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Alinea: My dining experience
- Thread starter IAmtheFMan
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LOL at the jokers in this thread. People spend hundreds if not thousands on video games, figurines, and all sorts of consumerist crap every month and a guy goes out for a fancy meal and people shit his thread up.
What if somebody posted "I'd rather buy a tv" after someone's mega-pickup post. They'd get banned.
OP, congrats, I fully believe in going out to at least 1 super fancy meal per year. We only live once.
What if somebody posted "I'd rather buy a tv" after someone's mega-pickup post. They'd get banned.
OP, congrats, I fully believe in going out to at least 1 super fancy meal per year. We only live once.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
It's fine as long as you ask beforehand and aren't being a complete ass distracting the rest of the place with a bunch of flashes going off or making a scene.mac said:
Granted the pics I took at French Laundry weren't exactly in focus because I couldn't use a flash, but we were doing our best at being courteous and not trying to affect other diners in the room.
Are we ever going to get that fine-dining-gaf thread going?
weekend_warrior
Banned
$1500 plz.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Christ people, it's not like he paid all that money for just that one course. 
The final damage is actually pretty damn reasonable for 4 people.
From my FL post when 3 of us went last Feb:
The final damage is actually pretty damn reasonable for 4 people.
From my FL post when 3 of us went last Feb:
IAmtheFMan
Member
Javaman said:
The wine pairings weren't for every course, but they were by no means a "small" dash. There were probably 14 glasses of wine, and each were multiple sips; the goblet I showed a pic of with the Tournedo dish was probably LESS then the average wine pairing. Plus they kept refilling the wine pairings too.
The two that got the wine pairings were thoroughly drunk. Granted one was a small Asian girl, but the other was a pretty big guy. That was really the main reason why I didn't get the pairings... not so much for the cost, but I wanted to really taste EVERYTHING and be in a (relatively) sound state to appreciate it.
Nikodemos
Member
That's a failing on the restaurant's part. I know the American culture of "free refills", but alcoholic drinks should never be included, especially when one needs all his/her wits about in order to properly appreciate the experience. Getting sauced up diminishes the whole thing. One glass (or even snifter, in some cases) per couple of courses (assuming the wine pairs up correctly) should be more than enough. In your stead, I'd discuss this with the maitre d'.
Actually $200-300 is not too bad for something that you spend 5 hours at and leave fully satisfied. I'd like to try this sometime, but I think there are far too many different flavors on there and I'm sure to dislike a portion of them and I don't know if my stomach can handle it. It's like combining the different tastes of all you'll eat in a month in a single meal.
I'm not helping this at all, but you bumped a three year old thread to berate an experience.
Messofanego
Banned
Race to be King
Banned
Then you wouldn't get to try as many delicious things!
This looks like an amazing experience, OP, and incredibly fun. Glad you had a great time!
Edit - Uh, glad you had a great time three years ago. Erm... $30 Italian meal, anyone?
Boom Boom Pow
Banned
I had dinner at Alinea in December of last year. The bill came out to close to $1000 for 2 with the "lmited" wine pairing (which seemed to be about 10 - 12 glasses of wine). A lot of the 3 Michelin star restaurants need to sell the wine to stay afloat, so you can negotiate on the price for it. Anyway, the best way to describe this meal is to liken it to a magic show; presentation is just as important as taste, and alcohol makes the illusion more seamless. It was without a doubt the best meal of my life.
reggieandTFE
Member
If anyone wants to sample the experience without blowing an ENTIRE paycheck, you can check the Aviary in the West Loop. It's a cocktail bar with very limited food, but it's from same folks behind Alinea. The drinks run are all $17+, but most are an experience and taste great.
Red Liquorice
Member
You gotta try it? What did you pass it in your gold plated learjet?
Zuhzuhzombie!!
Member
Congrats.
We have a modern cuisine place that opened up down town. I hit them up once every month or two. It's pricey, usually about $200 if I go all out, but each and every time it's been worth it. Glad you got to enjoy it. We're opening an office in Chicago soon so maybe I'll get to go.
I go to Shanghai next year. We're going to lay over in Tokyo and plan to visit Sukiyabashi Jiro. Really looking forward to it.
Stayed in New York recently and got to eat a bunch of great food, especially in Chinatown.
We have a modern cuisine place that opened up down town. I hit them up once every month or two. It's pricey, usually about $200 if I go all out, but each and every time it's been worth it. Glad you got to enjoy it. We're opening an office in Chicago soon so maybe I'll get to go.
I go to Shanghai next year. We're going to lay over in Tokyo and plan to visit Sukiyabashi Jiro. Really looking forward to it.
Stayed in New York recently and got to eat a bunch of great food, especially in Chinatown.
Sub_Level
wants to fuck an Asian grill.
I would definitely wanna try something like this out. Not even as a flaky "when you win the lottery you'll do this" thing but as an actual "save up some money slowly and eventually do this" thing.
It was like $300 per person. I know I wouldn't mind going alone. And it's not something you would do every weekend or even every month lol
It was like $300 per person. I know I wouldn't mind going alone. And it's not something you would do every weekend or even every month lol
highrider
Banned
Yeah, I just find this stuff pretentious and kind of ridiculous. But hey, different strokes.
H.Protagonist
[-_-]/
I would love to go to Alinea. I adore tastings, especially with wine pairings. Seeing/experiencing anything taken to the heights of their trade is a delight. And looking at their menu online, the pricetag for the tasting seems pretty comparable to other nice places I've been to. I'm in! ... As soon as I get another job and somehow find myself in Chicago.
You have 13-18 courses. The "small" portions add up quickly.
Every tasting menu I've had, I've been super satisfied by the 3rd or 2nd to last plate.
H.Protagonist
[-_-]/
SUPER necro-posting.
I got to read an interesting dining experience, though, so thanks.I'm usually topped by the 5th or 6th plate in. People always comment on the portion size like you're being swindled, but the food is really, really rich (and delicious), and in tastings they build to incredible heights. Incredibly full belly heights.
IAmtheFMan
Member
Crazy necro-bump. But 3 years out, and I still vividly remember this dinner and have amazing memories of it. Not a single regret at all.
when you're an adult trying to impress someone it's different.
I'm currently working on someone who seems Alinea-worthy, I hope I get to go finally
highrider
Banned
Exactly..
Girls are really known to bash guys for "pretentious" restaurant choices. fucking shut ins, i swear
edit: and since this is the internet and i'm missing that you're agreeing with me, my bad :x
highrider
Banned
I'm not agreeing so much as pointing out something. It's cool if you feel that's the move to impress women, but I urge you to consider the character content of an individual that finds that impressive.
ConsumerSquare
Member
I'm glad this was bumped, I didn't see it the first time around. Nice write-up.
I'd recommend Catbird Seat in Nashville for folks wanting a similar experience for less money. The chefs are Alinea alumni, and a seat is $100 plus $60 for drink pairing (which is well worth it).
I'd recommend Catbird Seat in Nashville for folks wanting a similar experience for less money. The chefs are Alinea alumni, and a seat is $100 plus $60 for drink pairing (which is well worth it).
The character of someone who values unique experiences and good taste is questionable?
highrider
Banned
If it's being done to impress someone, yes. I didn't like the way he said that at all. Also in the same sentence he talks about a girl that might be worthy of this experience. Sounds elitist and very pretentious to me.
IAmtheFMan
Member
To chime in on the whole pretentiousness:
There are a lo-oot of old school Haute places that are super stuffy and make you feel uncomfortable. I'd argue that Alinea and Achatz's other places, despite the price tag, are not like that. It's surprisingly loose and a lot of fun.
There are a lo-oot of old school Haute places that are super stuffy and make you feel uncomfortable. I'd argue that Alinea and Achatz's other places, despite the price tag, are not like that. It's surprisingly loose and a lot of fun.
highrider
Banned
I'm not slamming the restaurant. Just the reasoning for going there. If you genuinely enjoy the food and it's worth the money to you have at it. But when you say this is what adults do to impress people..
Zuhzuhzombie!!
Member
I actually morphed into a 87 year old Frenchman when I was at Le Veau d'Or.
Well, you do. Impress your soon to be in laws? Take them to a nice restaurant. Impress participants in a business deal? Take them to a fancy restaurant. The ability to pick and treat someone to a magnificent restaurant is a good quality.
highrider
Banned
Then I shall remain unimpressive.
Zuhzuhzombie!!
Member
Hey bro, some people are just Olive Garden people. It's all good.
Expensive doesn't necessarily mean good, and great isn't always expensive.
Fine dining is one of the most satisfying ways to dispose of your disposable income. The earlier comparison to going to a live show is on point. This is not about filling your belly (though that happens too), it's about the synergy of presentation and sensation, and experiencing a broad, unique set of tastes that you aren't going to manage elsewhere.
Yes, because it's goddamned impressive.
Yes, because it's goddamned impressive.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
If you have the money for it, more power to you. Not any different than spending it on anything else.
Necro-bumping a three year old thread is generally looked down on, Nick. But you get a pass this time since most are still interested in discussion.
Maybe you don't realize how bad some peoples are diets are. I eat nothing but fat, carbs and sugar. This wont fill me up and at dat price, no thanks.
In a hoodie on my way to class, I wouldn't mind spending $200 to try something new. Definitely wouldn't be able to/want to go here on the regular.
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