Took my fiancé to Alinea since he's seen it on chefs table he's been dying to go. I personally didn't love it nor hate it. The presentation and experience was everything but in my opinion the food should be what matters more. Sad to see him lose a star but maybe this is motivation. read more

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Memorable experience! There was fire, there was excavation, there was dry ice, there was art, there was smashing. It felt more like a performance than a meal. Flavor-wise, the combinations leaned more towards the unconventional: gazpacho with almond and grape, prawn paired with masa. Some pairings were delightful, and it was fun to explore. The setting in a cozy house creates a sense of intimacy, with plush seating and a relaxed ambiance. Service was top-notch. Except they did just stand by when I got the taffy stuck in my hair. That said, given the price point, it felt like more of the value was in the theatricality rather than the food itself. I would've expected a bit more generosity, both in terms of premium ingredients and portion size. By the end of the meal, I felt satisfied (whereas I'm usually stuffed from other tasting menus), and the SO could still eat. A few dishes also arrived lukewarm, which detracted from the overall execution. read more

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I don't know where to start the experience at this place was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. Zachary Riccardo, and others created an experience. I will never forget prioritize visiting this place whenever you are in Chicago absolutely amazing. read more

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Currently taking a well-deserved victory lap from coast-to-coast Alinea's 20th Anniversary is also being celebrated back home, the ever-changing Next transporting diners back to Lincoln Park circa 2005 while 1723 North Halsted Street continues to explore "a new train of thought." Now under the direction of Chef Douglas Alley, another young talent blossoming under the daily guidance of Grant Achatz, guests who've not visited Alinea since the renovation will find service still amongst the best in the world while theatrics have been amplified. Still Chicago's toughest reservation, both The Gallery and Salon fully booked within minutes of Tock opening, guests downstairs begin at a communal table complete with fire, suspended items and a four-part plate spanning the palate paired to Champagne. Next offered a tour of the kitchen, a new Sommelier directing guests attention to an all-Soccarat Paella matched to Sherry-Apple Cider, guests return to a fully transformed dining room where two and four-tops sit beneath suspended items to be revealed later. Forever innovating with service pieces from Crucial Detail, a bowl textured like Caviar delivering Osetra prior to a flip-cup of crispy Skin Arctic Char and Roe in smoked Gel beneath, course five sees diners "excavate" a Shrimp alongside a Bone with Marrow, Tamale and Empanada baked into the plate. A festive affair not afraid to look back while pushing forward, both "Hot Potato" and "Black Truffle Explosion" as delicious as they were twenty years prior, Wagyu receives tableside garnish from aromatic starch before the line overhead is cut revealing Squash preserved in Pork Fat utilized in the Cheese course. Not about to slow down, sweets starting with a Pear grown in glass made into Italian Ice, "Paint" has evolved into a parade of lights, smoke and music with aromas and theatrics eventually yielding one of Fine Dining's most iconic Desserts. Last visited in 2011, Mike Bagale's edible Balloon not arriving until a year later, celebrations at Alinea see guests toast with a liquid "Birthday Cake" topped off by Rose Champagne for an experience that still deserves every single one of its numerous accolades. read more

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We went as a group and sat at the kitchen table the experience was amazing but the food was terrible I hate to say that because we have been trying to go there for so long what a let down! read more

We decided to go here for my 40th birthday because this is not a restaurant that you go to on the weekend because it's super expensive. When we arrived, they greeted us and they asked when my actual birthday was and then they escorted us upstairs to our table where we were welcomed immediately by the wait staff. There was this thing dangling over our table that looked like a peach of some sort, and we didn't know what it was but later it played a factor in one of our dishes because it was actually food that they sliced up and served to us, it was quite entertaining. We got the wine pairing that paired with each of our courses and they went really well with the food that they served us. For one of the courses, we are escorted downstairs to their kitchen and we had an additional course with their House made sangria, and it was awesome to see them working in the kitchen and see how everyone had a specific job. It was like a well oiled machine. We were then escorted back upstairs, for a few more courses and then we had the dessert course. We were served wine with a bottle that had my birthday on it and when they poured that into the wine, it tasted like birthday cake. It was pretty cool. They put a silicone tablecloth down and had some kind of freeze dried ice cream with all these sauces and it was really good for the rest of the dessert portion. They then served us their signature helium balloon that is edible green apple and that was really cool experience. The outside is very unassuming and the inside is really cool because it has the downstairs portion and an upstairs. Everyone was really nice, very helpful, and we enjoyed our experience there. read more

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With a current Yelp rating of 4.5 stars and 2 Michelin stars under their belt, along with their incredible reputation, you would probably expect something special from a dining experience at Alinea. In fact, I've seen evidence in the form of Youtube videos and reviews from less than a year ago that until very recently this place probably deserved its reputation as one of the best restaurants in the world. Unfortunately the loss of its third Michelin star appears to have sent the kitchen into a sort of weird creative freefall. On our visit two weeks ago we had one of the worst fine dining experiences of our lives at Alinea and came away from it incredibly upset that we had wasted our time and money on a night that was miss after frustrating miss. We were so upset that we're still thinking about it pretty much every day. As of May 2026 it seems that Alinea have cycled out most of the classic favourite dishes that earned them their good reputation, in favour of a series of pretentious courses, the majority of which were overwelmingly bad. There were a few courses (and I mean literally a few out of 22) that were decent enough that they might have slotted into the roster of a good tasting menu, but the rest were pretty awful. Some were bad because they were imbalanced to the point where star ingredients were completely lost in the mix, several were bad because they'd been left to congeal in a spherical bento box since before we arrived, some were bad because of bizarre mishandling of ingredients that should have been delicious and there were some that unlocked new levels of disgust for me, combining things like Banana Pudding and Fish or Cherries and Truffles in a way that staff seemed to try to pass off to us as avant-garde, or scientifically brilliant. Chef Achatz seems really thrilled about his chewy little black truffle/black cherry course, but the only reason I even swallowed it is because I was too embarrassed to spit it back onto the plate. I don't care that these things share some kind of commonality under a lab microscope, they taste absolutely awful when you put them together. Even the famous Paint dessert was a travesty. I've been looking forward to trying this for years and when I did, I was saddened to discover that they'd deliberately chosen to make it taste like a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks (by the waiter's admission). A fall Starbucks drink inspired dessert in the middle of May seems like an incredibly puzzling choice before you even get into the fact that Pumpkin Spice is famously polarizing. Even more puzzling was that while they literally told us that there were Pumpkin Spice flavours on the table, they also tried to gaslight us into thinking it was a Chai. They said 'it'd become more of a Chai', despite it having absolutely no flavours associated with Chai (even the word 'chai' actually means 'tea' and there was coffee flavouring, no tea at all), and the menu even read 'Chai' instead of Pumpkin Spice. I'm trying to be fair in giving this a two star review. That's only because the NA drinks pairing was decent enough (if nothing special) and the staff were genuinely exceptional, but regardless of that, no restaurant on earth is worth visiting if the food is bad, particularly when it comes with such a hefty price tag. This wasn't worth the roughly $500 a head we paid for it. Frankly, this meal was so insulting to me that I'd say this wasn't worth anything at all. I take absolutely no pleasure in saying that, I am genuinely not sure they deserved to lose their third Michelin star, but at this point I am convinced they don't deserve the other two. Being honest here feels like the closest I can get to issuing a public service announcement. Charging the kind of money they are charging to test these awful, awful new courses on their paying customers feels like it shouldn't be allowed. I know I'm not alone in this feeling. I'm noticing, glancing at other recent Yelp reviews and posts elsewhere, that the response to Alinea has been fairly lukewarm lately. I also notice that people are second guessing themselves and doling out higher ratings based on Alinea's rep, rather than blaming the restaurant for its MANY failures. This is wrong. It's not you, it's them. You can tell this, because you don't need to go back far at all to find so many more people leaving reviews with nothing bad to say. A week before this, we dined at both Ever and Smyth and while there were certainly a couple of creative misses for me on Smyth's menu, I would still wholeheartedly recommend people put their money towards either of these restaurants if they're looking for a good experience in Chicago. read more

Ever since I watched Chef's Table, I have been wanting to dine at Alinea. Such an inspiring story. However, I may have built up higher expectations. Food overall tasted great, but I think there are more innovative restaurants in 3 Michelin Star calibre that give you tastier food and better experience - but hey, I am no food critic :) Dinner service started with caviar - a good spoonful of royal osetra caviar! Delectable. Then continued on to truffle raviolo, such a flavor explosion in your mouth. Progressed to potato and cheese and truffle.. this was ok! Each table had this hanging piece of a surprise, making everyone curious what that is.. I had suspected a cheese possibly.. it ended up a pumpkin that was butter poached, and went with the cheese course. Then there was a fish dish, with a hidden surprise of gelatinize trout roe when you flip the dish over :) The dishes incorporated really intriguing visual and textural elements (e.g. plate for caviar having some caviar texture, or the chicken dish servers with a glass chicken centerpiece which brings you a shoebun filled with foie gras (looking like an egg).. And of course the dessert plating with the famous green apple balloon.. Some dishes blew it out of the park, some missed their mark. Overall definitely worth a visit! read more

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It's been years since I have wanted to come here and I finally made it! The experience was amazing from every detail. I was nervous the whole time because I really wanted the helium balloon but from the reservations - they said no guarantees. I sat down and asked the hostess she said no guarantees. I saw an earlier table next to us finish and leave and they had no helium balloon!! Finally I asked another server if we don't have it as a course can I we order it separately and she finally told me it's part of the experience! *phew! All the dishes were very creative and loved the kitchen tour part as well! though I have to say the wine pairings were a bit disappointing as it felt like they were trying to introduce newer more unknown wines. It's all from recent years and newer wineries. But customer service was great and they even got us a reservation at the aviary afterwards! read more

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Where do I even begin to describe my ultimate dining experience at Alinea? From the moment we stepped through the doors of this iconic three-star Michelin restaurant, it was clear that we were in for something truly extraordinary. Booking our reservation a month and a half in advance, we eagerly anticipated the arrival of our friends from Miami to join us for this special occasion. To make the evening even more memorable, I reached out to the Alinea group and asked if we could meet the culinary genius himself, Chef Grant Achatz, and have our menus signed. While there were no guarantees, we were overjoyed to find ourselves seated with a direct view into the kitchen, where Chef Achatz was tirelessly working his magic. Despite our star-struck awe, he graciously took a photo with me, signed our menus, and even autographed copies of the Alinea cookbook and Aviary Cocktail book that I purchased while we were there! From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and our coats were taken care of. Then, we were led to the ultimate dining experience: a table set up just for us in the kitchen, where we could witness the culinary performance unfold before our eyes. Adding a wine package only enhanced the experience, with our knowledgeable and entertaining host, Kellen, and sommelier, Branson, guiding us through each course. Every dish we encountered was a masterpiece of creativity and execution. The presentation, the flavors, and the way we were meant to enjoy each dish were all meticulously planned. Each course was a journey in itself, with the ambiance changing seamlessly from one dish to the next. I would review each course we savored which were too many to recount, but that would ruin it for anyone thinking of experiencing Alinea because you must try this for yourself at least once in your lifetime! And the menus change as new items get introduced so why review each and every dish. There were so many courses that left you in awe and so I'm thankful we got the menu to remember what we ate! One standout moment was the French onion soup, where we felt like dancing as the soup was prepared right at our table on a communal-style copper fire stove, accompanied by the perfect soundtrack of 'Fire' by the Ohio Players. But the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Paint Dessert, a mesmerizing performance by Chef Grant Achatz himself, along with another talented chef. It was a breathtaking finale to an unforgettable evening that will forever be etched in our memories. The experience was worth every penny! Yes we spent a lot but we left Alinea feeling not only satisfied but also deeply fulfilled, and our hearts and bellies full of gratitude. Thank you, Alinea, for exceeding our every expectation and making our evening so special. Thank you for making a special reservation afterwards to your speakeasy, The Office. What a nice touch that Alinea provided us complimentary transportation to The Office. They even offered to comp the valet fees but we didn't use the valet. Words cannot express how much we enjoyed every moment, and we can't wait to return for another remarkable culinary adventure. read more

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This was a great experience. We paid a lot for dinner, but it was a great time. I also enjoyed the people I was with. Definitely once in a lifetime experience. The glassware were amazing and custom made for Alinea read more

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I've never experienced food like this before. Everything was incredible from the staff to the presentation and thought behind each dish. We absolutely loved it. We got the kitchen room and if you have the opportunity, it's a MUST. Kitchen view the entire time, staff from all waves of the process pop in and say hello, our main man H really made the dinner even better. Nothing but great things to say. We also got the wine pairing and WOW, we loved every one (but dessert wines but that's on me not the Somali) read more

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Amazing once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. The food was phenomenal. The service, impressive. Very memorable. read more

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This was a 3 star Michelin restaurant. My expectations were high. Chicago style hot dog? No thank you. It was unappetizing. Terrible taste and I'm sorry but i expect more than a hot dog for a $1000/per person dinner. Peanut butter and jelly another one. It was terrible. If I want a hot dog or pbj i will go to Walmart. Lastly and probably the most important aspect of this negative experience was the fact 2 people from our dinner party had the worst stomach ache for days. I contacted the restaurant to inform them and they quickly dismissed it. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Ambiance- fine dining feel read more

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Hard to say anything that hasn't been said. Fun. Amazing. Delicious. Different. The surprises surprised me and weren't a shtick. They added something. Wasn't stuffy. I didn't leave hungry. Really enjoyed all but one course. Great ratio. Really glad I finally made it. Beautiful, stunning establishment. read more

I really wanted to like Alinea, but the experience was a letdown. The ambiance felt like a cold operating room. The service was poor; our allergy/preferences were asked about but then disregarded. The food was overly complicated, and my husband struggled to even swallow some of the dishes, trying not to gag. It felt more like a performance than a meal, and there are honestly so many other places in the city that offer better food and service. Whenever friends ask, I simply cannot recommend Alinea. read more

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NOTE - This is a lengthy, rambling note, essentially two reviews-in-one. But I've kept it largely as originally written. Hey, sometimes you have a lot to say and you just need to lay it out there. I sense that Alinea is "Yelp-proof". That is, those who read of our experiences have already determined whether they plan to dine here. You're likely reading this sheerly out of curiosity of what this multiple Michelin star restaurant offers or you're looking for a heads up on the menu. Unfortunately, since Alinea is about to change to its Fall menu the photos and descriptions of the dishes we ate will simply be lost among the thousands of other archive shots on this site, I won't waste your time on them. So allow me to instead describe a few facets of our three-hour meal in The Salon, along with a couple other considerations I believe may be of value. Even seeing advance photos of Alinea's exterior, our thought as we exited our Uber was, "are we at the right address?". We stared at a gray facade, no signs, no neon, nothing but a dark door behind a simple awning. Not even our first steps through the entrance helped. There is a short narrow dark hallway, a couple unadorned benches, a mirror and a desk. Fortunately, the lady behind the desk welcomed us and asked for our names. Don't arrive overly early; you may not be seated immediately and the hallway might, at best, comfortably support a dozen people. You could well end up standing outside in Chicago's elements while your table is readied. We were led past The Gallery, which was just starting its service, and up a narrow stairway to The Salon. The Salon is a set of small dining rooms, each holding a half-dozen tables. Colors are all muted tans and grays, lighting is recessed, tables are stainless steel. The chairs and couches around the table are simply upholstered but very comfortable. All in all, what came to my mind was a scene of a blank canvas. (That is, except for the, tomatoes?, which were dangling mysteriously above each table; these were later used in one of the courses.) Service is extraordinary (of course), ever present and friendly yet unobtrusive. Our favorite of the courses - the first and the last. We loved the Osetra caviar course. And I wish everyone could experience the dessert. Overall, I'd describe the dinner more as art and performance art; the joy came with interacting and yes, playing with our food. From a pure taste perspective, we've had better meals. Some combinations meshed very well and some less so. Still, it was a wonderful night, one we will always remember. These renown "five-star" restaurants are all notoriously difficult to book. For Alinea, reservations are made on-line through a third-party service. On the 15th of each month, precisely at noon, tables are opened for the month beginning six weeks ahead. We had long planned to visit our daughter who lives in Chicago in early September, she had given me a generous gift card for Alinea as a Christmas gift and asked that my wife and I dine in The Gallery. On July 15, I sat primed at my monitor, ready to pounce. Reservations opened, The Gallery showed to be open, I quickly clicked and, tables for two were no longer available. The next day was open, I tried again and, no luck. The same with every other day. Frustrated, I clicked on The Salon, and, voila, a table was still open. So, while a bit disappointed, I was able to snag a reservation. But, and make this a big BUT, please be aware of the payment process. Alinea requires 100% payment for meals at the time of reservation, WITH NO CANCELLATION. I've never paid fully for a reservation meal in my life, not even at other famous exclusive restaurants. Unfortunately, this is now becoming a standard practice. Look, I fully understand the huge outlays these restaurants have, from food to service to presentation. And I also understand that such meals can be readily compared to entertainment events which are frequently fully paid in advance. But this is an unfriendly paradigm shift for me. In particular, I find the lack of cancellation to be concerning. I now know that as a result, a cottage industry of third-party online reservation resale sites are growing to support this policy (most of which are offered above the original cost). But we had our table and everything was set. No, wait! Because of a family urgency we had to move our trip to Chicago forward a month. What to do, what to do with our reservation? We couldn't cancel it and because it was partly paid by a gift card, we couldn't even sell it. Fortunately, after e-mailing Alinea they graciously made a table available for us during our new visit period. Call me "old school" but it's for this payment and cancellation policy that I've given Alinea four instead of five stars. read more

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My fiancée and I were so excited to finally try this incredibly famous restaurant that we had heard so much about: from TV shows, social media, reviews, and direct word-of-mouth from friends. I'm really impressed that our experience here lived up to, and even exceeded, those expectations. We have been to many other fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants, and found the caliber of the food served here definitely earns its 3-star rating. Some standouts for us were the Char Char, "Chicago-Style Hot Dog", Hot Potato/Cold Potato, and Messy Table dessert. I often feel like exceptional dishes at other restaurants are able to give you a mental image of something, almost like a poem you can eat. There are layers of visuals and taste and texture for you to mull over and digest, which add to the dining experience. At Alinea, we kept remarking on how this concept is fleshed out even further via immersion and interactive elements: the smoky piece of delicious fish is served on the charred remains of a barrel; you're excavating tasty fossils with an array of different tools as a cozy campfire blazes nearby on your table. Maybe the best way I can describe it is that, instead of merely evoking an image or emotion, Alinea's menu actually feels transportive. I think the other thing that distinguishes it from other fine dining we've been to is that there is a fun, whimsical undercurrent throughout the experience. We saw this immediately in the presentation of the dishes, the surprises, the hot dog postcard, and especially the lighthearted yet refined demeanor of various Front of House staff that set the tone early on. This was a welcome surprise, as the seriousness of some upscale restaurants we've been to can feel smothering. I'm rambling at this point. I tell my fiancée that trying to maintain such a large restaurant and staff, at that insane 3-star / world-class level, for such a long period of time, makes me exhausted just thinking about it. But I think I get a glimmer of understanding, as we are invited downstairs into the kitchen, and I see Chef Achatz, and I'm struck by his quiet, focused intensity on this random evening in September. Thanks to Chef and the excellent and creative team that cooked us a delightful meal that we will never forget. Thanks to Rosabella and the other FOH staff for their humor, care, and impeccable service. We appreciate you, and we hope to come back someday. read more

Truly a phenomenal dining experience at this Michelin restaurant. We had reservations in the Gallery which was fairly loud but great for a meal with friends. Dinner was interactive, fun, and lively. Service was excellent. From start to finish, the start of each course left you in anticipation of what was to come. Each dish was beautifully and uniquely presented but the food was short of amazing. Food was delicious but not mind blowing. Presentation definitely overtook the tastiness of the meal. My favorite part of the meal was the presentation of the Paint Dessert. This was such an exceptional experience and I enjoyed my time here but for the price point, I doubt I will be back on my dime. The food was tasty but didn't blow me away. I did leave here full but not overly stuffed. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place for an unforgettable dining experience. P.S. Reservations can be made on the 15th of the month, approximately 2 months in advance and are released at 11:00 AM Central Time. read more

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A beautiful orchestration of fine dining. Each individual representative of Alinea is highly in tune and quickly reads the room while maintaining a composure of the highest professionalism, positive attitude, and openness to small requests (I asked to sit next to my wife rather than accross). The wine representative was especially a joy with his fun yet deep explanation of each wine. The food is exceptional with no holds barred from care of the finest detail visually and taste. The kitchen is something out of those movies and series of what a 3 Michelin star restaurant should be and you'd hope for. Being in the industry myself (and my wife) we were simply in awe. For first timers to such a highly ranked restaurant, we both didn't want it to end but we were completely stuffed! Was there something a miss? Sure, but it only because of my own issue. Im hearing impaired so sometimes I couldn't quite hear what was said. No biggie! Loved every minute! read more

Alinea - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my second visit and it was absolutely superb. If you are looking for a fancy tasting menu experience in Chicago, this is likely your best bet. The service, presentation and food were all absolutely wonderful. Yes, they have drunk their own Kool-Aid a bit, but the food was truly unique and wonderful. The staff is professional, warm and attentive. The food is delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Incredible food, service and presentation. Must try considering this is a 3 star Michelin restaurant. read more

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What a privilege and honor to be able to dine at Alinea! Truly a once in a lifetime experience! We made a reservation for the Gallery and highly recommend selecting that option. Is it more expensive? Yes. Is it fully worth it? Absolutely! The Gallery really gives you the full Alinea experience in an intimate and unique setting. The whole evening felt like a giant performance with every course presented elegantly in an almost magical sense! The highlight of the gallery option is the kitchen tasting course. It was so cool to see all of the inner workings of the kitchen and witness Chef Achatz in his element. It was also amazing to have him serve us our Paint course! Overall, the service and food were fantastic, just as I expected it to be! Our favorite courses were Avocado Yellow on Mellow, Explosion, Hot Potato, Truffle Root Beer, and Paint! If you're in Chicago and celebrating a special occasion, a visit to Alinea is a must! read more

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I had the best dinner of my life at Alinea about 7 years back. It was my wife's birthday and they went out of their way to make every moment amazing. I've had a few 3 (now 2, but whatever) michelin star dinners, but nothing like Alinea. I was so disappointed to see they stopped accommodating vegan menus. They did it perfectly, and it felt so special and distinguished. It was part of the vibe, that they would accommodate popular restrictions and could. I'd really hoped to take my wife back for that again some time. Seeing that go away broke my heart. read more

One of the most outstanding dining experiences of my life. Every course had a surprise and the creativity at Alinea blew me away. It was a feast for all the senses not just taste. Thank you Alinea for an evening that will be a core memory for years to come. read more

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Let me start this off by saying I came in with high expectations. The chefs table episode featuring Chef Achatz left a comforting imprint during a formative period in my life. And I have wanted to experience Alinea ever since. Alinea is also my first 3 star experience. I'm honestly glad I got to pop my 3 star cherry here because let me tell you - to put it simply, it's REALLY good, and it is worth the price, anticipation, and reservation headhunting!! I booked a solo reservation at the Salon and did the and standard wine paring. I have a perpetual history of getting too wasted with wine parings and wanted to keep it simple for both myself and the Alinea team. Good choice!! The regular wine paring with all the courses was more than enough. It was truly a dynamic pairing - and added a liquid dimension of creativity to an already whimsical experience. Signature dishes like the "explosion" and "hot potato cold potato" are as breathtaking as food critics and TV celebrity chefs have parroted. The explosion was singularly the best bite of food I've had in my entire life. I honestly wanted to walk downstairs, barge into the kitchen, and start scarfing more of these down directly on the pass. The only thing keeping me firmly planted in my seat was knowing that if I did that - I'd miss out on chef Achatz's magic and would surely be banned. That would not be an option for me - because everything I come back to Chicago, I will be going here!! Chef Achatz, and the Alinea staff, from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for one of the most unforgettable fine dining experiences I've ever had!! When I'm back in your beautiful city, I will be stopping by. Maybe I'll sweet talk some local foodies into the chefs table experience! read more

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I came to Alinea fully prepared to be amazed but couldn't help feeling disappointed. The service is not what I would expect for a 3 star Michelin restaurant. Most of the service seems to cater to one table in our room and it's odd that service picked their favorite and the rest of the room is left there largely ignored and unattended. In terms of food, there are moments of greatness where you are wowed by the creativity above all. But there are also lackluster ones where the taste is just not there. read more

Maybe to make up for the tough times lately, I got really lucky and booked a reservation for my birthday at a fancy time slot worth $395, but I only paid $275. Not only did I get to see the kitchen show, but they also gave me extra of my favorite food and a special birthday drink. It feels like I hit the jackpot! Take your time scrutinizing the pictures and details of each dish; I won't delve too deeply into explanations. Beyond just taste, it's all about the overall experience and a good vibe. Since this was my second visit, when the restaurant inquired via email about dietary restrictions and preferences, I not only listed my dietary restrictions but also mentioned the dish I didn't finish last time, adding a note requesting its replacement if possible. Guess because I voiced my disappointment from the previous visit, this time the attentive servers were keenly observant of our reactions. When I indulged in my favorite Hot Potato 2.0, sheer delight swept over me. After mentioning it to the server, I found myself unexpectedly whisked away to the kitchen to witness a cocktail show. Meanwhile, the server discreetly presented another round of my beloved potatoes. Following dessert, I was taken aback by a surprise treat: Liquid birthday cake champagne. It was my inaugural experience of "drinking" a birthday cake, and it was truly delightful. As a token of gratitude, I even shared some snacks from my pocket with the server. This experience outshone the first visit, and this so-called "once-in-a-lifetime" experience finally felt whole. read more

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There are few people and places I would do a 24 hour trip for but for Alinea to celebrate my friends birthday was it To have the experience of going to this Michelin restaurant Alinea was nothing short of incredible. They earned every single . Words, photos and videos can't fully convey what we experienced over the course of 3 hours but it all started with walking through the door. The 15 courses we were treated to was a sensory explosion. The attention to detail in serving each portion was remarkable. The way they transformed the room based on what we were serving was the level of detail that earned them their stars. I loved every minute of my time there. The room was so intimate. I can't remember another place that I am still dreaming of the food I ate. read more

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One star for the laughter, because the alternative was crying. Let's just be honest -- this was a $1,800 meal (with a single wine pairing) and quite possibly one of the worst meals I've ever experienced. My husband and I literally planned an overnight trip to Chicago solely so we could dine at Alinea. I was so excited -- this was a bucket list, once in a lifetime, dream come true experience. And it was the truest example of the emperor has no clothes one could (not) hope to encounter. From the opening dish, which had been languishing on the plate since the first guest came in -- a cold, sad, vegetable tart -- to the final dessert splatter that tasted akin to the astronaut ice cream bars you get at your local science center, each dish was somehow worse than the last. Everything was salty. Everything was cold. Then wagyu was overcooked. The bone marrow was a weird explosion of nuts. The waitstaff were weirdly aggressive. The sommelier and one of the waiters clearly had a thing, and were making passive aggressive comments to one another across our meal the whole night. The whimsy was not in short supply; it was simply nonexistent. The meal was anathema. And I won't even go into the lackluster wines because at this point, who cares? I'm still trying to come to grips with what we ate, and trying to reconcile it with the rave reviews. I don't know if it was because it was a Monday. I don't know if they've given up. I don't know if they're leveraging the balloon lore and nothing more. It's like an episode of the Twilight Zone where everyone is clapping in time for the best meal they've ever had while I wonder if I've been teleported to a foreign planet where up is down and bad food is good. At least that would be whimsical. This was like the dining version of Paris syndrome. Despite the essay I wrote, I'm truly speechless. read more

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to say here. I was hesitant to try Alinea, believing the 'reputation' and the price point would make my expectations unrealistic. This December I finally gave in & I'm glad I did. This is a dining experience. I know this is a somewhat frustrating sentence, but it's true. Did I have the best bites of my life at Alinea? No (and quite honestly- the chicken course might have been one of the worst). That being said, there were a lot of really interesting and delicious bites. The service was nearly flawless and the theatricality made it a truly memorable experience. I would encourage anyone considering Alinea to watch the episode of Chef's Table - it does a really good job of explaining the philosophy of the restaurant and managing expectations. read more

My sister and I really wanted to go to Alinea ever since we saw the Chef's table episode on Chef Grant Achatz, and we blew our budget for our sister trip by getting a reservation and prepaying $1,278.95 for two in the Gallery, which is definitely the most I've spent on a meal. Because of girl math I talked myself into the standard wine pairing while we were there too I would recommend rewatching the chef's table episode before going because it really helped gaining insight on the restaurant and what they try to do. The experience is going to be different for anybody else bc it does seem like they change up parts of their menu frequently. I was a little surprised by their questionnaire in advance of the booking - it seems like if you have some specific allergies or intolerances, they cannot accommodate you (I've included it in my pictures for advance planning purposes). For what they do accommodate, they were excellent about it. My sister and at least two others don't drink alcohol and at certain courses they provided non-alcoholic alternatives. I'm not going to go into every single little detail because I honestly can't do any of it justice. Worse yet, I will never likely ever have some of those dishes again, because either I have little opportunity to come back to Chicago or they will have changed their menu. (I was so mad after having some of an amazing onion dip bc it's the best I've ever had and I'll never have it again). Regardless, if you have the means and the opportunity, you should absolutely go!! read more

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honestly... a little disappointing from one of the heavy hitters in the michelin world. Obviously very expensive, but a lot of the whimsicality feels rote now, that after 20 years they're just doing the fun stuff just to do it. I also felt that there wasn't really a lot of thematic cohesion in the dishes. For example, one of the dishes was Argentinian, then the next would be Asian inspired. It was all very fun and cool, and of course service was amazing and the interior was beautiful. I finally also did a wine pairing, and now I realize what I had been missing all the times when I've gone to these places. It's still really good, and we got to do a mini kitchen tour with a paella dish! Just felt like it wasn't on the same level as some of the other 2/3 Michelin star places I've been! read more

Alinea has been on my bucket list for over 10 years, so I was thrilled to finally secure a reservation during our trip to Chicago. Here's a quick rundown of the experience. Booking: The reservation was made through Tock, where you're required to prepay for the meal, including tax, tip, and the optional wine pairing. Once you're there, you can choose whether to go with the pairing or opt for wine by the glass or bottle. Parking: We lucked out with street parking, but there's a 2-hour limit, which may not work for everyone. It worked for us since our reservation was at 8:45 p.m., and there were no restrictions after 10 p.m. Valet is also available for $15. Service: The staff was precise, intentional, polite, and even a bit playful, making the experience even more enjoyable. As for the food, each dish was cleverly crafted and beautifully presented. Here are some of the highlights: - OSETRA: Smoked Salmon, Horseradish, Lemon - a fantastic start with caviar. - EXPLOSION: Black Truffle, Romaine, Parmesan - reminiscent of a soup dumpling. - HOT POTATO COLD POTATO: Black Truffle, Parmesan - a fun presentation where you pull the pin to combine the hot and cold elements, then eat it in one bite. - HONEY MANGO: Mango, Holland Pork Belly, Spiny Lobster Uni, Macadamia - a two-part dish with a crunchy spiral crisp and uni ice cream. - TOMATO: Australian Black Truffle, Hazelnut, Burrata - the tomato is cured for 6 hours in some sort of fat, a real treat. - BLANCMANGE: Poulet, Almond, Fernet, Fiori di Sicilia - chicken prepared in different ways with a palate cleanser. - LAMB: Niçoise Olive, Blood Orange, Eucalyptus - my least favorite, as I'm not a fan of lamb. - PAINT: Earl Grey, Lavender, Tarragon - a creative and flavorful dessert. - BALLOON: Helium, Green Apple, Taffy - a whimsical and memorable end to the meal. Every dish was thoughtful and executed to perfection, but my personal favorites were the desserts, particularly *Paint* and *Balloon*. What a magical way to end the evening! read more

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I don't want to say too much about our dinner because I think that the less you know going in the more spectacular the experience. We celebrated my husband's 40th birthday at the 5pm seating in the gallery. Alinea is a restaurant he has always wanted to go to and boy did it ever deliver. Ambiance, service, presentation and food were all legitimately astounding. We were physically walking out of the building around 8:15, so the whole meal was approximately 3 hours. This was truly such a special experience! P.S. spoilers in my photos so view at your own risk. read more

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This was my second time visiting Alinea. This time I dined solo so only The Salon Experience was available to me. Every dish is a standalone work of art. My last time through, I had The Gallery Experience with a friend and there was a theme that tied together the dishes along with a word puzzle to solve. I don't know if all the Gallery Experiences are like that but that was a far superior experience than my solo Salon Experience this time, so I'm thinking Gallery/Chef's Table or bust next time. read more

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Came to Chicago for a conference and was lucky to get a reservation at Alinea for the Salon experience on October 22nd. The tasting menu was around 13 courses and the 3 Michelin star restaurant was amazing from start to finish. My favorite courses the pork belly with lobster, Wagyu beef, and the hot and cold potato with truffle and of course the paint which was earl grey and lavender ice cream art work dessert! The execution, quality, presentation and the deliciousness were on a world class level. The service was impeccable and we truly enjoyed the entire dining experience. I would like to come back and try the Gallery experience which I heard is a multi sensory experimental dining experience. I highly recommend Alinea! read more

Alinea - Paint Dessert Earl Grey, lavender tarragon - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If Tommy Wiseau launched a restaurant, it would approximate Alinea: 2 Stars for the comedy, 0 Stars for the food quality. A once in a lifetime meal - but like The Room, due to it being almost perfectly horrendous. If this is just the owner and chefs stacking cash until their next venture, play on playas. If you still care about food, read on. Firstly, nobody working here is tasting the food. I've never had so many malcontent flavors (read: bad tasting food) in my life, in one meal. Virtually every dish was room temp with many dishes just tasting bad. I repeat: nobody is tasting this stuff. With a below avg diner or a tourist cash grab you simply take your culinary beating and move on. Alinea, at least on this night, was so brazenly below average by *any* standard of cooking you stand in wonder. An adult, or someone of any age who cares about food or hospitality, needs to step back in ASAP. *special shout out to the space ice cream meets substandard grocery store pound cake for dessert - it was so brazen it was genuinely funny **remarkably overpriced wine pairing with wildly young wines on avg - can't blame the servers, but whoever runs this is simply taking the piss ***posting this to a) caution anyone who is considering spending a special occasion here or splurging $$$ and b) in event anyone who works there sees this and gives af, SOS read more

No yelp review could do Alinea justice. This world famous 3-star Michelin was everything we dreamed of and more. My partner and I started the night earlier at the Aviary (cocktail lounge owned by the Alinea group) and were able to get a special treat during the dessert course because of it! Without spoiling too much, the hot/cold potato dish and legendary painted on table dessert were hands down some of the finest dishes I've had. The playful banter and element of curiosity/confusion that the staff have may come off as too casual for some, but for me it was a delight. If you're lucky enough to grab a reservation here, prepare for a TREAT. The wine pairing was delightful and every dish sparked joy in its own way. I will say, this is definitely far more casual in spirit than other 3-stars we've gone to. No better word to describe it than playful, Alinea truly makes the dinner fun in its own way. Camp out reservations and do what you can to come. Alinea was perfection. read more

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Not worth $1500 for two people. This is Michelin 3 star dining at its worst. All the dishes were overly salty, flavors were too heavy, and the ingredients were chaotic, with no harmony or balance in the pairings. The only decent dish was the white truffle bread, which required an additional $195 per person (excluding tax and tip). It didn't even have a strong truffle aroma, but everything else was so disappointing that this dish stood out in comparison. Still, it was definitely overpriced. The appetizers failed to whet the appetite, as one salty dish followed another. The only thing enjoyable was the first caviar dish. What really ruined the experience was the main course featuring Wagyu beef. Growing up in Japan, I can't understand how someone could serve Wagyu cooked to well-done. It was likely not a premium cut, which is why they cook it well done. They paired the Wagyu with Okinawa ingredients, claiming they were a highlight, but the result was a disaster. Each Okinawan ingredient, on its own, is delicious, but when combined here, the flavors became inedible. The final main course, featuring squash, was the worst of all. The sauce on top was disastrous. Who thought pairing black truffle with vinegar was a good idea? It was truly the most unappetizing dish of the night. The desserts looked beautiful but tasted average. The service was subpar. At most Michelin 3 star restaurants, they realize by the second course that I'm left handed. Here, it wasn't noticed until the 7th course. Perhaps service standards in the U.S. don't emphasize these details. Save your money and your special occasions for somewhere else. read more

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