Alinea - (Near Chicago, IL)

3 /5 Tamara Taber: I don’t think I can tell you anymore than what other people have experienced. Yes, the food is unique, but there is nothing that I would ever want again. Nothing blew my mind that I’m gonna talk about it at parties or crave an item and have to go back. Very creative, very unique, I’m glad that I experienced it, but it was definitely not worth my time or my money. I found the waitstaff and atmosphere good. Everybody was professional and nice but when asked one server what the duck liver she was serving us was confit in, she said butter, but we weren’t sure because she wasn’t sure. She had to think about it and then simply said butter, but we’re wondering was that right? Either way, it was good but not fabulous.

5 /5 Regen Chan: This may be the most exciting meal I’ve ever eaten. It’s a place where spoilers should not be shared so I’ll withhold much of the experience, but Grant Achatz and his team delivers one of the most extraordinary dining experiences possibly anywhere on the planet. I was able to secure a seat at the Gallery after a last minute cancellation, and while I cannot speak to the experience at the Salon, I would highly encourage trying the Gallery if you are at all fortunate enough to be able to make the reservation. The whole night was an experience straight out of The Menu (except you get to go home at the end of the night). There’s a lot of talk saying Alinea’s not able to top the creativity that they used to be famed for, but if this is your first time and having had the experience before, I would argue it’s worth experiencing for yourself since it would still obviously be a fresh new experience for you. That said, if I ever have the chance, I would personally do this all over again.

5 /5 Javier Kohen: What a unique experience. I went knowing almost nothing and I loved how I was constantly surprised by the creativity of the team in how they present the food, combine the flavors and and create a roller coaster experience. Im adding pictures to my review for myself, but I strongly recommend to avoid spoilers before visiting.

5 /5 Scott R: My first return after visiting 10 years ago. While the presentation has changed, the quality of the experience has not. My companion and I agreed on two areas for improvement. First, the arrival experience is not optimal. With the Gallery experience, most people arrive a few minutes prior to the service time. There were 12 of us jammed into the foyer area. Also, the staff were friendly and professional but seemed stressed and a bit disorganized, creating a less relaxed atmosphere. Chef Achatz was notably in Japan on this date, so perhaps that was part of it. Our Fossil "toolkit" was missing some items- a rare missed detail. This was quickly corrected. The food has gotten even more inventive and the Gallery is an amazing culinary adventure. Alinea remains an unparalleled experience.

5 /5 Brooke Marsh: One word: Exceptional. Everything was amazing. The food was innovative and surprising. The staff were very well versed, knowledgeable, and very charismatic. The wine pairings were perfect.The atmosphere was relaxing. The only downside is that I cant give them more than 5 stars. I would highly recommend Alinea to anyone. It is worth every penny.