4.5 out of 5 stars. Food here is a home run derby and reasonably priced for the quality. Half star deduction is for the rather terse head waitress who was certainly not overwhelmed, but made us feel like we were rolling in with a gang of 40 people. Â Menu changes regularly, but if you find yourself here in May 2013, the following is highly recommended:
Appetizers: shrimp curry and goat cheese soufflé.
Entrees: lamb sausage w/ pasta, glazed pork, and burger w/ bacon jelly.
Desserts: one of every kind they have - Tres Leches w/ huckleberry, olive chocolate cake, and one whose name I forgot.
Other entree: roasted chicken - nothing special, and paradoxically more expensive than many of the tastier options.
Decent wine list.
I really wanted to like Lilac...I had heard wonderful things. I went with some friends for my birthday dinner and we were all underwhelmed, but I will speak only to what I ate. The crab hush puppies were good, but not great, and the pork belly was mediocre compared to others I have had. I was most disappointed in the entrees. I ordered the chicken and was told by the waitress that it was "phenomenal". Well, it was not love at first bite. The chicken was dry and very overcooked. The accompaniments were fine, but the portion was ridiculously small for the price. My friend had the pasta with sausage, which I sampled. The sausage was dry and crumbly, not juicy as a sausage should be. The pasta was good, but a small amount.I am not someone who loves large portions and eats a ton, but I left hungry. I hope to give it a second chance and have a better experience, but for now I will approach Lilac with caution.
Review Source:Far and away the best meal I've ever had in Billings, and definitely in the top ten for the whole state. Crab stuffed hush puppies, pork belly wraps, sous vide steak with black garlic, and more pork belly, this time with rye gnocchi. Aside from some minor, nitpicky quibbles about the food, it was excellent. As far as I know, these folks are the only ones doing sous vide in Montana, but I could be wrong. They, however, are doin it right.The service and wine and beer selection were fantastic as well.
It is a small place, with a small kitchen, and an appropriately sized (and ever-changing) menu, so you might want to call ahead, or sit at the bar.
A nice addition to Billings' fine dining scene. Â We love downtown and Montana Ave., and it's fun to have another good restaurant to choose from. Â We tried Lilac for the first time on 2/12/13 as an early Valentine outing with another couple. Â In keeping with it's cosmopolitan feel, the prices are a bit higher and the portions a bit smaller (I didn't take home half my meal as I typically do at some other restaurants) - but all excellent. Service staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Â Only complaint we had was that it was a bit noisy - not what we expected. Â There was a very large (10-12) group dining then, so maybe that was the problem. Â We enjoy the hustle and bustle when we eat someplace like Ciao Mambo, but when going out for an intimate dinner, we would prefer a more quiet atmosphere. Â But, we will definitely go back!
Review Source:I don't generally feel the need to review a good restaurant, because a) I expect a restaurant in business to be good and b) its probably already been done by a lot of other folk. That being said....i would have never guessed one of the best dinners i have had would be in billings mt! I had the short rib and gnocchi entree...i actually dont even really like gnocchi, but this was homemade and absolutely kicked ass. I originally came here because i was walking down the street and they had an affordable and interesting menu (2 glasses of wine and an entree for $33). They could charge double for their entrees and it would still be a 5 star. This place is legit, if you are in billings and want good food, you are an idiot if you dont come here. I wish this restaurant is in denver so i could try each of the entrees!
Review Source:After visiting this wonderful new gem several times I will without a doubt give it my nomination for best restaurant in Billings. I really can't say enough good things from the excellent quality of the food to the stellar personable service. We are quite lucky to have such a place open in our town.
Review Source:We have been to Lilac twice and have wonderful meals. Â The first time was with another couple who are quite discerning. Â The menu changes at least monthly, and the wine list is extensive. Â Our appetizers and entrees were creative and absolutely delicious. Â The chef combined flavors and foods I wouldn't have thought worked, but worked they did. Â Our second time was for our anniversary and it was another win-ner. Â We had two different salads and our entrees were a seabass and the hanger steak. Â No complaints, only cheers. Â It's a new restaurant and I think has a bright future. Â They like to feature local foods. Â This is our new "go-to" place and we look forward to introducing it to our friends.
Review Source:We had dinner here on a Friday night. No reservations, but we were able to immediately get a table. by the front window. This is a nice space, a little too easy to hear others conversations, but not too bad. There are several local beers on tap, which is always a good thing, and a decent wine selection catering to a variety of price ranges.. My wife and I had the fries for a appetizer and the gnocchi and ravioli for our meals. The fries were made in house and served with a buttermilk dressing. They were really good and at $4, a nice start to the meal. The gnocchi was pillow soft and delicious. Unfortunately, there was room for improvement on the ravioli. 1st, it was served in an oval bowl, which made it hard to cut the very large pieces into more bite size chunks. The second issue was the pasta was very inconsistent in texture. Some pieces were perfect, while others were undercooked and significantly chewy or tough. Hopefully this was just a one time issue. Â Entrees ranged from $9-$18 and they look to have some other really good dishes. Service was very good and as there was no one waiting for a table, they had no issue with us hanging around for a while after the meal. I will be back to try the burger.
Review Source:This place is awesome, and just what downtown Billings needed. Â Very nice space, great service and amazing food, all at a reasonable price.
I was in a bit of a hurry (on my way to the airport for a flight home to Seattle), and I stopped in for an early dinner. Â I had the soup special (a very tasty cold avocado soup) and a cheeseburger with some really yummy fries. Â Oh, and the sticky toffee pudding -- one of my all-time favorites, and this one rates right up there with those I've had in London pubs. Â
Everything was wonderful. Â I can't wait to go back for a more leisurely dinner and try some other things. Â I've heard from others who have been there that the pork ravioli (the signature dish) is truly incredible.
I'm in Billings every month, and this will definitely be a regular stop.
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