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Outdoor sign of Helen, a restaurant in downtown Birmingham (Shauna Stuart for AL.com)

Helen is a modern southern grill restaurant in Birmingham, voted one of America's best new restaurants by Esquire.

The list published by the magazine on Thursday highlights 40 restaurants across the country that embody the "food transportation capabilities" and the "exciting nature of hospitality."

Helen is a downtown restaurant led by husband and wife team Rob and Emily McDaniel, and is the only Alabama restaurant chosen by Esquire’s food writers. Helen opened in 2013 Second Ave. North in August 2020 and is located in the historic Berry Project building.

"Helen is a real woman, she wears pearls and has a grill at home," Joshua Davidstein wrote in his description of Esquire. “She continued to use coal in the restaurant of her grandson Rob McDaniel: witness the 22-ounce, dry-aged Kansas City strip, topped with beef and herb-infused duck fat, and crackling cumin pork liver. The chef took this The place is described as not a steakhouse. "But," he said, "I want them to know that we are here. "They will. If it's not for the meat, then for the side, like corn ribs, one-eighth of the corn cobs are in the Elott style, under the benevolent gaze of the portrait of Helen hanging on the wall, like ribs or a smile. The same curl."

Helen has a good company on the list, which also includes the Irvine Restaurant in Philadelphia, the Anchovy Bar in San Francisco, La Natural in Miami, Miss River in New Orleans, Pearl River Delicates in Los Angeles, Kasama in Chicago, and Imperfecto in New York City, Washington, D.C. Several of the restaurants have won honors: Cadence, Rosella, Iris, Contento, etc.

"When we ate all over the United States, we were attracted to food made with unprocessed elements of fire and charcoal-after thousands of years, it has never been out of date," says Esquire's story. "Perhaps the most important thing is: we find ourselves exploring comfort, of course, but we also tend to be unfamiliar. Entering adventure. Eating in the best restaurant is like winning a ticket to another place and another time. The past and The future-sometimes it's both."

Helen's team celebrated its place on the list via social media. "We are truly honored to be included in Esquire's 2021 list of America's best new restaurants," the Instagram post said. "Without our excellent team and their dedication to this restaurant in the past year, we would not have been able to obtain this recognition. We are grateful and we look forward to continuing to pass on Helen’s heritage for many years to come. Legacy. Cheers!"

A post shared by 海伦(@helenbham)

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