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Leiah

4.4 (35 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Leiah Photos

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LEIAH ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Leiah

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Entryway
Aya R.

TLDR: Major skimping on ingredients, some inedible items, very limited options for dietary needs, food not as described by the menu, but excellent pastrami. The order: Beets and bees salad, lunch special with wagyu pastrami, Leiah's greens, and mascarpone, pear salad with chicken, antipodes water The review: Welp, my favorite part of the meal was the antipodes sparkling water. After calling in advance and being assured of many gf lunch options, there actually were next to none. Upon entering, the place smells like a pungent cheese rind. When I tried to order different things, they told me that they were saving the food for dinner service, even though it was on the lunch menu. We ordered salads, and they did not have the components as described by the menu. The dressing on Leiah's greens was very astringent and thoroughly soaked into the greens to the point of being inedible, but the chef refused to adjust it in any way. The greens in the salads were old, and I had to remove the slimy bits. The chicken was rather dry, but I'll give them their flowers--the tiny bit of squash on the side, delectable. The mascarpone - yum. The pastrami - fantastic; I would get this and only this. (I stole some from my friend's plate). Upon attempting to communicate the issues, the server was very kind, but the worst part was that while we were the only ones in the restaurant, the owner/chef watched the whole debacle, and communicated with us via the poor server. Perhaps this can become a primarily pastrami-focused endeavor?

Men's Royal Toilet Room
Joe S.

This was more Jar Jar than Leia, if I'm being honest. We had high hopes in dining here, but it fell flat. The food was mostly good, but other than one lone dish, nothing had a wow factor... This will probably go the way of Alderaan! We arrived for an early dinner to an empty restaurant, and they sat us right by the window... in direct sunlight! It was uncomfortable AF so I asked if we could switch tables you would have thought I asked for Leiah's brother Lukeh to carve roast Taun-Taun table side or something. They did move us to a shady table after some huffing and puffing. Nice welcome! (eye roll) We decided on the 8 course tasting and it was a mixed bag for sure. The soup was good but very heavy on the butter and salt. The other courses had some pluses and minuses. The Waygu Potato was one of the better dishes, as was the steak dish. The star was Sea Bass which was absolutely gorgeous and delicious. It was a "tad" overdone and didn't completely melt in your mouth, but it was still 5 stars on its own. And there was plenty of food that even Jabba would have been satisfied (volume wise). The ambiance was completely ruined by a table of schlubs that waltzed in and sat at the table closest to us (of course right). They had shopping bags, were wearing t-shirts and sweatpants, and were loud and annoying. It just sucks if you try and go out for a nice dinner, you can't feel any sense of elegance when stuff like this happens. Maybe it was because it was during magical dining so people could get a cheap meal or something, but maybe they should skip that next year. I don't know if they have a dress code, and maybe I shouldn't complain, but it's something to think about. C'mon... sweatpants? We weren't at the Creature Cantina... It was a place that's "Fine Dining" (according to them, not me), no less. More Cloud F'ing City vibes, please!!! You could tell even the servers were peeved by this table, but kudos to them as they tended to us, talked about the wine pairings, and made the experience as good as it could be. They were Stormtroopers and kept up with the task, even as the restaurant filled up. Between us and the server, you could definitely see three PO'd people (C3PO was a stretch there, right?). Sadly, I don't think a return trip here is in the future. Unless I come back in short cut jean shorts with the pockets showing, my sleeveless flannel half-shirt, and untied black high-top Chuck Taylors watching questionable Tik-Tok videos with the sound at full volume. Let's see how far we can push the envelope, right? And let's smell like Chewbacca while we're at it. Oh, and the table where we sat originally... you know, the one in the direct blinding sunlight that would have free'd Han Solo's frozen Carbonite body... when we left, it was in the shade as the sun hid behind the downtown skyline... and was still empty as it was the entire time we were there!

Menu 11/19/25
Brooke T.

I met an old friend for lunch at Leiah. It truly felt like an elevated experience that you don't find in downtown Orlando. It's the perfect place for business meetings to wine and dine clients. I had a great bread service -- more butter please! I opted for the homemade fettuccini pasta with a lemon cream sauce. Outstanding. I finished my lunch with a cappuccino. Yes I know it's after 10AM but I like what I like! Will come back. Would love to try their dinner menu.

Beets+Bees
Steve A.

What a great addition this is to the downtown Orlando dining scene. Whether you're going for an à la carte meal or the excellent tasting menus available at both lunch and dinner, this is a refined and complex alternative to a lot of the more pedestrian food available downtown. The chef here has obviously put a lot of thought into the recipes, and quite a few things were standouts for their sophistication. - The shrimps ceviche starter was wonderfully balanced with great acidity and just the right amount of seasoning. - The beets + bees salad is a real standout with generous helpings of multicolored beets, feta cheese, and a delightful vinaigrette dressing. - The Parmesan pasta could have used a little more seasoning or complexity but was very good if you're a pasta lover. - My preference was the extraordinary Wagyu pastrami, which was just as good as it sounds. A spicy rhyme of peppery coating made it perhaps the best pastrami I've ever tasted, and since it was Wagyu, the meat itself was extraordinarily tender and flavorful without being fatty or overly rich. There's an extensive list of wines with quite a few of them available by the glass. Service was friendly, and I enjoyed talking with the chef after the meal to discover that it takes a week to make the pastrami and that their bread is delivered fresh every morning. A great experience that I'm sure will return. Note that Google has this location marked incorrectly on their map. It's not on the side street, it's right on Magnolia.

Beet+Bees. Red beets, golden beets, goat cheese, mixed greens, radish, crushed pistachio, pollen. Very good
Leyang Z.

A newly opened fine dining restaurant in downtown Orlando. The restaurant is just next-door to my hotel so I went there for lunch. The lunch menu features some tapas, salad, sandwiches and pastas. Even though the dinner is pricy, the lunch is pretty affordable. I got the beet+bees salad and the wagyu pastrami sandwich. Both dishes were good. At $18, the salad was really generous in portion size, the beets were fresh, and I liked the ground pistachio+pollen, which added delightful flavors to it. However, it was served with mixed greens instead of kale and had no pickled onions, as what the menu described. Plus, they forgot to put the dressing on the side as I requested (they remade it after I pointed it out). The wagyu pastrami was great. The meat was smoky, tender, had balanced fat and lean, and the sourdough was chewy and crispy. However, they forgot to do without sauce as I requested. Plus, I waited for nearly 35min for the sandwich, not knowing that I must inform the server "I am ready for the sandwich" before the kitchen made it. At the end the restaurant took off the salad from my check. Overall, the food was good and deserve trying. I could see that my server was trying to do a good job and I appreciate her effort, but the service does have a lot to improve. Since this is a new restaurant I still give 5 stars. Hopefully they will do a better job next time I visit it.

Mascarpone
Ornella G.

We had such a lovely date night at Leiah! Easily found street parking, but there is a parking lot right next door for convenience. The restaurant is on the smaller side, which we didn't mind and I enjoyed seeing the chefs work their magic. Every entree was served like art, the aesthetics are definitely there. The tomato bisque was one of the best we ever had! We enjoyed our sea bass and filet and ended the night with some perfectly light mascarpone and a fruity mango brûlée. For now they are wine only, had a great Pinot noir! Paul our server was excellent.

Filet entree with parsnip puree - husband really liked it
Angel I.

Tried Leiah's magical dining menu. The restaurant has an elevated and warm vibe with it's small and dimly lit restaurant that has an open kitchen concept. The staff was warm with a very friendly host that greeted us. Our server and wait staff was nice, although our server seemed a bit stretched thin. The dishes are beautiful but I was just unfortunately hoping for more punch and complexity with the flavors. My husband and I noted that it was a bit underwhelming. For example, the fish entree was bland yet too fishy and paired with a carrot puree that didn't seem to match and the beet salad could have used a flaky salt. If you try Leiah though we highly recommend the filet and also the crème brûlée- they were the standouts.

Christina S.

Chef Omar did such a phenomenal job with this place! Everything was handpicked and chosen with his family in mind. The butterflies are for his daughter, Leiah. The food was absolutely amazing, and my favorite was the lobster bisque! It was salty and creamy and it was just an explosion of flavor on your palette. It was absolutely delectable. I requested an abnormal cook on my steak as I am super picky, and he executed it to perfection!! The dessert was a beautiful chocolate mousse with fruit inside, and it was very light to follow with the heavy meal. The restaurant is very beautiful and the service is wonderful. They currently are doing wine pairings and they have Coke, Diet Coke, as well as espresso. I wish him lots of luck in this new endeavor!

Chicken sandwich
Annie K.

Great family restaurant. It is a small cozy area with everything hand made by a chef cooked organic and in wagyu flavor. I ordered off the lunch menu. All of the dishes listed were sandwiches with wagyu flavored fries. A little on oily side and did take awhile to make. The chicken was more of a flatbread with melted cheese and microgreens. This is a good date night place but not a quick bite to eat.

Mascarpone dessert
Rebecca V.

Holy heart eyes! This restaurant is an unassuming gem in downtown Orlando near Lake Eola. The staff were fantastic from start to finish, explaining the menu with care and passion for the chef's concept and inspiration taken from his youngest daughter. My party did the 4 course which was paced beautifully for a meaningful dining experience out with friends. I'm baffled that there are negative reviews for this place at all because everyon in my party agreed that this was in the top 3 meals we've ever had. We were searching for the michelin star, but alas, they don't have one YET. If you're looking for a quick, cheap bite, Leiah is probably not for you. Also, take note that the restaurant takes inspiration from cultures around the world, not only in the cuisine itself but it certainly does not glorify the quickness of getting in, eating, and getting out that other American restaurants do. This is a place to sit back, unwind, and let your servers treat you to an EXPERIENCE. If you're looking for an elegant, intimate, flavorful, and decadent dining experience, MAKE THE RESERVATION NOW. The lobster bisque was my favorite. My friend loved the freshness of the beet salad. The potato foam was like a mashed potatoes but whipped to the lightest and fluffiest texture imaginable. The tortellini and its sauce was packed with fully developed flavor and the pasta was perfectly cooked. The fish and filet mignon entrees were well sized and so good - one in my party said it was his favorite course and the best steak he's ever had. The dessert was super fresh and delicate but well balanced - as a Hawaiian, I haven't had good papaya on the mainland til I had this dish. Overall, incredibly well done meal. We will be back!

Pasta
Katie R.

Amazing experience! This is a small spot next to a Starbucks off a main road. Street parking. We chose the $185 8 course pp. It was our 7th anniversary. I like the gold flatware and ambiance. The entry doorway lights were out ( broke ) and if you make a reservation online, they try to have you pay ahead of time in full, which I didn't like. So, instead we made a reservation over the phone but, when we showed up it was fine but, they didn't seem to realize we had chosen the 8 course so, I crossed my fingers they were prepared for us. They had no problem , so that was nice! Constant refills on the water, great check ins at the table to see if we needed anything and great descriptions upon serving. For our anniversary, we got a little chocolate banner added to the desert. Since we were paying for the highest service, we had hoped maybe a glass of champagne or dessert wine with our meal but, nothing additional for special evenings here. CONS- I do think they need short table cloths, as the silverware kept spinning and sliding. We also had little gnats that would not leave the light by our table. We kept turning it off but then it was too dark. Welcome to FL though. Lol! Not really easy to control. Could have enjoyed maybe a louder ambient jazz music or a small bread crisp to start or truffle candy for additional dessert or something. Maybe even a mint, as those little "extras" really do make for a full experience. I had a friend eat here and her menu was delivered in an envelope with a wax seal, so I had expected that but, didn't have that. Maybe it's for another menu. One note on the seabass. It would have paired better with an acid, not yet another sweet puree. Perhaps grits with a balsamic and tomato ;) even maybe some capers or small scallops. It was just a little too much squash in each dish but still yummy! Otherwise, I was impressed with the presentation and flavors.

Narenda C.

Leiah is a new restaurant that just opened up and is in its soft opening phase in downtown Orlando towards the north quarter. We came on a Thursday night at 6pm for dinner so street parking was pretty easy and free during this time. The server asked us if we wanted lunch or dinner which confused us initially but she explained it a bit further. During soft opening at dinner time you can order a la carte from the lunch menu or opt in for a discounted tasting menu for dinner. The tasting menu is $85 and includes 6 courses and a wine pairing is included. The tasting menu sounded like a good deal so we chose it. First glass was Chardonnay with an octopus ceviche. The ceviche was decent, they provided lemons which definitely added an acidity that was much welcomed. Second course was a very rich lobster bisque. It was unfortunately way too over salted. Could've used some bread to soak up some of the richness. This course came with a second pouring of Chardonnay. Third course was a salad with blue cheese, walnuts, apples, and vinaigrette dressing. Good mid course to set up the main. Fourth course was a fettuccini dish with white sauce, shrimp, capers, green olives and a healthy dose of garlic that complimented well with the glass of Cabernet that accompanied it. Only drawback here was that the pasta was slightly undercooked, but still tasty. Firth course was a snapper over cavatelli red pasta with delicious mushrooms sprinkled in. Best dish of the night by far. The last course was dessert; it was a mascarpone with pistachios and plum. Delicious ending to the tasting menu. Overall, the service was fantastic. The server was friendly and accommodating and the chef came out to explain a few of the dishes as well. The dishes could use a few tweaks to really make the food elite but the overall value was really good and would return again in the future once they fully open and make a few adjustments. Food: 4 stars Service: 5 stars

Prime filet mignon parsnip puree w/ chimichurri
Felicia K.

Walked with no reservation at 4:30pm greeted by a welcoming staff. Seated right away with our choice where we wanted to sit. The gentleman pulled out my chair for me. Water was poured. Request started here are menus and what will we be drinking tonight. The atmosphere is moody and simple elegant. We were here to experience the magical dining menu. The wine list is simple. I was aloud to sample some wines before deciding on a clean&simple Napa Sauvignon Blanc. I order tomatoes bisque soup that was so deeply layered robust soup with a symphony of flavors that unfold in every spoonful. Second course Bees&Beet salad the creaminess of the aged goat cheese with delicate bloom of fennel pollen and the earthy richness of the pistachios drizzled with honey varjus that lingers with lightness. Thor's course Sea Bass a poached sea bass served over a silky carrot puree with thinly sliced of zucchini finished with a crown of glistening salmon roe. Truffle tortellini home made pasta delicately filled with creamy Brie, fontina and aged Parmesan reggiano and earthly shaved black truffle a luxurious balance of richness and elegance. A smooth rich buttery flavor of thick whipped cream. The pears and pistachio added a nutty elegance and and subtle crunch the wine brought in a crisp aromatic notes. The crème brûlée this tropical endulgance of layers of silky richness of the classic custard with the vibrant ripe mango with perfect carmelized sugar. The subtle fruit notes balance sweetness and acidty in each spoonful. The presentation is so sophisticated drama, playful, with a depth of subtle nuances, it was a beautiful experience. Choose!

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23 days ago

Love the place! So cozy and nice music. A nice place to relax and hide from everybody lol

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15 days ago

Amazing food and everything is artistically done. Had four course meal and was not disappointed!

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Everything was intentional and very beautifully presented. The food was amazing and the wine pairing was perfectly balanced.

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(1.4k reviews)

$$

International Drive / I-Drive

Walked in and sat at the bar, was immediately greeted by Jalen who was very attentive even though…read morehe was clearly busy. He still went above and beyond to make sure I was receiving excellent customer service. I wasn't sure what wine to order but he helped me choose. The pork chops are to die for! 10/10

We stopped into Cooper's Hawk for a late lunch, and it turned out to be the perfect casual dining…read moreexperience. Importantly in that area, there was plenty of free parking in a large lot behind the restaurant. It was a beautiful day in Orlando, so we chose to sit outside. The patio was shaded, comfortable, and a great spot to relax. I did take a peek inside and loved the vibe of their Napa-style tasting room and wine shop. It's definitely a cool place to hang out and enjoy a glass or two, but today was only about lunch for us. I ordered the pretzel-crusted pork chop, and it did not disappoint. Even though it was the lunch portion, it was plenty of food. The maple glaze added the perfect touch of sweetness, the mashed potatoes were rich and buttery, and the roasted broccolini was cooked perfectly. The bits of candied bacon were a flavorful addition. Our server was super friendly and an absolute pleasure to work with, which made the meal even better. We already have another trip to Orlando planned this month, and Cooper's Hawk is definitely on our list to visit again. Cheers!

Leiah - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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