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Ilo Bistro

4.8 (37 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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ILO BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

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Restaurant view from the corner
Casey W.

ilo'd this bistro! Friendly and accommodating staff. The food was awesome so complements to the chefs. The restaurant has an awesome vibe for a date nite out. Very classy and fun. The duck rillette app was delicious and the aioli with it was great. The pasta was close to perfect maybe just a hair too salty for some pallets. The potatoes with the steak were perfection - seriously so good. Same for the gravy we were basically drinking it. The cook and char on the steak was great as well.

Jodie M.

Utter perfection. No notes lol Had to have the grilled shrimp and melon special to start. It was fresh, crisp, and flavorful. Made with charentais melon, yuzu kosho grilled shrimp, ampuis peppers, crispy prosciutto, the most delish melon gazpacho, and garden herbs. For the rest of the small plates, we had the homemade sourdough with butter-the oil on it was so good! The charred broccolini topped with pecorino cheese, boquerones, Caesar dressing, and fennel bread crumbs had just the right grilled taste. The heirloom tomato tartine!!!! Fantastic!!!! If you're going to have anything, get that and the special!!!! I was already getting full but the entrees were on the way Gnocchi - asparagus, mixed mushroom, manzanilla sherry, parmigiano reggiano. If you like umami, this one is for you. The size of the actual gnocchi was also a bit bigger than I expected lol Halibut - haricot vert, fava bean, creamer potato, spinach, sauce vin blanc. Loved the sauce on this one, and the potatoes were buttery! A1 French cooking ‍ Hanger Steak - corn, Japanese eggplant, baby tomatoes, herb gremolata, roasted tomato jus. This dish was so refreshing! The color on it was beautiful from the temperature of the steak to the vegetables. It wasn't heavy on the stomach and the flavor was unique. Can't forget dessert! We had a matcha cream puff. Cream puff was good, it was lacking a little bit in the matcha department. But still good. I think it would be good beginner matcha if someone was just starting their journey with the flavor lol. The star of the sweets was the Semifreddo. The flavors inside were lemon and berries, almonds added texture, and the topping was reminiscent of a toasted marshmallow. Just exquisite. We were well taken care of. Anytime we had a question, they were answered in detail. We even got new plates and silverware after small plates and entrees! Staff was attentive. And on top of that, being able to park in a lot in craziness of Botetourt's cobblestone is a score in and of itself

gnocchi and pappardelle
George N.

The ambiance and cozy, intimate setting are where this restaurant truly shines--it's easy to see why it generates so much buzz. Unfortunately, beyond that, the experience fell short for me. The cocktails were outstanding in terms of flavor, but they took over 30 minutes to arrive--understandable given the small bar and single bartender, yet still notable. The pasta and small plates were enjoyable, though consistently over-salted. The large entrées were well-executed in terms of doneness (especially if you prefer your meat rare), but the proteins themselves lacked any real flavor--some to the point of being difficult to eat. Ironically, while the accompaniments were aggressively salted, that seasoning didn't seem to carry over to the main components where it was needed most. The dessert was very good. Probably best part of the meal. The waiter we had was awesome though. Super nice guy.

Beet Carpaccio, Foie Gras

My fiancé and I came here for the three-course Valentine's day meal and it was better than expected! It was our first time at Ilo Bistro and the food and service did not disappoint! We were welcomed by a cheerful and complimentary host, our reservation was around 9:00pm and the whole team still had their energy! Our server Tyler was tentative, kind and shared numerous laughs with us. After each course we were astounded by the Chef's palate. Chef Z and his team were ON IT!!! Everything was delicious from the Foie Gras, Braised Lamb, New York strip, to the Passionfruit eclair...truly amazing. The Mixologist also put together an amazing spread of drinks. I will crave the Chocolate Covered Raspberry Martini indefinitely, as well as the 10 year bourbon Plates were cleaned, memories were shared, laughs were busted (and belt buckles)! Thank you Tyler, Chef Z and all of Ilo Bistro team

Cocktail menu
Letti J.

I love this place. I have been twice. The menu is not necessarily the largest, but it is creative. More importantly, the food is quality. The service is always great and the staff are always very welcoming. It's a cute intimate neighborhood bistro with that being said I strongly recommend making a reservation. They have limited seating and can fill up pretty quickly. The prices are moderate so this is a spot that I like to enjoy every once in a while.

Mary-Ann L.

Were the yelp reviews right? Sure they were! Had a wonderful romantic anniversary dinner here. It had the bones of what used to be Voila! Restaurant but Ilo Bistrobiadts its own delicious food served by friendly staff! We had bread (it's an appetizer!) and stuffed calamari. The calamari was flavorful (hint of anchovies?) snd cooked to perfection, crispy but tender not chewy. For entrees we ordered the special of the evening: pork chop. And my beau ordered rack of lamb. They were both perfectly seasoned, cooked to perfection. The desserts were so delicious as well: a large cream puff with pistachio cream served with honey I d cream! And a date and chocolate chip sort of blondie, served with delicious house made ice cream akin to Dulce de leche. Love love love, will definitely go back to try other entrees and desserts!

Fox on the Mountain
Kevin E.

From the moment I walked in I knew I was in for a delectable experience. From their cheeky cocktail menu to their diverse menu, Ilo made a spontaneous night out a night to remember. I had the Scallop Crudo which was a smaller dish special, and I'll be thinking about its flavor profile for a while. The Hanger Steak with potatoes frites and creamy spinach is cooked to absolute perfection, especially on flavor and texture. To wrap up the night I finished with the Date Cake and a "Fox on the Mountain" cocktail, and I couldn't have made a better dessert and cocktail pairing. It painted a beautiful scene of walking through the forest with the crisp air gently wrapping around you, sunlight peeking through the tree brush. I had been wanting to try this place for a very long time, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Can't wait to come back :)

fish of the day, poached to perfection
Jordan T.

like an oasis - extremely good food at a good price, and not just the normal fare. This corner used to be Voila - I never had the pleasure to eat there but it almost always looked full when i'd run by. Ilo took over this space at the beginning of the year if i had to guess, but the atmosphere of the corner space here has totally changed. from the exterior paint to the decor to the color palate to the personnel, this space is as well defined an eating experience as many you'd see in large metro areas like DC or NYC. The staff is courteous and professional, never once stuttering or stammering over specials or odd foody type questions myself or my family would ask. We started with drinks at the bar (which seats probably 10 if we're generous) while waiting for our table ot be cleared as people were still enjoying their dessertifs. excellent selection by the bartenders and didn't miss a beat as we transferred from the bar to the table which was well set by the staff. we ordered a fine sampling of the small plates - we actually ordered the tartare but it got lost in the mix (we were putting in orders at the turn - i think this place does two turns a night) - and they came out within 15 minutes. Phenomenal quality on all three, an excellent mix of salty and sweet in each, with an array of textures you'd expect at a place with double the staff. From my count, maybe 12 folks working on a Saturday but we never felt like we were waiting long. As you can see, we each got a different meal, which were all equally phenomenal. If there's one thing I'll say on the plates here, you truly can't go wrong. there's not a single aspect on any dish (i tried every component of all) that could've been better. I'm a huge Legrand stan, but this gives it a run for its money both in terms of quality and creativity of plating and ingredients. As we got into our mains, we realized the tartare had yet to come. We actually ended up receiving it almost as a dessert appetizer, for which every member of our party wanted to try despite having eaten a whole entree. As i mentioned at the outset, we've eaten a lot of tartare throughout the world but this was clearly French-country inspired with the flavor palate and as well executed as any French restaurant I had the pleasure of eating in on the continent. Phenomenal. Altogether - service was great and attentive, even with a minor miss; food was fantastic and the best i've had here in a while; and atmosphere was great (if a little loud, I'd suggest copying what Legrand did and adding some sound-dampening panels to the roof as it appears they're already on the walls). 10/10 recommend for anyone looking for a great, quality dining experience. Can't wait to see what they do at the season's change.

Aniah M.

My favorite place around me so far! Will come here time & time again for celebrations!

Ariel C.

All time favorite spots - Food & drinks are phenomenal and service is top notch. It's a vibe

Attractive bar and collection of fine liqueurs.

Wow! Great to have this so close to Ghent! The food is first class; we had fresh and clean oysters and the loukomades with gourmet ham, leg of lamb with English peas, and perfectly cooked flounder. Sasha and John are pro servers. The space is completely renovated, bright and attractive, and typically bistro loud. Love it. We will be back often.

Cute interior

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24 days ago

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26 days ago

Food ,services and ambiance was fantastic! Will definitely go again. Nice to have such a great restaurant in my neighborhood.

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

Amazing place! The food was great! Drinks amazing. Recommend making reservations. Parking it tight give yourself time. Highly recommend.

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7 months ago

Amazing food with amazing cocktails. Norfolks hidden gem tucked back in the Freemason district. Fresh and authentic

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

Amazing food and experience. You must give it a try!!! Definitely make a reservation.

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The Restaurant at Four Eleven York - Airline chicken

The Restaurant at Four Eleven York

(129 reviews)

Located near Ghent and downtown Norfolk, this restaurant was a really pleasant find. The parking…read morelot is small, but we had no trouble finding street parking nearby. It was a little chilly tonight, but I imagine the outdoor seating would be perfect on a warmer evening. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily we were seated within seconds. The space itself is on the smaller side, but it's thoughtfully designed and perfect for a cozy date night. Every employee who passed by greeted us, which made the atmosphere feel especially welcoming. We started with the octopus, served with potato foam, pickled pear, and chorizo. For entrées, he ordered the duck and I had the pork bolognese. Both dishes were full of flavor and cooked perfectly. We also ordered drinks. I do wish they had come out a bit earlier so we could enjoy them sooner, but the selection was impressive. We chose the bartender's choice, which was a really fun experience. The waitress asks a few questions, and based on your answers the bartender creates a drink they think you'll love. We were too full for dessert, though they did offer four different options. Overall, we were really happy we tried this restaurant and will definitely be back.

My husband and I came for my birthday dinner this year. You need to walk down the alleyway to find…read morethe entrance. The outdoor seating looked cozy, however, we sat inside. Inside, there are a small number of tables and a bar. We had the crispy octopus to start. It was cooked perfectly, was tender and had great flavor. For my entree I had the halibut. It was slightly overcooked (a little dry), but the portion was a good size and flavors were nice. I don't remember what the dessert we had was called, but it is the reason for -1 star. It was chocolate something but the flavor was just weird, texture was not great either. They gave me a complimentary small piece of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream as well for my birthday, but that was not good either. Cake was dry and ice cream tasted watery and the texture was off. This was disappointing because I love dessert, but probably wouldn't risk ordering it here again.

Press 626 wine bar - Baked Goat cheese with roasted garlic

Press 626 wine bar

(535 reviews)

$$

FANTASTIC! Vibes? Yes!…read moreFood? Yes! Wine? Yes! Thank you to John who welcomed us and recommended good wine for our food We came here with our son, who recently moved to Norfolk. He came here for his first meal in town and John treated him to a glass of wine with his gourmet grilled cheese He brought us to the experience : Brussels sprouts -- delicious with sweet and spicy and hazelnut Goat cheese and beet salad: good dressing, nice mix, exactly what I wanted for dinner Truffle tots: yeah, tots are good, but with truffle and Parmesan? Wow!! The vibes here are great. There's music on but you can still talk to people. Seating at the bar or tables or, if the weather is nice, on the front porch. It has an elegant but relaxed feel that would make this place great for a date or friends ( or family!) We will be back And yep, we are back for tapas Tuesday where all small plates are $2 off Hummus -- ok Duck egg rolls good Lamb meatballs : GREAT flavor!! Roasted Carrot beet with labneh and dukkah : delicious Dumplings-- good but spicy for me Miso butter gnocchi with mushrooms-- delicious Roasted salmon-- folks were split on this between "solid" and good Salad of farro and spinach with beets and goat cheese and pear -- this was amazing. The dressing had awesome spices in it that made the whole thing complex. 3 new wonderful wines ! Thanks to all at this restaurant for another amazing meal. You are our favorite Norfolk spot!!

From the moment we walked in, the ambience was warm and inviting. The service was truly…read moreexceptional--every team member was incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about making our visit perfect. The food was fantastic across the board, and the presentations were exceptionally creative, making each dish feel special. Everything came out beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious. A wonderful dining experience from start to finish. Highly recommended!

508 Locals - Spicy Chorizo Mussels in cream sauce

508 Locals

(35 reviews)

So we have been here twice now. I'm going to give each one separately:…read moreFirst time: Came in after a VA Stage show so kinda late. Sat at the bar. Service was absolutely awesome. Bartender was incredibly attentive for having a full bar. We each had 2 different cocktails and both were distinctive and excellently crafted. We had shared a couple of the small plates and enjoyed them both. We enjoyed the place so much that we decided to come back with a group of 14 for All Lovers Eve. Second time: Made the reservation with ease. If you've ever made a group reservation you know how complicated some places make it. This was a large group and they were short handed. This lead to a slower service which actually worked out well for our group. We didn't mind the gaps. They put us in their back room (hint - GREAT for groups) there was a little confusion with the order to include an extra dish we didn't order. We still ate it and paid for it though. The staff was great with our large and rather disruptive group. The food was all excellent (local oysters on the half shell and the apple desert were my highlights). Multiple cocktails that were all wonderful. My only real negative was that there was a $50 "loyalty club " charge that was never mentioned and I didn't even notice on the $1200.00 bill. This is, I believe, some sort of credit card fee. Both times were good. Both times staff were wonderful. Both times we were comfortable. Give the place a try. I don't think you will regret it.

My reservations fell through at a different location, and I came about this restaurant online. Most…read moreplaces were booked on a Saturday night. However, I called 508 locals to see if they had any availability. The hostess told us to come on through. When I pulled up it wasn't too busy. They were welcoming and sat us right away. We had an awesome waiter. Judging from his accent, he was from Ireland. He was great. Very enthusiastic and attentive. I was pretty hungry. I ordered the crab cakes (great sauce and aioli), Brussels (hot honey with goat cheese and cranberries), junglebird drink (delicious, it wasn't overly sweet), and ribeye. All delicious. I was not disappointed. It was such a chill place. It wasn't overly loud. It was clean. I recommend.

Omar's Carriage House - Chocolate Mousse

Omar's Carriage House

(247 reviews)

$$

We had such a great experience at Omar's Carriage House. Our waitress was amazing--super attentive…read moreand genuinely helpful with recommendations throughout the night. We came in for the dinner special but also caught happy hour, which was a nice bonus since we were able to try a few extra appetizers. The bacon-wrapped dates with balsamic glaze were incredible, and the lobster croquettes were just as good. Our server even made sure we got our happy hour orders in before it ended, which we really appreciated. The drinks were solid as well. The Caesar salad was good, but a little hard to eat since the lettuce wasn't chopped. The atmosphere made up for it though--the decor is beautiful and we sat outside on the patio on a perfect day. It was relaxing, comfortable, and not too loud, with good music in the background. After dinner, we walked over to First Friday to end the night, which was the perfect way to walk off the meal. Overall, I'd definitely recommend and would return again, especially to try more of the happy hour menu.

I went to Omar's Carrot House in downtown Norfolk for their $28 three-course deal and overall had a…read morereally good experience. The atmosphere was cute and relaxing, and we chose to sit on the patio which was perfect on a nice day. Service was excellent and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. I'd definitely give customer service a 10/10. For the meal, I started with a Caesar salad. It was good but needed more dressing for my taste. We also ordered extras: the lobster croquettes and bacon-wrapped dates. The croquettes were solid, but the bacon-wrapped dates were the standout, absolutely delicious and the best thing I had. For my entrée, I got the Boursin Chicken. It wasn't bad, but it needed more seasoning for me personally. I also wasn't a big fan of the sun-dried tomato mashed potatoes, it just wasn't my preference. I did try the beef bourguignon and liked that more. For dessert, I had the lemon soufflé, which was light and really good. Overall, the $28 deal is a great value and the experience was enjoyable. Not every dish was my favorite, but nothing was bad. I would go back, especially to try their Moroccan Monday menu.

Torch Bistro - The Godfather

Torch Bistro

(276 reviews)

$$

We have eaten here three ties now and all the food has been great. I've had the Reuben twice and…read morethe Torch Burger once. The service has been very helpful and in a good mood. The ambience is sort of industrial/warehouse but its very comfortable and the bar seems to be popular. A Torch Burger and iced tea (non alcoholic) were $23.87 including tax and a 22 percent tip. Reasonable by today's standards.

Love the atmosphere and great service. Food was mediocre. Highly recommend the brussel sprouts on…read morethe appetizer menu. We ordered the fried cheese balls and it was okay. Super crispy outer shell with melted spicy pimento cheese inside. My husband ordered the kicking chicken (fried hot honey tenders) in the wrap, not sure of the name but he said it was okay. He got Mac and cheese on the side and it was probably one of the least favorite mac and cheese we've ever had at a restaurant. Very bland and basic. We got a side of the broccoli and it was extremely salty. I ordered the crab cake sandwich and sweet potato fries and actually enjoyed it. The crab cake tasted like any other crab cake but the sweet potato fries were hot with cinnamon sugar coated in the outside. It was pretty good. We order a hot dog and fries for my toddler and she enjoyed the hot dog. Overall we probably wouldn't come back. We enjoyed the outside patio with the live band but the food was lacking. It reminded me of basic bar food. Our server with the pink bangs was awesome though!!

Todd Jurich's Bistro - Winter berry trifle with lemon pound cake

Todd Jurich's Bistro

(212 reviews)

$$$

We stopped by Todd Jurich's Bistro recently to get a drink before our show and the experience was…read morefantastic. Rob the bartender is always quick with a joke (and a lite of your smoke, just kidding that's from a Billy Joel song, everyone knows there's no smoking in restaurants and thank goodness for that!) but he always makes us feel special every time we go there. They have a fantastic Happy Hour menu but unfortunately we had dinner elsewhere (and I'm still wondering why, but I digress again) we couldn't eat there but rest assured we will be back...

Pretty disappointing experience!…read more Arrived ahead of reservation to have a drink at the bar. The bartender, scooted in from behind us to place a bunch of dirty glasses on the bar from a high top behind us. Ultimately, the drinks were ok and the bartender was busy but friendly. Our server for dinner, Wilson, was very inexperienced and lacked professionalism. He struggled to open our wine, and was clearly fearful of holding his tray. He, nor anyone else ever checked on us throughout the dining experience. The little things, like runners bringing courses and not knowing who gets what, literally barking, who gets the poke bowl was off putting. The steaks came out very undercooked and lukewarm and the mashed potatoes were cold. The sides were also cold and the truffle fries were tiny little pieces from the bottom of a bag. Such a nice restaurant but needs a lot of work.

The Green Onion

The Green Onion

(372 reviews)

$$

Beautiful place with a very impressive menu. Staff was personable, knowledgeable and friendly. Went…read morefor lunch with an old friend and we loved everything. Highly recommended.

I had dinner recently (2/7/24) with friends in order to check out Green Onion's ayce mussels night…read more Although The Green Onion has had better days, I enjoyed my experience at one of Ghent's longest-tenured businesses. We came across TGO's Wednesday ayce mussels deal via social media (maybe Instagram), and since we're always looking for excuses to dine together, we opted to check it out. I always look forward to hanging out with my Yelp peeps, so I was excited for this event. Upon entering, I noticed TGO changed up their interior. It's not as bright as it used to be, it's more minimal, and as you're walking past the bar to the dining room, there is a foul smell that permeates for a 3-5 foot stretch. I was immediately turned off after that, but luckily it's confined to just that area. Toni E. helped us - she was a sweetheart and was eager to answer our questions. She informed us up front of items that were sold out of (which turned out to be an unusually high amount), but all of us ordered the mussels. In addition, we drank a little, just because we could (ha!). After trying it out, I can tell you that ayce mussels isn't as cool as it sounds. They serve it in a bowl and you keep ordering until you're full. Ayce mussels would be great if there were different preparation choices, but that's not the case. But for $20, this is a decent route to go if you're hungry. Another plus is that the mussels were pretty good. So overall, I wasn't disappointed because I got exactly what was advertised and Toni was great. I hope to return and order something outside of mussels, and something needs to be done about that odor. Regardless, this was a decent night out. Thank you, Green Onion! JV

Ilo Bistro - french - Updated May 2026

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