Michelin Announces Chicago's 2015 Star Ratings; Grace joins Alinea with Three Stars; 42 grams Earns 2 Stars

Michelin announced its Chicago 2015 star ratings this afternoon. Congratulations to  Grace (652 West Randolph Street, Chicago) which now has three stars, joining Alinea in Michelin's elite group of  highest rated restaurants here. Alinea has held the honor for five straight years (ever since Michelin started rating Chicago restaurants.)

Of note, only 115 restaurants of the more than 20,000 that Michelin rates in 23 countries currently have that distinction.

Also noteable, 18-seat BYOB Uptown restaurant 42 Grams (4662 N. Broadway, Chicago), earned two stars for its creative and inventive food.

L2O, which is closing at the end of the year, also maintained its two stars rating since the guide went to press before they announced their closing. 

Last week, Michelin announced its Bib Gourmand winners for Chicago. The winners can be found here: http://www.michelintravel.com/michelin-reveals-chicagos-2015-bib-gourmands/

Here’s Michelin Guide's full list of 2015 starred selections for Chicago. If you were rating, how would you vote?

Three Stars:
• Alinea
• Grace (upgraded)
Two Stars:
• 42 grams (new)
• L2O (closing later in 2014)
• Sixteen
One Star:
• Acadia
• Blackbird
• Boka
• EL Ideas
• Elizabeth
• Everest
• Goosefoot
• The Lobby
• Longman & Eagle
• Moto
• NAHA
• North Pond
• Schwa
• Senza
• Sepia
• Spiagga
• Takashi
• Topolobampo
• Tru

The 2008 James Beard Awards

Congratulations to Alinea's Grant Achatz for winning the 2008 James Beard Foundation awards for Outstanding Chef and to Naha's Carrie Nahabedian for winning the Best Chef: Great Lakes award. The three-hour awards ceremony held on Sunday, June 8, at NYC's Lincoln Center, is often referred to as the Academy Awards of the restaurant industry. More than 1000 people attend the posh affair that rewards and highlights the best of the best in the culinary world. The three-hour awards ceremony was followed by a walk-around tasting with an "artisanal America" theme and featured several Chicago chefs including JBF winner Sarah Stegner, her partner at Prairie Grass Cafe, George Bumbaris; North Pond's Bruce Sherman;


The American Classic Award went to Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap, 1073 Vernon Park Place, Chicago, owner Joseph DiBuono. One of the few remnants of Chicago’s Little Italy, Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap has been owned and operated by the same family since it opened as a bar in the early 1930s. The small table in the bar’s kitchen has since expanded to include two dining rooms that are regularly packed with businessmen, police officers, families, and pre-game sports fans. The restaurant’s chalkboard menu offers diners Italian-American classics like lemon chicken, eggplant Parmesan, and fettuccini Alfredo at prices that make just about everyone a regular.

Wish you were there? Visit the various coverage on YouTube.