Bistro Leluco — Restaurant in South Portland

I’m not sure I know enough superlatives to do Bistro Leluco justice. The cocktail list is outstanding, with creative twists on classics and a lot of choice for original creations as well. The bartender is well versed in all things cocktail and could easily shake up anything you can think up. Every single thing we ordered from the short but diverse food menu was perfectly prepared and simply delicious. We wanted to try it all, so we shared several small plates and one entree. The octopus was tender, fresh and flavorful and the chorizo vinaigrette and broccolini added just the right amount of crunch and smoky touch. The steak tartare had such a fun and unique twist on the classic dish with a ramp aioli and garlic scapes and endive leaves instead of bread or crostini. But the perfect cuts of the steak and the balance of the seasonings made this not just a riff, but an enlightened version of the classic. Our excellent server, Kelsey guided us to try the pea toast, even though I’m not a huge pea fan. She told me I’d love it and she was right. The fresh from the farm sweet peas are indeed fabulous, but it is the out of this world cheese that makes this drool worthy. It’s a soft cheese made in house with herbs that give it this great tang that pairs so nicely with the sweet peas and the crunchy toast. Kelsey also helped out with wine selection and make perfect recommendations there as well. The real star of the evening was the mussels. I don’t want to write about how great they are for fear of them running out the next time I am there. I can’t even begin to guess what is in that broth. We forgot our manners and dunked every crumb of bread we could get our hands on in that savory masterpiece and joked about bringing home the left overs. As I sit in my living room thinking about that broth, I’m wishing I had brought it home so I could soak up every last drop in private without worrying I was scaring other diners.

The ambiance is also perfect. It feels a little bit special without being stuffy. Someplace you’d feel like you could dress up a little for, but don’t have to. It’s perfect for an adult date night or gathering with friends. Every single person we met there was beyond friendly and welcoming. This is the kind of place you want to keep coming back to to try every drink and dish on the menu and feel comfortable lingering over that last bit of your drink, not rushed to finish up even though the place is bustling. This is our new favorite restaurant in the Portland area. It’s worth the short drive from downtown and...

My sister and I went to dinner last night for my belated birthday celebration and we were very impressed with the experience. First, there was some problem with my reservation through Resy but they were able to accommodate us (thank you very much for the flexibility and apologies for the issue). The place has a warm, comfortable vibe with a welcoming staff. The service was absolutely perfect- just enough checking in without hovering, tons of information about the menu (the servers obviously chat with the chef and try things to help patrons decide) and helpful advice about cocktails (super creative and delish in their own right). And the food- I must preface this by saying I fancy myself a foodie BUT I am often disappointed with pretentious establishments that simply do not deliver what the menu describes. This is NOT the case here. The menu is really a love letter to food and seasonality. Every dish we had was fantastic and exciting in some way.

A few highlights- Oysters come with a dropper bottle of hot sauce but OF COURSE, this was no ordinary sauce- it was an AMAZING green hot sauce that was so fresh and balanced- we wanted to take it home! The roasted carrots included a complex vadouvan curry and we paused after each bite to identify the layered components. The pea toast was reminding us of the spring in all its sweet green glory with fresh peas, sliced sugar snap peas, and pea shoots, all piled onto perfectly toasted bread with a sharp and nutty housemade cheese. The Parisienne gnocchi were herby, soft and buttery with masterfully cooked maitake mushrooms and a beautiful wedge of brie cheese to send it over the top. Sherry and cherries topped a Basque cheesecake and espresso cream accompanied a delicious chocolate torte (somehow so light and fluffy but still super rich and deep).

I will be back to try different menu items this spring and look forward to future menus from this creative chef. Thank you for giving me a fantastic birthday dinner with my sister. You all obviously care about the experience and I felt it the...

I recently visited the Portland Maine area from North Carolina and discovered a gem of a restaurant in South Portland called Bistro Leluco. The restaurant was walking distance from where I was staying so with the excellent food I discovered there and the great service and warm neighborhood feel I ended up eating here for 5-6 meals. The warmth started with their bartender and part-time server Benjamin who is not only a great designer of unique cocktails but also a great recommender of which items to try from the menu. During my time there I ate the Crab Roll, Lobster Roll, Grilled Swordfish, Duck Breast, Za'atar Panzanella Salad, Amazing Maine mussels, Bacon wrapped Scallops, Horiatiki Tomato salad, Kolouthi Grilled Zucchini, Roasted Beets, Cannellini Beans, and some kind of chocolate desert with homemade ice cream. Literally all of these dishes were delicious and had great presentation. They were cooked to perfection and I would have them again in a heartbeat (and I did several times). Benjamin knew each dish in detail and gave great descriptions. The owner(Antonio) and his wife/partner were there almost every day and actively involved in running the restaurant. Antonio described how he really wanted his restaurant to appeal to the neighborhood nearby so he would have regulars attending throughout the year which he appeared to accomplish as I saw several people multiple times there. The place was simply decorated and I sat at the bar almost every meal. The bathroom was super clean. They had a Happy Hour during the week with $1 oysters amongst other deals like 5$ off certain dishes. Just a home run of a place that I look forward to visiting...