ilili Midtown

I know ilili from their other restaurant and I was blown away at the interior design and atmosphere of the new midtown location. The food is always amazing at ilili, with fresh vegetables and dishes that have bright bold flavors. But the new midtown location has an upscale vibe that makes me feel like I’m in Lebanon. The wall mural is iconic. I need to come back to sit and have a drink at the bar. Bravo

I’ve been to the DC location several times, but I wanted to try their new Midtown spot while visiting for the holidays. The space is beautiful and the vibes were exactly what you want for a night out in the city. Warm, lively, and polished without feeling stiff. Joan took incredible care of us and made the night even better. Her recommendations were spot on, from the food to the drinks, and she made everything feel effortless and thoughtful. You can really tell when someone knows the menu and genuinely wants you to have a great time. The food was excellent, flavorful, balanced, and perfect for sharing. Overall, it felt like a place you want to come back to, whether for a celebration or just a really good dinner. Highly recommend ilili Midtown and definitely ask for Joan if you can.

Stunning space for the new location of an old favorite. They have new modern Lebanese inspired dishes in addition to their classics. The whole branzino must have been 6 lbs?? Quite enjoyed wrapping everything in their hot fresh pita. Really liked the tuna Crudo! Knafeh and milk pudding with candied orange peel is not to be missed.

This spot hits the “spots.” Great Lebanese restaurant that offers sumptuous, delicious plates. Very good mixed meat grills, beef kibbeh, and batata harra! All tasty and leaves no plate unfinished. Great service too.

Bring your clients, your date, your friends and family. Relax and enjoy the time here, the attentive staff will take care of everything you need. They are knowledgeable, unified, and attuned to every table. Food is traditionally rooted, citrusy and spiced just enough to crave for the next mezze dish coming. From your arrival to your exit, catch the smiles from the staff and their well wishes.

The staff here were the most nicest and SWEEEEEEEEEEETEST PEOPLE I’ve met! Made me feel so special on my birthday! Food was so bomb too! (Mixed grill) I’ll be back yall 💕💕💕💕

Wow I can’t even express how amazing it was to eat here. They just opened this location so decided to come for my birthday and it was PERFECT! The food was so delicious, the drinks were amazing, and the staff were so attentive. I can’t wait to come back again.

Went here on Monday night 12/22/25 and everything was excellent. The food was great but what made the experience 20 times better was our server Esmeralda. She was so knowledgeable and so welcoming; truly exceptional service!

Tried ilili from a friend's recommendation. I was told this location opened up on Nov 7,2025. It's located in midtown east inside the Hugh dining hall on the upper level. My reservation at the NoMad location was switched to this location due to an issue in the kitchen with a broken fume hood. This location is beautiful inside. The bulk of my good review relates to the quality service which was marvelous for the following reasons: - staff remembered my name - Coat check service - accommodated my preferences to switch from regular table to the bar instead because I wanted somewhere more quiet. It was very busy with lots of diners so there's quite a din and chatter in the main dining area. - shoutout to Mike the bartender who helped make my dining experience personal and fun. I should've have went with his recommendations for the chankleesh, which brings me to the topic of the food because I don't think I picked the right dishes for me. Keep in mind I only got 2 dishes from the Classic Mezza because I was told this is the more authentic OG dishes. - the moussaka was arranged in a like a big rose in round fish. The eggplant was sliced perfectly thin and tender. Not mushy or raw. Perfect tender slivers. The flavor is light; maybe a bit too light for me as I prefer umami and a bit more salinity. - then the mekanek which is sautéed lamb sausage topped with pine nuts and drenched in lemon sauce. When I say drenched I mean the lemon sauce was too sour and overpowering. I like the oaky flavor that pine nuts usually add to a dish but that was drowned out by the very tart sauce. This wasn't the dish for me. Overall I felt for me this was an overrated recommendation. The only redeeming factor was the good service and staff.