Great food, great ambience. We tried multiple appetizers. Great selection of wine. Highly recommended.

My brother was in afghanistan for a while, before the war began churning its legs and standing in place. We did not talk about it. I thought of Hemingway when he wrote "In the spring the war was still there, but we did not go to it anymore". This is how I would have felt in my gentle surrender of disregard. I cannot tell you how my brother felt as he did not feel the need to tell me. I decided to take him to the Helmand for dinner, mostly because the brother of the president of Afghanistan owns the restaurant. I told him this as we were seated and before we ordered and he gave me a sallow look. The waiter asked us if we wanted to drink anything and we chose wines at random. There is very little meaning to the small choices in our lives when the larger ones are so cutting and so fresh. The appetizers we ordered came after our bread. My brother broke a piece of bread apart and told me that it was authentic. He talked about eating with his translator, a man of dark complexion like a shadow against a hill. He told me the translator could get him movies on DVD before they came out in theatres - that he watched pornography on his cell phone like a free American man, and that he was a bastard. The Afghanis, he said, are all bastards. As he spoke the appetizers arrived - large, handmade raviolis filled with minced lamb and covered in a sauce that appeared to be yogurt and dill, with a touch of grated cucumber. My brother ate his appetizer, looked at his plate, and relented. Afghanis, he told me, are not all bastards. Just the ones that deal with the army. I had nothing to say, so we drank our wine in silence as polite conversation echoed around us. We ordered more wine and it came and we drank it and we ordered again. The entrees arrived, delicious meatballs, kofta in a sweetly turned sauce, and more raviolis(I had ordered them for my main dish). We ate more and he took one of my raviolis because he is a bastard, and then there was the quiet silence of digestion, and gustation. He said to me that the afghanis, as a matter of fact, were pretty damn swell. I nodded and ate one of his meatballs and thought to myself that this is a good reason for lambs to die - slaughter in tomato sauce is at least delicious. We did not order dessert. We did order coffee, made in the afghani style(or the turkish style, as one waiter said, serving a table next to us). The coffee was thick and tasted of cardamom and sugar. My brother said it was an excellent coffee, and that the food was excellent, and that in retrospect, the afghani people were excellent, truly excellent people. Even the bastards. There are meals, and then there are meals that we remember for reasons most likely never understood. There are restaurants, and then there are restaurants that we love for reasons we will never forget. It is not impossible that the two are related; though it is not impossible that they are unrelated as well. It is not in us to ponder these things - at least not after eating at a restaurant like the Helmand. read more

Remembering my meal there is making me angry. ABSTRACT: Overpriced, underwhelmed, rushed, nipples. I had heard so much good things about this place, but seriously, did they go to the same restaurant? I'm generally willing to give a place a second chance, but here, they did nothing to make me ever want to go back. The pumpkin appetizer is not good. The pumpkin itself is flavorless, the yogurt garlic sauce has an odd flavor and most of all, it's warm/lukewarm and cold all in one dish, and not in that good contrast-sort of way. Also, it comes out about 30 seconds after you order it, so you do the math..... I ordered the Kabuli. The lamb had that mealy texture to it that you get when you overcook it, and overall the rice dish was so salty I couldn't get through even a quarter of the dish. The boyfriend ordered a chicken dish, which was basically just chicken cooked in tomatoes with absolutely no flavoring. It was better than my overly salty dish, but that's not saying much. How can an Afghan restaurant serve food that has no personality, no spice, no flavor, no soul? We're both very adventurous with food and love different types of spices and flavorings, but when the dish offers up nothing, it's so disappointing. I don't get it. I can open a can of tomatoes and dump it on chicken at home without spending seventeen bucks on the dish. As some other folks have also mentioned on here, the service is so rushed and hectic I was straight up pissed off by the time dinner was over. They tried to take my appetizer plate away three times. There was still food on my plate and I was literally about to take a bite when I was asked if they can take the plate away. My boyfriend actually had to stop the guy who was lifting my plate, saying "She's still eating!!!!" then the guy walked away annoyed. They did it again with my entree, and when I said I wanted a box because I felt bad for not eating any of it, they brought out the box while my boyfriend was still eating. Then they asked if he was done. Seriously??? If you want your plate back that badly, don't bring it out in the first place. Seriously, that was awful. The nail in the coffin was our waiter. He showed up to work wearing a white, thin, collared shirt, but with no undershirt. He was literally walking around the dining room with his nipples visible to everyone through his shirt, with the nipples becoming more and more visible as his perspiration level increased, if you catch my drift. You're serving people food. Don't be a lazy ass and wear an undershirt. Cover your fricking nipples. VERDICT: I'm never going back. Ever. read more

Pros: Great service, nice atmosphere, good location Cons: The food is terrible. The bread was clearly a mass produced block of naan-pita. The food itself was so bland. We ordered a salad which came with a single tiny block of feta. Then we ordered the vegetable korma and a lamb dish. We requested that the lamb be made extra spicy. What we got were 2 bowls of overcooked, flavorless mush. The lamb was not spicy and when we summoned the waitress, she said that they do not serve any spicy dishes. This makes no sense to me since every Afghan restaurant I have been to has had moderately spicy dishes. I think this place serves a watered-down version of Afghan cuisine that appeals to tourists and people are new to this type of food. I strongly recommend that you do not go to this restaurant if you want to try "real" Afghan food. read more

We just moved to Baltimore and literally put our bags and boxes down and found ourselves starving. A friend had recommended The Helmand and off we went. When we got there we realized we were seriously, embarrassingly underdressed but knew nowhere else to go and were too hungry to to pass up the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. The waitstaff were friendly, but did seem a little put off by my flip flops and torn jeans and my other half's casual North face t-shirt. We sat down amongst other people enjoying their "special occasions" and had our own celebrating our arrival to Baltimore. The pumpkin appetizer definitely lives up to its rep and the eggplant appetizer was also delicious. The main courses were very good but not as memorable as the appetizers by far. I had a chilean wine that was crisp and fruity. The staff were attentive and friendly. I would go back, but this time more appropriately dressed. It's not "fancy" per se, but not totally casual either. read more

Not nearly as good as either Helmand in Boston, [one of those is exceptional actually] and it's unclear whether it's a generic name for Afghani restaurants or there's some relation. Either way, it's one of two places in Mt Vernon I'd take any guest to eat [Stang of Siam being the other]. My experiments with the menu haven't left me too satisfied so I've stuck to Seekh Kabob as my stock dish. My only complaint is the size of the entrees which is on the shallow side of filling. But if you're not a glutton, then this might be the right size. read more

Thought this place was just OK. My friend and I shared 2 appetizers (the pumpkin dish and the veggie pastries). I got a veggie sampler and she got a lamb dish. On her first bite, my friend found a hair in her entree. She waited about 10 minutes, but no waiters came by to check on us during this time (or even near our table) and she was hungry so she decided to just ignore it. We both felt that the food was sweeter than expected. I have never had afghani food so I don't know if this is the norm, but my friend had and still thought it was too sweet. The waiter finally showed up when we were done. He cleared our plates without asking if we wanted leftovers boxed - but neither of us did, which I feel says something about our experience. So, I don't get the hype. Don't really see a reason to go back. read more

Authentic, delicious Afghan food. I've eaten in Fremont, which I think has something like the biggest Afghan community in the U.S., and I always thought Afghan food was just okay. But the Helmand takes it to another level. Service is always excellent, the bread is amazing, and I'm kind of in love with the mantwo and its yogurt sauce. As with any Afghan restaurant, the lamb is a must try. My personal favorite is the koufta challow (lamb and beef meatballs, mm), but honestly, I've never heard anything bad about any the dishes here. I've also tried the vegetarian options which were also very good, but again, the lamb is what shines. I wasn't as in love with the kaddo borwani (pumpkin) as my fellow Yelpers seem to be, but it's still worth a try as it's a very unique flavor. Don't forget to top off your meal with some Afghan ice cream. Definitely a great option during restaurant week or, really, any other time as well. read more

The Helmand was where I first experienced a massive expansion of my culinary horizons - many years ago - and since then it has a sacred place in my personal restaurant universe. Countless subsequent visits have been consistently amazing, deepening my appreciation of the place and my love for exquisitely prepared Afghani food. Love registers most strongly for the "kaddo borwani," a sauteed plate of baby pumpkin with yogurt garlic sauce, glistening with a hint of sugar. Whenever I talk about or think about Helmand, I rhapsodize about "that pumpkin dish," and for good reason. The balance of taste sensations, with the mildly tart garlicky yogurt playing off the sweet and earthy pumpkin, is divine. I ordered two. As usual. The other standout during my recent visit was the humble chicken kebab, which arrived lightly charred from the obligatory charcoal fire. The meat was tender beyond belief, producing near-ecstasy with every bite. A rather modest portion, I was pleased I took the time to savor it. The ambiance and service are very warm, and the art and other decor pay lovely tribute to the Afghan heritage of the owner without being at all overbearing. read more

Haiku: Authentic flavors From Afghanistan, decor From the Middle East And a complete bar, Make The Helmand one of my Favorite restaurants. Vegetarians, you will have plenty options, and specials are great! read more

The Helmand is a unique restaurant bringing the flavors and arts of Afghanistan to the Baltimore region. I think the concept is smart in that they are bringing ethnic style food to "white table cloth" presentation style. The restaurant was gorgeous and just seeing it through the window on the way into the restaurant one would definitely say that it looks like a very hospitable atmosphere. That being said, the food was "meh". Here are my dinner details: Starter: Aushak - $4.75 Afghan ravioli filled with leeks, served on yogurt-mint and topped with ground beef sauce. A very, very small dish that seemed like it just came from one of those mass heating trays. The ravioli had a greasy feel and I could not taste the mint in the dish. It was quite bland in the overall scheme of things. Main: Chicken Kabob - $14.95 Marinated boneless chicken breast, served pallow and marinated vegetables. A dried out chicken dish that had little flavor. Again, it felt like it was being warmed in the back in one of those large serving plates. The veggies were not seasoned properly. I could not really taste the spirit of Afghanistan in this dish! On a side note, they make a nice gin martini! In conclusion, I can't recommend this restaurant to you. I am sorry. read more

While in Baltimore, my wife and I went to The Helmand for dinner. I was immediately put off when we walked in. There was no one at the door to greet us and there were several employees sitting around the bar area socializing. It almost seemed like they were annoyed that they had to stop their conversation to seat us. The service was lackluster. We had to request water and refills of water. They brought us the wrong size bread basket and never did bring the correct size. Service was slow throughout our entire meal. That said... THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. We started with the Kaddo Borawni: Pan fried and baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce. My wife had Mourgh Challow: Sauteed chicken in yellow split peas and fresh tomatoes. Served with challow. I had Mantow: Homemade pasta shell filled with onions and beef. Served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce. We also had an incredible Afghan Pudding with fresh fruits and Afghan Ice Cream: Vanilla Cardamon with figs, dates and mangoes. The food made us less annoyed about the service. read more

Amazing! From the pumpkin (order double) to the tenderloin, the Helmand is extraordinary! And it has that priceless downtown, exposed brick row home feel that make it feel like it's your place - your secret place off the beaten path that out of towners will thank you for sharing withh them. Subtle flavors that are both familiar and mildly exotic - the Helmand has dishes that even the most timid diners will love, and combinations of spices and flavors that keep serious foodies coming back over and over. Go early on a slow day. Go often. read more

Afghan food is not very complicated. It takes a good sauce, fresh vegetables and really good rice. Helmand was a true disappointment since it had none of these. Also some portions were ridiculous - 1 aushak?? To top it off, the service sucked. Now I will say this was my first time going so they could have had a bad night. For those of you in Virginia - go to Afghan Bistro in Springfield. The food is a 100% better and so is the service. It also helps that they have Afghan staff who know how to be gracious hosts. read more

hey....it's restaurant week....why not? Well, we decided we were better off just ordering off of the regular menu. We started off with the bread and pumpkin dish. I am a strong believer in the idea that bread should be free with dinner. $2.50? ughh whatever. It was some tasty bread though. The pumpkin appetizer was alright....I DO NOT SEE THE HYPE. It just a sugary mess of pumpkin with a dab of hot yogurt, but for $6 okay whatever again. My lamb dish was decent. It had raisins and carrots, along with a ton of rice. My friend's beef dish was essentially just a kabob, but the beef was cooked to the desired state. We didn't bother with dessert. The ambiance is quite lovely, but I've had much better. I'd rather save the cash and go to Maiwand Kabob or something. read more

Overrated, bland, and like it was out of a college student's first effort in the kitchen with spices. Ugh. Specifics - the 'famous' squash appetizer (Kaddo Borawni) was bland, a mix of temperatures in a bad mushy mess, and too sweet. The vegetable dolma had impressive looking vegetables thrown into a tomato sauce (or ketchup) broth. Bland beyond belief. The lamb was cooked OK, if a little excessively (the fibers are a dead giveaway), and it was in EXACTLY the same sweetish, flavorless ketchup broth/sauce. Is all Afghani food this bland and meh or is it just this overly Americanized joint? Then again, we're Indian and know what GOOD spicy food is supposed to taste like. Unlike some other folks' experiences, our service was above average, although the tight quarters and overcrowding caused a seating delay (despite a reservation), and some rushed delivery/take-aways. Which suited us fine - once we had tasted the food, we wanted it to be DONE so we could leave and pan it in person and on Yelp! Verdict, never ever ever going to bother to return. No redeeming features if you have a discerning palate. For those with NO spice tolerance and NO concept of what middle-eastern-mughlai-frontier food should taste like, and are normally NOT adventurous, this is a safe, gentle foray to the 'wild-because-you-don't-know-better' side! Edit to add: I said 'no redeeming features' but forgot about the excellent mint/cilantro side item they brought to the table. This was GOOD. And the water was good too. That's it. read more

I was staying with a friend during a conference and when I found this place on Yelp, I knew I had to try it. There's an Afghan restaurant with the same name in Cambridge, MA and you can't find this food everywhere so this was my first stop in Baltimore. I walked in without a reservation on a Wednesday evening during dinnertime. The main dining room was at about 95% capacity, but I was given a great seat by the window with a view of the whole room. I went with a roasted lamb entree that was delicious, tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. It was served with a tomato-based side, fragrant white rice, and a cilantro sauce on the side. Service was very fast and attentive. Prices are moderate. They accept credit cards. It was good for people watching and listening to families arguing and millenials lamenting the economy. read more

This place kicks ass. In terms of pure bang for your buck, it doesn't get much better. Quality ethnic food on white table linens in a cozy atmosphere with good service doesn't get much cheaper. If you go, you must get the pumpkin appetizer. Good Lord that was tasty! I want to be dropped into a vat of it. I got the mantwo for an entree, and while it was good, it wasn't mind-blowing. In tasting my companions' meals, it turns out that the seekh (lamb) kabob was the dish to get. The service was pretty good I thought. Attentive without being obtrusive. I definitely want to come here again to try other dishes. This also seems like it would be a good place for a slightly upscale date that won't break the bank (and that's hard to find). read more

Update: What a gem of a neighborhood restaurant! Try the specials while you dine there; the fish dish (can't remember the name) was amazing and wait at 8pm on a Saturday with no reservations was only 15 minutes! Highly recommended. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For some strange reason, I keep thinking the Helmand is the Brass Elephant, and the other way around. Luckily, I have friends who know better, and took me to the Helmand. I'm impressed. Not only do they have a cozy, dimly-lit atmosphere somewhat like you're in the family cellar/living room, the food is tasty and the service is attentive. Great for a plethora of vegetarian options as well as a variety of lamb and beef dishes that don't disappoint. The appetizers are awesome. Well-priced, so that even this hungry student can eat well there. People know about this place's great reputation, so it can be busy, but there is a bar you can have a drink at while waiting for a table, if that is the case. read more

Good: atmosphere I guess... but who really cares when the food is mediocre Bad: Food....Just really over priced and mediocre which is not good when you wait and wait.... read more

After skimming the Yelp reviews for a decent eat in Baltimore, I settled on trying the Helmand. An average of 4 stars must be pretty good, right? Well, like some others have stated in their reviews, I was disappointed, perhaps even sorely disappointed. We started some bread and with the pumpkin appetizer. The bread was good, but it reminded me a lot of the bread from Cosi. So I don't know if it's all that special. The pumpkin was pretty good; I really enjoyed the yogurt sauce on top. Next, we tried the Dolma Murch and Mushroom Lawand for entrees. The Dolma Murch was essentially a stuffed pepper. I felt like the tomato sauce was made from canned tomatoes and wasn't very fresh. It was a little acidic. The Mushroom Lawand had the same problem; a very typical sauce that I felt I could have made at home with a couple of canned vegetables and spices. For $13.95 each, I was disappointed with a homemade stuffed pepper and a bowl of mushrooms. The only redeeming thing about the meal was the rice - good flavor and they served this cilantro sauce with it. I thought the cilantro sauce was the most distinctive item we ate that night; everything else I could have made in my kitchen. Anticipating some pretty spectacular Afghan cuisine from Hamid Karzai's brother, I walked out thinking, "really? that's unique??" read more

The menu is a bit small, but there are typically nightly/weekly specialties to supplement the usual menu. I would advise you start with several small plates for the table. They are all somewhat small and only $5 or less, so go wild! The aushak is ravioli filled with leeks and then topped with ground beef, yogurt sauce and dried mint. This isn't the typical yogurt sauce you get in a cheap Greek restaurant; it's rich but with a velvety texture and doesn't have that sour after taste. The meat sauce, while so basic, has such a depth of flavor from cumin and other traditional Mediterranean spices. Another delicious appetizer is the signature roasted baby pumpkin (kaddo borwani) topped with more of their yogurt sauce with a bit of garlic. The slightly sweet pumpkin essentially melts in your mouth, with the garlic yogurt sauce to contrast the sweetness. As good as the roasted pumpkin is, perhaps the simplest appetizer might also be the best - the banjan borwani. The banjan borwani is pan fried eggplant, then baked with fresh tomatoes and topped with the yogurt sauce. The result is a perfectly roasted soft eggplant that has a slight smoky flavor. To find eggplant this good you would have to go to the Mediterranean. The yogurt sauce is clearly a running theme in all appetizers, but trust me, it doesn't get repetitive as it truly compliments each dish. The best way to describe the various entrees in the menu is to think of Indian dishes, prepared using more Mediterranean spices. For example, the sabzy challow has sautéed spinach which is then stewed together with tomatoes, chilies and chunks of beef. The spinach wasn't very pronounced but worked well with the viscous spicy stewing liquid and fall apart pieces of beef. Add the signature cilantro sauce and it cools the dish just enough to create a perfect harmony with all the bold flavors. The kabuli pallow is the Afghan rendering of a pilaf, but much better. The long grain rice is seasoned with cumin seed and cardamom, and then cooked with tender chunks of lamb and dried fruit. The dish comes out a bit too sweet for me, but if you add the cilantro sauce, it makes this dish another star. That evening we also sampled the seekh (beef tenderloin) and chicken kabob, which are some of the less intricate entrees, but still delicious. The chicken kabob sounds like the most boring thing on the menu, but it was unbelievably good. The kabob has large chunks of white meat fresh chicken lightly seasoned and then grilled. The chef cooks the chicken perfectly, until juicy and tender. The seekh kabob is pieces of beef tenderloin also lightly seasoned and grilled to a charry perfection - not as good as the chicken, but still very good. read more

This was many of my group's first time trying Afghan food - and we are now fans! However, I do not recommend the Helmand for large groups. While I did not make the reservation, I heard it was difficult, and our service was on the very side of mediocre. Our hostess (not exactly sure of his role?) did not explain the family style option very well, which would have been appealing to a group of newbies. He kept referring to four "courses" and "options" which made it sound like a preset four-course meal instead of a true family style meal. I think this would have been a good option for us. However, we ordered all the appetizers and each picked an entree and left happy. Our server did not come by frequently or help with the menu options, but I will say she was swamped for a Sunday evening and very friendly. I had the chicken lewand and highly recommend it as a starter meal; you can't go wrong with well-seasoned slow cooker chicken. The portion was very large and I left with enough leftovers for a second meal. I can't wait to try a different entree during my next experimentation with Afghan food! read more

This is more like a 3.5 star review but I had a good experience tonight so I'm pushing it up to 4 stars. To preface this review.. I've been coming to The Helmand for years, many years. I've had some good meals here during those years and I've had some bad ones too. But no matter what is happening in the world, the Helmand remains an isolated oasis of preservation. Whenever I come into this restaurant it feels like I'm taking a step back in time and in a very good way. There's elegance, there's charm, there's professionalism from the staff. There's ambiance. But most importantly The Helmand puts care into what they do. They've never let the restaurant "change hands" or deteriorate. The food has remained consistently good and so has the clientele. Tonight was the pinnacle of my dining experience at The Helmand. For one thing we had an excellent server whose name I cannot recall (her description: young white woman, dark long hair, glasses). For dinner, we started off with a few different wines, followed by a few staple appetizers including the stewed eggplant, mantwo and pumpkin. My entree tonight was the poached salmon special with a corn sauce. My comrades had the ashuk and one of the many lamb specials. Speaking of lamb, this has always been one of my biggest pet peeves with The Helmand. Sometimes the lamb portions are meek and underwhelming. Tonight they were not. Each dish was substantial. The meals were hot, they came out in unison, and we all loved the cilantro sauce served on the side. The Helmand is a mainstay in Baltimore. IF you're looking for consistency and class you just can't go wrong here. P.S. Even though it's $5 you have to get a large basket of naan bread! read more

My friend and I decided to revisit the Helmand after a few years. I remember it differently. Today, the food was good, but it came out suspiciously fast (within 10 minutes of ordering it). The food was lukewarm (clearly microwaved or reheated) and not the same quality as we remember from years past. The naan was more like a pita bread, came out at room temperature, tasted packaged and cost $6 for the large sized basket. My friend ordered a lamb dish and I ordered a vegetarian dish. The ambience was very nice, but we were disappointed that the quality had gone down significantly. Like another reviewer said, the food was like lukewarm takeout served on nice plates. read more

honestly the service sucked. The waiter stopped by maybe 3-5 minutes after we sat down and we hadn't even had time to look at the menu. However, after that it took at least 15-20 minutes for him to come back. Our waters were never refilled. The kaboka (pumpkin) appetizer was really nice, but I think I could probably make the yoghurt sauce myself at home as it tasted like slightly sweetened yoghurt mixed with cream and then garlic powder. The pumpkin just seemed like it was slow roasted. I got the Lamb Schewand because I honestly love lamb. Given the ratings on this place and the reviews that my friends gave, I was expecting something to blow me away, but my "lamb stew" was just slightly more than lukewarm, and not that flavorful. I get that it's not supposed to be Indian, but my dish tasted pretty bland. In addition, there was no taste difference between my rice and my friend's rice even though his was a bright orange and mine was just plain white with some "herbs". It's not to say that it's bad, but I don't think it's worth the price. There are other restaurants in Baltimore that have blown me away and aren't even as expensive in regards to their signature dishes. Not to mention...that terrible service! read more

My cousin recommended this restaurant to me and my husband plus I saw it packed all the time. So I decided to give it a try. We first had the appetizer with eggplant, which was a very small portion, not flavourful at all. Their naan was nice and fresh. My husband ordered the chicken kebab and me -the beef for entrée. Both of which were under seasoned again.. The only thing that was at least average was my desert- pudding with fresh fruits. I wouldn't go back there again. Their food is cooked with absolutely none to minimum spices (maybe for the western palate). read more

The food: exceptional. The wine list: reasonable. The service: fantastic. The portions: leaving a little something to be desired. Went with a party of four; as usual, the pumpkin appetizer was delicious, but the ravioli dish was too small to split and not particularly tasty. The wine here is drastically cheaper - but of the same caliber - as other upscale restaurants. The bottles are quite affordable. As for entrees, everyone we ordered was great, with the lamb kabob being the standout dish in my opinion. Although it didn't look like much on the plate it was enough to make me contemplate being responsible for the death of baby sheep more often. Also, beware the double espresso - it is delicious but comes out as a full cup o' supercharged joe! read more

Fantastic Location, If Your In Historic Mt Vernon, Stop In! Service friendly and very attentive! Food is fresh , and hot! I appreciate how they don't put meat tenderizer in Chicken Kabobs, like other Afghan Restaurants! Ice cream with the syrup, best i've ever had! Cozy spot, with just right ambience! read more

I think I came here on a date?? Needless to say the "date" wasn't all that memorable (sorry dude) but the food...the food was GREAT. I apologize I don't remember exactly what I ordered since its been a couple years since my visit. You do have to try the PUMPKIN appetizer like other yelpers are recommending. The atmosphere was intimate with dim lighting --great for gatherings and dates but not so much kids. I would dine here again. read more

Great celebration with our son for his birthday and graduation from grad school. He is a fan of middle eastern food and our visit did not disappoint at all. Super service from all -- it is always good to see teamwork from a restaurant staff -- from the manager/owner all the way through all the employees. We made a reservation through OpenTable and are glad we did. Though it was fairly open when we showed up, the crowd steadily arrived, and it was obvious there were several regulars. The crowd was a great mix of ethnicity and age as well. So, the food. It was great all the way around. I skipped the Naan but am not happy I did. My guests loved it as it was not a normal Naan one expects to have at a restaurant. Our appetizers were awesome. We had the Aushak (ravioli), Kiddo Borwani (pumpkin), and Banjan Borwani (eggplant). Only complaint was that we were left wanting more. Our entrees were a mixture of chicken, lamb and a vegetarian piece. Nobody left complaining and our plates were clean. One of the best parts was it was all pretty affordable to include a decent wine list. Definitely want to come back someday. read more

Perfect restaurant for vegetarians. The pumpkin appetizer is divine. I've never had anything here that I did not truly enjoy. It is not "cheap", but it is a reasonable for the amount and quality of food you are served. They also have a decent wine list. However, it is on the small side, so it is not the best restaurant for large groups. It is a great restaurant for a date or a pre-theater meal with friends. read more

The small doorway into the restaurant was very misleading as the restaurant opens up to a large dining room. The food there was excellent. We had a group of 6 which qualifies us for the family style meal. First comes the naan bread which was fresh and delicious. I did find it odd that they served the bread with plain butter rather than some Afghan sauce (maybe I'm naive and the Afghans dont smother bread with sauce?). Then came the salad which seemed more like a dish created only to please Americans as it was nothing more than a green salad. Then came the good stuff... For appetizers, we got the Kaddo Borwani (pumpkin with yogurt sauce), Banjan Laghatak (stewed eggplant), Bowlani (pastry shells filled with leeks and spiced potatoes). and one more that I forgot about. All were very delicious. For the main course, we got the meat balls, the tenderloin of lamb, the Mantwo (pastry -shell filled with onions and beef), Aushak (ravioli filled iwth leeks and ground beef), Dwopiaza (lamb with onions, peas), Kabuli Pallow (Afghan style rice baked with lamb, raisins, and carrrots), white rice and the spinach. And lastly we got two desserts (Middle Eastern Pastries and the Chocolate Cake). Great restaurant, good service. Get there early, the place filled up complete within 15 minutes after we got there (6pm). read more

I am very much NOT a fan of this place. Although service is polite and all, the dishes do not live up to its price and they aren't even generous in portion (which is a staple of Afghan hospitality and should in my opinion also be displayed in their cuisin). The kabili palau lack the flavor of spices and the depth of the lamb. Instead, they smother it in sugar hoping that it will be enough to sell. I would rather cook it myself, or even make the drive to the many great(er) Afghan restaurants in VA. Don't let the the sugar cloud your taste buds. read more

Unfortunately, most of the people calling this Afghan food are not remotely from that side of the world. This is a very, and I mean very Americanized version of Afghani food (No offence). The place is perfect to bring a date, and introduce them to "non-toxic Afghani" food, if you know what I mean. The spice levels are geared to an American palate, the dishes are simply sweetened instead of using real flavors like cashew, cardamom and pomegranate, which are used a lot in Afghani cuisine. The bread basket is served like an actual bread basket with butter (anyone heard of the Pashto word naan?, wth?) Everything but the food is definitely worth it. Good ambiance, polite staff, etc. But when it comes to paying $30 for food that is sub-standard at best it spoils the fun. All in all, this is a classy restaurant, where you could definitely bring a date or family and enjoy a "fork and knife" version of Afghani food. If you like that go for it. But seeing as most reviewers here have nothing better to compare to, I forgive you. :) read more

The food is outstanding! I ordered take out and was impressed with the quality. Everything was still hot and perfectly spiced. Yum!

On a recent trip to Baltimore, my colleague wanted to go to this place. She, as a vegetarian, was very excited about it. I was a bit skeptical but it turned out to be amazing. As I walked in, I almost felt like I was in an Italian Trattoria or Ristorante because of the warm lighting and colors, white table cloths, and candles on the table. We were greeted by a friendly host and seated right away. We had a reservation but there were open tables on this Sunday night. For appetizers, we shared the Kaddo Borwani, which is pan-fried and baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce. It was more like dessert than an appetizer - sweet, creamy and tasty. We also shared the vegetarian Mantwo which was homemade pastry shells filled with onions and beef, served on yogurt and topped with carrots, yellow split peas and beef sauce. It was a perfect savory complement to the pumpkin. I really like lamb but I'm a bit picky on how it's prepared. I asked our very helpful server for lamb recommendations. He suggested a couple of dishes and I went with a lamb dish that was on a special insert sheet to the menu. I hate that I didn't write down the name of it because it isn't on their main menu. It was slow roasted lamb with mushrooms in a sauce and served with rice. It was some of the most tender and well-prepared lamb I've ever had. For dessert, we shared the Afghan Ice Cream which had dates, dried figs and fresh mango. It was a great dessert that wasn't super rich after our full meal. The prices are not too expensive for what you get. Around $5-6 for appetizers, soups, salads, sides and desserts & $13-20 for main courses. It's definitely worth the price. I would definitely recommend this place for the service, ambiance, and the food. read more

This place was OK when compared to my much less expensive prior experience with Afghan cuisine. The pumpkin appetizer is GOOD, but I was expecting a larger portion (it looked like a scoop of pumpkin). The reviews on service are pretty accurate. The staff is friendly, informative and prompt. The food is just north of good and shy of really good. May not be as great as the hyped reviews on Yelp suggest, but not a bad experience if you want to have Afghan via upgraded dining experience - personally, I would rather have an Afghan food experience that was more down to earth with deeper more complex flavors. read more

The Helmand had been mentioned by seemingly everyone I knew who had spent time in Baltimore, yet still managed to exceed my expectations. Finally got a chance to go this past Saturday. Amazing Afghani food and a very pleasant atmosphere that I would highly recommend whether or not you're familiar with the style of cuisine. I'll start by saying that my girlfriend and I were running 30 minutes late for a Saturday night reservation, and I would have been understanding if that didn't fly. Yet they seated us without a single complaint. Our waiter was over shortly and provided some excellent advice on the menu; we ended up ordering the kaddo borawni, aushak, and a dish of lamb, tomato, and apricots for which I'm blanking on the name. All three dishes were exceptional. The pumpkin appetizer would have been overly sweet on its own but was perfectly balanced by the tangy/sour yogurt sauce. The lamb and apricot dish was well-spiced and had a latent heat that snuck up on us--I wouldn't call it overtly hot, but it definitely added to the flavor profile. The aushak was the highlight, however. The leek in each dumpling/ravioli had the taste and texture that (from extensive personal experience) is very easy to get wrong. The sauce is a mixture of ground beef, sour yogurt, and mint that had the most amazing fragrance. I'm normally not a fan of huge amounts of mint, as it's all I tend to taste, but I would be perfectly content to just eat this sauce by the bowlful. That good. If I had one complaint, it would be that the service felt slightly rushed. The appetizer was out about three minutes after ordering and the entrees shortly thereafter. It was 9:30 pm, so it's really a minor quibble given the overall experience. I imagine I'll be returning frequently. read more

I am not sure why I have been avoiding Afghan food. That's silly. A bunch of us headed over after listening to an empowering Wes Moore at the Enoch Pratt Library. We were hungry and basically devoured the bread the moment it hit the table. Thank goodness for the Kaddo Borwani. They pan fry baby pumpkin and sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar before they put it in the oven and bake until it is perfectly tender. They top this yummy goodness with a garlicky yogurt sauce. We split a gorgeous bottle of Pinot Noir from the Languedoc region. It was a little light bodied for me. It won't be my first choice next time, but it was fruity with a very smooth finish. Everyone at the table was discussing their favorites and the difference between Challow and Pallow. Challow is rice with cinnamon - so sweeter and Pallow is rice with cumin - so a little smokier. There are a tons of options - beef, lamb or chicken for meat choices and even more vegetarian choices - mushrooms, eggplant, peppers, etc. I went with the Gorwan Salad. The salad is baby field greens with cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers with a creamy red onion dressing. The marinated beef tenderloin wins in this dish; incredibly tender and flavorful. They serve it with grilled corn on the cob and whole red bliss potatoes. All my friends got a little mad that I went with the salad and not one of the rice dishes. It doesn't matter what you order, get a side (or 5) of the "green sauce" - which I am mostly sure is cilantro - my favorite herb. read more