Alinea

Standing outside Alinea, you have no idea what you're walking into. It's the epitome of nondescript, but the food is anything but. You're about to dine at one of the best restaurants in the world and you don't even know it; there's no sign, no logo, just a gray townhouse. The food is magic. You think you're eating one thing, but it actually tastes like something else entirely. Alinea plays with gastronomy in a way that's whimsical and delicious, not stuffy and stuck-up (as one might expect from a restaurant of its stature). Year after year, it's rated #1 in Chicago and this year, #9 in the world. It's one of only two 3-Michelin Star restaurants in the city.

Alinea, 1723 N Halsted St

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