This Is The Most Expensive Restaurant In Illinois

CHICAGO — Be prepared to drop about $500 per person if you order off the top of the menu at Alinea in Chicago, the most expensive restaurant in Illinois, according to a new ranking.

Love Food, whose content includes recipes, food news, and opinion pieces, said the list of upscale restaurants in every state includes everything from “old-school, mahogany-filled steakhouses to seafood spots right by the ocean.”

The picks are based on the priciest main course or tasting menu. Spots with just one very expensive dish were excluded.

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The editors of the list said, "the United States has some seriously upscale restaurants for diners looking to spend big on a special occasion."

Of Alinea, located at 1723 N. Halstead St., Love Food said:

"If you’ve got cash to splash in Chicago, there are countless high-end spots for a sensational meal. However, it’s hard to beat three Michelin–starred icon Alinea, located in the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. This trailblazing spot is loved for its innovative approach to modernist cuisine and artful presentation – complete with edible balloons, clouds of dry ice, and consumable art. A meal here is as much about the food as the overall experience, but prepare to pay handsomely for the pleasure, as your multi-course meal could cost as much as $500 a head."

According to Alinea's website, it is one of 13 U.S. restaurants to earn three Michelin stars and has won James Beard Awards for Outstanding Restaurant, Service, and Chef in the U.S. Chef Grant Achatz, who co-founded Alinea in 2005, and his team offer three distinct experiences — The Gallery, The Salon, and the Kitchen Table — every night.

Achatz appeared on season two of the Netflix series, "Chef's Table," and also was a judge on the series, "The Final Table." Last year, he had a cameo on season three finale of "The Bear."

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"Alinea is an extremely fun dining experience," a Google review of the restaurant reads. "The food is very delicious as well. The best dishes for me are the char, the South American fossil, and the Iberian pork. Of course, the sundae is always iconic. Service is amazing and personable. I wish the wines by the glasses were a little better."

Another Google reviewer said, "I had such a lovely experience. This was my first Michelin Star experience and it was one of a kind!! The food was so good and the theatrics made it so fun. All the dishes were so good and my and my party had such a good time."