Cedar Divides and Decorates New Lebanese Restaurant

Last Thursday, chef and owner Philippe Massoud opened a spacious new Lebanese restaurant in the Flatiron district. Named for the colloquial Lebanese word for "tell me," Ilili is a roomy bilevel venue decorated in a rich gold and burgundy palette and divided by an elegant cedarwood frame. The dishes on the menu mix traditional Lebanese fare with Mediterranean influences and include items like manti pasta with spiced lamb, tomatoes, mint, and yogurt foam.The bar and lounge in the front has room for 110 people and features black granite flooring, copper-trimmed mirrors, and banquette and booth seating. Adjacent to this is the main dining area, which seats 110 at round, ebonized French-oak tables. Also at street level is a smaller room for 38, which can be used as a private dining area. Upstairs, a second, smaller bar holds 48 and overlooks the main space; there is also a lounge for 24 that is enclosed by a tentlike installation of woven copper.

All of the restaurant's rooms are available for private events. Reservations are necessary for the upstairs lounge, and buyouts are taken on a case-by-case basis.