ILDA
Southern Italian restaurant · Sylva ·
Appalachian-Italian fusion, craft cocktails, seasonal dishes
Appalachian-Italian fusion, craft cocktails, seasonal dishes
"The dim, romantic atmosphere of Ilda cocoons customers as they contemplate the Italian-meets-Appalachian menu from chef Santiago Guzzetti. Seasonal plates, like the prosciutto and snap pea salad with bacon fat ranch, keep the menu fresh, but some classics always stick around, like Karen’s meatballs, an ode to Guzzetti’s mother-in-law and his wife, Crystal Pace. More nods to Western North Carolina can be seen in dishes like the green casarecce with ramp pesto and rabbit or the trout brodetto. If you sit at the bar, chat up co-owner Antoine Maurice Hodge about his latest cocktail creations." - Erin Perkins
"A downtown dining option singled out among the town’s many restaurants for its place in the local culinary mix, making it a recommended stop on Main Street." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A reliably romantic dinner destination that worked perfectly for a summer date night, delivering a memorable multi-course evening for two." - Eater Staff
"A celebrated restaurant (named Eater Carolinas Mountain Restaurant of the Year) from a hometown duo that blends Appalachian ingredients with Italian technique — standout dishes include a frito mixto with shrimp and frog’s legs, gnoccho frito served with Southern red-eye gravy, and Karen’s Meatballs; house-made pastas such as the mafaldini with lamb bolognese are generous enough for sharing. The program is rounded out by an unusually deep selection of Italian wines curated by one owner and creative, globally influenced cocktails crafted by a dedicated mixologist, with examples like a cardamom-forward Tamarind Toddy and a tropical, mezcal-tinged Mystic Muse." - Matt Lardie
"I’m excited for small-town restaurants to get recognition, like Ilda in Sylva." - Eater Staff
