Chef Marla Ortega announced, sadly, that Ilium Cafe in Troy is closed for good. I didn't get there that often since I live in Saratoga, but I loved the atmosphere and the food and it was a fundamental part of the Enjoy Troy scene. Chef Ortega, thank you for feeding us. You will be missed greatly. I learned from Steve Barnes' column that Chef Ortega operates two other restaurants at a country club in Guilderland and one of them is open to the public for takeout, with limited hours currently. It is Illium Bistro at Pinehaven.... check it out!
Shraddz S.
They have plenty of tables back side. My order was Chicken wrap - was good Red pepper gouda soup - was very good(I am a fan of same soup from Whistling kettle. It is simply to theirs) Egg Benedict with ham- well I hav had better egg bene so I wasn't impressed much. Coffee - as usual Ambience- good old, cozy feeling Servers were good polite. Over all I will come back here to get the soup and try something new to eat.
Wolfgang S.
Great food with mediocre service. The menu is well made, but multiple times we have stopped in when it is not overly busy, and felt the waitresses were not the most knowledgeable of the menu when asked particulars, and not the most attentive. However, I will continue to be back due to ambience and quality.
Sheryl R Phillips
Small menu but very creative wonderful meals. Both the food and service was great!
Elizabeth G.
Stopped by here on our way through Troy. Really really happy we did cause the food was great. I got the potsticker poached egg special, and my friends got the seared tuna salad, Reuben, and eggs and potatoes, and soup. All were great picks and left us super happy with our stop.
Invest In P.
Lemonberry Mascarpone Waffles, special of the day, were delightful. Kobe Burger, Turkey Melt, Mozzarella Chicken Melt, & potato salad were delicious, though some parts of the chicken were chewy. Giant Bean Salad was very disappointing, and the added salmon was burnt on the outside, rare on the inside. Booth by the front door was drafty & cold until the radiator turned on.
Sharon Marinucci
STOPPED BY AGAIN TODAY WITH TWO FRIENDS , MY SECOND TIME , OF COURSE IT WAS TAKE OUT . THE COFFEE WAS GREAT . PEAR SALAD WONDERFUL. ALOT OF PEAR , MACADAMIA NUTS TOO. AND CANDIED . SERVICE WAS QUICK. AND GETTING TO SEE MY OLD HOMETOWN & THE PROGRESS ITS MADE SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID ???
ekgz1998
The food was tasty and moderately priced. The corned beef sandwich was pretty good and the service was good.
M H.
Although the food here is expensive, $30 for a BLT, Bowl of Lobster Bisque, a juice, & coffee, it is very good, however, what I find most difficult and completely unacceptable and disrespectful was the attitude of the server Lauren, at lunch today. I felt uncomfortable by her less than cordial response when I asked what they had for dessert and then at check out when I ask her about a charge on my bill. She snapped back loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear what the charge was and why, and we all received the lesson she gave me on how "it works [there], so when I come back", I better understand their business practice. I asked her calmly, to lower her voice, she replied, this is the way I talk. I was stunned...! I don't know what else to say...but told Lauren that I probably won't be coming back, at least not anytime soon,
Risa Lenney
I went there for lunch with my daughter. I had the grilled veggie wrap without cheese (vegan) and french fries and it was very good. My daughter had a salad and it was good. Price was good, service fast. My only complaint was tables were super close so the loud conversation next to us was so loud we had trouble talking. Otherwise I will go back for the food.
My husband, son and I enjoyed a late breakfast here. My husband and I shared the Corn beef sandwich, my son had the corn beef hash breakfast. The coffee of the day was delicious. Our waitress was very attentive.
Matt W.
Haven't been in a few years. Whistling Kettle is my go-to these days. This experience was fantastic on a snowy day after stopping in the Farmers Market. I had the half sandwich and bowl of soup. The roasted red pepper soup was just as good as Whistling Kettle (which is a high mark). The grilled chicken with LTO and especially the sriracha vinaigrette was excellent. For a small up-charge I had a side salad with the blood orange vinaigrette. A filling meal for less than $13. She had the breakfast plate, two eggs wIth steak. The steak was perfectly cooked. Two mimosas. Less than $50 total made it an affordable lunch/brunch. Fran offered five-star service--really great at her job. Can't wait to return.
Jim Ketcham
Great breakfast menu! Wife had breakfast quesadilla and I had homemade hash with a fried egg and hollandaise sauce. Both very good and portions large enough we each had leftovers for breakfast the next day.
Sarah M
Was concerned that ordering a vegan version of the (already) vegetarian wrap would be dry - needless concern, the meat substitute was wonderfully juicy and the whole wrap was delicious. Nice to have this as a 'going out' food option. Service was pleasant and quick. Also, the counter was shiny clean mid-lunch service (always a plus). Overall a great lunch experience.
mooney8204
Our first time there . The best breakfast ever . Coffee was Eskimo kisses , absolutely delicious . Top notch service.
Chef Marla Ortega announced, sadly, that Ilium Cafe in Troy is closed for good. I didn't get there that often since I live in Saratoga, but I loved the atmosphere and the food and it was a fundamental part of the Enjoy Troy scene. Chef Ortega, thank you for feeding us. You will be missed greatly. I learned from Steve Barnes' column that Chef Ortega operates two other restaurants at a country club in Guilderland and one of them is open to the public for takeout, with limited hours currently. It is Illium Bistro at Pinehaven.... check it out!
They have plenty of tables back side. My order was Chicken wrap - was good Red pepper gouda soup - was very good(I am a fan of same soup from Whistling kettle. It is simply to theirs) Egg Benedict with ham- well I hav had better egg bene so I wasn't impressed much. Coffee - as usual Ambience- good old, cozy feeling Servers were good polite. Over all I will come back here to get the soup and try something new to eat.
Great food with mediocre service. The menu is well made, but multiple times we have stopped in when it is not overly busy, and felt the waitresses were not the most knowledgeable of the menu when asked particulars, and not the most attentive. However, I will continue to be back due to ambience and quality.
Small menu but very creative wonderful meals. Both the food and service was great!
Stopped by here on our way through Troy. Really really happy we did cause the food was great. I got the potsticker poached egg special, and my friends got the seared tuna salad, Reuben, and eggs and potatoes, and soup. All were great picks and left us super happy with our stop.
Lemonberry Mascarpone Waffles, special of the day, were delightful. Kobe Burger, Turkey Melt, Mozzarella Chicken Melt, & potato salad were delicious, though some parts of the chicken were chewy. Giant Bean Salad was very disappointing, and the added salmon was burnt on the outside, rare on the inside. Booth by the front door was drafty & cold until the radiator turned on.
STOPPED BY AGAIN TODAY WITH TWO FRIENDS , MY SECOND TIME , OF COURSE IT WAS TAKE OUT . THE COFFEE WAS GREAT . PEAR SALAD WONDERFUL. ALOT OF PEAR , MACADAMIA NUTS TOO. AND CANDIED . SERVICE WAS QUICK. AND GETTING TO SEE MY OLD HOMETOWN & THE PROGRESS ITS MADE SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID ???
The food was tasty and moderately priced. The corned beef sandwich was pretty good and the service was good.
Although the food here is expensive, $30 for a BLT, Bowl of Lobster Bisque, a juice, & coffee, it is very good, however, what I find most difficult and completely unacceptable and disrespectful was the attitude of the server Lauren, at lunch today. I felt uncomfortable by her less than cordial response when I asked what they had for dessert and then at check out when I ask her about a charge on my bill. She snapped back loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear what the charge was and why, and we all received the lesson she gave me on how "it works [there], so when I come back", I better understand their business practice. I asked her calmly, to lower her voice, she replied, this is the way I talk. I was stunned...! I don't know what else to say...but told Lauren that I probably won't be coming back, at least not anytime soon,
I went there for lunch with my daughter. I had the grilled veggie wrap without cheese (vegan) and french fries and it was very good. My daughter had a salad and it was good. Price was good, service fast. My only complaint was tables were super close so the loud conversation next to us was so loud we had trouble talking. Otherwise I will go back for the food.
Restaurantji Recommends
My husband, son and I enjoyed a late breakfast here. My husband and I shared the Corn beef sandwich, my son had the corn beef hash breakfast. The coffee of the day was delicious. Our waitress was very attentive.
Haven't been in a few years. Whistling Kettle is my go-to these days. This experience was fantastic on a snowy day after stopping in the Farmers Market. I had the half sandwich and bowl of soup. The roasted red pepper soup was just as good as Whistling Kettle (which is a high mark). The grilled chicken with LTO and especially the sriracha vinaigrette was excellent. For a small up-charge I had a side salad with the blood orange vinaigrette. A filling meal for less than $13. She had the breakfast plate, two eggs wIth steak. The steak was perfectly cooked. Two mimosas. Less than $50 total made it an affordable lunch/brunch. Fran offered five-star service--really great at her job. Can't wait to return.
Great breakfast menu! Wife had breakfast quesadilla and I had homemade hash with a fried egg and hollandaise sauce. Both very good and portions large enough we each had leftovers for breakfast the next day.
Was concerned that ordering a vegan version of the (already) vegetarian wrap would be dry - needless concern, the meat substitute was wonderfully juicy and the whole wrap was delicious. Nice to have this as a 'going out' food option. Service was pleasant and quick. Also, the counter was shiny clean mid-lunch service (always a plus). Overall a great lunch experience.
Our first time there . The best breakfast ever . Coffee was Eskimo kisses , absolutely delicious . Top notch service.