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Most expensive restaurants in Chicago

15 Most Expensive Restaurants in Chicago

Chicago has more restaurants that have won the James Beard Award than almost every other city, and many of them have almost six months of reservation waitlist. Fine dining requires the highest quality, excellent service, and an amazing atmosphere for which guests are willing to pay a premium price. Are you curious about the most expensive restaurants in Chicago? We have got you covered, as we shall explore 15 of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

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Every food enthusiast knows that the top prize for any restaurant is a Michelin star–it’s a mark of quality, consistency, and excellent dining experience.

Whether you live in or visiting Chicago, you’re in luck. The city has about 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, symbolizing an incredible collection of atmospheres and cooking styles.

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Most Expensive Restaurants in Chicago

Along with beautiful architecture, sports facilities, and museums, Chicago’s restaurants are one of its amazing tourist attractions. So here are 15 of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago and the unique experience they offer.

1. Alinea

Alinea
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Alinea

Alinea is one of the few restaurants to receive three Michelin stars in Chicago and in the world and has an average cost of $355 per person.
Alinea, located in Lincoln Park, has won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.


Alinea was voted the best restaurant in the world by Elite Traveler, Business Insider, and Gourmet. Each Alinea dining room has its own menu and unique dining experience, all of which are multi-course dinners lasting more than two hours.


At Alinea, servers appeal to your senses with culinary works of art that are beautiful to look at as they are to taste. Being one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, you will certainly pay way above the usual to get a chance to dine there.

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2. Moody Tongue

Moody Tongue
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Moody Tongue

Chef Jared Wentworth and head Brewer Jared Rouben have created the first two Michelin-starred brewery and dining combinations in the world. There’s a unique masculine ambiance in Moody Tongue, where a unique seasonal menu meets a beautiful array of home-crafted brews.

The menu is tempting. You can indulge in amazing meals like the fairly poached Maine lobster in spiced tomato water, burnt peach dashi with seared Hudson Valley foie gras, and chocolate cake with toasted rye ice cream.

At $330 per person, Moody Tongue is one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

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3. Oriole

Oriole
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Oriole

Oriole, the two Michelin-starred was recently renovated and is now more beautiful and luxurious than ever, with stunning ceilings and an imposing bar. The kitchen is open, so guests can share in the theater as the Chefs do what they do best.

Chef Noah Sandoval and his team are passionate about their classic seasonal meals. With a wine cellar by Aaron McManus and a cocktail list curated by Julie Momose (of Bar Kumiko), Oriole offers a lovely and unforgettable dining experience.

At $325 cost per person, Oriel goes down as one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago. So if you wish to dine at Oriel, be ready to spend big.

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4. Ever

Ever
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Ever

After the somewhat masculine atmosphere of our two former selections, you’ll find a distinct change of mood at Ever. The swish, gray-toned dining space has a calm, intimate, near-pensive feel which invites you to concentrate on the taste of the 8- to10- course tasting menu.

The seasonal menu constantly changes, so be prepared for surprises and savor every moment. The premium option At$325-$355 per person Ever makes our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

5. Claudia

Claudia
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Claudia

Award-winning Chef and Owner Trevor Teich named this beautiful and ultra-modern restaurant after his mom. The decor of the dining space matches the creative menu, while the artwork on the walls reflects the work of art on the plate.

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With a 15-course seasonal tasting menu pecked $275 per person, Claudia goes down as one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

6. Next

Next
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Next

Given the incredible restaurants we have described, it’s natural to ask, what’s next? Well, Next is next.

in 2011 Chef Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas asked each other the same question. Their answer was this ever-evolving, always-changing theme restaurant. At Next, expect different styles every few months.

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Not only does the menu change, the service style, beverage list, and equipment can change from “Paris: 1922,” to “Ancient Rome” to “Silk and Spice” in a single year. Few restaurants can match Nex’S theater and drama.

Of course with its ever-changing theme, Next isn’t cheap. AT $275 per person, Next comes off as one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

7. LH Rooftop

LH Rooftop
Image Source: chicago.eater
LH Rooftop

If have you got $200 spare, then you can dine at LH Rooftop, a beautiful yet one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

Serving classic cuisine on an outdoor terrace, customers of LH Rooftop get to experience some of the most attractive views in Chicago as they eat from a menu of creative cuisine and classic cocktail.

8. El Ideas

El Ideas
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El Ideas

It may look simple and bland from the outside, but a glance at El Ideas‘ exquisite menu will tell you why it’s one of the sought-after restaurants in Chicago.

If you have $195 at your disposal, you could help yourself to a front-row seat at one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

With delicacies like miso sweetbreads, Thai-style crab, and Creme Fraiche huckleberry, El Ideas is a culinary adventure you need to try at least once in your life.

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9. Cherry Circle Room

Cherry Circle Room
Image Source: chicagotribune
Cherry Circle Room

Up next on our list of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago is Cherry Circle Room. An exquisite fine-dining restaurant that offers you the perfect excuse to put on your best dress and get fancy for the night.

The venue itself is a hymn to splendor, while the menu is a perfect expression of giving classic dishes a contemporary twist.

If seafood is your thing, then don’t miss on the Seafood Tower, a classic pile of Mexican blue shrimp, Maine lobster tail, king crab, and oysters, which cost $145.

10. Blackbird

Blackbird
Image Source: chicago.eater
Blackbird

If you want to have a taste of some of Chef Paul Khan’s specialties, then get down to this beautiful restaurant on West Loop.

With a seasonal menu that is ever-changing, you are sure to see delectable dishes like cornichons and grilled brioche, beef tartrate served with Kushi oysters.

Boquerones and brown butter, dry-aged Slagel striploin with farm beets, and sturgeon grilled in banana leaf, alongside kimchi, coconut milk, and mustard greens.

11. The Signature Room at the 95th

The Signature Room at the 95th
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The Signature Room at the 95th

The Signature Room on 95th, one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago is located on the 95th floor of the famous Hancock Center Building in Streeterville, The Signature Room on 95th is well known for its breath-taking views as it is for its award-winning cuisine and cocktails.

The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Chicago that you can enjoy year-round. The classic dining area has white tablecloths, silver-plated chairs, and beautiful floral arrangements.

12. Graham Elliot Bistro

Graham Elliot Bistro
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Graham Elliot Bistro

Celebrity Chef Graham Elliot is the man behind Graham Elliot and has clearly given the restaurant his best (including his name).

With awards such as three stars from the Chicago Tribune, two stars in the Michelin 2013 Guide, and a nomination for the James Beard Award, you are in for an amazing culinary adventure.

With an average meal pecked at $163 per person, Graham Elliot makes our list of most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

13. Everest

Everest
Image Source: chicagotribune
Everest

A tasting menu at Everest will set you back $165, making it one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

At Everest, there is a good chance you will get engrossed in delicious dishes like Sautéed New York State Foie Gras with a blend of Michigan Sour Cherries and Crispy Poppy Seed Crêpes, or New Black Forest blended Michigan Cherries to care about the price tag.

14. Aruns

Aruns
Image Source: chicagotribune
Aruns

If you want to visit a place named in a NY Times Bestseller’s “1000 Places to see before you die,” then book a table at Aruns. Know for its breathtaking interior design and delicious meals, Arun is a must-see.

The 12-course tasting menu will cost you $125, making Arun one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago. But if the smiling faces of its guests are anything to go by, Arun is worth every penny.

15. Girl & The Goat

Girl & The Goat
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Girl & The Goat

With its blend of tasty cuisine, Girl & The Goat’s extensive menu certainly has something to please every taste bud. Housed within a stunning loft with exposed beams, a fresh oak bar, and an iron fireplace, Girl & The Goat is much of a treat for the eyes as it is the tongue.

Considering its delicious crispy beef short ribs, signature wood oven-roasted pig face, and goat empanadas, Girl & The Goat is sure to set you back some good dollars, making it one of the most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

Summary

When you’re looking for a classic and luxurious restaurant to celebrate an important life event, you’re probably ready to spend a little fortune.

The most expensive restaurants in Chicago are worth every penny, as they will definitely leave you with a lasting, memorable meal and dining experience

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