I had wanted to try Leon's at Lake Ella and just hadn't been able to get there on the right day. We were so fortunate that we decided to take a chance on a Saturday just one short hour before closing time. The weather was beautiful and we snagged a lovely lakeside table. Our lunch was beyond expectations! The She Crab and Tomato bisques were savory, filling, and hearty enough to eat as a standalone. Paired with the sandwiches, they satisfied our tummy with enough leftover for dinner too. The Fried Green Tomato sandwich was a perfect blend of savory and sweet with the tomato jam kissing the Rosemary Focaccia and the Boursin cheese added a nice bite. The Grilled Cheese sandwich brought us back to our childhood but better, with an adult flavor profile for refined palates. Shhh don't tell Mom. The level of care, expertise, and love that goes into each of these dishes, shines through each and every bite. We had the pleasure of enjoying Chef Leon's food at a local charity event. We were fortunate to snag a very coveted lunch spot. The restaurant is going through some changes and is currently not serving lunch BUT Chef Leon is offering soup orders on a regular basis. My goodness! I can just put all of my pots and pans away and order directly from him. I look forward to what Chef Leon has planned for us next. Be sure to follow him on Facebook to stay up to date on his plans and to get alerted to his next date for soup orders. I AM CERTAIN THAT WHATSVER Chef Leon has planned, it will be worth the wait. read more

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Closed. Hope he reopens in Tally. Use to be a good spot on lake Ella to eat. Sad to see this chef owned/operated eatery close. read more

Absolutely Five Stars! The menu changes very often. Leon is personally here most of the time making sure that everything is done to perfection. You could even sit under an oak tree facing lake Ella as you have your meal. Excellent idea, Leon! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - Have your meal under an oak tree. - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Sporadic open/close. Maybe do better with communicating on social media and post your actual times of operation. Would have loved to eat here. read more

As someone who went to school here for four years, I have never had food quite like this in the Tallahassee area. I came back to visit Tallahassee recently, and I'm sad this restaurant wasn't here when I went to school at FSU because WOW; it was actually incredible. I could tell everything I ate was meticulously sourced and made with care. The Shrimp and Gritz sandwich was phenomenal and was definitely my favorite thing I had. All the different flavors in this sandwich came together perfectly, and made something truly unique. The fries that came with it were perfectly crispy and seasoned perfectly. The She-Crab soup was something that could surely be proudly served at a high-end restaurant. And the Pork Belly Bao was also great. The service was also equally phenomenal, the staff were all very friendly. Leon's is easily the best restaurant in Tallahassee, and it's definitely a must for anyone in town. I'll be looking forward to visiting Tallahassee again a little more next time. read more

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Leon's at Lake Ella has destroyed my life and I'm grateful I'm writing this from the parking lot because I refuse to leave. The she crab soup has fundamentally broken my brain chemistry. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to make food this good - someone should call the authorities. I've already planned my funeral and I want to be buried with a bowl of this soup. The fried green tomato sandwich has made me question every life choice I've ever made. Why did I waste years eating other food? Why didn't I move to Tallahassee sooner? I'm having an existential crisis in the best possible way. This sandwich owns my soul now and frankly, I'm fine with it. And that focaccia - Jesus Christ, what did you DO to this bread? It's like if angels decided to get into baking but also had a vendetta against my self-control. I ate three pieces and regret nothing. I would fight a bear for another slice. I'm going to have to start a support group for people whose lives have been ruined by Leon's. We'll meet weekly to cry about how nothing will ever taste this good again. The owner should be arrested for crimes against my taste buds and also given a Nobel Prize. Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow. And the day after. Forever.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Had lunch at Leon's at Lake Ella! So delicious. What a gem. Leon knows how to meld flavors that complement and enhance each other. Don't miss out on trying this incredible place Blackened shrimp & grits sandwich w/ fried green tomatoes Lamb ragu pasta Fried green tomato sandwich w/ she crab soup Ooey Gooey cake Everything was flavorful and superb read more

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Was finally able to have lunch here today, and I think this is going to be my favorite place in town for lunch. The weather was perfect for sitting outside, with the beautiful view of Lake Ella. Even the African Moscovy ducks wandering around added to the ambience! The food was very good, especially the She-Crab Soup and both the salads and Cuban Sandwich. I think Tallahasse has a new super chef! I'm actually going back again tomorrow...! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - View of Lake Ella... - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Leon's was such a delight. I went twice and had the pork belly on buns I think it's called apre? I have read that Leon's is no more. I hope he finds another restaurant. I missed having his specials . His food was a cut above! read more

Really tasty food in a lovely outdoor setting. The restaurant is small with only a handful of tables inside, but there is a large outdoor area by the lake with lots of tables. You order inside at the counter and then find a seat. I tried the shrimp and grits. It was the best I've had in this town. Shrimp was perfectly cooked and spiced. Grits were delicious. Dining companions had the Green Goddess BLT, Caesar salad, kid quesadilla, and blue cheese chicken fettuccine. The kid raved about the BLT and the rosemary bread. For drinks, they have fountain Coca Cola products. We were offered refills, which I always appreciate. They seem to run out of menu items fairly quickly. We were there at noon on Sunday (1 hour into lunch service) and they were out of fries, tomato soup, and pork belly, and Bao buns. We will be back to try other things soon and hopefully Bao buns will be on the menu. read more

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Leon's at Lake Ella is just the type of cafe spot that we would seek out when traveling. We like local places that aren't chain restaurants. So we can enjoy meals the locals have access to. Leon is Chef Leon Brunson and he is as personable, courteous and welcoming as you imagine he would be after seeing him compete on Hulu's Secret Chef program in 2023. The food options are easy to understand but the tastes are complex enough that at first blush you think I can make that at home but it won't have that incredible taste profile one you taste it for yourself. We have been several times and are trying to work our way thru the menu. I recommend the soup flite, a trio of delicious soups, chief among them the she crab and tomato soups. Even in summertime, these soups are a total delight. The Caesar salad is an ample accompaniment. The dressing is so light and gives the perfect nuance to the Parmesan, romaine and cracked black pepper. On another visit, we ordered the Carolina Gold BBQ Smoked Chicken Sandwich, the mushroom bisque and the Smoked Pork Belly Bao Buns. All delicious, filling and lovely plate presentations. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Leon's Lake Ella location benefits from a lovely lakeside tree canopy that helps with the heat that accompanies the outdoor seating. It is very likely you will see Chef Leon as it seems he makes his way around the interior and exterior to visit his guests. You can also see him hard at work as well, carting things inside the restaurant. You get the sense there is nothing he isn't willing to do here. We wondered why there are so few tables inside the restaurant. When you see the line to order build in a matter of minutes, you understand that there is a shortage of space for too many tables when so many people are waiting to order. Staff are as pleasant and helpful as chef Leon himself. We sure hope this restaurant sticks around for a long time to let as many people enjoy his fine meals!! We recommend and will return. read more

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My sister informed me of this place. I finally took the plunge and went there for lunch (on my own). Situated at Lake Ella; beautiful/peaceful scenery. The establishment has a small in-door seating space, but tables are set up outside with full view of the lake - and the ducks! (Don't feed the ducks). :o) I chose to eat inside; the server was nice and on-point in explaining some of the dishes. When I asked for a recommendation, he mentioned the blackened shrimp and grit sandwich, but it was just hard for me to imagine grits on a sandwich! Maybe next time! I eventually decided on the Mojo butter smoked wings, along with a Caesar salad. The wings were melt-in-your-mouth delicious! The chef is amazing and I will certainly plan to return to enjoy some of the other mouth-watering dishes. Kudos to the chef!!! read more

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You must MUST try the pork belly bao buns. They are some of the best I've ever tasted and I wish we had gotten two orders of them. The she crab soup is also to die for, perfectly creamy and the seafood flavor not too overpowering. Between the shrimp and grits and fried green tomato sandwich, we both preferred the fried green tomato sandwich. The jam on it adds the perfect flavor with the tomatoes, though it was a bit on the saltier side. Although the sandwiches were both good, I'd say the standouts were the bao and soup. We got there around 11:15am on a beautiful Saturday morning and only waited about 15 min to order and there were plenty of tables outside to enjoy the lake at that time. read more

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The food was amazing, I'm still thinking about how good that she crab soup is. I typically don't even like bisques or anything similar but wow I recommend ordering this if you like seafood. My second favorite was the shrimp and grits sandwich which surprised me since that's usually how I eat this dish. We got there late for lunch so we had to wait around 15 minutes to order but it was worth it and we will be going again soon. It was also beautiful with the view of Lake Ella. read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - She crab soup, bao buns, shrimp & grit sandwich, and the wings - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Chef Leon and his team deserves all the praise. I knew the food was gonna hit when i saw only 5 tables inside and him checking on orders. The ambiance has a very homie southern feel to it and I would love to enjoy the food during the fall by the lake. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and hit the soul. The only critique I have is of the she crab soup which could have used some more crab. I cant wait to come back and I hope Chef Leon is constantly playing with the menu because he has the talent! read more

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We enjoyed everything about this place! Customer service was friendly, professional, and attentive. Here you order food, find a table, and the staff brings your food (listen for your name). Inside has apprx 5 small tables. Outside has about 20 tables under tall trees, lake view, and nice walking path. Very busy kitchen. There was a wait to get food and that was perfect for us so we could catch up, enjoying lunch company before eating. Drum roll...the food was DELICIOUS! We had collard greens, grit cake w/shrimp, she crab soup, and pork belly bao buns. Every bite was delightful and my taste buds were grateful. The plates around us looked as fabulous as our food tasted. read more

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Had a delicious lunch here on beautiful Lake Ella! Get the She Crab soup for sure! Had the fried green tomato focaccia sandwich, very good and filling. The French fries are so crispy and yummy! Will be back! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - Fried green tomato focaccia sandwich and she crab soup. - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Cuban sandwich -- a special that day? -- was delicious and was a generous size that allowed me to save half for supper the next night. This place is so small but so popular that we came early & got in line before they opened and got one of the few inside tables. They have outdoor seating but it was raining the day we were there. I was hoping for pork belly but it was crossed off the menu. read more

I could eat these bao buns everyday! I also had the she crab soup and tomato bisque (not pictured). Everything was delicious! Will definitely be returning! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - Pork Belly Bao Buns - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

We popped in for lunch during a surprise soft opening that I learned about on their Instagram page. We parked in the small lot next to the building and walked over. Service: The owner greeted us and explained a special off the menu item (grits and shrimp sandwich). The staff were courteous. Food: We ordered the She Crab Soup with Puff Pastry (2), Fried Pork Belly Bao Buns, and the Caesar salad. Everything was super flavorful. My lunch companion is from Maryland and said the soup reminded him of home while the puff pastry added an elevated touch. The fried bao buns are easily the best I've had and came with a refreshing side. I am definitely looking forward to trying the other items on the menu. Ambiance: The inside is cozy. We ate indoors next to the window with a view of the lake. The temperature is comfortable and the lake view was peaceful. From arrival to leaving took about 30 mins. Perfect for a quick lunch break that won't leave you bloated and feeling guilty. The price per person was about $18 not including tip. TLDR: Overall great. Can't wait for them to officially open so I can become a regular. read more

Tried Leon's for lunch recently and was pleasantly impressed! We tried the flight of 3 soups - mushroom bisque, she crab, and chile (chocolate infused). Both the mushroom and she crab were amazing! I really liked the chile, definitely a unique taste. The tiny puff pastries in the soups were a good touch. Had the smoked/pulled chicken sandwich with yucca fries - both excellent. My partner had the pulled pork quesadillas with fries which were both very good. Chef Leon did not disappoint! The place gets busy quickly so arrive early! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

I went in November and really enjoyed my meal! The food was amazing, the atmosphere was unique, and our party really enjoyed the experience. Leon's would be a five star experience if the service was more organized and friendly. It's understandable that a restaurant with a revolving menu will be out of things towards the end of the weekend, but it felt like a mystery while ordering and trying to guess what was available while the employee seemed frustrated with us for not innately knowing what they were out of. read more

Far as I can tell this guy is a clown. We visited one time , he wasn't there and not even the information on the chalkboard was accurate. We went to a chef competition shortly after that where he was scheduled to compete and he didn't show forcing the venue to recruit someone at the last minute. The food was average at best? The go fund me page is absolutely appalling to any business owner, embarrassing and insulting. He should go back to WORK for someone who knows how to run a business! JS read more

Absolutely loved the soup flight! Good portion of each and I love that it came with 3 spoons. I'll be back to try more things soon! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - Soup flight - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

I think it is a good concept staying open for a certain amount of hours a day to let people enjoy what you can create just don't know what his limits are and if chef is savy enough smart enough to stop when they can't produce, what they're selling, which is a unique dish what we had to eat was wonderful I think it could've been better. The flavors were good. The the presentation was simple and should've been wow instead it was just OK. The lines were unorganized needs a little work. I like the chef I like what he does and how he does it ,just don't know how he's gonna keep up finding help ! read more

The food was really good but the wait was entirely too long. I had the shrimp and grits sandwich...took 40 minutes to get my order.

First of all, let me say WOW! Wait, let me say that backward ...WOW! We recently celebrated our son's college graduation and wanted to make the post-graduation dinner a unique and memorable experience. Leon's at Lake Ella provided the perfect venue. Chef Leon and his team delivered 1000 percent! Let's talk about food. It was nothing short of spectacular! The appetizers were Shrimp & Grits and She Crab Soup (of course ). The entree choices were Crispy Skin Red Snapper with Caramelized Leek Potatoes Au Gratin and Japanese Curry Short Rib with Mango Sticky Rice - both were served with Collard Greens. Our bread course was a Hokkaido Milk Bread served with Honey Butter. Desserts featured were Coconut Casaba Cake and a Pandan Crème Brûlée with Peanut Brittle Ash. I could go on with another two pages of commentary about the taste of each course. I will simplify it all and say that EVERYTHING WAS FRIGGIN DELICIOUS! (Insert your favorite way to describe fabulous food here, and it will apply ). This is one week later as I write this review, and our guests are still raving about the food. I mean, the She Crab Soup, alone, could bring about world peace . Let's talk service. Noah, our server was terrific! He did not miss a single beat with our party of 12. He was attentive, personable, and an all-around total rock star! Now, let's talk about Chef Leon. Goodness gracious! We could not have picked a better and more talented chef in the entire state of Florida. His attention to detail, creativity, and expertise in customizing a menu to fit our needs were impeccable! He educated us on each course served, and his passion for his craft was fully displayed throughout the evening. On top of that, he was so down to earth, making us all feel welcomed and right at home. I highly recommend Leon's at Lake Ella without hesitation. Again, Chef Leon, thanks from all of us for providing such a superb culinary experience. read more

I got very little business posting on this restaurant, I had a warm soup on a cold day there once . It's strange to me reading about people eating pork belly's . I use to fish long line grouper , commercial type fishing ; we bought pork belly's meat by the case for way less than a buck a pound. Put in Brine barrels with much salt , The fish would absolutely love the smell and taste of the oils . The more oily the better. I'm glad the world has found a much healthier alternative for the pork belly , than feeding it to the fish . Don't know if I will ever eat this menu item myself but very interesting reading about other people's experiences. read more

I looooove me some Leon's at Lake Ella! Leon is such an amazingly talented chef (featured on the Hulu original show, "Secret Chef") with the sweetest spirit! The staff is also super helpful and courteous. The food here is always fresh and delicious! The SheCrab Soup is the best I've ever tasted! The collard greens are always prepared to perfection. Today I had the Green Goddess BLT and a side of fries. I enjoyed everything. The sandwich was super big so I ate it with a fork and knife. The BBQ wings were good too. They said they had a sweet heat, but I have a low tolerance for spice and they didn't seem spicy at all. The inside is quaint, but still a good bit of seating if you choose to dine inside with a small party for lunch. They are open on select Fridays and Saturdays with plans, I believe, to fully open for lunch weekly in January. Be sure to follow this establishment on their social channels to keep up with openings through the end of 2023! read more

Leon's at Lake Ella - Green Goddess BLT and Fries - Desserts Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Not sure if this restaurant is still in business. Tried to contact to make reservations for Annie holiday lunch and there was no phone answered and no response to my two emails. read more

This new restaurant, owned by an award-winning chef and nice guy, is a great addition to Lake Ella. The mushroom dumpling soup was maybe the best soup I've ever had. If I could give six stars I would, because although the restaurant is not fully up to speed and does not have all the permanent tableware, it mostly uses cardboard rather than Styrofoam and plastic. That's a real plus for me in a town where many of the restaurants use plastic and Styrofoam as their permanent tableware. read more

First time at Leon's and I was impressed. The food was superb and the service was fast! I had the mushroom bisque and it was fresh and creamy and then for my main, I had the shrimp & grit sandwich that was superb! Who knew that this southern staple dish could be made into a sandwich? Chef Leon's creativity is impeccably delicious. I'll be back to try the other items in the menu! read more

Great service, best food anywhere. There is not a thing on the menu that will disappoint. Layers of flavor, generous portions, and easy on the wallet. Great location. Do not sleep on this place. Once you visit, you'll return again and again to try everything. The Gochujang smoked wings ate the best on the planet. Blackened shrimp and grits sandwich, and the Bao Buns are beyond words, a tantalizing feast on your palette. Go go go go to Leon's at Lake Ella. read more

This place is fantastic. I had the Shrimp and Grits Sandwich, Hummus, Pupusas, and Crab Soup. The Crab Soup and Shrimp and Grits Sandwich were very good, but probably would try something else nighttime. The Real Stars were the pupusas and the hummus. I will dream about them tonight when I lay down to sleep. These are the best Pupusas in town and the Hummus was unreal. Absolutely incredible. 10/10 read more

Get there early! This tiny restaurant fills up fast. The food is so flavorful and creative and the service is fast and friendly. Try the shrimp and grit sandwich. A party in your mouth! read more

Food is good, it should absolutely not take an hour. It's a shame because the food is really good.

Great food. Cuban sandwich is on point. Also tried the butternut squash quesadilla which was a great fall dish and super different from anything I've had. Lots of unique combinations of flavors. The wait for food can be pretty long on weekends so be sure to get there early. Seating is first come first served. They have such a great view of the lake...makes it a really cute lunch spot read more

Great location right on Lake Ella! It was a great spot for a quick lunch with coworkers. The staff was super friendly and helpful, giving great suggestions on what to order. I was happy with the sweet chili wings, and can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu! read more

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I have eaten here about five times including several take outs!! The food and service is phenomenal!!! If you go and they have the She Crab Soup, get it!!! You will not be disappointed!! I also love the little pork belly wraps!!! Delicious!!!! read more

The food is amazing but the wait time is ridiculously long. We waited for nearly an hour and a half yesterday. They should give some type of warning when ordering read more