girlfriend is a fatty. she wanted to eat all of the dates herself! but we were reasonable and split, having 2 each. yes, the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce is THAT GOOD. to be honest, if you get that, there's nothing else you need to get. EVERYTHING tastes bland in comparison. the little kick of spice makes the meal. the sweet dates makes the meal go over the moon. trust me, do not get anything besides that. if anything get a plate for yourself. DON'T SHARE the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce. YOU WILL REGRET NOT HAVING MORE! read more

once upon a time there was a handsome gentleman who met a beautiful lady. he asked her out on a date, took her to the most amazing restaurant ever and there they fell madly in love. the end. while that's basically the truth of the story, i should add a little more. the handsome gentleman was a chef and the beautiful lady was very inexperienced with food. he took her to his favorite restaurant: avec. once there, she understood the beauty and just how absolutely-amazingly-incredible food can be. to this day, their brandade is still in her top 5 dishes of all time. and avec is still one of his favorite restaurants. read more

Pure deliciousness! Dates wrapped with bacon and stuffed with chorizo in a pepper-tomato sauce. I don't even like dates, but these were little pieces of heaven in my mouth. And you better believe there was not a drop of that sauce left after I asked for extra bread to sop it up. My meal could've ended there (well, that's if I had several orders of them), but each dish was better than the last. I've been a few times, and other standouts include the chicken thighs and the whole roasted red snapper (the fish varies, but I think they prepare it similarly). I've tried three different wines there, and they were all superb. The servers were extremely helpful in suggesting food and pairing it with the wine. I know there's been much discussion about the communal seating. People, get out and be social. Alot of us are stuck at computers all day and have no real interactions with actual people, so take advantage of this opportunity. Both my visits to Avec were enhanced by my table-neighbors. My first visit with my boy, we sat next to a group of four who seemed to be regulars, and they recognized us as newbies (while we were drooling over their food) and gave us some really good recommendations. The couple on the other side of us were hysterical, and we had a great time both talking with them and observing them for entertainment (and I think they felt the same way about us, by the way). My second visit, my wine expert brother helped our neighbors pick out a bottle of wine, and they were really grateful (unfortunately, it was the last bottle of the same wine we were drinking, so when we winos were trying to order another bottle, we had to switch to something else, which was actually great because I got to try a new wine). Anyway, talk to your neighbors. It's fun. Both my visits were on weeknights, and I didn't have to wait for a table either time. Miraculously, I did not check out the bathroom on either visit. I think I was worried that if I stepped away from the table I might miss out on a scrumptious bite of food. Maybe I was also thinking that if I didn't visit the bathroom, that would mean I'd have to come back. I will definitely be back! And you should go too. But only if you're friendly, or at least entertaining. read more

Always top of mind when somebody asks for a rec. The whole fish, the medjool dates, the insanely perfect affogato - nothing here disappoints. read more

I'm not sure if the food at this place is really mediocre, or if my palate is not sophisticated enough for it, or if we Americans have been exposed to so many clashing quisine that we are willing to give 5 stars to anything that confuses our taste buds and makes us cringe. It truly is a dilemma of flavor when you try to devour the "Braised Lamb Neck With Harissa", it was very salty and the grain (the harissa part) was lumpy, moist and muddy. In addition mounds of white sour creme-like substance made the experience absolutely horrid. Sure, the decor and atmosphere are quite nice and tatted up ladies serving food give a hip sense to the joint but all else aside the food is a flavorless, colorless astronaut powder concentrate. read more

This restaurant is kinda a small and a little tight in space but not to the point where you can't sit down or have to move a table out to go use the washroom. I went with a couple of people and we order brunch food. I have to say the food was phenomenal and I enjoy it so much along with my mimosa. The waiter we had was very attentive to our needs and he apologize right away feeling bad in giving our check already knowing we didn't get our last dish yet. The restaurant was pack and we didn't have to wait that long to be seated. The decor is of the place is nice with a nice ambiance. I would definitely go back to this restaurant a bring along some other friends who haven't try the place. read more

Contemporary, unique and magnifique! The dishes here are completely out of the ordinary and melding of many unique flavors. The wine selctions pair pewrfectly with the food. The sausage is spicy and comes with fried bits for texture sprinkled on top, with strips of radicchio and a sweet oil over the top. House-cured. The ambiance is as unique as the food, this place is a hip spot to be seen. read more

Such a wonderful little place to eat if you're willing to drop quite a bit. Because the portions are so small, you're definitely going to have to order 1-2 of the small plates and about 2 large plates. However, if the money and communal dining don't bother you (communal dining is something I will never get used to), it's a great place to eat. If you wish to avoid the communal dining problem, come with a group of six so you can take the whole table to yourself. The food is delicious, from appetizer to dessert and you won't be disappointed. And the best food, is definitely the Chorizo stuffed dates. They are the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, savory and meaty in one dish. If only they had the option of making it a large plate..... Personal Recommendation: Chorizo stuffed dates, Deluxe focaccia with Taleggio cheese, Roasted pork shoulder read more

We got a table for 4 at the end of brunch: the restaurant was mostly empty. It was pouring rain outside. It was my first time dining at Avec despite years of work inside Chicago's restaurant industry. I had obsessively compulsively read every bad review of the place many times and was on the lookout for potential downfall of snarky service. The server was true to form but less than accommodating when she suggested my friend Gordon, who is allergic to mushrooms, had a mother who washed her hands too much. When I, a recovered alcoholic, asked for the best juice, and she recommended fermented wine juice, I reminded myself its a wine bar. The food and nonverbal service was outstanding. I particularly enjoyed the lamb sausage with squash and the baked oven pancake with sour cream and peach compote. The greens salad came alive with mint and cilantro, and the bacon wrapped figs lived up to the reputation for being a classic. It was one of the best brunches I have ever had. read more

Avec - Chicago - Brunch oven pancake - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Took out "family dinner" (salmon). My best takeout of the pandemic. Salmon was great and cooked perfectly for mild reheating. (OK, it could have been fresher -- it was fine -- it was Sunday night.). Nice salad with lovely yellow tomatoes, frisée, endive, and excellent vinegrette (added toasted pine nuts). Great mousse with Oreo Croat and crumbles and a dollop of whipped cream. Pick up contactless and effortless. Thanks! read more

Very busy on the weekend, I like communal seating you can see what other people order and chat. We met lots of interesting people. What can I say their dates are simply amazing and keep me coming back. read more

It took me a while to get around to making it over to Avec, but I was very pleased with my experience here. The servers weere extremely helpful and while I could go on and on about the chorizo stuffed dates, it's such an iconic dish that you've could probably find a million reviews about it. The Brussel Sprout Panzenella that we shared as a appetizer, was a little bit lighter on the bread than I expected, but was still and amazing light and refreshing sandwich that was perfect for lunch. Their cocktails are reasonably priced and on the strong side. It is worth a visit. read more

Saturday night....5:30 - the restaurant is packed. Paul behind the bar talks us into getting a bottle of beer from Barcelona: "Damm" - it was very good. We had the obligatory and so good madjool dates, pork shoulder that was so tender and well seasoned, the boar chop, and the octopus with meyer lemon reduction. Excellent food and approachable libations! read more

UNBELIEVABLE. First, and most important: believe everything you've read about those chorizo stuffed dates. Well, except for the name, because in reality they are chorizo meatballs wrapped in dates and bacon. When you see an item with that name on a menu for $9, the picture in your head is not what you're going to get. Here I am imagining these little dates with a nibble of chorizo inside... instead, this is main course kind of food. I went so far as to save one last bite so it could be the last thing I ate before leaving. I will remember that dish forever. Luckily for us, Avec offers so much more. And from our tiny sampling of the menu, everything delivers in a surprising way. My girlfriend and I went on a Monday night, just before 6, and our timing couldn't have been better. I had assumed it would be crowded and we'd be sitting at the bar (if at all), but we were promptly seated and began enjoying a couple of beers almost immediately as we looked over the menu. The dishes at Avec are designed and portioned to be shared with others, which was perfect for us because we always wind up splitting entrees. We decided to go "light," which meant we only chose 4 plates and an appetizer of house marinated olives, while skipping dessert. The starter plate of olives and bread was a perfect beginning, with a variety of olives each having a unique flavor (the smallest ones had a chocolaty note, while another kind definitely had a gorgonzola/blue cheese element). Our next plate was the roasted sunchoke crostini. It was so unexpectedly flavorful that it rivals the aforementioned chorizo-stuffed dates for favorite part of the meal. Perhaps it was the truffle vinaigrette that added the perfect amount of saltiness to the fluffy, bitter greens, but whatever it was, this was the moment we really knew we were in for a special meal. Our third dish... did I mention the chorizo-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon? I can't stress enough how amazing this dish was. I told my girlfriend that I wished I lived in Chicago and worked nearby, just so I could make a weekly visit for this dish. The pequillo pepper tomato sauce was really what sent this into the stratosphere, with just enough acidity to tame the sweetness of the dates and the spice of the sausage. Since we were unaware of what we were getting into with the chorizo-stuffed dates, we followed this meatball feast with a second meatball feast -- the turkey and guanciale meatballs with orzo. These were fantastic, but I'm sad to say that I could barely pay attention to them because I was still savoring the previous plate. Still, how can you go wrong with meatballs made from delicate bacon made from the jowls of a pig? The orzo was perfectly cooked as well. If you fear the spice of chorizo, perhaps this would be a good alternate choice? Finally, we capped our meal off with the roasted swordfish. It was delicious (I had never had swordfish). I was especially thrilled at how well the smoked ham hock complimented the fish, and absolutely stunned at the flavors in the braised chana dal. There was this wonderful lemon/citrus flavor that burst out after a few moments, turning the whole concoction into this wonderful mix of tender and crispy, smoky and sweet. Best of all: the price! This is top notch, gourmet dining at a pretty affordable price. Our tab (4 beers and 5 dishes) came to almost $80 before tip, and we could have (maybe should have?) trimmed one dish from our list and still remained absolutely stuffed. Of course, we regret not even glancing at the dessert menu, but one more bite could have ruined us. For those who don't like to rub elbows with others, be forewarned: the seating at Avec can be tight, as everyone basically sits together. This was actually kind of fun for us, because you get to ask people about their food or even give recommendations to a new party seated right next to you. The service is quick and impeccable, and the setting is more of a dinner party atmosphere than I would have expected. Avec was completely without pretense or the snootiness one would expect from a 5 star establishment. My girlfriend and I were absolutely thrilled to be eating our meal to the sounds of ELO, and we were glad to get out as the sounds of ambient techno crept in. read more

Mediterranean tapas best describes this place. Small set up with group seating, I preferred to sit at the bar. Service was nice with very good recommendations. However, the timing of the food was off as we get two items right away, then had about a twenty minute wait for our next items. They were all small plate apps, so the timing was weird. Everything we ordered was great, but I would say all items were overly seasoned. The dates are a staple, they were good, but a bit tough to eat. The beets with fried lentil were the best part. Hake was a great smokey surprise. Prices are a bit high but I'll be back. read more

It took me a while to finally make my way here, but now that I have, it's seems like a great spot to go to on any weeknight. Great atmosphere, great wine selection, great service and of course great food. The space is limited and they don't take reservations. As a vegetarian, the selection is limited so I won't be going there that often, but at the same time, I didn't leave with wanting anything more. My friend and I share salad, focaccia and pasta. The focaccia was exceptionally good, the ricotta still lingers on my mouth. I would come here just for the focaccia and wine alone. read more

I this restaurant. I've been coming here for over a decade. I've never had a dish I didn't like. It's cozy, innovative, vegetable forward (but also has delicious braised meats, fish preparation and the best chorizo stuffed dates ever) and the European wine selection is very affordable. It's a must visit in Chicago. read more

love it. came here after work with a friend on a wednesday evening; we made it just before the huge crowds arrived and we managed to find a space right at the front on the end. while we waited for our first plates, the very hot guy at the front came up and made a point of greeting us and saying hello. who was he? i have no idea but he was hot and he made us feel good. i can't remember what we had, but there was rabbit and it was also good. i believe my friend and i called it a perfect helping of 'comfort.' we shared about 4 plates, ordered a whole bottle of delicious wine (our server recommended it and it was perfect for the meal) and made small talk with the nice family next to us. (what's wrong with sitting cheek by jowl with strangers? it's social!) and that's what i like about Avec: it treats food like a great social event, not some snobby secret you get to experience alone. if you like your dining experiences to resemble touring a sacrosanct temple, then this may not be the place for you. if you like to eat, drink, laugh with strangers and feel like you're on a little adventure, then come here. read more

I have been to Avec twice, so perhaps I shouldn't give it 5 stars just yet. But I can't help it! The food is very well prepared. Inventive, but simple. I've had most of the starters on the menu and all of them are fantastic, with the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo and the octopus as stand-outs. I have yet to have the whole fish, but I've been told that this is a real must...It gives me an excuse to go back! Perhaps my only quibble with the place is the decibel level. It can be rather loud in there. For me, I would prefer a quieter eating environment, but I know that this isn't the ambience that they're going for. Excellent restaurant! read more

I have to update my review on Avec - I think I just ordered the wrong thing last time. I went for Chef's week and it was absolutely delicious. The chorizo-stuffed dates were the best thing on the menu. Sweet, spicy & salty all in one bite - AND they were served with fresh warm bread and a delicious tomato sauce. They also had skatewing fish, which I always enjoy. I also tasted the anise-marinated skirt steak, which was full of flavor - The dessert, however was just "aiight" (shout out to B.C.). It was a blood orange panna cotta & it was tasty - don't get me wrong, but just not as amazing as the rest of the food. I'm thinking that they should offer more than one dessert so that people have a choice b/c that dish can be polarizing - but overall - lovely meal, quality food & great service. read more

What can I say? It's the best simple food in the city...and when you consider the instant and on-going success this place has had, it makes you wonder why no other celebrity chefs have attempted to copy this business model. The understated yet absolutely delicious shared small plates in this one-of-a-kind atmosphere for such an affordable price make it my favorite place to eat in the city. Just be smart and don't show up at 8pm on a Friday with a party of 6 and expect to be seated in any short amount of time. Go Early!! read more

Probably the best restaurant in the West Loop (sorry Girl and the Goat!). The bacon wrapped dates are HEAVENLY. Definitely put this place on your list. read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in a reasonable price range in Chicago. Don't miss the dates, perhaps my favorite dish in Chicago.

Very expensive but you'll get to try truly unique inspired flavors. Ask for their recommendations. They tell you about their most popular items. The back. Wrapped date thing is so delicious. read more

I have been here twice now, and I have been impressed with just about everything I had. My two favorites on both trips are the dates and pork shoulder. The chorizo-stuffed dates are a must, and the pepper tomato sauce is a nice touch and very tasty. The pork shoulder is so tender and was served with beans and reminded me almost of a variation on a cassoulet. The wood fired squid was also really good, and underneath, there is a mix of squid, pasta, and tomato sauce. The focaccia is a popular item, and is more like a thin sandwich with cheese in between. It was ok, but probably something I would skip next time. The wine list is all European, and there are some interesting beer choices including an amazing brown ale from Belgian "Mantan" which was incredibly food friendly but also quite pricey at $29 for 750 ml. Overall, sure the space is cramp, and there are no reservations. It's great for a group, as plates are meant to be shared here, but I would come either earlier or later. read more

My second time at Avec, my friend and I chose to try the restaurant week menu since I enjoyed my first time here months before. I'd say all the main plates on the restaurant menu are Spanish tapa inspired, but a little bit too salty. The chorizo stuffed dates with bacon were my favorite, the tomato sauce with piquillo balanced well between the sourness and spiciness. Service: Both the waiter and bartender were very courteous, but the owner-like man seemed to skip talking to us about the food intentionally but not other groups who also ate at the bar maybe because we're both Asians and was talking using another language. Even though the bartender was friendly, I sneaked him taking away my wine glass with maybe 1/5 unfinished when I was talking to my friend. I didn't ask the reason, though I felt weird. Atmosphere: Avec is small, and everyone has to sit close to each other and share tables, the music is turned deafening so that you can only hear what you want to hear by 'yelling' at each other with your friend or to your waiter/waitress. My throat got tired after 1 and half hours. In conclusion, I might not visit here again in a relatively long time. read more

i have no complaints about this restaurant. i have been wanting to come here for a while and finally had the chance last night. i was lucky to go with a seasoned veteran of the place and a slight foodie, so he led me through all of the dishes and several servers helped us with our wine selections to match our food. it was amazing. the wine and the food was all perfect and delicious. i also LOVED the atmosphere. a lot more casual than i expected and very comfortable. not a snobby attitude in the joint. and the music selection was great. the prices of the food is also very reasonable. i will back.. many, many times. oh and may i mention that the person i saw when i entered the restaurant was Charlie Trotter himself; you have to assume your experience will be excellent if he is there eating on a thursday night. :) read more

As I review some of the other reviews I can't help but have some doubt about my own perception of this restaurant. It's likely me, not them. But, nonetheless, I will continue with my 3 (gasp!) star review. First impression: Casual atmosphere with foo-foo menu items with which I have absolutely no familiarity. Menu: the menu made the dishes out to be complex. I didn't quite know what was in each dish as my mastery of culinary lingo is incredibly subpar. Not totally a big deal as, from my experience, high quality restaurants like this usually deliver on taste. Food: Overall everything was tasty and good. Nothing was ever at the level of 'omg this is to die for' and conversely nothing came close to being spat out. Everything was just...good! Chorizo stuffed dates (of course we got them- every single Yelp tip and review mandated the ordering and consumption of these ahhhhmaaaazzzing dates): My thoughts: they were.......good. Nothing more, def nothing less. I'm not going to rave about them as, for me, they don't deserve all the attention. Brussels Sprouts Salad: Good. (That is all) Mussels: Buuuuttttter! (Which allows this item to hover between good and pretty good.) Lima beans were a good addition. Atmosphere: Pretty cool vibe. Casual environment. We were seated at an upscale picnic-style table (if there is such a thing) which was backed up against the wood wall. Loved it until 3 different groups rolled through at various times throughout our meal and conversation, requiring us to stand up and allow them through. At one point, whilst mid-chew, we stood up allowing a group to sit down beside us. However, the area in which we were standing became quite congested with the waiter who was attempting to deliver drinks, the new patrons, another table of ~5 getting up to leave, and us. All ten of us were jockeying for position in 2'x2' space. Whilst being excused this way and excused that way I was able to finish chewing the chorizo stuffed date with bacon. Folks, the bacon made this situation tolerable. Therefore, I think the bacon (and I suppose the chorizo stuffed date to which it was attached) is due an upgrade on its ranking to 'great'! Ha. Anywho. Everything was good. Glad I ate here once. Unfortunately, I do not have a desire to go back at this time. Pro-tip: weekday 6:30 seating was easy peasy. 7:30-9 it was hopping- people were waiting. read more

A-maz-ing. The food here is ridiculous and super comforting at the same time. There is nothing formal about this place. We had about 10 small plates, but the most memorable were for sure the chorizo-stuffed dates, the truffle oil foccacia, and the brandade. They also serve so much good meat and cheese that you have to be careful not to fill up. They cure some of the meats in-house. We also drank a lot of great wine...great list. Don't miss the housemade chocolate too. I'm super excited to go back. Be prepared to wait...a very, very long time. read more

i like this place! Its cool and trendy. Great service - which is important to me. The communal seating throughout is cool. Food was delicious. It's a cosy place and has ambiance that I like. read more

Food was excellent! The waitresses are laissez-faire as reviewed elsewhere 'not active'. I actually ended up tipping the busboy a huge tip because he actually came around to check on us. This was my third time and if wasn't for the food I may take them off my list. read more

Avec adds a little bit of European flavor to Chicago with an eclectic, artsy crowd and a wine list only featuring European wines. The menu leans more towards small plates, but offers large portions as well. The light wood interior gives Avec a modern feeling, thought the lighting could be turned down a bit. Overall, this is a place you'd want to hit up with friends weekly for a bottle of wine and some conversation. The real standout at Avec is the bacon wrapped dates. You can't go there without trying them. read more

This is a serious restaurant for serious foodies - great service. Dates stuffed with chorizo is a must. Cured meat sampling plate, cheeses, gnocci, pizza, Anything! Even the coffee is great. Completely fun neighborhood place. If you have to wait two hours for a table I guarantee it will be worth it. I totally love the atmosphere, staff, and food. One of my very favorite restaurants! read more

Not worth the hype. I had the pizza with chicken substituted for the whitefish. The pizza lacked any sauce and the egg was runny. The bread was great though. A friend had the shakshouka and it was pretty good...much better than the pizza. I asked for a ginger beer and they gave me a cup full of ice and a tiny amount of ginger beer. They didn't even give me the ginger beer bottle. I would not recommend this place and will not be coming back read more

Food was delicious, especially the bacon wrapped dates! My only feedback is that the food was a bit too salty (Focaccia) and there was a pungent smell of cleaning solution which is not a good pairing with food. Otherwise, loved this place and would go back again. read more

Still good food and makes me want to be a friendlier person. I want to really love this place but I can't. I really like it and that's as far as it gets. read more

Don't know what is going on with Avec but what a disappointment! My husband and I had been here before and loved it. Last night was not good. First the positives. The wine list still excellent! Love the fact that you can order small carafes - equal to about a third of the bottle. We sampled three wines last night and loved all three. The first dish that we ordered was the brandade which was excellent! The dinner went horribly wrong after that. Even though we had ordered the brandade and the squid at the same time, we waited at least a half hour for the squid. When is arrived it was so over spicy (and don't get me wrong, I love spicy) that it totally burned out our taste buds for anything else. Now since the squid was taking so long we ordered the salmon while we were waiting as the next dish. It came at the same time as the squid. Go figure. The problem was that they forgot to cook it. It was completely raw on the inside. Raw is okay if it is sushi, but not in this dish. It was gross. Luckily the waitress noticed that we had cut into the salmon and just left it. We didn't have to send it back, she noticed the orange, raw flesh and suggested she take it back to have it cooked a little more. When it came back, it was very good. Loved our waitress! Also, as someone who likes to stay away from pork products I would not recommend this place. The majority of menu items have some sort of pork product included. And vegetarians need not apply! read more

I came here in a group of four, so I got to try a good portion of the menu. The food was well-executed and tasted excellent. The interior is quite lovely, but definitely beware if you're claustrophobic. It is crowded and noisy. Our server made great recommendations and took great care of us. My absolute favorite dish of the evening was the chicken liver mousse. I could happily make a meal of that all on its own. read more

Went there on a hot day and the wood oven did nothing for my already "glistening" skin. However, the food was good and so was the wine, so I let the hot thing go. Service is fine, interior is wood-sy and not like Michigan pine woodsy, but like all wood all the time wood-sy. Again, the tapas plates are good and the service is fine, but if you go on a hot day be prepared to sweat. read more

I'll admit, I've only been to dinner there once, but go often for lunch. It is always outstanding. The set up is small shared plates but I'm an eater and I always feel satisfied. It's loosely communal seating but I've never had that be of any issue. It can get very loud in there... lots of wood. So depending on the day or time, it's not exactly intimate. It's more celebratory and conversational. The staff and service have always been great. And the food is outstanding. read more