So I normally don't give 5 stars, but I really loved this restaurant. parking is not an issue here. The ambiance is cute, u can dress up so dress down. The waiter was very attentive, and knew the menu well. They bring home made bread to the table and the olive oil for dipping was Lebanon. For apps we got the kale salad which was amazing! The mushrooms and wagu skewers. All the apps were great! For dinner, all three of us ended up ordering the same thing, the short ribs with pasta. It was phenomenal!! However if ur lactose intolerant, this dish is not for you. The owner came around and said hello to everyone. All in all the food was amazing and I can't wait to go back!
i love the food, stopped me from beating my wife tonight. you guys are essential workers that matter!!!
Took my wife here for her birthday we're still inside eating and I had to write a review to let them know how amazing the food is and the service
Tiliani was tillimazing! Thrilled- or should I say "tilled" to find this kind of experiential dining in downtown Dearborn. The setting is intimate, with white table cloths, mid century modern decor, a splash of 20s prohibition era influences, and a garnish of French country. The staff is top tier with great internal and guest facing communication. We walked in for a date night and were lucky to get seated at the bar- I'd encourage reservations. Unsure if the bar would give us the full experience, our concerns were quickly assuaged because Jess the bartender was so welcoming, and still gave us the "white table cloth experience." For starters, we were thrilled they had an exciting selection of hand crafted mocktails. We love to see a restaurant keep up with the times by giving non-drinkers choices that bring life to a meal- not just fountain drinks or premixed beverages for once. The ingredients were fresh and interesting, from purees, to exotic spices, and dehydrated fruits. We went for a cider and a tropical coco concoction... then went for seconds. The warm, fresh bread with a soft center and crisp crust set the tone for a great evening. It came in a darling, home-y looking bread sack. We were swept off our feet with extra Virgil olive oil from the owner's family orchard in Lebanon. Sahtine and lucky us! Many of their ingredients are locally sourced and inspire the rotating menu. The kale Caesar salad was so much more than a kale Caesar salad- it was THE Caesar salad of the year for me. The dressing was rich and flavorful, the generous pistachios added color, crunch, and nutty harmony. The cheese was also thinly peeled but generous in portion and oh so decadent. The kale was a deep forest green. And the whipped, tangy cheese? I would eat this salad daily if I could! The Brussels were solid- I thought they were a little syrupy, as I tend to like them less saturated and more crisp. I feel a lot of places have good Brussels sprouts, so I'm being more critical here. Enjoyed the thinly sliced almonds and whipped cheese. The laham pizza was an exciting take on a classic Lebanese sfeeha- think of it like a savory meat pie, with a comforting crust (great texture), and added brightness left up to your design from the Zataar coated lemon. The house-made whipped Laban harmonized with the spiced meat by bringing a cool, creamy zing. The baby arugula brought color and just a little bit of spicy electricity to the dish. Bellissimo! The pasta was OK, a little Al dente for my liking. I love a blush sauce, but I think I wanted a little more tomato AND Alfredo flavor (ie garlic, salt, cream flavor.) It felt a little bland based on how the rest of the meal went, but I think most people would still enjoy it. The in house ricotta was in a word, divine. Lastly, the dessert was an espresso brownie sandwiching angelic French vanilla ice cream, melted around whole hazelnuts, and drizzled with salted caramel sauce. This was lick-the-spoon good. Each ingredient could have stood alone, but like a symphony, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. For this level of dining experience, the quality of the food, and the unique menu, I felt their pricing was right- it's an accessible upscale dinner in a comfortable spot where you can focus on food and your company. I was there on a date, but I saw families and small groups of friends/coworkers enjoying themselves too. I wish this business every success and can't wait to dine there again soon!
Food was amazing! I had the short ribs and my wife had the Branzino. We split them both since we wanted the same thing. The Branzino was delicious. Perfectly cooked with the crispy skin. The pesto topping really gave it a complete flavor. The short ribs was one of the best I had. The noodles complimented it very well. Staff was very attentive and ambience was very cozy and intimate.
I have very much enjoyed tilani. Beautiful decor, great food, and awesome service! I would def recommend and come back again
I am so glad they're in Dearborn! A nice Italian spot is exactly what downtown needs. They have a small patio perfect for the Summer, and the dining room is cozy with a neutral sea-inspired color palette. Service was good, but the drinks came out a bit slow. We didn't mind, as we were dining with friends, and food was right on pace. They didn't mind filling the bread basket a few times, either! Their signature cocktail list is pretty limited - I went with the Amaro sour, which tasted like a grown up Arnold Palmer. A bit on the sweet side. I realize Dearborn isn't a huge drinking town, but I think a few more inventive cocktails would be a good idea. I think I'll stick with a dirty martini or Aperol spritz next time; my husband's old fashioned was good. As for the food, it was delicious. We started with the truffle fries, which were not skimpy on the cheese or truffle flavor, and the fries were piping hot and crispy. A great starter to have with drinks. We then had the oysters, which were very fresh, cold and delicious - the homemade cocktail sauce and mignonette were tasty and complimented the seafood very well. We also had the summer salad which was made with fava beans and was dressed and seasoned perfectly with charred corn. Very yummy. Next, 2 of us ordered the Mafaldine - seafood pasta with a spicy red sauce - and it was excellent. One portion was the tiniest bit light on the shrimp - I think the 2 dishes weren't portioned out quite exactly, but since we're friends, that was easy to fix! One of us had their special of the night - a short rib dish served with mashed potatoes - a huge portion and absolutely delicious. Savory and tender - they should keep this on the menu! I had the Zaatar salmon, which was cooked just perfectly with a crispy seasoned exterior and juicy interior. The honey sauce complimented it so well. And the ratatouille side was just delicious, actually; not an after-thought for those of us that are carb-conscious. The tomato sauce it was served in was so fresh and tasted of home grown tomatoes. Top notch. I will for sure be returning, especially to check out the specials which were awesome!
I have been wanting to try Tiliani for months, but it didn't work out until last week. Finally, I had the opportunity to have dinner there and I was more pleased than I imagined I might be. The ambiance is unique and charming. The waitstaff was very attentive and offered suggestions and interesting info about the food, e.g., the source of the olive oil. The meal started with warm homemade bread with a fancy olive oil for dipping. The bread was phenomenal and the olive oil was peppery. It was the kind of bread that was so good you'll think about it later. My party of three each tried a different pasta. I tried the caramelle - a pasta dish made with twisted candy-shaped pasta stuffed with spinach and topped with a silky mushroom sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. It was a delectable and elegant dish, not overly large in portion size but ample enough for me, especially after two slices of that amazing bread. The other members of my party ordered the tagliatelle bolognese and the the rigatoni with a spicy blush sauce. I tried the rigatoni and found it very flavorful. I might order that one in future. Both the rigatoni and tagliatelle seemed to be much larger portion sizes. For dessert, we ordered the bitter orange olive oil cake and the tiramisu. Portion sizes for both desserts were huge and splittable. The olive oil cake came topped with fresh ricotta and preserved cherries. The olive oil cake had a unique taste and texture that was unlike any dessert I've had before in a good way. The tiramisu was very good but I wouldn't say it was better than others I've had. All three of us were very pleased with the quality of the meal and look forward to go8ng back sometime to try the pizzas. All three