Reviews for Helm Oyster Bar & Bistro in Portland, ME
Had a great time at Helm. Inside the atmosphere is upscale but not stuffy, and service while to the point was congenial and... quick. The oysters, as one would hope, were delicious and the other shellfish we ordered like scallops on the half shell andlobster were solid. I will say the drinks didn't particularly impress me, but they were certainly good. I can't say I loved themain entree we were recommended to order by our waiter, but it was definitely unique and not bad by any measure, just not mypreference. Overall Helm was a great seafood spot, albeit for the price I'd expect a little more. Read more
Quaint little oyster bar on the waterfront. While they have a couple "cooked" options, thier specialty is thier raw bar. I had a... couple ray oysters and they were fantastic! My wife had the smoked monkfish... yumm! I had the shortrib, also fantastic! Highlyrecommend! Read more
We had a fantastic experience at Helm. So impressed with food, flavors, and service. Best sea food we had in Maine during our... week long stay. Highly recommend . Read more
Highly recommend! We were in the Portland area for the first time and found this place on our walk by the waterfront. They were... able to accommodate us for dinner very last minute on a busy holiday weekend. These were some of the best oysters I?ve ever hadand the muscles were a huge hit! Can?t forget the delicious, incredibly fresh lobster either! We had a lovely waiter, Caleb, whotruly made our experience. A must visit if you?re on the hunt for fresh Maine sea fare! Read more
Wow wow wow. Just got takeout (graciously accommodated our request) and got the haddock and the clam/mussels (they were so... plump!) dish and blown away. Absolutely amazing food. The broths were so good I just drank every last sip. Beans were a perfectcomplement. Wheat berries too. Couldn?t be happier. Can?t wait to return. Read more
Had an absolutely amazing evening out at Helm the food was delicious! Having worked in the industry for years the fact they add... a kitchen wage to your check is a beautiful thing, the atmosphere was on point, very intimate and inviting. I would give a 5star review if my waiter had been a bit more kind and caring he scoffed when I changed my mind on the eggnog after hearing aboutthe fact it contained alcohol I chose not to order it, at first he asked the "bar tender" if he had any without booze and thebar tender literally responded by saying "um absolutely not" then the bar tender and my waiter Justin B (according to myreceipt) both made it an extremely awkward interaction. I still tipped Justin 35% on principle because of my time in theindustry, however would like to point out it's not only unprofessional but rather inhumane to disrespect someone for choosingnot to put alcohol in my system, I could be pregnant or nursing, I could be in recovery, I could simply just not enjoy it.That is literally the only negative part of my experience. The owner greeted us at the door and took our coats she also verygenuinely thanked us for our business when she returned them at the end of our dining experience. Thank you to the kitchen, theowners, and all involved in preparing a little perfect meal! Read more
Treated myself to a celebratory dinner at Helm Oyster Bar & Bistro . Omg, aside from the exceptional meal and service, every... once in a while, I stumble upon a brilliant wine pairing that rocks my world. Tonight, I was treated to 2 exceptional winepairings: 1. Jonah crab on brioche with pickled cherry bomb peppers and herbed aioli, paired with a glass of 2020 Dom. de laPepiere Muscadet. So fresh and delicious. Don't judge me if I eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... 2. The owner,Lizzie, was so kind to send me a Jonagold apple salad with fennel, watermelon radishes, and pantaleo goat cheese. Fresh andcrunchy with a vibrant acidity, and the goat cheese was a nice tangy surprise. Again... breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 3. Hakewith beans, spigarello, and olive tapenade, paired with a glass of 2019 Stefan Meyer Sylvaner from Pfalz. Sylvaner by the glassis tough to find in this town, but omg, one sip of it with a bite of the green olive tapenade... I will be salivating over thisone for a long time. And yeah, you are not alone - I had to Google spigarello, too, but it is earthy and delicious and we shouldbe adding it to our morning smoothies. Helm is an exceptional dining experience in every aspect. Kudos to them for raising thebar. Read more
Our dinner tonight at Helms was excellent in every way. The martinis were perfection, the wait staff was en pointe and the... cuisine was of very high standard. The hen.of.the woods starter was the best treatment of those delectable mushrooms I've everhad. All.3 desserts were amazing! Yes, we shared! We hope to.return.soon! Read more