Alinea Falls on Global '50 Best Restaurants' List

A Lincoln Park restaurant known for once topping a list detailing the best North American restaurants has been ousted from the top 10.

Although Alinea, 1723 N. Halsted St., remains on the 50 Best Restaurants list, it now sits in the No. 15 slot, according to a report by Crain's Chicago Business. It was once the top-ranked North American eatery and last year, fell into the No. 7 space.

The restaurant—known for its awe-inspiring dishes, innovative presentation and pricey meals—opened in 2005. At the helm is renown chef Grant Achatz and investor Nick Kokonas.

Crain's reports:

The rankings were released today by U.K.-based Restaurant magazine, owned by William Reed Business Media, at a ceremony held in London.

More than 800 members of the World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy provide input on the list, which has run since 2002.

The top 10 and U.S. restaurants on the 2013 San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants list, followed by last year's position in parenthesis, are:

• 1. El Celler de Can Roca, Spain (2)
• 2. Noma, Denmark (1)
• 3. Osteria Francescana, Italy (5)
• 4. Mugaritz, Spain (3)
• 5. Eleven Madison Park, New York (10)
• 6. D.O.M, Brazil (4)
• 7. Dinner by Hester Blumenthal, U.K. (9)
• 8. Arzak, Spain (8)
• 9. Steirereck, Austria (11)
• 10. Vendome, Germany (23)

Alinea was the only restaurant in the city to earn a three-star Michelin Guide rating for 2013, which, Michelin says rewards "exceptional cuisine where diners eat extremely well, often superbly." It also notes that dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

Follow us on Facebook!