Alinea

Helmed by superstar chef and James Beard Award–winner Grant Achatz, the small room at Alinea is widely regarded as Chicago’s most exciting dinner spot, where giddy, awestruck culinary cognoscenti document each course with a digital photo before eating it. The options are limited to a 12-course ‘tasting’ and a 20-plus-course ‘tour’, bringing an artistic carnival of strange pairings served in steel and glass contraptions. Expect otherworldly single-bite dishes and futuristic delights like the duck served with a ‘pillow of lavender air.’ The once-in-a-lifetime meal can take upwards of four hours, and you can add a note-perfect wine pairing for an additional fee. Restaurant Magazine proclaimed Alinea North America’s top place to indulge. Reserve well in advance.