From the man behind Chicago's famous Alinea, Grant Achatz does a cocktail kitchen next to his Chicago it-spot Next Restaurant in Fulton Market. A door guarded like a TSA security checkpoint is impeccably managed with astute doorman that advises on wait times that are usually underestimated and in some cases vary between one and four hours. Once inside, a 65-seat molecular cocktail bar features bartenders that seem more like chefs busying away with incredibly intricate cocktail and bite-size food pairing presented at a series of semi-circular booths in and tables with grassy-tops.
The crowd of Avery varies between fashionable locals and fastidious foodies with the fanatical patience of people that show-up at 5am to post-Thanksgiving Day sales. The pay-off is complex cocktail concoctions with simple themes like Hot Chocolate and Popcorn that make a three-hour wait acceptable even for the most finicky of drinkers. Downstairs, a separate basement space offers micro-lounge with seasonal cocktail selection and flapper vibe in contrast to the modern main room.
Tips
While bite-size accompaniments come with most menu items, keep in mind that the portions are not large enough for a whole meal and are best preceded or followed with an actual meal next door �" if you have a ticket.
Last Word
Try arriving early, no later than 7pm, to get your name on the list and then head over to the Victor Hotel for a pre-drink.
