Ilo Bistro

This place is the real deal! Lovely small room with a great bar, attentive and personable staff, and delicious food and drink. We moved to Norfolk this past summer and have slowly been trying the well-regarded fine dining restaurants in the area (LeGrand, Crudo Nudo, Blanca, etc), and the meal we had at ILO a few days ago stands out as perhaps the best.We went on a whim and didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar and were very comfortable - not at all cramped-feeling despite the small footprint of the restaurant. For cocktails, we had their take on a Manhattan -- I find Manhattans a bit too sweet sometimes, and this was a drier and more complex version with anise notes -- and the complex and delicious 'Infinity Pool,' which we were told had just been dreamt up the previous day. We also asked for dry martinis -- they gave several options for gins, and we were thoroughly happy with our Tanqueray 10 rendition. The bartender was great to chat with, and overall the drinks spoke to a combination of real creativity and great understanding of the classics. No style over substance here.For food we had sourdough and butter (which is sort of hard to mess up, but it was absolutely delicious fresh lightly-grilled bread), broccolini (probably the dish that impressed me least, though the broccolini was cooked perfectly and the cheese/breadcrumb/lemon all made sense, there was something ever-so-slightly imbalanced about it.. maybe too much cheese?), and the puppy drum with beans and greens (I thought this was a triumph - delicious sauce, perfectly cooked beans.) For dessert we had a blondie/brownie-ish piece of date cake with icecream that was impressively restrained in its sweetness.An unusually cohesive dining experience, which is impressive from a new restaurant, from the ambiance and decor (it does get a bit loud in such a small room - someone hard of hearing might find it difficult, but I thought it contributed to a great overall vibe), to the service, food, and drink. ILO seems to know what it is, and it's really executing its vision beautifully.

I love this place. I have been twice. The menu is not necessarily the largest, but it is creative. More importantly, the food is quality.The service is always great and the staff are always very welcoming. It's a cute intimate neighborhood bistro with that being said I strongly recommend making a reservation. They have limited seating and can fill up pretty quickly. The prices are moderate so this is a spot that I like to enjoy every once in a while.

First time catching a reservation here. Tyler, our server was great. Food was delicious and am excited to come back and try more of the small plates. It's a quaint restaurant so it can get a little loud, but we had an early reservation so it wasn't too noisy.

Exciting new restaurant in the Freemason area of Norfolk. We had a reservation and were sat promptly. The service was excellent and the food all came out on a timely manner! It's a small restaurant and small bar but very cozy feeling. All the food was cooked and prepared perfectly we will definitely be visiting again!

When we saw Ilo was opening, we knew we had to try it! The culinary minds that created both the food and the cocktails deserve all the praise I can fathom in this review. When you see Ilo on the street, it's unassuming. But the second you step in, it feels like you're in a local hole in the wall in New York City. The tables are fully booked with people dressed up and enthusiastically engaged in conversation, rather than the normal couples sitting across from each other on their phones you see at many restaurants. As we sat down, we received a menu that you knew had been hand picked and curated for the evening with food that was high quality. We ordered the Tuna Crudo (life changing, I'm still thinking about it), the fried duck, and the broccolini to start. Never did I ever think I'd be writing a review talking about how much I loved broccolini! Our entrees were the flounder and the butternut squash gnocchi. The gnocchi was so delicious and literally melted in your mouth- while the flounder was layered with so much flavor that I literally cleaned the plate. I highly recommend- HIGHLY- recommend stopping at Ilo for your next fancy meal. You will not regret it.

Compliments to the chef! Excellent food! Quaint and warm location in the historic Freemason district. Sasha the bartender is knowledgeable and amplified our experience with her carefully curated cocktails. We particularly loved the flounder and hangar steak dish, those potatoes - perfection. Do not miss out on the Paris breast? dessert. We are in total support of the success of this restaurant. My husband says it is probably the best meal we have had in Hampton Roads! Especially loved the postcard that came when the check was presented. And there's a mail slot next to the exit - they offer to mail out your postcard for you! Everything about this restaurant.. well thought, from the heart. Excited to go back again! Highly recommend.

I felt like I was stepping into a NYC restaurant when we walked in. Great decor, super cute bar. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Excellent cocktails and superb recommendations on wine to go with our meals. GET THE LOUKOMADES. Food was all delicious. The space is a little loud, but we still had an awesome experience.

I absolutely loved this restaurant. The food, beverages, service, and atmosphere were phenomenal and deliberately perfect. The depth of flavor and creativity in Chef Zack's dishes are amazing. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and super intriguing. The wine and cocktail programs are brilliant. The service was impeccable, and the restaurant itself has been designed to create a cozy but sophisticated ambiance. Ilo has my absolute highest recommendation. Absolutely go here. We can't wait to go back. Big thanks to Chef and his all-star team! The Freemason neighborhood and the city of Norfolk is so lucky to have this place.

Fantastic Dinner! The shrimp appetizer was to die for! Food and drinks were top notch. We 100% will return. Don't miss this true Gem

Incredible food and a great overall dining experience. Do yourself a favor and book immediately. Did not try anything we did not love. Savory Lukamades, beef tartar, and lamb ragu were standouts. Lucky to have Zach and his crew.