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    Lillo Cucina Italiana

    4.7 (262 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Italian
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Lillo Cucina Italiana Photos

    LILLO CUCINA ITALIANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Intimate
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Lillo Cucina Italiana

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    Tiramisú
    Haley H.

    The cutest little Italian restaurant in Brooklyn with GREAT food Lillo Cucina is a cash only spot with just 6 small tables inside. We waited about 10 minutes for a table but the food was definitely worth it We had the cacio e Pepe and mushroom ravioli plus the tiramisu which tasted as great as it looks

    Polpette all Parmagiana
    Adam R.

    Amazing, fresh, quality, and beyond friendly service. Only 5 tables in the small hometown establishment that is true to its roots. The chef is a native Italian and his wife as the hostess is more than welcoming and warm, happy to make suggestions and recommendations. Would 100/100 come again and enjoy every bite.

    Karen N.

    A small , authentic neighborhood Italian restaurant. There are only 5 tables and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. The menu offers a variety of dishes and specials are posted on the wall. Service was very good. We started with the caprese di burrata salad. The burrata was so fresh and creamy on top of fresh tomatoes and drizzled with balsamic. We shared the beet gnocchi, so unique and tasty. The lemon ravioli, was the standout dish. So fresh and tasty. The vodka pasta was also very good. Portions were not huge , but adequate. The house bread was so good. This is a cash only business. I would highly recommend.

    tiramisu
    Stephanie Y.

    Cute tasty neighborhood hole in the wall. Cash only, no restrooms and very limited seating (5 tables total, 2 are 2 people tables). There was a line even before the shop opened, despite it being in the high teens temperature wise today (though they did open a bit late). Luckily snagged a table and got to try a few dishes with my friends. Lobster rav was the best pasta (by far), and the pesto was an absolute bust (way too salty). Tomato and cream sauces tasted homey but didn't stand out too much against some Italian epics in the city. Tiramisu gave the meal a nice rich ending, but still wouldn't make a long commute worth it. Would def recommend if you're in the area and looking for a hearty and decently priced meal, but otherwise would not recommend a trek here.

    cannelloni ricotta e spinaci
    Christina L.

    Very homey hole in the wall restaurant with about 5 tables inside. All the tables were full when my friend and I got there on a Tuesday evening so we just waited outside for the next available seats. And while waiting, multiple people passing by would point at the restaurant and mention how great it was, making expectations even greater. I ordered the cannelloni ricotta e spinaci, something I've never tried before and so very unique to me and it was fantastic. I really liked how they had something I've never seen on other Italian restaurant menus. This dish reminded me of an Italian/pasta version of enchiladas. It was so flavorful I would definitely return just for this. However I do think the complimentary bread offered were akin to regular plain grocery store loaves and definitely just a vessel for the extra sauce left over from your pasta dish.

    Rigatoni Boscaiola
    Melissa N.

    My husband had this place bookmarked to take me for awhile, but we hadn't had a chance to go, but since we had, we have made time to get some yummy eats. We love Italy and have been back 6 times and Lillo's Cucina reminds us of that same feeling. Lillo's is a little hole in the wall tiny place that that can fit maybe 14 people if you squeezed. They are cash only and many people take out. We were able to do both several times. I typically get the Rigatoni Boscaiola and he will get the fettuccine al tartufo and the fettuccine al funghi porcini. All delicious. We have also gotten the caprese di burrata which was good. The first time I got my pasta, I had about 2 pieces of proscuitto, but it was so good that I ordered again another time and got way more so thankfully it was just a fluke that first time. *TMI - I am not usually affected, but I think something in the cream sauce always catches me weird and I have to get to the bathroom - THERE IS NO BATHROOM FOR CUSTOMERS. The first time we went, I was pregnant and we didn't know there would be no bathroom and had a situation, but luckily while we were on the way home, we were passing the hospital right before the highway and I was able to go there lol Just something to keep in mind. He told us to ask next door, but it felt awkward so we did not. I have also had the meatballs, but I got them to go and I am glad I did because I actually do not prefer how soft they are, but when they are heated in the toaster oven or baked, they get this nice crispy outside and I can enjoy it even more! There is a dessert that I absolutely love from this place and my husband who didn't even like them in Italy, craved them from Lillo's. He doesn't always have them and doesn't make many so we buy them up when we can! The tiramisu is also one of the most delicious! Just so tasty and yummy! I have also tried the lemon ice that comes in a lemon, but it was hard to eat on the go. All in all, I do crave Lillo's and we will continue to come back! Just remember, CASH ONLY and NO BATHROOM! Buon Appetito!

    Amazing service and amazing food. Go before this place gets too popular. Chef and hostess make you feel at home. 10/10

    Gnocchi al tartufo
    Jillian B.

    I was blown away by Lillo this weekend! After doing some research on a lowkey, delicious pasta spot, we discovered this brooklyn gem. We ended up getting an appetizer and two pastas to split- portions were very generous and the food was super high quality. Of the two pastas, I preferred the Truffle gnocchi - but really both were incredible. The burrata and Prosciutto was also a great appetizer. Service was quick - it wasn't too crowded when we had gone, but I hear it gets pretty packed. Don't let a wait stop you from going, though - it's an incredible spot with reasonable prices. We definitely plan on returning the next time a pasta craving hits!

    Ting Z.

    Honestly when it comes to Italian food, would have a difficult time beating this place in terms of quality and price. It's a very very casual place (cash only, no bathroom) with very limited seating so be prepared for that (I came at a not busy time but in the future, I'd prob get to go). Sautéed artichokes were soooo flavorful and pastas were great! I tried the pink gnocchi (something about sage and butter together makes for an elite flavor combination) and I loved the lobster ravioli as well (couldn't say which one I liked better). Tiramisu was also really good. Prices are really reasonable (got all that food for $51). Definitely recommend giving this place a try!

    Gnocchi Rosa  Cacio e pepe
    Iris F.

    Had to re-review this place after a few years because it still remains my top 3 favorite restaurants of all time in NYC! Nowadays Lillo is open for dine-in (although very limited seating), which I prefer because the food is extra fresh even though takeout is still incredible. Still run by the amazing Lillo, still has the best Italian food I've had in the US (and honestly better than half of the food I had in Italy too). My favorite dishes over the many times I've been here the past 3 yrs: Gnocchi rosa, Polpette alla parmigiana, fettuccine al porcini, Gnocchi verdi, and Risotto porcini mushroom. Although you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu because it's all fire, especially the mushroom dishes. Tiramisu is also incredible and Caprese di bufala had the freshest mozzarella cheese I've ever tasted. Service is not the quickest but worth every minute of waiting because it's such high quality food. Prices are very reasonable/worth too! FYI there is some discrepancy btwn Yelp, Google, and Lillo's website in terms of hours. When I went last week, his website and Yelp said it opens 12pm but it actually opens 12:30pm.

    Mushroom Alfredo and spaghetti and meatballs

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    5 months ago

    Food is excellent. Homemade &fresh. Tiny place. Have eaten here several times. Pastas are recommended

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    6 months ago

    Excellent service, delicious food, and great prices. It's a little small, but definitely worth the wait!

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    Lillo Cucina Italiana Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Lillo Cucina Italiana

    Are u byob?

    No, they are not BYOB.

    Do you have a liquor license? Serve wine?

    No they don't serve liquor.

    Is the food good? goofy ahh

    I didn't like their red sauce pasta but the white sauce and cheese base were phenomenal.

    May we bring our own wine?

    No there's no BYOB. He doesn't have a liquor license yet. Therefore no alcohol period.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Evelina - Evelina's Dining Room -  Shot by Shane Condino

    Evelina

    4.4(512 reviews)
    1.3 mi•Fort Greene
    •$$

    Split the the zucchini blossoms with my partner, mozz, capers and cetara anchoivies were delicately…read morefried and delicious. An umami bomb in a very pleasant way. Oxtail pappardelle with a healthy dose of grana hit the spot. Just the right portion size. Black sea bass with corn puree, asparagus, roasted mushrooms, radishes, salsa verde was incredible. It's obvious there's talented people in the kitchen. Just go if you are in the fort greene area.

    I recently had dinner with friends at Evelina and had a nice experience. We started with the…read morezucchini blossoms, which were okay, and the fritto misto, which was delicious. The calamari and shrimp were perfectly crispy, although I wish the portion included more than two shrimp. For drinks, I ordered the Lavinia, and it was excellent--a refreshing blend of tequila, lime, orange, and a nice touch of honey. For my entrée, I had the grilled pork chops, which were cooked perfectly. The pistachio gremolata added a unique burst of flavor that really elevated the dish. My friends ordered a variety of pasta dishes, which I tried and tasted good, and everyone enjoyed their meals. We ended with dessert and tried both the traditional tiramisu, which was very good, and the budino--a butterscotch pudding with pistachio gelato--which completely stole the show. It was absolutely amazing. Overall, a great dining experience, and I'd definitely return.

    Photos
    Evelina
    Evelina
    Evelina - Burrata, Asparagus, shaved Bottarga

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    Burrata, Asparagus, shaved Bottarga

    Piccoli Trattoria

    Piccoli Trattoria

    4.4(663 reviews)
    1.8 mi•South Slope, Park Slope
    •$$

    3 stars. Overall, there were some genuinely good parts of the meal, although the experience was a…read morelittle uneven. I started with the fig jam, prosciutto, and gorgonzola appetizer. Overall it was good, but the combination needed better balance. The gorgonzola had a pretty aggressive bite, and paired with the saltiness of the prosciutto it became a little much. There were some greens underneath, and once I incorporated those into each bite, they mellowed everything out considerably. I actually think the greens needed to be treated as part of the dish rather than essentially garnish. For my entrée I had the special, a risotto with clams and octopus. The octopus was easily the best part. The clams were extremely small and pretty average, to the point that I'm not sure they added much to the dish at all. The risotto itself was also surprisingly bland and not particularly enjoyable on its own. Mixed with the octopus, however, it worked much better and became a genuinely enjoyable bite. That's ultimately where the dish felt a little uneven: the strongest component was carrying the rest of the plate rather than everything working together. Service was fine when I arrived, but became noticeably slower once the outdoor seating filled up. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor sections, but appeared to have only two servers, with the hostess also serving and a barback supporting the operation. Once the patio got busy, most of the staff's attention shifted outside and the indoor dining room received considerably less attention. Nobody seemed lazy or inattentive individually. It simply looked understaffed for the number of tables they were trying to cover. One additional server during the busy period probably would have made a substantial difference. And, admittedly a minor thing, an Italian restaurant having limoncello but no amaretto was disappointing. Nothing here was terrible. The appetizer had good ideas, the octopus was quite good, and the meal had several enjoyable moments. The food and service were just inconsistent enough that I couldn't quite call it a strong three-star experience, but it was close. I'd put it around 2.75 stars, which I'm comfortable rounding to three.

    I stopped in to Piccoli to grab a snack. I began with a grilled corn salad. The corn was grilled…read morejust right as were the peppers. My main was Black Spaghetti with Shrimp and Chorizo. This was really delicious. My server Taylor was a sweetheart. I'm not giving five stars for two reasons. The space is anything but beautiful. and my $18 glass of Super Tuscan red wine was pretty bad. I'll be back!

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    Piccoli Trattoria
    Piccoli Trattoria - Bread

    Bread

    Piccoli Trattoria

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    Lilia - Apple crostata (@joeynht)

    Lilia

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    3.0 mi•Williamsburg - North Side
    •$$$$

    Lilia has been on my Brooklyn bucket list for a long time, and I finally got to try it -- and…read morehonestly, it was incredible. Of course, we did what we always do; showed up without a reservation haha... It was packed, and the hostess told us the was no way they could seat us. Defeated, we went outside ans sat on a bench trying to figure out our next move. Then the unimaginable happened. One of the people running the floor passed us outside, started chatting with us, and said, "let me double-check". A few minutes later, he came back and got us a table! He make sure we understood that we only had it for a short window bc they needed it back at a certain time -- but we got at least hour and a half to enjoy it so we were THRILLED. To us that was more than enough. He really went out of his way to make it happen, and honestly wish I remembered his name so I could give him the credit he deserves. And the service from there was outstanding. Even though we knew we had a time restriction, we never felt rushed or hurried for a second. Everything felt relaxed, attentive, and perfectly paced, which made them whole experience even better. Once we sat down, we started ordering as quickly as possible. The grilled clams were insanely good -- flavorful and with just the right little kick. The Nduja & sungold tomato toast was surprise favorite. The tomatoes were so juicy, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. Simple, but SO good. The little gem salad was fresh, crunchy and exactly what we needed in between all the richer dishes. For pastas, I had the mafaldini with parmigiano, one of their signatures, and it was delicious. BUT... I have to give the win to my husband's pick, rigatoni alla diavola. I know they are completely different dishes, and Im usually a white-sauce kind of girl, but there was something about that bold, spicy flavor that just HIT THE SPOT. And dessert... The vanilla soft serve gelato and the warm rasberry tart together were the perfect combination -- creamy, warm, fruity, and just the right way to finish our lucky dinner. Lilia was absolutely worth the wait and definitely lived up to the hype. Another Brooklyn spot checked off the list -- and one I'd happily go back to.

    I managed to get a reservation for 4 at 6:30pm when my friends were visiting. I'm not sure why this…read moreplace is so hyped because I found the experience to be good, but definitely absolutely not worth having to snag a resy not at 9pm via priority notify. For starters: the bread was good (hard to mess up though?) the squash was fine, and I wish the tomatoes had been heirloom or thicker cut. For mains: the sheep's milk agnolotti was not for me, it was oddly sweet, I'm honestly not sure why it's so popular. The rigatoni and gnocchi were very good - the rigatoni was perfectly al dente paired with good flavor and the texture of the gnocchi was perfect. Highly recommend ordering these. Dessert: they definitely don't skimp on the dessert, we each got our own but the gelato options were definitely shareable. They also had amaro options which I always appreciate but didn't get this time. The space was a little cramped indoors though that didn't bother me as much as the temperature. It was a really hot summer day and I don't think they had air conditioning? Or if they did it definitely was not at an ideal temperature as I didn't feel like there was much air circulation.

    Photos
    Lilia - Bar area

    Bar area

    Lilia - Italian job (gelato)

    Italian job (gelato)

    Lilia - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Bamonte's - Sides--green beans and potatoes

    Bamonte's

    4.0(536 reviews)
    3.0 mi•Williamsburg - North Side
    •$$

    my experience at Bamonte's was amazing!! the food, environment and service was 10/10 here. my…read moresister was dairy free and they catered to her preferences and never forgot about it! the bread, chicken parm, eggplant parm and pasta was amazing! the prosciutto and cheese here was of quality too.

    Oh the old school thrill of an old school beauty of an establishment like Bamonte's!…read more I just love this place so much! I can't say enough great things about the decor the ambience and imagining all of the past goings on in this restaurant. It's been watching over Brooklyn for well over 100 years now! That in itself is a Herculean feat! From what I was told it was very popular with the mob as they say... And that's why the kitchen which is at the very back of the restaurant has full glass windows so that you can see exactly what's going on in there. I guess some of these mob guys were paranoid and rightly so consider considering their history. I arrived with my friend on a Wednesday evening about 6 PM and there were some scattered tables but by 7 PM it was mobbed (pun intended ) in there!! our waiter was affable and patient and a quite enjoyable fellow. As a sidenote, you will not find any female servers they are all male which l lends to the old school vibe in my opinion. My friend ordered the lamb chops with broccoli Rabe. He enjoyed them but did mention that though they had great flavor one of them was slightly tough... It happens... My meal was pasta with Bolognese sauce with a dollop of fresh ricotta on top. It was delicious actually the sauce was excellent. I would've liked to have a different pasta shape but they did not have it. No biggie. I could really say the food was very good but it was not excellent but for me that was not an issue as I fell in love with the place itself. The service was excellent and the ambience was fantastic! I would definitely return again and I highly recommend it if you have never been you must at least go one time!!

    Photos
    Bamonte's - Interior

    Interior

    Bamonte's - Breast Chicken Parmigiana

    Breast Chicken Parmigiana

    Bamonte's - Fried Calamari

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    Fried Calamari

    Lillo Cucina Italiana - cafes - Updated September 2026

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