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Avec River North

4.2 (393 reviews)
PriceyMediterranean
Closed • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

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AVEC RIVER NORTH ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Avec River North

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Open kitchen
Leyang Z.

I have been to Avec West Loop years ago with my friend, when the River North branch did not even exist. It was only several weeks ago that I tried this "new" branch. Compared to the West Loop branch, this one is much more spacious, had more tables, higher ceiling, and feels more "breathable". Still you can see the staff preparing dishes and baking things in the oven, and their menu have a lot in common. I went there for a quick pre-lunch meal after a 11mi running (because I will then run to Logan Square haha), at ~11:40am. I tried the Endive & Blueberry Salad and the bread loaf. The salad was very creative -- I never thought about pairing endive with blueberries but it tasted great. The fresh endive was juicy and crispy, while the blueberries gave some sweetness and tartness. It was served over a spread of parmesan yogurt -- creamy and savory. I asked for no (extra) salt and found it salty enough to enjoy with the fruits and veg. It was also topped with crushed pistachio and olives. The bread was good and cost only $1; I wish it could be warmer, though. Service was slow considering the number of customers at that time (only ~3 tables). It took me quite a while to order my food and make payment.

Nichole X.

Came here after my husband had a real good experience at AVEC. I can totally see him giving this place a 5 star, but their strong spice and sodium level is way beyond my comfort zone. Not sure if I can ask to reduce the amount of spice/salt, but if they can, the food will be fantastic. Dates seems to be one of their to-go appetizer. Really like the idea of using chorizo to stuff dates. Steak was tender and juicy! Will be 100% of the crust wasn't loaded with salt/pepper... Maybe I should have ordered more drinks lol

Beatrice A.

We ordered the hearth baked calamari, lamb neck pasta, and bread. The calamari wasn't how I expected, good but more spicy than I thought it would be. Lamb neck pasta was wonderful. Not too saucy. My friend and I ordered bread, thought 4 pieces would be fine. When we got it the bread pieces were HUGE! We could have just had 1 piece. 4 was entirely too much for us. It was like we got a whole loaf. When we got the bread we told our waiter we don't need 4 and we could just take 2. He said "enjoy it, don't worry about it!" We asked him to take it back and he didn't. We didn't touch the 2 pieces that we said we wanted returned. Still charged us for 4 pieces.. The restaurant will also charge you an additional hospitality fee, but you can ask for it to be taken off. Restaurant was beautiful.

Cabbage and mushroom pizza

The food and service were wonderful! The cabbage and mushroom pizza were both brilliant! Flavors and textures were spot on! Even the smells were enticing! It is loud on a Friday night!

Half Chicken
Tray

Vibes were really nice. Dim lighting, high ceilings, and all the plants made it feel like I was in a Mediterranean spot. 8.5/10. It did get pretty loud though for such a big space. Service was great. Our server was super attentive, kept refilling our water, checked in after each dish, and even switched our plates which was a nice touch. 9/10. Food was simple but done really well. The calamari was super unique. Loved the breadcrumbs and the sauce, definitely not your typical fried version. 8/10. The berbere spiced chicken was the standout. Perfectly juicy, super flavorful, and the creamy sauce tied everything together so well. 9/10. Overall, a great spot to come with friends and share plates.

Calzone
Macy C.

Super neat modern twists on classic Mediterranean dishes. Very nice atmosphere and friendly staff. My favorite dish was the chorizo stuffed dates. They were unlike anything I have ever had and filled with so much flavor.

Endive Salad
Tessa F.

Great experience at Avec!! We went on a Friday night, so the restaurant was really busy (definitely recommend getting a reservation ahead of time). For food, we decided to share 2 small plates & 1 large plate. We tried the apple & endive salad, stuffed dates (their signature fish), and half berbere chicken. They were all tasty & portion sizes were larger than expected. Overall, highly recommend checking out Avec for solid Mediterranean food, perfect for a date night or happy hour with friends. Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 5/5

Radish Hummus
Alex M.

I was meeting a friend for dinner on a recent trip to Chicago, and she recommended Avec for Mediterranean food and its ideal location in River North. I was able to book us a reservation a day in advance, and the restaurant was located a short walk from the Magnificent Mile. After perusing the menu, my friend and I decided that shareable small plates was the way to go because everything sounded delicious. We split the hummus with radish, poached asparagus, green garlic pizza, and pappardelle with lamb neck. The hummus was brought to our table first, and this was served alongside a fluffy piece of pita. The hummus, topped with chopped radish and feta, looked beautiful on the plate. The actual amount of hummus seemed quite thin, though, and the radish slices were larger and more raw-tasting than I was expecting. The asparagus was brought out next, and despite the simplicity of the dish, this was by far the most elevated asparagus I have ever tasted. Cooked to a perfect tenderness, the asparagus showed no sign of toughness or chewiness - I could even cut it with my fork. The creamy stracciatella was so refreshing, and I scooped it up with the remaining pita that was served with the hummus. The green garlic pizza may have been my favorite dish. The roasted tomato-infused ricotta paired excellently with the garlic sauce, and the crust was light and fluffy. We may have gone a little overboard with the ordering because I was almost too full when the lamb pappardelle arrived. The lamb sauce was very hearty, and the noodles tasted fresh and handmade. Our dining experience at Avec felt very upscale yet cozy, and there were so many dishes on the menu that I want to try on my next visit.

Cured ocean trout Crudo
Clarissa C.

Went for restaurant week 2026 and this was such a good deal!! 5 course meal served family style, two people share one plate. These plates were GENEROUS and I was so stuffed by the third plate of pasta. The decor is gorgeous, and definitely a much bigger and more elegant space than their west loop counterpart. Our server was genuinely the most kind server I've ever had in my entire life! I think his name was Alan? He was amazing! You're started with the cured ocean trout crudo, which is served with a picked chanterelle mushroom and toasted sesame tahini. This was good!! Didn't love how pickled the mushrooms were, but the fish was super fresh. Second course was a marinated kale salad with satmusa orange. The kale was definitely well massaged without much bitterness, and the black garlic romesco was quite addicting. Third course was a Campanella pasta - this was a generous portion of pistachio pesto, jalapeño, and rapini - the Campanella has a bunch of ruffle edges which holds the sauce so well. Jalapeño was deseeded and not spicy at all!! This was def my fav! Fourth course was an entire wood oven roasted Cornish hen with chickpea hummus. Some parts were a bit tougher than others, but the drums were so juicy. This was a massive plate and I was soooo full by now! Final course is an individual portion of sahlab rice pudding with citrus flowers and pistachio crumbs.

Cal L.

Came here with Dad for lunch. Beautiful setting and the food was very good. We came at 11 and were seated immediately (we were the only ones). Our server wasn't the friendliest. Doesn't give you the warm and fuzzies and wasn't the nicest about my inquiries about ordering items from the dinner menu for lunch. In his defense, he was attentive, knowledgeable, and provided adequate service. A few small issues I had: -the menu had titles crossed out. I guess it's a style point but it's a stupid and confusing one -we ordered the trout crudo and they subbed it for salmon. didn't tell us until we asked -lunch menu is okay but dinner menu looks incredible. We regret coming for lunch -service friendliness We should have come for dinner and next time I hope we get someone nicer.

Zaatar Pizza
Ashley H.

I absolutely love Avec's West Loop location and was so excited to try this second location! Like its sister restaurant, the meal was excellent. At 5:30 on a Friday, it was not too packed and easy to snag a spot. The staff was kind and very attentive throughout the meal. The spot has an excellent happy hour, so I tried the bartender's choice cocktail and zaatar pizza. The cocktail (similar to a negroni) was just okay for me- the flavors weren't too special and it tasted a bit watered down. The rest of the drink menu looked great and very unique though. The zaatar pizza, however, was outstanding! It was baked fresh in their wood-fired oven and loaded with high quality olive oil, herbs, spices and garlic. The stracciatella cheese was smooth and generously applied. I absolutely loved the autumnal touch brought by the roasted delicata squash. The dish was fairly large and definitely enough for another meal. Would absolutely order this again. Overall, I absolutely recommend paying a stop and look forward to trying more of the menu!

Cod Tagine
Amanda L.

The restaurant is a much larger space than the west loop location, saw a few birthday parties as well as business meetings when I walked in. My friend and I were sat by the open kitchen in front of the pizza over which was super cool! We ordered: - short rib hummus (MUST ORDER!!! Get extra pita too) - cod tagine (flavorful and tender, went great with the bread) - zaatar pizza (a little too oily for our liking) service was solid, very professional, checked in regularly. pretty easy to get a res so would recommend for a last minute dinner spot!

Lamb Kefta Burger (my favorite!)
Parker G.

I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch experience at Avec River North! While vacationing in Chicago, we wanted to have a fun Sunday brunch somewhere near our hotel, and Avec looked like a lovely spot to try out. Spoiler alert: I was not disappointed!! Service was friendly and attentive throughout our dining experience, and I enjoyed the fresh, flavored mimosas - especially the peach & strawberry flavors! They also have a bottomless option for mimosas during weekend brunch, but we arrived towards the tail-end of the brunch period and so just got two mimosas each instead. As for the food, we decided to try out the Lamb Kefta Burger and the Pita Chip Fatteh. Both dishes were very creative with great textures and flavors. The Fatteh was solid overall, although I personally found the heat in it a tad bit distracting from the other flavors of the dish. But that's mostly a personal thing! Now, the Lamb Kefta Burger was DEFINITELY the stand-out dish!! Everything on it just went together absolutely PERFECTLY! I loved the fresh crunch of the cucumbers, the saucy/slightly tangy aioli, the egg it's topped with, and the soft/fluffy brioche bun!! The indoor space was also very expansive, airy, and bright. Overall, everything about the experience was wonderful, and I would definitely come back again!

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Came here for lunch and the flavors are fantastic. Had the shakshuka and pita chip fatteh. Loved it. Large comfortable space. Would return.

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Avec River North Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Avec River North

Is there parking?

Street or valet.

Is there a valet?

Do you mean Valet parking? - if that's what you are looking for then as far as I know No. There is no Valet parking. I have always walked to the place but I have not seen Valet parking over there

Is it good for vegetarians?

there are a decent amount of vegetarian options; at least 1-2 per section (apps, pastas, pizza, entrees)

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4.3(2k reviews)
0.2 mi•Near North Side
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I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Mixed feelings on this place. Really pretty decor and nice vibe, but portions have greatly…read moredecreased in the last few years. The food is good, but I don't like that the portions have gotten smaller with the price staying the same. I've added pictures to show the difference. Their spicy hummus is probably my favorite hummus I've gotten from a restaurant, but it isn't always on the menu. The Kefta kabob is always good.

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Rumi Middle Eastern Grill - Chicken Shawarma Pita

Rumi Middle Eastern Grill

4.5(405 reviews)
2.5 mi•Wicker Park, West Town
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This place is beyond welcoming and such a refreshing spot to eat at. The food is delicious,…read morefilling, and so affordable. It's your typical kind of ambiance for a place like this--clean but not at all sterile. A welcome quiet spot in the chaos of Wicker. Aside from the delicious, comforting food, the service is incredible. It is rare to find spots like these nowadays and I sincerely hope the CAVA heads (don't get me wrong, I love CAVA!) try this out, too. We were accidentally charged for two orders of dolma when we ordered one, but I didn't realize. The person who took the order--wearing a propellor hat, by the way (hello whimsy!)--walked over to our table to let us know and asked if we'd like a refund and apologized. This already took me by surprise, so while I was fine without it, I said "sure." Next thing I know, they walk over with still two orders of dolma and the refund. I looked for a tip jar to put it back but couldn't find one. It was such an act of kindness and generosity. The kind of small interaction that reminds you of what being human is all about. Any time I'm in Wicker, I will try and stop at this place. Reminds me so much of Bulgaria and the "" I'd always beg for as a kid. 10/10 -- please support this independent restaurant!

I got delivery from here, interesting take on middle eastern food. I go the falafel wrap, with…read morehummus, it did not come with many veggies on it, the falafel itself was quite dry and the hummus was not very flavorful. My partner got a falafel plate. He liked the meal. He also got a salad, which he reports was good. I also got some French fries with tahini and extra garlic sauce. Overall average.

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The Purple Pig - 36 Day Aged Pork Chop

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4.3(9.1k reviews)
0.5 mi•Near North Side
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I headed out to the North Side today for a bit of exploration, and despite the lively Friday…read morebustle, stepping into The Purple Pig was a remarkably grand experience. The restaurant commands a sense of scale and elegance that immediately impresses. The interior is impeccably designed and spotlessly clean, featuring sophisticated private seating areas, beautifully arranged tables, and an extraordinary collection of fine wines lining the walls. The hospitality was top-tier from the moment I arrived attentive, polished, and effortlessly gracious. To start, I ordered the "Fire and Smoke" cocktail, which arrived artfully crafted, perfectly balanced, and thoroughly sensational. For my main course, I selected one of my absolute favorites: the Spanish Octopus. When the dish was served, the aroma alone was divine, and the execution proved to be an absolute culinary triumph tender, exquisitely seasoned, and full of rich, sophisticated flavor. Between the immaculate environment, vibrant atmosphere, superb libations, and flawless service, The Purple Pig earns full marks from me. A quintessential destination I shall most certainly be returning

This was a very mixed experience, which surprised me given the overwhelmingly positive reviews that…read morebrought us here. To start, the hostess was rude. It took her a while to acknowledge me standing there, and when she finally asked how she could help, I mentioned I had a reservation and began giving my name. She cut me off with, 'Please wait, I'm very busy.' After another five minutes, she finally took my name and asked my family and me to step fully outside, saying someone would come get us. We were finally seated fifteen minutes later--only after watching another party of three walk in without a reservation and get seated immediately. The appetizers and entrees were good, and our waiter was attentive, even apologizing for the rough start at the host stand. Things seemed to be turning around until we tried to order dessert. Despite being more than forty minutes from closing, our waiter returned to tell us, 'The chef refuses to make any more desserts.' This was that rare restaurant visit where the food itself was solid, but we won't be back. The service made it abundantly clear that our presence was an inconvenience.

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Kabobi Grill - Boneless Chicken Kabob with Dill Rice

Kabobi Grill

4.5(1.3k reviews)
6.5 mi•Albany Park
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Vegetarian friendly
Grab-and-go

Love this place for lunch! The lunch specials are great and the portions are huge!…read more This is a pretty good deal. You order at the counter and then sit down. Please know that if you pay with card you pay extra fee, which I didn't know. This is a pretty big portion so I did have leftovers. For one of our lunches we upgraded to the dill rice which wasn't as different from regular rice as I wanted. But when you add sumac it's perfect! This place is bright and airy.

I needed this meal so bad. So delicious and great hospitality. This place is located on a busy…read morestreet but I was able to find street parking no problem during rush hour. When you walk in, you are brought to the dining room to your table but are instructed to order at the counter. The space is big with tons of tables. Vegetarian sampler: We got this to share. Comes with hummus, tahini sauce, falafel x2, persian salad, baba ghanoush, and dolma. Something nice to sample for the table. Everything tasted great. The falafel could've been more crispy. The platter also comes with a basket of pita bread! Combo mix grill #1: For my entree I got the mixed grill and chose both beef and lamb koubideh as my proteins. I really couldn't tell which meat was which since the meat is ground but both were super delicious otherwise. Great flavor. Got the half & half rice (basmati/dill) which is a great choice and I highly recommend. The platter also comes with red onion, a whole roasted tomato, and some butter. If you've been here before, you already know the portion sizes here are massive!!! So great for sharing!

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Avec River North - mediterranean - Updated October 2026

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