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May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 Lillo

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Visit us for a taste of Italy in Cobble Hill!

Address

Lillo Cucina Italiana
331 Henry St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201

(bet Atlantic Ave & Pacific St)

Hours
We are currently closed on Mondays.
See front page for current hours

Cash Only.
No Reservations.
No Restrooms.
No BYOB.
Thank you.

People love us on Yelp!

Lillo Cucina Italiana

4.7

Based on 239 Reviews

Stephanie Y.

2024-12-22 16:25:26

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...

Elle D.

2024-12-13 13:28:19

I am going to keep my review simple and sweet just like the restaurant itself. Cash only, no bathrooms, small space. I have never dined in and always did...

Violetta L.

2024-11-24 07:31:50

Literally everything about our meal here was perfect. From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional--attentive but not overbearing, and very...

Christina L.

2024-10-19 13:10:08

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...

Joseph T.

2024-08-16 14:42:44

I'd rate Lillo Cucina Italiana three and a half stars. Forewarning, there are no restrooms here and it's cash only. Hence, it's literally a hole in the...

Ting Z.

2024-07-28 14:08:16

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...

Alexandra L.

2024-07-23 16:17:24

I found this place while looking for a casual dinner spot for me and a friend and am so glad we came here. This is a small spot with only maybe 3-5 tables?...

Mark B.

2024-06-26 02:56:14

this place was such a treat! it feels like mom and pop shop and the food is ultra comforting. there's a lot of Italian spoken here as the locals stroll in...

Susan G.

2024-06-08 11:16:43

Came here for dinner on a Thursday night and was greeted by Lillo himself! This is an amazing small, local business. The interior is quaint with minimal...

John B.

2024-03-16 14:19:44

Absolutely loved this place! Their artichoke appetizer and Cacio Pepe were amazing! I picked this place while I had an 8 hour layover at JFK. Best decision...

Matthew S.

2024-02-03 16:43:52

Do not eat here. The food may be top notch but the service is not. I was treated rudely by who I think was the owner as a solo diner and that is not how you...

Sarah X.

2023-12-24 10:31:04

Went around 2PM on a Saturday, and was able to get a table for 2. Seating seems a bit limited, so there is definitely a chance you may need to take out. It...

Melissa N.

2023-11-26 19:00:23

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...

Ava M.

2023-11-22 18:30:29

Absolutely delicious!! Very friendly and kind host (the owner in fact). Smaller place, cozy and intimate. Keep in mind the cash only (we had to make a quick...

Jillian B.

2023-11-21 07:34:11

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...

Betty V.

2023-08-19 18:40:00

The food was delicious, we shared few dishes and we enjoyed each one. Thank you Chef Lillo for taking care of us.

Candido S.

2023-07-30 16:18:37

Famous tiny little place in Brooklyn. The food is great. Lillo the commander chief is the best. Legit Italian restaurant. A must go when in NYC. Old...

Shelby P.

2023-07-01 02:12:20

You could tell this place was popular because even when they were about to close and not seating anyone else the people would still be fine getting...

L David S.

2023-06-10 17:26:28

Great place for takeout dishes to bring home and heat up. You can eat there, but it's very tiny with not much room to sit and eat. Lillo Cuncina Italiana...

Jackie W.

2023-05-25 10:23:45

CASH ONLY. Theres maybe 3-4 tables that each fit 2 people, so there's very little space to eat-in. I'd recommend ordering pickup or takeout. There's no way...

Leslie T.

2023-05-14 14:55:59

Food: 9.5/10 Service: 9/10 Ambience: 8/10 First off: No bathroom, no air conditioning, no credit cards. Come prepared. The food is worth it though! I was...

Ethan O.

2023-05-06 17:27:28

Got takeout, 3 dishes, took 40 minutes prep. Was steamy when picked up and the chef was spot on for when it would be ready. We got the rigatoni bascaiola...

Jax D.

2023-04-04 16:31:06

It's not often that I ordered two pasta entrees for myself, but Lillo made me do it!!! Okay, maybe they didn't MAKE me, but u did it. Craving pasta and...

Patale M.

2023-03-29 21:08:21

The fish is very fresh. Yes, it is tight in there but I view it as cozy. I have only had the fish so far but it's always been good and reasonably priced....

Rebekah R.

2023-03-23 06:54:05

Food 8/10. Service 10/10 Ambiance 6/10. Very noisy and loud if looking for a quieter environment. Great though if going with a group. Also much smaller...

Iris F.

2023-02-08 05:18:00

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...

Fula O.

2022-12-29 18:18:22

I was craving pasta and it was that weird time. Past lunch but slightly early for an early dinner at 5. Lillo had been on my list to try so I decided to...

Gregg L.

2022-11-11 10:15:30

I spent an hour on multiple trains and battled a rainy day to get here while visiting the city and can confidently say this is the BEST pasta I've ever had...

Kingsley S.

2022-11-08 13:03:29

This is a pretty hidden Italian spot that my housemates and I go to quite often. Lillo's has a small interior but has outdoor seating - I presume when it's...

Emily W.

2022-10-21 12:02:15

Amazing amazing food! I was one of the first ones in the restaurant when they opened for Friday lunch so I was lucky enough to get seating at one of the 4...

Connie H.

2022-10-14 15:00:04

This place... so unassuming, so innocuous, and so stinkin' good. My friend and I came here midday on a Saturday and got seated immediately thanks to good...

Natalia H.

2022-09-18 16:07:31

This place was on my must-eat list for a few months. I found it on Yelp and after reading all the rave reviews I had to come here. And I was not...

Kat Q.

2022-06-27 15:45:13

This place is so innocuous, I'd lived a couple blocks away for a long time before I discovered it, and it's seriously the best italian food in brooklyn....

Glenn C.

2022-06-23 21:59:49

I thought I had written a review for this place but I guess I forgot. There's a reason why this place garners high reviews. This is a wonderful tiny Roman...

JL H.

2022-06-05 01:37:39

Quaint with big flavors. Good for pick-up but not groups. Cacio e Pepe was divine. Light sauce with creamy, cheesy, peppered sauce. Grilled Artichokes were...

Kailey C.

2022-05-27 13:42:48

Fantastic neighborhood spot that is all too easy to miss! Lived around the corner for 5 years and never went in, assuming it was a small coffee shop....

Taylor M.

2022-05-26 07:01:09

This spot is FANTASTIC!!!! Every dish we have had has been so flavorful and tasty. The prices are crazy good and reasonable too. Has a local vibe and the...

Margaret Z.

2022-04-30 19:12:17

Adding another review just for the tiramisu because it is so divine... if you come here for nothing else, it will still be the best tiramisu you've ever had.

Kyla K.

2022-04-05 18:22:46

Lillo Cucina Italiana doesn't look like much in passing, but this is my absolute FAVORITE Italian restaurant in NYC. I do recommend planning your visit...

Maria C.

2022-04-02 20:49:16

The most delicious, freshest food you will ever get! The pastries are to die for. The pasta is beyond delectable. It's quaint, warm, intimate, excellent...

Carter O.

2022-03-14 17:59:07

You know the food is authentic when everyone there is Italian and you're the only Italian that doesn't speak Italian. It is that Italian.

Chris M.

2022-03-12 18:33:38

A true (authentic) Italian classic with an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, pasta dishes, etc. Easily a breakfast, lunch and...

Jon R.

2022-02-20 19:27:01

Few tables. No booze. No BYOB. No reservations. No bathroom. Fantastic Food. Cannot be beat.

Sonora G.

2022-02-12 16:43:34

BEST AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD IN NYC. The lasagna is delicious. The Gricia is incredible. Lillo is wonderful. I go everytime I'm in NYC

Nicole B.

2021-11-12 12:36:36

This place makes the best tiramisu I have ever had. Made with actual lady fingers, perfectly soaked through and yet somehow with still a touch of beautiful...

Da K.

2021-09-05 03:16:58

We ate at this hole in the wall a few weeks ago, and let me tell you......this place lives up to it's 5-Star reviews. The owner does speak English with a...

Annalise W.

2021-09-04 06:01:01

Literally felt like I was in Italy. Tiny hole in the wall restaurant, with an owner who mostly speaks Italian, and serving delicious food. There were people...

Junior T.

2021-08-20 06:43:53

Went here on a date night and WHOA! What an amazing meal! We split the eggplant rigatoni and caprese salad. It was very filling and delicious! It was almost...

Howie H.

2021-07-18 16:07:23

Great food and pastas and amazing Tiramisu. We had the Arrabbiata and Putanesca. Both the pastas itself tastes so fresh, especially for the Putanesca Our...

Margaret Z.

2021-05-07 17:19:04

I've lived in downtown Brooklyn for about 3 years now and my biggest regret is only just now discovering Lillo. Currently there's only 1 table outside for...

Mark M.

2021-01-10 10:02:05

Lillo is a hidden/not so hidden Brooklyn gem that consistently lives up to its 5-star rep, even in COVID times, necessitating delivery and carry out. Very...

Iris F.

2020-12-17 16:23:42

So glad to have discovered this place!! It's a small, cute lil hole in the wall with some of the best Italian food I've ever had. My bf and I ordered...

Ben B.

2020-11-23 21:07:46

If there is a better, quainter, cuter Italian place in NY, I haven't found it yet. Fantastic food, quality ingredients and consistently cooked. We don't...

Amanda D.

2020-11-01 09:06:08

Authentic Italian food! I have had several dishes from here since it replaced the old coffee shop that used to serve out of this hole in the wall. I...

Tiffany L.

2020-10-09 12:03:38

covid times: One small table available outside! Best to do takeout and they're cash only! Take a moment to read the menu outside. Once you're in, you'll be...

Regina W.

2020-09-29 07:46:37

The food tasted decent, but it wasn't exactly something to write about. I found my Alfredo sauce bland. My friend's rose sauce was okay. Her salmon raviolis...

Mike C.

2020-09-28 14:25:30

Authentic, fresh, delicious, delightful.

Timur N.

2020-09-12 15:54:49

I love this place. Their pasta is to die for. Literally our favorite Italian restaurant in NYC!

Mike R.

2020-09-11 17:02:17

Truly the best Italian I've ever had. Blows the "trendy" places out of the water. Not to mention great value! Lillo's for the win.

Misel G.

2020-08-20 15:27:11

We ordered the Rigatoni Gricia, Fettuccine with prosciutto and artichoke and the spaghetti meatballs. Everything was good but the tomato sauce was watered...

Kay E.

2020-08-03 18:30:55

Lillo is our latest obsession! The fettuccine amazing, favorites are the truffle with a side of meatballs & parm sauce or the fettuccine with speck &...

Preston A.

2020-08-01 15:51:24

The food is delicious and very reasonably priced. The mood is intimate. Lillo (the owner, chef, server) is amazing, friendly, and so fun to eat with. Dining...

Josephine A.

2020-07-01 23:22:11

It's been a while and I really miss the food. The ingredients made for a spectacular Cacio E Pepe with divine pasta. This is what real Italian is all about,...

Vanessa M.

2020-06-15 14:29:45

One of my favorite italian restaurants, everything is delicious, my favorite is the Parmesan Meatballs, I have to accept that I waited an hr to get a table,...

Jeremy G.

2020-03-29 18:31:49

This restaurant is too good to put into words! A true neighborhood gem. The food is incredible and the restaurant has exceptional character. Note that...

Harris B.

2020-03-02 13:14:29

Have not eaten here because after calling to ask if they were going to be able to seat 4 of us, including kids, we went by and there were no tables for 4...

Katey G.

2019-07-21 23:06:41

I love this place because they make it their priority to serve simple and delicious food. It's totally no frills and they make due with the space they...

Virginia M.

2018-03-21 16:49:28

I found this place when I searched for an Italian coffee shop, because I needed a really good cappuccino and we all know Italians make the best ones. We...

Nicholas G.

2018-02-16 14:43:21

Everything looks legit in this place. The gentleman running the store sounds like he is straight off the boat from italy. Very nice guy. He suggested the...

Nick M.

2018-01-27 10:26:29

We found Lillo Cucina Italiana (LCI) one night by accent. It was super cold out and we were going for Japanese at Hibino next door when we found this spot....

Googlers really get us!

Lillo Cucina Italiana

4.8

Based on 362 reviews

review us on

Luca Watts

22:03 21 May 24

Ashley Shabez

17:28 19 May 24

wow im so disappointed. lasagna complete mush. pastas so overcooked. it was all ready in about 15minutes which was quick. vodka sauce really tasteless...not a dot of spice/pepper/italian seasoning. I won't come back.

Ashok Nanwani

00:57 13 May 24

Small Italian restaurant but delicious food

翟

16:38 12 May 24

12:40 not opened on Sunday

Michael Crisci

19:38 05 May 24

Incredible experience! Best Italian food in NYC. Reminded me of eating in Italy.

Betty Ni

00:27 29 Apr 24

Cash only. No public bathroom. Limited seating.However, the food is amazing for a very affordable price. Highly recommend, as long as you are okay with all of above!

Maria

12:49 17 Mar 24

Incredibly well made pastas served by an impressive two man kitchen.The dishes are all authentic Italian recipes cooked to perfection and you will certainly feel like you’re in a Roman restaurant.*Cash only

Jo P

13:37 15 Mar 24

This place is fantastic. The food reminds me of my fathers cooking, who is also has a small italian restaurant. The flavors blend together and the pasta is great quality. You just walk in and grab a seat. I highly recommend everyone try Lillo. Although Id love to keep it a hidden gem, id deserves all the hype, especially with its prices. We got the Fettucine with Speck and Carciofi and the Fettucine with Speck and Zucchine.Update march 15, 2024: Still love it here. Tried the Amatriciana this time and it was great. The tiramisu is so fluffy and delicious. Really love how cozy and no-frills it is here

Fred Jay

19:31 14 Feb 24

Step into Lillo Cucina Italiana for cozy vibes and unbeatable Italian cuisine in Brooklyn. From perfectly cooked dishes to incredible sauces, every bite is a delight. With reasonable prices, it's a top pick for a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended for those craving authentic Italian flavors in a welcoming atmosphere.

Gabriele Sessa

03:00 12 Feb 24

Amazing little quaint Italian restaurant in a beautiful part of Cobble Hill. The food is very authentic (I'm Italian), well priced and good portions. Great service from the owner too. We'll definitely be back many times in the future!

Giulia M

11:21 24 May 20

I’m born and raised in Italy and I can said that this place is the most authentic Italian restaurant in NY. The food is fresh and delicious. It remember me the food of my mum. I’ll come again for pick up and definitely I’ll continue the recommend this place ! BRAVI!

Dolores Brandon

22:14 07 Mar 20

Delightful. Very tiny. I only had take out coffee - freshly brewed but found the menu enticing, unique - authentic chef made soups, yummy sandwiches, hearty entrees and specialty desserts. I will definitely go back to indulge. The countryman is charming. A real old world gentleman.

Trisha Tran

22:07 04 Feb 20

A bit surprise at how small and cozy this mom&pop restaurant is. But it was so worth the trip over to Brooklyn. The sign also mentioned a cash only. Be prepare for around $35-$40 for 2 people.

Vanessa Cifuentes

14:57 03 Feb 20

This tiny spot in Brooklyn. They serve traditional Italian fare. If you are looking for some simple delicious homey food then this is your spot. The place is small and really no frills, but don’t let that deter you from having some authentic, simply delicious food.

Fernando Salgado

19:33 05 Jan 20

Visiting from So Cal looking for good Italian, found this place and have to say food was delicious!!! Good size portions, reasonably priced and service was excellent. Very limited seating but worth the wait.

Michael Zanca

01:46 14 May 18

Amazing food, Just like Italia. Great service and Lillo is a true gentleman! A must do !

Trey Hatch

16:05 09 May 18

Amazing little secret hole in the wall. Something magic about its sandwiches and pasta. Definitely feels more like Italy than the US (including timing wise - best to not be in a rush).

Michael L

18:14 05 May 18

Great coffee, great little spot for a quick bite and you can always practice your Italian when ordering

Salvatore Davi

12:00 09 Mar 18

Absolutely fantastic! An amazing culinary experience. The only thing I can say that isn't positive is that Lillo deserves a much bigger space to serve his amazing food.

Gina Lemon

18:37 30 Jan 18

Literally felt like I was in Italy having a meal prepared in a friend’s home. Delicious, homey, wonderful spot. Don’t be on a hurry, enjoy the ambience. Ciao!

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