Lily
| Cuisine | Vietnamese |
|---|---|
| Price | $$$ (31-50) |
| Rating | 7/10 |
| Last Visit | Aug. 20, 2021 |
| Location | SFBA: San Francisco: West |
General Notes
Lily is an upscale Vietnamese restaurant in the Inner Richmond district. You might have heard of Lily by their $72 (now $500) bougie fried rice dish. Everything about this restaurant is delightful -- the food, the vibe, the owners/chefs/waitstaff. I love how they're able to bring together the best elements of a more casual dinner setting and elevate the experience to make something truly wonderful.
Positives
> The chefs, owners, and waitstaff are wonderful and super friendly. Robert (the chef) personally comes out to each party to speak with them, check in on how everything is, and answer any questions you might have about the food.
> The vibe of the restaurant is wonderful. A bit on the louder and more hectic side, but not in a bad way.
> The portion sizes are MASSIVE. The appetizers are similar in size to entrees at other restaurants. The pork chop that I ordered was a double-chop and probably almost 2 inches thick. Bring friend(s) and order significantly less than you think you'll need. The menu looks pricy but the prices are much more reasonable than it might seem.
Negatives
> Can get quite busy, although you could definitely get a seat for a party of 1-2 if you're willing to wait. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation if possible.
Dishes Tasted
- ★★★☆ Com Tam Soun Nuong -- BBQ Berkshire pork chop broken rice, lap xuong sausage, green tomato cabbage stir fry, shrimp and pork meatloaf. The pork chop is HUGE. It's brined and grilled over binchotan, which lends it a delightful texture and flavor. It was slightly overcooked but otherwise delightful. The "meatloaf" is reminiscent of shao mai filling. The broken rice was meh, the broth was OK but the rice was unpleasantly grainy.
- ★★★☆ Pate Choux -- Sonoma Liberty duck liver pate, Hudson Valley foie gras, hoisin sambal. Mostly not Vietnamese but the hoisin sambal really helps bring everything together. It's too sharp by itself but works wonders with the rich pastry. Really well balanced.
- ★★★☆ Lime Sinh To -- A delightfully refreshing drink. It's yogurt based but light; the amount of yogurt is relatively small. The lime is great (though the drink might be slightly too acidic with both the lime and yogurt), and I love the little bits of fruit/seeds inside the drink.
Pork Chop Rice
Pate Choux
