ilili DC
Lebanese restaurant · Waterfront ·
Lebanese cuisine with modern meze in a garden-inspired space
Lebanese cuisine with modern meze in a garden-inspired space
"Head on down to the Wharf for a Lebanese feast this year. The family-style prix fixe menu ($95 per person) features festive dishes like sumac-rubbed whole turkey breast with cranberry-pomegranate chutney and Lebanese seven-spiced braised beef short ribs served with freekeh pilaf and roasted vegetables. Not exactly traditional, but think of it as a fun opportunity to enjoy Thanksgiving through a Mediterranean lens." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"At The Wharf, this stylish Lebanese restaurant channels the culture of an old home in Beirut with blue floor tiles and hand-embroidered upholstery sourced from Lebanese artisans, glass walls that open to a courtyard anchored by a burbling limestone fountain wreathed by citrus trees, and a menu that takes nostalgic Lebanese flavors and gives them a modern twist: classic mezze sit alongside playful riffs like hummus topped with Maryland crab-falafel, smoked beets with whipped labneh and burrata, duck shawarma to tuck into pita pillows, and Bluefin tuna nayyeh with pomegranate broth, cured cherry plumcots, and smoked jalapeño. Communal dining guides the experience with large-format platters such as a mixed grill of chicken shish taouk, beef kebab, kafta, and lamb chops served with Lebanese salsa verde, lemon, toum, and harissa." - Layla Khoury-Hanold
"When you look around at this huge upscale Lebanese restaurant, the walls and ceiling will bring to mind a Mondrian painting, and you'll notice that an entire bowling lane (or two) could probably fit into the dining room. There's also a very long bar, and it's a great place to enjoy some arak alongside fattoush and duck shawarma. Come here when you know you'll have a large party, or when the headcount for an outing unexpectedly triples." - sonal shah, bryan kim, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, carina finn koeppicus
"Ilili is one of the city’s most beautiful restaurants—and the Lebanese food isn’t half-bad if you know what to order. Lush green vines and cages full of light-up birds hang around the glass-enclosed restaurant. Hand-painted Mediterranean tiles line the floor and in the middle of the dining room a stone water fountain trickles softly. Families and friends pull out their Sunday best to celebrate graduations and job promotions, but we like the Wharf spot for a romantic night out. Ditch the small plates and order the mixed grill, a combination platter big enough to share that includes chicken shish taouk, wagyu beef kebab, kafta, and lamb chops, all charred to perfection. And for dessert, get the toasted, honeyed knafe over the Ilili candy bar, no matter how much your waiter pesters you." - tristiana hinton, omnia saed, mekita rivas, allison robicelli
"This glass walled restaurant is one of the only reasons locals venture to the tourist-crowded Wharf, and eating at the plant-filled spot before a show at the Anthem or Arena Stage is always a good idea. We like to make a meal out of Ilili’s cold and warm mezze, ordering plates of traditional hindbeh and chankleesh along with citrusy olives and nutty mouhamara for the table. You’ll want to try at least two pours from their robust Lebanese wine list, perhaps starting with a Lebanese take on a blanc de blanc before moving on to a fuller cab sauv." - madeline weinfield