Ilili is by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The ambiance is perfect and the food is absolutely authentic and delicious. The chef is Lebanese and I have taken my friends from Beirut here and they agree!
They have a large bar and lounge area so it is perfect to meet for drinks. They also have a great happy hour with specials on food and drinks. While it is not on the happy hour menu, you must try the not-so-bloody Bloody Mary. They strain the tomato juice so you get all the flavor without the thickness. The bites on the menu are all delicious, however my favorites are the cheese rolls and mini falafel.
It's best to go with a large group and order Lebanese style. Everything is so tasty, you will want to order multiple dishes and share. And no matter what, you must order the brussels sprouts. Once you do, you will be addicted.
They opened Ilili Box just North of The Flatiron Building and you can get a select number of their menu items as take-out. Thankfully, the brussels sprouts made the cut!