I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when we got here. This place has been on my list since it opened, but I just never made it out. I'm glad I did!!! It makes me think of going to eat at your grandmas house, but elevated. The dishes all had a southern undertone, but were prepared in a new and exciting way. We started with the angel biscuits, as they were highly recommended. That brown butter that came with them was ‍ Then we shared a summer salad which was light and had apples, walnuts and a vinaigrette dressing. My friend got the New York strip and I got the Ibérico Presa, which is part of the pork shoulder , and we shared the collard greens and potatoes as a side. All of the meat we found out is raised in Franklin TN and is fresh. For dessert we shared the Alabama lane cake, which I was bossed with after reading To Kill a Mockingbird and have tried to make myself! The restaurant itself is small and cozy and they use real old southern style glass dishes. Our waiter, Micah was nice and attentive without being pretentious. He handled all of our questions about the menu seamlessly Hope to return soon! read more

Stopped by Helen for a quick pre-dinner drink with a friend and discovered there's a whole upstairs bar I never knew existed -- after multiple visits, always seated on the first level! Nice little surprise. We started with the Hunch Punch (rum-based and tropical, exactly what I wanted) and A Little Bit of Whimsy, which was so refreshing I could've had three. Service was a little slow after the first round -- our bartender got a bit busy and didn't check back in as quickly as I'd have liked -- but nothing that ruined the vibe. It's been way too long since my last visit here. This trip reminded me why I need to come back and actually try dinner next time. Great drinks, great atmosphere, just needs a bit more attentiveness at the bar. read more

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I have been here multiple times for dinner, and I just recently went here for lunch for the first time. This is probably one of the best restaurants and all of Birmingham and that is saying a lot. We, of course, got the Angel biscuits with that delicious butter. Those are always outstanding! One person got the chicken thighs and another got the burger that came with delicious chips and we got the peas for an extra side. The atmosphere is such a cool charming upscale SOUTHERN restaurant Five. My guest thoroughly enjoyed it and I bet they can't wait to go back just like me. My server had excellent answers to every question. I asked him and several people came to our table throughout the meal to make sure everything was going well when my server was busy. This is one of the best dining experiences you can have in Birmingham whether it be a nice lunch or a celebration of the most special occasions, this is one of the best places to be for it. read more

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Helen does my favorite genre of southern food "came from the garden", a rich, flavorful, and fresh meal inspired by a deep love and appreciation for the magic of the South. I came for lunch and was recommended the tomato pie and had a side of peas and beans. The seasonal tomato pie was decadent and salty, while the beans were seasoned. The bar staff was friendly and personable. Would recommend for a great Birmingham experience! read more

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Food first, thoughts after... Wow. A standing ovation. My love and I have found our goto restaurant for any celebration, date night, or if we just want a delicious and special dinner. Helen was loved by both of us. Our server was very knowledgable and very welcoming. The atmosphere was casual but intimate. The food was phenomenal. The attention to detail in every dish is what sold us. Big bonus was the portion sizes were perfect. Typically we're ordering 2 apps and 2 entrees but for Helen, we got 1 app and split the entree. We will definitely be back. read more

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I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when we got here. This place has been on my list since it opened, but I just never made it out. I'm glad I did!!! It makes me think of going to eat at your grandmas house, but elevated. The dishes all had a southern undertone, but were prepared in a new and exciting way. We started with the angel biscuits, as they were highly recommended. That brown butter that came with them was ‍ Then we shared a summer salad which was light and had apples, walnuts and a vinaigrette dressing. My friend got the New York strip and I got the Ibérico Presa, which is part of the pork shoulder , and we shared the collard greens and potatoes as a side. All of the meat we found out is raised in Franklin TN and is fresh. For dessert we shared the Alabama lane cake, which I was bossed with after reading To Kill a Mockingbird and have tried to make myself! The restaurant itself is small and cozy and they use real old southern style glass dishes. Our waiter, Micah was nice and attentive without being pretentious. He handled all of our questions about the menu seamlessly Hope to return soon! read more

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My neighbor and I enjoyed a very nice steak dinner, it was cooked to perfection-and very tasty. Followed by Love Bird dessert- one of the best pastries I've ever had. Tate, our waiter- was so kind, bubbly, overall great energy. read more

Helen - Steak and pinto beans - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I'm always looking for local, non chain, farm to table restaurants and was excited to try this one out with my sister-in-law. The interior was refreshingly classic but current, making good use of an elongated and narrow space. The partially open kitchen increases interest, but I was sitting with my back to it, which spared my lunch companion from competing for my attention. Our server Krynn was perfectly kind, prompt, and pleasing, genuinely welcoming to us and knowledgeable of the dishes. She was so very sweet and one of the best servers I have encountered in Alabama. The food was very thoughtfully prepared. We ordered Tuesday's lunch special, the fried green tomato BLT. We were impressed that the bacon is cured on site and cut the same day it is fried and served. The sandwich was so large that we easily split it. The tomatoes were good. I prefer lettuce in leaves, not shreds, but it didn't detract much from the experience and it didn't fall out everywhere. The sandwich came with chips which seemed homemade and were very good, not soggy. I added salt which was brought in a little wooden pinch bowl. For a side we split a plate of marinated summer peas and beans. This was baby lima beans and black eyed peas, with a very small amount of finely diced red onion and red bell pepper. There was a copious amount of cilantro that was not finely chopped and dominated certain mouthfuls. I would adjust this recipe by using a few more pinches of red onions and bell peppers, and finely chopping the cilantro and using less of it. It was very flavorful! I thought my SIL might still be hungry so we got a cheesecake slice at the end. It presented beautifully and was covered in a blueberry syrup. The texture was a bit ragged but it isn't any worse than one I'd make at home. I also felt the lemon flavor was a bit overly strong, and the crust appeared to be cornmeal based and wasn't my favorite, but that's just my preference. I feel that smokers or people with few taste buds would still be able to taste the food at Helen! I also ordered a cup of black regular coffee and it was truly delightful, no adjustments to that flavor needed in my opinion! We were attended by a couple other servers and everyone was polite and sweet. I felt very relaxed and as if I were valued as a customer. I hope Krynn has many sweet customers who appreciate how nice she is! I hope to be back someday and would definitely recommend Helen restaurant. read more

Helen - cheesecake - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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4.5 stars! The angel biscuits & butter are to die for! I loved the family style sides, which allowed my table to try everything! I was skeptical about the Lima beans but they were so good! The pork chop was super flavorful! The cinnamon roll was perfection! I love the ambiance & service was great (if not slightly slow, but I was with a huge group & it's the holidays so def could be that)! Will be back! read more

Helen - Cinnamon Roll - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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What a cool place! Very high end and very personal to the owner. Pleasing comfort food with a refined presentation and creative preparation. The atmosphere is somewhere between homey and hunting club. A definite masculine aura, but, not so much as to seem one note. The hostess got us seats at the bar, per our request, for a drink and bite before meeting friends elsewhere. I would think reservations would be smart here. We ordered wine and the smoked chips and dip. All well explained and delicious. We really enjoyed the bartender. He was quite young, but seemed well seasoned and engaging. We intend to go back for dinner next time we are in Birmingham. read more

I was curious about this place since I had read so much about it and seen it on lists of places to eat at. Make sure to reserve a table a day before; they book really quickly. We ate at the bar which I ended up loving. It is such a cool vibe there - classy and not too dark, so you can see easily. We got the Warm Angel Biscuits because it seemed popular and well liked, the Carolina Gold Middlins, and Bear Creek Farm Flat Iron Steak. They were all SO good. Definitely get the Biscuits. I can see why people love them so much - the biscuits were warm and had a soft texture, but what I thought shined was the butter. It was unbelievably smooth, sweet (but not too sweet), and just... had such a good flavor to it. I'd get it again. The Middlins was sooo decadent too. Full of flavor and different textures. I'd get this one again. The steak was really good, except, it was actually lukewarm when they served it to us. I was super surprised for a restaurant like this. They were nice and attempted to heat it up again but.... it didn't really make it much warmer. So that kind of spoiled it. But if it was hot, it would have been AMAZING. So that was my experience! read more

WOW!!!! Best meal we had in BHAM! The sweet corn ribs were soooooooo delicious! We could not stop eating them - perfectly seasoned summer produce! The rib eye steak was beyond juicy and tender, cooked to perfection with salt, pepper, and beef tallow. We enjoyed the warm biscuits with sugar cane butter! The peanut butter pie dessert tasted like a decadent Reese's candy with chocolate, peanuts, and whipped cream! Service was fantastic and lovely ambience! read more

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We had a delightful anniversary dinner at Helen. Valet was smooth, we were sat quickly, and enjoyed the ambiance. Our server was kind and described the dishes in detail. We absolutely loved every bite of the steak. The sides were delicious too. We didn't know if it would be worth the hype, but it definitely was! read more

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Great night. Service is spectacular! Food hit at high note at every course. A favorite on 2nd avenue. Glad I finally made it!

We came here for Valentine's dinner / date night. We had never been, and let me say - we have definitely been missing out. I would definitely recommend making a reservation as they stay really busy. Our waiter was great, both with knowledge of the menu and specials and with his recommendations. The food itself was great. We got two appetizers - the angel biscuits and the st. louis pork ribs. The pork ribs were alright, but needed some more saucce and were the 'worst' things we had that night - not bad, but something had to get that award. The angel biscuits, esp with that butter they used, were delicious, and that's coming from someone who is NOT a biscuit lover. For dinner, we got a side of brussel sprouts and a side of the yukon gold potatoes, and we split the 22oz ribeye. Both the brussels and the potatoes were amazing - my wife loved the brussels the most, while I was favoring the potatoes. The ribeye had a great flavor. Needless to say, we had plenty of food to take home and eat again for another meal. I look forward to coming back soon. read more

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What's going on Yelpies !!! You know that moment when you asked your friend or significant other what do you want for dinner and you both look at each other and say .... Helen's ... Yeah that what you should say instead of the normal answer. The food here is one of a kind. Really .... I'm at a minimum 25 years in the food and beverage industry (I know TMI) Chef can cook some superb dishes.. From short rib ,Iberico pork , to Certified Angus Beef. You're going to eat good and taste real food with class and comfort because the people and vibe will make you feel at home. Oh and the selection of wine is amazing. Keep it going and good luck on your new up and coming seafood location next store read more

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We had a 5:30 dinner upstairs. It was not crowded but filling up by time we finished our meal. We did have a reservation. We started with warm angels. Goodness, they were so good. I highly recommend. Both had the filet! It was so delicious and cooked perfectly! The atmosphere was nice. We did valet parking. read more

Helen - Filet - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Service was great. Old fashioned (not on menu) was good. Got the porterhouse, fat left on the slab, which I thought was unusual, but good meat otherwise. "Middlins"? Terrible. Soaked in something citrus/acidic. Biscuits, good. Potatoes, ok. read more

Helen - Middlins, Yukon Potatoes - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Helen was the perfect spot for a long-overdue dinner with one of my dearest friends. The atmosphere strikes a beautiful balance--elevated but welcoming, with a kind of understated Southern elegance. We shared the ribeye, cooked beautifully and full of flavor, along with the bone marrow, which added a rich, decadent note to the meal. The cabbage surprised me in the best way--tender, charred just right, and deeply flavorful. The homemade cracker jacks were perfect. And the little gem salad with homemade buttermilk dressing? Simple, fresh, and one of those dishes that reminds you how good the basics can be when done well. For dessert, we split the gluten-free hazelnut dessert and the lemon bar. Both were excellent--the hazelnut dessert was perfectly balanced with contrasting textures and not too sweet, and the lemon bar had the perfectly bright, citrusy finish to end the meal. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the pacing let us really enjoy catching up. Helen is a gem--thoughtful food, beautifully executed, and a space that makes a meal feel like a moment. read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Helen's is a great place to dine. It's a staple whenever my husband and I visit Alabama. The winter menu includes their white barbecue sauce short rib, which is so good, you'll almost eat it with your eyes closed. The service is pleasant, and the ambiance offers a cozy living room setting. It's a must, when in town. If you're looking for a great place to dine -- make a reservation. You may not make it in if you don't plan ahead. Happy Helen Tasting! read more

Helen - The kitchen area! - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I'd double my stars if I could. We stumbled upon Helen while spending a weekend in Birmingham (which, I should note, was in September. I'm behind on writing my reviews by like, a lot). We had dinner reservations elsewhere, but as we got to know the area after a night, we wanted to stay somewhere more downtown and got to reading reviews on Yelp. After seeing pictures of the food and seeing what others had to say, we decided to make a reservation at Helen. From the moment we walked into the restaurant, we felt like we had found a gem. We wanted a special night to ourselves with good service and great food, and immediately, before even being seated, felt like we'd found it. The ambiance cozy and elevated. We were taken to our table upstairs and our waiter quickly stopped by to give us waters. The restaurant was very busy, so I worried about being helped in a timely manner, but that was never a problem at all. Our waiter was Feyard and he was an absolute rockstar - so knowledgable about everything on the menu, including the cocktails and wine, and just an incredibly nice person. We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so decided to share everything we ordered. After a round of cocktails, we ordered the oysters and prosciutto/melon salad. Both were incredible in their own way. Next up we had Elote Corn Ribs, which were also delicious but slightly messy to eat. For our main course, we shared a filet with a side of mushrooms and slightly crushed (baked and fried) new potatoes. The filet was cooked perfectly, and the sides really complemented the meal. While we were digesting/deciding on our dessert selection, Feyard brought us some of the Warm Angel Biscuits and said he knew we didn't order them but he truly believed we needed to try them. He was right. That homemade butter was poppin'. For dessert, we split the famous banana pudding that was the best I've ever had. The food. The experience. The service. It was all absolutely incredible and we were both so glad that we decided to give it a try. We WILL be back next time we're in town and hope that this review gives you the inspo to try it out as well! read more

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I was really excited to try this restaurant because it came so highly recommended by everyone I spoke to, and I genuinely wanted to leave a glowing review. The food and service were both exquisite, but unfortunately the overall experience fell short because of the atmosphere. For roughly $100 per person, the ambiance simply didn't match the price point. We happened to dine at the same time as a very loud group in the "private dining area," and while they were technically separated by a curtain, the noise carried throughout the restaurant. At several points profanities were being shouted loudly across the room, which completely took away from what should have been an upscale dining experience. To the restaurant's credit, management did make an attempt to quiet the group down, but unfortunately it didn't make any difference and the disruption continued throughout the entirety of the evening. It's disappointing because the kitchen and staff clearly delivered, but the noise level and lack of sound separation made us want to leave early rather than relax and enjoy the evening. read more

It's been a while since we ate at Helen so we decided to take a good friend there for lunch in hopes that it would still be a good experience. I'm happy to report that it was excellent! First, there's convenient parking in the spacious and clean parking deck across the street and it was only $3 when we exited. We entered and were warmly greeted by the hostess who quickly led us to our reserved table. It might seem like a small thing, but she politely waited until we were seated before placing the menus in front of us and then she asked if we had been there before and she also pointed out the location of the restrooms. They were apparently a little busier than normal so it took a little while for our server to appear. However, he apologized for the short wait before describing the restaurant concept to our friend who was there for the first time.   Helen is described as a contemporary Southern grill with a refreshed take on classic dining. Prime meats and seafood are cooked in an open kitchen, served alongside vegetables and non-traditional sides on a menu driven by seasonality and product from local purveyors. For starters we ordered the warm angel biscuits that come with a whipped cane sugar butter that were simply wonderful... The butter alone is worth the trip downtown! These biscuits are a must if you ever come here! We also had the smoked potato chips with blue cheese dip, another deliciously clever choice. For entrees we had the double cheeseburger (not your average burger), two orders of the smoked chicken thighs with a jalapeño white bbq sauce, and the brussel sprouts and Yukon gold potatoes to share. Everything thing was excellent and thoughtfully conceived. There are several other great entrees/sides and a couple of dessert items on the menu, but not so many choices that you feel overwhelmed. The restaurant is located in a charming and inviting two story building with a somewhat rustic but thoughtfully decorated interior. I give the Helen an A+ for checking all of the boxes that make for a great dining experience. We will definitely be back! read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Worth every penny!! Don't be misled by weird reviews on Helen. It is one of the top 3 restaurants anywhere. (One of the other three is next door) When you can tell they have read Unreasonable Hospital by the service without even asking you know you are having a glorious experience. The service was unmatched!! Myranda went above and beyond to make sure our meal was spectacular, and it was lunch. Tasted 4 entree's, 2 appetizers, 2 desserts, and 4 cocktails, all were marvelous. Each dish was cooked to perfection and the accompaniments highlighted the main item beautifully. We left nothing on our plates and enjoyed the entire event. Thank you for taking such great care of your guest!! read more

WOW. We had such a fabulous meal at Helen, and I am already looking forward to coming back! Located in downtown Birmingham, Helen has a warm, cozy, elevated ambiance. Valet is offered, but street parking is often available nearby. As for the star of the show - the food. The warm angel biscuits are a must order, and the salty maple butter that it comes with is delicious. Our favorite appetizers from today were the peach/cucumber salad and the corn ribs. The salad was sweet and salty and a perfect taste of summer. The corn ribs reminded me of eloté with a southern twist. Our favorite entree was the gulf snapper. Dessert was a chocolate mousse cake with salt on top - sooo decadent and delicious, and I'm not even a huge chocolate fan. This menu varies seasonally so always fun to see what new things they have! A wonderful restaurant for an elevated dinner in bham. read more

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My beautiful wife and I celebrated 30 years of marriage last night with a fantastic dinner. If I could give another star for our first visit,I would. The experience was incredible. Marcus C was a great server and was extremely knowledgeable and helpful with suggestions. We started with the angel biscuits and the tomato pie. Outstanding! Our main course consisted of the corn ribs(think corn on the cob cut into quarters), the grilled okra and peaches, the Myrna potatoes and the Coulotte steak. All of the food was delicious. The portions are easily enough to share. The sweet tea was excellent. We finished off with a piece of the peanut butter and chocolate pie. Definitely one of the best meals experienced in Birmingham. Highly recommend. read more

Helen was wonderful! Food, drinks and atmosphere were great. We had a drink at upstairs bar. Then dinner downstairs. Upstairs is a bit warmer atmosphere. Flavors were big and delicious. Bravo Birmingham. read more

Food and service were amazing! Came here for a special occasion and really enjoyed my time in this atmosphere. Def recommend coming for either special occasion, date night, or girls night read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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My favorite restaurant in Birmingham. Food and service are always top notch. Went for my birthday last week and couldn't have been better! This was my fiancé's first time eating there and he said it was "the best meal I've ever had!" I love the side offerings when they have fresh summer vegetables. Can't wait to go again! read more

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We flew to Birmingham to see Dave Mathews christen the new Coca Cola center. Before the show we picked up a few gourmet snacks from Helen. All were incredible. I loved the menu since it ranged from deep south, to vegan friendly, to carnivore. All dishes had a unique approach. The tomato pie was insane. So was the octopus, street corn, and salads. Drinks were great. Great spot for happy hr or dinner. read more

Helen is my favorite restaurant in the area. The service, food, and kindness is always top tier. We recently celebrated our anniversary at Helen and it was perfect! read more

Helen - French Silk Pie - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Just WOW! Great experience, great atmosphere and great food! Our server was Tessa? And she was amazing! Can't wait to go back and try more food read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We celebrated our anniversary at Helen and had the perfect evening! Our server was very kind and accomodating. He was super knowledgeable and gave great recommendations. EVERYTHING we ordered was incredible. Perfectly balanced and unique dishes. I would absoloutely reccommend the duck entree and the beets-- both were our favorite. Bonus-- they had a great wine selection!!! Helen is truly the perfect spot for a celebration! read more

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Best restaurant in Birmingham! We've been coming to Helen for years for special occasions and it never disappoints. The food is phenomenal every time. The pork chop is the best you can get anywhere! The angel biscuits are what dreams are made of. We just came for our anniversary and tried the corn ribs for the first time- SO delicious! The service is fantastic and the restaurant is beautiful. And they always make me a delicious mocktail. I recommend to everyone I meet, Helen is just the best!! read more

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OMG!!! Delicious and HUGE portions. It's family style, and you should be prepared to share the dish. Unfortunately, we didn't coordinate our ordering and spent over $600 with six people. The food was delicious and filling. I had the beef short ribs, and they looked like dinosaur bones. It was tender and tasty. Everyone was able to share the bone!!! My co-workers had the lamb, fish and chicken. The server was kind because each person attempted to order a side, and she said that was too much food. She was right. The Biscuits deserve their own space in a review. OMG!!! They were delicious and mouth-watering. They came with whipped maple butter. I'm having flashbacks just writing about them. Let's share, we had four orders of the biscuits, $10 per order but worth it. The space was welcoming and filled with hospitality. The service was exceptional Things to remember 1. Make a reservation. Walking in brings limits. 2. Coordinate how you and others will eat. 3. Be prepared to take some home. You can't eat it all 4. Leave room for dessert. Pace yourself!!! read more

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We tried nearly every " beginnings" they offered with the exception of the potato chips and sausage selection. The table devoured every appetizer that came they were so delicious. Some standouts were the tomato pie and the fish dip. I can't exactly remember It's official name. We tried the ribeye which is enormous and the lamb and the fillet. Everything was cooked to perfection. We finished the meal with peaches and oatmeal, pie and peanut butter pie. The peanut butter pie was incredible highly recommend that one, the service was impeccable and super courteous and kind. What a great dining experience highly recommend this place for a very nice meal. read more

Best restaurant we have had the pleasure of dining at in Birmingham. We got the Angel Biscuits, iceberg salad, ny strip, peach cake, espresso martini, and chocolate martini. Each course we had we kept saying oh this is really amazing! We will be back. read more

Hit or miss. The last few times a miss. Fish under cooked and lady peas which are usually do good they served mixed with mushrooms and rice- wth! Okay, lots of the dishes had foraged mushrooms so maybe they had a surplus to use- but some foods are best served solo like lady peas. My friend enjoyed his steak, tomato pie and dessert. Will have to hive them another chance- maybe. Ambiance and service are top notch! read more

I'm always on the hunt for a good beef tartare and this one was delicious! The cracker was unique and I was hesitant, but it worked! Service was nice and bartenders were attentive. I would definitely go back read more

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Came here for my last day living in Alabama after so many people recommended it to me. Ordered the $150 porterhouse which I give a 3/5-too salty, kinda rough in some areas. I think because we were a younger couple, service didn't really pay attention to us and came probably once to check up on us. Also got the carpaccio which was nothing but potato chips (homemade not store bought lol). I definitely think this place is a little hyped up but I would come again and try something else on the menu read more

Helen - 40oz Prime Poterhouse - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama