From Peaks to Park Slope: Maine’s Beloved Pizza Joint Il Leone Expands to Brooklyn

Is there anything cooler than seeing a small Maine business continue to expand and succeed?

A recent example of this comes from Portland's popular Peaks Island. There's a small joint on the island that has been a monster hit for quite a few years now.

Is Maine's Best Pizza Joint on Peaks Island?

Meet Il Leone, a true hidden gem in Southern Maine. This outdoor pizza joint has been blowing people away with its delicious wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies.

Wait times during the summer months can be wildly long—and for good reason. They truly care about every single pie that goes into the oven.

Il Leone’s pizzas are naturally leavened, using a sourdough starter—no commercial yeast in these bad boys. And that goes for all of their ingredients. Il Leone sources natural ingredients from Maine organic farms, as well as from Italy. Only the finest for those who make the ferry trip out to enjoy these incredible pies.

The offerings range from perfectly made classics like Margherita and Bianca, to beautifully creative pies featuring Maine lobster and organic, locally grown vegetables.

Il Leone has also seen a deluge of local and national press, making it one of the most recognized restaurants in the region.

With all that said, I guess it shouldn't be surprising to hear that Il Leone is, excitingly, expanding.

That’s right, Il Leone is taking on the bright lights of New York City, landing in one of the best foodie regions there is: Brooklyn. So much for those winters off.

Maine's Il Leone is Expanding to Brooklyn

As owner Ben Wexler-Waite wrote, there will be plenty of Maine connections to Il Leone Brooklyn, including the sourcing of many ingredients and a selection of Maine beers. I imagine that lobster pizza will be a hit in Park Slope.

Congrats on this exciting development for Ben and his crew! It's always great to see success for a small Maine business—especially one that truly deserves it.

READ MORE: 20 Must-Try Under-the-Radar Spots in Portland, Maine

Best of luck to Il Leone in Brooklyn, and here’s to many more years of delicious pie-making on Peaks Island.