Bistro Leluco

We were so excited about this restaurant on our second visit back to Portland. Unfortunately, the food fell short of expectations. Every dish we had, while presented beautifully, missed each time in taste, texture and/or level of doneness. We were surprised that the halibut was overcooked in a seaside town like Portland. While the food was a miss for us, the cocktails were excellent - I really loved the Turkish Coffee Martini. With that said, the host and servers were super nice! And the dining room felt cozy, right level of noise, and while simplistic, perfectly decorated. Altogether, I’d give this experience a 3.5/5.

My wife and I made a reservation to get brunch before going to a matinee showing at Portland Players (INCREDIBLE if you haven't seen any of their shows!) The atmosphere was cute, very clean, minimal coastal vibe which worked really well and the minimal decor and use of mirrors made a small space feel cozy. Servers were very kind and cocktails were delicious and came out pretty quickly. Our reservation was for 12:30 and we ordered promptly (we'd been drooling over the menu for days so knew exactly what we wanted!) We waited for over an hour with minimal communication from the staff to get our meals, and weren't able to get anything from the dessert menu due to timing - our plates hit the table at 1:45 - there were 6 other tables in the restaurant (2-4 tops), two of which had already received their food so not sure why the kitchen was so severely backed up. I ordered the benedict and my wife ordered the hash - flavors were there but they were both severely overcooked and quite dry as a result. I had a poached egg and my wife ordered over easy and both were cooked hard. The side salad of arugula that came with my benedict was undressed. Total bill came to around $90 for 2 drinks and 2 meals, which isn't incredibly expensive, but not cheap either given the quality. It's a bummer because we'd been really looking forward to trying this place, but I can't say I'd bother going back.

Leluco has been our favorite dinner and drinks place for so many reasons. The amazing food and variety is consistently delicious and fresh with something for everyone. I think they easily hold the title of best cocktails in the Portland area; they’re all unique and fun. The owners and staff are equally as amazing service wise and personally. We held our wedding dinner there this past weekend and everyone said it was the best food they ever had at a wedding hands down. They made the experience so easy, stress free and were just as excited to share that moment with us. I couldn’t recommend this place enough, you’ll love it.

I had the chicken skewer with lemon rice and hand down, I've NEVER tasted anything better in my LIFE! I have traveled the world and tasted fine cuisine. This has no comparison! The atmosphere is incredibly peaceful and the people are warm and make you feel nice. You will leave with a smile and a question on your mind, when will you return. EXCELLENT!

The small plates stole the show for us—their version of a Greek salad, mussels in a wonderful broth, saganaki with figs, and a perfectly crusty baguette with sea salted butter were all to die for! Service was excellent and the front of the house was welcoming and attentive. I highly recommend!

Second time visiting and it was just as delicious as I remembered! Had the best branzino of my life. The service was friendly and knowledgeable! Highly recommend.

What a hidden gem, y'all. Seriously, Bistro Leluco stands up against all the finest spots in Southern Maine. Yes, not just Portland. The entire experience is fantastic from start to finish. The need to knows- small (perfect) space, great eats, small plates & large, perfect cocktails, and service worth writing about tonight. Well done to the entire team.

Incredible cocktails!! Delicious oysters and mussels. And best of all the service by Nicole! She had the best recommendations and made the dining experience next level. Would come back just to see her again!

I had stopped by earlier for a quick beer with friends doe the first time. So the following week some colleagues weee looking for a place to gather after work, I suggested Bistro Leluca. It was a great evening and the drink and app options were awesome. We sat inside but they have outside seating which allows you a o watch passerby's in cars and on foot. Staff is great and the location is perfect. Not huge but works for after work gatherings and a nice meal with a special friend. Street parking and small lot behind you can easily get in and enjoy.

I came here on a Sunday at brunch. No wait, was pretty empty. Atmosphere: chose not to sit outside on the patio despite the nice weather - it's just too close to a busy road! indoor was fine though with nice lighting and windows. Food: horribly disappointing. got the hash, which was a tiny pieces of chopped vegetables, what looked like grocery store frozen sausage (that I paid extra for) and potatoes for too much money. in addition, got the shakshuka (cause I love the Tatte one) and was wildly disappointed at how it was essentially a bunch of beans with a tomato or two sprinkled on. Service: no issues For brunch, this place misses the mark, and it's not even close. Seems unlikely that I could be convinced to try the dinner menu after this experience. Unfortunate!

A neighborhood joint worthy of a celebratory occasion or "just because". Outdoor patio seating is the winner here in warmer months and a surprisingly sizable indoor seating is also available for the colder months. The service flowed well: slow, but not "the kitchen must be behind" slow. Everything is timed well for you to enjoy your meal and conversation. If you're in a rush, go elsewhere. You may even be served by the owner themselves (so friendly). The mussels were delicious. The waitress recommended we added a baguette, which we opted out of and sorely regretted as we wanted to sop up the rest of the savoury broth. The lamb chops with roasted vegetables and chimichurri and duck with corn succotash were our main entrees for the night. Both of us cleaned our plates. The cocktail program is notably creative (I can't enjoy because I'm currently pregnant) but I was finally able to have a fun mocktail that wasn't just pineapple juice, grenadine and a simple syrup. This will likely become a quarterly rotation so we can enjoy the changing menu. Bravo!

Lovely night to celebrate our anniversary and they really are outstanding here! Started with the house Gibson,it was lovely with shallots! My wife had the Window seat which was a bourbon based drink that had good depth and flavor. Rather than an entree we opted for a number of small plates! Pea Toast was divine! The cannellini bean side is a true sleeper and worth a second look. The lobster bun was good too! Our server was excellent, allowed us to eat at our own pace and even brought us house limoncello when we shared the chocolate torte ( don't miss that) . It was a bit loud but it is a small place. Another hit!

We were so excited about this restaurant on our second visit back to Portland. Unfortunately, the food fell short of expectations. Every dish we had, while presented beautifully, missed each time in taste, texture and/or level of doneness. We were surprised that the halibut was overcooked in a seaside town like Portland. While the food was a miss for us, the cocktails were excellent - I really loved the Turkish Coffee Martini. With that said, the host and servers were super nice! And the dining room felt cozy, right level of noise, and while simplistic, perfectly decorated. Altogether, I'd give this experience a 3.5/5.

Having heard great things about Bistro Leluco from a friend, my partner and I decided to try it one Friday evening. I had made reservations online, which was a nice perk, and the venue got busy throughout the night, so I would suggest making a reservation. They do save the bar for walk-ins, but those got busy as well. The venue is small, but they have done a great job designing the space so that it's not clustered or stuffy. There is warm lighting, coastal art around the walls, and the bar is the focal point of the space. Again, the layout and design of the small venue was done thoughtfully. As we were seated, we were quickly greeted by our waiter. Taking a glance at their cocktail menu, it was evident that a great deal of thought went into carefully crafting cocktails that were innovative and fun. All of the cocktails listed had unique takes, and they had one whole section of milk-clarified cocktails. These were a huge highlight, as my partner and I ordered two different cocktails from this list, and both were fantastic. I strongly urge you to give one a try. As far as their food menu, we appreciated the vast amount of options for appetizers, as we both enjoy small plates. There were a decent amount of entree items as well, but the appetizers were the dishes that really caught our eye. We ended up ordering the tuna crudo, octopus, saganaki, lamb chop, and the scallops. Here was my thought on each: Tuna crudo - We could have gone without. We were excited as the menu indicated calabrian chili, but that really did not come through on the dish. The tuna was tiny slivers on top of bulky tomatoes, which just took over the flavors of the dish. We would not get again. Octopus- Super flavorful and tender! Octopus is one of our favorite things to order at restaurants, and this was thoughtfully curated, and the cilantro lime creama was the perfect addition to the grilled octopus. Saganaki- Our waiter had told us that this was their most popular dish, which is pan fried cheese with figs. I thought it was okay, but my partner enjoyed it. Lamb Chop- Perfectly cooked with two chops to the dish. The oyster mushroom bechamel and the red wine and shallot butter was the perfect addition to the dish. Scallops- This dish came with 4 scallops and came with fennel and some greens. The scallops were nice, but there was nothing particularly special about this dish for us. By the end of our dinner, we concluded that this was the perfect spot for some after work cocktails and maybe and app or two. We would definitely come back, solely for the cocktails, and again, there were some highlights to the food but nothing to completely have us running back.

Agree with other reviewers that the dishes are well presented but often lacking in texture and taste. The cocktail list is well-crafted and worth exploring. Recommend credit card not cash. I was expecting $65.48 change from a hundred but got only 65 as owner apparently doesn't like to 'bother' with change! To be fair he said if it had been over 50 cts. he would have rounded up, e.g. 66 But I just don't think that's right

Just perfect. From the new menu, we enjoyed the Duck and Flat Iron steak. Just perfect. Great place, great cocktails.

$1 oyster special at happy hour and sunday brunch is awesome. And other dishes also good. We thought the muhamara was a standout. And patio seating includes dogs. Friendly prompt service and a nice beer list.

Celebrated New Years Eve with an amazing fixed price menu at Bistro Leluco. Great meal and great service. Loved it. Will be back.

I had held off trying Bistro Leluco because it seemed pricey and the menu didn't really interest me. But recently a friend invited me to dinner there so I figured why not. Well, I wish I had tried it much, much earlier. This is a great restaurant. Everything from the food, to the service to the ambiance was cozy and upscale without being pretentious. The servers were incredibly welcoming and friendly and gave us good menu recommendations. I kept remarking to my friend that this feels like the perfect space to belly up to the bar and have an after work cocktail during the winter. But of course the real star is the food. Everything was either made from scratch and/or locally sourced. The influence seems to be mostly French with a little Italian mixed in. Everything we had was excellent: Split the bread and the Saganaki to start. I had a limoncello spritz and she had a glass of Sauvy B I had the steak Au Poivre She had the halibut on cannellini beans and it was some of the best halibut I've ever had Split the olive oil cake with pistachios and blackberries Finished with a double cappuccino I will absolutely be back!

From the second we walked in until We were the last ones to leave, we were treated like family. Four of us shared 5 small plates and two entrees and the amazing chocolate torte - all were superb. Kelsey our waitress was outstanding, knowledgeable, and such a love. We will be back again and again!

We had an amazing dinner here. The menu may be small but the choices were delicious. I really enjoyed the halibut and my husband enjoyed the linguini. The mixed drinks were great as is the ambiance. Our waiter was exceptionally funny and attentive. He really took the time to make sure we had a nice meal. Also two members of our party are hearing impaired and it wasn't super loud. That was an added plus. Highly recommend- we will be back!

What a find! Food: wonderful. Service: Fantastic. Ambiance: lively but not too loud. A very special place! Go!

I recently had dinner and drinks with some friends. From the moment we walked in we were warmly welcomed and treated like family. The food was fantastic and the bartender made us some delicious drinks. I highly recommended if you want a quiet laid back atmosphere and excellent food and drink

Best lobster roll ever! Great amount of lobster on a delicious bao bun, served warm with butter all for a great price. The owners and staff are incredibly personable and kind! A great addition to the neighborhood. Cannot recommend this place enough! Looking forward to the patio they are constructing.

Delicious food and amazing service! Nice to have a new, quality neighborhood restaurant that's sure to be a destination spot (if it's not already!)!

Cocktails were so unique and pushed me to try something new. Highly recommend the small plates as we tried several different ones. All of them were delicious and left me feeling perfectly full, great portions. Service was great, very intimate and relaxing environment. Would highly recommend!

One of our favorite spots in South Portland. Great seasonal selection of tapas and drinks. Love the feel of a small local place. Couldn't ask for better service from the staff.

This place is an absolute gem. It looks unassuming from the outside, but in an area that is chock full of outstanding restaurants, Bistro Leluco still stands out. We shared the tuna raw bar dish; the radicchio and beet salads; the halibut entree, and sides of broccolini and smoked potatoes. Everything was tremendous and a triumph of excellent ingredients paired with top notch cooking technique. I can't say enough about how great the halibut was in particular, with a perfect sear on top and cooked exactly right in the middle. The cannellini beans with which it came would have been the highlight of the dish except for how great the halibut was. Don't sleep on the drinks or dessert either. Cocktails are delicious and interesting and the chocolate torte was gluten free and amazing. The service was the food's equal. We had a variety of questions and requests, particularly around what could be prepared gluten free (nearly everything) given my wife's needs, and we felt extremely well cared for with a vibe that seemed just right for the atmosphere. Seriously, check this place out. When enough people find out about it and give it a try, it'll become a very hard reservation to get.

Fantastic beautifully prepared food, excellent service, sharing welcomed and fun, comfortable and quiet w candle light!

At first our waitress wasn't very friendly--no smile. But she was professional. Once we started talking with her, she smiled, which was lovely. The owner cares about his clients which is the way it should be in every establishment. The octopus and salad appetizer were very good. The fish was overdone. The bread needs work. Cocktails are inventive. There is lots of potential here. I tried to make a reservation at 5:30, 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. I could only get 5 p.m. But the restaurant was more than half empty until at least 7:30 p.m. when we left. Why didn't they allow me to make a later reservation? I don't know. Maybe they were expecting walk-ins which did not happen. Parking was easy.

We're so stoked this spot opened for brunch, it does not disappoint - the smoked salmon benny was amazing. Great outdoor seating, awesome service - lucky to have this gem right in our neighborhood!

Food was outstanding as was every member of the staff with whom we interacted. The bartender Ben was super knowledgeable and takes great pride in his craft. Can't wait to go again!!!

Wonderful food, service and atmosphere! A great neighborhood spot. The mushroom gnocchi and eggplant toast was delicious!

Best restaurant in South Portland!! Delicious and creative food/drinks, cozy ambience, and the friendliest service. Well worth the prices. Excited to go back and sit out on the new patio!

Thanksgiving day take out was fabulous. The best tasting turkey we have had in years! Our guests were blown away by the taste an quality of the food.

This place is rad. Delicious and inventive cocktails and my Steak au Poivre was ridiculously good. Nice vibe as well. The owner and the bartender were both aces.

Went last night. Great food. Great cocktails. Great service. A real solid addition to South Portland. We will definitely be back!

Amazing food, great service and friendly, and kind hosts. It's the perfect French-themed neighborhood bistro. We have been looking for a great local restaurant and feel blessed to have Bistro Leluco in South Portland! The only negative was that some sound-proofing wouldn't go amiss - it is hard to talk and hear your dinner guest. But otherwise ten out of ten!!

A wonderful addition to the up-and-coming SoPo restaurant scene. We were immediately greeted by Antonio, the owner, who was super cool and professional without being pretentious. Excellent cocktails, every morsel was to die for and our server Kelsey was attentive, knowledgeable and fun. My new go-to!