Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ila Mae's Restaurant

    3.5 (78 reviews)
    Closed • Closed

    Order Ila Mae's Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Ila Mae's Restaurant Photos

    ILA MAE'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Ila Mae's Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - Ila Mae's Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    All of the cream cheese that I removed. Some of it was on a napkin out of photo.
    Chandler R.

    I've ordered from here several times and it's usually pretty good. Today I placed an order over the phone an hour before closing and the person I spoke too was rushing me and questioning if I could make it on time, even after I said I was sure I could make it three times in a row. The food this time was mediocre at best. The fried whiting was good, but the yams didn't have much sweetness, the Mac and cheese was... not it. There were heaping globs of cream cheese all throughput the Mac and cheese which made it nearly inedible. I literally had to pick out the macaroni noodles. I've had good experiences here before, which is why I gave two stars, but this was enough to make me not want to risk another order.

    Nefertari with rice and gravy
    Vince S.

    During my extended jury duty stint I happened upon this spot using my trusty Yelp app. It is an easy walk here from most of the courthouses and other government buildings. I walked in just before noon and took a seat in the back dining room, but if time was of the essence ordering at the pick up window may have saved some time. Eventually I was greeted by a very nice server and selected the Nefertari sandwich. I was craving Mac n cheese but sadly they were out(?!?) I opted for rice and gravy instead. My fried chicken Sammie arrived fairly quickly and looked quite nice. On a soft wheat roll( even though I was asked if a white roll was ok) it contained breaded chicken breast( breading similar to what one would find on southern style fried fish) lettuce, tomato and cheese( not even melted) with a " ranch-ish" sauce. It lacked some spiciness which I should have corrected with hot sauce. But my biggest critique would be in the bird itself, slightly chewy and with an off taste that could have been from the brine. It looked much better than it tasted. The rice was ok, thick chicken gravy over white mildly seasoned rice. If I worked downtown or had another reason for being in the area over the course of many days I might return for a different item. Maybe.

    Vegetarian- "Delores"- sautéed broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, onions. Sweet peppers & cheese
    Alex B.

    During this whole coronavirus this was the only soul food spot that was open at last minute when we were looking for some soul food. The service was decent, the main dish was flavorful but the macaroni and cheese didn't meet my expectations.

    Crispy onions $4 appetizer...yes!
    Marlyn V.

    One of Trenton's smallest and most flavorful spots, with hands down the best chicken wings you will ever have! I kept putting off coming to Ila Mae's mostly because they are closed on Sundays and the parking in the area is like finding a good man at a club - in theory possible, but in reality too much effort. So you park a few blocks away, hopefully by the brownstones so no one breaks into your car, and you glance over the menu. The menu has an extensive list of seafood, chicken and very popular breakfast items. The best thing is, whatever you decide to order, you will surely not be disappointed. Here are my 3 favorites: 1. Wings - pepper lemon in specific, because you will dream about these, you salivary glands will gush with the simple mention of them after your first bite. 2. Chicken and waffles - you get perfectly crispy chicken wings on top of a soft buttermilk pancake. The best 3, 000 calories you will consume. 3. The whiting sandwich - this is super popular, if you sit by the window, tonsss of people are getting this. It has two nice pieces of fish inside, on a soft roll, loaded with nice veggies and special sauce. This is a local family owned business, the owner is the chef and always very accommodating to her customers. She also comes from a family of good cooks, being related to the cook/owner of the Big Easy downtown too. So come, take a seat, watch some tv, or bring the whole family (there is plenty of seating space), but make sure you get here before the rush of lunch hour!

    Stefan E.

    This place is out of control. I came in around lunch from the justice complex. Two block walk. The fish sandwich I got was flavorful, filling, well seasoned and we'll priced. Specifically I ordered salmon sandwhich. It came with shredded lettuce, lots of fresh tomatoes, a white sauce something between tartar and ranch, peppers, and onions. It was so big I needed a fork and knife. Nice big portions. The fried mushrooms were what you expect. Next time I'll go for the veggies. Everything is fresh. I really enjoyed it. It was absolutely on point and everything I wanted. They sat me down and served me well. They were nice, everything is clean. I will come here everytime I go to Trenton. Good, clean, fresh food you'd be hard pressed to cook at home.

    They didn't add the rice which comes with each order.
    Lana G.

    Coworker had a taste for southern style and opted for IlaMaes. We had been here once before many months ago but neither of us could remember the details of the experience or even what we had eaten. In general I know he (my coworker) likes rice and yams so we assumed they had been involved although neither would bet money. Around 3pm he sent me his order: BBQ chicken with rice and yams, and an extra order of mac and cheese. I opted for fried chicken, green beans, yams. I ordered online and read that every meal comes with rice and gravy, two sides of your choice and cornbread. All that for $11.50 s need like a decent deal. Since the meals come with rice I only had to order one $3 side of mac. I was happy to see the automatic discount applied to my purchase for placing my first order! This brought the total for the two meals down from 30 to just over 23. I recieved the confirmation emails and notifications about when my food would be ready. I set out on my way and hoped for good parking. The only place to park nearby is the lot across the street which has several "we will tow your sh!t" signs prominently displayed. I pulled up, hopped out, and ran inside. The young lady sitting on her phone just at the rear of the dining area noticed me, got up from her seat to walk into the kitchen but did not speak. I walked to the window and stood - no one said a word for several minutes. I confess that it is a pet peeve of mine when an employee of any establishment makes no attempt to greet the customer, especially when they are the first to notice you. Like really, how hard is it to say "hi." Two or three employees walked back and forth in the kitchen and no one said a word until she handed me my food, "here ya go." I said thanks and was on my way. When I got back to the office I was disappointed to find that (1) neither of the meals included rice and gravy as the menu reads. I'm not a huge fan of rice but my coworker had specifically asked for it. (2) The food wasn't as flavorful as I would have expected for a place with this reputation. I don't know that I would describe it as "bland" but (especially in the case of greens) we all expect more than just "salt added." (3) I don't think they bake there mac and cheese - depending on where you're from this may not be a big deal. It tasted surprisingly good and was stringy but looked like Kraft made on a stovetop with pepper added. (4) Cornbread was okay - its heavy, like pound cake. Not my cup of tea but I can see how some people might like that. (5) Portion size was pretty big for the price and items. All in all I can only give it 3 stars since it does curb the craving for southern comfort foods but isn't necessarily a place that I want to spend my money given the staff and shorting both of my orders.

    Plain wings
    Kandyse S.

    Food was incredible, i got the shrimp and plain wings. The breading was perfect. Nice and light. Service was pleasant and just a great place to visit if you ever find yourself in Trenton. Highly recommend!

    Gerald S.

    Ila Mae's Restaurant sits right off the intersection of Broad and Market in the heart of Trenton. Parking is next to impossible in this neighborhood, so be prepared to walk a few blocks if you want to chow down in a relatively undiscovered gem. I stopped in on a cold, icy morning in February. There were only a few people there and I settled in in the front dining room in front of the large HDTV sitting high on the opposite wall. The furnishings were Spartan, but the space was clean and inviting. My server, David, handed me the large menu and I decided to have breakfast as it was still being offered. I asked about their French Toast and their Breakfast Sandwiches. David smiled. He alerted me to the presence of their French Toast Sandwich - Short Stack with 2 Eggs and Beef or Turkey Sausage inside the well grilled bread. No pork products here. The meal arrived in about 15 minutes, and I realized that each meal was prepared separately by the chef/owner. The two people ahead of me were served individually, and then mine was put together. No problem. I was not in a rush to return to the inclement weather. The French Toast was good on its own, but when combined with the spicy Beef Sausage and Scrambled Eggs it took on another identity which was tasty and fun to eat. The extra small pitcher of syrup came in handy to pour over the sausage when I opened the top of the creation. Its strong flavor was nicely offset by the sweetness. A sprinkle of black pepper on the eggs completed the effort. This was a very good breakfast from atmosphere, through bottomless coffee mug, and everything in between. Their lunch and dinner menu looks very interesting, and I hope to return to explore it in the near future.

    broccoli and cauliflower

    I just purchased an entrée that was supposed to have Broccoli, Cauliflower, Potatoes, Carrots and Hot Beef Sausage in a Cream Sauce.... What I received was Broccoli, Cauliflower with 4 pieces of Carrots with Government Cheese placed through it!!!! Completely Disgusting!! The quality of the food in this place has went completely down!! I will never order from Ila Mae's EVER AGAIN.

    Breakfast Menu and pricing as of 6/2018

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Amazing food every time.................Never disappointed and online ordering is a breeze. The comeback is my favorite

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Deb C.
    45
    86
    164

    3 years ago

    Was in area working & needed some lunch. Staff stopped here & picked up some soup. Good tasting but not over the top.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Food was amazing! We will be back soon! Parking not ideal, but the food was very nostalgic!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 16
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    I get fish eggs grits and shrimp every weekend for breakfast, you get exactly what u pay for great service and perfectly priced

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stefan E.
    160
    95
    5

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C P.
    0
    2
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lana G.
    15
    51
    163

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gerald S.
    1923
    3929
    17719

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    I can't recommend one thing, because everything is delicious. Try the sweet and spicy Nubian wings and any of the casserole dishes.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris L.
    2
    129
    295

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Food was cool, could've been better! I would order again and try something different.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Simply amazing. Food is always top notch. The employees are always friendly. Definitely recommend this place.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Urban D.
    61
    38
    85

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jai S.
    26
    142
    37

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eric M.
    554
    19
    23

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    horrible customer service, even worse food. would give 0 stars if i could. beware!!!!!!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Akilah M.
    112
    96
    46

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ila Mae's Restaurant

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Soul Food 889 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    SNGs Burgers and Dogs - The Brooklyn Way

    SNGs Burgers and Dogs

    4.8(12 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    I was tired of all the usual spots so I gave SnG a try. Had the smashburger and fries. Fries were…read moregood and had a nice seasoning on them. Smashburger looked and smelled great but didn't deliver. It was kinda bad dry. The toasted roll it came on was deliciously crispy. Service was friendly. I will give it another try as I want to check out the glizzies!

    While I'm not sure what/who "Shitzz & Glizzies" are, this small mostly takeout burger and hot dog…read morejoint knows from a great hamburger. Stuck in the back of the shopping center with Marrazzo's and Sal DeForte's, right next door to a ramen noodle shop, these friendly folks are hospitable and enjoy conversing with their customers. After a few questions I ordered their "The Dragon," burger combo. They do smash burgers here, and the finished sandwich looked like a half pounder in an oversized bun, with plenty of heat from cherry peppers, jalapeños, onions, topped with spicy mayo and creole cole slaw with a hint of mango to offset the flames. It needed no ketchup nor additional contributions, and was delicious from bite one. All the parts played very well together. A little drippy to be sure, but easily managed. It came with a pile of crisp waffle fries that did require a squirt of ketchup, but were able second mates to the main beefy attraction. This was a very enjoyable meal, that would only be complemented by the house being better suited for eating in, right when everything is at its apex of perfection. Shitzz n Glizzies has the potential to compete with the big burger guys in the area. Will have to let you know about their franks and steaks at another time, but there is reason for optimism.

    Photos
    SNGs Burgers and Dogs - Smash burger with everything

    Smash burger with everything

    SNGs Burgers and Dogs - Have it your way

    Have it your way

    SNGs Burgers and Dogs - Cheers

    See all

    Cheers

    Flamin Kickin Chicken - Bland Chicken Club Sandwich

    Flamin Kickin Chicken

    4.3(14 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    total hidden gem. i love to get chicken tenders w/ buffalo sauce and bleu cheese. plus the owner is…read moreincredibly nice :)

    Welcome Flamin Kickin Chicken in the Morrisville Shopping Center to the national Chicken Sandwich…read moreWars raging coast to coast to coast. The take out only shop may have a very small footprint, but it offers a very large, freshly fried chicken sammy, in contradistinction to those contenders from all the other fast food franchises. These tasty guys are cut thin and nicely breaded; and cooked only when ordered, so nothing sits around losing their edge. Upon unwrapping, the roll cannot contain the dimensions of the filet, as it sticks out beyond the bun in all directions. Yet, the bread holds together well, and is a firm grip to the last bite, even with the cheese, bacon, mayo and other garnishment that come with it. We sampled the Spicy Chicken, Chicken Club, Garlic Chicken and Original; two as combos with fries and macaroni & cheese, and soda; and two straight up sandwiches. They were all fairly similar, so unless you object to certain finishes, you can't go wrong with any of them. On the other hand, there was no point to reaching up for the combos, as the fries were limp and unimpressive, and the mac/cheese, strictly from an industrial mix and forgettable. The individual sandwich was $7.49 and the combo $11.99. There was no rationality to the $4.50 bump up, and in fact it approached rip off territory. Maybe, $2.50 could be justified, but they need to reconsider their value proposition. So, really liked the place, enjoyed the chicken and sandwich, but question the need for the exorbitant inferior combos. 3.5 STARS

    Photos
    Flamin Kickin Chicken
    Flamin Kickin Chicken - Chicken 4 Tenders Combo

    Chicken 4 Tenders Combo

    Flamin Kickin Chicken - Wings (Garlic Hot Parm sauce) which he makes in house. This was take out.

    See all

    Wings (Garlic Hot Parm sauce) which he makes in house. This was take out.

    Rossi's Bar & Grill - Mushroom and Swiss burger which also comes with sauteed onions which is a great deal cooked  perfectly

    Rossi's Bar & Grill

    3.1(247 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    •$$

    This was the first time at Rossi's. My husband and I sat at the bar. The bartender Micky was…read moreAMAZING! She was so personable and gave us great suggestions on what we should order. My husband had their hamburger. He couldn't stop raving about it! Definitely recommend!

    I went to Rossi's Bar and Grill in Hamilton with an old friend who still talks about hamburgers the…read moreway some people talk about first loves and lost wars. Years ago I took him to the original Rossi's in Chambersburg after they won WIP radio host Glen Macnow's best burger contest. The place felt smoky and cramped and alive, a beating heart of the local community. So he came back to town and said, Take me to Rossi's. I want that burger again. The new Rossi's is bigger and brighter and very aware of its own legend. The website still shouts proudly about the award winning burger, the kind of pride that lingers long after the parade has packed up and the confetti has been swept into the gutter. The official burger of Polk High. We ordered the famous burger. It arrived on a soft roll, thick and respectable, cooked properly enough. The beef had that loose packed texture that once made it special, a little craggy, a little juicy. It was, in a word, fine. It didn't part the heavens, and it didn't cause my friend to close his eyes and whisper my name in gratitude. It was just a hamburger. The fries were plentiful and hot. There is still a sports bar soul here, sort of. Televisions glow and beer flows, albeit very VERY slowly. The menu stretches wide with wings, sandwiches, steaks, things for people who want something other than beef on a bun. It feels like a place that knows how to feed a crowd after a Little League game or a retirement home on an afternoon outing. The service was friendly in the way a distracted and rarely seen cousin is friendly at Thanksgiving. Smiles, sure. Refills, eventually. Our server moved with the gentle chaos of someone juggling too many plates and not enough time or help. Nothing disastrous happened. Nothing especially polished happened either. We waited, ee watched and we ate. When my friend took a bite,he nodded politely. He said, "It's good." This is not what he said all those years ago in Chambersburg when grease ran down his wrist and he declared it the best burger in the state with the certainty of Biff Tannen with a Sports Almanac in his back pocket. Restaurants age and legends settle into routine. Rossi's feels like it is living comfortably on stories of past glory. There is nothing wrong with the food, but there is nothing thrilling about it either. If you are nearby and hungry, you'll be fed and you'll leave full. If you're chasing a memory, you may just find that memory tastes better than the present.

    Photos
    Rossi's Bar & Grill - Interior

    Interior

    Rossi's Bar & Grill - Mozzarella Sticks

    Mozzarella Sticks

    Rossi's Bar & Grill - Outside

    See all

    Outside

    Ila Mae's Restaurant - soulfood - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...