The food was very good and creative, full of surprises, and the service was very attentive and thoughtful, they introduce the ingredients of each meal, how to eat it to feel the best flavor，and let us know the details of each bottle of wine. Also finally the dessert part was amazing and beautiful, like a painting, and of course delicious! I had a very important and memorable dinner in my life here, my boyfriend proposed to me! ！He said he appreciated the staff's help. I'm glad he chose this place as a turning point in our lives. We were visiting Chicago and if we travel this city again in the future, we will definitely go back to this restaurant again to try different thing for different seasons, highly recommended!
What can I say. This place delivered and then some. Yes, the food was extremely tasty and well presented, but what makes Alinea so special is the experience. One of the meals was in the kitchen and when we went back to our table the ambience had changed. The table deco and music had changed. The servers were super attentive and friendly, and the dessert presentation was quite the spectacle. Eating here will cost a pretty penny for sure, but it's a great experience when in Chicago. Happy to return.
We were at Alinea was to celebrate my twin daughters’ birthday. We had the 14 course meal with wine paring. The wine was paired nicely with the food.
When we were making the reservation the requirements was that we have to come in pairs so we had to reserved for 4 people hoping that we could all make it. My husband couldn’t come so we had 4 portions food for 3 people.
The food was very well presented. Thoughtful in many details and taste great! Not all the dishes were to our liking but we enjoyed most of them. The service was excellent. Everyone was nice and friendly. We had such a good time. Although it was a lot of money for one meal, we say it is worth it!
Alinea was an experience like I’ve never had before and days later while writing this review I am still blown away. Our party ate in The Gallery (16 courses) and you will not leave hungry—coming from someone who eats a lot. I’ve noticed some complaints about the wine pours too and I would have to disagree. They were pretty generous pours for a tasting—keyword: it’s a *tasting*. At the end of the meal it was probably around 5 glasses of wine if you add it all up.
Anyone considering Alinea knows the price point is high. I was hesitant about spending so much money but I can safely say that it is worth it. I would do it again for a very special occasion simply because the experience was so special. I think the shorter course meal will have you leaving hungry so I can see why some were not happy with the wine pours and the portions. If you can afford it I would recommend The Gallery.
Service: Nobody in our party knew what to expect. With it being fine dining and 3 Michelin stars we expected very formal service and it was very much the opposite. Everyone from the hostess to the people in the kitchen were warm and friendly and are clearly very good at what they do. They anticipate your needs and do everything in such a genuine way. Many of them would hold conversations with our party past the usual pleasantries which made the experience even better.
Food: I’m surprised to read some reviewers found the food bland. It was anything but that. There were flavors and textures that were confusing in a good way. Some dishes were familiar with a new twist and others were brand new to me, but what makes them stand out is the execution which was flawless for every course. Nothing was too rich or overpowering. Some dishes had me laughing in disbelief by how good it was.
Atmosphere: As I mentioned, the service here is as good as it gets. They really make you feel comfortable throughout your time in the restaurant. The decor and dining room was nice. Nothing gaudy or over-the-top. Alinea adjusts the atmosphere throughout the meal with change in lighting, aromas, sounds, etc. Again tapping into all of your senses during the experience.
Everyone in our party agreed that at times it was difficult to hear the servers while they were introducing the dish and explaining how to eat it. I just think it was a lack of projecting their voice but it didn’t take away from the experience at all.
Warawood Mirattanaprai
+5
This was my first Michelin Three star restaurant and it was an extraordinary night! I felt so special since I stepped in. The food was very creative, beautiful and flavorful. I’ve been to Michelin star restaurant before and I could tell how different between one star and three stars. The flavor not totally like “this is it!” But art, creativity and story they’re telling. I wouldn’t say the price is reasonable but worth it for once in the life time!
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My boyfriend took me to Alinea on my birthday. There was no more reservations for the gallery on that date, so we picked the salon. Alinea has been my #1 on my food bucketlist for over 10 years, so this was such a special gift that I’ll cherish. Of course the food was amazing and the atmosphere was beautiful, but the service and presentation is what truly makes Alinea worthwhile. It is top notch service.
The waiter presented every dish so elegantly and the story behind them was intriguing. The presentation may be over the top at times, but it keeps you fully engaged and when you taste the food, you understand what makes Alinea, Alinea. The entire staff were all very nice. From the host, waiter, sommelier, and food runners - no one was snotty or pretentious. They were all very friendly and easy to converse with - complimenting on our outfits and other topics unrelated to the food. It was such a pleasant surprise and not what we expected from a place like this. They made us feel very comfortable and special on my birthday. I’d definitely come again for the gallery next time.
A dream come true. Rosabelle was our fantastic server. The food and the wine pairing was perfectly balanced. Left feeling satisfied and just thrilled. Best dining experience of my life. If anyone has the chance to experience it.. please do. It's pricy but worth it.
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Alinea in Chicago is an absolute culinary masterpiece! From the moment I stepped in, I knew I was in for an extraordinary dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance and service were impeccable, setting the stage for what was to come.
The innovative and artistic presentation of each dish left me in awe. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the attention to detail in every course was evident. The way they incorporated unexpected ingredients into the dishes was mind-blowing and delightful.
The staff was knowledgeable and passionate, enhancing the overall experience with their explanations and stories behind each creation.
Alinea's tasting menu was an adventure for the senses, taking me on a gastronomic journey that I'll cherish forever. It's not just a meal; it's a work of art that captivates both the palate and the soul.
Though it may be a splurge, the unforgettable memories and the sheer pleasure of dining at Alinea make it worth every penny. If you're a food enthusiast seeking an extraordinary culinary experience, Alinea is a must-visit destination that deserves nothing less than 5 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Alinea had been on my to-visit along with French Laundry.
The food was amazing, the
experience was a full sensory engagement - smell, sight, and taste.
The dessert was treat and brought back memories of my childhood finger painting.
The overall atmosphere and storytelling for the evening was absolutely magical and very well constructed. There was a beautiful jungle/flower display with glass accoutrements in the beginning, adjusting to an open plan more intimate setting with each course alteration. I have never been so interested and happy in that type of environment.
BIG however: the food for the price point was honestly severely lacking, everything relatively decent but I honestly thought most of it was relatively commonplace flavors except for a few unique dishes. I honestly think they could step their flavors up.
The candy balloon was cute and tasty, but a meteor rock version of a banana split? Cool but it wasn’t the best flavor. This place is much more about atmosphere than the food.
By far the most memorable dining experience, so many unique foodstuffs that left a great impression (not all were good, but all were memorable), the interactivity is amazing, attention to detail, definitely deserves three Michelin stars
Luis Rey Huerta-Tellez
+5
Visited back in May 29th for our anniversary. Still have this dinner on my mind and wanted to leave a review. I love the presentation of the food. A very unique tasting experience. the atmosphere was relaxing. It made me extremely happy to see they returned the Balloon. I would definitely go again.
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Congrats for winning 4th of 50 Powerful People in US Fine Dining Grant!
I've been wanting to come here for the longest time. Alinea is one of the best restaurants in the world & at one point one of the only 3 Michelin star restaurants in Chicago
PART 1
I never thought I would splurge on this.. but it was SO WORTH IT . Such a crazy experience going from room to room, and feeling like I was in Alice in Wonderland 👸
The kitchen experience was amazing, must do the gallery!
PART 2
After the kitchen we were greeted by a complete change in the room & caviar
There were no more long tables, flowers, & floor to ceiling decor
Just 5-6 tables with 2-4 people each
We started having our main dishes, mind you, before that we only had 2 of our 17 course meal 😂
BIGGEST highlights:
🕊️ Squab . The sauce was like a balsamic
🐮 Wagyu Short Rib
🍄 Truffle Explosion (you can get this signature in @aviarycocktails at The Office. Another one of my faves)
🦪Caviar mousse with maple & tapioca
🐟 black sea bass (crispy skin + smoked on cedar)
🐚Uni rice
I was SO full that the manager asked if the food was okay 😂 since I couldn't finish all of the Wagyu 😭
Part 3: PAINT Flavors of banana split
First they ran down the stairs in a straight line, holding those canvases.. Can you IMAGINE tripping down those stairs?!
Then there was SO MUCH happening... 💥🤯
There were smoke machines, lines of people, bananas, canvases, swift movements, & more things flying in the air 🌬️
When the guy brought a bowl of nitrogen out, it finally made sense... 🍧We actually saw a huge bowl of nitrogen in the kitchen when we walked in, as they were prepping the dessert
And yes the dessert was very very good, especially the frozen banana and the raspberry yogurt
So full though.. seriously, I was still before the Wagyu Steak
Fun fact: they pair this song with the experience, as it mentions Banana haha 🍌 (see video)
PART 4: BALLOON
This was my favorite part of the meal at 3 Michelin Star Alinea in Chicago. It was at one point, worlds best restaurant!
This final dessert is a green apple laffy taffy balloon filled with helium 🎈
When they hand it to you, in a twisted laffy taffy "string", they tell you to kiss 💋 & *sip* 😱 it.
Kiss it so your lips make a small hole in the balloon
Sip it to get the helium
It was SO FUNNY . And I definitely NAILED IT by getting it all in my hair 😂
you can hear the faint "oh my God!' in the video . That girl really made our experience, can't believe the whole restaurant laughed
Outstanding! This is certainly a one of a kind dining experience with a diverse menu of innovative dishes and highly engaging kitchen/wait staff. There is no shortage of imagination along with an abundance care waiting for you when you visit Alinea.
What an amazing experience we had Saturday night. The staff, the food, the presentation. The sommelier was so friendly and nice. There were so many highlights of the night… but I think meeting Chef Grant was the icing on the cake!! I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys fine dining.
I’ve wanted to go for years but always told myself I needed a special occasion to justify it. You don’t! The meal is the occasion. Every course was a work of art unlike anything I have ever eaten. I cannot recommend Alinea enough. Everyone needs to experience this.
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