How to book Alinea

Alinea is chef Grant Achatz's restaurant at 1723 North Halsted Street in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood^1,4. Achatz opened it with business partner Nick Kokonas on May 4, 2005, and it is known for an inventive, theatrical take on modernist cooking^1,4. It closed at the start of 2016 for a full renovation and menu overhaul and reopened that May⁴.

Dinner is a multi-course tasting menu offered in three formats^1,2. The Gallery seats guests in a communal setting that brings in elements of theater and surprise and runs about three and a half hours; the Kitchen Table gives one private group a similar meal with an open view of the kitchen; the Salon uses individual tables and a shorter, more classic progression of about two to two and a half hours². Bookings are prepaid and non-refundable, a 20% service charge is added to the bill, and the dress code is "elevated casual"². Wine pairings come at three levels, alongside a list by the bottle and glass². Reservations run on Tock through October 2026 and move to OpenTable from November 1¹.

The Michelin Guide lists Alinea with two stars and describes a dinner built on scented vapors, hidden ingredients and tableside service³; it held three stars from 2011 to 2024⁴. The restaurant's own site lists honors including Best Restaurant in North America from The World's 50 Best Restaurants and James Beard Awards for outstanding restaurant, service and chef¹.