One of the greatest shows in American restaurants is hitting the road.
Grant Achatz’s Michelin three-star dining destination Alinea is marking two decades of culinary excellence with a special anniversary tour that will bring its immersive and theatrical experience to cities across the country. From Brooklyn to Miami to Beverly Hills, this celebratory journey aims to honor not only Alinea’s gastronomic achievements but also the people—from alumni to guests and more—who have played a role in building the restaurant into an icon of modernist cuisine. (Disclosure: Robb Report is a media partner for Alinea’s anniversary tour.)
“Over the years, we have had the privilege of working with an incredible team, building strong relationships with farmers, purveyors, and wine makers, and forging lasting friendships with industry peers around the world,” Achatz said. “We are grateful for the journey, and what better way to celebrate than by bringing the Alinea experience to new cities and sharing it with our loyal guests, while also inspiring our team and reconnecting with industry friends and partners.”
Alinea will hold a restaurant residency in Brooklyn, Miami Beach, and Beverly Hills for its 20th anniversary.
The Alinea Group
Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Alinea draws on flavors from around the world—one course may be a chicken thigh with Mexican spices, while a rare Japanese fish may be another—and its modernist cuisine is strongly influenced from the time Achatz, a French Laundry alum, spent at Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli. The restaurant is a showcase of advanced technique where food is dehydrated or subjected to liquid nitrogen—and you may even be fed an edible balloon. For 20 years, the restaurant has pushed to bounds of what is possible with food.
“Grant Achatz is one of the most innovative and cutting-edge chefs in the world,” R.J. Melman, Lettuce Entertain You’s president, told us last fall. “He not only ignited the molecular gastronomy trend in Chicago years ago, but he continues to deliver an almost magical experience every time guests step foot into one of his restaurants. It has been cool to see how his restaurants have really kept Chicago on the map as a must-visit food city.”
This tour presents a rare opportunity for diners to experience Alinea’s renowned cuisine in various U.S. cities, each stop celebrating the culinary traditions and ingredients of its host location. Achatz and his team will craft a specially designed menu with dishes that reflect Alinea’s innovative spirit while incorporating regional flavors and collaborating with local chefs and suppliers. Additionally, some tour stops will include pop-ups of Alinea’s renowned cocktail bars, the Aviary and the Office.
Chef Greg Baxtrom, a key member of Alinea’s original team, will host guests from March 19 to April 13 at his acclaimed restaurant, Olmsted, in Brooklyn. (Reservations are open now.) Baxtrom, who started at Alinea as a 19-year-old intern, has become a respected figure in the culinary world, and the collaboration will celebrate their longstanding professional relationship. On April 28, Alinea will return to Faena Miami Beach following a successful residency in 2016. The pop-up, which runs through May 25, is slated to coincide with the F1 Miami Grand Prix.
The Alinea Group’s cocktail bars, the Aviary and the Office, will also be participating.
The Alinea Group
Finally, in Los Angeles, Alinea will take up residency at Maybourne Beverly Hills from July 17 to August 20 to showcase its creativity using southern California’s incredible produce. While the first leg of the tour will start as a three-city residency, new venues in top culinary destinations are already being planned and will be announced soon.
“If we do this right, this celebration will also serve as a love letter to the entire restaurant and hospitality industry,” added Achatz. “We are grateful for the opportunities and relationships that have shaped us, and we want to share that gratitude with the broader community that continues to inspire us.”
