LESLIE JONES

LESLIE JONES

LOCATION:

1182 Queen Street East  Toronto, ON M4M 1L6 (416) 463-5663 RATINGS:

Service: 2 . 2 / 4

Ambiance: 2 . 5 / 4

Food: 3 / 4

Price: $$

Leslie Jones is a charming restaurant in Leslieville.  This causal restaurant features candlelit tables, exposed brick walls, an inviting backyard patio and Chef George Wensley: chef slash DJ. Each night, Wensley prepares your dinner and plays music, all from his tiny open kitchen.

Leslie Jones features  fresh local products to inspire their seasonal menus, providing no-fuss homemade  comfort food.

Local products are visible on their dinner and their drink menus.

 They started us off with a complimentary chickpea and lava been purée with spicy olives and crispy pita bread. The purée was fresh and flavourful, but the pita bread was overcooked and almost too crispy.

 Next was the AVOCADO SALAD. The salad looked boring, but the flavours were bold. The avocado, tomato, red onion and coriander were tossed in a light, refreshing lime dressing. Simple yet delicious. 

After that we had the SEAFOOD ORZO. Shortly after we had ordered, our waiter came to inform us that they had run out of orzo, but they offered to prepare it over an orecchiette pasta instead (which I actually preferred). The pasta was mixed with scallops, tiger shrimp, mussels, chilies, fresh herbs, and spinach, all of which was tossed with a delectable tomato and white wine sauce. The sauce was so tasty I could eat it as a soup.

 Lastly, we ordered THE STUFFED EGGPLANT. The title was a little misleading: the eggplant wasn't actually stuffed, but was  really arranged in a tower of sliced vegetables including eggplant, zucchini, spinach, basil  and goat cheese. It was served with sautéed vegetables and potatoes. This dish reminded me of my grandmas home cooking, simple yet wonderful.

Would we go back? Yes

 STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT

The Seafood Orzo