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    ILIS

    3.5 (56 reviews)
    Open 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Services - ILIS

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    Recommended Reviews - ILIS

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    August 2024 Field Menu
    Wendy B.

    Had the Field Menu, for $325, I agree with most people it is sort of a joke. $265 may be acceptable. 1. Snacks: Assorted Tomatoes from Farmers market & Some drink served in Green Pepper with a cluster of Basil. - almost feel like our waiter wasn't proud of serving these. 2. Oyster w/ Tomato drizzle - it was fine but tomato again after serving us 3 types of tomato to start? 3. Snail w/ Potato Puree - might be my favorite dish although my group hated it. It was not mixed so top part was just potato puree and all the snail was at the bottom. It was beautifully presented though. 4. Stonefruit & Beets sliced - quite delicious but another fruit and veggie. 5. Sunflower Caviar - creativity behind it but didnt feel like the caviar stood out. 6. Fluke Sashimi - it was good, however, as an asian growing up I eat whole fish no problem, the presentation was truly unpleasant. Raw fish with its eye carved out, really not helping the appetite. 7. Summer Melon - the only dish chef came out to the table to explain but honestly this might be the weakest dish of the night. 8. Mushroom - although I love the flavor but it was insanely thin sliced, at 7th course, perhaps give something on the side that's filling. 9. Grilled Fluke - they grilled the other half of the fluke, it was tasty. Served with a side of potato soaked in brown butter as the carb of the meal. 10. Squid stuffed Tomato etc - as much as I enjoyed this dish, tomato showed up 3rd time of the night. 11. Khaki Duck - extremely exotic presentation with duck feet and nail on, again, I was fine with it but my group did not want to even try. Regardless, the duck was very undersrasoned and blend. Also it was tiny. 12. Watergrass Granita - the 3rd dish I enjoyed tonight. 13. Oak Mousse - it was interesting but also not that interesting. For $325, I think they should take it more seriously.

    Summer melon
    Tuan H.

    ILIS was on my list to try as it seemed very trendy lately. There are some things to like about the restaurant including the very tall ceiling and entrance door creating a large space adding to the ambiance with the open kitchen. The cocktails were finely crafted and delicious. Service was excellent, nothing pretentious but rather friendly and inviting. Alas the positive points stop there. The food was not as good as expected. While the aesthetic and presentation were astounding, unfortunately the flavors weren't there and the meal definitely does not justify its price tag at the moment. We had the Field guide menu with over 12 courses but only a few of them were good. The theatrics while entertaining at first, fall short once we tasted some of the courses. Two of the dishes I enjoyed were the dry aged tuna with white truffles and the duck. Overall this was a mediocre experience, the presentation, service, and aesthetic were great but the food was nothing noteworthy. There are many other options for fine dining around town that we would have enjoyed more for the same price range.

    Tyler T.

    I am so surprised by all of the negative reviews, this has to be one of my favorite restaurant experiences in New York, and the food was top notch, easily rivaling many of the 3 Star Michelin and other top world restaurants I've had. The food was unique, flavorful, and adventurous. Fine dining has often gotten into this monotony of the same basic flavors, an over reliance on truffles and caviar, and the same staple proteins. Not here though! From more exciting presentation, to less common proteins such as gamey meat the food here was top notch. I particularly liked how well everything was executed, and how each dish brought something unique to the table, from the creaminess and jelly-ness of the crab to the mixed flavors of the drinking clam, everything was delightful and exciting. And the drinks were delicious too, really well thought out with some exciting presentation. The service and pacing still need to be worked on a bit though. At times we got a bunch of dishes at once, and then a dead period with no food, and then a bunch of dishes again. If they can get this pacing down better I think this restaurant can really shine even further.

    Dessert
    Angela C.

    I feel like all the bad reviews don't really understand fine dining. So let's get straight into it. Came for a late dinner on a Thursday night with friends and had a fantastic time. When we arrived, almost every table was occupied. There's 2 seatings per night as per Resy reservation times, and I'm guessing most folks booked the earlier one since I didn't see many (or any?) folks seated after us. We started the evening at 9:15 pm and ended up being one of the last tables (oops). The space is beautiful and you can tell they really thought through the details. Even though its a massive space with an open kitchen, it's not too loud. They have multiple cutlery so you can choose your own adventure on how to eat each dish. Tables are spaced a decent distance apart as well. Sure, the choosing a menu based on main ingredient and building your own box is a little gimmicky. I had no idea when choosing the potato it'd essentially be caviar. But you have to lean into the experience and have fun with it! The complaints around the raw food cart being ala carte? That's most fine dining restaurants and the raw options were pretty reasonably priced. The service was fantastic throughout the evening, bar 2 little hiccups-- one where they served us the wrong dish (scallop instead of tuna) and one where they purposefully didn't bring us our pumpkin because they said they gave us the scallop (which honestly is just so bizarre to me that I'm just straight ignoring it). Shoutout to Steven who helped with our drinks selection, although he disappeared towards the end of the evening. Food-wise, there were some standouts (lobster, antelope, trout) and some that were just meh (tuna, oyster, scallop). Would Ilis be towards the top of my fine dining list based on the food alone? No. But based on the entire experience, it ranks pretty high up! Do yourself a favor-- if you have the money and like fine dining and fun experiences, go and judge it for yourself. Go in with no expectations or pretensions and you'll have a great time.

    a plate of food on a table
    Danesh I.

    An exercise in spectacular mediocrity epitomizing the pretentiousness and lackluster fine dining. There is certainly an element of cool in the concept of a nondescript and almost hidden establishment with a cavernous and stylish interior once you get past the unassuming black door outside...but everything is downhill from there. I walked in with a friend who lives in the neighborhood and had no idea of the history or hype surrounding ILIS but was happy to be seated at the bar where we planned to get drinks and small bites. The bar is certainly beautiful and the decor is simply splendid. The staff are helpful and do not particularly add nor detract from the experience but looking past the beautiful interior and the standard service, ILIS has nothing more to stimulate or provide a reason to return. I may have been impressed by the somewhat stylish and "cool" crowd, but America isn't particularly cool in the current zeitgeist where unoriginality and being derivative are the defining characteristics of contemporary American style. I also dined at Borago and Mayta within a week of my visit so my expectations of fine dining were also a bit higher than under normal circumstances where I may have been a tad more forgiving. The culture of vanity and hero worship that is so prevalent in the New York and American fine dining takes away from the essence of a great meal. The items my friend and I tried were at best...OK. After trying three dishes from the bar menu, I personally have zero desire to want to come back and explore the tasting menu. I'm sure there will be plenty of buzz and attention paid to this place but I would rather save my money and hop a flight south of the equator to fine dining establishments that make NY look like the Cincinnati of fine dining in terms of their forward progression into realms of the spectacular and new.

    Recognize anything Chicago
    Jim D.

    This is the best new restaurant in the U.S. IMHO it's tied with currently the #1 rated restaurant which is Atomix. Although these are some rather "normal" ingredients what's abnormal is the taste & the presentation. It's interactive also meaning you'll have a cocktail in a bell pepper, you'll use a snail foot as a spoon. You can customize, add or omit your ingredients. The restaurant is huge & so are the table so you won't feel claustrophobic. Cocktails as well as bar tasting are equally impressive.

    Tuna
    Priscilla F.

    Wow, what an experience! Starting from the front door, ILIS oozes beauty, style and flair. The completely open kitchen is a real treat, allowing you to see how the staff bring everything together. Sitting at the bar gives you a front row seat to this spectacle, which is where we (a party of 4) sat. For those who don't like sitting at the bar, this bar is different. Plenty of space (deep counters) and they do a great job spacing everyone out so you don't have to shout to be heard. We did the Field Guide tasting menu, and 2 of us did the wine pairing (which was excellent) and one of us did the non-alcoholic beverage pairing. Instead of just zero proof cocktails, the nonalcoholic pairing was made of interesting nonalcoholic wines, which I appreciated. The food was phenomenal, inventive and beautifully plated (the bowl for one of the dishes was made entirely of ice!). My absolute favorites were the Brussels sprouts "on the cob" and the whole fish! My only complaint about the fish is that I wish they had given each person their own fish, rather than giving one fish for every two persons. I also ordered a couple things a la carte: an oyster and a drink that was inside of a squash. The oyster was great but I could've done without the squash drink. The price is steep, but on par for restaurants of this nature. One person in our party said he could do with a slice of pizza after the meal, because he was still hungry. The rest of us were fine, but not stuffed. So I recommend not coming here super hungry. Overall, I'm so glad I got a chance to try this place, and can't wait for my next visit!

    Toño M.

    Innovative + Sustainable + Delicious What a journey! How can i explain the amazing experience i had at Ilis. The restaurant concept farm to table it is unique. You really can feel the flavour of their fresh and top ingredients presented in their maximal expression. The Nordic style of cooking with a Ny twist it is one of a kind. The menu tasting progression from vegetables to proteins play a very important part. It is like a symphony, like if you go to theater and they show you a story. You never feel heavy. We really appreciate the taste of every ingredient until we get to the main course. The ice + fire concept it is so creative! Using nature elements that engage you the whole experience. From when you choose what ingredient you want for your tasting menu through the explanation of every course from cooks, servers, managers, chefs, show the level of commitment they have to create a memorable experience. Sustainability it is the future of our cuisines. And Ilis and Chef Mads Refslund know how to do it flawlessly. i have been visiting many 1, 2, 3 Michelin Star restaurants and 50 best restaurants around the world. And this will be on my top best 3 dining experiences. Thank you and Bravo 10/10

    Tory G.

    We came for New Year's Eve and had an amazing experience. Our favorite dishes of the night were the sea urchin, scallops, brussels sprouts and eel. We loved being able to walk through the kitchen and see things being prepared while eating. The wine and cocktails were great as well.

    Fluke. Kind of a turnoff
    Michael W.

    Georgeous space & Art pieces. Service great....then comes the food. Beautiful seafood starter, snail, soso and clam sipper...seriously all that work to fill the bloody maryish drink inside that clam is a total waste of TIME and manpower Because its not good~at all. The fluke, one side raw, other side grilled~meat still stuck on the bones ?!?! Raw part taste not good either, didnt care for the presentation of the whole fluke..just does NOT look good. The chicken entrees is ok, but some bites are extremely salty, same goes for the salad, parts very salty. Cocktails taste like nothin its named..but ok. Sat at the bar and ordered these individuals, wont bother with the dining room for at least one year. Ilis looks the part but as for the taste and timing...its wayyyy offffffffff.

    Samantha B.

    I had the pleasure of visiting ILIS in Brooklyn for my past birthday in July, and I was absolutely blown away by the quality, service, atmosphere, and attention to detail at this restaurant. Mads Refslund, who was a co-founder of Noma, is the executive chef at ILiS, and this is evident in the design of the restaurant and the seasonally rotating menu. My family opted for the "Field Guide Menu", which functions essentially as omakase, or chefs choice. Although it was $100 more expensive than the "Market Menu", the variety was well worth the price increase.Some standout dishes include the sea snail with nasturtium, tuna rib, and green almond with caviar.Almost every dish was interactive, and I had so much fun playing with my food! Additionally, my father opted for the wine pairing, which was selected by our server/sommelier who was a CIA grad (shoutout!). I can't wait to go back to ILIS in the near future and try some incredible new dishes!

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    2 years ago

    Slow and poor service, overcooked seafood , overall bland and gimmicky. Good ambiance/vibe.

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    Ask the Community - ILIS

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    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Lobster tails

    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg

    4.0(100 reviews)
    2.4 miEast Williamsburg, Bushwick

    Reply to Business Owner:…read more Hello Jaffa, Thank you for the response. I understand seasoning and heat can affect appearance; however, my concern was not solely discoloration, but the overall quality and texture of the food upon arrival. The crab meat was stuck to the shell (rubbery), the mussels lacked freshness and texture, and the sausage was unusually rubbery--issues that go beyond presentation or residual heat. I shared my experience honestly based on the meal I received. While I appreciate the offer to resolve it had I called, posting a review reflects my experience as a customer ordering delivery, which is a service you offer. Unfortunately, this order did not meet the standard I expected based on my experience. I'm glad to hear you're open to addressing concerns directly, and I hope future delivery orders are more consistent. -------------------- My Initial Review: I "really" wanted to enjoy this meal, especially since I've ordered from here before via Uber Eats and decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, the food quality was disappointing. The snow crab legs had gray shells, and the meat was stuck to the shell, rubbery, and lacked freshness. The mussels were deep orange in color, had no real texture, and some were actually dry, which made them unpleasant to eat. The sausage was also very rubbery--I had to bite hard just to get through it. Flavor alone couldn't make up for the overall texture and freshness issues. This may be a place that's better enjoyed in person, but based on my experiences, the seafood does not seem to travel well for delivery. I truly wanted this to be a satisfying meal, but unfortunately it missed the mark.

    Ordered lobster roll for pick up and it said it would be ready in 40 minutes. When we got there…read moreafter 45 minutes, it wasn't even ready. There was only one table so not sure why the wait was so long. It seemed like they didn't even start the order till we got there. We waited another 15 minutes more and it was definitely not worth it. The lobster roll was overcooked and SUPER dry covered in heavy seasoning. The bread was drenched in oil and so greasy. The only highlight was the fries which is kinda sad if you pay $34 and the highlight is the fries with a one hour wait time. Won't be coming back again.

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    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Bar view

    Bar view

    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Steak & Eggs Philly melt

    Steak & Eggs Philly melt

    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Views

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    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Oysters

    Sea Wolf - Bushwick

    3.8(806 reviews)
    2.5 miBushwick
    $$

    The hours on Yelp are wrong -- here's the actual schedule:…read more Monday-Thursday: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 am Saturday: 11:00 am - 4:00 am Sunday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm This place is honestly a 10/10, especially if you're going for the lobster mac & cheese and the lobster rolls. I went yesterday for lunch specifically craving the mac & cheese and mussels (they were out of mussels, unfortunately), but the mac & cheese was so rich and satisfying that I wasn't even mad about it. I've been here before and tried a bunch of their cocktails ...you really can't go wrong with any of them, but this time I switched it up and got a virgin painkiller mocktail, which was actually great. It's definitely a staple if you live in Bushwick, but I feel like people outside of Brooklyn don't talk about it enough. If you're looking for somewhere new to try or a solid spot to take someone for really good food, this is it. Also perfect for dinner before catching a show across the street at Company XIV.

    Came in ready for a seafood-and-steak moment and let's just say the meal had personality. The steak…read morewas rubbery. Chewy. The kind of bite that makes you sit up and ask whether the kitchen was testing jaw strength. Not inedible. Just working way harder than it needed to. The shrimp was so-so. It showed up. It participated. It did not offend anybody, but it also did not exactly have the table falling out over itself. Very middle seat on a budget airline. Present. Fine. Forgettable. The wings though. The wings knew why they were there. Crispy. Flavorful. Actually satisfying. The kind of plate that makes you stop talking for a minute because now everybody is focused. Easily the standout. If the steak was chaos and the shrimp was filler, the wings were the only one clocked in and ready to lead. Staff was decent. Pleasant enough. Kept things moving. No major complaints. They did their part and helped the experience stay above water. The vibe is possible. That is the word. Possible. On the right night, with the right crowd, right playlist, and maybe one strong drink, I can see this place feeling very cute. On the wrong night, you are just there negotiating with a rubbery steak and a shrimp that forgot to leave an impression. I would come back with a different strategy. Wings, yes. Steak, no. Shrimp, maybe if it came free with emotional support. it's giving... one friend carried the group project and it was the wings.

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    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Full bar area

    Full bar area

    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Oysters

    Oysters

    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Exterior

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    Exterior

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Oysters and ham and cheese croquetas

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn

    3.9(53 reviews)
    2.6 miBushwick

    I've been slowly chowing my way through all the oyster happy hours the city has to offer. When I…read morefound myself galavanting in Bushwick on arguably the coldest day of the year, Ten Bells popped up as a natural haven where I unwrapped myself and indulged in my favorite food of the season. Right off the bat, the bar area is absolutely gorgeous and meets you with so much warmth, light and joy as soon as you walk in to this establishment. I plopped myself on the bar and had the pleasure of making conversation with Elouise and Alejandra. They put in my standard two dozen oyster order and paired my platter with a glass of the happy hour white wine which happens to be their house chardonnay. The oysters were delicious although I must say there was a lot of shell pieces inside, which was very annoying to eat. I don't think this is necessarily the fault of whoever is shucking them. I noticed the oysters they serve have a lot of thin slivers of shell on the edges which are bound to end up in your mouth. Perhaps they can try serving another variety of oysters? Just a thought. The chardonnay was pretty good and service was amazing. The girls at the bar also let me try the Ten Bells red wine which is produced specially for them in Boudreaux, France. It was a beautiful, light, and smooth red blend. As a wine lover, I will definitely be back to try more of their wines on tap. This is a great neighborhood establishment that I feel everyone should pop in and visit!!

    I had been to the LES location first before trying the bushwick one and I feel like the LES…read morelocation is much more rowdy. I think it's better as a happy hour spot than an actual evening wine vibe but that may just be me. The oysters are good and I happened to try the octopus as well which was SUPER good. It's a huge space and is definitely well suited for large groups. I personally wouldn't say it's a date spot because it can get loud sometimes but choose your own adventure!

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    The Ten Bells Brooklyn
    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Mediterranean Dips Platter

    Mediterranean Dips Platter

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Mother’s Seafood & More

    Mother’s Seafood & More

    4.1(10 reviews)
    2.2 miEast Williamsburg

    First tip- there's a QR code with an BOGO offer on the front of the store , scan than and order…read morefrom that to pick up inside. I didn't see that till I was leaving and the guy at the counter didnt make me the wiser. The menu is huge but there were only a few items on display on the Thursday I went. ( It was the day before Good Friday). They do make pasta items etc as you order but a lot of things I asked for were not available. Even the lunch special posted on the wall inside was not available. I'm guessing this is the Caribbean side of the Caribbean Soul Food ( I can joke about that, I'm Caribbean lol) The guy at the register said they have more of a full stock on Fridays and weekends. Anyway, the food that we did end up getting was really good. I got whole fried fish and was told it would be about 10 mins for him to fry it fresh. Id wait again and again for this fish, it was perfectly seasoned and I ate it piping hot and ordered another. The rasta pasta did not have lots of of veggies , he also made that upon us ordering. It looked plain but it was so delicious- the sauce was silk and rich. Collard greens 10/10 ,I think in all the soulfood places I tried recently this one took first place. The mac and cheese pretty good too. Jerk chicken was good. Take out only. Food that has to be prepared on spot is made right in front of you too.

    I love Cajun food and still search for a good one that is still in delivery area from my home. This…read moretime I try Mother's Seafood & More. I ordered.... - Steamed Okra: nice and crunchy 8/10 - 1 lb Snow Crab Steamed & Spicy: not spicy at all and too much oil 6/10 - 1/2 lb Scallops Spicy, Grilled: also, oily 7/10 Overall, good for the price and nice to try. Delivery was on time even it was leaking.

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    Mother’s Seafood & More
    Mother’s Seafood & More - Really good collard greens.

    Really good collard greens.

    Mother’s Seafood & More - Buy one get one free UberEATS

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    La Caleta Ecuatoriana - Does this impress you ?

    La Caleta Ecuatoriana

    4.1(7 reviews)
    3.3 miBushwick

    The food I had from here was not good at all . Two of the three items I took a bite and had to…read morethrow it out while the third item I didn't finish because it wasn't very enjoyable . I ordered two cheese empanadas , an order of tostones and an arroz con pollo entree. As I left and was walking I was feeling abit hungry so I bit into the empanada and it tasted like old oil . It was disgusting . I'm certain they very rarely change their frying oil. Even whilst eating the inside with cheese I couldn't even enjoy it as all I tasted was old oil . When I got home i tried the tostones to see if it was better and it was worst . Just the worst I've ever had again plagued with the stale oil disease . The arroz con pollo isn't even worth discussing . This is the opposite of finesse . It's shredded chicken ( quite dry ) mixed in with the rice and veggies and two slabs of plantains on top for looks . The fried plantains helped a lot on masking the dryness and yuckiness of this meal . This was certainly not worthy of the calorie intake at all. I've had this same meal at other Ecuadorian restaurants and this was easily the worst . The portion size was huge though if that matters . It's amazing how many people I saw coming in and getting food while waiting for my order . Maybe I'm in the minority but I swear my experience was a waste of 20+ dollars .

    #Cool spot with good Ecuadorian food. I didn't know this place existed because it wasn't on Yelp…read more But they seemed to have a good amount of people in there eating. Not sure if they appreciate me putting their business on Yelp. They will probably wonder why all these #hipsters are coming in. The #Catfish Soup was good and creamy ...once you add the #lime and hot sauce.

    Photos
    La Caleta Ecuatoriana
    La Caleta Ecuatoriana - Catfish Soup

    Catfish Soup

    La Caleta Ecuatoriana - Seafood Soup

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    Seafood Soup

    ILIS - seafood - Updated May 2026

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