My colleagues took me to Helmand as they had heard great reviews about the food - and the reviews were not wrong, the vegetarian food was delicious. My meat lover friends were pretty disappointed with their entrees though. The orders were incorrect for the most part - the meat was either undercooked over overcooked and not as requested by the guest.
Then why the 1 star you wonder? Good food needs to be accompanied by good service otherwise the entire experience is dampened! The minute you walk in, they treat you like shoplifters and ask you to check in your bags with the hostess - it isn't even an offer - it is mandatory!
It was a weekday, and we were a large party - 14 people. We had 2 guests RSVP at the last minute (a given with large parties). When we requested the host to add another small table as our assigned table was already too small for 14 and would not fit 16,we were told that the boss would not allow it. Furthermore,we were told that he was already upset that 3 large parties had been booked for the evening. (since when do small business owners not welcome more business?!) Then the boss came and talked to us and said that it would be a fire hazard to add another table - thats the first time I have heard of that excuse. And let me tell you, we don't buy it! Restaurants are always able to accommodate 1 or 2 extra guests for large parties - especially when there were many empty tables through the course of our meal. Not just that, when we requested some bread (they usually serve free bread in the beginning), we received a rather curt response - they told us that they did not serve bread unless the guests had ordered food....?? Why would we make a reservation for 14 people if we just wanted to come sit and enjoy their 'cold' hospitality.
Of course the servers were consistent with the awful service as well - when our server came to take our order, we were discussing what we wanted and he stood there letting out exasperated sighs and curtly said that he would come back later.
We may sound like a n unforgiving party at first, but a series of bad experiences in the same night warrants for a no-go the next time on! Never going there again - unless I hear that they are under new management and have hired well trained, courteous staff!
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