AAA Gives 3 Illinois Restaurants 5-Diamond Rating

CHICAGO — AAA has released its exclusive five-diamond list of restaurants and three restaurants in Illinois made the cut. The list, released Thursday, includes just 67 restaurants in North America and only three new restaurants were added this year. In other words, just .2 percent of the nearly 32,000 AAA-inspected and approved restaurants were included on the list, AAA said in a release.

Here are the restaurants that received a five-diamond rating in Illinois:

• Acadia - South Loop, Chicago
• Alinea - Lincoln Park, Chicago
• Oriole - Fulton River District, Chicago

The organization noted that more restaurants have embraced a casual environment, as patrons are continually looking for a more relaxed experience. This means high-end restaurants have shifted toward simple and streamlined décor, and others now have lively open kitchen designs so diners can watch chefs work their magic.

“To be considered leading edge, chefs must incorporate a laser-focused approach using innovative concepts and menus featuring the finest ingredients,” Michael Petrone, director of inspections and diamond ratings, said. “Diners want to be wowed on multiple levels, so exceptional service is also important, but they’re not necessarily looking for all the formalities that were once synonymous with fine dining.”

Newcomers on the list include Altera in New York City, COAST in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and Oriole in Chicago.

Meanwhile, More than 650 restaurants earned a four-diamond rating, equating to roughly 2 percent of restaurants inspected and approved by AAA. And these restaurants are by no means slouches — they, too, offer a distinctive fine-dining experience and utilize creative food-prep techniques.

Here are the four diamond rated restaurants in Illinois:

• Arun's - Albany Park, Chicago
• Blackbird - West Loop, Chicago
• Boka - Lincoln Park, Chicago
• Brindille - River North, Chicago
• Cafe Des Architectes - Gold Coast, Chicago
• Everest - The Loop, Chicago
• goosefoot - Ravenswood, Chicago
• Les Nomades - Streeterville, Chicago
• Next Restaurant - Fulton Market District, Chicago
• Pelago Ristorante - Gold Coast, Chicago
• Sepia - West Loop, Chicago
• Shanghai Terrace - Magnificent Mile, Chicago
• Spiaggia - Gold Coast, Chicago
• Topolobampo - River North, Chicago
• Travelle - River North, Chicago

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Image via Alinea; photo credit: Matthew Gilson