So so good!! Food, service and drinks were outstanding! Just lovely and can't wait to return. Go and go again! Thank you! read more

Helen - Celery blue cheese slaw, smoked chicken thighs, tomato pie - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Looking for an upscale dining experience in the heart of downtown Birmingham? Helen offers Innovative and classic menu options, shared plates, great wine pairings and an atmosphere that makes you feel you're experiencing something special. Our night at Helen was quite memorable. read more

Huge disappointment. Not the same as 3 years ago. I'm not convinced that they weren't serving left overs. All dishes were tepid at best. No way that tomato pie was made that day. You expect something really good for that price. This was diner quality. Our desserts were blah read more

I've been to this restaurant twice and both times were superb! Street parking and valet is available. I had a reservation both times so there was no wait. Both visits I ordered the warm angel biscuits for an appetizer! They are so good! Omgggg. The first time I went for my entree I ordered the salad, steak and gold potatoes. Everything was delicious!! Seriously! The sides are large enough to share and the steak was very juicy. The second time I went for my entree I ordered the gold potatoes and the grouper. The fish was so delicious. The service both times were good. I highly recommend this restaurant, it's worth alllll the hype :) read more

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This was a unique dining experience. The menu is special and something you can not find anywhere else.

Excellent restaurant for a date night. It is "family style" so my husband and I ordered 1-2 items from each section of the menu and everything we ate was wonderful. We loved the angel biscuits so much we ordered some to go. Excellent service, easy to access, very charming! read more

Food, service, ambiance. From the bar to the dining table, my guests and colleagues thought all were great!

Service = 10/10 Fried Bologna Sandwich = 10/10 A great spot for a lunch if you are downtown. read more

This is the second time I've been to Helen's and I'm from Colorado. It's a must when visiting my family in Bama. Creative cocktails, inviting atmosphere, attentive service, and delectable food make this the ideal place to celebrate any special occasion. read more

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Helen might honestly be my all time favorite restaurant here in the Birmingham region. Our family went together on a weekday with reservations and they sat us at the table fairly promptly! Our server was very attentive all throughout and even made some great suggestions for us! The whole menu and concept is basically shareable, tapas style type of food. We got 6 dishes and it comfortably fed 5 adults. My absolute favorite items from the menu were the shishito peppers, the biscuits (oh my goodness, they are TO DIE for, that honey butter is just so creamy and delicious and don't get me started on how soft the biscuits are) and the corn! The corn literally tasted like they Doritos flavored! Truth me told, everything we ordered off that menu was delicious! I look forward to coming back!! read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We loved that the atmosphere wasn't stuffy or snobbish but totally SHOULD BE if you were only judging by the food and service. The server was top tier, knowledgable, and answered every question we had. I adore the open concept kitchen where you could watch the creation of your meal. The quality and freshness of ingredients was highlighted in each dish. Come early, sit at the bar, and have a chat with Kirby while she makes you a delightful drink and, friends, DO NOT sleep on this place. It is a gem! read more

Fun spot downtown...create your own shareable vegetable plates from the wonderful southern selections or enjoy a hearty 3 course meal. We shared Yukon potatoes with our pork chop and cobia...delicious! We split some biscuits to start the meal and ended with chocolate cheesecake! Rob is a great chef and his dishes never disappoint. read more

Helen - Wine Vault - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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First time at this new restaurant Helen. Beautiful venue and atmosphere with lots of space. We are upstairs. Service was excellent. Our Serer Hanson shared the story of Helen and not made the meal special. We had quail and angel biscuits to start. Don't pass up the angel biscuits - they are divine and the maple butter is so satisfying. The quail wasn't my thing but my husband liked it. We had the ribeye and snapper with Yukon potatoes and bok choy and they were all good. read more

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I've been hearing about the great reviews from this place from friends, cooks, and chefs from other restaurant. Went here for dinner with my lady and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We loved the story behind how Helen was started. Love the family style dining with a rotating menu that uses fresh ingredients. We started with some delicious craft cocktails followed by the charcuterie and cheese board, and shared a couple smaller plates (braised Peruvian lima beans and butternut squash and shiitake ragu) and two meat dishes (smoked lamb saddle, and gulf red snapper). Each and every dish was outstanding. Perfectly cooked, well seasoned, and so flavorful. All perfect to share. And we finished off with the warm angel biscuits with sea salt and whipped cane sugar. We will definitely come back soon, as I need to try out the multiple different types of steaks available. :) read more

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Overall extremely disappointed in experience. We have been looking forward to going to Helen and have heard so many amazing things about it. We had a reservation at 6 and arrived 35 minutes early. We used valet and walked in to so many open tables and three greeters chatting it up and drinking out of their Stanley cups. I let them know our name and that we were early and one told us we had to sit at the bar and wait till the table was ready. ((Me looking around seeing all these open tables thinking ummm ok)) We were told it would be just a few minutes. Well we were at the small bar for 30 minutes. We ordered a drink $35 later...It was fun watching the guys make drinks, not fun listening to the waiters and waitresses gossip and talk trash about football teams loudly by bar. We were disturbed watching the bar tender using his hands reaching in a plastic container for ice then placing them in each cup. I felt like he should have used tongs or had gloves on or something I'm not a germ freak but that grossed me out, we were there over 30 minutes and he never washed his hands. My husband finally had enough watching other people get seated and went to the front where a girl claimed she was just about to get us.. 35 minutes later.. they took us upstairs to a table in the center of the room next to the corner of the bar. To say this was a high traffic area is putting it lightly, we were almost run into by a passing server coming from the bar as we were sitting down. My husband asked can we sit on the sides please and she said ohhh I would have to ask my manager cause I don't think so. I was annoyed at this time, being made to wait when there were so many open spaces and then led to what could easily be described as the worst table in the house. I said just forget it we are fine and she walked away. We were checking to see if we could just get a reservation at another local establishment we go to often downtown and discussed the thought of even eating fast food was better then staying there when a waiter ran into my leg walking by. We were about to get up and a lady walks up and says we can't sit you over against the wall but we can take you back here. She takes us to a back room and puts us in a cold corner against the wall. We weren't even mad we had to keep our jackets on as we thought the room had a really cool vibe, historic photos on the wall and we were just glad to be out of the aisle. Our waiter came to the table and he was a bright light to our otherwise terrible experience. We decided after talking with him to stay and give it a try. Chris was very kind and suggested a few things after hearing it was our first visit. We tried the angel biscuits. I guess all the hype from my friends had me a little TOO hyped cause I wasn't impressed with our $10 worth of tiny Biscuits. My husband enjoyed the tuna Chris suggested. ($22) we both ordered two sides "fancy French fries" as Chris called them and mushrooms. I had a filet and my husband got the NY strip. My filet was really good. Not the best I've had downtown but very good. My husband said his NY strip was excellent and it was A LARGE piece of meat. The Yukon Potatoes (fancy fries) was by far the best thing we ordered. Just fantastic. The mushrooms were terrible. Ate one and were overcome with seasoning and we were done. When Chris came to ask if we wanted a box for the food or dessert we expressed our disappointment in the mushrooms he was like ok.. took the dessert order and left. We were surprised we were charged the $14 for the mushrooms when it was clear we didn't eat any and expressed our displeasure. However the mousse Tart came and the appearance was very, I was frozen this morning like.. but my husband said it was pretty good. I didn't care for it, he however ate it all. We received our bill paid for all, mushrooms included and just decided that visit would be our last. As we were leaving passing the beautiful upstairs bar and still chit chatting and drinking greeters we decided we would not return. We, what I consider "fine dine", a lot and enjoy so many incredible downtown hidden gems and had high hopes for this establishment. The service however from the beginning ruined the entire experience and where Chris was amazing he couldn't save the night for us. I would not recommend unless you're ok with getting treated like a bother by the greeters and are ok with center of the room tables and getting physically stepped on by passing staff even though you made a reservation. read more

Helen - Bill - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This restaurant was incredible! I'm currently visiting for work and stumbled upon Helen's when looking for a close by lunch spot. I was wowed! My colleague and I ordered the biscuits and we shared them. They were small but mighty. They came accompanied with a maple butter with a sprinkle of sea salt. My mouth is watering just thinking back on the biscuits. I also ordered the summer grain bowl. It was perfectly made. I loved the grilled warm tomatoes. Yum. My colleague ordered the fish dish and she enjoyed it very much. Overall, this restaurant was amazing and if I'm ever Alabama again, I'll make a point to come back. Thank you! read more

I wish I could give more than 5 stars! This was the absolute best dining experience. Pretty sure I happy danced and clapped throughout the whole dinner. We ordered the angel biscuits & Saint Louis ribs to start. Both were 20/10. For our entrees we decided on the New York strip, Pork chops, loaded sweet potato which were all big enough to share. There was not a crumb left on our plates. We ended with getting the warm banana pudding & dark chocolate mouse tart to go... heavenly. Our server, Miranda, was absolutely amazing. She made us feel so special on our Anniversary. We can't wait to go back and sit in her section! I can't recommend Helen enough. read more

Helen - New York strip, pork chops, & loaded sweet potato. - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Always a great experience. I say experience because I love how the menu constantly changes! Service is fantastic, the ambiance is beautiful and the food is oh soooooo good! The cocktails are seasonal as well but they will make what you want. Make reservations well in advance! read more

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My husband and I went here for my 30th birthday dinner celebration. Every employee that greeted us made sure to wish me a Happy Birthday, which made me feel special. Our server was Bailey and she was exceptional. She really knew her stuff, didn't rush us and even changed our minds on what to order because of her recommendations. I love love the ambiance and atmosphere (lights down low). We sat upstairs, so it feels cozy and secluded...even after a bunch of people came to sit down after us. We started with the warm angel biscuits - they are sent from heaven so so good. I would go just to order the biscuits. My husband was going to order a steak, but per Bailey's recs, he ordered the chicken. Not your basic chicken dish; he cleaned his plate. I ordered a filet mignon & it was cooked a perfect medium. We also ordered the sweet corn ribs and grits dish. For two people, we probably could've stuck with 1 side because of the serving size. We wanted to try so many things, but our stomachs could only handle so much. Definitely would like to try everything on the menu sometime. For dessert, we got the blueberry torte which tasted like pound cake to me. Not bad, but would like to try something else next time. It came with a lit candle for my bday. :) If you like boozy and bubbly drinks, get the Bella Donna! My husband got the Helen Haze which is a beer specially brewed for Helen by Back40. 10/10 recommend and I will be copy & pasting this review everywhere. read more

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I will drive from Atlanta just to relive my experience here. The service, food, and cocktails were unforgettable. I could taste the heart and soul that was put into every single dish that was made here. The warm angel biscuits are named adequately because they are heaven sent. The duck confit was the thigh and a leg marinated in lavender and other herbs, topped with a red wine vinegar based chimmichuri sauce, it was fantastic. The Brussel sprouts had the perfect sweet and savory herb crisp. Butternut squash and shiitake ragu (over grits) were phenomenal. We also ordered the 14oz prime bone in filet. It's cooked in a open wood fire grill, it was PERFECT. Our server Seth was kind and knowledgeable, and gave us excellent recommendations. I can't wait to come back. read more

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Look for a little fine dining and a good bar Helen is a great option. Staff is friendly. The menu has great options the sides are share side so great for family and friends. The drinks a cool too! read more

Helen - Table - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

If you haven't been to Helen, you should. We came in on Tuesday night and pretty busy for dinner service. Glad I made a reservation which can be easily done on their website. They offer valet if you have difficulty finding parking. As soon as you enter, you sense a charm to the place. Beautiful rustic decor with downstairs and upstairs seating. They swooned my taste buds with the warm biscuits. I was hooked as soon I slathered the beautiful concoction of cane syrup butter on my warm fluffy rolls. That was only the introduction, I knew the rest of what we ordered was going to be top notch. The plates are shareable whether you have 2 or more guests. Be merry and order a variety because it was hard to choose. Everything on their menu sounds divine. We went with the Warm Biscuits and Tomato Pie as starters. Both were fantastic. For vegetables, went with the Okra A La Plancha and Yukon Gold Potatoes. Our meat entree, we did the thin cut pork chops. Had room for dessert and got the Salted Caramel Budino and boy was it divine. By the end of the night my taste buds were very happy. Every dish stood out as its own but all together I give this place a standing ovation. The service was excellent, food came out fresh and hot. This place climbed very high on my list of best dining in Birmingham and I very much plan to return even if it was just for the warm biscuits! read more

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Amazing experience, the food is outstanding and the atmosphere is chill, our server was very friendly and the attention to details makes the whole experience something special. We order the golden beets salads , the crispy Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and the smoked short ribs, everything was delicious! read more

The food at Helen is delicious and definitely worth a visit. The ambience is very pleasing.

Expensive and mediocre quality food. Save your money and have 3 to 4 decent meals for the same price anywhere else.

Helen is doing a lot right, as it was at full capacity on a Friday night. The restaurant has two levels, and both were active. I've eaten dinners seated on each floor, and each has a dark wood, and modern vibe. The appetizer Angel biscuits are a must...warm rolls served with sweet buttery/brown sugary sauce - they are amazing! The fish (snapper) entree was prepared perfectly - crispy skin and flaky/moist center. The chicken used to be great (served with a white bbq sauce), now it's just ok in a vinaigrette sauce. Most of the meals are served Al a carte, so you'll want to order a side dish or two, or a salad. We shared the cheesecake for dessert, and it was perfect for two to share. Service by Rolando was very good. Pricing is higher end, especially when adding side dishes. Overall we'll likely return for special occasions, just not a standard go-to place at those prices read more

I have been told by numerous people for what seems like forever that I needed to come and try Helen. So when one of my friends was in town, I thought it might be a good place to test out since I trust the word of the people who recommended. I am not a huge fan of the downtown restaurant trend of really long booth, and a table and chair directly in front. I prefer more privacy during meals. But the decor is really cool. It is rustic and makes you feel comfy when you step inside. To avoid the booth situation, we decided to sit at the empty bar. We ordered a cocktail, which was phenomenal. I couldn't find either one of mine on the online menu. But the bartender said it is constantly changing. We put in an order of the angel biscuits. I don't need to say anything that everyone else hasn't already. Just trust them and me and get these fluffy warm celestial biscuits. While we waited for our food, we noticed the cooking equipment they had going on. With pulley systems, coal storage, a smoker and a flat top. The head chef was nice enough to explain everything to us. That was worth the visit alone. I ended up getting the fennel dog because I saw one come up from the kitchen and looked phenomenal. It really was. Soft bread housing a flavorful fresh stuffed sausage. The onions were perfect and caramelized. I would have ordered something on the side, but I already wasn't too hungry and I had to get those biscuits. Will I throw around phrases like "best ever". That is not something that I never do anyway. Will I be back? Yes. Should you go? Yes. That should tell you all you need to know. read more

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Unfortunately I was disappointed with my $80 Ribeye steak. It tasted burnt, was not cooked consistently through. Some areas were well well done and other areas were rare. The corn was delicious. The old fashioned was ok. The bartender gave basic service. I threw away the leftovers. The steak was poor quality of meat. read more

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Love it here! The banana pudding is amazing! The chicken dish and bacon salad (minus the bacon) are my favs. All of the food is amazing! I've had some hiccups but they've since been resolved. read more

The food, service and ambiance is amazing! The food is exceptional! I am so glad that our Uber driver recommended that Helen was a definite place! read more

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This restaurant is a real treat in downtown Birmingham. There aren't a whole lot of fine dining places. It was a properly priced. The meat was amazing. The service was amazing. I sat at the bar. I had the lamb. It was cooked absolutely perfectly. My friendly People that were nearby let me taste their other food. The blue cheese wedge was artfully and wonderfully put together and tasted awesome. read more

Everything was delicious and the place was beautiful. Don't pass on the biscuits or potatoes!

We went for my husband's birthday with a 545 reservation on a Thursday. Valet parking is available right outside the door. Hostess was very nice, seated us right away, made note it was my husband's birthday (I included that info in the ressy) and also ensured wait staff knew as multiple people wish him happy birthday throughout the evening. I had the Golden Hour (best bourbon drink I've had hands down) and a glass of red wine. We had the biscuits (these are a MUST), I ordered a medium Filet and it melted like butter in my mouth. This is family style sides and we ordered the cabbage, peas and carrots, and sweet potato. The cabbage was 10/10. The restaurant is trendy and comfortable. I would have given 5 stars but they lost me on the dessert which we got to go. We ordered the cheesecake and buttermilk pie and they were just ok. I will Def return here as they have the best steak I've ever had! read more

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We started coming here right after they first opened and we have LOVED it every single time. If you are in Birmingham or are coming to Birmingham, make a reservation! When we first came here we told each other that they would get a James Beard nomination and this year they did (Executive Chef!). This is American food (steaks, fish, etc), cooked over wood, served by people who care in a beautiful atmosphere . The chef sources the best products and then actively works to not F them up. Flavors are straightforward and perfect. Fish is SUPER fresh and filleted on site. They order and cut whole fish so they occasionally have items like fish collars on special like they did the night we were there. If you have not had a fish collar it's kinda like the fish version of a chicken wing. There are bones but they're large and easy to avoid. This night's fish collars were buttermilk battered and fried to absolute greaseless perfection, served with a remoulade sauce that was plate lickingly good. The wood roasted early spring vegetables were leeks, artichokes and baby potatoes served with romesco sauce. They were truly a vegan delight and well worth the tummy real estate that they took up . Wood roasted mushrooms were also amazing and the celery and blue cheese slaw was fresh and wonderful. I have ALWAYS, always gotten the beef short rib when it was on the menu. It is hands down my favorite thing. It's draped in an Alabama white bbq sauce and served quivering on the plate, ready to be pulled apart with just a touch of a fork. The leftovers go home and I make the world's best tacos from them. Amazingly my dining partner had room for dessert and went for the buttermilk pie. For those who aren't from the south this is kind of an egg custard pie and the crust on this is absolute magic! Crisp and delicious on the top AND on the bottom. I think the next James Beard nomination will be for Helen's pastry chef. Whoever it is creates magic with everything they touch. Bartenders, expediters, servers, managers and kitchen staff are all fabulous and they must be happy there because the turnover looks very low. We love to sit at Greg and Elena's bar and watch the kitchen and bar show. Just FABULOUS! read more

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Great service and food! Great for a special occasion. Recommend the Red Headed stepchild cocktail read more

Helen - 45 day dry aged Kansas City Strip Potatoes and green beans as a delicious side - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Just wow, some of the finest food in Birmingham. And Birmingham has some fine food. Excellent waitress, excellent food, and nice ambience. The only thing that I would say, is their chairs are a little hard if you're there for more than an hour. read more

We went for a birthday dinner and the food was excellent! While reading about the recommended dishes on the Yelp page, keep in mind that Helen's menu is seasonal and always changing. Some popular items like the tomato pie were out of season during our visit in February (heirloom tomatoes are usually served in the summer). However, we enjoyed other delicious choices for the winter season such as the Rutabaga Gratin & the Butternut Squash and Carolina Gold Rice Gratin. We also ordered the Nduja Honey Bun (pictured) as a starter which is a more savory alternative to the Warm Angel Biscuits. I give Helen a 4 out of 5 stars only because the hostess experience could be improved. We arrived a few minutes early to our reservation, and asked to have a drink at the bar while we waited. The hostess dismissed the request saying there was not room at the bar. When our table was ready, we walked upstairs, past multiple open seats at the bar and a few open tables. Then, we were seated at the table farthest back, next to the walkway with lots of people walking past. We were a little disappointed because we had made the reservation well over a month before the dinner and called Helen a few hours ahead to confirm our reservation for the birthday occasion. There were plenty of other open tables around, so we asked to be seated in a better location and they pleasantly obliged. Once we were seated, all was well and we had a wonderful time. Our server James was incredibly knowledgeable with great recommendations. We really enjoyed talking with him and appreciated his outstanding service. We would come here again! read more

Helen - Nduja Honey Bun, a more savory alternative to the Warm Angel Biscuits. Delicious! - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Had an amazing meal at Helen recently. Our server Matt made sure that our meal was expertly timed, the kitchen executed the meal perfectly. Thanks to all the staff for such an awesome experience. I enjoyed watching Emily making drinks at the bar (she put on quite the show, even though at the time no one was seated at the bar!) Marcus even stopped by to say hello! I love having supper at Helen, Helen herself would for sure be proud at the hospitality and care this restaurant exudes. read more

Helen - Pear Carpaccio - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Such a great place and experience . My burger was little salty but the steak are amazing read more

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Me and my mom went to Helen for a nice night out. The staff and service was excellent, and since we had a reservation we did not have to wait at all. The atmosphere of the restaurant is also really nice and relaxing, not too loud at all. The food was good, but I personally think that for the price there are better restaurants in the area. I got a seasonal salad that was very fresh and bright, and some prepared asparagus. Other than the salads and sides there are not really options for vegetarians, which is normal at Southern restaurants but I did not expect that experience from somewhere this nice. Although there are definitely some dishes that are upscale southern food, others seem to venture into other types of cuisine. Overall, I would say I enjoyed my meal, but if I am going to spend the money I would probably eat somewhere else next time. read more