Lena is a really nice space which is tastefully decorated, and well lit to have a very cozy vibe. The music leans towards Leon Bridges and creates a welcoming vibe. The staff are all very personable and welcoming. The food is crazy good. I got the chefs table tasting menu and was quite pleasantly surprised. The first course was a Welsh rarebit (which I've never had before but is kind of like a piece of toast). The bread was perfectly toasted, crispy on the outside and soft (almost pudding like) inside. I think it was sourdough. The Mahon cheese melted on it reminded me of a delightful Croque monsieur. The dollops of mustard/lager sauce were sweet and paired nicely with the savory toast and the bitter arugula. The second course was Parisian gnocchi, which I guess means they are made from pate a choux. They were crispy outside and pillowy within, and sat on some perfect snap peas that were fresh and crisp. The peas were held together in a subtle ramp puree. I don't often get to eat fresh peas in season, and I was shocked that they were so tasty and firm. The third course was a lamb shoulder braised in Membrillo ( a quince paste), served in a ssam style with Kim chi and curry rice. This dish was the one that did it for me. The membrillo gave the lamb shoulder an incredibly deep umami flavor, while also imbuing it with a Carmel burnt sweetness. The recipe didn't use doenjang or gochujang or soy sauce, but got to a similar level of umami. Wrapped with some Kim chi, herbs, and the curry bomba rice in lettuce, it made for a rich and complex flavor bomb in each bite. I was also super pleased that it was a very generous portion. You don't always get that in a tasting menu. The final course was a very delicate bread ice cream, which was made with the membrillo and covered with almond cookie and mint oil. The ice cream was so delicate it was at times almost like marshmallow fluff, and the mint oil really contrasted nicely with the bready sweetness of the ice cream. read more

See all

Leña is an adorable (new to me) restaurant in the Brush Park neighborhood in Detroit. It's very open and inviting and there's lots of natural light. We decided to do the four course chef's dinner to try a variety of things. There is also an optional wine pairing, which one of our guests at the table did and loved! I opted for take on the gin and tonic, which was smooth and refreshing. First course was a delicious cheesy toast. The bread tasted like it had just been baked that same day. Next step we had the softest gnocchi, with sliced pepperoni. It was such an interesting combination and very delicious. The main course was a very tender lamb and risotto dish. The lamb was very flavorful. We finished things off with a sourdough ice cream that was garnished with a mint syrup. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted before and it was very good. Our waiter frequently checked in on us, and there are two individual restrooms in the restaurant. I had a wonderful time and I would definitely go back! read more

See all

Lena is an absolute gem in Detroit's dining scene and this visit was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we sat down, the staff made us feel right at home. Our server was engaging, attentive, and genuinely fun to talk to, which made the whole evening feel like more than just a meal. And the food? Exceptional doesn't even cover it. Every dish showcased a remarkable complexity of flavors, with ingredient pairings that felt both inventive and perfectly executed. You could tell the kitchen truly cares about the craft. If you're looking for a Detroit dining experience that fires on all cylinders, incredible food, warm hospitality, and a vibe that keeps you lingering at the table...Lena is your place. We'll absolutely be back! read more

See all

Great, personable service. We had the chef's tasting menu and everything was delicious. I did the wine pairing and that too was terrific. Parking was free and easy. All-in-all ann be lovely night out. read more

See all

We had an amazing time and a wonderful dinner at Leña! This has been on our list for a while now. I did make reservations, however on a Thursday at 5 pm they were not necessary. We were able to sit right at the bar which is our preferred spot anyway so it was a win for us. The menu is set up to share dishes. Which is perfect because I never eat all of my meal anyway. We started with the Pintxo de Txampis which was sauted onion and mushrooms with goat cheese on a grilled baguette. For our main dish we chose Carne de Res, which was strip steak with onion rings and little pear onions. Both were delicious. Definitely enough for two and enough to take home. The service was impeccable. We both chose to get wine with our meals. The Spanish wine was a bit to sweet for me but the Malbec was just perfect. We enjoyed everything about this place and would definitely recommend other give it a try. read more

See all

My friend and I stopped by to try Leña for an early dinner a while back. While the service and atmosphere was stellar, the food was just okay and nothing to rave about. It might just have been what we chose and not an indication of their food overall. However, the croquetas were exceptionally good and worth a try. read more

See all

A truly excellent meal. The enselada de manzana (apple salad) and the grilled half chicken with red kuri squash puree were exceptional. The croquetas were very good as well. You'd be wise to order the bread service early. Service was excellent all night, Theo in particular. We will return. read more

See all

Feels like a hidden gem. The food is great and the servers are very knowledgeable. Great drinks and great ambiance. You can miss the parking lot if you aren't paying attention, though. read more

Everything was fantastic! Very creative cuisine, perfect flavor balance. We got the charred bets which was probably the best dish. Also the picked tuna which was really unique and delicious, the main course was a deep fried octopus which I've never had prepped like that. Incredible! The aioli, tapenade, and Plantain mash were a perfect accompaniment. The dessert was an almond custard (basically marzipan) on short bread tart. So unique! They validated parking too. GO!!! read more

See all

It was okay. The service was underwhelming along with the food and value. Not a fan of newer restaurants with all the charm of an office lobby. read more

See all

What a wonderful restaurant! My girlfriends and I ventured to Leña on a recent Monday night, and I kid you not, we ordered just about everything on the menu. Leña is located in Brush Park not too far from Ford Field. When you walk in you immediately see a large open-air kitchen. To the left is a small bar and a lounge area. To the right are a few high top tables and the main dining area. The restaurant has lots of natural light with floor-to-ceiling window which give it a great open airy feeling with a cool Spanish vibe. Our server, Jacqueline was FABULOUS! She knew the menu backwards, forwards and upside down. We had a ton of questions and she had ton of answers. There were 5 of us and she said the chef could accommodate the dishes for five people (i.e., if a dish came with 2 items, they expanded it to 5). Drink were the first order of business. I started with some bubbles - Carol Valles Perellada Faura 2021. My friends ordered the Él Fuma and one the Herbal Gin & Tonic. Our food fest started with: Bacalao Croqueta - whipped salt cod, lemon oil, potato croqueta Cangrejo en Piquillo - scarlet crab, aioli, pimento, chive Empanadillas - roasted lamb, moorish spice, mojo rojo Crudo del Dia - ora king salmon, orange vinaigrette, shaved onion, caper I loved the scarlet crab. Probably could have gotten a 2nd order! Second course: Brocheta de Hongos - grilled maitake mushrooms, hazelnut romesco Con Remolacha - roasted beets, fresh cheese, horseradish, dill Pulpo a la Plancha - grilled octopus, nora pepper, chickpea panisse, piquillo/kombu conserva The octopus was grilled to perfection. If it's overcooked, it's like eating rubber. Not the case here - it was so tender and delicious! Third course: Chuleta de Cerdo - grilled pork chop, pork jus, apples, brown butter & celery root puree, watercress Bacalao en salsa verde - pan roasted Icelandic cod, salsa verde, steamed clams, fried potatoes Codorniz Rellena - chicken chorizo stuffed quail, salsa brava, stewed chickpeas, aioli 38 Dessert: Flan Tarta de chocolat Tarta de queso (Basque cheesecake) Everything was so delicious. My favorite dishes were the scarlet crab, whipped salt cod, salmon crudo, grilled octopus, pork chop, stuffed quail, grilled maitake mushrooms, cheesecake and flan. That's most of the menu right? lol Definitely put Lena on your list of restaurants to try. You won't be disappointed. Todo es delicisos!! Barriga llena, Corazón contento (Full belly, happy heart.) read more

See all

Ambiance: Very modern, borderline fine dining with a Detroit flare, I love the open kitchen layout where you can see your entire meal prepped and no stone is unturned. The highlight is the open fire grill top Service: The attention to detail was great and our server had a fun personality, amplifying the experience. Food: I love me some good tapas. Each dish had an interesting spin and I would dare say none of them were traditional. We had an array of course that were flavorful and impactful. The seafood was so fresh (save for the canned tuna, which was still fantastic nonetheless). The only miss I would say is the tortilla (?), it lacked the creativity and "wow factor" of the other dishes. Overall, we left very happy and full. Oh, and I can't forget about the delicious cocktails. Can't go wrong with a little bit of sangria! read more

See all

My first note is that I'd definitely make a reservation if you're planning on coming here! It seems to be a new go-to spot, and was pretty busy when we arrived. But, since we had a reservation, we were seated right away. We walked in and were immediately greeted by such incredible smells! The atmosphere was so welcoming and cozy. We taken to our table and were immediately asked about any allergies or dietary restrictions and guided through the menu. The menu is filled with dishes that are meant to be shared -- our waitress suggested 3ish plates per person -- but we decided to not share and just get 3 plates each for ourselves. I ended up going with the sangria to drink which was absolutely delicious, the cangrejo en piquillo (crab stuffed peppers), hongos a la brasa (grilled mushrooms), calabaza asada (roasted squash), and the queso y mantequilla (cheesecake). I really enjoyed the flavors of the dishes. I think I would get everything again, aside from the squash. I just wasn't super impressed with their entree offerings. Overall, the food was good, the service was great, parking was easy, and I loved the atmosphere. I'd visit again! Pro tip: if you park at 440 Alfred, Leña will validate parking! read more

See all

It's an excellent establishment. The food is locally sourced and thoughtfully prepared. The service is attentive and I feel like all the employees enjoy interacting with customers. All this and the dining is casual. read more

Leña - Spanish Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

See all

Beyond disappointing. We tried 4 different items, typical when my boyfriend and I try a new restaurant and we truthfully couldn't even enjoy one of the items that were given to us. At the fourth item we had to let the server know that the fish was way too salty and we were not interested in anything else that this restaurant could offer us. I was really looking forward to this, as my parents gave us a gift card to come visit this place and many people had positive recommendations, but when we came and tried it, we couldn't even enjoy one of the four dishes that we were given to us. The people were kind and they tried their best to accommodate us, but honestly, the food was not even close to matching the price. We would not come back again. read more

Leña - Spanish Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

See all

Food: Lovely! Lots of great variety of food, what stood out was how delicious they were able to make a simple vegetable taste. The tasting menu was definitely worth it. Service: It was very busy but nonetheless the servers were warm and friendly and we felt taken care of. Ambiance: Love the lighting and the open concept. Everyone looked happy and it was nice to sit near the window on a winter night!! read more

See all

Absolutely amazing. Best meal I have had in Detroit. A must try. The chef Marcello is amazing! read more

Leña - Spanish Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

The star of the show was our server Caitlin! She was warm, very educated on the menu and very friendly. The food was great but her service was the icing on the cake! Side note; I highly recommend the cheesecake! read more

Lovely service. FYI they do have validated parking but the lot is quite small. Entrance is easy to miss as well. We were greeted graciously and seated quickly (we had a reservation). Overall, everything was amazing. There were quite a few items with nuts ( I have a nut allergy to all nuts) but they were able to make accommodations. My favorite was the habas or the pork collar. The habas looked odd at first but after mixing it, it was delicious. My only issue is that the side order of bread was REALLY small and I wish that there was more bread given with the habas. The pork was wonderfully cooked, tender, delicious. They said the menu changes about every 6 weeks and I'm so excited to go back! read more

See all

I have heard the best things about Lena and was so excited to make my way over. Tucked in the Brush Park neighborhood is this gem of a restaurant - everything cooked over a wood fire oven. The staff was very friendly and attentive, giving us some great recommendations. We started with tiradito, which was fresh and lively. We got the albondigas de seta, which were very fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside with some delicious dip in the middle. The empanadas had a divine braids meat inside and the sauce was to die for. The octopus was tender and cooked just right, but the garbanzos had me finding for more. The squash was charred just a little too much, leaving too much of that burnt flavor. The pork chop was divine, with a lovely apple and brown butter sauce to help liven it up. The restaurant is open and gives you a view straight into those ovens. Truly a lovely experience with good food. read more

See all

Incredible experience trying Leña last week! It's been on my list since it first opened and I'm so happy I got to try it. The service was amazing. We had the sweetest and most enthusiastic waitress who truly felt like a friend by the end of the night. The restaurant vibes are very welcoming and there's a mix of high and low table tops. We decided to sit at a high table top and the table was large and nestled in the center of the restaurant. Food was delicious and so flavorful. We tried the brochetas de cordero (roasted lamb) to start followed by batata (sweet potato dish). For our mains we tried the calabaza asada (our favorite of the night) and the hipogloso a la plancha (halibut). The dishes were so creative and unlike any flavors I've experienced before - I am still thinking of them! I can't wait to come back soon! read more

Leña - Calabaza asada - Spanish Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

See all

Such a delicious gem in Brush Park. My husband and I came here 6 months ago and came back tonight and still as great as the first time. Staff is fantastic, attentive and fun (shoutout Theodore for recommending the cheesecake). Atmosphere is great, the smell of the live wood fire they do the majority of the cooking on wafts through the dinning room as you enjoy your meal. We were lucky enough to be seated at a high top where we could watch as well. Wines are great and of course the food. Lena will always be a must for us when we're in Detroit. read more

See all

Great experience dining at Leña! My husband has been craving Spanish food and was excited when he discovered Leña serves Catalan cuisine. All the food we ordered was very tasty. The flan here is arguably the best I've had in Michigan. We ordered a couple 'tapas'-style appetizers, the lamb and the crab. Each order came with two bites. We also ordered the chorizo de pollo, a chicken sausage dish with lentils. Service was friendly. We sat at the bar where our bartenders made sure we stayed hydrated and had everything we need. The bathroom was clean and aesthetic. The restaurant has a casual ambience and filled with fantastic smells from the wood-fired stove. Good experience, will definitely be back! read more

See all

Location: On the ground level of the apartment building at Brush/Alfred. Some street parking g(the check signs as some parking is residential only). Also, THEY VALIDATE PARKING for the lot in the building. Service: We were a small party and were seated promptly at our reservation time. Our server was friendly and attentive. She was helpful in guiding us through the menu and provided recommendations along the way. Food: The menu is vegetable and seafood forward, and had plenty other options. They also offer an assortment of tinned fish(which we didn't try this time but might next time!) we opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu and boy was it a great choice. Be warned it is a lot of food! we enjoyed most all dishes with the fav being the stuffed pepper (CANGREJO EN PIQUILLO). Vibe: more on the casual end so would definitely recommend for an after work dinner/drinks. read more

See all

The service is great. Pintxos prices are a bit steep. The salt cod croquettes are worth the price tag though. Our whole sea bass entree was phenomenal! The only thing missing was a few more potatoes. Good experience overall. read more

Pretty good wine but worse than other restaurants in the area and not that good of a pairing Excellent appetizers on tasting menu and main course. For the main I got fish with a bunch of bones that I did not like. I had to send it back but they did successfully replace it. Kind of shocked it got served in the first place. Good service and great ambiance. I would probably go back but I'm not running back. read more

Had a delicious evening at Leña, so glad I was able to come try this place as it has been a hot spot. It definitely holds up to the hype as the food was very tasty and the service was great as well. As opposed to other places in this area the parking is comped with the meal, and there are signs clearly marking where to park. Our server patiently explained step by step how to do it online so that we were able to have the complimentary parking. That was a huge plus and much appreciated. It was also nice to not feel rushed at all during the meal, everything was timed out nicely so we had breaks between courses and were really able to relax and enjoy the meal. The server gave excellent recommendations and explanations on each dish so we felt like we ordered just the right amount of food and knew what we were getting. The drinks were very fair priced and for a cocktail at a place like this was large and strong, I tired the floral gin tonic and I was impressed with the flavor. For food we started with the bacalo, whipped cod, which came highly recommended and was worth the hype it had a delicious flavor and texture. As well as the cangrejo en piquillo, crab stuffed peppers- a standout in flavor. The brochetas de coredo, lamb skewers, very good. And finally the special of the day the croquettes de iberco, so delicious! For main courses we had the hongos a la brasa, maitake mushrooms- those were also a standout in flavor and texture very very good. Would order them again and highly recommend. The main dish was the red snapper which came with a delicious sauce and peppers and fried potatoes. Overall I felt like the pacing of the courses, great service, great flavor, and warm ambiance, made this place a hit. I highly recommend coming in and trying many different things. It says a lot I tried so many items and can't pick a clear favorite due to each being so delicious and unique in flavors. I'm sure you can't go wrong and with knowledgeable staff you can order with confidence having questions answered and recommend dishes based on your preferences. read more

See all

I've been here on a few occasions and I have been extremely impressed with their menu and service on each visit. Helpful hint is that they validate parking for the parking lot behind the restaurant for up to 3 hours. The ambiance for the restaurant is fantastic, with wood fired elements and a large space. The menu is extremely unique and they do a good job of rotating items pretty regularly to keep things fresh. It's a shared plate style of menu, so it's recommended to order a few items from each section of the menu and share family style. Looking forward to coming back and trying all the new items they come up with! read more

See all

We went here to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a lovely time! The interior was beautiful and although spacious, felt cozy. We were greeted by the most friendly waitress who we loved having as a part of our group for the evening. She made some amazing recommendations and we all loved our food. For starters, we split a roasted lamb and sweet potato dish. For entrees we split the calabaza asada (roasted squash) and a halibut. The calabaza asada was the star of the show - this was so well made and flavorful! I love the rotating menu and can't wait to come back! read more

See all

Went to Leña to celebrate a friend's birthday a couple nights ago. It's Dining In Detroit week through the 27th and the menu Leña has for it is fantastic: $55 for three courses. I'm glad I went with two friends because they had three entrees for dinner so we were able to try all three entrees. I had been curious about Leña since the opened so this was the perfect introduction. The food was delicious and in surprising ways, as in, we ended up really liking things that you didn't think would be that great. Like the chicken. I rarely even order chicken at a restaurant but the chicken at Leña was phenomenal. I really liked all the different sauces and attention to detail. Another detail I noticed, half the dining room was carpeted. Like someone actually cared about sound dampening. In Detroit. Yes, I'm as shocked as you. I will say that the service was slow at the beginning. Like waited 15 minutes for a glass of water slow from when we sat down slow. And they seemed a little disorganized with the regular menu and LDDD menu and the bottle menu but also the glasses menu. Not sure what was up with that but after the slow start it got a little better. Some of the pauses between courses was long and I'm glad we got a side bottle of cava while we waited. Despite whatever hiccups, I would come back and probably just get the chef's tasting and wine pairing. No thinking and just all the delicious food and wine. read more

See all

The food is amazing. The plates are small, tapas style. This is not the place to go if you are ravenous. This is the place to go if you want to taste incredibly savory, nuanced dishes. I went with four other people and we ordered about seven plates. That way we could all sample everything. We started with tinned fish and meatballs. I enjoyed the stuffed peppers, squash, octopus and we ended with the quail. Superb. My only criticism was there was no opportunity to order a side of bread. Bread would've been wonderful to help soak up the sauces in the dishes. I had a fabulous cocktail- the Fiesta Jardin- a spicy tequila based drink. Service was very attentive. I just loved this place and cannot wait to go back. read more

The food alone 10/10 , service was good but honestly they could have been rude and I would still come back. Thats how good the food was. (Not actually) but just to prove a point. Our server was wonderful so this was not a issue. Music and decor was light and airy and had a great vibe to it. Lena was such a delightful experience with friends. We ordered a bunch of plates to share and would highly recommend. Parking is a little difficult to find as most of the parking surrounding is residential but like I said, the food is worth it. We ordered a round of Herbal Gin & Tonics which were so refreshing and light. For Pintxos we ordered the bacalao, cangrejo, and croquetas which were all amazing. The stowshopper was the Hongitos ahumados(Summer mushrooms) and we loved them so much we ordered 2. Descriptions are on menus if you dont know what most of the items are (myself included). We also ordered the brocoli which was cooked to perfection. Crispy with a wonderful sauce on top. Ensalada verde was also nice and refreshing in between the appetizers and the main dish. For main dishes we got the bife a la brasa (a great flavored steak) and the chorizo de pollo. Both insanely good! Would highly recommend making a stop here if you are looking for something new and exciting. read more

See all

The food here is five stars, no question. The ambience is also very nice, the decor is cool, they play Latin music in the background, which is perfect and much appreciated. (It makes no sense why so many restaurants choose to play background music that has nothing to do with the cuisine, and actually detracts from the food, and the experience.) Every dish we had was so flavorful and inventive. Though they were out of three different things we attempted to order, and it was only 6 pm. But they are a new restaurant, so I'll cut them some slack there. But the service wasn't five star; it was hit or miss, at best. The hits, the beverage server was fantastic, (promote him!) another server came and cleared many of our dishes, and was very friendly. The manager/maitre d' was also really welcoming and helpful. He often was the one running our food and resetting our silverware and plates. I also recognized another server who used to work at SheWolf, who always took great care of us. I wish I had requested her section. The misses were the person at the host stand seemed kind of frazzled, though the restaurant wasn't very full, and not that welcoming. I'd like to think it's maybe because she's new. The other miss was our server, who was not at all welcoming, seemed not to know the menu, and literally never once asked how any of the dishes were. And it being a tapas style restaurant, she had ample opportunity. She also cleared our plates and silverware many times, never to return, so we had no utensils or plates when the food would arrive. That's when the maitre d' would reset our places immediately. The rest of the front of the house seemed very on top of things, and very nice as well, but our service took away from the experience. It would have been a coveted five-star review otherwise. For me, when you charge five star prices, you better have five star service to match. But the food is so fantastic, the best I can offer is some constructive criticism. And if you don't try the Arroz con Leche (rice pudding) you're really doing yourself a disservice. It's certainly the most whimsically plated dish, and a sleeper hit! read more

See all

I am not thrilled by Lena. First thing I noticed is that the tap water is not filtered. Also I was under the impression that is more of a fine dining but the design and feel is more like a cafeteria foe sandwiches and coffees. Our service was great,food was food also.A little bit on expensive side. read more

Leña - Steak ( $190) 10/10 - Spanish Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

See all

Great service and food, but we had to wait around 40 minutes or so to be seated even though we had a reservation. I understand it was opening week, but it would've been hospitable to have a complimentary round of champagne or something while waiting that long. The small gesture would've made a big difference in our dining experience. Grilled Octopus, mushroom toast, ceviche, stuffed squid, orange cake, and cañas, were among our favorites. Cheers read more

We are in the neighborhood and didn't feel like cooking. Luckily (and surprisingly) Leña had openings for us to grab a reservation on this beautiful Wednesday. Overall, we are glad they did! BLUF: flavors and vibes were fabulous. Timing of food could be better. Upon arrival, we were greeted by an airy but warm space with big glass windows and a friendly host. The restaurant has elements of your casual Catalonian family restaurant with modern/urban details and an open kitchen concept. There were lots of options to choose from. I was especially impressed with the cocktail and wine menu. I started with a specialty gin and tonic. Arguably one of the prettiest gin and tonics I've ever seen. Moving on to wine, I enjoyed the Monastrell with my entree. The wine list was diverse across taste preferences and price points with there being many reasonably priced bottles on the menu. As a party of 2, it was recommended we order 2-4 plates per person depending on the mix of dishes across Pinxtos, apps, and mains. We ended up with: Pinxtos - Octopus. Bacalao, sausage. All delicious. If anything, I'd skip the sausage and get double octopus next time. Or if they made it into a whole entree with the same flavors, I would not be mad. The octopus was cooked perfectly. Tortilla with Jamon - Tortilla espanola is one of my favorite Spanish tapas. This is one of the best I've had in both the U.S and Spain. It is very well seasoned and I enjoyed the addition of the leeks confit. Ensalada Verde - order if you want a nice fresh green bite. It was nice and refreshing between courses. As we were waiting for the entrees, we received a complimentary Pinxto of olives, anchovies and peppers. calamari Rellenos - super creative dish. I loved the different textures and sauces. If anything, this may be a bit salty for some palettes. Stuffed Hen - SO GOOD! I wanted a whole bowl of the chicken jus or some bread to sop it up. I was expecting a little more than just the breast for the price but the technique across all elements (jus, stuffing and sauces) were top notch. I will return but from the time we ordered to receiving our last plates was almost 2 hour due to kitchen delays. Pacing felt a little uneven/drawn out. This is to be somewhat expected with a newer establishment. The team (Kimberly and Gabriel) stopped by several times to apologize and ended up comping a few items on the bill. If this happened at an older establishment, I'd rate a 4/5. Hopefully on my next visit, the pacing will be a little better. read more

See all

Underwhelming for the prices that were charged. The ambiance was also lacking. Very plain. The food was ok, but very small portions for very high prices. read more

To celebrate two family birthdays, we managed to nab an early reservation at Leña on a Friday night. My husband had just read about their opening (just the previous weekend, I believe), and we love Spanish & tapas. It's in the Brush Park area & they had great easy options for parking in a very close-by garage (& they validated parking!). Interior is so fresh, bright & inviting, with the smell of their wood oven in the air. From the front door staff, to our server (Alicia--who was outstanding) & those who brought food, staff was very friendly & welcoming, clearly proud to be part of this wonderful new restaurant downtown. 2-3 dishes each for sharing is recommended, depending on sizes. Most pintxos (appetizers) are just a couple bites, but they were happy to add one for our group of 3. We started with cocktails, which were inventive & fun. Two of us had the Leña Sangria--so fresh & yummy, you'll want to drink them ALL day, husband had the La Reina, which he enjoyed. We had the Bacalao, so creamy & good, the Octopus & Scallion from the wood fire, & highly recommended by our server, smoky, grilled, tender, served on skewers. Then Patatas Bravas--theirs were so crispy & very nicely seasoned, served with bravas sauce & a dollop of fennel pollen on top of it. Coca, and we added the jamon--definitely the way to go! This was one of my absolute favorite dishes & I highly recommend it. Next, Grilled Snowpea Ensalada--so good. Gambas a La Plancha--HUGE prawns, so tender and delicious & they were happy to add a third to the plate for us. Followed by wipes & lemon slices--nice to clean up after the de-shelling seafood! Our final entree was the Swordfish (our servers favorite dish), which was on a skewer. The layering of all the flavors was just out of this world. The swordfish the most tender & flavorful I've ever had. Presentation on all the dishes was just beautiful & everything tasted even better than it looked! We shared a piece of the Spanish orange cake for desert--with a candle, as we were celebrating my husband's birthday that day, & our youngest daughter's was just 3 days prior. It was moist & delicious, such interesting flavors. While we were eating, the restaurant filled--pretty booked the rest of that Friday evening. We kidded we'd TRY to come back; mark my words, it's going to be difficult to get a reservation but weeknights earlier in the week will be a great option. We absolutely LOVED it. Thank you Leña, for a wonderful & memorable meal. . I swear we were glowing when we left.... read more

See all

Friday date night could not have been better on a snowy Friday night. We have been meaning to try Leña and made reservations on their website. We were welcomed warmly into their lovely restaurant. We were unsure where to park, and they let us know that we could park around the corner on a covered lot. Just park for up to three hours in your account and then scan the QR code at the reception desk in the restaurant and your parking will be validated. Ok, business over, now the food!!! We got a cocktail while we looked at the menu. Both were delicious. We decided to do to tasting menu, which did not disappoint. Five amazing courses were presented, too many tastes to talk about. Everything was amazing, our servers helped choose perfect wines, and also introduced us to Sherry! We tasted two with our dessert and we were thankful for the expert guidance. It was a lovely meal, and would be great to share dishes with friends. read more

See all

Our monthly dinner group of four came for dinner at the end of January. We had one severe nut allergy at our table. Service was very attentive and well informed. The dark sangria was fabulous. Will definitely be coming back for that. We ordered a small variety from each category on the menu. Everything is served tapas style. Anything with nuts (which is most of the menu, and Spanish cuisine) was served with nuts on the side. The standout dishes were the roasted squash and the basque cheesecake. We could not get enough of the squash! read more