Helen

Helen is a great addition to downtown Birmingham. The aestetics of the restaurant are eye-catching, the food is good, and they have interesting cocktails. Helen feels like a restaurant you would find on the corner of any major city. To be able to experience a restaurant like this in Birmingham, AL is wonderful! I'm excited to see how their menu changes with the seasons, and I for sure have to try their summer desserts!

Fantastic from the moment we sat. Our server Tessa was so well versed and knowledgeable on the wines and menu items. We started with a bottle of Paul Hobbs. The Angel Biscuits were unique and so delicious. We shared a huge portion of the dry aged steak and grits, both to die for. Simply outstanding! A must while in Birmingham!

Grandma’s kitchen with a chefs kiss. I love when you go to a city and experience a restaurant and cuisine you truly can’t get anywhere else and that’s Helen. It’s apologetically indulgent food with It’s southern, authentic hospitality. It’s carefully crated cocktails with a southern twist. The whole experience is like a warm delicious hug from a grandma who happens to be a little hipster. Would highly recommend the biscuits. They are so good and probably so hard to make they actually share the recipe. Try the short rib covered in bbq white sauce. Try a couple of cocktails and get an Uber home.

We visited Birmingham and decided to have dinner at Helen. The restaurant meets our expectations. All our dishes were delicious, made with good quality ingredients, and cooked to perfection. The duck was amazing, the chicken was super juicy, and the lamb was delicious. The drinks were well-made. The service was good but not great. We will definitely be back there for our next trip to Birmingham.

We came here without a reservation and the greeter was very warm and friendly. We asked to sit at the bar. The staff at the bar were very fun. Many recommendations. The steak tartar was amazing. I had the spare rib, and it was so tender. It almost fell off the bone.

My dinner was a dream from start to finish! We called for a last minute reservation & got lucky. We were accommodated swiftly on the spot. We had the warmest service from our server Jenny. Everyone was so attentive, generous & knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients, & chef. They also have a sommelier on staff to recommend wine to your taste. Everything from the starter course to dessert was fresh, perfectly prepared & ridiculously flavorful. This place is perfect for literally any occasion (date night, girl dinner, friends). It’s worth every penny. You can’t be disappointed at Helen.

The angel Biscuits and Beef short rib are superb! I didn't really like the roasted duck. Our waitress was accommodating and very insightful on the menu. We loved the atmosphere.

We came here with a group from work as we were visiting Birmingham for a short work trip. It was highly recommended by local individuals. They also said we had to try the warm angel biscuits and we did. That was certainly the highlight of the meal. The biscuits came with whipped cane syrup butter, and you must have several. They were incredible. We moved into the main dish where we tried the smoked overnight short ribs, NY strip steak, ibérico presa, and the seafood dish which I cannot remember the name of. We shared the roasted oysters, fried okra, and Yukon gold potatoes. I must say, they were all beyond delicious. There was not one dish that I would leave off and not recommend. We ended the dinner with the warm banana pudding and Black Forest shortbread ice cream sandwich. Although the desserts are small, we shared because we were beyond stuff with all the other food. I will definitely visit again when I’m in town. Compliments to the chef!

What's going on Yelpies !!! You know that moment when you asked your friend or significant other what do you want for dinner and you both look at each other and say .... Helen's ... Yeah that what you should say instead of the normal answer. The food here is one of a kind. Really .... I'm at a minimum 25 years in the food and beverage industry (I know TMI) Chef can cook some superb dishes.. From short rib ,Iberico pork , to Certified Angus Beef. You're going to eat good and taste real food with class and comfort because the people and vibe will make you feel at home. Oh and the selection of wine is amazing. Keep it going and good luck on your new up and coming seafood location next store

I'd double my stars if I could. We stumbled upon Helen while spending a weekend in Birmingham (which, I should note, was in September. I'm behind on writing my reviews by like, a lot). We had dinner reservations elsewhere, but as we got to know the area after a night, we wanted to stay somewhere more downtown and got to reading reviews on Yelp. After seeing pictures of the food and seeing what others had to say, we decided to make a reservation at Helen. From the moment we walked into the restaurant, we felt like we had found a gem. We wanted a special night to ourselves with good service and great food, and immediately, before even being seated, felt like we'd found it. The ambiance cozy and elevated. We were taken to our table upstairs and our waiter quickly stopped by to give us waters. The restaurant was very busy, so I worried about being helped in a timely manner, but that was never a problem at all. Our waiter was Feyard and he was an absolute rockstar - so knowledgable about everything on the menu, including the cocktails and wine, and just an incredibly nice person. We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so decided to share everything we ordered. After a round of cocktails, we ordered the oysters and prosciutto/melon salad. Both were incredible in their own way. Next up we had Elote Corn Ribs, which were also delicious but slightly messy to eat. For our main course, we shared a filet with a side of mushrooms and slightly crushed (baked and fried) new potatoes. The filet was cooked perfectly, and the sides really complemented the meal. While we were digesting/deciding on our dessert selection, Feyard brought us some of the Warm Angel Biscuits and said he knew we didn't order them but he truly believed we needed to try them. He was right. That homemade butter was poppin'. For dessert, we split the famous banana pudding that was the best I've ever had. The food. The experience. The service. It was all absolutely incredible and we were both so glad that we decided to give it a try. We WILL be back next time we're in town and hope that this review gives you the inspo to try it out as well!

Helen offers a refined dining experience with a mixed bag when it comes to the food. Starting off, the Warm Angel Biscuits were undeniably tasty but paying for bread service always stings, especially with the already steep prices. The Roasted Murderpoint Oysters were a miss for me--the small Murderpoint Oysters buried under breadcrumbs, leaving the star ingredient hidden. For mains, I had the 22oz 45 Day Dry Aged Kansas City Strip, which I ordered medium-rare but came closer to rare. It's a beautiful cut, but a bit too undercooked. The Gulf Redfish a la Plancha hit the mark, though. Balanced flavors and perfectly cooked, this dish stood out as a highlight. Sides were enjoyable, especially the Sweet Corn Ribs, which felt like an upscale take on Mexican street corn, and the Yukon Gold Potatoes, with a satisfying crispness on the outside and tenderness inside. Dessert was a mixed bag--the Warm Banana Pudding was tasty but lacked enough cookies, while the Tiramisu was fine, though nothing groundbreaking. Service-wise, the bartender was a standout, crafting excellent cocktails, but dinner service dragged. The atmosphere was elegant, with a relaxed yet sophisticated vibe. Would I go back? Honestly, I'm torn. For the price, I expected a dish that would pull me back in, and nothing quite did that. Maybe for a drink, but the food didn't leave a lasting impression.

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!

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.

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!!

WOW. We had such a fabulous meal at Helen, and I am already looking forward to coming back! Located in downtown Birmingham, Helen has a warm, cozy, elevated ambiance. Valet is offered, but street parking is often available nearby. As for the star of the show - the food. The warm angel biscuits are a must order, and the salty maple butter that it comes with is delicious. Our favorite appetizers from today were the peach/cucumber salad and the corn ribs. The salad was sweet and salty and a perfect taste of summer. The corn ribs reminded me of eloté with a southern twist. Our favorite entree was the gulf snapper. Dessert was a chocolate mousse cake with salt on top - sooo decadent and delicious, and I'm not even a huge chocolate fan. This menu varies seasonally so always fun to see what new things they have! A wonderful restaurant for an elevated dinner in bham.

OMG!!! Delicious and HUGE portions. It's family style, and you should be prepared to share the dish. Unfortunately, we didn't coordinate our ordering and spent over $600 with six people. The food was delicious and filling. I had the beef short ribs, and they looked like dinosaur bones. It was tender and tasty. Everyone was able to share the bone!!! My co-workers had the lamb, fish and chicken. The server was kind because each person attempted to order a side, and she said that was too much food. She was right. The Biscuits deserve their own space in a review. OMG!!! They were delicious and mouth-watering. They came with whipped maple butter. I'm having flashbacks just writing about them. Let's share, we had four orders of the biscuits, $10 per order but worth it. The space was welcoming and filled with hospitality. The service was exceptional Things to remember 1. Make a reservation. Walking in brings limits. 2. Coordinate how you and others will eat. 3. Be prepared to take some home. You can't eat it all 4. Leave room for dessert. Pace yourself!!!

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.

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.

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.

Great food and nice ambiance!! Love how intimate of a place it is. My boyfriend and I went here for our Christmas dinner and really enjoyed it. If you go be sure to ask for the server TESSA! She was super sweet and was really patient with helping us understand the menu. Recommend the filet mignon, Brussel sprouts, and the angel biscuits. Pass on the potatoes if you don't like a smoky chili flavoring. They were OK but not our favorite.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

One of the best places to go in Birmingham. Always have amazing service, amazing food, and an amazing atmosphere. I always recommend this place to my friends when they ask about steaks and great drinks.

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

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.

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.

Always enjoy my dinner at Helen. We ordered drinks and a tomato pie and the pie came out before drinks. A little too fast. Then we decided to really look over menu bc I hadn't been in so long so we ordered the Redfish, sweet corn ribs and peas & rice with banana pudding for dessert. I had a delicious glass of chilled Pinot Noir from Jura France. Always so delicious. Went with a newbie and she Loved it! Miranda was our server and was great!

My experience at Helen was a bit mixed. The atmosphere and service were excellent, but the food left me unsure. The good: angel biscuits are a must, with delicious browned butter to accompany. The corn ribs were excellent as well, and the potatoes were good. The other items we had were a little lacking, notably a disappointing roast chicken. I probably would come back, but avoid the roast chicken next time. Closer to a 3.5 than a 4.

Let me begin by saying this place hits different. It is a special restaurant that you must visit while in Birmingham. we frequent here from Florida and regularly come here with family and staff members. The interior is really cool whether you sit upstairs or downstairs. Everything that I have eaten here is next level. Twice I've had the pleasure of sitting across from the kitchen to watch them work. Their menu is diverse and creative. We've had everything from the tomato pie to steak to chicken and everything is always really good. Study the menu carefully to understand what each dish is. Look at the pictures on yelp and other review sites so that you have a good idea of how things are made. These guys are to the commercial kitchen what surgeons are to the operating room. They are intentional with their menu and it shows. The team works well together. Twice, our server has been Feyard. His customer's experience is important to him. He is very dedicated to getting things right. Thanks for that brother. I've attached some pictures. I can't say enough about the excellence of this establishment. Take a few people with you and order a bunch of appetizers on your way to a wonderful meal. You'll be glad you did. And as always, be kind to your servers.

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.

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

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!!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Food was amazing. Service was on point. Recommendations from my waitress where the steak, the summer peas, a couple different appetizers and we ate everything. And enjoyed it all. Looking forward to returning as I am from Chicago and this is definitely a keeper. Thanks a million‼ #Foodie

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

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!

Helen is always a good idea! I have been here for lunch and dinner. I always forget to take a picture of the food. This day was my birthday so I took a picture of the desert. I updated my review I went and took photos this time. 3 of us ate on this one meal. Please don't forget the biscuits!

Don't you hate when you wait weeks to write a review and to top it off forget to take pictures of your meal We didn't have reservations but we're able to snag 2 seats at the bar. I started with a glass of house bubbles, which I don't remember the name of but it was tasty ‍ Food Murder point oysters - 2 out of 5, although we got 1/2 dozen something was missing from the flavor profile and was a miss for me Green Salad - 4 out 5, it's a salad but was well balanced New York Strip - 5 out of 5 it was well prepared and nothing additional needed to be added Overall I enjoyed Helen's and would definitely return. Great atmosphere, drinks and food is always a win

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

We had high expectations before dinner at Helen, but I must say we were very underwhelmed with the overall meal. For the check total, we were expecting much more. As I always do, let's start with service. Matthew was exceptional very knowledgeable and very attentive. The restaurant front staff was very engaged from the time we walked in. We started with angel biscuits, as it seems like most everybody that dines at Helen does. They were quite good. That and the lemon cheesecake were the highlights to the meal. The 14oz filets were more like a 6 edible ounce fillet after I got finished trimming it. I don't expect to have to trim a fillet even bone in It was cooked as requested. Two shareable sides were OK, one was actually served cold, lentils, which kind of surprised us. It did not mention that on the menu. Matthew stated when asked, that was supposed to be that way. We thought it could be because it took 30 minutes to get the filets to us. We were having dinner at 5pm, it was not busy. The summer peas, seasonal, were very tasty and well prepared. Overall disappointing meal. Oh, my wife said the Oregon Pinot Noir was quite tasty. Supposedly a blend just for Helen. There are a lot of options in Birmingham in this price point that I would recommend before retuning to Helen.

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!

Went here for dinner while on an out of town trip. Had a reservation and they had our table upon arrival. We had heard really good things about Helen, and even though we believed the hype, we were pleasantly surprised! The dirty martini was really savory and perfectly balanced with a little garlic flavor added. Loved that. The angel biscuits were heavenly, their sweet butter was also delicious. For our entree we ordered the filet mignon and the bone in pork chop. Both were excellent in preparation, temperature and flavor. Can't explain how we managed to eat every bite, (the portions are large), it was so good we couldn't stop eating. We also enjoyed the sides, and they also are large portions, they say sides for two. We liked watching the kitchen staff do their thing. If you don't want to see that, ask for a table closer to the front of the entrance. Personally, I like seeing people who are gifted in their craft create something they are proud to serve. The entire staff seem happy to be there and are very good at their jobs. Our server Matthew, was wonderful!!

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

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!