Michelin Guide Revealed: Alinea Keeps 3 Stars; L20 Drops to 1; Avenues Off List

The Michelin Chicago 2012 dining guide will hit the shelves tomorrow with its verdicts on which restaurants deserve the guide's coveted stars, but reps have sent over a preview today, revealing the city's big winners and losers.

The big news this year is that L20, which previously had been awarded three stars, dropped down to one and Avenues, which had two last year, is off the list entirely, due to Curtis Duffy leaving and the restaurant inside the Peninsula hotel closing to reconcept. Not surprising is Alinea retaining its three-star status, which is now the only restaurant in Chicago with that ranking.

No restaurants were promoted to two stars, but Courtright's in Willow Springs, Ill., and Moto were added to the list with one star each. Crofton's, NoMI and Sixteen all saw their stars taken away; NoMI likely due to its overhaul and new concept and Sixteen probably because chef Frank Brunacci left earlier this year.

Seasons, which just this week announced it would close to reconcept, retained its star and it'll be interesting to see what happens with Ria now that the Elysian has been sold and will turn into a Waldorf. Still not getting the Michelin love: North Pond or Les Nomades, two restaurants that people were upset about being ignored last year when the guide was first released. Also surprising was that Next , which many predicted would receive at least one star, was missing from the list.

See the full list below and make ample use of the comments section.

THREE STARS
Alinea

TWO STARS
Charlie Trotter
Ria

ONE STAR
Blackbird
Boka
Bonsoiree
Courtright's (N)
Everest
graham elliott
Longman & Eagle
L20*
Moto (N)
NAHA
Schwa
Seasons
Sepia
Spiaggia
Takashi
Topolobampo
Tru
Vie

* denotes change
(N) denotes new addition