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Helen, Georgia is a tiny town nestled into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Yet, this Bavarian-themed hamlet of fewer than 500 people attracts almost 2 million visitors each year to its incredible natural tranquility.

It offers a wide number of outdoor recreational possibilities and Native American and Georgia state historic sites. Appalachian crafts, quaint shops, Oktoberfest, holiday activities, and decorations, all along with the amazing range of restaurants in Helen, GA.

In 1969, Helen was virtually invisible to drivers passing through. However, the civic leaders decided to take some drastic steps to entice visitors to stop and stay awhile. Outstanding food is one of the key reasons for their success.

Driving from Atlanta, Birmingham, or Chattanooga, you will wind through curvy roads that appear to parallel the Chattahoochee River until you suddenly find yourself in a scene that will make you feel as though you’ve been transported to the Alps of Old World Germany. The buildings feature gabled roofs, decorative trim, balconies, and weatherboarding painted in bright colors.

What began with designing the façade of Bavaria, now has the authenticity of many German people actually living here and cooking in the local kitchens and restaurants in Helen. Then, the success of those entrepreneurs encouraged others with expanded palates to participate. What you now have is the 3^rd most visited spot in the state of Georgia, right behind Atlanta and Savannah.

Not in the mood to go out to eat tonight? Click here to have Grubhub deliver directly from the best restaurants in town to your doorstep.

9 Must-Try Restaurants in Helen

Bodensee

64 Munich Street // (706) 878-1026

Chef Aurel Prodan and his wife Doina began their married life in Romania working as a chef and server in a local restaurant until they moved to Bavaria, Germany in 1981. That is where he perfected his skills preparing traditional german fare, and they both learned the European style of unhurried hospitality.

Chef Aurel became a highly-respected Master Chef, and they brought their talents and personalities to Helen, Georgia 25 years ago. During their early years in Helen, Doina visited area restaurants, observed and “stayed undercover,” deciding how to make their own eatery both unique and authentic.

She insists, “We are not turning tables. We are serving people. If they stay for 4 hours, it’s okay for me.” She trains her servers to refrain from removing any dishes until the last diner at the table has put down his/her utensils. Then, they take all the plates from the table at once.

They have now been in business for seven years and have a large, loyal customer base.

Doina states matter-of-factly, that she “is double married – to the restaurant and to my husband.” It is obvious that they are both devoting many hours to making Bodensee a success. Bodensee is a family affair with the Prodan’s daughter doing a lot of the baking and working in the front, while their son-in-law helps in the kitchen.

The name, by the way, comes from one of their favorite spots in Bavaria, Lake Constance on the Rhine River. Bodensee is the German word for Constance.

Chef Prodan makes everything in-house with spices that arrive from Germany once or twice a month. The sauerbraten has to marinate for 4 or 5 days, for example, and Doina grows many of the herbs herself. She readily shares her words of wisdom: “Drink the sauerkraut juice. You’ll never have another cold!” and says that the only dress code at Bodensee is: “Don’t be naked. Put shoes on your feet and a hat on your head!”

She’s a delightful hostess for all of her guests, and the food is amazing. I can personally vouch for the smoked pork chop, the spaetzle, and German potato salad. Be sure to save room for a warm apple strudel. This great place is truly a gem among the restaurants in Helen!

Mully’s Nacoochee Grill

7277 South Main Street // (706) 878-1020

Mully weaves his way among the tables at the restaurant he opened when he was 60 years old, obviously enjoying mingling with long-time friends as well as first-time guests. His real name is Greg Ash, but his golf game and frequent habit of asking for a mulligan led to his nickname. He knows Helen, Georgia, having served on its town council and as its mayor in recent years. He wants his diners to have a great dinner or weekend brunch in a cordial atmosphere.

Chef Fern Frechette, originally from Wales, prepares many of the dishes using a wood fire grill, but others receive special preparation. I ordered grilled trout with collard greens and cheese grits.

I then learned that the trout for Mully’s come from North Carolina, and the grits are ground nearby at Nora Mills Granary. Chef Frechette makes the grits even tastier with the addition of white cheddar cheese, chicken stock, and cream.

Trout is Mully’s best-selling menu item followed closely by baby back ribs and shrimp and grits. Cheesecake, fried Oreos and bread pudding are swoon-worthy desserts. The blackberry bread pudding I sampled was worth every calorie.

The building housing Mully’s Nacoochee Grill is a rural farmhouse built in the early 1900s, dismantled, brought in from the neighboring Leaf Community, and then reassembled. The authentic vintage characteristics of that house add to the welcoming homey feeling for guests.

The food and the setting are reason enough to plan a meal at Mully’s, but the live music puts it over the top. Kurt Johnson, who spent 10 years playing for Bon Jovi, performs crowd favorites Wednesday through Sunday evenings and gospel and jazz numbers on Sunday mornings. I can guarantee he’ll be happy to play “your song” when you visit and their music hall.

Mully insists that though he might be the “face” of the restaurant, Chef Fern and Kurt Johnson are the “soul.” The scene of restaurants in Helen cannot be complete without Mully’s Nacoochee Grill.

Bernie’s Restaurant at Nacoochee Valley Guest House

2220 Highway 17, Sautee-Nacoochee, GA // (706) 878-3830

Bernie Yates, who has accumulated 49 years of experience in the hospitality business, is the congenial owner and hostess for both the Guest House and her namesake restaurant.

The Guest House features two rooms with king-size beds, private baths, and gorgeous natural scenery. Guests fortunate enough to book those rooms will be only 5 miles away from downtown Helen and in the middle of the attractions in White County. Others book the entire house for parties, reunions, small weddings, etc. because of the wonderful setting and outstanding catering available on-site.

Bernie’s daughter, Monda Dodge, is the chef. She received her training at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and has 30 years of knowledge in food preparation. Monda’s “right arm” is Lindsey Bryant, who also brings impeccable skill and experience to Bernie’s restaurant.

The building was formerly known as the Crumley Residence built in 1920. It has been in Bernie’s capable hands since 1989. A special plus is its view of the Nacoochee Valley and Sal Mountain.

The friendly staff sets the tables every day with linens, sterling silver, fresh flowers, and whimsical salt and pepper shakers. The kitchen philosophy is: “Start with the freshest ingredients and let the food speak for itself.” Lunch features a daily quiche, homemade soups, fresh-baked bread, sandwiches, salads, and chef creations.

My meal started with an appetizer of baked brie and roasted vegetables. It was followed by a slice of ham and white cheddar quiche and probably the best creamy tomato basil soup I will ever eat. My tablemates and I shared portions of homemade lemon and chocolate cakes for dessert. Moist and chocked with layers of flavor.

The dinner menu adds roast duckling, steaks, seafood, chicken or veal piccata, and chicken or veal marsala.

The dining room is small but elegant and intimate. Great for a relaxing and truly delicious meal.

Hofer’s Bakery and Cafe

8758 North Main Street // (706) 878-8200

Hofer’s of Helen is one of the best places around and is both a bakery and a café. Excellent choice from the restaurants in Helen for American and German food created by Ralph Hofer. Hofer’s bakes their bread daily in a stone hearth oven, lending authenticity to the Old World taste and charm.

Customers walk in to see a brimming display case full of tortes, strawberries, blueberry, and apple Kream Kuchen, cannolis, and fresh strudel, among many other temptations.

Surrounding shelves are lined with products brought in from Germany. These finds are highly prized by the German transplants who now live in the Helen area. A former bank building houses Hofer’s, and the bank’s safe now serves as a fun gift shop.

Hofer’s bakery is especially popular for breakfast. In addition to menu choices easily recognized by American visitors, you’ll find Kassler Rippchen (smoked pork chop), Leberkase (beef and pork loaf), Bratwurst Gravy, and Apfelkuchle (apple slices, dipped in batter, fried and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar). THAT was what I chose. So good!

After breakfast until Hofer’s closes in the late afternoon, they offer over a dozen sandwiches, goulash (a traditional Hungarian dish), and a daily soup special.

Clyde’s Table and Tavern

5 East Jarrard Street, Cleveland, GA // (706) 607-8707

Owner Ward Gann calls his restaurant “a dream that came true that I wasn’t expecting.” He saw a need for some great food in downtown Cleveland, after working for Farm Bureau for 24 years. Open now for 9 months, Gann reports that the community support has been excellent. He appears to have a hit on his hands.

Gann’s English setter inspired the eatery’s name and décor, and Gann claims one-third of the recipes as his very own. The building itself began life as a dime store in 1948, and the brick walls and wood floors remain.

Wood tables, metal chairs with padding and hunting-themed wall art set the scene inside.  A smoker “outback” is used to prepare many of the menu offerings. The smoked meats are definitely the stars of the show. Nonetheless, the five-alarm wedge salad, the deviled eggs served over slaw, the avocado fries with remoulade sauce, and the exceptional homemade pecan pie combine to create an uncommonly delicious meal.

The drink menu also carries out the dog theme with “Tie Me to the Porch Puppy Punch” and a selection of Pup Tini’s and Dog-Arita’s.

Four versions of mac and cheese, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and quesadillas round out the lunch menu. Various seafood dishes and steaks are added for dinner. The Sunday brunch offerings include a variety of Eggs Benedict, sweet potato pancakes, stuffed French toast and chicken and waffles. Theu have excellent service.

Currently, Clyde’s has seating for 40 diners inside and another 30 on the deck outside. There are already plans underway for expanding the deck. Clyde’s is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. That means the aroma from the smoker is always drawing in hungry customers to give this new place a try. A great pick from the restuarnts in Helen.

Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant

8619 N Main St, Helen, GA 30545, United States // +17068783729

This place serves the best German food outside of Germany. Cozy and homie ambiance, excellent and fast service and a friendly environment. 

The food is absolutely delectable! First, you must try the Schweine Haxen (ham shank with bone, drizzled in gravy) and the Wiener Wirst Platte for two (a treat of 4 delicious wurst/german sausages: bratwurst, knackwurst, weisswurst, and Hungarian bratwurst), all served with red cabbage, sauerkraut, german mashed potato and german potato salad! 

Do not hesitate to add a side of their homemade spaetzle, a giant pretzel with bier cheese (not to mention their two authentic mustards for dipping), and dessert: an imported made-in-Germany apple strudel! 

Bigg Daddys Restaurant & Tavern

807 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, GA 30545, United States // +17068782739

Cozy, upbeat bar with innovative American fare, sports on the TV and live entertainment on the weekends. The atmosphere is great for hanging out with friends. The place is clean, and the service is fast.

They offer a creative menu, and everything is well-executed, including the chicken and waffles, pizza, Pittsburgh salad and nachos. The Georgia peach chicken sandwich is quite possibly the most delicious chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Crispy breading, deliciously moist chicken and enormous. The beach BBQ sauce was the perfect cherry on top. 

Bigg Daddy’s, although not a German restaurant like the more touristy places in Helen, is an excellent option for anyone looking to eat where the locals like to go. 

Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria

7275 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545, United States // +17068780199

Warm and comfortable family-friendly pizza parlor also offers subs, salads, craft beer and local wines. The service is friendly and accommodating, and the ambiance is excellent. 

For a starter, I tried a cup of potato soup, served with house focaccia. It was so mouthwatering. The garlic bread with butter, oregano, shredded mozzarella served with charred Roma sauce, and house-marinated peppers are also good to start your meal with. 

Their specialty pizza is so unique and delicious. Crunchy crust and melting cheese are all that you need to feel like you are in Italy. My favorites are the “Big cheese” pizza with Herb oil base, ricotta, mozzarella, shaved parmesan, and roasted garlic and the “The Greek” with house tomato sauce, anchovies, black olives, feta cheese, mozzarella and dried oregano. 

Besides pizza, there is also an extensive choice of sandwiches and tasty desserts. Whatever you choose, you will not go wrong!

The Troll Tavern

8590 N Main St, Helen, GA 30545, United States // +17068783117

Riverfront pub serving American and German dishes and beers galore in casual surroundings with outdoor seats. The fast service, polite waiters and delicious food are some of the things they are best known for. 

Massive umbrellas cover the outdoor area, so you can eat out there in wet or hot weather. Unfortunately, the inside isn’t as German-themed as some of the other places in town. 

The Garden Salad is an Arcadian blend with croutons, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and peperoncininis with your choice of dressing. You can add grilled mushrooms or buffalo, chicken, fried cauliflower, grilled salmon or fried shrimp. The taste is unique and refreshing. 

For the main dish, I recommend the German Triple Platter with one grilled bratwurst, knockwurst and fried or grilled pork cutlet served with German mashed potatoes, red cabbage, sauerkraut and rye bread.

Many hot sandwiches, burgers, cold sandwiches, sides and a kid’s menu are available. Complete your meal with a crafted german beer and enjoy Octoberfest in Hellen and many other occasions throughout the year. 

FAQ

Where is the best place to eat in helen georgia?

• Bodensee restaurant, Old Bavaria Inn, Mully’s Nacoochee Grill and Bigg Daddys are one of the best places to eat in Helen.

What are the most popular restaurants in Helen?

• Bodensee restaurant, Old Bavaria Inn, Mully’s Nacoochee Grill and Bigg Daddys are one of the most popular restaurants in Helen.

What are the best restaurants in Helen that provide takeout?

• The Hooch and Bigg Daddys are two of the best restaurants in Helen that provide takeout.

Visiting other destinations in Georgia? Check out our other delicious guides:

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• 8 Best Restaurants In Savannah GA
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• 16 Amazing Things To Do In Georgia USA
• 12 Fun Things To Do In Helen GA
• The 10 Best Helen GA Restaurants
• The 5 Best Bars In Helen GA
• The 6 Best German Restaurants In Helen
• 9 Must-Try Jekyll Island Restaurants
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Which of these restaurants in Helen, GA do you most want to try? Let me know in the comments section below!

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