The Helmand

Examples include Atasca and Casa Portugal and Portugalia (Portuguese), Kebab Factory and Tamarind Bay and Tanjore and Cafe of India (Indian), Le's (Vietnamese), Koreana (Korean), Elephant Walk (Cambodian and French), Changsho (Americanized Chinese), Mary Chung (Szechuan Chinese), Qingdao Garden (more Chinatown-style Chinese), Helmand (Afghan), Muqueca (Brazilian muquesa), Sugar and Spice and Tamarind House and Rod Dee and Spice Thai and 9 Tastes (Thai), Addis Red Sea and Asmara (Ethiopian), Midwest Grill (Brazilian rodizio), Anna Taqueria and Boca Grande and Felipe's (Mission-style Mexican burritos and such), Algiers (Middle Eastern coffee house eats), Baraka Cafe (North African), Ole (more upscale Mexican), and Greek Corner II (Greek). Not to mention the wealth of Japanese places in Porter Exchange (though avoid the sushi bar). Sushi is not Cambridge's strong suit, but if you must, your best bets are Hana Sushi or Cafe Sushi.

The area's first Afghan restaurant, named after the country's most important river, welcomes you into its cozy Kendall Square confines with Afghan rugs, a wood-burning oven, and exotic yet extremely approachable food that reflects the motherland's location halfway between the Middle East and India. Standouts, beyond the chewy warm bread, include magical names from a faraway land like aushak (leek-stuffed ravioli over yogurt with beef ragù and mint), chapendaz (marinated grilled beef tenderloin served with cumin-spiced hot pepper–tomato puree), and a vegetarian baked pumpkin platter. The warm atmosphere, courtesy of a small fireplace and a wood-burning oven that provides heat for the restaurant's famous flatbread, gives off the comforts of home while maintaining a world's-away vibe.

Named after Afghanistan’s longest river, The Helmand in Kendall Square hasn’t changed much over the nearly 30 years it’s been open. Plus, they have consistently good dishes you won’t easily find elsewhere in the Boston area, like mantwo served on a bed of yogurt, the fried-then-baked pumpkin dish kaddo, and leek-filled aushak dumplings. The fireplace and wood-burning oven make the atmosphere extra cozy, so it’s nice that the friendly servers won’t mind if you post up for a while.

Both of these restaurants, from COJE Management Group, embrace maximalist, sexy-time design. Lolita is right on the water in Fort Point, serving grilled street corn, guacamole, tacos, and tequila. Yvonne’s is downtown, serving charred maitake mushrooms with whipped miso, stone-fired pitas, shareable platters of seared tuna over Sardinian couscous, and fancy cocktails.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (465 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Middle Eastern, Afghan- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 143 1st St, Cambridge, MA 02142-1205- Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like: Best places for 7 popular indoor activities in Boston

The Helmand is one of our favorite restaurants — and the bread oven especially lends itself to a romantic date night experience. You can linger over their Afghani appetizers (try the pumpkin kaddo) with dipping sauces and bread, and the menu is diverse enough that there’s something for everyone.

I don't think Helmand (the Afghan place in East Cambridge) is as good as it used to be. If Lala Rokh is still there on Beacon Hill, as it seems to be, it's a wonderfully romantic and absolutely delicious Persian place which would put any New York equivalent to shame (but not Los Angeles).

Finally, if you want something just a little different, try Muqueca (Brazilian), Atasca (Portuguese), or the Helmand (Afghan). All of these are excellent ethnic restaurants that are really nice and just a bit more reasonably priced than your typical European or new American restaurant.

The Helmand is a popular restaurant in Boston known for its Afghan cuisine. Locals are drawn to The Helmand for its warm and classy atmosphere. The restaurant is centered around a hearth where bread is baked, adding to the cozy ambiance.

143 First StCambridge, MA 02142(617) 492-4646 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. The Helmand Restaurant is an Afghani place that Mahmood Karzai opened in the early 2000s. It is named after the longest river in Afghanistan.

Helmand is a cozy Afghani restaurant famous for its brick oven flatbreads and its pumpkin dishes. You can’t go wrong with Lamb Lawand and the Bucklawa for dessert.