119289 Wed Mar 08 07:39:48 -0800 2006 7 7 Chicago Area 0 650942 How is the food at Avenues? Is it as 'experimental' as Alinea and Moto? Or is it closer to conventional than those two? Wed Mar 08 07:39:48 -0800 2006 0 Elrushbo 1 650943 Avenues can be considered experimental in some ways, but in my definition it is not as experimental as Moto and Alinea. In general, Moto is more about the science of cooking sometimes than the food itself (i.e. its great that the edible menu is served like chips and onion dip, but it still tastes like onion dip.) Alinea, is sometimes guilty of this too, but overall it is less about the science experiment and more about the food and the food's delivery mechanism. For example, at Moto occasionally you will be served a normal looking and tasting course, but it will be unusual in how it was cooked; at Alinea it is always about the food and presentation regardless of whether they used a laser or a special steam box to cook it. I feel in general that Alinea does a very good job of deconstructing food and presenting it to you in a novel way while still serving a world class meal. Avenues has more standard presentation (the dishes look beautiful but there isn't usually custom made apparatus to eat the food), but the ingredients and the combination of same can be challenging and engaging. Chef Bowles at Avenues is one of the only fine dining chefs I know of in Chicago to have a tasting menu dedicated to game. This being said, all three restaurants will promise a good meal, as all of the chefs at these restaurants are very talented. If you only had one shot I would say go to Alinea and Avenues, unless you want more science experiment and then Moto is the answer. Let me know if this makes sense. Andy Wed Mar 08 08:16:52 -0800 2006 650942 0 AndyK 2 650944 From what I've read about Alinea and Moto, what you've said sounds very true. But do you feel that there's a sort of a forced attempt at innovation for its own sake in these two places? I cannot convince my husband to go to Alinea because he feels it would be too "gimmicky." He just rolls his eyes at Moto. But we have been to Avenues, and it was superb. There wasn't a false note in the whole meal (we had the longest degustation - don't remember what it's called on the menu). I understand that sometimes things don't quite jell even at Alinea - that the reach for a new taste sensation sometimes falls a bit short. While Chef Bowles may not be in the front of the pack for cutting-edge innovation, his faultless food is still quite creative, and, of course, the service is perfect. I'm still trying to get to Alinea, but I worry that I'll find the presentation a bit much (I know my husband will!) and that it'll get in the way of simple enjoyment of the food. Wed Mar 08 08:49:13 -0800 2006 650943 0 Akatonbo 3 650946 Despite the innovative presentations, Alinea IS about the taste more than anything. My only meal at Avenues (and this was with Chef Bowles in the kitchen) was so flawed that we may never return. I'm sure this was a fluke, but the main meat and fish courses were terrible; could-have-been-perfect bluefin tuna that was cooked to death and Kobe-style beef that was stringy and rather flavorless. Virtually none of the courses were memorable, whereas I can still remember almost every dish from Alinea. Wed Mar 08 10:01:49 -0800 2006 650944 0 Foodgeek 4 650950 If you really think your unfortunate experience at Avenues was a fluke, you should give them a second chance (also, did you give them any feedback about the problems with the meal? I'd be curious to know what their reaction/remedy was). They have a three-course menu choice that's reasonably priced, so you wouldn't have to risk a lot of moolah on a second visit. Wed Mar 08 10:40:56 -0800 2006 650946 0 Akatonbo 3 650954 A, We planned to go to Moto for my wife's birthday but backed out for the same reason your husband has for not going to Alinea. Turns out that we went to Alinea for the birthday. I thought it would be less experimental than Moto. We loved Alinea. Probably tied with Guy Savoy in Paris for the best meal of our lives. I would say that one or two courses were misses but I felt that it was due to personal likes and dislikes rather than missteps by the chef/kitchen. Unless your sig. other is a steak/potatoes kinda guy I can't see him not enjoying Alinea. We did the 24 course meal which allows for something you might not be crazy about since there are so many courses. An adventure, yes, but nothing crazy. Go. Relax. Enjoy. Wed Mar 08 11:34:26 -0800 2006 650944 0 mike coughlin 3 650988 For the money and the overall experience I happen to prefer Alinea to Moto and Avenues, but this is just a preference as to what I am after when I go out to eat. For example, I believe that Moto is experimental for the sake of changing the way people look at food. The food itself is good, but really they deliver an experience more than anything else, so I can see why someone who likes a traditional fine dining menu would balk. While it is true that I have had a course or two at Alinea that did not hit the mark, out of 24 courses I would say that the vast majority were good if not outright great. The presentation at Alinea is novel, but it does not take away from the taste and quality of the food, it only enhances. Avenues is reasonably straightforward in presentation (foie pop an exception), and experimental in the combination of ingredients to create innovatvie tastes. I believe overall Chef Bowles is a talented chef and I have had a few great meals there. Between Avenues and Alinea I do not believe you can go wrong, but in my opinion Alinea will offer more courses that you will remember. Wed Mar 08 19:35:42 -0800 2006 650944 0 AndyK 1 650962 Avenues is a little more down home than Alinea but it's still very innovative. You've probably heard about the foie-lipop by now but the sides of cinnamon ice cream, candy apple, and funnel cake inspire feelings of the fair and autumn as a kid. The frogs leg risotto with black truffles was traditional but amazing. All the pairings, including the token sake, were slightly had slightly stronger bonds with their dishes than Alinea. The service at Alinea is great but a little stiff. It's stiff at Avenues too but they opened up a little about half way through. They are always listening to your impressions at Avenues. After drawing comparisons between Alinea during dinner, the manager came over and said smiling," I know it's not Alinea but is everything OK." The staff must have over heard me talking in passing. They pay great attention to detail, they are always trying to build and improve, the servie is great, Avenues gave us a free desert for my girlfriends birthday but Alinea didn't give me shit for mine. I still think about it at least once a day though. Avenues has slightly bigger portions. Avenues 10 out of 10 Alinea 9.5 out of 10 Wed Mar 08 12:50:25 -0800 2006 650942 0 Marshall Guerra