Leona's Pizzeria - Irving Park — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

Since re-opening, they are VERY different, I’d stay away.

UPDATE

I was going to let this go after the review, but since you replied (in the way that you did) I will expand…

*Preface, our entire family is from the neighborhood, and have likely been to Leonas 50 times in the last 30 years (48 of which happened before the close/re-open), and LOVED the joint…

We had been to the restaurant a couple weeks earlier, and asked if it would be open on X-mas eve. We were stoked you would be open and were hoping to add Leona’s to our X-mas eve traditions. When we walked in, we realized we were literally the ONLY people dining when we arrived around 6PM. All 5 of us, upon arriving felt VERY unwelcome, as if the staff were excited to “not have to wait on anyone”, and we interrupted that “semi-day off”.

Also, when we walked in, there was a distinct smell that's hard to describe (but wasn't good) that we later found out was coming from the women's bathroom, and was quite pungent (my sister noted she smelled it the other week as well, but to be fair, I hadn’t noticed it the last time we were at Leonas).

Before we sat down, I kindly asked the waitress if you had Pinot Grigio (white wine), she said yes! We ordered that and a beer for the table, and before she came back with the drinks, she took our food order, without a notepad, noting to us she had such a great memory. The drinks came, and she brought a beer and red wine (guessing she poured a pinot noir)...again, not the end of the world, but was noteworthy as she made it a point to tell us how good her memory was

Between the 5 of us, we ordered 3 burgers, a shrimp scampi and a bowl of soup. For some reason, the bowl of soup came out along with the pasta (within 3-5 minutes of ordering). We found this odd for 2 reasons: first, how good could the pasta be, if it could be brought out that soon, and second, shouldn’t the entrees be served together? (i.e. either bring out the soup, then 4 orders together after/ bring out everything at the same time within the entree timeline/bring out everything at the same time with the soup/app timeline)

Essentially ¼ the main orders came out with the soup which we found odd, but fine. However, the soup was cold, and when my dad asked to have it warmed up we were all worried about what would happen to the remaining 3 entrees given the ask/more importantly the vibe we had gotten since the moment we sat down. Additionally, after serving (one person) the pasta at an odd timing (with the pasta eater not wanting to eat before everyone else got served) the server said she would go check on the rest of the food, going in an out of the kitchen multiple times, without coming back to our table (either with the food, or with an update) over 15-20 minutes ...which mind you, wouldn’t be odd, unless we were literally the ONLY table in the joint.

ALL of these points, frankly, are not “end of the world” issues with us, and I’m sure our review comes off as (very) privileged, but ultimately it was the simple fact that all 5 of us (who have been to leonas many times/used to love it there) felt extremely unwelcome, as if we were a burden for showing up.

Finally, addressing something that didn’t even occur to us until you mentioned it in your review reply: “It was also strange that one of your guests had to be held back from trying to approach our staff” - are you referring to ME (the son) asking my 70-year-old father not to complain? If so, (even ignoring the fact that the very next thing you state in your reply is “If there was an issue with our server, someone could have spoken up” - which is literally what he was trying to do) I (he son) was trying to have him let me deal with it (as I am now, online, in hopes of trying to not make anything worse on Xmas eve IN PERSON).

To sum up, we all LOVE leona’s, and have for almost 40 years…but the other night made us feel like we should take our business elsewhere moving forward. I’m genuinely sorry for having to post this on Xmas eve, but we felt it was the only way we...

I don’t even know where to begin… this was the worst experience I’ve ever had coming to Leona’s in all the times I came before their “remodel”.

They didn’t accept dine-in service for months due to the remodel, so today while out and about with my elderly mother we decided to call and they told us yes they’re open! FINALLY. We’d been anticipating coming back.

We came in and the woman at the front told us we could sit anywhere, so we went towards the back but a lady setting up said there was a private party coming and we needed to move. Fine, no problem. We moved towards the front of the place. They asked us to use the QR code to scan and order our food. We had to ask for paper menus as my mom is better with physical menus. The prices are ridiculous for some items but we figured we hadn’t been for a while, why not?! Moving on, the QR code is thru “Toast” and it’s not just ordering! It’s paying! Before you even get your food! Including gratuity! Okay fine, let’s see how this works. So we spent $120 including gratuity before we even got our food! I still don’t know how.

We expected water to be brought to us as any restaurant, Nope. They have a water station that you have to go to get water in plastic cups. Asked for coffee and it seemed like that was a big ask, but it came. Had to ask for napkins and silverware. I mean what?!

So we ordered Calamari, garlic bread, pizza, and chicken fettuccine Alfredo. We waited a good 20 minutes before we asked where our food was. The pizza came out first. They didn’t give us plates or the crushed red pepper and parm cheese like they used to. The woman tells me “oh the plates are behind me”! Again, what?! I had to go and grab our plates! I just CANNOT. What happened to this place?

The food is good, overpriced but good. Pizza is worth it if you’re picking up or having it delivered.

The biggest failure: Customer Service Due to this “big” party, we were insanely overlooked. No other people were dining in. No “sorry for the inconvenience”. No “please accept or apologies”. no “have this coupon or deduction from the bill”. We got “oh you guys came in when we’re having a big party”. And??? Restaurants have parties and take dine ins on Saturdays. They clearly cannot handle multiple guests. (1 table of 2 ppl and the “party” of 20 ppl). My mom complained to the host/waitress (I still don’t know what she did there). She told us to “complain to the manager and maybe he’ll give us something free” I kid you not. I bluntly told her no thanks we’re past that and that’s what reviews are for.

When we’re finally wrapping this nightmare of a dinner up, the bartender (a long hair red headed guy) asked if we needed boxes and was nice, but too little too late really. Upon leaving, no one thanked us for coming in or told acknowledged us leaving. After spending $120 on mediocre food at best!

So disappointed 😔 and I definitely won’t be back. Please do better!

Also forcing gratuity on the QR code seems sketchy af. Who did I just pay that too when NO ONE helped us? Nor was appreciated by our business.

Please Beware...

To be fair I ordered through doordash and the driver could have checked the order before they left. That being said, when i called the restaurant they admitted they gave away one of the pizzas on another order. Why they didnt check the order before they gave it to the driver, i am a bit confused by?? They did offer to make a new one. Originally, they said 35 to 40 min but than said maybe 25 to 30 min. Issue was the order was already 30 min late and my guests were walking in thru my front door. I was frustrated for what i feel were valid reasons (i placed this order in the morning with a pre planned time) and when i expressed my frustration i was told to not get an attitude. After reflecting on that comment, i was not comfortable asking one of my guests go pick this pizza up. I will not come to this location or order from them ever again.

Updating as I found the response from the business to be disappointing and solidifies my decision to not return. I acknowledged the role the 3rd party played. Your place of business failed as well. They didnt check the order before they gave it to the driver. They acknowledged when i called that they knew they gave part of my order away to the wrong person. Your business shared in the error and then was rude about it. Correct they did offer to make a new one but why would i send a guest to pick it up when your employee was so rude. Correct people should take the time to complement small businesses when something is good- i support this type of comment and i do it fairly frequently. As you pointed out, i posted here and also one other place yelp. I am sure you noted the other strong reviews there i wrote when an experience elsewhere was good. While i hesitated on doing this i think i should considering the advice you provided. I did come in one other time, sit at the bar and order directly. Guess what, despite a new empty bar- my carryout came out missing an item that i had to point out. At least that time, the employee wasn't rude about it.

Employees are often a reflection of management and this is a prime example of that....