It’s official: Valerie Mnuchin and her father, Robert Mnuchin, say their new independent Shelter Island restaurant, Léon 1909, anticipates a summer ’22 debut.
It is named after Valerie’s paternal grandfather, whose affinity for romantic European adventures and seaside destinations inform the restaurant’s setting. Léon is envisioned as an inviting homage to the past with warm, natural materials and nods to unfussy, countryside French and Italian fare, the company’s PR firm told us in an email.
A wood-burning hearth at the heart of the restaurant serves as its anchor, inspiring a Provincial-style menu showcasing regional ingredients.
The building, formerly a bank, is undergoing extensive repurposing. Its high-profile location, at a major intersection on an Island with no traffic lights, means lots of passersby have weighed in on social media. One comment — “the suspense is killing me” — suffices to convey the general spirit.
As a person whose maternal grandfather and great-grandfather had Leon as a middle name, I’m particularly looking forward to visiting when Léon 1909 opens on Shelter Island this summer.
To get the latest information about the restaurant, follow @Leon1909shelterisland on Instagram. And, the restaurant is hiring. So, if you’re interested, send an email to careers@leon1909.com.
