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Alinea Chicago Reviews
Nice production, not wowed by the food
We went to Oriole, Alinea and Smyth feel that Oriole was much better. While the production was good, it seemed to come at the expense of the food. Of these three, we would definitely go back to Oriole!
We had quite the experience here.
Our reservation was originally at 8:15 in the salon but they asked if we wanted to partake in a gallery experience before dinner which pushed the reservation to 8:45. We said yes. The gallery experience was very theatrical and basically a show. T
Hard to say anything that hasn't been said.
Fun. Amazing. Delicious. Different. The surprises surprised me and weren't a shtick. They added something. Wasn't stuffy. I didn't leave hungry. Really enjoyed all but one course. Great ratio. Really glad I finally made it. Beautiful,
My fiancée and I were so excited to finally try this
My fiancée and I were so excited to finally try this incredibly famous restaurant that we had heard so much about: from TV shows, social media, reviews, and direct word-of-mouth from friends. I'm really impressed that our experience here lived
I've only wanted to visit for the past 8 years and finally
I've only wanted to visit for the past 8 years and finally went as I returned to Chicago post pandemic! It didn't disappoint! We enjoyed the special kitchen table private room. The whole event was incredible, including music, showmanship, v
How do you even write about the icon that is Alinea?? It's
How do you even write about the icon that is Alinea?? It's pure fun and whimsy and the most unique dining experience of my life. My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 21/50 Month tried: April Favorite dish: Truffle
Unforgettable dining experience
Unforgettable dining experience - it's like theater for your senses: inventive presentation, multi-course tasting menus, and playful surprises. Service was top-tier and attentive. The food is boldly creative and often beautiful.
A beautiful orchestration of fine dining.
Each individual representative of Alinea is highly in tune and quickly reads the room while maintaining a composure of the highest professionalism, positive attitude, and openness to small requests (I asked to sit next to my wife rather than accross)
There was no way that I was coming back to Chicago without
There was no way that I was coming back to Chicago without coming to Alinea, which is Chicago's original Michelin three-star restaurant. Note that when you reserve on Tock, you pick between the Salon, the Gallery, and the Kitchen Table. The Sal
Alinea is truly a treat for all of your senses.
This was one of the funnest experiences! There were so many magical moments throughout the night -- finding out that something you thought was decoration the whole night is actually part of the meal, the edible balloons, and the "art" desse
Stopped by here for a friend's birthday celebration and the
Stopped by here for a friend's birthday celebration and the overall experience was average (compared to my other experiences with similarly rated fine dining)! But, it was short of what I would expect from a 3 Michelin star restaurant Food: The
I really wanted to love this experience.
Since I'm about to leave Chicago and start my first new grad job, we figured it was finally time to book Alinea. I went in hoping for something unforgettable... but honestly, the whole thing felt cold, forced, and kind of exhausting. From the m
Terrible
Easily the worst dinner of the year and given the price maybe the worst ever. The chef was not there, usually not a good a sign. The opening at the gallerie was pathetic, all show no added value and food forgettable. Back in Le salon not a single dis
Bucket list dinner and it was worth every penny.
From the minute you walk in the magic begins. Every single thing about the service was spectacular. No one missed a beat and made the experience unforgettable. The restaurant is stunning, be sure to take it all in. The food was so creative and every
One of the most outstanding dining experiences of my life.
Every course had a surprise and the creativity at Alinea blew me away. It was a feast for all the senses not just taste. Thank you Alinea for an evening that will be a core memory for years to come.
Incredible food, service and presentation.
Must try considering this is a 3 star Michelin restaurant.
Stunning Magical & Beautiful Experience!!
Where to begin!! I’ve been fortunate to have collected nearly 30 Michelin Stars! However, Alinea is like no other restaurant I’ve experienced!! From the food to the ‘show’ to emotional outbursts! (Laughing after eating the ‘hot dog’, my w
Alinea, Chicago, Illinois
There are roughly 151 restaurants worldwide which are rated three stars by Guide Michelin as per 7/2025. The number can easily fluctuate annually. I believe, 14 restaurants in the US were awarded this year (2025) three Guide Michelin stars. Alinea
Perfect.
I have never called a meal “perfect” before. This was. The experience lives up to its price tag. Truly innovative cuisine. It’s clear how much thought went into each spectacular course from the presentation to the service even extending to the
Excellent
After waiting several months for our reservation, we were truly excited and it exceeded all of our expectations. The entire dinner was much more than service of food. It was entertainment. It was experience. It was ambience, and it was educational.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience
I spent my birthday at Ailnea and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I enjoyed every course of food as well as the wine pairing.
Overpriced and underwhelming
As far as dinner theater goes, it was quite the experience. The display was unique and interesting. The ingredients were high quality and the preparation and presentation impressive. BUT the food was not very good. Perhaps my pallet is to blame, but
Forever evolving
Currently taking a well-deserved victory lap from coast-to-coast Alinea’s 20th Anniversary is also being celebrated back home, the ever-changing Next transporting diners back to Lincoln Park circa 2005 while 1723 North Halsted Street continues to e
Truly a phenomenal dining experience at this Michelin
Truly a phenomenal dining experience at this Michelin restaurant. We had reservations in the Gallery which was fairly loud but great for a meal with friends. Dinner was interactive, fun, and lively. Service was excellent. From start to finish, the st
Amazing once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.
The food was phenomenal. The service, impressive. Very memorable.
Best meal of my life.
Have been wanting to go for years. Finally saved up and went with my wife. I hope I have the fortune of going again. No complaints from the service to the food to the decor. It was all perfect. Somehow lived up to the hype.
If I could review the staff, their personal touches or
If I could review the staff, their personal touches or personality I would give this 1 million stars. In 14 courses only four were breath taking, the rest were basic or indulgent to a flaw. At three different points when I made a face in response to
A sensory memory that will last a lifetime!
I think about the tasting menu experience still! As I have told others if you can dine with Alinea or try the Gallery tasting menu, DO IT without hesitation! The dining experience is a memory that will last a lifetime. Traveling back to Chicago with
There's no signs or lettering outside and just a black
There's no signs or lettering outside and just a black door, so we were a bit confused until someone standing outside opened the door for us. Service was exceptional throughout - can't remember another restaurant where the hosts and servers were more
There is dining, experiences and setting the bar.
Alinea does it all! The perfect place to celebrate, if you live in Chicago, it is a must!
Outstanding meal with an outstanding experience from start to finish
Is a Tripadvisor review really proper for a 3 * Michelin rated restaurant? I don't know, but without a doubt this was the best meal experience we've ever had. Service was outstanding, the food was phenomenal, and the staff was more than welcoming.
What can I say about this place that hasn't been said
What can I say about this place that hasn't been said before? Incredible dining experience. Everything paired and was a full sense dining experience. The room table, the presentation the plates are fun and magical tax and tip and gratuity alone was
Finally got to book this trip to Chicago and dine at Alinea.
We dined in the salon and it was very pretty. Our servers were very kind, on point and helpful. The food was unusual and mostly delicious. Our favorite was the Explosion, hot potato and Osetra. We enjoyed most all the courses with the Blancmange bei
Thoroughly disappointed.
The service was top-notch. However, most of the food ranged from, 'meh,' to inedible. There's a palette cleanser that included olive brine and chewy orange. It was horrendous. They served a corn liquor cocktail that was nauseating. There were s
Overall -- a really fun experience! I was pleasantly
Overall -- a really fun experience! I was pleasantly surprised with how many traditional flavors the tasting included as well as more exotic things. I think it was a really good mix in that we got to experience new flavors but also familiar flavors w
STUNNING PRESENTATION WITH DELICIOUS FOODS
I was truly so fortunate to come to this restaurant, if the word restaurant Dan even describe the experience had at Alinea. Went with some business friends and it was amazing! Lots of tiny little courses are served and by the end it’s very filling
Alinea achieves and exceeds the hype!
This past week we had the true privilege of having dinner (6 of us in our party) at Alinea. IMHO it really does live up to all of the well-deserved hype and superlatives. Each course was innovative and delicious, with an amazing mix of flavors, textu
Special night
We came for an anniversary. We had a memorable time as this was on a wish list for many years. The meals were delicious. Service was good, but we felt that the waiters were not as enthusiastic as we had hoped for.
A bucket list evening for a x0th birthday celebration.
I have wanted to dine at Alinea ever since it opened, and the stars lined up at last. After dining at a number of Michelin 3 star establishments over the years in both Europe and the US, I am delighted to report Alinea measures up in all respects. Th
A dinner worthy of remembrance
The main door holds no sign with its name. In fact there is no red Michelin star sign either to aware the client he is entering one of the best restaurants in the world. The Gallery serves the complete menu, with a timeline of three hours. The rooms
Lives up to the hype
It's hard to live up to the expectations when they are so high, but this place did it. The food, wine pairings and service were exceptional. I would not hesitate to go back.
Absolutely, Positively, Amazing
Has been on the bucket list to sit at the chef's table and experience Grant and the Alinea crew. Not only did it live up to expectations; it exceeded them. Every single person in that restaurant understands how excited most of us are to be there an
Best restaurant
One of the best restaurant experiences. It is more than just having a meal. The food is innovative and tasted great. Fabulous!
From the moment we stepped into Alinea, it was clear we
From the moment we stepped into Alinea, it was clear we were in for an extraordinary culinary experience. The service was impeccable; attentive staff catered to our every need, guiding us through the evening with grace and professionalism. The food
Very good food
One of a kind restaurant. The meal was delicious from beginning to end. The artistry of the plates is unmatched. Very good food.
Tasty meal
Alinea is one of the best restaurants. The food is creative. It is like art. The wines and cocktails are great too. Everything was tasty.
Had a fantastic experience dining at Alinea with my husband.
My only criticism is that for the price, we did leave a bit hungry as we found the portions and the courses to be limited. The service was spectacular and they made us feel so well attended to. The ambiance is ornate and beautiful. The highlight of
As regular patrons of Alinea, we have been consistently
As regular patrons of Alinea, we have been consistently enchanted by the extraordinary culinary experiences that this Chicago landmark offers. Alinea isn't just a restaurant; it's an avant-garde performance, a journey of the senses that transcends th
Truly an amazing experience with Alinea.
We were greeted with great service from start to finish. The first course of French onion soup was served with a fire show which was amazing. Overall we really enjoyed everything and our add on white truffle dish. There was totally more than enough f
I really hate to leave this review.
I also think no one dining here reads reviews or cares lol. I'm a huge foodie and anytime I travel to others states or countries I look for the best spots to eat. I live in nyc and have been to Chicago multiple times and have been on a waiting list f
Connect with users posting reservations for Alinea Chicago
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with Alinea Chicago. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Alinea Chicago at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Alinea Chicago page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* EternalAnt36, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's $200 bid.
* EternalAnt36 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to EternalAnt36 for any questions Peter may have as EternalAnt36 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* EternalAnt36 now uses their connections at Alinea Chicago to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If EternalAnt36 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, EternalAnt36 receives the $200 reward which is credited to EternalAnt36's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Alinea Chicago!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
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7 transactions from users who transacted at Alinea Chicago
