TRU, Alinea, or Everest?

If you could go to one of these magnificently priced restaurants, and not pay for it,which would it be and why?

Hands down Alinea. Perfect service, innovative food, and a ton of fun. Don't even think about it, just go.

A couple of links that might be helpful ...

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=11323

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20931

Nice, thank you.

Alinea.

Okay, I actually have only been to Everest (multiple times), Tru (once) and Trio (once) and never to Alinea. Everest and Tru are excellent places and definitely worth a visit (I would slightly favor Everest over Tru because I like the way it is grounded in the food and drink of Alsace, but that is just my personal preference), but Achatz is a genius and if Alinea is better than Trio, as everything I have ever read indicates, the meal will be both delicious and amazing - a fabulous dinner and a stunning show in one sitting.

They are all wonderful, in different ways.

If I wanted a "foodie" experience, i.e. one in which I wanted to pay attention to the food and/or impress a companion knowledgeable about food, then the answer is easy: Alinea.

If I wanted a non-"foodie" experience, where food is not the end-all and be-all of the experience, but I wanted everything to be perfect (including the food) - for example, to impress a client not known to be a "foodie", or for a super-romantic anniversary dinner - then it would be Everest.

Incidentally, Everest is the least "magnificently priced" of the three. Even more so if you go early for their pre-theater special (3 courses for $50), 5:00/5:30 every night they're open except Fridays.

Its not even close from my perspective. Tru is a lot of show, good dining room, great service, flashy presentations, but for me the cuisine has never excited me. I always feel like its 1985 when I'm at Everest. Good times, sure, but dated. Alinea is amazing in every way.

Alinea.

It's in a class all by itself. Chef Achatz's food is delicious, inventive and distinctive. The overall dining experience at Alinea is unique as well, not only because of the food but also because of the space, the vibe and the way that every single detail has been taken into account and focused. It operates at a level that is, in my experience, unequalled anywhere in Chicago. Service is extraordinarily polished and very thorough but friendly, good-humored and never self-serious.

For me, when it comes to fine-dining in Chicago, Alinea's at the top, directly below it is a void and below that void is everywhere else.

=R=

I have been to Everest and Alinea. I would suggest Alinea-a dining experience you will never forget. It lives up to the hype for sure.
Everest was nice, but a little disappointing overall.
Be blown away.Alinea.

i think i'm the only person on earth who prefers tru over alinea...

both will be experiences you'll never forget. no question about that.

i did book the "semi private" room there, so maybe that skews my preference towards tru... (but it's free to book it if it's available)

to me the service at Tru was noticeably better, and when you're spending that kind of dough... that means a lot.

alinea... sure good. and innovative... no question that you're probably going to see some more food science type stuff at alinea than tru, but the food at tru is still unique and probably nothing you've ever experienced. also, you can get "chef's choice" to do whatever he wants to send... to me the food was more about innovative preperations--without being over the top--mixed with top notch at times exotic ingredients.. alinea's courses are relatively set and don't change. they have menus/pictures/etc online and you could probably read about each course if you wanted to... i wish i would've never seen any of the online info beforehand, it took away some shock value i guess. the shock value aspect of it can be distracting though, but that's kind of the whole point and i think why people love it.

i felt like a tourist at alinea too... camera flashes=distracting.

i also liked choosing wines by the glass at tru instead of pairings... not that the pairings weren't stellar, but the sommelier at tru was helpful and i can actually remember what i drank because we discussed and it wasn't just a bottle that showed up at the table. and pretty much every meal i've ever had where it was "pairings" i felt over served.

never been to everest...

Why not consider Avenues? I had the pleasure of eating there recently and I think it offers some of the best of all three of your options. It is probably not as "theatrical" as Alinea as an experience, but the cuisine offers some of that flair and creativity. The room is classic, not dated like Everest but has a nice view nonetheless. I found it outstanding in every way, totally memorable but still accessible to non-foodies and completely suitable for a special occasion that is not 100% just about the food. Alinea would obviously be unforgettable in its own right, but I was somewhat stunned to read about the (somewhat minor) glitches experienced by kai-m:

kai-m wrote:There was even one glitch, namely that the "Lamb, potato, sunflower, sweet spice" course was barely lukewarm – but this was the weakest course anyway, mostly because the potoato-chip-like-"sculpture", in which the lamb was wrapped, was totally trivial and distracted way too much from the rest.

The hot potato/cold potato was very good, as well, but maybe I expected too much after reading so much about it – it left me underwhelmed (but the "hot" potato was only lukewarm, so maybe the dish didn't work as well as it should/could.)

Every one of the dozen-odd courses we had was executed properly, and the best of the them were just absurdly delicious (not to mention creative and stunningly presented as well). Moreover, the service was absolutely flawless, the best I have ever had.

dddane wrote:i felt like a tourist at alinea too... camera flashes=distracting.

I was under the impression that flash was not permitted in the dining room at Alinea. I've never encountered it at any of my meals there. But in any case, flash photography could happen at any 'destination' restaurant -- depending on the circumstances of the given night -- so I wouldn't consider that factor too strongly in making your choice.

=R=

jeanpoutine wrote:The room is classic, not dated like Everest but has a nice view nonetheless.

Huh? The view at Avenues, seen from the tables, is that of another high-rise across the street.

I like the decor at Everest. It's kind of an art deco feel. I think it's supposed to look dated. Then again I think the sexiest actresses are from the 1930s and 40s.

While the service at all three is excellent - approachable, efficient, and knowledgeable - I have experienced the finest service in my life, in any restaurant anywhere, at Everest.

nsxtasy wrote:

jeanpoutine wrote:The room is classic, not dated like Everest but has a nice view nonetheless.

Huh? The view at Avenues, seen from the tables, is that of another high-rise across the street.

We sat by the window and had a nice view overlooking the water tower and the intersection of Michigan and Chicago. I mean I assumed thats where the name "Avenues" came from. Not quite Everest, but not a bad urban vista...

nsxtasy wrote:While the service at all three is excellent - approachable, efficient, and knowledgeable - I have experienced the finest service in my life, in any restaurant anywhere, at Everest.

This is hearsay, but a friend of mine (in his early 30's, young looking, worked in the industry for years) went to Everest and told me their service was snooty and he felt condescended towards and patronized.
I have also heard other reports of excellent service there, but never from someone my own age. It may depend on what you look like.

jeanpoutine wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:While the service at all three is excellent - approachable, efficient, and knowledgeable - I have experienced the finest service in my life, in any restaurant anywhere, at Everest.

This is hearsay, but a friend of mine (in his early 30's, young looking, worked in the industry for years) went to Everest and told me their service was snooty and he felt condescended towards and patronized.
I have also heard other reports of excellent service there, but never from someone my own age. It may depend on what you look like.

My wife and I are in our mid 30s and we had great service. It was very professional and formal. Polite. There when you needed it. An interesting anecdote:

My wife and I came in about the same time as another couple. Both tables ordered the degustation. When initially seated we were asked if there was a time we needed to leave by. They said 7. We said 7:30. Both of our meals were spaced out perfectly so that the other couple was done and gone by 7 and we still had a few more courses to go. We finished at exactly 7:30. That has got to be a nightmare for the kitchen to time things so perfectly.

jeanpoutine wrote:We sat by the window and had a nice view overlooking the water tower and the intersection of Michigan and Chicago. I mean I assumed thats where the name "Avenues" came from. Not quite Everest, but not a bad urban vista...

I believe you are confusing Avenues with NoMI. NoMI has the view you describe, from most of the dining room. And, of course, that's where the name NoMI comes from, North Michigan Avenue.

When I ate at Avenues earlier this year, I sat in a table close to the windows, and I can assure you that there was no such view visible. All we could see was the facade of the Park Hyatt on the other side of Chicago Avenue.

EDIT: Corrected details about the view; see further information below. Only one seat in the restaurant provides a view of the intersection of Chicago and Michigan while seated.

jeanpoutine wrote:This is hearsay, but a friend of mine (in his early 30's, young looking, worked in the industry for years) went to Everest and told me their service was snooty and he felt condescended towards and patronized.

I always trust actual experience over hearsay. Maybe you should try Everest and decide for yourself?

jeanpoutine wrote:I have also heard other reports of excellent service there, but never from someone my own age. It may depend on what you look like.

I can assure you it has nothing to do with looks or age.

I still remember two different examples during my most recent dinner there. Seated at the table next to ours was a young couple with their daughter, approximately five years old. A waiter noticed that the sun was in her eyes, and politely addressed her, rather than her parents, to ask if she would like for him to lower the blinds. Also, when my iced tea was served with a slice of lemon, I gave the slice of lemon to one of my dining companions for her glass of water. I made no request, but for the rest of the meal, the waitstaff served me iced tea without lemon, and my companion's water was replenished with a slice of lemon each time. Along with teatpuller's example, those are the ways the service at a high-end establishment truly distinguishes itself.

nsxtasy wrote:

jeanpoutine wrote:We sat by the window and had a nice view overlooking the water tower and the intersection of Michigan and Chicago. I mean I assumed thats where the name "Avenues" came from. Not quite Everest, but not a bad urban vista...

I believe you are confusing Avenues with NoMI. NoMI has the view you describe, from most of the dining room. And, of course, that's where the name NoMI comes from, North Michigan Avenue.

When I ate at Avenues earlier this year, I sat in a table close to the windows, and I can assure you that there was no such view visible. All we could see was a building across the street, and I'm pretty sure the street below was Superior Street.

The street below is definitely not Superior, as Avenues is on the north side of the Peninsula's building. I do believe there is a view of the Water Tower park at Chicago and Michigan from some of the windows.

Matt wrote:I do believe there is a view of the Water Tower park at Chicago and Michigan from some of the windows.

Not true while seated, except for a single seat.

Today, I was in that neighborhood for brunch, so I stopped by Avenues to check out the view. Avenues is on the north side of the fifth floor of the Peninsula Hotel, facing Chicago Avenue. Directly across the street is the Park Hyatt, which is the view for anyone facing northwest. Those facing northeast (and those turning to that direction) have a nice view of the top of the Water Tower, and behind it, the upper floors of Water Tower Place, but not the park or street below.

Because the restaurant is on the fifth floor, you cannot see down to the street unless you are seated directly next to the windows. All the window alcoves, except one, contain two-tops, and the only person who is up against the window and able to look down is facing away from the window - no view unless they're turning around. And even if you turn around, it is impossible to see Michigan Avenue from any of the two-tops; it's obscured by trees and rather far away.

There is a four-top in the window alcove in the northeast corner of the restaurant. From that one table, the person facing southeast has a nice view of the park below to his left, and can see Michigan Avenue behind it. The person facing southwest must turn around for a view. Everyone else has no view of the street below.

If you want a great view, go to NoMI or Everest (or North Pond or the Signature Room). Don't expect a great view of the park and street below from Avenues unless they're willing to reserve you the four-top in the northeast corner of the room.

EDITED after checking out the restaurant again today.

Matt wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:

jeanpoutine wrote:We sat by the window and had a nice view overlooking the water tower and the intersection of Michigan and Chicago. I mean I assumed thats where the name "Avenues" came from. Not quite Everest, but not a bad urban vista...

I believe you are confusing Avenues with NoMI. NoMI has the view you describe, from most of the dining room. And, of course, that's where the name NoMI comes from, North Michigan Avenue.

When I ate at Avenues earlier this year, I sat in a table close to the windows, and I can assure you that there was no such view visible. All we could see was a building across the street, and I'm pretty sure the street below was Superior Street.

The street below is definitely not Superior, as Avenues is on the north side of the Peninsula's building. I do believe there is a view of the Water Tower park at Chicago and Michigan from some of the windows.

There absolutely is. You get a nice view down to the plaza from the tables along the north wall (1 table we sat at once had a great view). The view is of the actual Water Tower, not the mall.

In any event, I'll take the food at Avenues over the view at Everest any day. I actually like Avenues more than either Tru or Everest right now.

jesteinf wrote:In any event, I'll take the food at Avenues over the view at Everest any day. I actually like Avenues more than either Tru or Everest right now.

I haven't been since Chef Duffy took over, but I would take the food at Everest over either tru or the Bowles version of Avenues, any day. (Obviously, I need to go back to Avenues for an update!) Alinea, I'd take first for the "food experience".

OTOH, there are no bad choices in this group. We're talking about four of the finest restaurants in Chicago, and all offer terrific food, service, and ambiance. All are thoroughly excellent in every way (at least, that's been my experience with them).

In deciding among them (as well as NoMI, Trotter's, etc), my suggestion is this. Take a close look at the menus on their websites, and read through the reviews here on LTH and elsewhere. If something you read about one of them strikes a chord, go there! When there are no wrong answers, go with whatever your gut tells you.

Of those mentioned, I've only been to Alinea and Tru, and I would say, without question, go to Alinea. My experience at Tru was not awful, but it wasn't good either. Both my dining companion and I found very few dishes that we really enjoyed (but service was fine). On the other hand, there was nothing about Alinea that I didn't like.