Eating Club saw its largest turn-out ever this week (#3) to visit Helmand, a Cambridge establishment serving Afghan food. We welcomed newbies Andrew "Laney" and Naveen, plus all the original club members were present. (See pictured from left to right: Evadne, Naveen, Liz, Rachel, Andrew, Moose, Christine and Gazelle).
Overall, we had a positive experience. They were able to accommodate our group perfectly at their table-of-grandeur... a domineering dining table fit for royalty. Evadne and Andrew were bestowed the honor of sitting at the heads while simultaneously cursed with the honor of shouting back and forth.
Some communal tidbits: Service was very attentive and prompt. The menu provides a great variety of dishes making it difficult to choose among what seem like equally delicious selections -- perfect for Eating Club who likes to order diversely and share. They open up with delicious/plentiful flatbread served with butter and a variety of 3 sauces ... which could distilled to the descriptors of yogurt, mint, and spicy.
A number of appetizers were ordered - all devoured relatively quickly. Everyone ordered a different dish, though 4 members all ordered some variety of lamb. We might have some trouble recalling the exact names of dishes, but I hope people will take on the challenge of describing theirs well enough to be sorted from the others. Although there was a momentary scare that dessert would be foregone, Andrew and Gazelle stepped up to the challenge.
individual assessment:
I ordered a vegetarian appetizer (2 puff pastries, one with leek and scallion, the other with potato), as well as the Vegetarian Special dish (which comes with 4 elements plus rice). I would absolutely order the app again - it came with a yogurt sauce and was generously portioned. My Special was good - not great - but perhaps just overshadowed by Naveen's dish, which offered up a little more punch (spiciness) and taste. I'd probably stray from the Special on my next visit. However, the highlight of the dish was the pumpkin, which, fittingly, can be ordered on its own. So, having gotten my inaugural attempt out of the way, a mix-and-match approach to Helmand would be the best for the future. App, side, entree to share to start. Add onto that as appropriate for the numbers you're bringing. I partook in the carafe of red house wine which was worth its price though not particularly impressive. I also shared Gazelle's cream pudding dessert which was an excellent conclusion to the meal -- light, tasty and heavily fresh fruited, it fulfilled its role of dessert to a T (I've heard that the idea is for the sugar to help cleanse your palette and settle your stomach from a large meal).We haven't implemented a number system, but I find them helpful... so here goes. Food: 8/10, Atmosphere: 7.5/10, Overall: 8/10 (+ factors: bread service)(- factors: they take your bread & plate away when your entrees arrive)
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