Alinea (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | May 4, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Founder | Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Grant Achatz (chef and proprietor), Nick Kokonas (co-owner) |
| Products | Maximalist modernist cuisine |
Alinea, situated in Chicago, earned three stars from the Michelin Guide in 2010. Since the closure of Grace in 2017, it stands as one of only two establishments in Chicago holding this prestigious rating, alongside Smyth as of 2023. The restaurant is acclaimed for its distinctive "maximalist modernist cooking" style.
History
Alinea opened its doors on May 4, 2005. Its name and emblem are inspired by the pilcrow symbol, which signifies a new paragraph or shift in thought—symbolizing the restaurant’s inventive culinary vision combined with meticulous attention to detail. Co-owner Nick Kokonas emphasizes this layered significance.
In October 2008, chef and proprietor Grant Achatz together with Kokonas released Alinea, a hardcover publication containing more than 100 recipes from their kitchen.
The Alinea Group expanded in January 2016 by acquiring Chicago’s Moto restaurant. That same year, Alinea closed temporarily on January 1 for significant renovations and a menu revamp, reopening on May 20 after conducting an international pop-up series in cities such as Madrid and Miami.
Also in May 2016, Alinea and Achatz were featured in Netflix’s Chef's Table, highlighting their culinary creativity and Achatz’s professional journey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Illinois in 2020, when indoor dining was prohibited, Alinea offered rooftop service featuring a canapé designed to resemble the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Co-owner Kokonas noted this dish was meant to spark dialogue, although it elicited varied responses from patrons.
To commemorate its 20th anniversary in March 2025, Alinea initiated an immersive month-long residency at Olmsted located in Brooklyn, New York.
Awards and honors
From 2007 through 2017, Alinea earned the AAA Five Diamond Award, the highest accolade granted by AAA. It held the ninth position on the S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants List and was second only to Eleven Madison Park within the United States. Up until 2023, it remained Chicago’s sole restaurant with a three-star rating from the Michelin Guide. Additionally, Alinea received the 2016 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant.
In 2016, Alinea advanced to number 15 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, climbing eleven places from its ranking in 2015. That October, TripAdvisor recognized it as the leading fine dining destination in the US and among the top ten globally. Later rankings positioned Alinea at 21st place in 2017, 34th in 2018, and 37th in 2019 on the same list.
See also
- List of Michelin 3-star restaurants
- List of Michelin 3-star restaurants in the United States
- Next (restaurant)
- The Aviary (bar)
External links
- youtube.com 24 Hours at Alinea
- Spinning Plates, a documentary from 2012 featuring Alinea alongside other renowned restaurants