Open List Home >> Chicago, IL >> Restaurants & Food >> Restaurants >> Alinea
Join us for lunch or dinner for Kobe-style beef, sushi and much more.
Call or stop by our restaurant today for fine wine and dining.
For great food and live music come by our family dining bar and grill.
3.0 of 5 stars.
good food nice price clean place loved the atmospher but not the service
yelp.com - user review - 05/13/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Service was amazing and gracious. Well, food... need I say more? My wife and I were giggling through the entire meal like little school girls. We even got the chef to sign our menu (f'ing...
yelp.com - user review - 05/10/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
242nd review. Here's my 2 cents. I was lucky enough to get to experience Alinea this week. This is a culinary experience. It is not for the faint of heart. Did the 12-course (ended up being about 14...
yelp.com - user review - 05/06/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
FOOD ORGASM!! The only thing I have to say, you just have to go to experience it!
yelp.com - user review - 05/06/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Well, this is a place to save for a night that you truly have time to take in the experience. I think that the numerous small plates you sample throughout the night are each a little bit like a piece...
yelp.com - user review - 05/04/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Best meal of my life, won't say more because there's plenty said.Regarding previous comment about the wine pairings -- yes, for the 12 course the pairings were mostly whites and only 1 red, but these...
yelp.com - user review - 05/02/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
A once in a lifetime experience. It's not often you can boast to the effects of tasting the creative culinary delights of a cutting edge James Beard 'Best Chef in the United States' award-winning chef...
yelp.com - user review - 04/28/2009
Full Review »
2.0 of 5 stars.
Thank goodness for the shot before dinner because it was needed. I almost asked for a second one after the first course. We read all of the reviews before going and were so excited for this dinner....
yelp.com - user review - 04/28/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
hi this is deepak.this products is exellent
yelp.com - user review - 04/27/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Wow -- I went here and had the 24 course meal. Holy crap is that a lot of food even though each course is a bite or two.Here's a piece of advice, don't down a bottle of champagne with your friend...
yelp.com - user review - 04/27/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Plenty of reviews here, so no need to elaborate, but here's my take:Awesome place for event dining, and something that's definitely worth doing once if you can swing it (heck, go once a year or once a...
yelp.com - user review - 04/26/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The wife and I went to Alinea several months ago, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A relative of the wife works there and so we decided we would try it out at some point.We were not disappointed....
yelp.com - user review - 04/21/2009
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
soooooo...overall this was a very different and fun experience. all in all, my husband and i decided that it ranks third on our fanciest of fancy dinner list. first is eleven madison park in NYC,...
yelp.com - user review - 04/18/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I went to Alinea to celebrate?? my 34th birthday with my mom in May 2008. Everything started out great and ended quite badly for me. So my birthday was kind of ruined. Want to know why? Please read...
yelp.com - user review - 04/16/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Unique dining experience mixing art with food: in the decor as well as the actual meal. Tiny bites but big flavors. 4.5 stars. Was holding out on this last Chicago one for my 500th review of my first...
yelp.com - user review - 04/15/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I give this place 5 stars for what kind of place it is, because it does what a lot of places are trying to be, but is the only one that succeeds. That being said... I can't imagine I'll ever be...
yelp.com - user review - 04/13/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I don't know what to add to the heaps of praise dumped on this establishment, but I do know that each of the three times I have experienced Grant's wizardry has been one of the peak dining experiences...
yelp.com - user review - 04/12/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place is worth the hype.I planned a trip to Chicago specifically to go to dinner here. Yes, that sounds crazy, but it was worth it.We did the 24 course menu with beverage pairings. Everything was...
yelp.com - user review - 04/08/2009
Full Review »
2.0 of 5 stars.
the food was nice and interesting to look at but other than that what the heck? Very expensive and I have been to 20 - 30 restaurants where the food was better. I like good food, very good food and...
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The best meal I've ever had.
yelp.com - user review - 04/06/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
My husband and I finally treated ourselves to Alinea last night and I really enjoyed the "experience." I was never much of a foodie, but lately I've realized that you're not really living a "life"...
yelp.com - user review - 04/05/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Carpeted.
yelp.com - user review - 04/05/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Hands down the best meal you can ever "experience" We came here right March 2009.Hot potato - cold potato, black truffle, butter - this is rather interesting dish. you pull a needle and let the...
yelp.com - user review - 04/03/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm a little embarrassed to admit I called Alinea to make a reservation the day after I booked my flight to Chicago. I couldn't resist the chance for the Alinea experience I have been hearing and...
yelp.com - user review - 04/02/2009
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Was with Tracy O. at Alinea. I had the full tour menu with wine pairings. The service was amazing - they strike the perfect balance between being attentive and trying to meet your every need and...
yelp.com - user review - 04/01/2009
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Ambiance: 4 stars - Nice. Modern. No music (that could be a plus or minus depending on your preference). My particular seat in the house faced a boring corner, but the glimpses I got of the...
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is my first experience on molecular gastronomy. I have to be honest and say that I had low expectations with this type of cuisine since, it's kinda 'freaky' and I thought it was just some...
yelp.com - user review - 03/27/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I don't remember much because it's been nearly 2 years but all I have to say is that it is GORGEOUS and so delicious. I had a bug in my salad, but I was given a new one immediately and the wait staff...
yelp.com - user review - 03/25/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
If you have the cash, book your reservation. Do it today. You will remember this meal for the rest of your life. Chicago is extremely blessed to have a talent like Achatz, and who knows how long it'll...
yelp.com - user review - 03/24/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I had been looking forward to my experience at Alinea for, well, as long as I had known it existed. It's is no secret that this place is just a tad expensive so this was probably a once in a lifetime...
yelp.com - user review - 03/23/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
So much has been written about Alinea. The restaurant is an extraordinary experience, yet I can't give it 5 stars. I waited a couple of weeks before writing because I wanted to be sure of my...
yelp.com - user review - 03/22/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Best restaurant in Chicago, hands down. This review is coming a year after I actually went with my girlfriend, and we still can't stop talking about it. Yes, it's pricey, but well worth the...
yelp.com - user review - 03/21/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Framing: My partner and I went to Alinea for our 10th Anniversary. This was a special occasion so we opted for a special restaurant. The final bill was around $700 including a 13 course tasting menu...
yelp.com - user review - 03/21/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
After my first dinner at Alinea, I wrote the following in my dining notes: "I just got back from the longest meal I think I've ever eaten."Alinea is another hot new Chicago restaurant offering...
yelp.com - user review - 03/19/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I want to say before I start (in bucking the 5-star trend) that Alinea was very very good. But to be perfectly honest, it could have been better, and this is why we have four stars. I want this to be...
yelp.com - user review - 03/18/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I admit, I'm a sick, twisted person who went out of my way to find fault with Alinea. Impossible. Yes, could have spent the money on a year's worth of groceries, but am perfectly content with the...
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Everything very good. I just wish they didn't serve Pine Icecream for the grand finale.
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Impecable service, great presentation. Do not look at this as just dinner, this is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. It's very expensive but that's a given. Wine...
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
If you have the money or like to save money for a meal you should go. It is really incredible. It only gets four stars because it's so expensive. It would get five if I could afford it more than once...
yelp.com - user review - 03/16/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Finally got here last night. Kinda crazy since I used to live 2 blocks away before my departure out west and since I used to eat about three times a month at Charlie Trotters which is just blocks...
yelp.com - user review - 03/15/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Obviously this is a good restaurant, and it is certainly worth visiting if you can spare $500 dollars. And so since the city only really has 2 of these mad scientists- and in a comparison of Alinea to...
yelp.com - user review - 03/15/2009
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
3 stars?!?!? Am I crazy??? Nope, there's a reason...I'll get to it.Overall, I had an amazing experience. It really is just that--an experience, an event. 4 hours with the most creative food I...
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
What else is there to say? Exquisite. Loved everything about it. Was going expecting an amazing "experience" but got ridiculously fantastic food to go along with it. Would go again in a heartbeat...
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We ate here a few months ago and it was by far the best dinner we've ever had. Though unbelievably expensive for one meal, it was worth it. Truly a destination worth visiting and experiencing. If you...
yelp.com - user review - 02/28/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow!The serviceThe ambianceThe originality of the foodIts worth every bit of the hype its received.
yelp.com - user review - 02/27/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
It is difficult even for me, a gifted verbal gymnast, to come up with the appropriate superlatives to describe my dining experience at Alinea. I have eaten at some of the world's most highly regarded...
yelp.com - user review - 02/27/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is definitely the next most memorable dining experience next to Joel Rubochon in Las Vegas, which is saying a lot actually because Joel Rubochon is the shit.Anyway, my boyfriend took me here...
yelp.com - user review - 02/26/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Definitely one of my top three fine dining experiences of all time. We did the 12 course meal with wine pairings...don't know that we really could have consumed much more than that. We had high...
yelp.com - user review - 02/26/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I really can't say anything more than what's been said already. I've never had a dining experience like Alinea's. For each dish, my palette traveled to another plane of existence. Get ready to put...
yelp.com - user review - 02/26/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Great restaurant. Many of the dishes I had were amazing and will never forget. I would have given the place 5 stars, but one of the dishes was disgusting and hardly edible, and sadly I will never...
yelp.com - user review - 02/25/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Expensive? Yes.But the meal of a lifetime? Exponentially yes.My boyfriend and I are, admittedly, food obsessed. Is 87% of our relationship based on our mutual love for food? Maybe. And so, with no...
yelp.com - user review - 02/25/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Date Visited: FebruaryPeople: Megan, Jim, WendyMy tab: ~$290Certainly a memorable meal, even by molecular gastronomy standards. Walking into this place is like entering a vault, after leading you down...
yelp.com - user review - 02/23/2009
Full Review »
This restaurant is absolutely the best place I have ever been to. The setting is contemporary, but at the same time it was very comfortable. The staff was extremely accommodating and unpretentious - in short I...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/15/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is, by some distance, the most memorable meal I've ever had. EVER. I came here in June 2008 with three friends (one of whom miraculously managed to wring us a reservation). The experience lasted...
yelp.com - user review - 02/02/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is deservedly highly-praised. They do shorter (around 12 - 14 courses / 2 - 3 hours) and longer (around 22 - 28 courses / 4 - 6 hours) tasting menus. For me, it was more about the experience...
yelp.com - user review - 02/01/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Went in 2007, and it was the best dining experience I've ever had. I can go on and on about the sensory experience will provide you or how amazing the food is but I think it's well covered. I do...
yelp.com - user review - 01/29/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is simply...Devine! In Oct '08, my girlfriend and I planned a trip to Chicago for a girls only foodie weekend. Alinea was definitely at the top of our list and quite honestly, the main reason...
yelp.com - user review - 01/29/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I mean, the best meal ever, hands down.Grant Achatz is a genius. Not only the most innovative food I've eaten, but its by far the best service you will get at a restaurant. Everyone who waits on you...
yelp.com - user review - 01/28/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
They managed to live up to the ridiculous hype surrounding the restaurant, so that' saying something. It was actually as good as I'd heard. Service was fantastic, and the food was completely on...
yelp.com - user review - 01/26/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is definitely a unique dinning experience, to say the least. Once you walk through the electric sliding door be prepared to empty out your pockets and loosen up your belt. Although the...
yelp.com - user review - 01/26/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow. I went here with a friend just to go. It was absolutely amazing.The "black truffle explosion" is the best thing I have ever had. It tasted exactly like it's name.We did the 12 course tasting...
yelp.com - user review - 01/25/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is the best eating experience I've ever had. Simply amazing.My GF surprised me with a dinner here on my birthday. From the moment we walked in, I felt like I was on sensory overload. Hard to...
yelp.com - user review - 01/22/2009
Full Review »
What can you say about one of the worlds top fine dinning places?? My Girlfriend and I went for my Birthday last year. We ordered the 12 course with wine parrings. It took around 4 hours. It is a very...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/19/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We are so lucky to have received a $300 gift certificate for Alinea for our wedding so we were able to come here but it was also an additional $400.00 out of pocket after tips. (12 course tasting ...
yelp.com - user review - 01/18/2009
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea gets so much hype that I think it is almost impossible to live up to. They definitely serve innovative and unique food here. Be prepared to end up paying over $200/person when all is said and...
yelp.com - user review - 01/17/2009
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Ok. Here we go.I went to Alinea last night for my birthday with my wife and two friends. Being the food crazed person I am, I have read much about this restaurant and have wanted to dine here since we...
yelp.com - user review - 01/15/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
First of all, the backstory.I have family in the Chicago area and I was visiting for the Christmas holiday, flying in on a Thursday night and leaving a couple of weeks later just after New Year's. My...
yelp.com - user review - 01/12/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
alinea will change your life.
yelp.com - user review - 01/03/2009
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Quite simply the best dining experience I've ever had -- from the inventive design of the entrance all the way to the final course of the meal. The food is on par with Tru, but the innovation in both...
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2008
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
I'll start by saying that the food here really is unimpeachable. Every dish was surprising and inventive and technically difficult and beautiful and, on top of all that, delicious. The lowest points...
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2008
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
Be prepared to spend a butt ton of money if you go here. I took my cousin here for her birthday and it was about $200/person. The food was definitely interesting. I cant say everything I ate tasted...
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My fiance and I had talked about going to Alinea before, but we kept changing our minds, wondering if it was really worth the price tag. We had some friends come in town from San Francisco and they...
yelp.com - user review - 12/26/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Cracked out.
yelp.com - user review - 12/19/2008
Full Review »
My boyfriend and I dined at Alinea on a Sunday evening after a weekend of anticipation. In short, it was an incredible experience and absolutely worth every penny. We had the tasting menu (12 courses) with...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/16/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Plus:Cool experience.Calm minimalist design, a little bare for me but nice all in allKiller, innovative dishes -- obviouslyLove how they prep the dishes the same even if one's red meat and one's...
yelp.com - user review - 12/11/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
When one of our waiters referred to the vanilla mascarpone roll as "crack cocaine", I knew I was in heaven.Ridiculous food, even better service.
yelp.com - user review - 12/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I have been to Alinea twice. The first time I did the 12 course tasting, with wine pairing. The second time I went to a special collaboration dinner with Grant & Keller. Both times, the food was in...
yelp.com - user review - 12/08/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Okay, it's good. But two months later what do I remember about my experience--what I didn't like. First, our waiter, the guy with the hair, was too fresh, too talk-y, too much about him. He did...
yelp.com - user review - 12/06/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
First things, first - It's stupefyingly expensive. Go on a company's dime (if you can) or save it for that really REALLY special occasion. That said, the experience (as vouched by practically all...
yelp.com - user review - 12/02/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm three years late on this review but I can't help but pile on the praise for this one of a kind restaurant, so here it goes. I maintain a fantasy to do list that helps me keep track of restaurants,...
yelp.com - user review - 12/02/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Okay I think this place has 175 reviews so taking the time out to write another is a little silly but for what it's worth ...We did the long menu with the wine pairing ...it's too much. I am a big...
yelp.com - user review - 11/20/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We finally came here for our second year anniversary. One of the most remarkable and inventive meals that I've ever had. We did the smaller tasting menu, 12 course with wine pairing. It took about...
yelp.com - user review - 11/08/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place is like no other. It's amazing. Best dinner ever, and that is a tough thing to say being bias to my hometown of San Francisco. My wife and I did the 12 course menu with wine paring,...
yelp.com - user review - 11/05/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I went here Saturday night for my wedding anniversary. We did the short menu... only like 12 courses (only!). The atmosphere was great.. We walked into a glowingly lit entrance hall, and then the...
yelp.com - user review - 11/03/2008
Full Review »
A friend and I went last week while in town. We arrived and we're seated promptly at 9:15pm. We went for the tasting with the wine pairing. The presentation of the food was interesting and flashy AT FIRST....
citysearch.com - user review - 11/01/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Amazing. I took my girlfriend here for our 3 year anniversary about a month ago.... The best! Now, obviously, this is a dining experience for a special occasion, eating here...
yelp.com - user review - 10/31/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
We got the 25-course menu, costing $225 and 4.5 hours.There were certainly some innovative, and I'm guessing difficult to make, components here. The faux grape, caramel bits, butter in a capsule, and...
yelp.com - user review - 10/28/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
On a whim, I made a food field trip to Chicago, and I knew that I had to see what the buzz was all about regarding this restaurant. With my reservation set for a month in advance, I eagerly...
yelp.com - user review - 10/28/2008
Full Review »
Its great food, in a great setting, with great service. I am not a foodie at...
urbanspoon.com - user review - 10/27/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I mean, come on, of course this is going to get a 5 star rating. This place is unbelievable. I can not fault the service, food, or atmosphere - only my own lack of adventure when it came to a couple...
yelp.com - user review - 10/27/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea = A Celebration of Food. It started with the simple question, "How long is the dining experience?" To celebrate a special anniversary and as my final meal before my Chicago Marathon, my partner...
yelp.com - user review - 10/24/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This was my post marathon meal . We actually came to Chicago just to eat here and then I found out the Marathon was being held that weekend...so I had to do it. We did the full tour, 24 courses that...
yelp.com - user review - 10/21/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I have been meaning for months to write a long review, but as time passes my memory only becomes less distinct. Alinea is a truly unique experience-- by which I mean both that is weird but also that...
yelp.com - user review - 10/18/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea was amazing. The food and service were spectacular. Our waiter had lots of interesting things to say about the dishes and seemed happy to answer our additional questions as well.I did the wine...
yelp.com - user review - 10/14/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I saved the best for last as I am writing up all my reviews after returning from my Chicago trip tonight.Alinea was THE restaurant I've longed to go for some time now. Finally I made it out this past...
yelp.com - user review - 10/13/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Unbelievable! My best friend had gift certificates for here because she is the ultimate foodie and I was lucky enough to be her date for the evening. I was blown away with the entire meal. The wine...
yelp.com - user review - 10/12/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
My husband and I went on a Wednesday evening for the tour, yes all 26 dishes.While the food was generally good it was the experience that could not be beaten. There were genuine moments that I was...
yelp.com - user review - 10/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
HiWent to the most amazing restaurant in Chicago, Alinea. Check out their website. If you look at the menu we had the "tour". Outrageous! Check out the gallery, look at the food. One example: a...
yelp.com - user review - 10/06/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The food, amazing. It's definitely worth the cost to have this experience at least once in my lifetime. I was expecting amazing food, but I wasn't expecting our waiter to be such an educated,...
yelp.com - user review - 10/05/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow. I was prepared for a "food as a chemistry set / circus" experience and while chemistry was a big part of it, I was blown away at the taste sensations and just plain great food. Everything was...
yelp.com - user review - 10/04/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
One of my resolutions for 2008 was to visit Chicago and dine at Alinea. I have dined at some of the best restaurants in America and in Europe. I can say without question that Alinea as a "total...
yelp.com - user review - 10/03/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Pretty intense. 26 courses, lost count of the wine pairings, clocking in at over 5 hours. *Loved* most of them, and liked the rest just fine. Comes with the territory, it's pretty avant-garde. Excited...
yelp.com - user review - 09/30/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow, what a beautiful restaurant. I've been wanting to eat here since I read about it two years ago in some magazine. After many talks about possibly going to Chicago for this much awaited event, the...
yelp.com - user review - 09/29/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Some people just go to dinner for food and drinks, but I want a complete dining experience and that's exactly what I got at Alinea. Alinea is unmarked from the outside, except for a valet parking...
yelp.com - user review - 09/28/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is truly a dining EXPERIENCE. We had a party of 5 and we all opted for the "Tour", which was 27 courses. The other 4 members of the party all have many years of experience within the...
yelp.com - user review - 09/23/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I don't really need to go into how good the place was or launch into a discourse on molecular gastronomy for that matter; these topics were likely covered in great depth by the other 148 reviewers....
yelp.com - user review - 09/22/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My dining experience at Alinea absolutely blew me away. I have dined at some of the finest dining establishments in Chicago, but nothing compares to Alinea. It took 1, 2 months to get a table, and...
yelp.com - user review - 09/20/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
A must dining experience at least once in your life. I'd wait until your first credit card at least. Superb service, that of which can be compared to the royalty treatment. And the food, O M G the...
yelp.com - user review - 09/16/2008
Full Review »
Alinea HANDS DOWN is the best restaurant I have ever dined at from an overall experience. While not all of the 24 courses are "to die for", the overall night was spectacular and savory. I open by saying that...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/15/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Yeah, it was alright. I snagged the grand tour reservation with 3 days notice, dining 2 days later. Don't give up on the wait list, baby.I probably enjoyed the chicken liver pate with bacon,...
yelp.com - user review - 09/08/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
This place was pretty amazing. Innovative, delicious, classy presentation and wine pairings from beginning to end. It's crazy expensive but I'm glad that my ex-boyfriend paid for it.
yelp.com - user review - 09/07/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I design themed immersive environments for a living and eating at Alinea is THE immersive culinary experience for your pallette.Having lived in New York City & now Los Angeles I have been lucky enough...
yelp.com - user review - 08/28/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
So, I'm browsing through Yelp like anyone else who has nothing better to do at 9:30pm on a Wednesday evening. After writing soo many reviews of restaurants down the street from me and declaring that...
yelp.com - user review - 08/27/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Part I: It's difficult for me to write a review of Alinea. One cannot put into words what a meal at Alinea is like. One can share pictures and attempt to describe the meal in words, but neither can...
yelp.com - user review - 08/26/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Our evening at Alinea was an experience to remember. Definitely exceeded our expectations and was truly one of the greatest dining experiences that I have ever had. We went with the 12 course menu...
yelp.com - user review - 08/25/2008
Full Review »
Alinea is very very pricey, so come here ready to spend some serious money. Really interesting flavor combinations abound.. and it is one of the rare occasions you can order Wagyu beef.
kudzu.com - user review - 08/21/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Not sure how it is that I haven't reviewed this place yet. This was pretty incredible. We did the 24 course menu, which is pretty much the same experience as everyone else has already reported. This...
yelp.com - user review - 08/13/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
You have to give Alinea 5 stars for the overall experience, which is unlike anything I've ever had before, including at Tru. We had the 12-course meal, which ended being 14 courses after little extras...
yelp.com - user review - 08/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Mmmmmmm.I had the 24-courses (plus the fois gras extra from the chef) and was in culinary heaven.It really doesn't get much better than this.I'm a vegetarian and lactose-intolerant and the chef was...
yelp.com - user review - 08/06/2008
Full Review »
On a recent visit to Chicago, I was excited to have gotten a reservation at Alinea. I had heard a great deal about the chef and his food, and since I've yet to get a coveted reservation at Per se in NY (my...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/27/2008
Full Review »
So I ate at Alinea several months ago, and am surprised to see some poor reviews on this site. Hands down, Alinea is the best restaurant in the United States. If you can go to one restaurant, go to Alinea. And...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/27/2008
Full Review »
We got the 12 course meal with wine pairings and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was the meal of my life. From a dish resting on a pillow of scented air that deflated as the meal went on, to what amounted...
kudzu.com - user review - 07/22/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The longest, most expensive, and most interesting dinner I've ever had. We had the 12-course tasting menu, and it really added up to quite a bit of food, I can't see how people could eat much more!...
yelp.com - user review - 07/20/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Holy CRAP.... We had the 12 course and boy was I surprised. For the first time I had dinner using ALL of my senses. Presentation was on a whole other level, you'd never think to mix soy sauce with...
yelp.com - user review - 07/18/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My palate can't distinguish between Michelin 3 star vs. 4 star cuisine, but I love alinea. Not as impressed as I thought I'd be, but still pretty damn well done. Went for the tour the first time in...
yelp.com - user review - 07/15/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Seems almost pointless to review a world-renowned, five-star establishment with over 140 other reviews (at the time of this writing, anyway), but I might as well pile on. My best friend and I were...
yelp.com - user review - 07/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow, what an EXPERIENCE. There were 5 of us and one of the people in our party had made the reservations about 2 months in advance. We were visiting Chicago and had already planned a weekend of food...
yelp.com - user review - 07/09/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow. It might seem hard to justify spending nearly $700 for a 4 hour experience for two that doesn't put you at risk of jail time, but Alinea manages to do it and leave you craving for more. We had...
yelp.com - user review - 07/07/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I can only give it 4 stars because there were 2 dishes (of the 26 they gave us) that I didn't eat because I didn't like them. "Didn't like" may be an understatement. I may have had my strongest...
yelp.com - user review - 07/06/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
If you search reviews of Alinea, "unforgettable" and "experience" may be the most popular terms. In fact, Alinea is both unforgettable and an experience. Have you ever wondered what it might have felt...
yelp.com - user review - 07/03/2008
Full Review »
My wife and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary at Alinea. We opted for the 24 course tasting with wine pairing. It was awesome! The food was incredible and the service was top notch. Our dinner lasted...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/01/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I don't know if there is much need for me to add another 5-star rating to the 100 others, but i just have to get this off my chest. It was an unforgettable experience. We did the 12 course dinner....
yelp.com - user review - 06/28/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
You don't just go to Alinea to EAT food, you go there to EXPERIENCE food. It is a common belief that out of the five senses we only use "taste" and "sight" when we dine, but Alinea shatters that...
yelp.com - user review - 06/27/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
FABULOUS. Very inventive menu with clever presentations using what often looked like executive office toys. We both left full after the 24 course tasting menu with wine pairings. That's a lot of...
yelp.com - user review - 06/23/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Could this place receive more than 5 stars? What a fun dining experience! We did the full tour and it was better than I could have imagined (although if you look at their menu, you realize that it's...
yelp.com - user review - 06/20/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is truly a dining experience. I am very privileged to have been able to go to Alinea and I feel that my time and money was well worth it.My bf and I did the full 24 course and man was it a lot...
yelp.com - user review - 06/18/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This review is based on the Tasting Menu. Each course was a calculated balance of sights, smells, and tastes, each to varying degrees and directions, all nearly perfectly executed. The wine pairings...
yelp.com - user review - 06/18/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow! There are no words to accurately describing the dining experience at Alinea. Rated the best restaurant in the country by Gourmet magazine, I'd have to second that though. It was amazing. We...
yelp.com - user review - 06/15/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is grown-up entertainment for the adventurous palate. We had the 12 course tasting menu, and almost every bite was amazing and wonderful. There were a couple of dishes that kind of fell flat...
yelp.com - user review - 05/30/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
After 130 reviews I believe yelp has gotten the point across that this is the best restaurant in Chicago. Not only in Chicago, but a pinnacle for modern cooking. I do not feel the need to explain...
yelp.com - user review - 05/30/2008
Full Review »
1.0 of 5 stars.
The restaurant remind me of Kejserens nye klder (Emperor's new clothes)I was very excited to dine at Alinea but I was extremely disappointed...It was one of the worst dining experience I ever had. I...
yelp.com - user review - 05/27/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
best meal ever- and a damn attractive kitchen staff!
yelp.com - user review - 05/18/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The meal was a 3.5 hour experience that had more sensory stimulation than basically anything that I had ever done. You walk into a perspective hall and a door slides open to your left. I felt both...
yelp.com - user review - 05/16/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Almost three months after we came here to celebrate our anniversary, I still think Alinea was our most unique food experience ever...even if I can't remember the majority of the dishes. We ambitiously...
yelp.com - user review - 05/11/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
With its 125 reviews already, I'm not sure I can add much of anything, but I knew I had to save my 200th review for a special place, so here it goes...I took my boyfriend here last night as a surprise...
yelp.com - user review - 05/08/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is amazing, and Alinea knows it. I. Loved. Every. Second. My experience at Alinea reminds me of going to an amusement park with my best friends: I smiled and was delighted for all of the...
yelp.com - user review - 05/04/2008
Full Review »
Alinea has been called the best restaurant in the United States. I went last fall as a very special, once-in-a-lifetime treat and felt that it more than earned the recognition it's received. Service is elegant...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/02/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
It seems almost excessive to write yet another rave review, but how could I not? This was a perfect evening, with the most incredible menu I have even seen. We spent four and a half hours in heaven....
yelp.com - user review - 05/01/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
one word: excellent.
yelp.com - user review - 04/23/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I've been twice, and both times it was...well, everything everyone has described. The first time was 6 months after it opened, the second time was January 2007. I have 2 quick things to add to...
yelp.com - user review - 04/11/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Well, I am not going to go into all the details, or give my entire menu, since it was a couple years ago, but all I will say is perfection!I went the first week of may 2006, which was Alinea's 1year...
yelp.com - user review - 04/09/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
What an amazing experience.
yelp.com - user review - 04/04/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Tour de ForceThis is the ultimate dining experience. Alinea is the only FLAWLESS dining experience we have ever had. That was not luck because we had the same mind blowing experience twice here....
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I think most of it has been said. The food is creative to the point of being a bit ridiculous. I ate so many things that came with instructions of what to do, that I had to laugh. But the...
yelp.com - user review - 03/24/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Saturday the 15th finally rolled around and my long anticipated night at Alinea was just hours away. I'd have to go back to December 24th 1984 to recall the last time I felt so anxious. With a nice...
yelp.com - user review - 03/24/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
In keeping w/ my "do everything at least once" mentality, my friends and I took on Le Grand Tour, the 20 "courses" with the wine pairing. This was some time ago, but I still get a little teary-eyed...
yelp.com - user review - 03/22/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I agree with all the other posters, this is a unique place and a definite must do. The food is imaginative and well executed. On top of that I loved that the service was so welcoming and repeatedly we...
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
so I've been to Alinea...tried the 12 course tasting menu.to call this place a restaurant, to call the experience there "FOOD" wouldnt do this place a justice. for good and worse.they dont offer food...
yelp.com - user review - 03/17/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
You need to eat here at least once. It's certainly not cheap (two people doing the 24-course tour with wine pairing and tip is like $900), but absolutely worth it. As Chicagoans, we have a rare...
yelp.com - user review - 03/16/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place never seizes to amaze. I've been here several times for different functions. I always leave with a lasting satisfaction and also an appreciation to savoring your food. To all those who...
yelp.com - user review - 03/13/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I finally got the chance to eat here on a Friday night during my first visit to Chi-Town. I've been wanting to eat here since I had satisfied my craving for the French Laundry a couple years ago. I...
yelp.com - user review - 02/26/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Look I can't add more to what other reviewers have already offered up. This is a unique experience - while this does not go to the extent of Moto in terms of over-the-top scientific creativity, I give...
yelp.com - user review - 02/26/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I could get used to this lifestyle. My husband surprised me with dinner at Alinea for my birthday, and it epitomized a luxurious dining experience in every way. Alinea knows what its doing, from top...
yelp.com - user review - 02/22/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Went here when it opened a couple years ago and it is still my top dining experience.
yelp.com - user review - 02/20/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Part of the Holy Trinity of World Restaurant PerfectionAlineaEl BulliFat Duck'nuff said
yelp.com - user review - 02/13/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I don't think I can add to the glowing reviews of this dining experience. I would say that I enjoyed 80% of the 24 courses. The presentation of all the courses was outstanding. The service was...
yelp.com - user review - 02/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We went here for my mothers birthday. It was hands down the best place I have ever been to. That is saying a lot since I have been to a lot of different restaurants..... and I love to eat. The plates...
yelp.com - user review - 01/31/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
It's hard to expect anything less than earth shaking from a restaurant that was dubbed with the "#1 ranking" from Gourmet Magazine's "Top 50 Restaurants." Not once but twice. The venue is...
yelp.com - user review - 01/18/2008
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
excellent, but I can't say that it knocked me off my feet. I had high expectations if this place, and while they were met, they were not exceeded. some of the dishes were not very pretty in my 12...
yelp.com - user review - 01/11/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
If Thomas Keller were to hatch an edible Faberge egg in Chicago he would christen it Alinea. Yet it would be encased in the most delicate membrane. Suspended in a shot glass. And upon swallowing,...
yelp.com - user review - 01/10/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is my new favorite restaurant. A complete sensory orgasm. Sona (Los Angeles), I'm sorry... you are now a distant second. We chose to do the tasting menu, it's only 12 courses. And next time!,...
yelp.com - user review - 01/02/2008
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
What does one say about this restaurant that would be neither superlative nor duplicative? The words "perfect", "sublime", "delight", and "heavenly" all come to mind. But how does one truly describe...
yelp.com - user review - 12/31/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
We enjoyed a fine 12 course experience at Alinea. I'd say the wine pairings were quite wonderfully well done. We did have three courses where we were not at all wowed by the food and that really...
yelp.com - user review - 12/28/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
AMAZING. Not much more to say that hasn't already been said...
yelp.com - user review - 12/27/2007
Full Review »
2.0 of 5 stars.
I DID NOT LIKE THIS PLACE. Try if you must.I'll leave it at that. After writing this review, I come to find out that Grant (the owner) has been dealing with cancer. LOVE AND LIGHT TO YOU GRANT !!
yelp.com - user review - 12/25/2007
Full Review »
excellent food, service and wine. go when you can spend money on a great memorable meal without worrying about the bill which will come out to 800 for 2. Do not skip the wine pairing...they are all excellent....
citysearch.com - user review - 12/23/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Indescribably amazing!The only thing I can add to what others have said about this place is that if I were Charlie Trotter, Rick Tramonto or any other chef at any other great restaurant, Alinea would...
yelp.com - user review - 12/17/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Best. Meal. Ever. Dining at this place is an experience - it's amazing how the courses manage to appeal to all of your senses. They're just astounding, with cauliflower cooked and plated to look like...
yelp.com - user review - 12/11/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea was probably the most memorable culinary experience I've had. Probably not the greatest, but definitely the most exciting. I'm definitely not the type who usually spends this kind of money on...
yelp.com - user review - 12/09/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
5 stars is not enough. My husband and I have been going to Alinea every year for the 24-course tour since its opening. Charlie Trotter's, Tru, Arun's. . . all are good but no meals stand out in my...
yelp.com - user review - 12/01/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Amazing, fun, titillating, innovative, and whimsical. Chef Achatz is the Willy Wonka of the culinary world. HIs dishes were delightful. Some of the dishes were too salty and the service isn't as...
yelp.com - user review - 11/27/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I bookmarked this restaurant for when I would return to Chicago....I made reservations 3 weeks ahead and was lucky to secure a 6:15pm reservation. We were not celebrating any special occassions but...
yelp.com - user review - 11/16/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My husband took me here for Valentine's Day. I thought it was very upscale, but non-pretentious. Neither of us had been there before, so when we entered the hall and didn't see the door. I thought,...
yelp.com - user review - 11/13/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
I love these types of restaurants! Fancy-Shmancy restaurants are great! I did the 12 or 18 course tour with wine pairings as opposed to the 24 course tour. I wish I had done the 24. My initial...
yelp.com - user review - 11/08/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Most of the other reviews pretty much cover how spectacular everything is at Alinea. I cannot agree more. The place is unassuming with the entrance on Halstead. The long hallway to nowhere when you...
yelp.com - user review - 11/05/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My husband and I are self-proclaimed "foodies" but this place takes food to a new level. We had the 12 course tasting menu along with the wine pairings (which if you are questioning...is definately...
yelp.com - user review - 10/27/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is the best meal I've ever had in my life. No kidding. And not by just a little. This is a special occasion place...it's pretty much as pricey as it gets. My wife and I had the 14 course...
yelp.com - user review - 10/21/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I'm a nerd. For a long time, I denied that.I'm good at math.I like to play computer games.I'd rather watch Discovery Channel over the Playboy Channel (assuming my hijacked SPICE network is on the...
yelp.com - user review - 10/18/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My wife and I and two friends flew in to Chicago this weekend specifically to eat here. After reading the reviews and hearing about Grant Alchatz's tongue cancer, we figured that we should make sure...
yelp.com - user review - 10/14/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I still laughed at myself for being a poor girl having a $580 meal by taking the Halsted bus which drops us right in front of the restaurant. :-)Comparing our experience at Tru, Charlie Trotter's and...
yelp.com - user review - 10/12/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Black Truffles...drooling still. I cannot even express or find enough words to decribe how delicous Alinea was. I would be happy to eat scraps that fell on the floor! I am not one for the upscale...
yelp.com - user review - 09/28/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Amazing. Innovative and fun!The service was impeccable. At the end of the night, they offered me a pashmina wrap when I was feeling chilly! I really enjoyed the down to earth attitude of the...
yelp.com - user review - 09/25/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We had an amazing experience here. Everybody else has talked about the food (which was AWESOME), so I'll say a few things about the staff.We had a great time with the 10 people we had serving us...
yelp.com - user review - 09/24/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Okay, so if you're like me, a petite Asian female and on a weight-loss plan for the past year where you now eat 4-6 small meals per day, even having the 12-course tasting with the wine pairing is an...
yelp.com - user review - 09/20/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Thank god I wasn't paying for this one!If you want a crazy dining experience and have the patience to sit through four hours of dining, then please check this place out. But honestly, they are just...
yelp.com - user review - 09/19/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Before I actually went to this place, I had hesitations that maybe this food wouldn't be super great but just super gimmicky. After going to this place, I can tell you that all the strange stuff you...
yelp.com - user review - 09/12/2007
Full Review »
Let's face it, different people have different tastes so Alinea isn't for everyone. Alinea certainly is not a place I would want to eat every day (even if I could afford it) but it does rank in the top five...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/29/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
If I could give 10 stars, Alinea would get them all.Ate there two nights ago and am still completely awestruck. All other food seems like slop now. I"m completely ruined!!!Took pics and/or video of...
yelp.com - user review - 08/24/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
What can I say, it's been over 6 months since I've been to Alinea, and I'm still not sure what I think of the place. I know I want to go back, but that's more out of curiousity than because I really...
yelp.com - user review - 08/15/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I haven't stopped thinking about, dreaming about Alinea!!!! I had the "tasting" menu and I loved every course--the service, the presentation, the flavor, oh, the flavor and did I mention: THE FLAVOR!...
yelp.com - user review - 08/13/2007
Full Review »
I woke up the next morning and literally wrote Chef Achatz a thank you note. Without a bit of over exaggeration, he changed the way that I look at food. It was an incredible experience and one of my fondest...
menupages.com - user review - 08/10/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
alinea. oh, how i love you. i was awestruck from the moment i walked in. the food, the food. each course was a surprise, an explosion of flavors, a little piece of happiness. i kept the menu....
yelp.com - user review - 08/10/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
SpeechlessThat and in tearsThat was how my daughter and I were both left after spending several hours at Alinea...it lives up to the hype and then some. It soared beyond the rating of Gourmet, it...
yelp.com - user review - 08/08/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I really can't top Monica T.'s review on the food, so I'm going to review their valet. I drove my car up to the valet area in front of Alinea. (The only way you'll know you're at Alinea is when you...
yelp.com - user review - 07/29/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Warning: The following review is TRUNCATED and better revisited at my blog for full pictures and commentary =PFive stars for innovation, though some flavors are less accessible to the palate than...
yelp.com - user review - 07/24/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Recently ate here on a trip to Chicago and would definitely recommend it to anyone serious about food. The tour could be shortened by 4 courses - a bit of palette overload going on. It's nowhere near...
yelp.com - user review - 07/05/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place is great, food is amazing and I never had a bad experience there. Service is very good and attentive, they know everything about wine. I had the 8 course tasting menu last time I went and...
yelp.com - user review - 07/03/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Jesus... WOW! This place is absolutely amazing... a feast for all of the senses. This really shouldn't be thought of as just a restaurant, but some sort of sensory experience. I won't soon forget...
yelp.com - user review - 07/02/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I recently had two friends in from the Sonoma/Napa area of California. They came to visit the city and specifically eat at Alinea. They asked that I attend with them as a treat for my birthday. Quite...
yelp.com - user review - 06/19/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
A restaurant from the future.From the elaborate entrance, to the way the kitchen is so quiet and well organized you'd think it was an advertisement come to life but when you see and taste the food,...
yelp.com - user review - 06/17/2007
Full Review »
I could not agree more with the previous review. I just can't understand the reason there haven't been more reviews since his. I have been to Alinea about 6 times and everything about the restaurant is...
menupages.com - user review - 06/15/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I dined at Alinea a year ago for my birthday. Best birthday meal ever.Swank, sophisticated, pretentious. Brilliantly innovative, creative, gorgeous. Outstanding food. Tops Bouley, in my opinion, in...
yelp.com - user review - 06/11/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Incredible, but be prepared for a test of your culinary endurance. I went when I first moved to Chicago, as some friends came to help me move in (although only after they secured reservations at...
yelp.com - user review - 06/06/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This is the best restaurant in Chicago! The food is excellent-- innovative and beautifully presented. They also have some fantastic, very rare wines. I definitely recommend doing the wine pairings....
yelp.com - user review - 05/31/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow! Second best restaurant I have ever dined at.This was the third attempt at dining at Alinea. Our first two had to be cancelled due to last minute work conflicts. So when the event finally came,...
yelp.com - user review - 05/22/2007
Full Review »
We had originally decided to do the 12 course menu but then we figured, we probably couldn't afford to go back too soon so we splurged for the tour with the wine pairings and I could not be more pleased! The...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/20/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Having read soooo much hype about this place I went in almost looking to be disappointed...it didn't happen. Not even a little.The thing is, you HAVE to go in knowing that you're about to drop a...
yelp.com - user review - 05/20/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea specializes in molecular gastronomy. If you don't know what that is think, food, performance art, and science. Confused... great keep it that way. I was planning on posting all the details...
yelp.com - user review - 05/03/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The high concept culinary experience that Alinea provides is almost indescribable. At first entry to the hidden, unmarked building, doors slide open and give diners the feeling that they are walking...
yelp.com - user review - 04/24/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
It's been said before, and it will be said again, dinner at Alinea was the best dining experience of my life. While I didn't love everything I put in my mouth, every dish was a culinary adventure...
yelp.com - user review - 04/23/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Simply put: the service and food were so amazing at Alinea I didn't minding dropping $500 on the extended menu with wine pairing. I've never said that before (and I will probably never say it again)....
yelp.com - user review - 04/16/2007
Full Review »
We went based on the Gourmet recommendation that this is the best restaurant in America for 2006! The reception at the door was warm and inviting, the service was knowledgeable and attentive and not...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/02/2007
Full Review »
2.0 of 5 stars.
An earlier reviewer said his girlfriend said eating there was like having sex in her mouth. I felt like I had sex too, but I felt that it was only after I had bent over. Perhaps the staff of Alinea...
yelp.com - user review - 03/26/2007
Full Review »
The service was amazing. (Compared to Tru- it's a little less...but WAY up there.) Kudos to Katie, the hostest, and the head sommelier (oops I forgot the name- but oh-so-helpful.) I can't even explain how...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/21/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I have yet to meet such a chef who can pull off such an amazing mix of food, sceince and flavors as Grant. We have been to Alinea a few times and are constantly blown away by their attention to...
yelp.com - user review - 03/21/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My girlfriend Chris and I went to Alinea in December. We did the tour and wine pairing. Our Sommelier Justin added some White Burgundy to our wines since it's my favorite. The experience was...
yelp.com - user review - 03/15/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
If you're a foodie and have the spare cash -- and especially if you already live here in Chicago -- then it would be an enormous mistake to never visit Alinea. It is absolutely everything that the...
yelp.com - user review - 03/14/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is a one in a lifetime experience, worth exploring. If you have one meal on earth, let it be the tour.Alinea is a distinguished restaurant with minimalistic charm, the facade is understated,...
yelp.com - user review - 03/14/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
If you come here you have to try the Kobe sliders. Make sure that you dress nice because Alinea is a little exclusive. Very popular so make sure that you make your reservation soon. Overall this is...
yelp.com - user review - 03/10/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
ate at Alinea last year, at one year anniversary. of course everything was great, sometimes even tasty. the whole science and food thing is weird to me, but Alinea is great for chicago and for that...
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2007
Full Review »
Thats it! I've had it with overpriced dressed up snacks. For a $1230 before tip, dinner for four I want to feel satisfied, not embarrassed because I asked for more bread due to the fact that my head was...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/03/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
AlineaI went with the tour menu. Due to the 24 courses, I won't write a bunch of comments about each, but rather primarily rank the dishes and mention the highlights for each dish. I prioritized the...
yelp.com - user review - 02/27/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
The four of us flew to Chicago from California one weekend for the express purpose of dining at Alinea. We opted for the 23 course "tour" menu. Every element of the dining experience at this...
yelp.com - user review - 02/20/2007
Full Review »
Alright, little background before I start, I make a modest income and room with 3 other dudes college style. I'm not much of a bar hopper so I like spending my money on my good friends. So I treated 3 of my...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/03/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
My girlfriend described her experience as follows:"This is like having sex in my mouth!"Any questions?-G
yelp.com - user review - 02/02/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This absolutely has to have been the best restaurant experience that I have had in recent history. While I was a little apprehensive having gone to another "tastings" restaurant a couple of weeks...
yelp.com - user review - 01/25/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I've only been to Alinea once, so I can't give an all-encompassing take, but I will definitely be going back at some point, despite the 800 dollarish tab for two. Without spoiling anything, Alinea was...
yelp.com - user review - 01/20/2007
Full Review »
2.0 of 5 stars.
This place is for the nouveau riche... Plainly and simply the most pretentious excuse for dining I've ever experienced. I'm not quite sure what all the raving over this place is about... is it a...
yelp.com - user review - 01/07/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I won't waste your time with things that have already been said, but most of the reviews here are dead on right!!A bit pricey, but well worth it if it is in your budget.
yelp.com - user review - 01/01/2007
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
A lot has already been said about Alinea so I'll just add some highlights of the 5 star meal:* I had a lot of trouble getting a Friday night table for the weekend that my wife and I were going to be...
yelp.com - user review - 01/01/2007
Full Review »
4.0 of 5 stars.
It was good, but it can be better ,And 24 courses is just too long.
yelp.com - user review - 12/20/2006
Full Review »
I had read that Alinea had been named Gourmet Magazine's "Best restaurant in the USA", so when my wife asked what I wanted for my birthday, I just couldn't help myself. My wife made the reservation a month...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/09/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Innovative flavors, jaw-dropping preparations, beautiful presentations. I was, but shouldn't have been, surprised that in 2006 Gourmet magazine rated it the number ONE restaurant in America...
yelp.com - user review - 12/06/2006
Full Review »
If you go to Alinea, understand one thing - you are there to worship the food and those who were kind enough to make it for you. Your pleasure, comfort and happiness are irrelevant. Seriously, I have never...
citysearch.com - user review - 11/24/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Inventive, enlightening and definitely the best restaurant I've been to in Chicago. The service was phenomenal -- my dining companion's spoon was shifted at the last minute during one course as the...
yelp.com - user review - 11/19/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Simply AMAZING. What can I say that hasn't been said? (Too much, I actually wrote twice as much as this but it was too large for Yelp!)First, the food... Geniusly presented. No matter what anyone...
yelp.com - user review - 11/09/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Wow. I am not a foodie so I won't go into the detailed play by play that you have heard from the other Yelpers.I will say that if you want an amazing dining experience that is incomparable to any...
yelp.com - user review - 11/08/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
A simply amazing meal. As another reviewer noted, the menu is simplified, and while Pookie and I were there it was 12 courses or 23. The wine pairings were quite exotic and international, and varied...
yelp.com - user review - 10/31/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We had dinner at Alinea on Saturday night with another couple. I don't even really know how to describe the meal, but to say that it was absolute perfection on a plate and in a glass. We did the 12...
yelp.com - user review - 10/30/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Like everyone else, I was blown away by Alinea. The precision of every course, every progression, is a revelation.Definitely spring for the 25-course menu and the upgraded wine pairings. it's worth...
yelp.com - user review - 10/29/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Over the top and amazing. When I saw that this place was ranked higher than French Laundry on the Gourmet Magazine list of top 50 restaurants, I knew that I had to go. We had the "tour" menu which was...
yelp.com - user review - 10/27/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Alinea is fabulous. If you are considering going to Alinea, go! You will not regret it. Also...If you go, definitely get the tour (the 24 course tasting menu).....after all, if you are going to...
yelp.com - user review - 10/25/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
For her 30th Birthday, I took my girlfriend to Alinea for dinner after a play at Steppenwolf. I was hoping to impress her since I'm of little value otherwise and I think it worked reasonably well....
yelp.com - user review - 10/12/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
**Swoon**Thank you for living and working in Chicago, Grant Achatz. You make this city so much better. In any other city, it would be impossible to get a reservation. In Chicago, inexplicably, Alinea...
yelp.com - user review - 10/11/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I suddenly remember..."hmm, I'm going to Chicago in 2 weeks with the girl to see her friend. I wonder if there's a half chance in hell...nah...well, ok, let's try..." 11pm Pacific on a Saturday...
yelp.com - user review - 10/07/2006
Full Review »
3.0 of 5 stars.
We went to Alinea last night, which completes our trio of experimental dining (Moto, WD-50 in New York, and now.. Alinea). I have to say... Alinea is great. The entrance is really cool, the service...
yelp.com - user review - 10/06/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
updated: 02.07.07 The 2007 winners of the Chicago-based Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary ExcellenceCelebrity chef: Grant Achatz Fine dining: AlineaSommelier: Craig Sindelar (Alinea)...
yelp.com - user review - 09/25/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
We had the 12 course tasting and were blown away at how inventive each course was. First up was a semifreddo of coconut and corn, with teeny tiny accents of lime zest, cayenne, and another savory...
yelp.com - user review - 08/22/2006
Full Review »
This is not your meat and potatoes restaurant. This is a culinary adventure, new techniques, bold flavors, a innovative approach to gastronomy. We did the 24 course tour and each bite of food is better than...
menupages.com - user review - 08/21/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I think I'd better write a Yelp review on this baby even though I went there just over a year ago. Wow. Just, wow. From the non-descript exterior, to the minimalist art in the foyer, to the...
yelp.com - user review - 08/16/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
I went during the first month or so of the opening, getting extremely lucky to get in on a Sunday night with just a phone call. I don't know how to review this place. This was hands down the best meal...
yelp.com - user review - 06/29/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place it a lot like Tru (but not quite as good). Still a very upscale restaurant and very much worth trying. They have very unique ways of serving your dishes here. We went two times and both...
yelp.com - user review - 06/27/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
The most expensive meal in my life...and somehow one of the best values in my life. How can that be? The drama of merely entering the restaurant is enough to take your breath away, and then the...
yelp.com - user review - 06/21/2006
Full Review »
One of the single most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had. The food was mediocre - a few dishes were interesting. The price is beyond exorbitant. I felt totally and completely ripped off and to...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/25/2006
Full Review »
we had the 12 course meal with the wine pairing. All the dishes were so interesting, the presentation stunning! The bite-size portion was perfect and the special dishes were one of a kind. Some things popped...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/24/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
A night at Grant Achat's Alinea ranks as one of the best meals of my life. Everything about this meal was exquisite - from the service, to the atmosphere, to the food. The French style service is...
yelp.com - user review - 03/21/2006
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
OMIGOD... coming from a culinary town such as SF, I had high expectations. Every expectation was surpassed! This was the most amazing culinary experience of my life. From the waitstaff to the...
yelp.com - user review - 03/07/2006
Full Review »
We had the 25 course with the wine pairing. Although the dishes were very innovative and interesting, I found the dishes to be lacking in taste compared to our experience at other five star restaurants....
citysearch.com - user review - 02/06/2006
Full Review »
Chef Grant Achatz has opened his eagerly-anticipated culinary mecca on North Halstead, and it is everything his fans could have hoped for--and more. Achatz, who left Trio last July, has clearly been busy...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/09/2005
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
This two story place of heaven offers a floating staircase with comfy armchairs to try their tasting menus - six courses run about $75 and 12 courses $110 - which can last about 4-5 hours to try...
yelp.com - user review - 12/03/2005
Full Review »
Every aspect impressed me. The kitchen was even pristine. Chef Achatz and his crew have created an unbelievably innovative menu. (We had the 25 courses). Not only was the food delicious, but the vessels were...
citysearch.com - user review - 11/12/2005
Full Review »
This is my favorite restaurant in the states and one of my favorites in the world, definitely my favorite for food. Impeccable, tremendously creative and tasy food. Not only did I love it, but there were even...
citysearch.com - user review - 10/17/2005
Full Review »
Like the atmosphere, but the food is overhyped too ambitious and just not that tasty. Its more concerned with food as art than food as something that tastes good. Definitely not worth the money. I will give it...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/13/2005
Full Review »
We've eaten at plenty of fine restaurants all over the world. Part of the fun for me is to critique the entire experience, and there is usually plenty to critique. Not the case here. This was by far our best...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/12/2005
Full Review »
spectacular dining with a sense of humor. Wiatstaff exceptional and in total command.Food preparation and imagination at the top of the industry.
citysearch.com - user review - 08/02/2005
Full Review »
The best thing to say about Alinea is that a restaurant so expensive can offer you so much for your money. Going there is an unforgetable experience. The cuisine is in the forefront of worldwide dining.I am...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/18/2005
Full Review »
5.0 of 5 stars.
Grant Achatz is a culinary genius. Alinea offers three tasting menus: 8 courses, 12 courses, and 25 courses. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to enjoy the chef's 12 course tasting menu...
yelp.com - user review - 07/14/2005
Full Review »
We tried 12-course menu with the wine pairing and it was absolutely fantastic! We were thoroughly amazed and impressed by the extremely inventive menu. The service was excellent (as it should be at those...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/13/2005
Full Review »
The most anticipated local restaurant opening of 2005, chef Grant Achatz's Alinea is a place no serious foodie should miss. Like Homaro Cantu at Moto, Achatz wants to revolutionize the way we eat, and he does...
frommers.com - user review
Full Review »
© 2009 Open List
About
|
Contact
|
Advertising
|
Add a Business
|
|
Terms of Use
|
Privacy Policy
|
Site Map
Some data provided by Localeze Some reviews provided by Yelp.com
