I finally made it to Leon's on Broadway near Union Square, and it's one of those places that quietly stands out if you actually pay attention to what they're doing. The biggest thing is the menu. It feels genuinely seasonal and constantly evolving, not just labeled that way. You can tell they're working with fresh ingredients and adjusting often, which makes the whole experience feel a little more thoughtful than your typical downtown spot. We started with drinks, and the standout was this espresso spritzer mocktail that honestly surprised me. It had this bright lemon citrus kick layered over the espresso, super refreshing, not overly sweet, and actually balanced. It didn't feel like an afterthought the way most mocktails do. The salad was one of those deceptively simple dishes that ends up being memorable. Snap peas, mixed greens, shaved pecorino, incredibly fresh and crisp. It had this airy, light quality where every bite felt clean and refreshing instead of heavy. Then the lamb skewers were phenomenal. Perfectly cooked, really flavorful, and not weighed down with unnecessary sauces. Just straightforward and done right. We also tried a few other things across the menu. The lemon pasta carried that same bright, seasonal energy, and the roasted chicken dish was another highlight, simple but clearly executed with care. Everything felt consistent with the overall theme of the place. Overall, Leon's feels very intentional. Nothing is overcomplicated, nothing feels lazy. It's light, fresh, and the kind of place you actually want to come back to just to see what they change next. read more

Leon's - pecorino seasonal salad - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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The place is fun. Love the set up inside well lit. The server we had was good. Service was real good. The apps came out for 4 of us. Prosciutto abs Mozzarella was fantastic. Snap pea salad was good. I tried the pork bracelet as did another dinner attendee over polenta. We both enjoyed it. The braciole was a tad dry but tasty. We also had the Cavalli which was ok. We will try it again. It was a cool place read more

Leon's is well located and I've been several times full disclosure. But today I decided to review it. It's located directly across from the Strand which is one my personal favorite places in NYC and if you've spent hours amongst dusty tomes, this is the place to break your fast. The food is HIGH QUALITY. I usually order the lamb burger but today we arrived late after browsing for hours and realized it was dinner time! I'd never even seen the dinner menu! Never fear, they had lamb arrosticini (skewers) which are phenomenal. Also, they got rid of the old lamb burger preparation with chili oil and it now comes with mushroom fondue fyi so if you loved it before be aware!!!! My daughter is a gnocchi queen so she ordered the potato & taleggio ravioli with ramps which we both thought were unique if rather bland ... Here's the thing, the lamb was an amazing cut, not too fatty (which is hard to do with lamb) and it was well cooked but it was SALTYYYYYY. I cannot understand it, even with the lemon wedge that we generously applied, the flavor was THERE but if I'd had high blood pressure or been salt sensitive it would have been a problem. I like salt. And it was salty for me. It may have been inedible for someone else. Same for the ravioli. I know that taleggio can be a salty cheese but paired with the potato ravioli I would EXPECT it to be balanced. It was not. I was surprised by how salty it was and the lack of any other real flavor. Because I always love the lamb burger, there's construction all around so I'm sure foot traffic is down, and the service was FABULOUS AS ALWAYS I leave the rating at a 3.6- rounding UP to 4 for the service and the fact that I LIKED IT (I like a lot of salt and usually add salt. They actually gave me more flaky salt to add to the lamb lol. I thought that was interesting). But I'd be careful with these specific dishes if you're salt sensitive. When I come with my girlfriend we usually get branzino and I must admit that has NEVER FAILED ME, so do with that what you will. Bon a petit! read more

Leon's - Lamb arrosticini; potato & taleggio ravioli with ramps. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Our family was craving pasta and I had heard great things about Leon's. This was the first Italian meal we had on this trip as it was incredible. From the moment we walked into the beautiful dining room for lunch, we were warmly greeted and the service was fantastic throughout our meal. We had a pretty large group and everyone wanted to try a variety of items from the menu. We started with the Fava Bean Falafel with Tahina, Lamb Arrosticini, Salame Rosa and Prosciutto, Citrus Salad and Rapini Melt with Agrodocle Onions. Oh, and don't forget to order a side of Egyptian Fries...yum! First impressions from the table were all thumbs up. The Rapini Melt, Falafel and Lamb Arrosticini were to of my favorites, but everyone was delicious. By the way, the bread they bring to the table with olive oil is wonderful too. So light and flavorful. I could have eaten the whole basket. But we had more eating to do. For the mains we ordered the Bucatini all'Amatriciana, Lemon Tagliolini with Sea Beans, Ricotta Cavatelli, Sausage & Market Greens, and the Pappardelle & Duck Ragù. There's nothing like fresh handmade pasta and all four of these dishes were a winner. The Lamb Ragu was a hit and we had to order a second, however the Lemon Tagliolini was a table favorite too. Wow. To end the meal, we had to go all out. We devoured the Crème Caramel, Dark Chocolate Torta, Spumoni 'Perfetto' and a few more scoops of their house-made sorbettos, including Fior di Latte, Brown Butter Sage, and Mint Stracciatella. This was the perfect way to end a fantastic lunch. By the end we were ready to walk around and headed to the High Line. Hats off to Chef Kelley Pittman (Hawaii girl) and the team here for an incredible experience. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the city. read more

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Leon's is a real neighborhood gem! An elegant and comfortable! seating vibe, excellent service and seasonal elevated Mediterranean fare. The mushroom salad is lush and the paper thin slices melt in the mouth. The potato/ramp ravioli is YUM...salads fresh, cocktails well balanced. Just terrific all around. read more

Went to Leon's for a birthday dinner and first off, the restaurant and service was excellent. It is a beautiful space! And our server was attentive and very welcoming. The menu, I felt were mainly Italian. There were Egyptian dishes, such as Egyptian french fries, I asked our server what does that taste like? Her response was basically with a ton of spices such as paprika and cumin. I was unimpressed. A special shout out for the bread and the olive oil ! The best olive oil, I had to find out where it came from. And sadly it is from a private farm in Piedmont. I absolutely loved it. For apps, we ordered prosciutto, burrata and a salad. All absolutely delicious and fresh. And for our mains we all shared the steak frites, duck ragu and the skate. The steak frites was sad, only 3 pieces of steak with a very salty sauce on top. I had to scrape off the top. And the duck ragu was ok. And the skate was so salty. Overall loved the app, and while the food was fresh a lot of seasoning used ended up making the dishes way saltier than it should've been. And for desserts, we shared the cookies and the dark chocolate torta. Both were excellent! And because it was our girlfriend's birthday, our server gave us the maple sage ice cream with a candle. Very nice touch! Overall excellent service, beautiful restaurant, fresh food but several of the dishes was so salty. read more

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Nice ambience. Green salad was fresh with a bright lemon vinaigrette and delicious shaved cheese. Falafel was made with fava beans (Egyptian style), which was a delight. Lamb skewer was a disappointment, but they replaced it with a less fatty portion which was better. The gluten-free cavatelli-esque pasta was perfectly cooked and very nice with Amatriciana sauce. Happy hour is 3-5. read more

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Solid Italian with French and Egyptian influences right in the heart of Union Square by Broadway and 12th from the Anton's team. The space is beautiful with high ceilings and open seating. It's great for groups and they have a private dining room, as well. The food is very solid - be sure to try the duck papardelle or ricotta cavatelli pastas. They have a special for 3 pastas and a wine bottle for $115 as well if you are looking for a nice tasting for a group of 2-3. The entrees are also solid and they have specials such as a bone-in ribeye for 2. The branzino for 2 is also a great sharing plate for a group. The fries (spiced and herbed) are a nice, thick cut and great pairing fot any of the proteins. Service can be a little on the slower side but that is to be expected for a new venue. Worth a visit! read more

Leon's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great bagels in the west village Always a line but the bagels are fresh and service is great . read more

The service was amazing. They were so knowledgeable. The food was tasty and flavorful. Excellent chefs and preparation. Five stars read more

Leon's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent service and great ambiance. Tables are well spaced out and food is solid. Really enjoyed the lemon pasta, eggplant boulettes and cucumber salad. Will definitely be back read more

Our dinner at Leon's was one of the best meals any of my 3-person group has enjoyed in 2025. From start to finish - wine/cocktails through salads through pastas and entrees - everything blew us away. Special compliments to the lemon tagliolini w/sea beans - a buttery, chewy pasta that melts in your mouth w/hints of lemon. Among beverages, our favorites were the martini papillon and the Tenuta di Fessina Erse (red wine). Though honestly, everything shone. On top of all that, our waiter Eric made fantastic recommendations and presented everything w/tremendous zeal. I'm jealous of New Yorkers' food options on many levels, and not least, for this gem of a restaurant. As good as my hometown's food scene is, few of our restaurants stand up to Leon's on quality, service and value. I want to go back! read more

Leon's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

It's remarkably hard to find an above-mediocre weekday sit-down breakfast in Manhattan. Less explicitly corporate than Locanda Verde, more formal than a coffee and bagel from Apollo. Leon's, a new brightly-lit Italian spot across the street from the Strand, fits the bill with their 8am opening time. The caprese soft scramble was beautifully textured, and paired well with the crispy focaccia on the side. Will be back to try dinner here as well. read more

Leon's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Brunch on a Saturday. We arrived 1:30 and the restaurant was maybe 33% full. It was almost completely full at 2:15 or 2:30. When full it was pretty noisy. Not awful, but we had to talk pretty loudly in order to hear each other (4-top). The food was good. The waiter was helpful when we were selecting dishes. First time at Leon's so we ordered more food than typical because we wanted to try a few items. The food was good and portions were reasonably sized. Pricing OK for NYC. Foos is not a 5 but a solid 4, maybe even above a 4.0. However, one of our party's main course was "input" incorrectly and she received something none of us had ordered. That was rectified, took maybe 15 minutes to get the replacement. Service during the meal was not good. Yes people could not wait to fill our water glasses every time any of us took a sip (actually annoying). What bothered us is that not a single person other than the water fillers, no manager, not our waiter, no one at all, checked on us during the meal. One of us wanted another glass of wine, the person with the fries wanted more ketchup, we loved the falafel and wanted to order a second plate. None of this was addressed because we were totally ignored. Just four middle-to-older quiet people that became invisible. Enter off 12th St., not Broadway. read more

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First time for lunch, I generally go to the bar and have had dinner here. Lunch was disappointing and expensive. Service was fair. I paid $86 for 2 before tip, wait person promoted a soup and sandwich special which was not so special when we got the bill, $30. My $25 salad was wilted The panini was good not great. Service was perfunctory and the automatic 20% was simply expected. I hope this was an isolated experience as the evening staff are generally more attentive. read more

Went in for brunch and ordered a Manhattan in Manhattan. What arrived was apparently a Manhattan in the philosophical sense only. Sweet, dark, premixed, and seemingly assembled in a distant factory. I politely asked for one made with rye, vermouth, bitters, and a cherry. This triggered a managerial debate on the nature of reality. After several rounds of being told that what I wanted was exactly what I already had, I chose hunger over metaphysics and left. $22 cocktails should contain whiskey, not arguments. Not worth anyone's time. read more

Absolutely love this place, service is wonderful all of the wait staff is extremely nice. The food is amazing and so is the atmosphere it's cozy while also being open and dynamic. Everything was 10/10!! read more

Leon's - Cappuccino and their lemon tart - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Leon's is a bright and beautiful new restaurant just below Union Square serving approachable Italian food with an impressive array of beverage options. The space itself is grand with high ceilings and beautiful fixtures and the staff (at least the folks we interacted with) are as bright and energetic as the vibes. While none of the food we tried really wowed us, it was solid across the board and we particularly enjoyed the mains. Came here around 8:45 on a Saturday night as a party of two. It was a bad weather night of the wintry mix variety, so I was impressed to see so many people (including us) making the trek to dine at a relatively new spot (it doesn't hurt that Leon's is very close to Union Square so is easily accessible). Upon sitting down, I was quickly sucked into the drink menu, which consists of aperitifs (ie spritzes and negronis) "icebox" drinks, and signatures. Just about everything looks fantastic, so good luck deliberating. I told our server that the Olive Oil Martini (Wodka Vodka, Cocchi Secco, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt) looked cool and that I had tried and loved similar preparations in the past that were made with gin. I also mentioned that I do not enjoy vodka in any capacity, even in a martini, but that I was open to it, offering him the floor to make his pitch. Our server leapt into action at this opportunity, emphatically stating he, like me, avoids vodka at all times, but that this drink was a true outlier and his favorite on the entire cocktail menu. I'm always open to having my mind changed (at least when it comes to food/bev preferences), so I gave it a shot. What did I think? Well, when I tell you that I never order two of the same cocktail in a row, I truly, really, REALLY mean never -- ask anyone who has ever known me and gone out with me in any capacity. So when I looked over the menu after having my first Olive Oil Martini and I considered the food we had on the way, nothing else -- not even the Negonis, which are always my other go-tos -- had the same dazzle and allure as a second Olive Oil Martini. I shocked myself here, not only because this is generally something I, on principle, absolutely don't do, but because this was a freaking VODKA martini. So this was a double exception I never saw coming. Food-wise, we mainly stuck with seafood and veggies, though the pasta dishes did look enticing. We ordered a mix of apps and mains which ranged from decent to very good -- nothing bad, nothing outstanding. Eats, below: Escarole Salad, Toasted Sesame & Anchovy: A- Our server warned us that there were full anchovies in this salad, which is their take on a Caesar. This did not dissuade me but rather encouraged me to order it, while my partner was less enthused. He ended up liking the anchovies more than he expected (this happens often with him and tinned fish) but we both agreed that the salad overall was a bit on the salty side and presented in a way that left much to be desired. That said, it was still solid and the escarole was as fresh and delicious as it should be this time of year. Octopus Salad, Beans & Mussels Escabeche: B+ Our server raved about this dish and given how well his martini testimony worked, we figured it could be a fun and unique dish. Overall, the mussels in particular were super delicious, while the baby octopus was a bit of a letdown. Flavor and texture-wise this dish as a whole felt a bit uninspired outside of the mussels, but not necessarily bad. Tuna Carpaccio with Capers & Crispy Shallots: A- This dish was almost an A but would've needed a bit more flavor to push it over the edge. Still, the fish was fresh and yummy and the shallots added a nice crunch. Filet of Branzino al Leon w/ Lemon Potatoes, Sicilian Capers & Arugula Salad: A- Another solid dish. The fish was executed nicely but overall was under seasoned, while the potatoes were fantastic. I ended up pairing the salad and fish together for each bite, which definitely elevated the dish for me. Grilled Lamb Misto w/ Arrosticini Skewers, Shoulder Roast & Kofta: A-/A I think this is the second time I've had a lamb three-ways dish, and despite the fact that I sometimes go back and forth on lamb, this one was delicious (it was more my speed because I don't love the gaminess of a lamb chop but this preparation featured more ground lamb which was yummy and seasoned well). The reason for the A-/A is that it was overall a little greasy for my liking, but everything else was there. read more

This was my third visit, and I can confidently say the strongest part of the experience is the atmosphere and the space itself. It's a great room with good energy. Unfortunately, the food continues to fall short. We ordered a mix of pasta, steak, and chicken and none of the dishes arrived properly hot. One of the steaks, ordered medium-rare, was served rare and cold to the touch, while the pastas were only lukewarm at best. We also ordered a second steak very well done and it was served medium, making it inedible for the individual hoping to enjoy it. The chicken was very average - decent flavor but quite dry. We also ordered the truffle toast special, which was particularly disappointing. It lacked any discernible truffle flavor and tasted as though it had never actually come into contact with truffle at all. The pacing of the meal was also off. We ordered by course, but everything except for the salads - pastas, chicken, and steak - was delivered at the same time, rather than the pastas coming out as a proper middle course. It made the meal feel rushed and disorganized. Overall, it's a place I'd return to for a drink and the ambiance, but not for a full dinner. read more

A sibling to Anton's in the West Village that a bit more upscale, but less Italian. The menu has some Egyptian accents. All and all it is very good. The service is excellent. Good addition to the area. read more

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Food is high quality. I had heard the portions were small though that was not my experience here. Sophisticated friendly staff and great ambience with high ceilings and roomy. Not sure about the noise factor at varying times. There is a private room with an opening into the dining area that could be closed read more

We were here as part of Blackbird's Burger League, and so we both had the lamb burgers and fries. The latter -- "Egyptian fries" -- were crispy and well seasoned, and I appreciated that the portion was the perfect size. (I don't want a lot of fries.) the burger was delicious -- nicely seasoned and cooked. The sesame bun was great. We had dessert too: a bomboloni and a gelato. Both were fine. Service was excellent. Space is sort of weird -- really the only complaint is just the oddity of the decor read more

Would totally recommend this spot! Bravo, Chef Nick. Old Maialini, I miss your cooking! Service-Spectacular! Ambience-Beautiful! Thank you for a lovely afternoon on a very frigid day. read more

spacious, airy, and flooded with natural light, leon's is a welcoming getaway in union square. michelin-star level attention to detail, without the pretentiousness LAMB BURGER on toasted sesame-ciabatta topped with garlic-chili shatta and tahini recalibrated my expectations of what's possible. this is the best non-beef burger i've ever had, full stop. there's plenty of good-not-great non-beef burgers, but leon's lamb patty can hold its weight with the city's elite. the egyptian carrot fries are thick and dazzled in an array of spices that are complemented beautifully when drenched in their citrus aioli day, or night, the egyptian and french accents thoughtfully weaved into this italian restaurant flat out works. kudos to the nick + natalie for another knockout restaurant + impeccable service (i couldn't imagine running one restaurant with my wife, let alone TWO). grand-pappy leon is smiling down on this one read more

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What they do with lamb at this restaurant is .... Simply artistry. They have a lovely happy hour menu as well and pretty reasonably priced given the echelon of the restaurant read more

Had a very tricky schedule and they were extremely accommodating!! This included guest arriving late and people leaving early from the reservation and they made sure they had their information correct and helped make our evening possible! The hostess was excellent. The food was great. The waiter we had was communicative and made me want to return to try other options off the menu. Definitely will return. read more

Decor is beautiful at night, the cuisines are delicious, the greeter is wonderful, helpful and friendly ! The prices are a bit high end and the overly eager staff service timing is completely off. This is a great close neighborhood spot for us, but won't be coming back, until there are so affordable options. Thank you - we patronage this restuarant several times. read more

Fantastic food. Super service. Some of the kindest people NYC has to offer. We were having a bad day and Leon's turned all that around

Absolutely delicious food and beautiful restaurant - highly recommend this gem. I thought the fusion of Egyptian and Italian was very unique. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

I had a perfectly delightful cocktail visit to Leon's with two old friends. We sat at the bar and were hosted by an incredibly hospitable bartender named Donilee. I tried the Martini Papillon (Hayman's Citrus Gin, Timbal, Manzanilla, Strega... all ingredients I'd never heard of). It's from their Icebox Menu, meaning it's made in advance so that the flavors marinade and integrate for a while. It was delicious enough that I doubled down, not my usual M.O. I also had the Spiced Pistachios which were memorable. While the flavors and the ambiance were more than good enough to make me want to go back, it was Donilee's hospitality (and choreography as the place filled up and she was jammin!) that sealed the deal. read more

TLDR: Very average restaurant and probably not worth the price. We went for dinner, and while the high ceilings are cool, the lighting was extremely bright for a dark winter night and made the decor feel a little tacky. The food was just ok. I never order chicken at restaurants, but the half chicken was actually very good and probably best thing I ate. The tuna carpaccio was also good. You can skip the eggplant boulette and falafel. And the ravioli, while tasty, was $27 for 3 (!!) medium-sized ravioli. All of the servings were pretty small, so be prepared to order a bunch of plates. The drinks were also just ok. They pushed their "icebox" drinks on us, claiming they were unique to the restaurant because of the temperature they store them at and blah blah blah, but my Negroni was just like every other Negroni I've ever ordered, and my main takeaway was that I just paid $23 for a pre-mixed drink. The service was above average. Our waiter was personable, funny, and helpful with recommendations, and never rushed us to order or finish up despite the fact that we were moving a little slowly. The dessert menu was severely slacking in selection, so we just skipped it before asking for the check. Our overall experience was fine but certainly nothing special. With the abundance of restaurants in the area, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. read more

The food is overpriced and the dessert section is almost non existent. I met nick once and he is rude and arrogant. The waiter rushed our orders and didn't serve the martini that I ordered. I had to ask another waiter who serviced me. Lousy service + subpar food =me not coming back. Nick opened a restaurant by the name of Martina near astor place and I decided to give him a chance. Boy, was I wrong. He likes to fire employees than wants to start a go fund me account to help his failing restaurant. Screw nick and leons read more

Excellent people - friendly but not overbearing. Food outstanding - " bar bites" each exquisitely prepared and delicious. Ambience a welcome relief from noisy crowded Union Square. And perfectly situated for that visit to Strand Books followed by quiet collapse w glass of wine. read more

Service and food all good. like the combo of Egyptian/Italian/French. The restaurant is spacious, and the tables are nicely spread out. Brick Chicken Bahart, Branzino, al Leon, and the cocktails are all good. read more

Gorgeous space. Wonderful staff. Delicious food. A neighborhood spot we didn't know we needed!

Leon's decor is warm and comfortable--a mix of old-world Corinthian columns, mid-century furnishings and serving pieces, and distressed elements. Leon's finely walks the line of being upscale yet not trying too hard. They make being a quality spot look easy, which is sort of an art. Put another way, Pastis on Broadway. read more

Interesting and varied menu. Fun for sharing. Quickly becoming a regular in our neighborhood dining rotation. And the space is beautiful and the staff is top notch! No notes. read more

Anton's is one of our favorite restaurant's in the city, so we were very excited to try their new spot in Union Square - Leon's. In a bigger space that is a bit more fancy than Anton's classic neighborhood vibe Leon's offers mostly Italian dishes with some Egyptian accents. We had; Chips & Onions Soriano - delicious, great snack to have on the table. Octopus Salad, Beans & Mussels Escabeche - - a light, refreshing salad with perfectly cooked tender octopus. These two appetizers are great orders. Fettuccine Bolognese - like Anton's we expected the pasta to be good at Leon's and this fettuccine lived up to expectations. Spaghetti with Bottarga di Muggine - Bottarga is a fishy tasting food, and this pasta tasted overly fishy even to those standards. This pasta was not for us. Whole Fish for Two, Italian or Egyptian - we opted for the Italian style which is cooked in olive oil and comes with a side of lemon potato's. The fish was light and flavorful, and plenty for two people. The potato's were excellent. Biscotti: Chocolate Graham, Chewy Tahina, Almond Tuille - Leon's is open for breakfast and has a full coffee bar. That said these cookies are a great pairing with their coffee/espresso offerings. Anton's has always had down to earth, friendly, excellent service and Leon's continues this. read more

Food is expensive. Managers suck, they need training. The servers have attitudes and some have no teeth.

Food is sub-par, very overpriced, and took 45 mins to serve. It's a new place but would not recommend