Helmand

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143 First St (at At Bent St, Outside Harvard Square)
Cambridge, MA 02142

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(617) 492-4646
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Reviews
( 22 )
( 13 )
( 7 )
( 2 )
( 11 )

Best

I was there last night (Monday) and the place was completely packed! \r This was my third visit, and as always the food was absolutely delicious!\r Our server was a great guy, w...

Worst

The food was okay, not great but not bad. The service was absolutely AWFUL. The waiters and host were very rude and ignored my table. The host even took her time seating us, inste...

Fantastic Food! 8/12/2004

Run don't walk to this Cambridge eatery. The apps are great - the ravioli was nice. The sweet baked baby pumpkin and eggplant topped with yogurt sauce that I had as a main course was PHENOMENAL. Wonderful texture and taste. My husband's lamb chops were delectable, big and juicy. My friend's chicken (similar to shish taouk) topped with roasted veggies was beautiful and yummy. Desserts were notable too - ice cream and creme brulee. Worth the trip - will go back! GREAT value - dinner for 4 was about 80.00. more
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They remembered me. 5/10/2004

After only two visits, my waiter remembered me and mentioned how happy he was that I returned. The food was wonderful, service spectacular and the atmosphere fun and lively. There is a nice mix of young and old, casual and dressed because the food is high quality and the price is more than reasonable. My favorite is the Kabuli, but I haven't had anything I don't like. An interesting dish is the pumpkin appetizer, a flavor that in American dining is sweet but here is served with a tomato sauce. Pros: Personal fast service, Great original dishes, Nicly blended crowd more
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the service ain't bad! 1/29/2004

i went with a big group (total of 10 ppl) on a week night. we made reservation a day prior and when we arrived, our table was waiting for us (all ready)! we were seated promptly and the host was really friendly. the waitstaff was very attentive and actually let us try different selections of wine with great patience! the food was served at a timely matter (and amazingly delicious).. we ended up staying quite late (as most big groups do) and they just let us take our time.. this was actually my third time there and i've had really good experience there every single time! Pros: delicious food, lay back ambience, spatious enviornment more
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no problem with service :) 5/3/2003

and the food is simply divine. I love this restaurant. There are options for everyone -- whatever your palate or dietary preference. I love that they have vegetarian options of most everything and cook with lots of nutirious ingredients. I've never had a bad experience with service, in fact have always had helpful servers. The wine selection is great, ambience perfect for a first date or for meeting old friends. Pros: fab food Cons: make reservations, crowded more
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4 1/19/2003

The server actually told us to order everyhting at one time...cause the chef prpared the food per table...tjat we couldnt order more portions later on cause he wasnt sure how long it wood take to get the food on the table. The wait staff was actually hounding us to pick up the plates...even though we had not finished..they were rushing us. This aint the first time this has happened to us...have been there couple of times & always the same experience. Have swon never to go there again. A better place to go is Lala Rokh ..it may be more expensive..but the food & the service at Lala Rokh is awesome. Cons: digusting service, bad staff attitude more
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YUMMY THINGS THAT I LIKE 10/23/2002

I agree sometimes the service is slow and not that good, but the food is so delish you have to live with it. The baked pumpkin appetizer is yummy the best dish is the pieces of lamb covered with a mound of the best rice pilaf with rasins and glazed carrots I love that one! They also have an array of vegetarian dishes. They have this really cool big guy who bakes bread fresh in a fire stove so the whole place smells very yummy. Don't be intimidated that it's afghan cuisine, the taliban doesn't chill here!! go here u will like it ! more
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Go for the food 10/18/2002

You'll come away happy and full and most likely with a story about the terrible service you received. Sometimes, just as in the case with the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld, you have to take the good food with the bad service. Helmand is worth it, and a few times I have been surprised with good service! Pros: takes reservations, vegetarian options Cons: standoffish servers more
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Rude Behavior 9/4/2002

We made appointment 5 hours before having dinner. Our friends were visiting from new Jersey & our friends wife was 5 months pragnant. We waited outside for 35min after making appointment well in advance. We complaint to manager & we were shocked to hear manager's comments. The Manager asked us whether to either have food or leave the restaurant.Being in customer service business, the behavior was too rude. They had some seatings available for 6 & 8 people but they did not allowed us to be seated as we were only 4 people. I will never ever go to that restaurant again & will never recommend to anybody also. more
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worst service 9/2/2002

I am sorry to say this, but they have the worst service, i have ever seen. I will not recommend to anyone. Infact, they treat you like dogs. I guess they have a feeling, that they will get customers anyways...but not for long. Cons: bad service, worst treatment more
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Great food, disappointing service 7/10/2002

The service was never great, and it's been going downhill. I'd put it down to incompetence, not unpleasantness. They're always busy when I'm there, and they don't seem to know how to deal with it. On the other hand, the food is still both very good and a very good deal, so I suck it up and continue to go there. Unlike another reviewer, I think the decor is fantastic. It's just not in a neighborhood that's going to impress a date. Pros: Food, Price Cons: Service, Location more
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good food, rude host 6/5/2002

Got there on time for my reservation ( afew moments early). There was no one as the Hostess stand. While we waited, more than 7 minutes, a signifigant line formed. When the host returned he spoke with a trio that came in last but stodd next to our group. When I explained we had been there first and waiting for some time, he just shrugged me off and sat them. Even after I told them I had a reservation. I then had to wait another 15 mintues just to be seated! I have not been back. There are too many good restaurants in Boston for that kind of blatant rudeness. more
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Menu for Helmand


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    The city's premier destination for Afghan cuisine offers a relaxed, airy setting in which to enjoy authentic kabobs and vegetarian dishes. Earth-toned Afghan knick-knacks line...

  • 10/13/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sunday To Thursday From 05:00 PM To 10:00 PM Friday To Sunday From 03:00 PM To 11:00 PM
  • Payments: Diner's Club, American Express, Cash, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: East Cambridge
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