What it's like to Dine at the Chicago's Best Restaurant - Alinea (3 Michelin Stars)

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

I love that you choose to spend on experiences rather than things

[@ThroughMyLens]

We talk about these dinners so much now haha

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

@@ThroughMyLens The memories of the events are what I cherish with my wife. We enjoy talking about future trips and researching them together.

[@MartianAmbassador69]

I never knew that all this time I've been slurping spilled ice cream off my counter top, I've actually been creating art worthy of Michelin stars 😂 And to think my wife thought i was just a common slob...

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha! 😂 😂 😂

[@Marie-dn8sb]

😅 But your michelin experience didn't empty your pockets.

[@victoriamaaske7420]

I just read his book about the chefs cancer and starting up this restaurant. Awesome. So glad the chef made it through. The book is an awesome autobiography as well .

[@ThroughMyLens]

I need to read it, thanks for the suggestion!

[@pattysmith8212]

My daughter worked there. Chef Grant signed a book for. It’s a touching read.

[@kaplan6514]

Your videos truly come from the heart.

[@ThroughMyLens]

We try, thanks for the kind words!

[@bridgetkorns8174]

These extreme foodie locations are fun to watch. I would never go so it's fun to go vicariously.

[@ThroughMyLens]

So glad you enjoy the videos, thanks for the comment! I like the term "extreme foodie location" as well haha

[@rhondaz356]

I have never been to such a place. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am not sure I would ever go there, so it's nice to live vicariously.🤗 That is expensive, but it definitely is obvious you both will remember this experience always. THAT is what matters, the most. 👏🏻👏🏻 🔥

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for watching! Yea, these spots are so pricy but wow are they memorable haha

[@nickkokonas2204]

Glad you enjoyed !!

[@MichaelRei99]

I am all for doing this. Especially if you enjoyed it. It is not for me but I’m glad I got to experience it through you guys.

[@LindaSChastain]

Looks amazing and so much fun.

[@carlapires7732]

As always, excellent video! Love watching you both going through your many adventures. Here too, great scenery (another level of course, but great nonetheless!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment! Good scenery for sure haha

[@kenuty]

Just ate a dorito that fell on my table Pure art, I see it now

[@2011woodlands]

Happy birthday. For $900 you could charter a fishing boat out of Chicago for 6 people for 6 hours , catch your own food and have money left over for dinner, but everyone has their own way of celebrating special occasions.

[@ThroughMyLens]

That is true, not a big fisherman myself though

[@ChasingTheAdventureOutdoors]

Happy belated birthday, you certainly deserve it, letting your husband go on all those solo adventures with pops!

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha I will let Amie know!

[@darwincity]

Nice preview for me. I’m going here for dinner on July 18th.

[@Timpranillo]

Same!

[@victormedina2269]

Living vicariously as noted below! Very gimmicky! Arrive hungry leave hungry!

[@michaeljensen7896]

Amy looking gorgeous and Josh looking dapper! Another great episode for the foodie 🍽️ Thank you 🙏🏻

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks, very kind of you to say!

[@michaeljensen7896]

@@ThroughMyLens …but I still love you and pops evaluating food places on Route 66 too. 🤩

[@AZV-ev5pn]

I enjoyed your video of a place I would absolutely never go to!

[@auntigingy8666]

This place is the place to go to experience food and enjoy a different delicious way to eat.

[@maxczapski2239]

Man, I saw that restaurant on CT 7 years ago too and always have wanted to go there. Good for you! Grant has one incredible story to tell.

[@bellapaz97]

This is really an amazing cuisine. Thank you for sharing your food adventure. 💖💫 Happy belated birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@laughingatlife7100]

Wow, how wonderful 👍 thank you for sharing 🫶

[@ThroughMyLens]

Our pleasure! Thanks for the comment!

[@JaniceStewart863]

I enjoyed watching you have this experience. Yes, to more like it. I like the style of the video as well, showing the experience then the comments. Wow, I always considered myself a foodie with a good palate, but this was definitely over the top for me, so it was fun to watch.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for watching it and for the comment! I feel like each of these are like a unique adventure and we love going on them haha

[@kayleebeare]

Thanks for sharing this with us! Been loving these extreme foodie videos

[@ThroughMyLens]

Extreme Foodie Videos, new series title haha

[@AndreaMc1970]

I really like these fine dining videos. You make it seem very approachable. I may never go to these places, but you have shown me I can if I want! Thank you!

[@ThroughMyLens]

So glad you enjoy them, thanks for the comment!

[@marlo7218]

This was fun- I hope you experience and review more special restaurants! Thanks you

[@hey_mickey7770]

Beautiful family❤️

[@parfenyj]

I loved the video you did on the French Laundry, so I was sure I'd enjoy this one too. And I did - but I was also amazed: I had no idea there is a restaurant that would do such cool imaginative things! Keep it up, these restaurant reviews are really cool!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for the comment, so glad you liked the videos. We have fun making them so I was hoping people would enjoy them.

[@parfenyj]

@@ThroughMyLens I think it shows... you enjoy -> your audience enjoys

[@lizzie4144]

What a fun meal. Please go to more Michelin Star restaurants. Do some high end restaurants… Spago, Hells Kitchen, famous Chef restaurants.

[@ashouraitakhoshaba2360]

I've been wanting to go there for 10 years, but I heard they got rid of their vegan options (I'm vegan), so now I can't. 😭 Sadness. Looks so fun.

[@tonycathyhickman2512]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us! Great idea to do something special together as a gift. I’ve just got to ask, did you leave still feeling hungry??? I realize that wasn’t the type of restaurant where the portions are huge. More like small appetizer portions. Thanks so much. Yours is one of our favorite channels ❤

[@ThroughMyLens]

I was worried about that when we visited French Laundry but all of the fine dining experiences we have had have left us full. The food is rich and even though the portions are smaller there are a lot of them.

[@Ondar007]

wow 😁

[@ThroughMyLens]

😀😀😀

[@chrisross3631]

Thanks for this interesting video! With that being said, this looks terrible, lol. I'll stick with the Texas BBQ joints instead!

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha fair enough!

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

So now the big question - if you could do only one again - would it be Alinea or French Laundry?

[@ThroughMyLens]

Oh man, that is hard to pick. But I would probably do Alinea just because it would probably be a totally different thing next time.

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

@@ThroughMyLens that's a really good point. Having no idea what you are going into is part of the fun and allure

[@MartianAmbassador69]

A grand to eat syrup off a table, and caviar out of a rock? Would you guys be interested in dining at my restaurant? It's in my one bedroom apartment and i serve Bud Light out of Air Jordans and meatballs that i drop on the floor and my cat bats around for 30 seconds.

[@ThroughMyLens]

How can I get a reservation??

[@MartianAmbassador69]

​@@ThroughMyLens😂

[@acewild9689]

You said $960 per person and your wife looked at you like “😮 wait what”

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha I know right? 😂

[@acewild9689]

@@ThroughMyLens 🤣👍

[@roastbeefoffroad]

So do you actually get full, or do you hit McDonald's on the way home?

[@ancilmarcantel6060]

I think what many people dont understand js that the a lot of Michelin star resturanta are centered around these insane presentatiins that go beyond what is thought to be norm

[@rvcruising]

Looks amazing! How did it compare to your meal at the French Laundry?

[@ThroughMyLens]

I thought we would be able to compare them more but they are all so different. French Laundry is absolutely classic with every dish being done to perfection, while Alinea was more of an experience, where you never knew what was coming next, it was so fun! We just visited Addison in San Diego as well and that one was more of a dance with how everything moved and how the dishes were presented, they are all so different. It really is fun and its hard to not want to go to all 13 in the USA haha

[@rvcruising]

@@ThroughMyLens sounds amazing, thanks! And I’m here for all 13 videos!

[@khun1pla]

@@ThroughMyLensif you like to get surprises while eating, order a chef at home and let him do what he will do. If it’s serving time switch off the light and enjoy the food. Believe me, that is experience as it’s best. If I go dining I prefer perfect food , not a show .

[@JeffinBville]

Do you know how many Unicorns had to die for your sprinkles?

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha good question!

[@C-TOS]

That was... different. It is still more affordable than going to Salt Bae's restaurant.

[@ThroughMyLens]

It was a unique experience for sure!

[@candycornett5061]

Not for me sure glad you guys enjoyed it you deserved it.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Fair enough, thanks for watching!

[@petermgruhn]

I'm watching and "this guy worked under Keller." Check Wikipedia... four years at French Laundry. Go me! I'd have to try it, but I worry about the theater. Does he have another restraurant that's about good food?

[@ThroughMyLens]

Good catch! The food here is very good, I think he has a couple other spots in the city as well though. People mentioned Aviary but I don't know much about that one.

[@Bragglord]

Lmfao, damn good place, but best in America? Maybe best in Chicago, but the top tier restaurants on the West and East coasts might have something to say (TFL, Single Thread, Per Se). Glad you both enjoyed it, anyway

[@petermgruhn]

OR they got plates with smoking fish made to go with the food.

[@mixeddrinks8100]

looks like an art invasion than a food invasion

[@ThroughMyLens]

It was a very artistic take on food for sure

[@scottsmith31]

Only a millennial would go to a 3 Michelin star restaurant wearing a tjmaxx sweatshirt

[@onepcwhiz6847]

Dodge any bullets?

[@chrisvlad5647]

At what point does gimmicky cross the line from fine cuisine into a sham? Call me what you will but I think this restaurant and this chef are already there.

[@josephberkowitz7284]

Pretentious twaddle. A distillation of abstracted emptiness characteristic of todays hyper-postmodern ethos. Bah humbug!

[@jimmyrosen9424]

This restaurant is out of their mind ($$ wise). Do you realize that two people could fly to Paris and eat at a great FRENCH restaurant for this same amount? WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY.

[@idiOTytinflUnceRs]

Great video. Incredible experience! Better than any fine dining restaurant in England, Japan, Argentina, South Africa, and Paris. Worth every penny as the experience is so unique. Anyone who says it is a waste of money are so ignorant and clearly never traveled the world. So sad that they would criticize a unique dinner experience. And it’s all in Chicago. The GREATEST city in the world. 👍😋

[@ThroughMyLens]

I never had a 3 Michelin Star until French Laundry but now I am hooked, we just save money for these dining experiences now pretty much haha

[@tomelifeisjustonebig]

This is utterly ridiculous. 😅😅😅

[@rx7386]

The helium sugar ballons are the stupidest idea I've seen in recent memory,

[@JimJoeKnoxTenn]

I really enjoy all your restaurant reviews, whether special occasion ones like Alinea and the French Laundry or favorites in places visited, whether sit-down, local specialty, or just a hot dog or donut shop. These add a nice aspect to the travel, scenic, or historic area or site visited. And both Aimee and Pops are terrific co-tasters -- so please keep them coming (especially if you can claim them as a business expense).

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for the great comment. We run the gamut between donuts and hot dogs and fine dining. I don't know which I like more!

[@RobertSchantz]

I’m sorry. I went there and if I was in California I would have wanted to go to in and out burger after. What a waste of money for all the flare. Two thumbs down.

[@CliftonSimon4924]

I am a barbarian. I will take Thor's Hammer and smash the table. Great video 😊

[@JT-zy2ft]

Went to Alinea a few years ago and was actually alittle disappointed in the overall dinner. The previous day we had dined at Oriole which we felt was better. I wouldn’t call it a bad experience but being lucky enough to have dined at a lot of 2 and 3 Michelin star restaurants it didn’t live up to the hype. But would definitely recommend Oriole.

[@ThroughMyLens]

I will have to check that one out next time!

[@anthonyimperati1588]

You sold me on the gallery for a special occasion here but I haven’t seen any comments regarding whether or not to skip all the wine pairings with it. We are wine lovers but concerned it’ll over power the meals and have us really drunk by the end lol. Any suggestions?

[@ThroughMyLens]

I wish I could be more help but we just did a glass of wine so I am not sure how the pairings are

[@yazuu9187]

Wtf was that «glas» of wine

[@garyconley69]

Hey Josh and Amy! Congrats on being able to check off a really neat spot to you both. But since I am a southern CA native I think I'll save up for French Laundry instead!! However both look amazing but I am more a a pure foodie and northern CA is a lot easier to get to than Chicago. Keep up the good work my wife and I really enjoy all the content you provide and you are an inspiration to us in terms of travel and hiking more!! Also I'm a pretty good cook and I make my own beer so I always get a kick out of you visiting one of the many breweries on your various travels1 Be Well!! Gary

[@alant.541]

Happy Birthday! 🎉 Alinea was a very nice present. Expensive, but YOLO! Thanks for sharing.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for watching! YOLO for sure haha

[@caroll584]

Oh My! What a cool experience!! Thanks for sharing this place!! It is the only way we would ever experience it. ❤❤️

[@ThroughMyLens]

So glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching and for the comment

[@essietangle9931]

I would love to do something like this but food allergies will hold me back, so thanks so much for sharing your experience 🙀👍❤️

[@ThroughMyLens]

Yea, that makes sense. Some of the restaurants like this are able to accommodate for allergies and some aren't

[@ryandogoldogol5244]

This video was so cute!!

[@TheFinnMcGovern]

This is fine and all, but just give me a Big Mac

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha fair enough!

[@itster1]

I also thought the same , I went to one similar in Vegas and I came out still hungry 😂

[@shaicecream5246]

You want it in a glass distilled or?

[@DyanK614]

All I can say is Yum! (and Fun)🎉🎉🎉

[@ThroughMyLens]

We had a great time, so memorable

[@chiefenumclaw7960]

Happy birthday, fam!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thank you! 😃

[@cheriebuss193]

Wow what an experience . Happy Birthday Amy !!

[@toddm9501]

Why is the female opening the door for the"male"?

[@lenecp61]

In portuguese, muita frescura e pouca comida.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for the comment, will have to look that one up!