Achatz Does It Again

In case you haven’t heard yet, the man who started Alinea in Chicago is embarking on a new project. Grant Achatz’s Next Restaurant and The Aviary will open this fall.

The concept of Next: themed world cuisine from the Alinea team, changing four times a year. Each meal will be 5-6 courses, and meals will be paid for in advance so that no monetary transactions take place in the restaurant at all. Yep, that means you buy tickets. They’ll cost less for off-peak times, and ticket prices will also vary based on the menu ($45-$75). You can purchase wine and beverage pairings as well, starting at $25.

The Aviary is a bar/lounge concept where chefs create both classic and contemporary drinks and pairings. Here, you can simply walk in, view the drink kitchen and order.

This is exciting news for Chicago, since Alinea has really upped the culinary profile of the city. Alinea is also one of the very few international-class restaurants I’ve ever been to, thanks to a gift from my fantastic foodie little sister. This means I don’t have a lot of basis for comparison, but I can confirm that Alinea is wonderful. The service is second to none, the food is innovative and delicious, and the ambience is unique–like dining in an art gallery. So I’m really looking forward to what Achatz and company have in store, especially since it looks like this new project might be a bit more within my price range.

Check out information and a video on Next and The Aviary here. Visit Alinea on the Web here. Alinea is located at1723 N. Halsted. Call (312) 867-0110 for more information.