The night after we dined at [Ever](https://www.reddit.com/r/finedining/comments/10jha61/012023_2_ever_in_chicago/) the four of us did the gallery at 3* Alinea. Quick note: the champagne ended up being 2010 Dom Ruinart and the Port at the end of the night ended up being the 1977 vintage. My guess it was last minute substitution.
Anyway, about 3-4 years ago the wife and I ate upstairs in the salon at Alinea. We were a bit hesitant to go back but VERY glad we did. One of our friends that went with us, this was her “bucket list” place. We went all out and did the [Alinea Pairing](https://www.reddit.com/r/wine/comments/10jigtw/012123_alinea_wine_pairing/). We were VERY happy that we did this.
Our prior experience from doing the salon was night and day compared to the current gallery experience. Since it is very “theatrical”, I took way more pics than I’d like to admit.
Also, you will NOT leave hungry. Larger portions than you’d expect at a long tasting menu. Combine that with rich sauces, you leave stuffed.
Last note, the dessert presentation is amazing and tasted great as well.
If you’re on the fence of salon vs the gallery, do the gallery.
starkmatic on
Poor dude of all the people to get head and neck cancer. Def made the most of it
Strange_Window_7206 on
Follow up after dinner with a movie. I recommend “the menu” on hbo
mercyurhonor on
I hope to go one day and it’s encouraging to hear you enjoyed it, but man the garnish on 2 and the shrimp look so sad. Not necessarily not-tasty, just a bit wilted and withered.
Not trying to rain on your parade, just been trending toward terroir expression recently and seeing these photos is just a neat reminder of how cool it is to eat what’s local. Of course, downtown Chicago isn’t somewhere farming can happen, so Alinea can’t really do that, but yeah. Interesting that one of the top-rated restaurants in the states probably has less-fresh flowers than somewhere in rural Italy where they may be plucked and put straight into a plate.
chonkachoy on
Am I the ONLY one that sees the penis???
SnootieBoochie on
Which was better? Ever or alinea?
SignificanceNo4340 on
Okay this definitely cost a LOt
Southern_Ad5293 on
Glad to see they changed the menu. I spent some time last summer staging and they been running the same menu for over 18month. Nice to see chef still pushing. I will say seeing the some item retro such as the hot potato and the balloon really surprise me and the trampoline papillote has been there for over a year now. Not to take anything away but there was a point in time where alinea would never repeat an item and constantly break barriers. I’m sure a lot has change from covid now and but my highest respect to them as that restaurant operates at peak human limits.
whenfartsattack on
looks like you got shafted on the menu.
Aggressive_Stand_805 on
I’ve posted about this before. My wife and I ate in the Salon last October. I wanted to experience a 3* restaurant at least once in my life. It’s expensive for a reason. Yes the *** is part of it so it makes the demand high. But also the ingredients are very expensive and it’s run by a famous chef.
Also if you can’t get a reservation at the gallery. Book the Salon. It’s well worth it. Our meal was 9 courses and I was stuffed afterwards (the wine probably contributed though).
For those who say you’re getting little. Your not. Just imagine all the courses on one plate.
11 Comments
Achatz!
The night after we dined at [Ever](https://www.reddit.com/r/finedining/comments/10jha61/012023_2_ever_in_chicago/) the four of us did the gallery at 3* Alinea. Quick note: the champagne ended up being 2010 Dom Ruinart and the Port at the end of the night ended up being the 1977 vintage. My guess it was last minute substitution.
Anyway, about 3-4 years ago the wife and I ate upstairs in the salon at Alinea. We were a bit hesitant to go back but VERY glad we did. One of our friends that went with us, this was her “bucket list” place. We went all out and did the [Alinea Pairing](https://www.reddit.com/r/wine/comments/10jigtw/012123_alinea_wine_pairing/). We were VERY happy that we did this.
Our prior experience from doing the salon was night and day compared to the current gallery experience. Since it is very “theatrical”, I took way more pics than I’d like to admit.
Also, you will NOT leave hungry. Larger portions than you’d expect at a long tasting menu. Combine that with rich sauces, you leave stuffed.
Last note, the dessert presentation is amazing and tasted great as well.
If you’re on the fence of salon vs the gallery, do the gallery.
Poor dude of all the people to get head and neck cancer. Def made the most of it
Follow up after dinner with a movie. I recommend “the menu” on hbo
I hope to go one day and it’s encouraging to hear you enjoyed it, but man the garnish on 2 and the shrimp look so sad. Not necessarily not-tasty, just a bit wilted and withered.
Not trying to rain on your parade, just been trending toward terroir expression recently and seeing these photos is just a neat reminder of how cool it is to eat what’s local. Of course, downtown Chicago isn’t somewhere farming can happen, so Alinea can’t really do that, but yeah. Interesting that one of the top-rated restaurants in the states probably has less-fresh flowers than somewhere in rural Italy where they may be plucked and put straight into a plate.
Am I the ONLY one that sees the penis???
Which was better? Ever or alinea?
Okay this definitely cost a LOt
Glad to see they changed the menu. I spent some time last summer staging and they been running the same menu for over 18month. Nice to see chef still pushing. I will say seeing the some item retro such as the hot potato and the balloon really surprise me and the trampoline papillote has been there for over a year now. Not to take anything away but there was a point in time where alinea would never repeat an item and constantly break barriers. I’m sure a lot has change from covid now and but my highest respect to them as that restaurant operates at peak human limits.
looks like you got shafted on the menu.
I’ve posted about this before. My wife and I ate in the Salon last October. I wanted to experience a 3* restaurant at least once in my life. It’s expensive for a reason. Yes the *** is part of it so it makes the demand high. But also the ingredients are very expensive and it’s run by a famous chef.
Also if you can’t get a reservation at the gallery. Book the Salon. It’s well worth it. Our meal was 9 courses and I was stuffed afterwards (the wine probably contributed though).
For those who say you’re getting little. Your not. Just imagine all the courses on one plate.