Leonore's

703 Park Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, United States

Leonore's
About Us

Thai restaurant and bar

Add review
Customer Reviews
Diner Review №1

Lenore’s is yet another great restaurant put out by the Swan family. Their food is fantastic and the restaurant vibe is great. My only complaint with this place is that we had a table of 4 people and they sat us at the table right in front where the door is, which is not only not big enough for 4 people to sit, but for a Saturday night was very crowded because of the bar crowd that stands in front of your table, and it was 12 degrees out so every time someone opened the door we were frozen. I’d go back, but hate that table setup and would prefer they get rid of both tables in front.

Diner Review №2

Diner Review №3

Diner Review №4

Diner Review №5

Such a special lil place

P.s. highly recommend reserving a table

Diner Review №6

Loved the Thai fusion! Coming from Vegas we had a lot of Thai and Asian fusion spots to go to. When we came here we highly enjoyed it! It was an experience. My tastebuds didn’t know how to react. The service was very good too.

Diner Review №7

Diner Review №8

Awesome Thai-inspired cozy little restaurant on Park that compliments the Swan family of restaurants perfectly.

Although small, it packs a powerful menu and even more potent cocktail bar. The service was wonderful and the food was great.

Highly recommend you make reservations.

Diner Review №9

Papaya salad is a wonder
Beef dish is amazing but my personal favorite was the salmon . The pad Thai was good and the sticky rice and the crispy rice were yum yummy
Cocktails are superb . Fred the server was friendly and responsive
The atmosphere is small warm and interesting. Will be back

Diner Review №10

Highly unprofessional, essentially kicked us out because they messed up a previous reservation AFTER we got our drinks and were told about the “fun family style meal” we would be sharing. We were directed to sit at the bar instead and TWO of the FIVE drinks that were ordered got comped. Thanks so much. (Not). Not sure how 5 people would be able to share a family style meal at the bar but go figure I guess. They were hardly apologetic so we left. Keep in mind it was also my friend’s birthday which they were aware of.

Diner Review №11

Top tier food and beverage. Love the staff and owners. One of my favorite places to eat in Rochester.

Diner Review №12

We ordered 5 dishes (oxtail ragu, tom yum salmon, brussel sprouts, rabbit chasu ramen, and the full belly steak) among 4 people and 2 sides of rice (the coconut rice and the crispy rice). We were really excited to try this place because it has a unique Asian inspired menu.

The dishes were all too salty and this is coming from a person who loves savory foods. The consistency of the coconut rice was off to me (as if it was refrigerated rice and it's still hard/stale). I would not recommend the crispy rice because it had too much soy sauce.

I think overall the place is trying really hard to do something different which I can understand but there's beauty in simplicity. You can do umami flavors without too much salt and if you are going to have very salty mains.. the rice or vegetables should be plainer, not also strongly seasoned. I also didn't really understand the novelty of our drinking water being served in a large nalgene plastic hiking water bottle. I thought it was my friend's or the server's personal water bottle at first. We felt it was also overpriced for the quality of cooking mentioned above...

That being said I did enjoy the milk punch cocktail, the flavor of the coconut rice, the nam prik noom butter on the belly steak, and lotus root in the various dishes. Our server was also warm and friendly.

Diner Review №13

Diner Review №14

Lenore’s is a rare gem where the service truly outshines even the great food - don’t miss the baby Brussels, they’re to die for! However, the real highlight of our night was our server, Fred. They were simply wonderful: kind, sweet, and genuinely fun, keeping my partner + I laughing all night!

Also, HUGE shoutout to the entire team!! I left my wallet there on a crazy-busy Friday night, and when I went back on Saturday, they had it safe and sound, untouched. This place has great vibes, great food, and an even better crew. Can’t wait to go back!

Diner Review №15

Big fan of the Swan restaurants, but not this one. Kitchen is too small and slow. My app and dinner came before my wife was served anything. Had to take her food to go. Not a good experience.

Diner Review №16

The food is great. You don't find standard fare here. They have a knack for creating food combinations that will make your taste buds say Wow that was tasty.

Diner Review №17

Diner Review №18

The food is already expensive but then there's a 3% surcharge on everything. Why not just increase the whole menu by 3%? Do not recommend

Diner Review №19

They have very delicious and creative food to offer.

Diner Review №20

Great vibe and food is top tier. If you go know that the food comes out as it’s ready, not all at once. The ribs are delicious, uniquely flavored, and tender. Some other favorites: beef with panang coconut curry, pork belly, and crispy rice. Haven’t had a bad meal here.

Diner Review №21

Leonore's summer menu did not disappoint. The turnip cake appetizer was unique and delicious. All of the food came out at the right temperature because their policy is to serve it when it is ready, not in a particular order. The drunken noodles were also delicious, maybe a little too salty, but not distractingly so. Save room for dessert because that might have been the highlight! They have the best (and most elevated) mango sticky rice I have ever had (the salt flakes on top really made it special for me.) Also tried the lime/ginger curd angel food cake, which was also spectacular. Looking forward to seeing what comes next on the fall menu.

Diner Review №22

If bartender “James” is working, I highly recommend you recommend you order the “Trauma Bond”. It’s a very easy drinking beverage that you can enjoy all day long. If you need your drinks to have a little more spice, order the “Trauma Bond with Daddy Issues”. Enjoy my friends, this bar promotes a very enjoyable atmosphere with a level of service that feels personal on a very enjoyable level.

P.S. if you order the “Trauma Bond” be prepared to facilitate a “Therapist Shot” to the bartender. The Therapist Shot is at the discretion of the bartender, but most likely deserved.

Diner Review №23

Great dinner experience. Service was great and I’d recommend reservations! I think the papaya salad was my favorite dish we tried.

Diner Review №24

Life affirming. I'm not religious but I wanted to pray. I've been twice now for special occasions and it's totally worth every penny. Shout out to the green curry and turnip cake. If you like eastern Asian fusion, Thai or really just food in general you won't be dissapointed.

Diner Review №25

Diner Review №26

Diner Review №27

Diner Review №28

Diner Review №29

Sam, our server, phenomenal. Hands down. Knowledgeable about the menu and extremely friendly. Sam gets 5 stars, the four stars is because it wasn’t busy and took 20 minutes to get a martini. Also, when I asked another employee where the restroom was, they haphazardly pointed like they were bothered by my asking and I still was confused as they pointed to a general direction and there was no label identifying a door as the restroom. We liked the layout of the bar and the music was good. The food, meh. It was flavorless and what had flavor, wasn’t vibing with the taste buds. The most disappointing were the glass noodles. I love glass noodles but their texture was as if they had been sitting at the bottom of a fish tank getting fuzzy and then were slapped into the dish right before serving. I’ll still go back to try it again, maybe this was just an off night but first impressions are still first impressions.

Diner Review №30

Generous on the seasoning but not the portions. Food was ok but a bit over seasoned. Portions are small, even for the entrees and have a hefty price tag.

Diner Review №31

This place was way overpriced for what they had to offer. The server was being dodgy when we asked about the portion when we were ordering. They claimed that the dishes were meant to be shared. However, each dish was the size of an appetizer while being charged for the price of an entree. The dishes were also heavily seasoned. The curry did not come with rice and we had to order rice on the side which was also heavily seasoned with coconut milk. I would recommend people who are interested in Southeast Asian food to go an actual Thai or Vietnamese restaurant instead of coming here.

Diner Review №32

Just a door on the outside and it may not look like much, but this place is absolutely amazing. The food was delicious, the service was outstanding, and the ambiance was intimate and great. My favorite item was the papaya salad, although the lamb shank was also tender and delicious. Our drinks had very interesting flavors and were quite tasty. The plates here are meant for sharing, but the food is plentiful. We will definitely be back.

Diner Review №33

Diner Review №34

Diner Review №35

Chic atmosphere and good food. A little pricey.

Diner Review №36

Loved this restaurant! The food was incredible, the service great, so cool to be able to watch the chefs at the chef's counter. The music selection was amazing as well. I loved the entire vibe! Immediately told my friends we had to go.

Diner Review №37

I had reservations and we were sat at the packed bar.

Diner Review №38

Overall a consistently top notch and unique experience. Shout out to the server Amanda, she’s outstanding.

Diner Review №39

OHHHHHHHH HOT DAMN, THIS MY JAMMMM WE GONNA EATTINN TILL AAAMMMM. But seriously this place was absolutely incredible!

Diner Review №40

Fantastic inventive food, love the drinks as well.

Diner Review №41

Amazing food and great service!!

Diner Review №42

Moody atmosphere with A LOT of gluten free options!! All in all, a nice experience.

Food: most things were delicious! You order a few things to share all at once and they come out when they are ready. We got a few skewers (chicken thigh and beef satay). I was expecting more than 1 skewer. The chicken was over seasoned (salty) but the beef satay was DELICIOUS! In general I felt like the portioning was off on most of the dishes (too little or too much). Really fresh papaya salad, probably the best I’ve had in Rochester so far.

Service: slow and little communication. When we arrived no one greeted us for several minutes (5+) and we were left guessing where to wait or what to do, which I don’t like when going to a new place. Once someone saw us they explained it would be a few more minutes, which I’m fine with. It was the lack of communication when we got there. On the other hand, there was too much explanation of the menu. Despite it being my first time two people explained everything which was a lot of information. In general, ask me if I have questions after the first explanation and then move on. Also, asking if we were drinking or not would have saved time and effort about going into the drink menu for two people not ordering drinks. I will say, everyone was very friendly so that was great!

Atmosphere: moody but fun. It’s a really cool space!! Loved the water bottles at the tables and easy access to chopsticks and napkins. You’ll have to ask for a fork and knife if you need those. If you sit at the bar, you’ll have a fun view of the kitchen and the chefs, which I love! We were supposed to be seated at a booth in the front but were placed in the back at a table. For date night, I was looking forward to a more intimate bench seating with my partner, but the table was nice too.

Parking: street. The restaurant is on Park Ave, so street parking it is! I usually have success on a side street, just double check the signs to know which side since it switches each evening.

Diner Review №43

Diner Review №44

Every bite was magical and complex. The goat panang curry is epic.

Diner Review №45

Wow!!! Everything was great! Wonderful beverages, all the food was incredible. We had the Glass Noodle Phad Thai, it was delicious! Sticky rice is a must-have, crispy tofu was delicious, and the pork belly... THE. PORK. BELLY. The atmosphere felt very un-Rochester-y, like a hip small neighborhood restaurant in a large city. The service was great, prices very reasonable, and everything was very sharable. I 100% will be back here, loved it!!!

Diner Review №46

Delicious and fun.

Diner Review №47

What I would like to do is sleep on the sweet potato mochi and when I wake up, take a little taste and roll over and go back to sleep. This is what dreams are made of, truly.

Diner Review №48

Incredible servers and staff here! The food is one of the best in rochester for all different preferences and the atmosphere is mad chill 10/10

Diner Review №49

my first time here and it was great. i will say i think the prices are high and the portions are small. they say the dishes are meant to be shared and to order 2-3 per person. my server was awesome and the food was fantastic. a nice spot for a date night

Diner Review №50

Went here over the summer and forgot to leave a review! This place is awesome - from the ambiance to the food to the service! We each had a cocktail - these were good, but nothing mind-blowing. The food was fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The creamy coconut rice was 10/10 - so delicious! I could eat multiple bowls. It is recommended that you order multiple plates to share - in total, we had three dishes and one dessert which was plenty for two people. Looking forward to coming back!

Diner Review №51

Different ! 1st visit was good, second was not as good but good.

Diner Review №52

probably the best food in Rochester, but BIG flavors. be ready to eat!

Diner Review №53

We loved it! It exceeded our expectations. We went early ~5:45pm on Saturday without a reservation and we’re able to sit right away at the chef’s counter. Friendly cooks making creative, delicious dishes. We enjoyed watching it all get made. 10/10 recommend.

Diner Review №54

Leonore's is probably my favorite restaurant in Rochester! The atmosphere is the best, the food is so flavorful and so so unique, they are great with allergies, and the service is amazing. I also love that they change their menu seasonally so you never get bored. Go to Leonore's!!!

Diner Review №55

Diner Review №56

This place is amazing! Seriously the best dinner I’ve ever had. The service was great from start to finish. The atmosphere was fun. We had the papaya salad, Brussel sprouts, braised short ribs, grilled roti and panang. The scallops were the best I’ve ever had!! You have to try it! Will be back for sure.

Diner Review №57

Leonore's is a trendy downtown restaurant you'll want to check out! Although they previously did not accept reservations they now take a limited amount which was great. The food is all sharing style, they reccomended 6-8 dishes for our table of 4. I had a local kombucha from happy gut sanctuary to start the evening. Highlights were the duck special that was so tender and flavorful, and the chewy noodles. Other reviews mention the saltiness of the food. I agree with the sentiment however I love salty food. I would dine here again, however like many of the restaurants downtown a 3% service fee is being added to all checks which is very annoying.

Diner Review №58

The food and atmosphere were great! Prices were reasonable too. I particularly enjoyed the duck dish they prepared last night, never had such delicious duck before! I do wish they didn't charge a 3% service fee. It's misleading, just make the price of the food 3% higher so there's transparency. This trend needs to end!

Diner Review №59

As a SEA person, I was willing to try this place with an open mind.

The space itself has a surprise factor with the cave like seating in the back. The ambiance lighting is on the dimmer side. We had 2 staff members help us, but they lacked coherency and communication as one would come and then the other shortly after asking the same things. For example, we placed our order then the other would show up after asking if we were ready to order.
We were neglected for the rest of our meal and had to flag down staff for water bottle refills. For the amount of negligence and salt, they should consider replacing the tiny reusable Nalgene water bottles.

“Shared” plates are singular portion, so be prepared to order in abundance. We ordered two sets of the pork belly skewer, which one was charred and the other burnt. The chewy noodles from yan, etc was overbearingly salty. The greens and mushroom in that dish could not save it from the level of salt added to it.

Overall, I was highly unimpressed. From the upscale ingredients added to justify the cost of each dish certainly did not leave a good impression or satisfying quality to come back. Save your money. Go to local place as intimidating as it’ll be.

Diner Review №60

Diner Review №61

First time there...loved it! Looks small but it has many small rooms to accommodate many people. Service was very helpful and friendly and the food was delicious!!

Diner Review №62

Diner Review №63

The tofu skewers, crispy rice with gyoza sauce, and the coconut sticky rice are vegan. The plates are made to share, so don't expect a full meal. They also have great cocktails and other drink options, along with N/A drinks like happy gut kombucha. 10/10 would recommend going here. For how wonderful this spot is, I'm surprised they only opened in May.

Diner Review №64

Delicious! Great service.

Diner Review №65

This place is on point. Everything, from the menu down to the water bottles brought to the table, has been well thought out and executed. This was the first place in Rochester I've been to where they know the difference between your regular Coca-Cola and those bottled in Mexico. I wanted to try EVERY item on the menu, it was tough to choose. My order of coconut sticky rice, lamb sausage, and chili cumin Korean short ribs was quite savory. Kudos to the chef. And a shout out to Andrew for excellent service!

Diner Review №66

Diner Review №67

WOW! No reservations so my party of two got in quick and got seat outside , Andy our server suggested 4-6 dishes for our party and we obliged. Everything was amazing and fresh , the pork belly is a must, juicy and crispy it’s the perfect combo!

Diner Review №68

Super inventive menu, gorgeous indoor/outdoor vibe and presentation. Loved the coconut sticky rice (incredible), wagu with black sesame, and tuna crudo. Unfortunately the pad see ew and crab fried rice were over-salted to the point that all other ingredients were completely obscured (I’m not one to ever skimp on salt but this was unpalatable). Both cocktails that I tried were a too bitter, but I appreciated their inspiration. I love their menus and the atmosphere so I’m hoping it was just an off night (a Thursday) and might try again in a few months. Less salt, less bitters would make Leonore’s perfection.

Diner Review №69

Leonore's is a dining experience you don't wanna miss. The menu is simple, items they serve year round and seasonal dishes. They will have specials to offer and plenty of drinks to choose from. Everything is meant to be shared. We recently went with a party of 4 and all the dishes we ordered were able to be shared reasonably. I would say for a larger party you might want multiples of the same dish if it's highly popular.

My group got to sit in a "private" back room which was a cool add on to a wonderful meal. Most seating is open and there are some tables outside as well. We got in early so it wasn't busy, but it was completely filled by the time we left. Service was fast, food came out as it was ready and the staff was wonderful and able to answer all our questions and make adjustments to our orders within reason for personal preference.

We got about 6 different dishes and your mileage may vary based on your palette and hunger. What I will say is everything was made to perfection. The cook and the flavors are absolutely nailed and for me personally offered me tastes I've never had and now love. Everything did come with some heat on it, so if spice is not your thing at all, this may be a challenge. We were warned about the Kimchi and we got it anyways and yeah that sucker is really hot, so if you want a challenge, go for it, if not stay far away.

Tldr: Amazing food, Amazing experience, if you fancy fun flavors and enjoy a mild kick, you might as well get to Leonore's right now. Enjoy!

Diner Review №70

Drinks need some optimizing. Bitters were off. Had the Same Same and the Martini (a bit too strong). The food was delicious, but the noodles were definitely too salty, and the crab rice was also a bit off on the salt (but not as much as the noodles). Looking forward to coming back but at the moment the food quality does NOT justify the price tag. Some highlights stand out, such as the coconut rice and the wagyu, but the tuna crudo was unimpressive and as I said above, the noodles and the crab rice were not properly seasoned. They just need some consistency to really match their price tag. Service was outstanding tho.

Diner Review №71

Diner Review №72

Absolutely fantastic Thai-inspired fare. Loved the spicy and citrusy papaya salad. The wagyu was buttery and rich. The green curry with halibut was another winner. First prize goes to the grilled tofu with lemongrass. The best tofu I’ve ever eaten.

Diner Review №73

A very cozy cave-like ambiance. The wait staff is very enthusiastic about what they serve and know the menu very well. The food although is a little on the salty side is absolutely delicious.
A few notes from us:
Milk punch - very well done but subtle flavors. I recommend getting it before any food because the delicate flavors will be overpowered and you'll miss out on enjoying it fully.
Same Same - good good ;)
Martini #1 - pairs well with the stronger flavors and complemented the fattiness of the short ribs
Oysters w kimchi - were okay but I'm partial to just mignonette on oysters
Rabbit laap - AMAZING!!!! This was hands down both of our favorite of the night
Coconut sticky rice - accompanied the other dishes perfectly because it helped cut the saltiness but could also stand on its own. The texture was so perfect.
Chilled shrimp - the sauce and especially the pickled melon is divine
Short rib - very very good but could have used the pickled melon that's on the shrimp dish.
Beet mochi - even though I really don't like beets I still enjoyed this.
Tiramisu - absolutely sumptuous
I can't wait to go back!

Diner Review №74

Exceptional. Enjoyed every bite!

Diner Review №75

Beautiful establishment .. but my friend has been up sick since midnight with a severe case of food poisoning from either the oysters or shrimp 😣😖😞😒

Diner Review №76

The Chewy noodles from yan, pad see ew, jammy egg was sooooo so salty. It was difficult to even eat. I like salt, but this was beyond salty. The papaya salad was good with a little bit of spice. The short rib was cooked on point, but it was ruined by salt. It was overwhelming and I will most likely not run to Lenora's for the salty food. Also, if you want to smell like the food then don't shower before you go, you will smell like fried grilled food. On a positive note, the wait staff was very nice.

Diner Review №77

Absolutely the best food I have EVER had, would 10000000/10 recommend this place.

Diner Review №78

Stellar food (the confit rabbit laap!) and wonderful cocktails (the peanut-infused rye really elevates the daiquiri and complements the Thai cuisine). Plus, the kitchen is right behind the bar, giving you a front row seat to banter as well as the grill and wok. Would highly recommend!

Diner Review №79

Great food. I had the green curry and it was the perfect amount of spice! They only had one beer on tap, and it was AMAZING - Some Pilsner from Vermont. Hoping to see more drafts next time I visit.

Diner Review №80

This was a fantastic restaurant with some of the best Thai food I've had since living in the Boston area. Their take on Thai is unique and the dishes we had were incredible!

Diner Review №81

Chipped my tooth on the short rib (off the bone). There was bone fragments still in it.

The confi rabbit was soooo salty. I couldn’t finish it.

The waitress kept asking if we wanted more food and drinks over and over again. How many times to I have to say No thank you!

The 3% admin service fee is absolutely ridiculous and will only cause people to subtract this from the tip.

I did enjoy the pork belly. It was the menu highlight for me.

I have to give it one star because I will need to fix my tooth.

Diner Review №82

Didn’t feel like I was in Rochester - giving European vibes. I love!! Food was some of the best I’ve ever had.

Diner Review №83

Way better than martys meats

Diner Review №84

Very good. Loved the food variety.

Diner Review №85

Everything was great and brought me right back to my trip to Thailand. Authentic flavors. Rabbit Confit Laap was one of the best dishes I've had in years.

Diner Review №86

Diner Review №87

The food is very interesting and tasty. Wines are all natural - mine was an orange one - very good. The servers were excellent. We sat outside so I can't say much about the atmosphere.

Diner Review №88

Attention all foodies in #RochesterNY! My wife and I had the most amazing dining experience at Leonore's on Park Ave. From the moment we sat at the chef's table at the bar, we were mesmerized by the mastery unfolding before us. The Waygu beef was absolutely heavenly, and I didn't even need a fork to enjoy every succulent bite. The cocktails were top-notch and made the perfect complement to our meal.

But it wasn't just the food that blew us away - the ambiance was perfect for a romantic evening out. Even though it's a small establishment, it only added to the intimacy and exclusivity of the dining experience. To top it off, the owner himself greeted us and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the night. It's clear that this restaurant is operated by the best in the business.

If you're looking for the perfect date night spot, look no further than Leonore's on Park. Trust me, it's worth time blocking a night out with your significant other. Life is too short to work all the time - treat yourself to an unforgettable dining experience that you'll be reminiscing about for years to come.

Details
  • 7 photos
  • 88 reviews
  • 4.4 Health Rating
  • Contact: +1 585-417-5488
  • Website: http://www.iloveleonores.com/
  • Location: 703 Park Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, United States
  • Map: 43.147682499999995, -77.5770091
Menu Highlights
  • Restaurant
  • Asian restaurant
  • Bar
  • Thai restaurant
Opening Hours
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 5–10 PM
  • Wednesday: 5–10 PM
  • Thursday: 5–10 PM
  • Friday: 11 AM–11 PM
  • Saturday: 5–11 PM
  • Sunday: 5–10 PM
Service options
  • Outdoor seating: Available
  • Takeaway: Available
  • Dine-in: Available
  • Delivery: Available
Highlights
  • Fast service: Available
  • Great cocktails: Available
Popular for
  • Dinner: Available
  • Solo dining: Available
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating: Available
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Available
Offerings
  • Alcohol: Available
  • Beer: Available
  • Cocktails: Available
  • Coffee: Available
  • Comfort food: Available
  • Healthy options: Available
  • Small plates: Available
  • Spirits: Available
  • Vegetarian options: Available
  • Wine: Available
Dining options
  • Dinner: Available
  • Dessert: Available
  • Seating: Available
Amenities
  • Bar on site: Available
  • Gender-neutral toilets: Available
  • Toilet: Available
  • Wi-Fi: Available
  • Wi-Fi: Available
Atmosphere
  • Casual: Available
  • Cosy: Available
  • Trendy: Available
Crowd
  • Groups: Available
  • Tourists: Available
Planning
  • Dinner reservations recommended: Available
  • Accepts reservations: Available
Payments
  • Credit cards: Available
  • Debit cards: Available
  • Credit cards: Available
Parking
  • Free of charge street parking: Available
  • Parking: Available