I don't write reviews for restaurants, ever. However, the tuna melt I had from Helen's was so life altering I felt compelled. It could have been the perfectly melted cheese, or the crispy bacon, not sure, but it was amazing. My kids got the chicken fingers, and again, a very simple staple...but their batter was so flavorful. Can't wait to go back! read more

We met some friends for lunch in Concord and, after some Yelp research, decided on Helen's. We arrived about a half-hour early and my husband dropped me off to put our name down for a table. Good thing he did! They don't take names - it's simply a line to get seated, and a LONG line at that (with no time estimate)! I waited in line, watching everyone enjoy their delicious-looking breakfasts (which ends at 11:30 or 12, something they really should have told those of us waiting in line). Our friends showed up RIGHT as a table was ready - perfect timing! We literally squeezed ourselves into a booth (the back is able to be pushed back, which was definitely needed) and settled in. It didn't take nearly as long for our food to come as I expected and we were out of there pretty quick! My husband & I split 2 paninis, which both come with chips & a pickle: Helen's Meatloaf Meltdown (which is spelled Meetloaf on the actual menu...) and the Apple & Turkey. The Meatloaf is grilled meatloaf with Monterey Jack cheese, hot sauce and grilled onion on flatbread, while the Apple & Turkey is with caramelized onion, cheddar cheese and pesto mayo on flatbread. I asked for the pesto mayo on the side, but only the PESTO came on the side. The mayo was slathered on there... Not exactly what I ordered. The Meatloaf Meltdown was definitely the favored panini for both of us. It was very flavorful, with a nice kick of spice and exactly what you want in comfort food. The Apple & Turkey wasn't bad, it just doesn't compare to the Meatloaf. Our friends got the Extra-Lean Hot Pastrami (I THINK): On a french baguette with swiss cheese and Helen's mustard served with chips; and the Classic Cobb Salad (w/turkey breast, Apple-smoked bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese, and egg wedges topping a large house salad). The salad looked really good. They both really enjoyed their food. For 4 entrees, plus a kid's meal & juice, it came out to about $45... Really reasonable to me! We were all members of the Clean Plate Club and were very satisfied! I would definitely come back here if in the area, but I would be prepared for a long wait. And I agree, they definitely should have a sign that says Cash Only. We were prepared, but if we didn't know, we would probably have been upset! read more

Takeout order was conveniently ready by the time I picked it up. The place is very close to Walden pond. I got The fancy breakfast sandwich which was a little messier and bigger than I anticipated. I wish it held together better since I was eating it on the road. But very very filling!! I also wish the bacon was more lean, but that is more of a personal preference. read more

Stopped for late lunch on a beautiful Fall afternoon. Place was not crowded at all which gave us some concern. Serves breakfast all day. Large menu to choose from again potentially concerning. However we were pleasantly surprised by great service and great food. My wife ordered the Omelette which was moist and delicious. Home fries cooked to crunchy perfection. I ordered the 2-2-2 Eggs, Sausage and French Toast was yummy. FT was light and wanted me looking for more. Waitstaff was pleasant and welcoming. We didn't save room for dessert but from what I saw it looked awesome. We will be back to try some of their other menu items. V read more

Feels like a diner with more of a restaurant menu. The clam chowder I had was average and the fish and chips were pretty good. No alcohol and when asked if they did they said, "No, this is a family place." Okay... Though I cannot say we had a bad experience there was also nothing going on enough to be a draw to come back. read more

This place was a great find. My dad, my boyfriend, his son, and I were visiting Concord last weekend and we stopped in the town for a bite to eat. We were all very hungry after doing tourist stuff in the area - Walden Pond, etc. My boyfriend picked this place because it was the closer place to our parking spot and his son had hurt his leg and didn't want to walk far. At first I was disappointed as usually "diner style" places don't do well for me as a vegan. However fortunately I was wrong in my assumption. The place did have a few good vegetarian and vegan options. I got a raspberry lime rickey (one of the best I've ever had) and the Monterray vegetable wrap (no cheese) and chips. My boyfriend got a pastrami sandwich, his son got a burger and fries, and my dad got a burger as well. (We took dad out for a vegetarian brunch earlier and I think now he was craving his meat so all he wanted was a good burger and he said this place delivered). The pickles that came as a garnish/side with my sandwich were amazing. SO GOOD! Everyone was very happy with the meals. I only wish that instead of sides like chips, fries, etc. we could easily opt for greens, fruit, or salad. I did however like that 3 of us had different sides - one with fries, and two with different kinds of chips. Variety is good. My boyfriend's son got their ice cream to go. It's not home made but he still enjoyed it a lot. Though it's not on the board they do have sorbet as well. The staff was nice and the place was cute. Glad we went here. read more

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For a good variety of simple and comfort food, a lot of it healthful, this place is terrific. Not pretentious; just good food. Breakfast is my personal favorite: I'm an avocado toast fan; and the avocado BLT is delicious for lunch. read more

Helen's restaurant is another old favorite in Concord it is a wonderful lunch and dinner time spot to go and I would recommend it to just about any visitors to Concord. Enjoy your meal there. read more

I've visited this place for breakfast a few times and just tried their lunch menu for the first time today. Their food and service has been consistently good so far. The breakfast portions can be large and quite filling. Most items come with coffee or tea. When I wasn't sure which style of tea I wanted, the waitress got me a whole basket to choose from. Minor adjustments to our lunch items were completed without issues. For lunch today, I had their Fishwich special which was a Mahi-mahi filet with melted cheese on top with the typical toasted buns and lettuce/tomatoes. It was so good that I could have eaten it as a dinner item. A minor gripe is that they only accept cash. Therefore, no credit cards or debit cards. read more

Helen's Restaurant - Chocolate chip, blue berry, strawberry, and plain - American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

By far the best breakfast in the area! Real Homfries not those deep fried potatoes thank god! Pancakes are great, good ham, French toast is great. It's exactly what real breakfast eaters would want to go. I'm a big boy I know! read more

Really good breakfast food but always seems to be closed. Kids used to walk down to get ice cream which they enjoyed. Service not good, one of the main managers is rude. Everything also expensive, $20 pancakes with no meat or extras. read more

CASH ONLY! I wish I had read that sooner before we went so I had cash on me. So I'll say it again - CASH ONLY! I went for brunch on Sunday with two of my girlfriends - we were there at 11am. Not a long wait at all - plenty of tables, but it did take the staff a while to acknowledge us and tell us where to sit. The booth - really really tiny. My friend is preggo and had a lot of trouble getting comfy. No one wants to eat with the table pressed into their tummy. Maybe we should have known better and asked for a table, but these were some of the smallest booths I've sat at - and I'm not a small person either. I wasn't so comfy. The food was good - it came out fast and was correct. No issues for me there at all. I ordered eggs with veggies and goat cheese, toast and fruit. It was on the menu and they made it nice and dry which is how I like it. The waitress was nice. So overall - meh. Not sure I'd rush back. read more

Love it here!! I eat here frequently because the food is good, the workers are always nice, and it is pretty close to where I live. It is a pretty small space and usually pretty crowded, so it can be really crammed and loud, but it is a nice place to grab food, for all three meals of the day! Five stars might be a little much for just the food and service, but I have come here almost too many times to count and I have never been disappointed, so that is why this is getting five stars. As a side note, I recommend the apple and turkey panini and the baja burger. read more

Had chicken and waffles side of Mac and cheese. Waffle and chicken was covered with an abundance of powdered sugar....Mac and cheese was just macaroni noodles in a cheese sauce, no taste whatsoever. The maple syrup made the waffle horrible...waitress didn't bother to ask me how everything was. The lemonade was the best thing there. Maybe try the breakfast. This was a fail. read more

Kyla is the best waitress. She hooks it up with the extra pancakes. Overall good vibes and fire food. read more

Food = tasty and generous Prices = more than reasonable for the area Service = spotty and underwhelming, slow, no enthusiasm or appreciation for your business Also - cash only read more

We went here thinking we would get a good lunch and that hardly happened. The restaurant was nice inside and they were friendly however my meal the Thai chicken wrap was ok and some in my family ordered an item and they told us it was out of stock when they gave me my wrap. They had very slow service. When my family member got their second item the veggie burger it was horrible if you like peas it's ok it's only made of peas. They ended up overcharged us I would not recommend this place unless if it's your last choice. read more

Helen's Restaurant - Thai chicken wrap - American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Make no mistake, this is the BEST lunch spot In downtown Concord. They only accept cash, the people are friendly, and the food is awesome! read more

Food was ok, but we had a group of 15 students and were not told that they only accepted cash. We even called to see if they could accommodate our number and no one said anything. Who in the world would assume that a group leader has that much cash to not say anything about that policy?? I had to leave my children, walk 2 blocks, get cash from an atm, and go back. There are no signs outside indicating that no cash is accepted. This was NOT impressive and not good business, in my opinion. Our tour guide even said that she would never bring a group back to Helen's due to this experience. The sandwiches that kids ordered were enough food, but the salads were pretty sparse and we had to order an additional side to full us up. I wouldn't take the time to visit this restaurant if you have the chance. I certainly wouldn't go back. read more

What a friendly restaurant. It's been around for ages and has that lovely, traditional feel. The servers are welcoming and accommodating, and the turn around is efficient. The food, though not ground breaking, is well prepared. A great place for an unassuming stop. Our table had the beer battered fish & chips with cole slaw, a turkey reuben, the grilled mango salmon, and we also had sweet potato fries. French fries were a little cold, but the sweet potato fries were delicious. It is a cash only restaurant, so be prepared. The day we visited was grey and rainy, but the restaurant was warm and friendly. read more

I wish I had looked here before going...I would have realized cash only. Spent 6 dollars in fees just using the Bank of America down the street. I get being cash only, but if people have to walk a block and cross a busy street to get money, why not have an ATM machine in house? The owner would make money off the ATM transactions (Why not add a no-hassle additional revenue source to your business?), and patrons (that don't read the bottom of the chalkboard upon walking in) don't get inconvenienced. Anyway...onto the blase lunch. Stopped in for a quick lunch, nothing quick about it. Took about 5-7 minutes have a waitress greet us and by that time, take our whole order. Granted I ordered a smoothie, but it took about 15 minutes to get drinks after we ordered them. My 6 dollar smoothie was sour. I actually had to mix in a splenda to make it bearable to drink....tasted maybe like the Yogurt was off a bit or the mangos weren't ripe. Either way, I've never met a smoothie I didn't like...that was a first. I ordered a cobb salad, my friend ordered a burger. You can't really mess up a cobb salad, but the presentation could have been better. Just cutting an egg in half and throwing one piece of bacon on top of the salad didn't look right. I subbed out chicken instead of turkey, and the chicken was completely overcooked. It had good seasoning, so if cooked appropriately may have been good. Also, for a sit down place, giving someone a packet of salad dressing is a little weird. I would expect that for a to-go salad or from a sub place, but not a sit down place in Concord....at least throw it in a ramekin or something. My friend said her burger was totally bland, like no seasoning at all ( to be fair she also orders well done burgers so I didn't give that much merit) and when I commented that I loved a brioche bun, she said it was stale. The fries were delicious though. For a place that has dessert, we weren't offered any, and the check dropped off with our meals with the curt response, "do you want anything else?". Nothing for nothing, I worked in the industry for over 16 years and there are simple ways to convey things nicely...the whole demeanor of our waitress was that she was busy and just churning the tables. I know the feeling of being weeded, but you should still be cordial. If it takes over 30 minutes for a burger and a salad, say something to the effect of "sorry for the delay on this, the kitchen was a little backed up from the lunch rush" and all would be good... All in all, it was my first time here, and I never one and done a place...but honestly there are a lot of breakfast and lunch places around the area. Maybe I will try the breakfast which looked good... read more

I only had ice cream here and that very good! They have a good amount of flavors and it is reasonably priced. The food menu here looks good as well, I definitely wanna try the food next time. read more

Helen's Restaurant - American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Walking around Concord Center, walked by Helen's, Decided to have lunch Great choice. Wife had a cheeseburger with fries - she loved it ( I enjoyed the fries I snuck off her plate) I had a Goat Cheese & Spinach Wheat Bread Panini. OMG it was delicious it also had red peppers and tomatoes. I could go vegetarian just on this sandwich alone. It was perfect, Worth the drive just for this sandwich. read more

The BEST breakfast spot in town. Helen's offers the classic American breakfast and has options for all diets. Highly recommend if you're visiting Concord. It's a town staple. read more

This restaurant offers barely adequate food and poor service. A random Waffle House would likely offer better on both fronts. I've attempted to eat here 3 times on the recommendation of a long-time resident. The most recent experience - which I hope will be the last - was on Mother's Day. Here is why: 1. Nobody was there to greet us as we entered. 2. Once we were sat - which involved waiting several minutes despite open tables - we waited more than 10 minutes for our drink order to be taken. 3. The waitress regularly visited the section and failed to bring what was requested or inquire if we wanted or needed anything, before and after our orders were taken. 4. The table for 2 was so small that it couldn't fit two breakfasts and drinks for two people. 5. The food was awful. The eggs were overcooked, the tortilla was actively bad, the beans were flavorless, the bacon was fatty and soggy, and the English muffin was cold. Sausage and pancakes were OK. 6. They don't take credit cards. This sort of deviance from normal business practices should be prominently advertised several places. It's not. Helen's: Get your servers some trays so they can serve a table in one trip, train them to treat their section as a table (and otherwise do their jobs), and staff adequately in front and back of the house for peak periods. read more

The room is pleasant enough, but everything else about this place kind of comes across as "your presence here is kind of an inconvenience." Knew it was cash only so not that big of a problem, but seems bizarre in this day and age. Went for breakfast. Got a three egg omelette which seemed more like a two egg omelette. The chef made no attempt to distribute the filling: all onion on the left, all peppers on the right. Their home fries were about as bland as could be and was also a very small serving. They seem understaffed. Staff rushes around, are kind of brusque and we had to wait to seem them repeatedly. It's just not that good. This is a nice location and a nice room. We went out of our way to try it. They really could do better. read more

Great food and service you hungry in concord and you se the red sign you pop in and sit wherever you want

We showed up on a Sunday at 11 am. Waited out in a line for a table for 15 minutes. There's no hostess to take your name so you can relax outside. After we sat down, it took another 5 for the waitress to bring us menus. Then another 10 before she came for our orders. We then waited 45 minutes to ice cold eggs - she had obviously not picked them up when they were done. The portions are terrible for the money. The place is on the cheaper side - $7 to 10. But you get no food so that hardly makes it a good value. I've never seen diner pancakes so small! read more

Great service excellent food. Recommend the Baja burger! Also try the home made raspberry lime soda. Clean and pleasant atmosphere. Plays music from the eighties. ONLY ACCEPTS CASH read more

Helen's Restaurant - American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

We stopped in here for lunch, 7 of us. Of us, one has food allergies/issues. One issue is a lactose intolerance, so she ordered a burger, no cheese. It came out with cheese, so it was promptly sent back. When it came out too quickly, she checked and, sure enough, there was still cheese left behind from when it had been scraped off. In an attempt to educate the cook, she asked to speak to him and explain that scraping wasn't the way to do it. His response? "What do you expect, we're busy." Sadly, while all the other food was good, warranting a higher rating, the way the cook, and staff, responded to this was way wrong. Food allergies aren't something to be trivialized. read more

Great little neighborhood place for lunch after a leisurely leaf peeping stroll around Walden Pond. We had the daily special BlackenedMahi Mahi mahi tacos with mango salsa. The sweet potato fries were delicious too. We didn't save space for the awesome looking homemade pies and desserts. Next time. Service was friendly and efficient. Btw- cash only. read more

Helen's Restaurant - American Near Me - Concord, Massachusetts

Helen's is a great local spot for breakfast and lunch, it can get busy on the weekends. I try to stop in a few times per month for lunch and it never disappoints. The ladies that work there are funny and know their stuff, there is a large menu which can be a bit overwhelming, but I tend to stick to the same choices. read more

I totally saw a man with a mail-order bride here, it was awesome. I know I should review the restaurant, and I'll get to that part I swear, but first the couple situation. An older man comes in with a younger foreign woman. They're a couple, but there's something odd and awkward about it, like the way they interact. They go to sit in the booth behind us and my boy hears the guy say, "you sit on that side so that everyone here can see you." So strange. Anyway, we had to take a trip to Walden this weekend for some pictures. We were hungry and in need of lunch and wanted to try somewhere new. We had walked by Helen's last time we were in the area and thought it would be a good place to get simple sandwiches/salads. The menu had quite a few veggie options, which was nice. They had a special that was a burger, fries, and soda for like $7. I asked if I could get that and substitute the veggie burger and the waitress looked at my like I had ten heads and wouldn't do it. I ended up with the Greek veggie burger wrap and I think it might have been the better choice. They use gardenburgers, so it's nothing special. The decor is weird. At a quick glance it's kind of cool, but then as you start to look at some of the light fixtures and fans you can see that they were trying too hard. It's like part of them wants to be a simple throw back with black and white photos on the wall, and the other part wants to be modern with wacky lights and silly multi-colored fans. I would come back if in the area and totally in need of lunch, as the menu was decent. Service was just ok, and they are cash only, so be warned. What I really want to know is what happened with the man and his bride. read more

An "Under-the-cover-of-night" mission to Walden Pond is what led me and three others here for some food and to slice some time off of our wait for darkness. It was a lot more busy than we anticipated, and we wanted to get some food to go so we could eat on the lawn next to the Masonic Lodge, so we placed our orders at the diner-style counter seats. A few tiny yet simple twists on the menu items we wanted was all it took for the waitress and the cook (a massive, tattooed force of a man) who was two feet away to treat us like a-holes. Once the attitudes came it was all downhill from there. I sat with my head in my hands because the awkward atmosphere, the angry cook, and the sideways scowl from the waitress was unbearable. Why work in this business? Once we got our food and could soundly breathe again, we ate some pretty tasty grub that hovers around a cafe/diner style. The prices were good for a Concordian eatery, but man, those people were MEAN! read more

Cash only? Really? In Concord? That wasn't the only disappointing thing. The food was boring. The service was sad as well. Hello can you refill my empty coffee cup now that I am asking you even though you saw it was empty and walked right past me?? Glad this isn't a choice I have to make and a weekly basis. I'm sorry for you Concordians. read more

The service was wonderful, but the food was bland. I got the BBQ tenderloin tips that had three onion rings (much sadness), asked for medium-rare tips and got well done (more sadness) and the vegetables were extremely bland. read more

Jesse summed this place up really well by saying this: "My mom would really like this place." It's true. I think most mom's would like it. There were even some mom's lunching there when we visited. The location is probably still connected to Brigham's somehow, because they have the receipts that say it, take cash, and still have the full selection of the Brigham's ice cream. The food just seems to be more creative. I ordered a chicken sandwich, with all sorts of peppers and onions, and it came with a side of spicy ranch dipping sauce. It came with potato chips, but I paid the extra for fries, which I wouldn't suggest; it was more expensive and the amount of fries was skimpy. The sandwich was awesome. The decor is really homey and cute, hence being mom-approved, and I'd definitely come back in here. Beware that its cash only. Why are the uppity rich people towns always cash only at so many places? read more

Stumbled upon this local place looking for a late lunch. Busy even at 3:30 and was filling up as we left at 5:00. Looking like a cross between a diner and old-fashioned soda shop (Helen highlights her ice cream and milkshake collection), the food selections are vast and very very good. My partner in crime had a hefty fried chicken sandwich - half went home with her. The mahi mahi tacos were robust and flavorful. Love the spicy aioli dressing. Sweet potato fries were a nice surprise. Just beware - they only take cash. (And not well publicized on the board or menu). We luckily had enough. And there are probably ATM machines nearby. read more

That lobster BLTA though.... A stands for Avocado. Really just an amazing sandwich, for a great price. it may seem expensive at 18 dollars, but it is HUGE. Three of us split two of these sandwiches and a salad, and we were quite full. MMM delicious. The ambiance is much more of a diner than we expected, but it was cute and small-towny, given that we were in Concord, MA. Perfect place to grab lunch before seeing Walden Pond! read more

For the portions you're given and the variety and seasonality of food that can be sourced locally (i.e. Verill Farms etc.) I find it saddening that Helen's feels that it can charge the amount of money it does for the lackluster products it serves. Frozen fries, unripened tomatoes and fairly flavorless ingredients in their food make for a meal the tends to fall flat. It's too bad Concord has become so enamored by this place. If they only had a backbone it might be feasible to have something better come along someday. Perhaps the old Walden Grille location will fair better with whatever new owners have purchased it. read more