homeentreesvegdessertliqueurstaffdirectionsreviewsintro - Reviews -
Capsule review: This place is a delight for the eyes as well as the palate. Warm colors wash the walls; a crackling fire burns in winter; waiters push platters of naan into a wall oven in the dining room. And the Afghani food is very appealing: skewers of lamb and chicken, pumpkin topped with a meat sauce and yogurt, and stews of meat and lentils.)
America's Top Restaurants dining guide covers1383 restaurants in 41 markets as suveyed by nearly 110,000 patrons. These fine restaurants combine extraordinary food, fine decor, outstandind service and value to achieve the status of Top restaurants.

Overall rating: Extraordinary
What a lovely place to dine on cold winter's night! A friend and I decided to try Helmand on a whim and were delighted to find that we did not have to wait (went at 6pm-ish on a Monday). Food was really interesting with bright distinctive flavors. The Kaddo --pumpkin with yogurt and beef sauce was divine. As well, the Mantwo (Pastry shells with beef and onions with a yogurt sauce was very pleasing, a real comfort food. We were disappointed that they had run out of a lamb dish that we had wished to try, but the beef tenderloin dish they suggested to substitute was done very well. The service was slow, but they were pleasant. Our server did not check on us until we were nearly finished with our meal and then took forever to bring the check. Alas. I will dine there again as the food was delicious.

Bored? then eat at this "class act" in East Cambridge, where a simple meal becomes "a pure delight and an education"; the "exotic yet accessible" Afghani cuisine "far exceeds expectatios" ("they do wonders with pumpkin and lamb") "in a setting with the warmth and comfort of a living room" - "the prices are kind"
ZAGAT 2005

I have traveled much in the Middle East and have high standards for Middle Eastern food. In spite of this, I was delighted by Helmand. The tables had a small vase of fresh flowers, but the candlelight was from little battery-powered faux candles. On the whole, though, the scene was homey and pleasing.

There is a wood-burning oven on one side of the dining area. Fresh bread is made in the oven every few minutes and is brought directly from the oven to your table.

Even better than the bread, though, were the entrees. They very kindly made everything vegetarian for us without any fuss. We had the Kaddo and Banjan Challow, which was a delicious sweet pumpkin morsel and a savory eggplant slice, served on separate sides of the plate with rice in between. We also had the Aushak, a ravioli-like pasta filled with leeks and scallions and served with yogurt. Both dishes were exquisite and subtle. The spicing made you slow down to smilingly savor each bite. For desert we had rice pudding and baklava, both well-made. The Turkish coffee was made in the traditional way in a tiny open-topped pot and was thick and perfect.

TV Diner with Billy Costa - Boston.com
Helmand is an Afghani restaurant named after Afghanistan's longest and most important river. Located in East Cambridge, Helmand is always packed with diners who swear by its authentic fare. Inside, the warmly lit dining room has mellow, butter colored walls covered with photos, and faded, comfortable Oriental rugs cover the burninshed wood floors. The dining room is flanked one one side by a small fireplace, and on the other by a woodburning oven, where the restaurant's famous flatbread is cooked. Atmosphere earns the gold.

The menu is traditional and fairly extensive with offerings ranging from beef and fish to vegetarian. The complete menu is available for takeout.

Our diner starts with the Kaddo Borawni, an exquisite dish of pan-fried, caramelized squash, served on a creamy yogurt, garlic sauce, topped with salted ground beef. Our diner would travel acoss state lines for this sublime blend of flavors. We also tried the Mantwo -- hand-made pastry shells filled with a savory blend of onions and beef, served on a yogurt sauce and topped with tender carrots, yellow split peas and beef. Another perfect dish so appetizers will get the platinum.

For the main course, we sampled the Ahank -- Afghan ravioli filled with tender, sweet leeks in a yogurt sauce flavored with garlic and a hint of mint. It's topped with yellow split peas and a savory carrot sauce. It is simply heaven. Our Diner also orders the Chapendaz, a wonderfully spiced tenderloin steak, served on a cilantro yogurt sauce with sauteed lentils, wheat barley, and spinached rice. There was not a bite left on the plate when we finished this dish. Entrees also earn the platinum.

For dessert, we tried the Pudeen, a home-made creme caramel. It, smooth and decadently rich, but nothing extraordinary. We also dug into Helmand's "Our Cake." The cake is flavored with cardamom and pineapple, and is served with ice cream and pomegranate sauce. We loved the flavors. Desserts take the silver.

Our server was jovial and knowledgeable about the menu, he was extremely slow. Many of our dishes arrived cold. Service earns the silver.

Most appetizers are less than $4, with entrees topping out at $14 for the tenderloin, and desserts coming in under $6. This is an exceptional value for the quality of the food, so value will get the platinum.

Overall, Helmand earns the Gold Plate, and that's a very good dining experience.
The Helmand adds lots of flavor to the Cambridge dining scene with outstanding Afghani cuisine. A collection of knick-knacks decorates the bright, colorful space set with oriental carpets and hand painted plates. A bread oven and a working fireplace add to the warm atmosphere. Carnivores and vegetarians alike will find plenty of selections, mildly spiced up with turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom. All meals come with a fantastically filling dish of baked rice.
The area's first Afghan restaurant is named after a province of Afghanistan south of Kabul. Try any of the three kinds of great rice, some fine sour soups, terrific aushak (ravioli stuffed with leeks), the various kebabs you might expect, and an excellent vegetarian menu you might not, with a number of choices grilled and stewed in novel ways. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch. T stop: Lechmere.
-Fodor's
.
.		 .
.