. 1. We had a fantastic meal with attentive but not intrusive service. I can highly recommend the Apple-Tizer as a starter. Thinly sliced apple with honey drizzled on it and a sumptuous goat cheese with the consistency of Greek yoghurt. I don't normally order steak in restaurants, but I'm glad I did because it was excellent - tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked. But the coup de gras was the smoky Parmesan aioli sauce served with the steak as a dipping sauce - it was out of this world good. 2. Apple Maps is wrong - it's open. read more

Benny's Bistro - Bistro Steak - New American Near Me - Helena, Montana

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Best restaurant in Helena. Farm to table and amazing. I am savoring my leftovers of pork belly! It's one of the best dishes I have ever had and I travel all over the country! read more

We just moved here, and yes, we came from a city with lots of good food. It's been hit or miss around here, but not with Benny's Bistro!!! We loved it!!! Miranda was an awesome waitress, the curry bowl one of the most delicious we've eaten...ever...the tomato soup is the best around here, the artichoke dip savory and the desserts...uh, huckleberry creme brulee anyone (what?!?!?!)... scrumptious!! Benny's is officially a go-to for us. We can't wait to go back!! read more

Food was good and our waitress was very attentive. The issue I had was with our hostess. When she saw us to our table we asked if we could be seating at a different table. We asked if we could be seated in a certain area and she stated that she all ready had people seated there. We said ok, thinking that there must be a large party expected. We then pointed to an empty table and asked if we could be seated there. She became irritated with us and asked if there was only the two of us. When we answered yes she said that she wanted us to sit at a table for only two. So we sat at a table for two though we felt very confined. Normally I would completely understand her not wanting to waste a table for four on just two people when it's a busy evening. They were not busy while we were there. In fact the table we requested remained unused during our whole visit. Beside the one table we requested that was never used, there were three other tables for four that where not being used. In the whole restaurant there was only one party of four and the other three tables being used where couples. I am not sure why she was so instant that we not sit at a larger table. She was not the hostess with the mostest. read more

I came here by myself for dinner on a Saturday night while my friend was attending an event in town. Being completely new in town, I Yelped for a recommendation and settled on this place after reading some of the reviews. There was only a small handful of people at Benny's when I got there right after opening time, but they seemed completely happy to seat me where I wanted since I was alone. I got a nice counter spot facing the kitchen staff, where I got to watch them putting together the hearty dishes bit by bit. Both the hostess and waiter who served me were super nice and attentive. I instantly honed in on the local tastes and got the Apple-tizer with Montana apples and honey, a half order of the fettuccine bolognese (which came with a side of my choice of tomato rosemary soup and focaccia), and a Lewis and Clark Hefeweizen. By the time I left, completely stuffed, a decent sized crowd had gathered indoors. It was a great dinner at a super affordable price in the heart of Helena. Montana hospitality is really something. read more

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Yelpsop's Fables "The insouciant iguana" One snowy and slushy sunny afternoon in early November, an iguana walked into a Helena jazz bistro and tapas bar, accompanied by his erstwhile traveling companion, traditional turkey. They were in town on business and needed a light lunch, so they used Yelp to locate Benny's. It was a Wednesday and the bistro was nearly full: people were eating and talking and enjoying their meals with only slightly restrained gusto. Pleased by what they observed, the two seated themselves and waited patiently for their server to arrive. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bennys-bistro-helena?select=8s67WjY8e0RgTHQC-2s7bQ#5h-_LvnoUfcqec4V92onFQ "I think I'll get the tomato soup and Greek salad, with iced tea," said traditional turkey, after studying his menu for a while. 'It's a safe bet. I like these things," and he sat back, ruffled his feathers gently, and smiled. The insouciant iguana shook his head. "A safe bet? It's not Vegas here, it's Helena! I want to live a little. I want something different! I want ... Gypsy soup, French Syrah from Languedoc, and ... cobbler! Yes, cobbler." "Cobbler?' gobbled the turkey derisively. "With Gypsy soup? And Syrah? In Helena? My, you do have a little reptilian brain, don't you! That's just crazy." "I don't care if it's crazy," said the iguana with his trademark nonchalance. "It's what I want." And, lo and behold, there it was on the menu: a soup and cobbler special for under $10, and a glass of red wine from Languedoc for $8. And ... it was cherry cobbler! And the soup had local yams and celery and other vegetables floating in a flavorful broth, and the wine had an appealing mix of fruit, structure, and spice and the cobbler was bursting with big Montana cherries in a soft, pie-like crust and it was delicious (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bennys-bistro-helena?select=8s67WjY8e0RgTHQC-2s7bQ#8s67WjY8e0RgTHQC-2s7bQ). And the traditional turkey picked at his salad, sipped his iced tea, and slurped his tomato cream soup and sighed. "This is just what I expected," he said. And left it at that. "And *this* is just what I wanted," affirmed the iguana. "The jackrabbit under the piano is neat, too." http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bennys-bistro-helena?select=8s67WjY8e0RgTHQC-2s7bQ#O03kEGywRXqAlx43pobnaA "Oh," said the turkey. "That's a surprise!" "Not really," replied the iguana blithely. "Not at Benny's, it's not." Moral: Adventurous lunches are possible if you don't have a comfort zone to worry about. Seize the moment, but be cool about it. Just like the insouciant iguana. read more

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Some of the best food I have had! The flavors were incredible. I had the Delhi curry dish and my wife had the bison burger. We had an appetizer called market crepe. It was fabulous. We were passing though town looking for some healthy good food.. Benny's delivered what we were looking for. If your in the Helena, you must try this place. The owner is also the chef, his wife and staff were great and polite. If we are in the area again we will go back. They have live music on Friday nights. This is also in the historic district with lots of events in the area. Thanks for the great food. read more

Benny's Bistro - Front of building - New American Near Me - Helena, Montana

Way to go Eric and crew! My family has been coming to Benny's since Margaret first opened (in a different location) years ago. While it has always been pretty good, we often found the flavors a little too bland. Also, we felt too few choices were offered overall, so we didn't visit all that frequently historically. Since Eric has taken over, he has retained several original Benny's favorites and kept in line with the established farm-to-table vision of the restaurant. Thankfully, he has slowly incorporated many of his own recipes and flair. The food has dramatically improved. Way more options, intense flavors and reasonable prices. House made pastas and burgers are incredible! By-the-glass glass wine pours are ample and reasonably priced. We have visited there three times this week! read more

Being a Helena native I feel like this is one of the most underrated place in town. One of my favorite lunch spots with very friendly wait staff Katie is so nice! Their specials are always so great. The chicken crepe with flathead cherry sauce hits the spot every time. You can tell the chef takes pride in his food from the flavor and presentation. Good portion sizes that fill you up but don't stuff you full to an uncomfortable level. Highly recommend to anyone! read more

Rolled into town for a quick over-night stay. Checked out Benny's due to the good reviews. Everyone social distanced and made proper accommodations. Server made accommodations for our gluten free and vegan needs. Impressive!! Food was excellent, quite a variety of wonderful flavors and each one was done quite well. House salad dressing was amazing. Steak Frites was cooked to perfection with two side dipping sauces!l - Both amazing. Hubs had a pork dish that was fantastic- nothing we had ever heard of but was great to the last bite. A sour cream sugar cookie for desert was sooo good! Such a gem of a place! read more

A friend and I stopped in for lunch. It was the first time either of us had been there. We enjoyed the atmosphere - quiet and cozy. Our server was prompt and very efficient. Our food selections were wonderful and we decided to splurge (it is the Holidays!) and order wine. The Chardonnay they serve was one of the best I've had. We will definitely be making Benny's a "must-do" when we are in town. We give it an A++++ read more

Benny's is a great little spot for a quick bite or a leisurely lunch. Service was great. We came in the back door because of you've been to downtown Helena, you know parking is tricky. There's a pay lot right behind it. Our service was nice. There's a lot of people coming and going but we had friendly, prompt attention. We opted for the special baby back ribs platter and the soup and salad. Ribs-they were delicious. Nice and buttery tender. Good amount of sauce. Homemade potato salad was excellent. Lots of yummy flavors. The house tomato rosemary soup is divine. Comes with some fresh bread and a little Madeline. A good portion for the price. The soup and salad was also tasty. I chose the Greek salad, which was nice and fresh, it has their house marinated feta which is delicious. It has all kinds of yummy flavors. I recommend taking a bite of it with your tomato soup... flavortown! Little slice of bread and a Madeline comes with it as well. Butter available on request, and we got exactly two pats which I thought was hilarious! Butter is expensive, people! The portion was small for the price. They were out of cherry cobbler, which was a total bummer. read more

I love coming here for lunch with friends, family, and coworkers. Always fresh food, and it's nice that the menu changes up during different seasons. Always kind staff and great service. I never feel rushed. Their grilled cheese sandwich dipped in their tomato soup is heavenly. The madeleine cookie at the end with their coffee is great too. All around wonderful place read more

We really, really, REALLY wanted to like this restaurant. The hostess who greeted & seated us was cordial & pleasant, & we couldn't ask for a better server than Maddie. Our water was kept filled & we were repeatedly offered beverage refills. The ambience was wonderful (no music when we were there, but that was OK). We started with a cheese Board that was delightful, & the dinner salads were good, if somewhat basic. But...the entrees were not at all properly seasoned. The chef would be well-served to notice the existence of salt & use some in the entrees. I at first thought it might be "me" as I have never before had such bland spaghetti & meatballs. We do not use much salt in our home, but I do make sure food is properly seasoned before serving it. Sadly, my husband's much-anticipated beef stroganoff (his favorite dish!) was similarly underseasoned & bland. A huge disappointment for him. There is something to be said for letting fresh ingredients sing, but blandness to this extent should not be tolerated. We also have overheard another diner complaining to her companion about the food as well. Even wild animals understand the importance of salt & seek out "salt licks"! I would like to say we will give it another try before striking this restaurant off our go-to list, but the chances of us returning any time soon are slim as we ate here while traveling. The service & ambience - & even the meal starters - were all we could hope for, but sadly, at $77 (plus tip), this unappetizing meal was way overpriced. Note: we did not penalize the server in her tip for the kitchen's lack of taste. She received her full tip. Likewise, 3 stars were given, in part, because of the excellent service. (5 stars for server Maddie!) The poor entrees knocked it down from a potential 5 stars. read more

Weve eaten here three times, whenever we visit my cousin in Helena, and it never fails to impress. The food is wonderful, imaginative, delicious. We had the Montana lamb burger this time and it was perfectly cooked to medium rare. I had a lovely crisp caesar salad before the burger, followed by a warm chocolate tart made in heaven. So good! The space is well lit, the waitstaff attentive and friendly, the decor chic. Parking is OK. It could be better for wheelchair unloading, in an ideal world there would be a designated flat space next to a curb fir handicapped parking. We will continue to visit this fine establishment whenever we're in town. read more

I was in Helena with my husband and some friends recently, and looking for a place to have lunch, we chose Benny's Bistro. It was delicious and the service was top-notch. If I am ever in Helena again, this is a must stop place! read more

my hubby and i were looking for a breakfast/lunch place to go out to when we both have the day off and found this place. it is now one of our favorite brunch places to go to, i had a grilled cheese and tomato and it was so delicious. the staff were very attentive and sweet, we will definitely be back!! read more

Great food! The tomato soup, salads and sandwiches were all great! Friendly and attentive service.

Super impressed by this place, though I have to admit I have some bias as a good friend of mine is a server here. I used to live in Helena and had had Benny's catering, but never made it into the actual restaurant until this past Thanksgiving. I stopped in the Wednesday evening before Turkey Day. Interior is low key with old jazz instruments (clarinets, saxes, etc) hung on the walls, and an open kitchen facing the dining area. I had the "locavore" special, which was 4 courses for $20, and I believe is offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You get to pick a small appetizer, soup or salad, an entree, and dessert. My friend has explained that the restaurant prides itself on using locally source items, but I do wonder a bit about some of the things . . . the appetizer I picked was pan-fried oysters (ocean oysters apparently from Oregon, though the Rocky Mountain variety would have been more local ;) There were two large oysters, that were delicious. The Caesar salad was competent, but didn't blow me away. For my entree I had the beef stroganoff. A bit surprised that there were no egg noodles. Instead, the starchy component was provided by mashed potatoes. The entree was plated interestingly, with a boat-like dish containing the stroganoff, the mashed potatoes sitting in the middle, and set on top of a another plate. While I was originally disappointed not to have egg noodles, the whole dish worked, and by the end I was wanting more potatoes. The beef was tender and the flavors were delicious. For dessert I picked the decadent chocolate or something like that. A small piece of chocolate cake, of the denser variety. The cake by itself was mundane, but the raspberry glaze was fantastic. Not necessarily five star dining, but a nice, sit-down meal, and a bargain for the price. Highly recommend. read more

I am back in town and this time i stopped in for dinner. i was not disappointed. This was a good dinner. You can choose between a full entree or tapas. I chose tapas and picked an Italian Caesar artichoke and a vegan curry. Both were very good and enough for me to eat. They carry a red wine made from Flathead cherries. i was surprised how good it was and enjoyed it for dinner. This was a red wine made from cherries, rather than grapes. it is hard to find a really good wine on a by the glass menu. This was much better than expected. All in all, i had a very pleasant evening. This is a place to come back to; i have now had a good lunch and a good dinner. As long as I come back to Helena, i will periodically stop in here. read more

Wow, what a let down!! In the past I've had very good meals there, this time it was really pitiful!! My chicken sandwich had the littlest portion of chicken possible, tons of spread and pesto but where's the meat?? A let down!!! read more

We ordered the crab cakes, bison burger, and salmon bowl. Everything tasted pretty good. I was a little disappointed by the salmon. It was a bit over cooked. I did love the gentleman playing live music on his guitar, as well as the fact you could see the chefs/cooks preparing the food. The only negative was that the food took a really long time to get to the table. read more

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The only potential problem is the parking situation. Very limited street parking but some meters and lots within walking distance. The best tomato soup. Ever. Lower prices than I expected. Granted, I was there for lunch, but still. read more

Absolutely outstanding! On every level. We arrived early for dinner on a Wednesday in February and there wasn't many people. We were able to park right outside the front door and get a table instantly. Due to there being very few customers, we were pampered by our waitress who attended to our every need. I have no idea if it's like this when they're busy but I like to think it is. It's a very warm dining atmosphere with brick walls, and instruments hanging for decorations. The tables are white tablecloth with sheets of bright white paper to protect the cloth underneath. Chair are comfortable.... room temperature was perfect. Very comfortable. I had a wonderful glass of house Cab that was better than most bottles I order. We started by selecting 5 tapas then ordered our entrees which turned out to be way too much food. In my opinion, have the group stick to tapas and possibly a cup of their outstanding tomato soup. It's thick and very good. I didn't try the bread sticks they brought out but the rest of my group gobbled them down. The chicken picatta is wonderful. As is the beef stroganoff. The tuna was delicious as was the squash ravioli. Desesrts are on the small side compared with other restaurants now days and that's perfect as far as I'm concerned. I can't stand over the top HUGE desserts. Carrot cake.... GREAT! Creme Brulee... GREAT! Bathroom? Clean! Put this on your place to visit with a group and just start going through the tapas. Enjoy! read more

I stopped in here for a quick lunch during a conference I was attending. EXCELLENT!!! The food was very good, the service was quick and friendly and the ambience warm. Will definitely be returning! read more

This is a lovely place. Clean and friendly. I was hoping for a delicious sandwich to take with me, as I was alone and needed to get on the road....my Rubin Panini was such a disappointment! $10 for a very thin (hardly any meat) ho-hum sandwich. For 10.00, I expected Wow! I did get a little bag of tortilla chips with it, but the flavors didn't go together at all. Disappointed. : ( read more

Cherry, Brie, Chicken Crepe with house salad... so many contrasting and complimentary flavors! Lovely service. Charming atmosphere. Fantastic. Thank you! read more

I'm a fan. Four of us stopped for lunch on Columbus Day, on the way to the airport. We were in a big hurry to ensure we made our flight, and the service was amazing. Our server took our order quickly, provided great recommendations, and was very patient with our maybe-less-than-courteous-rush. The food was great. The Thai Green Curry was excellent. read more

Benny's Bistro - Thai Green Curry - New American Near Me - Helena, Montana

Walking in was a little awkward as there is a black curtain separating the entrance from the dining area. The setting was decent enough but it wasn't busy on a Friday night which says it isn't that popular of a dining spot. Service was fine and the flavors were unimpressive. The focasia bread with balsamic dipping sauce was ok. I had the potato soup because my server brought the wrong one and it was decent. My wife loved the salad! I ordered the green curry which was underwhelming. Not much flavor and the potatoes were undercooked. My wife had the ravioli and it was great! Portions are fine. All in all, go to Luccas or On Broadway if you want a better dining experience. read more

It has been awhile since I have been to this restaurant for dinner but I must say I will have to venture out more. Went to another restaurant first and it was too busy and loud. Came here for a delightful evening of piano playing, exceptional food and wonderful service. What more can you ask for? read more

Benny's Bistro - Delicious!!! - New American Near Me - Helena, Montana

After having many fine lunches at Benny's, I was very disappointed with my recent visit for dinner a week ago. There was no music despite the fact that I have been assured there would be jazz piano that evening. As for the food, the crêpe appetizer was overly bland. My chicken curry dish was almost tasteless. I have been hoping for a special evening. I was disappointed. In fairness, the lunches have been quite good. read more

One of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. In the past Benny's has always been reliable in both good service and food, but it seems that is no longer the case. When my two friends and I arrived there were at least 12 open tables, but we were left to stand in the doorway for 10 minutes before someone even acknowledged us. After being sat at the absolute worst table in the restaurant, right near the bathrooms, we then waited another 15 minutes while all three waitresses stood around and tapped on their iPad. Our waitress was rude and slammed the water glasses and plates onto the tabled and lacked any kind of warmth or personality. My friend ordered the $23 burger which was undercooked and soggy. After seeing it with three bites taken out, our waitress asked if we wanted it boxed up and not if there was any sort of issue. Overall Benny's has plummeted so far downhill I would never consider giving it a second chance. I hope it was just an off night, because the waitstaff and chefs should be embarrassed by the food and service they provided. read more

Good! Prices seem a little high for what it is, (sandwiches are $15), but it's locally sourced and pretty tasty. Their cobbler deserts are pretty sinful too. They have beer and wine which is really nice too. read more

I was only in Helena for two days and Benny's was the second place I had dinner. It's a casual, friendly place with excellent food and really good service. I ordered the Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie, which meant it came in a bowl with puff pastry placed over the chicken and veggies. I can't remember when I last had chicken this tender and moist. Also, the "gravy' it was in was light and very flavorful. A fresh fresh salad came with it and I remember trying to get every last shred of the salad and sunflower seeds out of the bottom of my salad bowl. My friend ordered the Jerk Pork Chop and it was the biggest pork chop I've ever seen. He loved it and managed to eat nearly every bite. Regret that I didn't take any pictures because the presentation of both of our meals was beautiful. read more

I stopped by here on a business trip. My colleagues and I went on the recommendation of our local counterparts, and we couldn't have been happier. Everything was put together with a caring hand and everything tasted incredibly fresh. My veggie soup was some of the best restaurant soup I've had in ages. Good food! read more

Went to Benny's with my daughter. I had the stroganoff. My daughter had the bison burger. The service was really good and the food was awesome. My new favorite in Helena . read more

Get there around 130pm, and half the lunch items are gone. The menu outside of that for lunch is very sparse. I had my sandwich, the included potato chips, after waiting some 10min+ minutes of no service.. Paid my bill and left. Perhaps Dinner is better? But for lunch, go elsewhere. read more

Benny's Bistro has delicious fresh food, lovingly and carefully prepared. I went by myself and sat at the small "bar" type table along the kitchen. I watched the chef prepare my salad Nicoise with house smoked trout. I wish I had had my camera there, as it was a work of art. He cut the vegetables after the salad was ordered...nothing was pre cut. It had roasted potatoes, tomatoes, egg, asparagus, lettuce, cucumbers, and the black olives had a hint of tarragon. It came with some amazing homemade bread with olive oil and balsamic for dipping. I had a nice glass of French Chardonnay. The service was quick and respectful. I had been at a pottery workshop all day and was not really dressed for dinner, but was treated politely. Lovely meal! read more

I REALLY wanted to enjoy my lunch here. I tried their Southwest Chicken Panini which, by their description, I was very excited about. Unfortunately it was super dry and not particularly tasty. I had trouble getting past the unbelievably dry bread... The promised sauces within the sandwich were minimal and did little to help make the meal a bit more moist. I felt like I was gulping down water just to choke down the sandwich. I would have sent back the meal, but the server never asked how my meal was until it was far too late (and I hate to be THAT guy). Nice staff though. :-/ read more

Food was phenomenal, and the owner's wife Hillary is such a pleasure to talk to! They really do make you feel welcome here, one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had! read more