Royal Lichter wrote:

chgoeditor wrote:

GAF wrote:And by virtue of the most expensive dinner being the final dinner of the year, two-thirds of the "loan" will not be "paid back" until fall 2015. Together the first two meals cost $150 (excluding drinks, tax, and tip), whereas the third meal itself is $295.

I am now comfortable with buying a ticket (as at Alinea), but not with such an expensive and long-term subscription.

I did peruse the ticket availability today out of curiosity. Unless you're willing to commit to a 10 pm or 10:30 pm seating, you'll pay at least $10 more for an earlier seating on an off-peak day.

There's only a couple of prime-time tables available for the 2's and 4's. I got the early shoulders on a Sunday. The prime tables are just insanely hard to get.

I never wanted prime tables. 6pm on a Wednesday is fine with me.

rjque wrote:People have been able to get cocktails downstairs? I've been down there once, in 2011. Since buying season tickets in 2012, it's been full every time I've asked.

rjque, as a season ticket holder, you should be able to contact Next prior to your dinner and request a spot downstairs (I assume you mean in The Office) about a week ahead of time. We have had success with this a few times.

Based on what I've been hearing and reading (here and elsewhere) I wasn't surprised when I received an email from Next earlier today touting the fact that 2015 season tickets are still available. I've been to Alinea over 20 times and I've had every menu at Next; several multiple times. But we decided not to renew our Next subscription for 2015.

I still hope to try each of the Next menus in 2015 because I really like the work Dave Beran and crew are doing there. However, committing to dates that are months (or nearly a year) out is just not practical for me. And paying all that money up front doesn't/didn't wow me, either. So hopefully I'll still get in there in 2015 but if I do, it'll be via a different route than in years past.

=R=

They're mailing pretty broadly Ronnie - i've just been to Next once but got the subscription offer today as well and never have before. I'm glad to see some lower prices but will wait to see if the menus are worth a splurge over other great options.

Siun wrote:They're mailing pretty broadly Ronnie - i've just been to Next once but got the subscription offer today as well and never have before. I'm glad to see some lower prices but will wait to see if the menus are worth a splurge over other great options.

I've been registered at Next's website since the very beginning but was frozen out on the initial season ticket offerings (and ever since, until today when their email arrived). However, a friend was able to get in from the beginning and until now, we have always shared the subscription he signed up for on the opening day of ticket sales, with him having the right of first refusal on 2 seats at all of the tables. For 2015 we agreed to let the subscription lapse.

I just assumed that my being registered at Next's site was the reason I received their email today but from what you write above, they seem to be throwing out a fairly large net. In any case, I'm guessing they'll sell out most, if not all, of their seats for the upcoming season. The pricing is lower than it's been lately (at least for 2 of the meals), which will likely help the cause. The menus look promising but having been to France and Spain multiple times in the past couple of years, I wasn't as compelled as I've been in the past. Again, I'm hoping to go to each of these menus but I just couldn't get over the hump as far as plunking down the $ and blocking out 3 days of my year so far in advance.

=R=

Interesting. I was going to post the exact same thing. Namely, that I've dined at Next once (the first menu) and that's been it, but I received a subscription email, too. "Good news, we have more subscriptions!" or whatever. My first thought was that it seemed sort of desperate. I'm not sure I've ever heard from them before.

Tickets went onsale for the January seatings for Bistro this morning. Still a good number of 4 tops left and 2 tops at decent times lasted fairly long. $120 for tickets between 6-9 pm every night (no difference between Wednesday and Saturday at this point), $75 for regular wine pairings. $260 per person for dinner and drinks after tax/tip. Wonder if they're still offering supplements at that price point to push price over $300. Interested to hear reviews after dinners start Friday night.

Hopped Up wrote:Tickets went onsale for the January seatings for Bistro this morning. Still a good number of 4 tops left and 2 tops at decent times lasted fairly long. $120 for tickets between 6-9 pm every night (no difference between Wednesday and Saturday at this point), $75 for regular wine pairings. $260 per person for dinner and drinks after tax/tip. Wonder if they're still offering supplements at that price point to push price over $300. Interested to hear reviews after dinners start Friday night.

Yes, they are still offering supplements for an up-charge for this menu; should push the price well over $300 per/person with wine for those that elect to add the pricier supplements (probably well over $400). As of now plenty of tickets still available, even opening weekend. I would like to try this menu but as with the past few will only do so if I have the opportunity to score discounted tickets on the secondhand market; I really enjoyed my last couple of dinners at Next (Trio and Chinese Modern) but am very glad it was at greatly reduced prices. I also am interested to see the first batch of reviews.

Someone posted a picture of the menu from friends & family; from his photos the add on (chalkboard) dishes looked better than the included items - not sure what the cost of the extra courses will be (the picture of the Cassoulet looked enticing, there was also a turbot course, a veal cheeks & sweetbreads dish and a cheese course for the "chalkboard" courses he posted).

Here is the standard (i.e. included) menu:

1) Egg custard with crispy chicken skin and chives
2) Lentil soup with bacon, dates and turnips
3) Skate wing with capers, brown butter, lemon & brussels sprouts
4) Caramelized onion tart with gruyere and anchovies
5) Leg of lamb with vegetables, olives & rosemary
6) Dessert of the day

Someone I know went last night and really enjoyed Bistro; he posted a picture of the Chalkboard Specials. Some excellent items (the duck course he posted a picture for particularly looked fantastic) but at $126 for the duck - serves two (before tax/gratuity) it looks like the meal can easily exceed $400 per/person if one does pairings and a few of the chalkboard specials. Definitely looks like there is some excellent food (but at least for me the more enticing dishes were all extra cost); despite the initially lower tickets costs from the past few menus, a meal at Bistro is actually one of the most expensive menus Next has ran if one wants to enjoy the best courses.

Are the "extra dishes" in additional to regular menu or in place of standard menu items? Next should be serving the proper amount of food on their regular menu, and if diners choose to add the "better" chalkboard dishes they might wind up eating, in essence, two meals.

Of course, for some LTHers that might not be too great a problem.

GAF wrote:Are the "extra dishes" in additional to regular menu or in place of standard menu items? Next should be serving the proper amount of food on their regular menu, and if diners choose to add the "better" chalkboard dishes they might wind up eating, in essence, two meals.

Of course, for some LTHers that might not be too great a problem.

Some are upgrades (a-la french laundry, like the $125 Wagyu Beef supplement you can get in place of whatever the standard protein is), some are supplements like the duck, and some are side dishes.

I'm not one for supplements so I will just do the standard menu, it seemed like plenty of food.

Gonzo70 wrote:$126 for the duck - serves two (before tax/gratuity)

Is that a typo? $26 for a duck that serves two, perhaps? For $126, I'd expect the duck to be coated in a layer of truffles and lay a golden egg!

Alas no typo; when I first saw the picture of the duck course it looked phenomenal - but when I later moticed the price I was discouraged. If I go to this menu I have no intention of dropping Alinea like money on what is supposed to be a bistro meal. While the duck looks exquisite, sadly no truffles and the closest to a golden egg is the chance Beran might use the duck press table side if you are deemed "worthy." Speaking of truffles and fowl, Chef Wolen did make a to-die-for truffle stuffed and coated whole chicken one evening at the Lobby as an off menu special treat; that might just be worth $126 for deux.

First pictures of the menu I've seen along with details on the supplement options.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/ar ... at-a-price

Seems like just another way to get to the same price point ... no thanks.

Yeah there is no way someone who'd eat at Next (myself included) would not opt for at least some of the specials, especially given how large the selection is.

Next started out as such a beautiful thing. It's a shame it's evolved into something so crass.

PopcornMegaphone wrote:Next started out as such a beautiful thing. It's a shame it's evolved into something so crass.

Kind of stunning how much customer loyalty they've lost. From selling out the first season tickets in under a minute (and auctioning off lots of el Bulli tables for $5,000) to having plenty of open tables for Friday and Saturday night in two weeks (Jan. 30 and 31 have lots of four tops all night and both kitchen tables on the 31st are still available). Seems like it would make sense to take out some four tops and put in more two tops (and leave more space between all the tables - maybe 60 seats total?), but they've got the business figured out so who am I to question.

Interested to hear more about the standard food courses at Bistro before buying tickets. Not many comments on Twitter, except for things like this from people who likely weren't paying out of pocket: https://twitter.com/bradleygene/status/ ... 9263516673

I can imagine being super pissed off if I was someone who usually doesn't dine at fancy restaurants and thought I'd be getting a nice night for $70, fitting nicely into my budget and have to watch other people dine on the swag specials.

Next just feels like the beta testing grounds for these ideas that will some day be implemented at the other current and future restaurants these guys own.

Beating a dead horse for sure but whatever the original intention of Next was is long gone. Now it's just fun to watch the fan boys and suck ups defend it like its there only purpose in life.

mgmcewen wrote:I can imagine being super pissed off if I was someone who usually doesn't dine at fancy restaurants and thought I'd be getting a nice night for $70, fitting nicely into my budget and have to watch other people dine on the swag specials.

This is a great time to cue Lorde's "Royals."

No shaved fois gras
no truffle* envy
But everybody's like
Wagyu for eighty bucks
Hundred-ten for pressed duck
We don't care
'bout supplemental fare
'cause we'll never be Royal (Lichter!)

Well, it only stretches so far. Sorry for conscripting you into my facetious song, Royal.

* probably Australian

syncretism wrote:

mgmcewen wrote:I can imagine being super pissed off if I was someone who usually doesn't dine at fancy restaurants and thought I'd be getting a nice night for $70, fitting nicely into my budget and have to watch other people dine on the swag specials.

This is a great time to cue Lorde's "Royals."

No shaved fois gras
no truffle* envy
But everybody's like
Wagyu for eighty bucks
Hundred-ten for pressed duck
We don't care
'bout supplemental fare
'cause we'll never be Royal (Lichter!)

Well, it only stretches so far. Sorry for conscripting you into my facetious song, Royal.

* probably Australian

Australian Black Truffle season is over. Only goes on through their winter months (July/Aug).

Looks like one could just about have a private dining experience if they book a table in the latter part of the evening of January 30th. Can't believe the inventory still available; 18 tables unsold that night alone - not even counting any they may have "held back." Still at least 9 unsold tables for tomorrow and next week has at least 14 unsold tables every night - even Saturday. Tock, tock, tock - that's the sound of...

So I guess, per the ticket strategy, it is better for them to have empty tables than to have people book a table and not show. That makes sense, though it makes ticket buyers seem like they are subsidizing potential lack of turnover. Has anyone ever dined here and noticed a good number of empty seats?

I feel like I am hate reading this thread at this point....

BUT

Didnt I get that Duck as part of my meal, which looking back on it, cost me $300 including drinks?

Whoa - Next post on Facebook shows photos of the duck press with the text:

Next Restaurant Paris Bistro Tickets Now Available...

The famous duck press is back!

February tickets now on sale and range from $80 to $120 per person excluding service and tax.

Purchase tickets at www.nextrestaurant.com!

In comments someone did point out that the duck is a supplement but the Next ad/text sure makes it sound like the duck is part of the regular meal. They responded with a note saying sorry for the confusion but you have to click through to read the comments to see that.

Less and less appetizing by the day sadly ... and as Popcorn Megaphone said above, it started out as such a great idea.

Good ol' Nick--the numbers anti-genius. The one I feel sorriest for is Dave Beran. This is such a travesty in so many ways.

Siun wrote:Whoa - Next post on Facebook shows photos of the duck press with the text:

Next Restaurant Paris Bistro Tickets Now Available...

The famous duck press is back!

February tickets now on sale and range from $80 to $120 per person excluding service and tax.

Purchase tickets at http://www.nextrestaurant.com!

In comments someone did point out that the duck is a supplement but the Next ad/text sure makes it sound like the duck is part of the regular meal. They responded with a note saying sorry for the confusion but you have to click through to read the comments to see that.

Less and less appetizing by the day sadly ... and as Popcorn Megaphone said above, it started out as such a great idea.

Yeah, I noticed that too; definitely misleading. Next also indicated on that thread that the duck replaces the onion tart course - so it is essentially a $230 duck (once you add in tax, gratuity and factor in that it is replacing a dish you already paid for in the cover charge). I can't imagine food prices have ascended so dramatically since Next's Paris menu that a single course on the Bistro menu costs far more than the entire Paris dinner (that had a very similar course included in the ticket cost).

As an aside anyone else notice Next is now doing paid advertising on Facebook? I keep receiving "sponsored" advertisements in my feed regarding tickets being on sale for the Bistro menu with a link to the ticket site (which is still overflowing with unsold tables).

Gonzo said what I was trying to say, but typing faster then my brain could think.

I meant to say I felt like the Duck was a dish that was included in the Paris menu, this is getting absurd.

Anyone notice that Tickets for the Office can be Purchased now?