This long-revered Mediterranean-influenced fixture from One Off Hospitality has held it down as one of the area’s go-to date night spots since opening its minimalist doors back in 2003, well before many of us could even define romance. And the hits just keep on coming—avec has been busy in recent years, adding a massive and gorgeously appointed new outpost in River North to the family, coupled with an incredible rooftop patio with all the fixings (come warmer months). Regardless of location, the natural-leaning wine list is still spectacular and the Chorizo-stuffed Medjool Dates are still iconic (not to mention addictive).How to book: Reserve via Tock ( West Loop, River North).

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.

I could have included many more, like Beautiful Rind, a lovely cheese and wine shop where you can pay a small corkage fee to open bottles with cheese and salumi; Easy Does It, an excellent natural wine bar with a modest menu; Bronzeville Winery, a thoughtful wine bar that celebrates its South Side neighborhood; Daisies, a fascinating restaurant with a small selection of Midwestern wines embedded in its list; and other places I loved, like Lula Cafe and Avec.

One of our favorite spots in the city also serves a killer brunch, complete with bottomless mimosas for $24. Enjoy signature avec dishes like the “deluxe” focaccia stuffed with taleggio and ricotta cheeses or satisfy your sweet tooth with French toast topped with ricotta and fruit compote. But no matter what, make sure to get an order of the chorizo-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates—they live up to the hype.

Head to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the warm, intimate space has seating for only 55 people, and the results are loud and lively, with shareable fare—a mix of small and large Mediterranean plates—that's reasonably priced.

$$ · Mediterranean Cuisine

If your favorite restaurant features Mediterranean-style small plates prepared in wood-fired ovens and served at long communal tables, you probably have the visionaries at Avec to thank. James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Kahan helped pioneer this ubiquitous style of American dining back in 2003, and his team continues to lead the pack 20 years later with inventive cuisine inspired by the wine regions of southern Europe. Chef de Cuisine Dylan Patel maintains signature dishes like the chorizo-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon and the luxurious salt cod brandade with grilled sourdough.

This famous restaurant opened back in 2003 and quickly made a name for itself as one of the most famous food places in Chicago. Thanks to its elegant yet approachable atmosphere and the invention of one of the best Chicago foods the Midwest had ever encountered, it’s constantly buzzing with crowds of famished customers, both regular visitors and first-timers. You’ll understand what all the hype is about when you try the plump Medjool dates at Avec Restaurant, which undergo the full hog treatment to become the iconic Chicago food they are.

Pita at Avec The delicate, wood-oven-baked pita rises so dramatically that heads turn and conversations stop, improbably, when it’s brought into the dining room. After I tasted the impossibly thin and tender puff recently, a communal table neighbor from Syria decided to order it as well. Chef Perry Hendrix serves the bread with silken hummus, intensely roasted carrots, pickled egg and chile almond sauce ($14), but a bread lover’s secret: You can order pita separately ($2) if you’re compelled.

Though it opened in 2003, the design of Avec—imagine dramatic ceiling-to-floor wood paneling—continues to win over even the most devoted design buffs. Looks aside, it’s the Mediterranean-inspired menu by Executive Chef and Partner Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Perry Hendrix that keeps the slick space perpetually packed. The chorizo-stuffed dates wrapped with bacon have been a bestseller since day one, along with the oven-roasted whole fish, whose preparation shifts with the seasons.

Perry Hendrix pours the braising liquid from a paprika-roasted pork shoulder over sofrito-sauced rice and bakes the smoky mix in a wood-fired oven until every grain crisps up like a miniature chicharrón. He then gilds his rice with, chicken confit, snail boudin, mussels, fennel, and a slightly acidic tangerine aïoli, laying on enough richness to rival the most extravagant of French cassoulets. The spellbinding results fuse Old World Spanish soul and American ingenuity ($24).

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.

The 21st century pandemic has caused too many restaurants to put up the padlocks, however, some have managed to successfully shift to delivery and take-out exclusively. One of note is the trailblazing Mediterranean restaurant, avec, offering take-out for the first time from classic small dishes such as bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and potato and salted cod brandade with garlic bread and chives to their bestselling "around the world" wine dinners...

615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661312-377-2002 Visit Website. Located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, avec Restaurant is a wine bar and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in a uniquely designed space with all wood floors, walls, and ceilings. Avec Restaurant’s chef Dylan Patel delivers rustic Mediterranean dishes using local Midwest ingredients to accompany the extensive wine list that inspired the restaurant’s founding 17 years ago.

Address: 615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661 | 141 W Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60654. Avec, located at 615 W Randolph St in Chicago, is a renowned restaurant celebrated for its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and vibrant atmosphere. Known for its communal dining experience and flavorful dishes, Avec offers a menu that features a range of small plates, charcuterie, and larger entrées, all crafted with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

If you ask Chicago chefs where they love to eat and drink wine, you’ll probably hear Avec pretty often. This West Loop neighborhood bistro from legendary restaurateur Paul Kahan does delicious Mediterranean shared plates and wines from small producers that are described as “hearty peasant wines.” All are high-quality table wines that are priced well and served without pretension. Where: 615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Avec is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant where you can find amazing shared plates with creative and well-crafted layers of flavor. Their most popular dish is the chorizo-stuffed dates, wrapped in bacon and served in a tomato sauce that you’ll be mopping up with the fresh bread it comes with. Every bite of the charred carrots and the roasted butcher’s steak had us marveling over a different ingredient in each dish.

Just a few blocks north of the Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, avec Restaurant offers a brunch on Sundays featuring a fusion of Mediterranean and Midwestern spices and foods. Menu highlights include wood-oven baked French toast with fresh ricotta, baked lavendar yogurt with fresh peaches and honey almond granola, and squash blossom pizza with smoked mozzarella and an egg.

At Avec, the cozier presentation of Midwestern cuisine takes on the flavorful undertones of Mediterranean-style cooking. Bringing the sunny southern coasts of Europe to the wind-swept streets of Chicago, Avec has every signature dish you’d expect from an upscale Mediterranean restaurant, including hummus, house-marinated olives, and a rotisserie chicken shawarma that will leave you in rapturous tears of joy.

I recommended Blackbird for lunch, where its prices are very similar to Frontera Grill - $15-17 for main entrees, $10-15 for light entrees; they also have a $22 3-course prix fixe menu. For a finer dining experience, that is cheap, beyond question. Avec is not open for lunch (and FWIW has not impressed me, neither for its food, nor its no-reservation policy and lengthy waits, nor its uncomfortable seating).

avec has made its name as one of the staples of the Chicago food scene, and it’s not hard to see how they’ve claimed the hearts of the population. Their menu features Midwestern takes on Mediterranean classics, and believe me when I say that the results are incredible. At brunch time, you can add bottomless orange or grapefruit mimosas to your meal for $24 per person, which is a bargain in my eyes!

Avec is a classic dining establishment in the West Loop and one of the best places to eat in Chicago. This Michelin star restaurant serving Mediterranean-style cuisine with small platters and serving sizes, it’s bound to make your taste buds happy. Locals make it a point to eat here AT LEAST once a year, and visitors, especially first-timers, should definitely not miss the chance to eat at Avec.

Since its inception in 2003, Paul Kahan's first casual restaurant, Avec, has been a darling among industry insiders. Midwestern adaptations of Mediterranean classics are elegantly highlighted in a modest, rail-road-style dining room with communal seating. Come for a full meal of small plates, or simply a snack and glass of wine before exploring the numerous other West Loop attractions.

🍽️ Mediterranean | $$$ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (312) 377-2002 (River North location) | Neighborhoods: River North, West Loop. Head to one of avec’s two locations in the West Loop and River North for modern Mediterranean cuisine and a great selection of wine and cocktails. The West Loop location is known for its extensive wine list accompanied by small plates and select meals.

Avec is a Chicago spot that offers Midwestern takes on Mediterranean-inspired cooking, reflecting the region’s four seasons. Originally conceived as a wine bar, it features a thoughtful selection of wines alongside a menu that evolves throughout the year. The restaurant’s simple, rustic style and welcoming atmosphere have made it a local favorite for two decades.

Head over to the West Loop for a taste of the Mediterranean!. Unique offerings like their famous Medjool Dates stuffed with chorizo and bacon as well as Corn Pizza fill the menu at avec. Share a few small plates with your group or get a main to yourself, but regardless of what you choose, it’s a perfect place to grab a few nibbles before a show.

In the whole of Chicago, Avec is one Chicago restaurant that never fails to deliver. The menu is changed and upgraded frequently, but the most popular dishes remain the classic Avec dishes. These include Taleggio flatbread, or dates wrapped in bacon and stuffed with Chorizo that makes for an interesting flavor and texture profile.

Address: 615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661Phone:+1 (312) 377-2002Details: $$$, Mediterranean restaurant. Avec is a Michelin-starred Mediterranean restaurant located in Chicago that offers inventive and delicious food. The menu is set up with tapas-style dishes, making it easy to sample interesting combinations of items.

To start, Avec Restaurant in West Loop is the spot for those of you who love architecturally beautiful interiors. This spot is incredibly unique as it is covered with wood panels in a minimalist setting. But not only is the interior amazing, but Avec offers up delicious “Mediterranean meats Midwest” food.

This long-time West Loop standout is known for its shared plates and intimate setting. The menu at avec pulls inspiration from Mediterranean and Midwest flavors, and the resulting dishes are crafted with local ingredients. Don’t miss the chorizo-stuffed dates or the “deluxe” focaccia with taleggio cheese.

The place where the Mediterranean meets the Midwest, Avec offers a colorful dinner, lunch, and brunch menu. A wine-focused restaurant that offers everything from Campanelle pasta with Morella sofrito to slow-roasted pork shoulder, Avec is the ideal food haven for those with adventurous taste buds.

If you’re looking for inspiration on where to eat within Chicago, look no further than the hit TV show “The Bear.” In season two, Sydney explores some great Chicago spots like Kasama, Avec, Lao Peng You, and Pizza Lobo. Watch the show, then go find out what it tastes like.

While primarily known as a restaurant, Avec's wine program is nothing short of exceptional. Their Mediterranean-inspired menu perfectly complements an extensive selection of Old World wines, making it a must-visit for food and wine lovers alike.

End your evening with dinner at Avec, an adorable, modern and warm spot where you can dine tapas-style. You absolutely must order the chorizo-stuffed dates. Holy moly, they are incredible!!!. You can thank me later.

Avec’s airy decor and Mediterranean cuisine transport patrons from River North to coastal Spain. Enjoy an espresso martini with your dish of choice: oven-fired pizza, pasta, or a cheese plate.

The Mediterranean stalwart has returned offering meals seven days a week. You can grab the classics, rotisserie dinners and family meals as well. Order from both locations online.

One Off is also responsible for The Publican and Violet Hour. These are also good date restaurants in Chicago. Be sure to plan the perfect outfit for your date.

- Rating: 4.3/5 (2517 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 615 West Randolph St. Chicago, Illinois - Categories: Mediterranean- Read more on Yelp