I don't need a piece of meat strung to a miniaturi...

I don't need a piece of meat strung to a miniaturized highwire circus contraption. I just don't. I'd rather the meal focus on flavors over presentation. Alinea was the experience that taught me to be wary of high expectations as that appears to invite disappointment. And everybody at my table was certainly disappointed.

The service was fantastic and the staff made the experience really positive (more so than the food). The food was very good. It just didn't wow me. Although the food was executed very well, I don't remember ever thinking with respect to any dish "That was an awesome, creative use of flavors" or "I would pay $$$$ to eat that again." That's a problem when the customer is paying several hundred dollars for a meal.

Counterbalancing the good-but-not-exceptional food was the stellar presentation. But I don't go restaurants for a theatrical performance, I go for the flavors -- and on that metric, Alinea did not excel.

There are better places at half the price.