Small, fun restaurant. Great Mediterranean food. Lots of small plates and yummy large plates. Yummy, unique bread served with nearly everything. Great desserts. Cushions provided to make seats more comfortable. Friendly staff and reasonable prices! Great place all around read more

My wife and I stopped here for lunch after a massage at the Godfrey. Food was amazing!! We really enjoyed the flavors and our waiter was very nice. He gave us insights on what to try. We were very impressed with service and food. Very nice atmosphere. Would love to go again sometime! read more

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I've been to both the River North & West Loop locations. For some reason I remember not being a fan of the west loop but after coming to the River North location, I'll have to give West Loop another try. The food here was all delicious and so many great options. For some reason we had in our head. this might be tapas style so we wayyyyyyyy over ordered, but it was a nice way to try multiple plates. read more

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Avec has been on my list for a long time, and I was super excited to finally try it. The entrance of the restaurant was a bit hard to find. I love the warm, wooden interior and the natural light shining through. The menu does not have too many options. Our waitress recommended three dishes to share between the three of us; however, we felt that it wasn't enough food. The portion sizes are small, and wished we had ordered more. We ordered: * chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato - this is a MUST!! 10/10. The saltiness and savoriness from the bacon and chorizo combined with the sweet dates and the kick from the piquillo pepper!!! Such a great mixture of flavors and textures. * charred sweet potato with whipped jalapeno feta, ponzu and roasted cashew dukkah - 5/10 half of the sweet potatoes were undercooked * grilled butcher steak with charred radicchio, marcona almond and chili-sesame - 2/10 five bite sized cuts of unseasoned butcher steak for $28... the side salad was bitter and did not complement the steak Overall, beautiful plating but the food was very underwhelming. read more

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The food was absolutely delicious! We ordered around 2 large plates and 4 small plates for 5 people and we were absolutely stuffed. Every dish was amazing. The potato and salted cod brandade was my favorite-- so creamy and not as heavy as it looks! The slow roasted pork shoulder was also perfectly cooked and so tender. For food alone, I would absolutely recommend! Price is not bad either, we spent ~$225 for our group of five (and everyone got drinks). Our server was extremely sweet and helpful, but there was another server who was rushing us a bit to finish which was a little awkward at the end, since we still had some dishes we hadn't finished. One thing to note is that the restaurant doesn't have a lot of seating. We were sat at a bigger table and ended up sharing our table with another party of 2 people, which was no problem at all~ read more

Ever since we finished watching 'The Bear', Avec was high on our to visit list, so we made a reservation for our anniversary! Now the interesting part is the west loop avec is one long communal table of sorts. That was a fun little surprise. Maybe we should have looked that up before making the resy for an anniversary. But once the food came in we quickly forgot about that, because it was fabulous. The mejdool stuffed dates with the chorizo were fabulous. The spiciness of the chorizo, paired with the sweetness of the dates and the crispy bacon exterior was a party in our mouths. This flavour funhouse unexpectedly topped by the short rib hummus. The short rib was melt in your mouth stuff and the hummus with sumac was the perfect partner in crime! For dessert we got the cheesecake, which was great but to pair with the ginger and pear jam was a culinary masterpiece. They were sweet to give us an helping of the chocolate gelato on the house which was a perfect way to end the evening! We plan to visit the river north branch to sample the rest of the menu which we couldn't because we got too full. Highly recommended! read more

I've always wanted to go here based on several reviews. Got that chance this weekend when friends visited. Arrived there when they opened on Saturday, walked in, and able to secure seats. There's a public parking a few doors down or there is metered parking on the streets. So plenty and close by!! Space inside the restaurant is tight and communal seating due to space constraints. Bathroom was immaculate . Wait staff very attentive and service was quick. Food was exceptional except the Mexican Prawns and Char-Grilled Butcher Steak. It was perfectly seasoned but overly cooked. Tough and meat adhered to the shell because it was overcooked. Steak was cold and tough even though medium well. A bit pricey but the small dishes we ordered were just enough to satiate our appetites. Will definitely come back for more. read more

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Stopped by Avec in need of a little dessert. With no reservations we knew may not be possible. They managed to get us in after a little figuring out. Great set up and busy Mediterranean place with a great vibe and atmosphere. Service is slow but they get to you eventually . Great varied menu but as we wanted dessert that's what we focused on but we managed to get an appetizer too! A little bubbly to drink started us off. We couldn't not get the wild Mexican shrimp app, which was really good and huge shrimp! Great tomato base sauce and a nice warm pita with it. Hearty dish. We chose the cookies and cream affogato. Yum this was insanely good . The espresso so fresh and strong blended well with the ice cream. Little chocolate cookies served with it were a good crunch. I love a good affogato . Even if it's a little untraditional. We also had the caramelized banana pie . Not my type of dessert but the girls loved it. With chocolate and sesame seeds also caramelized on top . Unique and different and an eye pleaser for sure. Great food for what we needed. Great gathering place too. read more

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For the year and a half I lived in River north, I would always walk past avec, and would always want to go check it out. The warm, Mediterranean interior was so inviting, but for some reason this restaurant escaped me. I went for the first time last weekend to check out their restaurant week menu. Cheese danish to start. Coffee on the side to help wake me up. I had the maple sausage scramble. A sausage scramble is always the best way to start the day, and Avec nailed it. Crispy potatoes, well cooked eggs, sweet maple saisage, and they even snuck pork belly in here. It tasted like bbq burnt ends. Ugh. So good. I tried the French toast too. This French toast is a marvel to behold. How they managed to get such a perfect texture that is both moist and spongy, but retains structure. You know the food is good when you commit to going to a valentines event there with your girlfriend, just to try the food they'll be serving. Should be a blast and delicious as ever! read more

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As my first restaurant week stop of 2026 I was impressed with the quantity of courses. Avec does not offer options for the restaurant week menu, but there were a variety of courses and they were able to accommodate a food allergy in the group by serving them a separate serving. there were four people in my party and courses came out in pairs, so there was enough on each plate to serve too. The pacing of the courses was really good as they waited for us to finish before bringing out the next and we were very full by the end of the meal. The tables were a bit more communal than I would prefer so we were seated on a table of eight as a party of four next to another party of two there was room for two more in between our parties and they tried to see someone there at one point, but they asked to move. The seating doesn't detract from the experience as it is still pretty roomy, and you can hear your party around you without hearing much of other conversations. My favorite course was the dates, and I wish the paella had a little bit more balance of the proteins. I definitely would recommend this as a stop for restaurant week. read more

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Love a restaurant that encourages sharing during restaurant week and doesn't make the whole party do the set menu! One of us did the RW menu and the other ordered à la carte. We shared everything though. The RW menu was a good variety and would have been plenty for one person. The crudo was the perfect light start to the meal, and the salad was interesting and fresh. Those two dishes came out fast but then there was a huge gap when no food came out. We were hangry :( the short rib hummus was excellent and melted in your mouth. Hot take on the dishes Avec is known for: the ratio on the bacon wrapped dates was off. Way too much chorizo in the middle. I couldn't taste any of the date, and minimal bacon too. The focaccia was executed well but fell a little flat in my opinion. Maybe in comparison to other dishes it lacked flavor and impact. I did like it better the next date leftover. Add the honey on top for sure! I liked the paella okay but wanted more rice. My friend wasn't wowed by it and said the chicken was dry. Desserts looked better than they tasted. The seating is a bit different (communal bench tables) and the space is one long, narrow room. Service was decent but that attentive. I'm glad I came & would come back someday, just not rushing back. read more

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We came here for a special dinner and the experience was mostly positive. The service was good. The staff were attentive and managed walking through the narrow space very well. Our sever described the dishes and recommendations were spot on. We were seated at the counter about 10 inches from the hostess. The space isn't very large, and it's a bit narrow. The hard wood seating wasn't the most comfortable since the stools did not have any backing. Which might be an issue for prolonged dining. We started off with some olives and bread and a mezcal cocktail. The olives were good, but the bread wasn't very flavorful or warm. The cocktail was well balanced and delicious. We then had the prawn dish which was extremely hot temperature wise and a bit over cooked. The seasoning of the shrimp was really good and garlicky. So a bit of a mixed bag. We then had the roti chicken dish with hummus and fresh pitas. The pitas were like pillows, and the hot steam from them would burn your hands. The chicken was awesome, as well as the hummus. So good. We ended the meal with their signature nutter butter squares. A large bite of sugar heaven. We left very happy with the meal. read more

Avec - Chicago - Mezcal cocktail - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Truly amazing flavors! Our only tiny criticism was that the roasted cabbage, though delicious, was really tough and hard to eat. Everything was full of spice and flavor and fun! That focaccia is deadly good! read more

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Went to Avec for my birthday dinner! We didn't really know what to expect but, holy s***. This place is amazing. Quick service and great food. Everything we had (pizza & grilled steak) was amazing and even had the honey peach cake. Loved it would go again 10/10 read more

I had my birthday brunch here and it was DELICIOUS! All the food was 10/10. I had the Kale Hummus, the seasonal dips platter, the chicken shwarma, and a few drinks. I think the highlight of the meal was the kale hummus and the surprise chocolate peanut butter ganache dessert. It was SOOO good! The service was fantastic, quick and easy. The ambiance was great, nothing loud and crazy. Just perfect enough to engage with the people at my table. And the lighting and decor was minimalistic and beautiful. I really loved it and can't wait to be back read more

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Avec is definitely a different experience compared to your typical Chicago restaurant, but I think that makes it stand out. You're seated next to others like in a school cafeteria... just a classier and more intimate version. It's a bustling environment, but seems to be suitable for a variety of occasions, including date nights and corporate events. I wasn't necessarily in love with it, but I did enjoy getting to see what others were ordering, and occasionally we would exchange a few words with those around us. Our server was very helpful and accommodating, and provided a detailed description of different menu items. If anything, he went even more in detail than we were expecting lol The food was pretty remarkable (for the most part). Between me and my boyfriend, we ordered: - Chorizo-stuffed Medjool Dates: very good and flavorful, works surprisingly well although the date flavor is strong, came with bread too - Short rib hummus: my fav item, had a sweet sauce that made it taste kinda like BBQ. We did have to order an extra pita because we felt that the one it came with wasn't enough - Slow roasted pork shoulder: def the most underwhelming dish, came with clams but honestly I feel like they didn't add anything. Less flavorful than the others but still comforting I think because we were so blown away by our first two dishes, the pork shoulder ended up being a little disappointing. However, I was absolutely stuffed by the end and very satisfied, and usually I pride myself on having a pretty big appetite. I would say everything is a little more on the pricier side, but I would still recommend for a special occasion! read more

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beautiful interior of a restaurant!! my expectations here were high but unfortunately i don't think this quite met it. everyone was very polite and professional, loved how attentive they were with filling our waters. a must get dish ofc is the braised short ribs hummus -- the short ribs were cooked perfectly, so tender, and the edges were sweet and crispy. wish there was more hummus tho given the price point!!!! chorizo dates were good, some parts were surprisingly sweet but the sauce was spicy and overall balanced the dish out. unfortunately the pappardelle was a huge miss -- unique to try but fell flat. i wish we'd gotten the guanciale & spinach pizza instead. also $$$$ and not totallyyy worth the price imo read more

Avec - Chicago - pappardelle - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came for dinner - atmosphere is comfortable and chic but quarters are tight, ambient noise is moderate. We liked our cocktails, would recommend. Food presentation was fun and put together. The dishes that stood out were the vegetable appetizers, including beet salad and sweet potatoes. Dates were good but swimming in pork which overpowered the dish. Pita was amazing, the hummus that came with it was unremarkable. Pork shoulder was tender but heavy and plain. Fish was decent and tender, again a bit plain with a sad, soggy exterior but the sauce gave it some needed zip. Overall food was nothing special and just too bland across the board. We had a fun time, 3.5 stars. read more

Avec - Chicago - Beet Beet And Plum Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a long overdue review but I came to Avec during Chicago Restaurant Week in the beginning of the year and enjoyed the overall experience. We went to the West Loop location and the space was small yet inviting. The seating situation was tough since it's a community style so you will be elbow to elbow next to a stranger but we made the most of it. I would highly recommend making reservations as the place gets busy and filled especially during the weekends. For the food, we really enjoyed the chorizo stuffed medjool dates with bacon and piquillo pepper sauce. It was a balance of salty and sweetness and the sauce was perfectly seasoned and dipped well with the bread. For the large plate, the roasted chicken thigh kabsa was delicious! The meat was really tender and the basmati rice was flavorful and with the addition of almonds and saffron. Since we dined in during Chicago Restaurant Week, the menu was fixed but I am really looking forward to coming back and trying different dishes in their menu. I love tapas and getting to try and share multiple meals and the quality of ingredients is top notch! read more

No clue where to start! lol Ok how about I couldn't find the door....its a wooden door on the right which is hidden in my opinion but I entered and was welcomed immediately. I chose seats at the "bar" instead of the communal tables they have. I believe our waitress said her name was Jo (forgive me if I'm wrong) but she was sooo nice and checked on us several times. Her recommendations were SPOT ON! My drink was good, the chorizo dates were CHEF'S KISS!!! OMG! Next time I'm getting the full order! The rotisserie chicken was really good too! Listen I have ZERO complaints and I'll be RUNNING BACK very soon!!!! read more

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The food was amazing and the portion were huge! The restaurant itself is very small so definitely make a reservation. The papas bravas were a 10/0. read more

Avec - Chicago - Papas Bravas / Avocado Toast - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Avec is super cute, and most of the seating inside is one long table. I liked it, but the party next to us was a little loud so I had a hard time hearing my friend sometimes because one of the ladies was so loud. The hummus was soooooooo good!!! The rotisserie chicken was delicious, could have a bit more juicy but it was good. The espresso martini was a bit small for the price. Tuesdays is 1/2 price wine bottles! My only note is that is a bit pricey but the portions are huge so I felt a bit better. The ambiance is nice and trendy! read more

Avec - Chicago - Hummus & Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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On Maven's faves, always revisited on a trip to Chicago, dipped into their cozy counter-forward home base to get a taste of what I've been missing. The roasted sweet corn is closing out the season, bringing me into America's heartland with bright peaches, cherry tomatoes, pickled fresnos for spice, covered in freshly shaved Parmesan making the dish quite fulfilling. It was very good, probably best a little earlier in the season, but gratuitously enjoyed. They define themselves as a wine-focused restaurant, with a smart menu organized by color then region, with a good variety (and options of pours) by the glass. Also appreciated - glorious cocktails, mocktails, and appertifs going into amaros, madeiras, tawnys & ports. The thing that keeps me showing up time & again - Chorizo-stuffed Dates. These candy-like morsels filled with spicy Spanish sausage, wrapped in perfectly caramelized bacon, sitting waist-deep in rich red pepper-infused tomato sauce are every person's I-dream-of-Tapas and likely what landed them on the Michelin. Served with a crusty edge of sourdough (that sauce is made for dipping!), these dates never disappoint, showing up perfect (or better than memory serves!) every time. A pleasure and comfort to enjoy. Okay let's talk about dessert. A nice chamomile tea with rose infusion served the fancy way (loosely in a pot) is a nice way to slow down, and pairs surprisingly well with sweets. The Nutter Butter square is bite-sized perfection - crispy, crunchy, peanut-buttery and topped in rich chocolate ganache with approximately zero guilt on account of its size. Highly recommended! This is the perfect time of year to enjoy their patio, but ambiance is excellent in or out, and service a top focus. As long as I love Chicago, I'll be looking to confirm some great things never change, and this trip Avec makes the list! read more

Avec - Chicago - Nutter Butter Square - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in while in town for a show. Ambiance was cozy and familiar, not too cramped. Service was excellent without hovering or checking in every two seconds. Finally, the food was insane! Still dreaming of this dinner. They do a great job of providing elevated food in an approachable way. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

Avec - Chicago - Chorizo-Stuffed Medjool Dates - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Avec is an unassuming place from the outside but what you'll find on the inside is a treat. The ambiance is homey and tight knit but the food was really tasty! The spreads that came with the cheese was unique but the hummus and pita almost stole the show with how great it tasted. The pizza was also unique and something you won't find elsewhere. It's a bit pricy however and you can feel cheated on the portions but overall a great restaurant to explore or bring friends/family for a special occasion! read more

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I had a great first visit to this place and would definitely return if I lived in Chicago. It's not a very big place, but they have a couple of outdoor tables. The staff is very friendly and ensures that you have the best experience during your visit. Their menu isn't extensive, but that's actually appreciated as it can be overwhelming to decide what to eat. The kitchen specializes in what they offer, and you can taste the quality and flavors in every bite. While the dishes aren't overly complex, the flavors and quality of the ingredients definitely shine through. read more

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I came here for dinner with a friend and loved the community seating style. We were seated between two other pairs, which added a fun element to our dining experience as we all kept glancing at each other's dishes, helping us decide what to order. We tried a variety of dishes, sampling something from nearly every section of the menu. From the small plates, we had the Medjool dates, a favorite of many, and it's easy to see why! The chorizo was incredibly well seasoned, perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the dates. We couldn't get enough. Next, we had the butcher steak, also from the small plates, which was perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy. From the hummus section, we chose the short rib hummus, another outstanding dish. The short rib was also incredibly tender and flavorful, beautifully complemented by the creamy and smooth hummus. Finally, we tried the pork shoulder, which was the least favorite of our selections. While the flavor was good, the pork was disappointingly dry, even with the sauce it was cooked in. I would probably skip this dish next time, but I hope to be back soon! read more

Avec - Chicago - medjool dates - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This weekend for restaurant week in Chicago, we have returned to Avec. Last time, we were attending a special art event upstairs in the private event area. Initially, the entrance is very confusing for those who have not seen it. There appears one door straight ahead with a keypad. That's the stairs to the private area but you wouldn't know from the lack of signage. The true door is wooden to your right in the entranceway. It looks like a wall... push it. Upon entering you immediately get blasted by the loud... very loud chatter in the room. The restaurant if very thin and lacks any appropriate space to move around effectively. The lady behind the check in was friendly and sat us 5 minutes early for our reservation. The tables are long wooden picnic tables with wooden benches on one side and uncomfortable wooden chairs on the other. The room and furniture are very poor in choice. The room acts like a very loud echo chamber to the point most people were leaning over the tables to have any type of conversation because you cannot hear them without yelling. The tables sit 3-4 on each side with no break in the middle. So if anyone is sat or needs to get up in the middle, everyone needs to get up from the table so someone can go to the bathroom. Think of half the restaurant's seating being equivalent sitting in the middle seat on Spirit Airlines. Now for what we are here for, the food. We were on the limited menu for Restaurant Week. We tried the red lentil soup and bacon wrapped dates stuffed with Chorizo. The lentil soup was tasty, but it didn't really stand out from any other good squash based soup we have had. The stuffed dates were absolutely excellent! The are big, stuffed with really good chorizo, and the bacon was perfect on the outside. The red tomato sauce it comes with has a little kick but not enough to turn off spice sensitive diners. The bread the dates come with was good, but the crust is like trying to cut a lobster shell with a butter knife. If you cut it from the underside you stand a chance! Next came the main dishes. My wife got the chicken wrap and I got the lamb burger. The wrap was tasty but not earth shattering. Chicken was tender and burst with Mediterranean spices and tahini sauce. The lamb burger was tender but a little gamy. I like lamb, so it was ok for me. The burger just seemed middle of the road, just made with lamb and basic Mediterranean garnishes similar to a gyro minus the seasoning you find on lamb gyros. The chips that come with each dish were really good, but wow were they salty! Desert were 2 squares of chocolate peanut butter bites. They are very good! Overall, I don't think we will be back to Avec. The food was decent, but definitely not worth fighting the poor cramped room and yelling to each other over the insane noise levels. read more

Avec - Chicago - Small and VERY LOUD - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came here for our anniversary and all the food here was delicious! We made a reservation in advanced because the west loop location is rather small and doesn't have too much seating. That's one thing that I didn't love, it's very cramped inside and we were so close to the couple next to us it's hard to have your own conversations. Because it's one long table that everyone shared it doesn't feel super intimate and our dishes were touching each other. Other than that though the food was delicious and the hummus with beef ribs is a must order!! read more

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We came by for brunch on Sunday and the restaurant was filled with folks enjoying their meal. :) There is plenty of street parking, along with parking lots nearby to make for easy parking, just be sure to read the signage so you don't get a ticket. The restaurant was super easy to spot on the outside, but when you walk in you might miss it if you blink. There is a hidden wooden door dirty to your right it's avec written right on it. The hallway was super quiet but the moment you open the door it was a party! The host quickly sat us down after we checked in for our reservation. We were running a tad late so I wanted to give them a call but no one answered, likely because it was so loud you couldn't hear the phone ring. BUT if you message them on open table when they reach out to confirm your reservation they will respond immediately. :) We were quickly seated. The farm style seating available in the restaurant meant that you could possibly be sharing the table with folks you don't know. Which we certainly don't mind. Since we were seated at the end, when folks were seated in the middle of a table we had to get up for them to shimmy in and it got a bit cramped to be bumping elbows with folks we didn't know while eating. But they did warn us before seating which is great but still a bit crowded when you're actually seated with plates. We decided to try the restaurant week menu and added a few items on that sounded interesting to try. To start, we got a pistachio coffee cake. This was delish, it was moist and super flavorful. Shortly after, the pork belly came out sizzling on the platter. It was crispy but what absolutely wow'd was the flavor, the sauce was everything I didn't know I needed. The papas bravas had a nice kick to it but the cheese on top helped. The idea of smashed potatoes and roasted like this is so great! Next up we had the lamb burger which wasn't my favorite, but the different toppings were great! It also came with a lentil salad. Lastly, was the shashouka. Boy did the flavors on this one come out, be care of the fresnos if you can't handle the heat! It does sneak in when you don't expect it. By the end of the meal we were so full we had to pack up our entrees to take home and enjoy later. It was too good to waste. All in all we had a great experience, we'll have to come back for dinner next time. :) read more

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Such a beautiful spot in the west loop! Pretty busy so would recommend getting a reservation if possible. My friend and I came in on a saturday evening at around 7pm and it was filled with diners. The interior gave japanese inspired vibes with their natural wood walls, long corridor-like shape and simplistic furniture. Seating is interesting -- you share long tables and benches so expect to be in close proximity with other people. Portions are pretty decent and we only had enough room for 2 small plates and dessert: - Chorizo stuffed medjool dates: I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. the tomato sauce underneath was sweet, bacon was salty and chorizo filling was spicy and moist. The bread that came with the dates was crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. - Short rib hummus: pita bread was so soft and fluffy, flavorful. There was a very generous portion of hummus, which was incredible w the olive oil. Short rib was smoky and so tender it tore apart easily. Onions and parsley added refreshing taste - Profiterole: great pistachio ice cream (not too overpowering and there were pistachio chunks, not too soft), crunchy nuts, very sweet w the honey and rose petals I've been told that avec has a seasonal menu so they change up their dishes, but I loved their offerings for this rotation. Highly recommend and would love to come back in the future! read more

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Avec has blew the Chicago Restaurant Week out of the waters. The medrool date, lamb burger, whitefish tartine and nutter butters were all hits. The medrool dates is drenched with marinara sauce and spongey ciabatta bread. The charred whitefish tartine could use a little more salt, but otherwise the bread was phenomenal. I especially loved the lamb burger as the bread is super pillow and soft. While the dining space is very small, sitting along the bar was roomy. Definitely check this place out. All the staff members are very friendly here! I would definitely come back to try more items. Avec forever! read more

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We visited Chicago for a few days to see a show at the Chicago theater and decided to stop by Avec for dinner. I cannot rave about this place enough. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, and we decided to go to brunch the next day because of how good dinner was. Service was great, and they were all super friendly. Great ambiance for a date night. Will definitely visit again! read more

Avec - Chicago - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would say 4-4.5. Food review is basically exactly the same. Most favorite, dates and hummus. The reason I went down a bit was our seating arrangement. We know it's basically communal seating. It is what it is. However if you are on the back of the restaurant by the bathrooms...it gets insanely hot. Multiple people were complaining (and sweating). It's because the wood burning over is near there as well. They really need to do something to fix that, because it's very unpleasant. Even if they find a way to divert more air conditioning there. read more

Celebrated a special milestone in my friend's career at Avec the other day and had a wonderful time. Our server was very sweet and gave us a complimentary glass of wine to celebrate. We ordered a few dishes including the lamb flatbread, shaved apple salad, and the grilled prawns. We also had a bottle of Rosé and a cappuccino to end the night. I loved all the dishes but my favorite was the apple salad. I was a little skeptical of the pita and shrimp dish but it was AMAZING all the ingredient work so well together. My friend and I are also not big lamb fans, but the flatbread was so good and we could barely tell it was lamb. I will definitely be back! read more

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Finally made it to Avec West Loop for brunch with close friends, and overall, it was a great experience! The space is small but super cute, making it feel warm and intimate. We were seated by the door, which was a little chilly, but honestly, the fantastic service more than made up for it--our server was incredibly kind and attentive! Now, onto the food: * Endive & Shaved Apple Salad - Not really our thing. The flavors didn't quite hit the mark for us. * Shakshouka - Absolutely amazing! Easily the highlight of our meal. The flavors were rich, perfectly spiced, and so comforting. * Chickpea Hummus with Soft Egg - Pretty nice! A solid dish with a good portion size, smooth texture, and well-balanced flavors. * Papas Bravas - According to my friend, the best in the city! And honestly, they might be right--crispy, flavorful, and just overall delicious. Despite the slight chill from sitting by the door, Avec West Loop is a great brunch spot with a cozy atmosphere, stellar service, and standout dishes (seriously, get the shakshouka!). I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu! read more

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Avec is my number one recommendation in Chicago whenever someone is coming to visit. Four of us went during the summer and I think we ordered almost the entire menu and shared. At the end of the meal I think it was just over $130 a person, which is a great deal given how good the food is. The staff was extremely friendly chatting with us and explaining the menu. The food came out in a steady pace ensuring we still had room on the table. I still dream about the hummus and heirloom carrots, but everything is amazing. The chorizo dates were creamy and well spiced, the pork belly was tender, everything was great even the dessert. Since we sat outside, I didn't really have a chance to see the interior of the restaurant but if you watch Sydney doing her food tour of Chicago in The Bear you get a sneak peak. read more

Avec was my last dinner in Chicago. My conference ended at 3:30pm, so I knew I wanted a super early dinner. When I checked in, I was offered a bar seat, which suited me just fine. I had no idea that they had happy hour, so I was thrilled when I was given a HH menu at the bar. Looks like it's from 3:30pm - 5:30pm. I was there on a Monday night. I had the bartender's choice cocktail from the HH menu, which was a twist on an aperol spritz. For food, I had the Potato and Salted Cod Brandade with Garlic Bread off the HH menu and it was absolutely divine. So creamy and flavorful. I would eat this any day. I also had the Chorizo-stuffed Medjool Dates from the HH menu and this was a little spicy, a little sweet, and a little salty. Perfectly seasoned. For dessert, of course, I had to have the sweet melon sorbet. I'm a sucker for anything melon flavored, so this was a no-brainer for me. It was so refreshing! Service was attentive and I would not hesitate to come back on my next trip to Chicago. read more