150 Green Street, the future home of Ilis (Google Maps)
Noma’s founding chef is opening a restaurant in Greenpoint
The best restaurant in the world may be closing, but Mads Refslund is opening Ilis with a menu that will "highlight both land and sea"
Greenpoint’s dining scene is about to get a dash of Denmark.
Mads Refslund, one of the founding chefs of Noma (yes, that Noma) is soon opening a new restaurant at 150 Green Street named Ilis.
According to its website, the concept will “showcase a culinary approach spanning cultures and cooking styles to highlight both land and sea, with an emphasis on the bounty of the northeast and the earth’s natural cycles.” The restaurant will also be designed around a “central working kitchen” to give diners a unique perspective.
Few details have been released, besides an opening date of sometime this spring. Until then, Refslund is hosting private events at the nearby Faurschou Gallery.
Refslund helped opened Noma in Copenhagen in 2003, but has since left the celebrated establishment to operate other eaters across the world, including most recently in the Maldives. His eye for fine food helped Noma become one of the world’s most awarded restaurants that is closing down next year.
Both Noma and Refslund are no strangers to Brooklyn. Noma had a pop-up with American Express last year in Dumbo that was supposed to also include owner René Redzepi. However, days prior to the event he contracted Covid-19 and couldn’t travel to the United States, so the credit card company refunded diners their $700.
As for Refslund, he was a partner in a Williamsburg restaurant a few years ago that ultimately never opened, according to Greenpointers, which first reported on Ilis opening in their neighborhood.
