Hands down my most favorite restaurant in the world. Not only is the food excellent and prepared to perfection, the science and artistry that goes behind every dish makes the entire experience that much richer. I have never had more fun dining than I have at Alinea.
I've now gone twice, and both times, the originality and creativity of the dishes did not disappoint. Be on the lookout for surprises all around you. That chandelier hanging over your table, or that flower centerpiece on your table may very well figure in as a key ingredient in one of your dishes.
And unlike most Michelin restaurants, do come with an empty stomach. You will not leave Alinea hungry. Enjoy!!
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This was our 3rd visit, the food was really good, the experience fun, wish they had more for non drinkers than apple cider for 1st course, mixed drink on course #2, and water for the rest.
Excellent food, I had an amazing experience. One of the waiters serving in the salon with light brown hair, didn t made me feel welcome at all. He lacked service manors, would not respond back when I would say thank you. The entire night he had the expression that he had hated his job. I loved the place and loved the food. Chef Grant Achatz creativity is amazing, I just wish I had felt welcome in this place but I unfortunately felt the complete opposite.
As much as I wanted to love this place, I just couldn't.
I came here in May for an anniversary dinner, the spring menu looked fantastic, I was so excited for the experience.
After the whole thing ended, I felt underwhelmed by the flavor of the food (some were great, but half were good to look at but it didn't connect with me). The service was good but not fantastic, they seemed bored if anything.
I definitely enjoyed my meal. It taste quite different but different in a good way. The service was great too. Andd of course.. I cannot forget the environment and ambiance. It was just so relaxing that elevated my mood too! The servers were respectful and approachable also. A well deserve 5 star rating! I just hope that they will be able to maintain their remarkable service
I know I know the price is really over top but the food is incredible. The cooking capture of this place is just so glorious that I can t get enough every time I visit
There are restaurants, and then there s Alinea. Alinea is more than just food, it s theater, it s a guessing game. Alinea makes all other restaurants look like TGI Friday s.
How can your rate Aline any less than 5 stars. The food was great, the service was friendly and attentive. The wine pairing was very nice and I don't normally drink white wine and they were still very tasty wines. The plating was a thing of beauty.
Wow. I was nervous about a restaurant with this price tag living up to the hype and my expectations. It truly blew me away. At the end of the meal, I felt like we had paid for dinner and a show. The night was entertaining and so much fun! There were a number of surprises built into the menu that were so fun for our whole table. I do not have a ton of experience with this type of fine dining, but you cannot go wrong with Alinea!
Exquisite elegant food prepared to the most minute detail. A truly unforgettable culinary experience & something that everybody should do at least once. They don't call it vacation dining for nothing. By the end of 5 hrs I was ready to be done but I'm really glad to have had the chance to taste the amazing work of Chef/Owner Grant Achatz. The staff are the perfect compliment to the meal. Particularly enjoyed the knowledge of Richard the sommelier.
Alinea is one of the greatest restaurant ever concieved. Among the most amazing dishes I ate was a balloon made of green taffy! It was mind blowing. Who could have thought of such a delicious concotion. The service was great as well. I can't wait to go back!
I've never had so much fun having a meal. The food wasn't just delicious; it was also incredibly interesting. Each dish served was like a piece of contemporary art. They're designed not just to please the senses, but to engage with them too. You wonder WHAT you're looking at, but you also see that it's beautiful. The head chef plated our dessert himself, which was really cool. My favorite dish was an apple flavored balloon - like it was legit floating. It was a lot of fun, biting into it, laughing at how ridiculous it was, and then hearing my helium laugh through it all. Alinea really is the experience of a lifetime.
Personable staff, spectacular presentation, extraordinary experience. Senses united and reimagined through food. Thank you, Grant, and your team for a memorable evening.
It's taken me 2 weeks to figure out how to leave a review for Alinea that does this place justice .The experience is once in a life time and is a production within itself. The food was unbelievable - the wine was even better .This is definitely not a spot for picky eaters , all courses were adventurous and items I never thought I'd eat.The chefs know what they are doing .
Great food menu. Services was on top level. Amazing place. I came back of my office then i saw this place. This place was amazing. Great collection of food.
They turn the tables over at lightening speed. Felt rushed and for a $1000 meal for two expect more personable service and less hubris. I travel all over the world and seek out Michelin star dining experiences. The soup was excellent, the desserts atrocious especially the bubble gum idea. The theatrics were amusing but I could not finish the last 4 dishes because of the rapid pace of food delivery. The front desk staff was accommodating with umbrellas to the cab as it was raining but the waiters and sommelier border on pretentious and were aloof and perfunctory in their approach. The Nerua at the Guggenheim in Bilbao is much better than Alinea and dining experiences in France are much more relaxed and not rushed. Buyers remorse. I won't be back and will be surprised if they maintain their 3 Michelin stars.
An unforgettable dining experience like no other. Nothing is what it seems, expect to be amazed with every single dish that s presented to you. From the moment you enter the gallery, the experience starts as a group and slowly unveils to be a unique per-party dinner time. Definitely worthy of your time and money, you ll never forget what happens behind those doors.
Great experience! Of course, this is a delicious dinner. The food is amazing and is all in a unique environment. I definitely recommend it to those who are looking for an experiment, not just the amount of food. Excellent company. There's a great experience here! All the delicious food, good service, the chef is very popular. We highly recommend the roasting of the "Graz" wine, any pasta. Thank you all! 5 stars Shining! I recommend! I lived in the hype! The new restaurant facilities are very stylish. A tasting menu is a unique taste, a real experience. Employees wait Pure.
"Have you been here before?" our waiter asked as we settled into our first few moments at Alinea.
"No, but we've been to Next."
"Well, welcome to the mother ship!"
Indeed, here we were at the 3-Michelin-star child of Grant Achatz. We had visited Next almost nine years prior, happening upon reservations for the debut menu, Paris 1906.
Were my expectations high? Very. As they should have been... I was about to experience an evening unlike any other.
We had reservations for a Friday evening in the Salon. And did we ever luck out. The Salon consists of three separate rooms, one of which is a round, extremely intimate space. There is no thoroughfare, no one looking for the restroom, no one climbing the stairs to the second floor. It is the perfect location if you're based in the Salon, and I could not have been happier that we were placed there.
When I DID have to find the restroom, service kicked in. I was escorted through the two other Salons and greeted along the way as doors opened and closed for me. The timing of service at Alinea is something to note - if for one second you don't think you're being watched (in a good way,) think again. When my wife had to excuse herself to use the restroom between courses, I realized there was a guy standing court between our Salon room and the hall - so he could alert the kitchen/servers when she was arriving, and therefore, bring out the next course.
We enjoyed every interaction we had with the staff of Alinea - from the receptionist and sommelier to our servers and the pastry chef (at least, I think she was based upon her jacket. We never caught a name.)
But, if I'm being totally honest, with not only my review, but myself, I wasn't absolutely blown away by the food. And, at times, the flow and presentation felt disjointed. With elegance at the forefront of nearly every Alinea minute, I found the rustic camping course an odd fit. It followed one of the evening's highlights: a seafood spread with a visual and aromatic surprise. I won't spoil it, because it truly was one of the 'wow' moments for me.
Two courses reigned: the halibut and an off-menu fun bite of deep-fried sweet potato cream that tasted like an elephant ear and was presented on a burning cinnamon stick.
So, why only four stars? My caviar cloud was runny whereas my wife's was a perfectly formed cumulus. The octopus in Korean bbq sauce was extremely salty. And even saltier was the dumpling. I LOVE salt, but these were too much for me. While the dessert course is interactive and cheeky, the 'paint' didn't stand up to the chocolate bits. That said, I loved the 'snow,' and, of course, the balloon.
When we decided it was our time to depart, we were chauffeured to the front reception, where my coat was retrieved and placed on my back - warm. Yes, my coat was warmed before we exited into the dark Chicago winter night. Now THAT was a classy touch.
The mother ship. The eldest of Chef Achatz's Michelin-starred babies. The upper echelon of experiences.
But, I preferred Next, where, nine years ago, we walked in on an early Sunday evening and were escorted to Paris 1906. Yes, my Alinea expectations were through the (what is probably edible) roof, but with two more stars than it's younger sibling, I should have shot into space and tasted the stars.
The most incredible, enjoyable meal! The service team is so kind, engaging and hospitable. Simply the best food! Creative,playful and interactive. The wine pairings were so thoughtful and delicious. I can t wait to go again!!!
Alinea was single handedly the greatest dining experience I have ever had. You're not simply paying for an excellent dinner at Alinea, you're paying for the experience in itself. Dinner there is more than just food, it's a fun production for everyone involved. The service is beyond excellent, and is incredibly approachable in the sense that it isn't extremely pretentious or anything. I am not a wine expert, but they were incredibly helpful in picking out a wine I would enjoy while working with my lack of knowledge. We even got to experience the kitchen while a cocktail was made for us. The evening is filled with surprises and food you simply can't get anywhere else.
This is truly a once in a lifetime experience that everyone who even remotely appreciates food should enjoy. Just do it!
My # 1 restaurant to visit. I've only been twice, but I love the Alinea group and every thing they're about. It's not just the quality of the food or the inventiveness, but the service. It.is.flawless. It's especially notable if you dine here and then visit the Aviary or the Office. The service is flawless and they ensure to communicate with one another to ensure your visit is impeccable.
Food was amazing and service was excellent. My husband and I dined there as part of our babymoon trip and as I'm pregnant, I couldn't have alcohol. The server very helpfully suggested a mocktail pairing which worked every bit as great as a wine pairing would be, if not better as we both don't love the taste of wine. Definitely worth every penny and a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience!
It s once in a lifetime experience for sure, but once is enough. For the price, I expected a lot more. The chef put a lot of thought into the food and presentation, wine pairing is super good, all the staffs are super welcoming, but I just think there s too much flavor in every dish and after a while your palate gets tired and overwhelmed.
My favorite was deff the dessert where basically you get a plastic sheet and you just make art but throwing all these different colorful dessert/sauces and textures to make a masterpiece. I'll attach photos. I deff want to go back and eat in person someday-hopefully soon! Amazing. Worthy of every star. Simply genius
Impeccable! The most creative and uniquely prepared food I have ever tasted in my life. This place takes food to a whole other level. Clean, crisp, out the box, Iron chef meets future plating! A ++++ waiting to come again!
i love this place and whats more so did my 10 year old when I took him there. It's science on a plate, every dish well thought out and every dietry need is serviced
Beyond any other experience I ve had. It is an out of this world complete submersion into the depths of our senses. What a fantastic place and absolutely delicious meal. Thank you Grant
At this time, I am so hungry that I could eat a cow. But then, after arriving in this restaurant, they served me well. I ordered some ala carte and other food from the menus. 15 minutes later my food arrived. I was so shocked that their services are quite fast. The food tasted really good. Thank you for serving me well
One of the best dining experiences i've ever had. Dining at Alinea is more than just having a meal, it is an actual experience and unrivaled by any other Michelin rated restaurants i've ever been to.
Alinea offers a unique, classy, and fun experience. This is not your stuffy 3 Mechelin starred restaurant. The service and quality of food is some of the best we ve had while still being exciting and fun. I don t want to give too much away and spoil the surprise of the experience so it s difficult to convey how much I enjoyed it. I will be going back next time we are in Chicago.
I can t say anything that hasn t already been said. Simply amazing. The best experience and food I ve ever had. Food surprises at every course and the staff has eccentric (in a good way) service at every turn. Worth every dollar!!
World Class. Staff is well-versed, knowledgable and approachable. The entire meal was an experience and impressive. Wines were expertly paired and pleasantly unexpected. Highly recommended.
We just couldn't live up to the high-end service, high-end servers, high-end ambience, and high-end "food" that we were offered that night. We would have to be "physically" upscale ourselves to appreciate the coldness and the upscale gray of the place. # TI-COUNES
I love eating at Alinea's! The staff are always cheerful and friendly. The food is fresh and delicious! The ambiance is bright and happy. I really enjoy having dinner here.
There are few words to describe the absolutely magnificent experience we had at Alinea. Besides the outstanding quality of the food; the superb presentation (including a visit to the kitchen where the magic happens); the finely curated ambience; the part that we enjoy the most is the passion that each member of the restaurant put in their job. Passion is what makes an already excellent restaurant become a truly unique experience. I strongly recommend Alinea to anyone who wants to enjoy something unique and has an open mind about food.
Chef Grant Achatz's Alinea is located in Chicago and year after year has been rated one of the best restaurants in the world. It is meals like this that have become a large inspiration for my blog. Whys that? Because, this meal was the perfect example where the best restaurant in the world is not the best restaurant for vegetarians. The food for vegetarians was tragic, every meal was substituted for a vegetarian diet, not curated. When one is paying over USD500 per person, it is utterly disappointment to get mediocre food. S even made us to go to a fast food to grab a post dinner snack after the dinner.
The Food Dining at Alinea is like attending a theatre. The chef has made sure to add many gimmicks including usage of sound, smell, light to entertain us during the entire 2 hour experience. Give the heavy price tag I honestly don't think its worth it. Maybe for meat eaters its a "try it once" kinda place for vegetarians there are far more better options in Chicago.
Most amazing dining experience than any other restaurant. Presentation and the food is art, delicious art. Every dish has a story and there is a great flow in every presentation. Really appreciated seeing the kitchen. Service was fantastic and wine pairing was perfect. Definitely a place to visit in your lifetime.
Best meal I've ever had in my life! Chef Grant and his amazing team have put so much detail and thought in every single thing from the decor, to the aromas in the room, the way things are plated, to the tastes and textures of every dish. Everything and everyone is an important instrument that comes together to make the most perfect symphony. I was in awe from beginning to end and would never trade this experience of a lifetime for anything in the world. Chef Grant is a true artist and master of his craft. Completely amazing and hats off to the chef and staff!
The best fine dining experience that I ever had the pleasure of trying. From the intimate hospitality of the wait staff to the unique and interesting experience provided by the chef, this is a meal that I will always remember. It is worth experiencing at least once for anyone into fine dining or molecular gastronomy.
This should be everyone's planned best meal of their life. Theaters and complete sensory experience. Truly amazing. One thing to note, you will get Wasted on the wine pairing. So course wisely.
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