Yyyyeah, those Forbes numbers don't make ANY sense. Alinea, while plenty pricey, is CLEARLY not the 2nd most expensive restaurant in the nation. I'd be shocked if it cracked the top 10, and a little surprised if it cracked the top 25. But number two? Impossible.

Something's amiss.

Regarding Alinea, though I haven't gotten there yet myself, a couple of friends did this past Friday. They said it was absolutely fantastic, though it requires some adjustment of your expectations. The impression I get is that Alinea : other fine restaurants :: a collection of animated shorts : Snow White... if that makes any sense.

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Too bad for you! Alinea is to the US what the Fat Duck is to the UK -- a cute as the dickens chef rolling out molecular gastronomy treats one course after another. It is a five hour dining fest well worth the $400 that a wine pairing and meal will set you back. This isn't about stick-to-your-ribs home cooking - this is culinary play at its height.

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When my three friends and I went for dinner at Alinea, we spent $397 per person (including tax and tip) on the Tour (24 courses) and wine tasting (about 18 wines) and absolutely no supplemental charges. Without wine, the Tour is $185 before tax.

I'd say Forbes may not be too far off.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. The food is imaginative and delicious, more than I can say for most highly touted places I've been to.

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Forbes got their price numbers from Zagat's. I don't know this for a fact, but I am guessing that Zagat's does not update the price of a meal very often...

Alinea currently has three tasting menus, priced at 85, 125, and 175. This is about equal in price to Trotters, Tru, Avenues etc. Further, they distinguished only by city... so Masa is the most expensive in NYC, Alinea in Chicago .... but not #2 in the country.

I am reasonably sure we are not even the most expensive in Chicago.

Regards,

Nick Kokonas
Partner, Alinea

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