Fine Dining Restaurants in Chicago, IL

“I went to Indienne with friends to celebrate 50th birthdays. The experience did not disappoint. Indienne delivered an exceptional dining experience with its tasting menu. The food was truly phenomenal—beautifully presented, thoughtful, and layered with bold yet refined flavors that felt both creative and rooted in tradition. Each course was memorable with different takes on recognizable dishes. While the drinks were just okay and didn’t quite rise to the same level as the food, they also didn’t detract from the overall experience. The tasting menu alone makes Indienne well worth the visit, especially for anyone who appreciates inventive, high-quality cuisine.“

“I often seek out experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants when traveling, and Chicago has its fair share of choices. I have dined several times at 3-star Alinea pre-pandemic, so I chose to book 2-star Oriole for this trip; it has perhaps the most buzz recently (ie, from Infatuation). Like Alinea, it's not just a meal, it's an experience, although less theatrical and perhaps more food-focused.\n\n Unassumingly located in a former warehouse on an alley, one enters the building via a small outdoor patio. There is a small reception area, part of which is a former freight elevator, where you are served a chilled tea. The elevator reminded me (and apparently other guests) of the Tower of Terror ride at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. The rear of the elevator opens up from the middle (as freight elevators do) and parties are individually escorted into the restaurant. Aside from a lounge area for waiting diners, there are 3 areas through which guests travel and take bites--the bar (3 bites), the open kitchen (one bite), and the dining room.\n\nWe may have seen Executive Chef/owner Noah Sandoval, but he blended in with the entire kitchen team, which was not small. The menu consisted of 14 courses/bites which surely change often; you are given a copy of your particular menu at the end of the experience, including whichever beverage pairing you had, if any. I had the non-alcoholic beverage pairing, which mostly consisted of highly complex tea-based drinks. A server told me all staff members participate in creating these elixirs.\n\nSince the courses surely change, it seems silly to list them all. I will say the 3 bites we had at the bar were all with raw or barely touched seafood and had broths so delicious we were slurping from the serving vessels like they were teacups. \n\nThe single bite served in the kitchen is perhaps the most memorable and unlikely to change with time. It's a Hudson Valley foie gras mousse served over toasted brioche and topped with blueberries--OMG!\n\nThe courses in the dining room were all fabulous and multi-layered. My faves were probably the Matsutake custard, the Wagyu ribeye and the carrot cake. \n\nOverall a pricey but unique and enthralling experience.“

“A very creative kitchen serves up surprising dishes in every course, even dessert, where many restaurants just go through the motions. They also serve up cocktails that you are not likely to see anywhere else. What comes as no surprise, is that they are a Michelin starred restaurant.“

“Hit up Atelier Restaurant for dinner last Saturday in Lincoln Square. I did the tasting menu and splurged on a wine pairing—loved the beet-and-rutabaga courses and that butter-poached whitefish—flavors were poppin’. Vibe felt cozy but elevated, servers were super chill and knew their stuff. Would totally come back.“

“What makes Cariño special for vegetarians is the intention behind every dish. The team clearly does more than “remove the meat”; they rethink each course so the vegetarian version has its own personality and depth. Thoughtful use of seasonal produce, umami-rich elements, and bright, layered sauces means you never feel like you're getting a compromise.“

“I love that Kendall remembers and reminds graduates to visit. Thank you for all the alumnae newsletters and information.“

“Absolutely incredible. Went for a belated birthday dinner and was wowed every step of the way.

From the intimate setting, to the inventive dishes, to the incredibly kind and attentive staff, this is truly a 5-star experience from beginning to end.

The beauty in the menu is the ability to highlight Wagyu without having to rely on it. Each element of each course is planned and executed with precision.

Truly one of the best restaurant experiences. Excited to go back.“

“It was Thanksgiving, so the restaurant was packed. However, the hostesses were efficient, the food was amazing, and the service was phenomenal. Chicagoans spend so much time trying new restaurants that we forget we have tried-and-true winners like The Capital Grille, which never disappoints. I have found my go-to spot for business meetings and social meals.“

“Omg this was incredible. Why are you reading this, go book a reso now.“

“Chef Devon and his team are phenomenal hosts. The meal prepared by Chef was a 5 star experience. I would highly recommend trying Loon if you haven’t yet.“

“Alinea is a must-experience for anyone who loves fine dining. It's food theater that subverts expectations and will challenge how you think about the dining experience.

The dessert is the standout dish-a truly impressive conclusion to a course that often feels like an afterthought.

That being said...Alinea's experience relies heavily on surprise and mystery...the food is still excellent, but without the surprise factor weighs heavily into the experience...at the end of the day, some of their dishes, while still good, are fairly average compared to other 3 star places...they're just presented in an interesting way.

Luckily, the service and environment make this worth the experience and thr cost of entry.“

“Initially we had a few issues. The room wasn’t ready and the kids were fussy and tired but the hotel gave us free deserts in the restaurant Adorn. They were amazing. The customer service was excellent. We finally got to our beautiful room with spectacular views and were very happy but the kids stuff that we requested wasn’t there. They again made up for it and went over and beyond. The kids loved getting an ice cream party, robes and treats. Four Seasons is an outstanding hotel. We will definitely be back. We’ve been home for 2 days and the kids already want to go back!“

“The first thing I noticed was how engaging the hostess was. We were seated upstairs and we loved the feel of privacy there. Our server was Blake a conscientious young man. I informed him that this was our first visit and he walked us through the menu and specials. We order various cuts of steak and one chicken meal. The sides were Brussels spouts, Lobster Mac and cheese and broccoli. The drinks were apple martini and lemon drops both served on dry ice and was quite the presentation! Every entree was delicious and served with the perfect temperature. We don’t live in the city of Chicago so driving down for over an hour to Mastro’s was worth it!“