ilili Restaurant Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The traditional Lebanese dishes including the hummus and beef Schwarma were fresh, flavorful and absolutely delicious."
• "The pistachio baclava was excellent."
• "The lamb shank was good and also very shareable - has plenty of vegetables inside."
• "The food is simply amazing, probably the best Lebanese food I’ve ever tried, in or outside of Lebanon."
• "The lamb ribs were so fall apart tender, juicy, with a smokey spiced flavor."
• "The food was beyond delicious. Everything was so flavourful we totally enjoyed the dinner."
• "Everything from the ambiance to the service and table positioning was very intentional and added to the overall experience."

Cons:

• "The mix grill was ok for me because the chicken was somewhat dry."
• "The Phoenician Fries... Another let down. They look amazing! Room temp and soggy..."
• "We got the Knafe and Turkish coffee for desserts and both were underwhelming."
• "The chicken was dry and the taste was average."
• "But I was disappointed by the cauliflower/hummus dish mainly because we got 3 florets of cauliflower for the $16 dish."
• "The falafel wrap was bad. The sauce did not taste good."
• "The food was not tasty at all."

Service

Pros:

• "With exceptional servers such as Chris, I would definitely recommend ilili to anyone looking for lovely dinner out in NYC."
• "Our server was an absolute delight!"
• "The staff and waiters are so friendly and inviting, they truly care about their customers."
• "The service was excellent and all our dishes were delicious."
• "Service was engaging, warm and well-informed throughout."
• "Our server Lubna was very attentive, informative, pleasant and genuine!"
• "The service was spectacular."

Cons:

• "Service was quite slow and the cocktails were disappointing."
• "We felt extremely rushed. Reservation at 10pm and the staff wanted us out by 10:45."
• "Service: I thought the service was fine. Nothing extraordinary, but still good."
• "The server took 12 minutes to get me food menu and take my wine order."
• "Service and Food were great BUT. My gf and I BOTH got food poisoning the next day."
• "I just didn't like that the waiter brought the bill with the desert 😕, as we wish to finish quickly and get out!"
• "Customer service is rude, and it is a money grabbing restaurant where the customer is the last one."

Ambience

Pros:

• "The interior space is absolutely stunning with sky high vaulted ceilings and vintage lighting."
• "Amazing selection of beautifully prepared Lebanese dishes in a classy environment."
• "Atmosphere was wonderfully buzzy for a Sunday evening in NoMad. Lively without precluding conversation."
• "The atmosphere was absolutely indulgent and romantic."
• "Ambience is warm and cozy. lot's of wood and mirrors."
• "The high ceilings and beautiful bar and lounge is very nice atmosphere."
• "Loved the ambience."

Cons:

• "It was a bit loud for fine dining."
• "It’s a little stuffy inside, not really a ‘chill’ vibe but it was a good experience."
• "The air was thick with a sense of despair. the service was not servicing, the Atmosphere was depressing."
• "The big problem here is the noise."
• "The dining area is a little loud so at a large round table, it can be a little difficult to hear each other."
• "Can be a bit loud if you’re looking to have a conversation with your company."
• "The spacing/ amount of tables could be improved since this place is pretty closed and the current setup can make the guests a little claustrophobic."

Value

Pros:

• "Our dinner was excellent and we enjoyed the food and service as well as the reasonable prices for such a good location."
• "The food here is at par with the local taste and everyone who likes Mediterranean food must try this place."
• "This place is worth the price and the hype."
• "It's worth the price- taste and portion wise."
• "Great place, nice vibes, worth the money."
• "Highly recommend great value for money."
• "Everything served was delicious."

Cons:

• "The dishes are on the pricier side."
• "The fish was a Branzino that was somewhat overpriced for the size."
• "What holds me back from giving 5 stars is how small the portions are considering the prices that you pay."
• "The mixed grill was also pretty tasty though a bit expensive for the value of food."
• "Wine is was totally overpriced."
• "Food can get pricy here but if you're looking for a fine dining establishment beyond steak/sushi - this is a great choice."
• "Good middle eastern dishes with some creative takes but nothing to justify the high prices."