St Leon Tavern

Just a local dive with excellent fried chicken! I don't even like fried chicken , but I had it once and I was hooked!

Older bar with lots of character. Some of the best fried chicken in the area. Service has always been great and food is served hot! Love coming here for the friendly locals and service! If you're looking for fancy, this isn't it. If you're looking for amazing food with amazing service, give it a try!!

Really is some of the best Indiana Fried Chicken! If you blinked, you might miss St. Leon Tavern located in a small town of about 650 people, but it is a hidden gem. Look for the St. Joseph Catholic Church and this hole-in-the-wall tavern/bar is across the street. Parking is limited so park in front of the church, with no worries of taking a parking spot from Sunday mass attendees because the St. Leon Tavern is closed on Sundays! We always order the fried chicken, usually two breasts and no dark meat. Nice option that you can order a whole/half chicken dinner or any single pieces that you want. Hubby prefers two mashed potatoes with gravy for his sides, while I go for the French fries or onion rings with coleslaw for mine. Always smile when the server reminds me that there is a 50 cents up-charge on the onion rings, and then follows up by saying she has had upset customers when they see their bill with the extra 50 cents! St. Leon Tavern, unlike Wagners and a very few others on the Indiana Chicken Trail, deep fries its chicken, rather than pan frying in a cast-iron skillet. Pros and cons to this. Pros include that the chicken pieces are larger than some of the other restaurants on the trail and they can get your chicken to the table in 30 not 40 minutes. Con in that you really need to request extra black pepper, the key ingredient in Indiana Fried Chicken, since the deep frying lessens the intensity of the black pepper. Chicken is always served steaming hot but remains juicy. Most sides, like the vegetable of the day and coleslaw are homemade. Service is welcoming, bathrooms are clean but dated (but hey--it is a bar), and although a tavern/bar, family-friendly so you can bring the kids. To pass the time until your chicken arrives, grab some 50 cent or $1 bingo pull-tabs from the machine and maybe you will win. I've won a crisp $100 bill on the pull-tabs. The building has some history as well. It was built in 1840 and by 1860 its use was as a general store/restaurant. No general store anymore, just the restaurant.

I came back. I just love the delicious Tenderloin sandwich that this place serves. Hand breaded and spiced to my liking. The straight cut french fries are hot and tasty. The service is friendly and the place is inviting. What a great find in this scenic, out of the way part of Indiana.

Great place to visit in St Leon! Nice seating and bar area. We visited in December and the inside was very festive. The staff was friendly and attentive. I ordered their famous fried chicken and it was definitely made to order as it was hot, juicy and tender. Someone came in to pick up two large coolers full of the chicken for a party so it is definitely popular. The mashed potatoes and gravy and the cole slaw were both great sides to accompany the chicken. The dessert menu looked fantastic but too full to try...maybe next time!