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    Avec River North

    4.2 (373 reviews)
    PriceyMediterranean
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

    Order Avec River North Takeout or Delivery

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    AVEC RIVER NORTH ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Avec River North

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    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.

    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.

    Medjool Dates
    Daphne M.

    Michael was our server and he was amazing. His personality and recommendations were top tier. Definitely would come back again whenever I'm back in Chicago. Food was incredibly delicious. Spacious and lively area.

    Robert W.

    First time coming here. I've previously been to the smaller ?original one in west loop. But we had a larger group and this place was able to accommodate. Very nice ambience with high ceilings and open kitchen concept where you see the pizza ovens at work. This is more of a shared plates type of restaurant which is great to allow you to try a bit of everything. We tried nearly everything on the menu. The standouts for me were the short rib hummus, the deluxe focaccia, bacon wrapped dates, and the prawns. The pastas were good too but on smaller side to share. For the mains, we tried the whole fish, grilled chicken, and the roasted cauliflower. I thought they were ok. Chicken was cooked well but not particularly memorable. Fish was good, it was a branzino. Drinks were delicious and if you are looking for low abv, they have a selection of non alcoholic cocktails that are not on the menu, but the staff gladly explained what was available.

    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!

    Athena B.

    Came for happy hour! Great deals on cocktails and wine. First time trying the pizza and wowwww I was blown away! Highly rec'd!

    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!

    Kiaya S.

    We hosted our holiday party here last night and I couldn't be happier!! I was on the planning committee and working with Avec was so easy and seemless! The river north location was the perfect buy out for our 150 people and the inside was dimly lit, cozy and warm in this chilly weather! The food was to due for! We got to do a tasting before the big event and were able to choose the best of the best items! The hamachi crudo still stands out to me as the perfect dish! The drinks were also amazing but my favored by far was the side by side, smoky , stunning and refreshing! Couldn't recommend AVEC , Danielle and her team more!! A perfect night!

    The food and service was exceptional. Did not expect the food to be this good when we walked in. The portion sizes for the small plates are surprisingly big and well worth the money.

    James Q.

    This is a perfect example of a place that can feel upscale without being too stuffy or expensive. We came in December and the interior had a genuine winter charm. Great service and really fun atmosphere. And the focaccia bread was simply amazing.

    Whitefish sandwich and lentil salad
    Ashley C.

    Avec delivered solid food for lunch and was a very pleasant place to dine. My favorite was a small plate which included hummus, fresh pitas, and delicious short rib. This was a good amount to share with my group of 3, but more expensive than the sandwich entrees! The sandwiches were just alright. We got braised short ribs, which was definitely redundant and included smaller chunks of meat than the hummus, and the whitefish, which was a bit messy and not the most flavorful. We got an endive and apple salad which was also a good portion. The sandwich prix fixed is a great idea for only a few more dollars, you can add a soup and dessert. The baklava was just okay, which tasted a bit burnt. We got a few drinks too which were yummy. Overall it's a beautiful place for good food, but maybe not worth the price for some of the small plates.

    The legendary taleggio and truffle flatbread

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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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    Aba - Short rib

    Aba

    4.4(2k reviews)
    1.0 miFulton Market, West Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Aba Restaurant review -- Fulton Market, Chicago…read more This was my husband and I first time visiting Aba Restaurant, and we left impressed on every count. From the moment we arrived, the service stood out. We had an 8 PM reservation, but since we were in the area early, Chris B. kindly accommodated us for an earlier seating. We settled on the rooftop deck, which set the mood with a vibrant, buzzy vibe. The service was outstanding throughout. Our waiter greeted us promptly, with a trainee at the table. (My apologies for forgetting their names). Both were exceptionally pleasant. The trainee did a superb job walking us through the menu, explaining the concept of ordering. We decided on a variety of dishes, and Aba delivered: - Wild Mushroom Hummus: A smooth earthy dish with roasted mushrooms folded into a creamy hummus, finished with truffle oil and herbs. Yummy! - Tuna & Watermelon: A refreshing pairing of tender tuna balanced with juicy watermelon, cucumber, pomergrant seeds and mint. Loved it! - Green Chili Shrimp: Served in a metal dish used for escargo. The shrimp were covered by breadcrumbs and lots of butter with a slight kick to it. Great for dipping your bread in. It did not disappoint! - Pan Seared Halibut: A perfectly seared, delicate fillet, moist and flaky that highlighted the fish's clean, buttery profile. And from the cocktail menu, the Aloe? It's Me. It has a kick to it. Loved it too. Everything was excellent--the food was inventive and delicious, the service was great and the rooftop ambiance added a memorable layer to the evening. Highly recommended for a refined yet relaxed Chicago dining experience.

    Aba is in Fulton market and has outdoor and indoor seating! The restaurant is open and bright. I…read moreloved the olive trees that made the room feel like I was outside! The plates are shareable so this is great because you can share a few dishes! I tried the smoked garlic hummus (comes with pita bread), short rib Shakshouka, crispy potatoes, and the beef and lamb kofta! This was for two people and we had left overs. The hummus was fantastic! I highly recommend getting the crispy potatoes as well! I have never tried shakshouka with meat in it before and didn't love the texture. However, the flavor was sweet and savory! The only thing that was not ideal was that an optional surcharge was on the receipt, when we tried to get our server to help remove it per instructions on the receipt no one was to be found. That was disappointing and potentially strategic? I would have rather just tipped. I'm not sure how others feel about the surcharge?

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    Kabobi Grill - Mixed #1: Lamb Koubideh Kabob (Lamb Kofta) and Chicken Koubideh Kabob (Chicken Kofta Kabob)

    Kabobi Grill

    4.5(1.3k reviews)
    6.5 miAlbany Park
    $$

    We stopped by as a group of 5 for dinner Sunday night and we were promptly seated. We visited…read moreChicago for St. Patty's, but my two Persian friends were eager to show us some authentic food and Kabobi did not disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious and I particularly loved the Shami and Koubidehs. The koubidehs were so tender and juicy. The service was phenomenal and they even brought us some tea and dessert (bamieh) for free. Kabobi is open late and was the perfect spot to chat while the rain died down. Definitely coming back when I'm in Chicago next time!

    Ordered: Caspian Mix Grill (~$25) with Albaloo Polo (~$6): 1…read moreskewer boneless chicken breast, 1 skewer filet mignon marinated in a pomegranate walnut sauce, with grilled onion, raw onion, and butter Bamieh & Balava (complimentary) Aya's take: I was really craving Persian food before leaving Chicago and decided to place an order for pickup to take on my way. I arrived 25 minutes later and they hadn't even made my order. From there, 3 different people told me it'll be another 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. I ended up waiting 20 minutes and during that whole time there was no apology. One of the workers handed me a tea and later I saw they included dessert in the bag. It was a nice gesture but I was frustrated that it wasn't acknowledged by the staff at all and part of my order was still missing. I paid $2.25 for a Yogurt & Cucumber Sauce which I never received. The Caspian Mix Grill with Albaloo Polo was very good. The filet mignon & chicken breast were both juicy and well-seasoned. The Albaloo Polo is plain basmati rice mixed with saffron, caramelized onion and sauteed sweet & sour cherries. I liked the rice but it felt like they just threw the cherries on top rather than incorporate it into the rice. It was very filling, enough to share with 2 people, and good value. The Bamieh & Balava were also fresh, sweet, and a nice bite to end on. Ultimately, I would give the food a 4/5 and the service a 2/5, hence my 3/5 rating.

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    Kabobi Grill - Dine in area

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    Avec - Chicago - Chorizo-Stuffed Medjool Dates

    Avec - Chicago

    4.3(2.6k reviews)
    0.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Overall experience was great! Made a reservation online and sat at a shared table. Went for a…read moremid-week lunch date, which was a really nice and easygoing experience. The entry door is a little fun, just push where the pig is. The hummus is an absolute must. We got an extra pita (one per person) and I would recommend getting the extra. For the lunch menu -- the prix-fixe is a really great option. It's only about $26 for the stuffed date, sandwich & chips, and rolled baklava. Service was great, our server was amazing (thank you Marlee)! Waters were consistently refilled, timing was great, atmosphere was enjoyable. Will be going back!

    I went to Avec for my birthday and from food, service, and ambiance the entire experience was a…read moredisappointment. The endive salad was warm and not cohesive at all. Nothing really went together and it was warm, which didn't make sense and made it worse. The steak was cooked how I asked, but the sauce was extremely oily and had this strange burnt flavor which likely was from the onions? The onions were extremely burnt, nothing like a typical caramelized delish onion. The chicken had the same issue, everything had that same burnt tasting oil and the chilies sitting in it just made it more intense. It was honestly just edible and nothing I would come back for or recommend. I love middle eastern food and know that even with a midwestern there are some considerations to take with the flavor profile but the burnt onions, burnt spicy oil in the chicken, and a warm salad are all indications for poor execution. As for the actual ambiance and experience it was my birthday and there was no acknowledgment at all not even someone to check in on whether the food was okay. I did not want to order a dessert after the salad, steak, and shawarma all missing the mark. The seating was very uncomfortable. It is cramped and communal and at this price point I expected a much better experience. Will admit I should have looked into the actual dining set up before booking a late night reservation but even still there are so many better places in Chicago where you can get better food and actually feel comfortable. Overall it just was not worth it. I would not return or recommend this spot.

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    Avec - Chicago - Restaurant view from bar

    Restaurant view from bar

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    Avec River North - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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