I'm not normally an octopus or lemon bar person but the chef here changed my mind. That alone says everything you need to know. This place has a wonderful intimate energy, perfect for sharing tapas and settling into a relaxed unhurried evening. The ambiance is warm and inviting, service was attentive and the food is genuinely adventurous in the best way- each small plate a little surprise for the palate. And yes order the crispy chicken. The seasonal menu has me excited to go back and see what they'll do next. Good wine, on site chill background dj, a true encinitas experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking for something a little different. This one is special. read more

First time going after hearing mixed reviews. We definitely enjoyed our experience there. Food had great flavors, our waitress was really good at walking us through everything and making sure we were ordering enough for the table but not going overboard. We love that they use local foods like Prager brothers bread and Little Fox ice cream! We had a fun time celebrating our friend's birthday there and would definitely recommend this place as a cute date spot too. On the flip side, I will say for every dish we got, even though we enjoyed them, there was always one spice that would overpower the balance of the dish. The flat bread with burrata had too much salt in the spice mix on the flatbread. The beef tartar was good but slightly strong with the mustard flavor on the beef. The crispy chicken was also a little too salty. The Muhammara dip though, no notes. It was so good! This could all be personal preference, and we did enjoy everything! Those were just small things I noted about the food. Pricing for everything was reasonable and we left feeling full, which is super important read more

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As I took my first bite of the Winter Roasted Vegetable Salad, I immediately texted my best friend in Australia & said "Currently eating the best salad of my life. Details to come." I don't know how to explain it- there is a seasoning in this salad with the mix of veggies that make me want to go full-on vegetarian. We also got the flatbread which was our second favorite dish- the nice touch of burrata and the various nuts and spices were delicate and divine. The crispy chicken and meatballs were good- but nothing to separate their dishes from other places with similar palate. The ambience and character is what makes this cute hideout a gem. We sat on the patio with a disco ball hanging from a tree, candle lighting, and their famous aqua painted door. Inside there is a DJ & dramatic jade green curtains hanging over tables, inviting you to camaraderie amongst friends over wine and good grub. I will literally go there back for this seasonal salad. I am now blue-that everytime I eat any other salad, it will all sadly pale in comparison to my first bites here. We came for an early Valentine's Day Dinner, but we left with an indention for salad delicacy that is simply irreplaceable. read more

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Tried this new place and it was delicious! Very unique atmosphere. Limited seating best to make a reservation. Menu was simple which we liked. Drinks are seasonal with a good selection of wines to choose from: I ordered a spritz with blueberry (forgot the name) We had the Feta and Red Pepper and Roasted Garlic Hummus served with pita bread and Prager Brother Artisan bread. Yum! We also had the Beef Stifatho and Crispy Chicken. Both very good. I recommend this place. read more

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What a beautiful place. A cute little cottage with outdoor seating in the indoor seating was a gem. The hostess changed our table to inside after we requested due to the cooler weather. Very attentive service. The salad was amazing. The ceviche was a bit salty, but very flavorful. The hummus needed a little bit more seasoning and lemon in my mind. The Keema orzo was seriously, super flavorful and delicious. Overall, an amazing service and I can't wait to come back. A very intimate setting. Thank you team! read more

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Good little spot. Both indoors and outdoors have a nice atmosphere. Everything was delicious. Big fan of the brisket in salsa verde (the fresh tortillas were the cherry on top!). Will definitely be back - hopefully when they have their live music playing! read more

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It was a touch difficult to locate Leu Leu Restaurant along Coast Boulevard. I passed it a number of times, but then I found it. There is one handicapped parking space available within the small parking lot. It was nice to visit the new home of a chef who formerly worked at Liberty Station. One enters Leu Leu via two tall blue-painted reclaimed-wood doors. There is a charming patio that raps around the structure [apparently the complex was formerly a vintage motel]. The interior is small and equally charming. It is all polished woods inside, recalling being inside a cozy Swiss chalet, which is fun. The resident Disc Jockey also presides from a high booth set in the interior of Leu Leu. The entire experience of my dinner at Leu Leu Restaurant was better than expected. From the kind and professional service to the interesting food, the evening of my visit was five stars all the way. Bravo. read more

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Vibe is dope - a hidden gem nestled next to some small businesses. Never went inside to see the seating, but outside was inviting and had a really cool giant tree (with disco ball) and nice lighting. Food - 4/5. Food is intended to be shared. Crab tostada and shrimp rolls (rolled tacos) were spectacular. Lots of flavor profiles going on. The crispy chicken was a miss (2/5) mainly because it was heavily, and I mean heavily salted. Super crisp, but nearly inedible without the mole - which was more like a masala tbh. Butter rice was also a nice feature. The dessert gets huge kudos for working with Little Fox ice cream in Oceanside - it's top tier local ice cream so happy to see two spots collabing. They've got a nice wine selection, some beers but no spirits - womp womp. Service is good, they explain the menu well. This is a great place to go on a date, have a celebration, or just chill and share plates. read more

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Great food. Great Service. Great Ambience. Great soundtrack. Great wine, List. Highly recommended.

This mysterious spot, a blend of music lounge and fusion restaurant, feels like a secret worth sharing. We finally got lucky and snagged a last-minute table. Tucked away in a mall in Leucadia, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but step in and the vibe shifts immediately. The host was incredibly attentive, turned on the heater for us while we waited and even offered a glass of sparkling wine. A lovely start. We ordered the Rip & Dip (50/50 roasted red pepper butter and toum). The Prager Bros bread and escabeche veggies were the perfect delivery system for the dips. The toum with pistachio dukkha? Bright, bold, and addictive. Then came the Fabergé Egg--Wagyu tartar wrapped in sushi rice and fried, served on seaweed. A clever little gem. (Though I do wish the seaweed had been just a bit crispier.) For mains, the Pibil Lamb Shank was fall-off-the-bone tender. A splash of lime really elevated the flavor and cut through the richness beautifully. The Baja Sea Bass Shawarma hit all the right notes, bright, spicy, and comforting. We finished with Ponyboy, a wild mashup of passion fruit, lime, turmeric, cheesecake, and a miso tahini cookie crumble. It sounded exciting but ended up being my least favorite of the night. A little too chaotic for my taste. Still, the chef is creating something special here--vibrant, cozy, and wildly creative. Worth the splurge. Worth the wait. read more

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Food was ok but overpriced. Service was good. Be aware of 5% "experience fee" on your check.

I want to start off by saying Gray was extremely kind and attentive to our table despite not being our server. We traveled more than thirty minutes to come and dine here and were excited to try a new place. The experience we were charged 5% for was disappointing. We ordered the Chef's Dip Choice and were offered more pita bread to finish off the extra humus that was left over. We were pleasantly surprised by the offer thinking it was made in good faith and then they brought us a second serving of bread we hadn't asked for and we were surprised but accepting until the check came showing that we were charged for the extra bread that was offered to us.... It's a good idea to disclose the fact that the extra bread will be an additional charge. After we paid the bill we were finishing up conversation and waiting in line to use the only bathroom when a waitress we hadn't seen all night came up to our table and said our time was up and we needed to leave because there were people waiting and no tables open. But on our way out not only did we not see anyone waiting but there were multiple empty tables. It left a bad taste in our mouth and was not a great way to end the experience. read more

Four of us had dinner here and all loved it. Came here with a bit of trepidation because the menu didn't have any sort of a familiar theme. As it turned out it didn't matter because most everything we did have was superb. Fried chicken, sea bass as main courses and three appetizers were plenty for four. The Faberge egg and tostada were both treats and unique. The veggies and dips were the least interesting. Our server was a manager, Natalie, and she was really wonderful. She took time to explain the menu item by item, and you could tell how much she loved the restaurant and everything about it. Her enthusiams was infectuous, but also well deserved and she treated us like honored guests. This was one of those rare dining experiences where everything worked well - the food, the service, the ambience - the entire experience. Can't wait to go back for their winter menu coming soon. read more

Leu Leu - Faberge Egg - Lounges Near Me - Encinitas, California

Was a mixed bag that left me disappointed in Claudette Zepeda's restaurant. The good: ambiance/music and wine selection. The crab tostada I'd recommend. The meh: The pan com tomate was not worth even taking a picture. They put the smallest anchovy I've ever seen on it. Ridiculous $7. For how expensive this place is, the service was lacking. They didn't ever refill our wine or swap our plates between dishes. Not sure what type of service they are going for. The bad: shrimp summer rolls were so salty from the cotija maybe? Like a bad lumpia meets a worse taquito but no taste of shrimp. The white widow salsa came with a warning from the server about how hot it was. Maybe make something more medium for $38 rolls! Only overly spicy hot sauce was available. The brisket was just BAD. Seriously lacking flavor. Tortillas were nothing special. I was shocked. Overall I can't give Leu Leu more than 3/5. read more

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We arrived about 30 minutes before our Friday night reservation, and the hostess was incredibly accommodating, seating us right away. From the moment we walked in, the space felt welcoming and relaxed. The DJ spinning records was a fun touch and added to the overall vibe. The interior is charming--garden-like with mismatched tables and chairs--and the decor is thoughtfully done. Service was truly commendable. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and attentive throughout the evening. We were seated inside, which felt cozy and lively, though it did get fairly noisy, especially since we were near a very large group. This would actually be a great spot for a group gathering or event. One thing to note: the website does not reflect the current menu, which was a bit confusing. As for the food, it was good but not particularly memorable. The avgolemono soup was comforting but lacked depth. The crispy chicken was indeed crispy, but flavor-wise it fell flat--it needed much more of the mole sauce, as only a small dash was provided. Without it, the dish felt underwhelming. The fried bread was actually very good, but unfortunately it arrived after we had already finished our entrées, so we ended up boxing it to take home. The drink selection is limited to beer and wine, but the sangria was enjoyable. Overall, there was nothing wrong with the food, but nothing stood out either. With just a few thoughtful tweaks to the menu and execution, this place could really shine, because the atmosphere and service are already doing a lot of the heavy lifting. read more

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I dined here on a Wednesday evening around 8 PM with a friend. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and it's beautifully decorated. They had live music playing, which added to the charm. Overall, a very cute and cozy atmosphere. When we sat down, the bartender, who is also the owner, came by to open our bottle of wine. However, the corkage fee was shockingly high at $45. Our waitress never once refilled our wine glasses and had to be reminded to bring water, which she also never topped off. They do serve complimentary cheese-it style crackers while you wait, and they're delicious, a nice touch. The food itself was phenomenal, though a bit overpriced. The portion sizes were ideal for sharing. We ordered: Cold Dishes: *Leu Leu's Fabergé Egg - beautifully presented and flavorful. *Bluefin Tuna Crudo - excellent overall, but the tuna was a bit tough to cut; it would have been better if pre-sliced. Hot Dish (Main Course): *Fried Chicken - generous serving, crispy, and absolutely delicious. My friend thought it was a little salty, but I enjoyed it. Overall, two cold dishes and one hot dish were the perfect amount for two people. One small note: we were warned that the wooden boards outside leading to the restroom and entrance aren't heel-friendly. Considering how upscale this spot is, that's something they should fix. In summary, the food and atmosphere were outstanding, and the owner was very friendly. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. No one checked in on us during the meal. We had to request clean plates after our appetizers, and we even had to bring the check to the waitress ourselves. For the prices charged, especially that $45 corkage fee, I expected much better service. The food alone is worth trying, but if they want to live up to a five-star reputation, the service needs serious improvement. read more

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Fun place. Nice vibe. Pretty loud inside. Ceviche was unique and amazing. Enjoyed the olives. The burrata was served on a thick pita covered in Za'atar. A ton of it. Way too much. Inedible actually. The shrimp toast was so so. . read more

I've been here several times since they opened, and it feels like they're still figuring out the direction of the restaurant. It started as more of a Baja Mexican concept and now leans toward a Mediterranean-style wine bar. Overall, the food is solid. We especially loved the crispy chicken so much that we ordered two. The ambiance is also great, and the live DJ adds a really fun energy to the space. That said, if the restaurant wants to position itself as a wine-focused concept with a wine club, flights, etc., I do think wine education for the staff is important. I ordered the wine flight and asked what grape the white wine was made from since it hadn't been explained, and the server responded with the producer instead. I didn't want to embarrass her at all, but if you're offering curated wine flights, the staff should ideally know the basics of the wines being poured. The flight included wines like Cava, red Sancerre (Pinot Noir), and Grüner Veltliner, and being able to speak confidently about those wines feels pretty essential in a wine-driven restaurant, especially when helping tables choose a bottle. Maybe I'm being a bit nitpicky, but to me that's a pretty critical part of the experience. Overall, I still enjoy coming here and think the space has a lot of potential. Also... can we please fix the wine glasses - they were so unenjoyable to drink out of. They literally made no sense either. No one likes drinking out of a short stubby wine glass. read more

I was excited to try Leu Leu because I saw an article about its opening and reservation was a bit more challenging because it was mostly through text/phone. Entering Leu Leu felt like entering a hidden door and behind those doors was an eclectically space that took you to a collection of various memories and experiences. I want to come back to experience it with music. Onto the food-had the rip and dip (pistachio dukka and whipped butter with tahini and garbanzo). This was lovely and perfect with some veggies in escabeche and artisan bread. Spicy pan con tomate was a bite bursting with flavor. The pibil lamb shank was falling off the bone tender. The Baja seabass shawarma was interesting but it was a bit dry and made me miss the moist and flaky texture of seabass that I so love. Also at almost $50, the few slices of the shawarma was just lacking. The faberge egg with beef tartar was my favorite. I loved the flavor and the contrasting textures. I didn't know what to make out of the dessert ponyboy and I don't think it knew either. It was just too many flavors that didn't work well together. I would probably come back again when there's music since I love the decor and vibe of the place. read more

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Wow, loved it, thank you Leu Leu's and Chef Zepeda! The Leu Leu's fabergé egg was my favorite hands down (see egg yolk wrapped in rice and waygu tartare with dish of nori to wrap and eat). Plus appreciated all the little surprises and details with the check biscuit not biscuit tin that's all too family in my childhood plus the heartfelt note inside. We were seated on the patio for dinner and the tables were set up beautifully with vintage silverware and fresh flowers. There's a few parking spots in the lot but we found a street spot. Our server Alec was very helpful and provided excellent suggestions and a menu overview. The staff brought up house water with basil and a cheez-its house treat to start. For dinner we got the hot special of the whole Baja golden sea bass that came with sticky rice and a tomatillo type sauce and was cooked to perfection! Lots of wine on the menu beverage options. I was set on two desserts so got the pony sundae with passionfruit turmeric with cheesecake bites ice cream (so refreshing) with nuts and curry leaves and lime leaves. The second dessert was the chef special farmers blueberry bicolor sweet corn cinnamon rolls with ice cream on top which was decadent. Would come back when we're hungry to try more hot and cold mains. read more

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This was my first time and it did not disappoint. To start, the ambiance is intimate, vintage, waiters with 90s shirts, and live DJ but the music was not too overpowering that you couldn't hear conversation. The attention to detail in the decoration is eclectic and on target. Our waiter walked us through the whole menu and asked if we had any food allergies or specific requests. She was very attentive to what we were looking for. The food was top notch. It's family style so you can order multiple things from the menu to share. The portions for the cold and hot dishes were good, generous. Our waiter recommended a bottle of wine to pair it with. The menu is small but the food is focused on quality over quantity. The food presentation was excellent. I saw mixed reviews when this place opened but restaurants can have a rocky start and improve and it seems that they have overcome these issues. My recommendation, give this one a try, you'd not be disappointed. read more

Leu Leu - Lounges Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Epic in every way. Locals only. The most charming of places. Service was amazing. Attentive without being over bearing or intrusive. The food was the star of the show. read more

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Unique and eclectic. We got to meet celebrity chef Claudette! She was absolutely working her butt off, on the front lines serving food, and took the time to speak with us. Highly recommend! read more

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Leu Leu is a culinary experience mixed with chill vibes and great ambiance. We decided on a whim to have dinner at Leu Leu and secured a reservation 2 hours before we arrived. The host was pleasant and walked us to our table. You enter through ornate double doors that open into a cozy patio. We were initially seated next to the bathroom and after several minutes asked to be moved to a different table on the patio. Our server was happy to oblige. Our culinary journey started with a tub of freshly pickled vegetables, which were fantastic. We sampled a number of wines, all of which were suggested by our server, and they were top notch. We ordered items from the Rip and Dip, cold, and hot menus. Each item was unique and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. We had nothing but high praise for the quality and taste of the entrees. As the night was winding down, we asked to be moved inside to enjoy the music and eclectic decorations. We were celebrating my partner's birthday and they gave us a choice from dessert menu. The Super Sexy Sundae was delicious. They had a DJ playing vinyl records that set the tone of our evening, which was wonderful. I cannot help but rave about our experience. If you are ever in the area and looking for excellent food and chill vibes, Leu Leu is the place for you. read more

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This was my second time at Leu Leu. I think this is a cool edition to north county and the Leucadia food scene. I will say that they recently switched stuff and so the menu is different and more limited than the last time I was there. This time we got the rip and dip and ceviche for appetizers. The whipped feta dip is my favorite, and I like that they can make it gluten friendly by bringing tostadas. The ceviche had a good flavor but the cut of the fish was more like canned tuna so we didn't like that. For entrees we had the shrimp rolls which were like a fancy shrimp taquito. They came with a widow sauce which was beyond hot. The flavors were good but this one was just okay. We finished with crispy chicken with mole sauce. This one was delicious and the chicken is gluten free which is impressive. I loved the flavors in the mole. The server was super knowledgeable and helpful and brought me some Prosecco to taste as well as got our heat lamp changed asap! We wanted to see the Tarot guy that is supposed to be there every Thursday but sadly he didn't show up. We sat on the patio which was cute and had plenty of heat lamps. read more

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The limited sized menu and size of kitchen will constrain how successful this place will be. Also, from a dining experience, there is a big difference between sitting inside (only a few tables but very cool decor) versus outside (alley/parking lot with heaters that hit half the diners and loud train noises multiple times per hour). The dips are great, the tuna crudo was middle of the road, the egg/tartare gets high scores for presentation and creativity but it was a little too acidic for my liking. We shared the lamb shank which was good but a little dried in some some spots and fatty in others. The service was friendly and well informed. read more

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The yelp community seems to have mixed feelings about Leu Leu. We took a chance and were not sorry. I can only speak for myself and my family but I have to say the experience we had was superb. Natalie, our waitress, was an absolute sweetheart. She and the rest of the staff took amazing care of us. Their hospitality was truly top notch. Took a few minutes for us to get seated but the courtyard was very nice. We sat under this cool old tree on a beautiful evening. We started with a bottle of wine and some small bites and apps. The pan con tomate was so delicate. The rip and dip with red pepper and toum spreads was one of our favorites of the night. The dips were unbelievable flavorful and well executed, the bread was very good, and the house pickles were awesome. Could have eaten that dish 3 times over. Also had the crudo which was a bit on the small side but the sauces were just unreal. Came with jalisco style toastadas, which are by far my favorite kind of tostada and one which I've never seen used at a restaurant. Nice touch! Finally, we had the rock crab ceviche which was so nice and refreshing and really well done. For mains we had the lamb shank and the duck confit. Really really enjoyed the lamb shank. Fall off the bone tender and with a great sauce. Also really liked the mushroom pickle thing they had going on. The duck was good, really liked the sauce, but not quite as impressive as all of the other dishes. Lastly, we had a passion fruit sundae with sesame miso caramel which was tangy and nutty and delicious. Overall great experience. Super excited to have Leu Leu in the neighborhood. Will definitely be coming back with my wife and some more of our friends. read more

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After blowing up on instagram I fell for the hype and went last week. Overall it was a mixed experience. Starting with the hostess- she spent a while tapping away at the iPad after informing her we had a reservation. Finally she said, oh we have your table inside and tonight we have a DJ which we ask you to pay $20 for. Ok well we did not know about the DJ nor did we have preference on seating since it was the only reservation available. After a few awkward beats she said ...or you can sit outside (which we preferred). I thought it was weird that the place was booked solid but there was room to move us around. The food was actually really tasty- the crudo in tiger's milk was the highlight- but the crispy chicken and shrimp rolls were good too. Wine were small pours. Overall there was a general sleaziness to the place with all the upselling. There's a section of add ons on the menu that could only be ordered if you got one of the main dishes (example: if you got the $27 bread and dip service, then you can order extra bread or another dip for an addl cost vs just getting a small dip or bread on the side- not allowed). read more

Leu Leu - Crudo - Lounges Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Leu Leu is a gem in the Encinitas food experience. From the start, the hostess was very friendly and the ambiance is relaxed but has a subtle speakeasy vibe that makes it feel special. A big shoutout to our server, Natalie--she walked us through the entire menu with great detail, making sure any allergies were accounted for while also pointing out her personal favorites. She was friendly, funny, and genuinely made the night more enjoyable. The rest of the staff was just as welcoming--prompt service, perfectly paced dishes, and always a smile when food and drinks arrived. Drinks-wise, Leu Leu doesn't serve cocktails but offers a solid wine list, local beers, and a refreshing Aperol Spritz mocktail. I went with an IPA while my girlfriend had the spritz--both excellent choices. Now, to the food - Marinated Castelvetrano Olives A standout snack. The tapenade-style marinade added a rich, savory twist. Leu Leu's Fabergé Egg | A unique play on beef tartare--crisp breading, flavorful tartare, and nori sheets to wrap it all up. Creative and delicious. Bluefin Tuna Crudo | An absolute must-order. The tuna was unbelievably fresh, and the lemongrass-coconut marinade was bright and balanced. The housemade tostadas made the perfect base. Crispy Chicken | Another must-order. Generous portion, perfectly crispy, with a tikka masala-style sauce that packs just the right heat. 14oz Pibil Lamb Shank | Rich, tender, and deeply flavorful. A hearty dish that's worth sharing. It's a pricier night out but honestly, for the quality of the food, portion sizes, and level of service, it feels justified. This isn't your everyday dinner spot--it's a place for a date night, special celebration, or even just a pre-dinner drink and appetizer if you want to get a taste of the experience. For two beers, a mocktail, and five dishes, our total came to about $200 before tip. Highly recommend Leu Leu. Thoughtful service, incredible food, and an atmosphere that feels both fun and elevated. read more

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So disappointed because I was very excited to try this spot. Showed up for our reservation with friends visiting from out of town for the holidays, and the hostess casually informs us they're out of every dish on the menu and every appetizer... except chicken. I'm sorry...excuuse me?! No explanation, just a vague "issue in the kitchen." The whole thing felt very off -- super strange vibes -- and we were left scrambling to find another place on the spot. If you can't serve your menu or honor reservations, why bother taking them? At the very least give a frank explanation as to what happened. Somehow though I have a feeling this isn't the first time this has happened. Never again. read more

Vibes vibes vibes. This place is built on em. The decor, lighting, and live dj create a comfy/moody lounge you'd love to hang in for hours. The service is attentive, accommodating, and friendly, plus Natalie gave us a great rundown of the full menu, which includes some very tasty wines. The food itself certainly wasn't bad but leaves plenty to be desired. The crab tostada was especially over seasoned which was a shame because it seemed quite fresh. All in all, this is closer to a 3.5 than a 4, certainly glad we checked it out, and hopeful the food will improve. read more

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Sadly underwhelmed. Made birthday reservations and was hoping to enjoy a memorable meal, but left hungry. The bread and hummus - fine, nothing spectacular. Olives - standard issue. Salad - ok, dressing was lovely, but all the textures were confusing. Was not offered a glass of complimentary sparkling wine as mentioned on IG, but that was fine as I do not drink, so I had a n/a sparkling rose (and was charged). Ordered the meatballs and they came to us cold. Our server offered a "possible" discount and offered to heat them up, but we sat next to the service door and heard the microwave throughout our dinner so we declined. My boyfriend proceeded to eat the three meatballs while waiting for his meal -the chicken, and we were paying for them so... Ordered the chicken and had it boxed because of the time it took. The server/manager offered the reason that it takes longer for the chicken (although no mention of it when we ordered it). Upon arriving home we opened up the chicken which is literally chicken tenders and packed in a tiny box smothered in sauce and sitting in oil. Not sure what the wait was for. Bummed as this was a night celebrating my birthday and now home eating popcorn. MEH read more

Leu Leu - Lounges Near Me - Encinitas, California

So my daughter surprised me & brought me here (on a Thursday evening) for an early Mother's Day celebration. She made a reservation a week in advance, after she heard me say this was an up and coming spot and I wanted to try this place out. We were seated inside. Our waiter, Alec was very knowledgeable, provided excellent recommendations, was attentive and welcoming!! We started with the rip and dip 50/50 (whipped feta and pistachio dukkha) served with artisan bread and vegetables in escabeche and crudite, so delish and enough leftover to try with our main dishes. We also ordered the tuna crudo and oh so fresh & flavorful!! After we had our fill, we ordered our mains. My daughter got the pibil lamb shank, served with calypso beans, wild mushroom pickles and corn tortillas. It was flavorful and this one is good for sharing or if you come with a big appetite go for it!! As for me I had the Baja sea bass shawarma, that was paired with a spicy tomato sauce and olive and cucumber salad and ((ohhh maaah gaaah)) I could eat that everyday, it was perfection and my favorite of the two!! I thoroughly enjoyed everything about my dining experience at Leu Leu!! The restaurant is very quaint and beautifully decorated. The service was excellent, friendly and pleasant. The food!!!! So fresh, healthy, flavorful & delicious! This will be one of my all time favorite restaurants and I highly recommend it. If I can give it 10 stars, I would!! Hoping we can get a selfie with Chef Zepeda next time. read more

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I was looking forward to trying Leu Leu since it opened. Unfortunately I missed the time when chef Zapetta was running the kitchen as it has since changed hands and the menu is much smaller. I was worried based on some recent reviews that the service would be lacking and I was very pleasantly surprised that we had excellent service. We were seated right away, never rushed and followed up with a few times. The food was a bit of a miss. The rip and dip bread was great from Praeger brothers, but the dips were not great. The steak tartare was completely drowned in pomegranate molasses and cloyingly sweet and hard to eat. The ceviche was decent. Lots of herby flavor, nothing special though. The lemon chicken soup was delicious. The first hit of the night. Then the whole Market fish was also very good. I liked the lemon caper orzo side and the 2 ways the fish was prepared. Again it was heavy on the herbs but good. Desert was a little cake and ice cream. Again nothing special. Overall I was a bit disappointed with the meal. It's expensive for what you're getting and nothing was a standout to make me want to return. read more

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Came into this restaurant expecting Mexican food and we were completely disappointed by the lack of flavor in each dish, not to mention the dismal service and attention from our waitress. It was not till the end of the awful meal that we learned it was a "Mexican Fusion Inspired" concept, unfortunately we had not fully read the description posted in Yelp. All in all the only decent thing there was the sparkling water, which we had selected! read more

I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. I love that this place exists in Leucadia - it's a much needed part of the food scene in Encinitas. The restaurant is beautiful (I prefer inside) and the service is terrific. The menu is innovative but also delicious. My only gripes are that the Faberge egg was way overdone, and I found the Rip and Dip to be gimmicky. The spring rolls were a surprise hit! We stayed late and never felt rushed. Looking forward to going back. read more

Well , quite disappointed. Let's start with the steak tartare that looked like maggots on a piece of bread. The French would be horrified to see/eat this abomination. The first dish we got was not enough to share, and they were a little stingy with water glasses, plates, silverware until I asked for that. The desert was great, but not impressed at all with the other dishes. The place is nice but I didn't know Ms zapata was no longer cooking there. The prices aren't bad; they don't carry any interesting non alcoholic drinks read more

Great service, awesome foods, the hummus and the feta dip were amazing, super fresh ceviche, very flavorful beef tartar. A good wine list. Live music. Overall a great dining experience. read more

Food was great but very overpriced. My bad review is a reflection of the service/atmosphere. We were sitting on the patio and a rat popped up multiple times then when we told our waitress and busser they made a joke of it and put a pot over it. They didn't offer to move us or anything to acknowledge that this is a very upsetting situation. If we weren't eating somewhere where the hot dishes start at $40 maybe, we would be a bit more understanding. Additionally, our waitress said that we should get 3 cold items and 2-3 hot items for 2 of us. Thank goodness we looked at pictures online to see that would be WAY to much food... it seemed liked she was just trying to get us to overspend. We ended up splitting the chicken, rip and dip and side cucumber and tomato salad and it was the perfect amount. The food and vibe is cute; however the lack of hospitality/service has me not wanting to revisit this spot. There's something about the fear that a rat is about to run over your foot during dinner that is a bit distracting... read more

I'm not sure what has happened at Leu Leu Leucadia since their impressive opening, but sadly, this is no longer the same exceptional restaurant we once experienced. When my daughter and I arrived for what was meant to be a celebratory evening, we were told we needed to place our entire order immediately. We obliged, but kindly asked that the courses be paced, as we had planned to enjoy multiple dishes from each section of the menu. Our challenged server, Natalie, explained they were short-staffed--leaving our meal to be rushed out in rapid succession and subsequently a bag full of to go food. Within just 75 minutes, we were served five menu items and a full bottle of wine--hardly the leisurely dining experience we anticipated. The food itself, once an A+, was this time no better than a C+. Was it the staffing shortage? Has the chef changed? Whatever the reason, the quality simply wasn't there. Unfortunately, the night went from disappointing to downright insulting. About an hour and fifteen minutes into our meal, a young woman--later shared to have been the chef's daughter--approached our table mid-conversation and said: "I'm sorry for interrupting, but we have someone waiting for this table and we need to ask you to leave." This, despite the restaurant being only half full, the waiting party being just four people, and several available tables nearby. We had been seated in one of only two booths due to my daughter's ADA needs, but again there were more than enough seating options to accommodate the waiting guests. Meanwhile, a large family in the other booth, who had been there at least 30-45 minutes longer than us, was not asked to leave--though they departed shortly after, freeing up space for the waiting party. My daughter, now uncomfortable, quickly finished her wine and left. I stayed behind to speak with someone about the situation, hoping for an apology or at least an attempt to make things right. Instead, I was met with dismissiveness--both Natalie and one of the owners, Jason Janecek, accused me of being "aggressive" and offered nothing in the way of resolution (*important to note, our meal was eventually refunded that evening but this was after a lengthy, and very unnecessary, back and forth with said owner). From start to finish, the evening was poorly handled, lacking in both hospitality and basic courtesy--something I never would have expected from Leu Leu Leucadia based on our first experience. read more

Leu Leu - Meal refund - Lounges Near Me - Encinitas, California