Very nice food with a great ambiance. We got the classic hummus, cod, steak (BEST, LOVED the spring onions for some reason especially), chicken shawarma, and pork shoulder (worst, didn't like its texture). So filling and shareable. read more

Memorable food, priced right and great service. Non pretentious casual quality dinning Will come back and try other things on menu. read more

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Yum! Hip casual with an innovated delicious menu! We always eat too much- it's that good!

The focaccia was incredible. I would go back just to get that alone. Get the focaccia! You won't regret it. The restaurant is pretty small and hot but still an enjoyable environment. Great service! read more

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When I think of Avec I think about a tour around the world for your taste buds. A place that isn't limited to a certain region or category, a place that has been consistently good throughout the years, an area of innovation, but not too over the top. I came here for a Valentine's Day celebration with my significant other, I came the day before Valentine's Day to escape the rush and fully enjoy the dining experience. We sampled a ton of things on the menu, such as the grilled butchers steak, the Wild Mexican Prawns, the roasted sweet potatoes, the Rotisserie Chicken Shawarma, and the Tagine with braised, lamb, swordfish, and mussels. I personally don't drink alcohol so throughout this experience I just had sparkling water, which was very good haha. To fully enjoy this place you need to be open to the experience, and that requires being open to communal dining, which not everyone loves. We sat next to some people from France who spoke little to no English and honestly I liked that experience. Being surrounded by culture and people outside of your circle of friends. It can be a bit uncomfortable at times when another group has to get up and you have to move out of the way for them in the middle of your dining experience. But again, I think before you come here, you should just welcome the unique experience to fully enjoy it. Favorite dish was the butcher steak, it was a fairly small portion for the price they have it at, but it was honestly well worth it because the flavor was amazing. We also ordered the Tagine that was priced at $48. With braised lamb, sword fish, mussles and a flavor that was reminiscent of Moroccan cuisine, it was very much worth it. My only criticism is I think it would be better if they brought it out with the actual Tagine top and then revealed it to us, taking the top with them for the full experience. A Tagine is a beautiful piece of art and a culturally unique way to cook food that not everyone knows about and I think that would definitely add to the experience. Another highlight was the Mexican prawns, on the menu. It said it was with rose petal shatta, honestly I've never heard of this before, but it was delicious. I love that it came with a big piece pita, presented almost like a balloon/pillow of bread. It was perfect for lapping up the sauce, which was the best part. The shrimp came with the shell on, and I honestly have no problem eating shrimp with the shell on, maybe I'm weird, but I don't mind it all. If you're picky about that, I would make sure to take it off. Haha Overall, I really enjoyed the experience, it was, adventurous, it challenges you to think about flavors, & the combinations were inventive. Avec has stayed true to their roots over the years and kept a very playful menu that is unbound by region, this will forever be a go to place for me. read more

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Went here for my birthday...watch out for their hot pan that the chorizo stuffed dates come in. My wrist barely glanced the handle and I received a 2nd degree burn. I mentioned it to the waiter and the host and neither seemed to care and only said yeah- it's hot, "you need to be careful." I finally had to ask for a first aid kit, but they they had little to assist me. The pain increased as my skin bubbled up to blisters and needless to say, it ruined the rest of my meal. Almost a year later and you can still see the scars on my wrist. A birthday dinner should not end up with scars! They need to invest in the covers for the handles so this doesn't happen to someone else. read more

I had a lot of things while in Chicago. Whatever spots you've seen at the top of the Chicago Yelp search list, I probably ate there. LOL. But 3 days into my weekend vacation, I could not stop thinking about those dates. Skskskdjsja. Probably going to get some for takeout and eat them tomorrow at the airport. read more

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Such an amazing meal! We went on our last day in Chicago for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. Every dish was exquisite, amazing wine selection, host and servers were all so friendly. Cant wait to try their dinner menu next time we are back in town. (This was the West Loop location) read more

Heard such great things about Avec and decided to try it out on a Monday night. To no surprise, it was packed but we were able to get in with no wait. The bacon wrapped dates are probably their most popular appetizer and it didn't disappoint. Salad was great as well. Will definitely be back to try more on the menu and I'll be coming with an empty stomach this time! read more

Avec - Chicago - Market salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Manager did call to address my concerns, but the issue about the unauthorized wine service still needs to be resolved.

Where to start. For one, the food was delicious. Highly recommend the short rib hummus, that was probably our favorite of the night. We also got the shaved brussel sprouts and radicchio, and then as well as the 'deluxe' focaccia. To be quite honest for just 2 of us, we could have done just 2 of those 3 dishes and been just as full. (We couldn't finish it all) Anyhow, the ambiance was intimate with a smaller space on the first floor. We can't speak for the location in River North as this is the West Loop location. If you are looking for a date night spot or to have dinner with a small group /couple friends or family members, I highly recommend this spot. read more

Wow I loved this place so much that I went to both locations while visiting Chicago. The stuffed dates are bomb! I also tried their fish (pretty good too!), pasta and gelatos. I was pretty excited to try the manchego gelato but this one wasn't thaaaat good as I was expecting. Pistachio gelato was good but I've had better ones. The honey gelato though... it's on my top three the best gelatos I've ever had! Service was pretty good on both locations. Definitely will visit again next time I'll be in Chicago read more

Avec - Chicago - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food is absolutely amazing, for those of you looking for an elevated brunch experience, start here! The donuts are to die for, the burgers are absolutely divine!! If you come, Gabriel's service will absolutely put your experience beyond what you've expected. He is hospitable and can absolutely understand the goal of your party so that you make the most of your time at Avec. Thank you to Gabriel and Dylan! read more

Wow! That basically should sum up this meal but I'll write some more. Went here during the covid pandemic and had to pre order our meal the night before. Did the wood fire pizza which was incredible. I never even seen mushrooms like they had on the pizza. Such a delicious flavor and perfectly cooked. I had the pork shoulder and it was so tender and juicy packed with flavor. The focaccia came and I barely could eat it as I was stuffed but I did have a piece and that cheese was to die for. We had the butcher steak which was cooked perfectly with chili mayo and sweet peppers that accompanied it perfectly. The little gem salad is a must to start! Too many delicious desserts. I had pumpkin cake with chai latte that I had to stuff down my throat bc I was so full. Amazing staff! This is easily one of the best meals I had in Chicago and a top meal I ever had read more

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The food was fantastic at Avec, but I was especially impressed by the service. After my party left the restaurant, one of the bussers ran after us to return a lost hat. We wouldn't have noticed until much later, but thanks to this busser's willingness to go above and beyond, we avoided having to retrace our steps. Thank you! read more

Come Avec me! Love the tight communal seating spaces which allows you to mingle with other guests and even ask for food recommendations. I was first seated at the bar, but then my handsome Date requested for a table and we were quickly accommodated. The chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce is a MUST-TRY SCRUMPTIOUS small plate dish. Sweet yet savory and had the perfect amount of char. The Wild Mexican prawns With rose petals shafts was flavorful and cooked just right. Last was the charred grilled steak which was seasoned well. All small dishes and left room for dessert, but we went to Jenni's for that Bathrooms were clean. Service was delivered with a smile. read more

Avec West is nestled in the exciting West Loop of Chicago and it could be a great place for any meal at any point of the day. Making a reservation is advised because of the small size of the establishment. I'd recommend Avec because they're food was fantastic and fresh. They really leaned into the Mediterranean flavors so well with their small and large plates. It's designed to be a sharing style form of dining, but it doesn't have to be. The Butcher steak was splendid as the steak was cooked to perfection, and it was balanced with the pickled radishes, mint, and cilantro. If I were to go again, I'd hit up this place for brunch. They have bottomless mimosas and a fun selection of breakfast plates that would satisfy all taste buds. Their Publican Breakfast sausage stole the show. It was packed with flavor, sweetened with syrup, and dashed with chives. On top of that, they served warm brioche sugar donuts. Despite its size, the aesthetic was quite pleasing. With minimal decor and golden oak covered walls/floors, you experience a sort of calmness because of the simple design. It's as if they wish to bring stillness to you before letting their food make the waves. read more

Avec - Chicago - Butcher 's Steak - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here after eating at the River North location. We were sat upstairs and the service was great. The food was fresh I loved the salmon hummus dish and the butcher steak highly recommend those dishes! read more

Avec - Chicago - smoked salmon hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago has always been a great city to find some good food. Avec was no exception. The hummus with crispy short rib was particularly good and our favorite dish! read more

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Avec just earned a spot on my "favorite restaurants in Chicago" list! We went for a girls night group dinner and I loved it. The must orders: - chorizo stuffed dates (best dates I've ever had. The tomato sauce itself that they come in was delicious and the dates are seriously stuffed. I could eat like 5 myself) - chicken shawarma (the sauces this comes with, their homemade versions of hot sauce and ranch, truly made this incredible) - persian rice pilaf (oh my GOD was this good. the rice gets all crispy at the bottom and it's amazing) Also ordered and enjoyed: - short rib hummus (I mean, it's short rib and hummus. what's not to like? just not my favorite of either that I've ever had) - deluxe focaccia (really nice not too overpowering truffle flavor, the only reason I don't consider this a must order is because it wasn't really focaccia bread - it was very flat. still good though) - roasted summer squash (so good there just wasn't enough of it!) Drinks and desserts were also great. I know some reviews mention the overall ambiance/size of the restaurant - it is definitely small and you're squeezed in with other tables but I didn't mind at all. Made it feel more lively and fun in my opinion. Add to your list and check it out! read more

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Really good food and really nice service! Definitely coming back again! We really enjoyed the dates appetizer.

My experience started out negative. The space is super cramped and narrow. You eat at a table sitting super close to a lot of other parties. There is no privacy and I didn't even have anywhere to put my winter coat. I feel like they need to be more considerate of the dining experience here. Everyone has huge coats because - winter in Chicago. They have a few hooks on each side of the dining room but that's it. The seats closer to the aisle have no seat backs - so you basically put everything you have in your lap as the next person is a few inches next to you. I've seen small spaces work well but they need some adjustments. As a place where you order lots of dishes to share - it is also not ideal to have a tiny sliver of table top room. That being said - the food is spectacular and redeemed a lot about this place. I would go through the uncomfortable dining space again because the food is actually worth it. The salted cod spread is amazing and so are the oysters. The dates were incredible - but on the spicy side. My favorite was probably the lamb hummus. The pita was fresh and pillowy and the hummus was so flavorful. I definitely want to come back and try the other hummus. We had the pork shoulder for the entree and it was delicious - super tender and just fell apart easily with a fork. Their menu changes so I would come back and try new dishes. The rice pilaf entree looked amazing and we regretted not ordering that. There is a truffle bread dish that also looked amazing. Definitely come here and try multiple dishes! The food is 100% read more

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My husband and I came to Avec on a recent trip to Chicago. We ordered an assortment of small plates and mains (probably too many), but we enjoyed each and every one. Incredibly unique twists or added ingredients to traditional dishes! This spot was pretty small, so make sure you snag a reservation. read more

Snagged a solo seat here during a work trip and had a delightful meal. I probably ordered too much for myself but the food was delicious. I loved the chorizo stuffed dates the most, but special shout out the small nutter butter dessert that was the perfect bite to end it all. Place was definitely crowded so reservations are the love and service was friendly. Would recommend! read more

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The food was amazing! Everything was flavorful and comforting. We ordered the medjool dates, pork shoulder and roasted fish. I look forward to trying the full menu one day! read more

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Wow. Incredible is an understatement. I was prepared to have a great experience, but I couldn't have anticipated just how good it was. I had the elixir of life NA drink which was fantastic. We had the Mexican shrimp, summer squash with tamarind, and hummus with short rib and sumac. Everything was amazing, but the shrimp and the hummus really stole the show--I would highly recommend trying those items. Service was friendly and attentive. The ambiance was chill but very nice. It was my birthday and they allowed us to bring in a birthday cake, which they kindly served us with a candle after our meal! I hope I can return someday. If only I could try everything on the menu. read more

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So after hearing many many great things about Avec and specifically the West Loop location, obviously had to check out this spot to see what the buzz is about. Once I got out of my Uber, a nice gentleman opened the door for me who I initially thought was just a very nice patron but ended up being someone who worked at Avec (more on him later). Upon getting seated at the bar, my party was immediately greeted by Ryan who made me just the perfect Negroni to get my night started. From there on, we were in a "taste all" mood so we ordered a bunch. Those items were the following: - chorizo stuffed medjool dates - potato and salted cod brandade - braised lamb hummus - whole roasted fish kabsa - rotisserie chicken shawarma As much as I want to get into a thesis as to how good all those items were, all I need to do is summarize the evening was that everything was phenomenal. Obviously our eyes were a lot bigger than our stomachs and we appreciated Ryan's honesty into telling us what we should eat and what may be too much. Throughout the night, both Ryan and Pablo were available to help us and check up on us to make sure everything was to our liking. Both Ryan and Pablo made some tasty drinks that kept us vibin' throughout the night, so big props there. I have to give a shoutout to Manny and Emmanuel who both were attentive to our dishes to be bussed as well as describing exactly what we were receiving. To finish, that fine gentleman who opened the door for me? Well that was Damien the manager who was just being genuine and making sure that our experience was memorable for us first timers. The floor was busy but everyone on staff was always available to check up on us as well as engaging us in conversation to make sure not only we enjoyed our time at Avec but our time in Chicago. Like I said, with a place like Avec which has crazy delicious food and thirst quenching drinks, you won't find many spots where service matches the quality of their menu items. This review is my gratitude to a great restaurant that brings you a wonderful culinary experience, not only with the ingredients they prepare but also with the people who are preparing and presenting it to you. Thanks again Avec, next time I'm in Chicago, have another gin based cocktail ready for me! read more

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Yaaaaassss! Loved everything about Avec. Great food. Great wine. Great service. Great vibe. The short rib and hummus is amazing! Definitely a must-try for Chicago . read more

my review is balanced by how I couldn't hear the ppl at my own table, was sitting on the lap of the woman next to me, and the servers were wearing jerseys (??) WITH these chorizo stuffed dates - guys these dates oh my god. the sweet part of the date, with the spicy chorizo, with the salty bacon, in the acidic tomato sauce?!? i want to get takeout of just 5 orders of these - the truffle flatbread (deluxe focaccia) was praised by my table, even the people who don't like truffle usually - roasted carrot hummus was delicious but I think it was hard for ALL to ignore the olive oil the entire dish was swimming (drowning one might say) in , like someone call a lifeguard - turnip dish not pictured was a winner bc of the sauce it was in like wow and the cauliflower dish was just lacking tasted like any vegetarian dish a restaurant would throw on the menu to appease their picky cousin from portland - just get take out, and get the dates. read more

Avec - Chicago - Deluxe Focaccia - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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For such a well known place, it ended up being a lot smaller than I thought it was! I've been meaning to stop by for about 2 years now after so many people (friends and other yelpers) recommended it to me. Didn't expect it to be so packed on a Sunday morning, but it was! Not going to lie, My friend and I were a bit confused by the door, it's to the left of the window, so don't worry if it doesn't look like the front door. It's very subtle and doesn't have a big sign. One of my friends said if I only ordered one thing, it should be the Medjool Dates, so of course we ordered that, along with the pork shoulder and papas bravas. Both of us were a bit pessimistic about the dates because neither of us like dates, but we were pleasantly surprised. They were delicious and melted in your mouth, however I wasn't a fan of the texture - a tad grainy to me. They're very generous with the amount of pork shoulder they give. I loved that there were clams mixed in. I can't take spicy and found it enjoyable. My friend loves spicy food and she enjoyed it just as much. It definitely made my nose run and had me sweating a little. Papas bravas were delicious - the two sauces meshed wonderfully and left flavor dancing in your mouth. read more

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Avec sits a few blocks east of restaurant row, and just another few blocks from Proxi. It is in good company, and certainly deserves its own accolades. Of course, it had them. Avec isn't exactly a secret; however, it's also not one of these stuffier, higher end, exceptional restaurants. Avec is warm, friendly, inviting...and everything they make is incredible. Our most recent trip was on Labor Day. Despite not really advertising it, the manager told us he was happy to allow us to order anything we wished, from cocktails to meals. They make a tremendous Manhattan (I got mine neat, up, and with Rye), perfectly balanced hitting all the high. notes. This time, we only had time for their hummus and homemade pita. You could use this pita for a pizza dough, it is absolutely incredible. The flavor and complexity of the hummus itself was also on another level, elevating a barroom staple to fine dining. I could go on forever, but I really should highlight the flatbread. It doesn't look like any flatbread you've ever seen, more like a pizza with the sauce taken off. But, my god, this flatbread is divine. You get a perfect dough, with all the right amounts of olive oil, cheese, seasoning, and salt. It is impossible not to finish, and so sad when it's finally gone. One of my favorite spots in Chicago - can't wait to be back! read more

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

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We had mad reservations much earlier in the week then after finding out that more people would be joining us we asked to change them literally as we entered the restaurant which the immediately accommodated. There were 6 in our party and we ordered 8 different dishes from the small and large meal menus. Everything was served family style so everyone was able to enjoy every dish. We had the prawns, the whole fish, chicken shawarma, tomato watermelon salad, pork shoulder, calamari, squash blossom pizza and the roasted sweet corn as well as various mixed drinks. The service was impeccable and very personable. You were want for nothing. The food was delicious and served in a manner that built the dishes into a wonderful meal. I don't think you could order a bad meal from the menu. read more

2020 Restaurant week menu (did not include olives because...they're just olives lol): 1. Chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce 2. Dark chocolate cremeaux 3. Wood oven paella with confit chicken thighs, morcilla sausage, mussels and tangerine aioli 4. Brussels sprouts panzanella with golden raisins and calabrian chili I enjoyed all the dishes except Brussels sprouts panzanella. All I tasted was vinegar and some heat. To be fair, I ordered this without cheese but it was so much vinegar...the chef couldn't make adjustments? Service was good. Staff were on top of wiping my table, changing out dishes/plates, water refills, fulfilling other requests. https://www.yelp.com/collection/8mCXaaKQAQ7hn-PPUG9iXQ?utm_content=Collections&utm_source=ashare read more

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When everyone's least favorite dish of the night is the chorizo-stuffed dates, you know the food was excellent! We went for a girls night and ordered too much food. We were a group of 4 moderately hungry people and most of us hadn't been back to Avec in 1-5 years, so we wanted to try everything! We had the nectarines with labneh cheese, chorizo-stuffed dates, short rib hummus, whole fish with basmati rice and toasted almonds, and the half chicken shawarma. I am surprised to say, my favorite dish was the chicken. I usually stray away from chicken because it can be dry or bland, but the chicken shawarma had great flavor, unique and rich. I really enjoyed the lemon on it. The short rib hummus was a lot bigger than everyone expected, but I suppose it made sense given the cost ($34). There were 4-5 pieces of short rib on a shallow bed of hummus. It was so delicious, we are all glad we got it, but it wasn't the bowl of hummus with bits of short rib that we expected. It was worth the price, but make sure to set your expectations accordingly. A lot of us were pretty full after eating this! I also really enjoyed the whole fish. The fish itself was fine, but I absolutely loved the rice with the toasted almonds. I'm a sucker for fun textures. The service was great. Make sure to make a reservation. The tables inside are close together and you may have to share a table with another party, so just be ready for that. I definitely want to come back on a more frequent cadence. read more

Great vibe and very interesting menu. I have food intolerances and they tried to accommodate but my options were very limited. I'm sure the food is great when you can order whatever you want. It sounded delicious. I did have a delicious Belgian beer and they corked it for me to take with me (large bottle.) read more

It really says something when chefs go here at the end of the James Beard awards. While weirdly not featured on many of the "you gotta eat here" websites, avec came recommended by locals, which is way better. You will need a reservation because it is delicious and it is packed. We started the night with the most essential bite- chorizo-stuffed medjool dates. Get this dish, just get it. It's spicy and sweet and smoky, you'll love it. We ate that along the Mexican prawns, which were perfectly cooked. Next was the asparagus with dill and burnt eggplant alongside the roasted oysters with mango. Both delicious, balanced, and bright. We did the whole fish for our main event, which I definitely recommend doing, it's a nice portion and beautifully cooked. Finally, because we are gluttons, we did the flatbread with taleggio and truffle oil. This dish doesn't look like much, but it's everything. You HAVE to get it. The server was lovely but busy! Don't expect a lot of check ins, but she has a huge smile for you if you have to wave her down for another drink. The fact is that we had to wait a while despite having a reservation, but they were very apologetic about it. Even the manager came over to offer a very sincere apology, so we got over it real fast. Ultimately this was a great experience. I highly recommend you check it out. I can't end this review without mentioning that we went to their sister spot The Violet Hour in a different night and had a really weird experience. Our server was lovely, but after spending quite a bit of money on cocktails, another server approached our table (before last call) to basically tell us to leave or they would take our drinks away because they wanted to close. He was a little sheepish about it on our way out and offered a bit of an apology to one of us, but it ruined the night. I can't recommend it after that experience. If you enjoyed this review, apparently you can now follow me on this platform, or you can check out my brand new food review tik tok- @nickeatseverything read more

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Avec is a french word meaning "with". I've always been familiar with the word as my mom spoke rather fluent french and creole. As I'm considering how to review my third time at this restaurant in the West Loop, it seems I got a lot of "with" in my lousy (and most likely final) experience here. I should have known my experience this evening was going to be inauspicious as my weeks-old reservation (for one - I typically dine alone) resulted in a seat at the bar. Most restaurants downtown Chicago will give you the option of waiting (if need be) for a table, or offer an immediate seat at the cramped uncomfortable bar. All my prior solo visits resulted in a table in the much more comfortable upstairs dining area. No choices this evening, I was hustled right to a seat at the downstairs bar, no questions asked. The downstairs was "with" a lot of noise this evening, which made it hard to converse with the staff. It was also "with" heat, as in their A/C appeared to not be on, or not be working. Admittedly it was the hottest day/evening of the year for Chicago, around 90 degrees at sunset. However making your patrons sweat it out is probably not good for repeat business. First order of business was to order a bottle of mineral water instead of the regular container "tap" variety, and i was never asked if I wanted "with" or without bubbles - in other words sparking water. This one is probably on me as I wasn't clear in what I wanted, but I've never NOT been asked by staff when ordering mineral water if I want "with" bubbles, "with" gas, "with" sparkles, you get the idea. I order mineral water all the time and never been brought flat water, ever. I've either been asked, or been brought sparking water (as the obvious difference to the flat tap style), because if I wanted flat water I could have had regular water. Again this is probably on me. I then ordered the hummus with smoked salmon and it was brought to the table "with" oily grease. A lot of it. More-so than usual. Also the hearth pita was undercooked and cold in parts of the bread and cooked perfectly/hot in others. So a bit unusual as this is a plate I always get to start. Not the end of the world. My next order of business was to order cod brandade - a cod and potato mashup with garlic crostini (bread). My dish was not the consistency of potatoes as it should be but was more the consistency of hummus - rather watery and not like usual. But that's not the big problem. It was brought to the table "with" three charcoal briquets. Oh wait, that's not charcoal - it's 3 pieces of burned bread. Bread so blackened and overcooked you'd think it had been in a minstrel show. Bread so burned you wouldn't feed it to your worst enemy. But THAT'S not even the worst part. As is the custom at these "themed" Mediterranean or other exotic ethnic-style restaurants, when they bring the dish to you they explain what it is and sometimes how to eat it to best enjoy the dish. A wait staff person actually brought me the dish with these three charcoal briquets, looked me in my face, presented and explained what it was, and pretended it was okay to eat without a second glance! I'm certain my face was questioning enough for them to understand that something was not right, but it didn't affect them. They dropped the dish off and skedaddled away as if nothing was amiss. Take a look at the attached photo and let me know if I'm out of line. I ended up eating the two "not as burned" pieces of bread and I'm still wiping grease and charred bread crumbs off my phone, off my shirt, off my arms - just a most underwhelming experience. When another wait staff innocently asked me if I was "with" any concerns, I just pointed to the bread and said " I can't eat this". Who would knowingly serve someone something like this? Her answer - I'll replace the one piece of shockingly burned bread. Fifteen minutes later I had a normal looking piece of crostini. By this time I'd lost my appetite, and just wanted to leave. I think my biggest takeaway from this final experience at Avec, is that I feel I was treated "with" disrespect. There was an obvious issue with my meal, no one said "sorry" and no one really seemed to care. The food with the burned bread should never have been brought to the table. Any wait staff behind the bar could have just looked at the briquet, seen something was wrong and been my hero or heroine. That's just unacceptable. In any event, I'm "with" a lot of regret at choosing Avec for my solo treat this month, and now I have to wait until next month to visit a restaurant like Jaleo or Nobu or Cabra which always seem to get it right and are infinitely more professional if something isn't. Ça fait du bien de te connaître, Avec. read more

Avec - Chicago - Charcoal briquets masquerading as bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had a lovely dinner here the other night. We had the Brussels sprouts fattoush, prawns, rotisserie chicken shawarma, and roasted lamb pilaf. The salad and prawns were my favorite!!! Just great flavor, the salad had different textures with walnut and pickled beets and muhamarra and we all really enjoyed it. The prawns were juicy and flavorful. Chicken was also tasty and moist and the pilaf was pretty good. We sat upstairs which was a bit more roomy but the restaurant was loud! We had to yell to converse with one another. Service was good. Definitely a bit pricey, would consider going again for an occasion. read more

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I recently visited during lunch hour on a weekday, and while it was empty around 11:40, the space quickly filled up. I liked the simple wooden interior, and I didn't mind the communal dining tables. I liked the open kitchen behind the bar as well. The servers were attentive and helpful. Overall, the food was solid, but pricey for what it is ($40 for roast chicken). We had the chorizo stuffed dates, which came with a side of bread. I really enjoyed this dish; I sometimes find bacon wrapped dates to be way too salty, but this bite was balanced with the tomato sauce and bread. The stand out item for me was snow pea and freekeh tabbouleh, which was fresh and interesting. It had peaches, roasted peanuts, and fresh herbs, and I loved the textures and flavors! The two mains (roast chicken and pork) were standard; I liked the pork better than the chicken. Get the fresh pita- it's light and fluffy! read more

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Outstanding food and service- crowded but for good reason... had a selection of plates, by far the best were the dates stuffed w/ chorizo and the hummus w/ short ribs. read more