Merry ‘Twixmas’ and we hope you’re enjoying this rather odd period where you should be working but probably aren’t. Unfortunately the top brass here at the Runoff didn’t provide us with a Christmas bonus this year. Well, unless you count the time when the CFO threw a handful of Celebrations into our cubicles and said ‘here’s your bonus’. So we’re back at work.
Since it’s opening several months ago we’ve had on our radar an interesting looking Lebanese place in Vauxhall called ‘Ilili’. Given that kebabs joints are about as pervasive as estate agents in Greater Kennington, our mission was to see how the Ilili matched up to its numerous neighbours. It has a large charcoal grill at the front, for shish and kofte type grills. There are also two shawarma rotating skewers – chicken and lamb, no doner. The large seating area upstairs to the rear gives it more of a Middle Eastern grill restaurant vibe as opposed to a strict kebab shop. Unlike other places similar to Ilili, they also serve seafood and a small selection of Egyptian dishes. Tick
My dining partner, Karen from Finance, had the lamb shawarma, with well caramelised lamb pieces, served in generous quantity on a flat Lebanese style wrap. Your scribe had the chicken shawarma, with massive slices of marinated chicken, well seasoned with a hit of cumin. The usual salad fillings can be added to order, as can spicy sauce or a garlic sauce. Ours were solidly good wraps and excellent value (£6.95) given their taste quality and large size. The large option must be the size of a baby’s leg. The service was friendly as well.
Chicken 
Lamb
The illustrations above are for you to see the contents of our kebabs. We’re fully aware that they rather resemble something that you might have stepped on after leaving Vauxhall station. A reminder to us all that photographing food is no mean feat.
Illil Restaurant is at 351 Kennington Lane
Ilili Lebanese restaurant and back shisha garden specialist in authentic Lebanese food
The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were so lovely, I’ll definitely be coming back here again! If you’re planning to visit this place make sure to order their signature tea – is so refreshing 🙂
We had such an amazing time celebrating a birthday with a fantastic group of eight people. The waiter (who I think is the awesome owner of the place) went above and beyond to make our dining experience absolutely delightful. He guided us towards the most delicious dishes, and boy, did he hit the nail on the head with the mega mix grill! Every bite was a burst of flavor, especially those lip-smacking lamb chops. The atmosphere was so warm and inviting, making the whole evening even more enjoyable. I can’t recommend this place highly enough.
Oh, and here’s a little secret bonus: since they don’t serve alcohol, you’re more than welcome to bring your own from home. Cheers to that!
In search of some food around midnight we found this gem. This is a cool spot for delicious Lebanese foods. The manager Nabil was very welcoming and played some great music for us. Inside seating is gorgeous with a great authentic feel to it. The decor is beautiful and warm.
Service is good and the food and portion sizes are amazing! They make fresh juices too. Outside seating is available with options for hookah as well.