Ilios Noche — Restaurant in Charlotte

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Ilios Noche, a restaurant that promises a blend of Mediterranean flavors and modern culinary flair. My experience was a mix of delightful service and atmosphere, albeit with some room for improvement in the culinary department. Here’s an in-depth look at my evening.

Food: 3 Stars The food at Ilios Noche, while presented beautifully and in generous portions, fell short of the culinary excellence I was hoping for.

• Hummus ‘Revithiasalata’ ($8.00): The hummus was visually appealing, garnished with warm spices and crispy garlic. However, it lacked the depth of flavor that one might expect from a Mediterranean staple. The consistency was smooth, but the seasoning was somewhat underwhelming, failing to deliver the robust, earthy taste I anticipated. • Capellini with Sea Scallops ($35.95): This dish showcased plump sea scallops nestled atop a bed of delicate capellini pasta. The inclusion of pancetta, white wine, garlic, and lemon provided a fragrant aroma. However, the flavors did not meld as harmoniously as expected. While the scallops were perfectly seared, the dish overall lacked a memorable punch, leaving me wishing for a more pronounced zest from the lemon and garlic. • Crazy Lasagna ($24.95): A creative take on lasagna, this dish featured free-form layers of pappardelle pasta enveloped in a rich three-meat Bolognese sauce, topped with molten mozzarella. While hearty and satisfying, the lasagna could have benefited from a more robust seasoning. The Bolognese was flavorful, yet it missed that extra touch of Italian herbs that could elevate the dish to a truly remarkable level. • Lemon & Olive Oil Crème Brûlée “Galaktoboureko” ($10.00): This dessert was a visual delight, pairing a silky lemon-olive oil crème brûlée with a moist lemon-olive oil cake and a refreshing lemon sorbet. Despite its promising components, the dessert was merely average in taste. The brûlée had a nice caramelized crust but lacked the vibrant lemon flavor that I was hoping would shine through. • Aphrodite Cocktail ($16.00): The Aphrodite cocktail was a highlight, blending Smirnoff vodka and St. Elderflower with blackberry and lemon juice. The drink was well-balanced, offering a perfect harmony of sweetness and tartness, with the elderflower providing a delightful floral note.

Service: 5 Stars The service at Ilios Noche was nothing short of exceptional. Our server, Hannah, was a consummate professional. Her friendly demeanor and in-depth knowledge of the menu made our dining experience truly special. Hannah’s recommendations were on point, and her attentive service ensured that our glasses were never empty and our needs were promptly met. It’s rare to find such a perfect blend of efficiency and warmth in service staff, and Hannah exemplified these qualities perfectly.

Atmosphere: 5 Stars The atmosphere at Ilios Noche is where the restaurant truly excels. The interior design is a modern masterpiece, combining sleek lines with warm, inviting elements. The lighting is perfectly tuned to create an intimate dining environment, making it ideal for both romantic dinners and relaxed gatherings with friends. The open kitchen concept adds a dynamic element to the dining experience, allowing guests to witness the culinary artistry in action. The wine display is a standout feature, adding an air of sophistication and offering a visual feast of its own.

Overall: While the culinary experience at Ilios Noche had its highs and lows, the outstanding service and enchanting atmosphere make it a venue worth visiting. If you’re looking for a dining spot that offers impeccable service and a chic, inviting ambiance, Ilios Noche should be on your list. The food, though not extraordinary, is good enough to complement the overall delightful...

This used to be our favourite place as a family with young kids up until 2-3 years ago. There was a server named Nadia at the park road location who was impeccable and you felt like you were at a high end place and their moussakka and bread were delicious. However, last night my friends and decided to have a girls’ night out with our older kids (between 10-12) and it was a HUGE disappointment. Prices are high end but the service by Suzanne as well as the food were WAY below average. Our server was overwhelmed from the word go! I tried to make her life easier by asking her to take down each order (mom+kids) separately so there would be no confusion for her in the end with the separate checks. She looked at me like I had two heads or like I wasn’t speaking English. I wanted the lasagne and asked if it had pork stating that I don’t eat pork and she said yes it does and kept standing right in my bubble and I felt pushed to make a quick second choice so I quickly picked the chicken panini… this should’ve been her cue to tell me it had prosciutto in it but she didn’t and I didn’t see it either. When the sandwich came out I told her I didn’t realise it had prosciutto in a chicken panini and that I hadn’t touched it and if she could please take it away… up until this point I was very kind but her snide remark ‘ well it doesn’t matter if you touched it or not it’s not like we can serve it to anyone else either now’. I don’t know your new menu- but as a seasoned server if I tell you I don’t eat something and then order something with ‘something’ in it it should your cue to warn me. Anyway, the sandwich was replaced or brought back without prosciutto by the owner with a scowl. Needless to say I lost my appetite and left the restaurant eating nothing. We were a table of 8 so the tip was already built in and that’s what was taken advantage of by the service… the waters weren’t replaced until I asked her to, never once did she smile and not once did she come by to check on us and the food unless we tried to hail her down for something. Will definitely not be back and would 10/10...

I absolutely NEVER write a review but I am doing so as I sit at their bar after a meal that was excellent. That is why they get two stars. It took quite a while to get a drink but I will pass on that as they were busy when I arrived. It went downhill from there. My meal came out fairly quickly but with no silverware or napkin. The food runner brought my utensils but no napkin. The bartender was clueless. He was so busy washing glassware that he barely checked on me. He asked me twice if I wanted water which I had told him no. I did ask if he could change the TV channel and was told he would get it in a minute. I ate my meal which was excellent. As I finished my wine, I waited for a refill which was passed a couple times by the male bartender. The female finally asked if I would like another glass of wine. The male is STILL washing glassware. So, now about 40 minutes later, I asked to female if she could change the channel on the TV. A cop show with no sound is rediculous when there are several sports being played and the biggest Race of the NASCAR season is being run here in Charlotte. It has been another 30 minutes and after 2 requests...the TV is still on the same channel. I eat out all the time at many nice Charlotte restaurants and while the food was excellent, the service by the incompetent bar staff was absolutely the worst I have experienced. While sitting here, I read several reviews and the theme is the same....excellent food, incompetent staff (I am sure there are a few exceptions). I am now waiting for my check which I am sure will be a while coming as the male bartender is entering his checks for the night and paying NO attention to the customers at the bar. If you are in the Providence Road area, choose wisely, food is good but if you eat at the bar, good luck. They need to move him to the back as good as he is at washing dishes. I am sure the dishwasher could have provided...