Ilona turns up the flavour
Ilona combines continental classics with bold reinventions. We spoke to the founder Shivv Jagtiani.
When Ilona opened its doors in June 2023, it quickly carved out a space in Accra’s buzzing dining scene. For founder Shivv Jagtiani, the move was personal as much as professional. Raised in Accra, educated briefly in Boston, and a self-confessed foodie, he returned home with the determination to build a restaurant that offered something fresh. “I don’t know how to cook,” he admits cheerfully, “but I’ve travelled widely and always had a clear idea of what I wanted to bring in. A menu with the familiar classics — but also our own twists.”
The name itself is borrowed from a restaurant Shivv loved in Boston. In Hungarian, Ilona means “light and joy”, which feels fitting for a restaurant that celebrates continental fusion cooking in a bright, modern setting. The menu reflects that playful spirit. There’s feta and garlic wrapped in charcoal, a marinated chicken breast bathed in garlic butter, and a lamb dish slow-soaked in red wine that has quickly become a customer favourite. Dessert is no afterthought either: the signature “pull-up” chocolate cake is a theatrical finale, revealed under smoke and dressed with syrup and nuts.
Ilona’s ambition doesn’t stop at dinner. The restaurant has already gained a reputation for consistency, something Shivv is keen to maintain. “The goal is to be in Accra’s top three,” he says, noting that while the city’s dining options have expanded rapidly in the past few years, Ilona continues to attract first-timers as word spreads. Expansion projects are also on the cards, though the focus remains firmly on keeping standards high.
And the dishes that Shivv himself keeps going back to? A savoury salmon cheesecake with an arugula base, a tender T-bone steak, and Chardonnay chicken in a white wine and mustard sauce. “Super tender, super tasty,” he grins.
For Accra’s diners, Ilona offers just that: food with flair, made for sharing, and a little light and joy with every plate.
