The Helmand RestaurantFlavors Divine!My husband and I went to the Helmand for the first time for a 5pm dinner before a concert. We ordered all vegetarian items, and each one was distinctive for quality of ingredients, preparation and taste. (Note: yogurt is used to accent many dishes; vegans can request it to be omitted). The pumpkin and the fried eggplant appetizers were heavenly, and the Aush (vegetable/noodle soup) was delicious. My husband had the vegetarian platter--I don't know how anyone can make turnips taste so good--and I had the vegetarian Aushak, which is leek ravioli with a yellow split pea and carrot sauce. The ravioli were the most tender I've tasted outside of Little Italy in NY! The decor is simple but elegant. We can't wait to go back!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I took anotherMy wife and I took another couple to Helmand to celebrate a birthday. I had been to Heland before but this was the first time for my wife and the couple. We are from the West Indies so we are accustom to food that is well seasoned. The service was excellent and our waitress was very helpful with recommendations and tips on how the various dishes were prepared. Our appetizers (Kaddo Borwani, Mantwo) and dinners were excellent. I ordered the Kabuli. The deserts were okay. We loved the Afghan ice cream but did not like the Feerney too much.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good food and friendlyVery good food and friendly service at a reasonable price.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMIn Awe of Afghan Cuisine!It never crossed my mind to try Afghan cuisine, but after joining a friend last month for dinner at the Helmand, I've been looking for a reason to return. My husband and I tried 4 different appetizers and each had a main dish. My favorite is the leek raviolis with meat sauce. I might have to order that as a main dish next time. The Helmand is a must go!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is alwaysThis restaurant is always excellent and the food is wonderful. We never take guests to the Inner Harbor, but to Helmand.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat experienceWonderful experience. Great food and nice service. Brought work group here, with a 3 yr old child, high chair provided by restaurant. Would definitely recommend5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMdinner on SundayWe arrived slightly early for a birthday dinner, table for 8 and our table was ready. Waitstaff were helpful and remembered exactly what we ordered. Diners ranged in age from 18 to 89 and we all found something we enjoyed. Plenty of interesting flavors and foods to eat, especially enjoyed the lamb specialities.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner at the HelmandFood is wonderful, flavorful, delicious. Sevice is very good.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappoints!I brought my sister and out-of-town guest to The Helmand for dinner. They had never been before, although I have. We went on a Monday night, so we were seated right away, and the restaurant wasn't too crowded. Everyone *loved* their food, and we also appreciated the leisurely (but not careless) pace of the service. I would definitely recommend The Helmand to everyone!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are NEVER disappointedWe are NEVER disappointed with Helmand. Although we live about 45 minutes away, we travel into Baltimore every few months, and many of those times we choose dinner at Helmand. This past Saturday we tried the newest special, and it was sublime! Everything was delicious, as always.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI haven't been here in yearsI haven't been here in years but as always great food, service and prices.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMLiked it! Compared to otherLiked it! Compared to other afghan restaurants I've tried -- portions smaller, but nicer decor, more interesting flavors, a bit understaffed.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely ambience and greatLovely ambience and great service. Always a favorite!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful menu, especiallywonderful menu, especially for vegetarians. friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely loved the lambAbsolutely loved the lamb kabob and pumpkin. Also the eggplant appetizer. Took a relative from out-of-town and she just raved about it. Very crowded on Saturday night. Be sure and make a reservation. But you just can't beat the food. Everything is outstanding!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, reasonableExcellent food, reasonable price, excellent service4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOld FavoriteThe Helmand is an old favorite that never disappoints. I always have a terrible time deciding what to get because it's all so good. The cilantro/vinegar sauce that is served with the meals (or usually is with whatever I order, don't know if it comes with everything)is addictive. Just that and rice and I'd be happy. I usually get chicken and it is always cooked perfectly and never dry. I'll keep coming back.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Helmand never disappoints!The Helmand never disappoints! The food is always fantastic and the service outstanding. I highly recommend!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food! My friend andGreat food! My friend and I shared an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert. The appetizer was a stewed eggplant appetizer with yogurt sauce and was delicious. We ate it with some Afghan naan. We chose two lamb entrees- one was the lamb sheekh kabob, the other was a boneless lamb cooked with tomatoes and onions. Both were served with rice pilaf. The kabobs were seasoned and spiced perfectly, and were not dry. The lamb in the other dish was flavorful and succulent. The rice was delicious. Did not particularly like the raspberry afghan pastries and that is why I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5. Great ambience! Check it out!4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA Monday night is much nicerA Monday night is much nicer than a very packed Saturday night in the winter!4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMMade reservation through OpenTableMade reservation through OpenTable and were seated on-time. Service was excellent and the food was delicious! Will definitely be dining there again!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat balance of familiarGreat balance of familiar and exotic.
Helpful staff answers questions about unfamiliar items.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Helmand offers deliciousThe Helmand offers delicious food in a very cozy dining experience. The service is overwhelmingly friendly and helpful, but can I just reiterate that the food is absolutely amazing??? The prices are absolutely worth coming here again and again to experience their cuisine.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding every time! TheOutstanding every time! The pumkin dishes and any of the lawland keep me coming back for more!!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you enjoy exotic dishes,If you enjoy exotic dishes, this restaurant is for you! There is a generous assortment of vegetarian options, as well as traditional meat and lamb dishes. The mantwo, a dumpling filled with beef and onions and served with a yogurt and meat sauce, was a favorite of my group, as were the lamb kabobs. The ambiance, with Afghan music and decoration, was perfectly suited to the menu. A restaurant worth visiting many times, if only so you can try all the different, delicious recipes!3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful treat. The foodA wonderful treat. The food is awesome and the service is five stars. Great menu. Romantic.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMI have never had cuisine fromI have never had cuisine from Afghanistan, but it was tasty. Similar to Indian food, but with less creamy sauces. I chose to go there because my mother and sister are vegetarians and they have a TON of veggie options. I got the lamb while it was a small portion, it was good. We got there early and the service was very good, but when it got very busy (and it did!) we were forgotten for awhile. But overall, it was a very good experience and the food was great!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery aspect of the meal wasEvery aspect of the meal was wonderful. My only wish was that the restaurant wasn't so noisy. It's hard to hear across the table.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Helmand is one of theThe Helmand is one of the most consistently fine restaurants in Baltimore, and the prices are more than reasonable. I am not sure there is a better bargain out there.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently good food. NeverConsistently good food. Never had a dinner here that we did not enjoy.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThanks from us and Mom!We had a party of 6 on Saturday night to celebrate my mom's birthday. The staff was SO kind and and accommodating. They gave us a beautiful table by the window and away from the door so that people wouldn't be bumping into us all night. They even brought my mom a celebratory dessert with a candle as a sweet surprise. I live in the neighborhood and the Helmand is a favorite of mine, but now I love it even more!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery part of our meal wasEvery part of our meal was wonderful, from the appetizers to the wine. We did not have dessert, but other diners were clearly enjoying theirs. This is a gem for vegetarians and meat eaters, alike.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Afghani cuisine,Excellent Afghani cuisine, varied menu choices, significant vegetarian entrees, outstanding food at reasonable prices Located in historic Mount Vernon in Baltimore. One of our favorite places.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Helmand has been a consistentThe Helmand has been a consistent winner for the 15 years that I've been going there. The food is always superb, with some of the produce coming from the owner's own farm. The kaddo bowrani and aushak are the stuff of dreams. Every time I dine there, I tell myself, don't wait so long next time before you come back! Brought a very choosy diner in with me and he loved the flavors. Service was a little rushed for 9:00 pm on a Friday night and we wished our romantic dinner could have proceeded at a better pace for us to have enjoyed the meal. Other than that bump, we really love this restaurant.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant was very friendlyThe restaurant was very friendly in accommodating large groups (14 adults, 2 infants). They had excellent vegetarian food. For large groups, I recommend the fixed meal - the $32 option is a very good deal for the price, with a diverse array of excellent appetizers, generous salad, good main course, and small dessert sampler.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExtensive vegetarian menu.Extensive vegetarian menu. Beautifully presented and delicious!
We had New York visitors with us and they found the restaurant to be a wonderful choice!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was delicious. ServiceFood was delicious. Service was very good. Somewhat cramped. LOUD. Went there 7 years ago. Now, I remember why.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMI've been to The Helmand previouslyI've been to The Helmand previously and this was the best meal I have ever had there. I very much appreciate their effort to welcome vegetarians. There is an extensive vegetarian menu. I highly recommend the bowlani and the vegetarian mantwo. The Afghan ice cream with mangoes and dates mixed in is wonderful. This is one of Baltimore's most interesting and delightful restaurants. It is conveniently near the Meyerhoff, the Hippodrome, and the Lyric.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food; warm and friendlyExcellent food; warm and friendly staff; as a vegetarian there were plenty of choices for meat eaters and vegetarians3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBest thing from Karzai...I ended up showing an hour ahead of my dinner reservations but I was accommodated with a smile. The restaurant has a less-than-impressive entrance but it is very grand from inside. We found all the food delicious (except for spinach), which was a tad bit bland (maybe that's how it is cooked). But overall awesome place!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFood to look forward toThere is no place else quite like the Helmand. I've ordered many "misses" at pricier or "fancier" restaurants, but I've never had a dish that was anything less than delicious at Helmand. The kaddo borawni is so good that I usually order it once as an appetizer, and again later as a dessert!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMBring a Friend!Always crowded because of a moderately priced menu, the Helmand is always worth a trip. Decent portions along with quick and efficient service make a visit a delicious excursion into Afghan food. I bring out of town friends to the Helmand and they wind up enjoying the food as much as I do.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AM