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    Avec - Chicago

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

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    AVEC - CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Avec - Chicago

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    Brandade
    Frank T.

    Happened to be near here so dropped in for happy hour. Sat outside. The staff are amazing. I had the wine by catarina and the brandade. OMG the brandade was so amazing! Good thing I had to leave or I would had another one and probably stroked out. The ciabatta crostini are huge. and garlicky and buttery. It was my dinner. The wine was good as well. The server noticed a gnat in my wine glass and asked offered to get me another one. Who does that any more? Talk about attentive.

    Delux foccacia
    Meg C.

    Top notch service, fun twists on flavors, and a casual but elevated ambiance. We sat at the bar to watch some of the action and enjoyed our meal. The endive salad was crunchy and bright, with a pop of a nice brininess from the olives that was complimented by the pistachios, dill and granny apple. I loved the foccacia's airy texture with the taleggio cheese sandwiched between the layers - adding the honey was a game changer. The dates were packed with flavor and I liked the pepper sauce, but found the dish to be a bit too rich for me personally. We were pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes and left quite full. Glad we got to try this well known spot for our last meal in Chicago, it's stuck around for a reason.

    Lana T.

    We came here on Saturday for their brunch and I wanted to say our server was amazing!! The food was great especially the Meijoo dates. We got a lot of dishes to share between four people and it was more than enough. A lot of the dishes had eggs which is great and everything was so flavorful. We choose to sit outside and it's so lovely and nice. Will be back to try more on their menu.

    The last frontier
    Katrina V.

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

    Donuts
    Scott S.

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

    Hummus & Pita
    Shashank S.

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

    Glazed Donuts
    Mark J.

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

    Inside
    Vicky H.

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

    Butcher steak
    Salinda N.

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

    Raspberry Rose Brioche Bun
    Jesse P.

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

    Coal Roasted Cabbage
    Clarissa C.

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

    Blueberry corn gelato
    Anna H.

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

    Sweet Potatoes
    Maggie K.

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

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    Page 1 of 67

    Avec - Chicago Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Avec - Chicago

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

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

    Is there valet parking?

    No valet parking but there is street parking available with ParkChicago

    Do they take walk-ins?

    Yes but long waits

    Is there a corkage fee at Avec?

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

    View All 6 Questions

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    Aba - Short rib

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    4.5(2k reviews)
    0.3 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
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    This restaurant space is beautifully done inside and you can also sit out on their balcony patio,…read morewhich is such a nice option as well. They have the decor down to the details. We got the smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta, brussel sprouts, and lemon meringue bar for dessert, and honestly everything was amazing. The harissa honey on the brussel sprouts was so good, and the lemon meringue bar with the citrus crema and graham cracker crust was the perfect sweet item to round out the meal. They bring complementary pita with your hummus and dips and the bread with za'atar itself was delicious. They recommend 2-3 share plates per person, but we ordered 3 plus dessert for two people and still had leftovers. So I'd say it definitely depends on how hungry you are! We went for lunch/brunch and were pretty much the first people there, so service was super fast. Our server was lovely and incredibly attentive with topping off water and clearing plates. Definitely would come back to try some of their larger plate options.

    I enjoyed a tasty brunch here with friends on a bustling Saturday morning. We ended up splitting…read moreplates, trying the crispy short rib hummus, a unique concept that combined the crispiness of the short rib with grilled onion and hummus, and whipped feta, which was light and airy with pistachio and olive oil. The crispy potatoes also hit the spot, especially due to the scallion cream it came with. Not to be outdone was the house pita bread, which was wonderfully spiced. I also appreciated the mocktail options offered as well! Service was excellent, ambiance was beautiful, and food was tasty. Overall would recommend this place to anyone looking for a gorgeous and yummy brunch location in the West Loop!

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    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    4.3(2k reviews)
    0.8 miNear 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)

    Came for a late lunch. Split a meal: *Whipped spicy feta -…read moreVery tasty. The pita was warm with lots of za'atar. Enough to share with 2-3 people *Braised short rib sandwich - In a pita stuffed with cabbage. The beef was extremely tender. Unfortunately there was several large pieces of cabbage core vs shredded. The fries were crispy and seasoned with za'atar. The au jus provided, tasted it had a bit of red wine vinegar. That was a winner! Would order both items again. The decor is beautiful. Sat at the bar and the bartender wasn't in the best mood. Minus one star for the combination of the large pieces of cabbage core and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes - no one was there to serve us.

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    Al Bawadi Grill - Family Platter (serves 5-6 people)

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    4.1(1.2k reviews)
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    The whole concept and aesthetic of this restaurant completely wowed me!! It feels so well thought…read moreout. The service was amazing too, super professional, friendly, always on top of everything without being overwhelming. And the hummus was especially good, and creamy, which I loved!! The food overall was great. Such a cool experience from start to finish.

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

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    Avaspi - Babaganoush

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    4.8(110 reviews)
    4.0 miLakeview

    Firat, Avaspi manager, helped us plan a surprise birthday party for a friend, which included 10…read moreguests July 8, 2026. The table was beautifully set with red cloth napkins and small lanterns adding to the ambiance of the place. He welcomed adding our own decorations- paper placemats and a balloon bouquet. The area was set apart from the main dining area which made the experience more intimate. The food was served family style on platters, attractively presented and absolutely delicious! The individual printed menus at each setting described the wine choices, the first course Meze, the Main course choices , and 2 Desserts. Each course was tastier than the next! We chose: 1st course 2 platters of Mixed Meze, homemade bread, 2 Mushroom Tava, and 2 Calamari. 2nd course: 3 platters of "Mixed Plate for two" had Chicken kebab, Beef delight, Lamb Delight, Lamb Chops, Haydara, Ezme, Fries, and Rice. 2 Orange Salmon platters and Green Olive Salad. 3rd course: Baklava and Coconut Cake. The portions were more than enough for the 10 guests In order to try almost every food choice. Our server, Maine, timed each course very well. He also cleared European-style waiting until everyone was done eating. A pleasurable change as we weren't rushed! The water glasses and wine glasses were consistently filled. Though we had dined at Avaspi for both Happy Hour and Dinner, all 8 guests expressed how enjoyable the cuisine, wine selection, service and ambiance was throughout the evending. We all plan to return!

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

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    Avec - Chicago - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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