🌊✨ Lebanese Cuisine by the Lake in DC: ilili ✨🍽️

📍 ilili DC Appetizers 1️⃣ Hummus: Chickpea paste with olive oil—a classic Mediterranean side dish perfect for pairing with veggies or meat. 2️⃣ Pita Bread/Pocket Bread: Served puffed up like a balloon, it’s actually a thin, paper-like bread. Fill it with meat and veggies—it’s a famous Lebanese dish and so fun to eat! 3️⃣ Bone Marrow: Unlike other places, this one tops the roasted bone marrow with tuna, cutting through the richness. Pair it with the pocket bread—delicious! Main Courses 🐙 Octopus: The octopus is perfectly tender with a spicy kick. The crispy strips on top add texture, and the mint leaves lighten the dish. 🦆 Duck Shawarma: The duck skin is crispy, while the meat inside is tender and fatty. Served with veggies and mini pocket bread, it’s like eating Peking duck—don’t miss it if you love duck! 🍖 Mixed Grill: Includes lamb, chicken, beef, and lamb leg. I only tried the beef and lamb—the lamb was gamey, and my friends said the chicken and lamb leg were dry and overly salty. Not recommended. Dessert 🍮 Mouhalabiyeh: A Mediterranean version of double-skin milk pudding. Rich and creamy, topped with crushed pistachios—my friends loved it! Except for the Mixed Grill, everything else was delicious. As someone who hasn’t always loved Mediterranean food, this was a pleasant surprise. The service and ambiance were great, and you can take a lakeside stroll after your meal. 🌅 #DCFood #ilili #WashingtonDCEats #LebaneseCuisine #DCFoodie #DCRestaurants #DCDateSpot #ExploreDC