Place is either to popular for their own good or way understaffed. Wait times are long. Place an order and expect another 20 minutes on top of that. Food is decent. Well worth a try. But sometimes even the bartender is waiting tables outside their area. Always packed. But because it's usually that people are at their tables longer. If this place wants to exceed...hire more people! read more

Any time we visit our daughter at her nearby college is a great time, Illusive made it even greater! We ran an errand nearby and I found Illusive on Yelp. We approached just as they were opening for the day on a Saturday. (Slightly after noon) Not seeing many cars in the neighborhood and having the gps seem to "arrive" outside of an empty lot was an inauspicious start but when we pulled fully into the lot, we saw that they had put some work into the place and it had a nice modern look. Didn't get to take advantage of the nice outdoor seating area because the weather was rainy. We were greeted by friendly staff and seated at a comfortable table. Our timing was impeccable because the place was full within the next half hour. Our waitress deserves her own paragraph! She knew the menu inside and out and had tremendous pride in the food served and the awards they've won! Illusive is a "foodie" restaurant, every dish is elevated yet remains unfussy. For appetizers, we shared the street corn dip and tater tot poutine. The street corn dip was creamy and zesty. The tater tot poutine was revelatory, the cheese was melted perfectly, the gravy wasn't some jarred nonsense, and the tots themselves were crispy. I enjoyed the different textures of it, some more cheesy and some more gravy. My wife enjoyed a chicken Caesar salad and my daughter enjoyed a grilled chicken pesto sandwich. Her sandwich was a nice enough portion that she finished it leftover for dinner! I enjoyed the buffalo lemon pepper wings, the sauce was a nice blend of heat and zesty flavor. I appreciated the amount of wings they served, some restaurants are going for "shrinkflation" but Illusive provides a full portion! We received quality and personable service throughout a delicious meal, we will gladly return! read more

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Tucked away on Ferry St. in Rensselaer is Illusive Restaurant. I remember liking this place. It's been a few years since I last visited. A friend and I showed up for Sunday brunch. It's a nice restaurant. If anything, it's even nicer than before. I like the addition of neon lighting at the bar. It's fun. When we arrived, there weren't a lot of people dining. In the interest of efficiency we asked to sit at the bar since both servers were also tending bar. There were a number of people working in the kitchen. It took a while before our food orders were filled but the wait wasn't excessively long. Perhaps 20 minutes. We ordered The Home Wrecker brisket sandwich and a Dragon Breath crispy chicken sandwich. I liked the combination of cheeses, caramelized onions, relishes and seasonings. However, compared to similar restaurant-bars, I found that the sandwiches at Illusive were remarkably thin. For the first time ever, I actually wondered, where's the meat? While some rivals might overstuff their pulled pork or roast beef sandwiches, I found myself actually peering into my Home Wrecker sandwich to find a thin slice of brisket, caramelized onions and some cheese. Since I sometimes suffer from low iron I would have liked more protein for my $17 sandwich which instead came with many potato chips. I don't know where the sandwich got its name from but not getting adequate protein does "wreck" with my dietary needs.The chicken sandwich was tastier and a bit thicker, but again the kitchen was stingy where it mattered. That's why this Yelper is giving Illusive a 4 instead of a 5. As for the two servers/ bartenders they were very nice and they did their best to keep customers happy even as the restaurant grew busier. read more

This spot has the location of an unknown restaurant with little to no street recognition -- until you step inside and look at the menu and realize it's actually an award‑winning place. As the name suggests, this restaurant is a bit elusive. It's hidden from street view and, unfortunately, sits right next to a highway ramp. That said, once you're inside, the location quickly becomes irrelevant. I've tried a few things here over time, but most notably, the burgers. Every burger I've had has been excellent -- I honestly haven't tasted one I didn't like. We also tried the wings, which appear to have earned some awards of their own, and they absolutely lived up to the hype. They looked and tasted fantastic. Each wing was carefully garnished with chives, and the sauce was generously slathered over them. They were messy, indulgent, and downright delicious. I personally love getting down and dirty with wings, though I could see how that might not be everyone's preference. The staff have always been pleasant and helpful. While the food can sometimes take a bit longer to come out, it's clearly made with care and has always been worth the wait. read more

All the food we had was delish and fresh and so huge. The service was good even tho they were very busy. We had the burrata dip, I got the smash burger with homemade chips and my friend got a burger and wings. Wings huge and so spicy and yummy. My burger was delish. I am from the south tho so if you say bbq sauce I expect red and sweet and this was like a mayo bbq blend maybe. But other than that no complaints at all. Drink was great too!! Will def go back!!! read more

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I had a reservation for after my son's 5th grade moving up ceremony early afternoon on a Friday. The reservation process was easy with a quick phone call, because my son uses a power wheelchair for mobility and there was space for him to navigate. We sat inside where the seating was cozy and a bar. There were a lot of pick up orders going out the door while we were there. Now the food was amazing! I didn't get pictures of all of the meals sadly. My very picky older parents even raved about the chicken sandwich and a burger. We will have to come back to try the wings! read more

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It was a SCORCHING hot day, and the restaurant had actually been closed due to extreme heat the day before we went. Customer service was great...attentive, but not annoying. Kept us well hydrated! And the food....oh my word. GET THE TATER TOT POUTINE. It will fill your soul and belly with joy. Even in the middle of the (very generous) appetizer serving, the tots maintained a nice crispness, and the cheese pull was a sight to behold. We both had different burgers, and loved them. I got their house made fries alongside mine, and they were utterly perfect. An interesting curvy shape and a little thick cut, but cooked to perfection and seasoned well. We'll be back...the whole menu looks incredible! read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Tater tot poutine. - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Way. Too. Much. Salt. Couldn't taste the burger with all the added salt. The server did the right thing by asking if we wanted to order something else. Your burgers always tasted great in the past - please stop adding so much salt. We'll try again. read more

I came here on a Saturday evening for dinner and drinks. Upon arrival, the parking lot was packed - we had the option to sit outside on the patio or inside the restaurant and opted to sit indoors as it was hot. The seating is closely arranged to other tables so I asked the hostess if we could get a seat in the corner, she proceeded to tell me that it was reserved already which I understood but we stayed almost up to closing and the table was open the entire time. We ended up sitting in a two seater very close to another table. I ordered the speciality drink for the week - it was cucumber based but did not taste very good. For food, we got the wings [seemed to be a favorite amongst everyone's orders], can not remember the sauce we picked. Overall they were good, crispy, and tasty but would probably opt for another sauce next time. I ordered the Harlem chopped cheese with fries. My brother got a burger and tater tots. The tater tots seemed to be a better option as they were crispy and seasoned well in comparison to the fries but both of the sandwiches were tasty. I would be back to try the food again but had to take stars off for the drinks and service with seating. read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Wings - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

What a great burger joint. It's a casual restaurant which is great. The server was fast and friendly. They have a good cocktail selection. My husband and I both got the Harvest Moon Margarita., which were delicious. We started with the Brussels sprouts, which were delicious! My husband had the bougie burger which he inhaled. I had the empire burger, it was such a great burger. I forgot to let the camera eat first! read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Harvest Moon Margarita - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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It was good. It wasn't great. This will not fill an adult male in any way. Honestly the shrimp could use some kind of seasoning. Its good to try new things. Try it for yourself. I'n my humble opinion anything over $30 shouldn't leave you hungry and wondering if I should have ordered something else, but that's just one man's opinion. read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - This is the $34 Shrimp risotto. - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

My GPS took me through the back of an abandoned auto repair business and from the outside it felt very local, almost too local. Hesitantly I went it and it was as reviewed. Very nice looking, clean, plenty of tables and it was not dark. I ordered to go and the food was very tasty. The drinks I ordered were good too. Nice spot. read more

We visited Illusive for a family birthday dinner. There is plenty of parking. The inside is smaller than I thought it would be. We had a very nice corner seat. The noise level inside was good to be able to have a conversation without having to yell. The poutine tots were delicious, the cheese was melted, so I'm not sure if it was actual cheese curd but the combination with melty cheese, smooth gravy and crispy tots was a table winner. Most of the table ordered chicken sandwich's which we all enjoyed. One guest ordered the whipped ricotta dish, it was very bland, it needed salt and/or some lemon zest, something to bring out the flavors. Unfortunately the soda was flat, the server was amazing and made sure we all got new beverages. read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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Five stars for sure great food ,wings where top notch. Burger was delicious you can't go wrong with anything they put out . Worth the stop. , It's not a huge place but it's worth the wait ... read more

What a great burger spot! The casual atmosphere made it even more enjoyable. The service was quick, and our server was very friendly. They also have a great cocktail selection. My friend and I both ordered the Harvest Moon Margarita, and they were delicious. We started with the Brussels sprouts, which were amazing. My friend had the Bougie Burger and absolutely loved it. I ordered the Empire Burger, and it was one of the best burgers I've had. Everything looked so good that I forgot to take a picture before digging in! read more

It is impossible to describe how delicious this food was. We got turned on to them in wing wars but haven't had a chance to go until now. Our waitress was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. There was a neat outdoor patio with no wait and breezy good vibes. Drinks hit the spot and very good prices for everything we ordered. We will definitely be back. read more

- awesome service - make that resy this place was packed on Wednesday 5pm - food was salty when reheated - large portions - good wings - well seasoned steak - they close kinda early - i lived the brisket mac - wings are well made read more

I can't speak for the food, because I ended up leaving after one drink. I came here based on Yelp recommendations, and I'm not often let down but I didn't enjoy it here. The dining area was way smaller than anticipated, and we sat at the bar rather than waiting 25 minutes for a table. Although the bartenders were polite, I felt like I was at a college bar... or Hooters. The way all three were dressed made the entire place feel low class. Ended up across town at a more tasteful brewery. Based on the managers response to my opinion, changing to one star for low business etiquette. "Hard working mothers" can earn good tips by providing great service without low cut crop tops and shaking their shakers in my face. It's nothing personal to them, just prefer not to have a side of cleavage with my dinner. read more

One night in Albany a foodie search provided this highly rated local restaurant. I ordered to go multiple items to get a taste of everything. First was some wings, buffalo parm and garlic lemon pepper, two flavors I had never seen before. Two flavors I will not order again. The parm and the garlic was very strong. I don't think they were bad just not for me but if it was it would be great. The Mac and cheese was some of the best I have ever had. Yet it still didn't beat the best item, the burger! The burger was seasoned, juicy, thick, I can only imagine how much better it would have been fresh and not to go. I would have rated this a 4.5 but since no halves I went with the 4. If back again I wouldn't think twice about going back! read more

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Threw together a last minute Birthday lunch for my 67th 6 of us only 2 had been but had been. Was on there list to go! All were really impressed. We drank and ate like Queens! Crafted cocktails are yummy! Bartender is awesome! Menu is very unique and delicious. If you are a baconater this is the place for you. Salads, burgers Sandwiches to delicious Salmon. Love this place! Thanks for a perfect last minute soirée read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Me expresso martini turning 67 - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Ranked among 10 Best Burgers in NYS, we had to try our local fare and glad we did. Both selections (New School, $18 and Down by the River, $17) were outstanding, as very large portions and served on a very good roll. Carmelized double bacon was a real treat, along with curly sidewinder fries upgrade ($5). Initiallly, service was marred because our reservationi was not registered...apparently we missed a "final blue-button" click, but after a 15-minute wait were were seated; thereafter service was friendly and good. The place was packed the whole time with lots of takeout orders being filled. It was busy-noisy but manaeagable. For Rentlur, we thought the prices a bit high, but certainly worthwhile in value and unique offerings. An IPA draft was $7.50 Can't decide what to try next, but another visit is in our plans. read more

If you are looking for a quiet reserved place this is the opposite. This place is small but very friendly. From the moment you walk in you are greeted with a smile. The drinks are amazing and the burgers are delicious. All the staff are friendly and know the menu so even if you're not sure what you want they have great recommendations. read more

Great wings. I can see why they won an award! A little loud in the small place but it was a fun night out and good service.

Prompt last minute after work drinks and apps we went to illusive restaurant and bar in Rennesalear. It was my first time there, we sat outside on the patio and had the best waitress Niyah as she was very attentive, friendly and didn't rush us out of there when the place started getting busy. Not sure what the other happy hour specials were but house wine was $1 off a glass. We order two apps to share first being street corn dip (was decent) and the other the whipped ricotta which was out of the world. 10/10 wasn't expecting anything like that. We both ordered burgers and wings to go. Special of the week was as smash burger placed in fondue very yummy. Hubby and nephew said their burgers were good even not fresh. I will definitely try the place again. read more

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Best burgers in the Capitol Region! I ordered the Empire Smash with Parmesan Truffle Fries from Uber Eats, and everything arrived very well packaged and still hot! I've been coming here and ordering delivery for over a year and have never been disappointed. read more

I hate to rain on everybody's parade but here I am. I feel like people PRAISE this place and I didn't get that. First kids menu didn't have chicken fingers; ok this is a me problem. So we ordered grilled cheese for my youngest. It was very thick, like Texas toast style, so my 4 year old did not like it. Also with kids and adults you have to buy sides, like fries, separate. That made my 4yo kids meal over $10. Not sure if this was an error but my kids drinks which came in kids cups were the same price as my drink. Maybe this was an error in billing but that's still a miss for me. I do not like that you buy things separate. What bar/restaurant and not fancy/family style place do you go to that charges for a burger and fries separately? Of course you want fries or chips when you order a burger. So that's weird to me. To the good things; the lemon pepper wings, Cobb salad and burger with fries were delicious! I would definitely eat this food again but based on the availability places nearby that don't list the above problems,I may not be back. read more

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Service was great and the drinks were good. Great place for a group. Not a great place for vegans but the potato products - chips, fries, etc. were fantastic. Portions are incredibly filling. read more

Food was great:) Service was great:) very busy place in a middle of week which is good for businesses. I had salad and it was amazing!!! My girls had burgers and they loved it. I highly recommend!!! read more

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This is a great little out the way place. Great food and awesome service. We took the train down to NYC and got back at about dinner time. It's very close to the train station and is family friendly (our 7 y.o. Was with us) so we stopped in to get something to eat before the drive home. I had the Empire Smash Burger with tots and it was excellent. My wife had Infusion garlic parm wings which were incredible. A bit spicy but very very good. 7 had pasta with butter and gobbled it up. The server was outstanding. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Recommend! read more

Food awesome Waitress out going friendly Great parm wings Feels so nice in here Xmas music playing Food served hot and delicious read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Excellent smash burger Garlic parm wings OFF the HOOK Great waitress!! Great food & place - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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It was fine, but it's a dive bar. 2 drafts and a smash burger set me back $35. I'm not feeling the value here. The wings looked great and maybe I should have had them. read more

Tried it for the first time after hearing about good reviews. The plated food looked good however it lacked seasoning and flavor. We got and app, bbq brisket sandwich and I had the steak Louie. They were all ok, but nothing spectacular. My steak was cooked well but lacked seasoning like basic salt and pepper. The risotto had a kind of weird flavor to it and it really can't compare to a good Italian restaurant. For the two of us to eat and have a couple of beers it was over $100 and I'm not sure we would be going back. The atmosphere was very bar like and I would not suggest it if you're looking for a relaxing night out for dinner. I guess it's all about the choices, but I was surprised about how bland the food was especially after reading reviews of how good it was. UPDATE: Now in addition to my original feedback Wich was 3 stars, the management team reached out to me with a response that I now see is the usual for anyone who rates them less than 5 stars. Defensive and insulting. If I were them I would do some research on people before they respond. I am not a negative poster and been to many outstanding restaurants and leave honest mostly positive reviews. Now for them to insult my palate is rich. Let's start with "my palate is a tad inexperienced to understand " get real, look at the places I've been and provided reviews for. I identified the saffron in your below average risotto and any good chef would know that the over use of that ingredient will leave a metallic taste in your mouth. (Looks like you're a tad bit inexperienced) Your so called rich and savory Demi glaze tasted more like mushroom water and it was lumpy and not smooth as you can see by the pics. Your brisket was not cut properly for the sandwich and was tough and it also had a distinct off putting aftertaste. Learn to take constructive criticism instead of attacking anyone who rates you less than a 5 which are probably all friends and family. However you are right and we agree on one thing. If I am looking for a "spectacular"night out with a good atmosphere and great food, your place is definitely not for me and I wouldn't waste my time or money on your overpriced, pretentious grub. What I will do is tell everyone I know about this experience and your rude response not only to me but others whom you blame for their bad experience instead of taking some ownership. Juvenile and pathetic, good luck with your flash in the pan spot. ANYONE READING THIS POST DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR HARD EARNED CASH ON THIS ESTABLISHMENT!! I HAVE HAD MUCH BETTER BURGERS AND STEAK AT CHILIS FOR HALF THE PRICE. If you want great food, atmosphere and pricing that fits the quality go to Grappa 72, Mila's, The Nest, D'Raymonds, Ferraris, Fillies on Phila, Pasta Pane, Morton's Steak House to name just a few. All great food and atmosphere that is worth the time and money. The best part, no self righteous, cocky demeaning attitude towards their customers. In conclusion I wish you the best, you the consumers, not the establishment whose illusiveness is more of an illusion than reality. ANOTHER UPDATE: Owner responded again claiming false accusations about our night and claiming we scraped our plates clean. Didn't happen, we were asked if we wanted a box to wrap up our leftovers and we declined. Claims I love the drama. This guy clearly has no class or business sense. Complete loser and yes I love going to places that actually blow me away by properly seasoning their food and not trying to claim they are something they are clearly not and blaming the customers. Total failure, complete joke! Wish I could give you a negative 5 on the experience. You the manager or owner whatever you are have completely made this experience unforgettable. Clown read more

My first thought walking into this establishment was this place had good vibes, dining room was very nice, music playing was super good. Waitress came to us immediately and we ordered some ice teas that were very good. She was very mindful and very demure not like other waitresses we encounter at other establishments. I order the Casanova sandwich with sweet potato's fries that OMG were so good and favorable. The portion was pretty big I only ate half and took rest home and I'm so glad I did be because I was devoring my food as I type this review. We also order the buffalo lemon pepper wings and baby these wing were superb, literally best wings I have ever had. I really wished I order my own vs sharing with my daughter and hubby but sharing is caring. The wing sauce was so favorable and juicy perfect and cooked with perfection.I wish I ordered some to go. I am definetly coming back to try some other things on menu as well getting some wings! read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Sweet Potatoes fries and Casanova Caprese sandwich - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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I'm always on the hunt for the best cheeseburger in the area. The Mc Jigga burger was like fighting into a burger and a French onion soup at the same time. It was amazing. I just got the Empire Burger next and they were smash burgers, but they were amazing as well. Try this place. It's amazing. read more

The drinks were okay, and the food leaned on the plain side nothing bad, but nothing memorable either. I think they could really step it up by offering a variety of sauces to bring some extra flavor to their steaks and sides. That being said, the service was on point! Our server was friendly and checked in regularly, which I appreciated. I might have to give this place another shot, though those wings won the People's Choice at Wing Wars, so clearly, they're doing something right. Guess I know what I'm ordering next time! read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - One of the specials on the menu called steak Diane - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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Thank you for sharing your time and talents with a young man who is differently abled but still so rich in homecoming vibe. You created a beautiful evening for a special young man. It is not lost on any of us. read more

The exterior of the building may need a coat of paint, but don't let that put you off this place. The service is GREAT and the food is amazing! If you have a taste for pub fare, drinks, and a good sound track definitely try the Illusive. My personal recommendation from the menu is the Empire Smash Burger, it's truly one of the best burgers I've ever had anywhere in the World! read more

Great burger, Italian sub, and fries. Host Ty and waitress Cheyenne were both fantastic. highly recommended

Delicious food served quickly with friendly service. Strongly recommend. If you're in Albany for business, take the very brief trip across the Hudson to experience this place. If you live in the Capital Region and love burgers, chicken sandwiches, and wings you need to make this a destination. The parking lot still needs some perking up, but it is no indicator of the cool space and experience waiting inside. The staff is pleasant and highly attentive from the top down. Everything on the menu is $20 or less, and all winners. Two thumbs up from this chef. read more

Illusive Restaurant & Bar - Alabama White Wings drizzled in hot oil and topped with everything bagel spice. - American Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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This is a "go to" local place for me, however service was lacking on our last visit. Our server who made it known she was the owners daughter forgot to write down that we wanted fries instead of chips. We also specified no red onion on the Gyro, but when we got it the wrap was loaded with onions. Will be back for the food, but it may be awhile. Appreciate you addressing the service concerns. read more