AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Worth every cent spent and calorie consumed! We did the full experience with wine pairing and it was truly exceptional. The ambience, with scents, light and table decor that changed with the theme of the food being served was truly out of this world! Staff were knowledgeable and clearly proud of the food and the wine they were serving. The sommelier knew details of the wineries that produced the wine being served. Each course of the 20+ courses we had were a unique and absolutely pleasant experience. Pork belly, the halibut and the coconut vinaigrette were probably my favorite three items of the menu I experienced. Highly recommend it! Again, worth every single penny spent! read more

This is a tough review to write. I really wanted to love Alinea. And there were some things I did love. But it didn't meet the bar that I'd expect from a nice restaurant. In short, the food was fantastic but we felt like second class citizens in a first class restaurant. Atmosphere, was interesting. The first floor looked quite cool with dark lighting with blue undertones and an interestingly homey yet upscale space. I've never seen anything quite like it. But we didn't sit on the first floor. We sat on the second floor in the back near the staff service area and bathroom. So there were people constantly going back and forth, it was occasionally loud and I had to stare at EXIT signs all dinner. The table was also large and metal, which I'm sure is intentional for some reason, but it felt cold and uninviting. Note it's normal for typical restaurants to have good seats and bad seats. But at a great restaurant, there are no bad seats. And I was surprised to get one at a 2 Michelin star restaurant. Service / staff was very nice and even accommodated an unusual request on my part, which I really appreciated. While our main server who brought most of our food was sharp. It was clear that others were new. They'd talk low where you can't hear them or were clearly still "memorizing their lines." I totally understand that people have to practice to be good. But I've never been to a restaurant where I can visibly tell the staff in training versus the experienced team. Now the food. The food was INCREDIBLE. Every dish had an innovative twist in a way you've never had before. All the platings were creative and made you engage with the course in a different way. The highlight was the desert. The way they prepared in on the table was special. It was delicious and I'm 90% sure the music in the room actually changed as they prepared it. If it didn't, it sure felt like it. read more

I've had the good fortune to dine at several Michelin-rated restaurants; Alinea was easily the worst fine dining experience I've ever had. None of the 20 courses really worked - there were a few courses we had to choke down because they were so salty. There was a lot of theatre but it was not at all coherent or tied to the actual dining experience - it was more like being at a show at Disneyland. At one point we had purple feathers and fur on our dining table- but why? Service was also JV - not what you would expect from a 2-3 star Michelin restaurant. They didn't remember that we had alcohol allergies and gave sparkling instead of flat water to one guest. Small missteps, but again, not what you expect from supposedly one of the best restaurants in the US. We could have overlooked all of that if the food was actually good. It wasn't. It was shockingly bad and again, so salty that we felt like no one was tasting before service. Why so salty??? Is it for a mid-western palate? I just don't get it. Sadly, we spent nearly $700/person for one of the worst meals of our lives (and that includes my DoorDash meals). read more

It's kind of sad to be giving three stars to a restaurant of Alinea's caliber. But, unfortunately it just wasn't a great experience overall. Starting with the white napkin that they gave me, which left lint all over my black pants and black jacket, it just didn't compare to other Michelin starred restaurants that I've been to. While this wouldn't have been an issue at most places, when you're paying hundreds of dollars for a dining experience, it's the little things that you expect. The food was overall good. There were certainly some dishes that I ate and thought - wow, I've never had that before. But others were forgettable or the presentation was impressive but the taste wasn't. The roasted peanut spongecake with massaman curry was a stand out dish and the raviolo was excellent. Some things needed seasoning like the very cool cracked maize snow. It was like a corn and butter dippin' dots but it needed salt or some sweetness to resemble a side of good corn. The seafood - crab and Spanish turbot - also were underseasoned. The skatewing had a delicious tamarind glaze that added some flavor. The finale dessert was quite good but I'm biased because I love chocolate. The wait staff was very attentive but their inquiries about our take on the dishes didn't seem genuine. It was as if they knew that they had to ask our opinion on the food but they didn't care when a dish was cleared with 3/4 of the food still sitting on it. We initially booked a reservation in the Salon as the Gallery wasn't available. The day before we dined, seats became available in the Gallery, which was supposed to be a more elevated experience with extra courses and a visit to the kitchen. I don't think the upcharge was worth it for the food and the seating was awkward. The tables had a large round base so there was no place to put your legs. Surprisingly, there was no take home gift. I can't recommend this place and I wished that I had read before I dined there about their losing a Michelin star due to their focus on theatrics and presentation at the expense of the food quality. read more

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Underwhelming food and experience for such an acclaimed restaurant. To start with the positives the space is gorgeous. Chicago itself is dotted with stunning brownstones and Alinea gives you the opportunity to be invited inside of one. The glassware and plates are equally aesthetic and premium. I found the waitstaff to be efficient and observant but a bit checked out and bored. My meal was just not so delicious and I do not think the gastronomy was impressive or interesting enough to make up for that. Most of the offerings were bite size in nature which made it so apparent how off the balance of flavors was. The skate wing was tough and glazed in sticky aggressive tamarind. I was disappointed with the execution on a few of the other dishes like the un rendered duck fat of the main protein and thick dough of the famous truffle explosion. On a positive note the classic wine pairing was well curated and the Sommelier's descriptions were spot on. Stepping into Alinea was very cool for me as a foodie so I am not upset I checked it out but I did think I would enjoy it much more. read more

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Finally experienced Alinea and wow... this wasn't just dinner, it was a full-on show. Sitting at the kitchen's table felt like having front-row seats to pure culinary magic. Kiersi (hope I spelled that right!) was super fun and engaging, and even mentioned how much she enjoyed our company too, which made the whole night feel extra special. Hands down, hard to even find the right words for this experience. Had to make this my first Yelp review as an Elite member from an elite place.This felt like a full-circle moment. Truly unforgettable. read more

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What a bucket list restaurant that exceeded expectations. It only took one course for someone to notice that I'm left handed and then all of the cutlery was placed on the left from then on. They also asked if I wanted my wine glass on the left. The attention to details throughout was incredible. They made my birthday feel so special. Each dish was thoughtful and delicious and the meal flowed beautifully. They changed tables and table tops and the "show" of the dessert was awesome. They no longer do the balloon at Alinea but I didn't feel let down at all. read more

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We went to the gallery. I've been wanting to go to Alinea for so long, and finally, I was able to experience this magical dining experience. Service was truly superb. I also felt super comfortable there and not up-tight at all. All the dishes were so unique! My favorites were arctic char, hot potato cold potato, truffle explosion, the minty fish one (forgot the name), and paint (dessert). So many unique dishes too, like the peanut butter jelly one. It was also super cool the way they kicked off the evening with the flames up top, and I also really liked being able to step foot into the kitchen for one of the courses. I got the standard pairing and my gf got the non-alc one, and we both thought the pairings were great. I would 100% come back here again some day :). Also people like to dunk on the paint dessert, but it tastes super good, and I love the unique presentation and way of serving it. Didn't capture everything in the photos below btw. read more

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Outstanding food with service to match. As you would expect from this level of restaurant, the dishes were incredibly creative, unique, visually interesting, and incredibly yummy. My only complaint is that perhaps there were too many of them - it was a very long and full meal! The wine pairing was very good (although perhaps not outstanding) with rare boutique wines. We ate downstairs in the group experience (a small group of about 15 guests all served at about the same time) and it was really amazing. They managed to change the ambience with different lighting, seating arrangements, and table cloths and decorations as the meal progressed. Very unique experience. The wait staff was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. All of this, with a price tag to match...But worth it as a very, very special occasion outing. read more

Alinea - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Long story short, I've had better. Tried the salon option for the day before Valentine's Day during my very first trip to Chicago. I had this place on my bucket list for the longest time. You are seated in an area that seems a little business-hotel-esque in a way that is absent of warmth and feels a bit stark. Even the table is a bit surgical without the cloth. Regardless, I was excited. And to be fair, I had a good time with about half of the personalities working FOH, the wine selection (considering that I went non-alcoholic, I appreciated the range of varieties), and some dishes. However, there are a few things that this place just gets wrong: - I hate this concept of "I won't tell you what is next/how many dishes are left/etc." I completely understand what it's like to keep things a surprise, but pacing what you're drinking is a nightmare if you do not get a pairing - I do not enjoy that this place only carries wine. I just find it very limiting to not have a beautifully mixed cocktail as an option or something higher in ABV to enjoy. The sommelier is great, but it's frustrating to spend this much while feeling so limited. - The pacing of the actual dinner was honestly really slow. Against the surgical feel of the place, it feels very unromantic and much more like a business meal with the boss you have to put a front on for. - Some of the dishes were pretty lackluster. I've had more interesting, better tasting, and more advanced elsewhere. I would have been okay skipping 3 of the dishes entirely because it was just "okay", but I also didn't end off very full so what's the point? - The dessert was just mouthfuls of sweet things that sometimes didn't pair well together or felt too airy and texturally uninteresting. The good parts are not without note: - Alinea has one of the best take-home gifts. I won't spoil what it is, but it's actually the best I've ever received from any Michelin-starred restaurant (both fancy and humble at the same time, loved it). - The BOH were extremely sweet. Somehow they maintained a warmth half of the FOH lacked. It's important to read your guests and substitute professionalism with comfort. - The soup portion was great. I really enjoyed the mouthfeel of it and it's probably one of the best things there. - The best item was the caramelized salmon. Although it sticks a bit in your teeth, it was the most flavorful and overall enjoyable. - The infamous balloon was surprisingly one of the best parts. It's fun, it's simple ingredient-wise, but it's nevertheless gastronomically amazing. The day after I went to another restaurant that pretty much solved everything I had a problem with here, so it is hard to say I would come back. read more

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Alinea has been at the top of my Chicago dining wishlist ever since I moved here and this year my husband surprised me with a birthday dinner in the Salon! It was truly an unforgettable experience. Every one of the 12 courses was unique and imaginative, and the wine pairings were perfectly curated. We even got a behind-the-scenes peek into the kitchen and were treated to a surprise extra course and cocktail. My favorite dish of the night was the Squab course, and favorite wine was the Pinot Gris, while the Chicago-Style Hot Dog course was the most playful and fun. The finale, the Paint course, turned dessert into performance art, complete with glitter and an ice cream smash! Beyond the food, the service was outstanding. At one point, I mentioned being chilly and was immediately offered a pashmina. Later, my husband casually said he wished he had an espresso, and within minutes, two espressos appeared at our table. The staff's attentiveness and genuine care made the evening feel incredibly personal and special. This was my first three-Michelin-star dining experience, and it met every expectation. Alinea was truly worth every bit of the anticipation and I can't wait to return someday to try a Kitchen Table or Gallery dinner experience in the future. read more

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There was no way that I was coming back to Chicago without coming to Alinea, which is Chicago's original Michelin three-star restaurant. Note that when you reserve on Tock, you pick between the Salon, the Gallery, and the Kitchen Table. The Salon has its own menu, and the Gallery and Kitchen Table have their own menus. The only difference is that the Kitchen Table is, as you can imagine, is a table right next to the kitchen and it sits up to six people, whereas the Gallery only sits up to four people. Since we had 10 people coming, we split up between the Gallery and Kitchen Table. I thought the food here was very good, although not the best I've had at a Michelin three-star restaurant (you can thank my experiences in Paris for that). But it is quintessential Chicago for sure! There were no misses in any of the 16 courses that we had. Standouts for me were the Socarrat Bitter Orange (a extremely elevated paella), the Chicago-style hot dog (a gelled hot dog essence with all the regular condiments of a Chicago-style hot dog), the Fossillized Tamale Bone (an absolutely great seafood tamale), Fear Factor (essentially, tempura lobster), Squab (name says its all), and Wagyu (an amazing Australia wagyu short rib that was my favorite dish of the menu). What was just as impressive was the show that came along with a lot of these dishes, which made this meal feel very Chicago. Service here was great. Not the best service I've had at a Michelin three-star restaurant, but it was great. The one thing that I noted is that even though it is a Michelin three-star restaurant, they are not stuck up at all and make you feel super comfortable. Sets a great mood for the entire dinner! Ambience is nice. Obviously, given the fact we were isolated at the Kitchen Table, we basically had a private area to ourselves. They did adjust the lighting several times during the dinner to match the mood, which was a nice touch. Alinea was definitely a great experience that I was glad to try at least once. When taking into account the combination of the food and the show, I had a great experience here! read more

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Grant Ackerman's molecular gastronomy restaurant in Chicago was an exciting showstopper of a dinner, yet also controversially forgettable in certain ways. As a delightful dining experience with pizzazz and artistry in the way the restaurant staff carried out the show of the meal, I had a fantastic time and great memories from the flaming renaissance style beginning, to the helium balloon fun at the end. For the food itself, however, the food was a little heavy handed with salt. I struggled to remember the dishes I ate throughout the night, with the molecular hotdog the only dish I could immediately recall to mind. The show tricks were much more memorable in contrast, and while I could remember laughing and having a great time due to the artistry of the meal, the food itself was nothing that stuck out, unlike my meals at Somni and Providence, where even now, I can still describe with mouthwatering nostalgia the amusebouche or certain highlight dishes. That being said, the Gallery experience was an absolute pleasure to enjoy and I am grateful to the very well-trained staff who truly make the dining experience a playful, exploration of food and fun. And I will say. the fun of the meal lingered in my heart so much I chose to go to Aviary on a whim the next evening to continue a little more of that playfulness as well. The most interesting part of the lore in Alinea history is Grant Ackerman's battle at age 33 with stage 4 SCC tongue cancer and his incredible story overcoming it due to a clinical trial in conjunction with med onc, rad onc, and ENT! read more

Alinea - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My partner and I went to Alinea again last night with his coworkers and we got the Alinea Kitchen Table seating which is for sure the best seats in the house! Our floor manager Tyler did a wonderful job explaining each dish and giving us a wonderful show! We were able to go see the kitchen and have one of our courses in the kitchen. We previously went to Alinea last year and sat on the second floor (also had a group of 6) and if you can splurge I would recommend the kitchen table. The food was wonderful. I cannot put it into words at all. The wine pairings were the best wines I've ever had. Hands down the best service. read more

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My wife and I finally made it here on a recent trip to Chicago. Service and food were both impeccable. Definitely a large splurge cost wise, but we had some of our new favorite bites of food and some amazing culinary creations. Highly recommend! It was hard to get pictures because a lot of dishes were handheld bites meant to be eaten quickly, but I'll attach one of the first course and dessert. read more

Alinea - Caviar and house made cheese appetizer. Absolutely delicious. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What an amazing dinner . We visited for our 15th anniversary dinner and booked online in advance . One of us had a middle tier wine pairing (yes they have tiers ) and the other person had a non alcoholic beverage pairing . The restaurant is in a pretty unassuming building that almost looks like a residence from the outside . The food was divine . Innovative delicious and surprisingly filling . They also gave us a printed menu and an anniversary gift of breakfast goodies that we assembled at home . The service was great and the sommelier even wrote down a bunch of wine recommendations , in response to my question .The bathroom has heated Japanese toilets !! And the ceramics are perfect for every course . It is like watching a beautiful and delicious choreography in action . I hope we are fortunate enough to visit for our 20th anniversary!! read more

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It's been a while since I've been to Alinea, but I leave this five-star review because this three Michelin star restaurant in Chicago was the best food experience that I have ever had. Alinea was also probably my most expensive food experience; however, it was an experience that was more entertaining than many broadway shows. Chef Achatz and his team exhibit slight-of-hand tricks, they employed surprise, and the appealed to the heart and to the senses. I'm glad that I can relive the experience I had by watching Chef Table Season 2 Episode 1. Nevertheless, this experience is one that I'd recommend to anyone. There's a reason that it was, at one time, considered the best restaurant in America. Someday, I'd love to come back. read more

I recently read the biography of Alinea's chef Grant Achatz, and had to go to Alinea on my trip to Chicago. My solo dining experience was my trip's highlight. The ambiance of the restaurant was just as expected: clean, sleek, modern, and the designed plates were so thoughtful and special. The highlights in the food was experiencing the archaeology dig with edible sand and tools to uncover other food. The Chicago hot dog made of gelatin came with a postcard signed by Grant himself. Though, some dishes were just ok, some were incredible and spectacular. The dessert art and the helium balloon made of taffy was fantastic. The service was mostly top-notch, except for a few blips including feeling that one of the managers was a bit flirty with the staff (a bit awkward in front of the guest), and that it was a bit strange sitting near the waitstaff hearing all their conversations offline. Still the $476 tab felt pretty close to worth every penny. read more

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I don't even know where to begin. Alinea has been on my bucket list forever but it really did not live up to expectations. It was certainly a unique dining experience and beyond creative. I knew going in the theatrics were a huge part of the experience, I just wish they paid more attention to the food. Overall, the creativity is there it just lacks execution. Many of the dishes were very heavy and salty. So so salty. My husband who would often try and sneakily lick plates clean at Michelin restaurants, didn't even want my leftovers. It was fun to finally try the famous hot potato-cold potato, and truffle explosion. And the dessert demo was truly one of a kind fun. Unfortunately, most of what I remember from that night was the theatrics and salty lackluster dishes. If it wasn't for the photos, I wouldn't remember most of them (except that awful white chicken dish). Alinea is an experience to have once to check off the bucket list. Saving grace is we went with a group of friends and we had a fun time together. However next time we are in Chicago we are certainly dining elsewhere. read more

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Easily one of the best meals of my life! I've been wanting to visit Alinea ever since I found out about it more than a decade ago, and finally had the chance to dine here when I made a trip to Chicago. From the creativity, attention to detail, service, ambiance and deliciousness of the food, all top notch. I've been to many other Michelin restaurants in multiple countries, and this is easily in the top 3 of my list. I can see why Alinea retained its 3 star rating for so long, and am so glad I got the chance to dine here. This will be a meal I remember for a long time to come, and I hope I get to dine here again someday! read more

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Definitely a unique experience. Creativity was endless. Very whimsical, including a Chicago dog made into a gel, charred char, archeological dig, etc. Many of the dishes made me laugh, although after awhile I started to feel like there was too much gimmick which was not matched by the quality of the food. Many of the dishes were way over seasoned to the point of it not being edible (i.e., hot and cold potato soup). Some dishes just didn't work--a little mini shot with a white chocolate ball containing an herby concoction. A random candy balloon with the dessert? Yeah, it's cute and make for a good photo but how do you even eat this thing? I am viewing this restaurant with a very high standard since they charge to be judged critically. For the price, the quality of the food was not acceptable. Seems like the restaurant focused way too much on the whimsical presentation rather than on the food itself, which is a big no-no in my book. Service was very good. I liked the fact that they had some nice non-alcoholic fermented teas and wines. At one point they take you down into the kitchen to serve one of the courses. That was fun seeing how the kitchen operates--I felt for the chefs that were trying to work while a bunch of diners lined up, took up counter space, and ate their course. Decor was okay. Nice, modern, and minimalist that fit the food. Was it worth it? I guess so, if you are into an experience and having fun and don't mind spending some $$$ then yeah, it's worth it. But don't come here expecting to be wowed by the taste of the food itself. read more

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Place is slightly overhyped. The food is extremely fresh and a lot of unique textures and flavors that the average person wouldn't know what to compare to. The pork belly bite was hands down my favorite and the dessert was a perfect mix of creamy, cold and slightly sweet. The balloon was really cool and a green apple flavor. You can't buy the platters the food was served on as I had offered $300 for the blowfish bowl. Haha. Overall really fun experience, but I wouldn't come back. read more

Alinea - The edible balloon and dessert. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sat at the kitchen table... wow. What an experience. Food was very well thought out. The PB&J was impressive. The show and experience though.. was something that will stay with me forever. What a great experience. read more

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If "you are trying too hard" was a restaurant. Friendly staff and great service...but it's a version of a Beetlejuice dinner experience with a level of disorientation that is hard to match. This could--along with the eye-popping price--all be forgiven if it wasn't for the chef's food proclivities undermining the kitchen's attempt to put out a delicious and creative product. In the end, Alinea is just creative and not delicious. Nothing really tasted that good. read more

First time visiting Chicago, and Alinea had been on my bucket list. We were able to grab a reservation and fit it into our schedule, so of course we snatched it up. Some would call it theater dining, but I'm all about it if the bites are as delightful as the theatrics. Alinea definitely lives up to the spectacle of a dinner show they are known for. Emphasis on the entertaining element. From what I gather, the Jackson Pollock style dessert and the famous taffy balloon stays on the menu, everything else changes. I gotta say they're not wrong for that, it was definitely fun. The modern minimalist decor was last renovated in 2016, but what's more important was the skilled staff that weren't afraid to show a bit of personality, which definitely contributed to a more colorful experience (more fun). read more

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Alinea has been around 20 plus years but last year was eventful--it lost a star. We have been going once a year. it has grown stale. The chef wrote wonderful emails over the last year about his food research. Unfortunately it hasn't helped the menu. Alinea used to be an experience but no longer. It used to smoke herbs before a dish. It dangled tomatoes over the table. The staff is also very rote, lines are memorized. Too bad. Too expensive to not be an experience as it once was. read more

Came for Valentine's Day in a snow storm, worth it! These people take food seriously and I like that about them. I asked how?!?! does this wagyu short rib taste like it was braised forever and the fat is all rendered but it isn't just mush...it's braised for like 24hrs and there's ALWAYS someone in the kitchen. If this is a food cult sign me up. Completely impressed by every dish. The details. The performance. The service - and I put them through their paces with several questions not once did they hesitate. The hype is real. Foodie heaven exists read more

Alinea - Dessert on a table - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Indeed I had to skip my mortgage payment this month to experience an evening at Alinea, but it was all worth it. Kidding aside, what an amazing experience and special treat to dine at one of the best restaurants in the world. We opted to spend a little more for the Gallery experience and it did not disappoint. From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, the service was impeccable and exemplary throughout the entire night. The restaurant was intimate even with all of the staff mulling around in synchronized fashion ensuring every guest felt like the only guest. The food itself was unique. Each course prepared with precision and thought. The only disappointment during my visit was that a couple of the dishes were too salty, specifically the smoked mushroom soup and paella. The experience itself was worth the price. I won't give away the details here. For those who make the visit to Alinea, you will be treated to an experience for the senses. read more

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This is for Alinea 20th anniversary tour at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. I could never plan a trip to Chicago and get a reservation at the same time. I'm glad to finally have been able to try it. This was great experience and show. The courses were uniquely flavored and constructed. The service was impeccable. The wine pairings were excellent. The presentatuon of each course was excellent. It was definitely worth doing. read more

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The most incredible, special dining experience. My husband surprised me with dinner at Alinea for my birthday and it truly was a one-of-a-kind experience. We did the wine pairing option, which I think really rounds out the whole experience and highly recommend doing! The dining experience was about 12 courses. Each course is truly a work of art, with so much thought behind it. I also love all the surprise elements Alinea incorporates within each course too. Our server and sommelier were so wonderful and professional, explaining the story behind each course and the pairing that goes along with it. For one of the courses we got to go to the kitchen to enjoy it. It was so cool to watch all the chefs working in tandem so effortlessly. It costs an arm + a leg, but for a special occasion (especially for a food lover), I think it's worth it. read more

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Alinea is truly a treat for all of your senses. This was one of the funnest experiences! There were so many magical moments throughout the night -- finding out that something you thought was decoration the whole night is actually part of the meal, the edible balloons, and the "art" dessert. Alinea really takes molecular gastronomy to the next level. I don't think it was the tastiest food I've had in my life but it definitely was the most creative. I was blown away by the thought and effort put into each course. The team at Alinea really is seamless and has the service down. We got to walk through the kitchen too which was so cool to see so many talented chefs at work. The dining room is beautiful, dark, and moody. If you have the chance to go, I would definitely recommend Alinea! read more

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I've only wanted to visit for the past 8 years and finally went as I returned to Chicago post pandemic! It didn't disappoint! We enjoyed the special kitchen table private room. The whole event was incredible, including music, showmanship, visual entertainment, delectable innovative food, and a couple drinks built into the menu as a surprise. They were immaculate with their attention to details. They moved like a well-oiled machine. I felt like alice in wonderland enjoying a truly spectacular dinner! It's clearly a step above every other Michelin restaurant I've been to. Even the pacing and the amount of food was perfect. Our entire table left stuffed. They also helped us get in immediately after to the Aviary for drinks to extend our revelry. I'll probably try to return in a few years if I'm back in Chicago again. Bravo! read more

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Despite mixed reviews from my friends, I finally caved in and tried Alinea. It's a classic in Chicago so I kinda feel missing out not to dine there at least once. After all, I love Aviary (which also belongs to their own group), though Next is not my absolute favorite. (still good though) Alinea is known for molecular gastronomy and its innovative menu definitely showed. I cannot say anything negative things about their food execution. And their food definitely has to take much longer to make than other high end restaurants I've been to. But sometimes I can't help but feel they're trying too much. For example, their ramp soup was amazing, and the accompanied canele is made perfectly (and I'm really picky with canele). But I couldn't even when trying to eat both of them together since it's just too sweet. (I had to keep chugging my glass of white wine to clean up my palate). I felt myself keep craving for a piece of... sour dough bread :)). Just give me a piece of bread and I will be a happy child :)). It would be so perfect for the soup and even the following caviar dish. But their scallop, king crab, pineapple, and duck dishes was so good that I felt like I could eat 10 of them at once :)). By the way, the duck skin was cooked perfectly- probably the best duck dish I've ever eaten in a Michelin-starred restaurant. The waiters/waitresses were very nice, friendly, and Knowledgeable. Sometimes, I asked them random questions to test :)) and everyone's passing with flying colors :)). Anw, I had great time there and wouldn't mind coming back again, and it seems to me that chicagoans like to come here for their bday or anniversaries. One more caveat: I'm a 5ft2 woman and when I sat into a table at their salon, I honestly felt I was swamped by the dining table since the sofa was too low for me :)). But again maybe it's my fault that I should have chosen the dining room instead :)). read more

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This is the fifth time I've been to Alinea, and the first time in almost a decade. The first three times I went were magical, creative, delicious, and truly a unique experience. The fourth time was extremely underwhelming hence the long hiatus. I was able to get reservations for the gallery so I thought, let's see how it is now and how it has changed. On the plus side, it was truly a fun experience. The pacing was smooth, the dishes were interesting and beautiful looking. We switched perspectives on the dining room several times, which gave a sense of awe and wonder. I'm glad I got to experience this dinner theater. On the minus side, the taste of the food is just not there. I read a lot of reviews saying the dishes were overly salty and I wrote it off - I have pretty high salt tolerance, in fact, I was at another high end restaurant in Chicago the other day where we had to request salt on the side. But there is truly something wrong with the ingredients when the salt overwhelms the flavor in numerous cases. One example was the black truffle explosion which was waaay over salted such that it wasn't that enjoyable. I don't know how you can mess up something that's been on your menu for so long. In addition, the ingredients we were served were quite low end- our entree was Australian wagyu, which is just shocking to not be served Japanese wagyu in a $600 tasting menu. Also they didn't give away any pastry or anything at the end which is just unheard of- I feel like they are trying to cut costs or something and taking away from the experience. The service was good, as expected from a three star, but one key flub was when they switched the plates for me and my companion and have her the dish she was allergic to! Luckily we caught it in when they started describing and switched but I don't expect that from a restaurant like this. Alinea was the first serious fine dining restaurant I went to and I have a soft spot for it but I don't look forward to going back anytime soon. Maybe I will check it again in another decade if it's still around. read more

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What can I say about Alinea, other than holy f**K, it was AMAZING! This place has been on the list since Netflix Chef's Table did an episode on Chef Achatz. It didn't disappoint. We were seated in the upstairs area. Anytime you need to use the bathroom, a staff member escorts you, even if you already know where it is. We started off with drinks - I think I got wine and he got a beer. The food started coming after, starting with the caviar in the funny little dish. The dish was supposed to be textured to feel like the caviar and also fit in the palm of your hand. It was an interesting feeling for sure. That was followed by I think the Chicago hot dog, which is a little jelly that's infused with the flavor of the hot dog. The crazy thing is it did actually taste just like a hot dog with mustard (no ketchup). How he managed to do that is beyond me. The meal continues on according to the menu. There is one part of the dinner where the staff lead you downstairs to the kitchen for the socarrat, which is the bottom part of the rice in a paella. it's paired with a drink. When you try them together, they compliment each other. Oh and Chef Achatz was there that night supervising his team! That was a pleasant surprise. The rest of the night went smoothly. When we got to the part that reminds you of an archeological dig though, I started to feel full. After that course, it was the Australian wagyu which I had to ask my husband to eat most of mine because i Just couldn't eat anymore at that time. I definitely needed a break. Our favorite part of the night was watching the chefs put together the Jackson Pollock-esque dessert painting. It's delicious to eat as well but it's also so pretty you don't want to eat it. And of course, the night ended with the helium balloon that taste like green apple. I hadn't heard my voice on helium before so it's a good laugh at the end. The taffy from the balloon stuck to my face unfortunately so it took some time to get it off. I loved the experience, the food, and the ambience. I think if you have the time and are in Chicago looking for the experience of a lifetime, go to Alinea. The only thing I didn't like was when I made a reservation, it made me buy the cookbook. That was it. read more

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How do you even write about the icon that is Alinea?? It's pure fun and whimsy and the most unique dining experience of my life. My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 21/50 Month tried: April Favorite dish: Truffle Explosion, Smoked Fish, Prawn Excavation Tamale & Empanada We decided to finally make the leap and reserve Alinea for our 1 year wedding anniversary. The food was not only outstanding, but fun and surprising at every turn. We spent an hour guessing why there was butter hanging as centerpiece, only for it to be squash for the cheese course...naturally! We excavated a fossilized prawn as part of a course. The hot stones that we could see cooking our soup were dug out a course later to reveal a tamale. The Paint dessert and the balloon absolutely lived up to the hype. Alinea was amazingly accommodating of my food preferences and it did not detract from my experience at all. Instead of steak, they served me a mushroom cooked the exact same way and it was amazing. And if there were any other major substitutes, I honestly didn't even notice. Service was amazing, as expected, and I loved that the servers were all actually casual and funny, instead of the prim & proper service you'd expect from a high-end restaurant like this. It really added to the vibes of fun and lightheartedness in the best way. I'm still giving 5 stars, but there were some negatives I wanted to call out. Everyone told us that if you get the wine pairing, you'll be trashed because it's so much wine for so little food. That is not true AT ALL. It was not even one wine per every two courses. Fantastic wines, just not as much as everyone said. Also, we were really disappointed that people at the next experience up were seated near us. We got to see everyone around us get up and see the kitchen; but not us. We spent time wondering about courses on other tables, only to find out that we weren't getting them because they were the next tier. I am totally happy with what we paid for, but I would highly recommend not seating different experiences together - we left disappointed about things we know we didn't get to experience, instead of being none the wiser and only knowing what we were meant to know. I will never know what was in the red glass dome that everyone else had, and that thought shades my experience every time I think of it :( It's just so so weird to me that they do this and open even the possibility of someone being disappointed. So obviously minor things, but for this price point it's worth calling out so that the restaurant hopefully can take note for the next guest. Truly though the food and experience are unmatched. Alinea is the gold standard of experiential dining for a good reason. Oh and Grant Achatz featured my video at Alinea in one of his Instagram posts, so I am basically famous now!!! read more

When I think of my life as a whole, I think that my life is small, and scattered with hits that have left me bruised, not healed. I know I am not the only human with these thoughts so I share how I was reminded that my life has had small moments of glee that when viewed together create a momentary tarp that covers the negative thoughts in my mind in case it can help another. I reviewed parts of my life on icloud, and I remembered that there were some moments and days that were actually great. For instance, the day I went to Alinea was a day of greatness because I arrived at a place that I promised one day I would go to, to honor my foodie identity. It may seem small to others but you know who would get me- a a girl who fancied herself as a fashionista but grew up buying clothes at thrift stores and being told to be grateful for hand-me-down clothes. Then she visits Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue and buys her first Prada bag. I imagine that she would feel a great sense of accomplishment that only she can understand as uniquely grand because it signaled her reaching a mountain peak and a top of the world she knew that she had not diminished the limitations of her past but instead had used them to understand the value of this moment. I was that girl when I entered Alinea, the place that had the edible balloon that actually floated. One cannot help but be hit by the elegance of the place from first step inside. I took two pictures of chandeliers, and, at least for me, the beauty of its layered lights, hanging at different heights, with their circled glows below was authentic ritz, not a chandelier that was trying hard to be fancy, but everyone could see the transparent attempt as too much. The rest of the room followed suit, it was comfort, glamor, and softness in white hues. Simply said, the place was fancy as all get out! I gave this place 5 stars because for me the meal was a promised fulfilled, but in reality the place was a three in terms of food and presentation. Like, they focused on being whimsical and being known for that, that they tried to hard and lost their way. No longer were the place with the edible balloon that floated, they had become Icarus who flew to close to the sun. Meaning, that they believed in their own personality so much, that they had become the girl who was told wear a potato sack to the prom and own it as fashion, people will believe it cause of your reputation, but in truth people could see the truth, a girl who was wearing a potation sack and thought she could get away with it because she had the reputation of pulling off a bedazzled dorito's bag as a hat. For examples, some sweet bites came inside a crystal skull. The serving dish was pretty and unique sure but I did not feel anymore special for eating it, then when I did having a sugar skull, those eaten in Day of the Dead festivals. There was another dish that was was orange on top and was like a mosaic of jelly cubes. Then when you finished that one, there was the next dish under there. You might now think that they really went for lovely wow factors so the next dish must be an edible landscape but that would be too much? Well you are right, in imagining the next dish as an edible landscape, and you would be right that it was too much, but it actually came. In the pictures, you see a flame in the middle of the landscape that belongs to a volcano. I can recall the flame and the land but I cannot recall the taste or the specific thing I ate, which in my opinion, is sad. I also used tweezers, I also dropped what looked like an egg yolk was not into paper to introduce to a dish, and they used a slicer to slice mushroom atop of our table. When he pulled it from the string it was suppose to be a wow moment, like we had this edible item hanging atop our heads all this time, but we saw the spoiler when other people got served their dish. So all of it was mostly spectacle with no substance. The food did not taste good, that is what makes the over the top presentation too much, it was big in deal, but low in taste. And call me old fashioned but Michellin meals should be taste forward and theatrics second. i really did not know what to expect when I entered Alinea, except that i would be blessed by culinary wonder and sublime taste. But in the end of the analysis, I think that the food was basic and the presentation over the top. I drove from california to chicago with my dinner guest. The journey to the place, in this case, was the magic. The destination was a promise. The experience was lame, a little. But still I bought the Prada bag and refunds are not allowed for memories made. read more

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I had the pleasure of dining at Alinea a few months ago. My partner and I enjoyed their gallery style menu. This was around 15 courses and was an extremely immersive experience. As soon as we walked in, the hostess was very accommodating of course. We were then walked to our 20-foot dining table of around 8 other couples. It felt like we were in somebody's private dining room. That's how intimate it was. We were, of course, welcomed with starting champagne, and the service begun shortly after. It started with an opening ceremony of fire lighting the two hanging chandeliers that were over the table, which was shortly followed by our first course. Our second course was an immersive experience where we walked into the kitchen and watched them make our next meal. If I were to explain every single dish and course, this would be a 20 page essay. Long story short, Alinea is definitely working hard to get their third star back. I did enjoy the unusual hot dog course. If you know, you know. My favorite course was dessert, where each cook was in an assembly line adding to the dessert on our table. It was like watching the Picasso being painted. We then finished our evening with the infamous edible helium balloons that you see in my photo. read more

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Stopped by here for a friend's birthday celebration and the overall experience was average (compared to my other experiences with similarly rated fine dining)! But, it was short of what I would expect from a 3 Michelin star restaurant Food: The food here was very creative with some falling short of the mark while others went beyond. My entire party really enjoyed the "Charred" dish (charred arctic char) that they served us in the 4th course. It was charred perfectly on the side with the skin and the remaining surface area had a beautiful caramelized texture that paired well with the taste of the actual meat. Another one that I personally found really enjoyable was the "Squab" which had a great balance of sweet and savory. The squab was quite salty but the wax strawberry helped cut the savoriness. Perhaps the most unique dish was the "Chicago hot dog" which, despite the name, did not look like a traditional hot dog. Despite appearances, it did taste more or less like a chicago hot dog but a bit too salty for my personal taste. The "Wagyu" course was way too salty for my personal liking. With every bite, I had to pair it with water. Similarly, the "Explosion" was also too salty except since you're supposed to eat it in one bite there was no way to balance out the dish with a bit of water. The dishes served here leaned mostly towards the salty and savory side but personally I prefer a balance of savory and sweet. Wine: While we didn't do the wine pairing, we worked with our sommelier to select bottles from the (vast) options. We started with a sparkling white and ended with a medium bodied wine to pair with the mains. At the end, to celebrate my friend's birthday, we were treated to a cocktail that tasted like a liquid cake mixed with champagne! It was for sure a very unique spin on the traditional cake celebration but I did find it was way too sweet for my tasting. Service: The team that took care of us during our dining experience were polite but missed the mark for my expectations. Courses would begin regardless of if everyone in the party was at the table. One person in our party missed 2 course introductions because they had left for the bathroom. A small nit was also that the staff here never picked up on those in the party who were left handed which meant the arrangement was "flipped" for those who were left handed. The staff also mistakenly mixed up glassware and would hand the wrong (used) glass to members of my party. This was especially the case when we were all moved to one side of the table for the "Painting" and they gave me someone else's drink and one person was left with no drink at all Overall, the experience wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either granted that this is a 3 michelin star restaurant. The service was definitely lacking but the creativity and uniqueness of the dishes made up for that read more

I really wanted to love this experience. Since I'm about to leave Chicago and start my first new grad job, we figured it was finally time to book Alinea. I went in hoping for something unforgettable... but honestly, the whole thing felt cold, forced, and kind of exhausting. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was... weird. The receptionist greeted us very somberly and walked us in without much warmth. The whole thing felt more like an initiation ritual than a fine dining experience. Throughout the night, the staff hovered and watched us closely, which I get on some level, but it came across more uncomfortable than attentive. At one point, we got reprimanded for taking a photo with a digital camera -- pointing at a blank wall. No guests in the frame. It felt unnecessarily strict and set the tone for the rest of the evening. Caviar This was the first moment where I started thinking, oh no, this is going to be one of those nights. The server rushed over and whispered, "Hold out your left palm." We did, and they placed a tiny caviar-shaped plate with actual caviar on it. Then... we just set it down on the table and ate it normally with a spoon. The whole "ritual" felt unnecessary, and the caviar itself was way too salty. Hot Dog Jelly This was probably the highlight of the night. A jelly that tasted like a Chicago-style hot dog, with a little history behind it -- actually clever and tasty. Grapes + Branch Paste Honestly, I barely remember this one. We were told to cut open a branch to release a cream that would pair with grapes, but there was barely any cream and no flavor to speak of. Pretty forgettable. Salmon Char Really solid -- perfectly cooked, balanced, smoky. This was one of the few dishes where the flavors actually matched the hype. Hot & Cold Potato Apparently one of Alinea's "signature" dishes. Conceptually cool, but it tasted fine and nothing more. For all the buildup, it didn't leave an impression. Fossil Dish This one was a letdown from all the build up. There's a mysterious fire burning next to you for several minutes, so you're waiting with anticipation. Then you "excavate" a prawn fossil from edible dirt with little tools. Sounds fun, right? The reality: salty, underwhelming, and confusing. The bone marrow just tasted like umami cream, and the whole Patagonia backstory felt disconnected. At the end, they put out the fire to reveal a tamale, which turned out dry and bland. Kitchen Visit This was a cool little break to see the Kitchen. They had us stick our finger into a smoky tube, which was intriguing... until we realized the food inside was just a tempura. Still, free gin, so no complaints there. Egg Paste "Explosion" They hyped this up as being "explosive." What exploded was the salt -- not the flavor. Flower + Strawberry Side Dish Very pretty, kinda unmemorable. Don't even remember the main dish. The "strawberry" wasn't actually a strawberry, more like a Hi-Chew candy with mint. Cool idea, but taste-wise, not something I'd remember. Wagyu + Allergy Mix-Up This one was interesting.. I noted that I'm allergic to pine nuts, and the server told me I couldn't have the sesame crunch on my dish because "sesame is a pine nut." I was confused and asked for clarification, and he acted like I was stupid for questioning him. A second server later confirmed that sesame is not a pine nut (obviously) and that my dish contained sesame, not pine nuts. Just sloppy. And the wagyu itself? Disappointing. Dry, not particularly tender, way too salty, and nothing close to the melt-in-your-mouth experience I expected from a Michelin 3*. Dessert Finale This was the grand ending -- the chef smashed ice cream onto the table in front of us. Very dramatic... until some of it splattered onto the couch I was sitting on. When I asked a server to clean it up, he just laughed and said, "Haha, he gets a little overzealous sometimes." Um... okay? The dessert itself was way too sweet and didn't taste great. The helium balloon was fun to play with for a minute, but it deflated almost immediately. Kind of the perfect metaphor for the whole night. I get that Alinea is supposed to be experimental and theatrical, but for me, most of it felt forced. Too much emphasis on "interactivity" and not enough on just making the food taste good. Throughout the night, I was downing water to flush out all the salty food. I wouldn't even say the taste is Michelin 1* quality. The salmon char and hot dog jelly were genuinely great, but everything else ranged from forgettable to flat-out unpleasant. On top of that, the vibe was cold, the rules felt unnecessary, and the service was hit-or-miss -- sometimes attentive, sometimes snobby, sometimes outright incorrect. For the price, I expected to be wowed. Instead, I left frustrated, hungry, and wishing I'd booked somewhere else. read more