Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Helen – 2024

My family and I had an amazing experience here! We had 3 kids under 3 and the staff were so warm and welcoming. Debby brought out kids plates and utensils and apple juice for our little ones and even provided us with kids toys for them to keep busy at the table. Our server was attentive and informative and the food was beyond delicious! I highly recommend this place to everyone the atmosphere was cozy and inviting! Thank you for giving us such an awesome German dining experience we will be back!

I had a really disappointing experience at this German restaurant in Helen, Georgia. Right when I arrived, a woman, who I think might be the owner scolded me because I didn’t stop at a random stop sign outside the entrance. She even asked me if I could read! All while smoking a cigarette, and wasn’t friendly at all. Not exactly a great way to start my lunch. After that, the other staff members were nice, and the food was okay but a little dry. But that first interaction really ruined it for me. I won’t be coming back because of that experience. I just hope her attitude improves for the sake of future customers. P.S. We were seated around 3 PM and assumed we were ordering from the lunch menu, especially since we even pointed to items on the lunch side of the menu. But when the bill came, they charged us all dinner prices, which doubled the cost. Kind of feels like a scam. Who serves dinner at 3?

Worth the wait! German & Georgian hospitality at its best. The pretzel is enormous and delicious. The homemade garlic sausage was epic and the beers were just what we needed. We even ordered a second pretzel for desert! It was December 7th at 4pm and a tuba player and accordionist treated us to Christmas carols, and Santa Claus visited to highlight our trip to Helen, Georgia!

Hi, I have had food here twice. Very delicious place. Although we ordered pad Thai and asked for spicy level “hot”, but we were served “Thai hot”, which is a level higher. Which makes it super duper hot, but we enjoyed the meal anyways, just tearing up a bit while eating. Everything else was a lovely experience, basil rolls are good, maybe not as much veggies in them, but sauce is absolutely yummy.

This is my third time visiting this wonderful establishment. Each time, I left feeling fulfilled. The food is amazing. My favorites are the calamari, Pad Thai with chicken, and my fav fav is the Lobster Fried Rice! The staff members are always pleasant and super professional. The restaurant is very clean and the prices are reasonable as well. I arrived last night and got my food to go , but tonight I sat and enjoyed the lobster fried rice and live music.

When I go on trips, I always look for breweries and sushi. We came to Helen this past summer and tried Bangkok Haus and were REALLY surprised to find good sushi in a German-centric town. We came again on this visit, and it's still amazing, so not a one-off. Alex took care of us at the bar, and is the exact right bartender. Talkative and friendly, but let us be alone, as well. The sushi is amazing! We had the Princess of Dawn (excellent), the Samurai Party (probably my favorite fried roll ever), and the Trust Me. The chef did GREAT with the Trust Me. We had smokey old fashioneds (Alex made them perfectly) and 2 German beers. Groll?? I can't remember, but they were good, as well. We will always visit here when we're in town!

The pretzel and bier cheese were delicious! I enjoyed my jaeger schnitzel and it was so tasty that I asked for more mushroom gravy. My husband ordered the prime rib sandwich. He thought it was bland and needed more seasoning. The German Chocolate cake was good, a little dry, but good. Our service was excellent! The atmosphere was great as we had a seat by the river. I would go again.

I'm so glad we stopped here to have our last meal before leaving Helen. The food was amazing, the service was fantastic, and they even brought our dogs a bowl of iced water. Very dog-friendly! We highly recommend you come here and try their pork schnitzel wiener art, the potato cakes with sour cream and apple sauce! Oh...AND THE GIANT PRETZEL WITH THEIR BIER CHEESE, OH MAN! Please make sure to get it! Apparently, it's imported from Germany. Check out our pics! We hope to come back soon!

We dined in and sat at the big outdoor area. It is right on the river. Beautiful view. They had live music. Love that. Service was very friendly and attentive. Beers were huge and so good. The pretzel and cheese were good. Our sandwiches were both good! German potato salad was yummy! Got some cool shirts! America and German on them!

They have vegetarian options, with me being vegetarian I greatly appreciate this! Food was very good, I especially liked the pretzel bun on the beyond bratwurst with sauerkraut & Swiss cheese. I also had the hot apple cider, definitely recommend in the cold weather. Our waiter recommended the Hot Toddy, which was quite lovely. All in all I would love to eat at this restaurant again the next time I visit!

Visiting from South FL. Stopped by here on a whim because we were hungry. I hadn’t looked them up prior. We ordered the Chattahoochee board to be able to taste an array of typical German cuisine. Everything on the platter was delicious, but my favorite was the pretzel and cheese. Really great to visit for a quick bite and beer!

This place was recommended to me by a friend who advised me to get the REUBEN sandwich which I did and it was mouthwatering. This Cafe International is right next to the famous tubing river, so you get a great view and a nice cool breeze. This place doesn't look fancy at all, but the 2 meals/sandwiches that I ordered with my wife were savory. Their menu had great options/choices. Just their Reuben sandwich is well worth going to to this place.

Delicious pretzels. The beer battered and mustard sauce was delicious. The cinnamon pretzel with cream icing was delicious as well. Located walking distance from main streer. Regulat pretzel was $7 plus $.50 for either beer cheese or mustard and $8.50 for the cinnamon with icing.

We just ran in for a quick treat but excited to come back! Cute menu with hot dogs and pretzels. We tried the cinnamon pretzel with icing and loved it. Looking forward to coming back to dive into their menu.

This place is great. This is our second stay and I am sure we will be back. The owners are super nice. At Christmas time it is magical place to see. Also inside there are great pastries and pretzels not to mention some warm liquids! Oh and the beer cheese dip is excellent. Short walk to everything in Helen!

We stopped in the other night to get an appetizer a couple of drinks. We had a good enough experience that we decided to come back for a steak dinner tonight. The staff was great and everything was delicious. We are so full they had to get a wheelbarrow to roll us out after our meal. A good sign...

Jeff was a fantastic server and was very attentive and helpful with our options. We went to Paul's a long time ago and was worried about pricing (we have a place nearby) but it wasn't too bad. Food was excellent! The only thing they don't do, which most restaurants struggle with, is common sense with seating. We went early and maybe 4 of the tables were taken up. There was one with 6 or so people and kids that were loud and they literally tried to seat us right beside them! With an empty restaurant.... A lot of places do that for convenience of waiter but don't think about the customer. But all in all we'll be back very soon and it's on our permanent list now.

The place was nice a big portion was served however the lobster was under cooked and smelled like fresh fish. The waiter was very nice! I really enjoyed my family meal plus it was my birthday!

Tonight, we tried Helen's newest kid on the block, Campfire. Gather Round. I got the double smash burger with bacon, government cheese and crinkle cut fries and it was perfection with crispy edges and a juicy center. The fried chicken and linguine Alfredo were also stand outs. The chicken was 10/10 -- two juicy boneless breasts with a crispy coating, and the pasta was made from scratch garlicky goodness topped with freshly shaved Parmesan. Speaking of made from scratch, pretty much everything here is. See the weird looking chips with our hummus appetizer? Those are freshly made in-house (along with the hummus) and are addictive. The pickles? Made in-house. And the homemade chocolate S'mores Pie is not to be missed. The decor here is really cute, the vibe is relaxed and fun, and prices are reasonable. Do yourself a favor and give this great new place a try!

This is a neat new addition to Helen, the nachos we had were pretty good, with tortilla chips house made they have an amazing texture. I got the signature smash burger without the garden. I'm not a huge BBQ sauce guy but it was pretty good. The fries that came with my burger were damn good too super fresh with some good seasoning that I guess was Cajun. Interior is nice and clean, waitress was super friendly and had good timing whilst dealing with all the other customers in the restaurant. Only complaint is that my sweet tea wasn't sweet at all, however it was still the only time I've ever enjoyed unsweet tea so I'll let it pass.

So you open a new restaurant in a town with a German theme surrounded by German cuisine restaurants and you serve traditional American food? That’s bold and full of confidence. The food is that good and Campfire will have no problems staking a claim right in the center of the action. The charming and unpretentious atmosphere sets your mood along with a friendly front of the house wait staff. For starters we ordered the hummus and house made chips ( you had me with those chips). Fresh and hearty portions on every dish. Our guests ordered the Smash Burger. Cooked perfectly with razor sharp edges. Oh, the Campfire brand on the bun is precious. Next up was the fried chicken. Two boneless chicken breasts perfectly breaded and fork tender along with two sides. We choose the mashed potatoes and the broccoli. The broccoli prep is next level. I had the South X Southwest Salad with blackened chicken. The fire roasted tomatoes, street corn salad and cornbread crumble places this salad in its own food group. It’s evident the Chef and ownership have their heart and soul in every aspect of this business. Fresh ingredients, carefully and expertly created dishes will keep the tables full for years to come. Do yourself a favor and get to Campfire the next time you’re in Helen. Highly recommended. 12 stars

The food on the photos looks better than it! tastes. We as a Czech originally born group of friends were so excited to go to this restaurant to taste home. Well. From all the dishes we got - the only acceptable was fried cheese. The food was tasteless, very expensive, without any flavor to it. Dumplings were like a brick. It never ever happened to me that I didn’t finished or even ate 85% off my plate which was almost $30. For a food we were waiting forever. After 4 people out of our group were happy to got our meals another 2 were waiting at least for another 15 minutes. We were overcharged and needed to bring that up. They also added $27 tip for us. So family of 3 - 2 - waters & 1 coke zero, 1 appetizer of cheese kebob, 1 duck, 1 goulash (which looke it was frozen before) and 1 Schweinebraten with Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut, and Bread Dumplings cost us whopping $177. Never ever again. Yes they gave us $30 cash back for a duck they added to our bill.

Ate lunch here today. Not exactly impressed. The saving grace was the apple strudel. The appetizer was basically a mozzarella stick and the “duck” tasted like chicken. I have eaten plenty of duck and never thought it tasted like chicken.

My wife and I enjoyed dinner here. The service was great! She had German Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich with Potato Salad. She said the Chicken Sandwich was good but wasn't a fan of the Potato Salad. I had the Mozzarella Stuffed with Ham and potato salad. The Mozzarella Stuffed with Ham was ok, but I didn't care for the potato salad. There are several gluten-free options, so I'll try something else next time we go.

Moved up this way in March and tried this place and it was beyond anything I was expecting in Helen. It is by far the best restaurant in town. The food is all fresh and everything is created and not just cooked. The food is all very flavorful and they offer a very wide variety of items. I try to visit once every other week or so and it never disappoints. Whether it’s appetizers or an entree, everything I have ever had has been great! Great staff, atmosphere and when they have live music it’s even better!

I recently visited and I was blown away by the quality of the food and service! Every dish was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The pickled peach burger was the highlight—perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. You can tell the ingredients are fresh and handled with care. The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The staff was attentive, ensuring our dining experience was top-notch from start to finish. If you’re looking for a place that serves mouthwatering food with excellent service, I highly recommend it!! Definitely a place I’ll be returning to!

Limited parking. Be prepared to pay $10 to park next door. Food was good. I'd say above average in my personal opinion but to be fair I can be a tough food critic. Band was playing so outside seating would have been very loud and can't hold a conversation. Sat inside and with the concrete floors voices and sounds echo. The servers were all very friendly and two of them were so loud you could hear their conversations across the restaurant. We were seated within 1 minute. Our server ordered our drinks immediately upon sitting down. He was very attentive throughout the service and helpful with the menu. I give the wait staff a solid 5 stars. The loudness and the food keeps my rating at 3.5 - 4 stars. I would eat here again.

Loved this place! We had never been before but we both very much enjoyed it. The food and service were both incredible and the atmosphere was was a lot of fun. There’s a lot of seating - indoor and outdoor - plus a good sized bar. The staff were all friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I got the wings and my wife got a mushroom burger. I am not good with spicy things, so I stayed away from the spicy flavors but the ones I had were fantastic. Great flavor and no heat. And there’s plenty of vegetarian options for the burgers as well. We will definitely come back!

The customer service could have been better, and it was confusing because they had deals printed on the wall, and then our server says they no longer do the deals. Why is it still posted then? The food was good. The restaurant inside is a little tight, and dark, but it has a beautiful patio outside if you choose to go out there and be seated.

I was greatly impressed with this restaurant from the service to the quality and taste of the food. Nick was our waiter, and from the very beginning, he was eager to serve us. He had a great personality and was adamant that we ask him for anything we might need. Our appetizer and drinks came out in a quick manner. My girlfriend ordered the Georgia Peach and I got the Crown Apple with ginger ale. Both drinks were made with a liberal amount of alcohol. The fried green tomatoes were cooked to perfection and not overly greasy. The hickory ranch paired perfectly with the dish. Next, the pizza was great as well. It had a generous amount of toppings and wasn’t too heavy either. The service was top notch, right along with the food. This will be a spot that will leave you longing to come back to!

This was a really cool place. The food was delicious and the service was great! The schnitzel was so good. My son enjoyed the stew and the mashed potatoes were fantastic! Our server was very pleasant and attentive! Definitely 5 stars! They did have a weird tax and charge for using your credit/debit card. Overall it was priced well for the meals!

The food wasn’t authentic, even though they tried. I lived in Germany for four years, and this was nothing like the real deal. The schnitzel was decent and pretty tender, but the chicken cordon bleu was a letdown. It had good breading, but barely any filling—hardly any cheese or ham at all. The salad was actually very yummy and fresh! The Balsamic dressing was delicious. The German potato salad was alright, but they used canned potatoes instead of fresh ones. The worst part was the pretzel; it was so super dry and cold, and didn’t have enough salt on it. Instead of a German vibe, they were blasting pop and rap music instead of some fun oom-pah tunes. With the prices they charge, I just can’t give more than three stars.giving more than three stars is something I can do.

Heidelberg: A Taste of Germany in Helen, GA Nestled in the charming town of Helen, GA, Heidelberg offers a delightful taste of German cuisine. While the wait time was a bit longer than expected, the friendly staff and inviting ambiance made it worthwhile. We started with a soft, flavorful pretzel, a perfect companion to the refreshing Schöfferhofer grapefruit beer. For our main course, we opted for the schnitzel with spätzle. While the dish was enjoyable, it didn't quite reach the heights we had hoped for. Overall, Heidelberg provides a pleasant dining experience with its warm atmosphere and decent food. It's a great place to unwind and savor the flavors of Germany in the heart of the Georgia mountains.

A fantastic experience, food, and especially service! Thank you Hannah for recommending the spinach and bacon salad and the Popeye pizza. We enjoyed them so much!

A lovely spot for pizza and brew. We sat on the patio with our dog and enjoyed lunch. They were busy on a Friday at lunch. We had the caprese salad and Hot Piggy pizza.

Great pizza in a timely manner. Wonderful waitstaff. Have been here before and it never disappoints!

AMAZING breakfast at Hoochee’s this morning! The owner was so kind when taking our order was very helpful. I went with his suggestions and he did NOT steer me wrong! The quiche was amazing one of the best I’ve ever had. My boyfriend really enjoyed the burrito and said the way they toasted it was amazing (he used to work at a burrito spot so he can be picky on this ) Biscuits and gravy were great and I really loved the pepper in them. We sat outside by the water and really loved the picnic tables. HIGHLY recommend stopping in here! The prices were shockingly good. Even if it seems a bit crowded it seems like there’s a place you can sit! Just maybe bring a jacket in case you do need to sit outside if you’re cold natured like me. Thank you Hoochee’s for a lovely start to our day! Go support a wonderful family owned business :)

Was here recently for lunch. The staff working there is amazing, they shared their recommendations and also suggested substitutions. The food came out quickly and was tasty. However, I could not wrap my head around paying $2.5 for water. They bring out water and soft drinks in cans and bottles. Would still recommend trying this place out if you are in the area!

Delicious!!!! One of the best burgers (had the Bodega Burger) I’ve ever had in my life. The owners were so sweet and friendly and the food was incredible. Everything on the menu sounded amazing so we will be back ASAP to try more!

I visited the Troll Tavern in Helen, GA during Oktoberfest, and it was packed! I had a few beers and the bratwurst platter, which was pretty good—great flavor and hearty portions. The atmosphere was lively with all the people celebrating, and the service wasn't bad despite the crowd. A fun spot to grab a drink and enjoy German-inspired food in the heart of Helen!

They were busy and short staffed at lunch on a Thursday although I was still seated very quickly. Great outdoor patio overlooking the river where you can watch the happy people tubing down the river—great entertainment at no extra cost! My server was working hard since she even had to make her own bar drinks since there was no bartender that afternoon. My Reuben sandwich served with German mashed potatoes was excellent! I enjoyed the other half of lunch the next day and it was still great! Worth the wait.

Cool concept, but the food was a big disappointment. Maybe the kitchen had an off night. The kids cheese burger was very dry. The mashed potatoes tasted like they were the instant mashed potatoes. ..disappointed in the food.

We had a minimal wait to get seated. (<15 min.) The staff was very friendly and welcomed us as though we regularly dined with them. I had the Hänchen Schnitzel with Green beans and German Potato Salad. Each item was cooked to perfection. The savory flavors were a delite. This little gem isn't just a Café. It is also a Deli and Bakery. When you are in Helen, GA, it's a must experience.

Wanted to give this restaurant a try due to the amazing pictures of their pastries. The selection was great, I had the Mountain Climber's Breakfast, and I am so full that I couldn't eat the extra pastries that we ordered. Those will have to wait for later. But the food and service was awesome. Highly recommend. Pro tip: it may take 30+ minutes to get seated so plan to be there early as they end their breakfast service promptly on time. It was worth the wait... Excellent breakfast!

10 out of 10 would recommend this place. We went for breakfast on December 8, 2024, and got there 30 minutes after they opened, waiting in line for 50 minutes. Well worth it!