Have stayed at the JW 3 years in a row!We love it!Great smallish hotelIn Orlando.First time eating at illume.Make a reservation for a table outside at sunset!Firebird drink- excellentJapanese whiskey sourSushi—- best I have hadChicken stick dinnerService was goodWill be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Chris Robbins
Restaurant was completely empty at 9:00pm. Asked for a table and was turned away while there literally was not one customer. Treated like a beggar after spending thousands at the hotel that visit. Went on Open Table and turns out that there were plenty of reservations. Enjoy bankruptcy due to turning away revenue for no reason Illume. #nasty #rude #dontbother
Natalia Valentin
Food is absolutely delicious. Our server, Kristin, was also top notch! She was so attentive, kind, and a pleasure to be around. Excellent place with a great view.
Brit R
Terrible server. Robotic management. Awful experience. Do yourself a favor and dont waste any time or money at Illume. What follows is so absurd that I can’t even believe that it happened.The server kicked off our dining experience by being combative and short when one member of our dining dining party asked about an item that he had ordered frequently in the past, and he now couldn’t find it on the menu. In hindsight, her attitude should have been a red flag for us to leave or request a different server. When we eventually ordered, I mentioned my gluten sensitivity so that I could get gluten free soy sauce. I made it clear that it was NOT an allergy, and I could navigate the menu by myself since it wasn’t an allergy. (In my case, I avoid gluten most of the time but CAN consume gluten at my discretion, and I made the server aware of that.)The server then informed me that the sushi options marked with GF were not actually gluten free. She said the rice vinegar that Illume received 2 days ago had gluten in it, so the sushi rice was not gluten free. This was frustrating because we had driven 45 minutes specifically to try their sushi. Nothing else on the menu was appealing enough to make me want to overpay at hotel-restaurant prices, so I decided that I would just deal with the small amounts of gluten from the rice vinegar and order the sushi I had visited for. The overall mood at the table was tense since the server had started with a combative attitude, so, as I ordered sushi, I made a joke to lighten the mood. Apparently, the server’s terrible attitude didn’t absorb the joke well, all because it included a sarcastic comment about a lawsuit over the menu being wrongly labeled.After orders were placed, the server returned to inform me that they weren’t comfortable serving me sushi. I reassured her that I know my gluten sensitivity, and I’m fine eating the sushi rice. After she left, a manager appeared who informed me that they refused to serve me sushi at all due to my “allergy” and the portion of my joke about the lawsuit. She spoke as though she was a robot who had been uploaded with a policy manual during her Marriott training and lacked interpersonal skills as she stared blankly and waited for a chance to recite more prepared answers. I reinforced that it was not an allergy, and she continued with her robotic replies. She said I could order something else that they deemed to be gluten free from the menu (none of which appealed to me) or another restaurant in the hotel. I made a 45min trip for sushi. I wasn’t going to pay inflated hotel prices for any meal that I didn’t really want. So, I ended up not eating dinner and only had some edamame appetizer.I encouraged the other 3 in my party to enjoy their sushi orders. At no point during the dinner did we receive a visit to refill our waters, and those who had cocktails were never asked if they wanted another. A peace offering was attempted when a random shishito pepper dish was sent to us, and we sent it back because none of us eat them.Illume- and by extension, the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek- essentially determined that they were in a better position to handle my personal gluten sensitivity than I was, and they deployed it as a means to refuse to serve me the meal that I desired. If they are going to be over-the-top sensitive about a joking comment regarding a lawsuit over their menu inaccuracies, then they should probably take the menu as seriously as they claim to take “allergies” and correct their menu temporarily so that it doesn’t falsely advertise GF. Plenty of other Japanese/sushi restaurants around Orlando. Run away from Illume and visit any of the local spots, instead.Side notes: Seating sucks. Very few real tables. More of a bar/lounge feel with low chairs and side tables that aren’t conducive for enjoying a meal. No heaters outside, which is where we were sat since we wanted a real table. Also, my dining party was unimpressed with the sushi and wouldn’t return for the food even if the service had been better.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Greg Huff
The restaurant is very nice and has good service. However, the food is not good at all. The only ok thing was the yakisoba noodles. The sushi was pretty bad. I would only recommend this if you want a nice ambience. If you want decent food, this place is not it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Diana
The experience here was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
keithr
There is a spot in the restaurant where they cannot control the AC. They offered blankets but we ended ip asking for another table. Probably should get that fixed. Other than that the food was great and the service was great. View was amazing.
PensacolaDiner
Nothing to write home about. Fried ebi was like fish sticks. Tempura was chalky. Nothing innovative or new here. Overpriced and you would be better off going your local sushi bar. Not going back, don't recommend.
Kin Fung
Not worth at all. Like others mention table for 2 is small like bar type of size. After spending +200 $$ my wife and i walked outside the patio to finish the wine. we were told to leave the seats and the patio was almost empty. Rude manager and hostess.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
KinF
I tried to reach out the manager of the restaurant Erin and she refused to discuss the humiliation the hostess has made us. After dining me and my wife was just spending couple of minutes outside the restaurant enjoying the remaining wine. we were told to remove from the place. the outside space was empty!!! EMPTY. no wonder why. this place is the most humiliated MARRIOTT restaurant i have ever been. NO reservation sign was in the seats and i said outside was EMPTY.
Absolutely best! Very kids friendly. Food is outstanding, cocktails are top notch! Must have when you are in Orlando! We are used to best places in Miami and Illume can definitely compete.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Snewz T
Delicious food, amazing service. 10/10 would recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ateAug04
I love this place. Been there a number of Times however, last night they sat my party of six next to the bar. This was terrible. The noise and lack of room made for a below average experience. Make sure you don't sit near the bar if you plan to hear the people in your party!
opentablesg
Our server was Emily L and from the beginning we felt right at home. Excellent experience and a must-try when staying at the JW. Definitely will be back when in the area and would just note that this is not a child-free environment so remember to set date night expectations accordingly if that is your goal!
We made our appointment weeks in advance. When we arrived we were put into a large room where me and my wife were the only people. Within 10 minutes a party of 16 arrived with 8 approximately 9- year old girls. It was like being at McDonald's. For the entire meal it was just the party of 16 and us in this room. That means that everyone else who came after us were seated in the main dining area. The sticky ribs were fantastic the rest of the food was rather tasteless. Wouldn't go back
Have stayed at the JW 3 years in a row!We love it!Great smallish hotelIn Orlando.First time eating at illume.Make a reservation for a table outside at sunset!Firebird drink- excellentJapanese whiskey sourSushi—- best I have hadChicken stick dinnerService was goodWill be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurant was completely empty at 9:00pm. Asked for a table and was turned away while there literally was not one customer. Treated like a beggar after spending thousands at the hotel that visit. Went on Open Table and turns out that there were plenty of reservations. Enjoy bankruptcy due to turning away revenue for no reason Illume. #nasty #rude #dontbother
Food is absolutely delicious. Our server, Kristin, was also top notch! She was so attentive, kind, and a pleasure to be around. Excellent place with a great view.
Terrible server. Robotic management. Awful experience. Do yourself a favor and dont waste any time or money at Illume. What follows is so absurd that I can’t even believe that it happened.The server kicked off our dining experience by being combative and short when one member of our dining dining party asked about an item that he had ordered frequently in the past, and he now couldn’t find it on the menu. In hindsight, her attitude should have been a red flag for us to leave or request a different server. When we eventually ordered, I mentioned my gluten sensitivity so that I could get gluten free soy sauce. I made it clear that it was NOT an allergy, and I could navigate the menu by myself since it wasn’t an allergy. (In my case, I avoid gluten most of the time but CAN consume gluten at my discretion, and I made the server aware of that.)The server then informed me that the sushi options marked with GF were not actually gluten free. She said the rice vinegar that Illume received 2 days ago had gluten in it, so the sushi rice was not gluten free. This was frustrating because we had driven 45 minutes specifically to try their sushi. Nothing else on the menu was appealing enough to make me want to overpay at hotel-restaurant prices, so I decided that I would just deal with the small amounts of gluten from the rice vinegar and order the sushi I had visited for. The overall mood at the table was tense since the server had started with a combative attitude, so, as I ordered sushi, I made a joke to lighten the mood. Apparently, the server’s terrible attitude didn’t absorb the joke well, all because it included a sarcastic comment about a lawsuit over the menu being wrongly labeled.After orders were placed, the server returned to inform me that they weren’t comfortable serving me sushi. I reassured her that I know my gluten sensitivity, and I’m fine eating the sushi rice. After she left, a manager appeared who informed me that they refused to serve me sushi at all due to my “allergy” and the portion of my joke about the lawsuit. She spoke as though she was a robot who had been uploaded with a policy manual during her Marriott training and lacked interpersonal skills as she stared blankly and waited for a chance to recite more prepared answers. I reinforced that it was not an allergy, and she continued with her robotic replies. She said I could order something else that they deemed to be gluten free from the menu (none of which appealed to me) or another restaurant in the hotel. I made a 45min trip for sushi. I wasn’t going to pay inflated hotel prices for any meal that I didn’t really want. So, I ended up not eating dinner and only had some edamame appetizer.I encouraged the other 3 in my party to enjoy their sushi orders. At no point during the dinner did we receive a visit to refill our waters, and those who had cocktails were never asked if they wanted another. A peace offering was attempted when a random shishito pepper dish was sent to us, and we sent it back because none of us eat them.Illume- and by extension, the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek- essentially determined that they were in a better position to handle my personal gluten sensitivity than I was, and they deployed it as a means to refuse to serve me the meal that I desired. If they are going to be over-the-top sensitive about a joking comment regarding a lawsuit over their menu inaccuracies, then they should probably take the menu as seriously as they claim to take “allergies” and correct their menu temporarily so that it doesn’t falsely advertise GF. Plenty of other Japanese/sushi restaurants around Orlando. Run away from Illume and visit any of the local spots, instead.Side notes: Seating sucks. Very few real tables. More of a bar/lounge feel with low chairs and side tables that aren’t conducive for enjoying a meal. No heaters outside, which is where we were sat since we wanted a real table. Also, my dining party was unimpressed with the sushi and wouldn’t return for the food even if the service had been better.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The restaurant is very nice and has good service. However, the food is not good at all. The only ok thing was the yakisoba noodles. The sushi was pretty bad. I would only recommend this if you want a nice ambience. If you want decent food, this place is not it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
The experience here was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There is a spot in the restaurant where they cannot control the AC. They offered blankets but we ended ip asking for another table. Probably should get that fixed. Other than that the food was great and the service was great. View was amazing.
Nothing to write home about. Fried ebi was like fish sticks. Tempura was chalky. Nothing innovative or new here. Overpriced and you would be better off going your local sushi bar. Not going back, don't recommend.
Not worth at all. Like others mention table for 2 is small like bar type of size. After spending +200 $$ my wife and i walked outside the patio to finish the wine. we were told to leave the seats and the patio was almost empty. Rude manager and hostess.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I tried to reach out the manager of the restaurant Erin and she refused to discuss the humiliation the hostess has made us. After dining me and my wife was just spending couple of minutes outside the restaurant enjoying the remaining wine. we were told to remove from the place. the outside space was empty!!! EMPTY. no wonder why. this place is the most humiliated MARRIOTT restaurant i have ever been. NO reservation sign was in the seats and i said outside was EMPTY.
Restaurantji Recommends
Absolutely best! Very kids friendly. Food is outstanding, cocktails are top notch! Must have when you are in Orlando! We are used to best places in Miami and Illume can definitely compete.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food, amazing service. 10/10 would recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love this place. Been there a number of Times however, last night they sat my party of six next to the bar. This was terrible. The noise and lack of room made for a below average experience. Make sure you don't sit near the bar if you plan to hear the people in your party!
Our server was Emily L and from the beginning we felt right at home. Excellent experience and a must-try when staying at the JW. Definitely will be back when in the area and would just note that this is not a child-free environment so remember to set date night expectations accordingly if that is your goal!
We made our appointment weeks in advance. When we arrived we were put into a large room where me and my wife were the only people. Within 10 minutes a party of 16 arrived with 8 approximately 9- year old girls. It was like being at McDonald's. For the entire meal it was just the party of 16 and us in this room. That means that everyone else who came after us were seated in the main dining area. The sticky ribs were fantastic the rest of the food was rather tasteless. Wouldn't go back