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- Alvin B.DeKalb, ILJan 14, 2025
I went here for a team dinner to sort of just unwind and have a great time to mingle after work. Wow, the interior of this place is absolutely gorgeous! The ambiance is just perfect to go as a group or to take that special someone. There's plenty of seating to go around and they even have a room on the bottom floor you can reserve!
The service was excellent, probably the best I've ever experienced! Our waitress was very accommodating and knew a lot about the menu when we had questions. She even threw in some suggestions that we thought we might like and we took them! And they did not disappoint one bit!
To start, we had some lumpia, dumplings, edamame, and scallops and wow, they were all so delicious! I probably could've eaten some of the appetizers by myself they were so good! The lumpia was just cooked to perfection, the dumplings and scallops were nice and plump, and the edamame's flavor was enhanced with what tasted like chili crisp/oil and I just couldn't stop myself from grabbing more!
For dinner, one of my bosses and I decided to split the sashimi and two sushi rolls and they literally melt in your mouth! They were so fresh and delicious! The sushi was on the smaller side but they packed a lot of flavor!
To end the night we got the ube bread pudding, the BEST dessert I've ever had! Warm and soft bread pudding combined with the cold ube was just utter perfection. I don't normally get desserts from restaurants but I'm making it my mission to order this every time I go here!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Mario S.Chicago, IL1772276Dec 30, 2024Updated review2 check-ins
Had another fantastic family date night at Leilani, and they absolutely delivered on this second visit. Well done!
We started with the Lumpia--still a must-have and consistently amazing. The Korean fried wings were phenomenal, and the beef Korean dumplings were another winner. These starters are all absolute hitters--don't miss them.
The Hamachi Kinilaw wasn't my personal favorite, but my wife and daughter loved it. The drunken Scottish was another standout--highly recommend this dish as well.
Daniel, our server, truly elevated the experience. He's well worth the "beloved" title--good job, sir! I enjoyed a Sapporo to go with the meal, but Daniel also surprised us with a special lychee shot that perfectly complemented everything.
We also tried the Godzilla roll; while it wasn't my thing (not a fan of eel), it's a solid choice for those who enjoy it. To end the night, the ube bread pudding was the perfect sweet finish.
Leilani continues to shine, and with service like Daniel's, they've earned another round of applause!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0Aug 11, 2024Previous reviewrecently visited LeiLani in downtown Aurora during their opening weekend, and overall, it was a mixed experience. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and a promising menu, but there were a few hiccups that need ironing out.
We started with the vegetarian scallops made from oyster mushrooms, which were a creative and tasty dish. The lumpia was also decent, though not particularly memorable. The Blue Crab Maki was fresh and flavorful.
For the main course, I ordered the skirt steak, ribeye which was cooked well and had good flavor. The sea bass, however, was somewhat underwhelming. Given the anticipation for this dish, it fell short of expectations in terms of both seasoning and presentation.
What was most surprising was that several of the main dishes and beverages were not available on the menu for an early Saturday dinner. Considering it was their opening weekend, I expected more preparedness, especially with popular items.
The lemon drop cocktail was decent, though nothing extraordinary. Service was friendly, but a bit slow, possibly due to the busy nature of the opening weekend.
Overall, LeiLani has potential, but they need to address some of the inconsistencies, particularly in availability and execution. I'm hoping to see improvements in the coming months as they settle in. - Nov 1, 2024
I originally came across this place a few weeks ago, but at the time I was with a large group and the wait time for dinner was a bit too long for our liking. I finally came back with a smaller group on a Friday afternoon and the place was pretty empty.
Our server, Tariq, was the BEST! He did a great job introducing us to Leilani, offering menu suggestions, refilling drinks, etc.
Everything on the menu sounded so good. I tried the chicken katsu sando. The Japanese milk bread was so fluffy and fresh, the chicken added a nice crunch, and the toppings were a nice punch of flavor. On the menu, it said it came with yam chips or edamame so I asked for edamame. I think there was some confusion though cause my sandwich came with chips and I was charged for a side of edamame. The edamame had a lot of flavor. I never thought I would write this in a review but I almost wish it was more bland.
Edamame aside, this place is great! Service was some of the best experiences I've had, I loved the decor, and most importantly, the food was delicious!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Oct 7, 2024Updated review4 check-ins
I wanted to share photos of our food during our third visit to this restaurant. We were a party of seven (4 adults & 3 big kids), spent $433 including tax & a 20% automatic gratuity for groups of 6 or more.
The kitchen & wait staff are known to be somewhat slow, even when there are only several patrons. This was still the case during our Sunday dinner visit. The timing of the food coming out one by one even the appetizers were slow & a bit off. I believe this is an area that needs attention from the management.
But I must say that our interactions with the wait staff, although slow, were all pleasant. They were polite & accommodating, shoutout to Khalif.
The plating/presentation was exceptional & the rich flavors of some of our favorite dishes remained consistent.
Leilani is one of the best Asian Fusion restaurants in our area & we are excited on the dishes we have yet to try.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1Sep 1, 2024Previous reviewThe venue offers abundant free street parking and is situated within a beautiful building in historic downtown Aurora.
At lunchtime, the atmosphere hums with the relaxed business casual setting, while at night, it transforms into a more ambient, upbeat setting.
The presentation of the dishes is both visually stunning and imaginative. Each dish we sampled was not only flavorful but also served in perfectly balanced portions.
This Asian fusion restaurant exceeded our expectations with its delectable dishes and warm, attentive service. We can't wait to be back and try the rest of the menu with friends and family!Aug 23, 2024Previous reviewEDIT: After leaving the restaurant, Abbey, the Owner, promptly reached out to me within the hour. This shows a commendable display of character. I found her personal call and genuine desire to resolve the situation quite admirable. Our dinner is rescheduled.
******
It's important to note the following: If a reservation implies that a reserved seat will be waiting for us, then that should be the case. However, upon our arrival, we were informed by the host that, we would have to wait for 25-30 minutes or possibly even longer. This caused frustration because the purpose of a reservation is defeated when the establishment overbooks. Consequently, we decided to leave as our party of 4 was quite hungry. There are other great restaurants in the area that we can explore. - 3830113Dec 7, 2024
The restaurant is beautifully decorated. Cool decor. Hostess was chatting up a member of the staff for a while before acknowledging us. Unfriendly and cool demeanor. After being seated, our waiter and the rest of the staff were friendly and worked in concert. The food we ate was delicious. Two appetizers, sushi, and drinks. Several things on the menu were not available. Keep in mind that we were there at the very beginning of the night. Having to scan a QR code for the menu should make real-time updates a snap. They also ran out of dishes and had to get creative for our soup bowls. Prices are pretty high for a night out. 180 for two ppl before tip. New restaurant with tons of potential but misses the mark for the area. Artsy and working class neighborhood needs more affordable options. Not a rave for me.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Dec 3, 2024Updated review
I've visited Lelani on two occasions. We are always greeted at the door a d the service is good. The food is fantastic! An Asian flair to the steaks and salmon, great sides and the black tea creme brulee is yummy! I am not a sushi fan, but friends report it is very good. It is fairly dark in the restaurant. I would prefer a little more light. I can't wait to see what the downstairs will be used for!
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Sep 22, 2024Previous reviewTrying new restaurants is always on my to-do list. LELANI did not disappoint! We starred with a lemongrass shrimp appetizer that was refreshing and different. We had steak and salmon entrees. The marinades are outstanding! The sides were also different and tasty. The Brussel Sprouts had a yummy slaw, and the Asian street corn had coconut milk, which gave it a much different flavor. We topped off the meal with a black tea creme brulee. Delish! The place was cute and decorated. Our service was good. I loved the place so much I was calculating my return when I left! There are so many things I want to try on the menu! I've been talking about it non-stop!
- 6136118Sep 14, 2024
Omg!! If you have not visited this gem within the historic downtown Aurora area, get there quickly!!
When you first approach the building, it seems as if you are walking up to a high rise apartment building with a restaurant below, it is!! The building aesthetics are attractive and appropriate for the area.
Upon entering the building, the ambiance is a mixture of casual and classy. The decor selection is absolutely beautiful. The chairs are comfortable and well maintained. The tables are decorated and clean! Black tables collect dust quickly, but not in here! The tables were clean and well kept.
The service matched the quality. The hostess stand is beautiful and flows well with the decor. It is not out of place at all. My husband and I were told that reservations are recommended on a Friday night, but they welcomed us to go downstairs to the second bar area. Its gorgeous. It's private and there is space for dancing. The bar manager, Mars was fantastic! He has studied his craft and made a brilliant French 75.
The food was immaculate!! I have tasted authentic Philippine dishes before and Leilani nailed it!! The lumpia was fried to perfection and the Pancit had flavors that were mixed together perfectly!!
I can't wait to come here again and bring my friends and family. Leilani Asian Fusion has found a regular customer in me!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Aug 12, 2024
Edit: I'm going to add another incident that we found out on the night of 8/10 after we came home. That night, for a 5:45 reservation we found out the ribs were out. My husband's work colleagues dined in later that same evening - tell me why they were able to order and eat the ribs?! Not sure if it was miscommunication between the front of house and the cooks but that needs to be worked on. I'm being honest and there are several other reviews on Google to read as well, although very few - there were some of us that did not have the best experience one could have for the amount we spent $140+
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Have been patiently waiting for their opening in downtown Aurora after discovering Leilani Asian Fusion at Pacifica Square when they first had 'Little Leilani'. Husband and I enjoyed their food at that time so we knew a full restaurant would do well. Made reservations for a Saturday dinner and luckily we did because it was packed! I should have known since they recently had their soft opening...and that the opening weekend would be hectic. We arrived 15 minutes early and had to wait for other parties/tables, so we spent some time at the bar.
I had high hopes for an outstanding experience, but it did not turn out that way. They were not prepared at all for their grand opening. First, they ran out of drinks and some popular food items we were looking forward to - were not available. Secondly, multiple times, the servers brought over food to us that we did not order...gladly I would take them if they offered and put it down on our table! It was just very disappointing.
The Passion drink was alright and the Mai Thai wasn't that strong. We really had to change our meal around what was still available for that night so we got the below and shared:
*Adobo Fried Rice - Really good and thankful we got this for a side to eat with our meat. (Asian IYKYK)
*Hamachi Kinilaw - I loved this! Would recommend if you like sushi and it had a Filipino take on it with the coconut flavor.
*Calamari - Out of all the dishes we ordered, this was the least favorite. Wasn't what I was expecting - had more rings than tentacles, the batter more soft/chewy than crispy, and could not taste the calamansi marinade.
*Dragon's Breath - Their rolls are good for not being an actual restaurant that only specializes in sushi. That being said, I didn't come to Leilani's for sushi. However, it had a very nice presentation and I could tell the quality of fish is fresh. If they had ran out of more of the hot foods, we would have ordered more rolls.
*Skirt Steak - Not bad as our main entree and choice of protein. The steak was cooked perfectly, very juicy and easy to eat. The meat wasn't tough at all. We asked for more of the Chimichurri sauce on the side and that elevated the dish!
*Thai Tea Creme Brulee - Interesting take and while the creme brulee was fine, probably would not order again. The tapioca balls on top were overly done - too chewy and sticking together...not made very well and did not help at all to the taste of the creme brulee other than being a decoration.
We commented on how Leilani's should just focus on dinner and not open for lunch to be better stocked on their menu items..as least for the first couple of weeks. That was our main issue, we specifically made reservations for dinner to try out the Korean Fried Wings, Pancit, NY Truffle Steak, Pulutan Ribs and we couldn't. They didn't even have any of the Hibachi plates. We might as well have just came during lunch!
I think we'll come back after a couple months when things improve.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Jjrun 8.Aurora, IL24215Dec 26, 2024
Came in before our Paramount show and let's say amazing service, delicious food, and gorgeous venue. Loved everything about this restaurant. From our demo drinks (lychee wasabi martini ), charred edamame, beef Korean dumplings, to our crazy 8 sushi and the final touch of matcha lava cake (a must!!!!). Can't wait to come back!
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Sarah C.Addison, IL543511Dec 29, 2024
Lovely, Dark...Moody...Romantic atmosphere! Service was outstanding! I went with a couple girl friends for drinks and appetizers. Everything was perfectly crafted (which takes time) and delicious. I hope this place THRIVES and becomes a staple in town.
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