Helen’s Restaurant overlooks the scenic Machias River.

Cathy ensures the highest quality with every pie baked at Helen’s.

Helen’s Restaurant first opened in Machias, Maine in 1950. In addition to operating a full-service restaurant that offers great seafood and other Down East Maine favorites, Helen’s Restaurant is famous for its wonderful pies, baked daily on the premises.

Bob and Joan Carter acquired the restaurant from the original owners in 1976, and Helen’s was moved to its present location on Route 1 in 1983. In 1987, the Carters built the Machias Motor Inn next door and sold the restaurant a year later to the present owners, Gary and Judy Hanscom. Helen’s Restaurant overlooks the scenic Machias River and continues to serve locals and many visitors to Down East Maine during each and every season.

Gary and Judy strive to provide the same great food and service that Helen’s Restaurant has been known for throughout the years. In 2005, their efforts were recognized with the America’s Best award from LIFE Magazine for Helen’s baked blueberry pie, made with Maine’s wild blueberries. Now—through the creation of Helen’s Pies online store—folks everywhere can enjoy this delicious, Down East Maine tradition. We hope you, too, will enjoy this special treat, by placing your order today for Helen’s Baked Blueberry Pie!

Our People

With the help of their dedicated staff at Helen’s Restaurant, Judy and Gary Hanscom provide some of the best Down East food you’ll find anywhere along the coast of Maine!

Cathy is the pastry chef at Helen’s Restaurant and has the responsibility of ensuring the highest quality in each and every pie baked at Helen’s. Made with wild blueberries from Down East Maine, our blueberry pie is delivered fresh to your door via FedEx, ready for baking at home in your oven the very next day!

Machias Maine Wild Blueberry Festival

Each year, nearly 85% of the world's blueberries are produced and harvested in Down East Maine. The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival is held annually the third week of August and celebrates the harvest of blueberries with a festival of community events-including wonderful arts and crafts from artists and craftspeople throughout the state, a colorful parade on Main Street, an originally-produced play each year sponsored by the festival organizers of the Centre Street Congregational Church, and, of course, great food including the not-to-be missed blueberry pie-eating contest-as well as a host of other activities for children and adults.


If you have the chance to visit Down East Maine, come see us at Helen’s Restaurant and join in the fun of the Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival! For more information, contact the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce at (207) 255-4402.