Leli's Italian Eatery, Market And Bakery

We ate here a few years ago and enjoyed it. The food was yummy and it had a nice cozy atmosphere. Tonight we went back for my husband’s birthday. Wow! Big mistake. The food was absolutely disgusting. The pasta was rubbery and tasted like dirty water. The lobster ravioli was revolting. It smelled like Asian fish sauce and tasted like vomit. I couldn’t even take another bite because it turned my stomach completely. The brussel sprouts were very good however. The worst part however, was the way the owner talked to his staff. Berating them, calling them names, telling them they were useless. Some of them are young girls under 18. What a bad tempered bully! In all consciousness I cannot support someone who treats other people, especially minors, like that. We will never go back and I would not recommend it to anyone. Honestly, there are much nicer places with good food and pleasant people around here. Go spend your hard earned money at one of those instead of supporting this bad tempered bully with nasty food.

This place would be over the top if the chef tried his own food! I have been here a few times to give it a chance because I like the small Italian New York style atmosphere and the menu seems amazing, but each time I was disappointed. I got one dish where the chicken was hard and over cooked, and ordered a steak the other time that was so rare I couldn’t cut it or eat it- when I ordered medium. If they could get this down and perfect the cooking, this place would be great!

I dined here, for the first time, a couple of weeks ago. We met another couple who recommended the restaurant so I was anticipating a nice meal. I was very disappointed. I ordered the pork tenderloin with oyster mushrooms. The mushrooms were rubbery and the pork was tough and hard to chew. The young waiter came to check on us shortly after the food arrived and asked how everything was. When I told him the pork was overdone he said he was sorry. As I had barely touched the food, I thought he might let the cook know and I could order something different but no one followed up. It was not at all crowded so I am not sure why things weren’t addressed. The food was not cheap and it was pretty inedible. I won’t eat there again although I would buy their gelato. It was good.

Underwhelming. I might be willing to try the food again, but not the atmosphere. The deli is interesting, but the restaurant seems like an afterthought with insufficient space.The ambience seems self-sabotaged. Brown Kraft paper on the tables over the tablecloths (why? . Portable air conditioner propped up on stacked crates with a humming fan behind it. Dingy drop-ceiling. Juvenile classic rock/oldies music further downgrades the experience. The overall vibe is not unfriendly, but not particularly happy.I ordered a wood fired pizza. Not so good. Dough/crust baked well, but not sufficiently proofed and risen. A mixed green salad consisting of romaine(? lettuce and some chunks of tomato. My date enjoyed her entrée.

Our family eats at Lelis several times a year and also picks up things in his market we cannot find anywhere else. We hosted our daughter's Sweet Sixteen at Lelis. The food, as always, was amazing. Joe and his staff were extremely accommodating and made sure all our guests were tended to in a fast, courteous, and professional manner.