which restaurant? Saray/Rangzen/Helmand/Addis Red Sea

Hi Foodies,

Ok, we%26#39;re getting down to serious decision time and I%26#39;m stuck on one night! I%26#39;m taking my two daughters (11/15) to see Blue Man Group at a 4pm show, and I%26#39;d like to have a fun, different dinner that we can relax at afterward.

I%26#39;ve narrowed it down to Saray, Rangzen, Helmand, and Addis Red Sea. We%26#39;ve had Ethiopian before and really liked it, but we haven%26#39;t had any of the others, the menus all look great (except I can%26#39;t find one for Saray). What do ya%26#39;ll think?

Thanks,

Jenmol

which restaurant? Saray/Rangzen/Helmand/Addis Red Sea

haha, Jen, you really do your homework don%26#39;t you!? I have no idea!! I loved Helmand but that%26#39;s the only one I have tried of the 4. Next on my list will be Red Addis. Rangzen and Saray both get fabulous reviews as well. I%26#39;ll just say nice job scouting these places out and enjoy whichever one you choose. You should move to Boston and advise some of us on these places, lol If convienence from the Playhouse matters, Red Addis is the closest by far. Right down Tremont from there. Enjoy!

which restaurant? Saray/Rangzen/Helmand/Addis Red Sea

Addis, without a doubt.

Just be prepared for some slowwwww service...

I%26#39;m a big fan of Red Addis, and haven%26#39;t had a problem with slow service there. It%26#39;s unique in that you don%26#39;t get utensils to eat with. I%26#39;m not familiar with the other restaurants you mentioned.

Hi,

Having eaten and really enjoyed all four, they are all different and it%26#39;s difficult to choose between them.

Addis is one of my favorites in Boston. I go there all the time. Of the four places, it%26#39;s the only one in walking distance of the Charles Playhouse. It has a lovely atmosphere and delicious food.

Saray is delicious, but it%26#39;s a bit far out in Allston...not to say it%26#39;s a big problem to get to, but it requires a fairly slow ride on the B-line trolley out to Allston from the theater district.

The Helmand is more convenient, as it%26#39;s near Lechmere. It%26#39;s also got a nice atmosphere. You will need to make a reservation to get in, though...keep that in mind.

Rangtzen is the most casual place on the list. The food is tasty, but maybe not quite as exotic as you might suspect. I enjoy it myself, but I don%26#39;t know that I%26#39;d make a special trip out to Central Sq. just for that.

Other than that, I really can%26#39;t pick for you. Maybe you want to try something new? Then don%26#39;t go for Addis. I think you%26#39;d enjoy any of the choices.

I%26#39;ve never been to Saray, but I%26#39;ve been to the others. I%26#39;d probably recommend Helmand over the others, particularly since you%26#39;ve never tried Afghan food before. As literally every review about the restaurant will tell you, definitely get the baby pumpkin/ground beef appetizer; I also have had luck with the fish dishes there. It%26#39;s still a great bargain, as well.

Addis Red Sea is good if you are craving Ethiopian, and while I like Rangzen, I%26#39;m not sure it warrants going out of your way for.

Having tried all of them, I too would probably say Helmand, for a combination of uniqueness, food quality, ambience, ease of location.

I like Martza in Davis Square, Red line T, (run by the daughter of one of the first Tibetans in the Cambridge/Boston area, a baby who has grown up literally in her parents%26#39; businesses) better than Rangzen. I think she%26#39;s reopened currently.

And for Ethiopian, Farsika is far better than any of the others (Asmara, Addis) ever were--almost as good as my Ethiopian friends make at home--but not easy to get to after a show.

Thanks everyone! Now I%26#39;ve at least gotten down to Addis or Helmand....I have a feeling we%26#39;ll love either. Yea, Will007....I may be slightly anal about trip planning, but I hate missing the good stuff! Kudos to Beantownman for being my ';inside source'; for exotic food!

You all are terrific!

Jenmol

All the above considered, and more, I%26#39;d strongly recommend Addis Red Sea. I love it. The atmosphere is exotic. You sit on something like a drum, and the food is served in a big round platter on a drum in the middle. While the food%26#39;s exotic, it%26#39;s not knock your socks off exotic. You eat family style, and with your hands. If you don%26#39;t like something, don%26#39;t eat any more of it. My favorite part is the ';bread'; that you use to pick up your food. It%26#39;s a giant stretchy crepe, that you tear a piece of, that makes it easy to eat.

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