ilili DC and Rooster & Owl will join forces for a one-night-only Silk Road Dinner Series collaboration on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, pairing Lebanese tradition with contemporary American cooking in a multi-course tasting menu priced at $110 per guest.
Two Acclaimed Chefs Share One Table
For one evening, ilili DC Executive Chef Satinder Vij will cook alongside Rooster & Owl Chef-Owner Yuan Tang. Together, they will build a multi-course tasting menu that moves between two distinct food traditions. The Levant meets modern America. Lebanese spice meets seasonal restraint. Each course becomes a conversation!
Vij brings the bright, layered flavors that have made ilili a leading Middle Eastern destination at The Wharf, while Tang contributes the inventive, market-driven style that earned Rooster & Owl national recognition.
A Dinner Series Rooted in Cultural Exchange
The Silk Road Dinner Series honors the historic trade of ideas, ingredients, and traditions across continents, and this pairing carries that idea straight to the plate. Rather than blending two cuisines into one, the chefs let each speak clearly, then find where the flavors overlap. Lebanese technique engages American creativity. The result favors dialogue over fusion.
“Food has always been one of the most powerful ways to connect cultures and communities,” said Chef Satinder Vij. He framed the night as a chance to celebrate those links while building something entirely new with Chef Yuan Tang.
Guests gather around a shared table, exactly the social, communal spirit that defines both restaurants.
What the Evening Promises Guests
Expect a thoughtfully sequenced menu, served course by course, with a story behind every dish. Tang trained at three-Michelin-star Jean Georges and one-Michelin-star The Modern before opening Rooster & Owl, so precision anchors the creativity.
Meanwhile, Vij draws on the Levant’s deep pantry of herbs, grains, and slow-cooked richness. Seating is intentionally limited, which keeps the room intimate and the experience personal. Because demand for these collaborations runs high, early reservations are strongly encouraged!
How to Reserve Your Seat
The collaboration takes place at ilili DC inside The Wharf, where the kitchen opens for the evening’s first courses. Tickets are $110 per guest, exclusive of tax and gratuity, and seats are first come, first served. Reserve early. Reserve directly. Secure your place through the official reservation link before the table fills.
For one night only, two of Washington’s most distinctive restaurants will cook side by side, and a seat at that table is a rare invitation.
Location: ilili DC, The Wharf, 100 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024 Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Average Cost: $110 per guest (exclusive of tax and gratuity).
