13. Golden Leo
Golden Leo is another popular Brooklyn Ukrainian restaurant, located along Sheepshead Bay Road. It is under the same ownership as Rondel and is similarly elegant inside with white tables, black chairs, and beige-gold walls. Sheepshead Bay and nearby Brighton Beach have among the highest Ukrainian populations in New York City, many living here for decades after immigrating to escape religious persecution and the Holocaust. Though, the area called “Little Odessa” consists of mostly Russian stores today.
The menu is similar to Rondel, featuring cold starters like duck salad, radish salad, and cold-boiled pork. Veal cheeks are a popular entree, as well as pork hock in beer, bass filet in mustard sauce, and chicken tabaka.