12 Most Amazing Aspects of Dining at Next Restaurant

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I was ecstatic when I secured a two-top at Next on my boyfriend’s birthday weekend. We both love Thai food, and it would be our first experience at Next Restaurant. If you’ve never heard of Next, it’s a Grant Achatz & Nick Kokonas restaurant that sells tickets in advance for each menu. From what I have heard, 2,000 tables sold out in one hour when they announced the Thailand menu (after servers went down because of the massive amounts of people attempting to get tickets).

Many reviews came out prior to our reservation at Next, and they were mixed. Some claimed the experience was great and others claimed that it wasn’t authentic or special enough. I went in with a very open mind, ready for a phenomenal meal. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and the following are my 12 favorite aspects of my dining experience.

1. Food

The food was delicious, as expected. It’s hard to pick one favorite dish, so I will highlight my three favorites. The first course was bites portraying traditional street food and I personally loved the roasted banana and the steamed bun. The beef cheek was phenomenal with wonderfully tender meat in curry, peanut, nutmeg and kaffir lime. I also really enjoyed the dragon fruit.

2. Cocktails

I am so glad that I got the beverage package. Each pairing added something wonderful to the course. My favorite drink was a punch that came with the street food (Batavia Arrack, Szigeti Sekt, guava, mango, papaya).

3. Service

I have worked in fine dining establishments and I have dined at fine dining establishments, but never before have I had such amazingly attentive service. The wonderful collaboration between every employee in the restaurant led to an amazing experience.

4. Table Settings

The table settings added something special to dinner. When we were eating street food, we ate off newspaper. When we were eating out of a coconut, the table was adorned with coconut pieces. It added an element of visual beauty to the lovely dinner.

5. History

I learned all sorts of fun things during dinner, from ancient alcohol routes to the migration of Thai spices to America. It’s always nice to leave dinner feeling a bit more educated about the cuisine and culture.

6. Zen Like Kitchen

After dinner we went back to the kitchen, and I have never seen anything like this kitchen before. It was peaceful, not hectic and crazy with yelling and running around, but actually peaceful. Each cook worked so calmly that it was like watching a fish tank – it gave that same feeling of calm.

7. Limited Number of Tables

Next only has 19 tables, including the 6 top kitchen table. The intimate atmosphere, shared with others who assumedly also enjoy and respect food as much as you do, added something great to an already special dinner.

8. Humor

I think that in order to work at Next, one is required to have a very sarcastic sense of humor. I mean, everyone had a similar sense of humor and it kept us entertained all night. Sure it’s ‘fine dining’, but it’s so much more enjoyable when you are having fun and are not subjected to a dry, stuffy atmosphere.

9. Rose at the end of dinner

You get a beautiful pink rose with the last course of the evening. I’m a helpless romantic, so it won me over! (The rose did have to do with the course being served, dragon fruit, but I enjoyed it for its visual beauty.)

10. Prepaid

It was so nice to finish dinner and leave. You don’t have to worry about the check, you don’t even have to worry about a tip. Everything is paid in advance so you get to go and simply enjoy the lovely meal.

11. Taxi Service

I know this is not exclusive to Next, but it is still nice when your waiter asks if you’d like a cab. It is also nice to sit comfortably in your seat enjoying the end of your drink while you wait for your cab, no hanging out on a curbside here.

12. The Satisfaction of Getting a Ticket

Enough said

Featured photo courtesy of Andrew Huff, used under creative commons

Rachel Taylor

http://foodlovingwino.com

Rachel Taylor is the social media manager and marketing associate for a wine importer. She is a digital native with deep experience building brands and marketing companies via social media. Rachel caught the wine bug amidst the Missouri Wine Trail while attending the University of Missouri. The deal was sealed after a visit to Napa for her 21st birthday. Since then she has enjoyed reading and writing about wine and food, and obtained her WSET Advanced Certificate.