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Attempted to go to about 10 different restaurants this afternoon for a LATE lunch and found all of them closed. Not really in a mood for pizza, we finally found out that Lilly's was opened and headed on over, knowing it has great reviews.
We made our way into the restaurant and found it to be a kitschy cool little spot with lots of old vintage signs, mannequins, and memorabilia. You make your way up to the counter through a crowded restaurant to get yourself to the ordering zone. Once here you can grab a laminated menu and make your determination on what you want to order. Here begins the issues. With about a hundred items to select from to build your own pizza, where do you begin? I just couldn't, so I opted for a "Specialty Pie". I picked the Thai Bhat, since it advertised the flavor palette I was craving and the description contained the word "spicy". Husband ordered a "Meats, Meats, Meats" calzone. We also picked some grown up drinks to go with our meals.
Once you get your drinks you turn directly around and without bumping into a mannequin you pick up your paper plates and silverware and find an unattended table to wait for your items to be prepared.
It seemed like we waited a long time, and I blame this on us being STARVING at this point, because we had driven all over Raleigh to find something opened on this rainy cold dreary afternoon. However, all at once, it was like the flood gates opened and pizza after pizza began streaming out into the dining room. When the food comes out they "holler" out your name and you raise your hand to stake your claim. Finally, they called out our name and we got hubby's calzone. We'd already made a pinky swear that whatever came out first would be split so we would not have to suffer without food any longer.
The calzone was round and contained a mountain of cheesy meaty goodness. I scored 1/4 of the calzone and topped it with some of the side of sauce and took a bite. The flavors were top notch! We were both in love with the calzone. If I wrote this review solely on the calzone it would have ranked a 5/5 stars.
Without too much time passing my thai pizza arrived. I quickly grabbed a slice and took a bite. The first bite was a bit of a disappointment, so I made another, and found the same disappointment, so I took another and another. When the first piece was gone and I was still sure I was not a fan of the pizza I decided it was way too bland. It had great mushrooms, carrots, and cheese, but the sauce was not spicy as advertised and it was not my favorite thai pizza ever. If the review was based solely on the thai pizza I would have given it a 2.5/5.
However, I did like the place, the people, the vibe, and would definitely return and order a different pizza, or even build my own. (The people behind us ordered a huge pizza covered in cheese and grilled onions, and it looked amazing!) Their red pizza sauce had great flavor and I would definitely make sure that next time, whatever I order that is included.
No (pizza) bones about it, they do have some good stuff here! (Just avoid the thai bhat if you want some excitement.)
Whoever knew Raleigh could have such good pizza?! Call me surprised and FULL.
Post-wedding hangout, the gang popped by Lilly's for a Gooda and a Gus. The Gooda (cheese smothered Heaven) looked delicious, but given all the lactase and my inability to digest that lovely enzyme, I forgoed (Why isn't the past tense of "forgo," "forwent"? It should be "forwent," right?) it, but 'bout hurt myself on the Gus: mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms, and more mushrooms; cremini and portobello, with MUSHROOM OIL. I wonder if it would make your hair grow....
Anyways, we did take away instead of delivery, so I got to scope the place out. Cute, college-y, and kinda weird with random secondhandstore-esque finds covering the walls. But the ambience was peppy, and the service was keen. Overall, great pizza, and if I find myself in the area again, I'll definitely return.
So here's the deal. I grew up in Raleigh and now live in NYC. I visit Raleigh to see family like most sane people do, and on every trip I make a point to go to Lily's.
Yes, really. Either I can't get enough of pizza in NYC (quite possible) or Lily's rocks (also quite possible).
The pizza is great, the beer selection is really good for a pizza joint, and the only reason I'm not ranking Lily's 5 stars is because of the less-than-unlimited parking spaces in the area, plus the sometimes longish wait for a table inside.
Lily's gets my "NY transplant" seal of approval.
funky atmosphere, great beer selection and while I didn't eat pizza, we each had a salad and they were excellent. If I loved in Raleigh -this would definitely be a place that I'd go back. Service was friendly and prompt. I'll be back in the area soon and will try the pizza this time. Something tells me it's going to be good.
This place has an edge! I loved their pie. Good pizza and beer to boot...how can you go wrong. Worth a visit if your in the mood for Pizza.
We went here on the recommendation of a friend. Not impressed. Both times the pizza was tough. The dough was tasteless. And, somehow the toppings were undercooked even though the crust was almost burned to a crisp. The worst pizza I've had in a long time. Also, totally overpriced.
I appreciate atmosphere as much as the next person, but Lilly's is a cramped, loud, little hole. Not worth the time or money...especially when you consider that you have to fight people for parking if you don't live in the five points area.
don't you hate it when a restaurant gets a multitude of both 5 stars and 1-2 stars? that is why i am adding my 2 cents to the millions of millions of reviews. because you need me. you really do.
so here's the deal. first time i went to lilly's, we went at like 4 pm on a sunday; there was plenty of parking, outdoor seating, you didn't have to wait 1.5 hrs to order, and then another 1.5 hrs to find a table and get your food. that first time....it was like ecstasy had found its way from the bedroom and into my mouth...WHOA that sounds REALLY BAD...am i going to get flagged for this?
we left once bc the wait was as mentioned above, but the next time, we waited. we almost regretted it. i dunno if it was the gross number of pizzas they were churning out or the sheer exhaustion of all the employees (i worked in food service; it's TIRING; tip your freaking waiters); anyway the crust was thick and doughy, there was not nearly enough sauce nor mozzarella.
but remember, my first experience: celine dion's "the first time ever i saw your face...i thought the sun rose in your eyes...and the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave" would be an apt description of how i felt about the cheesy triangle i was stuffing into in an insatiable mouth that simply would not shut.
SO, try it just to try it, but i highly recommend going during off-peak hrs (never on fri/sat evening; perhaps never on evenings, period) so you don't have to deal with the inordinate raucous of sorority girls' nights out, the ridiculous parking situation, and the possibility of begging a couple outside to eat at the same table as them. just sayin'.
In the end I always go back to Lilly's. It is often loud and has quite an eclectic decor, but the pizza is a consistent 5 star experience. I like the fresh toppings as well as the tasty crust.
My current favorite is Dante's Inferno which features BBQ chicken and sauce with onions and roasted red peppers - we always try a different pie when we visit. All have been excellent. I would mention that the Gus (a slew of different mushrooms and cheeses) often puts me into a near coma state within about 20 minutes of leaving Lilly's. Not recommended for lunch on work days, but perfect on a Saturday afternoon.
This is one of the best pizza places I've ever been to. Amazing ingredients list, lots of vegetarian/vegan options, and the beer selection is killer. I used to stop in for lunch and get their two-slice special with an Ace Perry Hard Cider and that always made my afternoon. The decor is terrific, I especially enjoy the tin ceiling and light-up "WOW!" sign.
One of the things I enjoy the most is that they are very liberal with the toppings. My husband has a dairy allergy and doesn't always want the veganrella and they always load our pizza down with extra meats and vegetables in lieu of no mozzarella. I've ordered pizza from other joints and get a pizza that is 70% crust and tomato sauce. What am I paying for again? With Lilly's you always know your money is going to some great ingredients and that they're actually being used extensively on the pizza.
The pizza is good! I like the artwork in the space better :)
the house salad here is worth driving 100 miles for... too bad right now im 600 miles away... love it!
I'm from California and was in Raleigh for a few days to check out the area. I use Yelp a ton here at home to help me find good food, and it usually steers me in the right direction. When I was in Raleigh, Lilly's Pizza was listed as the #1 restaurant in Raleigh, so I figured I'd give it a try.
Honestly Lilly's was nothing special in my opinion, and the pizza while good, definitely wasn't impressive. The staff at the counter weren't very friendly when I was ordering either. Maybe it was late in the day and they wanted to go home, but it was obvious they weren't there to make sure your dining experience was pleasant. I'm not saying they were rude, just not very friendly or helpful.
All in all the food was just OK, and the help was also just OK. Not sure I'd come back here again until I had exhausted all of my other options in town.
The best Pizzas in town ...
I'll try to keep this brief since there are already dozens of reviews for Lilly's. This was hands down my favorite place we went in Raleigh.
We got here around 11:15 on a Saturday and the place was pretty empty except for a few folks picking up take out. Around noon, when we left, several large groups came in and business started to pick up. The store was definitely eclectic, my boyfriend and I really enjoyed the atmosphere but (to be honest) it's not somewhere I'd take my parents/aunt/grandpa/anyone who prefers a more conservative dining atmosphere. Just grab them some take out and everyone can be happy.
We ordered the Gooda with some green olives. It was the best pizza I've had in months. I was ready to play rock-paper-scissors with my boyfriend for who got to eat the leftovers. They offer a ton of toppings you won't find at your regular pizza joint (pistachios?!). Soda refills are free but I imagine it can be difficult to get someone's attention behind the counter when the place is busy and the order line is long.
Go. Eat. Enjoy.
Sorry, I wish this could be the best because it's right down from my house, but it needs work. Got a couple pies from there and they were decent, but pretty watery with no real character. Heard they're not as good as they used to be.
Oddly, The Point Restaurant just down the street has far better pizza. I know, I know.
D
PS. In response to the owner Jon G's comment on my comment. What's up with slamming those with an honest critique? I was just speaking my opinion to help people with their choice. Relax a bit and be kind to your all your customers, you'll learn more.
In spite of the other rave reviews here on yelp and from some locals who took us there, I'm not that impressed with Lilly's pizza. They definitely have an eclectic interior, which I'm told varies sometimes, though I also saw some downright messy stuff laying around.
They have an excellent dough / bread mix - the bread sticks and pizza dough were good. They also have an amazingly long list of toppings if you want to customize your pizza. Also standing out is their organic focus - their salads are good - and their very decent beer selection.
We had two of their special pies (as they call them) but both, while ok, were lacking something which would really set them out as above average.
Hands down a great place for pizza. Everything is oven fresh, great selections for toppings, and decent price, even for college kids. The crowd is a mixed bunch, seems very hippy to me, which is funny to see in North Carolina. Staff can be kinda strange at times, but the service is what I expect from a small quirky college town business.
Located in old district downtown Raleigh, parking may be a little hard to find.
Come with your appetite.
You can't beat Lilly's Pizza. Anything you choose, it will be great. No question.
They also have a cool beer selection. Not big, but always interesting.
The best part about Lilly's, though, is watching and listening to - and sometimes interacting with - the kitchen staff. I have witnessed uncountable fights and stormings-out. On one occasion a pizza-maker threw the hand-tossed crust he had been working with across the room and it stuck to the wall behind the beverage cooler. Another time, one of the guys came storming out from the kitchen, walked up to our table and asked us if we were finished with our cups - when we said we were, he caught the eye of the person working the register and then swept all of our cups off the table and onto the floor before striding out of the restaurant dramatically.
You know they've got something figured out if they can keep people standing in line every night of the week with those kind of antics going on behind the counter.
Damn good pizza. That's what it is.
Ok, I hate to say it but I'm not a huge fan of Lilly's right now. I've only eaten there once but hopefully I'll visit a couple of more times and update this review. What's to like about the place? It's funky, hip and loud with a lot of energy. It's a cool little spot with eclectic waitstaff and customers. They use lots of good organic ingredients on their pies and in their salads. You order at the counter, grab your drinks and wait for them to call out your name.
We ordered the Gooda which is a pie with prosciutto, gouda, parmesan, mozzerella and porcini oil along with a pepperoni stromboli. Both the pie and stromboli seemed to be really heavy on cheese and invariably over-salty. One of my big complaints about pizza in California was the abuse of excessive cheese! I love melted cheese but when you just toss a ton on without a good crust and good sauce it doesn't work for me... Gotta have some balance between all three for a good pie. Lilly's sort of ran in that direction but I have to admit the salads looked awesome.
I will have to get back and give them another chance. With all the great Yelp reviews I was expecting more! I might have just picked the wrong items but I'd just as happily go to Mellow Mushroom or Moonlight Pizza and avoid the line at Lilly's...
Good pizza and a great place to strike up a conversation. Get there early if you are going for dinner; the place fills up pretty quickly.
I can appreciate a good slice of pizza as much as anyone, but I'm not sold on Lilly's being the end-all be-all of triangle pizza. It is good, there's no getting around that. They make a big deal of keeping things organic and fresh, they use some interesting ingredients in their dough you can taste in the crust, and have the requisite oddball pizzas that quirky little joints like this are supposed to have. At the end of the day, though, it isn't that different from what you can find at a lot of other pizza spots in Raleigh.
The scene there is always zooish and loud, so it's not even an ideal spot to meet up with a few friends and grab a pie and a drink and just hang out unless you luck into one of the outdoor seating spots (which just doesn't happen too often).
I love the Five Points area of Raleigh, and really want Lilly's to be the best slice in town. Unfortunately, I'd rather head over to the Mellow Mushroom.
Born in New Haven, CT and raised on Pepe's Pizza, I'm a complete pizza snob. Luckily Lilly's is a whole other genre of pizza than CT thin crust brick oven, so I can also consider it good. Great crust, weird ingredients, and amazing salads make Lilly's great. That, and the restaurant smells amazing. If you're from the northeast, don't compare Lilly's to what you've got at home, and you'll like it too.
Also, the lunch special is one of the tastiest deals you'll find in Raleigh.
Lilly's is easily my favorite pizza place in Raleigh. I Recently moved to San Diego and have yet to find any pizza place that even remotely compares to Lilly's in taste and quality. I grew up in Raleigh so I have a pretty good knowledge of the restaurants in the area and Lilly's is definitely one of my top 5 favorite places to eat there. If you're a barbeque chicken pizza lover I would highly recommend getting a Dante's Inferno. The Aristocrat is also a solid choice. They also have a pretty good selection of beer.
As others have said the atmosphere is unique and it's not your typical sit down restaurant. You have to find a table yourself and grab a menu on the counter and then stand in line to order. Plus it tends to get a little smokey in the place from the ovens but you can always sit outside if that bothers you. They have local art hanging on the walls and it seems they change the art out every once in a while. People looking for your regular thin crust pepperoni pizza will be disappointed but if you like more elaborate tastes and toppings, Lilly's is the place.
It's all about the Big Shindig and the Buddha...
These are but two of the many specialty pies that Lilly's offers. And they are FANTASTIC.
Sure, it's a bit loud inside. And yes, the ventilation suffers. But I've never been bothered by these things. Grab yourself a great draft beer while you wait for your pizza, admire (??) the artwork on the walls, immerse yourself in conversation, and watch the weirdos of Raleigh go by...
Truly an amazing pizza in a very unique atmosphere that makes me happy to be in Raleigh.
The food is great, but the atmosphere isn't my favorite. There are always TERRIBLE fumes from the pizza oven, and the ventilation isn't great. They also play crazy loud music a lot of the time. Service is only soso.
All that said, I love their pizza, and oddly, the tofu salad is really good.
This is the best pizza in the world. Although, the place is not as cool since all the trendy people and their kids show up there now, too.
Lilly's is good stuff! We try to go there most of the visits we make to Raleigh. For vegans, it's more accommodating than most pizza places, but not the most. We tend to get the vegan stromboli. It's good, and literally named "vegan" so we feel super safe getting it. It's enough for two meals and is pretty spicy. It comes with baked cranberries, too.
We go as much for the atmosphere as the food. Though it's a bit loud and chaotic. That's find by us (fun, even), but not fun for everyone we've taken. I'd recommend trying the place before organizing a get together there. For some people it can be a bit stressful, but for others it can be one of the best places in Raleigh to spend a few hours.
This might be the best pizza on earth. Seriously.
Lots of options for toppings, sauces, etc.. + fresh ingredients, an amazing crust, good prices (2 topping, 2 slices + drink lunch special for $7!), and flavor that no written review can do justice to makes Lilly's THE best.
Kitchen staff is a bit quirky, you get to have your name yelled out your when your order is delivered, tables are sometimes not bussed the fastest or a little sticky, and the ordering process could be a bit more efficient, but it's all worth it.
Good beer selection available (about 5 on tap, rest bottled) but I opt for the PBR almost every time I'm there.
It's unique, it's local, and it's amazing.
As others have said, Lilly's truly is the standard for pizza. Every pizza I have is compared to Lilly's, and every pizza so far has failed. The difference is light years.
Their calzones are visual works of art, unique every time you order. My favorite is the pesto +italian sausage. As for the pizza, it's the Gus and the Buddha for me, +goat cheese.. ooo don't miss adding the goat cheese.
I lived in Raleigh for 5 years and this place was a regular for me. I miss it and keep trying to replace it! :(
This is a restaurant I've always wanted to like but the unique style of pizza making results in a product that appears high quality yet doesn't appeal to me. I've had and dug all sorts of pizza and maybe this is like other places but I haven't experienced them.
That said, some of my friends totally rave about it so it really is one of those places you've got to check out for yourself. You might be a big fan!
I've just been in to pick pizza up but it looks like a totally cool place to hang out including an outdoor seating area in front and a great coffee house, The Third Place, next door.
It's one of those spots that makes 5 Points a cool neighborhood. Now if I just didn't have to go elsewhere to get a great slice, it would all be good!
I'm giving it a 4 star rating because this is exactly the kind of business I like to see in Raleigh, unique, locally owned (at least at the beginning, I think it still is) with a cool scene in a great neighborhood with hardcore fans.
I love/crave Lilly's, BUT, I really really really hate ordering from them...
For some reason, the owners have a dual fax/phone line. So when you call to get take out or delivery (thus avoiding the sometimes 30 minute long ordering line), 7 out of every 10 attempts gets you the Fax Tone. Sometimes, I wonder if the phone jockey is just forwarding us customers to the dreaded Fax Line of Death as my friends and I call it.
In response, I plan on partaking in some performance art/ flash mobbing with ex-members of the band "Man, or Astroman?" in the dining area of Lilly's Pizza, sometime in 2009. "Man, or Astroman?" is known for their use of fax machines, tesla coils, and dot matrix printers in their live performances, and soon, Lilly's staff and management will appreciate it as well!
Best pizza I have ever had! Lily's is like a punkrock bar without the grime. And their pizza has every topping you can imagine..i like the roasted potatoes and broccoli!
Someone told me they have good salads but i wouldn't know, why would you get a salad here?
Lilly's has a reputation among my Raleigh-native friends. I was excited to try it - I'm a big fan of local joints that capture a slice of a neighborhood or community. Lilly's defintely seems like just that kind of place.
The pizza I had (pepperoni, mushroom and sun-dried tomato) was tasty if a little on the greasy side. A few of my companions worked the ol' napkin-as-a-blotting-paper move to soak up the oil on the surface of the pie. The crust was tasty and chewy - just the way I like it.
I'd definitely go back if I were in the 'hood...
Excellent pizza with a huge variety of toppings. I was also delighted to find out that Lilly's delivers to my area, so I'll be ordering it a lot more often from now on (it's far superior to Dominos).
The restaurant itself is quite funky - the decor has a kind of grungy feel to it, as if Curt Cobain had setup a pizza place. They have highchairs for kids and you can ask for your pizza to be cooked however you like. We had a child with a peanut allergy with us and the staff made note of that on our order, making sure our food didn't come into contact with nuts of any type.
To summarize: great pizza, funky decor, relaxed attitude.
Their are so many reviews on this place, why add more.. well, it's in my top 10 of pizza's. It was amazing. Fun atmosphere that was a great place to chill with my friends. Good selection of spirits- even though we didn't partake. Parking is probably the greatest challenge if it were a weekend.
Highly recommend. It was fabulous. The Hawaiian was the best and most unique I have ever had. Great crust, tasty sauce, great canadian bacon, the cheese was the kicker that added wonderous flavor and mandarin oranges were the bomb- never saw that on a pizza but I loved it! And I love mandarin oranges anyways.
My companions would agree with me.
The pizza is decent, but not spectacular by any means. The calzone I had was tough and the flavors inside didn't blend like they should in a good calzone. Also, all of the food tasted overly salty to me.
One plus is the wide range of toppings, including sauces, cheeses, vegetables, and meats. When you order a glass of water, you get to fill it from a spring-water bottled water dispenser.
The music is loud and the atmosphere is busy. It reminds me of many college pizza places I've been. The decor might be offensive for some. It's certainly not suitable for children. For example, there are nude paintings of a man and woman on the bathroom doors and some sexual innuendo in signs posted around the room.
Lilly's Pizza is my current standard for Pizza now. Every other pizza I've had and will have after Lilly's will be compared to its perfection of the pie.
It had all the standard pizzas, and then it had the most amazing and original creations. I worked in Morrisville, lived in Apex, and would drive to Lilly's just to bring it home.
There was a line in a movie, where the character said "sex is a lot like pizza, even when it's pretty bad, it's pretty good". (or something like that). Nope, not anymore. Now I know what perfect pizza is, and its hard to settle for anything else anymore. I'll make my own pizza now before I order it from a chain place.
anyway, Lilly's pizza is amazing, its hip, trendy, friendly and they do it right. Cheers for Lillys!
Quick Edit: I now live in LA and I havent been able to find a place as good as, as cool as, as friendly as, as amazing as Lillys. I miss you!
Ok, what red blooded American hasn't eaten mounds of pizza throughout his/her life?
Now how many of them have been fortunate enough to experience Lilly's?
If you want possibly the country's best pizza, this place is a must-try. They have everything to satisfy the spectrum of eaters from carrot-huggers to those of you who want a whole diced cow atop your pie.
LOVE Lilly's...nothing compares (sorry NYC street slices).
Deeeelish!
Had been looking forward to going here since I read the awesome reviews online, and saw their awesome menu online.
The place is very literally organic, from the food to the art. I had the 'Hawaiian Punch' pizza, and it was awesome. One piece was very filling, and this small pizza will last me for quite a few meals! We also ordered the pita's with hummus and spinach/artichoke dip. Very good as well.
We cant wait to go back and play around with all the different toppings!
In the research triangle for a review course and found this place based on the yelp reviews.
We definitely weren't disappointed. This is high-end pizza at it's best. The decor is what you might expect from a place that features naturally raised meat and organic produce (see picture of the sign).
The Big Star pizza was in fact the Big Star of the evening. It includes: Pesto, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Roasted Red Peppers & Pistachios. This usually prompted gasps from non-believers, "Nuts on Pizza" but by the end of the night, everyone was sold.
The beer selection is pretty pimp with some local microbrews and old favorites.
We even returned the next evening for even more pizza-love. Lilly's was one of the highlights of my trip to RTP.
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