LÉLÉ

Upon arrival you're greeted with a beautifully decorated corridor. That was the highlight of my experience here. The food is mediocre, service is atrocious. My apps arrived one at a time, my order was incorrect and my drink arrived well after we ate the first starter. My app order was corrected after I spoke with the server. The food is presented well but tasted just ok, nothing to drool over. Didn't bother with dessert. Overpaid for 3 apps (wings, mushrooms that I didn't order but still paid for and shrimp) and 2 entrées (oxtail and chicken) and 2 drinks (over $450 with tip, see photos attached, does this look like a $400 meal?!) I understand this is in midtown and I've dined all over the world but the cost to taste and super slow service is unacceptable. Don't go here, don't believe the social media marketing and don't waste your time or money.

Don't wait just go! This establishment is a breath of fresh air. I absolutely enjoyed my time last night. I accompanied a friend for dinner and we had such a great time. First, the space... my goodness! the designer left no stone unturned. The decor is very thoughtfully planned out. Very stunning visual pieces everywhere you turn. The entrance is captivating. Great spot for pics, I'm sure this will be the restaurants most viral feature! The tables are beautifully opulent and comfortable. The bar is sexy! The lounge upstairs is gorgeous and a great spot for a party. Second, the staff. You feel very welcome here. The front desk host, waiters, bus, bartenders, and managers all were very courteous and kind. They made you feel at home. The food... downright, mind-blowing. The flavors in every dish were so well balanced. Kudos to the chef and team! There was a symphony of mmm's coming from our table all night as we ate, lol. The portions are bigger as plates are meant to be shared. It was our first time there, so we wanted to try many dishes. (We both took home food.) We had the coco & cassava bread, cornbread, wings, shrimp, goat cheese & jam, oxtails, chicken, & white rice. The drinks we had were so tasty, that after dinner we went to sit at the bar to try more of the drinks. We met the mixologist and gave her her "flowers" for crafting such a great drink menu. You literally cannot go wrong with any of the drinks, they are all very good! I'll be back soon, and looking to plan a group dinner here. Get your reservations before it becomes so hot that you can't get in.

Delicious food. The music is great. Very nice vibe. The service is slow so they need to work on that.

Lamb curry was delicious and I’d definitely get that again. Unfortunately they didn’t have the beef patties that night but I will be back to try that

Love the ambience and decor. Patties,wings, hamachi,chicken suya and oxtail are a MUST

My wife and I came to this restaurant 10 pm reservations. The doorman politely greeted us. Upon entry you are welcome to a nice decor very attractive I had a nice vibe many people taking photos. We felt like okay we going to have a great time …. This is when the ship sinks. The 10 pm reservations wasn’t honor we arrived at 10:05 and was told to have a sit in the upstairs lounge. Okay I’ll be flexible but watching the host. I can view the tables on the first floor from the second floor lounge about 10-15 min pass. I see people being seated and tables available. I go to the host tell her I see open tables and would like to be seated at a certain table and also asked why I had to wait since I did make reservations. She replied. Some of the 9:45 reservation was late and wanted to accommodate them. Okay. I asked how did this other party of two get seated before me. When they also had 10 pm reservations but check in behind me. She apologized and quickly seated my wife and I at the table we wanted. We had the menu which was lacking. The waitress asked would we like water we did tell her yes and asked if they have a full bar. She replied no. But suggested a few signature drinks we also place our food order since the menu is not many options we went with wings and a coco bread and my wife order the rice and chicken wasn’t sure how it would turn out we asked the waitress she said it good We place an order following her recommendation. We sat at our table looking at other tables food and their facial expressions and it’s wasn’t a good The food came out before the water or drinks The wings was not seasoned, the coco bread was okay. My wife dish we didn’t even touch it it was a small bird sitting on a plate not cut up with sauce poured over it and look like onions on top. My wife and I was like this isn’t what I expected it not a STK nor Catch. It not Native They need to do better if the have a buzz on the gram but the food is terrible. I did have someone I think may have been owner come to the table asked how is everything. I expressed my displeasure. He did apologize they only been opens month and they are going to change the menu and asked to give them sometime. He did comp the drinks and said he working on getting a full bar. I did tell him you need to do better with the menu and food you got us in the door but you want repeat customers. The ambience is nice got me on the ship. The food made me abandon ship

Beautiful space, great vibes, and a solid playlist—but the food missed the mark. I am Caribbean and found the dishes very mid. The wings were the best thing I had, but the scotch bonnet sauce was barely spicy, and asking $7 for extra hot sauce at a Caribbean spot? Wild. If you're going for the vibes, it's worth a visit. But if you’re going for food, id skip it.

The music, drinks ambiance, and service was amazing. The food was rather disappointing. For an Afro Caribbean restaurant they missed the mark for me. The jerk oyster mushroom barely had jerk sauce and was mostly a paste- which was absolutely distasteful. The black eyed peas made with it was crunchy. The chicken had hairs on it! I could really go on.. For the price and hype, I expected better tasting food.

This place is one of the best restaurants if not the BEST restaurant that NYC has to offer !! If you haven't visited this place yet it is a MUST . Restaurant , Bar, Lounge Ambience got the vibes! All awesome.. the service is impeccable, and the Food is so unique you won't find it anywhere else in the world except here ! The desserts are sooooo delicious please do yourself a favor and get either the flan or the ice cream !

When the chef (Runar Pierre) from our favorite restaurant in the world (OX-Reykjavik) opens a new place in NYC, of course we have to make the 2 hour trip to NYC to try it out, and they did not disappoint! All the food was on point, prepared excellently with amazing sauces (as we would expect from a restaurant with Runar at the helm). I expected the food to be a little higher on the spicy scale, but it was very flavorful and warm spices rather than just killing you with heat (a good thing). Can vouch for the Shrimp, Hamachi, Rice, Wagyu, Corn, beignets, spiced cake nd drinks, all hit the mark. It's a long ride for dinner, but we will definitely return.

This restaurant has a bright future. It's only been open for three weeks and I can already tell that it will be around a long time. Ambiance: gorgeous I walked in feeling like I was straight out of the film Coming to America. It was the regal touches for me. They did an excellent job decorating this spot. Even the dinnerware was classy and chic. Food: amazing and delicious I looked over the menu prior to coming. The plan was to try two dishes from the small plates section. I had my mind set on either the patties or the wings. I really couldn't decide. The bartenders couldn't help me either. My picks just happen to be popular and their favorite picks too. The manager P, suggested the shrimp in the green curry sauce to my list. This made it more complicated. Then, he described how each small dish was prepared. When I finally made my decision, one of the owners who happen to be sitting next to me at the bar just received his plate. It was the shrimp! So naturally, I decided to order it with white rice and pikliz. It was "close your eyes, shake your head and do a little dance " good. He was right! Service: 100% perfect. Doorman: 10/10. He spotted me across the street and waved me over. When I asked how he knew, I was coming his way....he said it was my outfit. I guess I looked like royalty ‍. Hostesses 10/10 Greeted with a smile and walked me right in to the bar. They also said goodnight at the end. I love when restaurants do that. Bartenders: 10000/10 I sat at the bar and the two Bartenders were friendly, accommodating and just real chill. They were busy, but didn't forget about me. Managers: 10000000/10 I was a solo diner in a restaurant full of people. P and the owner took the time to chat with me about their restaurant. It was nice getting that attention and hearing how passionate they are about everything. In all, I will return and try the other dishes. It's a place worth visiting again and again. Check it out and tip well! They crew deserves it!

Lélé completely exceeded my expectations! From the moment we walked in, the space was stunning and we were warmly welcomed by the kindest hostess. Despite it being a busy Friday night at 9 PM, we were seated right away. The music was just right... hip-hop and Caribbean at a comfortable volume. Our server came over promptly and our drinks arrived quickly after. We started with the cornbread with the spiced grape jam & whipped goat cheese. It was a nice, light bite to kick things off. For dinner, we shared the jerk oyster mushrooms (absolutely delicious), grilled corn (good), and the suya chicken. The chicken had so much flavor and just the right amount of heat, but it was a bit tricky to eat--more like a Cornish hen, so lots of bones and small portions of meat, which made it a little less convenient for a dining-out setting. I mentioned to the staff that it was my friend's birthday, and they surprised us by comping a banana ice cream and buttered rum shot--both were incredible! That thoughtful gesture made the experience even more memorable. I'll definitely be back. Our host mentioned they're considering adding a lounge or happy hour soon, and I'm already looking forward to checking it out!

The owner and I are long time friends and yet my opinion doesnt need to be biased. Let me start off by saying the decor is absolutely beautiful. There's a royalty vibe upon entry. The host was inviting and our waiter was cool. The menu doesn't have much of a selection as of yet but I will say the few items we did try were delicious. The corn with the white sauce was FIRE. The mushrooms were good and the mocktail was really good it has a unique flavor. The lemon beignet had a unique flavor as well and it was really good. Let me not forget since I'm the parking info queen! There is metered parking across the street and directly right around the corner.

It was only the second day open but the customer service was top notch. There was plenty of staff ready to serve. Food came out quickly for the most part. There was a handful of items on the menu that they didn't have available which felt odd but, again, they just opened. I think its to be expected that they'll have some kinks to sort out. The food was good! The highlights were the shrimp, oxtail, wagyu (it was delicious but a TINY portion). The wings were pretty good but how good can wings ever be? Not sure if it fit the vibe the restaurant is going for. I'd absolutely skip the cornbread. The only thing I'm still a bit conflicted about is some of the food felt wildly overpriced! However, when you consider the location, the number of people on staff and the quality of the ingredients, you can't expect affordably priced food. Additionally, we also left VERY full so I guess its a toss up. For dessert, we got the rum cake with a side of coffee ice cream. My wife and I do not like coffee ice cream but what they served was really good. Like surprisingly good. I've had better rum cake but this one wasn't bad.

Great ambiance and service. Food presentation was nice as well. Unfortunately serving appetizers as main courses wasn't what I thought I'd see. As I dined with a former Yelp elite we definitely went to see what the hype was about. The bar didn't have any whisky or scotch available which was a negative for me. Overall definitely worth another visit. Better portions please

Upon arrival you're greeted with a beautifully decorated corridor. That was the highlight of my experience here. The food is mediocre, service is atrocious. My apps arrived one at a time, my order was incorrect and my drink arrived well after we ate the first starter. My app order was corrected after I spoke with the server. The food is presented well but tasted just ok, nothing to drool over. Didn't bother with dessert. Overpaid for 3 apps (wings, mushrooms that I didn't order but still paid for and shrimp) and 2 entrées (oxtail and chicken) and 2 drinks (over $450 with tip, see photos attached, does this look like a $400 meal?!) I understand this is in midtown and I've dined all over the world but the cost to taste and super slow service is unacceptable. Don't go here, don't believe the social media marketing and don't waste your time or money.

You will come here for an elevated experience! It's more than just another stylish restaurant. It is art, it is beauty, it is a celebration of who you are and how far you've come. Not being dramatic, but this place invoked all the right emotions in me. Won't lie we kept it safe with the cuisine, they were close to closing but the wings were perfect and I could have the sauce that came with it all by itself. We had Pearadise Lost for drinks and it was superb! The service was impeccable from the moment we stepped in. Leah told us the story behind our drink and she was just so delightful. And Ben, the manager was friendly and accommodating (we came in late) and made rounds to assure that we were content. Just a simple NJ Transit train ride away if you don't want to take your car to the city, and we will be back again and again and again .

From the moment my wife and I walked through the golden-lit hallway of Lélé, we knew we were in for something special. The ambiance is stunning -- dramatic, intimate, and elevated. The lighting, the decor, even the illuminated menus... every detail was thoughtfully curated to make the space feel luxurious yet welcoming. We arrived at 10:37 PM, a bit unaware that while the restaurant stays open until midnight, the kitchen actually closes at 10:30 PM -- something that should definitely be made clearer on the website. That said, Ben, the manager, went above and beyond by making an exception for us and having us seated. That gesture alone set the tone for what would become a memorable night. We kept it simple and ordered the wings with the sauce on the side -- a rich and flavorful blend of berbere, sumac, and scotch bonnet. Spiced just right, full of flavor, and perfectly crisp. It hit the spot. Our server, Leah (hope I'm spelling that right), was phenomenal -- warm, attentive, and patient despite the late hour. And Ben checked on us more than once to ensure we were comfortable. That level of care isn't something you get everywhere. All in all, Lélé isn't just a restaurant -- it's an experience. We'll definitely be back, this time a bit earlier to try more of what the menu has to offer. If you're in NYC and looking for a place that blends Afro-Caribbean flavor with upscale vibes, Lélé should be at the top of your list.

Beautiful place. Staff was very nice and accommodating. Mangers was cool. Drinks were great but the food was kinda underwhelming. Beef patties could have been more crispy. I definitely want to come back an check it out again in a few months an see the improvements being they just opened. Music was great too, great for dates especially. This place has potential. I'll be back for sure.

The restaurant provides a reliably good experience. The restaurant demonstrates reliable results. The team members at this location are some of the most courteous and hospitable people I've known, and they work hard to create a pleasant evening. Their meals left me wanting better quality. If only distance wasn't a factor!

Good food and service. The restaurant has beautiful decor. Perfect for a date night or girls night. Very elegant and romantic ambiance.

I've found this restaurant to be trustworthy meal after meal. Their approach puts substance above style. I look forward to my visits here, and you will too. Their employees performed at an unprecedented level. This restaurant is worth trying.

A Taste of Elegance and Caribbean Soul at Lele NYC This evening, I finally dined at the much talked about Lele NYC, the new upscale Caribbean restaurant creating a buzz in the city. My cousins had attended the grand opening and raved about it and now, I understand why. From the moment I stepped inside, I was captivated. The ambiance is nothing short of stunning. As an artist, I found myself constantly enchanted every corner revealed something new, from the thoughtfully curated artwork to the intricate design details. The space is vibrant yet sophisticated, exuding both warmth and luxury. The menu, while not overly large, is beautifully curated which I appreciate. I started with the Grilled Coco & Cassava Bread served with Spiced Grape Jam and Whipped Goat Cheese a perfect harmony of textures and unexpected flavor. I also ordered the Shrimp Green Curry with Jalapeño Kosho and Shito Butter as an appetizer, and it was an absolute standout: bold, creamy, and packed with layers of heat and depth. For my entrée, I chose the Suya Chicken Poussin, which was masterfully seasoned and accompanied by Hot Honey, Pepper Pickled Onion, and Peanuts, served with perfectly cooked, flavorful white rice. Every bite delivered a playful contrast of sweet, spicy, and savory. To drink, I went with the Blush Amour, a gorgeous cocktail made with Grey Goose, Kalamansi, St. Germain, and Sparkling Blood Orange. It was light, refreshing, and paired beautifully with the richness of the meal. I didn't have room for dessert this time, but that only gives me more reason to return and I absolutely will. Lele NYC is more than a restaurant--it's an experience, and one I can't wait to repeat.

If you are simply looking for a place to wear a sequin gown while eating overpriced Costco cocktail beef patties surrounded by plush velvet this is your spot. Positives: ambiance and decor Negatives: everything else From the start of our experience the service left a lot to be desired. Our waitress acted like she had somewhere urgent to be while she was at our table. She offered no insight to the menu and did not ask how we enjoyed our food after it arrived. Our sever's engagement was less than what one would expect from a server at Olive Garden (the price tier is not reflective of this). Why not just have us order from a QR code?? I was hoping the food made up for the service. It did not. Beef patties: cocktail patties in taste and in size. Coco and cassava bread: Underwhelming. One could have easily confused this with a complementary bread basket. The bread is grilled simply for aesthetics as it adds nothing of note to the texture or taste. Grilled Shrimp: these were the best of the worst. They photographed better than they tasted (this actually sums up the entire experience). The food and the service scream "we are merely an IG photo studio cosplaying as a high end restaurant". Bonus content: After the server brought over our check (before we asked) she never returned! We waited 15 mins before flagging down another server to ask for help. The server we asked to help us find our actual server was also a lovely peach. After going to find our original server she stomps back over and tosses the card reader on the table and says "I'll just do it". By do it she met she'd leave the card reader with us and go on about her business. This restaurant had/ has the potential to be disruptive to the NYC restaurant space in a great way but a MAJOR recalibration is needed.

Where do I begin... this may be one of the best meals i've had. The ambience: elegant, trendy environment with great music yet perfect for a catch up with the girls or an intimate date. Also helps the green velvet booths are fire for ig photos! For appetizers we got the hamachi, shrimp and mushrooms (all insane and decadent in flavor) paired with some blood orange mocktails! For entrees, the wagyu beef and chicken paired with rice-- all incredible and highly recommended by our lovely server Lia! Already have a reservation for next week. Promise this is a meal you'll be dreaaaaaming about

I was with a small mixed group (6 people) of co-workers, friends and spouses on Friday evening, August 1st. As a group, each of us knew some, but not all of the others. I thought the restaurant was ideal for just this situation. The ambiance is rich with art and energy, and the acoustics permit guests to hear each other, but not the people at the nearby tables. We ordered a variety of apps --all very good and all encouraging exploration and sharing: corn bread, jerk oyster mushroom, calabaza squash, grilled corn and shrimp with green curry. The mushrooms and shrimp were my favorites. For the main course, three of us ordered the curry goat. The portions were generous, but not so large as to be intimidating. The goat's naturally earthy taste was complimented by the yellow curry and raisins. The remainder of our crew had the oxtail, wagyu and chicken entrees. They seemed happy. The service was fantastic. Our server, Jackie, was helpful in answering questions. The apps and main course dishes arrived promptly. She and the other staff were helpful, but not obtrusive -- magically appearing when needed with refills, etc. I recommend the Tropical Pavlova (Mango-Passion Fruit Sherbet with Tapioca) for dessert. Great finish to a fun experience.

My time at this restaurant was excellent. All employees displayed genuine warmth upon our arrival. This restaurant deserves my complete satisfaction. All additional choices were good, containing spices unfamiliar to me. I support this place completely.

Had a wonderful meal with friends. Started off with the wings, Coco bread with the spiced jam and Goat cheese. Very enjoyable. For the meal we had the Oxtail, steak and Monk Fish. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Drinks were wonderful also. The service was excellent. Nice looking place.

Fantastic Afro‑Caribbean menu, amazing service & vibe--I loved it! I'll be back, this is officially NYC hot spot.

I dined there with 3 other people on Friday, July 25th. The place, music and my drink I loved. The service was good too. However the food was a big disappointment. My fried wing flats had chicken hairs on them. Didn't care for the taste of the paste/sauce to go with it. We ordered 2 sets of corn bread. Received 1 plate with 4 pieces and was charged $28. We were told by our waitress the Chef said the pieces were cut bigger. That was not the case. Small pieces that were semi burnt on top and bottom. We only ate the center of the corn bread. It was cold so we didn't really get to enjoy the taste of it. I cook myself and only share this in the hopes that the Chef improves his skills in the kitchen. Burn off chicken hairs before you clean/season it. What it sent out from the kitchen should be exactly the way the Chef would want to receive it had he/she went out to eat.

Like some said before the ambiance and music is on par. The food and staff, however, not so much. They would bring out only half your dish and bring the other half a whole 30 minutes later. I got the suya with pikliz and cornbread. I'm very specific about my cornbread and it was aight. The pikliz really helped the suya because even though the suya was decent. I don't know something is always missing ingredient wise. And I was tasting dishes from others and everything just was lacking flavor. They need way more works. Why is there only like 4 people waiting tables and it's packed to the brim? Lastly, back to the food I wouldn't say the prices are worth it. My aunt got monkfish and it was mainly fatty and not that big portion wise.

Service, ambiance, drinks and music was ON POINT! The food however, needs work- especially for the price point! We ordered from the smaller plates: shrimp ($32 for 4), chicken wings ($25 for 5) it was basic and still had the hairs on it, cornbread was almost burnt, and mostly dry, and the paste from the jerk oyster mushroom tasted bad and barely had jerk. It came with black eyed peas and the peas were crunchy and undercooked. The food lacking for the entire table is what brought down the experience.

Lele is a new Afro Caribbean Restaurant that just opened on Madison Ave ...Had the pleasure of trying the menu last week and to start had some cocktails which were nice but a little to sweet for me to be honest... But where this venue shines is the menu and it's wonderful from Jumbo Shrimp and Green Curry, Thai Fried Chicken with tamarind honey, Hamachi Crudo with crispy chips (Addictive warning for the chips) and the beef patty with bold island flavors ..I mean there was so much choice and with the beautiful decor it felt like home ! Highly recommended