Watch: Next Restaurant Opens to the Public Today

This morning, the nearly 20,000 people who signed up through the Next restaurant website began receiving email notifications allowing them to make reservations at the highly anticipated new restaurant from Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas. Months of preparation went into creating Next and its adjacent lounge, Aviary, which will likely open next week, and now it's go time.

It may be some time before you a) get the email, b) make that reservation and c) eventually get to experience the menu of Paris 1906, the restaurant's first concept (the theme will change every three months). However, Achatz and his team released this new video yesterday showing what goes into preparing the restaurant for service, from polishing each serving plate to measuring the space between tables to meticulously plating each dish. Oh, and the video announces that Next is, in fact, officially now open.

· Next to Start Sending Emails Tonight [~EChi~]
· Next Restaurant's Paris 1906 Menu in Pictures [~EChi~]
· All Grant Achatz Coverage on Eater Chicago [~EChi~]