Lilo - Carlsbad (CA)

5 /5 Roderick Luna: I had an amazing night at LILO. The staff were incredibly friendly, and once you’re inside, you feel like you’re part of the action—almost like you’re in the kitchen with the team. The food had a Michelin-quality edge, and each dish kept surprising and delighting me. A memorable evening all around.

4 /5 DJ Scala: Exceptional in virtually every way! The food and service is easily on par with 3 Michelin star restaurants and I imagine Lilo will be getting its third star in record time. The atmosphere on the patio and inside is elegant, adult yet comfortable. LOVED it! LILO’s team makes a special night even more special. The one miss, wine director Savannah. She was disinterested and unable to articulate basic facts about wines. She seemed cranky when we tried to discuss the wine offerings and never came back to ask if we wanted another glass. I must mention the pastry chef is a genius!

3 /5 Tu Ngo: I had very high expectations coming here, however, I left with disappointment. While I appreciate the creativity of incorporating many different ingredients in each dish, I feel like the chefs were trying too hard and the ingredients’ flavor didn’t really go well together for many courses. The tempura veggies were very oily, which was shocking to me. They tasted worse than veggies tempura at an average sushi restaurant. Most desserts were overly sweet for both me and my husband. The only highlights of the night were the service and the non-alcoholic beverage pairing (even though a couple of them didn’t taste good but they were able to make something else delicious on the spot for me). Overall, I didn’t think Lilo lived up to the hype in terms of food. It was a decent experience, I wouldn’t want to come back mainly because the food wasn’t that great.

4 /5 Raymond C: Truly amazing ambiance and top tier service from beginning to end! Food is spectacular, and food presentation is just so impressive, but short of amazing for the value. Be prepared to spend some $$$$$. We went all-out with the add-ons, and this was the most expensive dinner we’ve had in a while. The entrance right now is easy to miss, no lights in the parking lot, and between some construction areas. The private parking area has plenty of spots though, right in front of the restaurant. They start you off with a few appetizer bites outside, with an appetizer drink menu. Then they bring you inside for an 8?-ish course meal which is a fabulous journey. They carefully explain details of every course, where the ingredients are sourced, and how everything is prepared. It is truly impressive. Each course has small portions, but we were so full at the end. Flavors were unique and tasted great, some maybe a touch overpowering the rest of the dish. They have these alcohol pairing options, which is very generous in portions. Some really did complement the food course, bringing out an extra layer of flavor. But I’m not sure I would recommend it because it was an expensive add-on and really just made us more full by the end. We couldn’t finish the pairings at the end. There was another add-on of white truffles with the caviar and ice cream, which was just so sensational. It was delicious, but I’m not sure it was worth it. At the end they take you back outside by the fire for additional small dessert bites and tea, but at that point we had to get ours to go. This is probably the longest review I’ve written, but this was such an experience! Overall, I would recommend going here at least once. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the pairings or add-ons unless that’s your thing. Compared to other omakase places and overall value, I’m not sure I’ll be back. But try it out for yourself.

5 /5 Evan Purcell: Lilo is an undeniably amazing experience from the moment you walk in till you take your last bite. It’s like a symphony orchestra that never misses a beat. Amazing food, incredible drink pairing and every single team member you come in contact with is impressive. Can’t wait to visit again and bring new friends.