Chicago : Alinea tops Michelin's Chicago list as L2O falls two spots

Alinea is the only restaurant in Chicago to receive the highest rating from Michelin two years in a row.

(Crain's) — Alinea remained a three-star Michelin restaurant, but L2O fell two notches as the guide released its 2012 ratings for Chicago on Tuesday.

The red-jacketed guide, considered by many to be the last word on dining, issued its reviews for hundreds of Chicago restaurants. Twenty-one restaurants landed on the starred list this year, down from 23 last year.

This year's list was closely watched as a few restaurants earning stars last year, including L2O and Sixteen, have switched executive chefs since the last ratings. In addition, two-star Avenues closed this summer and one-star Seasons plans to close in early January.



Three stars:

• Alinea

Two stars:

• Charlie Trotter's
• RIA

One star (newcomers in bold):

• Blackbird
• Boka
• Bonsoiree
• Courtright's
• Everest
• Graham Elliot
• L2O
• Longman & Eagle
• Moto
• NAHA
• Schwa
• Seasons
• Sepia
• Spiaggia
• Takashi
• Topolobampo
• Tru
• Vie

Crofton on Wells, NOMI and Sixteen did not repeat their one-star rating from last year.