Dear Avec, I hope this isn't too awkward but, I enjoyed our one night together. When I first saw you, I found you very cute and interesting because of your hallway shaped restaurant with a bar/table that extended almost the entire length and on the other side there were small tables. Behind the bar/table was the kitchen where all your wonder aromas originated from. You didn't crowd me because of your high ceilings. I saw that you kept yourself clean, simple and made of wood from the ceiling, walls and floor which really made you even more attractive. You started to flirt with me with your Tuna spread (accompanied with a half boiled egg) which was so creamy. It was perfectly seasoned and when I smeared on the toasted bread, I was almost in bliss. You then tickled me with the chicken liver dish! I love chicken liver and I think you knew it because the way you cooked it with the endive (which was perfectly cooked with a hint of bitterness), the flaolet beans (firm and soft) and the vinaigrette was in complete harmony with each other. At this point, I had a feeling you were trying to seduce me with the marinate hanger steak with roasted shallots and brussel sprouts salsa verde. The hanger steak was so tender and the added flavors of the shallots and salsa only indicated that it was going to be a fun night. Well that and the second bottle of white wine (2009 P. Mas, "Claude Val")! Who knew that brussel sprouts (soft in texture) would go so well with a hanger steak? The marinated steak was salty but, the salsa helped even out the flavor. I guess you thought I still wasn't convinced that you were into me because you came out with the strip bass with harissa, tahini and romaine hearts. The fish meat was so soft and tender that it flaked off as I tried to eat it. I can't remember all of the flavors but it was so appetizing. This dish was orgasmic! I felt I needed a coffee after all of that sensual food action. So you brought out a Café avec which was a 1 oz espresso and 1 oz Leopold Gourmel Cognac. I've never had this combination in my life but I enjoyed it so. Our one night together was erotic and I'm not sure when I'll be back. I think about you often when I'm in other restaurants but, no one will ever take away our one night of pure pleasure. XOXOXO Anthony read more

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The food at Avec is interesting and delicious, but it's not good enough to make up for having to tolerate the other human beings in the place. I don't consider communal lunchroom tables hip or interesting, I consider them one of the things I was happy to leave behind when I left middle school. Why? Because when you share a table, you're likely to share it with a$$hats. True, maybe you meet some nice dining companions. But maybe a$$hats. It's a gamble. To one side of us at the shared table on a Sunday evening: two middle-aged couples, conversation increasingly dominated by one of the increasingly drunk women, who became increasingly insistent on providing a detailed and theatrical rundown of her recent psychological growth. The only thing that didn't steadily increase was the distance between her head and the table and she slumped further and further, eventually resting head to hand to table. To the other side: three acquaintances, maybe co-workers. Conversation dominated by a middle-aged guy in a bright red Polo pullover, gray hair slicked back and slightly tousled in a style I can only call "country club mystique," trying very hard to impress the other two with his erudite knowledge of the food and wine. Whatever this guy's name is, I'm guessing he went by "Chaz" in the 80's and likes to tie an argyle sweater around his shoulders to protect himself from the crisp breeze while he's out yachting. The only moment of intermingling between any of the parties at the table was when this fellow announced, "I saw that!" after I accidentally dropped a slice of dried ginger into my lap. Thanks, Chaz. Avec is loud. Bad loud, not good loud. When my date and I got tired of of trying to talk to each other over our charming neighbors (across a table that's so narrow you have to keep rearranging plates and glasses), we started texting each other: me: wtf is with this guy in the red shirt?! my date: he's giving a$$hole lessons me: i see my date: i brought you here on free education night me: i'm thinking about flinging a hunk of cheese toward the kitchen and seeing what happens ...[discussion of inappropriate behavior]... my date: let's not get blacklisted, i have to come here sometimes with [business associate] me: yeah. when we were here with [business associate] and some other people, weren't some of them total douchebags? my date: yeah. this place must have a quota Alright, so sitting with d-bags wasn't Avec's fault, I s'pose. Here's what was: Our server (Josh, i think?) was a dick. He came to our table one minute after we sat down, and told us in a bossy, unfriendly tone that he was taking care of both our group and Chaz's group and so he really wanted to put the parties' orders in together. Then he asked what we wanted, and of course my date and I had no idea, but Chaz said something like, "WE'RE ready, let's get this thing going, baby!" So, of course, the orders went in separately. Sergeant Josh also acted annoyed and defensive when I added a fruit side to our cheese plate-- he said in an accusing tone, "I thought you decided against that." Well I did, Josh, but I changed my mind, and now I'd be very appreciative if I could get the MF-ing fruit plate! Finally, a love note. Dearest Avec: How do I love thee? Not at all. A few words about beer, my darling. A beer bottle should not be taken away until the customer has poured all the beer into her glass. Also, some beers (like my date's) have tasty, tasty sediment at the bottom of the bottle, and before you pour out the last bit, you're supposed to swish the beer around so as to get that beer-gold out. I would normally not mention this trivial business in a review, my love, but since you fancy yourself a high-class foodie joint, you should probs get this stuff right. Yours for-never, H read more

Let me start off this review by saying that I absolutely, positively love love LOVE Avec. This restaurant was recommended to me by a couple of my friends during a trip to Chicago. They definitely did not lead me astray. My friends and I came here on a Saturday evening and it was pretty crowded, both inside and outside of the restaurant. There is a small patio in front of the restaurant which serves as a waiting area. And wait we did. Luckily we were able to enjoy two bottles of red wine outside in the patio while we waited which gave us time to peruse the menu and get recommendations from one of the friendly wait staff on what to order. Our wait time came close to two hours but it was hardly noticeable with the wine consumption and great conversation. And even though that seems like a ridiculous amount of time to stand outside for food, it was completely worth it. The restaurant itself is fairly small but it is, by far, the most coolest restaurant that I've ever dined in. The decor is a testament to simplicity. It is a narrow dining space with communal tables and bench seating but the use of wood throughout the restaurant creates a streamlined cohesiveness that is very pleasing to the eye. The staff here was very pleasant and helpful. I'm not sure who was in charge of the play list but the music here was fantastic! It's always makes me giddy to hear good ear candy at a restaurant and none of that top 40 stuff. On to the important stuff, the food! The menu at Avec is fairly extensive with various small and large plates to share. Think of it as a French tapas style restaurant if you will. I haven't dined here since September '09 but the following dishes will forever hold a warm, delicious memory in my heart... and stomach: Chorizo Stuffed Medjool Dates Three words: Oh Em Gee. Ok, those are letters. A few more words then: The best dates I've ever had!! This was the first time I've ever eaten a date (hah!) and it just completely blew our table away. They were wrapped in smoked bacon and accompanied by a peppery tomato sauce. This dish was just absolutely divine. Tuna Apple Flatbread Pizza It seems like an odd combination but the tuna and crisp apple were perfect complements. I'm not really a fan of pizza but this was a great divergent from your traditional pizza. It was very light and refreshing. Meatballs with Orzo We spent some time trying to figure out what Orzo was as it looks and tastes a lot like rice. The meatballs were flavorful and delicious. We also ordered the Wood Braised Pork Shoulder, Fois Gras, Chicken, and some other meat dish (overall a lot of meat that night!) but I can't quite remember the details of each dish. I do recall that none of us at our table of four were disappointed by any of the dishes that we were served. The food just continued to amaze and delight our palates. To the chefs of Avec: Kudos for making such an outstanding meal! The next time I see a cheap deal for airfare to Chicago, I'm booking my flight just to dine at Avec again. read more

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4 stars for the Chorizo stuffed medjool dates with bacon! Not too fond of the communal-style dining tables, though. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like strangers breathing down my food and I don't like to share. But I believe that's half the reason why Avec's so popular, mmmm-kay. read more

Although I have been here several times, I haven't had much time to write my review of Avec until now. Avec is in my top 10 favorite restaurants in the city, maybe even top 5. Koren is a genius with the food -- I met some old high school classmates last week for an uber-mini-reunion. Although we arrived at 5ish, they were already busy! (this is a GOOD thing people) We only waited 30 minutes, which was a perfect amount of time to have a beer or glass of wine and do some initial catching up prior to being seated. I get the communal seating ideology....I don't like it, but I get it. If I may be allowed to "nit" a bit, I dislike the actual seating -- the bar stools are impossibly uncomfortable, as are the outside/aisle seats. The only real comfortable seats are the booth/wall side with proper a proper back -- I highly recommend using one of the seat pads (which you can find in the window sill above you). The food is wonderful. As does everyone else, get the dates. If you're not a meat eater, I'm sorry. Be aware - the dates are spicier than you think, but oh so delicious. I also highly recommend the focaccia "stuffed" with taleggio (think a fancy cream cheese with herbs). It is heavenly. Absolutely heavenly. Crisp and tender. Smoky. Creamy. Savory. My mouth is watering as I type this. I also highly recommend the whole fish special (no matter the fish type) - prepared in a cast iron skillet, sauteed then finished in the oven, the skin is crisp, the chefs always use the freshest herbs, and the meat is flaky and tender. Those three dishes alone are worth their weight in gold. And, if this was all you ordered, I believe you will be satisfied and amazed. Other recommendations -- the brandade. Think bacalhau. Ask for an additional "loaf" of bread. And, the English pea crostini. Refreshing and light and also so, so delicious. The wine selection (glass or bottle) is excellent. The beer list, albeit small, is global and whimsical. And, the desserts change often. However, the chocolate shards are great to share and go well with a cappuccino. I really love it here. The servers and hostess (and the co-owners, who are almost always there) are very nice, friendly, quick, knowledgeable, accommodating, and just downright good people. Be patient (because you will probably have to wait), and you will be rewarded with delicious, perfectly cooked food. I WANT you to have a good time here...if you don't, it's probably because of the uncomfortable seats. Or, because you don't like to be around people. read more

My first dining experience in Chicago and one of my favorite dining experiences overall. We came without a reservation around 8 on Tuesday night and were promptly seated, albeit right in between two parties on a long picnic bench style table. This may or may not be your thing, but be prepared to share space and conversation ;). It also makes it so that the person sitting in the middle, with his/her back to the wall has to ask everyone to the left or side to get out in order to get out. I think this may probably be the only thing I did not enjoy about our dinner. Service at avec is great - our server knew her stuff and all of her recommendations were on point. We had the chorizo-stuffed bacon dates (AMAZING - this is what they're known for so be sure to get it), the branzino (again, delicious - the sauce it sits above is out of this world; we drank it), the mussels (superb), and two desserts - the caramel custard and this deconstructed carrot cake (which was a special that night). Every bite I put into my mouth was delicious. I would (and will) definitely come back! read more

A very solid four, I'd say almost a fiver. If not for the wait and the waiting area they set aside and the whole waiting situation, it would definitely get the last star, for sure. The menu certainly satisfied my mild impatience. And when I caught a glimpse of the whole roasted foie gras on the menu, I was hooked. Also, the chorizo-stuff dates were outstanding. Unfortunately I had to share these with my group, otherwise I would eat the whole plate. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't have that option. Furthermore, our group ordered some focaccia with taleggio cheese, which I surprisingly enjoyed. Thoroughly enjoyed even...the cheese was very creamy. The simple presentation of all food items was a pleasant surprise. The waitstaff was very knowledgable and friendly and when our group tried to play Millionaire Matchmaker with one of the chefs, she was quite happy to oblige. I'm very glad to have finally made it through the wait one time and sample the delicious food here. Pretty boring review I'd say. The food here is so good that it leaves you with a pretty succinct review. read more

Have been going to Avec for a long time. Good service and great food. Reliable. After all it's a DMK restaurant! Tonite really turned me off to Avec . We brought friends who had never been to Avec. We enjoyed our food and what we thought was a $46 bottle of Spanish red. The bill came and the charge for the wine was $395. Yes you read that right . The next most expensive bottle was $89. The prices on the wine menu literally did not line up with the description of the wine. The manager let us have the bottle for cost, a mere $140. It doesn't make sense to me that this wine is even on the list. As I said the 2nd most expensive was $89. Avec very disappointed. Beware future Avec goers! read more

Avec has been my white whale for the past 8 years. Every time I found my way to Randolph the place was either closed or there was too long a wait. Other times my dinner plans fell through. Well I finally conquered Mt. Everest last night, partly because I work right down the damn street. I now realize it was God sparing me the calamity. Despite and possibly as a result of the immense build-up of self-implicated hype, words cannot explain how disappointed I was in Avec. We started out with the bacon wrapped dates, which I thought were great but it went downhill from there. We also ordered the hangar steak, which took FOREVER to come out. When it finally arrived I fathom that maybe they thought we ordered steak carpaccio, as it looked like they tried to cook it with a flashlight. It was completely raw, and a horrible cut with gristle running throughout which was amplified by its rawness. Highly disappointed. We order the "deluxe" focaccia as the other two dished didn't do much for us. I'm surprised Yelpers actually like this stuff. I was expecting something flavorful and this dish was absolutely monotone. I mean it tasted like I was eating plaster. Liquid caulk sandwiched between two slices of cardboard. I didn't taste any herbs, or salt, or cheese. It tasted like nothing. Nothing at all. I'm wondering if they forgot the other ingredients. I wanted to give the place 3 stars just because I've grown a bias in my mind for wanting to like it so much. But as I wrote out my review, it started to hit me just how bad this experience was. The service was awful, the food flavorless, and the bill high. I'm going to try this place again(probably will take another 8 years), and I hope to have a better experience. But for now I expected better. read more

I almost don't want to review Avec - simply because it is already too crowded. But, Avec so deserves it! The thing I love most about Avec is the communal seating. I love the feeling I get right when I walk inside the door, I feel as though I am in a cozy lodge filled with friends. I love snuggling up next to the "out of town" stranger or the "in from the 'burbs visiting our kids and had to try this place" stranger or the "we come here every week" stranger. I just love most of the people who dine there so I like the communal feel. And I go there when I am in the mood for that warm camaraderie. The second best thing about Avec is the food. Koren's food is hearty and delicious, but much like her tattoos, her food is also very original. The Brandade is a must- have dish that I eat each time I visit. I love the lamb sausage pizza. Their pasta is always "al dente" (or however you spell it) but it is perfectly cooked so that the pasta is still firm to the taste, as it should be. The next thing I love, is the wine list. Good, inexpensive wines and a staff that knows what they're talking about. The staff (particularly Sontra, or as I like to call her the Evil Fairy) knows what they are talking about, the management takes the time to educate their staff on the products they sell and bravo for that. Other things I love... - The fact that they use Molten and Brown as their hand soap in the bathrooms and my hands are always lemony-fresh. - The fact that they serve a glass of cognac with an espresso back. - The best seat in the house - the last two seats at the counter, right in front of the chefs. You can talk to them the whole time and when you say, "hey, what's that in your pan?" They give you a little taste. - The fact that they play album sides or even whole Cd's. And of course, how can one forget, the fact that they have A COAT CHECK. The lovely man or woman at the door greets you and says, "may I take your coat". And you hand it to him/her and he/she takes it downstairs. For all I know, they throw the coat in a pile of horse poo - but they offer the courtesy to their guests. Or at the very least, hooks on the walls, so when you're piled in on top of each other, there is a place for you to put your coat. read more

All these reviews about the wait are dead on. We got there a bit before 8 and were seated at like 9:20 - but at least we had some wine (and the outdoor wine server did a very good job recommending a pinot gris like wine for me - someday I should learn more about European wines) while we waited. There was a bit of a row with the hostess, who seems overworked and I'll just leave it at that, but that part worked out in the end, more or less. Inside the service was great, although really after standing for so long, a chair with more than 4 inches of back would have been nice :|. The food itself was remarkably solid, in particular the focaccia "pizza, the chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates with a pepper tomato sauce were delicious, and the fourme d'ambert on our cheese plate appetizer were rock solid. The other items were good as well, although we probably ordered about one too many. That being said, the bill for food, for three people, was around 80 bucks (120 including a few 250ml servings of wine), which is really quite reasonable. read more

Well, where do I begin. My friends and I were horrified by the service, or lack thereof, we had here. Upon arriving, one of us put our name in for a table since they do not take reservations. We had tried to make reservations earlier in the week. The hostess looked at my friend, AND LAUGHED. She then said, I'll put your name on the list. We found an outside table top to have drinks at in the mean time. It took about 20 minutes for the bartender to come over to us and ask us if we would like drinks. It took another 30 minutes to get the bottle of wine. When we inquired about our table, the hostess again LAUGHED and said it would be awhile because apparently the only table they could seat us at had a party that was taking their time. When we saw a table open up and get set up for six, we thought we were in. However, people that arrived long after us and who were a party of four were seated at that spot. We waited another 30 minutes to be seated. In the mean time, we told the bartender we didn't want another bottle just yet, but she seemed to think we said "yes! yes! more wine!" and was in the process of getting another bottle when we intercepted the hostess (to inquire about our table). I don't know if the hostesses are frightened by a group of girls, but please, you work in customer service. Be polite. It took my friend another hour to get her bill, and she had to walk inside to get her credit card. Owners of Avec, if you own this, I would seriously observe your hostesses because their job isn't that hard, yet they are failing miserably. This has turned me off of Avec and Blackbird. I live in the area, and I urge people to try other spots since Randolph has many more options. read more

I know people LOVE this place and DIE when anyone says a less than positive thing about it. Well, brace yourself. 1. Front of the house staff was great. Nice and friendly. Umm..that's where all things positive end. 2. Our server BLEW. The restaurant is small enough that I can see who got seated after we did etc. Umm..why did it take 15 min for the server to come over, got irritated when we asked her questions, and then took the order from two other tables (who were seated after us) before us? Yeah...not sure either. 3. It was so bad we left before finishing our meal. For me, service is a huge part of the whole overall experience. I understand when you are busy, and I will be patient, so long as you are courteous and somewhat attentive. When service is this bad, it makes my blood boil. My blood now? Boiling. read more

I have to say that I used to be a huge Avec fan in the past. Undoubtably, Avec has some outstanding, very creative dishes from stictly a culinary standpoint. However, I have to say that after the last experience I had with them, I will definitely never go back. 1) Waiting approx 1+ hrs for a table is ridiculous. The food is good, but it isnt that good. There are no pre-reservations and you have to show up at the restaurant, and then make a reservation for 1+ hrs. Whoever owns this place is off their rocker full of themselves. The food at Avec is excellent, but it wont last in the long run provided the reasons below 2) The waitstaff are prentetious and act like they are something they are not. Very rude and inattentive! I normally always tip 20%, but after the treatment I received last time I went to Avec, I actually made it a point to tip $0. I'm not sure what they are going for (NY or something), but rude and attitude do not work in Chicago, we are nice people 3) The lighting in Avec is so bright (to try and increase its turnover and get people from staying long periods of time at the table) that I felt I was on Broadway or something. Nobody is perfect of course but I definitely dont want people to see all my imperfections under a makeup lamp (I'm a straight male too) 4) Packed like cattle. Tables are packed in like sardines. I personally do not want anyone rubbing up against me while I'm eating or ease-dropping in on my conversation but at Avec, you're gonna be sure it's guaranteed to happen. So, watch what you say otherwise the table brushing up right next to you is going to make fun of everything you say 5) Food is Avec's saving grace. Excellent and creative, but for the prices, there are many other places to choose from without the rest of the poor treatment and nonsense of being treated like a child in the cafeteria. 6) Sum: Avec is more about making money than pleasing the customer. Very disappointing since the food is so good and the restaurant vision has so much great potential. Weighing the good food vs pricing, waitstaff, ambience does not justify a return to Avec. read more

I think Henry David Thoreau was misquoted and he meant to say that he wanted to suck out the marrow out of bones because it is so delicious. He must've arrived at this epiphany when he was slurping down Avec's bone marrow that was part of the marinated hanger steak entree. Next, he must've been in a state of Nirvana because he forgot to mention truffle oil. Everything tastes better when sprinkled with truffle oil and Avec's deluxe focaccia bread is no exception. The taleggio and ricotta cheese sure didn't hurt that taste either. The Shishito peppers and pickled feta cheese form a nice marriage that would make Kim Kardashian jealous. The wood-oven roasted pork shoulder comes in a pot of complete awesomeness. Porky rests in a magical elixir of ingredients that even Professor Snape wouldn't be able to figure out. Wooden panels and seating creates a modern, yet simplistic atmosphere. The servers were more than capable and made this dining experience a fantastic one. read more

Chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon!!!!!!!! I want to eat these until I sweat the spicy sweet aroma out of all of my pores. Seriously I don't think there is a better food ever invented. So I came here a little while back with my wife and a few friends who were in town from Australia. I needed to show them a good restaurant that demonstrates how good food is in Chicago (other than all our 'traditional'/tourist foods). When I entered this place the wood was everywhere. I sort of felt like they took design ideas from a sauna or something. But I'm not complaining, it was very comforting inside. With the way it is organized, it really opened up conversations between the four of us and even people sitting next to us. Sadly its been a while since I went here and just am getting around to the review. But I still remember those dates (so that has to say something). read more

It will be a struggle to say anything that hasn't been said before but. . . outstanding. My husband and I traveled to New Zealand a couple of years ago and loved the communal, casual style of dining wherein you could sit wherever there was an opening and have a hot meal in the company of other globe trotters. Avec has that special feel. We sat at the bar and overindulged (on account of the $100 gift certificate we had). The food was outstanding. The chorizo stuffed dates were definitely the highlight, but the prosciutto salad and donuts for dessert were ridiculous. It was a cold, rainy night and Avec delivered on ambiance and warmth of flavors. It's in our top five experiences most definitely. read more

I'm kind of surprised to see the amount of good reviews here because I was really unimpressed with this place. I guess it's supposed to be "cool" to sit elbow to elbow with complete strangers on the picnic-table style benches, but I really prefer to dine with just those that I came with. The set up was pretty annoying. Prices were reasonable I guess, but the food was only ok. I had the brandade and the mussels. Both unremarkable. Service was so-so. With all of the options in the West Loop, I doubt I'll return here. read more

Oh, man, I have been afraid to review Avec because I love it so much. I don't want to do it any injustice. The Food: phenomenal. I've tried a number of things here and thoroughly enjoyed every last one. One favorite is the dates. Holy goodness, I could eat them right now. The Wine List: great. Admittedly, I'm not a wine expert, but I know good wine when I taste it. I have only had excellent wine here. (Good beer selection, too.) The Staff: friendly, knowledgable, welcoming. If you're not sure which direction to go, ask your server. They make great suggestions without being condescending. The Environment: convivial. The dining room consists of communal tables shared by friends and strangers alike. Some people don't dig it, but I do. It adds to the cozy, European feel. Reservations: non-existent. I've been here during prime weekday dinner times (arriving between 7pm - 8pm) and have never had to wait more than 7 minutes or so (for a party of two). Avec is my favorite restaurant in the city. I hope you love it as much as I do. read more

I never know how to begin writing about places that already have gagillions of reviews, but here's hoping my experience adds a little something to the already vast ocean of information. A double birthday celebration brought us to Avec on a warm summer night, and despite getting there fairly early (on a weeknight even!), we still waited 45 minutes for a table, and even then ended up eating at the bar. In the meantime, a well-poured manhatten on the rocks kept me going in the cute little waiting area out front, and the service at the bar ended up being very personal and attentive, so it all worked out. It's been said over and over, but the chorizo stuffed dates - holy mama they were a)huge and b)amazing! The small plate of boudin sausage was probably our least favorite, just a little too soft for my liking, but the rest of the meal was divine. I highly recommend ending your meal with a cheese course, it was absolutely delicious. One of the servers talked us through our choices of cheese, helping us pick what we'd like best. Heaven. Not to mention the warm wood interior is so inviting and cozy! We did order a bottle of wine, which was more expensive on the check than on the menu, and which they apologized for saying that the new price hadn't been updated. It would have been nice to been offered to fix the difference, but we had such a good meal until then that it just wasn't worth making a stink over. So here's what I learned about Avec. Go early. Prepare to wait. Offer to sit at the bar for some great service. Get the chorizo stuffed dates. Get lots of things really, there's so much good stuff to try! End with a cheese course. Relish the amazing meal as you stroll along Randolph street afterwards. Man what a great food town we've got! read more

It was just down at the corner of my stay in chicago, walked in, since I am by myself, got a seat at the bar. A little small restaurant, try to reserve if you have more than two ppl. Get the full course of restaurant week menu, in general, good, but a little on the salty side, personal taste, no judgmental. read more

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Of all my meals in Chicago, this one was my favorite. Perhaps it was just the welcomed solitude after constantly being around people for a week?(#introvertprobs) But aside from the occasional glances from the server or corporate guys drinking on their lunch break next to me, my attention was solely fixated on the food. That's what you would call an unbiased, unclouded experience! I dropped in during lunch and was happily seated at the bar. I overheard the host tell guests that the wait for even groups of two were at least 20 min for a table. (However, they do take reservations for lunch now!) I considered ordering the famous pork shoulder, but after consecutive meals at the Girl and the Goat and the Purple Pig, I was all pork-ed out haha. I ended up deciding on the kale and carrot salad with mint, dill, green harissa, and sunflower seed dukkah and the popular chorizo-stuffed medjool dates. The server was so kind to half the portion of the dates (from four to two) so it was more reasonable to finish -- and it was perfect! I loved how refreshing the salad was, with a hint of spice from the harissa. I've never had dukkah before, but I didn't mind it at all! I would have preferred smaller slices of the carrots though, much easier to eat! The half portion of chorizo-stuffed dates was just right with a good balance of sweetness from the dates and saltiness from the bacon and chorizo. But the pepper-tomato sauce was such a hit, I was devastated when I ran out of bread to dip into the sauce. Definitely would come by again, perhaps stop by its sister restaurant Blackbird next door next time! read more

Avec - Chicago - Kale and carrot salad with mint, dill, green harissa, and sunflower seed dukkah - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Much of my review will be echoing others' comments; yet I must gush about this "restaurant called Avec"... - Excellent food. yes, those darn chorizo-stuffed madjool dates are the main reason why I visited Avec twice in a week. THAT GOOD. The pork shoulders, braised octopus, and the shaved brussel sprout salad are all exquisite as well. Oh yes, I must also profess my love for their warm breads served with their dishes. - Cool, casual ambiance with a hint of sophistication. Not too loud music, but the chatter noise is quite up there. The only gripe I have is the communal tables that are SO stuck together that it's nearly impossible to get in/out of the table without copping a field on the nearby patron(s). I really prefer to sit at the bar - much more fun and less cumbersome. - Friendly, attentive staff. They seem to take pride in the menu offerings - including the extensive list of wines. The first time we went was a warm Sunday night in May --- we waited quite a bit (about 20 min) but time flew by as we sipped our bottle of wine outside. Avec was love at first bite. And I hope to have many more nights of good food, good wine, and good company here. read more

I really wanted to give this place a million stars. I was psyched to be going, psyched to get there, and then...eh. I don't know where it fell apart in my head but at the start of this review, I'm handing it 3 stars. It might be more when I finish. - The place reminds me of a sauna. Slick maple woods and silvers and an open kitchen. It's like a restaurant inside a sauna shaped like a long shoebox. - Family style dining. Everyone sits together. I mean it. There are like, 5 tables total. If you get stuck next to some loud talker who will NOT shut up, you're pretty fucked - but you'd be fucked in any other restaurant too - you just wouldn't be RIGHT next to them. - The place was packed when we got there, so we were told to hang out outside and a bartender would be out to take care of our drinks. We hung out outside. Bartender never came. Sad face. - Once seated though, our server was super nice, super animated, and not too "breathing down your neck". He brought us a bottle of PINK champagne right away and it was awesome. - The crostini was nice - but only nice. Not mind-blowing. Asparagus had a great crunch to it but the red bean "hummus" was kind of meh. - I had never tried boudin before, but my friend recommended we try it. My reaction? "Meh." Not impressed. - The chorizo-stuffed dates with bacon? Holy jesus. I want like, fifteen orders of THAT. Sweet and savory and a great texture and just...wow. WOW. THAT gets 5 stars immediately. Holy shit. Just thinking about them makes me want more. - The pork shoulder? Da-yum. It was served in a little cast iron tub, marinating in this great sauce with noodles, sausage, squash and I forget what else. But it was tender as hell and everything in that little tub went together perfectly. If I could bump this place to 3.5 stars, I'd do it. But I can't. So it stays at 3. read more

I literally said, "This could be the best meal I've had in my entire life." Absolutely each bite was amazing. That was really my barometer. I never knew what my barometer of "best meal" would be, but it is certainly that every single bite that goes into your mouth is amazing. On my must-have menu: Chorizo Stuffed Dates -- I kept the last bite of this until the very very end of my meal so I could savor it. Apple Salad with Manchango -- Simple, fresh, a great compliment to our other shared dishes. Special of the day - Mushroom salad -- This dish blew my mind! Mushrooms?? No idea why they were so amazingly good. Clearly the chefs at Avec have MAD SKILLS! Sturgeon -- A lovely fish, tender, moist and absolutely delicious as was the whole meal. Hangar Steak -- Tender, juicy, again those skills! I'm planning my next trip to Chicago for a reunion with Avec. read more

Fantastic ! Fantastic food. Fantastic service. Just a really great team. Front and back of the house. I have been here a number of times and it never disappoints. Smart intelligent cooking with great flavor in everything they do. Gracious staff that meets all your needs and then some. Very professional yet relaxed. I like that. The dates ? Yes. Order them. They can never take those off the menu. There would be riots in the streets if they did . I will always be going here. Thank you team Avec ! read more

I took my sister here when she was in town because I had been raving to her that it is like an Oakland favorite of ours, A Cote. From previous experience, we strategically planned to get there early (5:30) and were able to be seated at the bar with a short wait of 10 minutes. The hostess was very friendly and nice. If there are only two of you I highly recommend the bar; I am not really into the communal seating fad. We got the last two seats closest to the door; luckily the cold air did not come in, but the hoard of people waiting for their table got in my personal space a few times. The bartender who took care of us (Rebecca) was very helpful. She was very knowledgeable about the wines, but talked about them in a casual, non condescending way, and helped us to narrow our options down to a bottle (made from grapes grown in LAVA!) and two additional glasses after the bottle was gone. We were not extremely hungry and decided to order some small plates to split. We got the olives, escargots, dates and a cheese platter. Rebecca was very helpful again on deciding on cheeses. (La Tur is still one of my favorites!) Unfortunately the food was not as memorable as I had remembered. Everything was good, but it was not the amazing culinary experience that I had promised my sister. I think we both felt that the cheese, bread and olives outshined the other dishes. Maybe we did not order well. I hope to have a better experience next time, food wise. I like the idea of Avec and enjoyed my first visit's food a lot, so I am sure I will be coming back for another try. read more

I've only made a total of 3 trips out to Chicago in my life, yet I have been to Avec 4 times. Yes, they are so amazing that I decided coming to them twice during one of my visits was warranted. (None of my stays were extensive either. My longest was for 5 days.) And each time I went was memorable, which I cannot say for a lot of places. What I love about Avec is that there's no fluff... just mind blowing food. The place itself resembles a simple wooden box, and you sit elbow to elbow with other patrons on long cafeteria-style benches. The first dish I ever ordered from them 3 years ago was some penne pasta bowl. I wish I remember what it's called! What's remarkable is that it looked so unassuming; it just looked like any other pasta dish. But oh, the flavors!! I am salivating just thinking about it... Did I mention this was 3 years ago? My most recent visit was 2 months ago. I had chorizo stuffed dates and focaccia. Soooo good!! We also had a very fun server -- Christine. All of her recommendations were spot on. My favorite recommendation from Christine was this rose wine called MeadowSweet. I loved it so much that I'm looking into serving this wine for my upcoming wedding. Avec is definitely on the pricey side, but if you're looking for a refreshing dining experience, it's totally worth it. read more

This was definitely one of the most disappointing dining experiences i've had this year. Everything I ate (with the exception of the bread, I felt I could have cooked better myself and for a fraction of the price. I also found the seating style to be obscene and obnoxious: we were seated in the middle and we finished eating before the party at the end, so two of the three of them had to stand up IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR MEAL to let us out. I think communal seating can be okay when you're in the mood for it, but not like this...you should be able to get up without disrupting an entire table. Here's what we ate: Chicken Liver Crostini: This was the first thing they brought to the table. It took them 30 minutes (which was confusing because it's clear that they had the liver pate sitting in the fridge and just spooned it into the container they served it in...there's no reason it should have taken that long, especially considering that they brought the second dish out (a hot one) 5 minutes after we started eating that one. This was pretty good. If you like chicken liver you will appreciate this...but it wasn't exceptional Brandade: This was the second dish that was served. This was decent but WAY too salty (they buttered the bread with salted butter and then generously seasoned the fish as well. Trout with shrimp: The trout was cooked very well, but the shrimp were not good...the quality just did not seem good (maybe farmed and previously frozen). Pork Shoulder: This had to be the biggest culinary disappointment of the night. The conceptualization of this dish was ridiculous: Pork with clams in a salty broth covered in creamy yogurt sitting in "cracked wheat" that is soaking in the broth. WHY? I would definitely avoid this one. Amaretto Cake with Peaches: This was okay, but it did not seem fresh...we agreed that it must have been sitting in the fridge for hours (not in a good way...like, maybe hours was actually days). The Alcoholic Ginger beer was excellent (it's bottled, not something they make in house); I thought the cucumber cocktail was not good, but my boyfriend liked it (I would only recommend it if you really really love artificial cucumber flavor). I've given this 3 stars because I think the technique was there, but the flavors, execution, and concept are are not great. P. S. they put a ton of raw parsley on EVERY DISH with the exception of the cake. read more

Hands down our favorite restaurant from Chicago. Through our connections, we were able to be seated with relatively little wait time at the counter in this intimate, ash-blonde/steele/glass establishment. The maitre-d'/sommelier(?) took our coats, suggested vino prior to our seating and we had a great time people watching from a corner. The tempo was fast yet casual and fun, and the food that was presented at each table made every minute of waiting become exponentially more tortuous than the last. When we sat down, we peered into the menu and had a really difficult time deciding. The flatbread looked fantastic on the table, but at 12 inches in diameter, we thought it would be a little too much flatbread for the 2 of us, especially since we wanted to order as much as possible. We ended up with: - Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo (delicious) - Braised octopus with spinach (so unexpectedly sea brine-savory and tender, we could cut the octopus with our forks) - Braised beef hearts with beans (THE BEST dish of the night) - Oven roasted whole porgy with tarragon, walnuts, olives and parsley (the flesh was tender, skin crispy and perfectly seasoned--I never knew porgy could taste so good, we even ate the cheeks and eyeballs out of the fish) Avec is excellent in every way except when it comes to billing. Apparently, our server added an additional $20 on top of our bill either on purpose or by accident. Either way, that sucked because we were using a gift card and I didn't notice the deduction until the day after when I checked the balance. Minus one star for either dishonesty or lack of math skills. read more

Outstanding place to eat! Great drinks and food. Many options for veggies and plenty of meat options. Seating is a little scarce but otherwise outstanding experience. Malin + Goetz Soap in the bathrooms is fire! read more

Avec - Chicago - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on a Friday night which is pretty aggressive when they don't take reservations! The reason (I'm guessing) they don't take reservations is because the place is SO small, like teeny tiny! I think it probably seats no more than 50 people in the whole restaurant. They try to seat as many as possible by doing shared tables, which I'm not a huge fan of, but it works out OK. So we got there at 6:30, and the nice thing is that they take your phone number to call you when your table is almost ready. I definitely suggest going a few blocks down Randolph to the Haymarket Pub & Brewery (which will also be crowded) to grab a beer. They have an awesome selection and it's a cool place. If it's not too cold of a night, you can also order drinks and stand outside by the heaters. They have a really great wine list ranging in all prices - we actually got two bottles of Tempranillo for $19 each (which is hard to find in the west loop). We ended up getting seated at 8pm, so 1.5 hour wait. On to the food which definitely gets FIVE stars. A group of us four girls shared: * The focaccia with taleggio cheese, ricotta, truffle oil and fresh herbs: SO good and a really good size... we all got 3 pieces each * Wood-oven roasted pork shoulder with puff pastry, chestnut braised cabbage and roasted apple: SO tender and delicious. It comes out in a mini crock-pot and you can definitely tell they cook it for several hours * Chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce: MUST GET THESE, they are absolutely delicious. It only comes with four "meatballs" so you may need two orders because you will definitely want more * Marinated hanger steak with puy lentils, melted bone marrow, spinach, tomato, oranges and fried capers: Also so delicious and perfectly cooked with great flavor I recommend all four dishes above. We were all full after sharing between the four of us, and the price was totally reasonable! Our whole bill (with a bottle of wine) for 4 people was $99. The only thing that knocked it down one star was the size of the place and long wait, and the server. You'd think when people wait SO long to eat at your restaurant, the customer service would be top notch, and it was just OK. read more

One of the best meals I've eaten. Tried 11 dishes... Everything was good. Most were phenomenal. A few others... solid, but would try something else next time. Summary: Avec leverages many of the popular foods you'll find at other "trendy" restaurants (ex. brussels, eggs, dates, pork shoulder etc) . However, what stands out is how & what they pair these items with. The flavors were unique, creative & textures were impeccable. Yesterday, I was wistfully staring at my pictures, wishing i could eat the burrata, steak & fried egg again. I could practically taste them. Yeah.... obsessed. Already plotting my menu game plan for next time. Food: A 1. Brussels sprouts: A We got the Panzanella (bread) on the side, recommend this way. 2. Chorizo-stuffed dates: A lol, At first I thought they were meatballs. A lot of different flavors all rolled up into yum. 3. Charred Cauliflower: B- Meh. 4. Fried duck egg: A+ Um.... yessssss. One of my faves of the night. 5. Burrata: A+ = crack I have no idea what they put in this thing, but whatever it was, I want more & I want it now. The mixture of flavors with the smooth, creamy burrata.... OMG 6. Charred octy: C Meh. The only thing I was a little saddened by. Octy is my all time favorite. This was kind of ordinary. And we only got two small leg pieces. Ouch. 7. Hangar Steak: A+ The hint of salty anchovy really brought out the steak. 8. Paella: A Don't normally like paella in the US, but the other ladies wanted it. And it was goooood. Had the right amt of crunchy rice bits, all different flavorful tender meats/seafood that maintained it's own flavor but still complimented the rice. Yum. 9. Pork Shoulder: B- Ok. This one doesn't count. It came last, it sat for about 20 min before we got to it & we were almost full. Definitely, very tender, but the flavor was a 'lil strange/salty. But, I'm thinking we should've tried right away. So... this one's on us. I'd try again, but think I want the lamb neck first. 10&11: A They surprised us with dessert. Swirly Gelato & Meyer Lemon shortcake pie wonderfulness. If you like key-lime pie this one is a must try. Drinks: A Great wine selection My Vodka martini was great (I'm real picky about this). Cocktail selection meh & small. hahaha LOVE. Craft cocktails are overrated & lame! Service: A Hostesses were great! Server was really helpful, one of my buds is gluten free & she marked up the menu with "x"s & "yes's", it was awesome. The wait can be long... plan for a near by go-to for pre-dinner drinks? We got seated pretty quickly, but I might know someone who might know someone.... hehe *heart* Atmosphere/Space: B Love the clean, minimalistic wood decor. I didn't mind the following, plus the food is beyond worth it, but including as an FYI cuz, for some people, this kind of thing matters.... Gets very loud. Cramped, communal seating (basically rubbing shoulders with people). They're really good at taking coats (phew). Might be nice to add hooks for purses to make more space. Stuffy (oven nearby), be ready to peel off some layers. Go to the bathroom before you get seated. If you're in the middle, it's gonna be hard to get out!! Think I'd like to sit at the "bar" & watch the chefs next time. = ) read more

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Alas - 4 years after arriving to Chicago - I finally had my chance to eat at Avec for new years eve. I made reservations 6wks in advance for this dinner for a party of 6 at 8:30pm. (this is the only time of year where reservations are accepted) We arrived promptly at 8:30 and our table wasn't ready. The six of us had cocktails next door at Meiji and the hostess said she would ring our cell phone once our table was ready. By 9:15 - we were still hanging out at Meiji. Finally, at 9:30 we were seated in the WORST seat of the house - the one right at the front door where wind would catch us every few mins. The restaurant was bustling and crowded. We had one couple sharing with our party of 6 and I felt kinda of bad for them because we were starting to get a little fiesty from the cocktails we had waiting an hour for dinner and on an empty stomach - but this is supposed to be Avec's fun concept right? The dinner's theme was "land and sea" for $50 and a wine & beer pairing for an additional $25. It was a good deal for the date and the number of courses but honestly, only one dish blew me away. The rest of it was decent but definitely not outstanding. On a positive note though, the staff were not sticklers about the wine pairings - if you happened to have finished your wine before the course came, they were very good at filling up your wine. Two of the five pairings were outstanding and well worth $25. I was a little peeved that we didn't get out of dinner until 11:30 which only gave us a short amount of time to get to our next destination to toast in the new year. I thought I had it well planned to do dinner at 8:30 but didn't expect that they would seat us an hour late. I will return again because I can understand that a restaurant serving the same thing over and over again can be uninspiring. I'd like to come back to give it a chance but doubt it will happen soon because I hate restaurants that don't offer reservations and I don't wait for my food. That's how I roll. read more

It's hard to find much wrong here. Avec does what it tries so well and more incredibly has maintained its allure for years. Classic items like the paella, dates, and butcher's steak have been consistent over the years. The staff is courteous and accommodating and makes one feel at home. The atmosphere is certainly lively after 9 PM. Avec is one of the first on a stretch of excellent restaurants and close walking distance from the financial district. Anyone visiting Chicago, especially alone, should make the detour. read more

This place would definitely get five stars if it weren't for two huge design flaws: Design flaw #1- the lighting. Remember the Seinfeld episode when Jerry was dating "bad lighting girl", who could look drop dead gorgeous or horrifying depending on what kind of light she was in? Well, Avec has the kind that makes everyone look at least worse than they would outside....if not, well, horrifying. See, it's like fluorescent/ cubicle lighting....which is bad if you're trying to set the mood or just not get a headache. Go during the day to get the best the sun has to offer- after dark it's kind of creepy. Design flaw #2- the chair/block/seat thingy is not in proportion to the table. It never fails- completely sober and about ready to enjoy my wine- that I hit my hand against the table and spill in my lap and then look like I pissed myself for the entire meal. Now, I'd totally assume it was just me (depth perception issue, learning disorder, spaziness) if I hadn't also seen it happen to others. Get an architect/ designer/ furniture-maker in there stat and, while you're at it, put some backs on the chair. I want to eat and get fat- not work my core. Aside from those issues, this place is great. The food is amazing, interesting, perfectly portioned, and the beer and wine selections are great. I'm not one for hard liquor, so I don't mind that they don't serve cocktails. Their cured meats are amazing, and just about any meat dish you get is going to rock your world. read more

I am confused writing this review. If it weren't for the mishaps, maybe I'd give it an extra star. I wanted to like this more. This was bookmarked for over 2 yrs and I decided to take the bf out here for his birthday. For a Wed evening at 7, the host (initially) said there was no wait but i had to wait for the boy to get here before seating. From the looks of it, tables and bar seats were all full. Then at one moment the host said it would be a 30 min wait but then we were seated about 5 min. Confused but yaay! I guess it was a matter of minutes for some diners to leave. observations: -picnic seats - very 'communal' seating. You better get comfortable with others next to you. you are seated so close that a 5 ft., 110 lb. person like myself will likely bump elbows with you. This happened 3 times. if you are sitting on the wall side, people have to get out of their seats for you to move in.....interesting. guess it's a great way to maximize revenue. - you can hear everyone's conversation or lack of conversation next to you. Lucky for us, we can speak another language to give ourselves some privacy. (LOL!) the eh or mishaps: - While I waited for the boy to park the car, I was looking at the wine list and asked for suggestions from the hosts. the bartender(?) nearby suggested something that sounded ok and I told the host I'll try remember it later when I order. She told me "oh I think he'll bring it over to try". which sounded nice as my intention was to buy a bottle with the birthday boy. i had no intention to open a tab and buy a glass right there...but instead they give me full glass...(um....I never actually ordered it). In about 1 min once the bf arrived, I had to close out this "forced" tab since we were going to be seated. - once we were seated, The BF asked the waitress for a glass (just the empty glass) to share the "forced" glass of wine I was having. we thought we'll order a different wine later. She even asked if we wanted just the glass...instead we end up getting a second full glass of the same wine. So the idea to buy a bottle was not happening and the idea to try something different didn't happen either. - Dessert mishap? - see below Food: - The chorizo-stuffed medjool dates were great. the chorizo had a good kick. these are stuffed well. thanks to fellow yelpers, I took the idea to get a half order, which allowed us to try more items - the octopus was tasty - it was just a small slab over a bed of white beans. looking at the menu prices....this wasn't that worth it. maybe it was a good 4 small bites to savor. - the salmon - was decently portioned and tasty. - the slow roasted pork shoulder - (very popular item but...) it didn't live up to the hype much. this last dish was a heavy stew of brussel sprouts and lentils. the pork was very tender no doubt. waitress was nice enough to provide a small half portion of bread since it didn't come with anything. rice would be a nice compliment. anyways it made great leftovers for lunch that was envied by my coworkers today. it was a bit salty and just heavy compared to the seafood dishes obviously. - praline cheesecake: this came out with a candle on top as we told the waitress that it was the boy's birthday. it was just okay...but i was so full to enjoy it much. I was hoping a place like AVEC would have taken this off the check as a birthday courtesy...maybe it was my bad to assume but they didn't. Maybe I'd come back if I someone else wanted to try it and there happened to be no wait but otherwise there are plenty of other places to try. read more

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Everything was delicious. Loved the squash blossom pizza, the simple tomato sauce with the egg and cheese was just great. The cherry tomato literally exploded in my mouth like a juicy, flavorful, fresh bomb of deliciousness. Also the avec burger was great, loved the sauce, combined with juicy patty and soft bun. The werp farm greens was fresh and crunchy but a little too salty for us. Overall great restaurant! Will come back again. read more

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This was a fabulous dinner. There are no reservations here and the tables are tables of 8 and you sit with people you may not know so just be forewarned. The food is fabulous. They have both small plates, and large plates and they suggest sharing food. We started with the bacon wrapped stuff dates and the cod. The dates were the best stuffed dates I ever had. I think I could have ordered an entire other order of those. I enjoyed the cod, it had good flavor but it wasn't my favorite part of the meal. For dinner we had the pork shoulder and a pizza. I do not eat a lot of pork but it was absolutely fabulous. It was so tender it fell apart as soon as you picked it up. It was cooked with baby onions and dates that added great flavor. The pizza was good it was a grape pizza but the cheese got very greasy as it sat there. I can't remember the types of cheeses they used but the flavor was amazing. The wine menu is very thorough. It's all foreign wines from France, Spain and Australia. The waiter was able to help us pick a great bottle of wine that would go with the wide array of food we had. I would recommend going, but make sure that you leave plenty of time because the line can get very long. I showed up on a Tuesday night at 6:30 and we got the last two seats at one of the tables. read more

I constantly come to Avec anytime I'm in Chicago and the reason is blatant; it's just too damned good. They have their regular items such as their chorizo stuffed dates, which I would say ORDER. In a HEART beat. First of all, the portions are MORE than generous! Plus the dish comes with this effing great crust of bread!! You're going to wipe the rest of the sauce off with it. The dish isn't super sweet, in fact it's a bit spicy but you can taste the subtle sweetness from the dates, the spice from the piquillo pepper and the tomato just has this very hearty taste with it. It comes with 4 large sized chorizo sized meatballs. The marinated hanger steak is surprisingly tender and flavorful. They change the marinade and accompanying items with it, but each time it's really worth it. The portion is definitely big enough for 2. It's a shame they didn't have their bone morrow when I went a few days ago because this is my favorite place to order that dish! The bread they serve it with is lightly buttered and crisp, the portion of morrow is good ( you can always do with more ), and the herbs they give you add that light and earthy kick. We just tried the Sunchoke corstini with salmon roe. If you're not a huge fan of salmon roe like me, you HAVE TO ORDER THIS. First of all, the brown butter adds this insane sweet coat so the roe isn't that pungent and the sunchoke break is MIND BLOWING!!? WHAT THE HELL IS SUNCHOKE AND WHY HAVEN'T I HAD MORE OF THIS?! ALL IT IS, IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ARTICHOKE!!! WHY HAVEN'T WE HAD MORE OF THIS?! The half chicken roasted with malt molasses glaze also came with blood oranges... or some type of 'let me explode your mouth with delicious citrus' fruit. Holy crap. Damn good. It's literally a cut up half chicken. Check and mate Avec. We were greedy, as we always are here, and ordered a new dessert; the hazelnut crumb cake. oh HOT damn. DAMN damn damn. read more