I’ve just started to scratch the surface of fine dining and to me Alinea brought something to the table, literally and figuratively, that no one else has; an experience. So let’s get the obvious things out of the way. The food is delicious and the service was superb. If I’m being honest the flavors aren’t the best I’ve ever had for fine dining, but it would still be in the conversation. Now for the experience. The dishes are very creative with with their flavors and presentation. Having hidden dishes within other dishes, preparing the meal in front of you, having food look like something obvious and then taste entirely different are just a few examples of the fun/ tricky that goes on. All of this adds up throughout the dinner and left me with a very positive impression. In the future I would come back here, but I think I would do the Gallery or Kitchen Table meal instead. The Salon was great, but I feel like it might be worth it more to go up a notch.

It was definitely an experience but is it worth the hype? You will decide. I loved the plates better than what is on them. Steak and the onion right was the most surprising dish because I was not expecting something so ordinary.

Awesome experience. Everything was so creative and so tasty. Would come back again the next time we come to town.

If you are looking for best services and presentations if foods, Alinea is the one you should go. No complaints at all, fully satisfaction about their services, creations and presentations. When it comes to tastes, to me its too much of the seasonings. I believed the chefs have put a lot of time and efforts on every dishes served, but some of the combination of seasonings are over utilized. The chefs seems like want to create a new special taste of food, so mixed of taste on the dish was prepared. The very last dessert served, is so disappointed, nothing special, just some nitrogen chocolate ice cream with some blue berries, blue berry marshmallows and some cream or syrups, they called the presentation, the paint. The missing star didnt give, is the tastes of the foods, dont really accept it. Overall its still a great experience to have.

This place was very good as expected. It’s a 3 star Michelin place for a reason. I’ve had another 3 star French place named Le Bernardin in NY and thought the Alinea experience was significantly less noteworthy vs that but it was still great nonetheless! The food was pretty good with great flavors and the dessert was very unique. Highly recommend to anyone trying to dip into exquisite cuisine just don’t expect each course to come out with a full show like Chef’s Table might imply

Alinea is Alinea. The unique experience is inventible. The paint desert dish is the all time high in the evening. Beautiful, once in a life experience. You can miss the other place, but you must dine at Alinea.

Awesome experience. It’s definitely a treat!Food, service, atmosphere was all fantastic.It’s a culinary journey to be taken and remembered!

This place was amazing! The waiters were so sweet and helpful. The menu was creative and amazing. We had 10 courses of savory and sweet. Yes, the courses consists of smalls bites, but you get a taste of many different things, and you get pretty full towards the end. Im hoping to go back next year!

Book one month in advance on the 15th of every month to snag your reservation! Great experience with the very professional staff who asked us about dietary restrictions ahead of time and explained every course to us throughout the night. The reopening menu tasted great, and our table felt full after course 6. Would recommend!

The reopening menu is a little disappointing. It still involves a lot of interactive elements and non-food experience like light, music, and some performing art. But the dishes are just not as novel as they were.

Definitely an experience - the courses were so meticulously prepared. Super hard to get a reservation for but service here was top notch.

The Christmas dinner package was fantastic. I still dream about that Roasted Chestnut soup served with Truffles. I really enjoyed decorating the Yule Log Cake. Will order this again for several holidays going forward. Alinea hit it out the park as always!

Outstanding “At Home” option, did the smoked ribeye, seasonal veg trio, and dessert for 2. Perfect instructions provided, fun methods of cooking and presentation easy enough for a novice and great way to learn. Courses were amazing, trying to describe the flavors and textures just wouldn’t do it justice.

Underwhelmed.I couldn’t comprehend most of the dishes. The flavors were too intense. I wouldn’t order a single dish again if I could. The presentation was amazing and the service was perfect. Definitely check it out. It was a unique experience.

We ordered two of their take-home meal kits. Pick up was super easy at Chalet in Wilmette. Really clean and well organized. And the food was gorgeous honestly. Very well-presented, tasty, and unique. See pics for menu details. My husband and I will definitely do this again for a special dinner out (at home with kids watching a movie downstairs)...

Im going to be absolutely honest. Id been to a lot of high-end restaurants all around the world. Because of their excellent service, I feel this restaurant has the quality and standards to acquire a star. Employees are kind and accommodating. The dinner is delicious! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.

Ill probably have a more detailed and insightful review later, but right now Im in a post-dinner haze.For many years I had dreamed of eating at Alinea, and tonight it came true. My expectations were so high, but it was so much better than I imagined. The tastes, the visuals, the sounds, the smells- were just beyond. But the staff really made tonight incredible.The staff is made up of passionate, thoughtful professional artists. While it is undoubtedly work, the passion and finesse they bring, alongside a professional yet fun (definitely not stuffy) attitude is incredible.Most people consider whether or not a restaurant was worth their money. I feel sincerely grateful that I was able to experience such artistry in my lifetime.I cant possibly pick a favourite course, but my favorite moment was the presentation of the dessert course, which felt like an intimate, collective rock concert.Thank you Alinea.

An absolutely incredible experience. Every bite of food was perfectly created and presented and it all tasted phenomenal. We did the wine pairing as well which we really enjoyed, even the surprise switch up to sake! The staff were all incredibly friendly and kind, but a special shout out to Miguel who guided us through our meal, answering all of our questions, throwing in a joke here and there, and making sure we were enjoying ourselves every second of the evening.

Part fine dining, part performance art. It was a moveable feast--we moved from the dining room to the kitchen and then...well, no spoilers. The courses were generally very good but some of them are too heavy on the salt. Dessert, on the other hand, was perfect. They were colorful, festive and delicious. You have to try a helium filled candied balloon at least once in your life! I didnt give the experience, as wonderful as it was, 5 stars because it was simply too expensive. There are similar quality or higher restaurants for less money. I could also sail on a week long cruise for the amount of money that was plunked down for this one meal. So, whether this is a worthwhile experience for you comes down to personal taste.

Such an amazing experience without being pretentious.

This is the 4th time I’ve dined at Alinea. The first time back in may of 2009 blew my mind so much so I applied and ended up moving from florida to Chicago to work there. The second time was in Oct 2009, Third When Alinea did their pop up in Miami considering it is only an hour or so away from my house I decided to go and was pleasantly surprised and excited by the new menu and seeing some of the signature dishes again.Then on my most recent visit Thursday April 22 2021 for their reopening menu I was disappointed by the lack of surprise and menu flow and portions. Please don’t misunderstand still delicious, however dining at Ever the night before, and Boka the following night and SMYTH on Saturday that same week. I was surprised at how much more I enjoyed the experience at Ever and SMYTH. Compared to a restaurant that 12 years ago drove me to move across the country and leave my family and home state. Maybe after the remodel, the reopening after COVID-19 and the running of the other restaurants and bar, plus the different Executive chef and influence of him changed the direction and execution of the meal. I felt from the moment you walked in to the moment you left everything was muted compared to previous experiences. The entrance from an artistic visual depth perception mind game, to a hostess stand. The room used to have subtle lighting and vases above the banquets to now lights shining down somewhat uncomfortably according to my wife. The menu was high quality ingredients but this time was the first time nothing surprised me completely blowing me away. The first time I was there the opening course was Caviar with traditional garnishes texture less. And the toasted brioche foam, (tasted like buttery brioche air) and all the flavors of egg yolk, red onion, lemon, dill, cream fraiche. Blew my mind and expectations. This menu a scallop course with olives and blood orange vinaigrette, it was presented in beautifully blown glass scallop shell, and was interesting how you didn’t know exactly what was underneath this golden covering. But was tasty not mind blowing. The Arctic Char dish would have been surprising that the bottom of the glass pedestal had a lemongrass gelée with the roe underneath, but this being posted all over Instagram ruined the surprise. The 14 day fermented cabbage with truffle and cheese sauce sliced on the prosciutto slicer was delicious but, just table side slicing wasn’t to exciting seemed a little overkill for the end result. The one dish that really stood out both in flavor and texture was the cauliflower with curds and black curry sauce. This was the most complex flavored and textured dish of the evening that I keep thinking back on. To go back in the future to the first two menus I had there was 25-28 courses and yes there was a shellfish dish on the first menu with honeydew and mace. Which I didn’t like ( but I am not a huge melon fan nor shellfish fan!) But to expect so many courses to all be winners is ridiculous. Everyone has different likes and dislikes as well as palates. Also Toby who I worked with who also had the same menu I had the Shellfish and melon course was his favorite. So that being said this time there was a Hawaiian block of courses with venison poke, venison with Haupia, and black garlic crepe covered venison chop with pineapple, and coconut burrata with “lava rock” sponge cake and tropical fruits. And honestly both my wife and I were not into any of the flavors on these courses. Which kind of surprised me because I’m in love with game meats! At the beginning they bring out and light on fire a centerpiece with a little le creuset pot that barely warmed the coconut burrata which was a little anticlimactic! I’m hoping that the focus on elements of surprise and flavor come back to the forefront, and the portion size become smaller and more enticing with each bite and courses! I don’t discourage anyone from experiencing Alinea, however I hope some of the magic comes back that blew my mind all those years ago!

I have always wanted to try Alinea, and thought the takeout menu would be a good introduction until indoor dining is more of a thing.The menu had two options, scallops (clearly stated needed to be seared at home) and a pan roasted chicken dinner (no indication of needing to cook at home). I ordered the chicken because I didnt feel like cooking.We received what was essentially a meal kit for 2 chicken dinners. This was disappointing because the menu didnt state that the chicken was only half cooked dark meat (and not a half chicken, as stated), in which case I would have chosen another restaurant entirely.The instructions were not sufficient for the chicken. It said you had to wait until the oil was lightly smoking to put the chicken in (to sear), and despite the oil being on high in the pan for 20 minutes, it didnt smoke. So I just put the chicken in anyway. The instructions say to cook on 5 minutes on one side and 4 on the other... this was not enough and I served chicken that was still underdone inside. It needed about 3 more minutes on each side.The chicken also calls to be basted with about a stick of butter combined (for our two chicken dinners) which is excessive and made the chicken skin soggy. It is also served with a creamy mustard sauce (you need to reheat on the stove) and scalloped potatoes (reheat in the oven). The potatoes were like a very chunky, heavy, cheesey potato soup. There was also a turtle cheesecake.I really dont understand the thought process behind pairing the above things together as a meal. It was just dairy-based to the point of being unbalanced and sickeningly rich. Both of us got horrible cramps all night afterwards and neither of us are lactose intolerant. A pickle or a salad or some vegetables would have been instinctive to add (we did order a side of the bacon vinaigrette salad in addition but it couldnt compete with the rest of the meal.)Last words, Ive had far better meals from a Hello Fresh box. Very disappointing experience. 3 stars because I dont give less than 3 in a pandemic.

Each single detail is so different and specialI liked that place so muchthank you for your great efforts

Alinea, for many foodies like myself, is the Everest for restaurant experiences. I cannot help but feel cheated by my last experience. We did the Kitchen table experience, which allows you to be seated in a glass enclosure with an unobstructed view of the kitchen. We waited four months to get a reservation and paid just under $3200 for the 6 person sensory experience.Upon arriving, the building is very unassuming and you would definitely miss it if you are not looking for it.There were a few nuances right at the beginning that annoyed me. First, the Valet person did not take credit cards. I thought this was ridiculous in todays day and age to have cash only transactions. We had to hunt for an ATM, which luckily was across the street in another building. Once we finally valeted our car, we entered the restaurant. As a side note, for first timers, Alinea has no official signage on the building. There was only a small street sign for valet stating valet for Alinea.Upon entering, we see 3 people sitting on a small couch right by the host stand area. Alinea had no official lobby or waiting area for patrons for how much this dinner costs. There really is no excuse for this.We were 10 min early and told our table was still being set up and if we wanted to wait outside we could. Luckily, it was a nice night out. About 10 to 15 minutes pass and the door is opened, telling us that our table is ready.I do not like the remodel that they did on the restaurant. It has a very 80s vibe to it. We were escorted to a glass-enclosed room right by the kitchen. The kitchen is smaller than one would think. If you have watched the documentary, it appears they have a massive kitchen.Our host for the night was Bradley. He started off somewhat cold, but began to warm up to us throughout the night. He did a very good job at presenting and explaining to us if we had any questions.The first presentation was the staff pouring liquid into a large pink chiffon on the table, billowing smoke and enveloping the room. It smelled just like floral bubble gum. You almost got a feeling as if you were not at a dinner, but rather a theater show, such as Cirque du Soleil. Loud classical music enveloped the room and we waited for our first dish. Complimentary drinks, by the way, are sparkling apple cider and water. Anything else is available to be ordered with an extra charge.The first course was peas that were blended and puréed, which melted in your mouth like a dippin dot. White Parmesan cream was poured over the dish with edible flowers. This was was my least favorite dish of the night. It was extremely salty and lacked any type of unique flavor.We were then told to follow our host into the kitchen where a margarita was prepared for us out of bell pepper shavings. They were puréed in ice so the shavings went into a glass. This was awesome. I couldve had a few of these drinks.We then more escorted back to our table where the pink chiffon had been taken away and we prepared for our next bite/dish. We had multiple bites throughout the night in what they consider as dishes. Do not be fooled by this when they say there is a 16 to 23 course menu.

As expected, everything was perfectly unexpected. It’s a shame this meal can only get 5 stars… but let’s be honest, you only review this restaurant to flex on your friends.

Decided to surprise my significant other with Alinea (takeout) on Valentine’s Day. We got their 5 course Valentine’s Day special menu. I had read some reviews about their takeout menu involving a thorough and long cooking process but we were up for the challenge. So we put on our aprons and went to work. The first course, osetra caviar, was the simplest one to put together and didn’t involve any cooking. The passion fruit, champagne and caviar form such a complex taste and this was the perfect setting for what was to come next. The second course, smoked squash soup with crab salad, was hearty and warm. We had to heat up the squash base in a pot but other than that, this dish also required minimal effort. The third course, the cured and seared diver scallops, was our favorite and quite involved. We had to pan sear the scallops, bake the onion rings and warm up the black truffle coulis in a pot. We somehow managed to not overcook the scallops and in the end, enjoyed this delicious dish. The fourth course, the ribeye of American beef, was our least favorite and required a lot of effort to put together. The wild mushroom tart that came with it had a dry crumbly texture. The instructions for cooking the meat were not the best. We followed them meticulously but still ended up with a very rare piece of meat, which almost appeared uncooked. We then decided to deviate from the instructions a little bit and cooked the meat for longer. After a little longer on the cast iron, the meat was done to our liking. The final course was Alinea’s famous tabletop dessert. This was the most fun and exciting part of the meal. Alinea does provide a table cover for this course. They also encourage you to use some ice cream to complement the other ingredients in this course, which we ended up doing. The result was fantastic. When we were done playing artist, we could not believe what we had just put together on our table. The taste of the chocolate, lychee, roses and raspberry formed a perfect ending this 5 course menu. We would highly recommend getting Alinea takeout if you like cooking and are decent at following basic cooking instructions.

Had to think about this review as its really not my kind of place so my review may disappoint some....Visually interesting yes , worth the buildup or the price....definitely not for me. If you like sky high rediculous prices, theatrics and small dishes you certainly may think differently. This is a place for those who want to say they have been there and I am sure they posted to Facebook about it lol ...you know if your that type....I am not. For me I prefer larger servings down to earth atmosphere, I would have been much happier going to Gibsons for a great French Dip and some cocktails ;)

The most interesting food experience. The menu was a mystery map of sorts. Delicious. Curious. Posh.Amazing staffImpressive presentationLovely pace

The Heart and Soul show in your food and pairing! I Love your very lovely restaurant and space and most importantly your food and presentations! Hi from Dr J Sir-I trust u are well( WPCH- now 606 Health😉 ) your food rocks my world as always! Keep up the great work and Thankyou again! Wickerpark Chiro

I loved our experience here and will certainly return soon.

A memorable experience but not as great as I had hoped for. We were in the Salon - not the Gallery unfortunately - but nevertheless still a good time. A couple of the seafood courses tasted off/not at peak freshness and I’m not a fan of lamb so that skewed my dining experience some. Given the molecular gastronomy, it seemed more about the creative expression (and at time’s a tad gimmicky) than the actual food. To me the food should be paramount. Most courses seemed prepared well in advance (given their complexity) but that made them seem not as fresh. My prawn seemed slightly stale and fishy. The Arctic char, kohlrabi, curds and turf surf were the highlights for me. Service was a touch more casual compared to other Michelin 3 star restaurants I’ve been to but still quite good and knowledgeable. All in all, I’m still grateful I was fortunate enough to visit and to have had the experience as I’m a big fan of Achatz.

If there is anything positive to be gained from the pandemic (begrudgingly, there is), Alineas to go menu is one of them. Of course, it is not the same as eating in person, but the experience still felt special. We had the spring steak menu which required a bit of easy prep for eight people. The flavors had depth, but was the heating/plating was straight forward.

When food, art and pleasure are indistinguishable from each other, you are elevated to a dining experience thats beyond reality. Alinea deserves every single one of those 3 Michelin stars. Its an experience, a celebration of culinary excellence and creativity. 14 courses, each with a theme of their own spread across 3 hours replete with presentations and a trip to the kitchen.Theres different tiers of dining. $530 per person for the Chefs table including gratuity, taxes and service charge. Your meal includes cocktails but wine pairings are extra. You could go for the Regular, Reserved, or the Alinea experience (~$350). The wine server walks you through the story of the wine and explains the process at the vineyard which makes it special as they pour it in your glass.In case you are wondering just how fancy can it get, the cider you are served comes from Normandy, France and is made by combining juice from 40 different types of apples. Flavors in every dish were like nothing Ive ever tasted before. With every course, the aroma in the space and the music changes. All your senses come alive and indulge. An unforgettable dining experience !

I came here the first time in 2018 and it was incredible. Despite COVID and the changes that were necessary to make a reopening happen, this most recent visit is still the best meal Ive ever had. Everyone from the runners to the chefs on the line make up an amazing team that generate an unforgettable experience for their diners.

Chef Grant Achatzs Alinea is located in Chicago and year after year has been rated one of the best restaurants in the world. It is meals like this that have become a large inspiration for my blog. Whys that? Because, this meal was the perfect example where the best restaurant in the world is not the best restaurant for vegetarians. The food for vegetarians was tragic, every meal was substituted for a vegetarian diet, not curated. When one is paying over USD500 per person, it is utterly disappointment to get mediocre food. S even made us to go to a fast food to grab a post dinner snack after the dinner.The FoodDining at Alinea is like attending a theatre. The chef has made sure to add many gimmicks including usage of sound, smell, light to entertain us during the entire 2 hour experience.Give the heavy price tag I honestly dont think its worth it. Maybe for meat eaters its a try it once kinda place for vegetarians there are far more better options in Chicago.

Easily the most complex and perfectly prepared dinner Ive ever had. 9 courses, though several were in multiple sections to highlight different ingredients. If you have the opportunity to dine here, you wont regret it

All the way to the top, this is an outstanding restaurant.Starting with the entrance, it has a strong vibe, is trendy, well-decorated, and spacious.Weve been coming here for over a year and have never been disappointed.The food is excellent, and we nearly tried a variety of foods, all of which were perfectly cooked and freshly prepared.The service is satisfactory, prompt, and competent. Ill be back frequently!

Even better than last time we visited 4yrs ago.Same chef, same soul, same goal, same cold and dark room, same “not good looking” dishes.Alinea is the master of flavors. Every dish has tons of depths, but really make sense, everything holds and enhances each other.Also, do remember to add their most expensive (best) wine pairing, you won’t regret it!

An unforgettable dining experience like no other. Nothing is what it seems, expect to be amazed with every single dish that’s presented to you. From the moment you enter the gallery, the experience starts as a group and slowly unveils to be a unique per-party dinner time. Definitely worthy of your time and money, you’ll never forget what happens behind those doors.

For a takeout bento box it was pretty good. Ingredients were fresh and had an acid sensation throughout the majority of the box. Wish they’d thrown in some cutlery/chopsticks but that’s really the only thing wrong with it. The curbside pickup system out the front is a bit hectic in Chicago traffic but they keep things moving quickly.

Picked up from Alinea during covid. Had an amazing meal. Beef Wellington. I thought it was a really small portion, but it left me stuffed. The Wellington itself was perfect. The red wine sauce and horseradish creme was perfect. Meat was great and the crust was perfect. Desert was on point too. Will definitely order again!

This is solely based on food. This would be my 23rd stop at a Three Star Michelin. My wife and I got back to our home to remain nauseous for the remainder of the night. Out of the Coursed meal, most were over salted or over sauced. This is extremely sad to me due to the Waiters and sommelier being quite knowledgeable. I have already canceled my second reservation with my brother. I would not recommend the Alinea “Re-opening menu”. With these types of restaurants they do change the menu from time to time. So I would recommend waiting for a new menu if you still remain interested in going.Meaning to over-salted: I adore salt, however with this type of meal I would like to taste the flavors. Not feel as if I bit into a brick of salt.Meaning for over sauced: Truffle oil is very potent. Should never be used to drown a dish rather complement it. As well as the use of liquid smoke. while delicious it needs to be used more sparingly.

Unique experience. Deserves its place in culinary world The visual aspects are the highlight of the experience but unfortunately on account of food. Emphasis is on molecular gastronomy. Creative and fun. It is more about the experience. Few dishes had the wow factorService was professional but too formal and seemed like industrialI expected more; for example there was no non-alcohol pairing.

Ill admit Im probably not the right customer for this type of place. The food was Ok but the servings were small and the prices were high. Its a little too fancy for me.

Dinner at Alinea’s is an event! If you love food and can afford it, DO IT!An amazing experience

I never thought I’d be able to eat at Alinea but their take out menu during covid has been phenomenal!! Thank you for sharing this experience with us - this was a great birthday treat and the food was amazing and affordable. Don’t miss the opportunity!

The most incredible and innovative meal I have ever had. We had expected a special meal but this was above and beyond anything we had ever experienced.

At this level of fine dining, I expected our night with Alinea to be flawless from start to finish. While the food and service during our meal was beyond spectacular, the valet service we experienced at the start and end of our night left us with mixed feelings about the overall dining experience at Alinea. Firstly, the valet attendant was not present when we arrived at the restaurant. When we went inside to check in, the greeter at the front desk told us to go back outside and wait for the valet attendant. To make things worse, it was raining and we waited outside for quite a while before someone from Alinea told us he would take care of the valet for us. In my opinion, this situation was poorly handled and made a strong lasting impression. I hope that Alinea can work with the valet company to provide better, more seamless service for guests in the future.

Part fine dining, part performance art. It was a moveable feast--we moved from the dining room to the kitchen and then...well, no spoilers. The courses were generally very good but some of them are too heavy on the salt. Dessert, on the other hand, was perfect. They were colorful, festive and delicious. You have to try a helium filled candied balloon at least once in your life! I didnt give the experience, as wonderful as it was, 5 stars because it was simply too expensive. There are similar quality or higher restaurants for less money. I could also sail on a week long cruise for the amount of money that was plunked down for this one meal. So, whether this is a worthwhile experience for you comes down to personal taste.

Alinea is one of the best restaurants in the world. The reason I gave it four stars is because the first time I went it was absolutely amazing. The second time was a miss. I heard they changed their head chef shortly after I had the “miss” experience (pictures below). 12/12/18.

Out-of-this-world experience! Expect to be surprised, entertained, elated .. this is cuisine at its creative, inventive best. Think of Alinea as a theatrical performance that also involves your palate. Well worth the price of admission.

A must dining experience. The food was delicious, well balanced, and aesthetically pleasing. Attention to detail was remarkable and service was impeccable. They noticed that my girlfriend was left handed and adjusted table settings for the rest of the meal.

Absolutely phenomenal! Engaging and witty servers who clearly loved their job and didnt take anything too seriously. The evening was theatrical, entertaining, and absolutely terrific. Sit back, eat everything, dont ask what it is (you wont remember anyway), and just enjoy. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I hope to enjoy again and again.

Comfort Food Osso Buco to-go was phenomenal! We are all trying to find the positive during these times and the stay at home order has actually given us a chance to experience a little bit of Alinea, when otherwise we probably would not. There staff were smiling and helpful, making pickup a breeze. The portions were huge, not at all what we expected and the flavors incredible. Heating instructions perfect and they even supply exact portioned water and butter for the reheating process. This meal actually made us feel human again. Thank you!

Shifting from the ultimate dine-in experience to take-out could not have been easy. However, they’ve done a great job with the switch. With each order, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the quality but more importantly, the quantity. We often have leftovers; particularly for the 15th anniversary meal, we got through 3 of the 6 courses and we’re both stuffed. The prices are affordable as well, so much that we’ve tried every offering. Sure, it isn’t the typical Alinea quality, that’s hard to mass produce, but it’s worth it, every single time.

A magnificent dining experience. The food, atmosphere, and overall sense of whimsy is truly something special. The price tag is undoubtedly high ($1300 for two people with the Gallery experience and Standard wine pairing), but once you’re immersed in the experience and see the incredible amount of care and artistry that goes into every single plate, the price begins to make sense. Highly recommend to any lovers of fine dining and inventive, experiential food. Thank you Chefs Grant Achatz and Simon Davies for a wonderful experience.

Great experience and beautiful presentation. The dessert and helium balloons were interesting. Service was good. After a month when I wrote this comment, nothing tasty that would attract me to return.

Good was great, service was on point and the decor was beautiful. The food is totally different than anything Ive ever experienced before. The preparation, presentation, and combinations were incredible. However, I was disappointed in the lack of a narrative. The flavors and themes for each course seemed disconnected. They had special meaning to the chef, but that messaging was missed. This is experiential eating, so having the meaning and thought process behind the menu feels important. I asked a few questions, but they didnt seem super welcome. For example, when we left, we were presented with sheet music for the William Tell overture, which inspired a dessert....tell me more. Why did we do an Asian course followed by a hunting inspired course.Overall, its beautiful, elegant and delicious. Definitely worth the experience.

Alinea is the best restaurant in my life. Its was great experiments go to this place. There are professionals of what they do.When you go to the restaurant, it feels like you are in another reality, where everything is only for you because you are special.The interior is very modern, each part of the restaurant is different but good combination of each other.Food ... Just something unbelievable. We had 12 dishes. All of them were a work of art not only for presentation but also for taste. This is a combination of something cosmic what I never had before.They really deserve their Michelin Stars!!!!!I thank you so much everyone who work in that restaurant you do the big job guys and Im really appreciate that I was part of this Magic.

Hands down one of the best meals of my life.Miguel and Branson made sure our entire party had the best time.

Ive never had so much fun having a meal. The food wasnt just delicious; it was also incredibly interesting. Each dish served was like a piece of contemporary art. Theyre designed not just to please the senses, but to engage with them too. You wonder WHAT youre looking at, but you also see that its beautiful. The head chef plated our dessert himself, which was really cool. My favorite dish was an apple flavored balloon - like it was legit floating. It was a lot of fun, biting into it, laughing at how ridiculous it was, and then hearing my helium laugh through it all. Alinea really is the experience of a lifetime.

Unique, boutique eatery. Refined with small artistic plates. Lots of surprises. Get the wine pairing... worth it!

July of 2016 we were fortunate enough to get a reservation here, thanks so much to Mitchells hard work at getting in at the best restaurants in Chicago. Words cannot express how marvelous this dinner was, so please look at my photos. Thank you Mitchell, it was wonderful.

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

We ate at Alinea on September 23, 2017. It is definitely an experience. The food was great. You are indeed paying for the experience and the artistry.The hospitality was not as warm as Grace, Central and other Michelin Star places we have been to, but that may be the vibe their cultivating. The server dropped hot water on my husbands pants and scurried away, not much was done to at least appear apologetic which was weird for such a nice place. Perhaps we got the B team, or it was a bad day.I am not sure we would want to keep going back like other places we have been to, but would still recommend the place for the experience with the food. I think it is worth doing it once.

Felt like I was having dinner at a funeral home. The food was completely overhyped. I would give this no Michelin stars.

One of the highlights of my trip to chicago. The food was great but the service was outstanding. The servers were quirky and funny and had a good sense of humor that made the whole experience fun and enjoyable. The timing was perfect and although there was no background music, it didnt feel too quiet. Food was pricey yes but it is such a memorable experience.

The food and service was incredible. We went as a team at work to celebrate. Definitely recommend for a very special occasion. The wine pairings were phenomenal.

We experienced AIR (Alinea In Residence) on their last day of operation (for now?) and it was really great. The ambiance (even if it was in a makeshift tent-like environment), the food, the service were all terrific.The only reason I’m choosing 4 stars over 5 is that to me, the experience felt a bit forced. It was a parade of wonderful dishes, several of which echoed Alinea’s famous past hits, including the wonderful dessert presentation titled “puzzle”. But it very much played out in a completely fixed way, at a rather high pace. We were even back outside again at the exact same time as the couple we came in with. No option to sit a bit longer and enjoy coffee or tea and some friandises. The European Michelin Star experience is typically a bit different. I feel like the Tock reservation experience plays into this a bit as well... it’s geared towards turning tables as efficiently as they possibly can. The food experience is fantastic; the “experience experience” a bit less so.Anyway, the menu was steller, the food phenomenal and the service absolutely great and I’d still recommend this for what it is.

Such an experience that will stay with me for life. This place has gotten it down to perfection and doesnt mind flaunting it. Truly is something nowhere else is in comparison. Kudos to their entire team.

Amazing experience and food. Something I have looked forward to for a long time and it didnt disappoint.

Last Tuesday night, we had dinner here, and the food was very good! Their presentation was very impressive and satisfying. We especially enjoyed the special menu they had that evening for us. We were served fruits that were very generous and perfectly ripe, too. Recommended strongly to everyone!

Simply not worth the money. We got a table in the Salon and the atmosphere was so stuffy and quiet, we werent even sure if we were allowed to talk. The staff seemed like robots following commands and described the dishes like theyve read the description 5,000 times. The food was OK but nothing close to the experience I was expecting for the price. The food was created and served in interesting ways, but the staff couldnt describe why the chefs did it, only how. The staff definitely judge you if you ask to order a glass of wine instead of adding the wine pairing. Will not recommend this place to anyone.

Artistic, creative, and an experience. The service was impeccable - the staff was professional, friendly and efficient. Every course was different from the others, and so many different methods of cooking were used. No element of each course was not considered - temperature, appearance, texture, flavor, and even the accompanying items on the table.

Best meal of my life and worth every penny. Chef Achatz himself prepared his signature dessert for me at my table in the Salon. I just can’t put into words how incredible this experience was. Lived up to every bit of their Michelin 3-stars. I’ll never forget this experience. Chose the basic wine pairings and was very impressed. I cannot wait to return.

Incredible, inventive, surprising, challenging; Alinea is all of these and more. If you visit any Michelin starred restaurant I suggest this one. Whatever the menu, I can guarantee itll be life changing.

A great experience. We dont usually fine dine in this fashion but it is well worth it. Every dish was a work of art that until you experience the meal hits all the senses. Smell from a special scent in the middle of the table, visual eye candy, great unknown textures, and obviously superb taste. I was worried about stepping away from the table hungry, but that was not the case. Will definitely revisit Alinea next time we are in Chicago.

Absolutely amazing from start to finish. Service, food, ambience - everything was top notch. Its a must visit.

Where can one even begin with an experience like Alinea?! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with friendly faces, seated right away. Upon the first room I was immediately amazed. The smells, the setup, the lights. This was a presentation, not just a dinner.We did the wine pairing & it was so impeccable. The wine connoisseurs were so full of knowledge & the wines were all perfectly accompanied with each course.The courses... wow. I was beyond impressed with each bite I took. There was an immense amount of flavors that you cannot ever expect, anticipate or even come close to preparing for. The food was incredible & was worth experiencing over again. I can’t describe the tastes and the explosive feelings my tastebuds felt all night long with every bite of every course. The plating and the dishes and the amazing surprises kept us on our toes.The service was above top-notch. The entire crew who took care of us, any chefs who came out, all of them, went above and beyond for us and made sure the experience was out of this world. I was so impressed with the way they coordinated placing food down and then taking lids off. Plus their knowledge. Holy cow. They knew every answer to everything I asked.Can’t wait to do this again!! Thanks to Chef Grant for the most amazing dining experience/ presentation and food ever.

Slightly disappointed. There were a few dishes that tasted too similar to each other. The interior dining area felt more like an outdated hotel lobby than a dining area. The interior of Ever restaurant is impressive and I assumed dinner at Alinea would give a similar experience. It didnt come close. The dishes at Next, in my opinion, surpass Alineas as well.

Amazing experience from start to finish! I came in with extremely high expectations and they were still exceeded by far. Bravo to the whole team at Alinea!

Wonderful, unique, electrifying experience!!! Engaged and satisfied all the senses. Hit all the flavors. Very special experience. Did the Kitchen Table - worth every penny.

This review is for the 2 separate carryouts I had this week. Everything is perfectly packed and I ate the election night carryout all week as there was so much great food. I cant say how great their staff is and how well they execute a hard task. Carryoit is never easy!

What can I say, an experience of a life time. So much more than just a meal. Everything from visual, to sound, to smell...all your senses are treated to an amazing experience.This was the gallery experience...worth every dollar.

Bucket list experience which we booked several months in advance in preparation for our trip to Chicago. No, its not a cheap meal but you are paying for an experience along with first class dining, ingredients and presentation. All of the staff were welcoming, friendly and there was non of the pretentious feel of so many higher end establishments. Food and wine pairing came to $1200 inclusive of all service charges and taxes. If you want a once in a lifetime experience, make this one for your list.

Best experience in any restaurant I have ever been! It is not your typical old fashioned restaurant. This will blow your mind. You will start appreciating culinary arts more after spending an evening here for dinner. For me, the balloon was the best. It literally changes your voice for few seconds. Presentations for all the courses were great. Recommend everyone to visit when u are ready to spend ~$300 per person for dinner. It is pricey because you dont go there to fill you stomach. You go there to get your mind blown.

Hands down the best dining experience Ive ever had.

The best dining experience Ive ever had! The food was excellent. The presentation and service was spectacular. Very much worth a trip to Chicago just for this experience.

Fun to be part of the prep and the food is glorious. Three times since the shutdown and each time was exceptional.

Alinea is an experience. If youre going there to expect a simple meal, stay home. Alinea is an amusement park where each service is a culinary rollercoaster. Each dish is an unexpected adventure. Every bite is delicious. This is the first three Michelin star restaurant where I was completely blown away by the originality of the dishes, the quality of the staff and the incredible fun that accompanies each service. If you can afford it, Alinea is definitely worth every second and every dollar for every bite.

A truly magical experience! I left so full and happy!

Dont go because you want to eat good food. Go if youre psyched about molecular gastronomy.

Amazing experience! This was a wonderful dinner, and it lived up to all expectations. The food was amazing and it is all presented in unique settings. I would definitely recommend to those looking for an experience and not just quantity of food.

The duck cassoulet to-go was great! Pickup took less than a minute even in the rain. The heating instructions were easy to follow. For those on a budget, my girlfriend and I were able to split one serving and be full at the end, especially after the fantastic dessert. Highly recommend for those looking to dine here without the $$$$ tag

This is far more than a restaurant... Its an entire experience! The flavors are uniquely paired, presentation is beautifully artistic and the wait staff is beyond accommodating. Menu is always changing so come ready for a surprise ❤️ well worth the price in our opinion and we hope to come back soon!

Service is incredible. We went for the experience and it was worth it to witness the creativity! Some dishes were fantastic and some were ok. I’m extremely happy and in aw with all the talented individuals to execute each dinner service every night. Bonus - I forgot my hat and they sent it to me! Thank you!

Alinea is a very special place, one of the most unique and amazing experiences you can have.

Its really difficult to write a review for a three michellen star restaurant. This is really meant to be a once in a life time experience and well worth the price if you are into food and experience. Alinea easily lived up to its reputation. Amazing and thoughtful service starts the second you set foot in the door and continues till you walk out. Service is well thought out every step of the way. The mood and environment created by the staff was relaxed and fun which I was not expecting.

Alinea is a fine dining experience that is fun! You have to visit Alinea at least once. They surprise you around every turn and the service is the best Ive ever experienced.

I mean what is there to say other than the most exceptional dining experience I’ve ever had! Food, service, ambience, everything was absolutely perfect!