avec Restaurant - Chicago (IL)

5 /5 Eric Yeeger: Was able to taste a ton of the great food here with my group - this place slaps. There were no misses on the dinner part. All 8 or so dishes we had were at worst great and at best spectacular. All very bold and punchy flavors if Mediterranean fare. My favorites were some of their specials - the bacon wrapped dates and the pork shoulder. Chicken shawarma was also an insanely good value option. We also loved the steak even though it was small. I love loved their hummus, but would actually go for the normal hummus over the short rib option - it’s less than half the price and better value. The only miss of dinner was the burnt honey chocolate pie dessert. I thought this was actively bad and definitely a bummer to end on when the rest of the food was so good! Cocktails in here were excellent as well. More focused on Mediterranean flavors of course - with some options having cumin and similar spices added. Fairly priced, but not a deal or overly expensive. Vibe in here is great - there are 2 floors. 1st floor is much better vibes, but second floor is okay too. Absolutely come here if you have the time and have the money to spend! My group of 5 paid about $80 a person with one drink each and that included tip. 4.5/5.

5 /5 Clint F: There wasnt a plate we didnt love during our dinner at Avex. The stuffed dates were AMAZING! I cant say enough about the hanger steak; it was cooked perfectly and was an explosion of flavor. My wife is still talking about the salmon she had. Services was outstanding and welcoming. Explained everything on the menu. We cant wait to go back again.

5 /5 Jeremy Wood: Avec was such a great experience. The food was honestly top tier. Every dish we tried was packed with flavor, and the menu had so many things I wanted to order. The dessert was the real showstopper and genuinely left me speechless. Our waiter was incredible and made the whole night even better. He was attentive, friendly and really made us feel taken care of. The atmosphere was warm and lively, and the drinks were just as good as the food. Overall, an amazing spot. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

4 /5 David Stone: My experience at Avec was decidedly mixed. Some dishes were great. Some were just fine. Wines by glass were surprisingly mediocre for a spot with such pedigree in the grape juice. Service was friendly, but I also had to wait a while—at least 20min—past my reservation for my solo spot to be ready at the bar, while many larger tables that entered after were seated before me. Though this also sums up how I felt about the experience. Avec—as the name implies—really feels best made for others. The menu is largely small plates designed (and priced) for sharing—though, the one big plate I got was the standout (more below). As a solo diner, its a solid experience, with substantial bar style seating in a cozy setting. That said, the stools were hard wood and among the least comfortable Ive experienced. Back to the group focused pricing—this was one of the most expensive meals Ive had in Chicago, and while much of the food was very good, none compared with the best Ive had in the city either. Some highlights: charred broccoli was a very nice blend of flavors, though also the smallest and priciest of the small plates I tried; bacon wrapped dates were an interesting balance of salty, sweet and spicy—while i loved the poblano sauce, the spiciness also overpowered the sweetness of the dates a bit (and its a huge dish—four chorizo stuffed dates then wrapped in bacon for the full dish); and the branzino was excellent, crispy outside, juicy inside, with a slightly tangy-sweet habanero sauce that was unexpected and absolutely delicious. Hummus was fine, just run of the mill for hummus, but huge. One order would be plenty for a group of 4, let alone 1. I tried two desserts: one was superb, one was forgettable. The superb: they swapped a vibrant concord grape/mint sorbet for the ice cream in their afagato (super accommodating to allergies)—with a gingerbread man cookie that brought all the nostalgia of homemade cookie sheets, with all the ginger sweet warmth you could want. Sorbet was bright, zesty and refreshing. Really nice mix of flavor. Though I can only imagine the richness and vanilla of the ice cream version would be just as great. Coulda passed on the Nutter Butter square though. It looks nice and all, but a bit bland to my taste, especially compared to the sorbet. Ultimately, Avecs a decent spot tossing out high quality dishes with a wide tasting selection for a group to share, but the value doesnt match the price, especially in a city with so much variety of flavor to be had these days.

5 /5 Nomadicus: Avec delivers a Mediterranean-focused dining experience that feels both lively and intimate, thanks to a menu built around small and large tapas-style plates meant for sharing. It’s the kind of spot where eating family style isn’t just possible—it’s encouraged, and it makes the meal that much more fun. The space is warm and cozy with a minimalist design, and part of its charm comes from how seamlessly the kitchen blends into the dining area. Open to the dining area that as a mix of bench and countertop seating, it all contributes to the restaurants dynamic, energetic feel. Large windows help the room feel more open than it really is, adding to its understated appeal. Service was top-notch—informal, friendly, and perfectly aligned with the restaurant’s relaxed, communal vibe. For anyone visiting Chicago, Avec is a must. It’s thoughtful, welcoming, and delivers a memorable meal built around simple dishes executed beautifully.