avec River North
avec River North — established mediterranean in River North with a loyal following. It gets busy, and that's part of the appeal. If you drink, start at the bar. "The shakshuka is seasoned perfectly, as well as the papas bravas" — Rheanna A [$$, patio]
What 941 diners keep saying
What 941 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“This was our first time at Avec after being recommended this place all the way in Tennessee! Our server, Juan, made our experience so special. He was so knowledgeable and kind and we had a great chat about natural wines! After being sent out the dark chocolate basque cheesecake for our anniversary, we are nearly waddling back home with happy hearts and a new favorite spot under our belts! Thank you!!!”

“Avec River North was one of the highlights of my trip. The food was creative, fresh, and packed with flavor, and every dish we ordered was excellent. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere struck the perfect balance between upscale and relaxed. If you’re visiting Chicago or looking for a great meal, this place is absolutely worth it. I’ll definitely be back the next time I’m in town.”

“Great food with hopeful presentation. Every plate was free and the service was exceptional.”

“Very good! Loved the chorizo stuffed dates. Wild rice bowl was very good too. Excellent coffee.”

“Went for happy hour + dinner, the food was great, service was great, and drinks were solid.”

“We hosted a group dinner at avec River North in their cozy private dining room and had such a great experience. Heather was incredible to work with — she made the planning process feel completely seamless, even despite all of last-minute changes on our end. The team took amazing care of us from start to finish, and everything ran so smoothly. Our group (a pretty picky crowd!) raved about how good the food was, and the short rib hummus was a huge hit. Thank you to the on-site servers were fantastic and kept everything running so effortlessly for us all night. We’ll absolutely be back!”

“We had come here for a date night dinner. Our host Kyle was extremely nice. Atmosphere was amazing. Sunday night it was bustling and live place. Ricotta stuffed ravioli was full of flavor, freshness of pea tendrils added to the experience and texture. The horseradish was just enough to enhance the taste. Pork shoulder was excellent. The yogurt sauce. The whole dish was very well balanced. Good dish for sharing. Dark chocolate cheesecake was creamy and smooth. The tartness of the cherries and sauce made it more enjoyable. The toasted sesame seeds elevated the experience.”

“Amazing delicious food in a beautiful space! I have been to avec for brunch and dinner now and the food is always served hot,fresh, full of bold Mediterranean flavors”

“This place is as good as it gets! The food is all super interesting and thoughtful and the wine and cocktail list are awesome. The best place for a date, celebratory dinner or anything else. Just loved it!”

“Went to Avec in River North and had an amazing experience. Tim, our bartender and server, was friendly and well versed in the menu. He was also helpful in finding Restaurant Week menu alternatives since I don't eat pork or beef. We ordered a bottle of the red wine and cheese of the week. Everything on the menu was fresh, flavorful and curated to perfection.”
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See the ranking →In the same lane · Mediterranean, mid-range
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