Next (restaurant)

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox restaurant | name = Next | image = | imagesize = | caption = | established = {{start date|2011}} | current_owner = Grant Achatz<br />Nick Kokonas | head_chef = Grant Achatz | food_type = Variable | dress_code = | street_address = 953 W. Fulton Market | city = Chicago | state = Illinois | country = United States | rating = {{Michelinstar|1}} (Michelin Guide) | coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|41|53|11|N|87|39|07|W|type:landmark_region:US_dim:30|display=inline,title}}}} | website = {{URL|nextrestaurant.com|NextRestaurant.com}} }}

'''Next''' is a restaurant in Chicago. It opened April 6, 2011.<ref>{{cite web | title = Grant Achatz's Next Opens in "Paris, 1906" | url = http://www.characterblog.com/2011/04/grant-achatzs-next-opens-in-paris-1906.php | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref> The restaurant received media interest due to chef Grant Achatz's success at his first restaurant, Alinea, as well as its unique "ticketed" format:<ref>{{cite news | url = http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/grant-achatz-to-open-a-restaurant-and-a-bar/ | work = The New York Times | first = Pete | last = Wells | title = Grant Achatz To Open a Restaurant and a Bar | date = May 3, 2010 }}</ref> Next sells pre-priced tickets for specific dates and times in a similar fashion to the way theater, concert and sporting event tickets are sold.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/dining/05achatz.html | work = The New York Times | first = Pete | last = Wells | title = In Chicago, the Chef Grant Achatz Is Selling Tickets to His New Restaurant | date = May 5, 2010 }}</ref> __TOC__

==Property== Next is located in Chicago's historic Fulton Market, just north of the West Loop's "Restaurant Row" on Randolph Street.

Next's operation also includes two on-site bars: The Aviary, previously headed by Charles Joly,<ref>{{cite web | title = Drawing Room Bartender Charles Joly To Join The Aviary | url =http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2012/06/charles-joly-aviary.html | access-date = June 28, 2012}}</ref> and presently headed by Micah Melton,<ref>{{cite web | title = Charles Joly Leaving the Aviary | url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/dining/chi-charles-joly-leaving-the-aviary-20141015-story.html | access-date = January 13, 2015}}</ref> and The Office, an invite-only speakeasy-format bar that seats 14 and is located behind an unmarked metal door in the basement of the building.<ref>{{cite web | title = 5 Secrets of The Office, Grant Achatz's Uber-Exclusive Speakeasy | url = http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/The-Chaser/July-2011/5-Secrets-of-The-Office-Grant-Achatzs-Uber-Exclusive-Speakeasy/ | access-date = February 17, 2012}}</ref>

==Menus== Rather than stick with one type of cuisine, Next completely changes its style every few months, focusing on a different time period, parts of the world, or various abstract themes for each "season" of its menu.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2036234,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101213123452/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2036234,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 13, 2010 | work = Time | first = Joel | last = Stein | title = Sneak Preview: A Taste of Grant Achatz's Next Menu | date = December 9, 2010 }}</ref> While themes for the year are often released at the end of the previous season, menu development for each of the season's themes begins in final weeks of the previous menu. Executive Chef Ed Tinoco and Grant Achatz head this process.

These are the past, present, and (known) future menus of Next Restaurant:

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Start date !! End date !! Theme |- | April 6, 2011 || June 30, 2011 || "Paris: 1906"<ref>{{cite web | title = Grant Achatz's Next Opens in "Paris, 1906" | url = http://www.characterblog.com/2011/04/grant-achatzs-next-opens-in-paris-1906.php | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref> |- | July 8, 2011 || October 9, 2011 || "Thailand"<ref>{{cite web | title = Next Gearing Up for Thai Menu | url = http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2011/07/05/next-gearing-up-for-thai-menu-achatz-tweets-menu.php | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = From Paris to sizzling Bangkok | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/08/25/from-paris-to-sizzling-bangkok/ | access-date = February 17, 2012 | work = Chicago Tribune | date = August 25, 2011 }}</ref> |- | October 22, 2011 || January 29, 2012 || "Childhood"<ref>{{cite web | title = Preview: Next's childhood menu | url = http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/article/preview-nexts-childhood-menu/2872315/content | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref> |- | February 8, 2012 || May 27, 2012 || "El Bulli"<ref name="Next Restaurant on Facebook">{{cite web | title = Next Restaurant on Facebook | url = http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=308177545881490&id=114693845229862 | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref> |- | June 2, 2012 || September 9, 2012 || "Sicily"<ref name="Next Restaurant on Facebook"/> |- | September 15, 2012 || December 31, 2012 || "kaiseki"<ref name="Next Restaurant on Facebook"/> |- | January 9, 2013 || April 28, 2013 || "The Hunt" |- | May 8, 2013 || August 24, 2013 || "Vegan" |- | August 31, 2013 || December 31, 2013 || "Bocuse d'Or" |- | January 2014 || April 2014 || "Chicago Steakhouse" |- | May 2014 || August 2014 || "Chinese:Modern" |- | September 2014 || December 2014 || "Trio, January 20, 2004" |- | January 2015 || May 2015 || "Bistro" <ref name="facebook.com">{{cite web | title = Next Restaurant on Facebook | url = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Next-Restaurant/114693845229862 | access-date = January 11, 2015 }}</ref> |- | May 2015 || September 2015 || "Tapas"<ref name="facebook.com"/> |- | September 2015 || December 2015 || "Terroir"<ref name="facebook.com"/> |- | January 2016 || March 2016 || "The Alps"<ref>{{cite web | title = Next Restaurant on Facebook | url = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Next-Restaurant/114693845229862 | access-date = February 3, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Next at Next: An Alps-Inspired Menu with Stone Soup and Burning Logs | url = http://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/2015/12/16/nexts-new-alps-inspired-menu | access-date =February 3, 2016 }}</ref> |- | April 2016 || August 2016 || "Tour of South America" |- | September 2016 || December 2016 || "The French Laundry: October 28th, 1996" |- | January 2017 || April 2017 || "Ancient Rome" |- | May 2017 || August 2017 || "Hollywood" |- | August 2017 || December 2017 || "World's 50 Best"<ref>{{cite web | title = Grant Achatz is Creating a World's Best 50 Restaurants Inspired Dinner | url = https://www.finedininglovers.com/blog/news-trends/50-best-restaurants-next-chicago/ | access-date = June 26, 2017 }}</ref> |- | January 2018 || April 2018 || "French: Cuisine Classique"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus">{{cite web | title = Next Restaurant - Past Menus | url = https://www.nextrestaurant.com/past-menus | access-date = February 14, 2024 }}</ref> |- | April 2018 || June 2018 || "French: Cuisine Nouvelle"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | June 2018 || September 2018 || "Alinea: 2005-2010"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | October 2018 || January 2019 || "Alinea: 2011-2015"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- |January 2019 |April 2019 |"Silk & Spice"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- |May 2019 |August 2019 |"Italia"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- |August 2019 |January 2020 |"José Andrés: World Central Kitchen"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | January 2020 || April 2020 || “Tokyo”<ref name="Next restaurant on Chicago Tribune"> {{cite web

| title = Next restaurant’s 2020 season will explore cuisines of Tokyo, Mexico City and England's influential Fat Duck | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-next-restaurant-2020-menus-1112-20191112-nxxfcctlorhh5dilgf7gbla5om-htmlstory.html | access-date = February 23, 2023 }}</ref> |- | August 2020 || August 2020 || “Mexico City "<ref name="Next restaurant on Chicago Tribune" /> |- | September 2020 || January 2021 || “The Fat Duck "<ref name="Next restaurant on Chicago Tribune" /> |- | January 2021 || December 2021 || “10th Anniversary Menu "<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | January 2022 || October 2022 || “World’s Fair Menu”<ref name="Next Restaurant - Worlds Faire"> {{cite web | title = Next Restaurant - Worlds Faire | url = https://worldsfairchicago1893.com/2022/05/31/20220500-limited-time-1893-worlds-fair-menu-at-next-restaurant-chicago | access-date = February 23, 2023 }}</ref> |- | October 2022 || January 2023 || “Seafood”<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | January 2023 || April 2023 || “Paris 1906”<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | August 2023 || January 2024 || "Tuscany"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Past Menus" /> |- | January 2024 || April 2024 || "Julia Child"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Our 2024 Tribute Menus"> {{cite web | title = Next Restaurant - Our 2024 Tribute Menus | url = https://www.nextrestaurant.com/2024-menus | access-date = February 14, 2024 }}</ref> |- | May 2024 || September 2024 || "Bobbie Flay"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Our 2024 Tribute Menus" /> |- | September 2024 || December 2024 || "Charlie Trotter"<ref name="Next Restaurant - Our 2024 Tribute Menus" /> |}

==Tickets== Through the "Childhood" menu, Next sold tickets through their website in batches. Several tables would be opened up, and announcements were made on their Facebook and Twitter pages when tickets were available. The tickets sold rapidly.<ref>{{cite web | title = Next Childhood Sells Out; Grant Achatz & Dave Beran Talk About the Concept, Menu | url = http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2011/10/19/next-childhood-nearly-sells-out-grant-achatz-dave-beran-talk-about-the-concept-menu.php | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref> Next tickets are transferable, but not refundable or exchangeable.<ref name="Next Restaurant: FAQ">{{cite web | title = Next Restaurant: FAQ | url = https://www.nextrestaurant.com/website/faq | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref> This has sparked the creation of a secondary market for the tickets, which has resulted in reports of people scalping the tickets for several times their face value.<ref>{{cite web | title = Tables at Achatz's Next Selling For Up to $3000 on Craigslist | url = http://eater.com/archives/2011/04/07/next-tickets-craigslist.php | access-date = February 17, 2012 }} </ref>

In an attempt to eliminate the secondary market on Next tickets, the sales model was changed in 2012 to follow a season ticket model, where in-advance tickets were only available if patrons purchased tickets for one meal from each of the restaurant's seasonal menus being offered for the year.<ref>{{cite web |title = Next to sell Season Tickets |url = http://chicagoist.com/2011/12/07/next_to_sell_season_tickets.php |access-date = February 17, 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120124121857/http://chicagoist.com/2011/12/07/next_to_sell_season_tickets.php |archive-date = January 24, 2012 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Additional benefits (including access to the invite-only The Office) were given along with the season tickets with the stipulation that if the tickets were sold, these additional benefits would be lost. For the 2012 season, the wait list during ticket purchasing reached a queue of over 6,600 people. With just over 900 packages available in total for the year, the people who were able to buy the tickets were in line within 8–10 seconds of their release.<ref>{{cite web | title = Next Season Tickets Sell Out Quick; Over 6,660 Queue Up | url = http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/02/13/next-season-tickets-sell-quickly.php | access-date = February 17, 2012 }}</ref>

Next also releases "Same-Day" tickets via their Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Next-Restaurant/114693845229862 page].<ref name="Next Restaurant: FAQ"/> They guarantee there will be at least one table available via Facebook every day they are open.

Next, Alinea, and The Aviary, each in their own right, served as a testing and development ground for Nick Kokonas's proprietary ticketing system. Kokonas's system allows for dynamic pricing for restaurant tickets/reservations. The system, now held under a new company called Tock, is being commercially offered to restaurants around the country and the world. Some of the earliest adopters include, Thomas Keller's The French Laundry and Per Se and Daniel Patterson's Coi.<ref>{{cite web | title = Introducing Nick Kokonas's Ticketing System, Tock | last = DeJesus | first = Erin | url = http://www.eater.com/2014/11/30/7294795/introducing-nick-kokonass-ticketing-system-tock | access-date = January 13, 2015 }}</ref>

== Awards ==

* AAA 4-Diamond Rating * Forbes Travel Guide 4 Star Rating * Michelin Star {{Michelinstar gif|1}}, 2020 - 2024<ref>{{Cite web | title=Next – Chicago - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant | url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/illinois/chicago/restaurant/next | access-date=2025-08-30 | website=guide.michelin.com}}</ref> * 50 Best Restaurants in Chicago: Zagat, 2017 * Best Restaurant Service in Chicago: Zagat, 2016 * Elite Traveler Top 100 Restaurants in The World- The list. #38, 2016 * Elite Traveler Top 100 Restaurants in The World- The list. #41, 2018 * James Beard Foundation Awards - Best New Restaurant, 2012 * Best New Restaurant: Jean Banchet Awards, 2011 * Best Fine Dining: Jean Banchet Awards, 2011

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://nextrestaurant.com/}}

Category:Restaurants in Chicago Category:Michelin-starred restaurants in Illinois Category:Molecular gastronomy Category:Restaurants established in 2011 Category:James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant