Helmand - Afghani Restaurant, Cambridge MA

Star rating: *****

When you see a section of the menu titled vegetarian you're expectations rise a little, Helmand's had such a section and it did not disappoint.

Just next to a shopping centre it's a perfect post-retail therapy meal. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm. You get a feel that you are in Afghanistan with the soft music in the background and a glimpse of a giant stone oven.

The service was acceptable, the staff generally nice but nothing exceptional. The menu had a mouth watering variety of options for vegetarians which made making a decision difficult.

Flat Afghani bread was served with a variety of sauces and some butter for the less adventurous, for starters we had the bowlani, two pastries, one filled with spiced potatoes which was divine and the other with leeks and scallion both drizzled with yoghurt mint sauce. I ordered the 'special' for my main course; this was aubergine (eggplant) on a roasted tomato sauce, spinach, pumpkin with a garlic/yoghurt sauce, okra with some pallow rice topped with some raisins (rice with a variety spices such as cinnamon and cumin). The aubergine was soft but not greasy, the pumpkin was sweet and melted in your mouth and the rice was a lovely subtle accompaniment to the meal.

The meal was delicious and the portions were generous. The prices were fair for such a lovely meal and it was great to have a filling meal in the USA that was not soaked in cheese and butter. This restaurant is highly recommended for vegetarians.