Leon Valley Cafe

Had brunch at the café and had high hopes as well! The café is for sure small, only about 12 seats maximum so go early or be prepared to wait. The owners and staff are very kind, and I fully appreciated that.
We did have a server who messed up our order twice, but sometimes that happens. I was surprised since there aren’t that many tables to worry about, but regardless, I’m giving Leon Valley 3 stars because the food was mediocre and the ambience was too. Had blueberry pancakes and a vegetable omelette. I’d recommend choosing something different if you plan on going!

The Leon Valley Café is a gem.
My wife found Leon Valley Café on Unilocal and it had glowing reviews. 5 stars with 76 reviews. Needless to say I was impressed and eager to visit.
We set out on our daring adventure to this highly rated eatery. As soon as we walked in I was taken aback. The place is small, only seating 16 people. 5 tables in about 500ft².
I could tell this was a place for regulars but no one is an outsider. All are welcome here. We received a warm welcome and immediately felt comfortable. The Leon Valley Café is a gem. The food was savory and filling. The staff was warm and friendly.
Not only do they serve breakfast and dinner, you need to try these homemade pastries. The Peach Strudel is to die for.
I am thrilled to have stumbled upon this wondrous restaurant. I recommend the Leon Valley Café for those needing a break from large, mainstream establishments. This is a true mom and pop shop and we love it.

The food was amazing and so was the service, definitely looking forward to going again, the only thing is that the seating is limited and on a busy day (especially with the reviews it has) there can be a wait to be seated. But its understandable, I just hope they expand a little soon. But well worth the wait. Visited for brunch and I loved it!

Overall this place was really good. It’s super small and a husband and wife running the show. The flavors were really good and it felt like you were eating dinner at a friends house. That said it was a slow (understandable cause it’s two people) and my husband ordered his steak medium and it came out well. We liked it and will be back again to try more things.

A jewel in a small package. Can seat only 16. Chefs/​Owners are husband and wife who worked in restaurants in NYC, then moved to San Antonio. Husband worked 10 years as a chef for Neiman-​Marcus, but found that his job involved more paperwork than food preparation, which he missed. I saw the 5 stars, which is unheard of and had to try. I had the ribeye with scalloped potatoes and cooked veggies. Although the cut of meat was not stellar, it was wonderfully prepared with an excellent gravy and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Delicious! I had a piece of apple pie for desert which was very good. I understand that on Saturdays, there is almost always a wait. Whatever the wait, it is worth it. This place is excellent and deserves the five stars.

Wow, the food was amazing! I had the Media Noche Cuban sandwich and it was absolutely delicious, the best I’ve ever had! My husband had a cheeseburger that he enjoyed, too. It was obvious that the food was carefully prepared with only the best ingredients. We shared the homemade potato chips that were also tasty. They had 3 desserts that sounded so good that we ordered one of each to go so we could share them later. All 3 were wonderful but my favorite was a layer cake with whipped cream and coconut that was light and luscious! I also loved the ricotta cheesecake, a lighter and less rich version of cheesecake, served with 3 kinds of sauce. My husband’s favorite was the Sachertorte, a rich chocolate layer cake with decadent chocolate frosting. This family-​run restaurant is outstanding and a real delight to discover in northwest San Antonio. We’ll be back to try other temptations on the menu and we’ll tell our friends about it, too!

Probably my favorite restaurant in San Antonio … definitely the highest value. Excellent chef from big restaurant who chose to open a small family restaurant. In a strip mall, but don’t be deceived, everything we’ve had has been great! Salmon farrro salad is a favorite, as are shrimp avocado fritters. Great burger, homemade rolls. Family staff is very friendly. Absolutely can’t go wrong at Leon Valley Café. (Only caveat: small, so best to call ahead.)

Utterly delicious Cuban. Crispy bread, amazing ham, and that chipotle mayo really ties it all together. The side salad was actually good (not just a little lettuce and carrot like most places). To compliment the amazing food, the waitress was considerate and charming as well. Tiny place. But worth the wait if it’s full.

Soup of the day was an excellent white bean soup with lamb. My lunch companion said their pecan pie was by far the best he’s ever had… and he’s tried many, as have I. I can say I was a little disappointed in the Harvest salad as the greens weren’t fresh and crunchy as I would’ve expected given the cost of it. The avocado in it had turned as well. That was the biggest disappointment. In addition to this, (or NO addition of!): On the menu, FRESH mozzarella was listed as an ingredient in salad — ordered specifically for that ingredient! Salad, sadly, had NO fresh, or otherwise, mozzarella at all!
Other than that, the dish of the day, a meatloaf was only adequate. It lacked depth of flavor and the sauce was subpar.
Would return to have the crusted Mahi Mahi again, as this was a winning dish, as well as that complex in flavor, bean soup.

I had the Mahi Mahi sandwich and the Cuban sandwich, birth were amazing. You can tell all parts of the sandwich were made from scratch. On the side I had the homemade chips, which were perfectly cooked. To finish it off I had a huge slice of cheesecake. As with everything else it was homemade and so good. The server was very friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Came in with a friend and had a great lunch! I had the cheeseburger and loved it! It had mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, grilled onions and lettuce. It may not be much to some, but the fact that the lettuce was green and fresh was awesome to me! The patty was perfectly cooked and juicy! The burger came with a side of fries and they were good too. But I really couldn’t see beyond the delicious burger! I highly recommend this place but it is a small place so don’t go at peak times. Trust me, if you have a late lunch, it’ll be worth it!

Just left this very small quaint eatery. The food was hot, fresh and good. I had a cheeseburger loaded with good lettuce, tomato, avocado, and muenster cheese. A dill pickle and fries complemented the meal. My only complaint was that my meat was char grilled and had a strong taste of char. Other than that I highly recommend this place!

Went today looking for great breakfast/​brunch we were greeted and seated right away. I chose to get a omelette and «fries» and fruit my husband got another breakfast item with scrambled eggs, bacon and fries. Food did not take long at all to come and was very fresh and delicious! We also ordered there waffle which is even more amazing! Everything was great and I would come here again to have other menu items for lunch and dinner. The only sad thing is that breakfast/​brunch is only served on Saturdays! I 100% recommend this place.

Started with bread and homemade butter. The butter wasn’t salted but the freshness spoke for itself. Ordered the calmari, tomato soup, and chicken parmesan. The calmari was amazingly crispy, and the sauce was incredible. I was told there was sriracha in the sauce which surprised me since I’m not actually a fan of that. A really great mixture of flavors in that sauce with deep dimension. The tomato soup was incredible as well, with a perfect balance of savory and sweet. This place knows how to make sauce for sure — the chicken Parmesan tasted fresh and flavorful yet not too heavy. Ordered caramel cheesecake to go and can’t wait to try it.
Also the service is great. Such a homey ma and pop place. Definitely recommend and will be back when I can!

So happy that my boyfriend and I stopped by this restaurant today! We were pleasantly surprised with our meals!
Everything here was delicious and FRESH! We each had a salad with lemon ginger vinaigrette — yum! I had a cheese burger with homemade potato chips. Definitely worth getting the chips instead of the fries. Loved them. And my boyfriend got a turkey club sandwich that he devoured.
The friendly service is definitely another reason why we will for sure be back! Thanks to the kind owners again!

This is truly a quality restaurant. It’s small so the atmosphere is very quaint and cozy. It truly is a hidden little gem. The service is excellent, very courteous and kind. The food is outstanding. I cannot recommend this place enough. My only concern is they will get too busy and I won’t be able to get a table when I come!

Great food. I came for breakfast BUT they only serve it on Saturday :-((
So I had the Hangover sandwich which had fried eggs plus other goodies. Tasted wonderful.
My only concern is the very limited seating.
Otherwise, excellent food & service.

I have visited The Leon Valley Café many times and every visit was amazing! Seriously, Chef Eduardo is creative and has a fabulous palate. On one visit my daughter wanted his Siracha wings, but had only recently had jaw surgery and was restricted on size of bites. Chef Eduardo suggested using tenders instead … She was so thrilled and it has become her favorite entrée! Following our out of this world meals came Chef Ruth’s spectacular desserts that would be stars at any michellin quality patisserie shop!
This tiny little café is hands down the best restaurant in San Antonio!

Nothing short of mind blowing. There are a few places in San Antonio that I do not want to review so they can remain hidden gems. This tiny restaurant off Bandera is definitely one of them. But I also want the restaurant to do well so here goes my honest review.
I love it here. The first time I visited at 12:30 pm and there were no seats. Mind you this place seats maybe 10 comfortably. I left but vowed to return. Today I came at 2pm and there were only 3 other people at the restaurant. I was greeted warmly by the chef and the waitress. They handed me a menu and I immediately wanted to try all the things. I settled on a hangover sandwich and the soup of the day (chicken and bok choy). While I was waiting I grew increasingly jealous of all the dishes people around me were eating.
When my food arrived, I was thrilled to see it was beautifully presented. I ate a house made potato chip and knew this place was special. I immediately gobbled up every crunchy, perfectly seasoned chip. Then I ate all of my sandwich. It was stuffed full of bacon, avocados and had not one but 2 eggs. The eggs oozed down my hands but I didn’t care. The bread was perfectly toasted and buttered. It’s just a bacon and egg sandwich but why did it taste so good?!? It’s witchcraft what the chef is doing back there!
I had my soup last and was thrilled with the flavor combination. It was different and delicious. There was so much chicken and vegetables! I was sad that I did not order a dessert. But I will definitely be back to try all the other things.
Even though this place is tiny, it is very obvious that the owners care about providing good food and great service. Everything from the plates to the water jug and the food is reminiscent of a classy establishment. The location and outside of the building are nothing to look at but what is going on inside is absolute magic.

Hailing from NYC, Chef Eduardo and his wife Ruth present both classic and uncommon dishes that are executed flawlessly. Sui generis would be a stretch of a descriptor, but each menu item does indeed provide refined albeit traditional taste with perfect delivery — just enough of their character and personal twist spoken through every bite.
LVC’s flavor profiles are satisfactory; whether for breakfast or lunch [or dinner, as of very soon!], expect well balanced and nicely finished offerings. Menu highlights include their ‘Hangover Sandwich’ and homemade waffles (breakfast), slow-​roasted salmon entrée and grilled rib-​eye steak sandwich (lunch), and desserts made fresh daily like ‘Strawberry Tres Leches,’ ‘Flan Napolitano,’ cherry strudel and Key lime pie.
Equally satisfying is LVC’s professionalism and abundant friendliness. The Ramos family is unquestionably one of San Antonio’s most hospitable — Leon Valley’s lucky to host them. Don’t be surprised if more time than expected flies by over great conversations and good laughs. And with an anticipated BYOB/​W setup just around the corner, what can be better than quality time spent among first-​rate people over first-​rate food and drinks?
Make your way to the city’s Northwest Side, expecting out-​of-​this-​world quality in a down-​to-​earth atmosphere. Settle in and either select a staple or succumb to the day’s Chef’s Special. The latter, at times, proves more beneficial as it allows you to experience Eduardo’s full culinary creativity. Ultimately, however, any meal will satisfy like no other. Guaranteed. [And if I may add… LVC’s fanbase is already itching for 2016’s new digs.]
FYI. Accommodations include 20 – 23 seats, almost half of which are bench, and 4 outdoor. Currently no WiFi nor TV. All CCs accepted. Call about specials and hours (updates/​changes).
Rating specifics (i.e. 1 – 5, low-​high)…
— Overall recommendation = 4
— Food taste and quality = 4
— Portion size = 4.25
— Price = 3.25 (current breakfast lineup is solid; however their $ 13 Chicken Parmesan, for instance, just doesn’t hold a candle to Umberto’s Italian Grill’s at Culebra/​Ingram)
— Atmosphere = 3.5 (peak rushes can be cramped)
— General service = 5+
— Waitstaff = 5+
— Location = 2.75 (let’s just agree… they’re making the most with what they’ve currently got)