The Helmand — Restaurant in Cambridge

Lousy and discriminatory service! We were downright ignored from the minute we were seated at our table. Nobody came to ask what we would like to have to drink. A server showed up at some point to finally fill our glasses with water. The server who took our order was curt and impatient. We had ordered 2 apps - one of which never showed up. After our entrees came out, nobody cared to check in and see how things were going with our meal. We know it's been tough times for the restaurant industry owing to Covid, supply chain issues and staffing shortages. We are cognizant of that fact and doing all we can to support our local restaurants! We understand that service might be a bit compromised due to circumstances and that is what we thought was going on. However, other servers were checking in on other patrons but ours did not care to come by even once at our table! We had to follow up with a couple of random servers floating by on our second app, which arrived at some point towards the end of our meal. Our glasses were long depleted of water and nobody came by to refill. We were betting on whether the server would care to present dessert options. Ah! Dessert was a long shot that night at this restaurant! When the server brought the check- we mentioned the water issue and he didn't spare any rudeness in retorting that it is not a practice at the restaurant to come by tables and check on patrons! He was like "If you need water you call us!" I said I observed that some servers were checking in on other tables to which he just huffed and walked away! We spent almost $130 on a meal which was very underwhelming, left us thirsty for water, hungry for dessert and was seasoned with a generous helping of rudeness and lousy service! Helmand, I get that you have your 4.5 stars but we have been frequenting Cambridge area restaurants for more than a decade now and you, by far, take the first prize for the "worst service"...

I've gone to Helmand 3 times and each time the food has been incredible. As a typical beef/chicken eater, I was surprised to find their lamb is delicious. Unfortunately, this low review is due to the increasingly poor service I have received each time I have dined there. In fact, it was so bad last night that I told the manager that the food was delicious as always, but the service was remarkably poor. He apologized and claimed our waiter was new.

I realize there are lots of things going on to make service bad- we were there late, it was still pretty busy, and we had a new server. However this doesn't justify: (1) not receiving our salad before our meal (we asked them just to cancel it) (2) bread fiasco (3) really long wait times to receive water, menus, place our order, or receive the check. One of the nearby servers helped out and apologized when ours never showed up.

To clarify on the bread fiasco- when I went in the past, I received a basket of DELICIOUS bread with accompanying sauces. When we went last night, I requested to receive bread since we didn't get it automatically even after our first round of appetizers were served. I asked a bus person twice ( I don't think it was his job but our server wasn't there) and when our server finally came by we asked him. He said of course and brought back a basket with 3 pieces of bread (we had four people). The next time he showed up we asked for the sauces that usually come with the bread.

The previous time I went to the restaurant the service was slow, but didn't interfere with our meal. This time it did. We didn't receive food we ordered and the bread fiasco. I was embarrassed because I talked this restaurant up to my parents who were visiting from out of town and treated them to delicious food and incredibly bad service.

I'm not sure if I will be returning to this restaurant, even though the...

A great introduction to Afghani cuisine.

Located in a quiet neighborhood in East Cambridge, Helmand offers an authentic Afghani food experience. The decor, reminiscent of Kabul's quaint charm, adds a captivating cultural touch

Our meal started with irresistibly aromatic flatbreads, fresh from the oven. Accompanied by a selection of sauces, the flavorful blend of butter and spicy red sauce on the bread was particularly delightful.

For the appetizers, we sampled the Aushak and the bowlani. Doused in yogurt-mint and ground beef sauce and layered with leeks and scallions, the Aushak delivered a delectably earthy harmony. The Bowlani, an oven-baked pastry filled with similar vegetables, offered a pleasing soft texture, setting a promising tone for the main course.

The entrees were uncomplicated yet well-executed - grilled meat over rice paired with Afghan accompaniments. The Chowpan and Dwopiaza showcased succulent meats, and the sides like sautéed eggplant and yellow split peas bore an agreeable resemblance to Middle Eastern cuisines. Marinated onions added a tart counterpoint to the rich lamb tenderloin, culminating in a well-rounded taste profile. The Qabelee was somewhat off-kilter, though. The pallow rice, studded with raisins and glazed carrots, overpowered the savory lamb with an intense sweetness, creating a discordant note.

Yet, Helmand's offering remained largely impressive, deftly revealing the nuance and diversity of Afghan cuisine. The spices were subtly employed, and the flavors exhibited a commendable balance. For anyone eager to embark on a culinary expedition to Afghanistan, Helmand comes highly...