By far one of the best restaurant experiences that I’ve had in NYC this year! Came here with about 6 people and ordered a wide array of dishes. Everything was delicious but what really stood out were the eggplant dishes plus the dips - I’d definitely get these if you’re looking for some options. The drinks were also great but not the star. Service was perfect though the food took a while to come out. Looking forward to coming back soon sometime in the near future!
Fresh, quick, variety of classics. Everything was pretty tasty but nothing outstanding. Hummus, nothing special but good. Would come back because i believe its a repeatedly reliable source of good food & fun ambiance. Can be a bit loud if you’re looking to have a conversation with your company.
Wonderful dinner with same consistency we remember from 10 years ago. Our waitress was amazing along with the other staff. Highly recommend! Kid friendly too! Get the Harissa on the side..it's life changing!!
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I thought ilili was a pleasant change of pace from the usual type of cuisine I go for when visiting New York. Their menu is fairly extensive and it’s best to order a few dishes from each category to split so you can try everything.
Walking up as a party of 1, I got a seat at the bar which does full service dining. The ambiance of the restaurant is lovely. It feels very upscale and clean with a warm vibe (plus it was festive for December).
The cocktail was ok, not my favorite. I ordered the Beirut to Manhattan and thought it would taste more unique given the ingredients but it just tasted like a regular Old Fashioned.
Food wise I was impressed. The best dish of the night was the duck shawarma, which everyone should try. The bread was stuffed with a generous amount of freshly pulled duck meat and it came with this delicious dipping sauce.
I also ordered the warm eggplant which has a nice sweet taste to it and the labne dip which I prefer to hummus.
Overall, I left very full and satisfied with my meal. Great spot if you’re in the mood for Lebanese food.
TLDR: Ilili is a great choice for Lebanese cuisine, if you're into Middle Eastern or mediterranean cuisine - you'll love this. The mouhamara is great and definitely give that burger a try.
Ilili was one of those places I wanted to try for a long time. The menu is quite extensive but our server helped us make some excellent choices. The mouhamara was something different from the usual hummus. A mixture of red pepper, nuts, a bit sweet - very tasty.
The waffle and fried chicken was brunchy but slightly different. My favorite though was the burger. Juicy, fatty but a nice blend of Lebanese flavors.
Food can get pricy here but if you're looking for a fine dining establishment beyond steak/sushi - this is a great choice.
We've been to Ilili many times , but mostly for dinner. This time we decide to try brunch. The ATAYEF VEAL BACON were delectable and a great bite of light pancakes with bacon, fig jam, pickles, and hot peppers. Lamb & beef meatballs with cherry sauce (KEBAB KEREZ) and the LEBANESE BURGER with fries were juicy and flavorful. I wish the fries were a little more crispy though. The GRANDMA MARIE'S LEBANESE TOAST, their take on French Toast made from chorek brioche, poached figs, ricotta labne whip, and Lebanese syrup was very tasty. No too sweet and certainly a different twist on the traditional bruch staple. Finally, we fisnished the meal with the KNAFE BIL JIBNEH, an inverted sweet cheese tart, made with semolina crust, orange blossom syrup, and sesame pita pillows. The knafe was very good, with light semolina crust. But in our opinion, the pita pillows were not necessary. They came out of left field; and since the pita was not sweet took the dessert into a different direction.
came here for brunch which probably was not the best time to come here. didn’t realize they had a lunch and brunch menu and the lunch menu isn’t available weekends. it was fine and some items were def better than others.
eggs benedict looked like a salad
ilili country style breakfast looked pretty worth it
shakshuka was fine
Cool place to try Lebanese cuisine. For starters, would recommend the mouhamara. For mains, the duck shawarma is good. The lamb shawarma is also tasty. I did find both of them a bit dry. They come in portions of four pieces each so they are good to share. The tuna tartare is also good. For dessert, would highly recommend trying the mouhalabiyyeh (Lebanese panna cotta). It's a great alternative if you find baklava (also another menu item) too sweet.
The ambience here is quite nice. The service is great, and we didn't wait too long for the food. The dishes are on the pricier side, but if you want to try something new on a special occasion this place could be a good option.
Everything about this restaurant was spectacular. Service, food, atmosphere were all outstanding. Definitely go!
I went here two years ago for brunch and really liked. I went here yesterday and still really liked it. The flavors were traditional and nuanced. There was a good mix of textures and spices. It’s a really beautiful space with high ceilings and gender neutral bathrooms. The bar looks like a nice space to grab a drink. You can make a reservation here. We had the hummus, labne, mekanek, Brussels sprouts, fatoush salad, shakshuka, ice coffee, and cappuccino. We didn’t feel rushed or like we were waiting long for food.
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