Ambiance and decor were even more gorgeous than expected. Everyone was nice but the service could have been more attentive. Definitely come for the vibes. read more

* Creator I was excited to celebrate my Bday and Retirement at Lele and it was the worst experience the service food and drinks was highly disappointed. They didn't bring out any cake for me. I eat out often and this restaurant was definitely a disappointment read more

The food is awesome. I went to LeLe with a group of ten people. One person suggested that we order and share. At first, I thought it was a bad idea because I was hungry. However, I'm glad we did--it gave me the opportunity to taste everything. And everything was amazing. The food was flavorful and beautifully prepared. The Flan was outstanding. The staff and the owner were very nice. They came by several times to make sure everything was good. Full disclosure: this is fine dining, so if you're looking for a plastic to-go box filled to the top, fine dining is not for you. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for good upscale food. read more

The cost aligns with the care put into each dish. Besides that, staff exhibited both kindness and adaptability. The pricing feels just right for what's offered. The flavors were spot on. Your time here will be well spent. read more

The food, drinks, and staff at Lele were all amazing. The drinks were strong, and the flavors were very unique. The staff was incredible our waitress, Brianna, was extremely sweet and gave us some great recommendations. I can't wait to go back. read more

Good food and service. The restaurant has beautiful decor. Perfect for a date night or girls night. Very elegant and romantic ambiance. read more

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The staff showed genuine concern that we enjoyed our visit. New to the area and thankful to have found this place. Employees deliver remarkable service consistently. The serving sizes here are enormous. Our neighborhood is lucky to have this spot. read more

The restaurant provides a reliably good experience. The restaurant demonstrates reliable results. The team members at this location are some of the most courteous and hospitable people I've known, and they work hard to create a pleasant evening. Their meals left me wanting better quality. If only distance wasn't a factor! read more

Engagement FAIL at Lele NYC -- A Beautiful Space That Forgot the Heart of Hospitality On August 21, I had a reservation at Lele NYC for my girlfriend's birthday -- a night she didn't know would also become her engagement celebration. After the big surprise (she said yes ), we were running behind and I called the restaurant, hopeful they'd understand. I explained that we had just gotten engaged and asked if they could still honor our reservation. The representative congratulated us -- and then promptly told us there was nothing she could do. No flexibility. No empathy. Just a $50 deposit gone. Still determined to celebrate, I rebooked for the following day. My fiancé and two guests arrived on time, only to wait over 30 minutes to be seated. Initially, we were offered cramped cocktail tables on the upper level -- not exactly the setting for a celebratory dinner. We declined, and were told that waiting for proper seating would delay us further. Fine. We waited. Once seated, the service was kind and attentive, and the ambience -- undeniably stunning. Lele is visually captivating, no doubt designed to lure the TikTok crowd with its trendy aesthetic and curated vibe. But beneath the surface, it's clear the restaurant is still finding its footing. And in these early stages, honoring guests -- especially those celebrating life's biggest moments -- should be non-negotiable. The food? Mostly delicious. The cocktails were strong, balanced, and beautifully crafted. But the $120 Kobe beef was sadly overcooked, and every entrée came with the same plain side of white rice -- a lack of imagination that dulled the experience. For a restaurant positioning itself as upscale and experiential, this felt lazy. What stings most is the missed opportunity. We weren't asking for fireworks -- just a little grace. A little acknowledgment. A refund of the $50 deposit or a gesture to mark our engagement would've gone a long way. Instead, we were met with rigidity and indifference. Lele NYC may be the newest darling of social media, but if it wants to build lasting loyalty beyond the influencer crowd, it needs to remember that hospitality is about people -- not just aesthetics. We came to celebrate love. We left feeling overlooked. read more

I've found this restaurant to be trustworthy meal after meal. Their approach puts substance above style. I look forward to my visits here, and you will too. Their employees performed at an unprecedented level. This restaurant is worth trying. read more

If you are simply looking for a place to wear a sequin gown while eating overpriced Costco cocktail beef patties surrounded by plush velvet this is your spot. Positives: ambiance and decor Negatives: everything else From the start of our experience the service left a lot to be desired. Our waitress acted like she had somewhere urgent to be while she was at our table. She offered no insight to the menu and did not ask how we enjoyed our food after it arrived. Our sever's engagement was less than what one would expect from a server at Olive Garden (the price tier is not reflective of this). Why not just have us order from a QR code?? I was hoping the food made up for the service. It did not. Beef patties: cocktail patties in taste and in size. Coco and cassava bread: Underwhelming. One could have easily confused this with a complementary bread basket. The bread is grilled simply for aesthetics as it adds nothing of note to the texture or taste. Grilled Shrimp: these were the best of the worst. They photographed better than they tasted (this actually sums up the entire experience). The food and the service scream "we are merely an IG photo studio cosplaying as a high end restaurant". Bonus content: After the server brought over our check (before we asked) she never returned! We waited 15 mins before flagging down another server to ask for help. The server we asked to help us find our actual server was also a lovely peach. After going to find our original server she stomps back over and tosses the card reader on the table and says "I'll just do it". By do it she met she'd leave the card reader with us and go on about her business. This restaurant had/ has the potential to be disruptive to the NYC restaurant space in a great way but a MAJOR recalibration is needed. read more

I came here for my birthday dinner because I saw how beautiful it looked on social media, and it was definitely just as beautiful in person. This place is absolutely stunning and we got such pretty photos. Even the bathrooms are beautifully decorated. The food was amazing. I ordered the oxtail and it was so tender, flavorful, and a good portion. We also had a punch-style cocktail drink that was a little strong but really yummy. My best friend ordered the lamb and said it was the best lamb she's ever had. Everyone at the table loved their food. Overall, the vibe, food, and atmosphere were incredible. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a beautiful spot with great food and drinks. read more

I was with a small mixed group (6 people) of co-workers, friends and spouses on Friday evening, August 1st. As a group, each of us knew some, but not all of the others. I thought the restaurant was ideal for just this situation. The ambiance is rich with art and energy, and the acoustics permit guests to hear each other, but not the people at the nearby tables. We ordered a variety of apps --all very good and all encouraging exploration and sharing: corn bread, jerk oyster mushroom, calabaza squash, grilled corn and shrimp with green curry. The mushrooms and shrimp were my favorites. For the main course, three of us ordered the curry goat. The portions were generous, but not so large as to be intimidating. The goat's naturally earthy taste was complimented by the yellow curry and raisins. The remainder of our crew had the oxtail, wagyu and chicken entrees. They seemed happy. The service was fantastic. Our server, Jackie, was helpful in answering questions. The apps and main course dishes arrived promptly. She and the other staff were helpful, but not obtrusive -- magically appearing when needed with refills, etc. I recommend the Tropical Pavlova (Mango-Passion Fruit Sherbet with Tapioca) for dessert. Great finish to a fun experience. read more

My time at this restaurant was excellent. All employees displayed genuine warmth upon our arrival. This restaurant deserves my complete satisfaction. All additional choices were good, containing spices unfamiliar to me. I support this place completely. read more

This place is one of the best restaurants if not the BEST restaurant that NYC has to offer !! If you haven't visited this place yet it is a MUST . Restaurant , Bar, Lounge Ambience got the vibes! All awesome.. the service is impeccable, and the Food is so unique you won't find it anywhere else in the world except here ! The desserts are sooooo delicious please do yourself a favor and get either the flan or the ice cream ! read more

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From the moment you step through the door at Lélé, the thoughtfully designed space makes an immediate impression. We arrived for an early reservation before heading to a show and were seated promptly, setting the perfect tone for the evening. Our waitress was attentive and genuinely knowledgeable, patiently guiding us through the menu with enthusiasm. We started with the wings, which arrived perfectly seasoned with an exceptional dipping sauce that delivered just the right amount of heat. For cocktails, my wife ordered the lemon drop martinis, while I sampled two drinks: the Pearadise Lost, which leaned a bit too sweet for my palate, and the Spice Market, which proved to be far more balanced and satisfying. For the main course, my wife chose the Suya Chicken--expertly seasoned--accompanied by plantains cooked to perfection. I went with the oxtails and Haitian rice, and I have to be honest: having lived and worked in urban environments my entire life, I've had plenty of oxtails. These rank in my top three, hands down. There's a subtle sweetness to them that's incredibly appealing, and I'm 100% ordering them again. Beyond the excellent food, Lélé itself is a comfortable, inviting space with well-curated music playing at just the right volume--never overwhelming the conversation. If you're looking to impress someone special or simply want to enjoy outstanding Afro-Caribbean cuisine, this is absolutely the place. We're already planning our next visit. read more

Visited this place for my friend's birthday. Initially, everything seemed to be going well, from the appetizers and drinks to the entrees. The server provided excellent service, being attentive, informative, and professional. When I received my main course, which was the Cornish hen, I noticed a peanut butter-like sauce under the chicken, which I disliked. Overall, the appetizers were the best part, but many of them were overpriced for the portion size. When we were ready to leave, I asked for the bill. I decided that a 22% tip would be sufficient for the service we received. When my credit card app alerted me to the charge, it was higher than 22%, which I found odd. Since the server used a handheld device, I didn't have immediate access to the receipt. I asked for the receipt and noticed that, despite agreeing to a 22% tip, I was charged a 33% tip instead. I called for the manager and explained the situation to him, stating that I had been overcharged for a tip by over 10%. He pretended to be in shock, as if he didn't know that's what they do, because the patrons at the other table had noticed the same scam. The manager asked if we wanted drinks, and we said yes. When I got home, I began feeling extremely weird and realized that I was not feeling well. I threw up and used the bathroom all night and for the following 2 days. I had to call out of work due to this. I believe the bartender or manager did something to my drink. Never again! read more

The service was great! The ambiance was nice shorty liked it for her birthday! The food wasn't great!

First time here to celebrate a birthday and everything was amazing from the food, service and drinks.. My fav was the wings, oxtail, Pattie's and the coco bread. read more

Had a wonderful meal with friends. Started off with the wings, Coco bread with the spiced jam and Goat cheese. Very enjoyable. For the meal we had the Oxtail, steak and Monk Fish. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Drinks were wonderful also. The service was excellent. Nice looking place. read more

Lele is a new Afro Caribbean Restaurant that just opened on Madison Ave ...Had the pleasure of trying the menu last week and to start had some cocktails which were nice but a little to sweet for me to be honest... But where this venue shines is the menu and it's wonderful from Jumbo Shrimp and Green Curry, Thai Fried Chicken with tamarind honey, Hamachi Crudo with crispy chips (Addictive warning for the chips) and the beef patty with bold island flavors ..I mean there was so much choice and with the beautiful decor it felt like home ! Highly recommended read more

Like some said before the ambiance and music is on par. The food and staff, however, not so much. They would bring out only half your dish and bring the other half a whole 30 minutes later. I got the suya with pikliz and cornbread. I'm very specific about my cornbread and it was aight. The pikliz really helped the suya because even though the suya was decent. I don't know something is always missing ingredient wise. And I was tasting dishes from others and everything just was lacking flavor. They need way more works. Why is there only like 4 people waiting tables and it's packed to the brim? Lastly, back to the food I wouldn't say the prices are worth it. My aunt got monkfish and it was mainly fatty and not that big portion wise. read more

Fantastic Afro‑Caribbean menu, amazing service & vibe--I loved it! I'll be back, this is officially NYC hot spot.

I dined there with 3 other people on Friday, July 25th. The place, music and my drink I loved. The service was good too. However the food was a big disappointment. My fried wing flats had chicken hairs on them. Didn't care for the taste of the paste/sauce to go with it. We ordered 2 sets of corn bread. Received 1 plate with 4 pieces and was charged $28. We were told by our waitress the Chef said the pieces were cut bigger. That was not the case. Small pieces that were semi burnt on top and bottom. We only ate the center of the corn bread. It was cold so we didn't really get to enjoy the taste of it. I cook myself and only share this in the hopes that the Chef improves his skills in the kitchen. Burn off chicken hairs before you clean/season it. What it sent out from the kitchen should be exactly the way the Chef would want to receive it had he/she went out to eat. read more

Service, ambiance, drinks and music was ON POINT! The food however, needs work- especially for the price point! We ordered from the smaller plates: shrimp ($32 for 4), chicken wings ($25 for 5) it was basic and still had the hairs on it, cornbread was almost burnt, and mostly dry, and the paste from the jerk oyster mushroom tasted bad and barely had jerk. It came with black eyed peas and the peas were crunchy and undercooked. The food lacking for the entire table is what brought down the experience. read more

When the chef (Runar Pierre) from our favorite restaurant in the world (OX-Reykjavik) opens a new place in NYC, of course we have to make the 2 hour trip to NYC to try it out, and they did not disappoint! All the food was on point, prepared excellently with amazing sauces (as we would expect from a restaurant with Runar at the helm). I expected the food to be a little higher on the spicy scale, but it was very flavorful and warm spices rather than just killing you with heat (a good thing). Can vouch for the Shrimp, Hamachi, Rice, Wagyu, Corn, beignets, spiced cake nd drinks, all hit the mark. It's a long ride for dinner, but we will definitely return. read more

horrible experience at this restaurant. the drinks and food were mid and the service was horrible