ilili Restaurant Review

We were visitors from Virginia today. We ordered Kafta Kebab that we got to find four trifle pieces of finger fried ground beef with tiny vegtebaltes as big as two tablespoons as a side. No extra bread or rice was surved. When asked for some bread got charged on the check. Let alone the taste. We got charged for $74.00 while the price for each was $26! Stay away.

After spending a wonderful weekend in NYC celebrating my husbands birthday we were excited to try Ilili. The place looked beautiful, however we were seated upstairs in a very small dimmed lighted area which neither represented the restaurant we walked into or felted the ambiance of a nice restaurant. Best described as a tent or extra space badly decorated. We then waiting 15-20 for a waiter. Food was ok, service was not good, no fault of the waiter, he was probably waiting on way too many tables, he would disappear for long periods of time. I ordered some hot sauce which was then charged to our billed (strange) when I asked why the hot sauce was charged he said he would removed it... ok
The restaurant was fully aware we were there celebrating my husbands birthday. When the dessert arrived there was no mention or a candle... this tipped the iceberg and I was quite upset with the whole experience. I spoke to the manager who tried to diffuse it with some free drinks at the bar and said I should have said something during the dinner. Honestly I wasn t trying not to cause a fuss, but wanted the restaurant to be aware this is not acceptable for any couple wanting a good experience especially during a celebration that they were fully aware off!! I am trying not to let this ruin the weekend but it s hard not to get upset, we will not be returning or recommending this restaurant.

Fantastic food. It was our first night in new york and we had a booked a table here prior to departure. We have never tried lebanese food before and at first glance of the menu were in danger of ordering something we were comfortable with. The waitress came over and asked if we had any questions and we asked for suggestions. She was very helpful explained all the dishes and made some excellent suggestions. We left very happy and although we refused desert, due to be being a bit greedy when ordering, we were presented with an amazing chocolate grenache. So we rolled back to the hotel :-D

Best Lebanese cuisine in town! They also do have happy hour daily on weekdays from 4:30 - 7:30 pm at the bar and lounge where drinks are half price and they have some good items at discounted price but with the same amazing taste.

Went yesterday to try their new feature which is lunch at the bar from 12 pm till 3 pm for a prix fife of 19$. You can t go wrong with such a great deal.
The menu offers three starters (fattoush salad, hummus and pickled vegetables) followed by one of choice of main dishes and one selection of two side dishes and one selection of desserts (please see pictured menu). It comes in a two courses starting with appetizers first with warm pita bread. Everything is delicious and the portions are just what you not to feel stuffed but satisfy your hunger.
The halewe parfait which is pictured is a great addition to the menu and it is really tasty.
If it gets busier around lunch time would suggest extending the deal to the lounge area.
Great job as usual ilili. Never fails to impress.

Amazing food and service, we did have to wait 20 mins for our table despite booking.

Delicious flavors, but small portions for the price. Bar staff and hosts were friendly and accommodating to our large group of 8 diners. Eggplant starter was delicious along with the fatoosh salad. Our waiter however was rather rude and seemed like he'd rather be elsewhere, but we didn't let that spoil the experience.

High end, fine dinning with great service and delicious food. Little pricey but worth visiting.

Amazing Lebanese food! Tastes extremely authentic. The decor inside is apparently all cedar trees imported from Lebanon. You should absolutely check this place out.

Probably the best Lebanese food ever and I was born and raised in Lebanon!!! You have to get the duck shawarma and the Atayef. Honestly their Mezza is the best thing to eat there but I do like their steak kabob for main dish. Pricey but worth every single penny. I would eat there everyday if I could.

Very busy for a late reservation.. tried to check-in early but that was not possible due to volume of people. Very loud by the waiting area. Once we were seated there was good service, the appetizers were great but the main meal (mix grill) was very poorly cooked and gamey. This was very very disappointing given the reviews and typically what you wouldn t get from a high end restaurant. The quality of middle eastern cuisine was far below many other less expensive places you can eat at in the city. For that way too pricy for the experience, would 100% recommend trying another place!

Different and good kind of Mediterranean fusion food. Better to reserve a table before going.

Very good Mediterranean food with good vegetarian options.

Absolutely fantastic! The restaurant itself has a great decor - if I have one critique it s that the dining area is a little loud so at a large round table, it can be a little difficult to hear each other. Stand out dishes were the falafel, duck shawarma, moussaka and mixed grill (garlic whip trio is out of this world). Would definitely recommend coming here!

a bit overpriced for average Mediterranean food.
Some tables in the restaurant were way too close together

I have been to this place from literally soft opening day and they continue to have an excellent take on Lebanese food.

They have a large outdoor seating area and the large indoor area they have they can tables truly socially distant.

The reason for 4 rather than 5 stars is that in the past 4 years I have yet to visit and not get a dismissive attitude from the hostesses. This is not one hostess however a general approach. (Last visit Oct 2020)I have ignored it all this time since the waiters and the rest are nice and I truly like this place however I will not be heading back until I hear from someone s that this has changed. I truly hope the easy fix is implemented soon.

Ilili is my go to for Mediterranean food in Manhattan. It has more than enough choice for vegetarians and the jalapeno hummus has fans regardless of dietary preferences. It obviously is a little pricey but the quality of food should leave you feeling that your money is well spent.

Excellent Lebanese food!
Everything we had was solid.
Service is very good for a place this busy.

One thing we did not get a picture of was the mini pancake sandwiches. Probably the BEST THING WE ATE.
Highly recommended.

lebanese food... transformed. the chef brings traditional food past the 21st century and well into the 22nd. meals that are typically served with a yogurt liquid base come with a foam instead. a for creativity but the food is neither authentic, nor particularly tantalizing.

Yum yum for your tum tum. Don't miss out on some amazing Lebanese inspired food.

Chic ambience and good food. The octopus salad is a must.

The food there is scrumptious and absolutely delicious but the fries are way too salty but overall it s pretty good,I recommend buying them but make sure to tell your waiter if you want less salt and also some of the meat is flavorless but I do recommend the chicken,it s very flavorful.

Fantastic food made with high quality ingredients you can taste. I would get a handful of appetizers and share them with the table.

I have been here three times! The food is superb! The dinner staff is a bit more knowledgeable than the lunch staff.

great mediterranean restaurant with tons of vegetarian options. Great wine

Ilili serves fancy Lebanese. And that means hummus with optional lobster and tuna tartare with harissa. There are a lot of Mediterranean small plates as well as the sort of mains you d expect to see in a steakhouse. The dining room is luxurious and feels like something you d find in Midtown - high ceilings, moody lighting, and big tables. Use it for a business meeting.

Interesting take on Mediterranean food. Loved the duck shwarma. Service was a bit hurried which felt unnecessary and is why I gave it 4 stars.

Good Libanese food and nice location. Ask for a table at the 1st floor which is much nicer than the 2nd

They have pretty decent cocktails, nothing amazing. The food is good. I came here several times, once during regular dinner hours. Our service was quite exceptional. The food was really good. The second time was during their pride party. It was great they did a little something for pride and we were able to see the floats line up for the parade. They decked out the restaurant with flags and such, but didn't offer any discounts. Their prices are fairly steep for what you get in my opinion. C'est la Manhattan.

I went here during NYC s restaurant week, and enjoyed everything I ordered. I went with 3 other people and we essentially got to try every appetizer (small plate) on the menu - everything was tasty! The service was very good too, being very flexible with someone at the table who has dairy and nut allergies.

Superb food, extraordinary! Eating here, however, will damage your hearing - it is excruciatingly loud, which ruins everythng.

Food was good, but WAY overpriced with very small portions. After being at the table for less than 2 hours and paying the bill, we were asked to leave (presumably by a manager) because another person was waiting for the table. Never again...

I had a chilli syrup melon ball garnished martini which was divine! The food was flavorful and the portions were just right. I sampled a lot: Hommus, Falafel, Hindbeh, Batata, Chicken Livers with Labne, Fattoush. The falafel was square and very soft. Batata had a bit more salt than necessary but the spices were wonderful. The restaurant is a bit loud but thankfully you don't have to shout. Other than that it is worth a second visit.

Bad service and very expensive restaurant in comparison with the food !

I removed a star since it is a bit expensive but every bite is worh every penny. The lebanese mediterranean cuisine revisited brings in all the good flavors.

Went for restaurant week. So good! The fava/chickpea felafel were outstanding - light and crispy.

Was excited to try Ilili...however was underwhelmed by the entire experience. The food was mediocre at best, and the server was inattentive. So sad.

Great food and decor. The falafel was excellent. Lamb burger is a great lunch dish. Will definitely be back.

Amazing! The French fries with their dipping sauce was insanely good. My lamb dish could ve been more flavorful. But, everyone else s meals were on point.

Amazing food and nice atmosphere, relaxed if you don't sit at a table

Excellent food, well calibrated service, wonderfully appointed space, and good value

Always good food, atmosphere and service! Recommend!

Don't believe the hype! I have tried other Lebanese places in the city that are a lot better and a lot more reasonably priced. While some of the dishes we tried at ilili were good- particularly the Kibeh naye- the falafel and the kefta were very sub par. In addition the portions were very small and the prices unreasonable. We ordered a side of French fries which was just enough for one person and were charged $12! It wouldn't have been so bad if the service was good, but the ambience is cold and impersonal. Would not recommend.

Awesome food, attentive and friendly staff and great setting. A little too loud for a romantic date but perfect for groups.

great cocktails. Food was delicious especially the lamb chop is a must. The falafel appetizer was very tasty as well as the hummous.

Awesome food, ambiance and great service. Great for wine and dine. Perfect for date and office party. Reservations are recommended

Excellent Lebanese food and very good atmosphere. A good place to feel the rhythm of the local night life, well decorated and very lively in the main room. Maybe too noisy and somewhat lonely in la.segunda plant. But highly recommended.

Above and beyond dining experience. We ate outside during COVID and the staff was super hospitable and attentive. Pricing is very fair for quality of service and dishes!! Cleanliness and hygiene was also very thorough (temp checks, masks, contact tracing). Overall amazing experience and will definitely be returning!

I visited during restaurant week a couple weeks ago. Amazing value for delicious food. We were able to try a variety of things. Hummus, Fattoush, Cauliflower with Labneh, fresh-made pita, kebabs, gnocchi...it was all incredible. It's left me with a craving for it all, and sadly, I live nowhere near NYC. The next time I'm back I'll certainly make a visit.

Loud as a train station with all the bustle. And yet cold. A menu that is full of promise which is seldom fulfilled because the tastes are crude after party tastes as far away from Beirut as Chipotle is from Mexico. Avoid the walnut sprouts and go down the road to Barbounia for humus because this one is way too citrus. But fries to die for and so deeply fried that you might.

Oh my yum. This Mediterranean restaurant was so delicious and hit all of the right spots.

I came here for lunch and had their $25 prefix lunch (which ended up being $29 prefix because of the $4 supplement for my meal), which I thought was a great deal. For my appetizer I had lentil soup and for my main course I had a lamb burger with beef. The portion size is excellent and although I was full after my appetizer my main was too good to put down so I finished both plates. They even did the vegetables right - both juicy and delicious!

The atmosphere was great too and they had a good sized crowd. Additionally, it was clean and the wait staff was friendly.

I'd definitely eat here again!

Good food and fantastic service!
John took care of our table and he had great recommendations
We tried the octopus, shrimp, lamb chops and trout
All was very tasty

Succulent! a little expensive but the quality is there. We want more. Very friendly service too.

Very classy, romantic place. Fairly quiet. The food is tasty and intriguing, I'd recommend splitting several small plates with your companion, along with a bottle of Arak.

The food was tasty and service was proper. The best thing about Ilili is its ambience. The place is where to be seen.

Best Lebanese food in the city, excellent services and staff, right on 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District. The traditional mezzah and entrees always have a pleasant, modern twist. Highly recommend their kibbeh nayyeh!

I came here for nyc restaurant week and let me just tell you...it was unforgettable. It s been two years since then and I still remember how delicious everything tasted as well as the immaculate decor and ambiance.

Beautiful decor and layout inside the restaurant as well as a comfortable and modern environment. The service was very prompt and appropriate. The menu is an exciting and colorful array of fresh dishes exploring a diverse range of flavors and techniques. The dandelion greens elicited an incredible savory and rich flavor and the falafel was light and airy with the delicious chickpea background often masked. The traditional Lebanese dishes including the hummus and beef Schwarma were fresh, flavorful and absolutely delicious. Overall was a good value for the experience and would go back on a heartbeat.

Went for lunch as part of the restaurant week last summer. The food was great, full-flavored with interesting combinations of spices, but service very poor for such an upscale place. They brought main dishes prior to the appetizer (!), and we (including our little baby) had to wait for the "second round" more than 20 minutes. The staff didn't apologize. Then they made a mistake when making the bill (which would result in us paying more than we should), again, with no apology and rather condescending reaction from the server's side. I understand it was a busy time for the staff, but that's no excuse for such an attitude.

Decor is beautiful, service is wonderfully professional and tactful. No pressure to order quickly or leave quickly. Music was present but not at all intrusive. Wine list well organized and presented a number of international choices not regularly seen. However it was uniformly overpriced. Presentation was simple but elegant. Food was tasty and satisfying. I did not think the Lamb Cigars had anything to recommend them. Food prices were also high. A pleasant dining experience but I doubt I will return.

Very expensive for what it is and besides I did not like very much. I do not recommend it.

Very good place, food, service and atmosphere of first

Very impressive and beautiful restaurant, usually hard to find and especially for a large group, in case we managed to order the day before and did not make a difference, was very tasty, the starters and main course were very tasty, highly recommended

Brunch was good, but portions we're tiny. Waitress was not attentive. Too expensive for what it was.

I mean, this is a NICE restaurant. Friendly folks, luxurious bathrooms, good menu - but too expensive and tight for me. Was here with project team that s working in NYC. Almost $400 for 4 person dinner plus drinks.

Beautiful atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food.

Fantastic food and service! Great vegetarian options and our server, Alex, was extremely helpful and gave us some amazing recommendations all of which were delicious! Highly recommend and if you get Alex as your server, ask him to make you his special Manhattan cocktail - it's a must have!

Pricey but delicious. Great for groups.

Unique Middle Eastern small plates. Try the steak tartar app with crudites, mixed grill, the cote de boeuf. Yum!

Upscale Mediterranean restaurant in Manhattan with a nice lounge too!!

Place is clean and has nice ambiance. Food was okay. I enjoyed my dining.