This was my first time eating at The Helmand, and it definitely won't be my last. I'm from Afghanistan, so having authentic Afghan food means a lot to me. The food was absolutely delicious and reminded me of home. Ali, the owner, is a genuinely kind person who made us feel very welcome. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and authentic. I left already thinking about what I want to order next time. I'm looking forward to coming back and hopefully bringing my parents and siblings so they can experience it too. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for great Afghan food and great people. read more

4.5/5! Really enjoyed the chef's special platter since we got a mix of chicken, beef, and lamb. Meat was tender and flavored well. You also get the option of substituting meats which was nice. My favorite was the chicken. I usually don't eat lamb, but the kabobs did not taste gamey, and I enjoyed it! Special shoutout to the bread they serve. Was probably my favorite part of the dinner!! read more

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Cool local spot with a great variety of meat and vegetarian afghan dishes. Had: Aushak (ok) Kaddo (good) Mourgh kabab (great!) read more

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I was very pleasantly surprised by the dinner we had at The Helmand! We arrived on a weeknight and it was very busy, but luckily the staff were able to still seat us right away. Our table was right next to a huge wood-fired oven where we could see the fresh table bread being made which was pretty cool. We ordered 3 items off the menu, 2 appetizers (Aushak and Mantwo) and 1 main dish (lamb kebab). I've never had Afghan food before, so the ingredients and flavors used in each dish were very unique to me, but everything worked very well. The Aushak in particular was the most surprising.. they called it "ravioli", but it was more dumpling-esque to me, which an interesting bolognese-like sauce with yogurt. You wouldn't think those flavors would work together but they really do. The Mantwo also paired very nicely with the Aushak, with more of an earthy taste to it. The lamb kebab was also very tasty, though it wasn't anything super unique. The free bread for the table was also a surprising highlight, as we got to try various different dipping sauces (which we then also used to supplement the kebab). Service was attentive, the ambiance of the restaurant was nice, and overall really enjoyed our dinner here. read more

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Pretty good! We walked in on a busy Saturday night without reservations and somehow managed to get seated right away - if you're a group of four or more, definitely plan ahead. My favorite thing in the whole meal was the fresh wood fire-baked bread they give you at the beginning, with butter and three dipping sauces - it reminds me of a cross between a crispy pita, naan, and lavash. We got two appetizers: the baked pumpkin with yogurt and meat sauce, as well as the eggplant version. It was an interesting meld of flavors and textures, sweet and meaty, not the dish I'd normally go for but worth trying. Also ordered the kebab platter for two, which came with three types of meats (beef, lamb, and chicken), as well as the two kinds of rice (one plain, the other with carrots, cinnamon, and raisins) and a small salad of tomato and cucumber. Believe me when I say we left this meal beyond stuffed. I'm normally not a fan of lamb with how gamey it can taste but their lamb was wonderfully tender and tender. Couldn't leave here without trying the saffron/rosewater ice cream and baklava. Parking: lots of 2-hour meter spots right outside. read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Baklava Bucklawa Ice Cream Comb - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This was the first Afghani meal I've had, and it was fantastic. Upon walking into the restaurant, you are met with aspects of the culture across the room, from clothing hung on the wall to the smell of spices in the air. We came on a weekday evening and it was understandably quiet. The dining area is set with white tablecloths and white-and-blue-striped cloth napkins, which lend an elegant look to the dinner. After ordering, we first received the complimentary naan and flight of sauces. The naan was fresh and warm, and I especially loved the yogurt-based dip. The server happily refilled the naan because we were so ravenous, and then the food came out. We shared the aushak appetizer, which included 3 Afghan dumplings/ravioli with yogurt and yellow split peas. It was incredibly delicious and my favorite part of the meal - I wish I had gotten the entrée-sized version of this for my main! We also got the vegetarian special and the mourgh (chicken) kabab. For the meat-eater, the chicken topped the charts as "best meal in Boston"! The vegetarian special was also quite good (though less so than the aushak). I thoroughly enjoyed the pumpkin, while the pallow rice was relatively standard. I was stuffed by the time I got to this part of the meal, but it was all good enough that I happily polished off my plate. I would absolutely come back, and will probably order the aushak! read more

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The Helmand is an absolute gem! The restaurant has a warm and inviting atmosphere. For starters, I highly recommend the Aush soup. It's a flavorful noodle soup with beef sauce and yogurt. It's a great way to stimulate your appetite. For my entree, I ordered the Lamb Lawand, which was tender pieces of lamb and mushrooms in a savory yogurt sauce with a side of sauteed spinach. It was very delicious. A minor nit is that I wish it had a few more pieces of lamb instead of mushrooms (and this is coming from someone who loves mushrooms!) I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu! read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Lamb Lawande - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This was one of the best meals I had in awhile. The meat was so tender and savory, thinking about it still makes my mouth water. There are multiple vegetarian options if you don't eat meat that the vegetarians in my party gave their full approval of. Service was friendly and attentive, they did a really good job with our party of 16. Dessert was absolutely delicious and the perfect way to end an incredible meal. Would absolutely recommend this place to anyone. read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This was a top tier meal for sure. The food is so flavorful, service was helpful and efficient, and the restaurant itself is really nicely decorated so we enjoyed the overall ambiance as well. There wasn't one thing I wouldn't order again. Bread with dips: 9/10 the bread was crisp and fresh and the yogurt mint and cilantro sauces were delish. Bowlani: 8/10- two doughs with veggies inside. The spicy leek gets a 7, the potato a 10 - just my preference on flavor profile. Well-cooked, flavor veggies and a buttery crisp but soft pastry crust. Would def order again. Chowpan: 10/10 - this lamb was incredible. Fall off the bone tender, flavorful, not at all gamey which I worry about with lamb. 4 big lamb chops with rice and eggplant. Eggplant was also favorable and similar to an Indian eggplant dish. But the lamb was the star. This is also big enough for 2 people. Koufta challow: 9/10 - this is like a meatball stew with rice. We initially ordered the koufta kebab but they were out so we went for this. It's very flavorful in a spiced tomato sauce. Says spicy on the menu but we didn't find it hot at all. Feereney: 10/10 - custard pudding with fresh food. The texture and flavor was perfect. Super creamy and delicious. We were stuffed but ate all of it. Cake: 7/10 - pineapple cake and ice cream. This was a solid cake with whipped cream frosting and ice cream. The whole thing was elevated with fruit, pistachio, and a pomegranate sauce. You could really taste the cardamom which made it unique. But we preferred the pudding. We also got cocktails and the whole meal came out to $175 with tip which give the quality of the food and ambiance, is very worth it. read more

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I came here for dinner last night and I already can't wait to come back! Ambiance: heavily decorated in a middle eastern style. Cozy and inviting. Service: attentive and prompt without being overbearing. Food: delicious! We split 2 apps, a main, and a side between the two of us and were very satisfied after! We ordered the vegetarian kaddo (roasted pumpkin with yogurt sauce - perfect blend of sweet and tangy), bowlawni (2 filled flatbread-type things, one with leeks and scallions and the other with spiced potatoes - SO flavorful! The leek and scallion one was my favorite), the kourma shallow (kind of like a vegetable curry, served with rice and sauteed spinach - not as well spiced as I would have liked but still yummy), and a side of lentils (not the most flavorful but definitely tasty). The free flatbread that you start out with is decent too, but what really makes it tasty is the various sauces it comes with. The standouts for me were the kaddo and the bowlawni, but honestly there wasn't a single bad dish. Oh, and the wine portions were generous, which is always welcome! We will definitely be back to try new things and revisit old favorites. read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Kourma Challow - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Helmand is the best!! You can't go wrong here!! Great authentic food, very satisfying. We ordered delivery - Aush soup, mourgh salata, lamb dwopiaza, sabzi challow (came with spinach mushrooms and okra) and a side of okra and a side of lentils. Lots of yummy food, savory flavors - chicken was great and so were the veggies and sauces. I really like the soup and the fresh bread is amazing! Food delivery was a bit delayed but that's ok, the food made up for it! Lots of leftovers for a few additional yummy meals to come!! read more

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We really loved The Helmand. We were a party of seven, which gave us the opportunity to try many of their interesting dishes. Our favorites were the ones that seemed the most off the beaten path, with the least inspiring dishes the old favorites. I wish I could recall all that we ate ... in general, everything was excellent. Service was terrific, even on a super-busy Saturday night. The Helmand is a definite winner. read more

The atmosphere of Helmand is what makes it special! It feels like enjoying a home-cooked meal at your aunt or grandmother's house! The decor is cozy and fun and overall very authentic. They start you with fresh baked bread which is delicious. The pumpkin appetizer is so unique and a must try! We both ordered lamb dishes, and for the price, there was tons of food! We both got two meals out of it. The food was excellent. My only critique is that I think the yogurt drink was expired because it gave me fiance and upset stomach. Overall, the experience was great! read more

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Wow! such a wonderful experience today! foods were very delicious and flavorful, Nice service and very authentic! My friend and I were both so happy with everything and we definitely will go back to try other items in their menu! Fresh baked bread? It was a real great surprise! Highly recommend this restaurant, it's a must go place! read more

Wow wow wow. This place was insane. Go here. Have incredible food, and a beautiful dinner Food - Truly some of the best food I've had in Boston (well the Boston area) yet. I'd consider Afganhi food as a more rounded less "spicy" indian food? Buy unique all its own. We tried a ton of things and each one was simply better than the one before. Ambiance - Such fun decor makes the restaurant feel like you're in a loved ones home. Cozy without feeling claustrophobic. Service - Nearly pretty but I'm not going to harp on a small detail. Servers were efficient and friendly. Knowledgeable and attentive. Quickly resolved any question or request. We did run out of water a few times but it was promptly refillled upon request. This was not a problem whatsoever. They also do tableside Turkish coffee (we were very tempted but did not order it this time atound) All in all an amazing experience that definitely loves up to the many awards they've received. We will be back. read more

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Nice inside ambiance, on the slightly fancier side Service was pretty quick and to the point Dishes: Free bread and sauces - rly good flavor and nice chew, sauces were fun too! Can't complain Mantwo - rly liked this! Good flavors and each ingredient complemented the others well Dwopiaza - lamb w pillow rice, the lamb was chewy and was one of the gamier ones I've had. But the rice was so well flavored and so hard to stop eating!! Qoremay ma he - fish! Pretty good fish, portion on the small side though, again the rice was rly good! And all the vegetables and beans on each plate were also great! read more

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Such a good restaurant!! I love their lamb chops, so flavorful, well seasoned, and tender. The rest of their dishes are really good too - the aush, veg special, and other entrees were so yummy! Cute ambiance, really friendly staff. Really recommend! read more

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I couldn't be happier with my dining experience at The Helmand Restaurant. The restaurant was packed on Christmas Eve and for good reason. The ambiance is complete with excellent cultural decorations and traditional music. The service was very fast and friendly. We opted to order the sultani kabob and Banjan for an appetizer. The food came out very quickly and was absolutely delicious. The owner even came out and asked how our dessert was! "Our cake" was very delicious and highly recommend. read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Sultani - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I have enjoyed The Helmand for years, and last night was as good as the first night I experienced the food, the service and the ambiance many years ago! Everyone loves the freshly baked bread, of course, but the food that follows is and always has been marvelous! My favorite apps are the Aushak, ravioli filled with leeks and scallions, and the Kadoo, baked baby pumpkin. They are simply out of this world! I didn't order soup, but I wanted to; they have always been delicious, especially on a cold evening. Last night, however, I decided to fill up with the apps and entree, knowing desert was coming, too! My favorite entree is the Kourma Challow, lamb leg in a stew of vegetables, but we also sampled Lamb Lawand, lamb leg sauted with vegetables, and Lamb Koufta, a special, marinated ground lamb kababs. Each entree was accompanied with rice and vegetables. I loved the lentils served with the Kourma Challow and the spinach served with the other dishes. I love everything!!!! We were celebrating a birthday so we had the cardamom and pineapple cake, served with pineapple, dates, figs, pomegranate sauce and ice cream!!!! Always out of this world! (Had to save room for that!!!) And the service was perfect! Walayat, our waiter, was knowledgeable, patient and so pleasant! One of our guests had never dined at The Helmand before, so we wanted her to have a good sampling of our favorites! Walayat was the perfect host! Our friend left the restaurant feeling as though his warmth and patience made her as comfortable as she would have been in her own home. Just writing this makes me want to go back tonight!!!! Try The Helmand soon; it's a warm and comfortable place to relax and enjoy a meal and it will quickly become a favorite of yours as it is of mine! Say hi to Walayat! read more

Having been in business for so long, it's clear there are many returning customers who appreciate the tried-and-true offerings. However, given the price point, the meals could benefit from a more elevated approach. We left feeling that the food was acceptable, but not particularly memorable, and the overall experience lacked excitement. The décor also feels dated read more

My friend brought me here for dinner my first night visiting Boston. The food was absolutely amazing! The oven-fresh bread served with butter and three types of dip was delicious. We ordered: - Vegetarian Aushak: ravioli filled with leeks and scallions. Very flavorful and a unique filling! - Vegetarian Special: everything on this dish was delicious, but I will be dreaming about the baked pumpkin! I've never had anything like it and will be searching for it at home on the west coast! - Mourgh Challow: a very tasty chicken curry dish served with rice. Were we stuffed after all of that food? Yes. Did that stop us from ordering dessert? Never! Save room for the baklava served with ice cream, you won't regret it! read more

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Another exceptional dinner last night with a friend. I've been coming here for dinners since the late 90's (when I worked in Kendall Square.) We sat up front when the restaurant opened at 5 pm and watched the room fill with couples and families. We each started dinner with a non-alcoholic yogurt drink similar to one my maternal grandmother would always serve before meals. It was delicious! Our shared appetizer was Kaddoo (a fried pumpkin delicacy.) It quickly disappeared. We each ordered Koufta Challow (listed as spicy.) I grew up eating koufta weekly and wanted to compare. These were delicious, served with a generous plate of challow rice. (I would rate these spicy-for-taste, versus spicy-for-heat.) We passed on dessert only because dinner + appetizer was filling. (The dessert menu is worth coming in for on its own.) Service was prompt, informative (we had a few menu questions), and non-intrusive. Even as the restaurant filled, there was no discernible noise. Ample metered parking on the streets adjacent to Helmand. (Free after 6 pm.) Highly Recommended! read more

Really tasty food! Everything is so well prepared and presented, every dish with a unique blend/burst of flavors. And they're halal! The ambiance is lovely, as are the hosts/staff. Not pictured: amazing saffron ice cream--must try! read more

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I've been here twice and both experiences were incredible. The dining area is huge with lots of tables, and you can see them making fresh bread in the wood-fired oven in the same space (no smoky smell though! The ventilation is excellent). The meal starts with some warm, crispy slices of their fresh bread alongside butter, a mint sauce, a vinegary pepper sauce, and a yogurt sauce. The entrees are in the $25-40 range but the portions are massive. We got the aushak appetizer ($9.50) which came with two large raviolis. The meat sauce is packed with umami and the leeks in the raviolis are fresh and tasty. For entrees we got the seekh kabab ($29.95) and koufta challow ($26.95). While I enjoyed both dishes very much, the seekh kabab was definitely the highlight. The lamb pieces had such a tasty seasoning on them and were cooked perfectly! The pallow rice which came with the kabab was also so flavorful. The dish came with a side of eggplant which was soft and seasoned well. The koufta challow came with a massive portion of rice. Luckily the rice was super tasty on its own-- cooked perfectly al dente with a nice cumin aroma. The dish came with a bowl of koufta swimming in a tomato based sauce. There were two pieces of peppery koufta in total. The tomato sauce was meaty and tasty. The servers here are so kind and friendly! read more

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I have never been to an Afghan restaurant. I am staying a few blocks from one OpenTable highly recommends, so I have to try. The appetizers to desserts are excellent, the service is great, and the food is delicious !! I agree with everyone who says five stars. read more

Whenever I get to the Boston area, I try to have a meal at this great Afghan staple--it's been in Cambridge for years, and the food explains why! I usually order the aushak main dish, since the appetizer version only makes me want more! Cozy and great service. read more

Yum. There's a reason this place is a neighborhood fixture. Lovely ambiance with a roaring fire oven and friendly, attentive and helpful service. Everything we had was delicious! If you're on the fence about lamb like me, jump off the fence and get it here - you won't regret it. And don't skip dessert!!! We were also startled by the abundance of PARKING on a Saturday night in this neighborhood of Cambridge. 10/10 read more

- went to Helmand the first time 20+ years ago, same terrible service today. nothing has changed. -has the management learned nothing from American customer service in all these years in this country? -has the staff here never dined anywhere to learn what " good service" means? -The entire staff ( including management) doesn't care about guests - the rude girl ( hostess) with the purple hair - threw the food at us and talked in a very rude manner - abruptly interrupted us - pushed the dishes around the table ( didn't care we had no room for the many plates) - we had to struggle to stack dishes because nobody cared to make eye contact so we could call a waiter or busser - nobody poured water for us at all, our glasses were empty the entire time - nobody even turned our glasses from the " upside down" position - nobody asked us how the food was, during the entire meal - the server Hamayoun did NOT ask once if we needed anything or how the food was. - the manager Moustafa was worse- same disregard for guests, no help, no asking if we needed anything or how the food was ( just a fake forced smile) - then trying to rush us out, rudely grabbing the menus from us to get people " in & out fast" ! -- NOBODY cares to provide good service or a pleasant experience: bussers, servers, managers: NONE care about anything in this place. WORST service EVER in Massachusetts and no, there was no language barrier or issue, they all spoke flawless English! read more

Me and my grandfather have always had a love for afghani food, so I couldn't wait to try this place, one of the few afghani restaurants in the Boston area. Everything we ordered was tasty, starting off with the ravioli appetizer (aushak) filled with veggies & topped with a yogurt sauce. It's a must-have. Next must-have is the okra stew. Okra is a very hit-or-miss vegetable, and the only way to really enjoy it is in a stew (my opinion!). It's made with spiced tomatoes and garlic. Other things we tried: qabelee (spiced rice topped with sweetened carrots & raisins with lamb), the afghani bread with yogurt (ask them to warm it up for you), and shared a baklava. I'll be coming back to try the chapendaz (beef tenderloin), the eggplant and their cardamom/pineapple cake. The restaurant is so cozy, with cushioned chairs, relaxing Arabic music, lovely service (attentive & nice) with bright yellow walls that make me feel at home. There's a lot of space, so it seems like a great place for group dining. Pricing is reasonable, appetizers & soups are under $10, and meals are from $20-$40. They are close to both the lechmere station (green line) and MIT station (red line). Highly recommend! read more

I can't in good conscience give The Helmand more than 2 stars. It's a cozy, comfortable establishment, and their food is quite good. A few dishes are easily made vegan by omitting the yogurt sauce. Unfortunately, to get to the food, you will need to wait. And wait and wait and wait. Even with a reservation. Every time I have been to this restaurant there is always a clog of 15+ people in the foyer and outside the doors, waiting for their reserved table. They finally called me to say my table is ready 1 hour after my reservation time. By that point I was halfway through my meal at the Thai place next door. read more

Always delicious! Warm and welcoming staff, and the food is as reliably awesome as ever. 4.5 if I could. Mayhaps a decor refresh is all? Don't matter, going back again and again. read more

We came all the way from Shrewsbury with some guests to try out afghani food here. The lamb meat was medium which is good but it was mixing with the taste of the other meats. This platter was recommended by the server for ppl of 4. And it looked like it was only for 2 ppl as seen in the picture. It was our first and last time here unfortunately. Also naan were really good with all types of chutney's and mantow was a new experience but liked it. But very very stingy with portions and need work on plating. Also the ambiance of the place was really authentic and nice. read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Mantwo Apt - 9.50 - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Came here on a Thursday evening for a team outing with 20+ people and the place wasn't too busy when we arrived, but several more people started to trickle in after 7. We were told we'd have the room in the back, but were seated right in the front instead - seemed like we got outbooked by a bigger party. Service was pretty efficient for a party of our size. Our orders were taken efficiently and the staff was friendly and patient with our questions. Their menu was plenty diverse and we ended up having more than enough to eat which left us feeling quite full. The bread was a great start with the different types and the various sauces it was served with. You can see the person baking it right in the front which was pretty awesome to see. We ended up getting eggplant, pumpkin, and this ravioli-like appetizer to start. All were fantastic, my favorite was the eggplant but I'd order any and all of them again. The entree I got was their lamb rib dish and it was fantastic. The meat was cooked so well and just fell off the bone - I would recommend this, you won't regret it! The margarita I started with wasn't the best in my opinion, but it satisfied my craving just fine. We also had a few bottles of wine and those were pretty good as well. Overall, we had a great time and loved the experience. Thanks for taking such good care of us, Helmand! read more

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Fun, energetic, good food. I'm not an expert on the cuisine, so I can't judge if this was good Afghan food or not. What I know is I enjoyed everything they brought and I ate all of it. Good tasting food all around, though seemingly under-spiced for my expectation. That said, I'd come here again for sure. Plus, the owner / host is quite friendly! read more

I don't know what it is about this place. I had it for the first time over maybe 15 years ago, definitely over 10 years ago, and it has just stuck in my memory and became one of my favorite restaurants in the world, for some reason. Every time I visit Boston, I have to come here. I don't even really understand why I love this place so much, because it's not like it's fine dining or anything, and nothing about it as a restaurant is necessarily outstanding, but the food is solid, the service is generally good, and it's delicious. Maybe it's the nostalgia, maybe it's some of the dishes that I love on the menu, maybe it's the company I have when I come here, I don't know. When I come here, I always get the pumpkin thing with the yogurt and minced meat. They used to pulpify it, but now they have a whole chunk of pumpkin on top of yogurt. Both ways are delicious. No complaints. I also always get the lamb (the more expensive one - the bone-in lamp chops, I think), and it's....just so good. This place makes me very happy. I can't wait to go back. read more

The Helmand Restaurant - Deliciousness. - Afghan Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This was a very cute homey Afghan restaurant which is what I was looking for, I love Afghan food and was surprised to see a restaurant here in Boston. We started off with ordering some Afghan cardamom tea which was amazing and definitely recommend to try with adding milk and sugar. For appetizer we ordered mantu which was delicious too. We were served Afghan bread that was complimentary with three different sauces. You can tell the bread was made in restaurant with the oven shown in my photos. I got the Kabli Palau which I also recommend, the portion and taste was great and the meat was falling off the bone. My boyfriend got the kourma challow which was a great taste but we were disappointed with the portion size which was still pricey but much smaller portion than the kabli Palau. The reason I am giving this restaurant three stars is because of the service. The waiter was not rude but not welcoming and receptive, did not check on us after giving us the food and a bit condescending when we inquired about items on the menu. The person who filled our water was much nicer and sweet and wish we had him as our waiter. read more

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I lived in Scotland for four years- eating lamb constantly. The lamb I had here was fresher, more flavorful, and perfectly cooked. I genuinely don't know how they did it. I'm so happy our waitress recommend it. Not only was the food perfect, the staff was incredible. As soon as a plate was empty, it was gone- glasses were refilled constantly. The owner even came by and talked to us for a bit which was super lovely. The restaurant is beautiful, open and has lovely afghan decor. read more

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The Helmand is a Afghani restaurant located at 143 First Street in Cambridge, Ma. The restaurant is named after the country's longest river. The restaurant is in close proximity to the Cambridgeside Mall. There is plenty of street parking. The restaurant takes reservations online and over the phone as well as takeout orders. First impression I must say is that the restaurant has an extensive wine list. Also, who doesn't love warm bread? The flatbread is served with three very unique dipping sauces. All quite delicious. For appetizer, my husband ordered the Bowlawni, which is oven baked pastry shells. One was filled with leeks and scallions and the other was filled with spiced potatoes. It was accompanied with a yogurt dipping. Both were very tasty. For entree, we ordered the chowpan and the lamb lawand. The chowpan is half a rack of lamb, grilled and served with sauteed eggplant and rice. The lamb Lawand is a stewed leg of lamb, served with sautéed spinach and rice. Both were delicious but I preferred the chowpan over the lamb lawand. I also tried their yogurt drink. In retrospect, wine would have been a better choice to go with the lamb. We completed the meal with a slice of the Our cake. This is a cardamom and pineapple cake served with a scoop of ice cream, fresh pineapple, dates and figs, and a drizzle of pomegranate sauce. For specialty coffee, we tried the Turkish coffee. The waiter made it right at our table. Because it is unfiltered, the coffee had a muddy or should I say rich taste? Our waiter, Michael, was absolutely stellar. Please don't hesitate to give them a try. See my pictures! read more

Everything was great except the service! We were a large group of 10 and the waiter obviously did not like our size. He made such a fuss when two of us wanted to share a plate. He got a drink order wrong but was completely avoiding our eye contact to get it corrected. 30 minutes later my poor friend finally got her corrected drink. Water was never refilled and the bill was waiting to get collected for at least 20 minutes. Mind you, the place only had 2 tables at this point. I wish I could say I'd return but for high prices and terrible service, the food wasn't worth it. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about this restaurant. My favorite since 1995, Ali and Zarmina are from Afghanistan bought this restaurant in 2020. Ali used to be a waiter in Helmand back in 1995 and it's a fairytale story that he owns the place now. I've never met a more hardworking person in my life. The chief is still the same and food quality didn't change, keeping my favorite dishes. Helmand went through renovation right before COVID, new furniture, rugs, tables. Wishing this place to make people happy for at least another 30 years! read more