Gosh, I can’t even count the number of times I’ve enjoyed Avec in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago. It’s cozy, casual, fun, loud, and always delicious with a super interesting and diverse wine list. When people ask me where to eat in Chicago, Avec always makes it towards the top of my list, and now that they’ve been featured in the FX series, “The Bear,” they are more popular than ever. I visited most recently with a friend on October 12, 2023.

The vibe at Avec is cozy and convivial. Imagine you’re at a large, loving, frenetic family gathering where the wine flows freely, the food just keeps coming, and there are about 100 different conversations going on, and you’ll come close to how you feel while at Avec. The wood-paneled walls make this restaurant feel hip and cool on a summer evening, and ultra-cozy and warm in the winter. Tables are communal, and there’s a bunch of bar seating too.

Service here is always top-notch. The servers work hard, and are proud of their menu, always offering up the latest tidbits on new items, and never hesitating to recommend interesting wines on the very long list. They will pace out your order (which is mostly small plates, but there are definitely some amazing sharable larger plates as well) so that you always have food, and you’re never waiting. On this visit, there was a snafu with their deluxe focaccia (it tasted like an entire shaker of salt was dumped onto it!) and they were very kind and apologetic about it, bringing us a fresh one and even removing it from our bill.

The food here is consistently excellent, and they do change the menu with different seasonal items, but I tend to get the same things every time I come. Note that they do have a happy hour from Monday-Friday from 4-5:30pm, so I would definitely not hestitate to come by early and take advantage of that, which is what we did!

I always, always get the chorizo stuffed medjool dates. They are a staple here, and are to die for. The chorizo isn’t overwhelmingly spicy, and the bacon gives it a nice savory flavor. Do not skip this dish! It’s famous for a reason!

I almost always get the Salted Cod Brandade, too. Brandade is preserved cod, whipped up into a dip that is savory, salty, and has an umami flavor that is unique to this dish, and tough to create with fish. It’s served with giant hunks of garlic crostini, and if you’ve never had brandade in your life, you really need to come here and try it!

We also ordered Serrano ham with butternut squash, along with a cheese tray that has ever-rotating cheese options. Just ask the chef to put together whatever he wants with the accompaniments and you won’t be disappointed.

Finally we ordered the deluxe focaccia, which, as I mentioned, was initially brought out to us tasting of about a gallon of salt. I’ve had this dish also probably 75 times, so I knew something was up with it. The chef agreed and apologized and made one fresh for us immediately. No big deal, it was all handled extremely well. The deluxe focaccia is not like any focaccia you would normally think of. This looks more like a thin-crust pizza, and is sliced in half and filled with taleggio and ricotta cheese and topped with truffle oil and herbs. It’s truly unique and very delicious.

I love this restaurant, as do many Chicagoans. It’s the last restaurant standing on the block that it sits on, and is so understated, you might walk right by it. My advice is to slow down and walk on in for one of the most delicious meals you’ll have in this city.