Boston’s first and only Afghan restaurant is located in an unassuming building that blends in with the factories and warehouses of its East Cambridge neighborhood. Once you step inside, however, the giant fireplace, elaborate woven wall hangings, and uber-plush seating will make you feel as though you’re some dignitary’s houseguest. (Note of interest: The owner’s brother is the current prime minister of Afghanistan.)
The food has a blend of Indian, Persian, Arabic, and Mediterranean influences, filled with complex but not too overwhelming spices that allow you to linger over each bite, instead of diving straight for the water glass. The naan/flatbread they bring to the table is fresh from the oven (and you get a great view of the oven from the center of the room) and comes complete with a subtle wood smoke flavor.
For an appetizer, the five of us shared the aushuk, ravioli with leeks and scallions, also available as an entrees.
The kaddo and banjan challow, a dish of pan-fried baby pumpkin and eggplant topped with yogurt and ground beef, quite possibly one of the best entrees I've ever tasted. The baby pumpkin (available by itself as an appetizer) is sweetened and blends incredibly well with everything else on the plate. The seekh kabab, a charbroiled leg of lamb with sauteed eggplant and rice, was plump and delicious and did not leave an aftertaste (a quality my overly sensitive tastebuds hate in bad cuts of lamb.) The theeka kabob, the prime rib with lentils, was equally great.
<>
The dessert menu was limited, so we ordered the spiced vanilla ice cream, which I didn’t really care for. But which appetizers and entrees this good, I’m willing to overlook the lack of a sweet finishing touch. Besides, the Cheesecake Factory is right around the corner.
The Helmand - 143 1st St, East Cambridge
Comments