ilili Restaurant

So amazing. It's so good their brussel sprouts are better than most desserts! And their drinks aren't shabby either... more

Diasppointed to see that many (all? - we had their chocolate and triple espresso) of their ice creams now use - Guar Gum - Locust Bean Gum - Carrageenan all at the same time. Yikes! We loved the ice cram they make, but now won't touch it. Had some lately and wondered why it tasted funny. Then we read the list of ingredients. Looks like the expansion of their business drove a once great brand to focus more on profits than on the quality that got them to the top. more

I love mediterranean food and this place is very good at this. thanks... more

I love this restaurant! The food is contemporary Lebanese/Mediterranean and outstanding in every respect. The Brussels Sprouts are highly recommended (Zagat) as well as the Duck Shawarma, Chewy Lebanese Ice Cream, and all the traditional mezza including falafel, hommus, tabbouleh and all the rest! Check out the bar scene too - great cocktails (try the From Beirut with Passion) and eye candy ;) more

This is a refreshingly original take on Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine that doesn't compromise the authenticity of flavors and dishes. While all the mainstays and mezze like tabbouleh, falafel, shawarma etc. are available - they are at times deconstructed and at times transformed into supercharged little packets of amazing tastes. The duck shawarma, Sidon black cod and black iron shrimp are all to die for. The desserts are heavenly and the original ice cream here is unique - reminiscent of Istanbul dondurma... A must try! Pros: Great starters, mains and desserts plus rockin' cocktails Cons: Eat like this every day and chubbiness is assured more

The food here is delicious and unique, and there is SO much to choose from! The prices have a great range, you can spend spend just a little or go all out. I am still dreaming of the food. The ambiance is hip, fresh, and it's well-decorated - it's a great spot for any type of group. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! Also, thank the chef, Eric, very cool guy. Pros: So damn good... in every way. Cons: Can get busy, so make a reservation!! more

I have really much enjoyed my meal at Ilili. Staff was very friendly and polite, and food was delivered... more

I have really much enjoyed my meal at Ilili. Staff was very friendly and polite, and food was delivered quick, and hot and good. Dining room was ni... more

I really enjoyed Ilili. The food was fresh and original and the service was exceptional. I will definitely... more

I really enjoyed Ilili. The food was fresh and original and the service was exceptional. I will definitely be back for more! more

An old friend from culinary school just took me here last week and it was an amazing experience\r if you're craving creamy hummus, herb filled falafel, and delicious cocktails you must come here, its simple delicious mediteranian food in a chic New York atmosphere\r the cocktails are delightful and large, i had the sangria and it was a perfect balance of tanin filled red-wine and sweet citrus\r and you can't leave without having dessert\r i recommend the lemom verbena benquets which are crisp, light, and wonderfuly soothing after a long meal Pros: Amazing Hummus, Falafel, and Drinks more

Walked into this place with two friends last week out of the blue, we were seated right away and proceeded to have a wonderful experience with a fantastic waitress who knew her stuff! She made fantastic suggestions and the food was just amazing. I cannot wait to go back and eat here. Pros: Great service, great appetizers, really good sangria more

My husband and I have been to ilili many times, and we think every time we go there it is getting better, and better. Most recently we were there this past weekend for Valentine's Day. The Price Fixe menu was a very reasonable $45 per person, but the menu was by no means skimpy. We each ordered 2 appetizers, a main course, and a dessert inclusive. Forget the price, most importantly the food was great. We loved the Crab Meat Falafel, the lamb sausage, the veal sweetbreads, and the beef kebab was so perfectly flavored. They serve all this accompanied by warm pita straight from the oven. There tahina dipping sauces are fantastic as well. We enjoyed the Valentine's dinner so much that we decided to bring our families for restaurant week, and what a deal that was. You basically get the same selection for $35 per person. We have went to 4 restaurants for restaurant week (or month in 2009), and no restaurant provides the quality, and selection that ilili does. If you are looking to explore your taste buds in ways that they have never been explored go to ilili, and order something that sounds weird (you will be pleasantly surprised, and feel like you have traveled abroad). In addition their drinks are excellent, my favorite since I am pregnant is some kind of cucumber, mint infused drink (non-alcoholic), my husband loves the passion infused vodka. I almost forgot to mention dessert, their homemade ice-cream is great, and their chocolate candy bar is so decadent. \r \r Can't help to mention the wonderful management (Eva & Michael), that really make sure that their customers are well taken care of. If their is one thing to pick on, and they have really improved in this area, it is the service. You might have to ask for them to refill your water glass a couple of times. Pros: Kebabs, Hot Pita, Ambience, Schwarma, Falafel more

Recently had dinner here during restaurant week...don't let the decor or attitude of the hostess fool you. The drinks are delicious (and much less expensive during happy hour) and the wait staff is extremely friendly and helpful; providing suggestions and explaining the dishes. We ordered off of the restaurant week menu and shared all of the plates. We were so full and hadn't even had dessert yet. The lamb is delicious (try the burger) as were the sausages, the fries, fish and other dishes. We will definitely be returning. Pros: Food, Wait Staff, Coctails Cons: Host/Hostess more

Not your usual Mediterranean cuisine, the food here is as good if not better than the best neighborhood Lebanese restaurants, but far more adventurous. And unlike the usually eclectic decor of the latter, the elegance and spaciousness of ilili evidences a cohesive and very cool interior design. If you're in the mood for some turbo-supercharged Mediterranean cuisine in a classy setting, this is the place for you (and don't forget to try the distinctive ""chewy"" ice cream). Pros: Cuisine, ambiance more

Our first course was amazing! As we are waiting for the second course out came the dessert menus. We never received the second course we ordered. The manager and waitstaff were quite gracious and apologetic for the error. It worked out as we were SO full we wouoldn't have been able to eat the second round. Great Sangria!! Pros: Good Service Cons: Waitstaff seemed a little ""weeded."" more

I've been at least half a dozen times. The Kibbeh Naya is outstanding ( steak tartar), lamb sausages as good as in Damascus or Allepo..the classics are perfectly prepared and always fresh in a city with lots of Middle eastern food done wrong.. more

Since we went to ilili 2 times, and we enjoyed it, we decided to celebrate my birthday with our families there last Friday. The service wasn't spectacular, and so I decided to write a review explaining my experience. The next day I received a phone call from the GM apologizing for the poor service that I received. Her name was Eva, she was very nice, and assured me that service would be much improved on my next visit to ilili. She also made a drastic effort to make sure I return to the restaurant. She delivered a gift card to my home. It is very rare that an establishment values its customers as much as I felt valued by ilili. The feeling that I got was that they were apologetic, and wanted me to return for another try. I will definitely do this. Keep in mind my only complaint was about poor service, and this was the first time it had happened after going to the restaurant 2 previous times. Anyways the food is phenomenal, and look forward to going again in the near future. \r \r They have some amazing dishes such as the brussel sprouts (yes, brussel sprouts) which are unlike any other brussel sprouts I have ever tried anywhere (I mean this in a good way). In addition, the lamb kebab is phenomenal, I grew up in a Russian household where kebabs are like macaroni & cheese in American households. In addition the steak tartar is amazing, the duck shawarma is a must try, and also the cheese with the egg is pretty good. Stay away from the fried fish, it has alot of bones, and isn't really anything special. My recommendation is to try food that are unique, and different to this establishment. The rest of the food that I have tried included the peppers in yogurt, the eggplant appetizer is just ok. Also the passion infused vodka is very good. They have a really solid drink menu. Pros: Food, Drinks, Ambience Cons: Service more

The flavors could be a little more authentic as it focuses too much on food presentation and the beautiful decor. I went there with a bunch of fellow Lebanese to try it out. Our reaction to the dishes was mixed. Raw kibbeh, mixed grills, baba ghanouj, grape leaves were excellent, the Achta dessert gets 10/10, while the mujaddarah was a travesty, the tabbouleh mediocre, and the Turkish coffee was served unacceptably lukewarm and not freshly prepared. Clearly they are not catering to a clientele that knows that cuisine well. The service was slow, not too organized, and not at all knowledgeable about Lebanese food! Finally the portions were smallish, and the prices highly inflated. Pros: food, decor Cons: service, price more

bowled over by this beautiful place! def wasn't expecting anything special and they proved me wrong, wrong... more