Illusive Restaurant & Bar

Crab Cakes are amazing .. plenty of lumps of crab and not a lot of breading. Fresh! Most enjoyable.

Cobb Salad with grilled chicken .. the salad is fresh. The grilled chicken was a bit heavy on salt.

Mac and cheese with cajun chicken and bacon .. it was good.

Empire smash Burger is tasty .. also love the home fries that comes on the plate.

Thank you, Illusive =)

I have been here too many times to count and every time at least one dish blows me away. Once it was the garlic chicken Mac n Cheese. It’s always the tater tot poutine! And I try a new burger each time. The best burgers in the Capital District and I don’t say that lightly! I’m a foodie and try new restaurants regularly as I’m always on the lookout! Customer service is always good. Sometimes a little flustered at the front desk when they’re slammed. Butt he wait staff is attentive and food comes out quickly! Here are some photos!

Definitely a good stop. It's a small place with creative food options. They have a full bar, and I have to say that the service was impressive. It appears that 2 ladies were serving customers, and one was also tending bar. They did an exceptional job. Seven of us started with Lemon Pepper Buffalo wings. These are not crispy, but also do not have a chewy or thick skin. These have lots of flavor and taste exactly how you would imagine. Cooked perfectly. Very very good wings. I got the Mick Jigga burger. Good flavor. I didn't love the texture of the thick caramelized onion and soft wet, lettuce, but this was very good and my personal preference. Sweet potato fries were perfect and their fries/spuds are some of the best around. Strip steak is very tasty, cooked perfectly and a good value. Mac n Cheese is also very good. Overall very good place that takes period on food, creativity and service. It was also clean.

Food: excellent, excellent, excellent---did I say freaking excellent? I was not expecting this level of food at this place simply because from the outside, the place looks like some dive bar that serves burgers and fries.

First time there we got the Pub Crawler and the tater tot poutine---delicious. Decided to come back a 2nd time and had the Empire Smash Burger---even better than the Pub Crawler. Friend had the cajun garlic mac and cheese and she said, best mac and cheese she's ever had at any given restaurant, and she is a fellow traveler and a mac and cheese snob.

There was a special listed for 53 bucks, which had it not been for the fact that I wanted to have the Smash Burger, would have ordered it. Kind of intriguing that place serves a 13 dollar burger, and it also has plate for 50+ bucks. So many other places in the area to try, but honestly, food is good here, that I'm having a hard time going to another place and being disappointed with the food.

Found out this evening from the FB page that people have been review bombing Illusive, and I just wanted to set the record straight for everyone here on who they are as a company and what they mean to me.

I remember the first time that my wife and I visited Illusive. It was right after we got married at city hall across the street. Emotions were running high for us on what could only be called a roller coaster week of emotions, and we just wanted some good comfort food to celebrate our union.

We walked in and were immediately greeted by Meg, who was immediately friendly and took us to our table. She asked if we had ever been in before, and we hadn't, so she went over the specials and gushed about how inventive they were week to week. We were immediately intrigued, and so we ordered the specials of the day. Since that point we were hooked, and we take any chance we can get to visit (and drag our friends and family along for the ride).

When people used to ask me what my favorite restaurant in the area was, I used to struggle. After all, the Capital region has so many great eateries. But nowadays, I can immediately say with a smile that it's Illusive.

No restaurant has ever provided such consistency in service and quality of food to me over and extended period of time, and certainly no other restaurant makes me legitimately exited when they post up pictures and videos of the new specials on FB.

I can't rate Illusive high enough, and if you don't believe my words, well, believe the proof from my camera roll. The only images that aren't here are for items that were simply too good to stop and take a photo of :)

Thank you to the chef, the back end management team, and the front end servers who make the experience at Illusive something I truly look forward to whenever I get to go.

...and don't worry, I'll be in for that quesadilla this weekend :)

If you love food that is either original or very very creative they have it all at Illusive! The best service and very consistent. I would call ahead for reservations on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays from 5-8pm. Don't wait make it now!

Small out-of-the-way bar off the main drag, well worth the trip. It all starts with the service and Megan the waitress was awesome. Terrific burgers, and the best kettle chips ever
David Manzis

First time coming in today - Great music and energy. The staff is super friendly too. The food is amazing! Highly recommend the chicken and bacon dip. We also got the fried chicken sandwich and an amazing burger. Will be coming back often!

This was the fourth time we came and each time it's been great service and the food has been incredible every time. The poutine tater tots have always been cooked perfectly and the cheese melted and not drowning and soggy in gravy. Just the perfect amount of gravy. This time I got the weekly special which was sphagetti-o-jello and franks. The presentation was awesome and the unflavored gelatin really absorbed the tomato base and I think I tasted green cardamom and safron. The hot dogs were natural casing helmbolts I think. Reminded me of the hot dogs at Famous lunch. The drink menu is extensive and reasonably priced. We went to that Fancy place The Roosevelt Room over by Hudson valley and I would say the food here at Illusive actually tastes better and you don't leave hungry. Definitely my new main restaurant.

Understated and awesome. I had a Cobb salad with chicken. The chicken was tasty and fresh and tender. Salad greens were awesome not just iceberg actually I don't think there's any iceberg. Avocado was fresh.. all around good salad. Only thing missing was real balsamic dressing. They gave me a sweet Italian but they told me was a white balsamic. The other sandwiches at the table looked freaking awesome. It's a must return location. Help was pleasant and nice.

The crab cakes are simply the best anywhere! Staff is always amazing and the atmosphere is so fun! My favorite place to eat out!

Every time we take Amtrak to Albany, we walk from the station to Illusive for some great food. The Mac n cheese, salads, and burgers are great. Good selection of post-train drinks as well! There’s an outside seating area for nice days and plenty of indoor seats plus the bar.

Dinning, take out or delivery…. Their consistency preparing high quality food is remarkable, always friendly service. Best burgers in the area.

Food is great. I got a down by the river burger. Soooo good and boyfriend got a chicken sandwich special that was awesome too. The artichoke spinach dip is to die for. Would eat that on anything. Waitress was very nice. Will be going again.

I have been a big fan of this place since they were Shakin Bacon in the tiny storefront. The food is always delicious with impeccable flavor combinations. Joe really knows flavors! He also runs a super clean kitchen. I never worry about the safety of my meal. The service has been great. I've never known a restaurant owner more sincerely caring about his staff or more appreciative of his customers. And the have literally the best bacon I have ever had the pleasure of eating!

Great place!! Super odd location, but get over it because it's worth it. Clean. Plenty of parking, staff is very nice. Limited kids menu as expected since it's kind of a bar fusion restaurant. Probably could boat to it off the Hudson. However they were very accommodating to a unique choice for kids meals. Offered gluten-free options to go with their appetizers. Food is unique in combination, most unique names I've seen in a while. 6 stars for creativity! Seating inside and outside is comfortable. Small. Reservations likely ideal for 6pm on!! Outside seating is just as fun. There's a lot of artwork on the walls and some is for sale. Very nice. Handicap accessible. Kitchen was open which was really cool to see the hard work. Fun dishes. Unique fries. The bar is pretty fun in appearance too. The bathrooms are clean but only one stall each.

My daughter had her 11th birthday dinner here. It was delicious and we had the best time.

The best food and very attentive service. Great place for a happy hour or dinner! Always great specials and consistent quality of food.

LOVE Illusive! The approach is a little not beautiful, but once you’re inside, all that is forgotten. Really nice people, great pub food options and service. Some of the best wings around, for sure, and the chicken sandwiches are killer.

Stopped here for a quick eat while I waited for my train. I had the Dulce Diablo and Autumn peach margarita cocktails. Both great. Had the shrimp cocktail and chicken Caesar salad which were delicious. The service was great and friendly.