Next Restaurant image

Next Restaurant

Restaurant Fine dining restaurant

High-end foodie destination known for Grant Achatz's themed tasting menus & inventive presentations. People often mention menu, dish, experience, dishes, wine, service, dinner, staff, pairing, time,


Address

953 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Website

www.nextrestaurant.com

Price rating

$$$$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (529 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 5 to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 5 to 10 pm
  • Sunday: 5 to 10 pm
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 5 to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 5 to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: menu (29) dish (27) experience (27) dishes (19) wine (16) service (13) dinner (12) staff (12) pairing (12) time (12)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 JM C. 2 years ago on Google
    We were visiting for dinner while the 10 year retrospective menu was on. First of all I’d like to say the staff and service were excellent, knowledgeable, courteous and fun. On the topic of the food, each item as a standalone was undeniably well executed and creative in their own right. The reason for the 3 star rating is not a reflection of the staff or the execution of the food, but of the structure of the menu. In this particular case, whatever the inspiration of each dish was, the common theme in flavor was salinity. By themselves, each dish was noteworthy but consecutively, with nothing to “cut” the salinity, it became overwhelming to the point of almost being unbearable. Even dessert was comprised of a mix of sharp cheeses (with some sweeter elements). It is worth noting that we did not opt for any paring ( we don’t drink alcohol ) and perhaps wines might help “wash out” the saltiness between plates. I had read that Chef Achatz is a fan of salt but the experience we had at Alinea was much more balanced menu than Next. Perhaps when the menu is updated it will be different.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Yi-Chen W. 2 years ago on Google
    We had the 10th Anniversary menu. It’s an interesting dining experience in the kitchen table to have a private room with the view of the kitchen. The food was well executed but in general pretty salty and too strong without wine pairing. The staff team was not passionate when introducing the food, which was pretty rare in other fine dining restaurants. Also, some staff were professional but cold or even impatient, making the experience not as enjoyable as it should be. Felt disappointed.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Reema P. 5 months ago on Google
    My husband and I, always wanted to come here. We went during the Tuscany Tour. Never would have imagined that this would be a disappoint for what the price was. We also added the reserve wine pairing tasting. First of all the ambience is not that great. The tables are all close together and so loud that you can’t even have a conversation. There was nothing special about the place at all. Second, the food was not at all what we expected. We had a pasta dish that literally tasted like, “Chef Boyardee!” It was awful, tastes like it was right out of the can. They gave another dish, that didn’t look appealing at all! Being a sister restaurant with Alinea, it’s pretty sad. If your glass is empty, they won’t even pour more wine. My husband asked if we could have more and he indirectly just said, No! When he came with more dishes, he said “keep your phones off the table, I’m running out of room here!” Seriously, maybe you need to slow down and not rush us! This was completely not worth spending over a grand for this place. If you are looking for a nice tasting experience, ambience and most importantly customer service, go to EVER! My husband and I, went there for our 15th anniversary and it was amazing! One dish after another got better and better. Also, they aren’t stingy with their wine either!!! You won’t be disappointed!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tracy T. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I had some of the best food I’ve had in my life here. The presentation and the creativity with the flavors of the food was unbeatable. I would come here every year just to see the new menu items. It was such an incredible experience. The non alcoholic beverage pairing was well worth it to me. It was just as creative as the food. Highly HIGHLY recommend the splurge!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 David C. 2 years ago on Google
    10th Anniversary dinner with a surprise ending, featuring 10 courses of the best dishes over 10 years--too good to pass up even with a bill of ~$1,500 for 4 with wine pairings. But the menu's strength is its weakness: all incredible dishes on their own, but without the cohesiveness of previous menus. The meal was incongruent deliciousness; all of your favorite songs playing at the same time, max volume. Our pallets weren't taken for a ride--they were dragged along the best moments of Next history. Hang on! After being stuffed with 8 courses, we were presented with a slice of cheesecake, which was again yummy, but a heavy end. Then another dish! It looked like an oasis after a desert hike--a pallet cleanse of ice cream or sorbet to settle the meal. It was beautiful! (see my photo) But the ice cream scoops were freeze-dried cheese, after cheesecake, after steak, after foie gras... The theme for the dinner might be: Too much of a good thing. Or, First World Problems. Usually Next is an easy 5 stars, but overall this was okay. I just wish the menu had its own poetry.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Amanda D. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was 5 stars, but I was very disappointed with service and ambiance. We went for New Years Eve, and it was our first time. We have been to Roister and Alinea previously, and ordered from Next for carry out during the pandemic, so we knew the food would be great. Service was 3 stars, prompt, pleasant and overall fine. We weren’t offered any options to have cocktails and when I expressed that I didn’t enjoy port or dessert wine, I was not presented with any other alternatives. The reason I cannot give this restaurant a better rating is the restrooms. I was mortified to have to use their restrooms. There was unknown fluids all over the bathroom floors, paper towels every where and overall disgusting. I didn’t even want to continue my dinner after using the restroom, they have several private restrooms, and they were all in a state of disarray. Lastly, the ambiance of the restroom was terrible. Everything was beige and the decoration was a rose hanging from the ceiling, it just felt lazy. So overall the food was great, actually a bit much, the ambiance and service were fine, but the bathrooms were so disgusting that I won’t return. Yes, they were that bad, for the price we paid for New Years dinner, I do t want other peoples bodily fluid in the bottom of my shoes.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Travis A. 4 months ago on Google
    Next was an elevated tasting experience that wasn’t pretentious. The Tuscany menu delighted the pallet, especially the raviolo and the wagyu short rib. We got the shortened menu, and it was perfect - we still left satisfied. Going later in the evening is a great way to save on the price too. We couldn’t wait for the “next” course, and will definitely come back the next time we visit Chicago. Service was impeccable. This menu doesn’t accommodate gluten allergies, which was fine for us, but limited our ability to bring our friends here. We opted for North Pond for our time with them, which is also a great place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 N S. 3 years ago on Google
    Mexico City Theme. Always love mexican food and come to have a try. Good environment and follow social distancing practice pretty well. Foods are good and very fullfill. Order non alcoholic drink pair some of them are too sweet for me, maybe next time I won't order the. beverage pairing as they make me very full. Overall great experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David J. 10 months ago on Google
    We came here recently for the Paris 1906 Escoffier menu. The food was really good and very classically French but with lots of technique not typical seen today - very much on point with the theme. It was quite heavy overall though to be expected with an old school French menu. The service is really great here, the staff keeps things light and fun. Lots of drink options including non-alcoholic pairings. Would love to come back to try again during a different concept.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Eugenio Padilla (. 2 years ago on Google
    Upon hearing that Next has a 10 year anniversary menu, highlighting some of the best dishes of the previous 10 years including Alinea, my wife and I decided to check it out. My expectations were set pretty high, and though there were stumbles, Next achieved those expectations. When we arrived to Next, we were greeted by a friendly host that checked our coats, and were then promptly escorted to our table. The space was equal parts modern and intimate, providing a good ambiance for a large group of friends or a date night. Dinner opened with a bright and fresh Atlantic salmon cornet that tasted as if the fish was pulled out of the water just a few hours before. The second dish was a cauliflower cous cous, explained as a "choose your own adventure" type of dish, and though most of the flavors worked, there was a particular flavor that was a bit too intense for my palette. The other noteworthy part of the dish was the olive that was served on the side, as it was particularly great. After that was the child-like interpretation of fish and chips, which was wonderful in taste and presentation; it was executed perfectly to what it was attempting to achieve, including the way the non-alcoholic pairing was brought to the table. The next set of dishes was easily the highlight of the meal for me. Starting with the sturgeon and caviar, this dish was perfectly cooked and perfectly balanced, with the rich, buttery sturgeon complementing the saltiness of the caviar. The next dish was an add-on, a white truffle agnolotti, with an abundance of flavor and a bountiful amount of white truffle served on top; it was absolutely decadent, though, steep in terms of pricing. The white truffle dish was followed by the black truffle explosion, which was an excellent duality in flavors. The black truffle further accentuated the earthy aspect of both dishes, and set us up for the main proteins of the evening. Unfortunately, the ascension and momentum the meal had going came to a halt at this point. Immediately following the triumphant trio of dishes was a squab dish. I appreciate the unique presentation of the dish, but it was unappetizing to me, and this translated to the overall taste. The naan foie gras did not have much of a positive impact to my taste buds either. It was the low point of dinner, but, the redeeming factor was the cook on the squab, as it was glistening and moist. The last of the savory dishes was the Chicago steak. In terms of presentation, it was presented as it would be at a steakhouse, with the main steak having a variety of acommpaniments, sauces, and coarse salt for seasoning. It was a huge amount of food and it could have almost been an entire meal in itself, no complaints from me as we got to take some home. The steak itself was good, tender to the cut and bite, however, it was a do-it-yourself seasoning as by itself, there was little seasoning, but the steak sauce and bearnaise sauce did elevate it. The side salad was good, the baked potato-esque side was okay, and the onions had too much of an alcoholic taste to them to really enjoy. Overall, a good dish, but with faults. Luckily, the desserts remained, and both were fantastic. Cheesecake came first, and it is hands down the best cheesecake I've ever had. It was a velvety heaven, with the cheese flavor being pronounced, yet, not overbearing. Extra kudos for being presented by itself with nothing else, as it is a confident and bold statement that it truly backed up. The last dish of the night, in contrast, was a theatrical conclusion, with the plating itself being part of the magic; a true joy to see in person. It is a dish that requires being eaten with all of the flavors mixed together, as some components were heavy-handed when eaten alone (such as the marscapone ice cream). Overall, this was the perfect bow to end the night with. To sum the dinner, Next was a great dining experience, and one that I would recommend. It had peaks and valleys, but the former outweighed the latter, providing rare glimpses of culinary ingenuity that are worth the trip!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Arnulfo H. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent service. Beautiful presentation of food. Most food is delicious. But 3 of our 9 dishes were extremely salty.. at first I thought it was just me but I was with 3 other people and we all agreed that those 3 courses were REALLY salty. Over all it was a nice experience but personally I would probably not go back. Thankfully Chicago has an extensive selection of top restaurants at about the same price range or even lower
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jackie M. 2 years ago on Google
    My husband and I went to NEXT to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We dined at the kitchen table side table. It was a wonderful experience to see everyone working so systematically. I have an allergy to mussels, in particular, and I believe the head chef called it out loudly in the kitchen and all of the others had to acknowledge that they heard him. Very neat! The ambiance is very romantic! The room was dark and had real roses hanging above the table. The service was awesome! My husband did the wine pairing and server would explain a little about each wine. The servers that bright the food would also tell a story of where the chef found inspiration for each dish. All the servers had a sense of humor and were very accommodating. The food was very good. There were a couple literal explosions of flavor in my mouth and I’m not complaining! However, there were a couple plates that just didn’t “WOW” me taste wise. Also, the last savory dish was so large with all its sides that much of it went to waste as we were already full from the previous dishes. Very unfortunate that most of it went in the trash. My favorite parts of the night were watching them all work in the kitchen, the serving staff and the presentation of the dessert/final tasting! I’d go back just for the dessert! Yum!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ravi C. 2 years ago on Google
    Anniversary dinner at Next during their 10-year retrospective menu. Would have been better titled 10 years of salt. The predominant flavor of nearly every course (all but the Basque cheesecake) was salt. By themselves, each dish was fine, occasionally excellent, but the salt was unremitting. It was as if, in making a greatest hits menu they failed to think about the composition of the menu flavors as a whole. The service was cursory. The busser was engaging and pleasant to talk to, but the remainder of the staff seemed indifferent at best and annoyed at worst. The wine pairing for $175 per person was not worth it. The pours were stingy and probably totaled at best 4 full servings. While they complimented the dishes, they were not revelatory and, at that price, they ought to be. I have had the fortune to dine at sister restaurant Alinea 3 times. Considering their similar prices, my experience at Next does not hold a candle to any of my experiences at Alinea.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Jock F. 5 months ago on Google
    I’ve been to Next throughout several of its iterations, and this is the first time I’ve truly felt let down by the meal. There are some highlights (the mushroom ravioli in particular) but the experience left us feeling underwhelmed. First, the food. This is one of the first times at a tasting menu where I was taken aback to learn that the dessert was the next course as I thought there was at least one more main coming. The meal’s crescendo was an underwhelming porchetta, and there was also there was no hint of red meat anywhere as a main. The menu when provided shows 17 dishes, but as bundled when served it is realistically 7 dishes. Fine, but lacking at the price point and left us wanting more. The service too was spotty. Our sommelier was present, but failed to give any description of the wine and it’s characteristics other than it’s name and origin. In another course our waiter was supposed to pour olive oil over the dish, but ignored the fact that no olive oil came out of the clogged bottle. Overall, the experience still delivered some tasty dishes. But at the price point of $800 for 2 people, it’s hard to justify what Next is charging versus what they are delivering.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jodi H. 7 months ago on Google
    Had the Paris tasting. Everything was excellent. Team was nice and sharp, on their game. Meal was great, we kept the lamb dish instead of upgrading to the duck. We were plenty full. Table next to us upgraded and looked like they were full before the dessert round.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zach S. 2 years ago on Google
    Next offers more than just a dinner. They tell a story through food (and wine pairings if you opt to add this), music and tabletop decor. There were dishes that smoked, items you broke with a hammer, and more than one dessert course. I have been wanting to experience the brilliance of Grant Achatz for a while now & I am glad I was able to finally do so with the World’s Fair theme. They were even able to escort us over to The Aviary after dinner, which was an unexpected bonus.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kristi Y. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a wonderful time at Next! The food was beautifully presented and the knowledge and passion of the staff was impressive. The decor is understated and clean. I would recommend next for gastronomes who really love north fine food and elaborate service experiences.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sandeep R. 1 year ago on Google
    In 2018, we dined at Alinea (post Chef’s Table). Back then, the food was too salty for our liking. Hence, I was a little skeptical when we reserved at Next. To my amazement/surprise, we found Next a lot better. Only (-ve) feedback, was the pouring for the Reserve Wine Pairing. At $175 pp ($235 incl. Tip & Tax), one would expect a bit more.

  • 5/5 Joshua F. 2 years ago on Google
    We went for the 10 year anniversary menu. The staff was fantastic and knowledgeable. The food was, of course, magical. The hospitality was 2nd to none. Get the reserve pairing, it's worth it.

  • 5/5 Shelby C. 5 months ago on Google
    You have to approach Next as an experience. It will make the ticket prices easier to swallow. The experience is one that will involve all your senses (sight, sound, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and even time) as well as your relationship with your dining companions. You have to enter with an open mind, but the dishes are not as experimental as their sister restaurant Alinea. Each dish comes with a presentation by the server describing the dish's ingredients as well as the chef's inspiration, what the chef is trying to convey to the diner, experience wise, and a suggestion on how to best enjoy the dish. I suggest you taste each part individually (sauces, dish components) before mixing the components together. Don't forget to drink your beverage of choice (there is typically a non-alcoholic pairing, standard wine, and reserve wine pairing). The beverage is also part of the course. Take each course one at a time and discuss what you like and dislike, what works, and what didn't. As I mentioned before, your choice of dinner companion(s) makes a big difference here. If you go with someone with a limited palate or one that doesn'tmatch your own, you will find yourself not enjoying your experience or not enjoying your relationship. Not every course will work. I've had some terrible courses and foods that just did not work (like fried maple leaves in the Kyoto menu). But overall, we always look forward to the future season menu. The menu changes 3-4 times a year and is always based on an inspirational theme or locale. The service is top notch from the time you purchase your tickets to when you are handed your keys from the valet. They do keep a file of each diner and any food allergies. We joke that ours says, "They eat slowly" but hey, if I'm spending this much money, I want my experience to last.

  • 5/5 Andrew W. 5 months ago on Google
    Exceptional! We enjoyed the Tuscan menu. The ragu was the best I have had! The reserve wine pairing really complemented every dish.

  • 4/5 Medline A. 2 years ago on Google
    I would definitely come back here. The service was wonderful, our waiter actually helped us pick what to order and everything he recommended we enjoyed. They are a bit fast with picking up your food the second you set it down for a minute, but other than that, it's a great place to get a catch up meal with friends!

  • 5/5 Todd W. 5 months ago on Google
    Fantastic dinner. Loved The taste of Tuscany. Service was spectacular.

  • 5/5 shazia s. 2 years ago on Google
    We had an awesome experience in "Aviary". From drinks to Ambiance to service was extremely cool❤️ There is another bar located downstairs from Aviary called The Office".. Aviary was worth it and more.🙂

  • 5/5 Tristan V. 4 months ago on Google
    Tried their Tuscany menu with absolutely no complaints. Gave me a tour of the kitchen at the end of the night it’s completely spotless with top of the line equipment and chefs. Grew up with my grandmother who is an Italian chef from Avallino. She studied the Tuscan region extensively and I can say without a doubt the food compares if it is not better than what she has cooked for me. 10/10 would recommend trying their Tuscany menu before it goes for good.

  • 5/5 Ilayda B. 2 years ago on Google
    If you’re planning to go the Alinea, don’t waste your time and go to Next instead. I had the 10 year anniversary menu and it was amazing sooo delicious. I loved the fact that each dish was described not just how it was made but also why. I loved the variety of the menu with the dishes from different Michelin restaurants. Don’t eat anything before it because you will leave so full.

  • 5/5 Brandon W. 3 months ago on Google New
    Our dining experience was nothing short of excellent! All of the staff we interacted with were incredibly friendly and helpful. The Tuscan menu was fantastic. All of the dishes were interesting yet accessible. Lots of warm cozy feeling food. Flavors were kinda all over the place but not in a bad way. Presentation was definitely top notch. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a true high end dining experience.

  • 5/5 Arielle B. 3 months ago on Google New
    We had the private dining experience tasting the Tour of Tuscany. We had 8 friends all indulging in a once in a lifetime experience to celebrate MANY occasions! Absolutely loved the whole experience from taking us down past the speakeasy to the private dining area with our own host and restrooms. They never once rushed us and Jessica honestly made the experience the best! I cannot speak highly enough of Jessica treating us like family and a long time friend while being so professional, intelligent, and sharing all the knowledge of the dishes! So much laughter and love in one room with the exquisite food and wine will be moments I will never forget. Thank you!

  • 3/5 Jenna C. 2 months ago on Google New
    I recently came here with friends to celebrate my birthday and had their Tuscany menu. I’ve got to be honest. While the food and wine pairing was fine, I was pretty disappointed by the overall experience. The staff were friendly but there was really nothing special or memorable about the place. The tables are way too close together. You could hear the conversation of the table next to you. One of the staff knocked a bottle of olive oil off the table and nearly got it all over my friend. The food and presentation is average at best. We came for my birthday and they really didn’t do much special for it. I think they put a candle in a desert and gave me a tiny cookie. The overall lack of creativity for the price was a let down. I expected far more from a sister restaurant to Alinea. If you’re looking for spectacular, look elsewhere.


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Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Dinner
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery

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