ilili

ilili Restaurant Review:

Set in the Flatiron District in a chic high-ceilinged room bedecked with wood, ilili is a near anomaly. Until it swung open its doors in late 2007, Lebanese food was mostly available via take-out counters and vending carts sprinkled throughout the city. But chef-owner Philippe Massoud, who previously manned the stoves at Georgetown’s Neyla, is taking the cuisine to new heights, synthesizing traditional Lebanese cuisine with modern flair. Meze, or appetizers, consist of creamy hummus, chunky baba ghanouj, and savory Brussels sprouts with fried grapes, fig purée, walnuts and mint. Citrus trout with orange tahini and smoked almonds is worth the visit alone. Other dishes such as seared lamb chops with zaatar salsa verde and semolina gnocchi with yogurt, pine nuts and orange zest will tantalize your taste buds enough to ensure a return to this Flatiron southern Mediterranean oasis.