Cooking for decades
There has been an Italian restaurant here for nigh on 30 years. The original incarnation, also called Leonis, had the red-and-white tablecloths and Chianti bottles once found in every neighbourhood trattoria.
A few years ago, it changed hands and is now ... Read review
Advantages: Great value, nice atmosphere, nice staff Disadvantages: Bit stuck in the past
Cooking for decades
There has been an Italian restaurant here for nigh on 30 years. The original incarnation, also called Leonis, had the red-and-white tablecloths and Chianti bottles once found in every neighbourhood trattoria.
A few years ago, it changed hands and is now actually owned by a Chilean family so the red and whie tablecloths have gone. The menu, after a brief flirtation with tapas, stays much the same.
... ...not go anywhere near Leonis. Its menu is stuck in the 1970's. Minestrone, avocado prawns, pate and toast. That sort of thing. But that is really its USP. The food here is Strictly Comfort Zone and it is very well done.
Pizzas and pasta ( around £6-£7) predominate with staples like chicken cacciatore around £9 including veg and potatoes. Steaks with various sauces are just a couple of quid more. Puddings, well, obviously, tiramisu and zabaglione ... more
Cooking for decades There has been an Italian restaurant here for nigh on 30 years. The original incarnation, also called Leonis, had the red-and-white tablecloths and Chianti bottles once found in every neighbourhood trattoria. A few years ago, it changed hands and is now actually owned by a Chilean family so the red and whie tablecloths have gone. The menu, after a brief flirtation with tapas, stays much the same.
The Food Fashionable food critics would not go anywhere near Leonis. Its menu is stuck in the 1970's. Minestrone, avocado prawns, pate and toast. That sort of thing. But that is really its USP. The food here is Strictly Comfort Zone and it is very well done. Pizzas and pasta ( around £6-£7) predominate with staples like chicken cacciatore around £9 including veg and potatoes. Steaks with various sauces are just a couple of quid more. Puddings, well, obviously, tiramisu and zabaglione with lots of gateaux.
Value This is where Leonis really scores. At present, between 5pm and 7pm, you can get a two-course meal for £7.95. Starter choices include minestrone, pate, Greek salad, or garlic bread, with an excellent chicken and mushroom risotto , penne piccante and a peperoni pizza all on offer as mains. At lunchtime it's only £4.95 for any pizza or pasta with a soft drink thrown in. Wine is only £13.50 for a litre of rough but perfectly quaffable Venetto wine with Chilean sauvignon blanc the same price for a standard bottle.
Ambience
Some would say retro, others might say tacky. Lots of paintings on the wall, candles at your table. But this basement eaterie is cosy, clean, comfortable and most of all you can have a nice old-fashioned meal for a nice old-fashioned price.
Verdict
Well worth a visit but don't expect anything remotely cutting-edge
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