LÉLÉ

Lele is an absolute vibe. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt sexy and mysterious — dim lighting, beautiful energy, and music low enough to actually enjoy conversation. It struck the perfect balance between upscale and intimate. We started with the Berbere wings and jerk mushrooms, and both were incredibly delicious. The wings were bold and flavorful with just the right kick, and the jerk mushrooms were rich, perfectly seasoned, and memorable. For my entrée, I had the whole fried branzino with tostones — flat and crispy, just the way I like them. My friends ordered the oxtail, and it was fall-off-the-bone good. We genuinely loved everything we had. The drinks were also delicious (even though I can’t remember the names!), and the service was attentive without being intrusive. We would absolutely return for both the food and the vibes.

LÈLÈ Review summary: A beautiful intimate space with strong potential. With clearer communication, more intentional service, and a deeper expression of Afro-Caribbean warmth/hospitality LÈLÈ could truly shine. Detailed review: An Afro-Caribbean restaurant with striking gold accents, lush greenery, and a prime East Side location. The experience was good overall, but the hospitality lacked clarity and consistency. I arrived late to my reservation and understood when my table was released. When I asked about bar seating, I was told there was no space—yet I noticed several open tables. I returned to the host stand to ask one simple question: the wait time for the next available two-top. I was told there was no timeframe and we would need to wait indefinitely, which felt misaligned as open tables sat unused and a line formed at the door. As we prepared to leave, we were told we were “just about to be seated,” a moment that felt poorly timed and inconsistent. Once seated, anticipation was high—elegance, warmth, and a sense of Afro-Caribbean hospitality. Unfortunately, that elevation didn’t fully translate. Service felt transactional: minimal menu guidance, little storytelling, and no sense of a curated experience unless prompted. Support staff interactions also felt uneven and could benefit from more refinement and intention. For a restaurant of this caliber and price point, the experience should feel more polished and guest-forward. We ordered the hamachi, akra, pikliz, sweet plantains, oxtail, curry goat, white rice, drinks, and ice cream for dessert. While enjoyable, many of these Haitian staples fell slightly short of expectation.

Upon entering this establishment I was taken away by the ambience and atmosphere. Everything looks upscale and high end. The seats were comfortable but it was really cold. They had a good mix of music. The service was lackluster for our expectations given the price point. We ordered chicken wings, shrimp, oxtail and lamb chops with a side order of Haitian white rice. The food was definitely lacking the true authentic Caribbean flavor especially given the price of each meal. We paid about $60 for an entree of oxtail. We were only given 5 pieces of oxtails and one of the pieces were inedible given that I had to chew it for minutes and still could not swallow it. The shrimp app was good but for $36 it definitely wasn’t worth it. The lamb chops were good but for the price it didn’t even come with a side. We had to pay extra for white rice . The wings were ok but had too much dry rub on it. It had no flavor but the sauce that came with it was good. All in all it definitely doesn’t taste good enough for the place to be charging the prices it does.

Beautiful atmosphere, great staff and delicious food & drinks. Listen, I don't play about my oxtail, and they did it RIGHT! The table had fish, chicken, plantains, wings and lamb and none of us were disappointed. Plus we went on Carnival Friday and enjoyed the dancers! Would definitely recommend Lélé.

I would like to go back to Lele's so that I can make this review higher, but this is my initial experience. Lele's is a beautiful establishment. The decor is up to par and perfect for capturing beautiful photos. Here's my review in order of importance: Food & Drinks The food is delicious! Oxtail is authentic and cooked perfectly. I would get this again and again. The Branzino and lamb chops were also very good and worth a try. I don't know about you, but I love white rice and I love it how Lele's cooked it. Also worth the try are the wings! They are so good with or without the dipping sauce. If you like dry rubbed wings, these are for you. There were many other things that I wanted to try but they were out at the start of dinner service. I believe this restaurant has Haitian influence, but there was no black rice!! Unacceptable really. There were other things we tried to order that weren't available. I honestly thought the server was joking when they said over and over again that something else wasn't available. The drinks were fine. Service Service was ok. We put in our order and got our food. The Vibe Again, this is a beautiful place. Perfect for date night or a birthday. But if the food isn't going to be available take that into consideration before you bring a date. Music was being played at a level that allowed us to still talk. Arrival & Seating No issues here. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. On an early Sunday night, we didn't have any trouble getting a reservation.

This place served EXCELLENT Haitian inspired cuisine. We came here to celebrate my mom’s birthday and left extremely happy. Some of the highlights include their homemade punch, the chicken wings and the oxtails. But honestly, everything we had was delicious. Highly, highly recommend this spot.

The staff was super attentive and accommodating when I was running late for my birthday dinner. Everything was amazing but our favorite were the jerk lamb chops! Overall, the vibes here were absolutely amazing— plus the space is absolutely STUNNING and perfect for pictures. I had a blast and loved the music they were playing during dinner.

I went there with a friend for Sunday Brunch not knowing anything about the restaurant. Upon walking in I was amazed at the ambience. The décor and feel of the restaurant is stunning. We were greeted by two very pleasant people and although we did not have reservations we were seated promptly. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating with us asking questions about the menu. Everything we ordered was delicious and flavorful! LELE exceeded my expectation and did not disappoint! We will be back again!

Delicious. Highly recommend the wings and the grilled shrimp. There's also this apricot drink that's to die for.

LE LE is an Afro Carribean resturant. As you walk in your greeted with a beautiful entry way with gold palm leaves and mokeys hanging on ropes holding lights....it feels like you walking a carribbean carpet. This resturant has great ambiance and decor, dimly lit, well dressed patrons, glasses clinking...the music was at a good enough level to enjoy and still conversate. The menu was definitely upscale but unfortunately overpriced. 3 cocktail patties at a over 20 dollar price point. We ordered the lamb chops and the branzino...both were well seasoned and cooked to perfection. I wish the lamb came with a side..the veggies were good but lacked another component. My only complaint would be the service...the host and waitstaff were not the friendliest and the server lacked the knowledge of the menu items. I would go back to check out their weekend entertainment

I want to start off by saying that i had no idea that was a Haitian restaurant and as a Haitian man, myself, had i known this i would NOT have come here. This is simply because, as a Caribbean person, we all know better than to go to the city for authentic food. It is made with other ethnicities pallets in mind and not ppl from back home. So we are aware that we can be harsh critics of our own folks but we were not the target audience to begin with. So let's keep that in mind. So my homegirl and I decided we wanted to get fly and go try this restaurant. Bet! So we get here and from the walk-in it was an incredible visual! The decor was definitely sexy and welcoming from the time the curtains are parted. The hostess, wait staff and just everyone there were friendly. We had an 8pm reservation and were seated immediately and the server was immediate with introduction and attention. The drinks were pricey but thats becoming standard unless you go to a dive bar on the LowerEast Side. The drinks were good and strong. My homegirl had their variation of rum punch and i had some drink with Henny in it. I couldn't tell you why i even chose that drink but i didn't regret it at all! It was good, creeping and that henny taste was masked really well. NOW LETS GET TO THE FOOD! Now, again, i have to preface by saying i am Haitian and know authentic cuisine from back home. One thing i noticed off the rip was tha THEY CHARGE FOR EVERYTHING SINGLE THING! They charge like $6 for pikliz! Like this is robbery fr! They have a small but accumulating menu with a little bit of everything. We started off with wings and them joints was hitting. It came with this buffalo like aioli sauce and it was definitely finger-licking (pause. Lol). So wings and good drinks ain't never hurt a situation so of course we thinking whatever else is about to come out the kitchen is gonna be a hit! So they were out of chicken for the night so we subbed that for monkfish, jerk lamb, "black rice", plantains. Unfortunately, NOTHING we ordered was any good! Like absolutely nothing! There was literally no seasonings on anything we ate. My homegirl is from Trinidad and her palette detected not a crumb of seasoning. The gravies on the plates had no taste either. The best way for me to explain the taste is like licking an envelope. It was the same taste profile of everything we ordered for our main courses. The waitress came to check on us and she was shocked that we were not enjoying our meals. We explained that we were gonna tough it out and get through our meals because we didn't wanna cause trouble or anything. She just recommended that we speak with her manager and see what could be done about the matter. The manager came by and we explained the same thing. He was very apologetic and trying to see what could be done for us not enjoying our meals and we were able to exchange for some more wings. In the end though, we were still charged full price for meals that were basically untouched. Also most restaurants are doing something similar these days where they no longer bring you a paper receipt with an itemized list of what was purchased but instead bring the handheld machine with the total and the gratuity "suggestions" already listed and i saw a tip of the lowest amount being THIRTY-THREE MUTHAF___N US AMERICAN DOLLARS! Like cmon bruh! Let's cut the shit! Fr fr! That was odee! So a meal of 4 drinks, two order of wings (dont even know if they gave a discount or they were on the house for the 2nd set of wings they gave us due to our meals being flat), two entrees that were basically UNTOUCHED ran us a tab of... call it, $360. So split evenly, we paid $180 for 16 wings and 4 drinks and wack food. Now, lemme be clear, the food is the ONLY thing that we took issue with. They had lovely ladies walking around in mas band costumes and steel pan players blessing the crowd with culture momentous of the Caribbean (Trinidad and Haiti forward from the looks and feel of it). It is possible that they can get it together and tighten up on the food coming out the kitchen as they go along and progress but im sure i wont be returning to this establishment. It just isn't for me and it was not made with me (audience-wise) in mind because myself and other Caribbean ppl alike are very very harsh critics. However, i wish them luck.

Lele is an absolute vibe. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt sexy and mysterious -- dim lighting, beautiful energy, and music low enough to actually enjoy conversation. It struck the perfect balance between upscale and intimate. We started with the Berbere wings and jerk mushrooms, and both were incredibly delicious. The wings were bold and flavorful with just the right kick, and the jerk mushrooms were rich, perfectly seasoned, and memorable. For my entrée, I had the whole fried branzino with tostones -- flat and crispy, just the way I like it. My friends ordered the oxtail, and it was fall-off-the-bone good. We genuinely loved everything we had. The drinks were also delicious (even though I can't remember the names!), and the service was attentive without being intrusive. We would absolutely return for both the food and the vibes.

the newest Caribbean restaurant in New York City and it screams luxury. This restaurant serves Caribbean food with a modern twist. The cocktails are great and the ambience is stunning. This is what we had. Drinks * Papa Bois Punch - $22 * Island Outlaw - $22 * Lemon Drop Strawberry - $23 * Lele Punch * Pearadise Lost - $23 Apps * Cornbread - $12 * Sweet Plantains - $14 * Fried Green Plantains * Jerk Mushrooms - $18 * Black Rice (Diri Djon Djon) - $18 * Chicken Wings - $28 *Entrées * Branzino - $68 * Lamb Chops - $56 Loved the plantains, cornbread, branzino & lamb chops. The black rice needs some work. The chicken wings were good but the chicken inside needed more flavor. For the price I expected A1 flavor inside and out. Strong cocktails & live dancers that hyped the crowd. Caribbean vibes with all genres of Haitian music, yes please! To see the live entrainment it is only on Fridays at 9:30pm. A reservation is a must for Fridays.

I dine here on a Saturday evening with my friends, The space is beautiful and has that flair. There was a strong aroma of curry upon entering the restaurant. We had to wait to get seated, they have multiple hosts in the front which kind of makes check in a bit complicated, I don't think they have a system in place for seamless interaction (They need to work on that) We got seated after about 20 mins, the drinks were good, for food we ordered a variety of things, the standouts were the queso Frito, jerk oyster mushrooms, the hamachi was beautifully plated in the form of a rose but it didn't taste fresh. Moving on to entrees, I ordered the fish and would have loved if they have the option to debone it, felt like a lot of work to get through that fish, the lamb chops were good, and we had a whole flan for dessert, overall the flavors are there, the music was good, our server Briana was awesome, she did a stellar job with recommendations, checking on us periodically and had a wonderful attitude and energy.

Definitely deserving of 5 stars. The ambiance and decor is just gorgeous. The service was really good. Our waiter was Raymond, he was pleasant and really attentive. Another guy ,Asian, I'm assuming was an owner. He was also really attentive and pleasant. The food was DELICIOUS. A little pricey but definitely worth it. The only issue was that we had to wait a while to be seated. But we received a round of champagne for the wait and the birthday girl. So that was cool.

Came to this beautiful gem during my trip and trust me when I say it's on my list when I comeback! Our waitress was so nice and very helpful with recommendations for food and drinks. App- beef patty, mushrooms and shrimp ( 3 different plates) Dinner - lamb, fried branzino The inside is so beautiful. Low lighting and velvet interior.

I haven't thoroughly enjoyed an experience like this in a while! I came in with two girl friends late on a Saturday night. I was shocked that there was a late night menu- everything was a hit! The staff was super friendly and helpful and assisted us with picking items. The calamari, YUM! Wings, YUM! Hamachi, YUM! Goat, YUM! I'll absolutely return

I'll start with the good. The decor is beautiful. The drinks were strong and tasty. The branzino, lamb chops and corn were cooked to perfection. Also, our waitress was fine. Now the not so good. I had a reservation for 4 people we 9:45PM. I checked in at 9:30, knowing I wouldn't be seated because my entire party wasn't there but I saw it was busy so I wanted to check in a little early. When my entire party arrived, I checked in again and was told it would be a few moments. After checking in 2 more times, at approximately 10:05 PM my party was brought down to the basement to a "private room". The room was nice, but not what we asked for. There was a table but it wasn't appropriate for dining. It was better suited for drinks and/or small bites. There was a TV playing a YouTube mix as opposed to the music that was playing upstairs. We requested to be seated upstairs and were told they weren't sure how long the wait for a table would be since we "forfeited" the private room. Finally at 10:13 we were seated for our 9:45 reservation. The food was good but it did not make up for the poor service to make me go back.

Ok so .. we went here on a snowy night which may possibly be why some items were not available. Despite being a snowy night the restaurant was quite busy! when you walk in there's a beautiful walkway with golden palm trees and monkeys. It really feels like you've stepped foot into an elegant rainforest... the food was amazing and the service was great the only disappointment was that they did not have several Items we were looking forward to eating such as the coco bread and flan. The desserts were completely out and it was my birthday. The waiter did his best to make it up to us but we really wanted to try the cake. I guess we will have to return!

I really want to give 4/5 stars, but the timing thing really didn't sit well with me - This place is new to the scene and had been on my list for a while, so I was really excited to finally try it. The food did not disappoint--everything my party and I ordered was excellent. Portions were generous, the presentation was beautiful, and overall the food experience was a standout. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and very well designed. It's great for mid-sized group dinners, though the bar area is on the smaller side. I went for an early Friday dinner and didn't get to experience the show, but by around 7:30 pm the energy picked up significantly, and it was clear the show adds a fun, lively vibe to the space. Unfortunately, the biggest downside was the strict two-hour table limit. From the moment we sat down, we felt rushed, with a clear cutoff around the 1 hour and 45 minute mark. While I understand the need to turn tables--especially on busy nights--this is not an inexpensive restaurant, and the pacing took away from what should have been a relaxed dining experience. Once the check was dropped, my party expressed our frustration and asked if we could continue at the bar. We were initially told yes, but upon arriving at the bar, we were told it was reserved only for guests actively dining on Friday nights. That was extremely disappointing, especially after spending close to $800. Although the staff ultimately allowed us to stay, by that point the experience felt soured. I truly hope the restaurant finds a better balance with its timing policy, because the food, atmosphere, and concept are strong--it just needs to feel more accommodating to paying guests.

LeLe is a fusion of AfroCaribbean ingredients with a modern twist. Food: I had the wings for starters which was very taste and the buffalo sauce was nicely spicy. The oxtail with the Haitian white rice hit the spot. The oxtail was well seasoned and falling off the bone. The alcoholic beverages have a natural juice taste but also strong with the kick you need. The Lele punch is a go! Service: the service is really good, fast, and efficient. The staff is very attentive and provides great recommendations. Ambiance: the ambiance is very upscale with a laid back soft tone. It's very sexy cozy with music playing. It's gives a lounge/Resturant with a modern vibe. It's good for date night but also groups for friends night out or birthday celebration. The overall rating for Lele is 4.8/5.0

My cousin turned 27 and 6 of us came here for her birthday. The restaurant was beautiful. I loved the vibe. Our reservation was for 10:30pm but we waited over 30 minutes for a table to get up. The manager came over and told us he would give us champagne while we waited. We finally got seated and got the champagne and a round of drinks. For appetizers, the table got cornbread, wings, and beef patties. For dinner, everyone got either oxtail or lamb chops. The food was amazing. The owner came over and bought us a round of shots and the birthday girl got 2. The service was great. The restaurant was on the pricier side. We left a $250 deposit and then each person paid $140. I would still want to come back. I had a nice experience.

I couldn't wait to write this review because I did not want to forget the details of this beautiful restaurant! Lélé is that girlllll, ok?! You do not want to miss it. It's newly opened, black-owned, upscale restaurant offering up Caribbean-inspired dishes; pulling particularly from Haitian cuisine. With those attributes alone, count me in! I made a reservation on Resy and noted that if I was a no-show, there would be a $50 cancellation fee per person. I arrived about 10 minutes before my reservation, and was greeted with a dimly lit, beautifully adorned interior and a smiling hostess. The interior is huge! There's two levels of seating. We sat on the lower level. Brianna was our waiter and she seemed very knowledgeable about the menu and recommended a few items. Food: We tried the Suya Chicken Poussin which is draped with hot honey and pepper pickled onion. We also tried the Oxtail, Beef Patty, Pikliz, Berbere Chicken Wings, Akra, Corn Bread and Grilled Shrimp. The oxtail was good. It comes with Haitian white rice. Now, I had to try the white rice. As a Haitian-American, our white rice is very different from a traditional white rice. There's flavor to it. Let's just say it passed and I was impressed. The oxtail was good too; it was on the sweeter side. I prefer my oxtail with a more salty (for the lack of a better word) flavor. I would still get it again even with my preference. The Beef Patty was good as well. Not my favorite, but it's not bad at all. The Akra and Pikliz were spot on! I was very impressed with the Akra; it had the flavors that I am used to. The Pikliz, which is a spicy slaw, could have been spicier. However, I understand they made it on the less spicier side to appease a larger audience. The chicken wings had a dry rub with scotch bonnet flavoring - very good. Ambiance: Again, the decor is beautiful with murals on the walls, chandeliers and velvet furniture. Oh! And they were playing Kompa, which is Haitian music. I loved it 5/5! When in NYC again, I am definitely going back. Cheers!

Lele is the high end Caribbean restaurant that we didn't know we needed. I saw this place in an article & figured I should try it after work one day & am glad that I did. Do note that there isn't a particular dress code but it definitely is an upscale spot. I came in my sneakers (smh I know lol) & they didn't mind at all & welcomed me in- I'd just wear a different outfit to match the vibes next time haha. I grabbed a seat at the bar & started off with the "spice market" drink which had 2 different types of rum, shredded coconut, & some other stuff...in short it was perfection. I followed it with the "island outlaw" drink which was mezcal-based. It was good, but honestly the "spice market" drink was a lot better IMHO. Also I'm in a Caribbean place, I'm going with the rum-based drinks! I also had the jerk oyster mushroom which was really good- I've had jerk chicken, salmon, etc but haven't had a vegetarian take on it & was pleasantly surprised. After that, I had the rum cake for dessert (there's always room for dessert) & loved it- just the right amount of sweetness. All in all, I would 100% return back to Lele & look forward to trying their other rum-based cocktails & food.

We had an amazing group dinner celebration at Lele. We had to use their preset menu since our group had 10 people, and the first impression wasn't great. The restaurant originally agreed to book us at 7pm, but then changed the time to 6 (without telling us) and told us they couldn't change the reservation. This was annoying since they confirmed multiple times that 7pm worked, and we were all traveling from out of town. Our experience at the restaurant was a pleasant surprise after the booking issue and the restaurant redeemed itself. The spot is a bit hidden, but once you're inside, it's gorgeous. The hostess helped us by storing a surprise present. The bartender was great. The drinks were fantastic. Our long booth was a perfect location on the main floor. There was plenty of space. The preset menu was $120 per person, which we thought was not steep at first, but it was actually well worth the price! I'd actually always order from a preset menu. Our money was well spent. The appetizers came first, and there was plenty. The shrimp, wings and fried cheese were all fantastic. For the entrees, everything was good. The goat was amazing. The chicken was the bomb. They accommodated a last minute request for fish. The mushroom side was actually some of the best mushrooms I've ever had. We also appreciate that the manager came over and offered us shots to leave, which we thought was a great way to get rid of us. While we were really annoyed with the booking process, the in restaurant experience was amazing, and I would for sure go back. Highly recommend.

The venue is beautiful. Rich colors and lovely decor. Very picturesque. Black owned: Haitian and Guyanese You must arrive with your full party or majority of party to be seated. If they are very late, your table will be given away and they will do their best to accommodate you as they are a popular restaurant. The bartenders are amazing! Specifically Benji, she was amazing and made my birthday special. Thank you. Drinks: I really enjoyed the Spice Market. The ice cube is made with coconut water and has coconut flakes on top. Friends tried the island outlaw and said it was pretty spicy but tasty. The rim had a scotch bonnet salt. Hamachi was so good. Especially the crackers served with it. Coco bread is not traditional Jamaican coco bread, but very light and delicious Spiced grape jam and whipped goat cheese isn't served with bread or crackers. Very good pairing with coco bread. Skip the beef patties. Try other small plates... Jerk oyster mushrooms are flavorful. Has black eyed peas and black garlic with it. Oxtail is NOT Jamaican oxtail. More along the lines of Guyanese oxtail. Sweet but it tastes good. The owner let us know they adjusted the recipe from the original coffee flavor. Monkfish was not my favorite. Although, my friends enjoyed it. The flavor reminded me of mackerel. Cream cheese flan was soooooo good. Do not skip. It serves 4-6 people. I will say service was a bit slow. But the server was so lovely. Due to delays, we received complimentary shots. I wish I remembered her name. She was very helpful with the menu and recommendations. I'd come back for drink and appetizers.

I had a great experience here. My friend and I had been casually hanging out after work on a weekday. It was our birthday month, Scorpio season, and we decided to go for an impromptu "birthday dinner" - unplanned, spontaneous. It came up on google maps as we walked around, so we just dropped in. Wow were we pleasantly surprised. First off, the interior decor. It's gorgeous! I'm partial to green, lush, vibrant, naturescapes and this is exactly what Lele is. Your eye is drawn to all corners of this restaurant. It felt transporting. While there is a middle dining area, there are other seating sections that give this place some character, more so than your typical restaurant seating. As I mentioned, the main color palate is green with pops of bright colors. However the vibe is moody, dark and sexy. Now, onto the food. The standout was hands down the jerk mushrooms. We still We could not get enough of this. It was a saucy medley of mushrooms, packed with flavor, I mean packED! We still talk about it. We also had the oxtail, which came with rice. The oxtail was delicious, the gravy luscious and the meat unctuous. In all, the meal satisfied. The portions were not huge, but just right and we did not have that expectation. Our dessert was the cake with ice cream, it was okay. They put a sweet HBD sign on the plate with a candle for us. We sat next to diners who tried more items, and they commented that their food and drink were delicious. The service was attentive and pleasant, didn't feel overbearing or snobbish. We even got to meet the owner who had been checking on all the tables, a young and kind gentleman who was very welcoming. He has Haitian roots and wanted to showcase that cuisine. All in all, a very positive experience. Since then, my friend has gone back with out of town friends and they loved it. They've since started DJ nights, and other events. Look forward to going back, especially for those mushrooms!

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.

I had a good time until the last 5 seconds. Not sure what is up with the Ogre security guard but he is fake speaking like the spot is a club. The boy really said "let's push" as I am taking a picture of the "Reserve" sign as I am exiting. I ignored him, still took my picture, but i definitely rubbed me wrong. I was with my family and kids, so I played it cool but he was out of pocket. I am thinking brother I just spent $600+, you going to relax and let me take my damn picture. Food was ok, service was good. Entertainment was super dope. Ambiance was very official, no complaints. High end spot like this needs high end security, not someone moving like it's a nightclub in the trenches. Come to think of it, he didn't even great you at the door upon entry.

No notes!! The service was beyond. Hospitable, welcoming, and courteous. The decor is STUNNING. Very grand scale and a luxurious but cozy ambiance. Now, the food... wow. Everything that hit our table was delicious. The standouts: the chicken wings (so crispy and well seasoned), the head-on shrimp, oxtail, lamb chops, monkfish, and plantain. My vegan friend said the jerk oyster mushrooms were the best mushrooms he's ever tasted; they were so flavorful and cooked perfectly. Everyone at the table left full and super satisfied. This restaurant exceeded our expectations, and I'll absolutely be back.

My partner and I recently dined at LeLe for Valentine's Day. With demanding work schedules and a one year old child with special needs, it felt really special to finally get dressed up and enjoy a night out together. LeLe is a beautiful restaurant, the ambiance and music were great, the hostess was warm and welcoming, and we were seated promptly. The food itself was delicious, and the food runners were kind. Unfortunately, our service experience did not match the rest of the evening. Our server, a tall gentleman with long synthetic dreadlocks, did not introduce himself. While he wasn't disrespectful, his demeanor felt disengaged. There was no warmth or check-ins throughout the meal. Once our dishes were delivered, he never returned to ask if everything was satisfactory. The only time he came back to the table was to ask if we wanted another drink. Additionally, our main course was brought out after a table that had been seated after us. While I understand that delays can happen, I worked as a server for many years and it still impacted the experience. The manager did come to apologize and offered complimentary shots, which we declined. He also mentioned the bill would be comped, but it ultimately was not. I appreciated the apology, nonetheless. With an automatic gratuity included and a bill close to $600, I expected a higher level of attentiveness. I have no issue tipping. I spent most of my 20s waitressing , but service should reflect the standard being charged. Overall, the food and ambiance were excellent, but the service left us disappointed on what was meant to be a special evening.

Nice place overall with friendly, welcoming staff. The menu doesn't have a ton of options, but the quality and great service definitely stood out.

Ambiance is the star. Beautiful space, dimmed and intimate. I went right at opening so it wasn't crowded, but they did have 2 for 1 drinks which is a plus. I went with a friend and we were satisfied with their "small" dishes, they are shareable. We had 2 drinks each and the bill was about $100. I'm not mad at the experience at all. Upper area was closed, but it's pretty up there as well. It gives lounge and live music (though they don't have live music, at least not on a consistent basis) Leah was our server, she was knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in us deciding what we wanted. Wait staff came around making sure our tables were clear as needed. Good afterwork spot for a quick bite.

Absolutely LOVED this place! The decor, the staff, the food...all 10/10 DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!! My girlfriends and I came here after a pretty disappointing brunch at another place and boy were we happy we did. For food, we had the wings, the beef patties, and the shrimp - all suggestions from the hostess who greeted and seated us - and they were all top notch. For drinks, we had the Scarlet Garden, the Lele punch, and the Spice Market. Each of our drinks were perfectly curated and balanced. Needless to say, we enjoyed ourselves and will 1000% be back!!

Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. Lele is definitely a beautiful place for any special occasion. Soon as you walk in, the ambiance and decor grabs your attention. Everyone stops to take pictures right there. Inside is dimly lit but still beautiful. Upstairs decor also good for photo ops. They played a great mix of music. The service was very good. Naquan L was our server and he was on point despite us being a group of 9. He quick, gave good recommendations, and was very friendly and personable the entire time. Drinks: were really good. The scarlet garden was a big hit with our group. Also had a pretty decent d'usse sidecar. The espresso martini and the old fashioned were fails though. Food: we did a pre-fixed menu where we just ordered a bunch of certain menu items to share family style. The food was decent but we collectively felt like a lot of the dishes were ruined by the overboard/overkill of certain ingredients that were added. For example the queso frito: we felt like we were eating French toast instead of fried cheese. Why do we need coffee, spices, and honey on fried cheese?? The flavors were just too much and you couldn't eat too much of it before it became cloying . Same goes for the grilled corn. Why do we need to add peanuts to that?? It was good but peanut was not necessary and 2 of our guests actually had an allergic reaction not knowing peanuts was in the corn. The oxtail was decent but tasted sweet and could've been better without the coffee and BBQ in it. Just why?? I didn't even bother trying the curry goat because why does it say it has golden raisins?? Whyyy?! The wings were really good but guess what? Again, overkill with the berbere on it. We were literally dusting them off. I didn't eat any of the suya chicken because it had the same berbere spice on it. The green curry shrimp was great! No complaints there. Very flavorful and the ingredients make sense. The jerk mushroom and flan were good as well. I know we strive to be different, and I'm here for different, but sometimes, as was the case here in my opinion, less is more.

I wanted to love this place so bad, especially because I am loving the increase in Caribbean cuisine for higher end spots. The decor is STUNNING as you can see from the other reviews. Truly did an amazing job. The lele punch and soursop drink was good. I like the soursop one more which was surprising. The food...I want to preface this by saying I often feel like non-white cuisines are not valued the way other cuisines are. That is NOT the case for me. I have no issue spending$56 on oxtails. My issue is spending that much, and they aren't falling off the bone. If you are coming to midtown for a cheap dinner then don't come here or anywhere else in the area. However, the food just missed the mark for us. We ordered the beef patties, shrimp, oxtails, curry goat, and monk fish. I'm not sure if they are trying to appease the white ppl in the area but baby when I eat carribean food I expect FLAVAaaaaa. I was not wow-ed by any of the dishes and neither was the rest of the party. I want to reiterate....this review is not comparing a hood spot in flatbush to a nice place in midtown-it's about the food itself. Money isn't the issue, however it def stings dropping $400 and you feeling it was "mid". Our server was awesome. Too bad the food wasn't equally awesome.

I haven't given a five-star review in a long time, but this place truly deserves it! The atmosphere is beautiful and impressive. I appreciated that the menu was well-lit since the restaurant lighting is on the dim side. We were seated along the buffet area, which was a bit narrow to walk through, and the room was a little cold. The bathroom could use some maintenance, but overall, the space works great for singles, couples, families, or group gatherings. Service was good. I did order an extra drink that never arrived. Now, the food Everything we ordered was delicious! The only item that could be improved was the chicken; it would be even better with the chicken wing sauce or a boneless option since it was a bit hard to cut. We had Suya chicken, Monk fish (texture like lobster), The wings, Hisabi (it's raw),The corn,The rice, Squash, sweet plantains,The corn bread and coco bread. Dessert we had rum cake and Beignets which both was delicious and an elevated version of the dish. Drinks loved the island outlaw and moscow mule. Still, I'm already looking forward to coming back especially for that amazing chicken wing sauce!

Im sorry. I dont know if its my age, or my experience dining in NYC or the fact that I was born and raised in Brooklyn... but this place just did NOT meet the bar me . 1st impression, its beautiful inside . The walk way , hanging monkeys, the deep dark interior - very sexy .... HOWEVER , I came thinking I would get to try some AFRO CARIBBEAN fusion .... I instead received a menu with over priced curry goat and oxtails . As my date and I looked at the entirely too bright flash menu ... we realized that they charge damn near $20 bucks for white rice (calling it Haitian white rice) my fiancé (who happens to Haitian) reminded me that they dont even have white rice, its just reg rice with scallions ... I guess for the location its works/ but I can definitely get some amazing curry goat in Brooklyn and not pay 50 bucks for it . Also, asking our waitress what kinda spices are in the spiced jam and her response was "well its a bunch of different spices and goat cheese, it pairs well with the cassava bread" ... I had to go.... Highlight of the night was their version of an old fashioned (it had cherry and something else) AND that' we dined w/ Al Sharpton... We left after the 1st round of drinks & apps . I just couldn't do it . We walked to a cute hookah place nearby. Its never that deep

If you are used to eating Caribbean food, this is not the restaurant for you. The food is inconsistent. For appetizers we had the patties 2/5. Patty crust should be flaky. The filing was decent. The corn appetizer was strange. It was cold and sloppy 0/5. I wouldn't order either again. The mains were good, but again inconsistent. I ordered the curry goat which came with rice. The curry was bland but the meat was tender and had large pieces 3/5. My friend had lambchops which were well-seasoned but small. It sat on a bed of onions and habanero peppers 4/5. My drink was good 5/5 Service was 2/5. They need more staff who are knowledgeable about the dishes. They struggled with describing flavor profiles and giving recommendations. And they definitely cleared the table while I was still eating. Rude. Anyway, Ill only come back if a friend insists for their birthday, but I'll try to avoid it. There are too many other nice Caribbean restaurants in nyc to try.

This restaurant is absolutely beautiful, and I'm glad I got to celebrate my birthday here! Upon walking in, you're met by a dark ambiance and stunning decor. My birthday guests enjoyed taking pictures in the entrance hallway lined with many mirrors. It was a late weekday evening with a decent crowd, but we still made sure to make a reservation prior to coming. Everyone was incredibly friendly - from the doorman to the host and our server. Now, for the food. It is on the expensive side, but I am from DC and used to higher priced meals, so come expecting to spend. The first menu item to come was our drinks, and we all ordered mocktails. Then came the cornbread and beef patties. The cornbread was good but a little on the dry side. The tamarind and honey butter complemented it so perfectly. I don't eat beef but my guests seemed to really enjoy the beef patties! For our entrees, we ordered family style and all shared the suya chicken and the shrimp. I loved the African-Caribbean fusion flavors! The suya powder on the roasted chicken was divine. The shito butter on the shrimp didn't exactly taste like Ghanaian-authentic shito, but it was still tasty. I could've used a little more hot spices in the shito butter. Lastly, we got the spiced beignets for a birthday dessert. I have to admit, this was probably my least favorite and tasted more like an old fashioned donut. Nonetheless, I most definitely enjoyed my birthday dinner and will be back for that suya chicken the next time I'm in NYC!

Had my birthday here and it was such a vibe. The restaurant is beautiful so come dressed to impress. Your pics will be lovely. The food was good, some dishes we liked better than others. They have their own take to certain dishes. Our menu was pri fixe so got to try a few different things. Our faves were the fried chicken, oxtail, corn, I personally enjoyed the fish but my friends not so much. Vibes were good, music was banging and the owner even stopped by with shots for a birthday toast. Our waitress was nice and knowledgeable about the food options. Will definitely go again! We were having such a good time we closed the place out lol.

I'm giving this spot five stars for a few reasons. For one, it's a beautiful space. We were here on 12/4/25 celebrating my sister in laws birthday. On the walk in from a cold night, I felt the warm inviting vibes. A great crowd, the front of the house was extremely gracious offering to take our coats. Upon being seated, we had an extremely knowledgeable waitress who exuded great energy. I got the Lele punch, it was really tasty, a little sweet, but good. My party also ordered cocktails which they enjoyed very much. We started with the mushrooms, wings and beef patties. All superb. Mushrooms garlicky like I like them, the wings were crispy and they came with an undeniable scotch bonnet sauce on the side, and the beef patties had a super flavorful filling with the flaky crust, high end Gun Hill Road action there. For entrees we ordered the chicken, oxtail lamb chops and shrimp. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. I sampled the oxtail and lamb, both were tender especially the oxtail.

Everything about this restaurant is amazing. I came here one Friday night for a girls night with a group of friends. From the food to the ambiance this spot is 10/10. EVERYTHING we ordered was AMAZING. As a vegetarian I appreciated the many options that I had to choose from including the Jerk Oyster Mushrooms, Corn Ribs, Fried Cheese, and Cornbread. Some favorites from the table were the Oxtail, Shrimp and Suya Chicken. Seasoned to perfection and all of the sauces were incredible. The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning. They have two floors of elegance. Around 9:30/10pm they started the Carnival experience. Which included a drummer, carnival dancers, and performers on stilts. They came through every 30mins or so. It was truly a lovely vibe to add to the dinning experience. Service was top notch. We will definitely be back.

Went to Lele for a friend's birthday and the food and drinks were delicious. The service and ambiance was a 10 out of 10!!!

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.

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!

In a nut shell this place is like having a hot girlfriend who just has no substance, aka a blond!! Yes the decor is nice yes i love upscale Caribbean but there is much needing to be fixed. Firstly i made reservations. Got seated in the top level right at the balcony. The chairs are to small to low and the tables are two small to be comfortable. Felt like your in a lil kids play house having tea time. Ok we got sat, ordered a drink and an appetizer just to start. The wings came out the were fried nicely Coated with a light layer of seasoning but for me the scotch bonnet sauce was so good like so good flavor sweetness and spicy not as much as i would have liked but it was good. After the wings. I let the waitress know what we wanted as a main now this is after like already being here 30 minutes. Give me the oxtails plz, like a bad Caribbean restaurant she says we no have that!, well not those exact words but y'all get the point. How You not telling your customer there isn't any oxtails Untill after they ask for it. That's like going to see destinys child perform but Beyonce not going be there and telling you after your already there. To make it worse she tells us they ran out at 8pm, how on a Saturday when y'all open at 5pm you run out of oxtails at 8pm like really. So I sucked it up ordered the goat and the Suya fried chicken. Now i want you to understand we still haven't gotten our drinks yet. Being that we up stairs we see right over the bar so we seeing drinks stacked on the counters waiting to be picked up wondering where are ours. Still waiting for our drinks a famous rapper and his entourage walk in we finally get our drinks. Yes my drink was good it was strong nice flavor but it was also no cold as if it had just sat there waiting. Food still hasn't gotten here an I'm tired of the waiting game. The rapper and his entourage only been here for 15 minutes and there drinks already at there table. I just. Walked over to our waitress and told here we'll pay our tab and leave. She did offer to see if our food was ready and have it bagged up to go. But by now I was over it. Seeing that other people in the restaurant who were there before us and some after us still hadn't. Gotten their mains yet. Some much I wanted to love about this place but it's to much going wrong and not enough going right. How do you only have one person waiting every table on the top level. It's more than 6 tables And some of them had more than 4 ppl at each. After the runner grabs our appetizer that we ate why is he bringing out more empty plates Like we aren't waiting for our main course. Like we aren't waiting for our main course where are we suppose to place all these damn plates. This is def a spot I'd suggest u come to when they first open at 5pm try to be the first in and first out. Please work on improving things.

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 .

Found this place via insta and looked really good! Made reservations and came with my friend who has never tried Caribbean food before and loved it especially the oxtail! This is a fusion Afro-Caribbean restaurant which is a first for me however I'm no stranger to Caribbean food in general. Everything from start to finish was excellent. The inside is beautifully decorated entrance and to wall full of beautiful artwork. Our waiter Lex was very informative and attentive. We tried almost everything and was not disappointed, my favorite If had to pick were the wings and oxtail but everything was delicious from the food to the drinks! It is a bit on the pricey side and according to our waiter it has only been a month since they've been open when I went and are still adding new dishes to the menu. Will definitely go back to try the rest of the menu and drinks. The seating is a bit tight, so I recommend calling to get a corner or good spot because where we were seated was in the middle of the boot area and I did not like it and asked for the corner but couldn't get it even though there were plenty of seats available while we were there hence the four stars.

I walked in at around 9:30pm and I asked the host for a table for 1. Before I could finish my sentence she and another female staff said in a very rude tone "sorry kitchen is closed, we just sat the last people couple minutes ago". I say ok and stood in the corner because I have to find another place to eat, 10min later one of the same staff that denied me, tried to offer me dinner and a seat... I pointed out how she just denied me because the kitchen was closed then she said they only had oxtails left if I wanted some. I declined then walked out. The bouncer was very nice and tried to convince me to stay and even return another day or possibly ask the manager to get me a seat. He was the only staff that was welcoming and genuinely wanted me to enjoy my dinner & have a good experience. The restaurant is beautiful but I will not be back, very disappointed.

Amazing restaurant, amazing staff, amazing atmosphere, amazing food. Not much more to say. We visited for my father's birthday, as it's definitely a location for a special night out. The servers were warm and personable, while managing a thousand things. Everything was prompt and great. The location is beautiful, my sister even asked the waitress if she could get the name of the interior decorator! I had the jerk oyster mushrooms, the berebere chicken wings, the hamachi, the suya chicken, the cornbread and the monkfish. My favorite were the chicken dishes; the skin was seasoned exquisitely while the chicken was extremely tender.Everything was great. My dad had the curry goat and oxtail and said it was amongst the best he's ever had. Cannot recommend enough.

I REALLY tried to love this place. Marla the Host is very pleasant and helpful when you come in. Franklin the support staff/busser did a good job to get me all I needed and for this im grateful to him. Since the server disappeared and only came to bring the cheque. I decided to ONLY shed light on the good parts.

The food was amazing! While pricey we had everything. The oxtails and chicken were fabulous both the black rice and sticky rice were good and well paired. The mushroom app was a hit at our table while the plantains were cooked perfectly and not unexpected. The corn was great for our corn lover who ate most of it. The drinks offered a nice variety and all were tasty. The only thing not a hit was the rum cake, it fell short but by then we were pretty full. Our server was great and met the needs of our large party with speed and grace. It seemed every drink was filled to the top. The atmosphere was stunning. I went back to an era when a restaurant was beautiful I side and out - this did not fall short and yes the seating was comfortable. We will be back!

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.

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

I came here for my Bday celebration, since I'm celebrating all year & the food, drinks & ambiance was amazing. I will for sure say 10/10! This was a great experience and I will for sure come back for dinner with my husband & to try brunch! Le or Lea but we called her Lboogie or LELE lol was our server and she was amazing! Her energy was beautiful & she was very attentive!

I'm giving this place 5 stars based on how beautiful it is inside. We only sat at the bar. We had drinks and an appetizer. The drinks were good and the jerk mushrooms were sooooooo good. Mm. It is very pricey I must say. But I would certainly go back. Maybe for a birthday.