A refreshed take on classic dining that pays homage to Chef Rob McDaniel’s memories cooking over the hardwood coals and smoke of his grandmother’s indoor grill. Located in a 1920s-era downtown building, Helen balances timeless elegance with a convivial, welcoming atmosphere, creating a warm and engaging space for celebration. Expect prime meats and seafood alongside vegetables and non-traditional sides on a menu driven by seasonality and product from local purveyors. Come for the food, stay for the spirit.
Cool venue with a regional menu featuring burgers, seafood & meat plates, plus cocktails & wine. Based on 398 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.7 stars. Price
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ No delivery
Address:
2013 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 438-7000
Website: http://www.helenbham.com/
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Thursday | 11 AM–1 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–1 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Saturday | 5–9 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–1 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–1 PM, 5–9 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reviews
Lisa Steele l Fresh Eggs Daily
Helen was highly recommended by local friends and they weren’t wrong. I went for dinner last night with 2 friends and we easily had the best meal I’ve eaten in a long time. Starting with the rustic chic atmosphere and friendly, professional staff, everything about the evening was perfect. The cocktail menu offered some interesting artisan cocktails with fun names, which were all expertly. As for the food…We started with the biscuits which were warm, freshly baked, flaky, buttery and served with the most delicious whipped butter. Then we had the corn ” ribs ” – grilled panels of fresh corn on the cob with a delicious creamy sauce and a bit of heat. We chose the short rib with white BBQ sauce which could have easily fed 6 people, but was so perfectly smoked, fall off the bone tender, the 3 of us did a good job polishing off more than half of it. Accompanying the meat were smashed roasted potatoes that were out of this world. Crispy, crunchy exteriors and super smooth, pillowy and soft inside. For dessert, the dark chocolate mousse was rich and satisfying. Chocolate crunch and flaked salt added texture and flavor. The one disappointment was the tomato tart appetizer. It wasn’t bas by any means, but just not the caliber of the rest of the meal.
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Greg Pliler
Great food and atmosphere. Staff was very helpful on selection. Food was ala carte which was excellent to select exactly what you want for main and sides. Their biscuits with butter appetizer is tough to beat.
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Drew Wilson
The sides are the star at Helen. Great service and cocktails, come hungry for a family-style meal. Order a few proteins with highlights like the Short Rib and Pork Chop, but the sides shine here. BBQ okra is a wonderfully-creative style of the vegetable. Corn ribs are fantastic and the Yukon potatoes are a staple. Come with a group and pass the plates!
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Ashley Talley
10/10 would recommend. We had the BEST experience last night. We were greeted by the very warm and friendly hostesses and had a thoughtful and knowledgeable server, Matthew. Matthew knew it was our anniversary and brought us two glasses of complimentary bubbly with our dessert which was a nice touch. The meal was delicious and the environment was wonderful.
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Kris Kasprzak
The food was amazing, however, my photos do not do it justice. The short rib was to die for and is huge. And the vegan dish was outstanding. I would I go back? Absolutely. I highly recommend this place.
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Michelle D. Stallworth
I did not expect to enjoy Helen as much as I did. My husband and I stopped in to see if we could get a table without a reservation one evening (I highly recommend a reservation). We were able to get a table and immediately commented on how much we liked the atmosphere. When our biscuits came out I wanted to slap someone they were so good. Everything we got that evening was amazing. We have been back countless times and have enjoyed the experience every time.
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Joye Hehn
Helen shined tonight! We had all of the appetizers (served as courses), half of the veggies, split a couple of entrees and desserts! My friend’s birthday celebration was a tasty party that we plan to repeat soon… No special occasion required.
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Kenneth Cunningham
My wife and I decided to experience Helen’s for our Anniversary. The food, atmosphere, and the service was AMAZING!! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we will definitely make reservations in the future. Our server (Nathan) was very informative and paid close attention to detail. 5 star experience!!!
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Ryan Thompson
Server was very knowledgeable, food was awesome. Front staff could have been a little better for a higher end restaurant but would still highly recommend
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Mary West
I was completely disappointed in the eighty dollar ribeye that I ordered. It was all over the place with temperature. Burnt and raw!! I sat at the bar and the bartender never checked back to ask how it was cooked. I regret walking into the door of this place.
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