Would you like some wine Avec your sopressata?

It's not often that restaurants in Chicago use their interiors to draw a crowd like, say, New York City. So when I saw a picture of Avec, the new wine bar and restaurant by a chef from next door neighbor Blackbird on West Randolph Street, I couldn't resist going just to experience the space.

Cedar strips line the walls, the ceiling, the floor, and even the front door, its continuity broken only by the storefront, the deep-set windows overlooking the alley and a stainless steel counter running from the front door back to the kitchen and a wall of wine bottles. Oak wood chairs and tables reiterate the warmth of the small, cozy interior.



Avec's focus is wine and small plates of Mediterranean-style tapas, the former chosen from a list of 150 bottles and available in 1/3 bottles instead of glasses, the latter specializing in homemade salamis and artisanal cheeses, among many other choices.

I definitely recommend Avec for its food and wine selection, though weeknights might be the best time to go for those averse to the noise and crowds of the weekends, a product of its popularity and small quarters.