Leonardo's Italian Food & Wine is a small family owned restaurant on Rotorua's Eat Streat, where recipes associated with the owners' mother and grandmother shape the kitchen's direction. The approach is personal but not fixed in time: menus change regularly around fresh, seasonal and sustainably chosen products. Daily service and table reservations make it accessible to visitors as well as locals planning an Italian dinner in the city centre.
Pizza spans straightforward Italian favourites and more elaborate toppings. Margherita and pepperoni sit alongside a five cheese version, while mushrooms supply an earthy meat free choice. Pulled beef gives another pizza slow cooked depth, and a prawn topping brings seafood into the selection. That range makes pizza suitable either as an individual main course or as a set of contrasting slices passed around the table.
Pasta provides the clearest view of the restaurant's breadth. Pappardelle is matched with slow cooked beef, seafood cioppino offers a tomato rich coastal direction, and vegetable caponata fills cannelloni for a meat free baked dish. Beef lasagne keeps a classic place on the menu, while mushroom gnocchi and seafood risotto give diners alternatives in both texture and technique.
The meal can begin with garlic bread, bruschetta, arancini, prawns or New Zealand green lipped mussels before moving into the larger plates. At the other end, tiramisu, bomboloni, panna cotta, gelato and sorbet preserve the Italian theme while offering different levels of richness. A children's selection makes Leonardo's workable for families, and the combination of familiar dishes with frequently changing seasonal choices rewards repeat visits.
Address: 1099 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
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Leonardo's Italian Food & Wine Menu
Dinner – Entrees
Garlic Bread
Crispy ciabatta bathed in aromatic herb-garlic butter. Add Cheese – $5 | GFO, NF, DF, VG, V
Bruschetta
Classic tomato, cheese, pesto, and olive medley on toasted bread. | GFO, V
Marinated Olives
A bold mix of olives infused with garlic and onion. | GFO, NF, DF, V, VG
Fritto Misto
Crisp crumbed seafood medley with a zingy salsa verde dip. | DF
Parmesan and Ham Crostini
Crunchy crostini topped with sweet and sour peppers, smoky ham and sharp Parmesan. | NF
Seafood Chowder
A decadent cream-based soup loaded with fresh seafood, bacon, herbs, and tender potatoes. | NF
Green Lipped Mussels
Plump mussels simmered in an anise-scented leek cream. | GFO, NF
Pan Seared Scallops
Scallops, truffled cauliflower puree, crispy bacon, toasted pistachio. | GFO, NFO, DFO
Gamberi Alla Busara
Tiger prawns cooked in white wine, garlic, basil, and cherry tomato. | GFO, NF, DFO
Pesto and Cheese Arancini
Home-made golden risotto balls bursting with pesto, cheese, and fondue. | V
Dinner – Sides
Side Salad
Crisp greens dressed in a light, tangy vinaigrette. | DF, GFO, NF, V, VGO
Honey Glazed Baby Carrots
Sweet carrots caramelized in honey glaze. | DFO, GFO, NF, V
Sauté Broccolini
Tender broccolini with a delicate almond crunch. | DFO, GFO, V
Chips
Golden fries with the perfect crispy finish. Aioli – $2
Sauté Vegetables
A colorful medley of perfectly sautéed seasonal vegetables. | DFO, GFO, NF, V
Sauté Wild Mushrooms
Earthy mushrooms pan-tossed to umami perfection. | DFO, GFO, NF, V
Pizzas 12”
All pizzas DFO – $5 Vegan – $5 GF – $5
Pulled Beef Pizza
Slow-cooked beef brisket meets creamy feta on a crisp base. | GFO, NF
Truffled Mushroom Pizza
Earthy wild mushrooms with white base sauce and truffle oil. | V
Pizza Pepperoni
Spicy pepperoni and oregano over molten cheese. | GFO, NF
Pizza Milano
A hearty mix of ham and cheese topped with fresh rucola. | GFO, NF
Pizza Meatlovers
A bold celebration of salami, pepperoni, prosciutto and bacon with chilli and garlic. | GFO, NF
Pizza Pollo
Chicken, onion, mushroom and sweet cherry tomato finished with drizzle of Aioli. | GFO, NF
Pizza Gamberi
Prawns with zucchini and feta on a garlic-kissed crust. | GFO, NF
Pizza Margarita
The timeless trio of cherry tomatoes, basil, and melted cheese. | GFO, NF, V, VGO
5 Cheese Pizza
A decadent blend of five gourmet cheeses and garlic. | GFO, NF, V
Pizza Quattro Stagioni
Four seasons in one—broccoli, artichoke, mushrooms, corn. | GFO, NF, V, VGO
Pizza Picante
Chipotle spiced chicken, red onion, peppers, cherry tomatoes. | GFO, NF
Pizza Al Fungi
Mixed mushrooms with gorgonzola, ricotta and rucola. | V, NF, GFO
Pastas
Gluten Free Pasta – Extra $5
Fettuccine Carbonara
Creamy, cheesy pasta with egg yolk, white wine, Bacon, onion, and radic potatoes, served with garlic bread. (Add Chicken – $6) | GFO, NF
Pappardelle Di Manzo
Slow-cooked beef brisket in rich Napoli sauce over Pappardelle pasta and served with garlic bread. | GFO, NF
Spaghetti Cioppino
Mixed seafood (mussels, prawns, calamari, fish) anise scented tomato base, served with garlic bread. | GFO, NF, DFO
Beef Lasagna
Layered fresh pasta with rich ground beef, herbs, and parmesan cheese. | NF
Tuscan Chicken Alfredo
Chicken and mushroom fettuccine in a rich, velvety Alfredo sauce, served with garlic bread. | NF, GFO
Spaghetti Amatriciana
A rich red wine Napoli sauce and bacon, served with garlic bread. | GFO, NF, DF
Fettuccine Arrabbiata
Fettuccine tossed with vegetables in a spicy and tangy tomato sauce with fiery basil finish with garlic bread. (Add Chicken – $6) | DF, GFO, NF, V
Spaghetti Bolognese
A timeless beef ragú served with fresh herbs and Parmesan, served with garlic bread. | GFO, NF
Baked Mac N Cheese
Macaroni in creamy bechamel, baked with mozzarella and cheddar. | GFO, NF, V
Caponata Cannelloni
Fresh pasta rolls stuffed with eggplant, peppers, olives, capers and onion baked in bechamel and tomato sauce. | NF, V
Spaghetti Aglio Olio
A minimalist’s dream-Spaghetti tossed with garlic, chilli and olive oil, served with garlic bread. (Add Chicken – $6, Prawns – $12) | GFO, NF, V, DFO
Gnocchi Ala Tartufo
Truffle-scented gnocchi with wild mushrooms and creamy white sauce, served with garlic bread. (Add Chicken – $6) | NF, V
Mains
Beef Cheeks
Melt-in-your-mouth beef cheeks with green salad and chips. | NF, DF
Chicken Scaloppine Al Limone
Pan-seared chicken piccata in lemon butter with baby potatoes, broccolini, and mushrooms. | DFO, GFO, NF
Fish of the Day
Pan seared fresh fish with cous cous and broccolini topped with creamy lemon sauce. | GFO, NF, DFO
Salmon
Seared salmon fillet with mashed potatoes, baby carrots and tangy salmoniglio sauce. | NF, GFO
Porkbelly
Juicy marinated pork belly served with glazed apple, mustard, potatoes, bacon, orange fennel and drizzled with Jus. | GFO, DF, NF
300gms Ribeye Steak
Ribeye served with garlic mash, beets, and juniper berry jus and Béarnaise. | GFO, DFO, NF
Duo of Lamb
Oven roasted Lamb rack and rump served with carrots and mint purée, seared corn, honey glazed Carrots, and salsa verde. | GFO, NF
Risottos
Risotto Al Funghi
Truffle scented mushroom risotto with creamy Parmesan finish. | NF, DFO, GFO, V
Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare
Seafood-loaf risotto in a buttery, aromatic tomato base sauce. | NF, DFO, GFO, V, VGO
Salads
Cappon Margo
A refreshing seafood and beetroot salad with zesty verde. | NF, GFO, DF
Galliano Biando
Chicken, mushrooms, mesclun, walnuts, and pickled onions tossed in creamy herb mayo. | GFO
Rucola Caprese
Bocconcini, rucola, and tomato drizzled with pesto and balsamic glaze. | GFO
Desserts
Orange Tiramisu
A zesty twist on tiramisu with orange served with chocolate gelato. | NFO
Bombolini
Salted caramel filled homemade Italian donuts, banana puree, vanilla crumble, vanilla gelato. | NFO
Cheesecake
NY cheesecake with berry compote and dried berry crumble and seasonal fruits and berry sorbet. | NFO
Passion Fruit Pannacotta
Silky pannacotta with fruit salsa and mint. | NFO, GFO
Trio of Gelato
Three luscious scoops of artisanal gelato. | NFO, GFO
Trio of Sorbet
Refreshing sorbets bursting with natural fruit flavor. | GFO, DF, NFO
Vaniglia Affogato
Two scoops of vanilla gelato, shot of espresso (With liquor extra $5)
Kids
Only for kids of age 10yrs or under. Gluten Free – Extra $5
Tenders and Chips
Crispy chicken tenders with golden fries. | NF
Mac N Cheese
Cheesy, gooey macaroni – kid-approved comfort. | NF, V
Kids Butter and Cheese Spaghetti
Buttery Spaghetti made for tiny tastebuds. | DFO, GFO, NF, V
Kids Bolognese
Mini version of the classic meat spaghetti. | DFO, GFO, NF
Fish Bites with Chips
Crispy fish bites served with fries. | NF
Kids Cheese Pizza
Simple, cheesy goodness on a kid-sized crust. | DFO, GFO, NF, V
Kids Pepperoni Pizza
A mini pepperoni pie made to delight. | DFO, GFO, NF
Kids Ham N Cheese Pizza
Ham and cheese atop a bubbly golden crust. | DFO, GFO, NF
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Rotorua
- Seafood chowder Typical in Rotorua: $20.95 $22.00
- Garlic bread Typical in Rotorua: $10.00 $14.00
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