OC Restaurant Quest: Leo’s Coney Island
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 4, 2024)
Michigan – Leo’s Coney Island is a community staple in towns throughout SE Michigan. This popular local franchise serves up quick and easy meals with a broad menu so that nearly anyone can find something they’d enjoy.
I’m surprised I’ve not included Leo’s in my Restaurant Quest column before, since it is a spot where I know I can enjoy quick, consistent meals.
Though I’ve been at several locations over the years, for this article I visited the Waterford location on M-59.
I love Leo’s Chicken Fingers Pita, made with a soft buttery pita filled with crispy breaded chicken, fresh lettuce, diced tomato, American and Swiss cheese, and a creamy mayo sauce. I got mine with a side of the ever-delicious chili cheese fries.
Leo’s has a menu full of meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Guests might start the day with chocolate chip pancakes, steak and eggs, or an omelette such as the Western Omelette made with onions, green pepper and ham.
Lunch and dinner can be made special with favorites like fish and chips, fried chicken, Italian wrap, gyro sandwiches and more. The pastitsio is a Greek specialty made with layers of macaroni, ground beef, eggs, milk and seasonings.
Leo’s of course has coney dogs, as well as a selection of burgers including the turkey burger, salmon burger, garden burger, and mushroom Swiss burger. There are also a number of salad choices, including the Village Salad made with tomato, cucumber, green pepper, beets, Greek olives, pepperoncini, onions, feta cheese, and Leo’s famous Greek dressing.
This list just scratches the surface of the variety offered on the menu.
According to their website, Leo Stassinopoulos was just 17 years old when he immigrated to America from a small village in Greece. He worked in a meat factory before taking a job at a local coney island where he learned all he could about the restaurant business.
In 1972 he and his brother Peter opened the Southfield Souvlaki Coney Island in 1972. In 1979 they opened a second location. By 1982 they had also opened a location in Farmington. They wanted to continue growing with a consistent brand, so they became Leo’s. Their business has grown and been franchised, and their Greek dressing has become famous not only in their diners, but in grocery stores throughout Michigan.
There are over 70 locations across Michigan, including Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Commerce Township, Farmington Hills, Fenton, Highland Township, Independence Township, Lake Orion, New Hudson, Novi, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Waterford, West Bloomfield, and White Lake.
Learn more about Leo’s Coney Island at https://www.leosconeyisland.com
Oakland County Times is on a QUEST to enjoy every local restaurant in Oakland County. This long-term project is a labor of love, supported by our friends at White Castle. White Castle is a family-owned company that is proud to be one of only 20 large employers to make the Fortune Best Places to work list in 2022. With steam-grilled sliders, crispy golden french fries, fantastic slides like onion chips or fried clams, and the best chocolate shakes, White Castle is a by far our top choice for a fast food meal. Check out their website at www.WhiteCastle.com.
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