Laid-back vibe,cool atmosphere, well prepared food and outstanding staff. Enough vegetarian options to keep our table happy. Parssnip and apple soup was phenomenal! Calamari Appetizer was perfect. The vegetarian pasta was very good. read more

Helen's - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The food was worth the wait. Probably one of the few places you could go and get sausage and gravy and a real cornbeef hash cooked proper. The kitchen was a littke slow but the server was working hard. Even with her biscuit in the oven she was taking care of business. read more

Helen's - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Note: This review is solely based on Helen's Sunday Brunch. My other half and I absolutely love Helen's for Sunday brunch. The mimosas, the breakfast potatoes, but most of all their amazing strawberry pancakes. They are the best in Richmond and are only rivaled in my opinion by one other restaurant in Southern North Carolina that actually has the word "pancake" in it's name. The pancake itself is soft and fluffy but uniquely flavorful with the warmth of cinnamon. The the strawberries are actually caramelized. I know. Mind-blowing. They are sticky and with a sugary syrup but not overly sweet. We used to try to mask our pancake addiction by ordering other things (which are all delicious) now we only order pancakes until we can eat no more. Get here early or wait for the crowd to subside and enjoy. read more

The chefs at Helen's sure know what they're doing when it comes to brunch. I stopped by after the 10k on Saturday and they were crankin' out the most perfectly cooked poached eggs I have ever seen. Just a tad runny, beautifully shaped... seriously flawless. And the sauteed spinach? Oh the sauteed spinach. So freakin' delicious, and it complimented the smoked salmon in an effortless manner that truly made the dish a home run. I ordered the eggs florentine, which is basically benedict with salmon and spinach. I'm a bit of a smoked salmon benedict freak and order it often- it's hard for me to turn down that particular dish so I've eaten it in many a restaurant in many a city. Sometimes I even order it sans hollandaise in an effort to ward off the extra thousand or so calories. But this particular visit I decided to treat myself and go all out. Was Helen's the best I've ever had? Maybe not, but it sure warrants a ranking near the top. Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you. Helen's is worth a stop- and it has totally won a spot on my brunch rotation! read more

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Awesome! All around excellent service and food. Super attentive waitress friendly and conversational- easy brunch menu without a million things to choose from- classic brunch items perfected! I had their strawberry pancakes and I could literally eat them everyday! Helen's is definitely a new regular spot for me. Absolutely recommend! read more

Helen's - strawberry pancakes with chocolate chips are so good! Crispy and light! Comes with eggs and potatoes as well! - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

great location in a cool hipster neighborhood. Service was very good, attentive and enthusiastic. Food was excellent, interesting combo of items with the chicken. I recommend eating here. Small place, might be tough to get a table read more

Lovely morning brunch on the outdoor patio! The Blackstone Benedict was yummy paired with a mimosa. My daughter had the Irish breakfast and my husband the scramble. Both were excellent. Tried my husband's Bloody Mary and my daughter' Irish coffee and they were tasty too! Glad we arrived just prior to the 10am opening because they quickly filled up. Will be back to try dinner! read more

Amazing food, drinks and service at the bar. I'm not a vegetarian and had some really delicious vegetarian dishes. But it's not a vegetarian restaurant. Just so happy with what I ordered! Drinks were superb. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu! Thank you!! read more

Helen's - Chocolate layer cake - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The atmosphere was perfect for dinner and low-key. The whole staff was open and willing to suggest the best selection. The bread was surprisingly tasty and really reminded me of a good European bread. I ended up getting the Hangar Steak and it was amazing. The chili rub gave just enough spice. The sweet potato fries were delicious and really balanced the steak out well. It was a great experience and I will come back to try the stuffed chicken. This is perfect for a date or just to get some delicious food. read more

Helen's - The hangar steak plate as it was presented. - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I'm a huge shrimp and grits fan, so when I saw it on Helen's menu it was game over. The flavor was great and the texture of the grits was on point. My only compliant would be that the sauce was a bit too watery. Their mimosas are fairly large & refreshing, recommend snagging one with brunch. read more

Helen's - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Always delicious, great brunch and dinner. Lovely during the holidays. A perfect fan staple.

We had our Tuesday night date night at Helen's yesterday and it was a very pleasurable experience. I wouldn't say that it's going to be my favorite restaurant overall (take that with a grain of salt because I haven't tried the infamous brunch), but the dish I had will definitely be one of my favorites in Richmond hands down! So, we walked inside of Helen's and we immediately loved the atmosphere. The chefs cook in an open area behind the bar, the waitress greeted us promptly, and the lighting was dim-- just how I like it. We decided to go with an order of mussels to start because we are in search of the best mussels in RVA! Although we definitely liked them a lot, they didn't beat our current favorites. I enjoyed the crispy potatoes and lemon aioli that they came with. T'was a very unique take on mussels! For dinner, I ordered the Orecchiette with Spicy Country Sausage. I absolutely loved it and kept raving about it with my mouth full (oops!). It was spicy, it was creamy, and it was sweet from the fresh tomatoes. The sausage was top-notch, the pasta was perfectly cooked, the ricotta cheese added just the right amount of creaminess... basically the whole thing was just a very well put together, balanced meal. I'll keep coming back for that! My boyfriend ordered the Grilled NY Strip and Frites. He was able to sub the carrots with a side salad, which we both loved. He was pleased with his meal which is saying somethin' because he is a very picky eater! The only reason why I said that it probably wouldn't end up being my favorite restaurant is because I don't know what else I would have ordered off the menu. They do change it by season, so I'm excited to see their Spring offerings soon! Maybe that menu will bring more options that catch my eye. read more

Helen's - Steamed mussels with Pernod broth, herbs de Provence, matchstick potatoes, and lemon aioli - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Ended up here because the line at brunch across the street had a long wait time. But happy I stopped in. It was Easter Sunday and I was solo in search of pancakes and mimosas. They have an assortment of eggs Benedict available and I had the Virginia eggs Benedict and subbed the potato side for pancakes for an extra $1.50. Everything was delicious and fresh. The va version comes with pulled pork and a bbq glaze that was tasty but doesn't overwhelm the hollandaise sauce. Pancakes good size and perfect. Definitely a good find and perfect for small parties looking for a little bit of brunch on a nice Sunday. read more

Helen's - Virginia eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The food is outstanding! Everything I've had here has been phenomenal. Great people watching spot too! Love this place. read more

Helen's - Bacon stuffed chicken breast with broccolini and gnocchi was to die for! Highly recommended! Sooooooo delicious! - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

First time at Helen's and their brunch was amazing. Super fresh fruit, very friendly staff and a very neighborhood feel to the place. Cooks are right in front behind the bar and are very good. Staff appears very close-knit and work well with each other. Peach French Toast was the special when I went and it's the kind of french toast that doesn't need any syrup. Caramelized pecans were on top I think, super sweet but good. Fresh bacon, and they cooked my eggs exactly the way I wanted them. I am not usually in Richmond on the weekends, but this place will definitely be one a visit again, well worth the experience and I love supporting local businesses like this one! read more

Helen's - Peach French Toast with bacon and over easy eggs - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Helen's is a home away from home. Moving to Richmond in 2017 and finding this little gem of a place has made my experience in Virginia so much better. They do dinner brunch and bar!! Dinner is a 5 start meal waiting for you and brunch is amazing with the most amazing options and multiple Benedict options!! Clay is the chef and you can tell everything he plates is made with such passion. This spot at night turns into an awesome local Richmond bar that makes my nights after working a long shift at work. I love it here read more

Delicious brunch at Helen's! Keto friendly... great service... Awesome place to unwind.

I had my hopes high based on the reviews I read, but came away thinking the food was good, but not great. I had the Helen's burger with warm fries (no, they're not supposed to come that way) and my wife had the lemon Risotto ravioli. We both liked what we had, but waiting 55minutes to get it took something away from the experience. And unfortunately, our service was pretty poor. We didn't know they had specials until we had already ordered, and we happened to hear the waitress at the next table tell those patrons what they were. All the other waitresses really seemed to be hopping, I think we just had the wrong one tonight. Also, be prepared. This place is really small. And good luck finding a place to park on the street close by. read more

I'm not one to give out 5-star Yelp ratings on the first visit, but after my brunch experience at Helen's this past Sunday I have little choice. The meal, the service, and the overall experience were completely outstanding. The restaurant opens at 10:30am on Sunday. We got there at 10:15 to join a quickly forming line. Good sign. We were seated quickly after opening and served in an appropriate amount if time. Our party of five got 3 crab cake Benedicts, one homemade corned beef hash Benedict, and one Irish breakfast. Wow, everything was on point. The four stars of the meal were a) the yellow curry flavored home fries, b) the perfectly poached eggs, c) the best breakfast sausage I've had in a long time, and d) the perfectly seasoned slightly briny crabmeat. Couple the food with good service in a tastefully decorated 1930's period decor, and you have the recipe for a great experience. read more

Helen's - Corned beef Benedict. Fantastic..... - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Love Helen's for both the food and the atmosphere. It's like upscale comfort food! Brunch is awesome - especially the crab cake benny. I liked that their home fries are seasoned with curry...it gives them a really unique flavor. At night, Helen's becomes a really fun bar with a ton of awesome beer choices. $2 rails on Thursdays! read more

Helen's - crab cake benny + home fries - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

So over the summer, my lady friends and I were doing a happy hour crawl through the Fan and stumbled into Helen's. I say stumble not in the "oh, we just discovered this hidden gem" but like literally. Because we had been imbibing for a couple hours! There was hardly anyone in there and lucky for us the bartenders were experimenting with some new drinks so we got to try them for free! Yay! They have some really yummy craft cocktails, by the way. We ordered several apps to share including the summer burrata salad, the mussels, and the French fries. Now anyone that pays attention to my reviews should know I have a real LOVE of fried potatoes. Like I obsess over them. And Helen's fries were some of the Best. Damn. Fries. Ever. They were super crispy but soft on the inside and just full of flavor and just like LIFE. The other items were good too but the fries. I just can't. So I've been obsessing over these fries for months. And plotting when I could go back and devour like all the fries. Well, finally the opportunity presented itself. On Saturday. And I was so excited! We sit down and look over the menu and I notice they aren't on the menu but I'm like they have to have them still. I mean duh. So we order some scallops and mussels and an order of fries. And then the damn ball drops. Apparently they no longer have a fryer and aren't making fries anymore. NOOOOOOOOOO! Like how does that happen?!?! I'm devastated. Crushed. Where do I go from here? I drown my sorrows in the complimentary bread and jus from the mussels. It doesn't help. I contemplate an Uber over to the Answer for their crack fries. I'm just lost. I'm still broken up about it. The three stars aren't because of my heart crushing experience, by the way. The mussels didn't taste all that great and the scallops left a bit to be desired too. Seems like the quality may have taken a nosedive from times I've previously eaten at Helen's. Also, I'm almost ashamed that I didn't know their brunch is legendary. Perhaps I will update my review when the trauma of my last visit finally subsides and I can go back in there again. PS I learned a valuable lesson here, friends. Take heart. If you obsess over French fries or any other food you fancy don't wait for an occasion to get them. Just. Get. Them. Carpe Diem the hell out of your food cravings, I say! read more

Flavorful and delicious, Helen's knows how to serve a beautifully balanced and delicious plate in terms of flavor. Helen's is also quite small so be prepared for a wait. No worries. It's worth it. For my first time, I ordered biscuits and gravy which came with a side of eggs and curried potatoes. Everything I ordered was great! Service was just OK, but Helen's is still a nice place to have brunch. read more

Helen's - Biscuit and gravy glory - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Came here for brunch with my boyfriend's brother since he came into town and LOVES richmond. He had to take me here. First time, and must say, it's pretty small, but that's typical for any places in The Fan. Food: I ordered the Blue Plate Breakfast - 2 eggs, sausage, potatoes, and toast. All for $6. It tastes homemade and so good. The sausage I believe is Irish sausage? It was kind of weird to me, but probably because I've never had it. I would definitely come back!! read more

Went for brunch a couple of times. The food is delicious! Had the eggs Benedict and the tomato and avocado eggs Benedict. The tomato and avocado eggs Benedict is so much better! Also had the fried potatoes - absolutely amazing. Soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside with a delicious flavor. Also had the French toast - it's better than the original eggs Benedict but not as good as the avocado and tomato eggs Benedict. I'll definitely go back for brunch! read more

split 4 small plates between two guests. More than enough food, but we ate it all. Excellent, as was my cocktail. Went without reservation on Saturday night at 7:45 and did not have problem getting table. They aren't taking reservations yet post-covid. Only complain, and its a big one for anyone with a handicap - there is no longer a rail on the steps. No doubt an ADA violation. Needs to be fixed. read more

Another fantastic dinner at Helen's thanks to Chef Clay and his staff. Everything from the pre-dinner Espresso Martinis to the Duck special to the Mousse for dessert were fantastic. This place never disappoints! read more

Brunch review only. The menu is pretty standard, offering benedicts, biscuits, eggs, and sweets. Upon a recent visit, I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes with cheesy scrambled eggs. This dish was SO good! The pancakes were so fluffy inside, and they had the right amount of chocolate chips. These could be the best restaurant pancakes I've ever had. Then, those cheesy eggs - man, were they tasty! I added a dash of hot sauce on them, and they were great. To have a dish that can be overly sweet, i.e., pancakes, paired with salty/spicy eggs is a great idea. In addition to the food, the service is great. The people here are friendly and welcoming. It makes you feel like you've been going to Helen's your entire life. While both the food and people are fantastic, the aroma of turmeric upon walking in is overly strong. Unfortunately, I am not sure what Helen's can do to mitigate that, as the only solution may be to stop using turmeric as an ingredient altogether. Or maybe the exhaust fan can be improved... Anyway, it's an obvious smell when you first walk in, but you do get used to it after a while. Bottom line: Brunch at Helen's is great with a friend, significant other or family. It's a Richmond landmark, and it's not to be missed! read more

Super tiny portions, if you're hungry go somewhere else. Order at the door, outdoor seating only. Single use plastic. My eggs were very greasy. My tea was tiny and I had ask for a refill. I was told only one refill on the tea. The seating was nice, the atmosphere was excellence, too bad the food did not live up to ambience. I will most likely never visit this place again. The value just was not there. It was below average food. It a shame too such a quaint little place with so much potential. read more

5 star review during Restaurant week? I didn't even think this was possible! But Helen's proved me wrong. 1st course was roasted asparagus with blood oranges, proscuitto, and carrot puree. My entree was Cobia with a pea risotto. For dessert I had a pistachio napoleon which the waitress described as "if a cloud had a taste"...and she was right! The entire meal was delicious, but the dessert was the high point. My dinner partner loved her meal just as much as I did! The servers were kind, timely, and made great recommendations. I don't know how I've been in Richmond so long without hearing about Helens, but I will certainly be back. My only complaint is that the lighting at dinner is very dim..too dim...like, had to take a picture of my food w the flash to really see it (lol). read more

Went here for a birthday dinner and the bucatini carbonara was great! We asked to sit next to the window and even with a party of 2 they accommodated. The only negative was that the cocktails left a lot to be desired. read more

Helen's - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Helens is always too notch food with incredible service. Its my favorite spot for drinks in the fan! Even during covid they have the most incredible staff. read more

I cannot understand how this place has 3.5 stars. The meal I had for dinner last night was hands down the best meal I have ever had in Richmond and definitely in the top meals I've ever eaten. My partner and I ordered a bunch of small plates: beets and peaches, wings, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, elote, gnocchi. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and unique. The set up and ambience are great and I felt very safe dining on their patio in the midst of COVID. The service was also amazing. We also ordered drinks which were boozy and yummy. I will come back every time I am in Richmond. Check this place out. read more

I went there on a dinner date on 6/16/18. This is a small intimate restaurant located in the fan. It was a tad bit stuffy as if the a/c wasn't really kicking in on this hot night. I do like how the chefs are located to right of the bar as you walk in. It was nice to see them working their magic. I had short ribs ontop of some grits. The short ribs were coated with a slightly tangy bbq sauce. Overall my meal was delicious and would go again. My date had the shrimp and grits and relayed that it was very tasty! read more

Helen's - Short Ribs - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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1.5 hours and still waiting after being told it was a 30 minute wait. We are 3 people - not hard to seat. The hostess is unapologetic. I don't care how good the food might be - this is very overrated. read more

I loved this place!!! I wasn't happy when we first came in and found out that you need to have a reservation that they only have a few tables. It is a really small space!! We reluctantly sat at the bar. The bar tender was extremely friendly, so we went ahead and ordered our dinner. I'm on a slightly picky diet, (no carbs) so sometimes it's harder to order when I go out to eat. I saw two apps that sounded amazing so I decided to order them as my meal. The sautéed calamari was really good but nowhere near as good as the fried Brussels sprouts. Wow!! Those things were amazing. I could eat those all the time and they had a lemon aioli that went perfect with it. Yum!! All of the employees were extremely friendly, and made the evening even better. I'll definitely go back for the Brussel sprouts!! read more

My favorite restaurant in Richmond. The food and drinks are creative and always make me happy. The vibe is great inside and out on the patio. Just had a special fried green tomato salad with peaches and ricotta last night that was so good I may go back to get it again this week before it's gone. I haven't written a yelp review in years, but was shocked to see they did not have at least 4 stars. Blasphemy! read more

Super nice waitstaff - very helpful, informed and kind. Nice location. Plenty of street parking. Quirky vintage building. Eat in or out. Tasty food. Prices are a bit too high - $25.00 for a BLT with a touch of avocado, curry potatoes and iced tea + tax + tip. Yikes. Decor needs to be freshened up. Bring in fresh paint, new art and some Deco antiques and design elements. Keep the cool vintage vibe but in a fresh, cleaned up way. Background music a little too loud and song selections did not quite match the place. The staff and food are both great - the place just needs to be tweaked a bit. In the end, it would pay for itself. read more

Homophobic experience here. My friend and I, both subdued but strong queers, entered this establishment on a Friday night. There were many seats available at the bar and at tables. We were told they were full and to call to make a reservation for the FOLLOWING DAY. it was 8 pm. Meanwhile, two separate groups of people came in, asked for a table or a seat at the bar, and were then seated. Go here if you want to perpetuate heteronormative patriarchal values and rampant discrimination. Seriously, I thought this was 2019. read more

Came on a Sunday for brunch with two friends. There was a 40 minute wait which didn't bother us because we just walked around the neighborhood to pass time. They have a super cute outdoor patio to sit at but we were seated inside and it was super dark (almost a pub-ish level of dark). We placed our orders quickly but it took 45 minutes for our food to come out. That being said, the food was delicious though! I got the veggie scramble and it was very yummy and the goat cheese flavor was strong. My friend got the French toast and it was SUPER yummy. They don't use square bread just FYI, I think it was like a French bread sliced diagonally. Anyways it was yummy! Overall a yummy experience just don't come hungry bc it will be at least 90 minutes for you to eat from the time you put your name on the list. read more

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Some excellent dishes here. The short rib and the brussels/artichoke dishes were top notch! Drinks and service were so so. Overall, worth a trip. read more