Helen's Restaurant — Restaurant in Middlecreek Township

Helen's Restaurant Review 🤍

From the moment we stepped into Helen's, I knew we were in for a truly unforgettable experience, one that would undoubtedly rank among the top five restaurants I've ever eaten at. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with live piano music setting the tone next to the bar area, and we talked with the general manager, Annie, who helped make our experience so amazing.

We initially stopped in for a quick drink before dinner, but the charm of the place was so captivating that we ended up staying for over an hour, indulging in some exquisite food and drink. The large picture windows offered breathtaking views of the slopes, and Annie introduced us to one of the servers, Dax, who graciously offered us a tour of the restaurant, revealing its rich history as the original home of the owners of Seven Springs. His storytelling was exceptional, and as he recounted tales from the 1800s and 1900s. I felt a deep connection to the home/restaurant.

The pictures are of the original chandelier, fireplace, wood, and master bedroom in a loft area, as well as the natural springs outside the back windows. Although we hadn't planned on eating, the sweet couple next to us raved about the crab bisque, and I knew I had to try it. Jeff's choice of the Helen's bourbon was a heartfelt tribute to his mom (even though she never swore or drank, lol).

As we enjoyed our drinks and soup, we chatted with the staff who were all just so kind and engaging, all while being serenaded by the piano player whose melodies filled the air with an enchanting atmosphere. Jeff asked me to dance right in the middle of the restaurant, and it was a truly unforgettable moment. 🤍

I was so impressed with the crab soup that we returned the following day, and added the octopus soup, which was to die for. The mousse and fresh fruit was delish! Everything was just perfect and Jeff and I said, we have to come back each year!

5...

Bad experience from the start. Wound up not eating here.

Was told this is the place to have a good meal. Looked it up, seems like older reviews were great, but latest reviews have not been as good, going downhill perhaps? Made reservations which are a must as it seems to fill up fast. A bit earlier than we normally eat, but was glad to at least get one.

The overall appearance is very nice, lots of glass, great small bar, and cozy feel. However we were taken to a larger room, more enclosed and less glass. We were given a table in the far back corner, and had the choice of staring into the corner with our backs to everyone, or facing the room with an overhead spotlight shining directly into our faces. Quickly decided this wasn’t comfortable, so asked if we could be reseated out front. Our hostess readily complied (now makes us wonder why she just didn’t offer this at first).

Were taken back out front to a small two person table along the windows, looked very appealing. Unfortunately when we sat down, understood right away why nobody was seated at these tables. The small bench seating is composed of benches sitting directly on top of radiant heaters that are in full hot operation. The moment we sat down, we could feel the heat boiling up from under our legs and we were literally roasting in less than a minute. Needless to say, that was enough fun for one night, we got up and left.

Would like to have actually had the chance to try the food, as the online menu looks appealing, though the prices are the highest of any other restaurants in the resort area. Again, the latest reviews are not great, so who knows.

Would I go there again…no.

Would I...

Not for groups. Was surprised when they split our 10-person group up and put us at 2 separate round tables in the back of the restaurant by the radiators despite the fact there were several tables comfortably able to seat our reservation.

The tables were done up nice and were very rustic, but the chairs were extremely wobbly, and my first chair was so wobbly that I had to find a more sturdy one so I didn't end up on the floor.

At first, they overlooked placing our group in the rear corner. After 20 minutes, they eventually provided us with menus that felt sticky to the touch, allowing us to place our order. However, it took them an additional 30 minutes to take our order, and our appetizer arrived another 30 minutes later.

The bisque was great, and the cheese board was a decent size. No complaints with the appetizers.

Drinks were subpar. Had to ask on 4 separate occasions for a refill from 3 different wait staff just to get more water, and it still took half an hour to get a refil.

30 more minutes later, the main course arrived. The shrimp and scallops were delicious, and the steak came out perfectly, though the short ribs were dry and small for the price.

Overall, it was a much worse experience than the last time we visited 2 years ago. The food was mostly great, but the handling of a large group and service left much to be desired, especially for the price and reserving over a...