Complete Dining Guide
Where to eat in Helen, sorted by what you're craving
The short answer
German and Bavarian
German food is the foundation of Helen's identity, and the best of it comes from kitchens with a story. Bodensee is run by Master Chef Aurel Prodan, who cooked in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg before opening it. The Heidelberg fills three floors with a restaurant, a pub and the Bierhimmel concert hall. Muller's opens at 9 and serves German and Central European food. The table lists them with addresses and hours.
| Restaurant | Where and phone | Hours | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodensee Restaurant | 64 Munich Strasse, 706-878-1026 | Site lists 11 AM to 8 PM; call to confirm | Master Chef Aurel Prodan's wurst, spaetzle, schnitzel and Sauerbraten; no reservations |
| The Heidelberg | 8660 N Main St (White Horse Square), 706-878-0061 | Dining room Sun to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM, Fri and Sat 11 AM to 10 PM | Three floors: restaurant, pub and the Bierhimmel music hall; takes reservations |
| Muller's Famous Fried Cheese Cafe | 60 Chattahoochee Strasse, 706-892-1212 | 7 days a week from 9 AM | Fried cheese, Hungarian goulash with Czech dumplings, schnitzel |
| Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and G.I. Germany Pub | 9001 N Main St, 706-878-2248 | Not posted; call | A long-running Helen landmark with a pub |
| Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant and Lounge | 8619 N Main St, 706-878-3729 | Not posted; call | German food, plus steins and lederhosen for sale |
| Troll Tavern | 8590 N Main St, 706-878-3117 | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM, Fri to Sun 11 AM to 10 PM (seasonal) | Under the bridge on the river; Bavarian trio platters, schnitzel, smash burgers |
| Hofer's Bakery & Cafe | 8758 N Main St, 706-878-8200 | Bakery 8 AM to 5 PM; cafe breakfast and lunch; closed Tue and Wed | German breakfast, lunch, tortes and strudel |
Hofbrauhaus and Old Bavaria Inn don't post hours online, so call before you go. During Oktoberfest, expect waits.
Steaks, Southern food and pubs
Paul's on South Main opens at 4 PM for steaks and seafood, with a Margarita Deck. Cowboys & Angels serves Angus steaks and bison burgers all day, and Bigg Daddy's stays open until midnight, the last good call after a day on the river.
| Restaurant | Where and phone | Hours | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul's on the River Steakhouse & Lounge | 8537 S Main St, 706-878-2468 | Every day 4 PM to 10 PM | Steaks and seafood; Margarita Deck; open 60 years, per its site |
| Cowboys & Angels | 60 Chattahoochee St, 706-878-3433 | Daily 11 AM to 10 PM | Angus steaks, beef or bison burgers; Tapas Tuesday |
| Bigg Daddy's Restaurant & Tavern | 807 Edelweiss Strasse, 706-878-2739 | Daily 11 AM to midnight; kitchen until 10 PM | Burgers, wings, 17 drafts, live music Fri and Sat |
| Pink Pig Southern BBQ | 663 Edelweiss Strasse, 706-917-4647 | Not posted; call | Southern comfort barbecue |
| Monday's Pub | 7934 S Main St, 706-878-0094 | Not posted; call | Family-owned pub with wings, rib dinners, pool tables and live music |
| Two Tire Tavern | 8735 N Main St, 706-878-1002 | Not posted; call | Family-owned restaurant and tavern with outdoor seating |
Pizza, Italian, Latin, Mexican and Thai
When you've had enough schnitzel, these are the changes of pace. Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria is the pizza stop, a few miles south in the valley. Spice 55 has been serving Thai and sushi since 2013, and Q'Paso is the Cuban-sandwich-and-empanadas option, open Thursday through Sunday only.
| Restaurant | Where and phone | Hours | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria | 7275 S Main St, 706-878-0199 | Sun to Thu noon to 9 PM, Fri and Sat noon to 10 PM | Pizza and sandwiches with rotating craft beer |
| Francesco's Restobar | 69 Tannen Weg | Daily 11 AM to 10 PM (per its site) | Fresh pasta, flatbreads, craft cocktails and a rooftop; see francescositalian.com for the phone |
| Q'Paso Latin Grub | 202 Narr Weg, 706-878-8248 | Thu 11 to 8, Fri and Sat 11 to 10, Sun 11 to 8; closed Mon to Wed | Empanadas and a Cuban sandwich |
| La Cabana Mexican Restaurant | 707 Edelweiss Strasse, 706-878-3456 | Daily 11 AM to 10 PM | Family-run Mexican food with a patio and bar |
| Spice 55 | 705 Brucken Strasse, 706-878-3447 | 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM with a short mid-afternoon break; closed Tuesdays | Thai and sushi since 2013, across from the Welcome Center |
| Bangkok Haus | 689 Edelweiss Strasse, 706-878-7788 | Not posted; call | Thai and sushi plus cocktails |
A special occasion
The Caledonia restaurant at Valhalla Resort Hotel (688 Bahn Innsbruck, 706-878-2200) is the fine-dining pick. It runs a farm-to-fork menu under Executive Chef Dean Hill, with Chef's Table packages for 4 to 12 guests, and it's open to the public with reservations recommended. The Sky Bar upstairs hosts a weekly build-your-own pasta night from 5 to 9 PM at $20 per person, according to the hotel's visitors bureau listing. For a Southern lunch in the valley, the Market at the Old Sautee Store serves sandwiches and baked goods from 10:30 AM to 4 PM daily.
Coffee, bakeries and sweets
Coffee and baking have their own guides: the coffee guide, the bakeries guide and the desserts guide. For breakfast, start with the breakfast and brunch guide.
Closures and call-first places
A few older listings no longer have working websites: Mully's Nacoochee Grill and Bernie's. If you see either recommended elsewhere, call before you drive out. Their hours and menus can't be confirmed, so none are listed here.
Dining tips
Check the day
Hofer's is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, Spice 55 is closed Tuesdays and Q'Paso is closed Monday through Wednesday.
Ask about cash
Troll Tavern adds a 3.5% non-cash adjustment and Cafe International a 3.99% service charge waived for cash. Carry some bills.
Eat off-peak on fall weekends
Oktoberfest and leaf season fill every dining room. Early lunch or late dinner saves a wait.
Reservations
The Heidelberg and Valhalla's Caledonia take them. Bodensee doesn't right now.
More Helen dining
