my name is leslie jones

leslieville dining always tends to be a positive experience. ap + ng, rk + i finally got our acts together and headed downtown for our much-anticipated double date. after waiting in line at a different restaurant, we decided to walk down queen and see what we could find. 
lucky for us, we hit gold. leslie jones is the gem of leslieville. located on queen at the corner of jones ave, leslie jones has a cozy atmosphere with food that will not disappoint. the ever-changing menu uses locally-sourced ingredients, while the old-school, open kitchen showcases chef george wensley's talents.
leslie jones is high on the recommendation list!

complimentary fresh bread and a unique chickpea based dipping sauce

appetizers

rk enjoyed the grilled calamari, marinated with lemon, capers, moroccan olives and chillies
because it was grilled, it tasted fresh and was the perfect appetizer

ng enjoyed the avocado salad with tomato, red onion, coriander, and fresh lime dressing

i guess great minds think alike. ap and i both ordered
the beet salad with ricotta, fresh pear, smoked almonds and greens
it has inspired me to start making beets again

mains

ap enjoyed her eggplant stuffed with spinach, zucchini, basil puree and goat cheese
it looked and smelled incredible

ng enjoyed linguine with scallops, tiger shrimp, mussels,
chilies, fresh herbs, spinach, tomato and white wine

rk can never turn down risotto. it was the daily special, with mushroom and, peas.
ever a critique of the consistency of risotto, he licked the bowl clean.

i devoured my braised beef brisket with dark ale, rosemary, paprika and caramelized onion. the meat was cooked tenderly and the veggies and potato were packed with flavour.

we were (unusually) too full for dessert!
it was a great evening: from the excellent service and vinyl-spinning chef to the local art showcased on the walls, leslie jones never disappoints.
we will definitely be back in the warmer weather to enjoy a drink or two on their infamous patio!