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    Avec - Chicago

    4.3 (2.7k reviews)
    PriceyMediterranean
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 3:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    AVEC - CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Donuts
    Scott S.

    Tight seating but pleasant space. We cane for breakfast and it was very nice. Coffees and lattes are very good. We had the chorizo stuffed method dates, fantastic! Grilled shrimp yummy. Deluxe focaccia very good with smoked salmon. Spiced tomato shakeups was outrageous. French toast excellent. We also had the donuts which were quite good. Nut butter square was tasty. Delicious meal. I would come here again without question.

    The last frontier
    Katrina V.

    I finished work early and wanted to find a spot where I could have a light bite and drink to unwind. I remember seeing an Avec in River North, but my office was near West Loop so that made this location more convenient. I made a reservation for myself as I wasn't sure how busy the place got. Hospitality was great right off the bat. My reservation was for 5:30pm, but I arrived early and was offered a seat at the bar immediately. My hostess asked if I wanted to have my jacket held at coat check, which I was much obliged to maximize my space at the intimate bar. I got a Last Frontier, a gin-based cocktail that was sweet, slightly tart and refreshing. It was well crafted and hit the spot. I loved their Potato and Salted Cod Brandade. Talk about stick to your ribs! The brandade's warmth, thick texture, and rich flavor made the dip oh so comforting. Perfect for the blustery weather. I'll be back to try other popular items from the menu!

    Hummus & Pita
    Shashank S.

    Wife and I had a great time at Avec. Reserved a dinner for two before seeing a McCartney concert at United Center. Very busy place and there is seating at tables and at the bar. We were seated on stools at the bar. We were able to get in before happy hour ended (3:30-5:30) to get some appetizers and drinks to start. Chickpeas hummus platter and a selection of marinated olives with ciabatta. I enjoyed my crisp and refreshing local draft beer Kölsch beer by Dovetail Brewery Service was friendly and they took the time to explain how dishes were prepared and what was in them if you had any questions. My rotisserie chicken shawarma with pickled peppers, charred lemon, fermented chili sauce, garlic toum and hearth baked pita was excellent and delicious. Definitely would order it again. There was enough left over to take home also.

    Glazed Donuts
    Mark J.

    Avec offers a small, curated menu that does exactly what a good brunch spot should give you just enough variety without overwhelming you. The family-style setup made the whole experience feel communal. The standout for me was the pork belly. Glazed, incredibly tender, and practically melted the moment it hit your mouth. The donuts were another highlight. Great chew, and that salted finish was the perfect counterbalance to the sweet glaze. Simple but executed really well. Service was attentive and friendly. Fair warning it does get tight inside, but once you're settled in, it's cozy rather than cramped. Looking forward to coming back for dinner to see what they're doing on that side of the menu. Highly recommend if you're looking for a brunch spot that keeps things focused and delivers. -Mr.

    Inside
    Vicky H.

    Came for a Sunday brunch early in the morning -- Overall experience was good, service was friendly and the ambiance was cozy. It is not a huge place so reservation is definitely recommended. The portion for the plates are pretty generous, great for sharing and trying several of them. Highlights of the meal: Chorizo stuffed dates was delicious, love the sweet and savory combo! Sumac glazed pork belly was tasty, although I would have loved them to be fattier! Grilled butcher steak was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and flavorful. Lowlights: the seasonal apple cranberry brioche was just okay, tasted like a store bought pastry, nothing special. The deluxe focaccia had good flavor but not worth the $24. The brunch ended with the affogato, which was wonderful! There were many other items on thr menu that looked good. I would definitely return to try more!

    Butcher steak
    Salinda N.

    Went to the recommended West Loop location. I was looking for a great restaurant to be my last Chicago dinner. Originally wanted to try out a steakhouse and saw a post of someone comparing this particular steakhouse and Avec. What they wrote made me ultimately choose Avec: "You can find a steakhouse anywhere, but Avec is only in Chicago." Well, after eating at Avec, I can say that was such an exaggeration. Ordered the "deluxe" focaccia (taleggio cheese, truffle oil, fresh herbs) and the grilled butcher steak (burnt eggplant, sungold tomatoes, shishito peppers and za'atar). Saw posts saying the focaccia was ''INSANELY GOOD." I have no idea why people made it seem like this focaccia was going to make me rethink everything in my life. The steak was fine. The eggplant in this dish does not pair well with steak in my opinion. The place itself looked nice though and service was good. The food just wasn't to my taste.

    Blueberry corn gelato
    Anna H.

    Gosh I wish I took more photos because this place was flavor town. The pizza carbonara was out of this world as well as the short rib hummus. Even this blueberry corn gelato was outstanding. Definitely do your tastebuds a favor and try this place. It's kinda expensive but worth it.

    Raspberry Rose Brioche Bun
    Jesse P.

    I was really excited to try this place, but unfortunately it didn't fully meet my expectations. My brother and I came for brunch during Restaurant Week. We both ordered the raspberry rose brioche bun, and while the flavor was pleasant, it ended up being quite dry and felt comparable to a grocery-store pastry rather than something special. The Restaurant Week menu itself was fairly limited, but the lamb burger stood out to me so I gave it a try. The flavor was good overall, however it was overly salty, as were the chips that came with it, which was disappointing. On a positive note, the service was very good. They checked our coats before seating us, and our server was attentive throughout the meal. The restaurant is smaller than I expected, but it's a nice, cozy space with beautiful wood details. I probably wouldn't recommend this spot specifically for Restaurant Week, but I'd be open to giving it another chance and trying something different on the menu. Part of me feels like I may have just ordered the wrong dish.

    Coal Roasted Cabbage
    Clarissa C.

    Wow Avec is so impressive!! I get why it's so popular, and I genuinely found every dish sooo tasty. Please note that all the tables are communal, and we were sat incredibly close to the people next to us. But perhaps this adds to the atmosphere and vibe! But don't expect your convos to be completely private. Chorizo-stuffed medjool dates - comes with bacon and a piquillo pepper tomato sauce - loveddddd how flavorful this was and the rich contrast of the slightly sweet dates with the tangy tomato sauce and the salty chorizo. We got the half portion which comes with 2, and these genuinely were so surprising!! Potato and salted cod brandade - comes with garlic crostini and chives - the garlic crostini was soo flavorful and just so crunchy even after sitting out for a while. This brandade was like a rich potato soup with a hint of cod, I couldn't stop eating it. Grilled butcher steak - loved the Brussels sprouts, but the steak was a bit too chewy. Coal roasted cabbage (half portion) - the basmati rice and black lentil combo was quite good. The cabbage itself was very moist and juicy with a rich yogurt. Whole roasted branzino - GOSH SO GOOD!! This was slightly fried and served with fava beans. This was the most perfectly cooked fish I've had in so long - which is crazy because branzino overcooks so easily. Overall, this was actually amazing. Bravo!!

    Sweet Potatoes
    Maggie K.

    Absolutely loved that we could make reservations for a weekday lunch; as a group of 5, it can be a gamble trying to get a table large enough at some of the other amazing restaurants that don't do reservations. while the Senior area isn't very big, it's pretty neat that it's quite communal and intimate. Every single thing we ordered tasted amazing, the flavors were perfectly balanced, and the quality exceptional. Our server was quite lovely as well, attentive and able to get us what we needed when asked. Every single thing we ate was good, you really can't go wrong. I love that their menu isn't extensive because it allows a focus on quality. We had a kiddo with us and she ended up just getting the lamb burger with this jam on the side so that it wasn't too spicy and it was perfect. This, coupled with the lunch prix fixe, rewards program. and the fab cocktails means that we will be back!

    Chicken Pita
    Elizabeth M.

    Overall experience was great! Made a reservation online and sat at a shared table. Went for a mid-week lunch date, which was a really nice and easygoing experience. The entry door is a little fun, just push where the pig is. The hummus is an absolute must. We got an extra pita (one per person) and I would recommend getting the extra. For the lunch menu -- the prix-fixe is a really great option. It's only about $26 for the stuffed date, sandwich & chips, and rolled baklava. Service was great, our server was amazing (thank you Marlee)! Waters were consistently refilled, timing was great, atmosphere was enjoyable. Will be going back!

    Steak
    Zoe T.

    I went to Avec for my birthday and from food, service, and ambiance the entire experience was a disappointment. The endive salad was warm and not cohesive at all. Nothing really went together and it was warm, which didn't make sense and made it worse. The steak was cooked how I asked, but the sauce was extremely oily and had this strange burnt flavor which likely was from the onions? The onions were extremely burnt, nothing like a typical caramelized delish onion. The chicken had the same issue, everything had that same burnt tasting oil and the chilies sitting in it just made it more intense. It was honestly just edible and nothing I would come back for or recommend. I love middle eastern food and know that even with a midwestern there are some considerations to take with the flavor profile but the burnt onions, burnt spicy oil in the chicken, and a warm salad are all indications for poor execution. As for the actual ambiance and experience it was my birthday and there was no acknowledgment at all not even someone to check in on whether the food was okay. I did not want to order a dessert after the salad, steak, and shawarma all missing the mark. The seating was very uncomfortable. It is cramped and communal and at this price point I expected a much better experience. Will admit I should have looked into the actual dining set up before booking a late night reservation but even still there are so many better places in Chicago where you can get better food and actually feel comfortable. Overall it just was not worth it. I would not return or recommend this spot.

    Chorizo-Stuffed Medjool Dates
    Siena F.

    Very cute and cozy spot set away from the craziness of the loop -- stopped by for dinner with a friend and loved everything we ate. The service was prompt as well. The restaurant inside is super loud, so wouldn't recommend for a first date or something along those lines, but great just for the ambiance or girls night. For the food, we had the hummus & pita (which isn't served with enough pita bread but that's a small gripe), the chorizo dates, chicken shawarma and the cheese plate. For the serving sizes, I did think it was a little overpriced. But overall would go back.

    Cabbage with lentil rice

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    10 days ago

    Great food. Amazing dishes and flavors are distinct and delicious. Service was quick. Doughnut was delectable.

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    2 months ago

    Good fresh food! Would recommend. We sat by the bar. It was a small cozy restaurant. The short rib hummus and dates were amazing.

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    We appreciate you, Alwin! Hope to see you again soon for more!

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    Page 1 of 67

    Avec - Chicago Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Avec - Chicago

    Is it dressy? Can I wear hiking pants? (They're clean! But I'm on a road trip)

    No, I doubt you will be turned away! It is a pretty casual establishment.

    Is there valet parking?

    No valet parking but there is street parking available with ParkChicago

    Do they take walk-ins?

    Yes but long waits

    Is there a corkage fee at Avec?

    They have a full bar and I don't think have BYOB

    View All 6 Questions

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    Aba

    4.4
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    0.3 mi
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    Food: delicious, tasty. Modern Mediterranean…read more Service: upscale restaurant, fancy atmosphere for brunch/lunch or dinner Value: expensive but worth it imo

    We came in from out of town and on short notice was able to grab a table at 3:30pm for a late…read morelunch. The place is beautiful with a lively terrace on nice days but also a very open and bright interior with modern decor. We were seated right away at a table off to the side of the bar area. We must have waited like 15-20 minutes before anyone even realized that we were there. It seemed as though none of the servers running around serving other tables around us had our table to service. Eventually we caught the attention of who I can only imagine was a manager or supervisor who finally came over to take our orders. We ordered the Smokey garlic hummus which fresh pita bread and this was very good. We also ordered the crispy potatoes and the Brussel sprouts as a side. These were also nice and crispy and the brussel sprouts had a tasty kick with the harissa honey. For our main we had the chicken kebab which was perfectly cooked and tender, braised short rib (not as good), and the shawarma skirt steak frite. We quite enjoyed our meal and everything very fast which more than made up for the initial delay in service. For dessert we decided to share a frozen Greek yogurt with Olive Oil and sea salt. This had an interesting taste with a tanginess at the end. I'm not sure I would order this again but you could tell the Greek yogurt was of very good quality. All in all we enjoyed our meal at Aba and would definitely come back if in town.

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    Ema

    Ema

    4.3
    (2k reviews)
    0.8 mi
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    The atmosphere was great for our 6 person group for brunch! Service was fantastic…read more A very nice ambiance that wasn't too loud for a brunch at 11am where we could all hear each other, sat at a round table so we could see each other. That part was lovely because often I find that with larger groups it's hard to ensure everyone is able to interact (especially since I was taking my parents) Lamb shakshuka was a winner in my book!! So flavorful and perfect hearty brunch. The skewers my parents got were wonderfully cooked. Others got a more standard scrambled egg breakfast that they said was nothing special. Definitely opt for a Mediterranean breakfast if you're at a Mediterranean spot imo.

    I was really disappointed with my experience at Ema. The portions were much smaller than expected,…read moreespecially considering the prices. The biggest issue was that our drink glasses had a terrible odor, as if they hadn't been washed properly. We mentioned it to the manager, who promptly replaced the glasses, and the new ones did not have the smell, which confirmed there was an issue with the original ones. I ordered the short ribs, which cost $35 and the portion was extremely small. One of the pieces was also mostly fat, leaving very little actual meat. For the price, I expected a much better-quality dish and a more satisfying portion. Overall, the experience did not live up to the restaurant's reputation or pricing. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

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    The Purple Pig

    The Purple Pig

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    My new favorite restaurant! the food is DELICIOUS and the staff was incredible. I don't give…read morereviews much but just loved it here so I had to :)

    This place had a line that went out of the door during the multiple times I've crossed the…read moreMagnificent Mile bridge in Chicago. Made last minute reservations for brunch next day after the infamous architecture tour. It was quiet as we've put in an early morning. All the more better to savor all intricate dishes from start to finish. Like the name, The Purple Pig, their specialty is pork dishes so majority of our orders were this. Daily special of the bone marrow bacon jam toast - glazed, slippery off the bone, savory and sweet. Always love a good bone marrow dish to get the sweetness off it. This was so good that there were bits of the marrow and jam left stuck to the bone, I took a piece of the toast and scooped the bone dry. Nothing left for anyone to attack this. Non pork dishes were the Mushroom 3 ways and Spanish octopus. Mushroom dish was savory with all the coated sauces elevating this. Spanish octopus was kicked lightly and easily can bite in to enjoy the tender and charred portions. But the award went to my main course - the braised pork shoulder with saffron, apricots and Swiss chard. Aside from the rippable pork meat when dining on it, the sauces fused together on this dish elevated it and had everyone coming back for more. I needed an official Chicago culinary experience and found it at The Purple Pig without a doubt.

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    Falafel & Grill

    4.3
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    Good "bang for buck" would be an understatement when describing this place. The quality of the food…read moreat Falafel & Grill is absolutely OUTSTANDING, and comes at a beyond reasonable price. As typical for a counter serve, this facility is no thrills but it's kept very clean and the service is straightforward and great. We've gone back here a few times and have never had an issues with wait time, which is impressive as it can get pretty busy with orders. We've tried both the Chicken Kabob Plate and the Kifta Kabob Plate and both were fantastic. They truly make the meat here the PERFECT tenderness - probably the softest and juiciest chicken I've had in the city!!! The hummus and falafel that the Plate meals come with are also delicious. 10000% recommend for a casual Mediterranean meal or takeout

    I lived in Chicago ten years and always wanted to try this place. Sadly it took me moving away to…read morefinally give it a try! This place is a local gem: simple, quick, casual, but packed with flavor. The falafel is crispy crunchy and herby served with two sauces (the red is bright and spicy - my fav), and you can see that juicy shawarma rotating in the window as you pass. Though unassuming on the outside, this place serves yummy Lebanese food at high ROI. Of the two shawarma plates I tried, I fancy the beef, but I tend to lean beef. The chicken was clean and flavorful. The hummus is creamy and delicious and the plates are served with a balsamic fresh salad on the side. The guys behind the counter are working hard and if you're picking food up to-go, you're likely in and out of line with hot fresh food in under 10 minutes. Definitely a spot to try if you've never had shawarma or Falaffel, or need a quick bite while on your lunch break. Also wouldn't be a bad late night snacky

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    Al Bawadi Grill

    Al Bawadi Grill

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    13.2 mi
    $$

    food was delicious, great serving size and fresh !! customer service was also fantastic, super…read morefriendly and accommodating. will be coming back

    I really liked this place. They have parking in front of the restaurant and back. I highly…read morerecommend a reservation on Friday-Sunday even if you are just one person. I called them because I wasn't sure if the online version would be too slow. We were a group of three that came in Saturday night at 7 pm. It was moderately busy. The staff were all welcoming with smiles on their faces and attentiveness. Prices were fair for the amount of food you receive. Food portions are colossal so I would recommend one appetizer and one entree if you are a couple. They give you a complimentary dish. We ordered arayes with meat, meat toshka, mixed grill with baba ghanouj, fillet of basa fried, and mint lemonade. They also offer you fresh Arabic coffee before you leave. This is about a 4.5-5. -arayes with meat 4 - this was not bad. It's like a tamer version of the meat toshka. -meat toshka 5 - I prefer this over the arayes because they add the Syrian cheese. This one was bursting with flavor the moment you took a bite out of it. The minced beef and lamb just melt in the mouth. -mixed grill 5 - this came with 3 big skewers (shish kabab, kufta kabab, and chicken tawook. It also has tomatoes and onions to help cut down the meat when digesting. There are two heaping portions of biryani and saffron rice and baba ghanouj. The baba ghanouj was creamy and flavorful. It goes well with the pita bread. The meats were cooked medium well unless you want something. I think next time I'll ask for the shish kababs to be cooked medium rare or medium for a more juicy taste. The chicken tawook and kufta were both succulent. -fillet of basa fried 5 - the two pieces of basa fillet were astronomical. It also comes with two different kinds of rice. The fish was flaky, moist, and seasoned. Make sure you add the lemon and eat it with the sauce. -mint lemonade 5 - this was very refreshing after eating a heavy meal.

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    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though
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    Avaspi

    Avaspi

    4.8
    (109 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    An absolutely standout meal, each dish better than the next. The stuffed dates, however, were about…read moreas spectacular as anything I've had. A perfect place to go with a group to try as many different things as possible. And don't sleep on their happy hour, which makes the experience even better!

    Avaspi is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. My party of six split 6 appetizers…read moreand 3 entrees. Mediterranean Meze - very flavorful blend of 22 ingredients according to our waiter. This dish was truly unique. 5/5 Grilled Halloumi Meze - delicious cheese with olives and garlic bread. 4/5 Stuffed Eggplant - savory and creamy dish which actually might be even better served hot. 5/5 Calamari Meze - Excellent and tender. Not chewy at all which was nice. There were a ton of olives which I didn't think complimented the calamari. Overall, still 5/5. Mushroom Tava - mushrooms were cooked perfectly and were delicious. One of my favorite dishes of the night. 5/5 Stuffed Mushrooms - this dish fell flat on flavor and had more of the typical mushroom texture. 3/5 The Hunkar entrée initially was extremely salty. I mentioned this to the waiter and they remade it, which turned out great, so I'm hoping the salty dish was a one-off. 5/5 Our waiter was very friendly and attentive throughout. The restaurant itself is also casual upscale, so nice for most occasions. Avaspi exceeds expectations and I highly recommend this excellent Mediterranean restaurant.

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    Avec - Chicago - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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