Review The Helm - Hamilton

What an amazing dinner we had at the Helm. The food and service and atmosphere was perfect. Eva was a fantastic waitress! My 10 yr old son loved his pizza! He said "this is like heaven!" And my 6 yr old daughter said her burger was a 10 out of 9! Lol. The ribs actually had meat on, not just bone and sauce. My Vietnamese salad was delicious esp with the pork belly on top! Yuuuuum!

Went for cocktails under the canopy and 100% reccomend it. Great experience and fairly proced. We enjoyed out time and learnt something new.

Sunday specials well worth it. Very accommodating to dietary requests. Chicken nibbles were delicous!

Glad to be back at the Helm. Lovely sunny day. Opted for lunch on the enclosed verandah. The staff were friendly, the service was prompt and the gourmet pie with peas, mash n gravy was delightful. Great Kiwi hospitality. Well done. 5 🌟

Good atmosphere. The dishes are a bit small, but delicious! For those who like a jug of beer and some snacks, this is a great place.

BEST PLACE IN TOWN! Absolutely DELICIOUS food every time we come here, gluten free pizza better than I've had in Italy! Affordable drinks and wonderful staff. Love this place. Up the Wahs

The staff were amazing. Friendly, warm and inviting when we arrived. Service with a smile and very helpful. The food was delicious and on point. Steak was so good and cooked to perfection and the mussels was delicious and mouth-watering. Very affordable and worth it. One of the best restaurants I've been to in Hamilton. Definitely recommend it for families with kids. They're very good at what they do and know how to accommodate to our wants and needs. Definitely hands down one of the best local restaurants in the Hamilton/Waikato region. One of the best places for a beautiful and delicious meal in Aotearoa. You get 5 Stars from me. Well Done The Helm Bar & Kitchen.

Seafood was fresh! Everything was hot when served. Service was awesome!!! Will defs be back again.

My lamb meal was delicious and the young man that took me to my seat and helped out was genuine, polite and helped me feel comfortable. There was another lovely waitress who recommended the strawberry cheesecake. I only wish I took photos of the food as it looked at tasted great.

Awesome dealing with Ethan prior. Super organised, prompt and accommodating. Convenient location and fast service. Team and service was more than great. thanks again guys

Fantastic food, fantastic service. Staff are friendly and helpful (it took me a sec to figure out the menu) without being overbearing. Will definitely be going back!

Nice layout, separated areas work well. Nice food. Friendly staff, but some more waitering training could be helpful. Overall nice experience

Though tucked into a spot in a strip mall, you’d never know that you are stepping in to a cool sports bar/restaurant (works for families too) with the game on. It was great to feel the energy in the place with the Ferns game on for the Women’s World Cup. Get there early before a big game to make sure you get a table. They make ordering super easy and efficient through their tablets at each table. The drinks are great and the food is pretty good.

We had an amazing experience. Amazing food and service. One of the best dinners we had on our trip to New Zealand.

Went here for lunch. Good beef burger, very good chips, and excellent wait staff. Ask for Wai, she's amazing. Good sense of humour and super helpful.

We had a great experience. Ordered the mix platter which was decent for 3 people. Good mix of meats, sauces. One of the best platters I’ve had. Staff were attentive and friendly. Checking if we needed more drinks etc.

Delicious food!! The sauce on the mussels was divine. A bit expensive but still very yummy. It was quite loud when we were there for lunch so not a place to go if your looking for a quiet, peaceful meal. Overall, I would recommend 👍

Lots of indoor and outdoor seating Fantastic space for groups and functions. Great service, delicious food and wicked atmosphere. Loved the live entertainment. Catering rocks!!! Amazing platters and charcuterie board!!

Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or someone seeking a memorable dining experience, the helm bar & kitchen is a must-visit. It's a testament to gastronomic excellence and hospitality, leaving me eager to return for another unforgettable meal.

Love this restaurant, the food is always delicious and the staff are always kind and accommodating, love this place it’s our regular. Always have a thoroughly enjoyable experience when dining here.

Always have a great experience here, it’s our regular. The staff are lovely and are always kind and accommodating. The food is also amazing

I've been to the helm many times. If it weren't for the atmosphere and great live music I'd give lower unfortunately. I used to love the food, its changed. I had booked a table for 20+ for my birthday weeks prior to the date. On the day I was called and informed they had no table or numbers for my booking. When I said I'd already called weeks ahead they didnt have the part of the building I'd asked for but luckily they had room. That we all had to order at the same time if we wanted mains, not everyone arrives atvthe same time.. Ok.. I ordered the Main Meal of Ribs, which I had put into takeaway. FOUR RIBS, is all I got, for $30+ Then at the end of the night, I went to pay for the pizza I'd had as my partner paid for my Ribs, and wow... there was still $103 to be paid. I PAID FOR IT, wasnt mine. A few of my friends were charged incorrectly, one came back for a refund which took a few tries. A new system might help so people like myself dont have to pay for other people's Bill's on their birthday. And answering your customers emails and rectifying the issue I appreciate so I do thankyou for that. I will be back, as I do like the helm. just will be extra careful with my bill in future :-)

Lovely staff, lovely food, lovely place for date night, catch up on the game, work do, family outings and kids parties. The helm do it best. 10/10 would recommend. Thanks for awesome nights with your cool staff. Head over to the helm for your one stop restaurant for that much needed night out. 😉👌🏾

This is a great place for lunch. Many different seating options. Food is good. Basic pub food but cooked well. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Service was weird. Dude behind the bar couldn't tell me whether or not the kitchen was still open, but we were seated anyway and then straight away asked if we wanted drinks when we hadn't even had a chance to read the drinks menu. The steak was nice but the mash tasted over-salted and veggies were undercooked. Clearing our table and asking us if we wanted desert took way too long. Staff seemed inattentive, maybe they were just over their day

Good night out,friendly staff and a good meal,the steak was cooked to perfection and the meals were delivered quickly despite being extremely busy

Came here spontaneously with some friends and found out they did $5 pizzas when purchasing drinks and also had a 4 for $20 deal on beers. Service was great and the pizzas we ordered (cajun chicken & pork belly) however had given us mild food poisoning.. however, I like the atmosphere so I will return for drinks.

When I was living in Hamilton, The Helm had just opened and it was a popular pub that served wholesome meals and was a great place to watch your sporting events while enjoying a drink.<br/><br/>7 years on, The Helm has pretty much remained the same, the staff were attentive and the food was as expectant of pubs. The Monties Pie took awhile to come out, but the pastry was crisp and well cooked. There was a good amount of beef however the sauce was a little on the saltier side. There was a faint whimper of beer taste, which gave the pie an extra edge. Roasted Vege Salad was colourful and the hallumi was a nice addition. Didn't get a chance to taste the eggs benedict but it looked to be quite a massive meal.<br/><br/>Showstopper: $12 Meals are hard to beat<br/><br/>Overall Grade: B

Manager need to start reading the reviews. The staff is in dire need of proper customer service training! Went here a few months ago for lunch with a friend. Food was good & well priced. Waiter, however, was less than thrilled to be at work & if he smiled, his face would have broken. Other waiters looked like they were in hell. I don't think I'll be returning because although the food was good, customer service counts for a lot & the staff attitude made it a less than pleasurable experience.

We have been to this place in the past. It wasn't that great. We had a very poor pizza. The place was full of people on a sunny Sunday afternoon and there was a good vibe with lots of staff on hand. But the food was really really bad. We heard lots of complaints from nearby tables too. We thought we would support them once again. However this time the pizza was even worse, uncooked dough and some slices had no cheese. It was bland to the point of flavourless. Again another sunny afternoon but this time the place was nearly empty and only one staff member. OBVIOUSLY management has realized people are not coming anymore. The staff should be better trained and really should smile from time to time too. In this case it is wholely the managers fault. Please read your reviews and lift your game. If you looking for some time out and are considering visiting this joint don't bother. There are much better places nearby. WE HAVE TRIED THIS PLACE TWICE SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TOO.

The food took ages. I'm still waiting and I have been for 1 hour and a half. There no space inside so I'm in the rain. There's out of control drinkers inside hogging the space shouting at the game. Will the food ever arrive

The seafood chowder is delicious and a decent size serving.<br/>Have been here three times and the service is disappointing at best. Waitresses are disengaged and not proactive. Meals come out inconsistently so as a group it's hard to enjoy dinner together. <br/>The staff on the bar seen nice however the drinks are so overpriced.<br/>I'm done with this place.

We decided to look for somewhere in town with a nice outdoor area to enjoy the sun. So decided on the Helm. They were very busy with end of year wind ups with some big groups. Although busy the food came out very fast. Food was great. I had open steak sandwich and my friend the beef pie. I must say for $12 well worth it. This is the main thing that impresses me with the Lawrenson group. Why can't more Cafes learn from them.

I've never smelt fish so bad... And I didn't even order it the table next to me did. Service and food were ok. Probably wouldn't go back there.

Just had lunch here, would suggest that doing your fish and chips on a pizza paddle board is a bit old hat especially when the board looks like it's been in the odd street brawl. Good size meal though with a reasonable offering of battered fish although the salad looked like it had endured better days but then it is winter. Waitress would not exactly be into personality of the year but service was prompt and polite and quite alright for a twenty dollar lunch. Nice atmosphere and I would say a top spot for a Saturday night meal and watch the game outing. Value for money and I would return . It would be nice to see a lemon wedge with your fish and chips !

Food was alright, great for the price. But service was bad. Waitress seemed not very keen on serving, didn't even smile the whole time we were there. Not attentive, not welcoming, slack. Wouldn't recommend and wouldn't be back.

Disgusting meals.  Disgusting service..I certainly won't be back there again..

Hello <br/>I have had the pleasure of sharing lunch with friends, three times during the last week at 'HELM' establishment.<br/>Today I was disappointed with the attitude of all staff when I complained about the size of the pâté served to me! <br/>Over the week the severing gradually got smaller &amp; smaller?<br/>I questioned this to the waitress, she stated 'serving sizes had changed', I stated 'since yesterday'? She appeared embarrassed! and said she would ask if I could have some extra? Then that was it I never saw her again.<br/>When we had finished lunch I proceeded to pay, and mentioned the young man at the counter about my complaint!<br/>He couldn't of cared a less, I paid the account and left. <br/>I personally feel that this is not good public relations, as I dine out a lot with groups that give me the liberty to choose the the best eatery! I thought I had discovered a nice eatery? ~~ perhaps I should bring extra 'pâté' to fore fill my needs?

Food was nothing special, I'm pretty sure that they used ready made curry paste for the Thai green curry. In hindsight, the dessert I had was tasty.<br/><br/>As for the service, average.

We went for dinner, it's a really noisy place, I found it a bit dark and dingy. I ordered the lamb shank, what a disappointment! It came plonked on top of some peas, a few unevenly cut up bits of potato and kumara which was on the burnt side and a small amount of gravy. The meat was on the dry side, $26.00 charged for this. I hate food courts but I have had a lamb shank cooked way better at one and the atmosphere was no worse really. My husband was underwhelmed by the risotto. Fortunately I used the entertainment card so didn't feel as ripped off. The beer was $10.50 a glass. Didn't risk trying dessert or coffee, will never go again.

Inside and out, The Helm is a monumental beast of thoughtfully calculated neo-Gothic and rustic appearances. It's a rather intimidating look overall, and somehow I feel that this is also the spirit that is reflected upon a number of its waitstaff as well; self-absorbed may be too strong a phrase there, but there is definitely a sense of pretentious obnoxiousness which comes across on occasion in SOME of the waiters and waitresses. (I'd not like to make the generalisation that everyone who works there are like that.)<br/><br/>The beer is cold, the wine selection plenty, and a good range of top-shelves are a sight to behold. But then again, you would expect as much from any fancy bars like this these days.<br/><br/>The pizza is expensive. Like, really expensive, even for a high-end gastropub, considering they're so underwhelming and unsatisfying. I've had much better gourmet pizza for a lot less. The other mains are fine, and the few items on the $12 lunch menu are just as good as the more expensive selection, but I've noticed a lack of consistency in the three/four times I've been there. The desert is excellent, however.<br/><br/>All in all, no standouts for this distinctly overpriced bar.

We decided to go back to The Helm for breakfast. Having had poor service for dinner we thought maybe breakfast would be a good choice.. well I was wrong. Microwaved mushrooms and spinach... Ew. The eggs were good tho and the bread and butter. Seriously wondered why I went back but I'm thinking it must have been lack of sleep

Having heard good things about The Helm we finally decided to go. We had the fish and chips and it was beautiful and not too pricey. The down side though NO KIDS MENU - the waitress said that the pancakes or fish and chips could be made to kids size. Another couple arrived (different group) and asked for a high chair and they didn't have any highchairs! Thought the service from the waitress was surly. So for the review I'm going with average as even though the food was nice three other things put me off going back and I'd probably choose The Speights Ale House over The Helm as they have high-chairs, a kids menu and the kids get a little gift bag.

We called into The Helm Bar &amp; Kitchen for lunch on a Sunday. The bar and restaurant was quite and we were served quickly. Service on the day was good and the staff on were very attentive and engaging.<br/><br/>The food was standard pub grab and you do pay Auckland prices.

I found the service to be average, however it was a busy evening. Food was nicely presented and tasted good. I went a year ago, would probably go back in another year...

Had seen/passed the Helm many times decide to give it a go for lunch. Place was quite busy but we received fast and efficient service. The food we got was good prices good, would go back

Sundays at the Helm rock! <br/>Their pizza deal is great.<br/>Kids welcome and so much preferable to take them here for a weekend treat than to a hideous fast food outlet.<br/>Drinks standard price, service always friendly. Happy days :)

Service is always good and surroundings nice.<br/>We take the children out for dinner frequently and they dont have an affordable kids menu is dissapointing.

The Helm never stops to amaze me! Ive been their four times for dinner now and each time the food and service gets better!<br/>Their steaks are amazing! And the panacotta for dessert, divine.<br/><br/>And I love the deal they do on Sunday's. $5 dollar pizza! I don't know how they are making money selling them at $5 dollars but I love it.<br/><br/>Thanks Helm crew Ill definitely be back!

Very disapointed with The Helm, Service was in one word crap. The girls stood around ignoring us, dancing and what looked like flirting with guys. They were to busy immersed in their own world to care about their customers.<br/><br/>The best and quickest service I saw all night was when two of the staff must have knocked off. They immediately had food taken to them and drinks. Lucky to work there I guess. <br/><br/>Pizzas for $5 were good for there prices although to be honest I don't think you would pay much more. Quite bland and boring. <br/><br/>How The Helm is still going I can only assume is from beer drinkers going to watch sports.

Went for dinner with friends, the decor was nice and at first glance i was impressed. the service was very poor especially the 45 min wait for our food.<br/><br/>Wine was expensive at 10 bucks for a glass and the food prices were very steep for what you get.<br/><br/>I ordered the fish of the day, which came on fettucini. The fish was overcooked, the shrimps were also overcooked to the point they had completely shrivelled up. It was completely tasteless.<br/><br/>Unfortunately the waiter never came back to check on us so I had to serve myself with ground pepper. even after adding tobasco and seasoning I had to leave the plate half full.<br/><br/>Won't be back as i cant stand "gastro pubs" which spend more on their wall paper than staff training.

Went to NZ for the first time to watch a rugby match in Hamilton. Arrived in the helm bar and was astounded as to the price tag they put on the food and drink for the world cup.<br/>$25 Pizza which tasted like it came from freezer to microwave. A local told me that they sell these with a beer for under a tenner on Sundays (Non world cup days)<br/>$8.6o for a Corona!<br/>Kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth not only with dodgy pizzas but extortionate prices too.

Went to The Helm in August 2011 for a 'reasonably priced meal' on recommendation of my sister. She immediately noted the menu had changed- I suspect the reason was 'rugby world cup price gouging'. <br/><br/>That said, our waitress was great, friendly and prompt. However, that was the only highlight. <br/><br/>$25 pizza - worth $15 (and thats generous!) their chefs should get any pizza at Zeytin in Tauranga for $17 and try and convince anyone it's worth $25!<br/>Seafood chowder- average (not poor) but lacking seafood and oomph!<br/>$9 for a pint - too much, especially for a Tuesday night!<br/><br/>Worst was, when we offered up our constructive feedback on being average quality and over priced, we were simply told they'd pass it on to the kitchen. I said no, it needed to go to management as it was a price/perception issue, and that was the last we heard!<br/><br/>On top of that- the obligatory 'how was everything' at the cashier was met with a 'yea, it was 'ok'' - and again the opportunity to address our feedback was ignored with a by shifting attention to two new unsuspecting punters. <br/><br/>Short version: average food. Over priced. Won't be back. Decor and waitress only reason for the 2nd star!!

Just went to the Helm with mixed reviews, although have not visited their MenuMania page, wish I had visited it before going...<br/><br/>The deal voucher platter and wine was a great deal, although that's it for the good part of my review. The service was pleasant although very very rare unlike my steak which was overdone. Our waitress visited us very rarely and normally after we called her over... I'm generally not an annoying customer but it seemed like you had to be to get attention. At 35 mins we asked after our food only to be told we had 'only been waiting' 35 mins and 15 mins later they finally came. Like I said steak was well overdone and room temp... It was also chewy and dry, possibly caused by over resting or sitting under lights?? Partners steak was the same, friends pork was just average. Pizzas were fairly plain and overpriced.<br/><br/>Thank god for the voucher deal or I would have been really pissed off.<br/><br/>Will not be going back.

went there it looked nice, went to order and got knocked back as we wanted the order by 5pm menu, it was NOT past 5 PM,more like right on 5pm, and we were told we were too late, staff were a bit unprofessional and so was the chef, crab filled mussels and a lunch sized Main, what would have been $18 if ordered by "5pm", ended up costing $24 because it was ordered at "5pm", not going back, the vodka was overpriced as well, for what we spent we felt quite ripped off. Oh and dont order the lasagne, its had sweet sugar in it and no flavour.

We went to the Helm bar on 24 April to celebrate a friend’s birthday. <br/><br/>The service was absolutely disappointing, and we won't be going back! <br/><br/>Unfortunately it is not the first time experiencing this kind of service from the staff... It is a shame as the food was pretty good.

I highly recommend all hospitality students visit The Helm Bar and learn firsthand what not to do when in customer service. A group of us went there this week for our first and definitely last time. Bit of a shame really as the pizza was quite good and the general setting of the place nice. A couple of rude staff can certainly flavour an experience!!

We had a family lunch at The Helm on Monday 27 Dec 2010, we made a booking for 11 but ended up with 14, with no hassles. Service was good, waiting time was excellent considering there were 14 orders, took about 1/2 hr for our lunch to arrive. All food was delicious, really liked the Gourmet Chicken burger, yummy!!! Desert time... the panacota is definitely the best, apple crumble served with ice cream and whipped cream 2nd... chocolate stack is way to rich for me... good for chocoholics. Must mention the pizzas too, really nice, cheers.

The food has been great every time we have been here, also has a great outdoor seating area. Unfortunately the last 2 times I have been here (both Saturday's for lunch) the service staff have been very slack - chatting, not paying attention, not bringing cutlery for dessert etc. Would be an awesome place if the service levels improved.

This place really surpassed my expectations. Food was very well presented, tasty, and my vegetables were cooked to perfection. <br/><br/>The waitress was polite and we received enough attention without being annoyed.<br/><br/>Definitely recommend to others!

Been there twice now. 1st time had the scallop bacon salad .there was only a few soggy mashed up scallops. The next time had the chowder .It was average to say the least. nice if you like celery and carrot.

they dont have any of the good beers.

My siblings went one Saturday night as this was the newest restaurant in town since we all returned from living in Aussie. The atmosphere, food and service were all top notch. We were seated and about 30 minutes later dinner was served! I reccommend any of the pasta dishes and the pannacotta is to die for. The pricing was good. We were just talking about how good a restaurant is if someone comes around with a pepper mill to offer freshly ground pepper... The Helm has it!!

My husband, daughter and I went visited this restaurant on Saturday at 5pm and I must say we got excellent service from the time we were seated till we left. Our mains were served to us in 30 minutes and our desserts about 15-20 minutes later. We enjoyed the food which was delicious and the panacotta was absolutely devine. Thanks to the Chef and staff at The Helm you made our stay in Hamilton even more perfect!!

The food is great, cooked and seasoned perfectly, scallops a little mushy.<br/>Atmosphere is great for a pub, very busy and loud on sundays but thats only to be expected as it is clearly the place to go at the moment. Loved the indoor/outdoor flow with the bar that goes inside and outside. Overall loved it, although staff could be more polite.

Went there on a Sunday night, food was good and prompt but staff were probably the rudest I have ever encountered, 2 staff members treated us like I have never been treated before as a paying customer, will never go back due to the poor customer service.

awesome setting, beers at perfect temperature, and the pizza's rocked, was there on a sunday so the price was right. friendly staff, great live music. these guys seem onto it, classy outfit

Customer service was excellent, staff were prompt &amp; friendly. Interior decor is kool and toilet facilities are awesome, well appointed, great interior decor, sanistised a nice change and a real pleasure too use.Good quality lunch meal a pleasant experience - can't wait to visit thehelm again.

Good from a pub, pizza's are very nice, prices are not excessive. Service is good, pity for the location (Stuck between Pak-n-Save and FTC) as it would be nicer with a bit more room also the toilets are in a very unfortunate location.