Near the end of my New York chapter, Joseph Leonard became the neighborhood place we returned to most often, and it still captures so much of what I love about the Village. I've loved Gabriel Stulman's restaurants for years, but Joseph Leonard may be the purest expression of his particular sensibility: warm, earthy, slightly eccentric, and unmistakably New York. The aged wood, vintage details, tiny footprint, and effortlessly cool staff make the place feel collected rather than designed. It has personality everywhere you look without ever seeming like it is trying to prove it. Stulman is, in some ways, the Bon Iver of New York restaurants: his sensibility was shaped in Wisconsin, then sharpened by New York into something much more distinctive. Under all the coolness I associate with the best of the Midwest, there's an earnestness and lack of pretension, paired with enough downtown edge to make it deeply desirable. It captures the same improbable chemistry that makes kids raised on the Upper East Side fall hard for Madison or Ann Arbor. Somehow Joseph Leonard can feel wholesome, progressive, sophisticated, and completely unforced at the same time. The burger is excellent, the Bloody Mary is great, and this is one of those rare places I'm equally happy visiting for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Service has always been terrific, and the people working there seem to embody the restaurant itself: interesting, kind, and genuinely cool. It's tiny, so plan accordingly, but that intimacy is part of why it works so well. Joseph Leonard was a meaningful little fixture at the end of our years in New York, and I still think of it as one of the city's great neighborhood restaurants. Très bien! read more

My cousin and I stumbled across this cozy spot after Ubering back from a concert at the Barclays Center. Our bartender was super friendly and nice. I ordered an Espresso Martini which was very tasty. We hung out for a while and were not rushed out. Overall, seems like a cute little spot in the West Village for a night out! Espresso Martini: 5/5 read more

Joseph Leonard - Espresso Martini - New American Near Me - New York, New York

We absolutely loved Joseph Leonard. I cannot say enough good things about the restaurant. They were super accommodating to children. The waiter was wonderful, and the kitchen was accommodating with some changes we requested due to the children, and very nice to the children. All the food was excellent, we tried the fish, the chicken, and the burger. We can't wait to go back. This place is an absolute gem, and everyone should go! read more

Joseph Leonard - New American Near Me - New York, New York

I don't know if dining in the city is just becoming worse lately, but service is really strange nowadays. We visited around 1:30PM on a Wednesday and there weren't many guests at all. The food was great - baba ganoush, omelette, chicken salad. No complaints! But the service was so mediocre - after less than an hour the waitress came to clean our plates even though all 3 dishes still had food remaining. When I told her we weren't done she came back in 10 minutes and wanted to clear the table again. For how cute this space is, the hospitality needs some work :( read more

We had the eggplant over labneh and fried tomatoes appetizers. I had the chicken sandwich and my wife had the fish. We remember enjoying the eggplant a lot! Melts in your mouth but flavorful and the labneh was smooth and well seasoned. Probably one of my fav chicken sandwiches. Had an interesting sauce, the veg was nice and crisp, and the chicken remained crispy and juicy even after all of the components and sauce held it together. Definitely a place worth visiting. Really nice vibes! The waitress had a cool playlist that set the tone (think easy cafe Daniel Ceasar, Men I Trust, etc). Great vibes! read more

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I really enjoyed dining here. The hostess and waiter were very nice and friendly. He recommended the cauliflower and the burger. Both of which were delicious. Ended dinner with some tea and the banoffee - so good! I'll definitely be coming back here. read more

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Known for being an iconic brunch spot, I felt that Joseph Leonard only partially lived up to its historic hype. It's nestled in the heart of the West Village so you get a nice view of the area although the food, especially my salad, was exceedingly average. While the chicken was cooked well and flavorful, the rest of the salad suffered from a distinct lack of flavor and was generally pretty bland. At least my partner's shakshuka was cooked well and I loved the pairing of the avocado with the dish. It was the perfect mix of creamy and savory although the eggs weren't as runny as I would have hoped. Still, the star of the show was dessert which was an apple custard/tart type of dish. It was perfectly balanced, well-sized for sharing and had a delectable cream to spread over the top. I'd come back just for that! read more

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Hit or miss. I enjoyed the appetizers, but the entrees kind of missed the mark. It's pricey, and you're probably paying for the location more than anything. Corn fritters - kind of like a spin on elote. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with plenty of corn flavor. It comes on a bed of crema and cheese. Very tasty. Goat cheese - also quite good. The cheese is rolled in za'atar, and the bread it comes with is super flavorful and airy. The pickled fennel adds an herbal and tart contrasting element. Zucchini - small portion, and sorely needed some salt. The tomato sauce is cooked down to the point of tasting kind of flat. Croque madame - it's nice to see a vegetarian version of the sandwich with mushrooms. But the flavor was mostly one-note, just rich and savory. It definitely needed some kind of tart element or pickle on the side to cut through it. read more

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It was a cozy spot with a great playlist & atmosphere overall! The server was nice and checked on us often and was very attentive. As for the food, we had the fried green tomatoes, eggplant, and trout. I wasn't a fan of the fried green tomatoes since I usually prefer them softer. I liked the eggplant and trout which had lovely flavor and weren't too heavy. Overall, it was a great experience! read more

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Very small location and might be a little bit of wait but very good. Cute overall atmosphere and aesthetic. Service came out quickly but definitely again tight seating wise. We order the burger: food portion and good food. Overall recommend read more

Joseph Leonard - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Best dining experience I've ever had! My gf agrees too! ! 2: made a core memory this night and I'm forever grateful I stopped by this hole-in-the-wall. We almost went to the bigger French restaurant (which looked quite lame in comparison to this gem) but I'm so glad we popped by here. The trout dish- AMAZING our waitress- AMAZING the coziness/ambiance - MOVIE-LIKE The drinks- FANTASTIC AND THE STAFF KEPT GIVING US MORE The staff and manager woman (I think she's a manager...) were so beautifully welcoming and put together. It was amazing. Sat at the bar. It felt like a movie, seriously Listen, I know we may have been NY tourists but that restaurant is something else. It beat out any experience I've had at home or any other city. Yes, maybe it was rose-colored glasses or maybe we were just drunk or maybe the inspiration the waitress gave to us was what did it. But man it happened and it was phenomenal. I will be back here one day, somehow!!! Also it's right by stonewall and in the core of west village! Ahhh! Plus, vegetarian option(s)! You put my entire state (sc ) to shame this night (march) and I'm still angry about it! read more

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We came to Joseph Leonard for a special occasion and the staff made us feel special and celebrated. The environment had a very warm feel, like everyone was family. Our waiter, Daly, was top notch - funny guy and super friendly. We had an amazing time and will be recommending Joseph Leonard to everyone we know. We ordered four dishes and they were all great: - Old Chatham Kinderhook - Asparagus - Mussels (special) - Burger Highly recommend. This restaurant has a lot of character. read more

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Used to come here for brunch, lunch, dinner, everything. I absolutely adore this spot. It's tiny but in an intimate, good way. The menu is always amazing, as are the drinks. I miss living close by to it. read more

Joseph Leonards continues to charm. The service is extremely friendly and gives great recommendations. Of course, the show-stopper is the food. My girlfriend and I split three appetizers, the apricot-stracciatella salad, graffiti eggplant with garlic labne, and cauliflower with tahini and harissa. Both the eggplant dish and cauliflower dish was perfection. Remember to make a reservation about two-weeks in advance. read more

We had brunch at Joseph Leonard in the West Village and really enjoyed our experience! We tried the shakshuka, which was a special on the menu, and wow, it was absolutely delicious. Possibly one of the best I've had in the city. I loved the addition of cheese and maybe a bit of sour cream (a first for me!), and the little bites of tomato and red pepper in the sauce added such a nice texture and flavor to the dish. We also ordered the grilled chicken salad, which was fine, but I wished it had a bit more going on flavor-wise. On the sweeter side, we tried the coffee cake (another special) and it was such a treat. It tasted like fall in a cake, with walnuts, what I think were apples, and lots of cinnamon. Overall, a really positive brunch experience with a beautiful interior and good service as well! The shakshuka and coffee cake were the real stars, and I'd definitely come back for them. read more

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we had quite a lovely experience today. we sat outside and our server was named Jonathan and he did such an attentive and outstanding job. we asked for recs & he provided a break down and was just super nice and straightforward. we ordered the burger and the omelette with bacon. Both were very good- the omelette was pretty filling when adding the bacon & the burger was perfectly juicy and the bun added a lovely softness to the meat & cheese. The fries were also the perfect mix of crispy & soft. highly recommend just coming for the burger itself. read more

I have been coming to this cozy spot for quite a few years now and it never disappoints. Great cocktail service, one of the best espresso martini I've had in a while. I made a reservation and they only had bar seating available, I requested in the reservation, if it was at all possible to be seated at a table as my father is 87 and has back and walking issues. They went right ahead and accommodated my request, for a tiny place I was deeply impressed. Everything we ordered was perfectly cooked with beautiful presentation. Not enough wonderful things to say from the service to the food and cocktails, this restaurant will always be a perfect NYC staple for me before a jazz set at the vanguard or smalls. read more

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Holy cow! Incredible! Went for brunch and licked the plate clean! Vibe was so cozy and quintessential west village! We came when they opened at 10:30am, got sat at the bar immediately. By 11am they had a wait and I know why! I would wait in line if I had to because it was so good! I will be coming back for dinner soon! Love love love! read more

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I genuinely do not understand the hype around Joseph Leonard. Two sandwiches, fries, and drinks plus tax and tip came to nearly $80, and the experience was deeply underwhelming. The fries were like cardboard, limp, dry, and seemingly cooked hours earlier. The burger itself actually had good flavor, but it was absolutely slathered in aioli for no discernible reason. Not every burger needs to be drowning in garlic mayonnaise. It completely overwhelmed the meat and turned what could have been a solid burger into a greasy mess. The fried chicken sandwich had the same issue: way too much mayo/buttermilk ranch (some greasy flavorless mess), heavy to the point of being unpleasant, and lacking any sense of balance. If you enjoy rich, condiment-soaked gastropub food, maybe this is your thing. But for me it felt overpriced, excessive, and weirdly sloppy for a place with this much hype. Cute atmosphere. Bad food. read more

This was such a wonderful surprises. We were walking down the streets of Greenwich. We were lured in by the ambience that this restaurant possessed. We were there on a Wednesday, and it was packed so if you plan on going on the weekend, please make a reservation. This is a tiny corner restaurant. It's extremely romantic. The music is spot on the lighting is very flattering. The food is 10 stars ! We took a chance on a bottle of Pinot and it turned out to be exquisite. This is in my opinion a date night restaurant however, there were girls night party there . There are no televisions here... so if you're looking to watch a game go to an Irish pub. This place was meant for gazing into each others eyes and chatting. And if you happen to get a little lit, that's OK too. read more

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Immaculate vibes, phenomenal food, and the wonderful bloody mary comes with a side car of beer. Beyond friendly staff. (Please make the breakfast burrito a permanent menu item!) read more

We had a lovely dinner here! Service was great, everyone was nice and attentive. It's a small place inside but it didn't feel crowded. We had the deviled eggs and marinated goat cheese to start. And then shared the burger and mussels on special for our main. The burger and mussels were the highlight! Drinks are definitely out there. We had one with roasted red pepper and corn and one more light with mint. Overall would recommend! read more

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Excellent experience! I realize I didn't take photos unfortunately! The place is tiny but super warm & cozy. I'd say maybe a capacity for 25/30 max. The staff was really friendly and attentive. They brought delicious cornichons as a snack which I really appreciated being French! We took mussels and my son had a trout. Everything was fresh and delicious. I'd recommend and return! read more

Food 5/10 Ordered the wrong dishes for my taste profile lmao. The cauliflower appetizer was fine, a little lacking in flavor and strangely tasting like Shin ramen?? The Croque madame was ok. We got the pollock, which I thought came with two pieces of fish, but really it was one piece of fish and another piece of potato disguised as fish. I hate potatoes so it already was off to a rough start. The dish also came with bell peppers, which I dislike with a passion. Atmosphere 7/10 Cute typical west village farm to table vibes. Wooden paneling, natural lighting, intimate and cozy interior. Service 5/10 Not sure why I felt this but the server was weirdly passive aggressive and rude to us. read more

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Have you ever walked into a place as a complete stranger and immediately felt like you were part of the family?! That is the vibe here. Danny greeted us at the door double fist pumping me and my friend. He and Casey took great care of us all night. I've never seen a service staff having such a great time at work. You could tell they all genuinely love their job, which is important, because that vibe is passed on to the customers. The cocktails were fantastic too. Can't wait to come back and try the roast chicken! read more

Crushed it on all fronts: service, food, ambiance, drinks. Great late night spot, and the burger is fantastic read more

Joseph Leonard - Burger - New American Near Me - New York, New York

My fiancé and I came here for an anniversary dinner. I had made a reservation a few weeks before for a Thursday at 7pm which at first I thought might not be needed but the place is small and, no matter if it's a weekday, always ends up full. Highly recommend the reservation unless you want to wait! The restaurant is cute and cozy. It has beautiful outdoor seating that's reminiscent of a bistro in Europe and allows for a relaxed meal. The indoor seating is also very nice, with a romantic ambiance paired with the intimate and casual feel of a quintessential neighborhood spot, which is where we ended up sitting. Our waiter was so nice.... Like genuinely nice with the best energy. He realized it was our anniversary and immediately poured us two complimentary glasses of the most refreshing Prosecco which was really sweet of him and set a great tone for the rest of the evening. We ordered an additional two glasses of chardonnay to enjoy our meal which were also great. For food we tried: - Rhode Island squid: we ordered this dish as an appetizer and it was the perfect starter. The dish came with generous amounts of well seasoned and perfectly cooked squid, the texture was just right and not chewy at all. These squid rings came over a bed of juicy and sweet snap peas that provided a very nice balance. There were bits of crispy rice that added a nice texture and finally a layer of garlic yogurt that was creamy and really tied everything together. Would highly recommend. Well executed dish. - Brussel sprouts: another hit! We got a side of these to start with and we were blown away. These were some of the best brussel sprouts we have had. They were well seasoned without being too salty, with a sweet and smooth undertones of the butter they were cooked with. The sriracha on top adds the perfect amount of heat that makes these addictive. Finally, the shavings had the optimal thickness for a perfect texture after being cooked. Really amazing. - Burger: my fiancé got the burger which is one of the best I have tried in NYC so far. The meat patty was thick and had a nice pink center. It had good flavor and the right amount of fat. It came with some bacon that added a little bit of an additional umami punch and the cheddar that was creamy and balanced everything out. The sauces in the burger were amazing too. Do not even get me started on the fries..these were so amazing I wish I had gotten an order as a side for myself. I really liked how they swapped the normal burger bun for an English muffin, I think it added a little bit more richness to the burger in a way and really tied all the flavors/textures together. - Rainbow trout: I ordered the trout and this also was an amazing dish. The trout fillet was tender and flaky with a crispy crust. It was bathed in a subtle buttery sauce with citrus, tangy hints. The level of acidity was perfect. The haricot verts added an earthy freshness to the dish that was complimented by the nutty aroma of toasted almonds. This dish was very impressive as a stand alone dish and may have been one of my favorites of the night. Very rich and complex. Would order again. - Desserts: for desserts we tried two. The salted caramel pudding which we both liked but thought the saltiness was a little too much and may have benefitted from a sweeter balance (maybe adding a caramel sauce). The banoffee pie was amazing. I was skeptical to get it since the idea of having a dessert with banana and graham crackers sounded a little too sweet but it actually was very well balanced. The graham cracker crust was thick, rich, and buttery. The bananas were sweet but paired with a nice light cream that really helped tone down the flavors. The toffee layer was subtle, and added a nice texture and a little extra sweetness. Would highly recommend even if you are not necessarily a huge banana dessert fan! Overall, we had a beautiful anniversary dinner here. We have walked by this spot many times while living here and were always enticed by ambiance and how lively this spot seems. Now having dined here, we realize why this place is so popular. This small, intimate restaurant offers top notch service that feels intentional and personal while also offering high quality, well executed dishes in a bustling neighborhood in NYC. Will definitely make my way back here in the near future to try more of their dishes, do some people watching, and have a great time. read more

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It pains me to write this review as I've never written a horrible review. Its been awhile since I've been here. My first memory was tasty and thoughtful. This time we had the chicken and pork chop special as the main course. We both took one bite in which we waiting 45 minutes for. It was beyond underwhelming and such a disappointment. Joseph Leonard used to be a vibe and the food prior felt very farm to table. We couldn't even take a second bite. We ended up paying a wasteful $180 and will never go back. If the service was amazing, this review would have never been written. It saddens me that the quality was horrible. read more

The English muffin burger is so freaking good! And the service is pretty great. The bartenders are mad nice and friendly - I popped in for some good and it has a really homey atmosphere. I don't really have a story to tell except come here, get great food, and enjoy cool people. read more

Good cooke to temp burger on English muffin, and nice cozy friendly spot in the West Village.

Joseph Leonard slaps as always. Returned for dinner and tried: + Sgt. pepper cocktail + Late night jazz cocktail + Kabocha squash soup + Eggplant dip + Burger + Carrot cake The highlight was the burger, though the soup and cake were also awesome. 5 stars forever. read more

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Had a lovely dinner here! The staff is really friendly and have great rec's, and the ambience is very cute and relaxed. We had the hummus and eggplant appetizers - both good and the eggplant was standout. Had the pork chop and lentil ragout for mains, which again were great. Really loved the lentil ragout, it came with delicate squash and the flavors were really nice. read more

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I love this place - it's cozy , offers a menu with good selection paired with an excellent service both the hostess and our server. We shared a few items but my favorites was the broccolini and cauliflower. The piece of cake for my friend celebrating her bday was a nice touch . Glad I came on a Monday as it's quite difficult to find a table here for obvious reasons I stayed above . read more

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Don't sleep on the chicken sandwich! A very popular spot for a reason, food is great and drinks deliver

Love this cozy spot that is full of friendly people. The staff is fun and welcoming. We love their burgers which are served on English muffins. I have been here numerous times but the latest time is most notable. My friend and I shared the steak special for two with bordelaise sauce that was melt in your mouth sublime. Then we had the Banoffee dessert (pictured) that was incredible. We were having such a great time that we lingered a bit too long and they needed our table. They very nicely relocated us and we stayed for esspresso martinis! Can't wait to return. read more

Joseph Leonard - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Fall day, sitting outside . Had salt cod croquettes, ratatouille , croquet madame. All really good, charming quiet and inside looks charming too. read more

Joseph Leonard - two plates of food on a table - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Incredible service, food and atmosphere! Highly recommend - worth the wait! Can't wait to go back read more

Enjoyed dinner here during a recent stop in New York. Make a reservation as the place is busy, we had a reservation and still needed to grab a seat at the bar to wait for our table. We enjoyed mussels and fries, Brussels, and the burger. read more

Joseph Leonard - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Wowwwww, might be my new fav brunch spot. The hashbrown is 1000/10 and a must try. The potato shreds are so thin & so crispy + perfectly put together. The burger was delicious & so juicy + flavorful. Fried chicken sandwich was a standout as well- so yum. Service was phenomenal & vibes were amazing on a cooler Sunday morning. Highly recommend this! Need to go back for dinner. read more

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Go for the service - friendliest people you'll ever meet. Insanely sociable and approachable wait staff (from the person at the entrance to our server to the bartender it seemed like it was a requirement to be that energetic). We ordered: - kale salad (8/10): well massaged, no bitterness to it but also a pretty standard run of the mill salad with light dressing - croquettes (9/10): my personal favorite with a generous amount of cod and the corn was an interesting touch - cauliflower (10/10): well-seasoned, spiced, and overall delicious. no complaints here. IMO they have better starters than they do main dishes. For the mains, we got: - ratatouille (6/10): very interesting take on ratatouille - instead of the usual thinly sliced vegetable it was instead a hodgepodge of different squash vegetables sitting on top of a cornmeal, almost potato-esque solid. a generous amount of coconut cream on top (not sure I'd choose coconut to pair with veggies but I appreciate the attempt) - steak (8/10): it's steak. need I say more? hard to go wrong with steak. When our waiter realized someone had brought us watercress as the side instead of fries, he immediately informed the kitchen. He also regularly checked in with us and remarked about the food. read more

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