Illuminaté Restorante - Steakhouse, Seafood, Italian — Restaurant in Delta

This is a long overdue review. Back in the beginning of October, we wanted Italian food for dinner. We also wanted to go somewhere that we had never been to before. A search brought led me to Illuminaté Restorante. We are extremely glad it did! So, a reservation was made.

Upon entering, we immediately found Illuminaté Restorante to be a comfortable environment with a rustic Italian feel. Obviously, it is a popular place too. We can understand why.

Our meal started off with the Grilled Romaine and the Grilled Calamari to share. Both were outstanding! The Roasted Garlic dressing was wonderful on the perfectly grill romaine. The Calamari was a surprising delight. The hints of orange and pickled fennel took this squid to another level. In a world, awesome!

Our pasta mains were next level Italian cuisine. The Pappardelle al Ragu was by far on of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had. The Braised Angus Short Ribs and Mushrooms were in a sauce that was out of this world. As for the Spaghetti and Meatballs, one would think “What a basic dish.” This was far beyond basic. Whatever is in their “Family Recipe” is extremely flavourful and delicious. Best meatballs ever.

Of course there was dessert. We shared the Citrus Crème Brule and the Mini Cannolis. The Lemongrass and Citrus was a great edition to this delicious custard. One cannot go to an Italian restaurant without having Cannolis. The Pistachio and Ricotta filling was superb. These mini cannolis rivals those of Mike’s Pastries of Boston.

And then there’s the service. Marie took extremely good care of us. She is very knowledgeable about the menu when we had questions. In chatting with Marie, she told us how much she loves her job and what she does. It shows. It’s always a pleasure to have service like Marie’s when dining out.

So, would I recommend Illuminaté Restorante? Absolute! This is a gem of a restaurant that you don’t have to travel downtown to. We can’t wait to dine...

An unforgettable evening of Italian charm and incredible flavors.

We came here for a birthday celebration and were genuinely impressed from start to finish. The vibe is business casual, but you could easily dress up for a fancier night out—whether it’s for drinks, a date, or a full-course dinner.

The hostess was warm and welcoming, having us seated within minutes even without a reservation. The space was clean, cozy, and felt like stepping into Nonna’s home—inviting, comforting, and full of heart.

Service was impeccable all night, but a special shoutout to DEAN, who brought a level of professionalism and warmth that truly stood out. As a final surprise, he brought out a delicious dessert with a candle, adding a thoughtful and memorable touch to cherish the night even more.

We started with a plate of fresh oysters—absolutely beautiful and perfectly chilled. Then came the mussels… hands down the best sauce we’ve ever had. (Seriously, I wish the photo could capture the flavor!)

For mains, we had a seafood pasta bursting with freshness and perfectly cooked lamb shanks with a rich balsamic reduction. (I hope I remember that correctly, please forgive me if I did not!) Everything was balanced, flavorful, and plated with care.

Drinks? Endless options. I kept it classic with a crisp Peroni in a tall glass (clean tap lines—always appreciated), while my partner enjoyed a refreshing mocktail. Water was refilled regularly without us needing to ask—small detail, big impression.

If you’re looking for a place that blends traditional Italian cuisine with genuine hospitality and an inviting atmosphere, this spot checks every box. We’ll absolutely be back.

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So my husband and I came tonight and was extremely disappointed. I saw the recent seafood post on IG and FB and decided to give it a try (I love seafood and thought hopefully we don't have to travel DT anymore!). We made a reso at 730 pm, got seated and was given 2 wine menus. My hubby ordered and non alcoholic drink and I wasn't feeling wine. The server came later and asked if we had decided. I said we only have two drink menus and if we could get the food menu. We later decided to order two French onion soups(see photo), spaghetti and meatballs for my hubby & the seafood platter for myself. The server asked if we wanted to split the French onion soup. I then asked if it was huge portions? She said bigger than a cereal bowl. We then decided that we could finish it ourselves. After 15 mins, the soup came and it was cold. I had to let the chef know as it was not baked but it shouldn't be cold. He brought it back in and came back a couple mins later and we tried it. It was warmer not hot. We decided that we should just drink it and not let it ruin our Friday night. After 30 mins, we were wondering where the rest of our food was. The seafood platter doesn't require cooking and the pasta shouldn't take that long. After another 15 mins, both dishes came and the spaghetti and meatballs (their "signature dish") was overcooked. The spaghetti was soggy when I tried and sadly my hubby told me my pasta was way better than this but he still ate it. The seafood platter was good but definitely not worth the price. I had to relay our experience to the chef at the end as I was really disappointed in the service and quality of food regardless of the price. Unfortunately, we will not return. 1 star 🌟 cuz it won't let me...