Lillo Cucina Italiana
Italian restaurant · Cobble Hill
331 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Highlights
Authentic Roman pasta, cash-only trattoria with cozy seating
Authentic Roman pasta, cash-only trattoria with cozy seating
"Going to an Italian restaurant doesn’t have to mean spending $35 on three noodles. If you just breathed a sigh of relief, pay a visit to Cobble Hill’s Lillo Cucina, where almost everything is under $20, and it’s all excellent. The tiny, walk-in-only spot doesn’t sell alcohol or have a bathroom, but it makes up for it in free bread, and a recommendation for the best carbonara in Rome from Lillo himself. (Priceless.) Order tender artichokes swimming in olive oil, and saucy rigatoni alla gricia with crispy chunks of guanciale. And the tiramisu." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, tiffany yannetta
"Some of the pasta on this list comes in tiny bowls and will cost you approximately $10 per noodle. But for a steamy overflowing plate of something that tastes like it came out of a home kitchen, go to Lillo Cucina in Cobble Hill. Chef-owner Giampietro “Lillo” Remia greets guests, tells them where to find the best cacio e pepe in Rome, and delivers saucy rigatoni alla gricia, with a heavy hand on the parmesan." - willa moore, bryan kim, neha talreja, carlo mantuano
"Inside this Cobble Hill restaurant, you’ll find six tables, 17 seats, and one man who runs the show. His nickname is Lillo, and he works his way around the dining room, greeting guests, taking orders, and recommending a spot in Rome that makes the very best carbonara in the world. You might wonder how a place like this—cash-only, no bathroom, no alcohol—even exists. But once you taste Lillo’s beautifully simple dishes (almost all under $20), like sauteed artichokes swimming in olive oil, and a saucy rigatoni alla gricia, you'll understand why it's been going strong since 2017. Get a heap of tiramisu before leaving." - sonal shah, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, will hartman, willa moore, bryan kim, will hartman, bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, sonal shah, will hartman, neha talreja, neha talreja, sonal shah
"Lillo Cucino Italiana has been reviewed, raved about, Instagrammed, and TikTok’d: Somehow, it still feels like a hidden gem. Part of that is because of the owner, Giampietro “Lillo” Remia, who will probably take your order and make your pasta, too. He’s known for his traditional, unfussy Italian food: cacio e pepe, chicken Milanese, and tiramisu. The place is teeny — about 15 seats (no bathroom) — and it doesn’t take reservations. Cash only." - Robert Sietsema
"The tiny Italian restaurant is run by one man, who will take your order, close the curtain when the sun starts getting into your eyes, and then bring you soft artichokes swimming in olive oil, and a rigatoni alla gricia that tastes homemade, but better. Be warned: Lillo Cucina is cash-only, has no bathroom, and doesn't serve alcohol. But Long Island Bar is approximately 150 feet away, for a nightcap (and a bathroom). " - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman
