food
salads, salad, food
drink
food
food, dessert
curry, food
sandwich, sandwiches, food
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food
The cacio e pepe featured a unique pepper that added a fascinating numbing sensation, making the dish unforgettable!
Tuna carpaccio
Escarole salad
Octopus beans and mussels salad
Falafel
Branzino
Lamb
sandwich, sandwiches, food
sushi and sashimi, food, sashimi, sushi
food, curry
pasta, food
food
food, curry
Molly T.
Feb 22, 2025
Leon's is a bright and beautiful new restaurant just below Union Square serving approachable Italian food with an impressive array of beverage options. The space itself is grand with high ceilings and beautiful fixtures and the staff (at least the folks we interacted with) are as bright and energetic as the vibes. While none of the food we tried really wowed us, it was solid across the board and we particularly enjoyed the mains.Came here around 8:45 on a Saturday night as a party of two. It was a bad weather night of the wintry mix variety, so I was impressed to see so many people (including us) making the trek to dine at a relatively new spot (it doesn't hurt that Leon's is very close to Union Square so is easily accessible). Upon sitting down, I was quickly sucked into the drink menu, which consists of aperitifs (ie spritzes and negronis) "icebox" drinks, and signatures. Just about everything looks fantastic, so good luck deliberating. I told our server that the Olive Oil Martini (Wodka Vodka, Cocchi Secco, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt) looked cool and that I had tried and loved similar preparations in the past that were made with gin. I also mentioned that I do not enjoy vodka in any capacity, even in a martini, but that I was open to it, offering him the floor to make his pitch. Our server leapt into action at this opportunity, emphatically stating he, like me, avoids vodka at all times, but that this drink was a true outlier and his favorite on the entire cocktail menu. I'm always open to having my mind changed (at least when it comes to food/bev preferences), so I gave it a shot.What did I think? Well, when I tell you that I never order two of the same cocktail in a row, I truly, really, REALLY mean never -- ask anyone who has ever known me and gone out with me in any capacity. So when I looked over the menu after having my first Olive Oil Martini and I considered the food we had on the way, nothing else -- not even the Negonis, which are always my other go-tos -- had the same dazzle and allure as a second Olive Oil Martini. I shocked myself here, not only because this is generally something I, on principle, absolutely don't do, but because this was a freaking VODKA martini. So this was a double exception I never saw coming. Food-wise, we mainly stuck with seafood and veggies, though the pasta dishes did look enticing. We ordered a mix of apps and mains which ranged from decent to very good -- nothing bad, nothing outstanding. Eats, below:Escarole Salad, Toasted Sesame & Anchovy: A-Our server warned us that there were full anchovies in this salad, which is their take on a Caesar. This did not dissuade me but rather encouraged me to order it, while my partner was less enthused. He ended up liking the anchovies more than he expected (this happens often with him and tinned fish) but we both agreed that the salad overall was a bit on the salty side and presented in a way that left much to be desired. That said, it was still solid and the escarole was as fresh and delicious as it should be this time of year.Octopus Salad, Beans & Mussels Escabeche: B+Our server raved about this dish and given how well his martini testimony worked, we figured it could be a fun and unique dish. Overall, the mussels in particular were super delicious, while the baby octopus was a bit of a letdown. Flavor and texture-wise this dish as a whole felt a bit uninspired outside of the mussels, but not necessarily bad. Tuna Carpaccio with Capers & Crispy Shallots: A-This dish was almost an A but would've needed a bit more flavor to push it over the edge. Still, the fish was fresh and yummy and the shallots added a nice crunch.Filet of Branzino al Leon w/ Lemon Potatoes, Sicilian Capers & Arugula Salad: A-Another solid dish. The fish was executed nicely but overall was under seasoned, while the potatoes were fantastic. I ended up pairing the salad and fish together for each bite, which definitely elevated the dish for me. Grilled Lamb Misto w/ Arrosticini Skewers, Shoulder Roast & Kofta: A-/AI think this is the second time I've had a lamb three-ways dish, and despite the fact that I sometimes go back and forth on lamb, this one was delicious (it was more my speed because I don't love the gaminess of a lamb chop but this preparation featured more ground lamb which was yummy and seasoned well). The reason for the A-/A is that it was overall a little greasy for my liking, but everything else was there.
Read MoreMatt S.
Dec 22, 2024
TLDR: Very average restaurant and probably not worth the price. We went for dinner, and while the high ceilings are cool, the lighting was extremely bright for a dark winter night and made the decor feel a little tacky. The food was just ok. I never order chicken at restaurants, but the half chicken was actually very good and probably best thing I ate. The tuna carpaccio was also good. You can skip the eggplant boulette and falafel. And the ravioli, while tasty, was $27 for 3 (!!) medium-sized ravioli. All of the servings were pretty small, so be prepared to order a bunch of plates. The drinks were also just ok. They pushed their "icebox" drinks on us, claiming they were unique to the restaurant because of the temperature they store them at and blah blah blah, but my Negroni was just like every other Negroni I've ever ordered, and my main takeaway was that I just paid $23 for a pre-mixed drink. The service was above average. Our waiter was personable, funny, and helpful with recommendations, and never rushed us to order or finish up despite the fact that we were moving a little slowly. The dessert menu was severely slacking in selection, so we just skipped it before asking for the check. Our overall experience was fine but certainly nothing special. With the abundance of restaurants in the area, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
Read MoreFrank A.
Jan 21, 2025
A sibling to Anton's in the West Village that a bit more upscale, but less Italian. The menu has some Egyptian accents. All and all it is very good. The service is excellent. Good addition to the area.
Read MoreJason S.
Feb 9, 2025
Leon's decor is warm and comfortable--a mix of old-world Corinthian columns, mid-century furnishings and serving pieces, and distressed elements. Leon's finely walks the line of being upscale yet not trying too hard. They make being a quality spot look easy, which is sort of an art. Put another way, Pastis on Broadway.
Read MoreStephen P.
Dec 14, 2024
A fantastic addition to the city's dining scene from the chef who once helmed Maialino. The cacio e pepe is absolutely incredible--perfectly executed with bold flavors and a unique pepper that slightly numbs the mouth--and the falafel is equally outstanding. The service is top-notch: professional, attentive, and genuinely warm. The owners go above and beyond to make you feel at home, creating a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Definitely a place worth visiting again and again!
Read MoreTony R.
Jan 24, 2025
Service and food all good. like the combo of Egyptian/Italian/French. The restaurant is spacious, and the tables are nicely spread out. Brick Chicken Bahart, Branzino, al Leon, and the cocktails are all good.
Read MoreA B.
Dec 12, 2024
Interesting and varied menu. Fun for sharing. Quickly becoming a regular in our neighborhood dining rotation. And the space is beautiful and the staff is top notch! No notes.
Read MoreSam D.
Jan 1, 2025
Lucky to have dined here! Visiting NYC post Christmas, we were able to come in & dine in this lovely new restaurant. My wife started with an olive oil martini & I had a manhattan. Both delicious. Started with a Shrimp Crudo, a couple of pastas- Cacio e Pepe, and an anchovy pasta, and our main course was a Branzino. All of it was delicious! Don't skip on dessert - the olive oil gelato was fantastic. One of the best part of our dinner was meeting some nyc natives who we became friends with that evening. Best of luck to this lovely restaurant!
Read MoreAnthony D.
Jan 17, 2025
Anton's is one of our favorite restaurant's in the city, so we were very excited to try their new spot in Union Square - Leon's.In a bigger space that is a bit more fancy than Anton's classic neighborhood vibe Leon's offers mostly Italian dishes with some Egyptian accents.We had;Chips & Onions Soriano - delicious, great snack to have on the table.Octopus Salad, Beans & Mussels Escabeche - - a light, refreshing salad with perfectly cooked tender octopus. These two appetizers are great orders.Fettuccine Bolognese - like Anton's we expected the pasta to be good at Leon's and this fettuccine lived up to expectations. Spaghetti with Bottarga di Muggine - Bottarga is a fishy tasting food, and this pasta tasted overly fishy even to those standards. This pasta was not for us.Whole Fish for Two, Italian or Egyptian - we opted for the Italian style which is cooked in olive oil and comes with a side of lemon potato's. The fish was light and flavorful, and plenty for two people. The potato's were excellent.Biscotti: Chocolate Graham, Chewy Tahina, Almond Tuille - Leon's is open for breakfast and has a full coffee bar. That said these cookies are a great pairing with their coffee/espresso offerings.Anton's has always had down to earth, friendly, excellent service and Leon's continues this.
Read MoreMaralyn F.
Feb 12, 2025
I just tried this new neighborhood gem for the first time at lunch today. Excellent food, service and ambiance. Very friendly cool vibe; elegantly casual. I highly recommend and will definitely return.
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