Chicago
>
Miscellaneous Restaurants
>
Alinea
Alinea
(312) 867-0110
Chicago
IL
60614
87% mojo
based on 59 reviews
Summary
Overall
Value
Service
Quality
Distribution
5
(24)
4
(5)
3
(5)
2
(6)
1
(2)
Monthly Average
No Data Available
59 Reviews
Featured Positive Review
Featured Negative Review
bautflyer09
bautflyer09
2/15/09
What an experience
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 believe they are experts at what they do, and while they know it, they truly want you to have an out of this world experience. I couldn't agree less with people that said they were rude - they even let us tour the back kitchen because we were so impressed. However, the greatest part of the experience was what it should have been - the food. I've never been to a restaurant where I laughed during consumption, or seen the look of absolute surprise on the faces of my companions. In short, the food is so exciting and well paired you have to try it to appreciate it. I highly suggest going all out and getting the full tasting menu accompanied with the wine parings - you won't be disappointed. If this isn't the best dinner of your life you are either a wanna-be foodie trying to knock the top guy just because or you don't have taste-buds.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
majohnson77
majohnson77
9/13/05
Overhyped...
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 credit for its great wine list.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Reviews
kathaylatte
kathaylatte
First To Review
marymary
marymary
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Too Expensive
Do not order the wine pairings with your meal. We had the 12 course tasting and both ordered the wine pairing "for about an additional 35%" (exact words of the waitress). This put a diner for 2 people near $700! The meal was interested and we thought about four out of the twelve dishes were really spectacular and actually would have been ok if we had just ordered a bottle of wine to share or a glass even. However without pressure we went all out and both got the wine pairings and that was SOOO not worth the money. We've been to numerous tastings in various cities and would not go back to this one. The three stars in for originality!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Do not order the wine pairings with your meal. We had the 12 course tasting and both ordered the wine pairing "for about an additional 35%" (exact words of the waitress). This put a diner for 2 people near $700! The meal was interested and we thought about four out of the twelve dishes were really spectacular and actually would have been ok if we had just ordered a bottle of wine to share or a glass even. However without pressure we went all out and both got the wine pairings and that was SOOO not worth the money. We've been to numerous tastings in various cities and would not go back to this one. The three stars in for originality!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Clever original combinations and food presentations
Cons: Off the charts expensive
Recommended: Yes
bautflyer09
bautflyer09
Sunday, February 15, 2009
What an experience
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 believe they are experts at what they do, and while they know it, they truly want you to have an out of this world experience. I couldn't agree less with people that said they were rude - they even let us tour the back kitchen because we were so impressed. However, the greatest part of the experience was what it should have been - the food. I've never been to a restaurant where I laughed during consumption, or seen the look of absolute surprise on the faces of my companions. In short, the food is so exciting and well paired you have to try it to appreciate it. I highly suggest going all out and getting the full tasting menu accompanied with the wine parings - you won't be disappointed. If this isn't the best dinner of your life you are either a wanna-be foodie trying to knock the top guy just because or you don't have taste-buds.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
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 believe they are experts at what they do, and while they know it, they truly want you to have an out of this world experience. I couldn't agree less with people that said they were rude - they even let us tour the back kitchen because we were so impressed. However, the greatest part of the experience was what it should have been - the food. I've never been to a restaurant where I laughed during consumption, or seen the look of absolute surprise on the faces of my companions. In short, the food is so exciting and well paired you have to try it to appreciate it. I highly suggest going all out and getting the full tasting menu accompanied with the wine parings - you won't be disappointed. If this isn't the best dinner of your life you are either a wanna-be foodie trying to knock the top guy just because or you don't have taste-buds.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Superb Service, otherworldly food
Cons: price, but this shouldn't be an issue if you want the best....
Recommended: Yes
rollout925
rollout925
Monday, January 19, 2009
A Trip
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 difficult building to find as there is a sign in the window (about 2' by 1') right behind where the vallets stand. The food was good. Some of the "creations" I would say missed. I'm not much for gels and other pectin bsaed foods (I am a R&D Food Scientist). I don't think it is very challenging, or tasty for that matter, to make different gels, but that was a small part of the meal, and only my snobby oppnion. Back to Dinner. It was nice, the service was out of this world. If you started to think about it, it was on your table. The Decour is interesting. They do not cram 100 tables in a room, but rather 3-5 to keep the noise down. The desserts were very nice, and the presentation behind the food was very well thought out. My big complaint is after tipping over 20% on our meal (over $100) we were getting dirty looks on our way out!!! I did not spend over $600 on dinner for two people to have then judge me on leaving a very acceptable tip!!! That put a huge damper on our evening and I can assure everyone we will not be back. I have been to other Fine Dinning"restaurants with lessor prepaired foods, but had a much more enjoyable time. For the money, go somewhere else 8 times and watch Alice in Wonderland (if you walk in the front door you will understand) It's a fun place to try and a place to be seen. I would not recomend this place to, to many people unless you are going on your company. Happy Eating.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
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 difficult building to find as there is a sign in the window (about 2' by 1') right behind where the vallets stand. The food was good. Some of the "creations" I would say missed. I'm not much for gels and other pectin bsaed foods (I am a R&D Food Scientist). I don't think it is very challenging, or tasty for that matter, to make different gels, but that was a small part of the meal, and only my snobby oppnion. Back to Dinner. It was nice, the service was out of this world. If you started to think about it, it was on your table. The Decour is interesting. They do not cram 100 tables in a room, but rather 3-5 to keep the noise down. The desserts were very nice, and the presentation behind the food was very well thought out. My big complaint is after tipping over 20% on our meal (over $100) we were getting dirty looks on our way out!!! I did not spend over $600 on dinner for two people to have then judge me on leaving a very acceptable tip!!! That put a huge damper on our evening and I can assure everyone we will not be back. I have been to other Fine Dinning"restaurants with lessor prepaired foods, but had a much more enjoyable time. For the money, go somewhere else 8 times and watch Alice in Wonderland (if you walk in the front door you will understand) It's a fun place to try and a place to be seen. I would not recomend this place to, to many people unless you are going on your company. Happy Eating.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: It will change the way you look at food
Cons: Cost, attitude from staff
Recommended: Yes
spsarah
spsarah
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The best dining experience I have ever had.
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 wine pairings. Our dinner took about 2.5 hours. In some reviews, I have read that people were disappointed with the amount of food and I have to say I don't agree. We were both extremely satisfied. The courses are small, yes, but rich and cooked with real butter and oil so as to be rich and tasty. There are also 4-5 different breads in the bread service -- also small, but I didn't finish the last two because I wanted to enjoy the dessert courses. Our service was exceedingly friendly, knowledgeable, unobtrusive and well-paced. Although the method of eating some of the courses needs to be explained, it is never done so in a condescending manner. I would definitely recommend the wine pairings -- at $110 per person, it certainly will bulk up your check, but the expertise and care shown in choosing the wines is worth the price. We would both return in a heartbeat, especially as the seasons change to see what is new on the menu. Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommended.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
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 wine pairings. Our dinner took about 2.5 hours. In some reviews, I have read that people were disappointed with the amount of food and I have to say I don't agree. We were both extremely satisfied. The courses are small, yes, but rich and cooked with real butter and oil so as to be rich and tasty. There are also 4-5 different breads in the bread service -- also small, but I didn't finish the last two because I wanted to enjoy the dessert courses. Our service was exceedingly friendly, knowledgeable, unobtrusive and well-paced. Although the method of eating some of the courses needs to be explained, it is never done so in a condescending manner. I would definitely recommend the wine pairings -- at $110 per person, it certainly will bulk up your check, but the expertise and care shown in choosing the wines is worth the price. We would both return in a heartbeat, especially as the seasons change to see what is new on the menu. Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommended.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Sensational food, interesting experience to share
Cons: Pricey but worth it
Recommended: Yes
kitten712
kitten712
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Flash over substance
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. However, we quickly tired of "jello" like substances and small cubes of various ingredients (i.e. meats, veges, weird jellos). The food was good, bad, confusing, exciting, bizarre, over sold, too busy and uncatagorically small. It was like if they wowed you with the description and all the smoke and mirrors, you would somehow forgive the small bites, overuse of gelatin, small cubes and inflated pricetag. On a few occassions my dinner companion or I would get a half melted plate of whatever conconction was being served (i.e. the frozed mozzarella, the gelatin ale)....as if one dish had been sitting a bit too long while they prepped the other. The services felt rushed and ill timed. At times the sommalier would barley get the wine description out and the server would interrupt him with a plate.... This restaurant is #1...who the heck are the people who voted for this? Did they not taste the food? Are they just pretentious foodies who jumped on the bandwagon beacuse someone else told them i t was cool? I dont get it.... Save you money. Go somewhere else...... We also went to Boka - loved it!! NoMi - boring, bland and tastless. Hot Chocolate - thickest, richest, hot chocolate ever ...I recommend adding a shot of espresso to it. Bongo Room - great breakfast...but enormous portions. My advice - split it, whatever it is! Nacional27 - skip it...like the Miami atmosphere but the limited menu lacked a "stand out". It needed a bit of spice!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
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. However, we quickly tired of "jello" like substances and small cubes of various ingredients (i.e. meats, veges, weird jellos). The food was good, bad, confusing, exciting, bizarre, over sold, too busy and uncatagorically small. It was like if they wowed you with the description and all the smoke and mirrors, you would somehow forgive the small bites, overuse of gelatin, small cubes and inflated pricetag. On a few occassions my dinner companion or I would get a half melted plate of whatever conconction was being served (i.e. the frozed mozzarella, the gelatin ale)....as if one dish had been sitting a bit too long while they prepped the other. The services felt rushed and ill timed. At times the sommalier would barley get the wine description out and the server would interrupt him with a plate.... This restaurant is #1...who the heck are the people who voted for this? Did they not taste the food? Are they just pretentious foodies who jumped on the bandwagon beacuse someone else told them i t was cool? I dont get it.... Save you money. Go somewhere else...... We also went to Boka - loved it!! NoMi - boring, bland and tastless. Hot Chocolate - thickest, richest, hot chocolate ever ...I recommend adding a shot of espresso to it. Bongo Room - great breakfast...but enormous portions. My advice - split it, whatever it is! Nacional27 - skip it...like the Miami atmosphere but the limited menu lacked a "stand out". It needed a bit of spice!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Recommended: Yes
Business Details on Alinea
Phone Numbers:
Primary Phone: (312) 867-0110