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ilili Restaurant DC Washington Reviews
if you're black, you will probably experience some sort of
if you're black, you will probably experience some sort of racism there, nothing personal you just don't fit the vibe of their aesthetic therefore they will seat you in the back give you a black waiter and treat you poorly. If you don't mind mistreatment go ahead eat here because the food was great a part from the fact that they don't want you there.
Lilly restaurant on the Wharf by the Potomac River in
Lilly restaurant on the Wharf by the Potomac River in Washington DC is a great place to bring friends from out of town. The interior design is spectacular. Beautiful interior decorations brings a nice ambience to your dining experience. Food and drinks are delicious but parking is difficult. Be prepared to wait in long lines if you do not make reservation before arriving, especially on the weekend. Due to big crowds often times the noise level in the restaurant can be loud so it's not great for intimate dining.
My friend and I grabbed dinner here before heading to a
My friend and I grabbed dinner here before heading to a show on a Friday night. Needless to say, if you haven't been here you are missing out! If you love a Mediterranean vibe, this is your place. Food - 9.5/10 - the food was magnificent. The meats, hummus, and brussel sprouts we had were all very good. Service - 10/10 - our server was Taylor, and he did a phenomenal job of giving recommendations and their in house sommelier gave a fabulous recommendation of wine. They provide exceptional service. Ambiance - 9/10 - the restaurant is located at the wharf which is a popular area. The space is small and somewhat intimate. Prefect for a date night, night out with friends, or a special occasion. I'lol definitely be back and maybe even check it out for a night time dinner to enjoy the ambiance and views of the water. Highly recommended!
This is such a great addition to the Wharf! I've been twice
This is such a great addition to the Wharf! I've been twice and have really enjoyed everything we've ordered each time. We started with some small plates, which came with airy and fresh pita that was refilled regularly: - Batata harra: This is not pictured (we ate it too fast, lol) but is a MUST ORDER. The potatoes are so perfectly seasoned and come with this incredible cilantro aioli. You can get more of the aioli for $2 (which is worth it!!). - Hummus: A basic done well- it's perfectly smooth and creamy. The additions are kind of pricey (like $5 for pine nuts) and not worth it IMO. - Muhammara: This is a walnut and red pepper dip that was really delicious- it has a little bit of sweetness and heat. - Chankleesh: This is like a feta and herb dip with tomatoes that's mixed tableside with olive oil- you can add more olive oil to your liking to make it creamier. We shared the mixed grill as our main, which was a nice amount of food for four people. It comes with two lamb chops plus chicken, beef, and kofta- everyone basically got one chunk of everything. There was also an option to add additional lamb chops for $14 per chop. Everything was cooked perfectly and had incredible flavor from the grill. The cocktail and wine list is also excellent- there was a great watermelon, lime, and basil G&T that was basically summer in a glass. We really liked the prosecco option, too.
Small portions. Very expensive. Improve taste.
We have been a fan of Ilili for many years. Today’s family lunch for 7 was a disappointment. The French fries were double fried (burnt), the aubergine was too salty, the fattoush had no taste… it is still Lebanese authentic cuisine but unfortunately today the chef may have taken a break. Lastly, it has become so expensive it is literally highway robbery for what you get. Tiny dishes for $$$ and a mixed grill dish for $82 with few pieces of meat. But you do get baked bread a go-go (I guess to make up for the lack of food servings). Advice: increase servings or reduce prices. Improve taste.
Amazing service, food, and atmosphere.
Beautiful decor. The food was incredible and not that expensive for the quality and quantity. Is definitely a spot I will bring more out of town guests to
Solid It's tapas Items tried Lamb sausage: ok Moussaka:
Solid It's tapas Items tried Lamb sausage: ok Moussaka: ok Potatoes bravas: good Bread: good Harissa: meh Dessert: chocolate with black sesame ice cream: ok Ambiance: excellent, great decor.i love the design of this place Service: first waiter was weird and impatient. Never said anything about it but the manager replaced him on their own and no issues after that Price: expensive, it's not a great value for the money Personally I prefer zaytinya but I will happily come here again.
My friend and I went here for a birthday; we were both
My friend and I went here for a birthday; we were both helped immediately upon walking in (we had a reservation, although it was not packed) and brought to our table. We were waited on soon after being seated and got our drinks ordered. I got a cocktail and my friend got a nonalcoholic beverage. Both drinks were tasty, but the alcoholic beverage was not strong by any means (maybe I just drink too much LOL). We got pita bread and two dips as an appetizer, which came out with our drinks, this is also when we placed our food order. We got the mixed grill with the cashew rice. It came with 4 different types of meat (chicken, steak, ground beef, and lamb), mixed vegetables, and an assortment of sauces/dips. The flavor of thr food by itself was not very strong (not too salty not too spicy). The rice (not pictured) was a smaller portion for us to share but we ended up not even finishing it, cause it was so much food. We both had lots to take home as leftovers. The real reason we were so drawn to Ilili was the aesthetic on the inside. This place is great for pictures, and would definitely recommend if you have just a few people you're going with. Overall I think it would be a super cute place to go on dates, celebrate anniversaries or birthdays. Definitely not cheap; I wouldn't just come here casually. 4.5/5 stars!
Dined at ilili back in 2023 to celebrate my sister
Dined at ilili back in 2023 to celebrate my sister finishing a semester with honors. I was very excited to treat her to a nice dinner, so we decided on ilili. When we arrived we were blown away by how beautiful it was inside. The restaurant was bustling with people and the chandlers and lighting made it a really hip vibe. Our waiter was friendly, we enjoyed the mirrored tables. We ordered hummus, moussaka and the braised lamb shank. The portion of meat was large and shareable. The sauce that they poured on top was very tasty and the rice was also good. My sister and I both agreed that we've had more tender meat elsewhere. All in all we enjoyed our time, the ambiance was spectacular. We won't be running back to this restaurant but I wouldn't be opposed to giving it another shot, I enjoy Lebanese food. TY!
Tasty food with some slight imperfections.
A lovely spot that seems to be used a lot for dating! Anyway, we enjoyed our time there. Some of the dishes we selected were truly mouth watering and delicious. Others were well presented, but had less of a wow factor. Overall though a very solid place to visit and dine.
Amazing!!!!! Food was just perfect, hit all the flavor
Amazing!!!!! Food was just perfect, hit all the flavor profiles and did it exceptionally
This place is awesome!! We went as a large group and so we
This place is awesome!! We went as a large group and so we had to go with a prix fixe menu. Everything was absolutely fantastic! The food, the staff, the service, the vibes- amazing! This is definitely worth a trip if you are at the Wharf.
A great start to an afternoon.
The setting was open and airy yet also quiet and private. The food was very good. The service was impeccable, servers were attentive, accomodating, yet not intrusive. PS, "family" consisted of all adult siblings.
Host customer service ruined the experience
Customer accommodation was horrible . Since we walked on the host George treated us like we were begging .. I reserved 2 tables one of 9 and another one of 6 (they did advise that it's was not Guaranteed we will be seated close ) however when we arrived table of nine was seated and there was another table of 6 not so far that's was actually not occupied for over an hour after we arrived .. I kindly asked George (the host) if he can give us that table he aggressively said absolutely NO, without being flexible to the situation , he was rude and condescending knowing that the table of 6 was for 6 kids he did not accommodate us . The food is great the waiters were awesome but George has to change his demeanor.
Delicious & authentic
Absolutely great experience, the food is just delicious! If you are looking for authentic, and beautifully served middle eastern dishes, this is definitely a place to check out. On top of that, the staff was really friendly and professional. We will definitely come back :)
If you desire something sweet, but savory with amazing
If you desire something sweet, but savory with amazing ambience this is the place. We sipped on fine cocktails. dined on wonderful Mediterranean fare and enjoyed the finest service in all DC.
Simply amazing.
Exactly how I expected it to be. Army of servers doing their best. Beef was AMAZING. Hummas was so good. Bread was interesting - not "pillowy-soft" as others described in reviews. There was a pocket of air, that was interesting. But the bread itself was hard. But may be a good idea to have an option of SOFT nan-style bread as well. Nothing is better than bread straight out of the oven. Drinks were double-price, on average. Too bad. Ambiance was exquisite. Great experience. Highly recommended, as a mediterranean food connoisseur.
If you're looking for a place that has it all this is the
If you're looking for a place that has it all this is the spot, whether it's celebrating, date or just treating your self. By far the best restaurant I've been to in a long time. The ambiance is really cool they have bird cage hung from the ceiling and lights dim but good lighting to see. The service also rivals the price that they demand it's not cheap but you get what you pay for. We started with few cocktails the Espresso Bliss and the Thyme after time, both vodka base it was super tasty. Appetizer we order the Tabbouleh and the Kibbeh Naye Beirutiyyeh. Tabbouleh was so refreshing and ful with flavor. The best is the Kibbeh which I've never had before it's Steak tartar served with olive oil, onions, jalapeño and mint leaves which you have to add to each bite. What a marriage of flavors! The next dish is Kings Prawns they grill it to perfection it has some marinade not sure what it was but it's Devine! The mother of flavor is in the head ( If you know you know ) for the main we share the Lamb stuffed grape leaves which I've never had . It tasted like something your grandma would have made just so comforting and they bring out the naan bread you use that to scoop everything up. I don't give out 5 starts often but this is one of them and this place definitely earn it. I will be coming back to try other dishes next time I'm in DC. This place is a must try to anyone in the area.
In my view, this is a top restaurant at the Wharf.
The food and service is always spot on. The pita bread is ridiculously good and the hummus makes me want to buy a tub and swim in it. I love Cava; this is Cava on steroids.
Came in for a quick drink and an appetizer since we
Came in for a quick drink and an appetizer since we already had reservations somewhere for dinner and sat at the bar. NGL, the bartender was kind of stuffy, not real friendly or nice, but he made a great drink so I guess I can't complain too much. The espresso martini (with mezcal instead of vodka) was pretty fire . We also got the duck shawarma and would highly highly recommend this, came with this scrumptious garlic sauce that we couldn't get enough of! Perfectly little portion for 2 to share. For the cocktail + 1 mocktail + the shawarma + tax and tip was $60 total.
Great atmosphere and location.
Very polite and attentive service. The food was good but the mixed grill is definitely not worth $80 for the amount provided and slightly under average taste for Arabic grill. The Fatoush salad was great
Amazing food and service.
The grilled octopus was some of the best I've ever had but the portion was rather small for the price
My wife and I went on a date to ilili at the wharf, the
My wife and I went on a date to ilili at the wharf, the decorations and service was great. We were seated next to a party that was very loud and they moved us with no issue. I've never had Lebanese food so this was new for me. We had Hummus which was delicious with the Naan bread. The sausages were a ok wasn't really for me but my wife did enjoy the acid taste. The star of the meal was the meat platter which came with multiple meats all cooked very well. I did enjoy the rice it had a really crunchy taste to it with the nuts in it. It's a good spot to check out if ever at the wharf in DC.
I honestly can't say enough about this beautiful gem.
I was in DC for a program convening and looking for a spot to have my last dinner there. This place was recommended to me and I am glad it was. EVERYTHING was fresh and amazingly good!
The BEST restaurant on the wharf hands down.
There's lots of restaurants in the area with great decor so it's nice to find one with food to match!
Food and drinks were expertly prepared and served.
It is a little loud but overall a lovely place to share a meal with friends. Everything tasted so good and the drinks were perfect too. If you're unfamiliar with the entrees, ask your server for recommendations!!
Delicious food but noisy
Very good Lebanese food. All entrees were delicious, the eggplant was my favorite. The hummus was delicious. Service is good. Buy there so much noise that is hard to hear each other at the table
Good Tasty Food, Attentive Service, Nice Atmosphere but High Prices
I have been visiting Ilili Restaurant every few years since it opened nearly 10 years ago. The food is still well prepared, well presented and tasty; although, I did notice that the menu has been Americanized to be less Lebanese. The prices have also skyrocketed. The service is still very attentive. And the atmosphere is the same. Would I dine here again? Maybe. I may choose another Lebanese restaurant. Would I recommend it to others. Yes, with caveats.
Just Ok
The price point does not match with the hype. Food was good but not extra ordinary. There can be some miss with the level of spices…mine was too sour. Service was excellent. The ambience is more of a casual quick bite not for special occasions
Pathetic Place
I booked a month ago for a dinner at Ilili, coming from out of state (would be my 3rd time at this restaurant). My booking was at 7:15. NYC was furious with traffic and Uber could not navigate so left the cab to walk. As my text message screenshot shows (Google filtered it out. I’ll try Open Table) I alerted the restaurant. They changed my reservation to 7:30 with a grace period of 15 min. They texted table ready. I responded “1” as I was few min away. Walked in the door at 7:44. Within my grace period. Waitress walks me up a stair and I find myself seated in a dinky attic like space near a bathroom (photo 1). Felt like a worst fast food space. When I voiced concern, the hostess answered “booking does not guarantee where we seat you, enjoy”. Follows a manager handing me a business card and advising “email me personally when you’re in town next and I will guarantee you’re seated in a nice table”. News: there won’t be a next time. Next time I pay 150 $ a person as I did, it will be in a respectable institution that seats me properly (Like in those 2 photos, one of which is your actual dining hall, the other Nobu). Before I wrap up, shout out to my server Mathew. Did a great job. As to the manager, her “email me before you fly in town next time” is the worst dismissive, condescending customer service move ever ! I don’t care about next time. I cared not to dine in an attic, by a bathroom THIS TIME !
Great food in a great city.
The food I ordered first was great: Taboule, kibbeh, lebanese French fries with garlic, and falafel. We ordered the Black cod and rice plater, and I was not impressed, I gave it a B. Pita bread was great and VERY fresh. The price is on the high side for sure; but this is New York City. Ambiance: The place is a bit noisy, but from what I saw, it is very clean, and the server was very friendly. I would come back and definitely recommend it to someone who wants to experience lebanese food.
Well worth a visit
Last minute Friday night decision to come here as close to our hotel. It was a great choice. Very busy, great atmosphere and warm welcome. Seated upstairs which was fine with us Good menu with lots of things I’d have loved to try. Sharing plates and we opted for prawns , filo stuffed with cheese, stuffed grape ( vine) leaves,shawarma wraps, fries. So good and a perfect amount to share. Managed a baclava for dessert. Excellent. Overall a great meal - definitely recommend
Great Food
Lebanese food - or mediterranean i would say... not the biggest fan of Lamb, but it was good. the Place is classy, I think you have to make reservations. when i first walked in, i was pleasantly greeted and since my party hadn't arrived, they escorted me to the bar/lounge area with comfortable seating til my party arrived. As the restaurant filled, it got quite noisy. tables are in an open area, so you will hear everyone's conversation. Both the appetizers and main courses were good. This place also serves well to someone vegan. for me, i tried everything. I stayed in lower manhattan, so i was able to walk to the restaurant without any problem. Give it a try if you like mediterranean food.
great food
Authentic Lebanese food reminds me of Lebanon ! very tasty , great wine list , friendly staff A must in NYC
Overall wasn't the best experience for me, we waited for
Overall wasn't the best experience for me, we waited for over an hour to get our table, after that service was pretty good, the food was pretty pricey and wasn't overall impressed with the food from the price point (having had Middle Eastern all my life), it was good, wouldn't say great, drinks and the ambiance otherwise was great
Great food and friendly service.
We ate at the bar and it did not disappointStrongly recommend
The food was good but we were still a bit disappointed
We ordered several small platters with Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, Labne, Chankleesh, Kibbe Pumpkin. all of them were good but a bit basic and 'regular'. We did enjoy the food but it felt a bit 'boring'. Service was good.
Really enjoyed dining here.
The duck shawarma is a MUST order it was so delicious. The pita bread also could have been warmer, it felt a little stiff. It did take a little over 20 mins to get seated even with a reservation so that was my main con.
We've been eyeing this place for some time and very much
We've been eyeing this place for some time and very much love this place. 1. Reservation: absolutely necessary 2. Food: amazing - Bread goes well with everything and it is warm! The olive and vinegar they serve has the best vinegar ever! - Bone marrow is delicious! I wasn't a fan of it being topped by steak tartare but it was still amazing- Brussel sprout was so delicious- Lamb was amazing and huge portion for 2 people 3. Drinks: good4. Service: excellent 5. Ambience: is cozy, modern, creative cool design 6. No food smell, good ventilation, which is the best part7. Neighborhood is obviously the best. 8. Parking is hard! Uber here when possible
Yum! Came for a friends birthday and everything was great
Yum! Came for a friends birthday and everything was great we got the mixed grill with rice but the real star of the show was the brussel sprouts! And their baklava is also great. The decor is gorgeous and love the mirrors on the table definitely a cool touch!
Illili is crowded and you need reservations FOR A GOOD
Illili is crowded and you need reservations FOR A GOOD REASON. The have an awesome creative menu, great portions, and beautiful ambiance.
Amazing host and delicious food
We booked this after a Turkish friend recommended it given our love of Lebanese food. We were not disappointed. On being seated the waiter however was a rude person, very abrupt. We advised the restaurant host who could not have been more accommodating. He ended up personal serving us and walked us through the menu giving his thoughts on the size of the order and what foods would pair well. We were not disappointed. From beautiful chicken livers to hummus with lamb and numerous dishes in between were left more than satisfied. We will return and special thanks to the host who treated us like royalty. Thank you!
Amazing! Recently went here for dinner and really loved it!
Amazing! Recently went here for dinner and really loved it! My friend and I ordered 4 plates (this amount was recommended to us by our waiter) and it was the perfect amount. We ordered the Hummus, Chankleesh, Batata Harra, and the Brussel Sprouts. Honestly, everything was amazing, and also arrived at our table pretty fast. I think my favorite dish out of the 4 was the Brussel Sprouts, but everything was so delicious and flavorful. The Hummus was pretty great, nothing that blew me away but quite yummy. The Chankleesh was something new for me, and given that I love feta, it was delicious. The Batata Harra was also a pretty familiar flavor to me but you can't go wrong with fried potatoes. I really loved the Brussel Sprouts, it was such a new flavor and perfectly balanced. Something that was really nice of them to do and important to mention was that since I am gluten free, they kindly provided me with lettuce to dip into everything since I couldn't eat the pita (free of charge). For dessert, since we were celebrating a birthday, we received 3 scoops of complimentary sorbet: raspberry, bitter orange, and lemon, all of which were delicious! Overall, I'd highly recommend this place for dinner. It was a really amazing experience, and beyond the food, the interior is absolutely gorgeous and service was super attentive. Already hoping to come back!
Outstanding Lebanese food.
Outstanding Lebanese food. Chicken taouk was awesome Rice surprised us - very nice Fatoush salad - was okay. Not the best. But overall exceptional
The food and vibe were so great! Make sure to book your
The food and vibe were so great! Make sure to book your reservation. We had a great waiter and I made a note about celebrating an anniversary online and there was no mention. Other than that food was good- a bit overpriced! Plates to share
A little disappointed in the lamb.
But the ambiance was great! Had the meat platter and the lamb shank. I got the impression the waiter was a little annoyed with us. Everything else was fabulous and everyone had a great time
Super cute vibe.
Loved our waiter, the whole staff was very friendly. I had the Lambb delish!
GREAT FOOD
Very elegant dinner I had with my gf. I enjoyed the ambience and the food. A high quality spot located in the heart of NYC. Would definitely recommend
I had one of the worst restaurant experiences at Ilili on Valentine’s day dinner
I had one of the worst restaurant experiences at Ilili on Valentine’s day dinner. I write reviews on 5 different platforms. As per today I have over 20 million views on my reviews. I write them with my own name. No screen name. I owned 15 restaurants over 22-year span in NYC. So you could imagine I know few things about restaurants. So many things were wrong. Walk up to the host table. Not a friendly girl with glasses took 10 minutes to sit us down. 2 parties came behind us were sat very promptly by other hosts. If you are not a people’s person pls don't become a host. Then she sat us by the kitchen door. So it was like having dinner at cross Bronx expressway all night. Banging doors, breaking plates to staff having conversations, name it. So far 0 for 2. Then I find out they are not serving any Lebanese food, which I love. I had a reservation at NOUGATINE by JEAN-GEORGES. I canceled that to come here. Because I go to JG restaurants often. I am a big fan of JG. Then find out whole bunch of shellfish on the 1st course. I can’t eat shell fish. 0-3. I get my glass of red wine; my wife's drink is not here. Waited 10 minutes and flag a server down and get my wife's drink. Rule No#1. You bring all the drinks at once. 0-4. Restaurant was over staffed. When is over staffed no one is attending to you. At this point I am done. But I kept a straight face just not to spoil our Valentine’s day dinner. Food was just less than OK. They were trying to do JG version or French ish. Didn't work for me. 0-5. Best thing about the night was Bernardino the server and Paul, who could be floor supervisor or a host I believe. When Paul asked me how the food was, I told him the truth. Also, I got free parking right across the street. I came to Ilili to have Lamb shank. Ended up eating 2 tiny pieces of lamb was not good at all. After spending $500 for 2 you should be satisfied. NOPE. Why 2 stars? Because my wife didn't mind the food. Famous restaurateur once told me, stay in your lane. don't forget how you got there. To end the night on a positive note, went to Bowery bar for a drink and Mamouns on McDougal to have a NYC's best shawarma. By the way I was still hungry after spending $500. I am not even a big eater. There are close to 30000 restaurants in NYC. There is no reason to have bad food or experiences. Cheers.
Exotic and vivid Lebanon restaurant
I visited this interesting Lebanon restaurant for a group dinner. It was very crowded, suggestive of good quality. A bit dim inside, but with atmosphere of hospitality. We ordered quite a few dishes, accompanied with puffed pancake. The flavor was typical middle-east. I enjoyed eggplant, Brussel spouts, and prawns. The server was very kind and enthusiastic. Worth a try.
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