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    Ilya Restaurant

    4.4 (172 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Services - Ilya Restaurant

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    ILYA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Ilya Restaurant

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    Mezza Platter
    Jen W.

    Came here for my birthday dinner and had such an amazing experience from start to finish. The staff welcomed me with birthday wishes the moment we arrived, which immediately made the night feel special and personal. The atmosphere was beautiful -- elegant but still cozy and inviting. It felt upscale without being pretentious, which I really loved. Every dish we ordered was incredible. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the flavors and presentation. One thing that really stood out was how they paced the meal and fired the food in stages, so everything arrived fresh and at exactly the right time. It made the entire dining experience feel thoughtful and elevated instead of rushed. The service was absolutely top-notch. The staff was attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed to care that we were having a great experience. This was honestly one of the best birthday dinners I've had in a long time. Can't wait to come back!

    Michelle L.

    Absolute perfection from check in to leaving. What an absolute gem of a restaurant with the most easy going service that was also so incredibly attentive. There is a small parking lot with valet which made parking incredibly easy. Every single dish that was ordered was of the most top notch quality and can't wait to be back sooner than later hopefully!

    rigatoni bolognese
    Dung N.

    This restaurant is so pretty! I love the decor! We had reservations and were promptly seated. The Clean Sheet and False Promise mocktails were colorful and not too sweet. I liked the False Promise more- it had Sencha Tea extract with coconut water, lime juice, ginger beer, and Thai basil. So refreshing! We chose the grilled tiger prawns and white fish carpaccio for our starters. Both appetizers were very tasty! For our entrees, we shared the rigatoni bolognese and branzino. They offered to take out the head and tail off, but we were experts at eating this fish. I loved how light the fish was. We chose the tres leches for our dessert! It was pretty dense, if you like that texture. The staff was very nice and friendly! It's a perfect spot for date nights or if you want to celebrate something special!

    Lynzee H.

    I came here on a date night and it didn't disappoint. It's a beautiful space with lots of indoor and outdoor seating options. Service was excellent and our server had great recommendations for drinks and food. Food was great, I recommend the papas. The only thing that could have been improved was it was a little chilly when we went and the outdoor set up with heaters was not sufficient. Overall good experience

    My favorite of the night truffle tagliatelle ..  spend the money and add fresh truffles to the top
    Barbara S.

    Went last night with two girlfriends. The Building is absolutely beautiful and welcoming. Our Server Matt was nice, but the mail manager of the night was extremely helpful, kind, and really helped make our night special. He is extremely personable. Now I'm for the best part... The food was fabulous. We made the night of sharing we started with baked feta. It was so yummy and the homemade pizza was incredible.. We then shared steak Frites and truffle tagiatelle. The steak was cooked to perfection and had the most incredible seasoning and taste. It was served with chimichurri, which one of the girls could not stop raving about. The frites were nice and cooked well. But I have to admit my favorite thing was the truffle tagliatelle. The creamy Parmesan and truffle sauce was extremely perfectly balanced and delicious. We added shaved truffles to the top, which just made it even more special. For dessert we ordered tiramisu which came out and a huge bowl and they dished it out for you at your table. I would recommend this place. I'm not gonna tell you that it's inexpensive because it's not... But it was worth every penny. I'm attaching some pictures of the food and also of how beautiful the building is because that always makes an experience special. The only thing I have to admit it is very loud and difficult to hear the people at your table.

    Prawns
    Lisa W.

    I came here with a group of friends for a birthday celebration. We had a fairly large group of 11 people. We waited about five minutes or so and were seated. The space itself is very beautiful with open-air dining and lots of natural light. There are four dollar signs on the Yelp profile for a reason. Mocktails are $15, entrees start at $36. I ordered seared salmon and Clean Sheet (mocktail). The salmon was pretty well cooked so it was more than well done than seared. The entrees do not come with any sides so you'll have to order anything extra that you want. One of the friends I was dining with asked the server and another person who I assume was in management about the lack of sides to go along the entree and he comped her a spinach and mushrooms and carrots side dishes which was very kind of him. Service was good and our waters were refilled frequently. The food itself was good but not great. My boyfriend and I shared the salmon and the truffle tagliatelle. The pasta was very flavorful and delicious. No complaints there. The salmon was average. For the price, I was hoping for more as far as flavor and presentation. I had some of the escargot and some of the mezze platter, both were decent.

    Aalia S.

    We sat in the patio, which was very cute, but can get cold. Our service was great. The restaurant was beautiful. We started with the dips and they were all good. I wish they provided more pita bread with the dish though. We also tried the prawn appetizer. It was fine. For our mains, we got the truffle pasta and the steak with the pepper sauce. The truffle pasta was tasty but a little bit overcooked. The steak had a great sauce to it, but it wasn't the best cut of meat as there were some chewy and fatty parts, it also came out cold. They were really kind and provided free dessert for a birthday at our table. We got the tiramisu and it was delicious.

    Bolognese & Seared Salmon
    Crystal K.

    Ilya is a celebration of flavor, and brings Chef Charbel Hayek's vision for peace, abundance, and connection through food to life. They really make you feel welcome, like part of the family, when you dine here. We shared: Cheating Vegan Casablanca Ilya Mezze White Fish Carpaccio Seared Salmon Rigatoni Bolognese Lemon Tarte The ambiance is such a nice, open-air Mediterranean courtyard kind of vibe that makes you want to linger over cocktails and conversation for hours. We really loved the mezze - the fluffy bread and hummus are pure heaven. The cocktails have such unique flavor combinations, like masala chai infused vermouth and butterfly pea tea. Even the lemon tarte dessert had a base of basil cream on the bottom that really put a unique twist on a classic dessert.

    Branzino -- cooked well, but not a huge fan of sauce
    Tiffany B.

    We tried Ilya for the first time and the atmosphere is so charming the moment you walk in--such a cozy indoor + outdoor space that feels perfect for a date night. Service was also super attentive throughout. As for the food, it was a bit of a mix for us--we enjoyed 3 out of the 5 dishes we ordered. Our favorites were the tiger prawn appetizer, truffle pasta, and the tiramisu (definitely a highlight), while the branzino and hummus didn't quite stand out to us. If we're ever back in the area, we'd love to try the steak next!

    patio
    Brittney A.

    I dined at ILYA recently and had such an incredible experience! The space is stunning and truly feels like you've been transported somewhere in the Mediterranean. The indoor dining area is moody and romantic, while the outdoor patio is perfect for sunset. It's a great spot for date nights, celebrations, or catching up with friends. Food and drinks were just as impressive. The grilled tiger prawns had amazing flavor. The white fish carpaccio was a standout. I don't usually gravitate toward white fish, but I would absolutely order this again. The truffle tagliatelle was rich, well-balanced, and perfect for sharing. The grilled bavette was cooked beautifully, and the chimichurri was so unique and addictive. I genuinely wish I could buy a bottle. All of the sauces here are incredibly well done and elevate each dish. The tiramisu is a must-order. It's served tableside, light, creamy, and the perfect way to end the meal. Cocktails were all unique and well executed. Service truly stood out. Everyone was warm, attentive, and welcoming. Our server mentioned it was her first night out of training, and you would never have known. She was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and made great recommendations throughout the meal. Parking is valet, and even the team outside was just as kind and hospitable as the staff inside. Every touchpoint felt like 5-star service. Overall, a 10/10 experience. I can't wait to come back and bring more people here!

    Grilled Octopus
    Lisa B.

    Went back for my second visit and it was just as good as my first! Tonight, my husband and I were seated in the bar area, which has tables surrounding an olive tree. I know I said this in my first review, but everything about this restaurant is spectacular! The bar is beautiful, the restaurant beautiful, the wine and meat displays are really nice and service tonight was just as good as the first time! Since I had the Bavette steak the first visit and it was so delicious I had it again. We added a side of spinach with mushrooms and a share plate of the Truffle Tagliatelle. My husband had the lamb chops which he has been craving since his first visit. All of these flavors together were beyond delicious! Another thing I love about this restaurant is the portion sizes. I think they're absolutely the perfect portion size, you get enough food, but you're not stuffed! Kind of convenient for the restaurant since it saves just enough room for dessert! Haha, which, of course we did.... last time we had the tiramisu tonight we tried the lemon tart, which was not only beautiful, but tasty! I cannot wait to bring everyone I know to this restaurant!

    Menu
    Kerry S.

    Gave this place another try after a disappointing Valentine's Day dinner, and I'm glad we did. We arrived around 5pm and sat at the bar, where we ordered the Ilya Mezze along with a couple of drinks. The food was a solid 8/10, and the drinks were a 9/10. The space itself is absolutely gorgeous, with so much attention to detail! it really makes the experience feel special. The two bartenders were friendly and welcoming, and by the time we left, the place was completely packed.

    Roasted carrots
    Erika N.

    This is a new restaurant in San Clemente and the decor / ambiance is on point. Beautiful patio and lots of heaters to be enjoyable in colder temperatures. Highly recommend coming with at least a party of 3 people to share multiple plates. The roasted carrots were delicious, flavorful and perfectly roasted. The tiger prawn were somehow creamy tasting and full of flavor. Goat cheese salad was hands down the favorite to the night, fresh, crunchy and goat cheese everywhere. I'm typically not a huge meatball fan but here they are so packed with flavor and sauce was perfect pairing. The spicy rigatoni could have been spicier but we still enjoyed it. We ordered our steak medium rare, it was more on the medium side but still tasted good. Overall, I would recommend llya and make sure to order a good spread from meat to veggies.

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    23 days ago

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    23 days ago

    The food was amazing! Our waiter Micha? I think, was awesome. Very attentive. We love going there and will definitely be back!!!

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    6 days ago

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    15 days ago

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    6 days ago

    Great taste and quality food service was good and the mood was very mellow relatively relaxed for a Sunday brunch.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Ilya Restaurant

    Is there gluten free options ? My granddaughter has Celiac?

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    4.5(648 reviews)
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    The Boulder and I rolled in on a suspiciously perfect Monday afternoon--clear skies, good vibes,…read moreand my dog in tow (a true critic.. of me). My tall Sequoia of a date did the classic awkward shuffle at the front like, "hi, can the dog come through to the patio without causing a federal incident?" The guy we asked looked like we had just asked him to solve climate change (bc he was a customer...), but he very politely redirected us to the cashier, who was lovely. So: Kindness: 10/10. Confusion: also 10/10. ~Balance~ Now the food. The Boulder orders a fish burrito. I go for the chimichurri salmon bowl with quinoa because I, too, enjoy pretending I have my life together. BUT. The boulder also then orders clam chowder--a surprise, a moment of elation, but at the same time... skeptical? Sir? I have lamented over my favorite chowder like a woman waiting for her husband to come back from battle. Were your ears too high in elevation for my voice to reach? ANYWAYS. Let's talk about the clam chowder, because this is where things get serious. I have grown up eating clam chowder in Santa Cruz (my hometown, my birthplace, my origins). I have known greatness (shoutout to Stagnaro Bros., the downstairs fish market). So when I tell you I approached this chowder with standards, I need you to understand the weight of that statement. I put my spoon in. It did not sink. At that moment, I knew. This was not soup. This was a lifestyle. A structural entity. And it was GOOD. Creamy, thick, unapologetically clam-forward. Not quite Santa Cruz enlightenment, clouds-parting-angels-singing, but honestly? Strong contender. We're talking solid top 4-5 chowders of my life, and I do not say that lightly. Now, my salmon bowl? Good. Respectable. Salmon = crispy, quinoa = doing quinoa things (why is it always slightly annoying to eat??). Chimichurri good. The fish burrito (from my observational research + dog validation panel): packed, flaky, generous. My dog approved, which frankly is the highest honor available. Overall: Great food, great vibes, excellent chowder, and quality time with the Tall Sequoia Boulder Man™ on a random Monday. Plus points--chips looked fried on site :D

    We drove all the way from San Diego to enjoy this restaurant on a fine Saturday day. we arrived at…read morenoon and there was about five people in line out the door. We waited for 25 minutes and the line did not move. The line only continued to grow about 20+ people wrapping around the corner. What a failure by the business owner to only have one cashier and not offer any shade, apologies, (or potentially a free sample of POG etc) for their 20+ patrons waiting in a stationary line that is not going anywhere. After 30min we called it quits and went to active culture where we were treated with great customer service. Go to active culture!

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    It's been years since I've been here. Ambience inside is very sort of sports bar around the bar…read morearea and masculine with a Mexican touch booths and seating. Our young waiter was very peppy and friendly in what I consider an overly familiar kind of way. Not my style but I can't fault them for it. Chips and salsa were brought to the table, good as before. Plates-beautiful presentation, some items better than others. Pork Mole Enchilada-meh, the mole was on the sweet side, not very punchy, not memorable. Shrimp Taquito-amazing, tasty shrimp with nice spices and garnish, pinto beans well pureed and good. Mexican street corn-pretty good, a little heavy on the mayo. Food was good and solid, but not a WOW! There is better Mexican out there around here for the same or lesser prices, so don't go here for the value, go for the ambience and if you like drinks and/or expensive tequilas, they've got plenty of those too. Desserts were very generous, flan with caramel and candied pecans was delicious, creamy, firm, not flabby like some flans can be. Churros-rolled into a circle and fried, served with vanilla ice cream, caramel, candied pecans too. Desserts were the best part of the meal. I enjoyed eating here, once. Twice, I won't.

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    GiGi's by The Pier

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    Great location!!! Just steps from the beach, great views. Greeted by our host/server. We were…read moreable to choose our table and I chose one with a view of the pier and ocean. The food was good. A few surprises My sister ordered the Cali eggs Benedict the potatoes wee supposed to be smashed, they were halved. The avocado slices looked old due to the dark tone on them, not the normal green. My chilaquiles had black beans, not mentioned in the menu description; great surprise. There was supposed to be sour cream on my chilaquiles and there wasn't any. It would have cut some of the sourness of the chile verde sauce. I chose poached eggs in stead of fried ones. My eggs were over cooked and cold. I am pretty sure they were precooked. I would give them another try, maybe for lunch.

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    We are so glad to have found this place when looking for brunch option this morning…read more We ordered little mixture of lunch and breakfast and who doesn't love oysters on a half-shell first thing in the morning! They were nice and fresh-served with a little butter mixture, and of course, lemon and Tabasco on the side for preference. The oysters were a little small, but they were a good try anyway. We also started with a basket of sourdough slices which came out toasted and hot. Next was the Boeuf Bourguignon was just delicious! They definitely slow cooked the beef as advertised. And also a Mediterraneenne omelette w/some added Gruyère-the egg alone was probably the best fluffy omelette I've ever had! Everything was cooked with delicacy and care in the quality of the ingredients. You definitely get the quality of food that the prices call for. We will definitely be back because it's good quality food, and pleasant vibe with good service!

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    Brussels Bistro - Inside decor

    Inside decor

    Brussels Bistro - Lettuce wrapped burger

    Lettuce wrapped burger

    Brussels Bistro

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    Kawamata Seafood - Large, ahi tuna/salmon,  original blend and spicy mayo with spicy tuna and furikaki topping.

    Kawamata Seafood

    4.5(1k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    The line can get long but you're only waiting to place an order. It doesn't take that long to get…read moreyour food. It's not hard to find street parking either. This place is a little pricey but it's worth it. You get a lot of avocado and ginger. I love the original flavor. It makes the rice taste so good. I wish they gave more salmon but I'm still satisfied.

    This place used to be good post covid. For the price and the amount i could get better some place…read moreelse. They charge an arm and a leg for every toppings with how little they give you. i got the regular $12.99 (half rice and salad) and i added a few things on there as well. The total price plus tip came out to be about $24 dollars. When i opened the container, i saw how little rice and salad they gave. Honestly, it looked like scraps or leftovers from someone else. Literally looked like a mini icecream scoop of rice and salad...that's how little it was. The same for the fish and toppings. Everything looked like it was sprinkled on top. I was utterly disappointment because this isn't the first time i noticed the portion size being small. This is the second time im giving it a chance after covid and i can confirm that it is the biggest waste of money for what they give you. They're ripping everyone off. tl;dr, mediocre flavor, portion size poor for the the price. Go somewhere else, there are better ones out there.

    Photos
    Kawamata Seafood
    Kawamata Seafood - Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    Kawamata Seafood - Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

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    Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    Hook & Anchor - Shrimp Cocktail

    Hook & Anchor

    4.3(202 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    If you're in the area... you NEED to try Hook & Anchor…read more Everything was so good, but that bread pudding?! Next level. I'm still thinking about it.

    I had heard through social media and reviews that this place has the best lobster roll in Orange…read moreCounty and once again I find all the hype to be inaccurate. The menu looks great, offering what looks to be delicious seafood. And I imagine that they offer great seafood. , just not in the form of a lobster roll. I was born and raised in New England and I know what a Maine style lobster roll is. What they offer here is nothing like a Maine style lobster roll and honestly, it tasted gross.. The iconic Maine lobster roll is made from simple ingredients, It is the perfect combination of mounds of lobster , mayonnaise, and lemon juice maybe a little salt.. served chilled in a toasted bun. Sometimes you get minced celery . What was served to me at Hook and Anchor was a lobster roll served in a brioche bun, and when I looked at it, it looked like it had hot cheese on top of it. But that wasn't cheese.. That was hot garlic mayonnaise, or aoili. I had to eat it with a knife of fork, and the overwhelming flavor is garlic. That's too bad because lobster has a delicate flavor and overpowering it with hot garlic, mayonnaise , it just was not very good It was bad. Again a lobster roll is served cold and that it was hot made it worse. If this is what you serve please don't say it's a Maine style lobster because it absolutely is not. However, we did split a clam chowder and that was delicious so my guess is that they have items on the menu that are good and I probably will go back to try their other entrees But please don't tell people that this is a Maine style lobster roll. And lastly, there is another classic style of lobster., I think that's considered New York, and that is warm a lobster with melted butter, drizzled all through it that I think does have minced celery . This style of lobster roll is decadent and delicious. And I don't understand how people who review lobster rolls on TikTok and Instagram somehow in Orange County don't know what a classic Maine lobster roll is

    Photos
    Hook & Anchor - Booth interior seating

    Booth interior seating

    Hook & Anchor - Lobster Deviled Eggs

    Lobster Deviled Eggs

    Hook & Anchor - 6oz Lobster Roll with grilled veggies

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    6oz Lobster Roll with grilled veggies

    Ilya Restaurant - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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