Justin de Leon
Latest Reviews
Alinea
Alinea was an experience like I’ve never had before and days later while writing this review I am still blown away. Our party ate in The Gallery (16 courses) and you will not leave hungry—coming from someone who eats a lot. I’ve noticed some complaints about the wine pours too and I would have to disagree. They were pretty generous pours for a tasting—keyword: it’s a *tasting*. At the end of the meal it was probably around 5 glasses of wine if you add it all up.
Anyone considering Alinea knows the price point is high. I was hesitant about spending so much money but I can safely say that it is worth it. I would do it again for a very special occasion simply because the experience was so special. I think the shorter course meal will have you leaving hungry so I can see why some were not happy with the wine pours and the portions. If you can afford it I would recommend The Gallery.
Service: Nobody in our party knew what to expect. With it being fine dining and 3 Michelin stars we expected very formal service and it was very much the opposite. Everyone from the hostess to the people in the kitchen were warm and friendly and are clearly very good at what they do. They anticipate your needs and do everything in such a genuine way. Many of them would hold conversations with our party past the usual pleasantries which made the experience even better.
Food: I’m surprised to read some reviewers found the food bland. It was anything but that. There were flavors and textures that were confusing in a good way. Some dishes were familiar with a new twist and others were brand new to me, but what makes them stand out is the execution which was flawless for every course. Nothing was too rich or overpowering. Some dishes had me laughing in disbelief by how good it was.
Atmosphere: As I mentioned, the service here is as good as it gets. They really make you feel comfortable throughout your time in the restaurant. The decor and dining room was nice. Nothing gaudy or over-the-top. Alinea adjusts the atmosphere throughout the meal with change in lighting, aromas, sounds, etc. Again tapping into all of your senses during the experience.
Everyone in our party agreed that at times it was difficult to hear the servers while they were introducing the dish and explaining how to eat it. I just think it was a lack of projecting their voice but it didn’t take away from the experience at all.
Anyone considering Alinea knows the price point is high. I was hesitant about spending so much money but I can safely say that it is worth it. I would do it again for a very special occasion simply because the experience was so special. I think the shorter course meal will have you leaving hungry so I can see why some were not happy with the wine pours and the portions. If you can afford it I would recommend The Gallery.
Service: Nobody in our party knew what to expect. With it being fine dining and 3 Michelin stars we expected very formal service and it was very much the opposite. Everyone from the hostess to the people in the kitchen were warm and friendly and are clearly very good at what they do. They anticipate your needs and do everything in such a genuine way. Many of them would hold conversations with our party past the usual pleasantries which made the experience even better.
Food: I’m surprised to read some reviewers found the food bland. It was anything but that. There were flavors and textures that were confusing in a good way. Some dishes were familiar with a new twist and others were brand new to me, but what makes them stand out is the execution which was flawless for every course. Nothing was too rich or overpowering. Some dishes had me laughing in disbelief by how good it was.
Atmosphere: As I mentioned, the service here is as good as it gets. They really make you feel comfortable throughout your time in the restaurant. The decor and dining room was nice. Nothing gaudy or over-the-top. Alinea adjusts the atmosphere throughout the meal with change in lighting, aromas, sounds, etc. Again tapping into all of your senses during the experience.
Everyone in our party agreed that at times it was difficult to hear the servers while they were introducing the dish and explaining how to eat it. I just think it was a lack of projecting their voice but it didn’t take away from the experience at all.