A Welcoming Neighborhood Spot Finds Its Place in Murray Hill: Leslie

Tucked away in the heart of Murray Hill, Leslie is a cozy, family-run restaurant by Chef Sebastian Fernandez and his wife, Leslie Ames, who gifted her name to their newest venture.

The pair were also the team behind Miami’s acclaimed Peruvian-fusion restaurant 33 Kitchen and Miami New Times Best New Restaurant award winner, Barbarella. At Leslie, their passion comes through not in overt fusion or theatrics, but in a menu meant to feel like a warm, inviting home-cooked meal rooted in the energy of the city.

Stepping inside, the first impression isn’t of a restaurant at all, but of a lived-in space, something closer to a friend’s well-loved dining room than a typical Manhattan eatery. Leslie leans into that feeling of home. Rattan seating with cream upholstery sits beneath soft, warm lighting that casts a gentle glow across a sage-painted wall opposite exposed brick, lending the room a pre-war apartment feel. Frames of botanicals, birds, mirrors, and a few playful animal masks line the space. A long jute runner stretches down the center of the room like a subtle pathway, pulling your eye toward a round wooden table at the back. Table 33, once a family dining table, is still very much the hearth of the space. It doesn’t try to impress you. It just welcomes you, and somehow, that lands even deeper.

The service follows that same sense of warmth, with a hospitality style that feels more familial than formal. There is an ease to the way the team moves through the room. At times, though, the pacing wavered and attention seemed to slow to a crawl. It’s not the place to book when you need to make a curtain or catch a movie. Still, even when execution stumbled, the intention behind the service is unmistakably kind, and that intention carried the experience in a way technique alone couldn’t.

The onion soup, a new addition to the menu, was the standout dish of the night. A twist on the classic French onion soup, the broth leaned slightly sweet but stayed well-balanced, offering depth and richness that felt especially welcoming on a cold December evening.

The tuna tartare was fresh and well-balanced, with preserved lemon rind, capers, and shallots adding subtle dimension. A hidden touch of finger lime caviar brought gentle citrus pops to each bite, lifting the flavors without overwhelming them. Light enough to enjoy on its own but equally satisfying scooped onto the kettle chips served alongside.

The Smash Burger, often highlighted, didn’t land as strongly for me. The patties were cooked well, but the brioche bun’s honeyed sweetness overwhelmed the rest of the dish, leaving it closer to a 6 out of 10 in a city full of memorable burgers. Other entrées, including a chicken piccata the kitchen is proud of, rounded out the menu but didn’t stand out in the same way the starters did.

The cocktails at Leslie were a highlight of the evening. The Dirty Martini was perfectly balanced and garnished with blue cheese olives, and for someone who prefers to avoid cheese-stuffed olives, these were surprisingly smooth and added just the right amount of richness. The House Old Fashioned leaned gently sweet from maple syrup but finished with a soft, warming spice. Leslie’s Cosmo was light, fresh, and, in my opinion, one of the best in the city.

Leslie is at its best when it leans into the warmth and familiarity that define the space, offering standout starters and a cocktail program that genuinely impresses. Some elements of the meal were less consistent, but the intention behind the experience is heartfelt. It’s a welcoming neighborhood spot, best enjoyed for its inviting atmosphere and well-made cocktails.