La Belle Helene is back — opening Friday under 5Church ownership.
While many businesses have taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, some have opened or plan to reopen soon as a new year ushers in new possibilities. Lucky for us, La Belle Helene is among the list of restaurants that plan to reopen on Friday, May 7, thanks to its new owners, The 5th Street Group.
The success of La Belle Helene prior to its closing during the pandemic has made the transition a bit more easier. Instead of spending months in the building phase, The 5th Street Group has the opportunity to focus on making some small cosmetic updates, training staff and perfecting its menu, said chef partner and Top Chef alumnus Jamie Lynch.
If you’ve had the pleasure of experiencing 5Church or Sophia’s Lounge, you are familiar with the 5th Street Group’s unique touch on its restaurant environment and its ability to cultivate flavors on its menu.
La Belle Helene already holds a special place in Lynch’s heart. With this venture, he has the chance to showcase his French restaurant experience right here in the Queen City, which has been on his to-do list for quite some time. Taking it back to where it started — Uptown with 5Church Charlotte — is a huge deal.
La Belle Helene’s menu promises to offer classic French cuisine with a twist from Lynch. You can also expect fresh, local ingredients and to learn more about Lynch during your visit to the restaurant because he plans to incorporate his personality into the menu with special emphasis on proper French technique, he said.
“I’m really excited. For me this is kind of a return to my roots from a culinary standpoint,” Lynch told CharlotteFive in February. “I’m excited to put my spin on all of those accumulated experiences over time. I’ve learned so much over the past couple of decades of doing this. With this fresh concept, I definitely have something to say with my cooking voice. I’m excited to share that real soon.”
La Belle Helene has stirred up excitement both behind the scenes and among Charlotte residents. It’s sure to be one of the most anticipated restaurant openings this spring.
“The 5th Street Group has not opened a full-scale restaurant in Charlotte in almost eight years,” CEO Patrick Whalen said in a statement. “We are enormously excited to return to the place it started for us; and cannot think of a more exciting project to take on than the La Belle Helene space.”
In February, the group reopened its flagship restaurant, 5Church Charlotte, after closing for 10 months due to COVID-19. The group certainly understands that reopening during a pandemic means being cautious. It’s keeping a close eye on timing, remaining optimistic and hoping the timing will work in its favor.
“We want to be there and be open when it’s safe and people feel safe to come out and have an experience,” Lynch said at the time. “Our hope is that a lot of the corporate businesses will be on the cusp of that as well.”
The restaurant will have indoor and outdoor patio seating.
La Belle Helene
300 S. Tryon Street
Tuesday-Saturday, 5 p.m. until closing.
Brunch and lunch coming soon.
To book a reservation, visit http://www.labellehelenerestaurant.com/.
This story was originally published February 22, 2021 at 12:15 PM.
