2008 Woodie Awards
Restaurant Review
Helmer's
Kelsea Wilks '08 and Mike Fitzgerald '08
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
We found Helmer's while walking up Washington Street. The café/bar is located at 1036 Washington Street and features a small outside dining area. We sat inside and were pleased with our choice. Helmer's is a German themed restaurant offering good German food and "drink." There were a few TVs for the bar atmosphere, but mostly the emphasis was on the dining area.
We started with the Weisswurst appetizer, which proved to be the best part of the meal. The selection encompassed the culture of the German cuisine. The Weisswurst (basically a giant sausage) was wrapped in bacon and served with three different types of mustard. The sweet mustard was Kelsea's favorite and the spicy was Mike's. There was also plain mustard. The menu reported an entrée with the same Weisswurst sampling theme that, after scarfing down the appetizer, we both decided would have been an excellent choice.
Mike decided to go with the pot roast. This came with a choice of French fries, home fries, or mashed potatoes, as well as a side vegetable. The vegetable choices were mixed veggies or sour kraut. Mike went with the French fries and sour kraut. The pot roast was very tender and smothered in spiced gravy. There was plenty of substance to this entrée and it was cooked well. The fries were not great, but the sour kraut made for a nice German treat.
For an entrée, Kelsea ordered an open-face steak sandwich. The bread was thoroughly buttered, toasted, and cut into bite-sized squares draped with strips of steak. The steak was uniquely seasoned and delicious. The sandwich, which came in a small or large size, was served with a choice of potato or French fries. Kelsea opted for the French fries, which were the same as Mike's.
The service was interesting. We were seated promptly and provided with a selection of tasty rolls to munch on. However, our waitress stumbled through our inquiry for a recommendation and the waitstaff tried to take Kelsea's plate away five times while she was still eating! On a positive note, everyone was pleasant and our food was prepared well and in a timely manner.
Being a café and bar, the food prices were reasonable. Kelsea's entrée was $11 and Mike's was $16. Helmer's is a unique and fun place to eat and we would definitely recommend checking it out!
We started with the Weisswurst appetizer, which proved to be the best part of the meal. The selection encompassed the culture of the German cuisine. The Weisswurst (basically a giant sausage) was wrapped in bacon and served with three different types of mustard. The sweet mustard was Kelsea's favorite and the spicy was Mike's. There was also plain mustard. The menu reported an entrée with the same Weisswurst sampling theme that, after scarfing down the appetizer, we both decided would have been an excellent choice.
Mike decided to go with the pot roast. This came with a choice of French fries, home fries, or mashed potatoes, as well as a side vegetable. The vegetable choices were mixed veggies or sour kraut. Mike went with the French fries and sour kraut. The pot roast was very tender and smothered in spiced gravy. There was plenty of substance to this entrée and it was cooked well. The fries were not great, but the sour kraut made for a nice German treat.
For an entrée, Kelsea ordered an open-face steak sandwich. The bread was thoroughly buttered, toasted, and cut into bite-sized squares draped with strips of steak. The steak was uniquely seasoned and delicious. The sandwich, which came in a small or large size, was served with a choice of potato or French fries. Kelsea opted for the French fries, which were the same as Mike's.
The service was interesting. We were seated promptly and provided with a selection of tasty rolls to munch on. However, our waitress stumbled through our inquiry for a recommendation and the waitstaff tried to take Kelsea's plate away five times while she was still eating! On a positive note, everyone was pleasant and our food was prepared well and in a timely manner.
Being a café and bar, the food prices were reasonable. Kelsea's entrée was $11 and Mike's was $16. Helmer's is a unique and fun place to eat and we would definitely recommend checking it out!