$$$$Price: Very Expensive • Farm-to-table • SW Portland
After a spectacular birthday dinner sampling the tasting menu at Lilia several months ago, I returned with family to try the a la carte options and had another fantastic experience. The portions here are very generous, and every dish dazzles. We particularly enjoyed the broccolini caesar and the pork collar confit, and the sauces on every dish had us ooohing and ahhhing with delight. Both of my dinners have been on the patio, which is charming, and with the sliding doors open, it feels like a natural extension of the indoor space. The service is also warm and friendly, especially on my birthday, when the entire staff went above and beyond to make it memorable. I've hesitated to write a review because I didn't know how I could possibly do justice to how amazing Lilia is (so many places in Portland are so overhyped...), but thankfully, the New York Times did it for me! I only hope I'll still be able to get an occasional table at this neighborhood gem.
