Helen’s Garden

Tried to go for lunch today.
It is no longer in business.
Sad news. Have been a few times and enjoyed it.

This place is walking distance from my friend’s house. While I was in town visiting she took me here for Sunday brunch. I loved it so much I insisted on going again the next time that I was in town. G-​R-​E-​A-​T pumpkin pancakes! Brunch is great and they serve up good cocktails. The place is small and artsy. Be sure to arrive early on Sunday morning if you want to get a table. If you arrive late expect to wait or grab a seat at the bar for they will serve your food at the bar. This is a good seat because the bartenders are good conservationists. I have also heard that they serve up great meals at dinner with specials throughout the week. The said news I have head is that the place was recently sold so the place may be in for a change.

This is my absolute favorite spot for Sunday brunch on Canton. They’re closing, though! So sad. I’ll be devastated if they turn into another loud sports bar.

I’ve been here twice and both times I felt the food was mediocre and overpriced.
The first time I went I got a pasta dish that was a part of a special they were having. It was fine — nothing I couldn’t make at home myself — and the price was OK; however, others I were with didn’t order off the specials and the food was the same — just fine — but was about twice as much (~$ 20).
The last time I went here I got the grilled snapper ($ 18). The fish was relatively well cooked but it was a small piece and came with a bland dill-​butter sauce, limp green beans and white rice (boring). Honestly, that is a meal that could easily be made at home and taste so much better for a fraction of the price. My friends ordered the beef stir-​fry — the beef, again, was well-​cooked but it had a pretty bland sauce and the veg that came with it was soggy, limp and unappealing.
Bottom line: If I’m going out to dinner, I don’t want to eat food that I could easily make at home; moreover, if I do go out and get some home-​style protein, carb and green entrees, it better not be over-​priced — which is exactly what this place is when you’re not having a special. So, if you do go here, go on a night when they have specials; otherwise, cross the street and head to mama’s.

Helen’s has consistently great food and is always a go-​to for a great meal. I live a block away and would much rather spend time there than in any of the other establishments in the area.
They have great specials on wine almost every night as well.
I love the curried salmon but try to force myself to order something new every time I am there… also their burger is awesome!

I’m just amazed at the amount of money I spent for 1 Entrée, 2 Mojitos, and 1 Desert. $ 65… The food was good, but it wasn’t that dayum good. Hell… I wasnt’ even full, and neither was my fiancé. I wasnt impressed with the service either. They took too long to do everything.

I have been here 2x in the last 6 months as I try and go some place multiple times before i rate it and of course this NEVER fails to impress I took a group there the morning after my Bachelor party for brunch on the Sunday before St Pattys day and had soda bread french toast that I could eat everyday 3 meals a day!!! Had Peach French Toast another time and the Biscuits & Gravy and I’ve been drooling to go back again.
I must say though despite the great food and funky atmosphere the drinks leave a bit to be desired.

Wow. Was surprised how much I liked the food. The butternut ravioli was unbelievable! Enjoyed the pecan-​encrusted trout as well. But would avoid the creepy «Tunnel of Doom» entrance. Go through the bar instead. Also got a bad mojito (more alcohol does not necessarily give you more for your money). Would definitely go back!

I LOVE FOOD.
I don’t know why this place only has a 3.5 star rating, but then again I’ve only been there once — and it was for brunch. I mean, really, it’s quite difficult to fuck up eggs (although…you’d be surprised).
Brunch with Boyfriend’s parents was fun on this sunny Saturday morning; we walked through the narrow alley — festively decorated with painted walls and colorful Christmas lights so as to not make you feel like you were gonna get shanked at the end — leading into the restaurant and were seated in the downstairs area (curious me would later wander up the stairs to check out the awesome space above our heads).
I hesitated between the Hungry Compadre (read: holy crap that’s a lot of food) and the London Omelet. Eggs. Omelet. I forget the name and it’s not on the online menu.
I chose the latter because, well, I was planning on stuffing my face all weekend and thought I’d start easy (gotta love fat weekends). The London Omelet consisted of curry eggs (get it? London? curry?) and, frankly, I don’t remember the rest but it was delicious. The roasted potatoes that came with it were absolutely amaaaaazing. I finished my plate and pretty much my boyfriend’s too… and his mom’s…
I also had a mug of their hot chocolate: rich and smooth hot chocolate that would have been a bit too sweet any other day — I think I hadn’t had hot chocolate in so long that it hit the spot just right.
The ambiance was relaxing, although lots of people wearing purple because of the Ravens game that night (purple shirt + purple eyeshadow = too much to handle before noon). Service was good.
Long story short, it was a great brunch.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore. It surprises me that it only averages 3.5 stars among reviewers. I have been to Helen’s Garden three times and each time has been superb. So superb, in fact, that I remember each of my meals, which span a one year time period.
First meal: Roman lamb. Phenomenal. The gamy lamb mixed with the sweetness of the honey brine and the tangy of feta. Perfect. Succulent when cooked medium rare. Their mashed potatoes rock too. Devoured. Pinot noir as accompaniment.
Second meal: Pork schnitzel special, also with mashed potato side. I had never had a schnitzel before, but it will not be my last. It was excellent. All of it in my belly. Godmothers were my drinks of choice.
Third meal: BBQ mole porkchops with polenta. Never in my wildest dreams would I think that BBQ and mole would go together, but they truly do. Simply delicious. Not one, but two pork chops. Huge. Became two meals. Well worth it. Duvel accompaniment.
The restaurant is artsy and just plain cool. The door from O’Donnell St. is basically into an alley, which is slightly disconcerting, but soon opens up into the restaurant. There is seating to the left and also upstairs. Each time I’ve been seated upstairs. The art on the walls is cool and makes for great conversation. The colors are warm and inviting. The service is always excellent. I’ve recommended to many and no one has been disappointed.

I did not eat here, but I DID get seriously, seriously drunk on the cheap at 3-​ish in the afternoon. Praise be for the world’s longest happy hour!
We started in the dining room, as my friends actually chose to eat, but when we saw the blurb about said happy hour we scooted on over to the bar. Alas, the blurb stated half-​price wine AND cocktails, which we soon found out was an error (and which resulted in my docking a star). Bummer for friends. Aiight for me. Great selection of wines at a variety of price points, fantabulous bartender (David! Thanks for saving us from heading over to The Block!). Marques de Caceres rioja blanca for $ 3/​glass? Yes, PLEASE! The space is super-​cozy and I love the converted alley entrance, which is kinda scary and kinda cute.

I used to live in Baltimore and this was my favorite place to go on a Wednesday night! They have $ 12 Entrees all night and they have the BEST PORK CHOPS!
I went there last weekend, and the chops were a little dry, but the flavor is still the best! Also, they have a really good burger.
I miss Helen’s Garden :-(But Hope I can find something like this in SF!

My friend and I love coming here. The service is usually fantastic, and they make you feel welcome. They have a great wine selection, and the bartender was very nice in recommending different wines to my friend and me. I love trying the different wines they have there.
The $ 12 dinner special on Wednesdays is great. There is a fair number of selection to pick ranging from BBQ pork chops to curried salmon. I had the curried salmon, and the portion was perfect. The salmon was also delicious.
Desserts were great too! We had the baklava bread pudding (which was heavy on the bread pudding and not so much on the baklava) and the chocolate volcano (warm chocolate cake), and they were both decadently good!
The price is on a little heftier side, but once in a while, it is a great treat! :-)

Great take on American comfort foods. The porkchop is terrific as well as the chop salad. The restaurant is interesting and appealing, filled with an eclectic mix of odds and ends. In the summer the doors swing open creating outdoor seating. The second story is cozy and warm. Great place to take a date.

I echo fellow Unilocalers’ comments about the ambiance. It’s very pretty, very cozy and although it get quite busy, I’ve never found it to be overly loud.
The biggest problem I have with it is that it can be hard to choose from a seemingly endless array of cuisines/​flavors. Italian? Indian? Greek? Basically, whatever you’re in the mood for can be found here. If you can’t see something on the menu that appeals to you, you’re not hungry. Get up and let me take your table!
Thursdays: Six wines are offered at $ 14 a bottle
Everyday: Deep discounts on selected wines by the glass (bar only) until 8 p.m.

I adore Helen’s Garden. I have noted that a couple of the reviewers had a bad experience, and am empathetic, but am also guessing their reviews are based on one bad visit. Not that I blame them, if I had such a horrible time, I wouldn’t return. I have never had an issue with the climate, being chased off a table after a certain amount of time, etc.
That being said, I have eaten at Helen’s about a dozen times and each experience has been very good. The ambiance is cozy, with exposed brick, lots of warm yellow paint, and local art adorning the walls. The food is wonderful and may be a little overpriced, but that is cured by going on Wednesdays, when the entrees are offered for $ 12.95 or somewhere around there. I have always had gracious service, and one of the regular waiters in particular is both sweet and comic. Desserts, if you have room, come highly recommended.
In addition to heading to Helen’s Garden for a meal, I have gone for the wine bar experience alone. There are so many wine and liquor options, it really boggles the mind. The bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly. Happy Hour specials are great for your pocketbook. The crowd is a bit more mature and eclectic than the other spots on the Square. My only complaint is that it’s very tight, and if you don’t grab chairs, you should be prepared to be pushed by quite a bit. To avoid this issue, sit as close as you can to the windows in the front of the bar.

Not great for brunch. Had a veggie omelet which they stated had no cheese so would I like to add… sure. Well I have never had a veggie omelet w/​cauliflower and carrots. It really felt like they just used the leftovers from the night before. The potatoes that accompanied it were tasty but cold. It was very crowded so obviously a popular place — I am just not sure what all the buzz is about.

This won’t be your standard restaurant review since I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here for a part y of 30 in May (Friday ⁵⁄₁₈). We were in the upstairs room; nice and secluded. I never noticed other patrons unless I was entering and leaving the restaurant. I had two waiters/​waitresses attending to my needs; service was great.
They had a nice selection of wines to try. I remember drinking a lot of different wines that night, but the Big Fire Pinot Noir stood out. Food was excellent. For starters, I had Crab & Portobello with aioli (crab topped portobello mushroom with roasted red pepper aioli) — WOW, I thought I was eating meat. My Victorian salad (apples, spinach, red onion, bacon, toasted almonds) was good but I am hardly accepting as a voracious carnivore. Lastly, the grilled beef tenderloin with crab cake, mashed potatoes and vegetables (they call it «Steak & Cake») was awesome. We had other items on the menu but everyone enjoyed their meals and were shocked that they never knew about this restaurant (some were Maryland residents).
I forget the desserts but I was stuffed. I do remember a champagne toast which was very nice. Of course for a pre-​fix at $ 55 a head, plus wine, we paid a lot of money to make this happen. It was worth it.
I worked with the owner, Ed Scherer, to discuss the customized menus, the drinks and the location. He made sure the entire night was perfect. I have never regretted the decision (my wife suggested it) of selecting Helen’s Garden. Thanks again. I will return when I am in Canton.
IFHTP 2

Best Part of Helen’s, 4 words: «Baltimore’s Longest Happy Hour»
From 11:30am-8pm, you can get ½ price glasses of wine, only at the bar (which can get packed on Thurs, Fri, Sat nights). Another plus is NO SMOKING at this bar. A great «launch pad» to grab a drink and debate all the dinner options in the area (the calamari appetizer is also worth getting… when they have it… while you debate!).
I’ve found the food here to be good, but sometimes pricey. Definitely go over the menu and daily specials while you have a glass of vino. They have a dinner special on Wednesday night (select entrees for $ 12).

This place is on the Canton Square. It is a place with unique healthy feelin good kind of food. And there is a nonsmoking bar where you have wine or order from the menu.
It is a very attractive place and NOT STUFFY. The only reason it ook me as long as it did to get there is because someone on the street said, «dont go there, it is stuffy.» See what I get for listening to anyone.
I had the persian salad with mago pear & feta. Talk about an orgasm for your mouth.