Lyla

3309 McKinney Ave, Dallas
(214) 216-0575

Recent Reviews

Sort by
Alan Bowman

STAY AWAY! Very Bad Experience. I had Valentines day reservations at 7:15 pm...I didn't get a glass of water until 8:30 pm. Didn't get a drink until 8:45. My waitress did not know how to open a wine bottle, so I had to open the bottle. They added extra tables inside and out to pack us in to make an extra buck, totally ruining the atmosphere, and the food came out lukewarm. Worst Reservation in YEARS!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Amirah O

Victor was an amazing waiter he was attentive and made my birthday dinner her special. By far the best service I’ve ever experienced.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

addy paige

andre is the best server!!! so kind and brings us anything we need. made our entire night!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amita Torres

Please avoid this place at all costs! I normally don’t write reviews, but I feel people should know what they’re walking into.

My experience here was very disappointing. The food quality did not reflect the high prices, and cleanliness was a concern during my visit. I personally observed sanitation practices that made me uncomfortable eating there.

For a special event dinner priced around $85 per person, the meal and dessert felt extremely underwhelming (the dessert appeared to be a pre-packaged grocery-style cupcake). Overall the experience did not match the cost.

I would not return and would encourage others to research recent reviews carefully before deciding to go. And don’t fall for the fake reviews saying it’s good.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Alyssa

I’m very disappointed that we chose to dine here for Valentine’s Day. We have been here before and had an amazing experience — generous portions, flavorful food, and a meal that felt worth the price. Unfortunately, this visit was completely different.

We paid $230 for a three-course Valentine’s Day meal, and the portions were extremely small for that price point. Our starters consisted of three pieces of shrimp and stale bread with burrata. The chicken entrée was a single small piece of chicken with a huge lump of lettuce on the side. The salmon was served with plain, unseasoned quinoa that lacked flavor. And lastly, our complimentary cupcake was a grocery store cupcake. We felt like we were being pranked.

There was also no menu or pricing released ahead of time, so we assumed it would reflect the regular menu and portion sizes we previously enjoyed. Instead, it felt very limited and underwhelming for a $230 dinner.

We also waited about 20 minutes past our reservation time to be seated, despite receiving multiple emails stating that late arrivals would not be accommodated. That was frustrating given the emphasis on punctuality.

Valentine’s Day should feel special, especially at this price point. This experience felt overpriced and disappointing compared to our previous visits. We will NEVER be here again.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Destini Owens

Gabriela was amazing! The food was not. It was lukewarm at best, and there was not a drop of seasoning. The steak was cooked perfectly just not seasoned. The curated Valentine’s Day menu was highly unsuccessful with limited options (that we weren’t made aware of until the day before) and obviously cost effective store bought cupcakes as the only dessert option. Overall a waste of $100, but the service from my waitress is what saved the night.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 5

Ariana Toledo-Diggs

I had made reservations to Lyla a couple weeks out from Valentine’s Day because I knew it would be busy. Never once did open table mention that there would be a fixed menu until I was notified the week of when it was too late to change reservations. That was disappointing because we didn’t know what the selection was. We had reservations at 8:30pm and arrived at 8:36pm. We didn’t get sat until 9:05 and we got the dirtiest wobbliest table with a tray in the seat. We tried to brush it off and enjoy the rest of the night but we didn’t get serviced until 10-15 minutes later. Granted, I’ve worked in the restaurant industry in the past and I know things get busy so I completely understand but no water, no “hello, we’re busy but I’ll be right with you” nothing. We got the menu’s and didn’t love the options so we decided to go to the bar and just get a drink then leave. America was our server and she was by far the best part of the experience. She was sweet and offered us cupcakes. I’ve been to Lyla before and it wasn’t bad but I was very disappointed this time especially on such a special night. Not the experience I wanted whatsoever

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 1

Stephany Rodriguez

My husband and I went here for Valentine’s Day this year. We had visited last year for a different occasion and loved the romantic atmosphere — the dim lighting, beautiful décor, and attentive service really stood out.

This time, the experience felt different. They were offering a set menu for the holiday, which was fine, but we would have appreciated more advance notice. We only received a message about it three days before our reservation. The food was good, but nothing particularly memorable.

Service was just okay. I understand it was a busy evening, but it felt rushed. Gratuity was automatically included for two people, which may have contributed to the lack of attentiveness.

The seating arrangement also felt crowded, as though extra tables were added to accommodate as many guests as possible, which took away from the romantic ambiance.

Unfortunately, we wouldn’t return — especially not for a busy occasion like Valentine’s Day.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 2

Krista Castro

We made the deeply unfortunate mistake of dining here on Valentine’s Day—a decision we regretted almost immediately.

In the days leading up to our reservation, we were bombarded with multiple text messages outlining their rigid policies, which in hindsight feel almost laughable. We were warned that reservations arriving more than 15 minutes late would not be seated under any circumstances. Ironically, we arrived 10 minutes early for our 6:45 PM reservation, only to find that no tables were available for us. So much for punctuality. We stood waiting while they failed to honor the very standard they so aggressively enforced on their guests.

While waiting, we ordered cocktails at the bar and remained there for over 15 minutes past our reservation time. Another one of their heavily emphasized policies was their strict 90-minute dining limit—an almost comical restriction considering how incapable they were of actually serving anyone in a timely manner.

When we were finally seated, we were presented with a lifeless, uninspired prix fixe menu. Both the $65 and $85 options proudly advertised a “complimentary” cupcake, which felt less like a gesture of hospitality and more like an afterthought designed to distract from the mediocrity of the experience.

It took 10 minutes for our server to even acknowledge our table. After placing our drink order, we waited nearly 30 minutes for them to arrive. By 7:45 PM—an entire hour after our reservation—our waitress returned and asked if we had received our entrees. We hadn’t even been served our starters. She casually mentioned it was her first day, which only underscored the restaurant’s astonishing lack of preparation on one of the busiest nights of the year.

Our starters finally arrived at 8:00 PM. The shrimp was cold, lifeless, and clearly had been sitting for far too long. Our entrees followed, equally disappointing, with temperatures and quality that made it obvious the kitchen was simply rushing plates out in an assembly-line fashion, prioritizing volume over even the most basic standards of care.

And then came the grand finale: the “complimentary” cupcakes. They tasted indistinguishable from something purchased at a grocery store bakery—dry, overly sweet, and entirely forgettable.

What should have been a special Valentine’s dinner instead felt like an exercise in mismanagement, indifference, and false promises. The irony of their relentless policy reminders contrasted with their complete inability to deliver even a minimally competent dining experience was impossible to ignore.

A truly disappointing evening from start to finish.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 1

Erica Castro

Wish we had not tried this place for the first time on Valentine’s day. Booked this reservation far in advance not knowing there was a pre-fixe menu. I was looking forward to exploring the full menu based on reviews and only found out 3 days prior it would be a set menu. Menu was extremely limited and needed 1-2 more options on each section. Also would be have been nice to know the menu ahead of time or at least have details on the menu when dining. I had to ask the server a million questions to figure out what I was actually ordering. Apps were great, entrees were mid, and the Kroger cupcake for dessert really sealed the disappointment deal for us. Not worth the $280 tab at all. Stick to the full menu Lyla, not this high volume approach, or at least a real restaurant dessert. Not sure if we’ll ever be back to explore the full menu now. Only giving this many stars because the staff was very sweet to our babygirl, who joined us for dinner.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

D S

Absolute worst dinner I have had in years. Seriously - both us made the same comment - I’ve had airplane food that is better than this. Their Valentines menu was so limited and it was horrible. They even had a limited drink menu. With a full bar - who does that? We waited 45 minutes for our first lousy class of wine. It was an hour for appetizers and only after we complained. The steak was absolutely horrible. I’ve never had a worst steak in my life. And - it was $280 for 2 of us. Absolutely ridiculous and embarrassing. Both of us were sick to our stomachs when we left and felt like we had food poisoning. This place should shutdown immediately. Literally - the worst restaurant experience I’ve ever had. We both commented that McDonalds would have been a better meal. Please please don’t ever eat here. Oh - and they require a credit card to reserve a table? Really? Absolutely horrifying experience.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

Edgar Mendoza

We visited Lyla in Dallas for Valentine’s Day dinner and, based on the website and photos, expected an upscale dining experience. Because of the holiday, they offered a set menu, which we were completely fine with.

My wife and I dine out frequently, have experienced many different cuisines, and have traveled extensively — and this was the first time we’ve encountered a situation where the quality of the food did not match the level of service. The food itself was very tasty and well prepared, which we truly appreciated. However, the service felt inexperienced and not consistent with what you would expect from a higher-end restaurant.

Typically, at an upscale establishment, the server introduces the menu, explains the courses, and sets the tone for the experience. Instead, we were simply asked if we were ready to order with little guidance. The menu also lacked descriptions for each course, and when dishes were delivered there was minimal explanation — just a quick “do y’all like it?” rather than thoughtful engagement or details about the preparation.

The biggest disappointment was dessert, which was a simple grocery store-style cupcake. While there’s nothing wrong with a cupcake, it felt out of place for a restaurant presenting itself as an elevated dining experience.

Overall, the food was enjoyable, but the service and overall execution did not match the upscale atmosphere Lyla appears to aim for. With additional staff training and more attention to the guest experience, this restaurant has strong potential to deliver a truly high-end experience.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

Hafsa Syed

We had a Valentine’s Day reservation for 6:45 PM showed up to the restaurant at 6:40 and were not seated until 7:40 PM. The front desk staff were so rude when we asked to check on the status of our table. the girl that was upfront in the red shirt just rolled her eyes at us and said there are no tables and when we questioned why there were no tables despite us having made a reservation a month back. by the time we finally sat down we were handed menus for $65 or $85 a person with one appetizer, one entrée and a “complementary free cupcake”. this place is ridiculous. It’s cute on the inside, but that is all it has to offer. We will never be back.

Service: 1

Jillian Martin

George was fabulous! Very attentive and pleasant. Food was very good and portions were perfect. We spent a beautiful evening on the patio.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Maria Beltran

Mateo was a very attentive person will definitely be coming back

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Loading...