avec River North

Review summary

1. b

   brigid VIP

   Chicago46 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Service was exceptional. Very good food. Short ribs are a standout as most reviewers agree. Espresso is also excellent. Wine program is very well done. Would have liked more fish/seafood options. Overall a terrific experience.
   

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2. C

   Clay VIP

   New York City17 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Awesome delicious food.. unique cocktails.. great service!
   

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3. J

   Joanne VIP

   Chicago21 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 26 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We have dined here several times before and will come back again. The room is beautiful, the service was excellent and the food is delicious with generous portions (even if ordering the small sizes). Please put falafel on the lunch menu :)
   

   avec River NorthResponded on 27 March 2025

   Hi Joanne, Thank you for your kind feedback regarding your recent dining experience with us! We are pleased to hear that you have enjoyed our beautiful ambiance, excellent service, and delicious food during your visits. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future and continuing to provide you with memorable dining experiences.
   

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4. K

   Kelly VIP

   Chicago23 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 26 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   I’ve been to Avec a few times now. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the service is good but a bit lax and inconsistent. Regardless, Avec’s in my regular rotation and I will be going back. Atmosphere is contemporary and comfortable. There’s a moderate amount of noise and you can feel energy in the room which is nice. And we still found it easy to hear each other and converse, which was also nice. We had 7 dishes on the menu. 6 were exceptional. 1 was good. Nothing was bad. The exceptional dishes were the: Medjool Dates - Chorizo, date, and bacon coming together in a sweet, spicy, savory mix reminding you of meatballs but much better Short-rib hummus - One of their most popular dishes for a reason. Short-rib has a bit of crunch on the outside and tender on the inside. Slow roasted pork shoulder - An innovative combination of complex flavors you don’t see in a typical pork shoulder dish Campanelle pasta - Pasta, mushrooms, and brussel sprouts merged in a thick sauce. It’s the best thing I’ve had there and possibly the best pasta I’ve had anywhere. Kuri Squash Pizza - Has the simplicity and lightness of a cheese pizza but with a subtle sweet undertone from the squash and peppers. Crust is wonderful. No flop. Focaccia - Simple and slightly cheesy with a distinct saltiness. The “good” dish was: The porter house - The porter house is big, cooked in plenty of peppercorn and garlic and comes with pita and a tasty cheese spread. The steak was good, but they undercooked it a bit and personally I don’t love the peppercorn.
   

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5. A

   Abhimanyu VIP

   Chicago1 review

   3.0

   Dined on 22 March 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   I mentioned that it was my third anniversary with my girlfriend, and they didn’t seem to care at all. I’m not asking for a free dessert or something super extravagant, however for a upscale pricey restaurant I expect better. We did not get a card, a wish, or any sort of mention of the celebration. Our waiter was a nice person but was completely uninterested in serving us throughout the night. Very cut and dry experience. With all this being said, I get that people have bad days at work and sometimes you forget things. However, I would hope that Avec would put a little more consideration towards their customers, especially on Saturday nights and special events. The food was excellent and the dessert was phenomenal. Unfortunately, the service can sometimes make or break a meal. It might come off as an ungrateful review, but if I am paying $300 for a meal for two people, I expect great service in return (or at least someone who cares)!!
   

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6. E

   Emily

   Cincinnati4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 22 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Service was excellent. Food was phenomenal. Cocktails hit and are incredibly thoughtful. The space is gorgeous. 10/10 can’t wait to go back!!!
   

   avec River NorthResponded on 26 March 2025

   Hi Emily, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with us. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the service, food, and cocktails—our team puts a lot of thought into every detail. We’re also glad you appreciated the ambiance of our space. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another amazing visit!
   

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7. D

   Deb

   Greater Boston2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 22 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We came to Avec on a recommendation and it did not disappoint. The ambiance was lovely, the service outstanding and the food was top notch! 10 out of 10. Don’t not miss this on your next visit to Chicago!
   

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   avec River NorthResponded on 26 March 2025

   Hi Deb, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience at Avec! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the lovely ambiance, outstanding service, and top-notch food. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re glad it lived up to your expectations. We hope to see you again on your next visit to Chicago!
   

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8. M

   Mayte VIP

   Memphis/West TN38 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 21 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Love this place! The flavors and aromas from this kitchen are very unique! A culinary experience!
   

   avec River NorthResponded on 26 March 2025

   Thanks for the review, Mayte! We're thrilled to hear that you loved your experience here and that you appreciate our unique flavors and aromas. It's always a pleasure to serve a culinary experience that goes beyond the usual. We look forward to serving you again soon!
   

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9. B

   Barbara

   Washington DC7 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 19 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Spectacular food! We loved every morsel. Our waiter Kyle also made the evening a wonderful event. We will be back every time we visit Chicago.
   

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   avec River NorthResponded on 26 March 2025

   Thanks for the review, Barbara! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your meal and our service. It's always a pleasure to provide a memorable dining experience for our guests. We're glad you plan to visit Chicago again and we look forward to serving you again soon!
   

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10. S

    Stephanie

    Chicago5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 18 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3

    Avec is always a great experience! Definitely get the focaccia, and the sweet potatoes are amazing.
    

    avec River NorthResponded on 23 March 2025

    Thanks for visiting us, Stephanie! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our sweet potatoes and focaccia. We always strive to provide our guests with great food and service, and it's wonderful to know we've hit the mark during your visit. We appreciate your feedback on the service and we'll continue to work on improving it. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
    

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