The only establishment of its kind in Chicago, Chef Grant Achatz's three-Michelin-starred institution is a multisensory delight. The venerable Lincoln Park establishment underwent a significant restoration in 2016, replacing its ominous, seductive decor with a light, classic setting. Every course on Alinea's tasting menus is a dramatic masterpiece served with faultless service, even though they cost between $205 and $475 per person: Expect a lot of dry ice, unusual fruits, and fun serving utensils. Achatz's famous helium taffy balloons, which fill the dining room with giggles and high-pitched laughing, are a great way to round off the evening.

It is also magical. Wine glasses are continuously refilled and filled with ease as the food is served, and the elegance of outstanding service even extends to your entry. As soon as we entered, we were sent to the second-floor salon for the most reasonably priced supper ($800 for two people, including a wine pairing). The salon, which accommodates groups of one to six people, was mostly used by date-going couples. At the table was our menu, with items with titles like "spectrum," "glass," and "yellow."

Between each course, guests get to play a guessing game by speculating on what might come next and how it might be served. The first dish, simply titled "ice," is served in the form of a wobbly ball of, you got it, ice, which you must balance while spooning spot prawn, banana, and coconut into your ice ball-slash-bowl as it freezes.

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0
Address: 1723 N Halsted StChicago60614
Phone: 312-867-0110
Opening hours: Dinner: Wed–Sun
Website: http://www.alinearestaurant.com/

Ever, one of the Michelin-starred Restaurants in Chicago, a fine-dining landmark in Chicago that offers a prix-fixe menu with eight to ten courses centered on proteins from land and sea that are whipped into delectable marvels, is the return of Curtis Duffy and Michael Muser (Grace). The dining area, which was created by James Beard Award-winning architects LSA, is incredibly gorgeous and darkly lit. Ever, which has been dubbed Duffy's "creative obsession," promises a singular eating experience that is sophisticated, ambitious, and intense—with a price tag to match.

Ever is the creative interest of Michael Muser, a partner in business with Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy. Ever is for visitors who come to their four walls in search of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Their desire has only grown as they continue to pursue improvement.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 1340 W Fulton StChicago60607
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–10pm
Website: www.ever-restaurant.com

Taking one of the very first places on the list of the Michelin-starred Restaurants in Chicago, Moody Tongue relocated west to a spacious 28,600 square foot location after outgrowing its Pilsen digs, allowing the brewery more room to explore. An on-site brewery and manufacturing facility, as well as two distinctive dining establishments run by chief chef Jared Wentworth, are located inside the new headquarters. There are two dining options available to guests: a 12-course tasting menu in the elegant Dining Room, or an à la carte meal in the Bar.

Of course, all locations will be brimming with Brewmaster Jared Rouben's food-friendly brews, including well-liked pours like Sliced Nectarine IPA and Steeped Emperor's Lemon Saison as well as more daring concoctions like the Scotch Barrel Aged Peated Scotch Ale.

Google Rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 2515 S Wabash AveChicago60616
Phone: 312-600-5111
Opening hours: Tue, Wed 4–10pm; Thu 4–11pm; Fri 4pm–midnight; Sat noon–midnight
Website: www.moodytongue.com

It took some time for us to find the highly acclaimed Oriole—from industry veterans Noah Sandoval, Genie Kwon, and Aaron McManus—as we wandered through River West on a cold, windy night. It appears as though the restaurant is aware that the door in the back alley is worth finding because it is largely unmarked. And it's legitimate. Here is a fine dining establishment that does everything properly from the beginning: The host removed my jacket as soon as we arrived and replaced it with a steaming cup of cider that had been mixed with sochu. It was as though she could read my thinking.

The apartment itself is stunning; exposed brick creates a cozy atmosphere, and massive wooden columns serve as a constant reminder that you are in one of the city's most fashionable neighborhoods. Every table is covered in spotless white tablecloths, and the napkins are neatly folded. When the napkin is safely in your lap, the first decision you'll have to make is whether or not to order the $125 drink pairing with the $190 tasting menu (you should—ideal); it's the last decision is whether you'll want tea or coffee when it's all over (you'll want both—you'll want to enjoy every second of your time at Oriole).

Their dinner begins with a bite of Golden Osetra caviar, which feels opulent and sets the tone for the rest of the meal. The bite is brightened by lychee and grape. A further element of surprise is added by the fact that the dish is served in a bowl that resembles an egg in shape. The foods are all presented in an interesting way. Consider the puffed beef tendon, which is a very fancy pork rind that is served with wagyu tartare and sliced matsutake mushrooms on top of a bed of wood chips for a hint of smokiness. A broad wooden skewer of smoked finger limes, small greens, and ham is served with a beausoleil oyster topped with an Ibérico consommé.

Sommelier Aaron McManus's suggestions for drink pairings range from light and airy whites like grüner veltliner to a bitter cocktail made with Madeira, Cocchi Americano, and Noilly Prat vermouth. Your waitress goes into great detail about each option; for example, some carb-heavy meals (such as sourdough and capellini dishes) are paired with a Belgian golden ale to match the yeast flavor. A tray of tiny desserts, including white chocolate yuzu and salted caramel chocolates and a little mint chocolate macaron, will be served to you as your meal comes to a close. It is served with a slightly sweeter Italian moscato from the Piedmont region. We were given a coconut cream pie packaged in individual boxes as a leaving gift along with one final course to take home.

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0
Address: 661 West Walnut StreetChicago60661
Phone: 312-877-5339
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 5:30pm-9:30pm
Website: www.oriolechicago.com

At Smyth, you'll discover some of the most intriguing and decadent delicacies. For instance: On one platter, creamy foie gras slices and scrambled kani miso are placed on top of soft pieces of Dungeness crab (a.k.a. crab innards). It is a tiny but potent taste that is dripping with lavish ingredients. The fact that it feels as though you are eating it in your best friend's living room is startling, especially if your best friend also has great sense in décor.

All of it is a component of the high-low balance that makes up Smyth. The West Loop fine-dining establishment is cozy and pleasant, and the food is absolutely extravagant. The founders and cooks of Charlie Trotter's and Alinea, John and Karen Urie Shields, had the idea to create a cheerful, laid-back restaurant that would honor their time spent in Smyth County, Virginia. Oak wood, yellow lighting, and comfortable accents like vases of thistles and a rolling bar cart fill the eatery. It has a similar vibe to the Loyalist, the casual yet elegant bar downstairs, where you can genuinely unwind. Here, the quality—and cost—of what you're about to eat makes a significant impact.

You must first choose how many classes you will take: five, eight, or twelve. They chose the 10-course meal, which is no longer available. Whatever you decide, be ready for opulent foods to arrive at your table (think caramelized lobster, crispy duck tongue, and creamy uni). A salted licorice-soaked egg yolk that was nestled in a cup of yogurt meringue really mesmerized us. A medium-bodied Alsace pinot gris with lemon notes pairs superbly with the show-stopping entrée. The drink pairings, which include a blend of white and red wines as well as a beer for good measure, are chosen from around the world to match with the food. From a pure dazzling white,

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0
Address: 177 N Ada St #101Chicago
Phone: +17739133773
Opening hours: Tues–Thurs 4pm–12am, Fri–Sat 4pm–2am
Website: smythandtheloyalist.com

This winter, the Boka Group made some significant improvements to its ten-year-old flagship restaurant. It completely transformed the area, making it unrecognisable from its previous, drab appearance. Now, there is a massive wall covered in moss and plants, painted with paintings of elegantly attired animals, and designed by former Time Out dining editor Heather Shouse's Bottle and Branch horticulture company. There is also a bar area that resembles a boisterous brasserie with dark leather, brick walls, and dim lighting.

Featuring images of Dave Grohl and Bill Murray dressed as generals. Tim Stanczykiewicz (GT Fish & Oyster, Balena), who handles the list of crowd-pleasing drinks that don't dominate the meal, was brought in to fill in for bartender Ben Schiller, who had already left for the Berkshire Room. Additionally, it hired the chicken god Lee Wolen, who was previously the chef de cuisine at the Lobby, to replace Giueseppe Tentori at GT Fish & Oyster.

Wolen brought a dish from New York's NoMad to Chicago called roasted chicken for two, which was the Lobby's signature dish (the sister restaurant to Eleven Madison Park, where Wolen was a sous chef). At Boka, the meal is different, but it's still outstanding—lemon and thyme brioche is placed under the skin, followed by roasting of the breasts and confiting, shredding, and pressing of the legs.

Two preparations—the breast with crisp skin on top, rich brioche stuffing in the center, and delicate meat underneath—are the result. The leg meat is then presented alongside apples and kale on a separate plate. It's cozy but elegant, and at $26, it seems like a great deal. Another adjustment at Boka is a slightly more affordable menu. Before tip, a two-person dinner for two with the suggested four courses (salad, appetizer, entrée, and dessert) costs about $200.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 1729 N Halsted StChicago60614
Phone: 312-337-6070
Opening hours: Dinner
Website: bokachicago.com

This brick-and-mortar fine dining establishment in Bucktown was created by chef Trevor Teich (L2O, NoMi, Acadia), and it delivers contemporary food as a 7–10-course, nostalgia–driven tasting menu for $225 per person. You will need four hours to complete the somewhat more opulent, $265 Chef's Table sampling experience, which includes a private lunch in the kitchen.

Chicago-born chef trevor teich has worked in some of the nation's best restaurants, such as l2o (three michelin stars), nomi (one star), acadia (two stars), as well as twist by pierre gagnaire in Las Vegas (gagnaire was voted the best chef in the world in 2015 by LE chef list of the best chefs in the world). He now comes to chicago with claudia and brings his own culinary vision. The adventurous multi-course dinner that begins as a chicago pop-up claudia restaurant unfolds like a well-paced story full of exciting twists and surprises.

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0
Address: 1952 N Damen AveChicago60647
Phone: 773-697-9486
Opening hours: Thu–Sun 5:30pm–11:30pm
Website: www.claudiarestaurant.com

At EL, a dinner consists of 15 courses, with the last one being the only one that isn't on the menu. When a server brings Phillip Foss a dish with two malt-sized sweets, each skewered on the end of a miniature sword, he exclaims, "These are my chocolate salty balls."

The outspoken chef has established [node:14879469 link=Meatyballs], a trio of food trucks that derives a level of amusement from sophmoric puns on male genitalia (Schweddy Balls, Thai'd Balls, Chef's Special Balls), similar to that of a teenage boy, in the year since he was fired from the Palmer House Hilton's

But Foss did something a little more mature last month. To build a ten-seat "micro-restaurant" within the "Ball Cave," the Meatyballs prep kitchen on the West Side, he hired Andrew Brochu, the former chef of Kith & Kin. Only ten diners would be served a $125 tasting menu at EL, which stands for "Elevated ideas," three evenings a week. Foss and Brochu would be in charge of all the preparations. For a chance to win a reservation, interested diners should fill out a submission form at Elideas.com.

Under the same fictitious identity, I twice submitted the form. No response A coworker was dispatched to the Meatyballs truck. The Meatyballs man advised you to phone the establishment. I called a pal. A had occurred.

Google Rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 2419 W 14th StChicago
Phone: 312-226-8144
Opening hours: Dinner (Tue-Fri)
Website:elideas.com

It's simple to be enchanted by the soup served in owl mugs and the decor, which welcomes you at the entryway with tree branches or a white deer head. However, at $354.78 for dinner for two (with service and tax, but prior to drinks), simply enjoying dinner is insufficient.

Elizabeth, one of the Michelin-starred Restaurants in Chicago, launched in September 2012 with three tasting menus that varied in price and size, as well as community tables. In other words, unless you bought the full table, your ability to enjoy supper greatly depended on the people at your table. Now, two years later, there is a single tasting menu each night, two or four-seat tables have taken the place of the communal tables, beer pairings are available in addition to wine and non-alcoholic pairings, and there is also a cocktail menu. Additionally, you can call the restaurant and make a reservation over the phone in addition to ordering tickets online.

The restaurant serves "new gatherer" food, which is another way of stating that Regan forages for many of the ingredients she uses and grows many others, according to Elizabeth's website. It's the Chicago equivalent of New Nordic cuisine, the seasonal, hyperlocal food served at establishments like Rene Redzepi's Noma restaurant in Copenhagen. A meal at Elizabeth is a lesson in the four various menus that are offered throughout the year. The fall means that elements like squash, mushrooms, fermented concord grapes, and Queen Anne's lace are blended in ways that I've never seen. Many of the dishes don't come with utensils; for example, the bear rice crispy treat is delivered sitting atop a rock, and you pick it up with your hands. Despite the exquisite presentation, there is a certain amount of

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0
Address: 4835 N Western AveChicago60625
Phone: 773-681-0651
Opening hours: Dinner
Website: elizabeth-restaurant.com

The name of the new West Loop restaurant from husband-and-wife team David and Anna Posey (she of the Publican, he of Blackbird) is derived from the Danish term for "love" as a tribute to David's origin and the fact that the couple got engaged in Copenhagen. The cuisine was created with seasonal ingredients and simple meals in mind; the food, however, is not Danish. You can order an eight-course prix fixe meal or à la carte; during our visit, it appeared that groups preferred the latter option while couples opted for the tasting menu. Elske is a great place to start if you're new to fine dining. Its dependable and approachable dishes will educate diners on what to anticipate when they order a coursed meal, using complicated ingredients that are nevertheless rich in flavor but without unnecessarily careful plating.

The sharp crunch of the plants contrasts with the warm beverage, their flavors melding together. Two bowls—one filled with smoked fruits and vegetables like radishes topped with dill, the other a herbal tea of the same fruits and vegetables—are served. The first pairings included a sparkling Spanish white from the Canary Islands and a white grape juice that had been carbonated with yeast and star anise, with the option of wine or non-alcoholic beverages.

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0
Address: 1350 W Randolph StChicago
Phone: +13127331314
Opening hours: Sun 6–10pm, Wed–Thurs 6–10pm, Fri–Sat 6-11pm
Website: elskerestaurant.com