Léon 1909

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Last night at Leon’s was undoubtedly the best evening yet at what more and more of my friends are calling the best restaurant in the Hamptons, and I can vouch that it’s true! Situated in the middle of Shelter Island, this gem is a five minute car ferry ride from Sag Harbor and 10 from Greenport. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by Chris, the head manager, whose warm smile and genuine hospitality set the tone for a fantastic night. It was impressive, especially considering the challenges he and the team faced after the island had shut down due to a terrible storm the night before. Yet, he managed to create an inviting atmosphere, making us feel right at home, even on one of the busiest evenings of the year. And the place was spotless! Entering the restaurant, I was immediately captivated by the beautiful hearth fireplace, and the intoxicating aromas of grilled seafood and chicken wafting through the air. Kudos to the creatively brilliant head chef, Armond, who has masterfully crafted a summer menu that celebrates the hyper local seafood of the region. Each dish was a treasure trove of flavors, encouraging a reorientation of the senses to the hyper-local delights of Northeastern seafood. Nearly everything on the menu at this beautiful restaurant is a little bit of a revelation. The menu thrilled us with both new tastes and beloved classics. I was particularly taken by the half chicken, marinated in a secret brine and slow-cooked over an open fire, delivering a delicate and savory experience. The Bluefin Tuna Belly, served with Nasturtium, Surf Clam, Ají Dulce, and Cilantro, sidestepped the typical blandness often found in seafood dishes. The Montauk Red Shrimp Crudo, reminiscent of Sicily, was perfectly marinated with punchy Elderflower Vinegar and garnished with Salted Kumquat, fresh herbs, and dill. Our favorite Caesar salad, crafted with a secret blend of Breadcrumbs, Black Pepper, and Parmesan, was a delightful addition. And the Dry-Aged Ribeye was nothing short of perfection—peppery, juicy, and grilled to buttery bliss. Despite being in the thick of the second serving rush, the waiting staff remained attentive and efficient. I always admire a well-organized team that works seamlessly together, and Chris and his leadership team truly exemplified that. Our waiter Yee was exceptional. When our food arrived, the table erupted with excitement over the sassy bites and novel taste sensations. At the end, on our way out we exchanged a few words with Gillian, the bar manager who was gracious and left us with a kind smile. The perfect ending to the evening. Leon’s continues to impress with its commitment to quality and exceptional service. If you’re looking for an unforgettable dining experience in the Hamptons, Leon’s on Shelter Island is the place to be. I can't wait to return and explore more of the culinary wonders this gem has to offer!

*My only complaint, if you’re going to charge that much for a burger add fries with it. Leon 1909 is a true hidden gem — a refined, intimate dining experience that’s clearly crafted with love and attention to detail. From the moment we stepped in, we were taken by the warm, European farmhouse feel — cozy lighting, beautiful woodwork, and a layout that feels both elegant and welcoming. The food is outstanding. Every dish we tried felt both rustic and elevated — perfectly seasonal, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious. The wood-fired oven adds a subtle depth of flavor to many of the dishes, and the menu is thoughtfully curated with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. Standouts included the roasted chicken (incredible), fresh pastas, and the grilled vegetables — simple but unforgettable. The wine list is well-chosen, featuring small producers and thoughtful pairings, and the service was seamless. Friendly, knowledgeable, and never rushed. It’s definitely on the pricier side — this isn’t an everyday dinner spot — but for a special occasion or a night when you want to treat yourself to something memorable, it’s worth every penny. You’re not just paying for a meal, but for an atmosphere and experience that stays with you. Leon 1909 delivers that rare balance of comfort and sophistication, and it’s easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the area. Highly recommend for food lovers who appreciate the details.

Despite our last-minute reservation, the host was welcoming. The food was exceptional - fresh, flavorful, and creatively prepared. Cocktails stood out with house-made ingredients. Service was attentive and professional. Appetizers came out quickly, and while the mains took a bit longer due to a full house, the waiter let us know ahead of time, which we really appreciated. Overall, fantastic dining experience from start to finish.

Leon 1909 is unquestionably the best restaurant on the East End of Long Island, and ranks right up there with some of the best in the city. The service is unmatched anywhere out east. GM Chris Clark greets you at the door and sets you up for an evening of unparalleled hospitality. This restaurant isn’t staffed with seasonal folks on Shelter for the summer; they are all pedigreed staff from fine restaurants in NYC and beyond. Inevitably your first experience with Leon 1909 will be a cocktail from Gillian Georges, whose cocktail menu is inventive and tasty and executed to perfection. Gillian managed to make even the somewhat polarizing Egg Nog absolutely irresistible for the holidays! The best seats in the house may possibly be at the bar, which is always lively and entertaining, and that’s saying a lot because if you’re at the bar, your back is likely to Leon’s showstopper of an open flame kitchen, roasting up chicken, meats and vegetables that make the ferry ride to Shelter feel more like a pilgrimage than a boat ride. The menu at Leon is thoughtful and perfectly executed - there is never a dish that doesn’t leave you wanting for more. Entering Leon 1909 with its warm fire and beautiful interior is like walking into a well curated party that you are suddenly very excited you were invited to. Buzzy without being loud, and energetic without losing the personal attention from the warm and knowledgeable staff. There are many reasons that discerning diners from the north and south forks, as well as the city, happily make their way to Shelter Island for dinner at Leon 1909.

One of my top five restaurants in the Hamptons! Asador style dishes, great aged steak, delicious dry aged chicken, all the vegetables are local farmed, and the menu changes daily, with a few exceptions. Setting and decoration are beautiful, and the service is great! If you can’t find Parking in the restaurant parking lot, there is an overflow parking 2 stores down! Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

My girlfriend and I recently had an amazing experience at Leon. It was absolutely delicious, and sitting near the open-hearth fire was cozy and romantic. My meal started with the best Caesar salad I've ever had, and we then shared the slow-fired chicken and ribeye, both extremely flavorful and cooked to perfection, paired with a lovely French pinot that complemented both dishes. Very well done, thank you!

Time and time again, this proves to be one of my favorite restaurants on Long Island. Excellent food, great ambiance. It doesn't try too hard or try to be something it's not, and it still manages to be cool and excellent

Leon is magical! Hard to believe it exists, tucked away on Shelter Island. To step inside is transformational, the outside world fades away. The menu, staff, and bar pull a crowd who arrive dressed for a special evening. The 12 foot long open roasting fire centered in the dining room casts a warm, flickering light that puts everyone at ease to enjoy a memorable dining experience no matter what the occasion. Love this place!

We are locals to the island and frequent many of the surrounding restaurants often. This restaurant was, unfortunately, immensely disappointing. We were neglected and frustrated from the moment we talked to the host at the door. There was a 1 hour delay for food after ordering. 3-4 different waiters / waitresses served our table of two which resulted in us asking for the same thing multiple times (15 minutes to get a wine menu, for example) and the servers (Troy + others) being confused themselves. The host had no manners and no apologies / acknowledgement for the disastrous operation occurring. We sat down at 7:30 and received our food at 9:10. Total mess and disorganization. I got the feeling that they are either totally overstaffed or understaffed, not in between. In other words, it is easy to observe the inefficient service because many employees overlook and run right by the table at any given time. The business is not seamlessly run which you would expect for the price (you notice that cost and lack of satisfaction when you receive your bill). The host (and manager?) on 8/29 never once said hello, please, nor thank you, nor acknowledged delays during the routine interactions a patron would have with him. It might be worth reconsidering who fills that role. I also mentioned it was my fiancée's (golden) 29th birthday in the reservation notes and to the wait staff. No acknowledgement from Leon's staff. No celebrating with dessert in the restaurant. We couldn't get their attention to order dessert in a reasonable time anyway. We went home and celebrated instead. Go elsewhere. Sunset Beach is right down the road as well as The Chequit and The Pridwin. All great establishments

Went last night. Pros: Service excellent. They really try to please & accommodate requests. Food good. Parking abundant. Cons: Do Not go on warm summer evening. No a/c, & with the open kitchen, it was very warm. We skipped desert to get out. Very overpriced. Ambiance ok, but table are close together. Between heat & crowd, can become uncomfortable.

Not to be dramatic, but I had the best cheeseburger of my entire life here. Everything was excellent, incl the cocktails, but the burger was sensational.

My wife and I dined at Leon 1909 last weekend. I am glad that we tried it, but the overall experience was so hit-or-miss that we very likely won't be back. The reason I'm even writing this review is that the "Wagyu Steak" at $89 is priced so egregiously for what it actually is that it simply needs to be called out. Looking at prior reviews here, food quality vs. expectations appears to have been a major sticking point for some time, so it's disappointing to still be experiencing the same. Something seriously needs to give there. The Positives: - Ambience is great. Very rustic and will hit the spot if you're into that aesthetic as far as fine dining goes. Open "hot" kitchen in the main dining area is pretty cool, albeit really contributes to a slightly uncomfortable inside temperature. - Cocktail and wine selection is solid. We enjoyed everything that we drank that night. Loved the idea of the "Tasting" selection of two cab francs. - The Brioche bread starter is fantastic. The Negatives: - The $89 Wagyu Steak. This is a hanger steak. Hanger steaks can be Wagyu, but that would imply a certain level of tenderness to which my cut of meat did not even come remotely close. I chewed multiple pieces from the middle of the cut for legitimately 2-3 minutes before having to (embarrassingly) spit them out. When all was said and done, I had to leave about half of the original cut on my plate, from it being either too ridiculously tough or just pure fat (and not "marbled" fat, mind you). I have had multiple $30 flank steak frites around Fairfield County CT that blow this out of the water in terms of tenderness and overall quality. $89 at most major steak restaurants in NYC will get you an incredible piece of beef.I voiced my displeasure to the server, only because she asked, and received a sort of "oh well" response. - Wife ordered french fries that never came out. She ultimately didn't mind since she was too full for them anyway, but lo and behold they still showed up on the final bill. Server seemed embarrassed and quickly removed it from the tab, to her credit. - If planning to dine here during the summer months or when temps are 80 degrees and above, would specifically ask to sit either outside or away from the open kitchen. Gets very warm if you're seated within 10-15 feet of it.

Pork was raw... 3 orders of pork even when sent back was served raw. There was hair in one dish. Then to make matters worse, server and manager handled the situation terribly. Overcharged us for drinks we did not have. Service was poor, bad attitude and not hospitable. Highly disappointed in a restaurant we would frequent regularly.

Tried Leon's last night with my parents and we loved it. Started with the fresh brioche, little gem Caesar salad, and the carrot custard. The bread is fresh out of the oven and has good flavor. The Caesar is probably one of the best Caesar salads I've ever had. The carrot custard was delicious and highlighted and highlighted flavors of the fresh herbs. For our mains, we split the roasted vegetables and the half chicken. As with the appetizers, these were delicious and roasted perfectly. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Our waitress was attentive and very willing to answer our questions on the menu and the restaurant, itself. The restaurant is gorgeous inside, with the focal point being the open wood burning kitchen area. When I read the reviews, I considered cancelling our reservation so please take this review as your sign to still check this place out!

$44/half a dry, overcooked, tasteless chicken? $54/six ounce piece of dry, overcooked, tasteless fish? Stay home, enjoy your beautiful houses and chefs kitchens, and learn how to cook delicious food!

Absolutely delicious and it didn't miss a detail Proper bartenders Delicious cocktails The food was amazing!!!!! My husband had the whole chicken and it qas cooked beautifully The sides were very good I had the lobster pasta Omg!!!! Pasta was heavenly The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and the atmosphere Can't wait to go back! I know this island is all word of mouth so it was packed the first night and I was so happy to accidentally be apart of it cause I was staying across the street

Another sensational meal tomato, prosciutto and no one salad unbelievably delicious great seasonal lettuce salad marvelous roast chicken french fries. Gracious service.

As a seasonal resident of the North Fork I was really looking forward to this restaurant after reading a writeup last season, but never got around to it. This year, I anxiously awaited my opportunity to give it a shot. The experience didn't live up to the hype, and that's being generous. In summary, you go in expecting to pay a premium price but to get excellent ambience and artfully prepared and presented food. The price tag was there, sadly, not much else. For starters - we tried the tuna tartar, the cheese plate and the grilled squid, as well as the sourdough bread. That was likely the biggest disappointment - $3/pp for what was widely hyped and honestly not better than what you'd find in a bag in a supermarket. You can't throw a rock on the East End of LI and not find better sourdough bread than this. If this is hand crafted in house, here's a hint - hire a baker. The tuna tartar was marred by confusing preparation - it was almost mashed, and had a spice or flavoring that just didn't fit. The cheese plate, at $38, lacked a standout, which again - the North Fork is littered with cheese mongers that have much better options. Is this supposed to be fine dining or isn't it? The grilled squid was very good, prepared and seasoned well, with decent presentation as well. The main dishes ranged from confused and uninspiring to 'wait, does Costco cook steaks now?'. The restaurant is supposed to be an amalgam of French, Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes. The steak - at 89 dollars - was an inch thick, poorly seasoned with a rub that didn't provide much flavor (note for the head chef - salt/pepper/garlic powder would have gone farther than whatever was slapped on this). The potatoes on the plate were unidentifiable, not presentable, and barely edible. We had ordered a side of french fries that were passable and much better than the monstrosity that accompanied the steak. This is proof positive that this is no fine dining experience - any experienced chef from a professional kitchen should not have left those potatoes leave his kitchen. The chermoula tasted gritty, clearly the herbs had not been appropriately rinsed. Folks, farm to table does not imply that the vegetables need bypass washing before they're served. The grilled pork chop didn't fare better. The sauce accompanying it apparently had capers but their flavor was notably absent. It tasted almost as if the pork chop - which itself was bland and without seasoning, and cooked to the point of dryness (seriously kitchen - brine if you insist on cooking to oblivion) was served with a bolognese sauce. Nothing fit. At least this plate looked appealing, unlike the steak which just screamed 'get it out of here already' with it's Martian potatoes. The cocktails we ordered were OK - nothing really stood out. Service was attentive but nothing out of the ordinary. For the amount of money spent in another venue, I would have expected much more. In this area I came in with managed expectations regarding value and still left disappointed. An effort should be made to move in one direction or another; either charge less money for this mediocre food, or continue to charge premium prices and actually supply food that is deserving of that cost. The restaurant was named as an homage to the restaurant's owner. I would not want this restaurant bearing my name with food like this.

Interesting, delicious food. The ambiance is great and, while the service isn't outstanding in season, it is always friendly and well-meaning. The food never disappoints. The menu is seasonal and local so changes frequently, but always includes tempting options that reflect the local character but don't default to local cliches. To me dining options out east are good but often a little boring, playing it too safe and over-indexing on what a person out for one weekend expects, not repeat customers. Leon is a great addition in that they keep things interesting but never boring. It's a warm atmosphere and upscale comfy, not scene-y.

Such a welcoming atmosphere and such wonderful food The service is perfect and the room is beautiful . The food from the most delicious bread , a reason enough to come , to the freshness of the food and its delicious flavors, makes for a restaurant you want to call your classic. There's no reason not to go. A must

Have been hearing great things since opening last year. Finally took a quick South Ferry ride over. Great atmosphere, excellent food, they are using locally sourced ingredients, as seen by the large amount of blue Balsam Farm produce lugs piled up in the back. What really topped off the night was the service staff, especially our server Paula!

BEWARE VEGETARIANS! My married daughter, a vegetarian, and her husband went to Leon 1909 Saturday for a date night. There were NO vegetarian entrees. There was an option on line, but apparently the menu had changed. Of course the server said "WE CAN MAKE YOU A PASTA! That's what all restaurants say when they are lazy and don't have even one exciting vegetarian option on the menu. it is so deflating. DO BETTER, LEON. There are a lot of great restaurants in the area that don't treat their vegetarian guests like second class citizens. A Sag Harbor resident.

Disappointing trip to Leon 1909. We dined here a couple of times last year and were excited to return, but this year we found the menu limited with only five or six entree options and no vegetarian choices. Don't mind paying for good meals but the fish, a tiny portion, emerged from the kitchen undercooked. If you go, get the wood-fired chicken, which seems to be the only reliable choice on the menu. It would have been nice to have another fine dining choice on Shelter Island, but I'm afraid this isn't it.

Nothing special... food average, ambiance Smokey. Prices high. It's not a great restaurant.

Without question best restaurant in Hamptons, albeit on Shelter Island. Wonderful, imaginative food, exceptional roast chicken. Very pleasant indoor and outdoor seating, but avoid tables near wood burning oven. Charming friendly service, no attitude. Expensive and worth it

we have NEVER written negative reviews, because we understand that we do not live in a perfect world and we are all not perfect... But the way how the manager greeted us and how he communicated with us when we arrived to the restaurant goes beyond all limits... I booked our table outside for 7- 7:15pm by phone they confirmed and said yes: the table will be ready for you at 7pm ( I was with my wife and it is not very convenient for her to stay in the room for a long time especially where there is a fireplace and periodically there is some smoke from the fire... sometimes it's gets sick of the smoke ) We were a bit delayed and arrived at 7:22pm we apologized for the delay and I said we have a reservation outside , but The manager answered us quite rudely that this would not happen, I asked the reason why? The manager just answering to me like we are his personal enamy , he looked at us angrily. Then we again i tried to explain that we had a reservation for a table outside, because it was important for us, to which he categorically rejected all our requests, and said that under no circumstances YOU will you be given a table outside. We thought the way how he was talking to us like we are his personal enemies, although we were just GOOOD customers who wanted to eat deliciously FOOD :))) then he lied and said to us that we were 45 minutes late, although we were maybe only 15 minutes late. I told him this is not true and secondly it's not professional talks to your clients like that! after which he became furious, and it seemed to us that he would now rush at us with his fists... Thanks for "hospitality", I just want other people to know about this situation and be prepared, this could happen to anyone simply because some manager at that moment was not in the "mood" to communicate politely with his clients. p.s I guess his name was Chris . and btw , the food was good and the waiters were very nice professionally. but the evening was ruined for us.

I don't often write reviews unless something is exceptional; and Leon 1909 is EXCEPTIONAL!! Spent 2 nights on Shelter Island this past Mon and Tues. The food and experience was so positive Monday night that we choose to come back Tues Night!I Don't remember ever on vacation going to the same restaurant 2 nights in a row.The Quality of the food is fantastic but also the seasonings and the Open Kitchen execution of each dish is something to see! All the servers and bussers are so warm and friendly and just add to the culinary experience . The unique music also adds to this special environment. They have nice outdoor seating but the real show is in the main dining room. If you are a steak eater try the Ribeye steak for 2 if available .. I'm fussy about my steak and this was one of the best! Chicken was also wonderful and every appetizer and salad is a novel dish in itself! Enjoy!

The restaurants warm cozy feeling comes with the bare wood exposed beams and home shaped structure. The waitress was very sweet and helpful as well on top of everything that was going on, so service was top notch. We split a spring salad, which tasted fresh. We loved the licorice flavored herbs and the snap peas. We split the chicken which was prepared on a rotisserie fire. I didn't love the smoky flavor of the skin, but that's just a me thing. The skin was crisp and the chicken evenly cooked and moist. My only complaint would be that the prices are a bit ridiculous and instead of having the sides included, you have to order them in addition to the meal. I think that the owners are taking advantage of the fact that there's wealthy people visiting the area and they know they can squeeze as much money out of them as possible. I don't particularly like when are greedy because they can get away with it. It's not that we expect the price of a happy meal, to me it's more of a principle type thing. I would recommend the place because of the food, atmosphere, and service with the caveat of knowing beforehand what you're getting into.

First time last night. 6 of us. Ambiance great. Service greater. Menu, as mentioned by others, is very tempting. Food, however, a bit disappointing. The pasta was overcooked, smothered in a heavy red sauce that tasted like it came out of a grocery store jar; cold french fries -- (even when hot tasteless) -- chicken, a "specialty", was just ok. The folks at the adjacent table said "like airline food". Delta, not Emirates. On the plus side, Caesar fabulous, burger (sent bk once b/c ordered med rare and delivered well done) nice. If there's a next time, I'm ordering the bread, a Caesar and dessert.

Something must've happened at this restaurant in last 1-3 months because this used to be an incredible, decadent dining experience. Clearly- based on below reviews and my experience last night, I am being kind giving it 2 stars. I am a local and have been to this restaurant 5-6 times- all times amazing amazing amazing...until last night. My mom and I took my sister there to celebrate her birthday which turned into her worst birthday yet....food was not good- at all. No flavor and nothing notable. Main courses came 1 hour late. Manager came to table just to say "sorry here are your dishes". Nothing comped. No extra libation. No explanation. Just that. To make matters worse- although the server appeared to be lovely, she actually had the most improper and unkind attitude I've ever experienced at a restaurant let alone a fine dining one. It was very evident she didn't want to work that evening as her demeanor towards us the entire meal was annoyed, angry (unclear why) and we never ever saw her....during that hour we didn't get food, never asked us if we'd like a drink or anything! Then we we got up to find her, she came over quickly, only asked one of us what we wanted and scurried away. Very strange and quite rude behavior. We still paid full bill even though we didn't end up touching two dishes that just looked inedible AND still gave 20% tip. Zero apologies from them, zero explanation, no bday celebration. Just all around awful. They will never get my service again sadly because it once was an amazing dining experience

This is probably the most disappointing experience I have ever had at a restaurant. The maitre d' is the rudest person ever. What's unfortunate is the food is pretty good but you can't overlook how bad the service is.

This place is very stylish, in a Hamptons kind of way which almost makes it seem out of place on Shelter Island. I thought the food was decent, the cocktails better, and honestly, the decor was cool, but maybe a little much for my taste. I feel like they went all out on the inside, but the patio out back is basic and surrounded by parking. Overall, I'm not sure it was worth the price, but it was decent food with a classy ambiance - and with the limited selection on Shelter Island, that's pretty good.

prices are high. my dinner was not good so pass on the hamburger. Pork chop was 75% fat . We had 2 drinks . cesar. salad 200.00 . Bread was amazing.......

Went on Friday night to celebrate a birthday. Everything was amazing. We had most items on the menu. The starters we had were... Leek and garlic soup - so satisfying! Bread - the baker has perfected the bread. Truly delicious Grilled squid - who knew that squid needed paprika to elevate the taste. It was grilled just right. We added an extra order because it was so good Caesar salad - how a caesar salad could taste so light and flavorful is beyond me Our mains were..... Strozzapreti - if you like spicy, this is for you. Deep, rich roasted tomato that's heavily spiced and filled with flavor Paccheri - I love maitake mushrooms but wasn't sure if I'd like it with squash. It was a perfect marriage of flavors and textures. If you want something that tastes seasonal, light (ish), with perfectly cooked pasta, this is for you Duck - I've had duck many times but this was so good. The blackberry mostarda with perfectly cooked duck was balanced, nuanced, and seasoned just right Chicken - I never like to order chicken out because I cook it all the time. I will make an exception every time for this dish. Make sure someone in your party orders it. You don't get opportunities to taste chicken like this very often. Steak - ordered medium rare and came medium rare. Like butter. If you're a steak lover, you won't be disappointed We ordered both sides and, for dessert chocolate cake, lemon tart, and affogato. All were spot on. We'll be back before the menu changes to try the few dishes we didn't get to. Service was great as well

Third time wasn't the charm for us tonight at Léon 1909. It was like a 3rd date with someone that you thought you might be falling for only to realize they really aren't that into you. From the moment we sat down, we were rushed by three different servers to get our order ready until one of us shooed them away. The chickory salad was good again. The pasta with chanterelle (which last time was divine) was flat and flavorless. My burger came over-cooked and although they swept it away to remake it and a sweet gesture of tuna tartare was delivered to our table, that was so salty it was also inedible. Tuna Tartare was one of our favorites from both previous visits. My wife had the roasted clams. They too were lacking in flavor, there weren't that many and one clam was unopened. The chef/cook should never have plated that one in the first place. We will chalk this experience up to the fact that the restaurant was ramping up for a month shutdown in two days. That said, and at these prices, there really shouldn't be an excuse. Léon can and should do better by its customers.

We were looking forward to dinner here and came away disappointed. The wine and cocktails were tasty. When it came time to order, our server wasn't able to answer simple questions about the menu. Two of the three entrees that we ordered were extremely salty, to the point that it overpowered any other flavor of the dish. I notice that I'm not the first reviewer to mention salt. At these prices, this sort of problem should have been addressed promptly.

Food is delicious but I think it could be delicious for about 30% less. $25+ for a bib lettuce salad starter? Apps and starters should never be more than $18. Make the salad smaller maybe? They charge $3 for bread and butter. A $29 burger. Obviously I'm wrong because the place is packed even though the location is a bit strange probably because the ambiance is very cozy (but very noisy!) and hopping. Our bill for 3 people came to over $350. I just think it's a bit too much.

We visited on Saturday evening during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. From the moment we entered through the front door, we were welcomed by big smiles, big smells of delicious food, and what felt like a warm hug from a good friend. Classic and palette awakening cocktails. Try the brandade fritters and the best Caesar salad I have ever enjoyed. Sea bass was fresh out of the waters that surround the east end. The burger and the roasted chicken. For sides we ordered the onion gratin, romanesco and French fries. Surprise banana split for dessert. Delicious! See you again soon. Happy Holidays!

Four of us had dinner here last night. It wasn't terribly crowed and we were only two tables outside. Having had the chopped Caesar salad many times before, I was looking forward to the same this visit. All of us ordered the chopped salad plus the special...Rib eye steaks. Our server came out to tell us that they ran out of the Rib eye special and so we had to order something else. Ours was a 7:30 reservation so I was surprised that they would run out of the special so soon. Our second issue was the salads. The server delivered the salads but they were not Chopped so we sent them back thinking they forgot. A few minutes later the Manager came out and said " We do not chop the salads." WTF .....I explained that its the way I've always enjoyed it so why not now and his attitude was in so many words...too bad. This is the way it is and then he said "I apologise with No reservations." Given his tone of voice it conveyed to me ....I'm apologising but I really don't want to. I was shocked by his attitude and the way he said his apology. I'm a restaurant owner and I would never had handled the situation in such a way as to make the customer feel so unappreciated. In my opinion, he simply should have said...we stopped making the chopped salads but I'll be happy to do this for you... this time. Not sure... based on the manager... that I'll be recommending Leon to my neighbors or friends.

worst service possibly I've ever had. shocking how rude, can't understand why anyone would go there.

Great food, absolute NIGHTMARE experience of a hostess. I've been in the hospitality industry for 10 years and i've never come across such a nasty, rude and disrespectful human being in my entire life. I highly recommend This restaurant as long as this hostess happens to have the night off.

Delicious food and very nice service. It was a bit pricy but the food was worth it. Definitely recommend to stop by if you are in Shelter Island

We had the pleasure of dining at Leon for the first time this weekend, celebrating our anniversary. What an amazing experience it was! We were greeted warmly by the owner, Valerie. The entire staff was friendly and accommodating. Our server, Shanae was fantastic. The ambience is spectacular with the focus of the room being on the open kitchen and the wood burning fire. The food was absolutely out of this world. We had two pasta dishes, the rabbit and the pork. Everything was perfect. We are so happy that Leon is on Shelter Island and we look forward to going back soon.

No response from management to an extremely negative experience posted on yelp. The restaurant did not offer any compensation or empathy after calling management with specific complaints. Including a celiac error. Waitress very inconsiderate of our immediate concerns and no resolution offered initially. Guess popularity allows for disinterest.Mary Skaf

First time here and loved the place. The indoor dining room is lovely with the big open fire and really nice decor. We had the Caesar salad, burger and chicken and thought they were all delicious. Staff was nice and the restaurant was lively and full. Yes, it was expensive but so is everywhere else in this area these days and here I felt like I had an exceptional meal. Will surely be back.

A celebration of mediocrity! Can't believe we just spent $540 for this meal! Caesar salad lacked the sine qua non ingrediants of a Caesar: no anchovies, no croutons, no parmesan; instead, odd, dark, crunchy flakes adorned the salad but, while appearing like Bac-O-Bits, were no where near as satisfying. Oversized, elastic clams conjured images of irradiated fishing beds off of Fukushima. Sea bass was floating in a watery bed of "spring peas" that was so utterly uninspired and flavorless, it felt almost intentional. Chicken from "the magnificent hearth" (waiter's "false self" introduction to the splendor that awaited us) was desiccated and left us non-plussed. I could go on and on but I'm home now and eye-balling a slice of pizza leftover from Friday's lunch...

I was so excited to go because my friend had been a few times and said it was absolutely delicious - she was with us on this occasion and is quite the chef herself. Caesar salad was decent as was the bread albeit hilarious that it cost $9 for 3 people to each have a slice of bread that was on par with any local bakery. The mains were a different story - I had the pork chop, my husband had the burger and our friend had the squid and the flat bread together as her main. Burger was ordered medium-rare to rare and arrived well done. The pork chop was literally raw inside. When we sent it back, the chef (who was clearly visible to the restaurant as the kitchen is in the middle of the dining room) was obviously annoyed, threw his hands up in the air and said 'these people are idiots'. It took everything in me not to get up and throttle him but I chalked it up to a bad night and was excited for it to come back as it did look delicious on the plate until we cut into it. The squid was quite good but the flat bread was so overdone it was completely black - it was inedible and there was some kind of gross squash served with it I think that was also inedible. Anyway, burger came back and it was decent - not mind blowing but good. The pork chop was so salty it was inedible and whatever 'house sauce' was on top was just plain gross. Our waitress was very sweet but very young and didn't speak much English so she didn't have the experience to know we were obviously unhappy. Asked if there was a manager on that night and there was not which explained a lot. I get that it's a restaurant on an island and there are a lot of tourists so 'who cares' - my friend who took us lives on the North Fork and I've been coming to the Hamptons for 25 Summers now so we are hardly tourists. At the prices they charge and the fact that they pride themselves as fine dining, they should have a chat with the rude chef and also give him a lesson on how to cook meat.

Outstanding food, phenomenal service and welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. We loved the pumpkin crostini, pork chop and french fries with two dipping sauces. Didn't have room for dessert but next time, would love to try the banana split for two. We sat at the bar and Chelsea provided amazing service. Thank you for such a memorable experience. We will definitely be back next time we're in the area.

This restaurant is overated. The food is so salted you literally can't taste anything. When we told the owner she dismissed our issue. The waitstaff did not match the level of the restaurant. Such a disappointment, will not return.

Returned. Still quite good. The half chicken this time was a bit under done, joints still connected and hard to separate. And a bit too salty. It should be served as two pieces. The ceramic dinner plates were too small and could not contain the whole serving and unappealing side sharing the too small plate. I'd prefer a pan gravy The enormous rib steak ordered med-rare came blue. The beef is overly aged in my opinion adding a funky flavor I did not care for, so expect the aging and flavor. They need a smaller single person steak and perhaps Lamb chops. Service was excellent and the vibe and music complementary Hands on management by the owner is evident. The Caesar lacked anchovy and garlic and large croutons and was more like a creamy lemony vinegret with bread crumbs. Could be improved.

I've been here a few times now and just love the vibe. Great bar and atmosphere. I wish them much success. The food however needs improving. We had the roasted chicken which was quite large and very tasty but I didn't care for the green side it was served with. My friend had the pasta which she said tasted fishy/salty?? I took a bite and thought the same . The caesar salad is also large and could easily be shared. The salad dressing I believe is made with an emulsion of anchovies making it taste overly salty. Another guest & I had the tuna tartare which was good but again....salty. I ordered some lemon for mine and it seem to cut the salty taste. All the best but I hope the chef considers using less salt.

We watched this restaurant being built and looked forward to trying it. We decided to start with their brunch. We made a reservation in advance and were shown our table near the front door by the casual-mannered maitre d. The restaurant had about 4 groups there, mostly seated outside. As a few other diners arrived we noticed they were offered a choice of seating indoors or outdoors. We wondered why we weren't given the option. The menu was limited but inventive. I opted for the eggs with lamb sausage. I asked our waitress how the eggs were prepared. She had no idea and proceeded to read the menu (where it wasn't described either). She finally said "fried over" - the description of another egg entree. The food took awhile to arrive, and we were quite hungry, but that's fine when everything is prepared fresh. What's not ok is when 2 of the 3 entrees were placed on the table and we're told the third entree had a "mishap". We were offered the option to have the 2 on the table removed and "start over" or wait for the third. We opted to wait for the third. I turned to my husband and said, "well, there's our free entree." I then noticed the maitre'd huddled with some kitchen workers gossiping. My daughter and I started eating--and the food was really quite good. We had the toast with sheep milk ricotta and berry jam. While waiting for my husband's entree, we finished the toast, but had plenty of ricotta and jam left. I asked our waitress if it was possible to get one more piece of toast and was told, "sorry, that's not possible." I understand a restaurant may not want substitutions/additions, but please "read the room"- you screwed up the timing of our entrees. The third entree came and we finished our meal. We then proceeded to wait...and wait...and wait....for our non-observant waitress to notice. We tried putting our napkins on the table, flatware across our plates, all the key indicators...nothing. At one point, she strolled by our table, never bothering to glance our way. My husband finally had to get up and track her down chatting with Scott-worker near the bar. We got the bill- no concession- on the much-delayed entree. No surprise there. Food - 4 stars; service- start over from the head on down.

The best new dining experience and menu I've seen in quite some time. I could eat everything on the menu. Will have to return many times to make my way through it (with the perfect cocktail list). What a little gem on Shelter Island. Wow!

First time visiting Leon. Great experience. The food was great, a little pricey, but certainly worth it. The servers couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. They did a phenomenal job in transforming an old bank building into a cozy and romantic room. How the chefs can see what they're cooking with the lighting I just don't know, but they certainly do a great job because everything was cooked perfectly. We will definitely be back soon and looking forward to warmer weather so we can sit outside in that beautiful space.

Absolutely fabulous! Can't wait to go back. From food to atmosphere they have it going on.

This summer Shelter Island had 3 new places open up. Chequit, Pridwin and then Leon. Leon I felt had the best service and quality of food. They did not seem short staffed like the other two restaurants. We went in a group and we had all the pasta dishes and the chicken dish as well as corn and all were delicious. They say they are going to stay open year-round however I don't know if they're going to change the menu and make it more family and kid friendly. So I'm definitely curious to see what happens come fall and winter. But this was definitely a thumbs up for me.

Excellent service and the food was extremely fresh and very tasty. Restaurant was the second night. Beautiful decor