The MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011 comes a day early following speculation that a leaked copy of the coveted stars list made its way on to Yelp on Monday and the results are pretty close to what was posted. This is the first-ever guide to be released in Chicago and tensions have been high. For weeks, restaurateurs and chefs have been on edge, food writers have speculated who may get stars and everyone is just plain giddy.

Having the Michelin Guide come to Chicago will only mean good things for the city's restaurant scene. Last week's Bib Gourmand list showed promise (although a number of questionable entries appeared on the list) and, oh hell, let's cut to the chase and get to the stars.

At the top with three stars: Alinea, chef Grant Achatz and business partner Nick Kokonas' highly lauded molecular gastronomic restaurant. But another surprise was the announcement that L20, despite its celebrated chef Laurent Gras exiting two weeks ago, also received three stars.

Avenues, Charlie Trotter's and Ria all nabbed two stars and 18 additional restaurants, including Blackbird, Boka, NAHA, Longman & Eagle and Spiaggia, got one star each.

Here's the full list:

***

Alinea

L20

**

Avenues

Charlie Trotter's

Ria

*

Blackbird

Boka

Bonsoirée

Crofton on Wells

Everest

graham elliot

Longman & Eagle

NAHA

NoMI

Schwa

Seasons

Sepia

Sixteen

Spiaggia

Takashi

Topolobampo

Tru

Vie

· Michelin Director Jean-Luc Naret on the Michelin Stars [~EChi~]

· All Chicago Michelin Guide coverage on Eater Chicago [~EChi~]