Eating out - advice and options (Chicago: price, tickets, dinner)

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

what the F kind of restaurant is Next? i cant even get in to see a menu.. Eff that.

It's run by the guy who runs Alinea, which until last year was the #1 rated restaurant in North America (now it's #2). They change their menu every 3 months and it's a theme. For example, I did the 8 course Tour of Thailand menu. Others may do a Kyoto menu or...whatever. It's one of the best meals I've ever had. BUT it's next to impossible to get in there unless you want to pay even more than "market price" since they're on the ticketing system.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I would skip a place like Next if you are a vegetarian.

Try Grace Restaurant - Chicago

Actually, Next's theme for right now is Vegan.... Grace is supposed to be very good though, yes.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Actually, Next's theme for right now is Vegan.... Grace is supposed to be very good though, yes.

I know, but what is the likelihood of getting in now for the current menu? The menus the usually do are not catering to vegetarians.

I think Grace is a much better option. May be close to impossible to get in there as well though.

[subodhlath]

Sorry... but i am still a bit confused about NEXT... how does one know what is going to be the next change in the menu? or is it that you you buy a ticket and eat whatever they serve? there must be something i am missing here... and i assume ticket wold be $200 per person?

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by subodhlath

Sorry... but i am still a bit confused about NEXT... how does one know what is going to be the next change in the menu? or is it that you you buy a ticket and eat whatever they serve? there must be something i am missing here... and i assume ticket wold be $200 per person?

Yes, you buy a ticket and get that menu. I think they can adjust the menu to accomodate vegetarians, but it seems besides the point at a place like Next.

They usually announce the menu and open ticket sales at that time (and usually sell out almost immediately). I think the ticket prices vary depending on time and date.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I know, but what is the likelihood of getting in now for the current menu? The menus the usually do are not catering to vegetarians.

I think Grace is a much better option. May be close to impossible to get in there as well though.

The chances? Not very good until you want to pony up the money. These are very special occasion restaurants though. I was lucky as hell to get into Next and only did because their servers at the time sucked and couldn't handle the 2 million requests and it randomly let me in to get tickets.

[chicagobear]

Check out opentable.com

[knitgirl]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I would skip a place like Next if you are a vegetarian.

Try Grace Restaurant - Chicago

Actual the current menu at Next is VEGAN.

Should have read the whole thread!

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I know, but what is the likelihood of getting in now for the current menu? The menus the usually do are not catering to vegetarians.

I think Grace is a much better option. May be close to impossible to get in there as well though.

There are tickets available for groups of 6 last time I checked. I always have trouble lining up two other couples willing to lay down that much cash, though.

[Jesse69]

I'm not into $210 meal places like Alinea... For that I could get many decked out meals at my favorite hamburger place, Culver's. I looked at Alinea's pic gallery of their food and I was not impressed.