avec Restaurant

"When all else fails, go to Avec. The food at this West Loop Mediterranean small-plates place always makes us happy—particularly staple dishes like the bacon-stuffed, chorizo-wrapped dates, and the taleggio flatbread. The communal dining room feels like a wooden shoebox, so you’ll probably be sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers. But these strangers are having a wonderful meal, which means this crowded place is always enjoyable whether you’re here celebrating a birthday, or on a 76th date with the person you share a Netflix account with. It’s imperative to eat at Avec at least once a year to remind yourself how reliably outstanding it is." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"When you can’t make a decision about where to eat in Chicago’s most restaurant-y neighborhood, go to Avec. This 20-year-old Mediterranean small plates spot opened in the West Loop before Randolph became “Restaurant Row” and the food is always excellent. Being here feels like eating in a wooden shoebox, so only come if you don’t mind sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers. Or better yet, to eat bacon-stuffed, chorizo-wrapped dates and taleggio flatbread by yourself at the bar. We encourage everyone to eat at Avec every now and then, if only to remind yourself how reliably outstanding it is." - nick allen, john ringor, adrian kane

"A Chicago restaurant with wood-clad interiors, offering small plates like chorizo-stuffed dates and lamb-stuffed flatbreads with flavors from Spain and North Africa." - Ty Gaskins

"Avec is a popular restaurant in Chicago, known for its warm and inviting atmosphere. It has joined the Lactation Network's initiative, Room at the Table, to support breastfeeding in restaurants, making it a welcoming place for parents and their children." - Amy McCarthy

"When all else fails, Avec. You can never go wrong here, and we encourage you to eat at Avec every now and then to remind yourself how reliably outstanding it is. New menu items keep the romance alive and interesting, but it’s the staples like chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates and the taleggio flatbread that we’ll always come back for." - sam faye, adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen