Lilo

  4.9 – 78 reviews   • Restaurant

A lively and immersive dining experience that welcomes you to celebrate life’s special moments, Lilo harnesses the untamed spirit of the California coast and the world’s shorelines through a curated, multi-course tasting menu rooted in a thoughtful connection to nature, served around a 22-seat chef’s counter.

✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in Lilo 92008

Hours

Friday5–10 PM
Saturday5–10 PM
SundayClosed
MondayClosed
Tuesday5–10 PM
Wednesday5–10 PM
Thursday5–10 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 2571 Roosevelt St, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Phone: (442) 303-8245

Website: http://restaurantlilo.com/

Menu Photos

Related Web Results

Lilo

Nestled along the Carlsbad coastline, Lilo is a destination shaped by the elements, where every detail is considered. … 2571 Roosevelt St. Carlsbad, CA 92008

Lilo – Carlsbad – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant

Ambitious and complex, the cooking features prime ingredients like Japanese kinmedai and wagyu, Maine lobster and scallops, and California abalone. Midway …

Lilo Restaurant – Carlsbad, CA | OpenTable

A place for celebrations and special occasions, Lilo harnesses the untamed spirit of the California coast and the world’s shorelines through a curated, seafood- …

Reviews

Alena Blasio
All of the pieces required to create a truly incredible “experience” converge in a beautiful symphony at Lilo. We have had the pleasure of experiencing two chefs tasting meals at Lilo, and both have been delightful. We have sat at the chef’s table with a group of four and we really enjoy watching the process of the individual dishes being brought to life table side. Each dish is a feast for the eyes and palate. We enjoy the creativity and variety of the tasting experience with expert drink pairings.

The staff is lovely… Attentive, knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely thoughtful.

We look forward to each experience at Lilo.
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Chris Kuh
Amazing experience at Lilo. The staff is among the best I have encountered, warm, attentive, and passionate. Meeting the chefs made the night feel personal and unique.

A touching moment was watching the team kindly answer a young girl’s questions and even let her help make a dish while dining with her father. It showed how much care they put into every guest’s experience.

Favorite dish was the wagyu, absolutely outstanding. The most unique was the caviar with ice cream and celery salt, unexpected and delicious. Unforgettable meal and I look forward to coming back.
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Miguel Ramirez
Lilo lived up to all the hype everyone was raving about. The adventure begins in their courtyard, which is kept warm and inviting, maybe a bit too warm for my taste, but I could have moved my chair away from the heater. Once inside, you get to watch the magic unfold right in front of your eyes. I was especially amazed by how much time and care went into the final dessert. The food was perfectly prepared, the service was impeccable, and we had a wonderful overall experience. My favorite dish was definitely the N25 Kaluga caviar on ice cream!
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Brent Warner
Lilo, the one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Carlsbad, California, delivers an exceptional fine-dining experience that fully merits its prestigious recognition. Located at 2571 Roosevelt Street and led by Chef Eric Bost, this intimate venue—featuring only 22 to 24 seats around a chef’s counter—offers a curated, multi-course tasting menu inspired by the untamed spirit of the California coast and global shorelines, with a strong emphasis on seafood and thoughtful connections to nature.

The evening commences with a distinctive and welcoming touch: guests enter through a private entrance and begin the experience in a cozy, heated outdoor patio area. This initial setting provides a relaxed yet elegant introduction, allowing diners to settle in amid pleasant surroundings before transitioning indoors to the main dining counter.

The interior space is deliberately limited in seating, creating an immersive, chef-focused atmosphere where every detail feels considered. The tasting menu comprises numerous courses—enough that one may lose precise count amid the progression—yet the portions remain notably generous for a multi-course format. This approach ensures that diners feel satisfied without being overwhelmed, provided they arrive with a healthy appetite as recommended.

Service throughout the meal was exemplary. The team demonstrated perfect timing: attentive and present precisely when needed, yet unobtrusive during moments of conversation or enjoyment. This balance contributed significantly to the overall sense of professionalism and care.

The cuisine stands out for its high quality and creativity. Flavors are unique, interesting, and often ambitious, drawing on premium ingredients to produce dishes that surprise and delight. The combination of technical precision with innovative pairings results in a memorable culinary journey that aligns well with Lilo’s Michelin-starred status.
In summary, Lilo provides a top-notch dining experience from start to finish. The thoughtful progression, outstanding execution, and genuine hospitality make it a destination worthy of repeat visits. I would certainly return and recommend it highly to colleagues seeking an elevated, immersive meal in the region.
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Fernando Stepensky
One of the best meals of our lives and we’ve been to a lot of tasting menus. There was not a single bad dish and most blew us away. The orgeat ice cream with caviar and white truffle was worth the up charge. The lobster dishes and A5 Wagyu was Al’s incredible. The drink pairing was also fun. And the space inside and outside is beautiful and the service is impeccable. I mentioned I liked beer and they brought us one in addition to the pairing as a gift. They also gave us extra tea to enjoy outside.
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Raymond C
Truly amazing ambiance and top tier service from beginning to end! Food is spectacular, and food presentation is just so impressive, but short of amazing for the value. Be prepared to spend some $$$$$. We went all-out with the add-ons, and this was the most expensive dinner we’ve had in a while.

The entrance right now is easy to miss, no lights in the parking lot, and between some construction areas. The private parking area has plenty of spots though, right in front of the restaurant.

They start you off with a few appetizer bites outside, with an appetizer drink menu. Then they bring you inside for an 8?-ish course meal which is a fabulous journey. They carefully explain details of every course, where the ingredients are sourced, and how everything is prepared. It is truly impressive. Each course has small portions, but we were so full at the end. Flavors were unique and tasted great, some maybe a touch overpowering the rest of the dish.

They have these alcohol pairing options, which is very generous in portions. Some really did complement the food course, bringing out an extra layer of flavor. But I’m not sure I would recommend it because it was an expensive add-on and really just made us more full by the end. We couldn’t finish the pairings at the end.

There was another add-on of white truffles with the caviar and ice cream, which was just so sensational. It was delicious, but I’m not sure it was worth it.

At the end they take you back outside by the fire for additional small dessert bites and tea, but at that point we had to get ours to go.

This is probably the longest review I’ve written, but this was such an experience! Overall, I would recommend going here at least once. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the pairings or add-ons unless that’s your thing. Compared to other omakase places and overall value, I’m not sure I’ll be back. But try it out for yourself.
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DJ Scala
Exceptional in virtually every way! The food and service is easily on par with 3 Michelin star restaurants and I imagine Lilo will be getting its third star in record time. The atmosphere on the patio and inside is elegant, adult yet comfortable. LOVED it! LILO’s team makes a special night even more special.

The one miss, wine director Savannah. She was disinterested and unable to articulate basic facts about wines. She seemed cranky when we tried to discuss the wine offerings and never came back to ask if we wanted another glass.

I must mention the pastry chef is a genius!
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Tu Ngo
I had very high expectations coming here, however, I left with disappointment. While I appreciate the creativity of incorporating many different ingredients in each dish, I feel like the chefs were trying too hard and the ingredients’ flavor didn’t really go well together for many courses. The tempura veggies were very oily, which was shocking to me. They tasted worse than veggies tempura at an average sushi restaurant. Most desserts were overly sweet for both me and my husband. The only highlights of the night were the service and the non-alcoholic beverage pairing (even though a couple of them didn’t taste good but they were able to make something else delicious on the spot for me). Overall, I didn’t think Lilo lived up to the hype in terms of food. It was a decent experience, I wouldn’t want to come back mainly because the food wasn’t that great.
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Roderick Luna
I had an amazing night at LILO. The staff were incredibly friendly, and once you’re inside, you feel like you’re part of the action—almost like you’re in the kitchen with the team. The food had a Michelin-quality edge, and each dish kept surprising and delighting me. A memorable evening all around.
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Evan Purcell
Lilo is an undeniably amazing experience from the moment you walk in till you take your last bite. It’s like a symphony orchestra that never misses a beat. Amazing food, incredible drink pairing and every single team member you come in contact with is impressive. Can’t wait to visit again and bring new friends.
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