Reviews Helm Oyster Bar & Bistro

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 had and the muscles were a huge hit! Can’t forget the delicious, incredibly fresh lobster either! We had a lovely waiter, Caleb, who truly made our experience. A must visit if you’re on the hunt for fresh Maine sea fare!

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 5 star review if my waiter had been a bit more kind and caring he scoffed when I changed my mind on the eggnog after hearing about the fact it contained alcohol I chose not to order it, at first he asked the "bar tender" if he had any without booze and the bar tender literally responded by saying "um absolutely not" then the bar tender and my waiter Justin B (according to my receipt) both made it an extremely awkward interaction. I still tipped Justin 35% on principle because of my time in the industry, however would like to point out it's not only unprofessional but rather inhumane to disrespect someone for choosing not 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 very genuinely thanked us for our business when she returned them at the end of our dining experience. Thank you to the kitchen, the owners, and all involved in preparing a little perfect meal!

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 wine pairings: 1. Jonah crab on brioche with pickled cherry bomb peppers and herbed aioli, paired with a glass of 2020 Dom. de la Pepiere 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 and crunchy with a vibrant acidity, and the goat cheese was a nice tangy surprise. Again... breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 3. Hake with beans, spigarello, and olive tapenade, paired with a glass of 2019 Stefan Meyer Sylvaner from Pfalz. Sylvaner by the glass is 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 this one for a long time. And yeah, you are not alone - I had to Google spigarello, too, but it is earthy and delicious and we should be adding it to our morning smoothies. Helm is an exceptional dining experience in every aspect. Kudos to them for raising the bar.

I was impressed with my experience at Helm. The courses were absolutely delicious and were all perfectly timed out. I loved the concept of the limited item menu, allowing more attention to detail on every dish. They are also very accommodating with food allergies which I greatly appreciated! They're a favorite of mine here in Portland and a must-visit if your in from out of town!!