Avec River North: A Mediterranean Gem in Chicago

Loved the food. Everything was so delicious There was some great flavors in the medjool dates. Had a spice to it. The pizza was perfectly balanced with all toppings. Great cocktails Service was nice. The staff (other than our waiter) were insanely nice and accommodating The place has simple decor which was very inviting.

Went to Avec for brunch at 1030 on a Saturday and it was surprisingly empty. We had a reservation but didn't seem too necessary. I started with a Bloody Mary and wow they have a great mix! Perfect amount of spice and garnished with pickle, olive, salami, pepper jack, and a pepper. No picture but worth trying! I ordered the bialy for the table based on a previous picture showing very small bagels. This was much larger than anticipated and I had enough for 3 meals myself. The lebnah was my favorite topping but the white fish spread was surprisingly good. The restaurant is beautiful and filled with plants. Service was good but nothing to write home about.

We had a reservation on a Friday night, and we were able to be seated immediately. The main room of avec is designed well and has an upscale but relaxed vibe. We sat in the private dining room overflow area, and it was quite warm. The menu has a lot of options, and the waiter suggested we order 5 dishes for 4 people, as the portions are generous. I would tend to agree! We most liked the salad and the cornmeal crusted jalapeños and scallions, but all the dishes were good. Giving 4 stars because the food was good but not mind blowing, and because of how warm it was in the room and

Had a wonderful experience at Avec. The drinks are so yummy and the food was creative and delicious! I love the fun, lively energy in here and the staff is great too :)

Thoroughly enjoyed our evening. Excellent menu. The food was superb and service top notch.

Came here for brunch on a Sunday and we were seated immediately. Very beautiful and aesthetic inside. We ordered the deluxe focaccia, bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates, and shakshouka. The focaccia was a thin flatbread with a cheese spread and truffle oil. Really good, but also really rich and filling. I am a sucker for bacon wrapped dates and these lived up to my expectations. Big portion and the sauce it was in was delicious. The shakshouka was AMAZING. It contained dollops of hummus and I believe 4 eggs, two of which had runny yolks and two were completely cooked -- would have liked all of them to be runny/jammy. Portion sizes were very generous and the food is filling. We ordered three dishes to share family style for three people and had leftovers.

If you're a picky eater, this might not be the place for you, but I saw the menu as an adventure, an opportunity to try new things. We did 3 small plates, 1 pasta, and 1 large plate and it was the perfect amount of food for two hungry individuals. In order of yum, I would recommend the Chicken Thigh (we did 1/2), Shaved Apple Brussel Sprout Salad, Duck Confit Agnolotti, Hamachi Crudo, and then the Salt Cod Brandade. The restaurant was super cute with detailing in every aspect from the tables to the ceiling. They seated us very quickly (we were early for our reservation), and I'd almost say they were TOO attentive- repouring our water before we'd even had much to the point that it kept interrupting our conversation. But obviously just a note, and not a reason I'd recommend against coming. Definitely a positive dining experience if you're looking to try something new and okay with a splurge!