Chicago Michelin Guide Revealed: Alinea, L20 Get 3 Stars

The MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011 comes a day early following speculation that a leaked copy of the coveted stars list made its way on to Yelp on Monday and the results are pretty close to what was posted. This is the first-ever guide to be released in Chicago and tensions have been high. For weeks, restaurateurs and chefs have been on edge, food writers have speculated who may get stars and everyone is just plain giddy.

Having the Michelin Guide come to Chicago will only mean good things for the city's restaurant scene. Last week's Bib Gourmand list showed promise (although a number of questionable entries appeared on the list) and, oh hell, let's cut to the chase and get to the stars.

At the top with three stars: Alinea, chef Grant Achatz and business partner Nick Kokonas' highly lauded molecular gastronomic restaurant. But another surprise was the announcement that L20, despite its celebrated chef Laurent Gras exiting two weeks ago, also received three stars.

Avenues, Charlie Trotter's and Ria all nabbed two stars and 18 additional restaurants, including Blackbird, Boka, NAHA, Longman & Eagle and Spiaggia, got one star each.

Here's the full list:

***
Alinea
L20

**
Avenues
Charlie Trotter's
Ria

*
Blackbird
Boka
Bonsoirée
Crofton on Wells
Everest
graham elliot
Longman & Eagle
NAHA
NoMI
Schwa
Seasons
Sepia
Sixteen
Spiaggia
Takashi
Topolobampo
Tru
Vie

· Michelin Director Jean-Luc Naret on the Michelin Stars [~EChi~]
· All Chicago Michelin Guide coverage on Eater Chicago [~EChi~]