restaurant can get crowded on Friday and Saturday for dinner, so try to make reservations, but we've always gotten a table pretty quickly on other nights of the week.
(5)Melissa M.
Read all the reviews and decide if you wanna go to The Helmand. I was apprehensive to try a new cuisine, but I was very happy with my choice of the Kaddo appetizer and for my entree, I chose the spicy meatballs. They were spicy, but delicious. I though the Kaddo was exquisite. I can't explain it....just try it. The service was very nice and the restaurant is beautiful. The three toppings for the naan bread went from kinda spicy, to spicy, to very spicy. I enjoyed the very spicy one. The dessert was fairly good too, fruit and yogurt. The yogurt was a lot more tart than most places. It was a nice ending to the spicy meal. I shall return.
(4)Raffaella P.
These three stars are the result of a combination of different factors. First and in my opinion, most remarkable thing is the food price. The menu available on their website reports prices lower of the actual ones. For example we had a Chowpan for the price of $26.95 (while online it is priced $23.95) and a Dwoplaza at $21.95 vs the $19.95 of the website. So, the website is quite misleading for the reader. Besides, the menu we had to chance to look at were just photocopies in black and white with none of the nice and very helpful pictures reported online (so we looked at our iphones to get an idea...). I really liked the very fresh flatbread just made in front of us in the oven, with a delicious trio of sauces. The above mentioned entrees were very good, simple and tasty. Also the wine (we had 1/2 carafe of red housewine) well enhanced the taste of the food, which really gives the idea of being authentic and traditional. However, I can say that overall this has been a good dinner, but definitely overpriced. Considering also the location (not very easy to reach walking) and the atmosphere, which we expected to be cozier and classier, I don't think we will go back.
(3)Christian v.
DO NOT COME HERE WITH A FAMILY We have been coming here for 7 years. Food is usually very good. But the last time we came, we were greeted in such a Nasty condescending way by the hostess because we had a stroller. She was very snippy in explaining to us that that they do not accept stroller. The tone and attitude were unacceptable. Will never come back.
(1)Heather S.
Yes, all Yelpers, again, you haven't let me down. The Kaddo (sweet soft, but not too soft pumpkin) is AMAZING. It reminds me of this storybook I had as a kid where the little boy in it wished for all vegetables to become candy, and he loved it until he got sick of it. Though, I don't think I'd ever get sick of this pumpkin dish! It's light and delicious, especially when combined with the spicy spinach on the Vegetarian plate called, "Special." Not to be confused with the daily specials. Other things were good, but not great -- like the boneless chicken was tender and moist, and the rice was decent, but really, I'd come here for the Kaddo. We also loved the red spicy-sweet sauce with their piping hot bread and butter. The combination of the sweet plus the mellow of the butter, was fabulous. What we didn't love was the acoustics in this place. Yes, we were there on a Saturday (and yes, we made reservations ahead of time: quite necessary!), but, it's always busy, and, it was really, really loud. This is a problem of the ceiling not the people. Wish they could fix that. Also, they don't have any options -- other than House options -- for white, rose, and red wines. You can only get wine by the bottle (unless it's the house option). That sucks. Other than those two things, it's a great meal.
(4)Lisa I.
The food at Helmand is absolutely delicous. Others were raving about Ariana so I checked it out, but I think Helmand is much, much better. The crowd here is generally older than other spots in Kendall so definitely don't go here with a loud group of friends. It is a white table cloth type place with great food and wine. Perfect to take your parents to. The lamb is incredible and the Kaddo is really interesting. It was too sweet for my taste, but everyone else loved it. If you haven't tried Afghani food, there is no better place to go.
(4)Lia M.
Always a great time - food & service are excellent. It can get warm in there, due to the oven. Definitely make reservations because it can get crowded. Prices are very reasonable. Parking is easy - street or the garage at Cambridgeside. I have been here with a huge group, and service was great then as well. The bread with 3 dipping sauces is delicious. For an appetizer, the kaddo (baked pumpkin) is amazing. I have had a few different lamb dishes, and all were tasty. For dessert, try the baklava or pineapple cake.
(5)H T.
My name is Hana and I am very hard-headed. I really don't like to admit that I am wrong. I said that I dislike Helmand's food and service, and that was that. There are tons of other places that I can get good food with awesome spices. However, I'd have to admit that having a second go at this restaurant was not.... half as bad. Okay, I admit, it was good. See 4 stars. Maybe it was just the wine, the occasion, the people I was with. :-) One nice tip I learned was it's best if you mix the 3 sauces that come with the bread together. And don't get the special pumpkin dish (bland), instead get the Bowlani as appetizer and Showla as the entree. Maybe I'd have to go there again to confirm how good it is. ^_^
(4)O K.
Great food and service!! owned by the karzai family but you cant hold that against them lol kaddo apps are very delicious.. as is the mantoo.. the brick oven stove adds a nice flare.. def worth checking out
(4)Cathy T.
My first Yelp! review, here goes... :) To start, complimentary fresh bread made from the wood-burning oven on one side of the dining area was brought warm with three dipping sauces! We got the special entree which came with four appetizers and rice. It was baked pumpkin (kaddo), pan-fried eggplant (banjan), sauteed spinach (sabzy) and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes (bendi). My friend and I loved the assortment and agreed that it was the perfect amount to sample each one. The kaddo--fried baked baby pumpkin seasoned w/sugar & served on yogurt and garlic sauce--was delicious and the most unique item of the bunch, but we agreed that it was too sweet to enjoy in a larger portion. It's definitely worth a try, though! For my entree, I had the Chowpan, a rack of lamb marinated, grilled and served on a bed of Afghan bread with sauteed eggplant and rice. It was done well but wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Service was prompt and the decor and layout were very inviting. It felt like you were eating in someone's house complete with a cushy couch with magazines in front for folks who are waiting for a table.
(4)Snuffles B.
Helmand is the bigger, more sophisticated older version of Brighton's Ariana. Literally, same menu, same wall color, same decorative theme and good service. To be scientific about the whole thing, I ordered dishes that I've also had at Ariana: Kaddo, Auschak, Mourgh Challow, Sheerekh, Threw in a Banjan and Pudeen to try some new stuff too. Dish for dish, Ariana's tastes better and are cheaper. But Helmand is still delicious, and is has that certain je ne sais quoi that Ariana lacks that makes me want to come back.
(4)May N.
I ate here about a week ago on a Friday night and enjoyed a great meal with some friends. They begged for a reservation early that afternoon and squeezed one in for 7-8:30. These friends showed up 30 min late, but we got seated immediately and did not feel rushed. We dived into the freshly-made bread and sampled the kaddo - both delicious. All of us ordered different entrees and they were all delicious. My sabzi challow was perfectly seasoned spinach and beef with rice. My partner ordered the vegetarian version, khorma challow, which included green beans, carrots, cauliflower, turnips and potato sauteed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger and cilantro served with sauteed spinach and rice. The others got the chapendaz (grilled beef tenderloin with served on a sauce of grilled tomato, hot peppers, onions and cumin seeds with lentils, wheat barley and rice) and the mourgh challow (chicken breast with spices, yellow split-peas, yogurt, cilantro and curry, with rice. Great food! Busy restaurant was busy, but service was attentive. Street parking easily found. Reservations strongly recommended.
(4)Olivia F.
Before I go into any detail: YOU MUST TRY KADDO. End of story. Baby pumpkin with meat sauce and plain yogurt. What!?! Whoever invented that, you are a genius. Went here for my birthday dinner in June with my boyfriend and brother. Very impressed with all the food. The waiter was kind of standoffish but oh well. Other appetizers (besides mind-blowing kaddo) were also good. Mantwo (beef/veggies in a puff pastry) and sabzi (really flavorful sautéed spinach). The flatbread from the brick oven was delicious and the three dipping sauces were great. The yogurt-based one was the best. House wine was decent, not amazing. Favorite entree was the chowpan (half rack of lamb). The qabelee was also excellent. The trout filet (ma-he berian) was good too, but after more than six months, I can't say it stands out in my memory like some of the other dishes. Definitely try the pallow rice with cardamom, cinnamon, raisins, etc. It makes the entire meal. The entrees are undeniably pricey but the appetizers are a good way to cut costs if you're not eating like horses (which we were!)!
(5)Steve K.
I will keep this short and sweet. +: Fantastic food. There are few rivals to Helmand's offerings in the Boston area so far as I have experienced. Their bread is fresh baked in plain view of the restaurant. The atmosphere is really warm and great for groups. -: Awful customer service. I came here with a few friends for a birthday dinner. (with a reservation). Upon walking inside we weren't even asked if we had a reservation, or even greeted. Instead, the hostess simply said, "You cannot bring your bag in here, I will need to take it. Oh, is that birthday cake you have? Yeah...that will be $1.50 a slice." In short, we brought a small bday cake that we were hoping to share at our table, but were informed that it would cost us $1.50 to slice our own cake! All along I was thinking to myself, "here I am, about to spend a lot of money on a nice dinner, I made a reservation, I'm here on time...and this is how we are treated?" So...if you can make it to your table in one piece and not have to pay to sit down - this place is for you. Like I said, the food was terrific the dining experience as a whole? Just OK.
(3)Liana K.
what can say that 271 have not yet said? Not much. I got their baby pumpkin veggie special and it was devine. I'm also an addict for their bread. Carbs for the win. We got there at 5pm sunday as they were opening and there was already a few people waiting!
(5)Kelsey M.
Oh my goodness this place is good! Had a little wait with on placing our orders but the staff is so friendly and personable that you don't mind. The bread and sauces are just the start of what will be a great meal. We were a party of 3 and everything tasted unique and delicious. The hostess that checked us in and took our coats was very welcoming. A definite must-go!
(5)Jen H.
I am not a foodie. I am not an adventurous eater. I am, however, a fan of Helmand. I've come here twice now... once with my boyfriend, and once with him and a couple of his friends. Service has been great both times, although our waitress last time seemed to be incapable of smiling. She was super serious. I am assuming that was just her personality, not that she had distaste for our table, but I digress. The food was quite flavorful, and a lot of it. I haven't been able to finish my meal either time, so luckily my boyfriend volunteered to clear my plate for me. If you're in the mood to try something different (I mean, really... how often do you get to try Afghani food?). If you're in the mood for something tasty. If you're in the mood for good service. If you're in the mood for a filling meal.... for any of these reasons and more I haven't experienced/thought of.. I would try Helmand.
(4)Mimi W.
The food here is very good. There are a lot of interesting flavors and it seems like a good date restaurant. I'd warn against sitting by the brick oven as it got very hot and I had to migrate to another table to get relief. Beef was a little tough, they could have chosen more tender cuts, but overall, pretty good.
(4)Christopher T.
Overall, the prices were a bit steep, but what really hurt was my stomach about an hour after my meal. While staying at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge, MA during a recent trip, I was looking for some good food in the area--Cambridge/Boston. One of the first things that popped up on Yelp was Helmand which turned out to be a stones throw away from the hotel. So after a full day of walking around Boston, what better way to cap it off than partaking in cuisine you don't have everyday. Upon entering this place, my partner and I were promptly seated and provided menus. I opted for the lamp lawand--sauteed leg of lamb, served with sauteed spinach and challow rice. My partner ordered the mourgh challow--a variation of chicken curry with challow rice. While waiting for the entrees we were provided nan-e afghani (naan) and three dipping sauces (yogurt, cilantro, and chili paste). The nan-e was really good. It's a bit more dense than naan you would get in Indian cuisine, and paired with the cilantro sauce it made for some palate-satisfying deliciousness. The entrees came out surprisingly fast, almost like it was ready-made. This was a bit disappointing to me if only because I like to have some time to converse over a meal. Saying that, I'd rather have meals come out quickly than having to wait a long time for them. My dish was good, but not great, nor was the mourgh challow. I felt like the prices were kind of steep for what it was. After I returned to the hotel, my stomach started hurting real bad. I'm not sure if it was because of the food at Helmand, but it sure didn't help.
(2)Purple S.
Good ambiance and a nice place for large groups. Can get crowded so you may have to wait a bit. The food is ok, but I only tried their chicken dishes. In the appetizers list, the 'bendi' was ok, but didn't like the ravioli much.
(4)Donna W.
Fantastic food, the cardamom black tea is wonderful and the pallow rice was to die for. We will come back next time we're in town. The only down side was that service was slow since the restaurant was full.
(5)Angel C.
I aaaaaalmost gave this place 5 stars because the food is delicious, but the service towards the end of the meal left a sour taste in my mouth. I sometimes factor in service if I want to round up or round down on the number of stars. The fact that I'm deducting a whole star says a lot. (Yeah, I know, most people care a lot about service. For me, it's *mostly* just about the food.) I sat down and waited a few minutes before anyone showed up. Then, we got menus, but no water. Hello! We eventually got our water, and service was ok for a while. Skip to the end of the meal. We asked them to pack our leftovers, and we had some bread left, so we asked for that too. They brought back a bag with 2 food containers (for 2 people), and the bread was just placed on top of the top container. Bag, container, bread. Seriously!? At least put it *inside* one of the containers. Better yet, wrap it in a paper towel or tin foil. Ugh. Then we had to wait a while for them to take our dessert order, again after we were done with dessert to ask if we wanted anything else, and then again while they were processing the credit card. This all happened around 10pm, so the place wasn't that busy. However, the flavors you'll find at Helmand are awesome. Just like everyone else says, get the Kaddo - pumpkin with meat sauce and yogurt. Sounds kinda weird, but it's outstanding. Sweet and savory - yum! Then we got the Mourgh Pallow (Challow exchanged for Pallow) and the Kourma Challow. Very tender meat (chicken and lamb, respectively) with a delicious blend of spices and amazing rice. I love when they fancy up the rice! For dessert, we had the "house cake", which is a pineapple cake with vanilla ice cream sprinkled with cardamom and a drizzle of pomegranate sauce. The cake and ice cream are fine, but it's the addition of the cardamom and the pomegranate sauce that make this dessert stand out. It's too bad they lost the fifth star at the end.
(4)Aboud Y.
Love it! One of the better, more consistent restaurants in the Boston area. The atmosphere is nice, service friendly and professional, and the food delicious. I've liked just about everything I sampled here. At least one of the Karzai's is honest and knows what he is doing!
(4)Marguerite T.
One of the best meals I've ever had - seriously. My husband and I had 0 experience with Afghan food, so we honestly knew nothing about any dish on the menu. Everything we ordered turned out to be amazing. I had the qabelee and fell in love (super flavorful rice baked with lamb and raisins), he had lamb lawand (sort of curried lamb, some of the most tender and flavorful lamb I've had), and our aushak appetizer was really unique and yummy. The bread alone was worth the trip. Service was great and friendly; atmosphere was cozy; and seriously, the food.... so good! Only downside was the price, but it's our fault for not investigating better before we got there. We'll be saving this just for special occasions rather than random Friday nights, I think.
(5)J K.
The first comment about this place is the guy up front who is seating people is a complete prick! If you could avoid that jerk than the food isn't all that bad. But first impressions are tough to shake.
(2)Kelly A.
I had been meaning to try the Helmand for quite some time now, and last night it finally happened. We got there around 7:20, put our name on the list, and were told it would be about a 15-minute wait. That turned into a 50-minute wait, but we passed the time enjoying the lovely smells emanating from the kitchen. When we sat down, we were greeted with some unbelievably good hot flatbread that was accompanied by three most delicious dipping sauces: a minty-yogurt sauce, a spicy pepper sauce, and a cilantro sauce. They were all so good that I ate a second piece of flatbread so I could continue enjoying them. We ordered our drinks, but our waiter forgot them. We reminded him later, and he brought them over and then took our orders. I decided to try the leek ravioli, while my dining companions went for three different vegetarian entrees and the pumpkin appetizer. They raved about the pumpkin, and everyone loved their entrees. Then I ordered another drink and the waiter forgot. So I had to remind him again, and then he brought it. When I was getting full, my friends tried some bites of my ravioli, and they all haaaated it! I don't know why, because I thought it was delicious, but they found the things quite odious. So I guess I'm glad that I'm the one that ordered them, as we all ended up being very pleased with our own dishes... The waiter introduced us to the dessert menu and my friends got the cream pudding with fruit and a Turkish coffee; we went for the cake and green tea. The desserts came, the coffee came, but once again, the waiter forgot my green tea. We were halfway done with the cake, so we reminded him. And then he brought it. But at that point it was not as useful in washing down the dessert since most of it was already gone. The cake was quite delicious, served alongside some ice cream with pineapples, figs, and pomegranate sauce. So while everything was quite good, the service was lacking, hence the lack of a 5th star. I would like to return to try some of the other vegetarian specialties, which all looked awesome.
(4)Particular P.
Want to impress a girl on your fourth or four hundredth date? Take her to Helmunds, she will appreciate your cultural diversity and the amazing food. Have her order the steak, Helmunds to my is home to all time favorite steak, the Chapendaz. I don't know how they make the steak but I suspect they have a very large man in the back with a very large meat tenderizer because I like to call it butter steak. It is melt in your mouth tender. Then order 1/2 or a full carafe of the house red switch is always delicious. Between the steak and the wine I think you will both be in a for a great evening. Helmunds is a Particularly Preferred destination.
(5)Marc P.
I really enjoyed the food. The kaddo (pumpkin-based appetizer) and the showpan (lamb entree) were great. My biggest gripe was that I felt like they rushed me in and out. I wanted more time to savor the dishes but instead felt a bot rushed.
(4)Jeff D.
Food and service were right on. Delicious eggplant, delectable lamb. One note: Yelp info suggests that it is not suitable for kids. We brought two punchy/tired kids (2 and 4) and had no trouble. The staff were very accommodating. Great experience.
(4)Jessica W.
I've loved the Helmand for several years now. The ambiance is perfect for a special occasion meal, without feeling stuffy. Both vegetarians and meat eaters will be happy with the food. First, that fresh baked flatbread. I like having options in butter, and three sauces, but my favorite is the green walnut-vinegar one. It's hard not to just fill up on the flatbread. The vegetarian aushak appetizer is fantastic. It's like ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served with a yogurt sauce and a carrot sauce. The sauces totally make the dish. Give me all your sauces and bread, and I could be very happy. But there's more delicious food? Oh, you spoil me, Helmand. One of my favorite vegetarian entrees is the kaddo and banjan challow, which is baked eggplant and pumpkin, served with challow, a specially seasoned rice. The eggplant, which comes with a tomato sauce, is on the salty side, and it's nicely balanced by the sweet pumpkin. And the rice--I wish I knew the secrets to making challow so I could make it at home. I sometimes forget about the Helmand because of its location--I don't think Cambridgeside Galleria-area and "fine dining"--but a trip just to the restaurant is definitely worth it.
(5)Alyssa J P.
Delicious food! If I didn't get lost in Kendall constantly I'm sure I'd come here more often.
(4)Jahan H.
I really wanted to support this restaurant but there were some strange instances that cost them a few star. Background: I was dragging someone special out for a dinner in East Cambridge and I wanted things to go well, particularly since this was her first time trying Afghani cuisine. So I called a few hours ahead to make a reservation. Arrival: As soon as we arrived, I gave my name to the hostess and mentioned my reservation. I recognized her voice from my phone call earlier. It seemed like they had "lost" my reservation and made us wait while they scrambled to find a table. Now this was a weekend dinner situation so the place was already crowded. We had wait a while for the table to open up. Seating: We were finally seated in this separate section from the main restaurant. Ordering: Since my family is from the region, I pretty much knew what to order. So we both placed the orders for appetizers + entrees. The apps came super late and were followed shortly by the entrees. But what was really messed up was that we hadn't even finished the apps when the server actually took the plates away. She was not amused neither was I. Food: The food was actually not bad. Think Persian + Indian = Afghani. I am exaggerating of course and I don't want Afghani people to get upset. Overall Experience: I would be willing to give Helmand another try if their location was more accessible and the service was a bit more coordinated.
(2)D H.
I've been here a couple times over the years. If I had to guess, this is what "authentic" Afghani tastes like. Somewhat similar to Indian, though without the heavy sauces. Many dishes are centered around delicious marinated meats. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Sarah C.
2.5, bumped up to a 3 because of the yogurt dip. Came her a while back for a birthday with about 10 girlfriends. We're an adventurous bunch, we'd had Polish food a few weeks before and Indian the bday before that and were really excited to see what Afghan food was all about. This place is NOT for groups. This place is for a quiet date night dinner, or a dinner with your parents. We'd made a reservation a few weeks previous - I understand that 10 people is a lot but making 10 girls in party dresses wait outside for 20 minutes while you rearranged tables was poorly planned in my opinion. The worst was they sat us, a big loud birthday party, in the middle of the restaurant where we could be the most annoying to the most people...Once seated we were waited on by 2 very formal waiters, I agree it would be nice if the waiter smiled once in a while or didn't stare at you while you ate, but I chalked it up to being cultural so it didn't bother me. We ordered a few bottles of house wine and apps to share. Before the food came out we got some yummy bread that slightly resembled Naan. The complementary bread come with several dipping sauces the best being the mint yogurt. Yes, this was tasty. Highlight of the evening! For apps we got the Banjan, fried eggplant in tomato sauce, and the Kaddo, pan- fried pumpkins. Both were extremely good. The Kaddo was the favorite with sweet pumpkin and yogurt making an excellent combo. Both are small - we ordered 3 of each and could have used more. Girls at my tabled ordered a variety of main dishes from the adventurous rack of lamb to totally vegetarian dishes. I'm a rice lover so I was excited to try out the Koufta Challow, beet meatball in Afghan spices with veggies and rice. I honestly wanted more flavor. Not necessary spice, but flavor. Something unique that would forever stand in my mind as Afghan. It tasted like an Indian curry, disappointing especially with the $15 price tag. The lamb I tried was good, maybe I should have gotten that. After we'd annoyed enough people, drank all the wine, picked at our meals and paid the very large bill (place seemed a bit overpriced of the menu items they were selling) we could almost hear the waiter sigh a breath of relief that we were leaving. I might come back for a date night when I feel like something different - well maybe if someone has any great recommendations of entrees to order.
(3)Karen D.
Sadly, I was disappointed. I had the lamb kabob and the meat was kind of dry without a lot of flavor. There were also some chewy inedible pieces. The sides were very good, but $25 is too much to pay for eggplant and rice. The service was so-so and our waiter didn't check on us until we were almost done eating.
(2)Andrew P.
Mr. Concierge at my hotel recommended this following my request for "something low key and ethnically delicious." Nice job dude. After marveling at the brick oven at the front of the restaurant, while dunking pieces of airy Afghan bread freshly pulled from said oven into a variety of minty, spicy and yoghurty dips, I bowed to the nudge nudge recommendation of the waitstaff and paired the Chowpan rack of lamb with a juicy glass of Malbec. Don't expect meticulous plating or delicately frenched bones. Do expect gnaw-the-bone inducing flavor charred lamb with just the right amount of gristle. Paired with a heaping of roasted eggplant mashola and rice spice heaven. Kept a good thing going with a Turkish coffee slurry and house made vanilla ice cream with cardamom, pistachios and squeezed pomegranate juice. Seriously? Curse you finitely bound stomach. Definitely try this place if you have the chance.
(5)Whine Snob L.
Not glamorous, just wonderful. Must do: 1) Eat the flatbread. It seems like such a basic item, but, paired with the sauces, it is fantastic. I could eat this as a meal. 2) Get the pumpkin. Meat or no meat is your call - it is wonderful both ways. Sweet, smooth, just the right tang from the yogurt sauce.... Seriously, you've never had pumpkin like this before. The rest of the food is wonderfully executed food which combines flavors you're probably not used to. Like others have said, the plating is straight-forward, but that fits the food-first atmosphere.
(5)Yasmin E.
FANfreakinTASTIC! i'm not one to usually dish out 5 stars, but when i tell you the food here is something else...it's SOMETHING ELSE!! the ambiance was quaint, simple (just how i like it). you could use the experience as a quiet dinner for two, or a fun semi-sophisticated place for a bunch of friends. since the tables are rather small, you won't be able to fit a huge group (at most 6-8), but since people aren't screaming at the top of their lungs to make convo at this place, you'd wanna keep it small anyway. try the Mantwo for an appet. (Homemade pastry shells filled with onions and beef. served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce. Vegetarian Mantwo also available). for an entree try the vegetarian eggplant special and/or the Mourgh Salata (very light weight but delicious dinner choice if you're being seated after 8pm). and DONT let the outside presentation of this place deceive you. it looks simple outside, but it's a world of YUMMMMM as soon as you set foot in the door and are hit with the warm scent of naan :) Bon Apetite!
(5)Chris M.
Excellent place if you want to eat healthy, different, and filling food. I will say that their menu is somewhat limiting, especially for vegetarians. This might add to the experience for some, but personally I like the long-term process of making a decision, and then second-guessing myself in the last minute pressure of the order-placing moment. While you're deciding, they give you a big basket of the MOST DELICIOUS baked-five-minutes-ago bread and three yogurt-based sauces to prepare your taste buds. They give you more bread too, if you finish it off. It's dangerous. I actually opted out of an entree, I got a mushawa soup and a salad of potatoes and chick peas with delicious cilantro vinaigrette dressing. Definitely not a bad choice for a main course. Bread is made to put things on, so I put the salad on the bread and was satisfied. My turkish coffee was a good end as I was feeling sleepy, but I had forgotten that the finely ground sludge is left at the bottom of the cup, resulting in a 'wtf' moment. Got over it. Tried my friends' deserts, would definitely recommend the pudeen.
(4)Wendy K.
The Helmand lost a star in this update, because the morning after, my boyfriend and I were MSG hungover. He was up most of the night with a racing heart rate and an insatiable thirst, symptoms we both experience after cheap Chinese food, and I was so thirsty in the morning I drank three or four cups of water right off the bat. MSG is not the devil, and I suppose it's possible that MSG is not to blame at all, but it seems that there was an inappropriate amount of it in the rice dish my boyfriend ordered, Qabelee, and in my meal as well. I ate less of my meal than bf ate of his, so that could be why he had worse symptoms. Beware!
(4)Team O.
We want to hire the chef to cook for us every day. As organic farmers, we work with fresh vegetables constantly. The simplistic way in which these (easily locally sourced) vegetables were prepared amplified their natural goodness to perfection. The waiter was kickass, patient, and determined to help us select the menu options that would most satisfy our taste buds. It was good. Real good. Wait until you try the pumpkin.
(5)Heidi L.
3.5 stars The Helmand is definitely better than A-OK...but not enough to be 4 stars on Yelp. The Helmand is conveniently located on the green line, very close to the Galleria mall (that's good). They also have a parking lot so you don't need to find street parking yourself (just make sure you check with the receptionist). Based on some other reviews, I expected to see a cramped/crowded/smelly tiny place. What a surprise! The restaurant is pretty roomy and the decor makes you feel like you're someone else' living room. The three of us ordered 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts. The best dishes were the eggplant (appetizer) and the crowpan (entree). For some reason, the eggplant feels very home-made (like you could make it yourself at home!) and it was cooked perfectly. I don't really like eggplant in general but this one was good. The Crowpan...WOW, I think it was one of the best lamb chops I've ever had in Boston. No gamy taste at all and the meat was super tender!!! One downside was the tomato/pumpkin thing....I totally thought it was nasty, though my husband enjoyed it..... Aside from these 2 dishes, we also ordered Aushak (Okay), and the pumpkin with beef sauce appetizer (forgot the name). The pumpkin was too sweet...so if you don't LOVE pumpkin, do not order. The other entree we ordered was the curry chicken (the very last one on the menu)....hmmm, it almost tasted like Indian curry. Chicken was tender, overall not bad. Then....dessert time! If you're like me who likes american style dessert, pay the check and go somewhere else for desserts. This is strictly my opinion but their desserts were nasty, bad, no good at all. We had the caramel pudding (too sweet, like something from supermarket but it was home-made), rice pudding (meh, friend said it was good), and their cake (I couldn't swallow it at all.....). To be fair, the other two people seemed to enjoy the desserts. Service was okay, not bad at all (like some other reviewers said) but definitely not great. For me, the price point is a little bit high for the food and the service. I probably won't eat here again any time soon.
(3)Lyd K.
The food was unbelievable and I went with a very fussy food snob who ate everything in sight. Two of us split 3 appetizers, ordered soup, and desserts (we were hungry!) The vegetarian with us ordered a tasty looking entree - he ate the entire thing. All of the food was delicious and I cannot recommend this place enough. Everything was fresh and well seasoned - service was excellent and the place was clean and comfortable. I eat out very often (3Xs per week) and this place is way up there for me. It is wise to make reservations because this place is no secret and it fills up.
(5)H L.
My niece and her husband invited me to dinner on a Saturday night, and they suggested the Helmand. After reading other Yelp reviews, I figured we would have a good meal, and I was not disappointed. We started our meal with two appetizers - the Aushak (ravioli) and the Kaddo (pumpkin). Both were quite good, but the Kaddo was surprisingly and uniquely tasty. Great combination of flavors. For our entrees, we ordered the Chowpan (1/2 rack of lamb), the Sabzi Challow (beef with Afghan seasonings), and the Koufta Challow (beef meatballs). Lamb was a touch over-charred but still quite good. Great entrees. My only issue with our meal was that the wait staff was a touch pushy, and we felt rushed. It was understandable considering how many were standing at the front waiting for an open table. Reservations are a must. Full-disclosure: I had not had Afghan food before my meal at the Helmand. My (ignorant) impression was that it was a cross between Indian and Middle Eastern flavors. But since I have no context for comparison, I wondered about authenticity. Food was great, but were we really eating true Afghan food? (Is Bucklawa - aka Baklava - really Afghan?) Or were we just eating a great meal prepared with spices native to that region? Feel free to comment and inform my ignorance.
(4)Brian D.
The reviews of this place are genuinely schizo. I seriously had no idea if I was going to be stepping into a land mine riddled cafeteria or the type of joint where I would be ridiculed for not being able to recite the menu entrees in a regionally correct accent. Afghan dishes? Are you kidding me? That's dope as as well, Afghan dope. I mean, well, strike that. Let's stay a wee more culturally sensitive. That is super duper! The place is right there (points at something). Like, right on the line of being either totally great or just totally passable. The service to start with swings unpredictably even during a single meal between stellar and lackluster. The food, which others have described (and remembered) much better than I could dare to is quite good. Not 'knock your socks' off but rather 'tasty'. Lots of lamb, tons of vegetables, very interesting flavor combinations that really reminded me of Northern Africa cuisine. These guys handled a party of 11 quite well minus the few inconsistencies between orders and delivered food items (For those that could tell after a haze induced by 4+ bottles of wine). Bonus, man, they have a full liquor license. Get gin buzzed and strike out mercilessly at the appetizer menu. Wreak havoc on your guys and see what tomorrow has to say about the matter. All in all, I would absolutely give this place 3.5 and I will certainly be back again.
(3)Mike Z.
I've heard a lot of good things about this restaurant, but never had the chance to try it out. The place was not as fancy as I would have thought, but the setting was cozy enough. The bread that they served was pretty good: I loved the cilantro dip. The other two dip was meh. We ordered all of the appetizers on the menu, but I only thought one of them was good: the Mantwo. The Bowlawni was decent. For entrees, I got the Chowpan. It's definitely one of the better lamb that I've had in the Boston area, but mine was a bit overcooked. It wasn't gamey or anything, but it could've been more tender. The tea that we had afterwards was not hot enough. The service was good, the waitress did not come too often or too few times. Overall, it was a good experience, though the price was a bit on the steep side.
(3)Christine L.
I went here with a large group (12 people). Service- Not terrible... probably worthy of about 18% from my average 20% tip. Food- We got the pumpkin w/ meat sauce, which was not well balanced in terms of taste. It tasted like pumpkin and fluff topped with meaty Ragu. My boyfriend got the lamb which looked delicious, and he seemed content, but not blown away. I got the meatballs, which were literally two small meatballs in a pound of sauce. This was highly dissatisfactory given the price of the meal. A woman from another party went and vomited in the bathroom, which I hope was from the food, but would not be entirely surprised given what I ate. Overall, it felt to me like a bad version of indian food, and for $12 I could have gone to Cafe of India and had a MUCH better meal.
(2)J. M.
Fabulous decor and highly quality food but with inattentive and slow service. And a striking hostess with transfixing eyes. Not recommended if you're starving or seeking quick and slavish service. Try reserving a table before going.
(4)Matthew D.
Really enjoyed the lamb! Very large wine menu. It was a nice, business-casual type of atmosphere. The staff was very friendly! Definitely enjoyed it!
(5)Joanna E.
A thing I do with my boyfriend is picking out a fancy, ethnic restaurant for special occasions. The Helmand was probably one of the best restaurants out of the ones I've checked out in Boston. The decor was really nice and warm. The food was amazing and our waiter was really helpful in explaining the menu items. Would love to go again.
(5)Stacy B.
Funny... reviews are much more pleasant and star-filled when a customer gets fresh food at a reasonable price. Transparency! Who knew?! (Much like myself before yesterday) if you miss fresh jasmine rice, authentic dishes prepared with crisp vegetables, homemade breads and pastas, all at prices that keep you from digging your nails into the table, then I suggest you get your butt over to Helmand. Our hearty and appropriately portioned meal of: two appetizers, two entrees, a bottle of wine, and after dinner coffee kept our stomachs happy, our conscious clean (the meal is not all fatty-like), and our bill under $80. Food choices are a-plenty, and offer opportunity for trying some new things. I can't get over how satisfying the spinach side dish is. And guess what? They have a parking lot. A real, bonafide parking lot. For parking. For parking your car. And you don't have to pay for it. It's real parking. And it's free. Recommend making reservations (it's always packed in there, and now I know why), showing up early, and coming with an empty stomach. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
(5)Vanessa E.
Could be the greatest afghani food I've ever had this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Only other place that could be better is in West LA or Glendale haha. But here's the nitty gritty. First of all, don't bother showing up if you don't have reservations for dinner. They get booked up immediately and then you walked all the way from the kendal stop for nothing. What you want to go for at The Helmand is the LAMB. Wowzers. That lamb just fell to pieces in the really thick and creamy sauce which I then put on EVERYTHING. The bread is so soft and dreamy that ur going to want a pillow of it to sleep on. Basically, this place rocks and I wish I could give more details, but I'm at a loss for words. I live in LA, study in Boston, and NYC is practically my third home by now. I know my ethnic food and I know you wont be disappointed!
(5)Lynette S.
Loved so much about the place: atmosphere, massive wine list (though only 3-4 wines available by the glass...!), huge fire place, service, parking around the corner (see the hostess for a ticket for your dash). theres also tons of street parking pr you could park inthe galleria parking garage for under $5...), reasonably priced menu (appetizers looked great but did not try them) & really cool, detailed, helpful web site! ****But, I do not recommend the sea bass (it was on special). it was thick, flshy, fleshy gobs and chunks. Yuck! I left it and filled up on other food and drink offerings. I am a huge sea bass fan and have never not liked it before. A friend who tried it agreed...Next time, I'll go chicken... I went with 6 other people and they ordered a variety of entrees, all of which they liked...
(4)Sasha B.
To start off, the house red is exceptionally well priced and delicious. We were seated right next to the bread oven, where we could see (and more importantly smell) the giant circles of flat bread coming out. It comes to your table warm, and with several delicious dipping sauces. I haven't opened the menu yet and I'm pretty happy. The pumpkin appetizer with meat was surprisingly good, an interesting mix of sweet and savory. I had the lamb kebab which was really stand out. Jacob says it is better than the lamb kebab at Turkish Family Restaurant which he ate at once a week for 6 months when he first moved to Brookline. Jacob had lamb lawand, which was also delicious, but paled next to the flawless kebab. Too bad we agreed to share.
(5)Kelsey B.
Fellow vegetarians, go here now! Came here for dinner with my parents on a Saturday night while they were in town visiting. My parents and I are vegetarian and we were looking for somewhere unique to go to dinner and found this place on yelp. We were seated right away at a nice, quiet table. The server took a good 10 minutes to come bring us water, and by that time we knew what we wanted to order so he took our order right away. To start we shared the Aushak (leek and scallion ravioli) and the Aush (vegetable and noodle soup). They bring out fresh hot bread to munch on with your meal and a variety of different sauces (spicy, pesto, and a yogurt sauce). For entrees we got Kourma Challow, Sabzi Challow, and the social eggplant and baked pumpkin dish. The eggplant and pumpkin is out of this world tasty. I couldn't get enough of the sweet and savory combination and cleaned up my plate. This is a great place to get some dishes to share as everything is so unique and the portions are huge! I would rate this 5 stars with the food quality, however the server was pretty awful and slow, but I will defiantly be back for the food!
(4)Tom T.
Wow, you get what you pay for. It isn't terribly expensive, it's what it should be. The food is excellent. I've never had lamb so moist and soft. Charred perfectly. I ordered medium and it was actually medium. The veg was also great, especially the pumpkin and the spinach. Top notch service. I recommend.
(5)Michael A.
Helmand's is one of my top-3 favorite restaurants in Boston! To start, the two best appetizers are "Mantwo" and "Kaddo" and to be quite honest, I would be completely satisfied by simply ordering these two dishes for a dinner! Somehow they just know the magic to please the pallet and its like a symphony on the taste buds. Mantwo: Homemade pastry shells filled with onions and beef. served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce. Vegetarian Mantwo also available. Kaddo: Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce, topped with ground beef sauce. I've also tried their "Bowlawni" which are two pastry shells. One is filled with leeks and scallions (too tart for me) and the other is filled with spiced potatoes (yum). Entrée wise, their lamb dishes are excellent! I've had their "Seekh Kabob" and "Lamb Lawand" and both were cooked perfectly. The lamb just melts in your mouth its so tender!
(5)Cassie H.
So after the mixed reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect... ...my husband and I went to Helmand's for a work dinner. The restaurant was chosen by a Boston local and we heard raves from the people in our group who have eaten here before. We arrived and were seated at our cramped table. We had a group of 14 but they had to split our party into two tables next to each other. It ended up being a dinner for 10 and then for 4 because we never got to interact with the other table. They wouldn't let us pull the tables together or do an "L" table! My husband and I tried the bowlawni for appetizer. The spiced potato one was decent, although bland compared to the yummy samosas we have come to love at Helmand's Indian competiting restaurants. The leek/scallion ones were not so good - they were too strongly flavored with the scallions and were quite chewy. For dinner, I got the Kourma Challow which was flavorful and decent. I would have liked for it to have been spicier and with a kick. The lamb was also on the tough side for my tastes. My husband had the Qoremay Ma-He (sea bass). It was very fishy and also bland. I think the biggest detractor was the service. The hostess wasn't rude but she wasn't polite either. The waiter forgot one of our party's order, then when she finally got his attention to order, he messed it up... they didn't excuse themselves while serving/taking away plates - you better hope that you don't get stuck in the crossfire when they're going for the plate... and lastly, they were very rude when several party members wanted to order non-alcoholic drinks! To be honest, the best part of the meal was the free bread with trio of dipping sauces and butter... We probably won't be back. We'd rather hit up one of our dependable Indian restaurants instead!
(2)Michael C.
Thsi was my first experience with Afghan cuisine and it was worth it. For those who don't know what to expect I would describe it as a combination of indian and greek food. Lots of lamb, some curries (or somethings like it). The biigest surprise of the meal was the kaddo, which is a baked pumpkin dish with beef and yogurt, don't come here without getting it.
(4)Zinah A.
I have lived in Cambridge most of my life and couldn't believe I had not yet walked through the doors of the HELMAND. To be honest...I have had friends that worked their in the past for years and I heard horrible stories of how the wait staff is treated. I have even been told by several individuals that the owners take a percentage of their tips...but on the request of a good friend who really wanted to go I went to HELMAND. The hostess was very flat & hot the most hospitable woman...and the servers I had to work really hard to get a smile. (But under circumstances if the owner's are taking the tips from them it is understandable.) We ordered the Banjan which was delicious. My husband doesn't like eggplant but loved this dish. We also ordered the Bawlani a pastry that although very popular fell FLAT. The pastry was dry & the filling was just tasteless. I did love love the sabzi challow, tender lamb with spinach & rice! Oh very yummy! We overalled were okay with the Helmand service was efficient, & courteous & just only because of that Lamb dish I might return.
(3)Frank S.
Fast service, great food. Our group of eight ate family style, sharing 7 dishes.
(4)Shannan H.
Had a lovely meal here last night. The restaurant has a nice, cozy ambience and the staff were friendly, though a little disorganized. The lamb chowpan was delicious - well seasoned and at a perfect medium rare, just the way I like it! The eggplant and tomato side was also very tasty! Also quite enjoyed the rice pudding dessert. The Bendi (okra side dish) was just okay.
(4)Steve S.
I never have had Afghan cuisine....I am a fan of Pakistani and Indian, so it didn't seem much of a stretch. Helmand is an interesting place with couches welcoming you along with an unfinished concrete floor. It is a large place with a wood burning stove on the right and no direct lighting at all. However, it seems to work Some of the food is exceptional. The ravioli app was fantastic with crispy shells and different insides. My friend ordered the pumpkin entree with a light meat sauce. It was a wonderfully different dish You will never carve a pumpkin the same way again
(4)May W.
Their baked pumpkin with garlic yogurt and minced meat is my favorite! Great service and fair prices. I loved their lamb as well. I've been here twice and made reservations for when my parents arrive. Delicious meal!
(4)AB H.
Consistently delicious. I love the baked pumpkin. We also had ravioli dish that was excellent. The service is also impeccable. I appreciated the small parking lot that they have across the street as well as that diverse clientele.
(4)Andrea H.
Just do it. Seriously. This place is a-freakin'-mazing. To start off with, they bring you this flat bread with a choice of three condiments for it. The green stuff is so good that we have been trying to figure out how to make it at home (we've come close with Hungarian Hot Peppers, white vinegar, cilantro and garlic pureed in the blender, but it's still no cigar. We may need to add Pine Nuts). I want to bottle that green stuff and put it on everything. I've had a few meals here, but I usually default to the Vegetarian Special, which is described as "A platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, served with pallow." I've also have the Sabzi Challow (veg version) and the Aushak (again, veg version), the Showla, and, when I'm in a meaty mood, the Mourgh Kabab, Mourgh Challow, and Qoremay Ma-He (sea bass). I stick with the house red wine, and water here, which is more than sufficient. I don't usually get desserts there (since Christina's Homemade Ice Cream isn't far away), but have had their cake (called "Our Cake") and pistachio ice cream. I've not noticed any problems with the service -- it seems that we are usually in and out of there within an hour of arriving (why, yes, we do practically inhale our food). One thing: MAKE RESERVATIONS. The place is incredibly popular, even on weeknights. They can give you a temporary permit for their parking lot across the street, but if you don't mind a bit of a walk, Bent Street is almost entirely meters rather than permit parking. I used to live on Spring St. in East Cambridge, and we really do miss being able to walk a few blocks to here!
(5)Jeremy Y.
It's pretty good. I ordered vegetarian dish. And it was tasty. The spinach is cooked tastier than some Afghan restaurant I've been. Would visit them again hopefully.
(4)Emily G.
Absolutely. Need. To. Go. Here. Period. Many people have never had Afghani food and therefore, don't really know what to expect when walking into The Helmand. Know this. You will get great service, interesting food with awesome flavors, and a great variety where anyone can find something they will enjoy. Oh, and their desserts totally kick bootie. Anything pumpkin related rules here. Pumpkin Raviolis are my favorite and Kaddo is a must-get appetizer. Don't forget the creme carmel. It is WAY better than creme brulee. If anyone is having a birthday party soon, or some relatives are in town, be sure to make reservations at this place. You won't be disappointed. Oh, and be sure to make a reservation. You will definitely need it, especially during peak hours. (Also, just as a side note, they have ample parking - added bonus.)
(5)maya s.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in the Cambridge/Boston area. The menu offers great food for meat eaters, veggies, and fish lovers. The flavors are all unique but delicious, and the meals can be ordered in tappas size apps, so that newbies can 'try a bit of everything'. The Kaddo is outstanding, the lamb is delicate, slow cooked and delicious, and the prices are very reasonable. Ask to be seated in the front room if you would like a more sociable experience, with a fireplace, and more attentive service. Also this restaurant books up EVERY NIGHT, so definitly make reservations, or come very early (5pm) or late (9pm).
(5)Luke B.
Holy smokes! Helmand is AMAZING! Simple put, you WILL NOT be disappointed with Helmand. If you are disappointed...well, I dunno, something might not be right with your taste buds...just sayin'... First things first, park in their private lot, if possible. If not, look a block towards the river for non-permit parking (for non-Cambridge residents). As for food, the bread that comes before your meal is fantastic. Personally, I use all three sauces, but some find the red too hot. I've been known to have many pieces of the bread. As a quick tip, if you're looking at wine, the house white is really good and really affordable. Also mentioned by others, the Kaddo is a MUST HAVE! If you're up for another appetizer, the Aushak is great! It's described as "Afghan ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served on yogurt-mint topped with ground beef sauce," and is a very light yet flavorful dish. It can be served as an entree or app, just like the Kaddo. As for desserts, I've had a bit of everything...YES, I've been here more than 3 times, GIVE ME A BREAK! I've had the following desserts and have ranked them from favorite (1) to still pretty good (5): 1) Pudeen (aka Creme Caramel) - One of the best I've ever had. I think Creme Caramel is better than Creme Brulee BTW. 2) Feereney (Cream pudding topped with fresh kiwi, rnango, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry) - Light, but incredibly flavorful dessert. A nice finish to a great meal. 3) Our Cake ("Homemade cardamom and pineapple cake served with ice cream on pomegranate sauce") - Pretty tasty and a great mix of flavors. Definitely a shareable dessert. 4) Bucklawa (You know what this is!) - This thing is DAMN tasty, but bucklawa can be a little heavy for me sometimes. Great dessert to split. 5) Sheerberaing (Rice pudding w/ pistachio and cardamom) - Good, but just not as good as the other 4.
(5)Beth R.
Great tasting food! The tables were a little too close and the staff was a little disorganized. I have no complaints about the food and recommend the Kourma Challow (lamb) in particular!
(4)Susan N.
There's almost no point in me writing a review since so many good things have already been said about Helmand. But I'll write one anyway. The food is superb. Afghani is pretty much a blend of Middle Eastern mixed with Indian, which to me is like heaven. The best of both worlds. Even the boy, who is a very picky eater and thinks anything beyond steak and burgers is exotic, loved this place. Is there an entree I recommend? Yes. All of them. The only thing that sucks is the wait. Make a reservation. If not, be prepared to wait for up to and over an hour. Maybe visit the mall across the street to kill time.
(5)Marcos R.
Last Friday marked the third occasion I've been to The Helmand. This restaurant has become my first choice to introduce out-of-town friends to some exotic and exquisite cuisine. As others have mentioned, the kaddo is a sure bet, in that it will be something new that most people will love. You also have to love the grilled vegetables in some of their menu offerings. Last time I had chapendaz (a tender beef dish) that was perfectly juicy and well cooked. The decor of the restaurant as well as the sometimes aggressive and rushed service forces me to take out a star.
(4)Betty M.
So great. Lamb was cooked to perfection. Service was fast and friendly
(5)Kylie B.
We went to The Helmand for an early Valentine's Day. Parking was helped by the nearby lot (shared with Calumet), but I imagine that can fill up fast. Go inside and get a red tag for your dash so you don't get towed. We started with Kaddo for an appetizer. This struck me as similar to sweet potato pie, but we kicks from the yogurt and meat sauces that set it apart. If you like sweet potatoes, I have a feeling you'll enjoy baby pumpkin cooked here. Had pumpkin at a Burmese restaurant--wasn't a fan. It is great here. My entree was Theeka Kabab, which was good, though my meat was a bit chewy. The sauteed lentils on the side were the star of the dish, in my opinion, but my pallow rice was lovely as well. I think pallow had a bit more flavor than Ross' challow. Dessert was the rice pudding, which I've never had. The cardamom and pistachio was a bit grainy on top and combined for a minty flavor. Was tasty once you got use to the texture. The best thing (besides the Kaddo, I am a real big fan) was the bread. Thin and buttery, floury on the outside, soft on the inside. It was delicious, I didn't even need toppings. We didn't do drinks and dinner ended up at around $50, so I'll definitely go back.
(4)Juju W.
It's expensive. Great service. Food is OK.
(3)Rekha M.
I've been here before and loved it. This time was quite a disappointment, hopefully a one-off. It's a great place for groups, thanks to its size. The appetizers were great - roast eggplant, potato in pastry - though the pumpkin app was too sweet. The real disappointment came with the main course - the trout was poorly filleted, mostly raw, and way over salted. The sides were fine, but what I'd expect from a downtown lunch cafe, not a sit down restaurant. The trout absolutely fell into the send-it-back category, but I was having such a nice time with my friends I didn't feel like interrupting the flow of our meal. I'd been wanting to return for a long time, but after last night's meal, I think I'm done with Helmand.
(3)Rudy W.
excellent food. good service and nice atmosphere. I had the Theeka Kabab , my friend had Chapendaz and Chowpan they all great. we have been back for a couple of times, has been trying different dishes. closing with Bucklawa
(4)Bridget B.
Surprise surprise, another glowing review for the Helmand. Honestly, they could serve the worst Afghani food on the planet and I wouldn't be able to tell you as I have absolutely no basis for comparison. Their pumpkin kaddo (with or without beef) is super tasty, one of my favorite dishes. I could honestly just get a plate of that and be sated and happy, sitting in the warm, fire lit dining area. They have lots of vegetarian options, the lamb is fantastic, and I even like their -house- wine. I'm torn between 4 or 5 stars for one glaring and oft mentioned reason: their service can be incredibly sub standard. It's surprising since so much attention is paid to the food and the atmosphere that you practically need to tackle your server to get more water or flatbread, but those are the breaks I guess. If you're feeling gluttonous, the bucklawa and a pot of Turkish coffee are a great ending to any meal. Also - MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE. I've never seen this place not packed to the gills.
(5)larry m.
I went with a party of 11 and got there a little early. The hostess was extremely nice and said that they were setting up the table and to have a seat. A waitress came over, asked if I wanted a drink and brought it over in about 30 seconds. First impressions are key for me! For an appetizer I had the Kaddo....it's a pumpkin dish and hard to explain. It looks awful and the texture is a bit weird but it has an amazing taste. Like I said...hard to explain but you have to try it yourself. For my entree I ordered the Lamb Lawanda. It's chunks of lamb sauteed with some vegetables and "spices" which give it an orange color. It was excellent. The lamb was perfectly cooked and the orange sauce had a nice little tang. For dessert I ordered a grappa but never got it. That is my only complaint. Otherwise, the place is very nice...they have an open air wood fired oven in the middle and the place smells like heaven. If only I could have smoked from a hookah afterward would this meal have been perfect. I'll be back.
(4)Benhour H.
overpriced, and not the authentic afghan cuisine.
(2)David M.
I want to marry The Helmand! BUT IT'S NOT LEGAL IN MASSACHUSETTS... yet.
(5)Sneakers A.
Delicious. Flatbread was fresh and warm from the oven, served with a great trio of sauces. We tried the baby pumpkin, ravioli with onions, and eggplant appetizers - all were fantastic, with the pumpkin standing out for it's unexpected sweetness. The chapendaz (marinated beef) entree was tender and flavorful, and it was perhaps even outdone by the grilled tomato and pepper side that it's served with. Everything I tried was wonderful, and I look forward to working through the rest of the menu on future visits.
(5)Anya A.
Excellent Afghani food, reminded me of my grandfather's own recipe. This is THE place to get lamb; the Chowpan (half rack) was spectacular. The flatbread was also fantastic; I never want to eat dinner rolls again. Went on a Friday night around 9pm, and there was no wait -- but the cozy dining room wasn't empty, either. We'll be back!
(5)Chris R.
Who is leaving all those high ratings, really, I wonder? This is one the most mysteriously over-rated restaurant in Cambridge. This is one inexplicably over-rated restaurant in town. We, in a party of 4, ordered most all raved about menu items. All were just Meh. I would've given it 1.5-2 stars based on the quality of the food. But the unmatched price tag bumps it down to a one star. Decor is blend. Service is normal. We were relieved not to get one of the oddly placed tables bordering the curved half wall squished along the walkway. We had an elderly waiter who was so soft spoken, that we strained to hear. Food is blend and not particularly fresh tasting. Price tag is on par with better Cambridge restaurants.The qualify of food one gets for it though... This over-hype completely mystified us.
(2)Jamie F.
When I chose this restaurant for my monthly collegiate reunion dinner, I braced myself for the groans (yes, from recent undergrads) and low attendance. Not everyone was fond of ethnic food, especially something so foreign as Afghan cuisine. Even so, the 12 of us went with open minds. Note: credit card info required upfront for advanced (large party) phone reservations - understandable, but dislike! Loved the warm and cozy atmosphere inspired by the homey decor: an entire back wall featuring a vast collection of wine, high ceiling, marigold-colored walls, and a fireplace (even though it was filthy). Seating at the large, center dining room table also played a special effect. Service was fine, not stellar. A few of us ordered wine by the glass, which were generous pours. They also served bottled beer. The fresh baked bread was warm, fresh, and so delicious that we couldn't resist requesting a second basket (WARNING: my friend swore that the waitress gave him the *evil eye*). There were mixed reviews about the kaddo app (pumpkin with meat sauce) - some loved it, others complained it being too sweet. My khourma challow (lamb with onions, tomato, garlic, potatoes) was absolutely delectable - might be the best lamb I've ever eaten. Pretty much everyone was satisfied with and surprised by how great Afghan food tasted. I'm not dying to return, but I would recommend trying if you're looking for something different than the chain restaurants offered at the nearby Galleria mall.
(4)Ukyo T.
I've never had an experience quite like this. Here is why: 1. My friend made a reservation a week in advance for a table of 11. B/c they had already given their "largest" table away, they placed us down as 2 parties. On the day of the event, the 2 tables could not be place close together. The hostess informed us that they knew best, and therefore they insisted that for my friend's birthday dinner, having 2 tables sitting in opposite side of the restaurant was the right thing to do. 2. B/c it was my friend's birthday, we brought in our own cake. The restaurant was going to charge us $1.50 for charging each person the waiter cut the slice of cake for. This is so b/c we were not ordering dessert from their menu -- I don't think this restaurant sells cake. The hostess also informed me that other restaurants don't allow people to bring cakes to their restaurant. Sometimes decent food does not justify bad service.
(1)Anastasia R.
I guess I'm just not that into middle-eastern food. The House red was excellent. We had the Kaddo at the suggestion of a bunch of other yelpers, and were not disappointed. It's sweet baked pumpkin chunks with spicy beef and cool yogurt toppings, and it was like nothing I'd ever tasted before. I loved it. But my entrée was a bit lackluster. I think I tire of the flavoring very quickly, but that is no fault of the restaurant. Service, atmosphere and music were great, but parking can be kind of a bitch if the lot is full.
(3)Kim W.
Helmand is located in Cambridge just a few blocks around the corner from the red line Kendall t-stop and MIT Co-op store. This was my first time tasting Afghan cuisine. The food is very good. The types of dishes remind me of Indian and Greek food. I tasted the following dishes: Appetizer Aushak: Afghan ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, served on yogurt-mint topped with ground beef sauce. **The ravioli shell is very thin and delicate. A burst of flavors that compliment each other extremely well. Each taste is a wonderful surprise in spice, sauce, and texture. Entree Dwopiaza: Seasoned tenderloin of lamb cooked with onions, sautéed with yellow split-peas and tossed with onions lightly marinated in vinegar. Served with pallow rice. The lamb was delicious. It perfectly cooked to a medium rare/medium (the way I like it), tender and in many bites tasted more like filet mignon then lamb. I saved some and had the next day and it was still sooo good. The other array of sides were just average. The lamb took the spotlight completely in this dish. (I also tasted the sea bass. Fish was very tender, but is cooked in a tomato like sauce which I wasn't a fan of. My sister in law ordered another lamb dish. I feel her dish had a better compliment of flavors between all the foods on the plate. Her lamb was sauced and more like a short rib texture. Dessert Cake: Homemade cardamom and pineapple cake served with ice cream on pomegranate sauce. **Not too shabby. Wine: Another standout! We decided to go international and our server recommended a Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva (Rioja). Had the weight and color of Pinot Noir in your mouth, but then subtle hints of Cabernet Sauvignon in taste. Would definitely recommend this to anyone!
(4)Milee S.
After months of hearing how awesome The Helmand is, my friend (who loves Helmand) and I ventured out last night. The first thing that struck me was how packed it was for a Sunday night! I mean, people were lined up out the door! Thankfully, we had a reservation (which we had to switch to a later time,without any problems). We were seated in the back room, which felt like the kids room at a fancy dinner. Small, with about 8 tables back there. Our waiter came right over, but during our meal, service was lackluster. My friend recommended the pumpkin appetizer (kaddo). We got the vegetarian version so I don't know how beef and pumpkin would taste (in my mind gross). The kaddo comes with a yogurt garlic sauce, which surprisingly tasted great! Sweet but garlicky--very yummy! The server brought out three dipping sauces, a yogurt garlic one, a lemony mint one (very good, btw) and a spicy red one. Also a big basket of bread, which was delicious (especially with the mint sauce). I really didn't know what to order or expect, so I had the shabzi challow; my friend had qabelee. My meal was sauteed spinach mixed with tender chunks of lamb, on a bed of the best rice! It also came with a side of okra and tomatos, that were stewed. I put the yogurt sauce and the mint sauce on top and it was fantastic! The qabelee had the same rice with lamb, raisins and carrots. She loved it. The reason this doesn't get 5 stars is the service. We had to flag the water guy down, and it was next to impossible to get our waiter's attention. In addition, the back room is crowded so moving around is difficult. The ambiance could be improved (it seemed a bit dated) and having a designated waiting area would help. Regardless, I really do look forward to coming back--great tasty food and not too expensive make Helmand worth a visit, even if you have no idea what Afghani food is.
(4)Chris B.
The owner (presumably -- she was definitely at least the manager) was a bit controlling -- she yelled at us even! We were seated next to the bread oven, and the bread chef smiled at us and said something like 'here you go' (sorry, this is from memory a month later), and then put the bread on the counter separating the oven area from our table. So, we take it, and we thought it was awesome we were able to watch our bread come fresh out of the oven to us. Then the owner runs over, and sternly tells us that the chef always puts the bread there for the whole restaurant, and we shouldn't do that. Yeah, well, the bread chef knew to put the bread on the far end of the counter when he wanted to send it away... so... dear owner, please don't yell at your patrons when your own staff is trying to do a nice thing. Sad. The rest of the food was adequate. We ended up having a very work-focused discussion over dinner, which means that the food was good enough to not notice, while also not being great enough to notice. One specific comment about the food -- the meat sauce with pumpkin dish was unhappy on a plate -- I love pumpkin (classic Japanese dish, in tempura, etc.) but this preparation really was challenging for me. Pretty average meat sauce, with pretty unremarkable pumpkin (was it canned?), made for a messy blast of competing flavors (sweet, savory) all within a consistently soft texture.
(3)Amelia M.
Admittedly, when I try a new place on someone else's suggestion, I don't always look up information in advance. So I got a bit nervous when I walked in and saw flower vases and crisp white linens on the tablecloths ("there goes my grocery budget for the week! hope this is worth all the ramen i'll be eating") Naturally I was quite relieved to see that food was quite reasonably priced on the menu, vegetarian options were available (I'm rather a carnivore, but my co-diner is fish-only) and the staff was incredibly helpful. Was thrilled at the fast service, since I arrived 15 minutes late (damn green line trains) and digesting my own spleen for energy. Food arrived quickly, but we didn't feel rushed to leave, which is a problem at some other Cambridge-area establishments (*cough* Central Kitchen *cough*) I can't actually pronounce the thing I got (chicken, spinach, rice...delicious) but it was AMAZING. I'd never had Afghan food and sort of expected standard middle-eastern fare, but this was actually halfway between Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. S'pose that befits food from a nation which happens to be situated between the Middle East and India. Supposedly, this place is owned by none other than the brother of Hamid Karzai. To be honest, I'd have trouble staying away if it were a joint venture between Kim Jong Il and Osama bin Ladin.
(4)Kaye B.
It isn't often that I visit a place in a distant city, and then think about said place for months afterwards, and tell everyone going anywhere in New England that maybe, just maybe they should consider eating in Cambridge one night. Helmand was super yummy. Loved the kaddo. I'm definitely going to try to master the recipe this fall. Loved the lambchops. Service was a bit slow, but it was the Marathon weekend. I hope to grace the beautiful city of Boston again, and I can guarantee that when I do, I will eat at Helmand again, too.
(4)L. F.
I've only been here once, but we will definitely be returning, and as it stands right now, I can't think of a bad thing to say about this place. We went on a Friday night, and had made a reservation. They're not open during the day, but you can call anytime after 4, and we made a 7:15 reservation. I think we got lucky getting a spot in their parking lot (it's across the street from them, DON'T park in the one in the back), but it looked like there would have been street spots available if we needed one. Even though the place was packed, they seated us quickly, just remember to ask for a parking pass for their lot if your car is there! Now, about the food! For appetizers we ordered Aushak and Kaddo. Both were amazing. The pumpkin was tender and juicy and I could have eaten just that all night. It is sweet (it's pumpkin), but the yogurt and beef sauce on it balance it nicely, and I liked it with the bread, as well. I ordered Mantwo for my entree, and I was definitely glad I did. Same beef sauce that came with the Kaddo, only now it was covering these delicious beef-filled pastries (basically like ravioli or dumplings). Let's just say my left-overs didn't last long. For dessert we all shared the Feereney (custard-y pudding with fruit on top), and Sheerberaing (rice pudding with pistachio and cardamom). Both were great. I really like rice pudding, so I was partial to that one, but they really were both very good. We ordered pots of green tea while we were there, so be aware that it comes served with cardamom in it. I think it's delicious, but if you're not expecting it, it might surprise you. All in all, it came to about $100 for four people, with apps and dessert. Not bad at all, and definitely worth it!
(5)Erica P.
My husband and I went here for a friend's birthday. We were both extremely underwhelmed by the food AND the service. First of all, we had a reservation. That being said, we waited about half an hour, and then the staff couldn't put two tables together, so we ended up sitting at two different tables that weren't even near each other. For all the raves I had heard about the food, I was disappointed. My husband is a vegetarian, and we ordered the baked pumpkin. Unfortunately, it came covered with ground beef (even though it was listed as a vegetarian appetizer - umm, hello, last I heard cow was still an animal, not a plant). My chicken kabob was extremely overcooked and dry. All in all, a pricey meal that just isn't worth it.
(2)Karl R.
I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. This is my favorite restaurant in the whole city. The bread they serve here is baked fresh (you can see the guy making it in the brick oven) and tastes delightful. Here are my dish recommendations (I can't seem to bring myself to order anything else): - Kaddo appetizer: AMAZING! Ordered this once in the fall and I had a hard time sharing with the rest of the table. The perfect fall/winter appetizer. - Qabelee (lamb, raisins, carrots): Just thinking about this dish makes my mouth water. I order this every time. The lamb is always very tender and the sweetness from the raisins give it a nice balance. It eats likes comfort food. I've had some of the other dishes, and they are always good, but some aren't as memorable as others. This restaurant is also a good option for vegetarians, so it is safe for co-workers and friends. If you make reservations, try to insist to be seated in the main room. They added a back room that feels a little cramped to me. The atmosphere of the main seating area is MUCH better (plus you can watch the baker bake that delicious bread).
(5)Doreen X.
This was quite possibly the worst service I've experienced in a long while. The two person tables are tiny and can only accommodate one bread basket and two plates comfortably. You'd think the waiters would understand this, but apparently no. We ordered two appetizers, which came at different times. One of them, the waiter had to inquire whether we ordered it. Then, before we were done with the appetizers, the waiter came with our entrees. In order to utilize every square inch of the table, he shoved the plates onto the table sending utensils clashing into our plates. It was plain rude. Then, to add insult to injury, the waiter didn't bother to clear our empty appetizer plates for the ENTIRE meal. It was only when my dining companion finished that the waiter cleared his plates, but not mine. Not only did our waiter have attitude, but we had to wait for everything: our water glasses went dry and the bread basket didn't come until 20 minutes into the meal. What really drove me crazy was that the adjacent table received decent service. Yeah, I still get carded every once in a while, but my greenbacks are worth just as much as a middle-age couple's. Helmand, get your act together. The food isn't crazy good (friend commented that the bread tasted like Cosi's, kaddo was more like over-candied yam) and the service is insanely bad.
(2)Toyoko O.
This place is fantastic! I'm a vegan and my boyfriend a meat-eater, and they had great options for the both of us. I had the vegetarian special of the day. The vegetables were fresh and very well prepared. The atmosphere and decor were great, although it was a tad loud. The service was also fantastic. I've been to a few restaurants in Boston which are just overpriced and overrated, but that's definitely not the case for the Helmand. Highly recommend!
(4)American A.
Great food. It's worth atleast a visit. Service is also good.
(4)Cindy W.
Never really had much experience with Middle eastern food. My friend took me there there and ever since then it as opened my eyes and this place is amazing. Yes, the wait is lengthy, however sometimes it worth the wait. The meat comes right off the bone and their sauces are very flavorful. Its good to bring a friend who knows his stuff.
(4)Sarah V.
I still think about the Helmand. I think about the Pumpkin dishes and I get reallllly hungry. It is -so- good.
(5)Arnaz M.
Great place which is always full. We learnt that the hard way - One a 10F day in the winter we showed up expecting it to be empty. Hmmm, I think it was JUST a 45 min wait. The Cambridge crowd just laps this place up. If you like Indian food but find it too spicy , you might love Afghani cuisine. Almost everything is great and most wines go really well with this cuisine. Love the feerney dessert!
(5)Huan z.
I heard so many good things about this restaurant and I had a higher expectation on it. The food is very well prepared, very yummy. Lamb dishes are very delicious. But for someone's family who use to cook for the palace of Afghanistan, I think the rice should taste better. and battery operated candle is just an turn off for me. By the way, I like the small room at the back. It's very private.
(3)Kimberly P.
Woot woot! My first Boston restaurant garnering a 5 star review. I picked the Helmand out of pure curiosity - I've never had Afghani food and why not try it? Pure genius, Kim P. Pure genius. First great thing about this place: they explain EVERYTHING. Don't you hate it when you go to a place and the entire menu is in a different language and the descriptions are one or two words that do not give you any clue about what the dish actually is? Not the Helmand... you can actually go here and not have to worry about looking like an idiot and ordering something without knowing what it is. Second: the wines are so reasonably priced. You can get a carafe of the house wine for $10. Love it! Third: The food is yummy for my tummy. So delicious. From the naan like bread served with three sauces to the main dishes, I had nothing to complain about.... Well... actually one thing. Though the server was very nice, I felt like she was trying to pressure me into getting more things. The dialogue went sort of like this: Me: I was wondering how big the appetizers were because I wanted to try two apps instead of a main course, the Kaddo (pumpkin with sugar, yogurt sauce and ground beef... delicious! although next time I might try the vegetarian version) and the Bowlawni (two stuffed pastry puffs) but I wasn't sure if that would be too little or too much food. Server: You dont want an entree? What type of meat do you like? If you like lamb we have a great lamb entree,... Me: I wanted to try the two dishes I mentioned and that is why I was asking about the size to see if it would be comparable to an entree. I'm really not that hungry. Server: Well, you could just get those but an entree would really be better. How about.... Me: I just want those two dishes. Thanks. Server: Oh. Ok. (insert forlorn look here). And what would you like as your appetizer? Yea... it really was that bad. But otherwise, great service and great food. I will definitely revisit this gem. Double pat on my own back.
(5)S. M. S.
Great flavors. Overpriced. Crowded. Winter food.
(4)Lisa P.
This place is an easy 5 star! Went here last night for a nice dinner with my boyfriend and his parents. I will start at the beginning with some important facts to know before you go. A must know for this place is that you HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION!!! They are very good about taking reservations and keeping to them, which in Cambridge is not an easy task to find! They do have a parking lot, but it only has room for about 10 cars so parking is pretty much limited to on-street meter parking. We were running about 15 minutes late due to traffic for our 5:45 reservation so I called to let the hostess know we were going to be a little late. She was VERY pleasant and seemed genuinely appreciative for the call. After finding an on-street spot we walked in and were able to still sit with our reservation at the reserved table for our party. In my book a restaurant that is busy to this level and still knows how to maintain a reservation deserves all the compliments and recognition in the book for it! A++ so far. Now down to the good stuff!! The menu was exotic but understandable with excellent descriptions for each item. I had never been for Afghan food before and neither had my boyfriends parents, so having a well described menu was very helpful! For our appetizer we just couldn't choose between two different options so we decided to get both the Bowlani and the Kaddo. The house bread and three dipping sauces that come before your meal are truly spectacular. The yogurt and celery sauce was clearly the favorite of the table as there was just a little drop left by the time it was cleared from the table. The close second was the hot red pepper sauce followed by the cilantro, pepper and walnut sauce. All of the flavors were so vibrant and clear. The Kaddo came out from the kitchen first and I am quite the pumpkin fan but what came out was like nothing I had ever tasted! The sweetness of the pumpkin and the sugar balanced with the savory ground beef sauce and yogurt garlic sauce. The pumpkin was so smooth and just melted in your mouth but wasn't the sweet pumpkin you would expect. This was by far the PERFECT was to start off the meal and certainly set my expectations high for the rest of my meal. The Bowlani was second which was kind of sad for the poor Bowlani because after the Kaddo there was really no way it could live up. The leek and scallion one was a bit too strong for my liking and that seemed to be the general feeling of the table except for my boyfriend who is a lover of a strong flavor. The spiced potato one was a perfect consistency and spiced to the right level. This was by far the favorite of the two and went very quickly. If it were up to me I would suggest to them to offer them separately or together as an option. For our main meal it was actually quite unusual because each couple ended up getting the same thing. My boyfriend and I each ordered the Mourgh Challow and his parents each ordered the Koufta Challow. My suggestion to anyone who eats here, before you add your food to the gigantic pillow of rice that is placed in front of you just take a few bites of it as is and enjoy each flavorful bite. We would each go around the table trying to guess what the hint of each ingredient we were tasting was, just in the rice alone. All I know was that the challow rice was fantastic and quite frankly a delicacy all on it's own! The chicken in my meal was so tender I could pull pieces apart with little to no effort of my fork and the curry sauce was perfect in its yellow color and fragrant aroma and taste. My boyfriends parents were very intrigued by our meals and kept "sampling from our side of the table each time following the bite with an mmm or a yum. They felt as if their Koufta Challow was a little bit too tomatoey and had a bit of an italian influence. They said that the meatballs were very good but from all the sampling going on from our dishes it seemed as if they may have enjoyed ours more. Our waiter was very attentive throughout our entire meal and made sure that our water glasses were full and our entrees were staggered an appropriate time from our appetizers. The price is very reasonable considering the amazing quality of food you get as well as location. All and all I was truly impressed and am already looking forward to my next trip!
(5)Jess K.
One of my favorite restaurants in Cambridge. The pumpkin is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten, it has perfect texture and flavor. There are good vegetarian options and all the dishes are reasonably priced. Be sure to make reservations, they are very popular. Several times the service has been less than stellar. I felt a bit ignored by the wait staff a few times when they realize I'm just going to order an entree instead of an entree, bottle of wine, appetizer, dessert, coffee, etc. However, the food is good enough for me to keep going back.
(5)David J.
I like Helmand a lot. The food is unique and easily my favorite part about the place. The food is very flavorful and you can't get anything else like it in the area. The Mantwo and the Kaddo really stand out in my mind. I've been here about a dozen times. The decor is also charming in my opinion, it makes me feel comfortable. My only complaint would be that the service is occasionally a little off. Aloof or inattentive servers. I'd also suggest making reservations because they can get booked up on the weekends.
(5)Mark H.
Excellent food. I'm not from Afghanistan so I can't tell you how authentic it is, but it is very tasty. I had the mantwo, and it was delicious. The bread is great, and watching the breadmaker stretch out and bake loaf after loaf is pretty inspiring. I wanted to go home and make a wood fired oven, but it would pretty much take up my entire kitchen. We had a carafe of the house red wine and found it very good. For the money, I'd probably order that every time in Helmand. The wait staff seemed pretty serious but the service was quite good. Pretty easy to get to from the subway. Make a reservation for sure, we had one and walked right past others who had to wait. Good thing, because when you get in there it smells good and you want to start eating!
(5)Richard C.
I went in to Helmand last night and was absolutely appalled at the treatment they gave me. I am handicapped and use a mobility scooter to get around. I went with my marketing manager, who is black (I am Chinese), and we arrived around 8pm for dinner. Before we got there, my scooter's battery had died on me and so my marketing manager had to push me and my scooter into the restaurant. We were met at the second door into the restaurant by the person at the check-out desk, who informed me that since we did not have a resrvation, that sorry we could not be accomodated. She did not say that we should sit and wait for a table which may take some time. Instead she did not leave us that option at all. And while we decided to wait for a table in the small area between the first anf second set of doors into the restaurant, I decided that I should make use of the time to get my battery charged while we waited. So i asked my marketing manager to detach the battery which is the size of a small box, and asked the desk person if she could help us charge the battery somewhere, maybe behind the desk or somewhere else in the restaurant where they may have an outlet available. Instead, her reaction was both shocking and insulting to me. She said, "We do NOT have anywhere where we could help you get this charged!" That to me was pure discrimination on her part. I could not believe my ears. My marketing manager was so furious he told me that we should simply leave at that point. And I totally agreed. And I swore I would neveer patronise that place ever again, even though i had great experience there several times before. I cannot believe that they would discriminate against colored people and disabled people they did last night with us. This kind of action should never have been tolerated, and any management that does not train their employees with sensitivity training and tolerates this kind of action should not deserve any business from anyone these days. I wished only that I could give them a negative star rating.
(1)Ilona K.
This is my FAVORITE restaurant. Long story short, the experience has always been very pleasant for me... the food is simply delicious!! Everything is flavorful, very well seasoned and succulent. The bread and sauces they serve are such a tease... my favorite sauce is the white one (yogurt, cucumbers, mint...) You must try the Kaddo dish, very different! And, i usually get the Mourgh Salata... There is another restaurant that opened in Allston called "Ariana" that is very similar... They are ALWAYS packed... you need to make a reservation!
(5)R A.
The freshly backed bread was pretty yummy, but I am a sucker for bread so this doesn't mean all too much. I had the Chicken Kebab since there was not anything else on the menu I could eat or had any interest in. If you don't eat lamb, fish, or yogurt on your meat, you might be out of luck here. I won't take any stars off though just because I am so picky. What I ordered was alright and tasted fresh, but it was definitely not even close to being worth 17 dollars. I know that I didn't order anything very exciting and perhaps shouldn't have such high expectations, but I can get Kebab that tastes way better for less than half that price elsewhere. For instance, Aceituna Cafe is only a few blocks away and has fantastic Mediterranean food. I was told by another person in my party that the fish they ordered did not taste that great and we both agreed that the meal was overall quite bland. Service was a definitely poor here, especially for a place in this price category. Wait staff wasn't particularly friendly and we found them to be inattentive.
(2)Steven P.
Hello friend. Do you enjoy food? Do you enjoy good food? Do you enjoy really deliciously good food? Do you want to try something different for a change? If so, the Helmond may be what you are looking for! I came here on the weekend and didn't need a reservation. The service was great and the place had a nice atmosphere. The food was excellent, and they had many vegetarian options. i suggest trying that Kaddo, at least as an appetizer. I thought that the pumpkin might taste strange, but I was wrong. It was absolutely delicious!
(5)Don W.
I really liked The Helmand. The bread as really good. The kaddo was delicious. The chowpan was really nice and the Lamb Lawand was very tasty. In other words, it was all good, without exception. And to top it off, we had a bottle of wine that was perfect. But I'm going with four stars for this one because it has to be damn near perfect for five stars. The space would have been tight if all the tables were filled, but fortunately they weren't. The entree came out while we were still working on the appetizer, but nothing else was rushed. The service and the food were good, but the reviews for this restaurant are so good that maybe my expectations were unrealistic. So I'm a little torn, but the official definition of four stars is "I'm a fan" so I'm okay with that. I want to try some other things on the menu too, but I probably won't get a chance because I don't live nearby. Too bad, it's a really nice restaurant.
(4)Joshua C.
Delightfully good food. I don't like lamb. In fact, I really hate it. But I tried it at this restaurant, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. That goes to show just how good the food at this restaurant is. My dad, who's not a big fan of ethnic food, came here with me and really enjoyed the place. He always talks about coming back and eating there. Make sure when you go, to make reservations. Other than that, make sure you order a few appetizers, because they are really delicious and one of the best treats at this place.
(5)Stephanie W.
Last night was the second time I've been to Helmand. After finally finding someone to go with me (which has been surprisingly difficult, I'm not that bad of company and who doesn't like good ethnic food?), my friend and I ventured off to Cambridge. We arrived around 8:45, and the next table for two was available around 9:15-9:30. No big deal since the Cambridgeside Galleria is just around the corner. It was a Friday night, after all. However, the mall was closing and the area became kind of dead, except for at the restaurant where it was still decently busy. We came and waited on the pretty couch inside which had a selection of magazines to browse through. Unexpected, but kept my friend and I amused. I may or may not have ordered the same thing I ordered the first time I went. Regardless, it was delicious. We started off with the Kaddo (baked pumpkin). We ordered it regular, with the meat sauce (vegetarian is also an option, and also good, but more dessert-like since it doesn't have that savory touch). They also give out bread with the meal, which is a flat bread which resembles naan a little. They also give out plenty of sauces to use with all of your meal: a cilantro sauce, red chili pepper sauce, and a yogurt. The yogurt tasted great on everything! For an entree, I ordered the theeka kabob (meat, some veggies, lentils, pallow rice), and my friend ordered another dish which was a chicken in sauce with Afghan spices over challow rice. Both were amazing! My meat was great, but I advise to order it medium or medium well. I ordered it medium and it was still quite pink in the middle. The flavor of my friend's dish was deep and unique. We were trying to puzzle out the spices used in the "Afghan spices" but are still unsure. There are two different kinds of rices as my friend pointed out. The challow has one or maybe two spices, and the pallow has those spices plus nutmeg and cinnamon, although it is surprisingly fairly savory, not overly sweet. For dessert, we ordered the bucklawa, which is a pastry with walnuts, pistachios, and maybe other kinds of nuts as well. It was awesome. Comfortable for the two of us to split, but a reasonable portion for one person if you have a reasonable appetite. The dish had another unique flavor that my friend and I also couldn't identify; whatever it was, it really made it stand out. It was also reasonably priced at $3.95 I think. So while a little on the pricey side for my taste, it was so good I will be a repeat customer. The bill for the two of us came out for less than $50, with appetizer and dessert. Definitely worth it. The atmosphere of the restaurant is what I hope to adorn one of my dining rooms with someday...goldenrod walls, elegant furniture, Persian pottery (one of my favorites), bright blue water glasses, a wood-burning stove, and some traditional Afghan clothing on display. One of the greatest meals I ever had. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The waiter, nearing the end of the shift, wasn't the most exuberant fellow last night, but the food was so good I can't really complain one bit. Service in general was reasonable in speed. We definitely took our time, so no problems. Apologies for the long-winded review, but I think this place deserves all the props I've given it. Definitely my new favorite restaurant.
(5)Samantha B.
Delicious! The food is like a milder, more earthy version of Indian. I usually get a pumpkin concoction that is ultra flavorful, rich, and mildly spicy. Their bread is heavenly! And you can't beat the cilantro chutney. One time we got to sit right next to the oven and see the guy making the bread. The atmosphere is great- I love all of the beautiful pottery and photos they have throughout. Don't ask me why, but I just adore the blue glasses. The service is never what I'd call 'bad', but not always great. One time I had a lady with serious crazy eyes. She looked like the type who walks backwards just so she can keep on creepily gazing. It kinda stinks that they don't have designated parking, but if you happen to be in the galleria, it's a perfect place to stop in for dindin (because what's your other option? Cheesecake factory, ahhhhh!) So yes, please try, and enjoy.
(4)Julie L.
I had heard good things about Helmand before going there, so I was prepared to pay the hefty prices. However, after eating there I realized it was WAY overpriced and WAY overrated. Maybe it's because there are few (if any) other Afghan restaurants to compare it to in the area, so people get excited about it since it's a novelty. When we got there my husband and I were seated right next to the oven where they bake the flat bread. This was cool to see, but it felt like we were sitting in about 100 degree weather. Also, as the waiters would come by the oven they would yell (I'm not exaggerating) in Spanish at the male employee who was cooking the bread. Needless to say it was awkward to be caught in this cross-fire, not to mention the multitude of Spanish being spoken kind of killed the Afghany vibe the restaurant seemed to be going for. Next, we ordered some appetizers (I can't remember exactly what they were, but I remember they were just "meh"). About 5 minutes after bringing out appetizers they brought our entrees, so we were scrambling to eat everything while it was still warm. Needless to say everything got cold REALLY fast. The bread had a so-so texture, and I felt like it a wanna be Indian Naan--but with a lot less flavor and not as good as a texture. Despite the disappointing appetizers and entrees we decided to try one more time. We ordered the "homemade dessert" with some sort of fruit syrup--I think it was supposed to be pomegranate. The cake was dry, crumbly, and relatively flavorless. Again, a huge rip off. Despite, the less-than-satisfying food/desert, the service was also rather medicore. I only got my water glass filled once during the entire meal. This experience was all on a week-night when they weren't completely slammed. I can't imagine how bad things would get on a weekend. I would not recommend this place unless you want to pay a lot of money for less than mediocre food and service.
(2)Ashley P.
First, I have to say thanks yelp for this find. The food was great, nothing was left on any of our plates. The lamb was so tender. The bread was brought out promptly and we couldn't get enough of it. The building is unassuming, so it was a bit hard to find right away. We were given only two options for reservations, 5pm or 9pm, granted it was only a day before when I made them. We arrived early and they accommodated us immediately. I found the service prompt and available.
(5)Maria B.
This might just be my new favorite restaurant! I had been curious about the Helmand for months and months ever since I used to work down the street and would pass it often, pondering what exactly Afghani cuisine was like. Finally I had a chance to find out! We walked in on a Monday night and the place was super busy- but still had a laid back attitude. The hostess was very nice and sat us within a matter of minutes despite the fact that we didn't have a reservation. The decor alone deserves 5 stars. It is set up in a way where it feels like you're walking into a family home rather than a restaurant. They have an extensive wine list (including South African wine which is always a treat in my eyes), and their menu is mouth-wateringly delicious (although I honestly have yet to try all of it- but give me a break this was my first time here!) We started with the "banjan" appetizer- pan-fried eggplant in a yogurt and tomato sauce. It was made in record time and arrived looking ever so delicious. I could already tell that this was going to be like a home-cooked meal- 'kak u babushki' (like my grandmother) would make food- very simply and without any unnecessary flair- just plain delicious. Oh- and you also get served delicious Afghan bread with dipping sauces. For our main course we shared the chowpan entree- a half rack of lamb with rice and vegetables. Everything again was cooked perfectly and tasted like someone's grandmother or mother just cooked it up in the kitchen and brought it over for you to try. For dessert I had their version of baklava ("Bucklawa"), which was seriously THE best I've ever had. Just the right amount of sweet, everything tasted fresh and flavorful, and it was paired perfectly with the rich Turkish coffee. Seriously, other restaurants should take note of what this place does- provides a casual and cozy atmosphere, great laid back but attentive service, simply delicious no frills food and decent pricing. I am really excited to go back and try out the rest of their menu asap!
(5)Emma S.
Just came back from a lovely and very valuable dinner, with great service. Mmmm... will dream about the food tonight.
(5)Graham C.
Ah Helmand. The place which is owned by Hamid Karzai/Nouri al-Maliki/Osama Bin Laden's brother/uncle/nephew. I've been here twice and had very good Afghan food. Granted, this is the only place I've had Afghan food. The place is kind of small, and so I tried to call ahead but got a busy signal all the time. That's because I noticed the hostess walks around with the cordless phone always looking for people who are finishing. My friend and I waited about 20 minutes. Upon seating, we asked the waitress for wine recommendations, perhaps something native. She then told us she wasn't a wine person, more of a beer girl. That's cool, but perhaps some suggestions? She then disclaims "This really isn't my kind of place." We were floored and joked with her about her quitting during her shift. So then she comes back for the food order and I reference the previous comment and she is all "let's never speak of that again." And then she proceeds to tell me that everything on the menu is excellent and she couldn't recommend any one thing because they were all so good. It was almost as if someone overheard and twisted her ear back in the kitchen. Food was great, the tables were really jammed into that back room, and the house red was fine. Overall an odd experience, and given the prices I'd rather go to Lala Rokh, which I know is persian and not afghan, but I prefer beef to lamb anyway.
(3)wsl l.
A new update from my prior review. I took away a few stars. If you have ever been to Helmand, you would know that service isn't always up to par. Turn around time is fast, and for the most part they are polite about it, but it's normally rushed as they want you in and out. My past experiences here have been pretty good. No big parties of more than 4ppl and I stuck with my usual. Until.. I was here recently for my surprise b-day dinner. I sat together with some of my closest friends at the biggest table in the restaurant. We ordered apps of -okra, salad, pumpkin and others I can't really think of. .. For entree, I usually go with the rack of lamb but decided to go with the trout instead. yes, trout. what was I thinking? Per our waiter, it was conveniently the last one and I almost feel now that I was conned into it. It was definitely not fresh and was overwhelmed with this fishy taste. DISGUSTING. I took two stabs at it and couldn't do any more. Not only was my food bad, but the service got progressively worse. Granted that we were there for about 1 1/2 hrs and they probably had big groups waiting ,but we had a few bottles of wine, apps and entrees. Throughout the night we got nasty stares from the host and the host pulled our waiter aside at least 3x.. It got worse when our waiter came to clear off the table. Since when does someone say "hey lady, could you pass the plate down" ?? WTF? So now we are at the end of dinner. I'm thinking, ok, we have been here long enough and we should leave soon, but what is a birthday without cake and it was a Finale tiramisu cake. I am sitting at the front of the table and I see our waiter go towards the freaken open oven to pick up the Finale box. It was sitting there near heat the whole entire time. So the cake was mushy and everyone had to eat cooked, melted cheese. I was soo perplexed... I dont know how long it will take for me to let this go... but I wont be coming back anytime soon.
(2)D. H.
I adore this restaurant--it's my favorite place by far. The freshly baked bread comes to the table all warm and wonderful and with tasty dipping sauces. I've never ordered anything here that I didn't like but the vegetarian special (baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, served with pallow rice) tops my list. We frequently bring out-of-town friends and relatives here and they've always loved it too. Their pumpkin specialty (kaddo), either vegetarian or with meat, is absolutely divine. That pumpkin is the closest thing I've ever found to ambrosia... nom nom!
(5)Miri R.
One of my favorite restaurants... ever. I could eat Kaddo seven days a week. This is middle-eastern home cooking at it's absolute best... like if your grandma was a five-star chef. Every single thing I've tried there was delicious, but frankly, I could be happy with just munching their delicious bread with the dipping sauces and sipping a shot of fresh brewed Turkish coffee...
(5)Mel M.
I've never had to make a reservation as a single as late in the evening as here, which was my first hint that it would be great. I've since eaten here a few times, and never been disappointed with a single dish. The owner is very personable and has stopped by to chat each time. The staff is very nice as well. The one dish I remember specifically is the pumpkin with meat sauce on the top, and it's just absolutely amazing.
(5)Eric E.
I have to admit that before I walked in the door, I had a lot of preconceptions about this place. Having recently overcome my Indian aversion, Middle Eastern is pretty much the only cuisine I dislike, and I had lumped Afghani in with the typical chickpea and tabouli dishes thats make me spit my food into my napkin and ask to be excused. In addition, the restaurant looks like an office building from the outside, so much so that I would drive by with out-of-town guests to tell them about the Afghani place that everyone raves about (but which I'd never been to), but frequently couldn't find it. It could definitely use a new sign. Anyhow, once we found the joint and walked in the door, my whole world changed. Or at least, my whole world of preconceived notions about Helmand. The decor and layout were beautiful, a rich yellow paint adorned the walls, and the bread oven was open to the room. The tables were spread out just the right amount, to give a cozy yet still private feel. As I looked around i saw one big party of 8, and a lot of dates. My gf said it felt like we were in someone's living room. A romantic, comfortable atmosphere. First thing our waiter did was bring us some bread and take drink orders. I usually don't eat the bread, needless carbs yadda yadda, but they brought 3 little sauces for it so i figured I had to try it all. I'm glad I did, as they were some new flavors my tongue had never tasted before. I think one was mint cucumber yogurt or something? For drinks, when there is a house red wine available, i usually take it, and so there was at Helmand. Damn it was good. The waiter was very good, and he took our food order and didn't even laugh when I took a chance at pronouncing the menu items. (You'll notice a lot of these reviews refer to "the lamb and rice dish" as opposed to "Dwajuwmskaispist" or whatever.) The food was delivered expediently, first round was some sort of baked pumpkin with ground beef and some wacked out ravioli with mint, garlic, beef, scallions, etc. Both were excellent, although the pumpkin is very sweet, and a couple of times I was unsure whether I liked the meat+sweet combination. Then we had a lamb and rice dish which was also delicious. I don't think I've ever had better lamb, except at my sister's wedding. I can't give it 5 stars, because I've only been there once. But if this is what they eat in Afghanistan on a day to day basis, then I don't feel so bad for them anymore.
(4)Ben K.
The Kadoo (roasted pumpkin) is the stuff of that dreams are made of, and everything else I've eaten here (leek dumplings, eggplant, lamb) has been stellar. We're talking explosions of flavor on the tongue. The ambiance is delightful and the service has always been excellent. I've gotten away sharing 3 appetizers between 2 people and am pretty satisfied. This place is definitely worth the trek for me to Kendall Sq.
(5)Rosie Z.
Food is average, the ambiance is good enough - your typical "ethnic romance" type of decor. It is expensive for what it is (basically stewed meat, some veggies and rice)
(3)Elizabeth K.
I've been eating here for years and this place never fails to disappoint. And everyone I've dragged in to eat here has given it the thumbs up too. I always find the dishes are well balanced with just the right amount of spice to make it interesting without being either too spicey or too weird. The bread (hot from the brick oven in the center of the room) is to die for, and free with the meal. They have a nice selection of vegetarian friendly options and the appetizers something you MUST get - they are awesome. I particularly recommend the eggplant and the pumpkin dishes. Their single glasses of wine are a little limited but the overall wine list is not, and the house varieties have always been lovely. The service is crisp. Secret hint - if you don't want to make reservations, go Monday-Wednesday. The place is packed on Fridays and Saturdays and probably Thursdays, too. I wish Yelp had a decor category for "nice ethnic" - the kind of place that is clearly decorated nicely, but not so overdone you feel overwhelmed.
(5)Neurosurgeon X.
I ate here a few times when I lived in Boston. The food is pretty decent. I can't remember the details though.
(4)Deepa C.
My dad loved being treated like royalty. He was in his element whenever he was offered rose water to wash his hands before a meal, if he was called by name by the waitress, if scotch glasses were automatically refilled. And he loved the Helmand. The decor and menu are both executed well. Service is well rehearsed and smooth. Sitting down for dinner here makes you forget that you drove by a Best Buy on your way there. I would recommend the Helmand for a nice night out, if you want to treat the parents (or vice versa) or to impress a business client or date. Its class, chef and atmosphere make you appreciate Boston's diversity and style.
(5)John W.
This is one of the best restaurants for Cantabrigian vegetarians to visit. I recently came here with several friends and we shared an appetizer order of Bowlani (pan-fried pastry shells garnished with yogurt mint, one filled with leeks and scallions, the other with spiced potatoes) and Kaddo (pan-fried then baked pumpkin seasoned with sugar). Yum! For my entree, I ordered the Aushak (Afghan ravioli filled with leeks, served on yougurt and mint sauce, topped with yellow split peas and carrot sauce), but my ladyfriend ordered the Special (a platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach, and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes) which i think i like slightly better than the Aushak. Double yum!
(5)Nhu V.
This place serves amazing food...PERIOD. It is my favorite restaurant. When they seat you and bring out the bread, make sure that you don't put butter on it. That's a total waste...instead enjoy the 3 sauces that they bring out. If you're not into spicy stuff, then go with the white yogurt, cucumber sauce. You can't go wrong with either of their ravioli appetizers (one has leeks and the other has chick peas in it) and I always get the Mourgh Chicken Kebabs as my entree. The only thing knock on them would be the stink eye that you get if you decided to stop by on a whim and didn't call in advance to make a reservation. Otherwise, you gotta check this place out.
(5)Orly M.
We went to the Helmand for our company holiday party last night and it was an all-around wonderful experience. I had been to Ali Baba Tandoor (see review) and had a craptastic experience, but the Helmand has returned Afghan food to glory. The food is what you would expect -- somewhere between middle eastern food and Indian food. It is filling but also rather light. I am Israeli and I work with 3 Iranians, so we were VERY excited for the bread. I am not generally a bread person, but that's partially because the bread here doesn't compare to the stuff in the Middle East -- fresh and fluffy pitas, laafa, it's all the food of my dreams. The bread at Helmand was like a taste of home for us. In fact, after our huge meal, my boss said "well, i'm totally stuffed, but I'm looking at that bread coming out of the oven and I could go for more." The sauces they give you are great -- the cilantro one is especially good and I also really like the chilli one. Dip your bread in there and mmmm. We ordered almost every appetizer. They were all delicious. I especially like the eggplant and the pumpkin (kaddo) ones, but the meat filled ravioli is also awesome. I got this soup called aush that was absolutely amazing, I could eat that stuff every day. The salad was standard but came with a very tasty pomegranate dressing. Miraculously, as far as I can tell my clothing didn't end up covered in bright purple splotches. I got one of the specials -- it was sea bass with potato and beans, served with challow. Sounds average but the spices and tender fish were really great, and I was glad I had a relatively light fish option rather than the lamb that many of my dinner companions opted for. We're a pretty multicultural bunch -- Chinese, Persian, Israeli, American -- and everyone loved their dinners. The wine list was great and after a couple of bottles everyone was merry. Dessert can be skipped -- nothing was really remarkable. We got the pudding covered in fresh fruit, and ice cream with figs. It was aight. I got a Spanish coffee which was kind of funny at Helmand. A couple of the guys I work with got the Turkish coffee and said it was pretty bad, so i'd steer clear of that. Lastly, there was the service -- everything came out fast, maybe too fast in fact. Our water and wine was promptly replenished but we didn't feel rushed or watched. A great, laid back eating experience when you want a meal that's a little different.
(5)Marian N.
amazing... delicious... fresh warm flatbread from the oven. cozy ambiance... friendly service... love it!!!
(5)kathy r.
Bummer this is kind of in an out-of-the-way spot... or on the other hand, maybe it's easier to get in than it would be if it were in the South End. Really great food- I agree with Stephen Y., if you have anyone from out of town who's not a pure meat-and-potatoes picky eater, this place rocks. Many of my friends' parents LOVE it, and our group of friends does too.
(5)Dan v.
After 233 reviews, what more can one say about this place. Five starts for the food, four stars for the atmosphere, and four stars for the price. Not having a car makes this place a bit of a hassle for me to get to, but I've always put this place as one of my favorite restaurants in the Cambridge area. Congratulations Helmand. 4.3 stars to you!
(4)Tom E.
The Helmand is a great example of how good Yelp is. I really want to give this place just over 4 stars - which is exactly what it averages with all the yelp reviews so far. Collective taste wins out. But this isn't any local secret - it's well known and lauded by Zagat et al - so how else does yelp help out? Well, I was specifically after somewhere classy but not too dear in East Cambridge that had nearby parking and a sweet appetizer (yeah - strange request). A quick skim of the previous reviews confirmed all of this was here... and told me more - like what to order and to expect a wait. So when we rolled up unannounced, and were told there would be a 35 minute wait, we'd already started planning a walk around the Galleria whilst we awaited their call. Seamless. So thanks Yelp and thanks to Helmand too. The food was excellent and the class of the restaurant was above the price paid. I'm amazed at what they've done with a horrid building with 3 tiny windows. The tight seating and overbearing proximity to our two neighboring couples (Mr & Miss J-Date and Prof Get-Me-Out-Of-MIT with Mr Moneybags-Merck) ruined this from being 5 stars, but 4.25 is still lovely. Well done everyone.
(4)Kristin K.
I rarely walk out of a restaurant and can't stop thinking about how good it was - that happened here. I can't believe how much flavor they get into such simple ingredients. This is truly a five star eatery. First of all, the bread. They bring bread to your table but it's not like anything I've had before. It's fresh baked (you can watch the guy making it in an open fire oven) and so delicious. It's a textured flat bread that somehow manages to be crispy, soft and chewy all at the same time. They serve it with butter, and three kinds of "chutneys" or sauces - all fantastic. I got the vegetarian special plate, hubs got some kind of vegetarian stuffed pepper. I could not believe how delicious it was. I had never had Afghan food and was kind of expecting a mix between middle eastern and Indian - but it was much better and really unique. Only being in Boston for a week and having few dinner opportunities it says something that we're hitting this place up twice.
(5)Marc B.
Excellent food, couldn't tel what the names were but everything we ordered was great.
(4)Christine K.
I've never had Afghani food before, so I didn't know what to expect when I came here, but WOW. First off, I LOVE their dipping sauces with the bread. 3 types: yogurt, spicy, and cilantro. Mix them all together, or eat them all separately, they will not fail to satisfy your palate. The ravioli appetizer (Aushak) is so good - especially as a dipping sauce for the bread, too! I couldn't get enough of it, and was sad it was only an appetizer. But they actually have an normal sized dish of the same thing. Score! For next time. My favorite dish was the Qabelee: pallow (Afghan-style rice) baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed julienne of carrots. I never eat lamb because I don't like the taste of it, but WOW. The way this dish was prepped, you could not taste the distinct lamb flavor, but was still flavorful, tender, and SO delicious! Generous portions too, for good prices. The beef in the Chapendaz is also SO tender and good! I'm glad to have found out that they have a restaurant in SF too - on my side of the coast!
(5)Maria P.
I was afraid to go the Helmand because after reading all these amazing reviews on yelp I had sky-high expectations which I knew could possibly never be met (even by my favorite restaurant back home). I have never had Afghani food before but I think that if Afghani food is always this good, bring it on! My friend and I went to this restaurant around 6 pm and parked in the Calumet lot opposite the restaurant (I think someone else mentioned this already but it's worth mentioning again, get a two hour parking pass from the restaurant or you will get towed). We didn't make a reservation (thinking that it was a weekday) but the restaurant looked pretty full. We were seated fairly quickly (about 15 minutes) which was great (sit on the big cognac brown leather couch with a table full of magazines in front of it, it was super soft and comfy. I would have taken that couch home had they given me the opportunity). To start with, my friend ordered the banjan which was an eggplant dish topped with tomato sauce and yogurt sauce. It was amazing and I don't even like eggplant! My friend inhaled most of it before I got back from the bathroom though, so I'm definitely ordering it again when I go back. The freshly baked bread was fabulous-light, fluffy and piping hot! The dipping sauces were great, the yogurt was my favorite by far. For our entrees, I got the morgh (chicken) kabob (with spinach and challow rice) and my friend got the qho re mey (their special of the day- sea bass with rice and lentils along with tomato sauce and vegetables). The chicken was great, perfectly cooked and seasoned and the challow rice was the perfect accompaniment. The spinach was pretty good too although I would have appreciated it if they had offered a choice of side dishes with your meal (as opposed to a preset one with each entree). My friend's sea bass was spectacular, just the way the spices hit you as you slowly worked your way through the meal was amazing (I should know, I ate half of her portion). I don't even know how we both had space for dessert after this but I knew that I didn't want to leave the Helmand without trying something off their dessert menu so I ordered the pudeen (creme caramel) and my friend ordered the shereekh (spiced home made ice cream). The creme caramel was perfect. It wasn't sickeningly sweet so that was a definite plus. I can't say the same about my friend's ice cream however, it was overly spiced (in my opinion) and a little too sour. Although, my friend seemed to enjoy it very much so maybe it's just a matter of differing taste buds? The service wasn't great but it wasn't horrifyingly bad either. The waiter seemed reluctant to suggest anything from the menu and we had to keep looking for someone to fill our water glasses. He was timely though with the entrees and dessert and I guess they were just understaffed that night as I saw him rush all over the place while I was eating. The atmosphere was great and I loved all the photos that adorned the walls along with the lighting which made it seem very cozy. In short, like most of the other reviews say, go to the Helmand you won't regret it!
(5)Lynn H.
So I know it's been said over and over now by fellow Yelpers, but holy pumpkin. The kadoo is unlike anything I've ever tasted! The eggplant (that also comes with the Vegetarian Special) is remarkable as well. And the bread. I could have just sat there all night eating the fresh-from-the-oven bread. Yes waitress, I think we will have a 4th basket of bread. Atmosphere of the place is also great. We went on a Thursday night and it was bustling. It's intimate enough to bring a date and down to earth enough to bring the whole family. Also seems like a great place to bring out of town visitors because how often do you go out for Afghani food? This place is definitely unique, delicious, and worth a return visit.
(5)Tushar S.
There are very few places that I like so much and where I like to go back every few months just to get one particular dish, this is one of them. For the people who know what a foodie I am, I'm not 5 star impressed with a place or a dish easily. The meal starts with brick oven baked naan which comes as the appetizer (like chips and salsa at a Mexican joint), served with 3 amazing sauces. Followed by the my favorite dish here, Quablee (Slow cooked, tender boneless chunks of lamb in afghani spices under a bed of perfectly seasoned bed of rice, topped with sweet carrots and resins). I have never been disappointed by this dish and am impressed by the consistency which the place has maintained.
(5)Robert D.
Fantastic food and fast service. Everything on the menu is great. Might want to make reservations at the busier times.
(5)Kristine A.
This place makes delicious food & the atmosphere is great. You should make reservations since it's always pretty damn busy. They have very nice people working there. Their menu is vegeatrian friendly as well. Gotta love thier pumkin dish, marvelous!
(4)Betty P.
Helmand is where I learned to love pumpkin in a non-Jack o' Lantern kinda way. I am rarely one to order something vegetarian, but please do yourself a favor and order one of the pumpkin dishes at Helmand. Parking is relatively easy even on weekends since there isn't too much else nearby but the mall. Worse case scenario park at the mall. The place has a nondescript building facade, but definitely NOT nondescript food! Prices are great and they place gives off a cozy vibe so definitely a good date place. And any place that serves water in cobalt blue glasses gets brownie points from me.
(5)Jenny L.
I finally made my way back to Helmand a year after my first visit. Since it was one of my early dining experiences in Boston, I thought I was going to find better. But when I came back here for my second meal, I realized this is as good as it gets in Boston...and apparently my expectations have decreased since I first moved here... Anyway, still loved the KADDO. It is a must if you come here. I got the Lamb Challow for my entree this time - spinach sauteed with chucks of lamb and Afgan seasonings, served with challow rice which was tender, flavorful and just fantastic. The leftovers were just as good the next day.
(5)Andrew C.
The Helmand is an Afghan restaurant found in an unassuming location next to the Cambridge Side Galleria. Four of us went in for dinner on the Saturday before Memorial Day 2009 to celebrate my friends' one month wedding anniversary. -Wine- We did not have any wine, but The Helmand offers a pretty reasonable wine list with the major wine regions all represented. Bottles ranged from $22 to upwards of $80. -The Food- The Afghan bread comes straight from the brick oven to your table. This is the centerpiece of the dining room and the bread-maker baked tirelessly for the length of our stay. The three accompanying sauces tasted like yogurt, chili, and something resembling cilantro - all very flavorful. We started with two appetizers - the Mantwo and the Banjan - both started a party in my mouth. These appetizers were portioned like tapas and had just enough for four people to taste. For the entree, I had the Chowpan (Half rack [3 pieces] of lamb with sauteed eggplant and pallow rice). The lamb was grilled to perfection, simply seasoned, and tasty. I was a little perplexed that I didn't get a steak knife to cut my meat, but I made due with the standard (butter) knife and had no issues cutting the lamb. The lamb pieces sat on top of more Afghan bread which became soggy, so that wasn't good. The pallow rice was infused with flavor unlike anything I've had before, but it wasn't bad. After the bread, two appetizers, and our entrees, we had no room for any of the desserts! -Atmosphere And Service- As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by a three-person couch set up as the waiting area. It was a comfortable late-afternoon so most parties waited outside. My party had reservations, so we didn't have to do much waiting. The dining room felt very cozy with all the tables in close proximity. As close as the tables are arranged, there weren't any issues for the wait staff or other diners to move around the dining room. -Conclusion- The Helmand is a great treat for special occasions and get-togethers. The food might seem pretty strange at first, but there is something for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. Keep your mind and your taste-buds open!
(3)John P.
Great food, large portions, and reasonable prices. Dinner for 2 with a $35 bottle of wine, salad, soup and 2 entrees was $85!!! I will definitely be returning.
(4)N B.
The place is not as good as I thought after reading the reviews. Its over crowded. The place is smelly. The tables sit very close next to each other. Bad service- our waiter didn't take the order until 15 min. The waiter was trying to push us to order appetizers and desserts. Food is overpriced. It's somewhat like Indian food but I think Indian food tastes better than this. The ambiance of the place is not so pleasant. Definitely not for a romantic dinner.
(1)Wyatt G.
Vegetarians and vegans BEWARE. My wife and I are both vegan. She ordered the vegetarian special, which is described as: "A platter of baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, served with pallow." It is also served with yoghurt on top, which she had to scrape off. Annoying. I ordered the Sabzi Challow. I missed that it was described as having lamb in it, as it is listed as a "Vegetarian Entree". I found out that my dish had meat in it after I had started chewing on it, which is very disconcerting when you've been a vegan for five years. The incompetence and absurdity of putting meat dishes in your vegetarian section astounds me.
(1)Zizzles A.
The Helmand is the closest thing to the perfect restaurant I have ever seen. It's clean, not really chic, but the decor is nice in a comforting way. The food is not only amazing, but also novel, and to top it off, it's very affordable. To start, you get a basket of house baked bread with 3 sauces free of charge. The bread is amazing. It's thicker, a little more glutenous than a naan, and it's a little harder on the outside. The Chowpan, Theeka Kebab, Seekh Kebab are all delicious and great for people who like to eat large cuts of meat like steak or chops. The garnishes are distinctly middle eastern, and because of my own general dislike for slabs of meat (except the Chowpan, god I love rack of lamb), I found that the sides, for their novelty and just simple goodness, outshined the meat. The kaddo is a roasted pumpkin with meat and yogurt sauce. The texture is just heavenly, but it's very, very sweet, and difficult to eat more than a few bites of. An order is like a quarter of a pumpkin, so 1 to share with several people might be a good idea. It is as sweet as many western deserts, which is to say very sweet, and yet it's an appetizer. My favorite dish here so far is the Mantwo. The pastry shell itself reminds me of the dough used to make Shanghai style xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. Inside is a meatball, and outside it is covered with a chickpea sauce, yogurt sauce, and a tomato sauce. It looks a little messy at first with its white, yellow and red sauces all put together in a disorganized way, but once you try it, few things will ever look more appetizing. The tomato sauce is a little sweet, the chickpeas provide a starchy kind of richness, while the yogurt sauce brings tartness and delicious dairy fat to the whole thing. Interestingly enough, many of the deserts are not as sweet as the Kaddo. I've had the Pudeen and the cake, both of which are good, but I usually prefer the Fereney. It's a cream or milk pudding topped with fresh fruits. It's barely sweetened, with all kinds of fatty milky goodness which goes perfectly with the fresh fruit. It looks deceptively healthy so watch out. If you're going on the weekend, a reservation is pretty much a must. Otherwise, it is simply recommended since they're not too efficient with walk ins.
(5)Kai L.
Great food, great service, great price, and great ambiance! It has many vegetarian dishes, very unique tastes. I love their pumkin dishes and their fruit/yogurt dessert was very freshing. Not to miss their bread, free, but great!!! You can see how it's made too. The price was affrodable. Definitely a great place to dine out!
(5)Janak S.
Okay, I'm still at the restaurant and I'm so pissed off that I need write something. The food is okay and I don't really have much in the way of complaint. But the service was just atrocious. We called ahead of time and had a reservation for 12. They then attempted seat us at three different table. When we protested and suggested we at least get to sit near each other, we were told that they know best about how to place tables!! But the most ridiculous event of the evening was when the birthday cake came out. We had brought the cake with us. After they seved us the cake, the waiter sheepishly informed us that he would have to charge us $1.50 per cut!!! This has got to be the most bizarre thing I've heard of, and when complained we were told all restaurants do this. When we asked them to name one, he looked at us like we were pink Martians doing an Elvis impersonation.
(1)Maiya S.
There are places where I'm willing to overlook inattentive, unprofessional service in favor of amazing food. This isn't one of those. After our appetizers (which were quite delicious), the waiter cleared our plates and for each of us took the dirty knife off the appetizer plate and placed it back on the white tablecloth. He even scraped the food left on the knives against the plates. What?? Moreover, my dinner companions had to saw through their overcooked ribeye entrees with table knives, because no stake knives were offered, and the servers were nowhere to be found. After our entrees (which were just okay...not transcendent as other reviewer's 5 stars seem to indicate) the waiter thrust dirty and crumpled dessert menus into our hands before the dinner plates were even cleared. This place is very noisy, and not very friendly, and the quality of the food does not make up for all the ways it's rough around the edges.
(2)Gunther F.
This is the third time I have been to the Helmand, but probably the first time in more than two years. We went there on a Saturday night, and could only get a reservation for 9:30, which worked out well. The place was very busy, and we had to wait a bit before we got seated, and also to get service once we were seated. We each had a kabob plate, which come with rice and vegetables, were well done, and truly delicious. Portions are just about right, and the food is nicely spiced and nice to look at as well. I was also impressed by how affordable this place has remained; we paid less than US$ 60 for a dinner including some wine and desserts, which is rare these days in Cambridge. The only reason I did not give this place 5 stars is the rather weird interior design; for some reason the owner decided to paint the walls in a rather strong yellow color, and install so many spotlights on the ceiling that you feel like sitting in a hotel lobby rather than a cozy restaurant. If that doesn't bother you, definitely check out this place - hard to find better food around here for similar prices.
(4)David D.
The Kado ans Ashak are a MUST!
(5)Mike G.
My wife and went in to Helmand last night for a date night. Because of kid's sports early this morning, we made an early reservation for 5:30. This was a good idea because between 6 and 7:30 the restaurant filled up and they had people waiting outside. We were worried we'd be late for our reservation because of miserable traffic south of Boston, but made it just in time. Thank goodness for their parking lot! Sure, it's ridiculously small (maybe room for 10-12 cars) and we did a 9-point turn to get out of the lot, but with the early reservation we had no problem getting in. First impression was pretty good. The decor is bright and colorful. My wife was initially overwhelmed by the aroma of spices, but soon adjusted. The wait staff was very attentive and we had a trainee working with us. Granted, having a young, Irish girl as a waitress in an Afghan restaurant was unusual, but she was very nice. I hope she enjoys her summer working in Boston, but that's not the point here. I did feel the wait staff was kind of hovering (for all the tables, not just ours). They weren't right next to the tables, but I almost felt like someone would take a sip of water and someone would be there within a minute to top off the glass. Not bad, not off-putting, just a trifle odd. While we had no problem with the rudeness mentioned in some previous reviews, I did see how those impressions get made. Another couple was shown to their table by the hostess WHILE SHE WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE! She went to the table, pulled back a chair and walked off all while carrying on her conversation. I'm no Emily Post, but that's just bad business and it's easily fixable. So the food should be mentioned in a review, I guess. As a preface, I recently returned from a year in Afghanistan and I contributed greatly to the restaurant economy of Kabul. Kebabs and naan were a big part of my diet, but we also ate more... elaborately? Coming in, I was very aware that Afghan food in America would be different than Afghan food in Kabul. Sanitation and quality of ingredients are the two most obvious reasons. We started with the fresh naan and the dipping sauces. My wife liked the yogurt sauce (I don't do yogurts) and we both loved the jalapeño sauce. I want the recipe so I can eat it with every meal for the rest of my life! We each had an appetizer, which showed up very quickly. She had the kaddo (the pumpkin dish) and loved it and I had the mantwo. Now, mantwo is something I ate quite frequently and it was always vey popular when we'd get it. The Helmand version was good, but different. The shredded beef and onion mixture in the dumpling were heavily onion-flavored, moreso than in Kabul. Again, very good; just different. Literally, as we were finishing the last bites of the appetizers, the main courses showed up. My wife had the aushak (beef, yogurt and mint dumplings) and I had the qabelee, which is my absolute favorite dish. The profound are generous and the food is delicious. I wasn't sure how I'd like the qabelee with black raisins because the golden raisins I'm used to were so plump, sweet and amazing. I'm not sure what raisins they use, but they were bigger than the raisins we have for the kid's snacks. The flavor was very authentic and, well, it made me very happy. Between the appetizers and the naan and the meals, we skipped dessert. Plus, that gives us an excuse to come back! The only blemish was the fact that I kind of felt a litle rushed. Between the omnipresent waiters and the immediate food service, I felt we were on a tight time schedule. We arrived at 5:30 and were out the door at 6:30. For a quick bite, not a bad deal, but I was on a date with my wife. I'm glad my wife made us a reservation because the food was great. She got to try something different and I got to try a US version of something I really like. We'll definitely come back and I can see us bringing friends for a nice evening without the kids.
(4)Laura A.
if you're lucky enough to score a reservation, this is the best afghan food in the city. LOVE the showla, black eyed peas, yum! the atmosphere inside is really intimate and a great place to go with your partner or with friends. ETA jesus christ the service. it's terrible. it's such a nice, relaxing atmosphere but then it's kinda stressful when you have to literally flag down your server every time.
(4)Wyndi A.
YUM! Don't be fooled by the exterior -walk inside and eat some great food. There is plenty for meat eaters and veggies alike. Though I gotta tell ya, the menu made this vegetarian (ok- I eat fish) almost jump the fence. Good lord! Ok - the service is not consistently great - but I am about the food people. THE FOOD!!! YUM. Go. Eat. Be satisfied.
(4)Penelope T.
The food was amazing. We got all veggie appetizers and I got a veggie special and I was so satisfied with my meal. So good. mmmmmm
(4)J. H.
The food and atmosphere at Helmand is first rate. It is a shame that their service drags them down. Getting a reservation here is a nightmare.. not because they are so booked but because they've been known to disconnect and hang up on you a million times before you finally get through to make your reservation.. but even then, they lose your reservation by the time you show up at the restaurant. The waiters often forget about tables for long periods of time leaving diners staring at eachother over their empty plates. But, as I said earlier, the food is divine... from the fresh flatbread cooked in wood-fired oven on one side of the dining room, to the lamb kabobs and veggie options. Despite the service issues, Helmand is still one of my favorite dining establishments in the Boston area.
(5)alison s.
Two words: flavor explosion. This place never fails to satisfy me. I'm a vegetarian and a pretty picky eater--this place has plenty of veggie options as well as meat dishes. I would describe Afghani food as pretty similar to Indian food, but different. I love the "bowlawni" appetizer. It's two "hot pocket" looking pastries, one filled with spicy potatoes and the other with leeks and scallions. And pan-fried. YUM. My favorite entree is the "showla", which is a dish of black eyed peas and mungbeans sauteed with onions and garlic and then baked, served with a poblano pepper filled with spinach and cheese. Didn't know they had poblanos in Afghanistan, but I'm not complaining! The only bad thing about this place is that there always seems to be a wait, even on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. So make a reservation or get there early. I think you will be pleasantly surprised if you have never eaten Afghani food before.
(4)Larry G.
Absolutely great food. Plenty of choices for the timid, vegetarians, carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, Daleks, Lutherans, whatever. My favorite restaurant in Cambridge, and a great value at twice the price. The food is unbelievably great tasting. Go there now.
(5)Nina Y.
I loved this place! It's the first time I've ever had Afghan and I was blown away. Although I'm not vegetarian, I had the vegetarian special (baked pumpkin, pan-fried eggplant, sauteed spinach and okra sauteed in fresh tomatoes, with rice. $14.95). Service was good, and my friends and I left very happy.
(5)Ali L.
Good Afghan food outside the Bay Area is VERY hard to find and Helmand delivered big time. In fact, this Helmand is much better than its namesake in San Francisco. Though, they only gave us two fairly sized bolaniis for our appetizer and my cousin's aush was overly greasy the rest of the food was excellent. My sabzi chalau was great, the sabzi was excellent but I think there was just a little too much lamb and definitely not enough rice. What I did like though was that they mixed it up and gave you some okra alongside it and the okra was very good. My cousins' qabili palau and kormai morgh were both excellent as well but again, the dishes were kind of small for $14 a piece and since the rice was the cheapest ingredient of all three I was left to wonder why they would skimp on it? Aside from those small faults it was amazing and that's coming from a REAL Afghan who grew up in Fremont and has been to all the best Afghan restaurants in the country.
(5)Meredith K.
I love this restaurant! I came to discover it in a very random way. When I was visiting San Francisco back in 2000 I wanted to try a local ethnic restaurant and had done some searches online and in my zagat guide and came across the Helmand. I thought hey I've never had Afghani food, never heard of this place, why not give this place a try? So I called the restaurant and made a reservation. When I got there and looked at the menu I saw that they had a second location in Cambridge! I couldn't believe it. I go 3,000 miles across the US to a restaurant I could go to in Cambridge! So I asked one of the folks serving us (who turned out to be the owner) and it turns out his brother is the guy that runs the Cambridge restaurant. He recommended the Kaddo - and WOW is it FANTASTIC. I cannot go here and not order this dish! Anyway, the experience was so great in San Francisco I couldn't wait to get back home to Boston to check out this restaurant - and it's just as good (and a much shorter trip!) I've brought friends here, gone on dates here - it's a great place for both. Also in the winter when it's cold and nasty outside - sitting near the big stone oven is so cozy and warm.
(5)Scott F.
Major points off because the service was dreadful. A full HOUR after we ordered our food, our waiter came back and said... " what did you order again?" uh... yeah. Then he brought out the wrong appetizer. And then the waiter laughed at me when I suggested we get a discount. Yeah, that wasn't a joke, buddy. I didn't particularly care for the food when it (eventually) arrived, but that's just a matter of taste. It seemed like quality food, just not for me.
(2)Dan N.
phenomenal!!!! i barely survived. the food is thick, rich, and delicious. and the bread! i can't get enough of it! the prices are great for the quality of food and service. I would eat here every day if i could. great wine too!
(5)Matt W.
Helmand is awesome!! The roasted pumpkin is amazing As is every other dish. Will definitely be back again.
(5)Emily A.
Really delicious food. The bread, cooked right on site in the large wood fired stove, was amazing, especially with the hot sauce. The dishes are on the expensive side, but the ambiance in Helmand is really lovely. The pumpkin special right now is so sweet and yummy-- as were the appetizers with leeks and potatoes.
(4)Lina G.
I ate here a long time ago but I remember it like it was 3 weeks ago. You don't come across too many afghani restaurants in these parts so I was happy to see one so close to home. This place is great. The food, service and ambiance (I love using that word). There were at least 15 of us and the service was great. This is a big party and can be stressful for the server but I didn't get this vibe. Everything came out on time and it was hot and deeeLICious. It's also a romantic place and highly recommended for a date night.
(4)Julian H.
What's that you say? They made you wait even though you had a reservation? And then your waiter took a while to turn up? Well, as soon as the basket of hot chewy wood fired flat bread shows up, you'll start to forgive them. And when you get the pumpkin dish and the leek ravioli you ordered, (you did order those things, right?) you'll forget all about anything else. Delightful. Nice rugs too, FWIW.
(5)Ted S.
My second dinner at The Helmand, and I can't wait to go back. Unbelievable food, impeccable staff, great atmosphere. This time I had the dwopiaza, and I will have that again next time, it was so good, but don't take that to mean that there aren't a lot of excellent choices to be made from their menu. Go and enjoy!
(4)Ryuji S.
Food and waitstaff are very good at this restaurant and the price is reasonable. If you are not afraid of unknown food and love to try new thing, this is definitely one of the places that you must go. Their stewed legs of lamb are very tasty, and sea bass and trout dishes are also excellent. If my date does not like the food there, I might determine that she is not open minded enough for me, or does not have good taste for food. So you can use this restaurant as if a strip of litmus paper.
(5)Jenny K.
The food was fantastic, but a couple of "know before you go" tips that would have made my visit much more pleasant. First, the restaurant will not, under any circumstances, split a check on a credit card. When I went out with a group, and two of us decided to split the large bill, the proprieter gave us a sigh and a roll of the eyes - as if we were the tackiest people just for asking! He was rude to us when we asked if it was possible to make an exception. On a separate occasion at a friend's party, I had to leave early. I was given a "lecture" by the same proprieter about how rude it was for me to leave! I thought that was none of his business, and a very inappropriate way to talk to a customer. Finally, the place is always busy. I agree with other posters about reservations getting lost, and have waited as long as 45 minutes for my reservation. I would say plan ahead for parties larger than two, and have someone check in early. I like the food and the atmosphere, but I also think that the staff are inflexible. I would not say that they are big on customer service, but they deliver on food.
(3)Lisa K.
Amazing food...the pumpkin appetizer yuuuuuummmm. Everything is good- the lamb and beef are so tender. All of the veggies are fresh and tasty. The person, BS., that said "the food is freaking stunning"...it sums it all up perfectly. It's always busy when I go there and I would recommend making reservations first. Sometimes it feels a little squished with tables right next to each other but it's one of my favorite restaurants. They have something for everyone and the coffee and dessert is also very good.
(5)Proteus D.
Apparently this 'was' owned by Wali Karzai, the now dead governor of Kandahar. I was visiting our Cambridge office which is nearby attached to the mall. Wanted a quick and local bite and a colleague recommended this spot. And I'm very glad they did. The food here is very high quality. Started off with the flatbread. Really fresh, warm and tasty. Served with three dippings a sweet chili, yogurt cucumber and a cilantro. Yum, yum. Then I went for the chicken special. Grilled chicken with a salad and grilled vegetables. Perfect and just what I was in the mood for. Healthy and very, very tasty. The salad was all fresh and lots of leafy, dark green additions. The grilled veges ... squash, zucchini etc were also very nice. Peppered with walnuts and figs. All very agreeable. By colleague had lamb chunks, rice and what looked like spinach. He said it was great. Quick service even though it was busy. I have never been to Afghanistan but the interior seemed like it would probably be quite genuine. All it all a great experience, different and I will be back for sure.
(5)Jason M.
Best Afghani in the Boston area.
(5)Lily Z.
Should love it but didn't. The atmosphere is very nice. The staff were very nice and did a good job but to me the food was disappointing. The pumpkin - which everyone seems to love- was too sweet for me and I had heartburn for the rest of the night from the ravioli. I like the dipping sauce that comes with the bread though. Wouldn't go back again but I know a lot of people would and do love it.
(3)Anonymous P.
This was one of the best dinners I have had in Boston, as well as the best value in Boston. Our dinner tonight, with appetizers, two shared sides, a large carafe of wine, and complimentary bread came to $53. It was comical how good the food was for that price--we would have paid $100. Every single item was exquisite. My chicken kabob was the best I've ever had. Service was poor, but I think it was more for lack of sense than lack of effort. It really didn't matter. I would give this restaurant seven stars if I could. Oh, by the way, we did not feel rushed at all. In fact, we felt the waiter was kind of slow. I can imagine if you're trying to sit there and chill for a half hour after you finish they might get frustrated, given the long lines. But that's totally understandable--the restaurant doesn't have a bar, and a line of people are huddled near the door. update (10/7/06): wasn't as impressed the second time. sea bass wasn't very fresh, was overcooked. still decent. i guess since it was 7 stars last time, i'll keep it at five stars for now.
(5)Vin L.
We went here for the first time tonight Sunday 2/28/10. We tried to get in for Valentines day but couldn't and as it turns out I'm glad we didn't. We arrived about 20 minutes early for our 7:00 reservation and they seated us early, so far so good. We were seated at a table where my chair ended up being in the isle where the wait staff was coming and going so I was constantly getting bumped the entire time we were there, (strike one). It took a little while to get our menus (the waiter brings them as opposed to the hostess who seats you), I let this one go no big deal. they came out with 3 sauces and some fresh bread all of which were delicious. one sauce was yogurt based another was chili based and the third was basil. We ordered the Kaddo (Pan-fried then baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce) which was great, my wife and I both enjoyed it. For entrees I ordered the Chowpan (Rack of lamb) while my wife ordered the Sabzi Challow (Spinach sautéed with chunks of beef and Afghan seasonings. Served with challow). My lamb was great but I could give or take the Pallow rice. My wife was not thrilled with hers but I tried her lamb and it was very good. I tried her Challow Rice as well and that I did not like. Neither of the rices I can blame on the restaurant I am sure they were cooked very well. I think that the seasoning just was not to my liking. Our waiter got lost on us a couple of times and apologized after the first time but then let it happen again (Strike two). We were planning on ordering dessert and asked for coffee and dessert menus but when he came back ten minutes later without any coffee I told him to just bring the check (strike three). He apologized profusely but by that time we were ready to leave. Bottom line is although the bread, sauces, pumpkin and lamb were out of this world it would not be worth going here again for them.
(2)Kelly J.
Okay, seriously, this place is AWESOME and one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area! I really cannot say enough good about it. The food is simply amazing! Great ambiance, attentive waits staff, well priced and delicious! Reservations strongly suggested. I have been here on weeknights and weekends and this place fills up quickly.!
(5)Sarah C.
I had wanted to go to this place for the longest time.... I can't believe that it took me so long! After all the recent great reviews of the Helmand restaurants... I'll TRY to make this quick..... Definitely make a reservation on any night that you plan on going.. starts to get packed quick around 6/6:30. No wines by the glass but the bottle list is actually really wonderful and very affordable! (try either Portuguese red :) ) The pumpkin appetizer is a MUST! A friend of mine told me I absolutely had to try it otherwise he would never talk to me again lol... man I'm still thinking of the perfectly textured roasted pumpkin, with delicate sweetness, and simple yogurt sauce... :drool: The lamb was out of control.... It is so often terribly dry at other restaurants... this was sooo juicy. Trout was honestly a bit boring... no sauce... nice and crispy though... good spice. There are more interesting things on the menu to try. The homemade pistachio ice cream with cardamom, figs, and dates was a perfect ending.... I seriously cannot wait to try the rest of the menu.. seriously I intend on eating straight through it all :) Unfortunately you cannot order your appetizer before you decide on dinner.. you must order all in one shot. The staff likes to get dishes off the table... this made me feel a bit rushed as I like to pick..... The service needs some tweaking for sure but the intoxicating aromas, warm, welcoming 'Autumn' atmosphere, and mouth watering entrees at affordable prices make up for very average (at best :/) service. Great for a date... or long lazy dinners with adventurous friends :) This place is perfectly priced.... There are restaurants all over Boston that don't even compare to this place as far as atmosphere, quality, and quantity that charge twice as much.
(4)Michael T.
This place kicks arss...want to impress on a first date; seem worldly and in the know and looking for good food? This is the place. I agree...the open layout can be crazy and loud sometimes. I guess Cambridge intellectuals don't have a "going out" voice, but if you're lucky, ask for a table in the small backroom. I know not everyone can be as charming as me, but give it a shot and ask...you can really get a good conversation going. The pumpkin appetizer is def. worth the trip, there is obviously a lot of lamb options, as well and the bread basket and dipping sauces are really good. The last time I was there, they did end up rushing us out, but that was probably because they wanted to close the restaurant and go home to their families. Once you've won the girl and are only going there for the food...try eating from the appetizer menu...lots of cool stuff. Enjoy...
(4)jim b.
I'd give it a 4.5 for food, 2 for service. Sorry, the waiter was just plain rude, and it didn't strike me as an I'm having a bad day type of thing. Seated fine, menues fine, dipping sauces arrive, no bread. Ok, no biggie. Waiter comes by to take order, order a bottle of wine and then said we wanted to start with an appetizer, response: "I have to take your whole order at one, I will return." In a bit of shock, but my companion asked if we could have some bread, response "After I take your order!". He then left for 5 minutes. Food was fantastic, really. Prices fair. But dang I've never...
(3)Elise W.
After reading the reviews on Yelp, I had to check it out. It was AMAZING and quite possibly the best food I have had in the Cambridge/Boston area! This was also my first time trying Afghan cuisine, and boy am I glad I did. I will definitely be back! We had the Theeka Kebab and Koufta Challow for entrees - so delicious! We tried the Kaddo which was quite a treat! (It's pumpkin and beef and yogurt which sounded weird to us, but trust me, it was a good combination of flavors!) For dessert we had the Homemade Cream Caramel (this is the same as flan) and Feereney (delicious cream with fruit on top). I'm craving this again today and luckily, have plenty of leftovers (the entrees are a very decent size). Call ahead for a reservation - this place it popular. They have parking, but make sure you get a parking permit so you don't get towed. Another plus is the atmosphere - warm and pleasant and the tables are spread out so you don't feeled crammed in at all! TRY THIS PLACE!!!
(5)Danielle P.
What an experience this place is, the food is delicious! The atmosphere is nice, but comfortable and not stuffy. I would recommend making reservations, as it is very busy. I'd never had Afghani food before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The flatbread that they serve right off is very tasty, and comes with a variety of three sauces. The sauces taste like they are made out very fresh ingredients like cilantro and peppers. For an appetizer we had the banjan, which was tangy and satisfying without being too filling. For entrees we had the koufta and mourgh challows. Both were spicy, especially the koufta, but not crazy hot. Just really nice, complex seasoning that made everything taste bright and warm. This is the kind of food that could fix a bad day. The wait staff and owner were nice, and the prices were reasonable. The only things that I can say anything negative about are that my dessert ("our cake" on the menu) wasn't particularly special, and the bathrooms were messy. Overall I loved it, and would definitely recommend.
(4)Liz H.
There are two restaurants that I have a problem getting reservations for anytime of year in Boston - Grotto (which I have yet to try) and The Helmand.So I was floored when I rang and made a same day reservation only 4 hours before being seated. Even on a Tuesday it was packed and as I savoured their amazing warm flatbread I still couldn't believe we weren't sitting in the foyer sipping pre-dinner drinks and hoping that someone would cancel or leave early. That's how popular this place is - and for good reason. The food is amazing (I could eat just the bread and still have a page long review. Thankfully I have made it past that and onto a menu that is full of flavour and colour - with plenty for veggie lovers and those who prefer some meat on the bone. My favorite dish is the Aushak - pillows of ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, covered in yoghurt/garlic/mint sauce, split peas and a carrot sauce. And, no - I didn't get paid to say that! Service is friendly, but don't plan on rushing through dinner. Guess that leaves all the more time to enjoy the food! The location is a little odd but still walkable from the T (Kendall) and there's metered parking (or if you're fortunate enough to own a Cambridge resident sticker the streets are paved with empty spaces). Actually, I am kind of glad The Helmand is where it is - a more obvious and prominent location would see it go the same way as Grotto . . . then I would really be missing out!
(5)Phil D.
I just had dinner at Helmand and it was fantastic. It always is. I always wish I could take back the one time I ever went to the Cheesecake Factory in the Cambridgeside Galleria--I'd go to Helmand instead. The bread is fantastic--I think the best tables are the ones right by the oven, so that the baker can pass you the bread himself. The one time I couldn't finish my entree (because I ate too much bread), I had half my meal wrapped to go and the man at the fireplace slipped in a basketload of bread. I toasted it the next morning and it was phenomenal with some marmalade. The portions are perfect, by the way. It's rare to actually need to take anything as a doggy bag. I am just a total pig for the bread and will eat two baskets on my own, alternating between dipping sauces. Everything on this menu is delicious. Spices are perfectly balanced--this is an insanely hard thing to do, but the seasoning always hits home. Anything starch is surprisingly fluffy and light--the rice alone is just incredible, and potatoes of any kind are outstanding. Even friends who don't really like "Middle Eastern" or "ethnic" foods love this place. And so do I!
(5)Kate S.
The food here is fantastic, but the ambience leaves something to be desired. The pumpkin dishes (I prefer the one without meat) are unbelievable, as is the bread. I was also amazed by how tasty some of their fish specials have been (particularly given that Afghanistan is a landlocked country though it has plenty of rivers). There are also LOTS of veggie options. That said, Helmand can be crowded and loud with a bit of a wait. I've always had very fast service, but this can be a bad thing - it seems like they are starting to usher you out the moment you put that last bite in your mouth. In short - great place if you want to eat some AMAZING food (similar to Indian & Middle Eastern), but not the place to go for a romantic date.
(4)Jane C.
I came here on a rainy miserable day looking for comfort food. I had the lamb in a tomato sauce with peas, which was very good, the meat was tender and soft, pulled apart well, and while the sauce was good, I wish that it had more spice. I was surprised that it didn't have more oomph, kind of the reason you go to a place like this. Luckily it came with a side of spicy lentils, which was absolutely stunning - it was just what I wanted that day, warm and spicy, not too hot though, and just a small portion so as not to weigh you down later : ). The appetizer, phyllo filled with spiced potato, was also delicious - the spices were in the family of cumin, those fragrant heavy peppery ones, and it had a bit of saltiness too, I can't ever resist spicy salty potato, a weakness from childhood.
(5)Chris S.
Great menu and excellent, home-like atmosphere. Loved the large dining tables. Would eat here again.
(4)Stef G.
This was our (my husband and my) first time to have Afghan food, so my review should be taken with a grain of salt (no pun)...I found the food to be delicious and very affordable. I tried much recommended Kaddo and it was delicious. My husband even liked it and he doesn't usually like pumpkin. We also ordered Banjan (eggplant) as an appetizer and it was also delicious. Our entrees were also good (grilled chicken kabob and chicken curry). The ambiance was great, very lively even on a early Sunday evening. Our waitress was great, very friendly, but not overbearing. As the place got busier, she was a little less attentive, but not so much so that it spoiled the evening. I would highly recommend Helmand to my friends and will most likely go again. Reservations are highly recommended for Fri./Sat. night, since it was almost full on a rainy and cold Sunday night.
(4)Kathleen M.
The second you walk in this place, you know your meal is going to be amazing! The smell of all of the wonderful spices hits you and you start salivating, wondering in the back of your mind if these guys are trying to do some Pavlovian-type experiment to keep you coming back. Later, you realize that no experimental funny business is necessary...you're coming back, often! If you like lamb (prepared at least 5 different ways), this is the place for you! If you like beef (I had the most amazingly delicate beef tenderloin, surrounded by a grilled tomato sauce, lentils, and flavorful spinached rice), this is the place for you! If you like chicken (at least 3 dishes), this is the place for you! If you like fish (2 choices), this is the place for you! If you're a vegetarian (several choices, and they will even convert some of the meaty dishes to veg by changing out the sauces), this is the place for you! If you like amazing flatbread with three delicious dipping sauces (a raita-like yogurt-mint sauce, a cilantro-walnut sauce, and a hot chili-based sauce), this is the place for you! If you like pumpkin (with garlic-yogurt sauce and ground beef sauce, who knew?), this is the place for you! If you like ravioli (what? ravioli? yes! ravioli stuffed with leeks and scallions served atop a yogurt-mint sauce and topped with a tomatoey-beef sauce), this is the place for you! If you like attentive, friendly service, this is the place for you! If you like interesting, intense mixes of flavors, this is the place for you! If you like all of this at a ridiculously reasonable price (dinner for 4 with apps, meals, and wine for $120!), this is the place for you! In my opinion, this place is a "must go" in Cambridge. They're often crowded, so reservations are highly recommended. They are, however, quite accomodating. We showed up at 10:15 p on a Friday and they had no problem seating and serving us, and did not rush us to leave. I just wish they were open for lunch. I'd be there at least once a week!
(5)Says L.
This is surely a place not to be missed. Pros: Impressive service and awesome food. Cons: Tables are way to close to each other especially for couples Very limited choice of wine served by glass.
(4)Andrew W.
I love this place. The food atmosphere and pricing are all FANTASTIC. It's only ok place for a date, only because it's so formal that it could be potentially awkward. The last time I went here, they were SUPER accommodating. I called last minute for a reservation for a table of two, and said that I would only be getting drinks and apps, I got a half liter of wine and 3 apps for $32. They had me in and out in about 45 minutes!!!! Thank you so much guys! I don't however recommend doing that. The Helmand is a place to go to have a fantastic dinner in a wonderful atmosphere, don't rush it! Two of the three times I have been there they have put my table for two right next to the bread oven, which makes for amazing ambience. The food is delicious, and they have many vegetarian items which is nice. Once a date ordered some type of stuffed pepper which was extremely spicy, so be careful of that. On top of the 5 star service and delicious food, the pricing is so inexpensive. Entrees hover around $10, apps at $8. The house wine is $10 for a 1/2 liter thats wild. Go here if you love food. oh and you really need reservations.
(5)Tracy S.
Love this place. I discovered it for the first time about 5 years ago and just went again this past Friday. It's still spectacular. Lots of interesting dishes, with a healthy choice of vegetarian options. And what a cozy atmosphere with lusciously warm colors, fabrics, and an open hearth oven where many items are cooked. Service was excellent. You MUST make reservations, even mid week. And there is no bar to sip a cocktail at, while you await your table. But I still give this place 5 stars. It's phenomenal!
(5)Bree R.
I love this place. The food is so good! The owner is a very sweet man who always makes me feel so welcome. My favorite thing to get is the "Special Entree" under the vegetarian section. Don't get me wrong, i am a big meat-eater, but you get a great variety of dishes in one. It has roasted pumpkin with yogurt sauce, grilled eggplant, okra and spinach. Each has such great flavor and the pallow rice with raisins and carrots really completes the dish beautifully. Yum! You really need to call ahead for reservations though, they always seemed booked. They do keep a couple of two-tops for walk-ins though.
(4)C S.
My favorite restaurant in the Boston area. DELICIOUS food and good service. The only thing is you really need to call with a reservation... even if they aren't busy they can be a little snooty if you come without one. Best food = chowpan (lamb chops) and the pumpkin appetizer. The bread is amazing!!!
(5)Sutanuka L.
love the lamb shank... yummmy
(5)a r.
Great food, very interesting, great selection for vegetarian, beautiful place and friendly service
(5)Mabel C.
I've never had Afghani food before, and this place did not disappoint. My friends took me here for my birthday and we shared all the dishes. I really liked their baby pumpkin, and you can't go wrong with any of their lamb dishes.
(5)Katia M.
For my money, I liked the food at Ali Baba Tandoor just a little bit better. The food is still good here, and of the two, of course, it's got the better ambiance. I kind of want to give it 3.5 stars, but I can't (someday, yelp, will you give me that option?). The bread starter is tasty, the food was really good and there was a lot of it on my plate, and the decor is very neat. In the main room. I made a reservation and was seated in the back, where they had a space heater going. Bah. Also, the bathroom was freezing. Bah again. Our service was spotty at best, but the house wine was reasonably priced, and the turkish coffee was full of grit, just the way I like it. And the baklava? Mwa, just lovely. But I couldn't get past the fact that I was looked on with disdain by the hostess and maybe the servers. So, take it as you will.
(4)Ian S.
I went with my boyfriend to Helmand on the rave reviews that I had seen for it in the Zagat guide. It didn't hurt that my roommate gave me a $50 certificate so that our meal for two (one appetizer and entree each) cost us only $11 total. I'm happy to say that Helmand, for the most part, lived up to expectations. I called at 4 PM on a Friday night to make a reservation (slightly annoying that their reservation line isn't open earlier in the day, but it's not a major inconvenience) for the same night, and the hostess rejected my request for 7:30 PM but good-naturedly offered 6 PM, which was just fine by me (they were booked solid for the 3 hours between 6 and 9 PM). I was impressed that I could still land a reasonable dinner reservation calling only 2 hours ahead on the first night of the weekend. As it should be (unlike at other Cambridge restaurants such as Fire+Ice), food was the major attraction at Helmand. We ordered 3 staples of the menu - kaddo (pumpkin), aushak (ravioli), and lamb lawand - and one of the evening's specials, quoremay mahe (striped bass cooked with roasted tomatoes, potatoes, and radishes and served with challow). The three regular dishes were fantastic: the kaddo was like eating candy for appetizer, and aushak and lamb lawand were both very flavorful. I was a bit concerned about my bass, however, as it came to the table slightly rubbery still and glistening in the middle; my understanding of bass was that it should be white, firm, and flaky when done. I deferentially inquired of the waitress whether the bass' preparation was intentional, and she assured me that it was "exactly as it should be cooked" after consulting with the kitchen. So be it. I ate the rest of the dish but was not blown away by the texture. Nevertheless, I appreciated the waitress' non-judgmental effort to make sure that I was satisfied with my dish. At $30 per head, Helmand is a perfectly reasonable and delicious place for a quasi-fancy dinner. My only complaints are: 1) Afghan food doesn't seem to lend itself to the same type of exacting presentation as does, say, French fare, as the kaddo was quite beautifully presented as a glistening wedge of gold while both the lamb lawand and aushak came out looking like sloppy cafeteria plates; for the price, I wouldn't mind a bit more precision and thought given to plating to make the food even more appetizing. 2) I am of the opinion (and my boyfriend tells me that I'm crazy) that the maitre'd has an attitude. In general, I think that the service at the front of the house is not as good as the table staff, as the hostess and host (he looks like the owner) had a haphazard system of fielding phone calls while their customers waited in line. They seemed more concerned with getting diners in and out of the restaurant than with the quality of the total experience; at a world-class establishment, you can have one without sacrificing the other.
(4)EZ R.
Service: so-so. Been here three times, and one time it was attentive, one time they forgot i was there, and one time, which seems to be the norm, they visited our table sporadically, and my glass sat empty for longer than is permitted for anything over a 3-star rating. Food: so-so. The lamb is generally good, as are some of the appetizers, but nothing here really blows you away, and the food, contrary to what i read in one review on here, is most certainly not better than anything in the middle east, forgetting for a moment that Afghanistan isn't exactly known as a core member of the middle east club. Stick to the kebabs and the yogurt based apps and main courses. Also, be warned. I don't know how they do it, but the food here has some bizarre expanding quality. Once it gets in your belly, it doubles in size. I have never left this place without either suffering an acute food coma, or the sensation of my stomach expanding dangerously close to bursting. Dessert: so-so. their baklava is nothing special. I most decidedly have had better elsewhere. In sum: either you really like lamb, or you go once for the novelty, and no need to return.
(3)Rachel H.
Oooooommmmgeeeeeeeee!!! Literally...like...for REAL...THE BEST FOOD I'VE HAD IN THE BOSTON AREA. Went there one night w/ my roomie for a splurge, and boy did we leave happy. After eating their kadoo (sp?) my roommate had an orgasm. The bread and dip they bring you were amazing. All of our main dishes were delish, but not the stars of the show. Then, after the homemade icecream and balklavah, it was all over. Heaven. We were both so giddy from being STUFFED with good food that we were singing on the train and dancing in the streets. HOWEVER, the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was because we had the WORST waitress I've ever seen. When we asked her about an item on the menu, she informed us that she didn't eat things that looked weird, so she had never tried any of the food. When it came time for dessert and we tried to order something off the menu, she looked at us confused, and said that she could check if the chef could do that...ummm...what?? it was written right there. then, to top it all off...she got our bill wrong. WOMP. Oh well, we'd go back any day.
(4)Rozzie M.
A little overrated in my opinion. Seems like the food has been dumbed-down for American audiences. I prefer strong flavors and fresh food and everything we tried was stewed and rather flavorless. Best thing was the grilled eggplant. Rice pudding was over thickened, although I did enjoy the cardamom accents. Perhaps we caught them on an off night, but our experience was just OK.
(3)Katy T.
Fantastic food. The pumpkin dishes are outstanding. The atmosphere is perfect, and the photos on the walls are intriguing. The authentic decorations are truly lovely. We felt very welcomed and taken care of by our waiter, and we really enjoyed our meal. It's located across from the Cambridge Galleria, so take a walk across the street next time you are there and have dinner somewhere interesting instead of at a chain restaurant inside. Interesting thing about the Helmand is the owner of the restaurant is the brother of the President of Afghanistan!
(5)JJ G.
I have been having serious Helmand cravings and we finally got there recently, and you know what- it was everything I had hoped for and more. I love this place. I love the food, I love the price, I love those little bowls of sauce they give you to dip that amazing bread it. I love pumpkin kaddo with yogurt sauce I love those funny ravioli things I love their marinated meat, and their rice, and... just go. What more can I say? It's so inexpensive the only reason not to is that you can't get a reservation
(5)Stephanie Y.
I came into this restaurant skeptical but ended up loving it. The kado (honeyed pumpkin with beef) was an amazing combination of the really sweet and salty. The fish was fresh and complimented nicely with the specially prepared rice. The spinach lamb dish was a little bit heavy for me, but my boyfriend really liked it. If you're looking for something unusual but good, this is the place.
(4)Joel Z.
Every dish I tried here was delicious.
(5)Robert L.
Visited for the first time recently. We had a great meal and a great overall dining experience. Here's what we had, based on reading some Chowhound reviews. Started with apps: pumpkin kaddo, which is a sort of pan-friend chunk of sweetened pumpkin with ground beef and yogurt sauce and mantwo, which is a beef filling in a soft pastry shell, with chickpeas and yogurt sauce. Both delicious, with subtle layers of spicing. We both had lamb dishes, the lamb chops (chowpan) were incredible, among the best I have ever had. The other dish, basically a lamb curry, was excellent as well. Bread that accompanied the meal with dipping sauce was fresh and tasty. Had "baklawa" for dessert, which was a really good piece of baklava, and Turkish coffee to cut the sweetness. Caveats- make reservations, and hope you get a decent table. Otherwise it is a very packed room, and you will be sitting on top of other people. Out waiter was friendly, but I'm not so sure about some of the bus staff and especially the hostess. Maybe dealing with Cambridge types for so long has burned them out?
(5)Peter S.
My first experience with Afghani cuisine - Wonderful! Exceptionally friendly, unobtrusive service and absolutely superb food. Great vegetarian selections. I wish I lived closer! n.b. They have a parking lot across the street, but you must ask inside for a card to put on your dashboard to show you are 'legit.' No prob. - Nice, nice night out!
(5)Chance X.
The BEST middleeastern food I've ever had. Better than the food I had in Middle east!!!!! Their signiture lamb dish is sooooooo good. Their free bread and dipping sauces are sooooooo perfect. I am speechless...
(5)mickey l.
You cooked my lamb perfectly. Your waiter was charming. Your food is totally cheap for how great the quality is. The quantities are too massive, how hungry do I need to be? The flavors did not knock my socks off, per say, but they were sublime and well balanced. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy.
(4)Hamid N.
Good food, a bit pricey to though. Definitely try Qabelee and Chupan kabab.
(5)Stephanie T.
Awesome food, great price. I love the pumpkin dish! My SO and I both can't get enough of this place.
(5)Ligaya T.
Amazing, flavorful Afghani cuisine, which as some yelpers mentioned is a taste blend of Middle Eastern and Indian. The restaurant is an expansive, open room, brightly lit and welcoming. Enjoyable with a group of friends, perfect place to take the parents and comfortable for a date. There was a steady stream of folks coming in the entire night, so reservations are recommended. Two people, app, two entrees, a bottle of wine and dessert. $60. Nuff said.
(4)Monica T.
I love this place, I have not tried their sister restaurant in San Francisco. I miss the Kado, yummy pumpkin with minced meat and spices.
(5)Sky L.
delicious eggplant and sweet sugary pumpkin goodness
(5)Michelle P.
Unexpectedly lovely atmosphere and unique food for the area. But have some Pepto handy. I'm just sayin'.
(3)