first time at this restaurant and the food was amazing! Service was fantastic. Highly recommend ! Restaurant is so adorable

This one A&W drive-in has lived through many varied iterations to its current status. Let's start with service, shall we? I took a seat on the patio while I waited for my friend to arrive...and I waited a good 10 minutes for the server to bring menus and eventually water. When my friend arrived it was probably another 5 minutes before they came around again. My friend ordered an iced Chai and I stuck with water because they didn't offer brewed iced tea. (Note to restaurants: Stop getting the fake tea from the fountain pop machine! It tastes horribly.) There was only one server and a manager (or the owner). There weren't that many tables but it was noticeable their staff was stretched very thin. One we placed our order, it would be another 20 minutes before we'd see our food. Only after I stopped the manager when our food would come, he popped in and came right out with our dishes. The food failed. My friend ordered the Ropa Vieja Benedict and I had the steak scrambled. My friend stated the eggs and meat was cooked perfectly but the basil hollandaise sauce was made with mustard (powder) and he could barely take two bites before stopping. My steak scrambled was cold along the edges, the eggs, were cooked well, but the steak wasn't seasoned and even the salsa was bland. We had to flag down our server (again) because she failed to check on us, to ask for the checks. Thats when my friend said he wasn't going to take the food home nor did he think he should pay for it. Keep in mind this was just breakfast so I can't speak for all the other offerings but given this experience, we won't be back. read more

We ate here recently, and honestly, we won't be back. One of our two coffees came out wrong, even though the server repeated the order. My husband didn't want to make a fuss, so he just drank it. Then we waited about 20 minutes for our food, and when it finally arrived, my dish wasn't even the right one. I ordered the beef benedict -- pointed at it on the menu and watched her write it down -- but she brought out the veggie version instead. So I had to wait even longer for them to remake it. When the correct dish came, the beef lacked flavor and didn't add anything to the benedict. Super disappointing. The french toast was just okay - nothing amazing, and the bacon had no crisp at all. To top it off, our server never refilled our water, even though she refilled the tables around us. I ended up drinking my husband's water. Overall, the service was rough and the food wasn't worth the wait. Honestly surprised this place has such a high rating. read more

I had my first experience at Leela on 8 when I stopped in for lunch in their patio. The inside is smaller, so we opted to sit outside. From a service standpoint, that may have been a mistake - slower to get service/see our server, but we weren't in a huge rush. The lunch service overlaps the breakfast menu and some lunch items, but not the entire dinner menu (the back of the menu - a little confusing). I had the breakfast sandwich, which was pretty solid. I had hoped to order a burger that was only available during dinner, so I had to pivot. Positives: onsite parking, breakfast/lunch/dinner/coffee/alcohol menus, patio seating, small stage for live music. read more

We found this great spot for our date night. The outside seating patio was beautiful - filled with potted plants and flowers, hanging outdoor lights, and unique outdoor lawn decorations. As we entered, we were greeted right away by one of the friendly servers. We were there in time for happy hour and they had a great cocktail selection. I had the La Bonita Margarita - it was delicious!! We had the chicken wings with peach habanero sauce for our appetizer and it was crispy and juicy! We had the Tibs - highly recommended - and the salmon....both were flavorful and yummy. We had the strawberry cheesecake and it was dreamy! This was a great spot and we would definitely come again to try other items on their menu! read more

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This family owned spot on the corner of Old Hwy 8 and County Rd D is a "must try!" The service is personal. The interior is clean, interesting and relaxed. The owners have gone the extra mile on every detail and every ingredient! The chef has developed food curations that will surprise you. There is something that is a little "extra" yet subtle in every bite. read more

Leela on 8 - Bacon and Turtle Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

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I was feeling cooped up with all the snow and decided to venture out for some light shopping in Roseville! I noticed this spot on Google maps as a brunch place. I was craving breakfast and a mimosa, so I made my way over! I was specifically looking for a restaurant with a parking lot to avoid dealing with the snow emergency street parking rules. This charming spot hit all the checkboxes! Immediately upon pulling up, they have a nice large lot that wraps around the building, and a patio with a pergola that would be amazing in the summer! I walked in and was greeted right away and told to pick any table. A small interior with quite a large bar. The style of the interior reminded me of early 2000s bistro kitchen decor. It was warm and inviting. Even during a snowstorm, this place had several patrons! I decided on the Vegetarian Benedict with mushrooms and a regular Mimosa. Service was very fast and friendly! The hollandaise was mustard forward, which was a pleasant surprise. I love tangy sauces to pull the meal together! The eggs were poached perfectly, and I was able to use the sauce and egg yolk to dip the hashbrowns in. The hashbrowns themselves were also perfectly crispy. Hot sauce and other condiments were offered. Overall, a great spot! I will definitely be back to try other menu items and update my review! read more

Leela on 8 - Veggie Benedict & Mimosa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

It is wonderful to see how Leela on 8 has expanded their menu and services since they first opened, and the new outdoor seating area looks great. My friend and I enjoyed lunch inside yesterday, on Wednesday, because it was quite humid; the young woman who served us was so friendly and pleasant, which made for a wonderful experience. However, when I returned for an outdoor happy hour this Thursday afternoon with a couple of friends, the service was quite different. While our server completed his tasks, there was a noticeable sense of distraction and tension that made the experience feel less welcoming. I understand that life outside of work can sometimes carry over, but maintaining a consistent, professional level of service really makes a difference. I hope this feedback is helpful, as I've truly enjoyed my other visits. read more

We had the breakfast burrito and lasagna and both were amazing. The place was cozy and classy, and the service was great. I highly recommend everything about Leela on 8. Tip: Climbing the hill to get into the parking lot freaked me out a bit but then I realized I just needed to go around the corner, and I could have just driven in. It was well worth the visit. We'll be back! read more

Leela on 8 - A picture of the front of the restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

Yummy brunch and very good coffee. Nice energy and people. Cozy bustling space. Look forward to patio season! read more

Leela on 8 is wonderful!!! Great food, great service, great ambiance. The atmosphere is so comfortable and the staff are very professional and courteous. I've been here several times since my move to New Brighton a month ago and have never been dissatisfied. read more

The service was okay. The food was okay. We had their Ultimate Grilled Cheese. One pleasant surprise was crunchy cheese cooked right into the outside of the bread. Other than that, I'm sort of surprised by the high reviews. I thought it was just okay and not good enough to get me to return instead of trying other area restaurants. read more

Had the pleasure of visiting this little gem of a restaurant in New Brighton! Having been only open for 2 months they are serving some of the most flavorful breakfast food I've had in a while and at affordable prices! The breakfast burrito was soo delicious- definitely a little heat esp with the chipotle mayo - also really big! The strawberry,banana , blueberry French toast was also perfection because they added the right amount of Nutella drizzle on top!! Coffee is endless and strong but best of all the manager is so kind and nice and I'm hoping to visit again to try their lunch or dinner!! The patio looks super inviting in the warmer months- I will definitely add this to my weekend brunch spots ! read more

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I've been here twice and I really enjoyed everything both times. It's very small inside but very cute. The staff is friendly but keeps it moving and the food is incredible. I'm vegetarian and thy have some good options that have amazing flavors which is sometimes challenging at other restaurants. My boyfriend got a burger and he really enjoyed that as well. read more

This is the first time time I try this place. I always see it when I drive by and decided to give it a try. I came during frunce time and went for the French toast with banana strawberries and Nutella. The combination is delicious! You do need to put a lot of syrup so the French toasts don't eat dry. They are still tasty but could definelty use some improving in moistness so it doesn't eat so dry. Service was good and the ambiance is very fun. They do have a small space inside but they have a big patio. read more

Stopped in for Happy Hour tonight. I had a NORDEAST ($5) & a Shrimp Scampi Flatbread pizza. ($8) My male server was very attentive as he handled the bar area. I would say the food was a pretty good, service was excellent & the value was also pretty good during Happy Hour, they were out of the steak bites which I will get the next time I am in. I would recommend this little restaurant for a Happy Hour Stop. read more

Pleasantly surprised and I'm sure more is on the way with them eventually offering dinner and drinks. This is the former Barley John's location that I noticed last night as we drove home from northern soda. The food was very good I tried ropa vieja Benny which was good and I can honestly say I've never had an eggs Benedict like this before. It had tender Latin flavored beef (similar to birria). It was very good. My wife had the veggie omelet, and my son the breakfast burrito. The burrito was awesome and had great flavors. Paige our server was great and she handled all the tables herself. She did a fantastic job and was very friendly. Great patio for outdoor eating, the inside is kind of small with four or five bar seats. And a handful of booths and tables. Lovely new spot to try as the have been open just shy of a month. read more

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Cozy and friendly little restaurant! I was running some errands in the area and used Yelp for its intended purpose by searching Eggs Benedict because that's what my hankering was for. That brought me here and I was able to try out a very intriguing take on that dish! Theirs is called Ropa Vieja Benedict and has shredded beef and a Hollandaise that has a unique mustardy tang. It came with unusually light hash browns that I really liked; people who avoid hash browns for reasons of greasiness are likely to tolerate these. They have a lot of breakfast and lunch options, plus a small dinner menu for when they are open that late. It feels like a breakfast place, though. I came in at noon on a Sunday and they didn't seem overly busy - I sidled up to one of several available tables - but it still took longer to be served than I was expecting. My server was nonetheless very charming and I'll definitely return here. read more

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Stumbled upon this place and were really pleased. Easily accommodated a group of 8 of us. Food was delicious and service was super friendly. Definitely recommend! read more

This cute little Cuban fusion American brunch place is totally a gem! The owner is super nice and was very friendly telling us about the place, the food and the art on the wall. He mentioned that they will open for dinner hours in the near future. The location is great on a corner of a busy intersection. The only thing is that indoor seating is a little small. But once the weather gets nice out, they have an amazing patio for outdoor seating, with lots of plants! I love their food, sandwiches, breakfast food with a Cuban twist. Really good portion for the price as well. Will definitely come back! read more

Leela on 8 - Cuban meat eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

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First time trying this place out. Used to be the A&W when I was a kid. Nicely decorated inside and A LOT of outdoor seating. Very inviting atmosphere. I had a steak sandwich that was very tasty. My fiancé had a BLT that she loved with avocado. The food was delicious, service was good but the place was freezing. Water refill and some extra napkins would have been nice but very nice waiter. The condiment tray was a little to be desired. Would you want to eat hot sauce out of the pictured bottle? Yuck. Price are a bit on the high end but food was good. Will for sure try again sometime. read more

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Expectations not met. Calling a place Cuban American just because they have Ropa Vieja Benedict on the menu is a gross misrepresentation. If it hadn't said Cuban on the description we would not have come. Food is edible, not mind blowing. Hash-Browns came out cold. Kid enjoyed it pancake. Service is friendly, and efficient, the space is cute and clean, decor is maybe Cuban. The patio would have been nice on a slightly warmer day. I would not call the sauce on the Benedict hollandaise I believe it to be mayo with some lemon juice and spices. The "Ropa" is just shredded beef, no onions, peppers or spices. Nothing else on the menu is remotely Cuban. read more

Finally an awesome spot in this old location! Variety on the menu, including breakfast, lunch and dinner!...can't wait til the weather is good to try the patio! If you're in New Brighton, screw The Exchange and head towards Leela on 8!!! read more

Fun little spot for breakfast/brunch. The owner was out interacting with the guests and was very friendly. The food was very good and reasonably priced. read more

Finally stopped in for weekday breakfast after driving by for months. So happy I did! Upon entering, you're greeted with a pleasant and eclectic palette of colors and design elements. Intimate, quirky, low-key elegant, comfortable, somewhat cozy. They appear to have a full bar. One staff member manning the front of the house. I got The Classic: eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast. The food was unremarkable but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There was no salt and pepper on the tables but, again, not necessarily a bad thing. Service was friendly and unobtrusive. A neighborhood gem flying under the radar that I'll definitely be back to. read more

Really great ambiance. The decor and music is a great vibe. Very calming, relaxing and charming, and CLEAN! Definitely treat yourself their amazing coffee. I had the veggie omelette with the mayo on the side. Very fresh and tasty. Not greasy, the hash browns were perfectly done. My husband had the French today with blueberries, also very good. Our server was very sweet, and attentive. We will be back. It's nice to have this spot so close to home! read more

Leela on 8 - Veggie omelette with the basil mayo on the side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

The omelet had fresh veggies, a touch of a tasty sauce, perfectly done hash browns and toast. What an amazing little gem. Our service was great even though he was busy. We never had to ask for anything. He was ready to take our order, made a pot of decaf coffee for my friend and kept topping it off. The outdoor seating was really nice and our server kept moving our table out of the sun so we would be comfortable. I took a peak inside and loved the colors and artwork that was there. It was bright, clean and airy with tables and bar seating. Will share this place with others for sure! read more

Leela on 8 - Veggie omelet with hash browns and toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

The breakfast burrito doesn't disappoint. It's a great little neighborhood spot that's worth supporting.

I don't normally leave reviews, but Leela on 8 was such a fantastic and unexpected experience that I just had to. I had a double espresso and the Eggs Benedict with Ropa Vieja (shredded beef). The espresso was smooth and sharp, with a lovely crema. The Benedict was expertly prepared with a crisp base, well seasoned and tender meat, perfect poached egg, and a homemade hollandaise that was to die for. I will definitely be coming back in the future! read more

Good hot flavorful coffee. Perfectly cooked poached eggs, well seasoned shredded beef and Basil Hollandaise , seasoned crispy yet soft hash browns... Attentive, friendly service with a smile.. Recommend and return! read more

Fantastic breakfast! Best veggie omelette I ever had. Included Gouda cheese and a basil mayo. Yum. Hubby had Ropa Vieja Benedict and he said, "We are coming back for sure!" Fresh looking, great waiter.. read more

Loved every part of this place. Friendly smile and welcome on arrival, service timed perfectly. I ordered the Ultimate Grilled Cheese -- and it was! Buttery and Parmesan crusted toast, cheesy and loaded with tasty shredded beef and caramelized onions. Almost a patty melt but 10 times better. I used to review and write about food/restaurants/travel back (way back) in the day -- and this would have hit all the high marks. A great warm, cozy and colorful vibe. I'll be back. read more

Our server was so sweet. Leela's is really great. The space is super cute. The Ropa Benny was phenomenal! read more

Leela on 8 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

Nice place with delicious food and great service. Eggs Benedict and pancakes were fresh and tasty. The place was super clean and cozy. read more

Leela on 8 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

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Everything really good, would definitely recommend this place. Nice beautiful interior, has a bar, and outside sitting. The service was quick and fast. Food was wonderful! And yes they do accept Amex read more

Excellent food and great prices. Great atmosphere and outdoor seating too. Now serving dinner. read more

Leela on 8 - Evening Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

The big window makes the restaurant cold in the winter. Otherwise it's a small nice spot that you should check out.

I never leave reviews because hey it's just food right ? Well I tried leaving a comment on google but it wouldn't let me . I see all the rave about the food and the food is fire but what I seen will probably force me not to ever come back .. we were here for lunch me and 2 friends .. I had the black and blue . My friend had the mushroom and Swiss and the chicken buffalo wrap which was excellent meat was cooked perfectly loaded with mushrooms and onions , fries were the best , but Anton our server . How are you gonna stand in the corner of the restraunt , eat with your hands wipe your mouth, not wash your hands and then go to tables pouring water with your mouth full of.. I never once seen you wash your hands after using your hands to eat and wipe your mouth.. this is how ppl get sick .. we won't be back read more

The best breakfast burrito I have ever had. Service was also great. Overall wonderful experience. read more

Leela on 8 - Best breakfast burrito I have ever had! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Brighton, Minnesota

I never write online reviews, but this was a really great experience! The food was delicious, and the service was fantastic! They were even friendly and caring for our dog as we ate outside on the patio. Try it, you'll like it! I know we will definitely be back - often! read more