Alinea is chef Grant Achatz’s fine-dining restaurant at 1723 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park, a few doors from Boka on the Halsted strip just north of North Avenue. It serves a modernist multi-course tasting menu in three nightly formats: the Kitchen Table, The Gallery and The Salon.
What it’s known for
The MICHELIN Guide calls Alinea Achatz’s flagship and describes a high-concept tasting with tableside service and scented vapors, and names signature dishes such as the black truffle explosion and bourbon-maple cured Arctic char. Dessert has included an edible helium balloon and a course assembled directly on the table.
The 2025 MICHELIN Guide USA lists Alinea with two MICHELIN stars. Time Out Chicago reported in November 2025 that the restaurant had dropped from three stars to two; in announcing the change, Achatz noted that Alinea had spent 20 years pursuing creativity and rigor. The restaurant’s website also lists recognition from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants (Best Restaurant in North America), Elite Traveler and the James Beard Foundation.
Good to know
- Reservations: Booked online in advance. The official site says to reserve through October on Tock and November and December on OpenTable (October 2026).
- Price: MICHELIN places it in its highest ($$$$) price category; the official site does not publish menu prices.
- Transit: The CTA Red Line North/Clybourn station, at 1599 N. Clybourn Ave., is about two blocks south.
- Contact: The restaurant takes general questions at hospitality@alinearestaurant.com.
- Nearby: Boka shares the same block of Halsted, a few doors away.
For more special-occasion dinners, see Lincoln Park restaurants by cuisine or browse all Lincoln Park restaurants.
Sources: alinearestaurant.com, guide.michelin.com/us/en/illinois/chicago/restaurant/alinea, timeout.com/chicago/news/beloved-chicago-restaurant-alinea-just-lost-a-michelin-star-111325, transitchicago.com/station/ncly
