Leon’s motto is locally sourced, seasonal, organic, naturally fast food... and it's certainly true writes Gigi Morely
Leon is the kind of place I plan to visit for a quick healthy lunch with my friend Kaye before running a few errands, popping home for a couple of hours to work on my book and then meeting another gorgeous friend Nicci, for drinks later in the evening.
The reality is that somehow in between girly chatter about life, love and the universe over said lunch, I find myself one 'sweet potato falafel flatbread wrap', a bottle of water, a soya milk latte, and a lime infused gin and tonic away from answering my phone to Nicci and saying "oh my goodness is that the time? I’m in Leon, come find me”. Then, before I know it, amid promises to go roller-skating in Hyde Park at the weekend with Nic, I’m washing down a serving of 'crispy chicken wings' with three more gin and tonics and the staff are bringing out a huge cake with sparklers for a birthday boy and his party on the other side of the room. I look at my watch and its 10.30 pm! How on earth does that happen?
I can tell you how. Everything from the fabulous G & Ts (made with lime NOT lemon), the comfy chocolate leather sofas and armchairs alongside coffee tables strewn with magazines and newspapers and the walls covered with retro family photos, makes me feel like I’m hanging out in my best friend's front room, enjoying some healthy home made grub.
This year Leon won the Best New Restaurant award from Observer Food Monthly, and that’s great for them but for me I’m just happy that my soya milk latte is topped with large flakes of 70% cocoa chocolate that melt oh so slowly in my mouth. Mmmmm. Awards aside, it is a complete joy that Leon understands “sauce” isn’t just brown vinegar, yellow mustard or red tomato. They think everything is better with sauce, Aioli chilli, Salsa Verde and Sweet and Sour tamarind to name a few.
The service in Leon is very laid back but the staff seem happy to be alive and happy to serve, that’s what keeps me going back. A little while ago I was so taken by the ginger and 'garlic marinated free range, sesame seed chicken wings', I decided to get some on my way home from work, only to be disappointed that two nights running they didn’t have any. I must have looked very dejected and undernourished on the second night because as I turned on my heels to leave, I was offered some yummy 'lamb meatballs with Moroccan herbs and spices cooked in a plum tomato sauce with garlic flat bread' on the house! Now that’s what I call customer service.
And even with all my gin and tonic frivolity, believe it or not, I’m no stranger to virtuous super food salads enriched with quinoa, alfalfa, omega 3 rich nuts and seeds and rocket. All of which are on the menu in some form or other at Leon!
Leon’s motto is locally sourced, seasonal, organic, naturally fast food and i can tell you for sure that is certainly true.
Visit Leon at 136 Brompton Road, London, SW3 1HY or check out their website for further locations and information www.leonrestaurants.co.uk
