Lilia

After years in fine dining—including five spent at Chicago's Spiaggia, followed by a tenure at Manhattan's award-winning A Voce and A Voce Columbus—James Beard Award-nominated chef Missy Robbins struck out on her own with Lilia, an airy and bright Williamsburg that’s been a hit since opening in 2016. Featuring handmade pastas and wood-fired meat and seafood, Robbins' menu surveys Italy from north to south, drawing on the potent flavors of the Northern regions with offerings like Sheep's Milk Cheese Filled Agnolotti; while conveying the country’s coastal flavors through Black Bass with salsa verde and coal roasted potatoes. In the daytime when the restaurant is closed, visit the adjoined Lilia Caffe, which serves coffee, sandwiches, and sweets all day.

After years in fine dining—including five spent at Chicago's Spiaggia, followed by a tenure at Manhattan's award-winning A Voce and A Voce Columbus—James Beard Award-nominated chef Missy Robbins has struck out on her own with Lilia, an airy and bright restaurant in Williamsburg. Featuring handmade pastas and wood-fired meat and seafood, Robbins' menu surveys Italy from north to south, drawing on the potent flavors of the Northern regions with sheep’s milk cheese filled agnolotti with saffron, dried tomato and honey, while conveying the country’s coastal flavors through black bass with salsa verde and coal roasted potatoes. In the daytime when the restaurant is closed, visit the adjoined Lilia Caffe, which serves coffee, sandwiches, and sweets all day.

While most know Lilia for its handmade pasta, wood-fired seafood, and highly sought after reservations, some may not know that it’s easier than one may think to get in the door. That’s because Lilia’s daytime cafe is open daily with coffee, pastries, and sandwiches in the morning making way for cocktails, antipasti, and soft serve gelato from midday into the evening. Dessert options like The Italian Job feature ingredients from the restaurant like olive oil, flaky sea salt, fennel pollen, and honey atop vanilla gelato, or keep it simple with vanilla and chocolate twist.