Chicago Neighborhood: West Loop
Our second visit to West Loop (the first being our Au Cheval adventure)! Randolph Street is indeed replete with restaurants, and features a number of Bib Gourmand entries. I previously talked about how the neighborhood has been experiencing rapid gentrification, transforming the former warehouse district into a hub for restaurants, artists, technology, and young families.
On our way to the restaurant, we passed by a brightly lit building with huge glass windows, which we discovered to be the CTA headquarters. There was a beautifully crafted model train village displayed in the window, which I would have liked to take a longer look at if it weren't so painfully cold. To the side, a wall was painted to look like a CTA bus in order to demonstrate how to place your bike in the bike rack. Fun fact: Ventra supposedly took its name from the word "windy" in Latin, although the real Latin word is actually "ventosa." Good job, Ventra.
The Atmosphere
On the corner of Jefferson and Randolph, Avec is pretty easy to miss as its name is written subtly on a door that is not a door (the actual front door being located inside the lobby of an apartment building). Yes, we were the two idiots who were walking back and forth in front of Avec for a good five minutes trying to figure out how to get in until the hostess took pity on us.
Avec is small. The restaurant is simply one long corridor, a bar on the left and communal-style tables on the right. We chose to sit at the tables, and while many pooh-pooh the idea of communal tables and its lack of privacy, we found that there was plenty of space between us and the diners by our side. The walls and the tables were all a honey shade of hardwood, giving the minimalist space a clean, bright feeling. At the far end of the restaurant was an entire wall made of empty, green wine bottles, reflecting the chef's original intention of making Avec a wine bar. Very chic, but not stifling or pretentious. There were plenty of loud groups beside us, giving the restaurant a lively atmosphere. Seating is very limited and they don't take reservations, so plan to get there early or find somewhere to wait. We came at the senile hour of 5 pm on a Saturday night and just managed to beat out the dinner crowd.
The Food
We decided to stay within their small plates section, given it's what Avec is most known for and we wanted to try a variety of their food. The waiter recommended two small plates per person, but we actually found that three small plates and two desserts was the perfect amount of food for us. I'd also like to note that the food came out incredibly fast, the service was impeccable, and there was even a free coat check option so your big, poofy winter coats wouldn't take up any space.
The critically praised Chorizo Stuffed Medjool Dates, wrapped in bacon and served in a piquillo pepper-tomato sauce, immediately gave us an amazing first impression. The dates are gigantic, and their warm sweetness contrasted perfectly with the spicy chorizo. The bacon wasn't overwhelming at all, complementing the dish with a burst of salt. The plate came with crusty bread to dip in the flavorful tomato sauce. A real winner.
Next was the Burrata Cheese, with smoked persimmons, chicories, and walnut-anchovy vinaigrette. All the flavors worked so well together, with the acidic and slightly bitter chicories (also known as curly endives), the tender, sweet persimmons, and the salty, creamy cheese blending harmoniously in each bite.
Rounding out the trio were the Charred Sweet Potatoes, with pomegranate, cipollini onions, tahini, and mint. Again, the dish reflected thoughtful flavor combinations, as these simple ingredients combined created a sophisticated palate. Who knew that simply charring sweet potatoes could elevate the root vegetable to a higher level? The pomegranate seeds provided crunchy texture, and the tahini acted as a creamy sauce to bring everything together.
For dessert, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the Sticky Date Cake with walnuts, toasted coconut sorbet, and pomegranates is one of the most perfect desserts I've ever had at a restaurant. The cake was indulgent without being overly sweet, the sorbet was divine, and the acidity of the pomegranates provided sharp contrast. I took one bite, and could not put my spoon down until the whole plate was empty. I then proceeded to feel sad looking at my empty plate. Time for another dessert!
Although we were completely full, we couldn't resist ordering their Homemade Nutter Butters, mostly out of curiosity. I am so glad we did. Their version doesn't resemble the convenience store Nutter Butters at all. Instead, these small cookie morsels had a thick layer of delectable caramel sitting on top of a delicate peanut cookie with bits of crunchy toffee interspersed throughout. I will not rest until I divine the secrets of their recipe.
We decided to stay within their small plates section, given it's what Avec is most known for and we wanted to try a variety of their food. The waiter recommended two small plates per person, but we actually found that three small plates and two desserts was the perfect amount of food for us. I'd also like to note that the food came out incredibly fast, the service was impeccable, and there was even a free coat check option so your big, poofy winter coats wouldn't take up any space.
The critically praised Chorizo Stuffed Medjool Dates, wrapped in bacon and served in a piquillo pepper-tomato sauce, immediately gave us an amazing first impression. The dates are gigantic, and their warm sweetness contrasted perfectly with the spicy chorizo. The bacon wasn't overwhelming at all, complementing the dish with a burst of salt. The plate came with crusty bread to dip in the flavorful tomato sauce. A real winner.
Next was the Burrata Cheese, with smoked persimmons, chicories, and walnut-anchovy vinaigrette. All the flavors worked so well together, with the acidic and slightly bitter chicories (also known as curly endives), the tender, sweet persimmons, and the salty, creamy cheese blending harmoniously in each bite.
Rounding out the trio were the Charred Sweet Potatoes, with pomegranate, cipollini onions, tahini, and mint. Again, the dish reflected thoughtful flavor combinations, as these simple ingredients combined created a sophisticated palate. Who knew that simply charring sweet potatoes could elevate the root vegetable to a higher level? The pomegranate seeds provided crunchy texture, and the tahini acted as a creamy sauce to bring everything together.
For dessert, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the Sticky Date Cake with walnuts, toasted coconut sorbet, and pomegranates is one of the most perfect desserts I've ever had at a restaurant. The cake was indulgent without being overly sweet, the sorbet was divine, and the acidity of the pomegranates provided sharp contrast. I took one bite, and could not put my spoon down until the whole plate was empty. I then proceeded to feel sad looking at my empty plate. Time for another dessert!
Although we were completely full, we couldn't resist ordering their Homemade Nutter Butters, mostly out of curiosity. I am so glad we did. Their version doesn't resemble the convenience store Nutter Butters at all. Instead, these small cookie morsels had a thick layer of delectable caramel sitting on top of a delicate peanut cookie with bits of crunchy toffee interspersed throughout. I will not rest until I divine the secrets of their recipe.
The Price: $53
With such an elegant, mouthwatering menu, Avec definitely gives you bang for your buck. Creative, expertly prepared small plates make this our favorite restaurant so far.
The List
The List
The Angry CrabAramiA10Au ChevalAvec- Balena
- Beatrix
- BellyQ
- Belly Shack
- Bohemian House
- Carriage House
- Ceres' Table
- Chilam Balam
- County Barbeque
- Cumin
- The Dawson
- DeCOLORES
- Dove's Luncheonette
- The Duck Inn
- Fat Rice
- Frontera Grill
- Gilt Bar
- Girl and the Goat
- Green Zebra
- GT Fish and Oyster
- Han 202
- Herb
- Hopleaf
- Jaipur
- Jam
- Jin Thai Cuisine
- Kai Zan
- Lao Sze Chuan
- Luella's Southern Kitchen
- Lula Cafe
- Mana Food Bar
- Maude's Liquor Bar
- mfk.
- MingHin
- Mott Street
- Nana
- The Publican
- The Pump Room
- The Purple Pig
- Riccardo Trattoria
- Sabri Nihari
- Slurping Turtle
- Smoque
- Sol de Mexico
- Spacca Napoli
- Sushi Dokku
- Table, Donkey and Stick
- TAC Quick
- Two
- Untitled
- Via Lima
- Wood
- Yusho
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