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Photo Courtesy of: Avec

avec
Chicago, IL

615 W. RANDOLPH ST.
312-377-2002
WWW.AVECRESTAURANT.COM/

Featuring dining at communal tables, this long, narrow wine bar (from Blackbird's Paul Kahan) is among the most popular of Chicago restaurants with our reviewers. The food is a mix of French and New American small plates, like chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce; house-made boudin with braised pork and poblanos; and wood-fired flatbread with beets, olives, arugula and Manchego cheese. It "falls just short of the level of cuisine Kahan is serving at Blackbird" is how one reviewer praised the fare; however, the combination of a tiny space and large portions of "tasty but uncomplicated food" means a "horrendous wait" unless you get there early.