LEON's January Menu: A Cautious Return to Comfort Food Roots
LEON's latest January menu refresh aims to recapture the essence of what made the brand popular, focusing on familiar dishes with subtle refinements. This seasonal offering represents a move back towards the simple, nourishing cooking that first endeared the chain to customers, though the execution yields mixed results across the board.
The Standout Dish: Lentil Masala
The clear highlight of the January specials is the refreshed Lentil Masala, a vegan curry that serves as a perfect winter lunch option. This warming dish is served with brown rice, making it notably more filling and satisfying than previous versions. The lentils are rich and comforting, reminiscent of LEON's popular microwavable lentil dahl, while the vegetable selection adds a distinctly wintery feel without overpowering the overall flavour profile.
A simple slice of lemon proves to be a small but effective touch, adding brightness and cutting through the richness of the coconut-based sauce. This dish demonstrates how strong the LEON brand can be when it leans into simple, nourishing comfort food executed well.
Mixed Results: Salmon Smörgås-Box
The Salmon Smörgås-Box, starting at £8.49, presents more of a mixed experience. There are certainly positive elements, including a generous portion of fresh smoked salmon that provides good value. The spinach and spring onions work well together, adding freshness and flavour to the composition.
The seed mix adds welcome texture, though it feels better suited to the guacamole component than the eggs. The most disappointing aspect was the hash browns, which were served cold during our tasting. However, their lighter texture does at least align with LEON's positioning as "naturally fast food," suggesting a deliberate choice rather than a preparation error.
Concept Versus Execution: Morello Cherry Iced Matcha Latte
The most underwhelming item overall was the Morello Cherry Iced Matcha Latte, which will set you back at least £4.60. The struggle here appears to be one of execution rather than concept. The thick cherry syrup proved difficult to mix properly, resulting in most of the drink tasting like a standard iced matcha with a heavy layer of cherry concentrate settled at the bottom.
What little did manage to mix well came across as overly sweet, without enough fruity balance to justify the cherry addition. This represents a missed opportunity for what could have been an interesting seasonal beverage innovation.
Overall Assessment and Availability
Overall, LEON's January specials feel more like a cautious reset than a bold statement of culinary direction. The Lentil Masala in particular shows the brand's strength when focusing on simple, nourishing comfort food done well, while other items demonstrate that executional consistency remains an area for improvement.
You can try LEON's new January specials yourself, available at all LEON restaurants nationwide for eat-in, takeaway, click & collect and delivery. The menu represents a thoughtful if somewhat safe approach to seasonal offerings, with clear highlights that make it worth exploring for those seeking warming winter lunch options.
