Gonzo70 wrote:Interesting that Next finally seems to be accommodating odd numbered party sizes on select nights for same/next day tickets (as per their recent posts on Facebook with information on available tables).

Yep, we were a 2 top recently that got seated at one of the booths usually reserved for 4 people. It was nice to have the space and more privacy. And the food was great. One of the best menus for the money since the first year. With non-alcohol pairings, tax & tip it was under $200 which felt like a much better value given the variety of food and quality of preparation than Bistro and other recent menus.

If I recall, those booths were originally meant for 2 people at the first Paris menu. It worked well. When I went to the childhood menu I was seated in the booth with 4 and it was cramped. The waiter could hardly reach to the people in the back to pour their wine.

Next has certainly evolved quite a bit since the opening menu!

After work last week I went by and grabbed a bocadillo from the ala carte menu. This is a sandwich where every individual part was quite good. The bread was high quality, chewy and crusty without cutting up my mouth, the long braised meat was subtly spiced, succulent and abundant and, even though I am not a cheese person, the manchego was delicious. However, it needed something fresh and probably acidic to balance everything out. As it is, it's a bit heavy and burdensome. Also a bit annoyed that they charged me a service fee for a takeaway sandwich.

Curious if anyone has an account of what Terroir is like?

I'd also be curious. I looked up a few pictures from the start of the menu and definitely want to check it out. Unfortunately I can't bring my wife due to dietary restrictions. I've attempted to get a single ticket but it hasn't quite lined up yet for me when they have availability.

Well, now that I've been, I can provide it!

I dined at Next last night for the Terroir menu. I cannot understate how wine-focused this menu actually was - as Next matures as a restaurant, they can take risks like this. The meal began with two Burgundy wines, a red and a white. These were paired with an assortment of snacks - "tapas" if you will. It was explained that the notion of terroir - wine being a direct representation of where/how it was grown began in Burgundy.

The "tasting" continued after that with several more small bites and an assortment of various wines from around the world. Substantial, composed dishes started about 1/3 of the way in. They were not bashful in their selections of wine. There were some bizarre selections such as a white from the Canary Islands and a Schioppettino (red) from Italy. Some classic Next "fun" made an appearance, as well, for the food... with the most notable and delicious perhaps being the potato chip dish, served with champagne. The dessert was perhaps the best I've enjoyed at Next.

Just looking up the prices for a few of the bottles - the wine served for this meal is expensive. Very expensive. There is a nearly forty year old Madeira that is $175 a bottle. I recommend going to Terroir if you love and know wine or if you are willing to be challenged - even uncomfortable with what kind of wine you are drinking. I am, by no means, an oenophile... my taste in wine is very simple (American Pinot, White Burg, Champagne...) and I am generally uneducated about the subject. The meal really is a trip around the world. There is also just two domestic wines on this menu, and there is no Bordeaux.

The tickets were over $800 (Tapas was around half!) so it is not a cheap meal at all but you definitely get your money's worth in wine. The service was fantastic last night as well. Lots of familiar faces. Everybody was convivial and the explanations of the food an drink were not rehearsed. I think that all in all Next Terroir is one of the most atypical meals I have ever had.

I won't spoil the surprises as far as food goes, but if you're curious on the wine, the list is as follows:

1. Domaine Lignier-Michelot Morey St. Denis
1er Cru aux Charmes
Burgundy, France 2008

2. Domaine Hubert Lamy St. Aubin
Derriere chez Edouard
Burgundy, France 2009

(Next 3 all served at once)
3. Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Demi-Sec
Loire Valley, France 2013

4. Mount Abora "Koggelbos" Chenin Blanc
Swartland, South Africa 2013

5. Lieu Dit Chenin Blanc
Santa Ynez, California 2013

6. Le Vigne di Zamo Schioppetino
Friuli, Italy 2007

7. Balthasar Ress Riesling Spatlase
Rheingau, Germany 1997

8. Krug Grand Cuvee
Champagne, France N/V

9. Donnhoff Riesling
Nahe, Germany 2014

10. Bodegas Vinatigo Gual
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, Spain 2013

11. Kathryn Kennedy "Small Lot" Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Cruz Mountains, California 2012

12. Domaine Lionnet "Terre Brulee" Cornas
Rhone, France 2006

13. D'Oliveiras Terrantez
Madeira, Portugal 1977

14. Chateau Pajkos Tokaji 5 Puttonyos
Hungary, 2006