This family-owned and operated restaurant has been serving home-style Italian meals to Hudson County since 1939. It also coats its walls with photos of Hoboken's beloved Frank Sinatra.
But recently, Leo's has turned its attention to Sunday brunch.
The atmosphere
The comfortable, no-fuss atmosphere is part of the Grand Street eatery's charm. The restaurant is lit with gold-stained glass lamps, which cast a warm glow over the well-scrubbed bar and dinner area.
With exposed brick, cream colored paint, old fashioned wooden lattice backed chairs and friendly service, you might feel like you are at your grandmother's house, particularly when looking at the dozens of pictures of Sinatra. Leo's jukebox has the largest selection of Frank Sinatra tunes in Hoboken.
Starters
To start, we were served slices of cheese Danish. We also sampled the $2 Bloody Marys. They were perfectly spicy while not overly hot, and the tomato juice wasn't too thick so as to get stuck in the straw.
Leo's has a full-service bar, and most drinks at Leo's are inexpensive, including a reasonably priced wine list and extensive specialty coffee drink list.
The coffee drinks are sure to kickstart your breakfast. Leo's Afternoon is coffee laced with Kahlua, Baileys, and Frangelico. Delicious! There are a dozen more to try including: Irish Coffee, Mexican Coffee, and Swiss Coffee.
Brunch
We decided to try the Croissant French Toast, which sounded interesting. The flaky, buttery crust of the croissant was dipped in powdered sugar and topped with Vermont maple syrup and diced fresh fruit. The bread was moist and flavorful. The layers added an interesting texture to the sweet bread.
Next we tried the Vegetable Frittata and the Roma Frittata.
If you try nothing else, have one of the frittatas, which are open-faced omelets. We particularly liked the Roma Frittata, which comes with strips of rib-eye steak. It is topped with roasted red potatoes and gorgonzola cheese, with strips of meat artistically displayed on the eggs. The eggs were light and fluffy, the meat tender, and the gorgonzola gave the dish a creamy flavorful kick.
The Vegetable Frittata is loaded with fresh broccoli, onion, asparagus, pepper, and spinach. It also comes with potatoes.
Other frittatas included the USA, with American cheese and a side of bacon, and the Milano, with sausage, cheese, and scallion. Traditional buttermilk pancakes are also available. All brunch entrees are reasonably priced from $7 to $10.
Entrees
In addition to the tasty brunch items, Leo's also serves signature pasta dishes during brunch for those with a heartier appetite. Salads, mussels, and shrimp cocktail are available to start with.
They offer: pasta with meatballs and sausage; baked ziti; penne Vodka with chicken or shrimp; cheese or meat ravioli; "Shrimp Sinatra"; and more.
Their signature thin crust pizza with your choice of toppings is available too. The entrees are $8 to $15.
And then...
We decided we had to try one of their specialty desserts. We split the Tiramisu. Their Tiramisu was served in a delicate custard dish. This smooth and creamy dessert had a consistency closer to custard rather than cake, but we preferred it that way. The light texture was subtly flavored with vanilla and cinnamon. It was excellent and just the right size.
Other desserts include: apple crumb cheesecake, New York-style cheesecake, cappuccino mousse, cannoli, and chocolate peanutbutter tart. The also serve espresso and cappuccino.
More
Leo's Grandevous is located at 200 Grand St., in Hoboken. They are open seven days a week. Monday through Friday they are open for lunch from 11:30 to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 5 to 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, they are open from 5 to 10:30 p.m. On Sunday, they are open for brunch from 11 to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 4 to 10 p.m.
There is a smoking section and you may also smoke at the bar. Leo's doesn't except credit cards but there is an ATM on the premises.
For more information please call, (201) 659-9467 or visit, www.leosgrandevous.com.
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