ilili DC | A Culinary Journey Through Lebanese Flavors 🇱🇧

This Lebanese restaurant located in District Square caught our attention with its exquisite decor and unique exotic ambiance. Our first foray into Middle Eastern cuisine brought many delightful surprises! 🦆 Duck Shawarma 3.5/5 ❤️❤️❤️ As a hot appetizer, the aroma of roasted duck paired wonderfully with soft pita bread. The duck was perfectly roasted, and the combination with sweet and sour pomegranate seeds was memorable. The special sauce, with its passionfruit-like freshness, perfectly balanced the richness of the duck. It reminded us of the wonderful combination of Peking duck with sugar – definitely a must-try! 🐮 Bone Marrow 2.5/5 ❤️❤️ While completely free of gaminess, the bone marrow portion was rather small, and its flavor was overshadowed by the pomegranate seeds and beef tartare. The bitter greens at the bottom were difficult to enjoy as a salad. Overall an average dish. 🍇 Lamb Stuffed Grape Leaves 2/5 ❤️❤️ The name suggested plump lamb, but in reality, the meat only appeared in minced form in the broth. The strong leaf flavor and salty-sour taste dominated the dish, with the lamb aroma almost undetectable. Not quite what our Chinese palates were expecting. 🍫 Chocolate Arak Sorbet 3.5/5 ❤️❤️❤️ A stunning dessert! The combination of traditional Middle Eastern arak and chocolate created a unique, rich texture, with a fine consistency reminiscent of red bean paste – a perfect ending to the meal. 💡 Dining Tips Average cost: $45-60 per person Recommend trying more meat-based main courses Elegant restaurant atmosphere, great for photos Suggest reserving window seats in advance While the overall value may not be outstanding, as an introduction to Lebanese cuisine, it certainly provides a good starting point. Next time, we might try their mixed grill platter – we believe it will bring more surprises! #LebaneseCuisine #DMVFoodDiary #InternationalFlavors #DCFoodGuide #WashingtonDC