illume

Perched atop the JW Marriott, this rooftop gem was a must visit. Despite not having a reservation, we were seated promptly and had the choice between cozy indoor seating and a charming outdoor patio. For a late-night snack, we ordered the bao buns, shishito peppers, and ikura--all of which were delicious. The shishito peppers were our favorite, and they were generous with the portion.While we had hoped to catch a glimpse of the Disney fireworks, they appeared quite distant and small from the rooftop. The customer service was great and the intimate ambiance more than made up for it. Highly recommend this spot for a romantic date night

First class experience from the hostess to paying the check.Exceptional menu, great bartenders.The three of us had over ten different menu items combined, all were delicious.Great views, outstanding decor.

Let's just be honest... When it comes to JW Marriott, you know you're getting quality! This is literally one of my top 3 favorite rooftops in Orlando and this restaurant is the perfect place to grab a bite and a beautiful view. Illini is Japanese inspired so you're sure to get great sushi, incredible sake, and other great Japanese dishes. Everything I've ever ordered here has been phenomenal so feel free to try a few things. I also encourage you to sit at the bar because the bartenders are super knowledgeable and have great information on all of the different Japanese liqueurs. ENJOY!

Everything was perfect at this restaurant! Our server Kristin was so kind and professional. I will definitely go back!

Met up with coworkers who reserved the lounge for dinner to meet with clients. The Decor was very chic. The lounge was very intimate and had a large dining table with a living room setting and some extra pub tables along the sides. It sits directly behind the reception desk. The server was good actually she was great as was the manager. They asked if anyone had any food allergies, I told him that I have a Durham wheat allergy. They were sure to tell me every dish that included Durham wheat and recommended I do not eat those items. They did bring some items that did not contain Durham wheat, for me. Our whole table Shared a bunch of plates and we all ordered one sushi roll or a noodle bowl. Con- was the extremely long wait for the food, but good thing we were in good company and we all had conversations that helped bide the time. Everything was delicious and it was a great time overall.

Ambiance - 5 stars; beautiful setting and restaurant; the view from the rooftop bar is stunning.Service - 3 stars; mostly due to the runners who bring out the food, but our server Kristin deserves 5 stars for expertly taking all of our orders for the table of 14.Food - 3 stars; due to the hit and miss of some items as further discussed below.Drinks - 3 stars; specialty drinks are expensive and are light on the alcohol. You are paying more for the presentation.Credit card payment for a big group - 2 stars; you are allowed only 3 credit card payments per table so note that before going with a big party. Each credit card is automatically charged a 20 percent service charge even though my bill was only for three people. I gave an additional gratuity but be careful as you may "double tip" if you do not look closely at the bill.Overall, the four stars rating for the evening is mostly attributed to our outstanding server, Kristin. She handled our table of 14 boisterous individuals (birthday party celebration) with aplomb, patience and always a smile. Although she did a great job, the servers/runners who bring the food from the kitchen did not know where the food or drinks were supposed to be placed. We had several mix-ups, and the table was left to sort it out, including when some appetizers were sent down to the wrong side of the table. Illume needs a better system to identify where the food should be properly placed for a big group (especially when tacking on a required 20 percent service charge for a group of 6 or more).As for the food itself, I enjoyed the Chicken Potstickers the most. In fact, our group of 3 order it a second time. The Steak Bao Peis were ok. The bao itself was somewhat doughy and the steak in one was quite gristly. My friend loved the Oki Roll and, in fact, ordered a second one. The edamame was a big hit as everyone complimented that dish as we had several at the table. Comments from the other guests at the table said the food was good, but nothing to brag about considering the prices and the small portions. (Of course, you are in a JW hotel, so the high prices are expected.)Finally, Kristin informed us when the fireworks and the drone light display were about to start. She said we could leave our table to enjoy the light show on the rooftop patio area and then come back. Everyone agreed that was a major highlight of the evening.One last comment - the illume express elevator does not go back up after midnight. I took a friend down to her room (which requires you to change elevators). When I wanted to go back up to meet my friends at the rooftop, I found out the illume elevator only goes down after midnight. I texted my friends goodbye and I went to retrieve my car.

I don't even know where to start. If you want an experience MAKE THE RESERVATION! Great for a date night, or even going to the bar with some friends. The food is amazing! Highly recommend the Wagyu Sushi 10/10 also enjoyed the angry tiger and Dragons Breath rollsThe pork belly Bao-Pei buns were super delicious and can't forget the sticky ribs! The Matsu-cha dessert was super light and airy.The drinks are a must! Super good and so pretty. The fire bird served in the bird glass is just amazing! It is a full bar so you can order anything. And the old fashions ... perfection And lastly... the View! I highly recommend requesting a patio table on your reservation. Things to keep in mind. It's on the pricey side but well worth itYou can see the fireworks from the patio.They will validate parkingAnd lastly it isn't your typical dining setting, tables are a little lower and smaller.

This place is gorgeous they took time decorating, and it shows I loved how they have different dining areas with different views. You can feel more intimate. I love the rooftop view. You can also see the fireworks from Disney. It was beautiful service was amazing the servers know the menu like the back of their hand and know the flavor profiles. I enjoyed everything we had. The bows were super delicious. The sushi was pretty good, not the greatest, but the salmon was cooked to perfection. I would love to come back. They also make a very strong cocktails.

We came here for my 26th birthday. We were sat by the window so we could see the firework show. The inside was beautiful and our server Valentina was super nice! I ordered a mocktail and omg it was so good. I got the chefs omakase and it came with an assortment of fresh fish. I would pass on the yellowtail appetizer next time- I was expecting something different I guess. Also the desserts weren't really speaking to me either. Overall we had a great time and the restaurant is beautiful.

This rooftop restaurant/bar is truly beautiful. The view is breathtaking and adds to the experience. I would come back for the vibes and the overall feel.The food was delicious and I truly enjoyed the dessert as well.