Helen’s Restaurant
17 Main St, Concord, MA, 01742
Helen’s Restaurant Menu
-
Starters
-
Fresh Salads
-
Wraps
-
Sandwiches
-
Desserts -cakes & Pies
Healthy Meal suggestions for Helen’s Restaurant
-
Starters
-
Fresh Salads
-
Wraps
-
Sandwiches
-
Desserts -cakes & Pies
Visit below restaurant in Concord for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
17 Main St
Concord, MA, 01742 - Phone (978) 369-9885
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Lara W.
In Concord, there are only a few dining options so Helen's doesn't have much competition. They are filling a much needed role on main street by providing a casual, sit-down restaurant with amiable food. I live for GOOD pancakes, and their pancake special today of granola-babana-honey flapjacks met my needs. If I'd/they'd added a fruit salad to the mix, it would have been even more fun. The coffee (iced and regular) was surprisingly excellent, so thats another expectation exceeded in one setting. I got a weird vibe from our waitress--either she was stressed, or she thought I was an alien. She may be the one who is onto something here, but assuming she isn't, i'll just say that I felt like we were totally confused by each other. She sort of chuckled after everything we said, but in that "are you kidding me?" kind of way. What? I asked if your iced coffee was coffee with ice, not blended...which may be the stupidest thing you have heard all day but I had to ask! Anyway, we can still be friends next time. Also, last night my family ordered some food for takeout and it all came in styrofoam containers, which is horrible. But the grilled cheese sandwiches and fries that came inside the evil packaging were tasty indeed. I can't give the final star to a business that buys styrofoam but I'd be happy to eat-in at Helen's again.
(4)sue w.
Good basic diner food. But, how does a business these days Not accept credit cards ??
(3)Tony M.
We've got the Baja Fish Taco (really a wrap) here several times & it's always been "to die for" good. It's fairly priced & large enough to be filling. We got homemade blueberry pie & ice cream for desert this last time & that was a little pricey, but it also was very good. Cash only is OK with me, because I always have some. If you are in Concord Center & want some good food minus any special frills, this is the place to go.
(5)Ariel G.
It is basically diner food. Place is quite small. Service is good. Food is so so.
(3)brian h.
This is a nice friendly diner. Very uncomfortable seating and ok food. But such nice people. Breakfast is much better than other meals.
(3)Josie B.
We stumbled onto this place on a day trip to Concord/Walden pond. They seem to have a lot of regulars coming here which is a good sign. Food is good, staff friendly and efficient. We had tacos and fajitas. The tacos were great. The fajitas were not what we expected, but good nonetheless. I like the small local business feel to it.
(4)Joanne G.
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.
(2)David M.
Got in to Concord off a late flight, tired and hungry. Helen's was a welcome sight for sore eyes. I wanted comfort food and was happy to see their meat loaf entre with mashed potatoes and green beans. The order-up only took about 10 minutes, so that was great to see and the food was exactly what I hoped for. You get 3-4 small meat loaf patties, a good portion of mashed potatoes with gravy (pretty good by the way) and the green beans were nicely done. I thought their prices were reasonable and the atmosphere is bright and cheerful. What drops them down in stars for me personally is the CASH ONLY and their booths are so tight you knock knees with anyone who sits across from you - which I found out later when I invited friends over to eat with me. Overall, they are a nice, friendly diner with good food and service at reasonable prices, right on the mainstreet in Concord.
(3)Gary K.
Service, value, cozy, quality food. One of the best breakfast burritos in the region. Such nice people as well. Great coffee.
(4)John E.
Great burgers and sandwiches, all the melts are outstanding. Classic diner food; if you leave without getting ice cream or a frappe, you are a fool. It's all Brigham's and it's amazing. Service is usually great but the waitstaff can occasionally be impatient, so that's my one star off.
(4)Chris D.
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.
(2)Matt H.
We're new in town & looking for a local breakfast place to call our own. This is not the place. The food was okay... but just okay. My wife developed a blister while trying to cut her french toast-made on real(stale) french bread- & my omlette was a little flat. The service was prompt & somewhat efficient which is why I am giving them 2 stars. There are too many great restaurants out there to even consider going back.
(2)Tiff D.
First time visit, take-out so far so good. I love their menu, anything you could ever want for a wrap or sandwich, burgers and salads too. I had a hard time deciding what to get! I decided on the teriyaki chicken wrap with pasta salad. For $8 the portion is great, and I'm happy that it comes with a side! Many other places in the area charge that much just for the sandwich. The food tasted fresh and I liked that the pasta salad was non-mayo based. I'll def be back to try some other items. :)
(3)Michael y.
Stopped in here before i looked it up on yelp. CASH ONlY The coffee and blue berry pie were perfect fpr a mid afternoon pick me up. The pie was homemade and just like grandmas. Nice location
(4)Tracey M.
No cash only sign, and no ATM machine nearby. Food was fresh, and well prepared. Good quality and portions, priced fairly, at or around $10 a plate. A casual atmosphere, no wait at 5:30 on a beautiful June Sunday afternoon. Waitress was pleasant and prompt. A positive atmosphere, with only the inconvenience of havng no posted cash-ony sign ending the expereince on an awkward note. We would have gotten cash before going in, instead of awkardly sending 1 of us out to atm 2 bocks away, after dinner, as place got busy. We respect small businesses passing on those cash-only savings to us, however, put up a sign!
(4)C. R.
Good food. Fun old type mom and pop type restaurant. Clean, quaint. Only down side is. You have to bring cash. Adds to mom and pop feel!
(4)Leo F.
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.
(4)Tre S.
quick. cheap. decent food. Not a place to take a date but if you want a quick breakfast and a nice cup of coffee stop by!
(3)Mikee R.
We were going to try this place for dinner. Four of us walked in and it was fairly busy. However, there was a terrible foul smell (like a refigerator full of raw chicken) and one guy commented on it. We left immediately there after. Can't comment on anything else. Probably won't ever be going back.
(3)Jason A.
Visited on Sunday, May 5th, 6pm. *** Update: Six hours later we were both sick from the undercooked food... dine here at your own risk! *** We ordered a caesar salad, fish and chips, and a bacon cheeseburger. Simple enough, right? First, soda mix WAY off on one of our drinks. Second, the caesar salad... two bites and that was gone. Third, BOTH meals... BOTH... were absolutely and totally HORRIBLE. The burger was borderline raw, and was about a 3/8 of an inch thick. The fries WERE raw in places. The fish? "Tasted like chicken." according to my date, who pushed it away. To top it off, we were finishing up, when a waitress pretty much told us that someone was waiting for our table. NEVER TO RETURN... We should have stuck to our instincts and went down the street to Papa Razzi! Ugh!
(1)Sara M.
This place is a cash-only diner type full of families with crazy kids and awkward teenagers. And then there were us four in business-casual clothes. The food is decent and average but tasty. I have enjoyed my patty melt and other sandwiches. The portion sizes vary as one person ordered something and it seemed quite small on the plate. The wait can be considerable and it gets VERY loud inside. This is a huge turn-off and one of the reasons we do not go more often. However, when I get a craving for this type of food, I will inevitably stop at the huge BOA for cash prior to dining here.
(3)Francesca A.
We were going to eat at the Colonial, but there was an hour's wait. So we went to Helen's. Fine choice. The line moved briskly, with only a 10 min wait. Our party of 9 split up into 3 tables - no problem. The service was efficient and had a sense of humor. The portions are large, the prices are reasonable. As others have said - cash only. My Greek salad with large skewer of tender, fresh chicken was very nice. Ultra-crisp romaine lettuce, tangy feta, tasty tomatoes (in winter!), and olives. Also ordered at our table was a scrambled egg sandwich - very yummy - and a hamburger and fries - generous size. Wish we had room for ice cream! Lunch ran appox $10-15 per person including drink and tip.
(4)Nick P.
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!
(2)Andy D.
I've wanted to try this place based on their menu and the reviews that it gets, however, after trying it I can't understand how Helen's got them. My wife and I went for breakfast and it just wasn't that good. We got the redcoat which is two eggs, bacon and sausage with home fries and toast with two pancakes. Everything was luke warm to cold which didn't get it started in the right direction. The waitresses were pretty slow and although it was busy it wasn't overwhelmingly so. This waitress dragged her feet from one table to the next and I'm sure didn't bring the food when it came off the grill hence the cold on arrival. Anyway nothing worse than starting off cold but the food was pretty bland and with the amount of places you can go for breakfast this one surely is off my list.
(1)Aubri L.
Hubs and I have ventured up here more than a handful of times, and the only issue we've ever had involve the place being packed with loud, crazy unruly kids whose parents decided it was their time for some r&r. And that was one time. That being said, the food here is pretty delish for diner, comfort food. My man is a fan of the meatloaf panini (one time, we brought home leftovers which he forgot about and I believe there was a legitimate tear when he had to throw it out) and I have cravings (pre and during pregnancy) for the macaroni and cheese. They have a pretty smashing ice cream menu, which doubles to show they can make some pretty crazy shakes. Last time I think I had a s'mores one, where the waitress put in extra marshmallows and graham cracker. For a quick bite to eat, an ice cream craving or just the need for some good home cooking - Helens is the place!
(4)M B.
Breakfast brings pleasant surprises! Omelets, burritos , grand choices and all delicious! The wait staff greet warmly, bring coffee swiftly and always are cheery. All breakfast less than 10 but will keep you full easily til lunch. Lunches are ok so stick with the fabulous breakfasts! On street parking so watch the meter or your meal will cost a lot more than you planned.
(4)Beth B.
Service was a little slow but its jam packed. Food was amazing though!!! Julie's special burger is by far one of the best burgers I've ever had!
(4)Scott G.
If there's one thing I miss since moving to New England from the mid-atlantic, it's the honest-to-gosh diners. Helen's is not a diner in the true sense of the word, but it comes close, and sometimes that 's good enough. Service is typically strong, with attentive waitresses and generally prompt service. The food is fair and usually lives up to the price, although servings can be kind of meager depending on the dish. Don't come here with expectations of a fine meal or of the classic diner experience - you will be disappointed. However, if you are just looking for some fast, decent, and reasonably-priced grub in Concord (pretty tough to find on Main Street), give it a shot. Also, be aware that the seating can be tight during peak meal times. Don't try to come here with a party of more than four-to-six people unless it is during the off-hours.
(3)Naomi T.
We ended up here after a nice visit to Walden Pond and I should've checked out Yelp first. This is a very busy place for lunch and line is out the door (lots of families come here). I thought either this place is really good or there aren't many options when you're in Concord Center. I found the latter to be true. On the plus side, prices are more than reasonable ($8 for lunch entree), but the food is just 'okay'. Maybe breakfast would've been better? I don't know. I don't feel compelled to find out. It's true the wait staff is not warm and fuzzy, but given the insanely busy environment, they're doing what they can to serve everybody.
(3)Christopher S.
After a morning of kayaking in Concord I worked up an appetite with my girlfriend. Using our GPS we found Helen's Restaurant in the town of Concord. Unaware that that same afternoon the public was hosting a very large book fair which a very large portion of residents attended. Almost every single parking spot along Main Street was taken and it took a few loops around the block before a space opened up just a few feet away from the entrance. I quickly parked the car, paid the meter and made my way towards the door. Packed! There really isn't much of an entrance, more like a small hallway about 5 feet long. From what I could see every table was occupied and it looked like tables were available on a "Wait To Be Seated" basis. More like, "Wait To Be Noticed." Once seated my girlfriend and I ordered our food looking at watch everyone else was enjoying. The layout of the restaurant isn't great. Expect to be seating pretty close to other diners with an occasional brush of people coming and going. (Keep in mind this was a very bus day). The food was very good; I really go for these small little American restaurants. In my experience newer American styles restaurants put a new twists on classics like hamburgers, wraps, soups and salads which often give off funky tastes. Here everything is honest-to-god simple. My only problem was the plates which were horizontal and made food management a bit tricky. After finishing I made my way to the cashier to pay the bill which is directly in front of the ice cream counter. I'd be stupid not to walk away with something sweet. So, my girlfriend and I order a couple sundaes. Keeping it simple I order a Hot Fudge Sundae when my girl orders a Peanut Butter Parfait. Either we got someone new or somebody needs to go back to Sundae school. It's difficult to mess up ice cream but at least give your customers a better presentation. We needed a TON of napkins just to keep clean. Despite needing some wet-naps everything on the ice cream front was great! Would I come back, maybe? All depends on the time of day, if anything is going on in Concord and I have cash in hand.
(4)Matthew L.
This place is CASH ONLY! I've not seen a posted sign that states this fact. I enjoyed my Lobster BTL+A sandwich, which was resonably priced at just under $18. This place has a good assortment of quality desserts, such as many flavors and ice cream. They also have Red Mango/Pinkberry style frozen yogurt.
(3)Robin G.
Very busy at brunch at least but the food was great.
(4)Matt S.
Food isn't anything great, seating is cramped and lines for breakfast are long, but it's a cheap restaurant that's good for kids. 3.5 stars if I could. Note: they don't accept credit cards and the nearest ATM is across the street from the Concord Toy Store.
(4)Christine H.
Visiting from out of town and stopped for breakfast before church on a Sunday morning. Thought it was a good value & would stop by there again.
(4)Linda F.
Four of us stopped in to Helen's today for lunch. Downtown Concord was having a festival/sidewalk sale so no cars were allowed and there were lots of people on the street. There was about a 15 minute wait for a table, which is fine since there aren't many sit-down options in the downtown area. We were seated at a booth and it took about 10-15 minutes for our menus to arrive at the table. The restaurant was busy, so I overlooked the really long lag between seating and getting our menus. Our order was taken promptly by a gruff waitress. She wasn't happy that we needed two separate checks for the four of us. (By the way, this place is cash only so come prepared.) After we ordered, the food arrived promptly via a different server. The food was okay. I had a the chicken salad sandwich with potato chips and a Pepsi, so that's kind of hard to screw up. So why the 2 stars? 1) Our waitress was not nice. She acted like it was an inconvenience to serve us. 2) Our check arrived at our table with our meals and we never saw our waitress again. We wanted ice cream and waited for someone to notice that we were done eating. A different server cleared our plates but walked away before we could order ice cream. We ended up having to walk up to the take-out counter to order and pay for our ice cream separately, and then brought it back to our table. Throughout this entire time, our waitress was waiting on every other table except ours. Unacceptable. 3) When we went to the counter to pay the tabs for our meals, the woman gave us the completely wrong change and not in our favor. Twice. Also unacceptable for a place that only takes cash. The servers should at least be able to do basic math. All in all, I wasn't impressed by either the food or the service. I agree with a previous reviewer - other restaurants owners looking to expand should take note that there is little competition. Anyone serving slightly better food with slightly better service would do really well in this area. P.S. This place is really loud. You'll end up yelling at the people at your table just to be heard.
(2)Nan A.
Great little cozy eating place, with comfortable booths, with freshly made generous portion comfort food such as burgers, fish platters and waffles at affordable prices.
(5)Heather S.
Helen's Cafe offers a good selection of comfort foods in a cutesy diner atmosphere. Kinda the place that teenagers work at during the summer. Service was friendly. My burger was good, not great (great being defined as juicy, thick, and flavorful), and my ice cream soda didn't have enough soda in it, so it was more like a milkshake, but the ice cream (Brigham's, which I guess is famous around here - I'm from SF where we have Mitchell's, so I don't know it - was really creamy and good). But, the main qualm I had is that we were not locals and NOWHERE on the menu does it say that they don't take credit cards. Prices are moderate, not cheap, and it would have been helpful if they'd mentioned it ahead of time on the door, the menu, or in person. The atm was waaaayyyy down several blocks, which also sucked. Perhaps an atm inside would be nice? An okay place if you're visiting Walden Pond, or are a local, but otherwise, I wouldn't make a special stop here.
(3)Wilford B.
Really liked this place. We ate here with a few friends after an afternoon of kayaking; we had really worked up quite an appetite. Although I wasn't too impressed with the service (waitress was sort of gruff and not very friendly) or the seating (a booth for four people was incredibly squishy), the food was delicious. Two of us had the fish and chips, which was very good, the fish was flaky and quite tasty. The cole slaw was almost like a salad itself, it came on a bed of lettuce, and had peppers and onions mixed in....mmmmm. B/f had a chicken burrito, which he enjoyed, and his friend had a burger, which he said was very good but ended up being too big for him to finish. Be aware that it is cash only, something rarely seen these days. I feel as though this is the type of place that should be featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food Network.
(4)V R.
"Mediocre service, kind of gross food. Omelette wasn't cooked all the way through, pancakes tasted like mix. And all overpriced. Also, very very loud"
(1)Cindy D.
My husband and I were in the Concord area about a week ago on vacation and ate at this restaurant three times. Once for breakfast and twice for dinner. In all three occasions, the food was delicious and at a very reasonable price. The service was also good. I have to say that we miss eating there, now that we are back home. This is a place you must eat at if every in Concord, MA.
(5)Scott P.
had the Sheppards pie. was yummy. worthwhile stop while in Concord
(4)Colin W.
A classy diner with the best ice cream. Cash only. Not for dieters!
(4)Greta K.
After a lovely day of walking/driving around Concord, my friends and I were looking for a delicious dessert and we stumbled into Helen's Cafe. There was a very good dessert selection, although some looked better than others. Helen's carries Brigham's ice cream, too, which is always a plus. I was so bad that day (foodwise) because I had a very berry smoothie and then a brownie a la mode with vanilla oreo ice cream. After my friends had real food (a BLT with avocado and a veggie burger), they had a brownie with peppermint ice cream and apple pie. We didn't know that they only took cash and though it wasn't a problem for me, one of my friends had to borrow money from the other to pay for her meal. I don't know what we did in our past lives without debit cards. Next time, I'll have to try breakfast or one of the sandwiches. Definitely a wonderful place for a sweet tooth though!
(4)Lisa P.
I love Helen's! The waitresses are sweet and efficient, the breakfasts are fantastic, the coffee is really good. Just remember, CASH ONLY! My favorite is the scramble with artichoke hearts and tomatoes, and spinach, i think, yummy. And the have Cholula hot sauce, always a good indicator of a great bfast place!
(4)Colleen M.
We went to Helen's once in the spring and had a pretty good lunch (just sandwiches), although the place was very crowded and busy the whole time we were there. Today we went back for lunch around 1:30/2pm. The place was completely packed but we managed to get seated fairly quickly. Our table was right next to where people were standing while they waited to be seated. They kept leaning onto the divider right next to us, looming over our table and nearly hitting us with purses and children. The place was so loud I couldn't hear the person across the table from me. After waiting for about 10 minutes without anyone coming to take a drink order we got up and left. If you can't take extreme noise and crowds, I'd recommend staying away from Helen's.
(2)Marcella B.
This place was great. The line was out the door, but we were seated quickly at noon on a Saturday. You get the sense that the staff here can handle pretty much anything with a smile. The food was served promptly as well, and was super yummy. Good prices, too, so you can't beat that!
(4)Nicole C.
Delicious and huge portions! very warm and homey. A nice respite from the chill outside!
(4)Joey T.
I figured it was about time Joey T spoke up about Helen's. One Sunday in early August, the companionable Trixy and I were disporting ourselves about the town of Concord. As astute readers of Joey's reviews know, Trixy is a girl renowned the world over for being "a good eater". Claiming lightheadedness due to not having eaten for a whole hour, she promptly dragooned me into a nearby restaurant called "The Village Depot" or (some such name). However once inside the Depot (or whatever the *&$% it was called) the dull as dishwater decor and pretentious and pricey menu drove me to leap to my feet and drag Trixy out the door. "Isn't there a diner in this burg?", she chirped despairingly, "I could really use a side of bacon and eggs!". As a matter of fact, there was. Right down the street from this abomination and tucked away between retail storefronts was -- Helen's Cafe. It being Sunday at noon, there was a waiting line for tables that snaked practically around the block. That didn't stop Trixy. She drew up her full 5 feet and muscled ahead through the line, hurling grandmothers and small children aside in her wake. Moments later she reappeared at the door, "Come on, there's space at the counter!". Folks, (to use a Joe Biden expression) what followed was a truly magnificent experience. A wonderfully cooked farm house breakfast cheerfully served by a third generation "Helen" whose grandma was the original Helen of this cafe's name. Five Stars. A Joey first. PS: CASH ONLY. Plenty of ATM's nearby, so don't be lazy.
(5)Weho Guy X.
Best coffee in Concord. Friendly service. Great club sandwich. Wait for a table can be a drag, but there's probably a reason why people wait for a table.
(4)Carrie M.
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.
(3)Arthur M.
The best restaurant in Concord. Super efficient, friendly service, fantastic frappes, filling burgers with all the fixings on a perfectly toasted sesame seed bun.
(5)Ben B.
As my wife, son and I have made it through our first year of moving out to beautiful Acton, Mass; we've discovered some great hidden jewels for dining! Helen's is one of those great local restaurants with reasonable prices and great food. When you are looking for a great breakfast or lunch place, go no further then the center of town. In other words, you must eat here!
(5)Kevin S.
Swell service, average food.
(3)Kerri O.
It's sure a busy spot, and the staff seems nice enough. I will say that the Lime Rickey I got, was one of those ersatz Lime Rickeys which are made with Mountain Dew, or Sierra Mist, or something. That isn't a Lime Rickey. Sorry, nope. No way.
(3)AB C.
I absolutley love their Walden Chicken salad sandwich! Best chicken salad around if you ask me. Plus, their helens special cheeseburger is fanominal. The place is really small and gets super busy so plan your visit right or you will be waiting for a bit. The only down fall is the service is less than steller. Not super bad just a tad slow. The great food though outweighs that small defect they can fix with younger energetic staff.
(4)D M.
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?
(4)Nikki L.
This restaurant is one of my favorites! I can understand that people may be annoyed that the wait is sometimes long but if you go at the right time this place is a wonderful experience! My suggestion: Go for dinner sometime. In the evening, it is quiet and a nice atmosphere. The staff is always friendly! Another suggestion, get the Walden (chicken salad) with french fries and ask for the bread to be toasted. I only took away one star because the wait for breakfast is long but it is worth the wait!
(4)Christine P.
Went here for lunch after touring the Louisa May Alcott house. Was recommended by the tour guide there. The waitress was so disinterested in serving us, it was kind of comical. The California wrap was bland even though you could see dressing on it. The fries were great. And the ice cream was good too! I will say the salads looked fantastic so maybe we just ordered wrong. People said the wraps were good, but I was unimpressed. I would go back for the salads and more ice cream though! Oh and I'm glad other reviews mentioned cash only.. that would have been a surprise if we hadn't known that before hand.
(3)Julliette C.
I've been to Helens twice, and both times the noise level was terribly annoying. Even if there hadn't been noisy kids, there's been nothing done to damp the noise. I only had ice cream, which was good, but my 3 companions said their dinner were good. It's a very casual style place.
(1)Ryan B.
While evidence of "Brigham" can be found they are only subtle and will go un-noticed to anyone who did know this place from years before. Helen's is a local, modern, progressive version of dinner. It has traditional breakfast/lunch fare with the occasional creative dish that you might be shocked to see at such a small establishment (like a spinach rice dish). If you are holiday shopping this season and want to grab brunch or lunch I say give Helen's Cafe a try. I mean who can argue with a tasty burger and fries lunch followed by a delicious Chocolate Frap.
(4)CJ G.
Food was good, not great but good. Prices totally reasonable. Service was terrible. We waited 45-60 minutes for food. Waitress probably just had too many tables to serve and not enough folks in the kitchen, but she brought my tuna melt without the tuna. Offered to put a cold serving of tuna on the side and she did not offer to give me any discount. I declined the offer of cold tuna and politely explained I would not be paying for a sandwich I did not order. I recognize it was busy, but I believe she could have done a lot more to rectify the situation. I echo other reviewers that the ambiance is really loud. Manager contacted me based on review and apologized, so I will up the stars from two to three. If they increase the number of servers and cook staff, then I would probably increase the rating further.
(3)Gregory J.
Have you ever wanted to walk into a place and have everyone call out your name? Well this is it! I can't imagine any place that feels more like home. The service is always spot on regardless of how busy they get and they get busy! The food is creative and fun yet still enough on the menu for the kids! A healthy selection will keep even the most diet restricted happy and yet has awesome often decadent burgers! The shakes and frappes date back to the days that they were Brighams and the menu changes often enough to keep the regulars coming back! Oh bring cash because they don't take plastic!
(5)Deneen C.
Big waste of time and money. Bad seating arrangements. Poor quality food.
(1)rosann s.
I went here with a friend recently for the first time. It was pretty good. I had a pulled chicken sandwich, without the coleslaw, and it was quite tasty. The only thing is that they put just enough chicken to cover the bottom of the bun, which made it seem like mostly bread. We had ice cream sundaes for dessert, which were good. It has a local, diner atmosphere. The service was OK. The bathroom was clean. The parking is a pain, as it is only 1 hour meter street parking, so I had to leave mid-meal to fill the meter.
(3)Anne L.
We really like Helen's for its wide selection of good, non-fussy food. Good sandwiches and wraps, salads and entrees, plus several daily specials. Service in the evening is prompt and helpful.
(5)Ashley M.
I love Helen's!! This place is usually busy and loud but there's a reason for it. The quality of the food is awesome and the prices are great! Just make sure you bring cash. Cash only.
(5)David G.
good food at a very affordable price. We'll be back.
(4)Sandra R.
This is a great homey place with good food and reasonable prices. This restaurant has been in the same family for many years and the sisters and brother run it. It is a great place.
(4)Mim V.
Updated menu equals quaint breakfasts and lunches. Tastier than I expected and portions larger than I expected..nice treat in the center of town after sightseeing in the historic town.
(3)Jay E.
My girlfriend and I visited Helen's Cafe last week for breakfast. We were very impressed by the layout, decor, and cleanliness of the restaurant. The service and the food was another story, it was just an average breakfast food, the hash browns were terrible. One highlight though was our blueberry pancakes, they were very tasty. Our overall impression is that the owner cares more about the decor than the food. We will be going back to give it a second chance.
(3)Andrew M.
I had a fantastic day today--canoeing on the Concord, picnic lunch from Main Street Market, ice cream at Dairy Joy on the way home--so It might have influenced my perception of Helen's. In all likelihood it wasn't very different from a typical American lunch/dinner/ice cream place. But I really enjoyed my Spanish rice, and they serve Brigham's ice cream, which I like.
(4)Greg S.
The food here is consistently good for breakfast and lunch, there is typically a little line that moves at a reasonable pace. The biggest problem is that the service here is absolutely miserable primarily due to the two middle aged blonde women. Aside from having no personality, they don't actually provide any service other then eventually taking your order and then bringing your food out and at some point the check. They don't efficiently move people in and out, provide drink refills, make for a pleasant atmosphere, smile, use the words please or thank you, etc. I assume they are related to the ownership since they are the one's that seem 'in charge' of waitressing. The high school/college kids that work there seem chipper and eager to please, but are relegated to bussing tables and support roles. They should reverse the roles and this place would be fantastic. I suspect that this place would not survive if there was direct competition in the area.
(3)Peter C.
Helen's is solid. The kids love it, especially for breakfast, smoothies, frozen yogurt, or burgers. My wife and I like the Mediterranean wrap and the fish burrito (weirdly I think it is called fish taco even though it is not a taco), and the burgers too. It is like your favorite diner but the decor and waitresses are nicer.
(3)Heather D.
I enjoyed my breakfast at Helen's two weeks ago. I am certainly not native to Concord, but the restaurant had been recommended to me, so I figured it would be a safe bet for breakfast. It's conveniently located within walking distance of the Concord Colonial Inn, which is where I stayed. I asked if the bagels were made locally before I ordered, and my server affirmed that they were. The bagel I had was tasty, but still not quite what I remembered East Coast bagels tasting like, so I wouldn't necessarily appease an appetite for a true bagel at Helen's. However, the other breakfast items that my boyfriend and I ordered were all very enjoyable, and we didn't leave a crumb on our plates or a drop in our mugs! The cash-only thing was not a problem, since it was clearly posted, and we were prepared ahead of time thus.
(3)Denis S.
I live in Concord and Helen's is the go-to-place for a good meal at a great price. Breakfasts are good with a lot of choices. I go for the 2 eggs - 2 pancakes - 2 sausage links. Lunch has lots of good choces too. A favorite is the burgers. They changed the burger buns to what is definitely the best bun I ever had. I never knew how much difference a bun makes on a hamberger. Go figure. Dinner has lots of choices. My wife usually gets one of the salads and I like the Asian Stir Fry. It's not fancy and it's very family friendly - but it is a good meal at a very fair price. You can have a good dinner for 2 for less than $27, including $5 tip. Wait staff is very helpful and service is quite good. Some of the other reviews I just don't understand. 1) Yes it's cash only. That keeps the prices down. There are 3 banks within less than 2 minutes. The closest bank is a 45 second walk or a 30 second run. I've heard them telling people exactly where the nearest bank is. 2) Somebody said that it is overpriced. There isn't a place in the whole town that isn't 50% to 100% more expensive than Helen's. My dinner bill is almost always $21 - $22 for two.
(5)Hannah L.
YUM! Love Helen's! I have been on the hunt for a really good breakfast joint near my house for years, and this is IT. My roomate and I went there last Monday for the first time and we both enjoyed our breakfast very much. I had a breakfast burrito off of the special menu that had scrambled eggs, jack cheese, homemade salsa, beans, bacon and fresh avacado. My roommate ordered steak and eggs which was also off the special menu. The steak was steak tips instead of like a hunk of steak which was a bit unusual, but they were well marinated, served medium rare and were so tender we could cut them with a butter knife. I think next time I go I will get a waffle, on the menu it says they have REAL maple syrup which is a must for this girl. Be warned before you go, it is a cash only joint, but there is a BOA just a few buildings down. Prices are a little on the high side for breakfast, but totally worth it.
(5)Kristen K.
Helen's is a great spot... The best way I can describe it is as a diner of sorts with excellent food and really nice decor. As I mentioned before, the food is really good (macaroni and cheese with a hot dog (yum), fish and chips, tasty breakfast sandwiches, frappes...) and the staff is efficient and nice. If you are hungry and want to get some good food quickly, sans pomp and circumstance, go to Helen's. Also, they buy many of their ingredients from local farmers, which I think is awesome.
(5)Kelly S.
This is American comfort food a notch up from a typical dinner experience both in food and setting. They try hard to provide an excellent option for families with kids and those on the eternal breakfast/lunch quest. Even vegetarians will find several options here. Considering the very poor full serve dining options in Concord, I would rather eat at Helen's than any of the more expensive dining restaurants in town. They are open until 9PM.
(4)c. f.
Meh. This place was all style and no substance. It's probably the cutest place in town (actually, it might be the cutest place in all the surrounding towns as well), but the food and service are so average that it's hard to justify a better review. I've been there 3 times now, can't say I'll return. Just another example of how people in this part of the state are a bunch of suckers for overpriced mediocrity.
(3)Nicole E.
My BF and I ate here on a Monday morning for the first time. The restaurant itself looked really cool, very clean and modern. They had a good sized breakfast menu and looked like a lot of different ice cream flavors and frozen yogurt. I ordered the Mediterranean omlette with a side of fruit and an English muffin. The fruit was very fresh and good and the english muffin was big and also good. The ingredients in the omlette (tomatoes, onions, feta, & green olives) were delicious but the omlette itself was very thin and flat. I only like fluffy omlettes so this was a disappointment. I cant remember what my BF got but he thought it was okay. We ordered a side of pancakes just to see if they were good (blueberry) and they were really good! Cooked perfectly with lots of blueberries. The coffee wasnt bad at all and I noticed they also have different espresso drinks which is a plus. We would go back here and want to try the lunch or dinner menu. Also, the waitress was very unfriendly and did not seem to fit the mood/atmosphere or the place.
(3)Sarah M.
I really wanted to give this place a better review but I can't bring myself to go back after two really sad expereiences all due to crap-o service. The food itself is fine for the average breakfast or lunch fare. I got a chicken kabob plate the first time for lunch and it was just ok, quite bland and over cooked. My husband tried to get a cheesebuger with bacon but they forgot both. Then they just borugh him a pice of plain cheese and some cold bacon on a plate when he sent it back. The second time, I went for breakfast and that was a disaster too. I ordered an omlette with just peppers, sausage and tomatoes and I got peppers, onions, sausage and LOADS of cheese. I also asked for plain toast, no butter. Of course, it came globbed with butter. When I finally flagged down the server which took a good four or five minutes, and pointed out the issues, she whipped it off the table and assured me that she'd get a new plate right away. Four minutes later (and me thinking, wow that was fast) the same plate arrive back with a scoop of REFIGERATED TOMATOES tossed in the middle of the omlette. WHAT!??? I got up and took the plate back over, the server was like, "I thought you wanted tomatoes????" I explained that its really not right to give back the same omlette, one that used to be hot 10 minutes ago, with the addition of cold tomoatoes. Not to mention it was still covered in cheese and I'm lactose intolerant. She finally said she'd have the kitchen remake it which I said was really too late. Mu husband had already finished his breakfast, just please take it off the bill. To their credit they did give me a handful of $1 gift vouchers, but since I'm not going back, I gave them to my mom.
(1)Matthias J.
My wife and 2 kids went to Helen's for dinner during the week. The place didn't have customers on more than a handful of tables. We ordered nothing fancy: Burgers, Salads and Mac and Cheese. A full 10 minutes passed between the first and last burger to be served. My son wanted a plain burger and got a cheese burger instead. I had asked to substitute my side of French fries for a small green salad and when the bill came, I was charged the full $9 for the burger and another $5 for the salad. The small patty on the burger was about half the diameter of the bun. I ordered the Swiss burger which was supposed to have Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms. There were no onions, very few mushrooms and the cheese was so thin, it looked like they had sprayed it on. Finally, they hit you with "cash only" method for payment. This place has one thing only going for it: location, and that is the reason I gave it two rather than one star.
(2)Amy C.
i miss helens. they have great sandwiches (awesome BLT) and awesome ice cream sundaes. good service too!
(4)John K.
Nice local small town kind of restaurant serving up fairly basic diner type food right in the middle of Concord, Mass. I arrived here with a party of four at about 1 PM on a Tuesday and there were no tables available and the place was packed. However, they are very fast and efficient about getting tables cleared and even with a few people in front of us we waited no more than five minutes for a table. Menu is pretty basic. They have a wide variety of different wraps, sandwiches, and salads to choose from. I went with a shrimp po wrap and fries. Everything was good and food comes out pretty fast. I was spending the day doing sightseeing in the Concord and Lexington area so I was looking for a basic place for food and some quick midday relaxation before getting back out for more sightseeing. The restaurant has that old town restaurant feel to it. In addition to booths and tables they have a counter you can sit at. I really liked this place because the waitresses are all very efficient and fast at what they do, food still maintains quality even though it hits the table pretty quick, and when you eat here you truly feel like your getting some local flavor. Prices aren't super cheap but not bad either. If you are looking for a sit down restaurant that has a bit of variety and can get you in and out relatively quick then this is your place.
(4)Iain M.
Cash only? It's 2015, figure it out already. Buffalo chicken wrap is good though, try it with bacon and cheddar.
(3)Mel A.
Great friendly little diner with good food. I had a delicious baha fish wrap that I would return for. My companion enjoyed the buffalo chicken wrap. Great place to eat with kids.
(4)Rachel B.
Neighborhood diner serving bland food. Particularly disappointed by the straight-out-of-the-can beans, not even warmed up.
(2)Nisha P.
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!
(4)Dan G.
Helen's is a cute little deli/sandwich type restaurant in Concord. It was a Wednesday night and was busy for the time so I figured it must be good. They had a lot of sandwiches and burgers. I goe their philly cheese steak which was sooo goooood I would drive back there for another. The bread they said they get from Iggy's and was so nice and soft which just added to the cheesiness of the sandwich. The coleslaw was also pretty good.
(4)Peter S.
A great place from a bygone era. The burgers and salads were wonderful. No pretense. Not fine dining but good food at a reasonable price. And where can you still get a Brigham's ice cream frappe in the Boston area. A great choice except for those who can't make up their minds on menu items and expect the wait staff to wear white napkins on their sleeves.
(5)First L.
Good food and service. Very authentic family-owned New England lunch spot. Attentive. Kitchen looked clean and bathrooms very clean. Cash only. No beer/wine. We were pleased. Arrive early.
(3)Ross C.
I haven't had a bad experience here yet. There's something about 80-year-old women providing service that I find comforting... The noon-to-noonthirty time slot is obviously to be avoided. We went at 1.00 on a Sunday and there were three or four empty tables, but maybe it was a freak occurrence. I had "The Walden", a sandwich of chicken salad, diced apple, lettuce and tomato on wholewheat bread; the warden had a Cobb salad. We both got frappes to go. Came out to about $30.
(4)Briana B.
Happy and wholesome. Great for lunch. Well-priced, solid menu. Old-school, friendly diner feel. Vegetarian options.
(4)Joe L.
Everyone who grows up in a suburban town like Concord has their own personal favorite diner that they grew up with, and Helen's is that place. I've been eating here since before I could see over the counter. Their staff know my family and I by name. Every time I came home from college, this place was my first stop, and with good reason. Service, quality, and atmosphere. I will, for as long as I live, always order my "Helen's special" Burger and a coke when I visit. To me, this restaurant is the yard stick by which I measure all other diners across the country and world for that matter. I have ordered burgers from Concord to Cuba to Los Angles and consistently, without fail or equivocation, Helen's does it the best. But it's not just for burgers, that's just my personal favorite.Their soup, fries, sandwiches and Ice Cream are all THE BEST. The men and women behind that counter take pride in their craft and you can taste every bit of it. Over the twenty plus years this restaurant has been a part of my life, it has evolved, and become what it is today. Helen's is the unofficial town hall for Concord. It's also the meeting place for families, businesses and people who love good food and a real, family atmosphere. When you take a seat at Helen's you take a seat at a family table where you will be taken care of and fed well. So please, go with your family, go with your friends or just by yourself because you're going to be treated like a guest, not just a customer.
(5)K L.
Hands down the worst restaurant in Concord. Rude, nasty waitresses. Loud environment. Ridiculously overpriced. Flavorless food. I have friends in Concord who drag me to this dump. Last visit was the last straw. Food sat on the counter for 30 MINUTES before reaching the table. The food was cold. I told the waitress it was and she brought it back. The "cook" came out screaming and said that he refuses to make a new one. We got up and left.
(1)John R.
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.
(3)Jaskiran K.
This place is terrible! Growing up in concord, I've been forced to come here a couple of times but my recent experience was the last straw. The waitress forgot our drinks, and finally brought then over 30 minutes later. By drinks I mean water. (Mind you it was not even busy at the time). Then our food came and the waitress had mixed up our order. We ordered two breakfast sandwiches on bagels with eggs and bacon, and Then a third breakfast sandwich on an english muffin with sausage. What we got was two breakfast sandwiches on bagels with sausage and one on an english muffin with bacon. When we told the waitress, she took the plates to the back and switched the meats and gave them back. Then my friend found a hair in her sandwich. When the waitress finally brought a new one the rest of us had already finished our food. The worst part was the waitress never apologized for any of the mistakes she had made. Instead she became even more rude throughout the meal. I have never written a review on yelp but after this terrible experience I thought it had to be done.
(1)Sutton H.
This is a perfectly fine place to grab lunch. There are not a ton of inexpensive dining options in Concord and this place is refreshingly completely free of pretense. My wife's dish didn't arrive till the rest of us were nearly done, but that's exactly the sort of place this purports to be: Nothing fancy, three yelp-star restaurant.
(3)Matty B.
I'm back- same server a last time, but she isn't being crabby! Lobster BLT- amazing. Perfect. Clam chowder: still the best I've EVER had! Side note: I always know when a place has good soup when they serve Westminister Crackers... Weird deal. Keep up the great work!
(5)Ira H.
I've been to Helen's multiple times for lunch over the last few years. If you set your expectations at diner food and order simple things, you cant go wrong. Last weekend I took my family there for lunch. We had a decent burrito. The Chicken rice soup tasted bad. The Caprese sandwich was not good. It included tasteless tomatoes, very little cheese and very little basil. It was drenched in butter from the pan fry. The sweet potato fries are good. I will return but next time I'll get a burger.
(3)Jeremy C.
My family and I have eaten at Helens numerous times. The prices are very reasonable and the food is upscale diner style. Great burgers and sandwiches and a friendly staff as well
(4)Rosa S.
Helens food was great the service not!!! It was my first time here and the waiter and very impersonal and cold. Did not have a sign that they only takes cash . Not very friendly people at all
(2)Alana H.
This place is a diner. An overpriced diner. If you expect anything more than diner quality diner-food, you will be sorely disappointed. We recently moved to concord. Helens is a few doors down from our lawyer so we went there to celebrate after closing. Ordered fried food and burgers- delicious! A few days later, after moving, before locating all of our kitchenware, we ordered take out from Helens. I got the menu off of urbanspoon. I ordered "the pilgrim" sandwich. Disgruntled waitress barks "we don't have that." Ok... I ask if they have the Cobb salad from their menu. "Yeah." Ok good. Husband picks it up otw home from work. What arrives is a disgusting monstrosity. Wilted romaine, a slimy brown lump of what used to be an avocado (wtf) crispy bacon (yay!) turkey (yay!) cold corn from a can (wtf), mushrooms (wtf?!), carrot shavings (uh...), shredded cheddar cheese, and last but not least, A FRIED EGG OVEREASY!!! I just stared at it. What the heck were these cooks smoking??? It was disgusting. Inedible. But I was too tired from moving to go back, so I threw out the $9 concoction and ate my husbands burger. I won't be wasting my money there again! P.s. Helens: Mixing ranch and Tabasco doesn't equal "Mexican ranch". Gross.
(2)R B.
We just moved to Bedford (next town over) a few months ago, and tried Helen's for breakfast last weekend. It was fantastic - so good we went back for dinner 3 days later - also great. For breakfast, I had a bacon and egg sandwich on an english muffin. It was applewood-smoked bacon, and it was the best egg sandwich I've had since Aesop's closed 4 years ago in Lexington Center (really miss those). My wife and daughter split the granola pancakes, and though I've never been a big fan of pancakes (my fav is french toast), I tried them (with the obligatory real maple syrup) and they were excellent! They must toss in the granola on the griddle after pouring the batter, because it was still a little crunchy, which tasted really good. The maple syrup does seem a bit pricey ($1.95), but you get enough for two people at least, and I think it has been going up lately at the store. Dinner was very good - I had fried chicken (had been a long time since I've had that - just felt like it) - nice crunchy skin, moist inside. My wife had the tuna melt - "excellent, very tasty, and artery-hardening". Really nice, friendly service, too; great atmostphere. Expect a crowd on weekend mornings. "Greasy spoon" (as someone else said) it is not! This will likely be our regular "weekend breakfast out" place.
(4)Geoff C.
A great place for breakfast or lunch. Get there early on the weekend or you'll end up waiting in line for a few minutes. Great menu, friendly staff. The sisters who own & operate the place are terrific. Cash only.
(5)Yelper H.
Love going to this place. I would rate it 5 star for dinner and lunch but maybe a 3.5 for breakfast. I didn't think the breakfast was up to the same standard. The food is fresh, the fries are proper and more like English style chips. The food seems to be good quality and frappes were also good. The biggest issue is it only takes cash, and its a little over priced. But overall a good spot for a bite to eat and has a good family atmosphere
(4)Michelle A.
Don't eat here! The servers are rude and the food isn't that good! I've tried this place a few times and each time I'm severely disappointed at the service especially. I'm not sure why they can't say "hello" to you when you walk in or welcome you to the place when they come to your table but I guess common courtesy isn't something they understand at this place. Instead go to Main St Cafe - it's right across the street. The servers are nicer, the coffee is better, and the space is more inviting!
(1)Leah K.
A nice little restaurant in the heart of Concord, it's a great place to go for lunch. It frequently has a long wait. We waited for about 20 minutes before we were seated. The food is pretty good, a little pricey for what it is. I had a turkey club which came on toast, but it was room temperature/cold by the time it got to me. The turkey was fresh and the sandwich itself was pretty tasty, though. The other waitresses seemed very nice and helpful, but our waitress was a little short with us. I asked her a question as she took our drink order, and she basically told me to hold on as she walked away and served another table. Oh, ok. It's a cute restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and pretty good food. I think though, they take for granted that they're a successful restaurant in a small town and can afford to not be on the top of their game. That's just what I'm reading into it, though. As many others have said, they don't take cash.
(3)Janet G.
clean place, efficient pleasant service. Wonderful crisp fresh salads. Truly a great place for lunch.
(5)Jessica H.
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.
(4)Ayeka P.
Stopped in on a busy holiday weekend for a late lunch. Place was still booming but we found a table. Quick, polite service with a real smile. The espresso frappe is to die for. Best fried fish in my life, the fries were thick and tender inside. The real treat for food was the sweet potato fries my mother ordered. I have never had a sweet potato dish that had so much essence of sweet potato flavor. We debated how they did it, but weren't able to agree on a cooking method. Excellent value.
(5)Deaver B.
Perfect breakfast menu and food. Enough but not a bewildering series of choices. Makes it easy to eat healthy, semi healthy, or just overdo it! The choices are easy to make, the waitresses quick and fast, and very helpful. They charge enough so they can stay in business in a very expensive place but not too much. Go there. All types mix well too. Kids, teenagers, adults, business people, bicycle folks, etc.
(5)Samantha S.
Pretty good food for your classic Greasy spoon kind of restaurant. The place gets very busy during the weekends so to beat the rush come at a less popular time unless you don't mind waiting for 5-10 min. The food is good, don't get me wrong. In addition the menu has a huge selection of food. My only problem is that the food is quite expensive for such a small portion and a not so complicated description of ingredients. I work in the good business, so I get that to have the high quality ingridient a you as a customer need to pay more. That is dually understood. Although if you as a business owner are buying the nice ingredients make sure your customers know what they are paying for. Overall good place but nothing to write home about.
(3)Jenn S.
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!
(4)Nicole L.
I love Helen's! What an adorable, cozy place. Prices are very reasonable and the food is delicious. Big portions and tasty. Only downside - cash only. Definitely my go-to breakfast place :-)
(4)Lisa M.
High marks for ambiance and service. Low marks for food (meh) and price ($$$) $9 for 2 eggs, homefries that were unremarkable and a glass of OJ that was from concentrate. Don't forget it's cash only.
(2)Adam D.
Great spot for a quick bite! Walked in for dinner sat our selves. I had the cowboy burger lol and it was delicious! Service was quick as well which always helps.
(4)Jim A.
Typical diner fare. Well prepared food and friendly service. Our party of eight was accommodated at two tables (not good for groups) so we were able to sample a sizable selection of the menu items. Everyone was happy with their food. Personally, I wouldn't return. I thought the food old fashioned and prepared with too much fat and salt. This is an old school diner but if that's your thing, I think you'll be delighted. We didn't do breakfast so this review isn't about it.
(3)