Alinea gives us that "aha" moment time and time again. The constant surprises fulfill both our appetites and minds as we experience the journey presented by Chef Grant and his team. Pairings were on point with food. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, food and service.
The very, absolute best meal I've ever had in my life. The best restaurant in Chicago, perhaps America, and maybe even the world. People expect this to be stuffy, but it's actually immediatley playful and accessible. The flavors are perfectly balanced and always surprising. we started with cavaiar and champagne. My father described it as devastating because once you eat here your entire concept of food is permanently altered, and you don't get to eat like this every night. Think of it like theater for your mouth. Fantastic.
Definitely one of the most delicious, creative and artistic meals you can buy. Very expensive, but well worth it for the quality of food, drinks and service you will receive. All of the flavour profiles are focused, concentrated and work in harmony with each other without being overpowering. A must try for any foodie.
OMG! Sophisticated, delicious, uber friendly staff. Those are the first words that come to my mind. We dined in the Salon and it was incredible. We had a wine pairing (top tier) and the wines we're un-describable. You'd have to experience it to understand it. The whole experience was so incredible. Sorry I keep saying incredible, but it was and if you are able, I recommend having an evening at least once.
It has been on my bucket list for years to dine at Alinea. When we decided to visit Chicago for my birthday I jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, there were no available reservations. I kept checking the website daily for openings. Two days prior to our departure to Chicago, I saw an opening which was one hour prior to our flight back home. I proceeded to cancel our return flight, paid extra charges to rebook a new flight. Book an additional day at our hotel just to accommodate dinner at this supposedly remarkable experience. From the reviews I can see that this experience was amazing for others but for us it was nothing short of disappointing.
We were firstly greeted by a staff who is so accustomed to greeting four persons that he didn t even realize that we weren t a group of four. He warily apologized that it s been a long night. The staff came one after the other, all seemingly exhausted waiting to get over with the experience which we paid over $1000 for. We even had to ask for silver ware for one of our courses after waiting for about 15 minutes for someone to realize that they skipped that process.
All in all, after dining at so many amazing restaurants across the world and hoping that Alinea being among the top 50 in addition to paying such a hefty price for such an experience would at least leave us with a wow - the service sucked and the food was underwhelming - some of the flavors were really off putting - very disappointing experience.
The best experience of my life, excellent food and the best staff
My seat is near a window, and somehow is always waiting for me. I love that they know where I like to sit.
Alinea is one of those restaurants that changes the way you look at food. It is expensive, but the ambience, atmosphere, and food is worth every penny. Every dish is amazing, and you use all the senses to take in the dishes. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and the entire service is coordinated perfectly. The drink pairings enhance the flavors of all the dishes.
All in all, if you get a chance to go you should, it'll be one of your most memorable experiences.
Dream place, whenever you want to feel really special.
Absolutely the most mind blowing dinner you will ever have. Dramatic and delicious.
Way overrated. Do not recommend. There are so many better places at this price point in Chicago!
Absolute fantastic experience as always. True gem in the windy city!
Great service, excellent staff, prices, I love Alinea.
Playful fine dining. Whimsical and delicious. Do not miss this! Outstanding service. Kudos to Hart for being a fun and informative server.
Maybe it's just me, but did not really get the food at that price point
How much better can the best restaurant in Chicago be!? Its suprise after suprise of the tastiest, most delcious foods. The presentation and thought that goes into these dishes is both artistic and delicious! One could argue its genius, if not very close!! Idk what the genius scale is but this place is worth the $$$. Sit back and enjoy every plate that hits every single taste bud.
The ultimate in fine dining cuisine. Eating here is an experience that combines the senses to make for an incredible visual, aromatic and tasteful evening. Will go again!
Food is excellent, presentation is amazing. Even knowing the balloon dessert is coming, it is still very impressive when it happens.
Absolutely wonderful experience. Unlike anything I've ever experienced for dining, and it was an unforgettable evening.
Truly a world class dining experience. It was evident that tremendous thought and care was put into every bite, and I experienced a range of flavors, textures, and senses I hadn t before imagined possible. Highest recommendation.
Photo credit: Aygul
We ate at Alinea on September 23, 2017. It is definitely an experience. The food was great. You are indeed paying for the experience and the artistry.
The hospitality was not as warm as Grace, Central and other Michelin Star places we have been to, but that may be the vibe their cultivating. The server dropped hot water on my husbands pants and scurried away, not much was done to at least appear apologetic which was weird for such a nice place. Perhaps we got the B team, or it was a bad day.
I am not sure we would want to keep going back like other places we have been to, but would still recommend the place for the experience with the food. I think it is worth doing it once.
Great spot, cool atmosphere. Will definitely be back.
One of the best places I have ever visited. Great atmosphere and delicious food.
Shear perfection. Definitely deserving of it's 3 Michelin Stars. Best dining experience I've ever had, words cannot describe it.
Food like you've never had it with presentations that you can't predict.
Alinea is more than just tasty food, it's a complete experience. The themes, visuals, smells, rare ingredients, etc... make for a dining experience that is truly wonderful.
This place is the bomb. Good prices, and amazing food. Fast service, friendly staff, and service. Wait times can be a little consuming BUT, totally worth it. You can also add your name to the wait list online which is perfect. I'll def be going back soon.
Excellent meal, phenomenal service. A true 3 Michelin Star dining experience.
We always pass by this restaurant on our way home so we know how packed their place can be. They are a renowned restaurant with the finest dishes in town. They offer cuisines at a reasonable price. We have tried their services several times already and so far, their crew hasn t disappointed us. This restaurant is worth recommending.
Molecule gastronomy fantasia. This is the singular eye opener event of contemporary food art. We had the salon menu and the 10 courses were well worth the price. 3 star Michelin halo restaurant, you just can't go wrong.
Wow! Honestly, this was the best culinary experience I've ever had. The food was also art and interactive. This place is worth every dollar spent. The cuisine is innovative and suprising, each course holding it's own delectable and intricate flavors. The servers are very professional and knowledgeable. Overall amazing experience, would HIGHLY reccomend.
Alinea is definitely a unique experience worth making an effort to see. In that sense, I see why it received 3 michelin stars. It is worth a special trip to visit and experience.
From start to finish, the meal is closest to a theatrical show as any meal I've had. The dishes are creative and the presentation is spectacular! The desert finale was pretty mind-blowing.
That said - if you judge the food on flavor, that is where I feel that Alinea falls short. It is very dramatic - you'll get a small slice of pumpkin pie with a clear filling (instead of orange). But will it be the best pumpkin pie of your life? Definitely not.
So all in all, I'm super glad I went and had the experience. However, if given the option of going back to Alinea or trying someplace new, I'd skip a repeat!
A veritable edible show. Save lots of room for the Grand Tour. Staff is much better dressed than any of the patrons.
Cohesive narrative filled with surprises throughout by an amazing chef.
Horrible disappointment. I strongly recommend that you do not go to this restaurant. It was the most disappointing experience I have ever had, to the point I am extremely upset. So many things were just flat out bad;
We received cold dishes (When we told our servant, he completely ignored it and just asked Ok, so do you want something more to drink . I would expect that person to say Oh I am so sorry, let me take care of that for you (you would get that response at McDonalds) Or possibly saying that there was some kind of thought behind it that we did not get... Ever heard of heating up the plates?
The presentation of the wine package was a complete joke! We have 3 different wine packages, the basic one for 145 usd, the more exclusive one at 395 and the sweet spot right in the middle at 235 usd Seriously?!? What about the wines? What is included?!?!
There were other things about the place that were not thought through or poorly executed. The overall feeling was that you really did not care about your customers, they are just in it for the money. How they can have 3 michelin stars is impossible to understand and makes me completely lose confidence in the michelin star program.
It's worth it. Believe the buzz, the staff were so attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The wine pairing was great but it's a lot of wine.
Out-of-this-world experience! Expect to be surprised, entertained, elated .. this is cuisine at its creative, inventive best. Think of Alinea as a theatrical performance that also involves your palate. Well worth the price of admission.
It was nearly 5 years ago that I had dinner at Alinea and it lives on as the most memorable meal I've ever had in a lifetime of culinary exploration. Alinea was my first experience with molecular gastronomy, and set me on a journey exploring it within and without my own kitchen. What was my favorite dish at Alinea? There were 16 outrageously delicious courses, but I'll never forget the cup of duck consomme. I have no hope of ever recapturing it; haven't even tried. I'm content to treasure the memory.
A canvas full of sour prizes and colors
Food presentation takes you to another dimension
A walk in a bubble
Just excellent !
What an amazing performance! Every little detail has been thought out and the constant surprise of what gets turned into a show made this a wonderful experience.
I left Alinea and told my companion: "I would not order a single one of those dishes a'la carte but I would come back here in an instant." That's everything there is to say. You probably won't love every dish but you will be glad you went. Alinea is a life experience not to be missed.
For the record, my companion said: "This dinner brought to you by the letter S." Many of the initial dishes were much higher in salt than we are accustomed to.
Giving it 5 stars because I can't select 6. If the price tag does not make you think "what the hell?" then this is a place you need to go.
Amazing experience here. Would say it is more of an entertainment venue than a restaurant, but if you're looking to have a good time then try to get some last minute tickets
The food was great to be expected, but our waiter Calvin and our waitress Alex made it that much better with their awesome personalities and humor. I came with a group of 6 colleages (all managers at a hotel downtown) and we will definitely recommend it to our guests. Thanks for the great experience :)
The only thing that was kinda uncool was that, as a vegetarian, I got half a head of hard-cooked cauliflower when the rest of the table got steak. That part was underwhelming, but I understand that Alinea is not by nature a vegetarian restaurant.
Overzealous staff seemed disappointed that I wasn't bedazzled. Three of the courses were brilliant, but many were misses. A little too inconsistant for a $600 dinner that was twelve hours away. It is a masters course in showmanship, not cooking. The desse
Grantz Achatz transforms traditional food and ingredients into different states ("molecular gastronomy") to create a unique, story-driven menu in his pristine, upscale restaurant; guests experience the meal using all five senses throughout all courses in the prix fixe menu; the two-story dining room is modern, clean, and classy, and the service and staff are friendly yet (surprisingly?) unpresuming; Alinea is the top high-end restaurant in the country (rated top in the Western Hemisphere) and is my only Chicago restaurant with top rating across all three Zagat categories; a true "special occasion" restaurant to enjoy "once in a lifetime"
- Visited May 9, 2009
This is far more than a restaurant... It's an entire experience! The flavors are uniquely paired, presentation is beautifully artistic and the wait staff is beyond accommodating. Menu is always changing so come ready for a surprise well worth the price in our opinion and we hope to come back soon!
Always amazing. Best restaurant in America. Kitchen table was diminishing returns - go for the cheapest option, still amazing.
Table over looking the kitchen was amazing. No holding back. Great service. More amazing food. Do not eat the rocks or plates.
We heard about Alinea many times and finally decided to try it last month. It was just incredible, i'm speechless. Everything was perfect, the food, the service! It was not only a meal, it was an experience!
The highlight of the meal was Alinea's dishes coming out to welcome each table there individually. He had just returned from out of the country but was able to still greet all of us.
In all honesty, you go here for the experience and not so much about the food. I've been to a three star Michelin restaurant in South Korea and it wasn't all guns and smokes, but they concentrated a lot of the food itself. Maybe my palette isn't developed to appreciate some of the ingredients in these dishes, but I applaud the techniques and creativity they put into the dishes. I mean after all, they are still a three Michelin Star restaurant for a reason.
Go once, get the tour! This one isn't about money...
This was incredible experience.Service and food were amazing
My fav location for tasty quality meals. Certainly a top place in the area. Certainly worth a return trip. Prices that are reasonable. Menu is like a cafe in Indianapolis I loved.
Although this may not be an everyday restaurant it is definitely a place that anyone who truly loves and appreciates food should experience at least once in their lifetime. From the entrance to the restaurant to the last of many intriguing courses Alinea provides a meal that can only be described as a beautiful dance. The staff and food are absolutely amazing.
Quality Meals and the feeling at this location is excellent. Nothing but pleasant experiences here. This place has a great feel to it. Food is like a place in Baltimore I liked.
Nasty employees must work here. Can only imagine what goes on in the kitchen to your food if the waitress forms an opinion of you. Proves you can pay twenty bucks for a burger & still not worth eating.
One of the most creative restaurants in Chicago. The food tastes good while the presentation, the way you eat the food is really original and fun. However, they may have lost that touch in recent years as other cities such as LA and NY has gotten more experimental while alinea still use the same technique. Still a fun restaurant to go to though.
Outstanding place, the food is incredibly innovative, beautiful and delicious. Wine pairing with it and makes every plate a perfect match
Simply amazing. A creative dining experience of a lifetime. If you have the means (and the time), indulge yourself.
Slightly aggravated at a 3 month advanced reservation wait...but in the end it was worth it, food is in a class of its own, should be in the top 50 of the worlds best, creative, beautiful, mouthwatering...and thats just the first course.
An excellent execution of food, ambience and service!
A must dining experience. The food was delicious, well balanced, and aesthetically pleasing. Attention to detail was remarkable and service was impeccable. They noticed that my girlfriend was left handed and adjusted table settings for the rest of the meal.
Last night we went to Alinea for the The Gallery experience. We were completely blown away by the entire experience however that was something we knew would happen. I think what we would like to focus on in this review was the service from the entire team. They were interactive, they were funny , and they made us feel welcome. I really didn't expect it at all because we have been to many restaurants where the people serving you the food just simply do that. The entire team was just hilarious and that really elevated our experience and took it to the next level. Mateo and David are just two of the names we got and so shout out to you two !
Dessert was delicious. Atmosphere was good. Staff were nice.
McDONald's is a far better option than this establishment any day of the week.
Superb as always! Even during tough times they do not disappoint.
Writing a review at the point is obviously pointless. Had dinner at 930 on a Monday and it was an unreal eating experience. After seeing and learning about Chef Achatz on Chefs Table I knew I had to go. Took me 2 or 3 years to finally get lucky and score some tickets but it was well worth the wait and more. To my surprise he was there late even on a Monday night which to me shows his true dedication to his craft and staff. He was even kind enough to let my girlfriend and I come give him our regards and take a picture. Gonna keep my eye out for another opening in the future. Thanks again for the opportunity to experience such a phenomenal dinner/show. Cheers!
Excellent food and a great experience. Lots of fun too.
The best dining experience I've ever had! The food was excellent. The presentation and service was spectacular. Very much worth a trip to Chicago just for this experience.
Most memorable thing ate was the wagyu, octopus, and the rabbit.
The ambiance was nice. The sensory style eating was interesting. You smell what you eat.
We got a kitchen tour and the small bite and drink was amazing.
The half bottle of wine had has great too.
The food was definitely different and out of the ordinary. Taste wise I think it's out there, it's like putting together different flavors that don't go together, together.
Some of the items were interactive. Flavor combination is differently out there.
Not a real partying gift but got some lyrics and menu.
We sat upstairs in the gallery as the bottom floor was all booked.
The place is quite small, but the service is quite attentive.
Surprisingly I was still hungry after. It's ok thought I'll manage. I prefer Eleven Madison more. But I would recommend this place to try.
cozy and very good variable products
very good, I recommend
very good food
assorted drinks
Priority care
Just absolutely incredible. Best restaurant I ve ever been too.
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