"You love Avec in the West Loop, but know that the cramped, communal seating situation is going to make your mother-in-law complain the entire meal. So go to Avec River North instead. It’s much larger than the original Avec, isn’t shaped like a shoebox, and everyone gets their very own seat. Plus, it has a longer menu full of Avec classics (like the chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates and taleggio flatbread), along with a lot more small and large plates, pastas, and pizza." - adrian kane