Alinea

"Alinea is a highly acclaimed three MICHELIN Star restaurant led by Chef Grant Achatz, celebrated for its innovative and modernist approach to cuisine." - Edward Barsamian

"Alinea is a celebrated fine dining restaurant known for its theatrical and artistic culinary experiences, including famous edible helium balloons. It is one of two Chicago restaurants with a three-star Michelin rating." - Erin Perkins

"Are we telling you to eat at Alinea right this second? Of course not. But it is in Lincoln Park, so this is a friendly reminder that you need to eat here once in your lifetime. Skip the next few months’ car payments and maybe you can get to it sooner rather than later. Bookings become available on the 15th of every month at 11am CST, for two months in advance. And by 11:01 they’re gone. So, the waitlist is your friend. You can only put yourself on the list for a limited number of dates, so tag team with your dining companion to double your odds." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"In a perhaps not-very-interesting turn of events, Chicago’s most famous restaurant is one of our highest-rated. If you have a fancy restaurant bucket list, Alinea is probably on it. Of course, fame and 50-minute features on Chef’s Table don’t necessarily mean a place is worth your time (or in this case, several hundred dollars)—but Alinea definitely is. Regardless of which tasting menu you choose (there are three ranging from $325-$495 with between 10-15 courses), the mish-mash of flavors is devastatingly good with Thai, Mexican, and French inspirations all at play. And a meal here is also guaranteed to be an experience—with theatrics (like fog machines), molecular gastronomy (egg “yolks” that transform into bread), and great servers (who are genuinely funny) that you won’t easily forget. Bookings become available on the 15th of every month at 11am CST, for two months in advance. And by 11:01 they’re gone. So, the waitlist is your friend. You can only put yourself on the list for a limited number of dates, so tag team with your dining companion to double your odds." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Alinea is a world-renowned restaurant in Chicago, co-founded by Nick Kokonas, known for its innovative dishes and exceptional dining experience. Recently underwent a leadership change with the sale of Kokonas's stakes." - Ashok Selvam