Leila's lands on Old York Road in Jenkintown
The Vargases recently moved the Jenkintown Leila's location around the corner into the former 211 York restaurant at 211 Old York Rd., where it's now known as Leila's Restaurant & Bar.
Those who follow Leila's around Eastern Montgomery County might flirt with dizzyness.
Jose and Jennifer Vargas' eatery first appeared on West Avenue in Jenkintown as Leila's Bistro. Then a branch, Leila's Trattoria, opened on High School Road in Elkins Park, with a French-accented menu. (The couple also founded Forcella, a BYOB, in Jenkintown, and Flora, a vegan BYOB, nearby.)
Then the Leila's in Elkins Park closed as another Leila's opened in Erdenheim, Springfield Township, in the former Bethlehem Pike home of Fingers and Roberto's. (To cut down on confusion, it's now called Cardinal because of its relationship with Cardinal Hollow Winery.)
The Vargases recently moved the Jenkintown Leila's location around the corner into the former 211 York restaurant at 211 Old York Rd., where it's now known as Leila's Restaurant & Bar.
Jose Vargas' menu, served starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, is mostly American, with entrees (veal chop, pork chop, chicken with shallots) in the $20s and a tastefully appointed dining room built alongside a bar shaped like a musical note.
Bar is stocked with more than 80 whiskeys, tequilas, and rum, and eight craft beer taps plus 20 craft, local, and international bottled beers.
Meanwhile, the former Leila's is a frilly comfort-fooder called Southern Belle, with chef Tim Thomas at the helm.