When I say this is the easiest 5 star review I will leave, it is still an understatement. My Wife and I travel a few times each year and plan our vacations around food spots. We visited Leonessa in 2023 however. We always consider this meal one of the top 5 best meals we ever had, maybe even the best. It may have been perfect timing paired with the kitchen and staff being top notch or just the way the world was spinning that night but it was 10/10. The polenta fries with the truffle aiola was a great pairing with the amatriciana we got for starters. The pork chop is one of the two best pork chops I ever had. I typical order a pork chop when dining out so I have a good list of places to order one and this one sits at the top. My Wife ordered the roasted chicken. Chicken can sometimes be just, chicken. Well, when done correctly it can be a lot more. Best chicken dish my Wife has ordered although, we do tend to stay away from ordering basic chicken dishes. However, it was highly recommended and it did not disappoint. The service was 10/10 and all of their recommendations were spot on, including the wine. read more

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Topline: I came here for my birthday dinner and walked away amazed. Details: First off the parking lot is small so there is valet parking which will be your best choice. The restaurant is located right on beautiful route 6A. The decor is trendy and "chic". The server was incredibly knowledgeable about both the wine and food menus. We started with the Pugliese Burrata which was excellent. For my main dish, I had the Charred Prime Skirt Steak which was incredible. Conclusion: If you're looking for a great meal, great service and willing to splurge a bit...this your place. read more

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We had a lovely meal here with family. We were first greeted with valet parking. Inside we were welcomed with warm lighting and rustic charm. Our reservation was for 7:30 and we were seated promptly. Our waitress was fantastic. She gave great wine pairing recommendations to my sisters-in-law and let the sample a taste prior to committing to a full glass. My husband had a whiskey sour and I had the klausmopolitan which reminded me of a cosmo and cape codder combined. My husband has a gluten allergy and was guided with what choices he could have, and his meal even came out with an allergy stick. He opted for the salmon and loved it. I got the skirt steak and it was truly incredible. We all loved our meal and we weren't rushed. read more

I went to Leonessa in Yarmouthport for my birthday dinner, and it was such a memorable experience. The restaurant has a cozy, upscale feel--perfect for a special occasion. We started with the Yellowtail Amberjack Crudo, which paired beautifully with the complimentary homemade bread. The flavors were clean and fresh, though I do wish the portion had been a bit more generous for the price point. For our entrées, my dad got the Chicken Under a Brick, which was excellent--the chicken was tender and flavorful, and the puff pastry portion of the dish was especially amazing. My mom had the Crispy Panko Haddock, which was also a standout: crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. I ordered the Uniquely Spiced Duck, and it was absolutely delicious--rich, flavorful, and cooked just right. All of the entrées came with great portions, and we even had leftovers to bring home, which is always a bonus. Our server was fantastic--friendly, attentive, and never overwhelming. He had great timing and was always there right when we needed something. We finished the meal with the Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée, which was creamy, refreshing, and served cold--a unique twist that worked really well with the tartness of the passion fruit. Highly recommend Leonessa for anyone looking for a refined dining experience on the Cape. Perfect for celebrations or just a great night out! read more

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Leonessa's is a great place, food, staff and ambience all top notch. It is great as a date night spot or a group gathering spot. A must try read more

Nothing to complain about. Everything about this restaurant was great! Best meal I've had in awhile read more

Leonessa - Arancini,Tuna app and complimentary bread - Salad Near Me - Yarmouth, Massachusetts

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As After Labor day vacationers, we Took the leap to see if Leonessa lived up to her fabulous reputation. What a neat little place with a petite bar area sandwiched between two smallish dining rooms. Not Cape Cod Summer linens & seersucker but rather upscale casual; I think you'd still get served if arriving just off from a day spent on a charter off of Monomoy island. Arriving on opening, there were no seats available for us walk ins but they do take reservations ( highly recommended ) still, we got there early enough ( at opening ) to sit at the short bar. We perused the nice but pricey wine list & found one we've had & could afford - then dived into a short but compelling menu. We went with starters of calamari, and an outstanding Littleneck Clams Amatriciana. I saw charred skirt steak & had to have it ( perfectly grilled medium rare ) & partner enjoyed chef's different twist on the classic Spaghetti alle Vongole. And those with hearty pasta appetites may find your bowl empty sooner than you'd like - just order more bread as we did. Everything we ate was delicious. We had one little communication error that I felt was handled awkwardly. We had inquired to our bartender about a starter being offered & had to reject it because of an ingredient my partner could not eat. To our surprise the bartender brought it out anyway & we sent it back explaining that we in fact did not order because of the forbidden ingredient. Soon after we got a visit by a gentleman, who may have been the kitchen manger, seemingly needing to follow up further. It was awkward, to say the least. In an establishment of this calibre & price point, explaining once,that we in fact had not ordered & why -should have been sufficient. Perhaps the noise level in the bar interfered with the communication. I Highly recommend Leonessa & will return in the future with a confirmed reservation for the dining room. read more

Leonessa - Barroom Mascot. - Salad Near Me - Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Honestly, I don't know what the hype is about. Second time here, food was so over salted I could not eat it. Husband's dish was quite salty as well. Sent mine back, was told the saltiness was intentional? read more

My parents live in the Cape, so it is practically our second home. The Cape has so many restaurants that cost a lot but don't live up to the hype, or are simply not good, Leonessa is the exception. It is such a great find, a gorgeous restaurant, and the food is fantastic. We had the chicken and pork entrees, both were delicious and had generous portions. The service was also excellent, and the drinks were very memorable. One of our best meals on the Cape ever. So if you are going to go out for a nice meal, don't waste your money at one of the other overpriced places, and head here for sure! read more

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Upscale environment and decor. Amazing food with lovely presentation! Join the locals at the bar. read more

PULL OUT 22 stars! For authenticity, for an impeccable wine list, for deliriously delicious food. For Jem the super server. Unbelievably wonderful and northern-italian interpretation at its finest with some other mediterranean fare sprinkled in. The rock shrimp appetizer was delightful, as was the Octopus carpaccio (sexy sexy sexy food). And although I really LOVED my Spaghetti vongole infested with clams and garlic and perfect al dente pasta, my husbands gnochetti with wild boar, took it to the next level. Sophisticated but not stuffy, approachable, portions are big and the wine list is impressive. And oh yeah, the valet guys were perfect professional young lads. Slap your mama silly food, stupid good food in a casually elegant and cozy (yes, its small) space. MAKE RESERVATIONS otherwise don't curse out the wait. Locals LOVE to dine here for a reason. Grannie has warned you. read more

It has been difficult to get a reservation lately but we secured one at the last minute. Our table was ready when we arrived it was in the upstairs seating area, great table ample room. Our server greeted us promptly and was very friendly and informative. We ordered a couple of drinks and some appetizer salads before our main entrees. The food was all very well prepared and hot when it arrived. The food quantity was good and of high quality. Our server was on top of our needs all night and we were able to have good conversation throughout the entire meal without having to yell at each other. Unlike the tables for 2 downstairs this is great seating and the ambiance is much better. Overall great meal, service and atmosphere. read more

EXCELLENT from the moment you walk in. Friendly and warm service. Exceptional dishes. The ambiance is better than in the photos on their website. We came here for my daughter's 18th birthday and made a beautiful memory. This is a very special place. Highly recommended! read more

Leonessa - Salad Near Me - Yarmouth, Massachusetts

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Highly recommend this restaurant. We had reservations for 7. Awesome atmosphere. Our server knew everything about the cocktails and menu. We ended up getting a late reservation because there were 7 of us. We did a combination of starters and entrees since it was late. They did not make us feel rushed at all even though our dinner was 30 minutes before closing. The cocktails were excellent. The La Cura was a refreshing summer drink. Several chose the white Negroni and loved it. The bread plate they served before our meals arrived was awesome. I had the crab cake and mixed green salad. Perfect meal. A few chose the steak tartare and loved it. We had chicken under a brick, arancini, and veal Milanese. All were awesome. Check it out. We loved it. read more

My wife and I made our first visit to Leonessa on our 27th anniversary. It was a bold choice given that a special occasion usually means the comfort of an old favorite, but the reviews convinced us to take a chance, and we're glad we did. Valet parking was a bit of a surprise, but it prepared us for what would turn out to be an upscale dining experience. We were seated right away on the second floor, where there was more of an intimate vibe than on the main floor. On the other hand, wooden floors contributed to a noisier atmosphere, but I would say it wasn't intrusive. We were served water immediately, after which we were asked if we wanted something more "adult." I had the mezcal-based "Bandolier," while my wife had the tequila-based "Hornet's Elbow." Both were uniquely decadent and flavorful. As appetizers, we shared a half dozen oysters and house marinated olives. The Calabrian Chili Cocktail Sauce for the oysters was an exquisite touch. For entrees, I had the Spaghetti Vongole, which didn't scrimp on either the clams or the garlic wine sauce. My wife had the Grilled Swordfish Risotto, which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Both of us left clean plates. It's wonderful to know that we have another option for special occasions reasonably close to home. We'll be back! read more

What a lovely surprised Leonessa turned out to be. I had seen a dish on Yelp that I really wanted to try here. However upon arrival I discovered they had just swapped it off the menu. Rather disappointed I opted for a new selection and bam it was fabulous. I believe it was Lumpchino. Pardon me if I messed up the spelling of the dish Small pasta in a Marsala sauce of Beef, veal and mushrooms. My husband had a rigatoni in vodka sauce with lamb meatballs. Another home run. I highly suggest you make a reservation since we arrive at 4:45 on a Saturday night and could only sit at the bar. The restaurant was packed. Bon appetite. read more

Leonessa - Rigatoni in vodka sauce with lamb meatballs. - Salad Near Me - Yarmouth, Massachusetts

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Amazing! Chef owned. Ordered 6 small plates and some house craft cocktails. Everything was so delicious. Server was very knowledgeable, attentive & gave us great recommendations. The teamwork is very professional. Romantic dining experience. We are repeat customers and so grateful to have such a high end fine dining experience on Cape Cod. read more

Excellent dining experience. Exceeded expectations. Finely prepared Italian cuisine in a relaxed setting. Valet parked our car- complimentary. We were warmly greeted at check in. We sat at a comfortable high top table that has bench back seating for 2 of the 4 at that table. Server (Mariette) was very professional and friendly. Drinks, bread, oysters, salad, pasta, and veggies were all top notch. Prices are fair for this level of quality dining. Highly recommend. Notorious MD approved! We'll be back on our next trip to the Cape. read more

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Great food, great service, great vibe. Much better than your average cape restaurant. Food and service were excellent but I can't remember what we had, just that it was all really good :) read more

Went here for the first time--It's a cut above our other Mid-Cape go-to restaurants we enjoy, The Old Yarmouth Inn, Colombo's, Bamboo. Ambience, service, food all primo, our pasta entrees full of flavor with excellent presentation. Also, for the Cape, it has sort of an urban feeling, which felt good. I'm now home, still savoring the experience read more

We came here for our anniversary and it did not disappoint! First off, everyone was very friendly and kept wishing us a happy anniversary which was sweet. The inside was really neat; dark, well decorated, and just overall a cozy place for a late night Italian dinner. We started with the complimentary bread with fava dip. The bread was super soft and delicious, and the big cracker-like thing was cheesy and tasted great. I had the spicy rock shrimp pasta, which I really enjoyed, I just wish it had some kind of sauce on it or was a little saucier, but the flavors were all great. My girlfriend got the Hand Rolled Strozzapreti with the beef and veal ragu. That was definitely the best dish of the night. Incredibly flavorful and the pasta was nice and chewy. We split the limoncello cheesecake which we really enjoyed. We especially liked that it wasn't too sweet and the lemon wasn't overpowering. The blueberry compote was delicious so a little more of that would have been well received! read more

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I was given a gift a gift certificate to Leonessa and called ahead to ask about the menu and how a couple of things could be made gluten free. (I am also dairy sensitive, but didnt make that a big deal). I was assured that the Chicken Under a Brick could be made by substituting the gnocchi with crispy roasted potatoes. The waiter confirmed that substitution. I was served mashed potatoes (butter/cream) without being told thta this was happening. I had already made a dairy compromise for the week with a few bites of the buratta salad. When we asked about it the waiter told us that were several "hard no" substitutions on the menu (that he was unaware of?) and the roasted potatoes were one of them, but I could order and be charged for a side of them. There was a brief apology but no other kind of consideration or compensation. Very disappointed that such a highly rated restaurant would not make a seemingly simple substitution. Again, after being told twice that I could be accomodated. read more

Been here twice now and while service is excellent and most items are good my entree both times has been salted to the point of being inedible. The swordfish main and the spaghetti pomodoro. At these prices I'm not willing to try a third time. read more

This restaurant is amazing. The actually building is slightly smaller than your average restaurant, but they make it work in a both chic and comfortable way. The menu is large without overextension, and it changes from time to time, so you can try new items when you visit. I was in awe of my perfectly cooked salmon, and the dulce de leche ice cream I had my first night was one of my favorite desserts ever. Every time my family comes here, we have an amazing conversation with a server, who is always friendly and helpful throughout the meal. Going to Leonessa is always a treat, and I highly recommend it. read more

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what a delightful treat in yarmouth! leonessa is an amazing experience all around. there is included valet service due to the tight parking lot. the vibe of the inside is cozy and rustic with warm lighting - it definitely reminded me of the inviting restaurants in the middle of tuscany that you find on the side of the road. we arrived early and perused the drink menu. this is a fun menu with some interesting flavor combinations - not too out there but definitely for a more refined foodie palate - this isn't a mom and pop italian restaurant but rather a cool older sister vibe. the food was incredible and everything was noticeably fresh - the PLATING! the plates themselves were works of art and this was definitely a masterclass in presentation. this is definitely worth the reservation as we had a wonderful date night, but this is pretty costly so make sure this is for an occasion that is worth it :) read more

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Everything was very good except the main Entree. I got Gemelli Bolognese $34 Prime Beef, Veal, & Pork Ragu. It was extremely salty and almost un edible. Saving Grace was the pasta was cooked perfectly. read more

Enjoyable Saturday evening out.nice ambiance on the second floor- had 2 great appetizers- carpaccio and white anchovies- for main courses we had veal Milanese and the brick chicken - both were better than anticipated The truffled potato pastry and chicken was a standout! We were on a short getaway and the next Cape trip will include Leonessa again!! read more

This was our fifth visit to Leonessa and it was as fabulous as the first four! We went out for an early Valentines's Day on Thursday and everything from our cozy table to the food and service by Mike was perfect. The prosciutto and melon appetizer was phenomenal as was the crispy duck salad, the cheese plate and the skirt steak accompanied by several variations of polenta, charred avocado and a delicious sauce. Mango and passion fruit crème brûlée' was the perfect end to our meal. Drinks (mocktails) were creative and delicious. We can't wait to go back again. We tell all our friends to try Leonessa, both year-rounders like us and seasonal visitors. read more

Came here on Sunday for my step moms birthday with a large group. Service was top-notch. Food was exquisite - both in taste and presentation. It was basically art. Everyone agreed that the overall experience was one of the best dining experiences on the cape. My personal favorites were both of the steak dishes, the creamy polenta side, and the oysters. Definitely coming back for a date night. read more

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Took my hubby here for his birthday dinner and it was such a huge WOW factor on all aspects! We were recommended by locals (my SIL) and boy oh boy we have no regrets! The ambiance is intimate, absolutely loved it. Our waiter had only been working there for a few months but if he had told us he's been there for 10 years I would've believed him! He was so knowledgeable about everything on the menu and made great recommendations; service was great and would definitely ask for him again (unfortunately don't remember his name but I know faces)! Oysters and calamari were absolutely life changing. I think the pictures will speak for itself. Definitely looking forward to coming back once we're in the area again. Can't wait to recommend this place to the next person! read more

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Food is fabulous service is good, but the noise level is over the top!! Very difficult to have a conversation

Great food and nice ambiance. I recommend a reservation as it is always busy and you can get stuck seated by the door which can be quite chilly in the off season- (that's just Cape Cod!). Dishes were really nice. Good drinks. read more

When we got there the valet parking was a little backed up but they took the car and off it went and we went right in for our reservations a gorgeous table in the corner are server was kind and knowledgeable. I had the tuna with wasabi and it was cooked to perfection with a puree of parsnip underneath it was delicious. My wife had the pasta dish and she thoroughly enjoyed it what a great place to go for a date night on 6A read more

This is the best meal I've had in a while! Everything was so good! From the cocktails, to the starters, to our meals! There are several vegetarian options. The ambiance was dark and cozy. Our server was nice (our water glasses did get empty twice thought). The prices were reasonable. There's complimentary valet. And make sure to make reservations, which is super easy to do online! read more

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Celebrated a milestone birthday! What a treat. The staff is amazing, fun & so hospitable. Food was beautifully presented. Amazing texture & flavor choices by the chef. scratch cooking + crafted cocktails + curated wines MAKE A RESERVATION!! read more

Food great, but rich. Service professional. Ambiance, really difficult to hear. Already booked to return.

Leonessa was amazing--best on the Cape. I had the skirt steak and it was insanely good, top-tier meal.

The food was amazing. I had the pork and hubby had the duck. When delivered to the table , we all gasped...the presentation was beautiful. Service was impeccable, even though the restaurant was full. Richard, the manager, floats around inobtrusively to make sure all runs smoothly. We were seated in a corner, as requested, but the noise level was still substantial. I think this is just something expected. Our desserts were sumptuous; berry bowl with gelato, whipped creme and Lyle's syrup drizzled over it.....and the other was a decadent chocolate cake oozing with more chocolate inside. This is going to be our go-to for special occasions. read more

Leonessa - Duck - Salad Near Me - Yarmouth, Massachusetts

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I'm a foodie and I definitely like to go out some nice restaurants that have welcoming atmospheres. So after living on Cape Cod for the last 20 years, I have my pics of places that I go to in Italian food is definitely one of them. I kept hearing about this place and I ended up one night stopping by and I was really amazed with their food and their presentation of the food . The service is great. It's a small little restaurant which has a little bar area to eat along with a little dining area and they open space relaxing dining area. . I would highly recommend making a reservation sometimes when I just come by and try to find a seat at the bar it's a little hard cause it's always busy . Now being an Italian place, I always have to try there. Spaghetti Bolognese and I was definitely imp. Also, their stuff oysters was really delicious. . So if you ever in the area, I highly recommend this place you would not be disappointed read more

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I love this Resturant!! It's brand new on cape cod. Most restaurants are featuring fried seafood, fries and lobster rolls. That's what a lot of vacationers want. So it's very hard to find a restaurant that offers fresh ingredients (a lot grown on site) in an Italian nouveau style. Cocktails are creative and varied. I had a rye martini type of drink that is almost like a Manhattan but with subtle flavors of rhubarb. Homemade bread was served with an tomato hummus that was delicious. The beet salad was delicious with fresh mint and herbs. The burrata was as creamy as can be with amazing tomatoes. I had the zucchini goat cheese appetizer for my entree and enjoyed it so much. My husband got the steak in a French style that was cooked perfectly. Thank you Lionessa for providing creative delicious cuisine. read more

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