Alinea - Chicago, IL Review

Alinea has been ranked as one of the best restaurants in the country and the world by Restaurant Magazine and Goyot.  Having been to Everest, Charlie Trotter, Le Francais, and Tru, all considered Chicago best fine dining restaurants, I would have to say that Alinea tops them all. 

Chef/Owner Grant Achatz is simply one of the most creative and brilliant chefs I have had the pleasure of experiencing. According to their web site,

"under Chef Achatz' leadership, Alinea has received worldwide attention for its hypermodern, emotional approach to dining. Alinea has received four stars from both the Chicago Tribune and Chicagomagazine, Achatz was named the "next great American chef" by The New York Times(September 2005) and in October, 2006 Alinea received Five Diamonds from AAA and Ruth Reichl of Gourmetmagazine declared Alinea the "Best Restaurant in America" in its twice-per-decade list of America's Top 50 Restaurants."

So what does all that mean to someone who loves great food but is not a professional food critic?  What does "emotional approach to dining" actually mean?  Well, I can tell you it means a dining experience taking to a whole new level. Have you ever had a dish served on a pillow infused with nutmeg air and had it escape as you ate your dinner?  Have you ever had a dish with 10 mini dishes within and each dish have 10+ amazing ingredients and have the whole presentation fit together perfectly?  If you don't believe me just look at some of the pictures I took of the dishes with my iPhone. 

There was the Guinness foam on one dish, and the chocolate egg with yellow insides that burst in your mouth.  Then there was the ginger ball that you had to consume as a shooter, and the cube of wagu beef in a bed of cedar branches.

I could go on and one, but as long as you can stomach the price of $250 a person, you must try Alinea at least once in your life.