LEON's Full Service — Restaurant in Decatur

Leon’s Full Service is definitely a Decatur Square staple. It has a warm and romantic atmosphere with a great bar and patio. Leon’s is known for having great cocktails and is a very popular spot. Having said that, the food always falls a little short for what it should be given the prices and reputation of the restaurant.

This is also not the first time I have left feeling like I paid way too much for not such a great meal. I could have walked down the street to a cheaper place and been satisfied in my belly and my wallet.

We shared the pei mussels, broccolini, crispy brussels, and the burger. We each had a drink. We spent almost one hundred dollars for a not so satisfying meal.

The mussels were probably the best part of the meal. I thought they were a little chewy. My husband thought they were fine. The sauce was good with the sausage and fennel. I liked the flavor.

The crispy brussels were okay, but not anything special. They had a balsamic reduction with breadcrumbs and were served with ranch dressing. The ones in the bottom were kind of drenched in balsamic, when it should have been jus a nice coating. I also didn’t think the ranch was necessary. I actually am a HUGE sauce fan, who loves ranch! However, good brussels that already have a balsamic reduction shouldn’t need ranch dressing.

The broccolini was very disappointing. The stems were thick, and it was undercooked. It was very difficult to chew. On top of that, the anchovy was super overpowering. You could not take any lemon. There was absolutely no balance of flavoring.

Then there’s the burger. Leon’s used to be known for having a great burger. I think this is because 10-15 years ago, there maybe were not many great burgers in Atlanta. Now, there are. This is a mediocre burger. It was okay. Nothing to write home about. We ordered medium well, and got medium rare. That’s fine. It had mayonnaise and some sautéed mushrooms and onions, which are toppings I like. I ate it, and was fine with it. But it was good, not great.

The fries were fine. We asked for ketchup and garlic aioli. Leon’s does have a wide variety of dips for the fries, which is nice.

The French 75 was good. They knew how to make it, and did it well. The Allagash White was an Allagash White.

It this a good place to go to sit out on the patio with friends and have a few drinks? Definitely!!!! Maybe order some food? Yes. But it is basically one step up from bar food. If you are expecting something a bit tastier, and more upscale, for the price there are other options...

LEONs has been a staple in my and my wife’s lives. It was by far the best restaurant in atlanta. The best waitstaff, best management, best customer service. Seriously, if anyone ever asked where to eat in atlanta, LEONs was it. And ALWAYS got great feedback. For the past 15 years except since Covid, we were some of their most regular customers. We ate there three times a week, and for every occasion. We were friends with the entire restaurant, and felt like family when we came. The servers were knowledgeable, extremely well trained, generous and compassionate. The service standard was beyond fantastic. We would tip 60-100% on every check, that hire great the experience was. In short, it was awesome. We went back tonight with a couple visiting from out of town. Worst experience ever. The end for me was when my guest who had ordered the burger and wasn’t sure what sauce to get on the side, picked Gallic aioli. We also ordered the frites basket and paid extra to have all the sauces. As soon as the frites arrived, my guest told the server, Molly, that he really loved the Diablo sauce, and could he change his dipping sauce that was coming with the burger to Diablo sauce as well. SHE FLAT OUT SAID NO!!!!! She said that since she had already ordered it that way he couldn’t change it, but she could bring him an additional Diablo sauce for $.95?!?!? Seriously?? The dipping sauce. Did I mention that we had eaten at LEONs for over a decade, and I was SHOCKED. Definitely expected more from LEONs. Would expect more from Applebees. At the end of the day, he didn’t get the sauce he wanted. Needless to say, our guests won’t return. And sadly, we have learned that either the management has changed, or they just don’t care anymore. It’s apparently too much trouble to put out a gluten free menu or vegan menu anymore. Must have gotten tired of that target market. Hint taken, point gotten. You guys should be embarrassed. I am embarrassed for you. I’m embarrassed I left an undeserved 15%tip! (Would have left nothing, but we were using a visa gift card, And keeping $12 was not an option. Would love a response to...

The vibe of this place is exceptional! I love the trees out front, the sign, and the option of outdoor seating. The staff were friendly. Everyone who passed welcomed me until I was seated. My waitress, Shari, was outstanding! She was friendly, answered my questions, and even made a great drink suggestion. I enjoyed the hanger steak and fries— absolutely perfect! The steak was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful! I did request medium well, so some people might have a different preference. The fries were the best I’ve ever had. I hope to return so that I can try something else in the future!

Edit: I returned 24 hours later! I travel for work and did a thorough exploration of other restaurants nearby. There are some great options! This area is adorable. However, after walking and perusing, I returned to LEON’s Full Service. I worked hard to avoid this because I like to review various restaurants when I travel. However, I kept being called back as it is just so unique.

I figured I would get something different on the menu. However, I chose the same dish again! I live in NY and who knows if I’ll be back this way, so I decided to enjoy the same dish twice. If you’re in the Decatur area, do yourself a favor and visit this restaurant! If in Atlanta or nearby, make the short trip!

Due to travel, I visit a lot of establishments, but this is definitely one of my favorites. The people, the vibe, the food— it is SO good! I would come here weekly if local.

Also, I got the salad on the second visit. Maybe it’s because I’m from NY, but you cannot find salads like this. The dressing is unique and the peaches add the perfect touch to compliment. The owners and chefs know how to do things right. And, it is clear that employees enjoy their job. I would support this place over and over again!

No matter what you order, make sure you get an order of french fries! They are the best...