Alinea

06/09/09

Too Expensive

by marymary at Citysearch

Do not order the wine pairings with your meal. We had the 12 course tasting and both ordered the wine pairing "for about an additional 35%" (exact words of the waitress). This put a diner for 2 people near $700!

The meal was interested and we thought about four out of the twelve dishes were really spectacular and actually would have been ok if we had just ordered a bottle of wine to share or a glass even. However without pressure we went all out and both got the wine pairings and that was SOOO not worth the money.

We've been to numerous tastings in various cities and would not go back to this one.

The three stars in for originality!

• Pros: Clever original combinations and food presentations
• Cons: Off the charts expensive

02/15/09

What an experience

by bautflyer09 at Citysearch

This restaurant is absolutely the best place I have ever been to. The setting is contemporary, but at the same time it was very comfortable. The staff was extremely accommodating and unpretentious - in short I believe they are experts at what they do, and while they know it, they truly want you to have an out of this world experience. I couldn't agree less with people that said they were rude - they even let us tour the back kitchen because we were so impressed. However, the greatest part of the experience was what it should have been - the food. I've never been to a restaurant where I laughed during consumption, or seen the look of absolute surprise on the faces of my companions. In short, the food is so exciting and well paired you have to try it to appreciate it. I highly suggest going all out and getting the full tasting menu accompanied with the wine parings - you won't be disappointed. If this isn't the best dinner of your life you are either a wanna-be foodie trying to knock the top guy just because or you don't have taste-buds.

• Pros: Superb Service, otherworldly food
• Cons: price, but this shouldn't be an issue if you want the best....

01/19/09

A Trip

by rollout925 at Citysearch

What can you say about one of the worlds top fine dinning places??

My Girlfriend and I went for my Birthday last year. We ordered the 12 course with wine parrings. It took around 4 hours. It is a very difficult building to find as there is a sign in the window (about 2' by 1') right behind where the vallets stand.

The food was good. Some of the "creations" I would say missed. I'm not much for gels and other pectin bsaed foods (I am a R&D Food Scientist). I don't think it is very challenging, or tasty for that matter, to make different gels, but that was a small part of the meal, and only my snobby oppnion.

Back to Dinner. It was nice, the service was out of this world. If you started to think about it, it was on your table. The Decour is interesting. They do not cram 100 tables in a room, but rather 3-5 to keep the noise down. The desserts were very nice, and the presentation behind the food was very well thought out.

My big complaint is after tipping over 20% on our meal (over $100) we were getting dirty looks on our way out!!! I did not spend over $600 on dinner for two people to have then judge me on leaving a very acceptable tip!!! That put a huge damper on our evening and I can assure everyone we will not be back. I have been to other Fine Dinning"restaurants with lessor prepaired foods, but had a much more enjoyable time. For the money, go somewhere else 8 times and watch Alice in Wonderland (if you walk in the front door you will understand)

It's a fun place to try and a place to be seen. I would not recomend this place to, to many people unless you are going on your company.

Happy Eating.

• Pros: It will change the way you look at food
• Cons: Cost, attitude from staff