Helios Coffee Co

I went there 2/13/11after I heard a coworker say they had good coffee. I have always lived in Raleigh and wondered I hadn't been to Helios. Well, I found out I wasn't missing anything!!! Being the first time there I wasn't sure if I was to order from the bar or the tables. I literally stood there for about 5 to 8 mins looking at the menu without one word being said to me. After realizing I need to go to cash register to order I walked up started placing my order and then halfway though I canceled it ! The girl working there just kept looking at us like we were idiots! I started thinking as I was ordering there are 50 other places I can get a sandwich and coffee on this street were people might act like they care about taking my order! Unfortunately I have no clue what the food or coffee taste like because I couldn't get past how rude the girl and guy behind the counter were! It was a Sunday night so it's not like they were busy! I have never posted a review before but felt compelled after what I experienced there tonight! more

Helios has good coffee, free WiFi, and is one of the ONLY cafes in Raleigh that stays open late. I love the fact that they stay open until midnight (from Wednesday onwards). They also have plenty of electrical outlets for people with laptops to use. This is one of the best places in Raleigh to find other geeks/tech savvy folks. If you're struggling with a certain tech subject (CSS, PHP, programming), you're almost guaranteed to find someone here who can help. I've met some really nice people at this café, and the food is decent too. Pros: good coffee, free wifi, great for meeting geeks Cons: not very diverse - attracts a lot of yuppies from downtown more

I just moved about 2 blocks from Helios and have never tried it until this weekend. It was packed and everyone seemed happy and friendly but not so much to me or my boyfriend. Staff was short and distracted and coffee was just ok. I might try it again just because I believe in second chances but not likely I would recommend to anyone else. Sorry. Pros: ok coffee ok staff Cons: Just wasn't my cup of tea! more

i happen to like helios. \r jaaronboag you should open up your own coffee shop im sure it would look and feel a lot like starbucks you could call it starf***s more

My apologies to the Helios fan base, but my recent trip to the coffee, wine, and snack shack at 413 Glenwood was extremely disappointing. I wanted Helios to be great, but 25 minutes after arriving our order had to been changed 3 times due to the lack of supplies and the misinformed staff, the triple mocha the Barrista made for me found its way into the hands of a regular who had ordered AFTER me, and after the manager got involved and my drink was remade I was inspired to give completely because the Barrista insisted he'd made my 20oz. mocha and it was waiting for me on the bar. There was a 16oz. mocha there and I actually had to hold it up to a 20oz. cup to prove that it was not the drink I had ordered. This review system asks for stars and I'm pretty sure that you have to accomplish something positive to get a gold star, like finishing your homework, getting an ""A"" on a test, but Helios, you DO NOT GET A GOLD STAR, NOT EVEN A SINGLE. The manager made a strange attempt at salvaging the situation by placing a coupon in front of us. It stated that IF I came back I could buy a drink and get a free drink of equal or lesser value. Well, I'm still waiting on my Triple Mocha! Pros: If you are a regular you will know what to expect when they run out of things Cons: If you are a first time customer the manager will attempt to alienate you more

After perusing the previous reviews, I've come to the conclusion that there must have been some changes over the last year, because I've found the service here to be consistently GREAT, and the espresso and coffee are even better. I'd definitely recommend it. The staff are also knowledgeable and seem to care about what they're doing. Pros: Nice outdoor seating, WiFi, excellent coffee and espresso, friendly service Cons: Can get crowded at lunch time (of course) more

The lighting is just subtle enough to allow the sunlight to illuminate the cafe, and at night, just bright enough to allow the art to add life and color. Coffee is great, and although I don't believe many coffee shops are any better than the almight, inmoral Starbucks, owned by the Satan and yet soo good, it is great if your in need of something different. They conveniently have beer and a few wines available, so it seems to apeal to all sorts of people. While there is a steady clientel of the ""inner-beltline"" that the other users seem to underscore as an infestation to all society, the wireless internet connection is very useful, the sofas are great for hanging with your friends, or chillin' with a warm cup of coffee while reading a magazine or book. I feel at home whenever I go there, and the enviorment is friendly enough to go alone; Inviting enough to serve as a great spot to meet up with others before you explore that side of raleighs down-town nightlife. \r \r The only intimidating thing in the cafe is one of the servers who seems to feel superior to all, which can make it seem like there is a division between the inner, and outer-beltlines, and the simple passerbyers and modest college students. Despite that, this person does make the best cup of cappucino. Kinda' reminds me of a great chef who carries an arrogant air about him. The lighting and its setting is most deffinatly a habitat for those looking for something more intellectual, 'green', artistic, 'local based', and spiritual... regardless of your genuinity. Featuring some local artist and photographers, the place tries to promote individuality and the exploration of North Carolina. The various spiritual magazines, provide a sorta public message board for people and there yoga. With all these great things, it all falls back to the same arrogant air by a certain employee that seems to create a conflict between all these great features, as well as causing common problems to scream even louder. Its real. Pros: A lot of diversity, a great place to meet up with people, and awsome coffee, and internet connection Cons: Slight PMS problems, Can get crowded, limited seating, Their open and close times arnt reliable. more

This is the ideal coffee shop for baby boomers who are pretending to ""do it differently"" - lots of lip service about ""growing the community"" and ""supporting local artists."" In reality, a place for those with pretension, money, and laptops to meet likeminded folk who share their sense of superiority. Seems cool and mellow at first, but yoga classes can only do so much to improve the karma of intensely self-involved people. Pros: if you're arrogant, you will meet others like you Cons: if you're not arrogant, will make your skin crawl more

Service has improved. Clientele mainly the 'inside the beltline' elite Raleigh\r crowd. If you like to hear 50 somethings complaining about their 500,000 dollar\r houses at the beach, hearing 'are you doin' ok?' greetings, or watching wannabes, its the place to go. more

A nice place to hang out and surf the web with your wi-fi enabled laptop. Atmosphere is relaxed and fun. The problem is that they're not very good with the espresso. Better than Starbucks, but not a lot better. Espresso is over-extracted, the temperature is inconsistent, and the crema is weak. The filter coffee is better, but not the greatest either. Pros: Nice decor, fun atmosphere Cons: Coffee can be lame more

This is a great break from the Glenwood South bougie atmosphere. The coffee isn't always the best, but the espresso is very good, and the other drinks are great. Plus, you can drink alcohol! Wi-fi connection with plenty of outlets, though sometimes they're short on tables. Also, if you want to sit outside, you'd better have a good battery on your laptop because there are no outlets that I've found. The service is always killer, and very consistent. The staff is friendly and pretty well-read in their coffees and wines, so if you don't know about something, ask them! It's a great atmosphere with lots of cool happenings throughout the week (live music, wine tastings, DJs, etc.), and the people watching outside can't be beat. Highly recommended. Pros: Great service, killer atmosphere, well-priced Cons: House coffee so-so, sometimes crowded more

deleted Pros: great staff, great ambience, best coffee. Cons: Food is high, flies, loud, bad music at times. more

Try this place once, preferably when the weather permits hanging on the patio, and you won't regret it. Great espresso drinks, CHAI, unbelievable wine selection for a ""non wine-bar"", unique architecture, art on the walls for sale... need I say more. Oh, and one really hot barista! Pros: patio, wine selection, coffee/tea seleciton more

The server was cold and rude. 20 minutes later, I got the wrong order for lunch which included small traces of meat in it (I'm a vegetarian). In explaining this to management, I was tagged team by the manager and the server who blamed me for picking up the wrong order and that I did not read the description of the food located at the counter. It took 45 minutes for my co-worker's crossaint sandwich to be ready - and it was only prepared after we complained that after 45 minutes it still wasn't ready. With so many other good places to eat on Glenwood, I was sorry I picked Helios. Cons: Expensive, Rude Service, Slow Service more

Where do I begin? Great Cappuccino, friendly staff, good wine/beer list, art for sale on the walls. The architecture is sweet, looks to be all custom expensive stuff. Perfect place to sit outside on Glenwood South in the evening and have a bottle (wines are very modestly priced) and listen to live music or the DJ spinning downtempo,chillhouse type stuff. They also have wine tastings/classes and other events that the area desperately needs! Pros: Perfect Patio, good wine/beer, Great Cappuccino more

...and they almost always have an organic selection for coffee. Plus Helios is a nice place to have a glass of wine and read a book or hang out with friends. My favorite addition to the now-cool ""Glenwood South"". Pros: great coffee, non-smoking, outdoor seating more

Helios is close to many great Glenwood Ave. resturants so it is the perfect pre or post-dinner stop. They have the best tiramisu pie I have ever tasted! more