Ilili Restaurants

ilili means "tell me" in colloquial Lebanese, and this phrase has many nuances: It's a whisper between two friends, an invitation to share a secret and a proclamation to get the conversation started. For our guests, "tell me" means listening to and understanding each of their stories while creating new ones with them - ones of celebration, sharing, long held traditions and new beginnings. For our employees, it means tell me who you are, and who you hope to be. It means seeing more in them than they do themselves, helping them to realize the great things they can accomplish, and giving them the tools to get there together. Every dish at ilili has it's own story from the traditional recipes direct from Lebanon, to modern updates that tell the history of our team, of our cooks and chefs who have left their mark on our kitchen, and our serving staff and managers who have been ambassadors of hospitality. Our menu is never done - we find inspiration all around, in new ingredients, new approaches, and fresh takes on old standards. At the heart of our philosophy is the Middle Eastern definition of hospitality: Generosity. Within the Middle Eastern culture how well one treats his or her guests is a direct measurement of what kind of a person he or she is. Generosity is among the most highly admired of virtues. Indeed, Middle Eastern families judge themselves and each other according to the amount of generosity they bestow upon their guests when they entertain. Whether one's guests are relatives, friends, neighbors, or relative strangers, they are welcomed into the home and to the dinner table with much the same kindness and generosity.