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Extra Phones
- Fax: (312) 377-2008
- Phone: (312) 632-1056
- Phone: (312) 377-2002
Reviews & Recommendations
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Communal tables, shared plates - avec
Provided by Citysearch
Communal tables, shared plates - avec truly embodies its name (French for ""with""). The deep flavors and fresh ingredients attract crowds.
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Too close for my comfort
Provided by Citysearch
The only thing that's good about this place is that it has an interesting menu. But it stops at that. Their version of communal dinning is outrageous. The table we were sat at would normally fit 6 people. However there was 10 of us and a child in a high-chair squished in there together. I have no problem sharing a table with others, however I would at least like enough room to move my arms around so I could cut up my food. During most of my dinner, I was actually touching elbows with a complete stranger. Also, the waiter suggested that we order several small plates to try out different things. But there was no room where to put the food, so they just brought out one plate at a time. Even though I was hoping to get out of there as soon as possible, it took over 2 hours just to get 4 small appetizer plates and one glass of wine. Don't go there!!!\r
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My favorite place!!!
Provided by Citysearch
I totally love this place!! the atmosphere + food combined = mmmmm..... best place to get together with your girlfriends, or boyfriends )))) single? might be a nice idea to stop by.... you might be sitted next to a single girl/guy )))) Bon Appetit
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I love this place!
Provided by Citysearch
Best food in the city! Get the dates and the pizza. Wine selection is wonderful! The day we went we waited for about an hour for a table but it was well worth it!
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Didn't Live Up to the Hype.....
Provided by Citysearch
We heard this place was unreal - especially from reading the reviews on this website. The wine, cheeses and breads were excellent, but thats where it stopped. The food was just subpar. We ordered small plates and split a salmon dish and cauliflower crustini. The Salmon was undercooked and the crostini was unedible. The lamb small plate was pretty tasty. The waitstaff was excellent and the wine and beer menues extensive. But don't expect a good meai. We left starving!!!!
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Good Mix of People, Fresh Take on Traditional Dishes
Provided by Citysearch
I've only been here once, and I went as I saw it received rave reviews on Chicago Metromix. Earlier reviews are dead on when they say that you have to come prepared to wait, or, arrive relatively early. I came to dinner on a Sunday night at 7, was seated immediately, but I can tell you that not even ten minutes after we arrived, there was a mass of people waiting to be seated. The atmosphere is high energy, boisterous but contrary to what City Search says, it doesn't allow for ""first date conversation"". Well, unless you guys are seated next to each other. As for the service, I can assure you that whatever kinks they had in the very beginning, they've been worked out since. The service is impeccable, and as a first timer, don't be ashamed to ask questions on how to order and what they recommend - the wait staff is more than helpful and generous with their time. The chorizo stuffed dates are amazing as was the pork loin. I will definitely come back.
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Hands down, my favorite restaurant in Chicago
Provided by Citysearch
Sadly, I just moved away from Chicago, but when I do go back, the one restaurant that I really crave is avec. Bustling with groups and couples sitting at the bar, the atmosphere is loud and boisterous--it's not the kind of place one goes for conversation. And reservations are not taken, so be prepared to stand when the tiny restaurant is elbow-to-elbow. The broad wine list complements the menu of small plates, which takes advantage of fresh, seasonal ingredients and Mediterranean flavors. I can't wait to go back.
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excellent food, good wine choices, fresh cheeses
Provided by Citysearch
The food & wine are something to rave about, but I don't really like the sharing tables biz and I prefer to sit up at the bar since it actually feels private. I give the food and waitstaff 100% but be prepared for some overbearing loud-talking scenesters who want to be seen and heard. The cheeses and olives excellent and never had a bad glass of wine here. Blackbird is a lovely restaurant by same owner if you need some privacy and romance.
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What life should be all about...
Provided by Citysearch
This restaurant is so amazing. The food is to die for! Everything I've eaten there, and I've been 7 times, I love! I won't recommend anything because simply if you close your eyes and point at something on the menu you can't go wrong. My friends and I go often now. The wine list is extensive and interesting and they do have the service down to an artform. Hip music, chic clientele and a decor that is modern and fresh makes this place quite a scene. You have to like meeting new people because of the European-South American shared tables. I have met some amazing people this way and if you haven't dined this way it simply is the best. Avec really is what life should be all about: good food, good wine, good music, and people coming together. Bring a couple of friends and join in the mix!
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Interesting menu
Provided by Citysearch
This restaurant was packed! Communal seating, so don't expect privacy. There was a wait where we took a bottle of wine to the sidewalk, which was quieter for our wait.\r \r The olive oil for the bread was the most flavorful I have ever had. I took the recommendation of previous reviewers and got the dates - they were excellent - spicy! My absolute favorite was the roasted beet bruschetta. I never would've dreamt how well that would go with mint and goat cheese. Wonderful. \r
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Best food in town - creative, unbelievable taste, chic
Provided by Citysearch
Avec has the most innovative, tasty food in Chicago. It?s a great place to go with friends or on a date. The decor is incredibly understated, but trendy? much like the food.\r \r The wait for seats is well worth it, and with 2 other restaurants next door, it?s good to grab a drink while you wait. Once you?re seated, the down to earth servers come willing to help and recommend. Bread is served, which is some of the best restaurant bread I?ve ever had anywhere. It?s made in the wood burning oven that gives it significant flavor.\r \r We began with a cheese plate with a number of great options that all were perfect. The wine that was ordered also made for a great experience. The wine glasses are the stemless variety that seems a lot cooler while being used at Avec.\r \r When the 4 small courses that were ordered arrived throughout the evening, we were amazed that they just kept getting better. The bacon wrapped figs highlighted the evening.\r \r In the end, Avec has become our favorite trendy restaurant in Chicago and will probably stay that way for awhile, given they don?t change their approach.\r
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Creative, incredible flavors
Provided by Citysearch
This place was fantastic! My husband and I ate at the bar as the wait for a table was longer (Friday night). Didn't matter at all where we ate-the experience was wonderful. The stuffed dates with chorizo are packed with flavors, sweet but complex with spice. We loved the fresh fish entree. What made it better was the presentation-everything was perfect for sharing with that rustic piece of bread on the side. We will return. Fun and cozy for a date.
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Great food in the West Loop
Provided by Citysearch
Same owner as Blackbird (and next door), they use a lot of seasonal ingredients to create sometimes unique, sometimes creative, and sometimes just basic dishes with great flavors. Also a fantastic wine list by the glass including a bunch of Spanish, Portuguese, and other wines you don't normally see but all are very good. Downsides include the inability to get in (no reservations and almost always a wait) and the communal seating throughout the restaurant so it may not be a great date place. Go for the food and wine, you won't be disappointed.
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Great food, good portion sizes, but noisy and service can be very slow!
Provided by Citysearch
The food was very interesting with healthy choices of grains and ingredients. Unlike most people, I enjoy a restaurant with smaller more reasonable portion sizes. Portions are still easy to share between 3 people, but not more. I was there with two other people and found the acoustics almost unbearably loud. Conversation required some degree of yelling. As far as service, we ordered 5 dishes, the first two dishes came out very quickly, one was forgotten (""I didn't hear that order"" was the excuse), and the last two took over 40 minutes. We finally had to enquire as to where they were being cooked. \r The waitress was very apologetic and produced more bread, this time with dipping olive oil. (Not something they do as a routine).\r All said, it was still warm and cozy with excellent food, so be prepared to challenge the speed of you order and you will be satisfied.\r Finally, despite the recommendations to make reservations - they don't take any!!!\r
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A great introduction to Chicago!
Provided by Citysearch
My friend and I had a great experience at Avec Saturday night for our first meal in Chicago. We got there around 6:30 and there was no wait (although when we left, a considerable crowd had amassed). Our server was very knowledgable about the wine list; however, she had a hard time making menu recommendations (""it's all good!""). The chorizo-stuffed dates were by far the best item we tried and the crispy duck was also quite good. I highly recommend Avec.
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One of the Best in Chicago
Provided by Citysearch
This is easily one of the best restaurants in Chicago. The food is consistently excellent, with simple flavors thoughtfully put together in amazing ways. We've been going since we moved here, and have *never* had a bad meal. The waitstaff is extremely thoughtful, knowledgable and contributes woderfully to the overall experience. Can't say enough good things about avec. \r
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Wonderful wine list, lovely menu
Provided by Citysearch
avec has good service and is a very busy restaurant. It is ill advised to walk in with a group of 5 or more after 7 pm, you will most certainly wait, but this is how it is at most restaurants. avec is great! I do miss the salumi-
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Not worth waiting
Provided by Citysearch
I have never had such a bad experience with a restaurant before. We called in advance because we had a party of 8 and Avec does not take reservations. They told us that the wait would only be 10 minutes. When we arrived, there was only a party of 2 and party of 4 ahead of us. \r \r While we waited, a waiter came by to take our drink orders. He took one person's order and walked away. When he returned with the drink, he didn't even ask if anyone else wanted a drink. We waited for over an hour while many other parties arrived, were seated, ate and left. All the while, no one ever came back to take even a drink order. After waiting nearly an hour and a half, the hostess came by to say that our table would be ready in the next 10 minutes. When it finally opened up, she sat a different party of 8 that had arrive more than an hour after us. When we finally walked out in frustration, they couldn't believe we were leaving. \r \r The staff was extremely rude and pretentious. There is no way that the food could be worth the wait. I highly recommend avoiding this restaurant unless you are friends of the owners.
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busy but worth the wait
Provided by Citysearch
busy any night of the week - either go early or go late. The small plates are delightful, each possessing a different flavor. To top things off, the wine selection is wonderful. Even if you don't know anything about wine, you'll get a head start here. \r
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I wanted to like this place
Provided by Citysearch
I loved this place the first few times I was there. It was fun, the wait was never that long, and I really like the food and wine, but, in my opinion, it's really gone down hill. The hostess is just rude. How does she keep her job. Making people wait outside. And it took forever for a table to open. Service was friendly, but SLOW. It took about 15 minutes to get our first drinks. My wife and I will never go there again. Too bad, I first really like the place, but I can do without the attitude of the staff, and the ridiculously long waits for drinks, and a table.
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