I have been wanting to try Leon’s for a while because I’ve heard great things about it, so let me pass along my thoughts to you. Leon’s is located right on King Street, but when you arrive you feel like you are tucked back from the hustle and bustle of the city. We sat on the front patio, which is seamlessly connected to the restaurant, so you don’t feel like the staff will forget about you like at other restaurants. They also have complementary parking (and valet), which is a bonus because parking is usually an issue downtown. I felt so fancy getting the valet and it was fo free, so it started the night out strong.
As soon as I looked at the menu, my eyes landed on hush puppies and I knew I had to try them. The hush puppies were perfectly crispy and served with a honey butter that would taste good on pretty much anything. We also enjoyed the Smoked Mahi Dip, which was well seasoned and the jalapeños gave it a nice kick.
It was tough for me to decide on my entrée because I wanted to try everything, but I knew I had to get oysters in some form or another. I finally decided to get the fried oyster sandwich and it was a great choice. The oysters were crispy and the bun it was served on was buttery and light. The “comeback sauce” on the sandwich was so good that I wish I could take a jar of it home with me (and it will definitely have me coming back).
Though the sandwich was great, the cucumber salad it was served with was one of the best bites of the night. The cucumber salad provided acidity to break up the richness of the fried sandwich. It was a unique take on the classic idea of serving a sandwich with a pickle. Instead of the classic pickle, this cucumber salad had Asian flavors and packed a punch of flavor.
To top off the night, I had the frosè as my cocktail. It was crisp and refreshing; perfect for sipping on the patio on a hot summer night. Though it was delicious, it was a little pricey for the size of it. It was $9 and it was served in a very small glass. They also have a frozen gin and tonic, which is unique and I definitely want to try that next time I go.
As it says in the name, Leon’s has some fine poultry and oysters. I can’t wait to go back to try their fresh oysters and some of their famous fried chicken. I also plan to eat all the hush puppies once again… no shame.
