The way The Helmand, an Afghan spot in Mount Vernon, squeezes so much flavor into their dishes should be studied by a special task force (and one that we’d like to be a part of). See this phenomenon for yourself by ordering the leek aushak dumplings with yogurt and mint, tender pumpkin kaddo borwani in garlic and yogurt, and the onion-beef mantwo swimming in meat sauce. The restaurant is located in a 100-year-old carriage house that works for a first date, or a special occasion meal after a visit to the Walters Art Museum, when everybody wants their own big plate of rice and meat.

If you are not familiar with Afghan cuisine, you might not know that they have a fantastic variety of vegetarian dishes, and the classic Baltimore restaurant Helmand is no exception. Start with one of the appetizers; the “ kaddoo borwani” (baked baby pumpkin) or the “ bowlawni” (pan-fried pastry filled with leeks and potatoes) are both great options. Choose from one of their many vegetarian entrées, including the “ Aushak,” which are Afghan-style ravioli, and the stuffed bell pepper—you really can’t go wrong!

Owned by Hamid Kharzai's brother, Qayum Karzai, The Helmand serves outstanding Afghan fare in a casual yet elegant space. Beautiful woven textiles and traditional dresses adorn the walls, adding color to the simple white table settings. Stop by for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

Not much has changed at this Mount Vernon institution in the more than 30 years that it has anchored the Baltimore dining scene—the white-tablecloth tables, the traditional Afghan dresses on the walls, the seamless service, or the mainstay menu, centered around classic Afghan dishes. Even after longtime owner Qayum Karzai passed away last summer, The Helmand continued its mission of bringing Baltimoreans plates of lamb, apricots, and turnips; beef-topped ravioli; and kaddow borwani, the pumpkin in yogurt sauce that’s long been a must-order. Though the patriach’s presence is missed, few things are better than sharing a meal here with a table full of friends and family, then finishing the evening with a double shot of Turkish coffee and a plate of the house-made baklava.

Since helping to introduce the Middle Eastern genre here more than a quarter-century ago, The Helmand continues to be the gold standard among all ethnic eateries in Baltimore. This Afghani bistro in Mt. Vernon ranks among Baltimore City Paper's "Dining Hall of Fame" and the Top 50 (overall) restaurants of both Baltimore Magazine and the Baltimore Sun (#14), and tops the city's Middle Eastern entries in Zagat's, just to name a few of its accolades — some of which it has earned multiple times. Among the fare receiving nationwide acclaim is its signature appetizer, kaddo borwani (pictured), which its menu describes as a "tenderly baked and pan-fried baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served atop a yogurt garlic sauce".

Residents have been savoring dishes like the yogurt-topped baked pumpkin appetizer at Afghani restaurant the Helmand for decades and the assorted chaats and samosas in Hampden's the Verandah Kitchen since 2011. Spike Gjerde won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2015 for his seminal farm-to-table cuisine at Woodberry Kitchen, which showed as much love to produce as protein. (Woodberry Kitchen will reopen as Woodberry Tavern with an updated menu but the same commitment to local sourcing, according to a restaurant rep.)

A Mount Vernon mainstay since 1989, The Helmand is the city’s top choice for traditional Afghan cuisine. The extensive menu emphasizes meats including lamb, beef, and chicken along with seafood and vegetables, all prepared with aromatic spices from Afghanistan as well as Greece, India, and Iran. Begin with the best-selling Kaddo Borawni, made from pan friend baby pumpkin served over garlicky yogurt, along with a side of na’an, which is baked fresh daily in The Helmand’s wood-fired oven.

Established in 1989, as one of the upscale restaurants in Baltimore, The Helmand has played a significant role in popularizing Afghan food in the United States. The Helmand offers a diverse menu containing lamb, seafood, beef, and chicken dishes, as well as vegetarian options, like spinach, and eggplant. Kaddo Borawni is the signature dish, which is a baked pumpkin appetizer, and char-broiled lamb tenderloin served with pallow, a seasoned rice dish.

After our museum venture, we ended the evening having a memorable dinner at The Helmand Restaurant in the Mt. Vernon section of Baltimore. Appetizers of Kaddo Borawni (baked baby pumpkin) and roasted eggplant, entrees of lamb tenderloin and kabobs, all served with delicious Afghan bread and pallow rice, were a fantastic way to end the day!. I don't know if I can recommend the Turkish coffee.

Address: 806 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201Phone:+1 (410) 752-0311Website:helmand.comDetails: $$, Afghan restaurant. The Helmand, a Halal restaurant located in Baltimore, offers a delightful dining experience that showcases the best of Afghan cuisine. The staff at this establishment is friendly and helpful, ensuring that guests feel welcome from the moment they step through the doors.

The Helmand is a fine Afghan cuisine restaurant located in Baltimore, Maryland. They offer a diverse menu that caters to all dietary preferences, including options for carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, and gluten-free eaters. Their menu features a variety of delicious dishes such as lamb, seafood, beef, chicken, eggplant, spinach, and other fresh vegetables.

The experience at The Helmand is unique for its tasty vegan dishes inspired by Afghans. It has become famous for its vegan pumpkin curry, and even its eggplant with fresh tomatoes brings a rich array of spices and ingredients to your table. The subtle, relaxed environment makes The Helmand the perfect place for a special night out with a loved one or a quiet dinner.

For over twenty years, The Helmand has been serving fine Afghan cuisine to Baltimore from its Mount Vernon location. Though they offer an extensive full-course menu of lamb, beef, chicken and seafood dishes, the restaurant has also gained fame for its abundance of vegetarian dishes, such as the kaddo borwani (pan-fried pumpkin) and the banjan borwani (pan-fried .

If you’ve never had Afghan food, The Helmand in Mount Vernon is the place to start. Owned by the brother of Afghanistan’s former president, this restaurant offers hearty, flavorful dishes like kaddo borawni (pumpkin) that will make you forget all your previous biases about vegetables. Plus, the naan is so addictive you might contemplate stealing a basket to go.

At the Helmand, the Mount Vernon Afghan institution owned by Qayum Karzai, the kaddo borwani, or sauteed baby pumpkin, is seasoned with sugar and served with yogurt garlic sauce. Former Baltimore Sun restaurant critic Richard Gorelick once called it “arguably, the most beloved appetizer to appear in a Baltimore restaurant in the past quarter-century.

Once you get hungry, hit Charles Street:There's Afghani food like sweet, pan-fried baby pumpkin at The Helmand (also the very historic site of my very first date) and the pillow-iest gnocchi ever at Sotto Sopra. The restaurant hosts opera nights, where you'll be serenaded with live performances as you eat a multi-course dinner.

First erected in 1989, The Helmand has helped to introduce Afghan food around America, and this location has continued to bestow quality Baltimore food amongst visitors and residents. Every dish starts with delicate preparation and is seasoned to perfection.

806 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201410-752-0311 Visit Website. If you’re craving authentic Afghani food while in Baltimore, it’s time to head out to The Helmand. It has been serving the city for more than 30 years.

Duck Duck Goose, The Helmand, Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, Gunther & Co., Hersh’s, La Scala, Magdalena, Restaurante Tio Pepe, Alma Cocina Latina, The Food Market, Cindy Lou’s Fish House, True Chesapeake Oyster Co., Hersh’s

The Helmand has been serving up fine Afghan cuisine for over 30 years. You can choose family style service where you are able to share large portions with your table.

- Rating: 4.2/5 (785 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 806 North Charles St. Baltimore, Maryland - Categories: Afghan, Vegetarian, Middle Eastern- Read more on Yelp

Founded in 1999 by a Baltimore restaurateur, The Helmand is named after the Helmand River in Afghanistan. It is one of the first Afghan restaurants in the city.