T: Green line to Lechmere. Street parking; parking garage in CambridgeSide Galleria mall.
PAYMENT
POPULAR DISH
Kaddo, a mouthwatering appetizer of baby pumpkin baked in a garlic yogurt sauce; chowpan, half a rack of lamb marinated and grilled, served with eggplant and pallow rice; vegetarian diners
will fi nd appealing appetizers and entrees aplenty.
UNIQUE DISH
Mantwo, pastry shells filled with onions and beef and topped with a beef sauce
DRINKS
Extensive wine list with selections from Italy, Germany, Spain, South America, Portugal, South Africa, America, and France; beer, soft drinks, tea, and coffee available as well
SEATING
Seats 100 people, readily accommodating large and small parties; reservations are essential, and be warned, they are given away after 15 minutes.
AMBIENCE/CLIENTELE
The ambience is a highlight here-with its muted earth tones, open brick oven, and well-placed Afghan art, it charms fi rst-daters as well as groups of old friends. The best seat in the house is by the huge bread oven. If he's feeling generous, the
bread baker stationed there will slip you warm, freshly baked Afghani bread.
Extras/Notes
Hamid Karzai, the brother of the owners of The Helmand, was named head of Afghanistan's post- Taliban provisional government in 2002. Their father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, served in the Afghan Legislature in the early 1970s and was killed by a
Taliban assassin in 1999.
OTHER ONES
. The Karzai family also has a restaurant by the same name in San Francisco.
