Best possible carryout-delivery in Chicago

August 5, 2020 4:43 PM

I haven't been to a restaurant in 5 months and it's destroying my soul. What is the closest I can get to the experience of going to a really, really, really good restaurant in Chicago during the plague times?

I get delivery and carryout fairly regularly but generally go for things that lend themselves to delivery and carryout -- pizza, tacos, sandwiches, thai. And this is...fine, I suppose? But what I miss is going to a fine dining restaurant to get amazing, delicate/elaborate, unexpected,* perfectly prepared food. Is anyone in Chicago doing this and really nailing it?

*I have seen the Alinea carryout menu, for example, and it seems...a little bit like just regular-ass food except from Alinea. But maybe regular-ass food from Alinea IS truly sublime and amazing? I'd be happy to hear it's so...

posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese to Food & Drink (10 answers total)

Acadia has a nice curbside pickup menu. Not as good as is/was available inside, but they seem to do a good job of taking the fact that your food will sit in sa container in your car for 20 minutes into account.
posted by rtimmel at 4:57 PM on August 5, 2020

You can find a variety of Chicago restaurant food made available for takeout on Tock. Today's offerings from Alinea do look pretty standard, but they're also priced at $34.95/pp, so it's just a smidge less expensive than their typical in-person experience.

At least in Seattle, the Tock offerings tend to be simpler (and presumably better for traveling) than the standard menus, but they're still much more reminiscent of a restaurant experience than a typical take-out joint.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 5:12 PM on August 5, 2020 [5 favorites]

My friend swears by the Roister takeout from Alinea. I'm not sure how well it aligns with their normal stuff though.
posted by Carillon at 5:18 PM on August 5, 2020 [1 favorite]

Before you go get your meal, set the table, open the wine, put on music. Treat it as an occasion. Maybe even keep pants on after you pick up the food if you're really feeling fancy.
posted by theora55 at 5:37 PM on August 5, 2020 [5 favorites]

BTW - Alinea's rooftop outdoor dining is open with a regular, Alinea menu, though I have no idea how difficult it is to get a table. Interesting bit of controversy about their Covid 19 amuse bouche.
posted by rtimmel at 5:41 PM on August 5, 2020

In Minneapolis, the meal kits offered by the Grand Cafe are so fancy and special (caviar brunch, foie gras ice cream bars, beef Wellington, etc.), so luxuriously packaged, and so full of wonderful extras (gorgeous bouquets, online flower arranging classes, prettily gift wrapped art supply sets with Instagram art tutorials, fancy little gifties, wine tasting kits) that I almost might road trip up from Chicago to pick one up. The full kit will last you a very special week of indulgence.
posted by shadygrove at 6:28 PM on August 5, 2020 [1 favorite]

I recently got a lavish spread of carryout from Etta for a special occasion meal, after having had a really exceptional dine-in experience there in happier times. It wasn't as perfect as it would have been if it had come right from the kitchen to our table, but it was close. The only thing that didn't travel well was, unexpectedly, the pizza. Everything else was fabulous.
posted by merriment at 8:03 PM on August 5, 2020 [1 favorite]

My foodie friends that have gotten Alinea to go have not been disappointed. They also liked RPM Steak and the Purple Pig.
posted by Candleman at 8:10 PM on August 5, 2020

We ordered from Hai Sous on Tock and it was spectacular. It's not just "sit down and open plastic containers", they have instructions for the best ways to reheat and combine everything. We've also ordered from Acadia, and despite living within five blocks of it, we were mostly unimpressed. I think the Hai Sous option would get you amazing and perfectly prepared (the seafood platter is incredible). Unfortunately, I doubt delicate/elaborate or unexpected are on the roster until after things open back up.
posted by protocoach at 9:33 PM on August 5, 2020 [2 favorites]

I got takeout from Roister , and it was pretty great, and really reasonably priced.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 5:35 AM on August 6, 2020