Two Irish entrepreneurs are behind the arrival of LEON in Ireland, the London-based restaurant chain centred on the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. 

Waterford accountant Stuart Fitzgerald and his business partner Brian McIntyre have opened the first outlet in Temple Bar in central Dublin.

Queues formed at the Crown Alley restaurant after LEON offered a free lunch to the first 100 customers.

“The LEON concept is completely new in Ireland. Irish people have certain ideas of what fast food means, but this is going to blow those ideas out of the water," says Fitzgerald.

"We believe that heavenly fast food is made from natural ingredients and served with love within 30 seconds. It is kind to our bodies and kind to the planet. It helps people to live well and eat well and we are very proud to be finally bringing it to Ireland. We are incredibly excited to continue to spread our heavenly wings and open in Dundrum Town Centre later this year.”

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The LEON menu majors on fresh herbs, spices, good fats from olive oil, seeds, nuts, and well-sourced meat.

For breakfast, LEON’s menu includes Smashed Avocado and Halloumi Muffin, Blueberry, Honey and Toasted Seeds Porridge, Truffle Mushroom Poached Egg Pot and a Saucy Beans Egg Pot. For lunch, Lebanese Mezze Salad, Korean Chicken Burger or a Vegan Sweet Potato Falafel Hot Box.  The kids menu includes Egg Pot and Soldiers, Fish Fingers and Fries and the Chicken Rice Box.

LEON now has 63 restaurants in the UK plus outlets in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Oslo, and Washington DC. The chain is led by co-founder and CEO John Vincent and is backed by Brazil-based GP Investments, a private equity fund, and London-based, Active Private Equity. In 2017, GP Investments’ subsidiary Spice Private Equity invested in LEON to fund its growth in Europe and the US.

The brand has also produced a number of best-selling cookbooks and teamed up with UK retailer John Lewis to launch a cookware range.

Photo: Stuart Fitzgerald. (Pix: Julien Behal Photography)