Leonetta, Manhattan’s Most Seductive Mediterranean Dining Experience

It started with a rumor. A whisper over espresso at Balthazar. A DM slid into my inbox like a secret invitation:

“You haven’t really eaten until you’ve had the lamb tartare at Leonetta” – jokingly stated by social media manager at Leonetta.

I paused. New York City is home to hundreds of Mediterranean-inspired restaurants—some trendy, some timeless. But something about Leonetta felt different. Even the name rolled off the tongue like poetry. I booked a table that night, and I haven’t stopped thinking about that meal since.

A Taste of the Mediterranean Amid Manhattan’s Energy

Tucked into a warm, elegant corner of Murray Hill, Leonetta is more than just another Mediterranean restaurant in NYC. It’s a portal—a seductive escape from Manhattan’s clamor, where candlelight, vintage velvet, and an intoxicating cocktail of sea salt and citrus create an ambiance that rivals the romance of the Riviera.

The restaurant is the creation of Executive Chef Ed Cotton whose culinary pedigree is only matched by his clear reverence for tradition. Here, Mediterranean cuisine isn’t just on trend—it’s sacred.

First Bites: A Flavorful Beginning

We began, as all dreamy nights should, with a spread of warm, just-charred pita and a flight of Mediterranean dips. The Beetroot Tzatziki was electric—bright, citrusy, with just enough garlic to linger in the best way. The Baba Ghanoush, smokey and rich, was layered with confit tomato and a touch of pickled onion that danced across the palate like a well-rehearsed duet.

Of course, I couldn’t resist the now-famous Spanakopita-Stuffed Pita Bread—flaky, golden, oozing with feta and leeks, dusted in sesame—and the Black Garlic Hummus, so creamy and aromatic it made me wonder why I’d ever dipped a pita in anything else. It was the kind of start that makes you cancel your next reservation mid-bite.

But the real showstopper? The Lamb Tartare. Fresh, fiery, and delicately plated atop a sumac-lavash crisp, it was bold and nuanced—the kind of dish that makes you whisper to the table next to you, “You need to order this.”

If you’re in the mood for something chilled and celebratory, opt for the Jumbo Lump Crab Ceviche—light, citrus-forward, with notes of sofrito and creamy avocado—or the Colossal Shrimp Cocktail, served dramatically with basil aioli and a spicy Fra Diavolo cocktail sauce that’s as addictive as it is elegant.

Leonetta’s Signature Dishes: A Passport to the Coastline

Leonetta’s menu reads like a sun-soaked Mediterranean itinerary. There’s the Black Truffle Mafaldine, ribbons of pasta tangled with wild mushroom and mascarpone, evoking the forested hills of Northern Italy. The Grilled Dorade, with its tomato-caper vinaigrette and olive-laced fennel, transported me to a dockside lunch in Santorini.

Other things to try? The Spiced Rack of Lamb—it’s what you’d serve at your dream dinner party in Tangier. Elevated, perfectly cooked, and grounded in earthy orzo, kalamata olives, and chickpeas, it’s a dish that turns a meal into a memory.

And don’t sleep on the chef’s take on sea-meets-earth decadence: the Chermoula Swordfish Kebab with gingered cauliflower pilaf and charred eggplant yogurt is both familiar and wildly new, like a postcard from a city you’ve never visited but always dreamed of.

This is where Leonetta separates itself as one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in NYC: every dish is rooted in heritage, but elevated with daring technique and modern nuance.

Beyond the Dining Room: The Lounge at Leo’s Famous

Just when I thought I had discovered it all, I slipped behind a velvet curtain and found myself in Leo’s Famous, Leonetta’s dimly lit lounge. Think Fellini meets SoHo House. The cocktails, crafted by beverage director Mark Rancourt, are deeply Mediterranean—like the Medusan Martini, made with fig leaf gin and rosemary smoke, or a house negroni that’s dangerously smooth.

Here, creatives mingle with chefs, off-duty models with editors. It’s an under-the-radar hideaway that feels exclusive, yet unpretentious. And yes, you can order the full menu here too—should you prefer to eat your truffle flatbread reclining on a velvet banquette with a glass of Barolo in hand.

A Sweet, Dreamy Ending

Desserts at Leonetta are just as transportive. I lingered over the Olive Oil Semolina Cake, paired with fior di latte gelato and a pine nut-rosemary crumble—light yet decadent. The Chocolate Pudding with orange-saffron marmalade and vanilla chantilly was a study in texture, sweetness, and surprise. It felt less like a dessert course and more like the final note in a beautiful love song.

Why Leonetta Is a Must-Visit

When people ask me for the best romantic restaurants in Manhattan, I now answer with one word: Leonetta.

It’s not just the food, though the food is spectacular. It’s the magic. The way time slows. The way the lighting flatters your conversation. The way your fork glides through lemon-honey cod like butter.

Leonetta isn’t trying to be trendy—it’s trying to be timeless. And that’s exactly what makes it the most seductive dinner reservation in NYC right now.

If you’ve heard the whispers, believe them. If you haven’t—consider this your official invitation. Book your table at Leonetta and experience the Mediterranean’s most romantic flavors in the heart of Manhattan.  And yes, the burrata is worth whispering about. Follow the whispers, and taste the legend.