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

We celebrated our 10-year anniversary at Helen last night, and it was truly exceptional. The atmosphere was lively yet intimate, and our server Marshall made the evening unforgettable--kind, attentive, and personable. We shared stories about family and life, which made the experience feel personal and warm. The food was simply outstanding. We enjoyed warm angel biscuits, corn ribs, cast iron vegetables, a beautifully seasoned lamb porterhouse, and a perfectly cooked New York strip with a masterful salt rub. Every bite felt curated with intention and skill. We ended with the peanut butter chocolate torte--decadent and delicious. read more

Helen is so worth the hype. Immediately upon walking in, you're greeted by the hostess. The service is fantastic throughout your meal. There is a beautiful bar area upstairs with interesting modern, yet southern, decor along the walls. Their menu changes often, so there's always something new to try! We always get the angel biscuits to start. My favorite appetizers are their corn ribs and smashed potatoes. You can never go wrong with their fish entree, but I have also enjoyed their smoked chicken thighs and pork chop. I've been to Helen several times, and only had one mediocre experience. My pork chop was undercooked and there was a significant delay to cook a new one. However, the waiter comped the meal, which is also a testament to their great service. read more

Helen - Angel Biscuits, Corn Ribs, Smashed Potatoes, Grain Salad(?), Chicken Thighs - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I've been to Helen for lunch twice. Both times I had reservations, which I highly recommend. Both visits we were seated promptly upstairs. The first visit everything was great. The service was good and timely. The food was fresh off of the grill and the warm angel biscuits were perfect. My second visit, although we were seated promptly the service was slow. The warm angel biscuits were over baked but served cold. By the time our server returned to the table we had already received our entrees. He looked at the untouched burned biscuits but didn't inquire about them and at that point I didn't bother to mention either. The crispy smashed potatoes were also overcooked, dry, and flavorless. We did see Mayor Woodfin dining in during this visit. He was friendly and talkative so that was a plus. Would I return...probably. read more

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Yelp started off weird. I waited I. The car for valet to come outside for about 8 minutes. This is downtown BIRMINGHAM. There's a miscellaneous man standing outside just observing people go in and out of the door. Somebody needs to stay at the valet post. I'm so glad I didn't assume him to be valet and jump out an hand a stranger my keys. Intuition is real. Tonight I'm with all ladies. We are a party of 5. On starters, we tried the smoked chips, charcuterie Junior and tons of angel wing bread. Like James described it, a cross between a biscuit and a yeast roll he's I g a baby. All were good. Entrees we had 1 steak, 1-1/2 chicken, 1 grouper and 2 pork chops. Pork chops were definitely over cooked. I requested medium well, it can out charred. Somebody burning in that kitchen. Sides we had grits, potatoes, garden salad, and Brussels. Sides are good. The stand out is the potatoes. James served us and he was excellent. Thanks James. I Wii definitely be back! to try the corn and banana pudding. read more

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To say that this is "farm to table" would be an understatement. Start to finish this is an extraordinary dining experience because of the fresh, seasonal menu items. But first, some of the important basics. Parking is valet (next door at a sister restaurant). Seating was immediate even though two members of our party had not arrived. Service was attentive but not hovering. The decor is rustic, with no loud music to compete with conversation. Water glasses were refilled without needing to ask. Our evening was three hours during which time we enjoyed an appetizer of beef sausage with mustard and small biscuits called angels. I generally avoid bread but I yielded to try these. The steaks are the star here. One member of our party ordered the bone in filet and said it was best steak he's had. Red snapper was cooked perfectly. Portions ample. We finished night with espresso and chocolate martinis. Framed recipes handwritten by "Helen" at entrance are a nice touch. read more

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A client and I were in Birmingham for a conference and got recommended Helen and boy are we glad we did. Everything from the ambiance, to the food to the service was exceptional. Feyard our waiter was a class act. Don't miss this spot in downtown Bham if you get the change read more

Helen - Angel Biscuits, Meadow Farm Kale Salad, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Flat Iron Steak and Braised Lamb - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Came in on a friday about 5:30 pm and were able to get bar seating. Started off with the biscuits, carpaccio and croquettes, all were delicious and i highly recommend. My wife and i split the 40 oz porterhouse, it was excellent and cooked to medium rare just like we asked, it did take quite a while for it to come out though. For sides we got the squash ragu which was just ok, the beets and okra were excellent though. All the drinks were excellent, my only complainant wa that the martini was served with ice chunks in it, i dont think they were using the right kind of ice/strainer when they mixed it. Service was excellent everyone was super friendly. Will defiantly be coming back here in the future. read more

Love the ribs addition to the menu! The Angel rolls are always a hit. the Silver Bullet cocktail was a blue cheese cocktail- unique & good! read more

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1st time, Had the Iberico Presa " wagyu pork" MR Excellent !! Our server, Feyard, made the night, knowledgeable about menu, and has very interesting background & upbringing. See you again soon ! read more

I came here today for a birthday lunch with my girlfriends and honestly was disappointed in most by the temperature of the restaurant. I couldn't even enjoy my food and drinks and dessert because I was sweating. The food itself was good, but not something to rave about. The service was subpar. read more

Helen - Like a lady drink - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Miranda the server absolutely made our visit to Helen untouchable. She came with such a charming attitude and high energy. My husband and I loved her. We visited Helen's for our 3 year anniversary. The vibe is beautiful. We ate upstairs with the cute wine cellar and bar area. For an appetizer, we of course had to try the biscuits with the cinnamon butter, which were phenomenal. We added the ham to the biscuits as well. For entrees we had the ribeye, short rib, Brussels and potatoes. The star of those entrees were the short rib and brussels. Such great flavors! For drinks we had a passion fruit marg, the house punch and a lemon drop martini. Which were all delicious and refreshing. We can't wait to visit again and likely sit at the bar and munch on some apps and drinks. read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I wish there was an option for more than 5 stars. I'm in the area for work and sat at the bar since it's just me. The ambiance and vibe of the restaurant is inviting and sophisticated. The bartender, Alaina, was incredibly knowledgeable and her suggestions were on point. I decided to pause my calorie counting for the day and couldn't be happier with that choice. Everything I ordered was off the chart delicious. I've been hearing about the biscuits from numerous Uber drivers and then when she gave me a more detailed description, I couldn't not try them. I ate all of them and could have taken the remaining butter back to the hotel with me, if it wouldn't have made me look crazy. Ha! I can't wait to return next week to try more! Thank you for an exceptional dining experience, I enjoyed every morsel. read more

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I walked in smelling the wood stove and it reminded me of my grandmother, Helen Shepherd's house in the country. It gave me a warm peaceful feeling. James, our server, was absolutely amazing and very attentive although it was packed. The food was amazing and I would love to visit again whenever I'm in town. I had the prime New York strip and my husband had the duck. We had a peach crisp that was sinfully delicious towards the end. read more

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If you didn't order anything but the bread, you could die happy. Outstanding food and ambiance is amazing. Highly recommend. But if you aren't ordered the bread, why go? read more

Great meal. Great service. I love eating family style so I can try a variety of dishes. This is my 2nd time here and I've always heard the veggies r the star of the show. My favorites were the Mexican street corn ribs, grilled okra, squash. I thought the Grits with mushrooms was only OK and did not love the japanese sweet potatoes which were very starchy and too hard. The angel biscuits are always a winner. For protein we got the ny strip, Bone in short rib and duck thigh. I loved the huge bone in short rib covered in jalapeño white bbq sauce. It was very tender and flavorful. The ny strip was good but nothing to write home about. I failed and didn't get to try the duck. read more

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I've had great experiences at Helen. Each time I ordered the NY Strip medium rare and it was excellent both times. Helen is expensive, but each bite was worth it. read more

The atmosphere and food are fantastic!!! We usually eat at the bar and the bartenders are always super friendly.

Helen is a great choice if you're interested in elevated southern food with a family sharing dinner style. They have lots of vegetable and side options to start with. Our stand out at our dinner were the beautifully tender Angel biscuits and the corn ribs coated in a tasty southern BBQ sauce. The celery slaw and the peach salad weren't quite my favorite, but it was fresh and well prepared. For entree, the fish was amazing! Perfectly seasoned and with the perfect bite. The chicken was good, but maybe a touch chewy. Servers were fast and attentive, bringing us fresh small plates when we needed them, which is handy with the family style dining. Overall, solid food, and you have to check out the angel biscuits. read more

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This food was phenomenal. I got a drink with zero alcohol and it was hands down, my favorite drink so far. What's up Doc - I highly recommend. The ambiance was very soothing. It was definitely a busy spot and folks were dressed a little nicer here. My colleague and I tried so many of the menu items, and I forgot to take pics because everything was delicious. We had the warm angel biscuits, crispy Brussels sprouts, ember roasted maitake and oyster mushrooms, and buttermilk pie (maybe?) to share. I ordered the 16 oz prime New York strip and it was prepared so nicely! So so so good. read more

Helen - 16 oz prime New York strip - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This place is wonderful! The krack Potatoes..... and the biscuits. Service is amazing and the ambience is really nice. 10/10

Yeah what can I say about Helen The service is spot on, the food is always new, exciting, and delicious, and the vibes are everything you'd want for a night out. My wife and I plan on eating here for special occasions as often as our bank account allows. read more

Service 5 stars Food 4 Stars Overall (Warm Angel Biscuits & Warm Banana Pudding 5 Stars) Ambiance 4 Stars read more

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Another delicious experience at Helen and wehad the great same server Miranda as last time. We were there celebrating my sons 30th. Only 1 had never been there. Started with the angel biscuits and drinks. Then beef tartare , quail and the bone marrow! We then ordered the Brussels , carrots , limas and potatoes to go with the short rib, pork shoulder and grouper. We were too full to even get a dessert! Always such a great time and superb food!! read more

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So, this was a tough one and ultimately a disappointment. But, I'd like to start with the good. On the bright side, we were seated fast and a server got to us quickly and explained the menu, etc. Our drinks came quickly, though I ordered a pale and the drink I was served was neither a pale nor was it a full pour (nor was it even in a pint glass or approaching a pint. If the pour is smaller than a pint, you really need to tell the customer that. Note: it is not listed on the drinks section of the menu as smaller than a pint.) The food was, on average, good. My lamb was cooked well. The mussels and shrimp were well seasoned and cooked (though the portion was too small for three people to share in, even with other appetizers, in my estimation). The biscuits were very good (though, again, you need to order 2-3 plates of them for a table of 4-5, and this was not made clear). Here's the bad: Over the course of the evening, our starters had been cleared and we were neither checked on nor served our food for more than a half hour. There was, in fact, a period of nearly 45 minutes in which nothing (no food) was on our table. This is wildly unacceptable for a restaurant of this price point. This was a meal which cost, in the end, $250. For that, I should never be looking at an empty table. Additionally, our server stopped checking on us. The table to our left received four (!) times as many check-ins from their server over the course of the night. In addition, the lamb portions were not to my expectation. Again, at this price point, I should be satisfied at the end of evening. This was what I might expect of an appetizer portion. Consider when you go to the grocery store and see those small lamb t-bones with the other red meat. Generally, a package has 3-4 portions in them. This serving was that exact portion weight per chop, but only two small portions overall. This was not enough for $40.00. I genuinely went home and ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, that's how hungry I was when I left. This might be entirely me ordering incorrectly on the wrong day and the kitchen was backed up etc. etc. etc. BUT, honestly, it's the server's job (and the manager's job, where was the manager? I never saw anyone checked up on) to tell us that, offer us more food options or drink options, and that never happened. As it stands, I won't be returning to Helen. There were some good things, but I felt too uncatered to by the staff and establishment in general to be willing to pay such a high price again. A meal of that range needs to be an experience. This was an experience, but it was a subpar one. read more

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What a gem! The ambience was inviting and warm. The staff were attentive. The option for a half salad was such a nice touch. That way, I can order more food. The fish was perfectly cooked and flavorful. I was pleasantly surprised that the pecan cake was not sugary. It was fluffy and delicious. The price point was very fair and impressive for the quality they put out. This will be my go-to every time I am in town. They are why Birmingham is a culinary town. read more

I went on a friendship date here and had the best girls night dinner of my entire life. I've eaten at a lot of restaurants, but Helen is something special and I will go back to Birmingham just to eat here again. You will need a reservation, but it is well worth it. Cocktails were original and you must order the warm angel biscuits. They are dinner rolls made exactly how my southern grandma made them my whole life. They definitely contain lots of margarine, sugar and love. We ordered the duck which was phenomenal, but the surprise star were the peas and carrots as a side. we ordered them to ensure we got a vegetable in and turns out they're the most delicious thing on the menu. The entire staff was incredibly kind and accommodating, and put our whole experience over the top. Come to Helen, tell all your friends, you won't regret it read more

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I knew it was going to be hard to get a seat here after their James Beard Award nomination, but luckily I snagged a reservation for a pair of seats (at the bar, mind you) at 4:45pm. I'm glad I did. The good: Service is amazing. Ella, the bartender, was attentive and knew the menu inside and out. She also knew when to be chatty and when to go attend to other guests. The angel biscuits are delightful, though I have to admit I found the syrup on the butter to be cloying. Portions are large, particularly for the price, and meant to be shared. They have mocktails (joy!) that are delightfully crafted. The potatoes were heavenly and addictive and SO well seasoned and balanced. The less than good: I mean, you're going to have to wait for a table here. Get used to it. Even at the bar. My thin cut pork chops were DIVINELY seasoned, I admired the knife work on the fruit, but good GOD were they tough--and difficult to cut, even with a steak knife. This is the price of a thin cut pork though, I get it. It gets a little loud, particularly upstairs. Overall, a 5 star experience. I can see why they're winning awards--if the only thing I have to complain about is how busy they are and a minor issue with the pork chops, you know it's great. Recommended highly. read more

SO has heard so many good things about this place and has wanted to try it since shortly after it opened. We finally made our way over there today for lunch. We made a reservation, but it wasn't really necessary for lunch. I would say they were about 50% full around noon. First of all, the service was impeccable. Our waiter was personable and efficient but not overbearing. Their lunch menu is actually pretty reasonably priced for the most part. We ordered their warm angel biscuits, crispy smoked fish sandwich, smoked Joyce farms chicken thighs, Yukon gold potatoes, and braised button mushrooms. Our favorites were the biscuits and the fish sandwich. The biscuits were more like yeast rolls in consistency than biscuits. They were served warm and fresh, so super yummy. The fish sandwich patty reminded me of a crab cake....but fish. We did mention a minor issue with it, but it was taken care of for us (did I mention great service??). The rest of the items were beautifully presented but did not particularly stand out for us. We are definitely glad we tried it and would recommend you to try it as well! read more

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Nothing impressive. Sat us next to the front window at 5:00 PM just in time to get blinded by the sun until 6:30. The food was very unimpressive. My mom got Lamb not knowing it was lamb neck. Who serves lamb neck? Why would a high end restaurant charging $40 for lamb serve lamb neck? Lamb is usually very lean, but, apparently, the neck is fatty because she could not eat half of it because it was fat. Disappointing. read more

I took my mother here for her birthday! Hands down the best steak I have ever had. The restaurant is decorated beautifully but not over done. Check out the upstairs wine cellar/room. Our server was prompt courteous and friendly. I also really enjoyed the biscuits - they just melt on your mouth and the honey butter? is equivalent to icing on a cake. The second best side was the corn. This is definitely a five star restaurant with five star prices that doesn't disappoint and lives up to its reputation. read more

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Don't even get me started... Frippers bologna sandwich - 10/10 Villari brothers thin cut pork chops - 10/10 Warm angel biscuits - 100000000-10 This place was so good it's ridiculous. Nice job to the team. read more

The food was poor. They tried to make a fancy version of country food and the results are terrible for those of us that prefer elegant meals. It you have blue collar taste buds, you may enjoy this place. It you are an outsider or traveler with an upscale taste, this place will disappoint you greatly. It is apparent that the chef came from a household of "bar-b-que joints or low cost country food and not a professional family because the results show. We thought the waitress was wonderful but the chef was much too flirty with us. He saw we were women dining and came out from the back to tell us how he is "carrying this restaurant". We ignored him and he got the point and finally left us alone. We didn't have the heart to tell him that we didn't like his cooking. read more

Atmosphere and service were great! The side salad left a lot to be desired. It was 10 pieces of lettuce, half a walnut, and 3 tidbits of apple. Not worth the $16. Chicken was ok. Wine was fantastic. read more

Wow the food here is top notch! I love helens family style of meal selection so that every time you visit you can really customize your meal! Their angle biscuits are a must always get! Service was absolutely wonderful and our server did a great job. The ambience is top notch and well thought it - so it is perfect for a large group to an intimate dinner. read more

Being Birminghams best steakhouse it definitely lived up to it as I had to get one of their steaks. Having never been to Birmingham at all, I was very surprised with the decor and ambiance at Helens. The aesthetics are what would find in LA or NY. I was seated upstairs and passing by their amazing wine cellar. We had to start off by trying their famous Warm Angel Biscuits and they were soft and served warm with whipped cane sugar syrup butter. For cocktails, I went with two of their bourbon/rye concoctions, Shift's End and Waking Vulcan. They were both delicious and more spirit forward as its how I like it. For the main course, I got their C.A.B filet although I wanted to get the Prime Porterhouse but I don't think anyone would've shared with me. The filet came medium rare and it was perfectly seasoned. I shared the side of asparagus that had a yummy Anchoiade sauce with Kosho cured egg yolk. I was full by the end of this meal and could not bring myself to order a dessert. read more

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My son had heard a lot of good things about Helen, so a group of us decided to go for dinner. First off, we were really glad they took reservations since there were six of us. Also, we were seated immediately and decided to start with cocktails. I decided on the house punch, which was delicious. Later, for an appetizer, we shared an order of the Angel Biscuits with Whipped Cane Syrup. They were so good that we decided on a second order! For my entree, I ordered the pork chop. I really enjoyed it and had plenty for leftovers. The only complaint is that there is only street parking which can be difficult. read more

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Great service and ambiance! You can tell the food is all so fresh and home made, the tomato pie was to die for! Definitely recommend for a downtown bham date night! read more

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Came here for lunch and ordered the caramelized cauliflower, coal roasted asparagus, and thin cut pork chop. I was actually more impressed with the veggies than the pork chop. I really liked the Korean BBQ sauce with the cauliflower. I also liked that it was a hearty portion of cauliflower. It would have been a little bit better if the cauliflower were on the crispier side. I think a tad bit less Korean BBQ sauce might be able to let the cauliflower keep their crisp, if they had any that is. But I'm not complaining about what was served - it's cauliflower and needs all the help it can get. The asparagus were really good too. I don't think I've ever eaten asparagus that were as big as these. And they were also softer on the inside than any asparagus I've ever eaten. And points for the Ireland Farms kohlrabi in there. I've never heard of or eaten kohlrabi to my knowledge. Last and least was the thin cut porkchop. It wasn't on the same level as the vegetable dishes. I liked the smoked flavor even though the barrel aged worcestershire wasn't noticeable to me. Overall, the underwhelming size and ordinary flavor of the porkchop didn't impress me. In retrospect, the bologna sandwich may have been more promising. read more

Helen - Cauliflower, porkchop, asparagus - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Helen lived up to the hype. I loved the family style dining experience. Everything is à la carte and sharable. The owner was very personable. It seemed busy for a week night, but the service was great! The server was very knowledgeable about the menu and made recommendations that accommodated my dietary restrictions. The menu is very vegetarian friendly. There was one vegetarian entree and quite a few vegetarian sides and appetizers. I enjoyed the biscuits, tomato pie, artichoke and potatoes, squash, okra, corn, and blue berry tart. The rest of the party also shared a ribeye and grouper. read more

Helen - Menu - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama