The food is good, especially if you like meat. They have limited vegetarian options and their food is a little overpriced for what you get. Their service was good and the ambience is dark and vibey. But at points the menu was hard to read (and I'm young!). read more

what a fabulous and unexpected dining experience! We were in Birmingham for one night and, being from San Francisco, we certainly didn't expect to have an exceptional meal. Boy were we surprised. This restaurant has it all. From fabulous service to incredibly creative and scrumptious food. Add to that an expert wine advisor choosing wines from an amazing wine list. And our server was knowledgeable, gave us great advice, and was attentive to our every need. We couldn't have had a better meal or dining experience in any major city in the US. I can't say enough about the exceptional meal we had at this little gem in Birmingham. Come!!! read more

What a find!! Absolutely one of the best restaurants I have been to. I have traveled over 3 million miles and been in restaurants all over the world. I cook as a hobby, and if I was to open a restaurant, this is what it would be. Unique, attention to detail and amazing food!! read more

A Service, food, and ambiance are phenomenal. I came for a birthday dinner. Several staff members wished me a happy birthday! The ribeye was tender, juicy, perfectly cooked and had a flavor I hadn't experienced at other steakhouses. The sides are plentiful and seasoned well. The banana pudding is the best I've ever had from a restaurant. It's served warm and it's truly made from scratch, not to mention it's absolutely beautiful. The espresso martini was a great ending to the meal and is made with a house made espresso liqueur. The valet parking is a bonus. This is now my favorite restaurant! read more

Helen - Espresso martini - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I've been to many James Beard award winners and Michelin starred restaurants in my life and I have to say, the dinner I had at Helen's was one of the best I've ever had! We started with the Angel biscuits. They tasted like the yeast rolls you used to get in school; fluffy, yeasty, divine with the cane sugar butter slathered on them. My husband and I decided to split the 16 oz NY strip cooked medium rare. The seasonings were perfect. We ordered the simmered peas and the Alabama sweet corn as sides. I could have been perfectly happy with a plate of angel biscuits and the peas as my meal. So yummy! We had cocktails with our meal that were superbly crafted. Service was awesome. Everyone who walked by wished us a happy anniversary, even though we had not put that in our reservation. We will definitely be back, Helen! What a gem for Birmingham! read more

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Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!! We went to Helen with a group of 8 and everything we tried, which was 1/3 of the menu, was a home run. The staff and service equaled the food. Birmingham has a true gem in Helen! read more

Absolutely wonderful meal! We had James as our server and we were completely taken care of. Highly recommend and will be back. Thanks

Amazing amazing amazing!!! I met a friend at the bar for an early dinner and we started off with the biscuits and the tomato pie. Do me a favor and please get the biscuits they are delicious. To drink the bartender recommended the daily punch as well as a wine pairing suggestion for our entree. I throughly enjoyed everything and the duck was amazing. We left not too full but satisfied. I cannot wait to return with a group to try the other entrees and cocktails that Helen has to offer. read more

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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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We enjoyed the cocktails, food, and dessert at Helen! My diner was phenomenal. A delicate cut of pork but filling and delicious. All the veggies had wonderful flavor combinations and the portions are shareable. Our waiter was excellent and helped me choose a glass of red for dinner. The biscuits were flakey and tender. Consider it for your celebrations! Both upstairs and downstairs are beautiful. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in town! My husband and I love to come here for the warm ambiance, friendly faces, craft cocktails, and delicious food. We love to sit at the bar and strike up conversations with the bartenders. Tonight, we caught the late summer menu which was delicious. We had: Oysters - absolute 10/10! No salty ocean taste, cooked to perfection and the vinaigrette on top was just amazing. Angel biscuits - I mean, these are a must have for us. Warm biscuits with cane sugar butter...delicious. Corn ribs - we weren't sure what to expect, but this was like street corn on crack. The sauce was just delicious with a tiny kick but not too spicy. The peppers included were also ridiculous. Not too spicy but so flavorful. Bbq okra - holy moly! Smoked okra with a mustard based bbq sauce. Absolutely delicious. The fried okra slices on top were lovely as well. Short rib - again, holy moly! I'm not a big beef eater but this changed my mind. They gave us steak knives to go with it that were totally unnecessary. Meat fell off the bone with a delicious creamy sauce. I also need to shout out Alex behind the bar! He had great knowledge of the menu, and was cranking out the most amazing drinks. My husband wanted a gin martini with some flair, and he made him a chartreuse martini with a history lesson of the monks that make chartreuse. He was also making drinks from France in the 1800s for the couple beside us. He was such a joy and it was like watching an artist work. You could tell he has a serious passion for what he does! Again, from our multiple visits to Helen it never disappoints. The menu changes seasonally so be sure to visit frequently! read more

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Helen is the quintessential Birmingham food experience! Everything from the old southern tableware to the beautiful bar. Our waiter was an absolute expert about each dish. We always start with the warm angel biscuits- you can never go wrong with these! We also tried the famous tomato pie for the first time and were slightly underwhelmed. On this visit we also got the ember roasted mushrooms that we loved, and the stewed romano beans dish and crispy fish collar dish that were okay. We will definitely be back! read more

Helen - Warm angel biscuits and tomato pie - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This restaurant's approach and creativity revolves around cooking with live fire. I've now seen a handful of these restaurants cooking 100% of the time using an elaborate cook line with grills, planchas and warming boxes driven with fire to deliver a high end dining experience...and frankly it gets me off of my couch and into these very exciting restaurants. Helen is a perfect example. Let me start with the bar. We arrived early and was greeted warmly and asked if we would like to wait in the bar. Of course we said 'Yes!'. We were greeted by Jo, Carla, and Hannah. The 3 mixologists were bad asses. We enjoyed watching them mix creative libations for their customers while 'peppering' them with menu and regional questions. They were consummate professionals and treated us like we were old friends, even though they were very busy. When our table was ready, we were handed off to Richard for our dinner service. We started with Angel Biscuits. This appetizer is a must. They are light airy fresh baked rolls paired with whipped butter and cane syrup. They are simple but amazing. For our dinner course, my wife had the scallops and I had the huge beef short rib. We also ordered the okra and button mushroom vegetables. Interesting that my wife really liked the okra and I liked the mushrooms. Neither vege blew my doors off like our entrees. 1st- The portion sizes on everything was terrific. I'm used to California and these portions were very gracious. My wife's scallops were served with a Au Poivre (peppercorn) sauce. They were fresh and flavorful. I had the brontosaurus beef short rib. It was coated with an Alabama white BBQ sauce. The sauce balanced the rich, Smokey and slightly fatty rib. It was awesome. Dessert? Of course. We shared the salted caramel budino with pecan cookies. It was a light and tasty way to finish our meal. Service: Richard was super friendly and informative. We loved him. He was not a fine dining waiter, but certainly can be successful at Helen. Rationale on this comment: we poured our own wine and water; I was a sloppy mess with my short rib and the table was a mess...we cleaned our mess, not Richard. I didn't factor this detail in when I gave this restaurant 5 stars because it doesn't profess to be a fine dining restaurant. Birmingham should rally behind Helen and continue to support this trend setting restaurant and others trying to feed our communities. I wish Helen was in the SF Bay Area. I would be there weekly. read more

Helen - The short rib, scallops, button mushrooms, and okra (Asian style). Sorry I couldn't wait and started eating before I took the photo. - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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

All around five stars! The food, service, and ambiance never fail. Everything here is delicious, but my favorite menu item is the angel biscuits. They taste just like they sound, heavenly. Every dish we have eaten here has been delicious. The staff are also wonderful and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. All of the dishes are shareable, which is great because that means you can try more of their delightful dishes. read more

Helen - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

For our 12th wedding anniversary, my husband made reservations to Helen. I have to be honest. I had not heard of this restaurant. I looked them up on Yelp and I saw a 5 star review from the Yelp Community Manager for my area so I felt confident that it would be good. Well, it was great! Our waiter knew it was our anniversary and he offered us a good champagne to get things started. Their food is made to be shared so the smoked fish dip, mushrooms, ribeye, and dessert was more than enough for my husband and me. Everything was flavorful and fresh. The ambiance was nice as well. I'd definitely go back! read more

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I fully recommend this restaurant if you're looking for an upscale dining experience. I don't have anything negative to say about anything here. The staff was inviting and friendly. There was just the right amount of checking on us from our waitress. The food was great. They probably had some of the best steaks that we have had. My wife got the filet, which was so tender that you barely had to chew it. I had the NY strip, and it was delicious as well. The sides are family style. We got the cabbage, peas and carrots, and sweet potato. We were happy with all of them. We got dessert to go. If I had anything to complain about, it would be the desert portion size. They were a little small but tasted good. Overall, I am really happy with Helen, and I would certainly recommend eating here. read more

Helen - NY strip, peas and carrots, filet, cabbage , and sweet potao - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Food was wonderful! The service was amazing! Do yourself a favor and be certain to get the warm angel biscuits, they are amazing-if you don't get them you will be disappointed!!! We had a side dish of the carrots, and believe it or not they actually stole the show-it's been over a month and we still talk about them!! read more

Helen - New York Strip - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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

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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Please do not offer reservations at 1:00 if you're going to insist that folks immediately sit down, order, and leave. We had 1:00 reservations. My guest from New York was taking an Uber to the restaurant and was running a little late. At 1:09, my waiter asked how much longer my dining partner would be, as the kitchen was ready to close so they could have a meeting. I informed the waiter that my dining partner was then arriving. When seated (moments later), our waiter explained the menu and asked for our order. It being our first time at Helen, we asked for a moment. The waiter came back with drinks and remarked that, "well, it doesn't look like you've looked at the menu, so I'll be back in just a minute." And again reminded us that the kitchen was closing. WHY are you offering a 1:00 seating if you're going to rush patrons out the door? We're not just visiting Helen for the food - in large part it's the experience that we're paying for. And sadly, that was entirely lacking today. Should I review the food? Probably. But the details are now lost on me because of the abysmal service. read more

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

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

There were some aspects that were great and some that were just mid. We ate at the bar and the service was great. The bartenders were attentive and engaging but not all over us even though their area was so close. The biscuits and butter were absolute amazing. Our pre-dinner cocktails were good, nothing extraordinary, but the espresso martinis we had for dessert were top notch. We ordered the Kansas City strip. It was tender and flavorful but when it was served, it was room temp at best. This is my biggest peeve! For $115, I expect the steak to be hot. I would probably go back if we had out of town guests. read more

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

Special occasion dinner with another couple. Somehow I was put in charge of scoring a reservation and--lo and behold--Helen had an open spot. I jumped at that opportunity and nabbed a table for four. Overall, the experience was very good. The meal itself was superb, the bar did a boffo job with the drinks, and our service was impeccable. Just a memorable evening all around. So why isn't there a fifth star winking in the firmament of my review? First, the format is group dining, where you tend to order a variety of dishes for the table, rather than individuals ordering their own dish with accompanying sides. I get the intent. But it led to an otherwise fun gathering starting with intense negotiations usually found in hostage rescues or disarmament talks. Because everyone else opted for other entree, I didn't get the duck I wanted. Maybe I should have played hardball with my three dinner companions, but it would have soured the mood. Those are the compromises you have to make. Second, the price is stratospheric. And this is coming from a couple who will eat at Chez Fon Fon without batting an eye at the check. Again, because you're ordering your side items separately, the price adds up. See the loan officer at the front before ordering. So Helen is a special occasion kind of place. Occasions such as marriage proposals, landing the big client, winning the Powerball, or just satisfying an itch to spend money like a pimp with a week to live. Just know that going in. read more

So the idea is that you order your main entree and share whatever sides you opt for. I went with a group of friends and had no one to split the broccoli with. There is no personal sides option. So I'm stuck ordering a glorified head of broccoli for $15!? Lol. It's roasted with some kind of sweet glaze. I ordered the mussels for my meal (appetizer menu) and it was very good - very light dish. Everyone seemed pleased with their food. The biscuits were the star of the meal. I doubt I'd go back. read more

Helen - Broccoli - Southern Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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First time here and it was great. Server was super friendly and helpful. She let me try a few reds before deciding on a glass but her recommendation was spot on. We ordered our own meat entree and ordered vegetable sides to share. Food was delish. Setting was unique. Not too noisy. read more

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Go to HELEN! Go to HELEN! Y'all , this place is absolutely amazing. I mean I really loved the entire experience! I met a friend here for lunch and we made reservations.... I highly recommend you do so online. It's really easy to do so. There is no fee to make a reservation but they do ask that you cancel within 24 hours if your plans change. This fabulous restaurant is located downtown, so parking might be an issue depending on the time / day of your visit. I had no issues finding street parking. I don't believe there's a valet option. Since we had reservations, we were seated immediately at a table for two. The table was kinda on the small side but we made it work. I really loved the table decor and that the menu was available via QR code. The vibe of this place is warm and inviting yet really modern. They really did a great job creating the perfect environment to enjoy a nice meal. Ok, what did I order? I went with the burger (no Mayo) , a side of very shareable size mushrooms. Let me just say , if you order these two menu items , you'll be totally satisfied! The burger was simple but so very flavorful. The mushrooms were soaked in Worcestershire sauce and topped with a couple of crispy onion rings. These two paired together were the perfect food marriage! I couldn't stop eating the mushrooms but I did share with my friend.... barely! I can't remember the sandwich my friend ordered but she enjoyed it. She also ordered Brussel sprouts and they were crispy and tender. Prepared just right! I forgot to mention that I also ordered prosecco... it was really good too! My only regret is not ordering a slice of the coconut lemon cake but there is always next time. When we closed out , our server who did a great job advised us of the contactless payment option, which we utilized. It was fast and easy! In addition to the regular dining spaces , there is also a cute bar area. Helen is a GREAT addition to downtown Birmingham! read more

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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

Birthday dinner was perfect! The food was great, service is amazing and the bartender is a true mixologist! read more

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I can't say enough about how great Helen is. My fiancé and I celebrated his birthday on a Wednesday evening. Service was TOP tier. We had a reservation, and upon arrival, were immediately seated. The food was delicious. Absolutely order the Warm Angel Biscuits to start - we added the ham, but I would probably nix that next time. For dinner, we had the Kansas City Strip, Shrimp and La Plancha, Brussels Sprouts, and Yukon Gold Potatoes. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu! read more

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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

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

In. Cred. Ible. I will never forget the warm angel biscuits. Truly dangerous. And the desserts!!! Unbelievable. Service was a little weird in the beginning as we waited in the seating area upstairs for our table. We were led there to wait and get a drink until the table was ready, but it took a bit for anyone to come by and take our drink order. The seating area is right by the stairs too, and facing the restaurant, so it's a little odd and out in the open. But, nothing to be concerned about because once you're seated the service is top notch and the food is impeccable. Some of my favorite dishes of the night were the Ibérico Pork and steak. The fish was also delicious. It's best to go with a group you're comfortable sharing with so you can try lots of dishes. The desserts were quite possibly the best part of the night, so save room! read more

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I adore this new addition to downtown and I've only been able to eat at the bar. The ambience is excellent. The menu is well rounded and the service is top notch. The only real bummer is it's difficult to get a table as is with most newcomers to BHam. I've tried a ton of their menu items and always find myself pivoting back to the steaks. They're incredible. read more

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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

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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