Came here for dinner on a Thursday night. We ordered a lot for two people but everything was delicious. Highly recommend the octopus. read more

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Ilona falls into what I think is a confusing category of restaurants - not fine-dining, not suitable for takeout, and quite pricy for a casual meal out when you're just tired of cooking. We ended up going for a birthday dinner anyway since it was a Monday evening and most of the nice places in Boston are closed on Mondays. We tried the grilled octopus, khachapuri, and slow roasted lamb. The food was good but not great. It felt like there wasn't any creativity or innovation in any of the dishes. The lamb came with plain tzatziki; the khachapuri was served without any seasoning/sauce/garnish whatsoever. There didn't seem to be any effort made on the plating/presentation either. I expected a little something more given the rave reviews I heard, and at this price point, but was left disappointed. Definitely not recommended for a special occasion meal or a regular family dinner out. Maybe better for a date or group night out or something where the focus is on the company and not the food. read more

ilona - Slow Roasted Lamb Herb-garlic, tzatziki, pita - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I finally had the chance to visit ilona last weekend! The atmosphere is absolutely perfect and the menu has so much to offer. We started with Passion Martini's and Pikilia for the table. The martini had the absolute perfect tartness. I loved it. The Pikilia was one of my favorites of the night. It came with 3 spreads and delicious fresh bread. The Jalapeno Feta dip was excellent. Next we had the Fattoush salad and the Crispy Eggplant. The fattoush had great flavor but the there was some hard pieces of something in it, potentially sand from the greens. The crispy tempura eggplant was wonderful, but just a touch too sweet for my taste. For the final round, we went with the grilled Octopus, and the Roasted Cauliflower. The octopus was absolutely delicious and had such a flavorful char. The roasted cauliflower with turmeric yogurt sauce was also to die for. I can't wait to return and try more!! read more

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5 stars for this innovative Mediterranean restaurant. 5/5 ambiance 4/5 food 5/5 service We were a party of 5 with diverse taste- college age students, a 10yo, GF and also shellfish adverse. - we had 1$ oysters (because you should never pass buck a chuck)- very fresh - we loved the humus plate (appetizer) served with pulled meat and flavorful pita - we loved the goulash (appetizer) amazing flavors, tender meat and very tasty gnocchi - we loved the shush kabob and shopska salad - the calamari were underdone and were pale and tasteless We wasn't clear why some dished were appetizers and not main courses but other than that we explored very tasty meal. Oh, and they need more Bulgarian food :-) read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I lovedd the halloumi appetizer - it comes with a tomato jam which is a unique touch. My favorite was the crispy eggplant - a must try! The grilled shrimp, octopus & Hunkar Begendi were average imo ‍ I can't say my mind was blown by the place but I'd come again for the eggplant & to try more of their dishes. read more

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I got here right as at opened on a Saturday. The aesthetic was super cute. The service was excellent. I ordered the shrimp ceviche. Honestly, this was one of the best ceviches I've ever had! They have 2 other types that I will definitely come back and try. I also ordered the cucumber and tomato salad and the octopus. Everything was fresh and delicious. If you haven't tried this place, please do. read more

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I'm always looking for new flavors, exciting tastes, and interesting presentations. Illona really delivered! I was in Boston for a short visit and wanted to host a couple of friends to a meal that was far from ordinary. While waiting for my guests I enjoyed a fine Youzu cocktail from their bar. They have a nice list of interesting cocktails (as well as a good beer and wine list). Illona serves primarily small plates meant for sharing. This presents a great opportunity to taste lots of different dishes. I can truly say that there was nothing that wasn't really good. Interesting tastes, textures, and colors made for an captivating meal. Of particular note in my memory was the octopus which was flavorful and miraculously tender. The arancini were also great as was the Fattoush salad. In fact there was nothing that I wouldn't order again without hesitation. If you're in this Tremont St neighborhood definitely give Illona a try. read more

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Outstanding place to rest, relax and enjoy a unique combination of Middle Eastern foods! Excellent quality of food and drinks and spot-on service. Be sure and ask for Felipe if he's available! We stumbled across this place on our way to the BSO and popped back in after the show for dessert and coffee too! read more

Excellent food and cocktails. We had several small plates and everything was great. Service was fast and friendly. Loved the hummus, feta, and beet tzatziki dips. read more

Midway through my dining experience, food good overall so far. The forks are weird though, change them.

First time here and the experience was excellent. Very attentive staff, great atmosphere and the food options were excellent. 5 of us shared several plates and enjoyed all of them. Speciality drinks were great and dessert was excellent. Highly recommend for those that like tapas with an upbeat atmosphere. read more

Came in for the first time for $1 oysters on Thursday. Service- A+ super friendly and helpful server. Was attentive but not pushy. Oysters- Oysters were fresh and yummy. The cocktail sauce was great also Drinks- Passion martini!! Just make sure to get it. Will for sure come back, from the other plates we saw, the food looks and smells great too read more

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Ilona was AMAZING! Gorgeous decor throughout and all the staff were really friendly. Came here for a birthday dinner and our server was amazing! Attentive but also gave us time to enjoy ourselves. Food was so good (get the fried eggplant!) and the manager even stopped by to check on us regularly. Don't miss out:) read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Food at price point: 4.5/5 Notes: Had a fantastic Easter dinner here with my family. Food was great and I got to try new mediterranean dishes I wouldn't be able to get at many other places in Boston. Worth the money! read more

Yes, yes, and yes. Take me back. Not many folks venture out to that corner of the south end, but you should. The staff is so friendly and accommodating. I've been there twice and they were so nice and very helpful each time. The first time we had a YUUUGE party and they were awesome about it. The drinks are so fun. I recommend the spicy margarita. This is a great place to go with your vegetarian friends. Best falafel I have ever had. I usually don't care for them, but these were so good! The fried eggplant takes me to my happy place. Loved the halloumi. Grilled octopus was yum yum. Get the imeruli khachapuri! Pikilia is a crowd pleaser (pita with multiple spreads). I could go on, but let's not forget about the dessert! There is a nut-based dessert with ice cream that I got both times (can't remember name and dessert menu not posted). The other desserts were good too. You can't go wrong with Ilona! read more

4.5 stars Really enjoyed my meal at Ilona - it was such a unique experience as you can't really find food from the Caucases so easily in Boston. Ambiance was nice and drinks were delicious - I started with some Armenian wine and switched over to a cocktail later (the you-zu) which was so delicious and had the right amount of kick (not super Liquor forward either!). For food it was all really good the only reason I rated a bit lower is because it was all quite heavy and a bit greasy. Some items you absolutely can't miss are the shish barak, hummus shawarma, and the fattoush salad. We also got the fried eggplant and the imeruli khachapuri which were also good, just really heavy. The bread especially could've been half the portion size. Overall really liked it and I'm looking forward to come back and try other things on their menu! Follow me on ig @ sophiaeaaats for more recs! read more

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The only real issue is parking but everything was 10/10. Service was attentive, fast and friendly. Everything at brunch was delicious (shakshuka, eggplant, roasted mushrooms, octupus). The drinks were so unexpectedly amazing, especially the Pink Velvet cocktail with blueberry infused disaronno. The decor is chic but not too loud or trying too hard. Very spacious. Great for groups, two people or on your own. I'd love to go back and try for dinner. Overall, definitely check them out! read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here on a Thursday night and the place was quite small. We had no reservations so it was nice that we were able to get seated quickly. It was packed so the fact that the restaurant small and full of people made the restaurant feel way more crowded and loud than it actually was. We were deciding between here and Mida across the street, I wish we went to Mida instead. This restaurant definitely caters to a younger crowd and has an aesthetic decorative interior. This restaurant is made up of essentially one long wall of booths and the other side of the table is where the food runners/waiters/waitresses walk along so if you are sitting on that side (not in the booth) you will constantly have someone walking behind you. Our waiter was attentive to us and our food got out to us quick which is always great to see. This restaurant is one of those places that gives tapas (small plates) so please be aware of that. I would not necessarily recommend this place if you are really hungry as you'd need to buy at least 2-3 plates (at ~$15/plate) per person to get a decent sized meal. We got the 2 orders of chicken kebabs ($14 each), lamb kebabs ($17), batata harras ($13), and the roasted cauliflower ($13). Honestly all of the food tasted good but I would not go back to this place because I did not feel like the prices were worth the (small) size of the plates. I have been to restaurants before that serve tapas style portions and I felt that I got great value for what I was paying for but I cannot say the same for this place. With that being said this restaurant is quite popular and definitely has a crowd of people who enjoy this place. read more

Overall a wonderful experience! To start the location is so accessible for someone living in the South End, but parking would be tough if you're driving. The inside is beautifully lit with plenty of natural light through the big windows. It can get a little loud but not as bad around the periphery. Our server, Mike, was excellent and attentive. I have a nut allergy to only walnuts and pecans - dangerous in a Greek restaurant but worth the gamble! - and he was extremely helpful. Knew all of this dishes, what they contained, and double checked with the kitchen to be sure. Plates were cleared quickly to make room, but the only downside was the sauces were so delicious, we wished we could keep them around for the bread! We ordered the imeruli khachapuri, crispy eggplant, shish barak, and kefta. They came out quickly and freshly made to order, there was never a lull in our meal! Khachapuri- a good side, almost like a palate cleanser, but the cheese was not terribly flavorful. Would be much better with something to dip it in, or another dish to go with. Not a necessity, especially at $15. Crispy eggplant- delicious and had a lovely tzatziki-like sauce underneath to pair. A must if you visit! Shish barak- wonderful texture, great presentation, and tasty. Kefta- portion was much smaller than expected, but they were tender and the sauce was delicious. Making a reservation online was so easy, definitely recommend trying! read more

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Both service and the food were absolutely fantastic!!! My server Santal was a delight. I gotta say, I am not used to having kabob without rice, vegetables and bread but boy was it delicious. It sat on a yoghurt sauce that was simple and tasteful. Since my fat ass can't eat meat without carbs I also got the bread (don't remember the name now) and it probably was the best pida bread I have had here in the USA. The beer I had with it was just as good. Will go back next week try more things on the menu. read more

ilona - Adana Lamb Kebab - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Great food, great staff, excellent scene and price was "good for what we got" we will be back and have added Ilona to our list for Boston visits. read more

Went for Oyster Happy hour, delish! We saw only lots of photos of the fried eggplant and would recommend you order it too, also tasty. Ordered the rose sangria and it was delicious! Nice staff, sat at the bar. read more

Delicious Mediterranean food. Everything on the small plates menu was delicious and the oysters were fresh as well.

Wow the food and service was amazing! Definitely will be back! Drinks were well made. Wide menu selection but was only able to try several items. I'm droling as I think about it! Remember to make reservations. They get super busy. read more

Beautiful ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating. Certainly pricey with small plates, but as expected with a restaurant of this caliber in the South End. Kind service as well. read more

My boyfriend and I went here to grab tapas and drinks and for him to reconnect with a friend from Exeter. I liked the club-like, modern, and elegant ambiance at the bar. The wall art of the woman peering through the flowers was so gorgeous and vibrant (I unintentionally matched with the red top). We made reservations ahead, but it wasn't too crowded mostly likely because it was a Sunday evening. The food was delicious and I loved all the Mediterranean options. We had many dishes that we shared family-style including the batata harras (spicy harissa fried potatoes), roasted mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms with egg on top), molisana ribs (braised spicy pork ribs), the fish crudo (catch of the day), shish barak (pasta dough stuffed with lamb, onions, pine-nuts, and yogurt sauce), halloumi (pan seared halloumi cheese with citrus honey and sesame seeds), and beef shish kabobs. My personal favorites were the shish barak and roasted mushrooms. This was an upscale, yet casual place to grab a drink and share a meal. The waiter was very friendly to us and the tapas came out in quick succession. I would definitely come back to try the rest of the tapas on the menu and try more of their cocktail menu! I had a tasty, "pink velvet" cocktail and we finished our meal with a coffee, tea, and delicious baklava and creamy puff pastry desserts. read more

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The eggplant is indeed to die for. Delicious oysters and drinks, and a very cute vibe inside. read more

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Ilona is an incredible restaurant with lovely staff and even more delicious food! I have been more than once, and it gets better every time I go. They have an excellent cocktail list and extensive wine list with unique wines that the staff are very knowledgeable about. Service is fabulous. Very attentive and were able to answer any questions I asked about the menu. The restaurants atmosphere is sultry and smooth. Great place for date night! Of course the main point is food and their crispy eggplant meze and lamb kabob are to die for! Overall a really great place. They follow COVID guidelines perfectly, and I never felt uncomfortable. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came to celebrate my daughters 17th and nieces 16th birthday. Great food! Definitely order the eggplant. Staff was very vice and accommodating, drinks were meh... mock tails were not worth it. But overall a great time. We will be back next time we are in town. read more

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Got the Happy Hour special of oysters, ceviche, and a bottle of wine. The service was great and the ambience felt upscale but relaxed. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The menu was versatile with good choices for vegetarian service was very attentive and ambiance was nice but very noisy when windows were open with heavy traffic which is the same time as dinner time read more

This is by fair one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Best place for Mediterranean food around. It's tapas style so you are able to try many dishes and none of them disappoint! Very nicely designed with a modern feel. The waiters also give great recommendations and explain the menu well if it's your first time trying these foods. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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"Went here for a nice pre-Vday Dinner with my boyfriend it was Awesome! The crisped up eggplant, the grilled halloumi with the tomato jam, the array of bread with various dips of different colors and flavors, and the charred octopus tentacle with lemon were DIVINE!!!!! Not to mention.........a pretty extraordinary deal on gyros (we feasted on scrumptious lamb and cauliflower gyros for only $3 each! Come on gyro Tuesday!)! Truly....a meal to remember. my best to the staff and owners of Ilona, and you shall be seeing me again soon." -my girlfriend ^ read more

I went to Ilona last night for a date night! The decor was fun, modern, and bright. We were seated at the front of the restaurant near a window. The waitress told us about the specials and the one that stood out was the ground beef wrapped in grape leaves. So we went with 1) octopus 2) ground beef wrapped in grape leaves and 3) Manakish (soft flatbread topped with za'atar. The stand out was the Manakish and the octopus! The octopus was cooked perfectly, grilled on the outside and delicious on the inside. The flatbread was so fresh and paired so well with the za'atar. You should definitely make reservations! Shortly after we arrived, the restaurant got packed. One thing that I noticed is that they didn't try to rush us out at all once we were finished with our food. Great service and friendly waitresses! read more

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Have ordered takeout several more times and back again for a visit. Tip - control your own pacing. Our server mentioned that food comes out as it's ready, so we transitioned to order-as-you-go mode and this worked great. Still really love the decor and the music - everybody there seemed to be having a great time. New fabulous dish we tried this time - mkhlovani - bread stuffed with garlicky, cheesy greens. We couldn't finish the whole thing, brought it home, and had it for breakfast the next day - yum. Crispy eggplant, octopus, shish barak remain our top 3. read more

What a nice surprise! I hadn't heard of this restaurant until a friend recommended it and made a reservation. I'm very grateful he did. The restaurant is in a small space right on the corner of Mass Ave. We stopped in around 7pm on a weeknight and the place was packed. The decor was simple but stylish. We were seated at a table right near the door and host/hostess stand. Note that the space does not have a double door or vestibule (at least for now), so sitting near the door on a cold night could result in an unpleasant draft. It wasn't very cold outside so this didn't bother us, but the area near our table was very busy with people coming and going. The staff seemed a little new with things, but the service was very friendly and attentive. Our server was sweet and cheerful, pleasantly joking with my two friends and me. We were all having a good time, so I wasn't watching the clock, but the service seemed fairly quick. We ordered a variety of dishes to share and they seemed to just keep coming as we were finishing the last one, so they must have timed it well. The real pleasure of the night was the food (okay, the company and the food). We started with a pita and dip dish that was a nice way to kick off the meal. It came with three dips which were colorful and unique, ranging from sweet to savory. All were tasty and the bread was hot and fresh. We ended up ordering more bread just so we wouldn't waste the dips. We followed that with several dishes including a fried cheese plate that was just awesome. We finished with a large chicken dish that was tender and well seasoned. I'm not usually a fan of chicken but this I would get again. My only regret is that we didn't order dessert. I will be back to try it. read more

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Last night we ate at this hip Mediterranean tapas restaurant in the South End. The food was unique and tasty. We had the breads and dips, the crispy eggplant, the fried cheese, the mussels and the salmon crudo. I would order everything again except the bread and chips, which was way overpriced for three mediocre dips. All in all, a really nice meal and I would definitely return! read more

ilona - Crispy Eggplant and delicious Greek wine - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Went there for brunch yesterday with my mom. You cannot order off the regular menu for brunch. We both got the Sabich which was a sandwich that was bland and forgettable. For $12 I thought it should have come with a side. The interior is lovely and the service was friendly, would avoid brunch in the future and give dinner a try. read more

ilona - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Staff is above and beyond! They are always so accommodating and often give me samples. I love that the menu changes frequently. The food is amazing but it is quite pricey. I don't mind because it's so delicious. Drinks are some of the best and aren't over priced! Inside is just so cute and trendy. I love to come alone after work and sit at the bar. read more

ilona - Dining area - Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Love this place! Their outdoor area has become our go to during covid. Food is delicious and comes out fast. My faves: - crispy eggplant - perfect combo of sweet, savory, and fried - grilled halloumi - tomato cucumber salad - very simple but so refreshing - cheese bread - like a naan stuffed with cheese. So warm and comforting read more