Leu Leu — Restaurant in Encinitas

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 original chef left? 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...

We read about this new spot in Leucadia because it is getting a lot of attention due to Chef Claudette’s high profile on Top Chef. We tried booking via Resy and it seemed full each night, but we were able to get a table after a cancellation. Showing up, I now understand why it is often full - there are not many tables to begin with. The restaurant occupies the corner of a renovated old motel that now includes a number of businesses, including this tiny restaurant. There are probably a dozen small tables outside and another dozen inside, so total capacity is quite limited. However, that’s not always a bad thing. Inside the vibe is trendy and intimate and outside it is similar, though outside seating is right up against the adjacent apartments, so some bamboo fencing would be a nice upgrade to the ourdoor ambience.

On the food side, we were not sure how to tackle the menu and ended up with one of their “cold” dishes and two of their “hot” dishes. We passed on the “rip & dip” section as it seemed like that would fill us up with the other things we wanted to sample. The “Faberge Egg” was our favorite of the evening, an asian take on a deconstructed Scotch Egg. The meat - a tasty waygu tartar - was piled under the egg, which was wrapped in susho rice and set on top. The dish came with some seaweed wrappers so you could build small tacos/rolls with all of the items, and the taste was awesome.

For our “hot” dishes, we went with Duck Confit and Pipil Lamb. The duck was shredded and was very juicy, sitting in a pool of whipped black beans. The taste was outstanding but I would have loved small corn tortillas or some nice bread to pair with it, rather than the dense tamal cubes. The pibil was a first-class lamb shank with a great flavor. I now see that bread and tortillas are on the side dish area of the menu and I think they should be recommended by the servers.

Overall I enjoyed the evening at Leu Leu but I would have preferred an inside table - we asked but the vacant tables inside were not all being used because of a server load issue. We’ll return once the initial wave of attention subsides and try of the other creative dishes. It is a nice addition to the north beach...

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...