It's no KAVA neo-taverna but it's solid. Plus taking reservations makes it a good option. In summary: - Perfect decor/ambiance - Delicious food - Spotty service - Decent value (just over $200 for four people) Decor: One of the best ambiance's in Boston in my opinion. Beautiful and unique decor, plus open air options, make it one of the kind. Food: Everything was really good. My favorites were the cauliflower, the octopus, and the kibbeh. Service: We had a strange greeting upon arrival at our slotted time stating our reserved table *might* be ready in 10 minutes. We were seated, though, right about then. The food, which was delicious, came out so fast (6 dishes in less than five minuets) that we had to ask them to take a pause. After that, things were fine. Last thing I'll mention is that it felt like a bit of a "scene" there but I think that's just how the neighborhood is now, unfortunately. All in all, I'd come back. read more

Ilona is the newest trendy spot in the heart of the South End and doing well for having opened so recently. I love the chic digs and specifically the teal sofa seating. The Mediterranean small plates and extensive wine list and small cocktail list appear to be good. There isn't a huge variety of dishes, though, made fewer for non-octopus and non-calamari eating people of the world like myself. I vacillated between giving three stars and four, but I had to go with three as I probably wouldn't be motivated to return. Maybe I'm getting old, but spending $$$ on very small plates (I had to make myself a snack when I got home...even after paying $50 to split 5 plates among 3 people + 1 drink) and fighting to be heard among the din in a packed environment (the aisles are single file, which makes it difficult to impossible for a server to pass through at the same time that you are coming/going/heading to the bathroom) isn't my thing-- unless the food is bomb and there are more than four cocktails on the menu. read more

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Nice vibes, it's a cute corner restaurant with aesthetic interiors. Food was overall good, but nothing spectacular. We ordered the beef shish kebab, goulash, crispy eggplant, and the calamari. Would recommend the beef shish kebab, it was definitely the best out of all the dishes we ordered. The crispy eggplant was also pretty good, but felt more like dessert in our opinion. Also got a spicy mojito, but they're not kidding with the spice. Overall, very nice place for dinners, drinks, or dates; the food isn't particularly memorable, but the ambiance is great! read more

ilona - Crispy Eggplant - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Beautiful restaurant with great food and service. Everything was well thought out, from their branding on their website, to the plates the food comes in and cups tea is served in. We really loved the shishito peppers, crispy eggplant, and the khachapuri. The menu is very vegetarian friendly! Highly recommend. read more

Thank you Ilona - you have a wonderful team who have been there to make our dinner so special tonight and during the very restricted Covid times. I truly appreciate! We had a fantastic patio time ! Everything was so delicious! Khachapuri , roasted cauliflower, lamb, amber Georgian wine - so good! And friendly atmosphere adds up to this wonderful experience! And also a special thank you to Svenij -the Manager who is always there and makes it even more special ! Maddy - my special thank you to you too! Best time always! read more

ilona - Amber wine . - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Apparently the Saturday night we decided to visit the newly opened ilona was also their largest number of group reservations they had ever had at the same time. Our tiny two party table was a peninsula surrounded by 3 large parties that were clearly there to, well, party. The space was extremely loud - so loud that we had to scream our order in. Our waiter also felt either over worked, under trained, or both. He said he would stage our order, but it all ended up coming out almost at the same time but for our salad that came out... last? He also spilled our wine 2x while refilling our glasses and did not even think about wiping it up. Some of the dishes we found to be bland and others were nothing special. We will stick with Kava for now and supplement with a Georgian cook book in our own kitchen. read more

The restaurant was very cute inside but very small! The ambiance was casual. We were here for a birthday dinner and it was our first time. The drinks from the bar were great, and our server was very nice! It's a tapas style restaurant so it's small plates to share. Since there were so many of us we basically ordered one of everything but we it favorites were the octopus, mussel with risotto, and the short ribs. Parking is going to be a bit tough since it's right in the south end and the restaurant sits on the corner of a busy intersection - mainly street parking only. read more

Wow, wow, wow.... Incredible food, incredible service, incredible atmosphere. I came here with a work group of 12 people & we were blown away by the food and the service. Geoffrey was our server & what an excellent experience! Service was flawless and the food was amazing. I'd really recommend trying a lot of the small plates. My favorites were the lamb kabob, and the eggplant with short-rib. They also have shared dishes, one of them is beef and it was AMAZING. So was the lamb, fish, and chicken. We were 12 people & were able to try a variety of dishes. Compliments to the chef! Incredible place. I live in Charlotte but would seriously consider flying back for dinner here. read more

ilona - Beautiful open air seating area! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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AMAZING! Ilona is definitely one my favorite restaurants in Boston. We were amazed by the amazing food and the service. I love the Atmosphere there and I'm looking forward to my next visit. Also all my friends have been so amazed by the food They also have two other restaurants which have the same owner. Highly highly recommend!!!! read more

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Loved the food and the staff was so attentive and friendly. Will definitely be going back!! Highly recommend the breakfast bagel smoked salmon sampler. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I'm love with this place. I used to live in Boston, and was very exited to go back, visit and see all the new things that opened up. This place is a gam! They have plenty of veggie options. Yeahhh....Presentation, atmosphere and most importantly food is outstanding. Definitely a five star experience. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A fun, lively restaurant! New to the neighborhood and a welcome addition. It offers a variety of interesting tastes from the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas. None of the dishes have the same flavor and all were excellent to amazing. Noise varies across the restaurant from "very" to "bearable." The staff is nice but they serve food very quickly - the pace of a meal can feel rushed. read more

One of my new favorites! Went there tonight for the first time with a buddy of mine. Thought about sitting at the bar, which looked very fun but ended up at a table. The table turned out to be a little small for all the dishes we ordered, but we made it work and the staff was helpful. The seats and dining experience was so comfortable. It is a bit loud, but I could still talk across the table and you kinda get use to it. Great atmosphere over all. And they opened the big garage door windows after it cooled down which is cool. We had many dishes and all were amazing! Let's see I I can name a few - the octopus, monkfish kabobs, watermelon salad, and a few others. It was hard to pick a favorite cause they were all so good! Great wine selection too. Service was outstanding. We had Aida, she was awesome! Very fun and super helpful with the menu. I'll be back! read more

I loved this experience. I had only a famous breakfast staple from this ethnic cuisine but tonight I got to sample a few more things...we started with a dip platter. Then we proceeded to honey dipped labbenah with pickled grapes, lamb kebobs, a fresh tomato cucumber salad, a eggplant dip much like baba ghanoush topped with tender lamb cooked so perfectly...everything was tapas style which was perfect...I would highly recommend read more

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This place was amazing! Reserved a spot pretty last minute for a Saturday, which is rare to come by in Boston- and I was super impressed with everything! Everything we got was delicious. This included falafel, the hummus trio, eggplant crispy things, chicken kebabs, and more. The cocktails were delicious too! I think this place is a better more affordable Committee if you're a fan of that place. read more

After going there twice in a week, I can now confidently say the deliciousness we experienced on our first visit were not joyful hallucinations. We are so happy something fun and exciting like Ilona opened by so close to our home. Our favorites from the menu so far have been the Shish Barak, Cigeri Hummus (only get it if you like chicken livers, we saw some people not eat the chicken liver b/c they didn't know it would be there and it was so sad), Lamb Kabab, Watermelon Salad & Beef Kefta. The octoupus we had on our first visit was pretty good but slightly more charred than we enjoy. The drinks are all very good, and Paula the bartender is amazing, can make you anything, and the nicest person. They seem to have service pretty down for a new-ish restaurant, but we can't comment too much since we have only sat at the bar (and we intend to continue to do so). The 2nd time we went one of the food runners accidentally gave our food to a neighboring couple, but they sent out some extra bread to make up for that, so it was all good. Don't walk, RUN to Ilona (but save some space for me). read more

It's a no from me!! Was very disappointed with the poor service at this restaurant. My friends and I were greeted coldly and they dont accept out of state IDs in a city that is primarily full of college students! They said it was implemented last week, however people have had the same experience months ago. The atmosphere is very discriminatory and I felt extremely uncomfortable. Dont waste your time. If I could give negative stars I would! Worst experience ever and the eggplant was greasy! read more

This place is YUM! We came here for a birthday brunch and ordered 65% of the menu. Highlights are: literally all cocktails, the whipped spicy feta, and DEF the khachipuri. The seren po shopski fell a little flat and the Mediterranean plate had excellent presentation but in itself was nothing special. Insanely cute decor and very friendly service. Very curious to come back for dinner! read more

Great food and atmosphere . Staff friendly and accommodating. Would recommend and go back again soon

Decor of this restaurant is top notch, very trendy and modern! They have this Beautiful painting on the wall, perfect for the gram. We went here for brunch, and pretty much ordered everything to share. We got shakshouka and the Mediterranean breakfast assortment. The shakshouka is very tasty. The assortment is definitely recommended to share. It is served in three tiers with bagels, spreading, and some veggies. Drinks here were pretty good, highly recommend the passionfruit martini! read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Love that new place! Very welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. Already have been there twice. LOVE "crispy eggplant" appetizer, you will crave for it again and again! Sword fish and chicken kebabs, spreads with a bread of choice are very tasty. Something new for South end cousin to experience. Definitely recommend to check it out. read more

ilona - Crispy eggplant! - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Stumbled upon this place on "Boston's Hottest New Restaurants". It is located in Boston's charming South End neighborhood. From the ambiance, to the lively music, and outstanding food and service - this restaurant is truly remarkable. Great place to enjoy with friends. Awesome to start the night out at. read more

Delightful dining experience at Ilona. The outdoor dining space we were seated in felt like its own secret hideaway even though it's right on the sidewalk, nestled behind a row of shrubs. It was a lovely ambiance with gracious servers. The menu is unique and includes a wide range of Mediterranean dishes that are hard to find elsewhere. We loved the falafel, lamb burger, salmon kebabs, and the Georgian cheese-filled bread. read more

This place was amazing - the food and the ambiance were incredible. The fried eggplant was phenomenal, you must get this! We enjoyed it more than Kava Taverna's zucchini chips, and that's saying something. Other dishes I would highly recommend is the octopus, lamb kebab, and shish barak (unlike anything we had tasted before). The fried halloumi was good but nothing to write home about. The only bad thing is that the tables are very close together and that at an hour and a half, your table has already been reserved by another party, so be prepared for that read more

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Favorite restaurant in town. I'm picky with service and food. I've been here at least 5 times so far and planning to keep coming. Favorite dishes, hard to tell I love everything, but specifically my favorites of them all are the fried eggplant, octopus and the salad that comes with feta cheese. The drinks are great!!! Even though I always drink tequila soda and lemon. They have given me some cocktails to try ( they are great!!!!). As I mentioned, I'm picky with service. I can say Ilona should have 10 stars. I feel like family every time I'm here. Thank you Ilona! Keep it up! read more

This place is great. It's cool spot with great food and drink. The scene is excellent. The atmosphere is perfect. Try their octopus and short rib. read more

ilona - Awesome scene - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Great food, better atmosphere! We called to make reservations and they were very accommodating. We had a few apps, the falafel is phenomenal. Had all the kebabs and the lamb and hummus dish - best deal in town. Definitely try their signature cocktails. Can't miss in the south end. read more

Gorgeous atmosphere, great service and awesome food! The Georgian wines were excellent, so was the hibiscus hot tea. Loved my first time here!!!! read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great food in a cool space with good service. We did a lot of sharing here so I had the opportunity to try a lot. Everything was delicious, which isn't something that is easy to come by. On my highlights were the ground lamb kabab, the ground meat dumplings, and the baklava. The bartender really knows what he's doing. They have a fun wine list. And although the beer selection is small, it's well-manicured. I was particularly impressed by the service. At one point, the place was PACKED. Every table filled and bar crowed. Somehow, our waiter managed to put in a round of drinks then get our check quickly. My only complaint, not worth removing a star, is that it was too loud. We had to yell to hear our server and having conversation over dinner was trying. read more

Great place. Friendly staff. Delicious food. We came here few time , management and the team were super friendly. Absolutely recommend.. good job read more

I looooove this place and hope they will have a patio soon.We tried octopus, potatoes, crispy eggplant, swordfish kebab along with Georgian wine..Very light, airy atmosphere with friendly hostess and attentive bartenders. Might be my new favorite spot in South End. Can't wait to come back. read more

I went here on a Tuesday night for a snack & a cocktail at the bar. The ambiance did not dissapoint. There was a buzz in the air- the windows were all open, the restaurant was mostly full, the music was going, the lights were pleasanty dim with a pinkish hue at the bar. The pink velvet chairs were surprisingly comfortable at the bar. I ordered the passion fruit mojito and the lamb kebab, as was recommended. The cocktail was delicious and refreshing and the meat was well spiced and more than just a snack- it filled me up. I would recommend sharing it and order a few other dishes. I deducted one star because I felt a slight tinge of snobbiness, or perhaps it was just an off night for the wait staff. They seemed to be working through some kinks at the bar. However I'd like to return for dinner to give it a proper try- the eggplant and puff pastry dish looked like they were worth coming back for. read more

One of new favorite places in boston! We tried many different things on the menu and everything is delicious . Our friend with allergies also had a great selection to choose from. Our waiter, Zoey, was very attentive and helpful. The cocktail were amazing especially "Ilona's Favorite". The decor and vibe of the place is fun. We will be back soon! read more

Great food, questionable portions for the prices. Service was good and outdoor seating was nice

Kind of pricey for portions that are on the smaller side, but very delicious. I recommend sharing a bunch of plates as a group.

Excellent food, elegant atmosphere, wonderful staff. This has become one of my favorite spots for Mediterranean food in Boston. Incredible read more

ilona - Chicken Kebab Beef Shish Kebab - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

To avoid except if you have eaten before as portion are tiny. Never seen this in all south end

We like Ilona so much, there has rarely been a week since they opened that we didn't have a meal with them. I say with them, because the team at Ilona is not just friendly, but like friends! The food is so good that we order extra, for yummy lunches too. And two more thumbs up for Ilona -- the bar program -- fresh juices! -- and the decor -- vibrant colors and mood lighting. Really, this place excels across the board. Oh, and... giant windows that open in the good weather! Seriously, just go. read more

Great place, delicious food, lots of cocktails, including mocktails and awesome service! Highly recommend. The design is modern and stylish and it has a nice vibe. I ordered khachapuri ( definitely get it!) lamb kebab and tomato cucumber salad, everything was fresh and delicious! read more

Food is decent but not amazing. It is very expensive for the small portion sizes. Service is awful and they will abruptly ask you to speed up your dining under 90 minutes because they have other reservations. We didn't get to try dessert because 90 minutes was up! If you don't want to be rushed while you dine and have time to order dessert/coffee after dinner, this place is not for you. read more