Leonards House of Love

If you’re a burger lover, this place is an absolute must-visit! In my opinion, they serve the best burgers in Melbourne. Perfectly cooked patties, fresh toppings, and just the right balance of flavors. It’s my go-to spot whenever I’m craving a seriously good burger. Highly recommend!

Amazing food and great vibes. This place truly is a hidden gem! The burgers and chicken tenders were delicious, and I highly recommend trying the tenders and the beyond burger (great texture and tasted like a beef burger). We will definitely be back for more next time we're in Melbourne!

Initially, I found the burger to be very saucy with the first few bites. However, as I continued eating, the meat balanced out the sauce, allowing me to truly appreciate the seasoning and flavors of the burger. I ordered the double patty with added bacon, and I would give it a five-star rating. It had everything you want in a burger. The chicken tenders were a good protein option, but I found the batter to be extremely crispy—almost too hard. That said, the chicken was perfectly cooked on the inside and had a nice, white appearance. I expected the texture to be less juicy since tenders tend to be a leaner cut of chicken. The dipping sauces were excellent, especially the chipotle mayo, which was great for both the chicken and chips. I opted for the poutine chips, which were a traditional Canadian style with generous portions of cheese curds. I really appreciated the amount of curds included. The service was exceptional, and the staff went out of their way to provide great recommendations. Although the prices were on the higher side, many burger shops are closing down lately, so I'm happy to support a business that offers delicious burgers.

First time here, arrived 5.30 ish, great vibe, friendly staff, security and bar peeps. Great nosh (had the cheeseburger) and some PA. Got a seat near the fireplace. Cosy as. See you next time

Great bar. Americana / Southern Gothic vibe. Good cocktails, good tunes. We didn't eat, but the food options followed the vibe. Indoor and outdoor seating available and a pool table in good condition.

Stopped here while staying in South Yarra for a few days and was BLOWN AWAY by this hidden gem! We stopped here on a Monday night and it was bustling til 11pm when we left. We shared a few drinks, including some interesting cocktails and local pours, as well as a burger, fried chicken and sides. The drinks were cold, the food was hot and fresh (might I add, perhaps the best fried chicken I've ever devoured) and everything came out quick. It's clear the team put in time and effort into this spot and you can tell; vibes are immaculate, decor is so cool, staff were so friendly and positive, bathrooms were clean, the beer garden outside under the tree is brilliant, pool table and buck shooter were super fun additions to the space - we just loved every minute of our time there. Absolutely cannot wait to come back 😊

Heard a lot of about this place and tried it for the first time today. Absolutely amazing. Easily went to the top of the list of best burgers. Tenders were also insanely great. Service was awesome and our waiter Gabe ensured that we were well taken care of. Definitely visit this place!

Have been craving a burger and this sensational cheeseburger was juicy, flavoursome and the bun had a delicious caramelisation. The chicken and fries were also 10/10

My wife's brother took us here for dinner. Now I'm not a vegetarian, but whenever I go to a place that has a veggie burger on the menu I tend to order it. The reason for this is cause wherever I have been, if that burger is good, then everything else on the menu tends to be great. The reason I say this is because everywhere I have tried the vegetable burger, I go back and everything else is also amazing. But if that is not good, then everything else will be at best, mediocre. Well this was probably the best veggie burger I've had. My wife had a spicy chicken burger which she really enjoyed (same as my brother in law) and we also tried tater tots, poutine fries and jalapeno poppers. Everything eat great and I would definitely tell people to go try this place out. The only 2 things to mention is that it's very loud so it will be hard to have a conversation with friends, and that if it had rained before, avoid sitting at outside tables like we did add you will find slugs on the table or the wall and discover that they actually move pretty fast :p not to mention one was at the side of my cup and I discovered it as I went to drink. Fortunately this was at the end of my meal or it would have really ruined everything. So seriously avoid sitting outdoors or best the tree, if it has recently rained. If it weren't for these two minor things, id give it 5 stars. I can't really blame the establishment for this (although having some sort of outdoor covering could stop this issue).

All 70's all the time! Such an amazing retro ambiance. And the food is amazing! The South Side Fried (chicken) Burger is one of the best sandwiches I've ever put in my mouth. Seriously. And the others in our party of four all enjoyed their (beef) burgers, too. We were on holiday from the US, and Leonards House of Love was one of the dining highlights of our trip.

A late dinner one night in Melbourne after a big day. We stumbled across it on the way back to our apartment. I'd seen the sign on yelp and to our luck it was open. It's located a street back from Chapel street and doesn't really stick out. We arrive just in the nick of time to eat and made a quick decision of it. We grabbed some pints to keep us hydrated and waited fo the food to come out. The staff were great, quick to serve and help us. The atmosphere is quite relaxed with some music and a lot of patrons just sitting eating talking and enjoying themselves. The food came out and was surprisingly good. I had a spicy chicken burger and it hit the spot. My partners burger was equally as good. With side serves of spicy fries and eggplant chips which were delicious. They have some specials on different nights like cheap jug of beer and cheap burger nights. I would like to return if I get the chance.

One of the best cheese burgers I've had in a loooong while.. most are forgettable I mean there's good and then there's reeeeeal good!! So good that you are planning the next visit after you've just gobbled it down! Without touching the chips!!! Yupz thus was my experience at Leonard's ... ordered the double cheeseburger! The patties were juicy and cooked medium rare with chargrilled bits on the edges! Not salty. I mean it was simply Burger heaven perfection yum!! it's your greasy type with a brioche that was not heavy and managed to hold the whole thing together. The sauce used 'special' was spot on! It's mayo based and once infused with a mouthful of everything .. the American cheese the pickle the sauce the patty and the crunchier patty grit ..... wooooah!! Usually by two mouthfuls I'd reach for the chips already in most places.. but not at Leonard's I just couldn't get enough of it. We had the BBQ chicken chips which actually had BBQ chicken breast in it. we weren't interested in it after the burger cus we wanted more burger. Had to begrudgingly finish off the chips. I think if it wasn't there we'd be emoted to order another burger!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Leonard's House of Love! To celebrate this momentous occasion 250 cheeseburgers were up for grabs on a first come first serve basis. I'm assuming these would have been snapped up by the lunch crowd as there were mass amounts of people coming and going when we arrived for dinner. We tried the cheeseburger, a mix of brisket and short rib mince. The pattie itself was amazing, however the burger was missing a little something like a squirt of mustard. The southern fried chicken burger was one of the nicest I've had. A generous piece of crispy coated chicken with a bit of heat in the coating, bacon and lettuce just yum! We also tried the chicken fries as I've been on the search for some epic loaded fries. Although nice with roasted chicken, pepper gravy and cheese over some crunchy cops, it just didn't hit the spot. A busy bar at the back of the jam factory shopping centre, worth a look if you are in the area.

From the guys who bought to us Sweet Water Inn presents 'Leonards House of Love'. Nestled in the back streets of South Yarra, just off Chapel Street is a restaurant / bar that is clearly out for a good time. Tuesday night was advertised as burger night, with 7 varieties of cheese burgers with $12 jugs of beer. Unfortunately on our arrival the staff nicely informed us that the burger promotion was on hold due to a new menu being launched. Not a problem the menu looked great anyway I ordered the cheese burger and added jalapeños. A mate ordered the double cheese burger and my other mate ordered the southern chicken burger and we ordered the tex mex fries with cheese, salsa, guacamole and jalapeños. Wow!! My cheese burger was exceptional. The bun fresh and soft, the beef full of flavour and seasoned perfectly and that special sauce SENSATIONAL, it really married the entire burger together. The fries, OMG. The service at Leonards was exceptional. Every staff member made sure we were having a great time. Great food, great atmosphere and a great team makes you wanting to go again and again.

This place was repped to me as having the *best* burgers in the whole darn city. I don't think it lives up to that reputation, but it's still worth a stop for all my fellow burger-lovers out there. Other items on the menu are fairly tasty too: chicken tenders, tater tots, smothered fries, etc. They love frying things. The best thing about Leonard's is that they have a kind of lodge design going on in the place. It's quirky and fun.

Awesome burgers, bar and bevs. This is the best place for a burger along Chapel st, just beating Parlour Diner for me. Just perfectly cooked patties. The fried chicken is pretty amazing as well. Service is quick and friendly even when busy. $10 for the standard cheeseburger is a little cheaper than the other burger places around so its completely worth it. The bar is great with the usual stuff you'd expect, though couple of beverages like Apple Pie Moonshine for that America feel, which aren't usually spotted in Melbourne. This place is definitely aiming for that and if you've ever been to Austin, Texas this is exactly the sort of bar they have, which is why I love it so much and has become my new favourite place around the Chapel St area. The beer garden is nice to have in an area that doesn't have as many as the north side of town, and a pool table that only costs $2 is always good to have for some fun. Seems to attract a bit of an all-sorts crowd which is a good change from a lot of the bars of the area. New favourite bar and glad it's around the corner from work! Love it.

Leonards is a casual, urban premium burger, steak and fries in baskets joint established in an old home, decorated heavily. with '70s decor and a KISS poster in the toilets. As a vegan, these sorts of places can be pretty daunting. However they have a good selection of vegetarian and vegan options - that are so good I never feel like I'm missing out as my omnivore friends get double beef pattie burgers. Recommended as a place to stuff your face with tater tots and greasy burgers, but also offer options for the modern vego!

I was walking down Garden Street in South Yarra this morning and noticed that Tryst was gone. As I tend to spend most of my life in an oblivious haze this could have occurred last week or last year - I have no idea. The thing is, there's now another place where Tryst used to be called Leonard's House of Love. It was about 10.30 but there was already a guy moving furniture around the little beer garden so I asked him what sort of food they served. He replied "roadhouse". "Like burgers?" I hazarded a guess. "One of the best burgers in Melbourne," he replied confidently. Obviously I couldn't let a statement like that go unchallenged, so I went back there for lunch. Leonard's does, in fact, remind me of an American roadhouse with its wooden bar and stools bolted to the floor, stripped brick walls and wooden floor. They were playing ZZ Top when I walked in, so one tick already. I ordered a cocktail called Honey Bones Pineapplehead which was made from rye whisky, lemon, honey and pineapple juice and sipped it at one if the tables outside while I perused the menu. Not a huge choice; fried chicken, fries, a couple of vego options, and of course burgers. They have one called the Tug Boat which was made with fish and seaweed tartare which sounded interesting, but I was feeling traditional so just ordered the cheeseburger. This comprised a beef brisket and short rib patty, onion, lettuce, "special" sauce, and cheese obviously. The burger arrived in a little cardboard box and was really good. The patty was rare - still pink in the middle like a god burger should be. The special sauce taste like mustard flavoured Mayo, and was also really tasty. For $10, it's on a par price-wise with Urban Burger, but a lot better in my opinion and with loads more atmosphere. One of the best burgers in Melbourne? Definitely.

Best burgers, nachos, and chicken around! Love the Brooklyn beer on tap and the eggplant tenders are divine. Love the atmosphere-pinball machine and pool to distract while waiting for food and a 70s dive feel. I adore it!

I wish I had taken a picture of my glazed hot wings but alas I cannot share in their beauty. This restaurant has the best food, drinks, and atmosphere in Melbourne. After spending a lot of time in the USA this place makes me miss my second home. I think Leonard's will be my new local!! Just waiting for the cheese curds to make it back on the menu!

Super casual. Didn't mind my mate bringing in his kids... Pin ball machine saved our day.

Best chicken strips ever, amazing flavor & always cooked perfectly. Have tried the spicy & the original both so yummy. Cheeseburger was one of the best I've tried as well. I have visiting the restaurant & received take away both always 10/10. The restaurant is really relaxed & cool. All the food is great price. Will keep continuing to visit over & over.

I generally don't like giving bad reviews as my first experience at Leonards was pretty good but my experience there last weekend was terrible. I went there with a group of friends to get dinner on a Saturday night and what started as decent night with some delicious mulled cider went downhill fast. Now let me say I understand the time we were dining is prime dinner service, I should know I've worked front of house for several years but waiting 45 minutes for a burger and fries with no prior acknowledgement is not acceptable. I ordered 15 minutes after my friends and their food came out in a reasonable time but the time between their food and mine was excessive. It was so excessive my friends thought they had lost my meal. Now when I raised it with the apparent manager that 45 minutes was an excessive wait, I was bluntly told that everyone knows there's a wait. I was not being rude and merely suggesting that their staff let customer's know of the estimated wait when ordering. All I wanted from the manager was some apology and acknowledgement that the wait was ludicrous. If I knew the wait was that long I would have eaten at the other bar our party was planning on visiting rather than waiting what felt an eternity and hastily shoving food in my mouth as my friends awkwardly watched. The real kicker is that the food was only ok. It's not hard to find a quality burger in Melbourne and whilst I enjoyed the idea of charcoal chicken fries the cheese sauce and gravy had a floury taste and slightly grainy texture as the sauce had not been cooked out enough. Will be review impact this place. Hell no as they cliental is primarily middle class yuppies that care about being seen and going to 'trendy' places and not actual service and quality goods and will just read my review as some bitch whinging

Best burger in Melbourne hands down. Don't stray just get the original burger. It's perfect. Great vibe, great beer. Doggo friendly too. 11/10 would smash again