AAA confirms what Chicagoans already know -- we have some of the best restaurants around.
AAA bestowed its prestigious Five Diamond Award for 2012 on four Chicago restaurants, Alinea, Arun's, Charlie Trotter's, Everest and Tru.
Chicago tied with New York in earning the most Five Diamond designations in North America, however they figure to lose one restaurant when Charlie Trotter's closes in August.
Four Chicago hotels also earned Five Diamond Awards including the Peninsula Chicago, Four Seasons Hotel, The Elysian Hotel and Trump International Hotel & Tower.
AAA inspectors go to hotels and restaurants throughout the year to conduct evaluations and publish the results in TourBook guides.
Illinois and northern Indiana are also home to 66 AAA Four Diamond facilities.
