Helmand

Afghan food is like Indian, but less heavily spiced (at least, that was my impression). Things are milder, and more delicate. The food's pretty good. The rice is yummy. There's a lot of veggie options. Strangely enough, they also have a branch in San Francisco. Anyway, I recommend trying it at least once. more

The Helmand is really fantastic. Long before Afghanistan was making daily headlines, the Helmand was preparing really outstanding food off the beaten path in Cambridge. They start you off with traditional bread (I think it's called Barbari) that is served with a variety of sauces. They have amazing vegetarian dishes that taste like a mix of Persian, Indian and Middle Eastern food. If you enjoy lamb make sure to try one of the options they offer. Try to sit in the front part of the restaurant if you have a choice. The back room is great for a private party. They have a nice selection of wine and the decor is color as is the serveware. more

This place is so good. It is a relatively small restaurant located in Cambridge, right next to the CambridgeSide Galleria, a popular mall. It's a non-descript looking-place, with a white stucco facade that blends in to the otherwise drab atmosphere in that area around the mall. But the food is well worth it. To start, there's a massive oven in the center of the restaurant, where a man shovels fresh naan in and out of the oven. He then slices it into small pieces that the waitstaff dutifully brings to all patrons, along with a traditional array of sauces and spices. And this is even before you open the menu, which offers a wide variety of traditional and less-known Afghani-inspired dishes. Although many of the dished, entrees and appetizers, contain meat, the Helmand also offers them in vegetarian versions, which are tasty as well. The Helmand has a full selection of moderately priced wines, and the waiters have a good feel for what wine will complement what dish. Bravo. All this, and it's inexpensive by Boston standards. Next time you're in Beantown, hop in a cab (or drive and park at the mall) and head to the Helmand for a great Afghani meal. more

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. more

I came here because a former boss raved about how good the food was here. First you really should have a reservation, if not, all your party members must be there before they seat you. Service is really poor and slow. Plus side, their bread and dips are really good. A group of 4 waited 40 minutes for theie meal to arrive. We were told prior to seating, we had only and hour and a half to eat. When we left after the hour and half, there were still empty tables around us. Food was pretty bland and parking is hard to find. Not worth the wait or trouble. more

Three of my friends and I recently tried The Helmand in Cambridge, MA. It is easy to find-right across from the Cambridge Galleria Mall and their is plenty of on street parking/parking garages. It is elegantly decorated and reservations are strongly recommended on weekends especially. Bread is brought to your table which is incredible-baked fresh in a brick oven where you can watch it being made. 3 types of sauces: spicy, yogurt, and cilantro. There is a lot of lamb on the menu which made my friends happy-we recommend the Chowpan which is marinated rack of lamb. I tried a chicken kabob which was delicious and covered with smoky peppers, onions, and even a pear! The desserts are delicious and prices are reasonable. It ended up being approximately $30 pp and that included a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, and a dessert. more