Alinea Group Reviews

quality meals and service at this location is excellent. Quick and friendly service. This place has a good feel to it.

An experience that is so much more than a meal. Worth every penny.

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!

Amazing experience, they have an amazing variety of food and exquisite wine pairings to go with it

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

I'm dairy-free and some courses were done very well. The music stopped playing midway through the meal making the room uncomfortably quiet.

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

It's Alinea. Really, what more needs to be said? Best restaurant in the country, and one of the top 5 in the entire world.

Enjoyed the whole experience.
Great food and friendly staff

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

Top of the top of the supertop. Suggested at 300%, do not go at least once in life would be a shame. We stayed one evening in which a dining room was Italian and clearly explained all the dishes. Really a breathtaking experience.

I m not quite sure where to begin. Went to Alinea on Tuesday evening. Had been there previously but not for quite some time. Since then I had eaten at all the finest restaurants in Chicago and a good chunk of fine restaurants around the world. There really is no reason to leave a lengthy review. The evening was fantastic. The food was unique, artistic presentation, delicious and ultimately a tremendous experience. Even the wine pairing was perfect. A rarity. No question, the highlight was having Grant serve our dessert as the off of the table , a surprise and welcomed ending to a spectacular evening. My recommendation is simple if you can go you must.

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!!

Incredible dining experience, not much I can say besides that

This is one of those once in a lifetime must try experiences. The flare and ambiance elevates the meal in my opinion

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.

Go here. Trust the chef, Grant Achatz and don't worry about the price. This is the best meal that I've ever had and it was worth every penny.

# TI-COUNES

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

Great chef, expression and feeling overwhelmed by the kitchen! Of the best culinary experiences. 10

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.

Most incredible gastronomical experience of my life

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.

Just awesome. You go here for the dining experience of a lifetime and that's exactly what we got each time we have gone.

Great service and amazing food. Would definitely recommend if you are visiting Chicago for the first time. Hot Potato, Cold Potato is a must try dish.

Without a doubt, Alinea is one of the most unique and impressive dining experiences within the United States and perhaps the world. Reservations must be made in advance on the restaurant's Tock system, and prices will vary depending on the exact day and time selected. Come prepared for an experience like no other the moment you step inside the restaurant to the final second that you leave; each course is uniquely and meticulously crafted, and the staff ensures that each dish is flawlessly presented and executed. It's well worth the price, and any travel necessary to make it there.

A must do on everyone's bucket list. Staff was fantastic. The food was absolutely the best. I can't wait to go back.

Hands down the best food experience I have ever had. They put a lot of thought into every dish, make a show out of it (especially the dessert), and the service is outstanding. Very instagramable too :)

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.

Best food experience I've ever had. Staff is top notch and provided great service. Oh and all the food is delicious/interesting.

An amazing dining show that truly has to be experienced to be understood. Unlike anything else out there.

It took well over a year and a half to finally book a reservation here and oh was it worth the wait! I flew in from California just to come to Alinea with my boyfriend and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment you walk in, you immediately are greeted by the most welcoming and accommodating staff, and it doesn t stop there, it just kept getting better throughout the whole night. The dining, I can t even begin to describe how amazing it all was... well planned, incredible dishes, and delightful food presentations. Thank you for this wonderful dining experience! I hope to come here again!

Alinea is an experience, not a restaurant. I had fun and very glad I did this. I'm sure I paid what it cost to put together this package but I don't feel it's quite worth the price and I hate saying that

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.

such a wonderful experience to dine in and thankful for their creative team and effort in opening our palettes and senses to a whole new level. I ve been here 3 times and I love how they are always trying to create something new . Also if you are visiting Chi town , better reserve prior to your visit Bec they do get booked . Was lucky enough one time on my birthday to have them squeeze us in. oh and yeh come on your birthday ! :P

Probably one of the best restaurants I have ever been to.

A once in a lifetime experience. The surprises and excitement never stop!

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!

This was one of the most memorable dinners I ve ever had. The service was so welcoming and approachable, really taking time to make sure we had an amazing evening. The food was just out of this world, so fun, creative, imaginative and outstanding, some of the best food I ve ever eaten. Would absolutely recommend doing the reserve tasting with the food, they meticulously curated the best beverages to pair with the incredible menu!

Unforgetable experience. A culinary marvel of innovation with aromas, textures, flavors and techniques far beyond my ability to comprehend. Worth every penny especially with wine parring option tacked on. No other restaurant can come close to comparison.

Worth every bit. The food, service, and overall experience was the best.

Tried the to go option this time - still scrumptious!

Such an incredible experience! Some may find it borders on being ostentatious, but for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I say Bring It On!
If you are Lucky enough to afford it, you will never forget it! Alinea completely satisfies all six senses: Taste, beyond anything you have ever had, as well as Smell, Sight, Hearing, Touch, and even Humor.
Check it out. And check me out if you enjoy literary fiction. Search Amazon books under CF fiction

Amazing, unforgettable experience. Enjoyed every single moment and worth every penny

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.

If you are in Chicago and want to have an epic food experience then this is it! It embraces you as soon as you walk through the doors and throughout the entire dinner. This is a foodies dream that can only be explained through your own experience. My pictures can only say so much as this is truly a once in a lifetime foodie dream!

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.

Great experience. Also got to take a peek of the action in the kitchen which was super cool!

There may be no other restaurant I'd simply call perfect. That goes for everything from the taste to the presentation to the service to the atmosphere. It's the culinary experience perfection, without the stuffy feeling of some high-end restaurants. Alinea is a place every food enthusiast must visit at least once.

Celebrated our anniversary dinner here & it was really good. The food was very good & the service was great! I was very pleased and enjoyed every bite.

Great company. Had an amazing experience here! All the food was delicious, the service impeccable, and the chef was very hospitable and friendly. Highly recommend the uni toast, fois gras, any pasta.Thank guys!

5.stars! Highly recommended!!

What an incredible experience at the Salon. Can't wait to go back for the Gallery in the future.

For the food and the atmosphere, this is my favorite restaurant when visiting Chicago. A reservation is necessary since its chef has something of a celebrity status for his skill and his unique dishes. As expected, there's an air of pretentiousness and, while it should not be cheap, it is somewhat obscenely priced. Alinea is, however, a lovely restaurant with a beautiful aesthetic and phenomenal food that always offers and exceptional dining experience.

I'm not someone who really says much on food but this was an experience on its own. Every plate was it's own adventure not only was it plated beautifully it was also Delicious. Every meal kept me wondering what was next

Great takeout tasting menu, at a great price with great service to boot!

Mic Drop. There aren't enough superlatives to describe the life changing experience. Definitely meets, if not exceeds, any expectations you might have from everything you have heard or seen.

Alinea is worth the hype. The food is impeccably presented and the wait staff is amazing. There were several times when my date and I did not even notice that the next course had arrived! We dined on my birthday, and the restaurant surprised us with a special birthday chocolate course-on the house. Great service, fine dining at its best, and the extra personal touches make Alinea a restaurant that I will visit in the future.

The kitchen table experience here was among the very best of my life, possibly the best. Flawless food and service.

They have an interesting menu to explore. As per our waiter s suggestion we ordered to share. We had the shishitos peppers, avocado salad, hamachi crudo, cavatelli...More

Every course was a surprise! Unusual and exciting flavor combinations, and the staff are extremely courteous and funny. Great special occasion place--i plan on going back!

This place is amazing! The staff were entertaining, accommodating and very nice. They gave off an amazing theatrical performance while making and serving the dishes. I love how the food was presented and plated. A wide display of culinary experience all throughout dinner. My mom and I had a lot of fun even though some of the dishes presented to us tasted a little weird or were not well seasoned. We loved the wine! They really know what wine would perfectly taste good with the food. Happy to see all the chefs at work. This is an extraordinary experience for my mom and I. I do recommend Allinea for people who wants to see a show as their dinner date given that they will not give emphasize on how the food taste I'd go back here.

Playful fine dining. Whimsical and delicious. Do not miss this! Outstanding service. Kudos to Hart for being a fun and informative server.

This place is fun and entertaining. They engage you in the meal and challenge your senses. The food itself is good, but not great. It's really for the experience. A food adventure.

You really need to be open to trying new things and concepts in order to enjoy this experience. So, think before going, and don't fault the restaurant for what it is. Consider yourself informed.

Nice location for tasty Quality Meals. A favorite evening place of mine. The bill was well within reason for the quality.

The hype is real, my friends. This is the only 3-star Michelin-rated restaurant in Chicago and one of the best in the world. Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Yes, it's extremely pricey. We brought our three adult kids to Alinea to celebrate all their January birthdays, especially our daughter on her 30th birthday. Let me just say it was the price of a weekend away for the 6 of us, but the memories of this night with our kids experiencing all that Alinea offers was priceless! First, you pay in advance, in full, no refunds. Make sure about your plans! Second, it will be unlike any culinary experience you've ever had. The staff is amazing and well-coordinated with their service and the descriptions of the food they are serving. We had maybe 5-6 people serving our family. They are top-notch. The food looks like one thing and fools your mind as you taste it. The dishes are works of art filled with amazing textures and flavors. They are fun to eat and experience. We even took a trip for one course into the kitchen for a cocktail and a pizza puff. Yeah, it was not a Tortino's by any means. A vanilla bean was actually beef tenderloin jerky, a balloon was actually edible down to the taffy string. Truly amazing. Chef Grant is a master at what he does. I will be back one day...just with my husband ;-)

Best food and drink of my life by a fair margin. Cannot recommend enough!

This is a very popular place and needs a reservation 2-3 months in advance, even on weekdays. We came here for dinner on a Thursday night, and it was already full at 6:30pm. We had to wait 20 min for our table to be ready so we had a drink at the bar, which is very beautiful and classy. Our..

Seriously, your reading reviews on Alinea? This place is going to change your life. The longer format is worth it. Take an Uber because you shouldn't drive after the full pairing.

More than 400$ spend, less than 2 hours experience and I'm still hungry. Having eaten all over the world this is the single most disappointing food experience ever. The main focus is not the food, but the theater of serving it with smoke, fire, ice etc. It's so pretentious that most Paris restaurants would feel ashamed. Is this really the best Chicago has to offer?

Would have liked to rate this a 4.5, but I feel like the minor quibbles I had are entirely matters of personal taste rather than any issues with the restaurant. Alinea has been on my friend to-do list for a long time. He has never been to a Michelin star restaurant, and so we made plans to visit for our Anniversary. We had a table for four in the Gallery. We were seated promptly. Dietary restrictions (only two minor allergies that weren't even in the menu in our case) were addressed, and we were offered wine pairings which we declined.

This place is amazing. Best food/dining experience ever. Will be coming back here one day.

This was our first 3-star Michelin restaurant and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience that plays with your senses and putting them at odds with each other. Well worth the price.

Really nice place with great food and decor. Appreciate also the prices.

Best for special occasions, pricey but worth it. Superb service and creative, delicious cuisine. A great dining "experience".

We had the Salon experience and it was fantastic overall. Every course was delicious and innovative. Nothing tasted just mediocre, which I suppose is somewhat expected of a restaurant at this level. The ambiance lighting is a bit dim, but the dining room was elegantly furnished and very comfortable (read: AC was not freezing cold). The service was unpretentious and well executed, with good pacing of the dishes. They were also very flexible on providing me a complimentary flight of non-alcoholic tastings, which was very much appreciated. At the end of the meal, we felt much satiated but not overly stuffed, which is great. Would definitely recommend if visiting Chicago.