Aviary Testing Classic Cocktails, Ready To Open?

By Anthony Todd in Food on Mar 28, 2011 6:00PM

Chicagoist got a tip on Friday from a loyal reader named Diana who got to drink at the not-yet-opened Aviary, Grant Achatz's newfangled cocktail-gastronomy concept on W. Fulton. Her party was wandering around the area, looking for a bar and saw a likely looking spot. Turned out it was a dry run for servers at The Aviary, and the staff let them stay and try a drink! We checked, and the liquor and restaurant licenses for Next were issued on Friday, so it was even nice and legal. Full details after the jump.

From Diana:

"I haven't ever written a tip for Chicagoist before, but I thought this was worth a mention. Last night my fiance, some friends, and myself had dinner at iNG. We had noticed a bar on the corner and were looking for a nightcap. Turns out that was Next and The Aviary. Anyway, we just decided to walk into The Aviary because the lights were on and there were people inside. The hostess seated us. Turns out it was a dry-run for the servers of Aviary for employees of Next. After this was explained to us, Nick Kokonas (Grant's business partner) let the four of us stay and have a cocktail (I had a White Lady; my fiance and friends had an Old Fashioned).

He told us that they had just gotten their liquor license yesterday morning and that opening day was fast approaching. They weren't serving cocktails from the menu but rather traditional cocktails for the staff to get comfortable and acquainted. It looks near to completion and is very cool on inside. Lots of white. Very cool chandeliers. The staff was super friendly and couldn't have been more accommodating to the odd situation. We didn't meet Grant but he was in the kitchen working on some of the small bites that will be served when the restaurant opens in the next couple of weeks. Nick didn't confirm whether or not there was an April 1st opening but he did say that it was going to be soon. Personally, after the taste of just a traditional cocktail last night, I can't wait to go back."

Thanks for the tip, Diana! We would STRONGLY recommend that no one else try this little gambit - Diana got lucky, but restaurants don't generally like to be besieged before they open. Anyone else gotten a chance to go inside? We haven't gotten any of the "super-secret-sneak-peeks" that some restaurants give the media, so we're just as excited as you are.

Next and The Aviary will be located at 953-955 W. Fulton Market. They are said to be set to open in April.