Restaurant

Avaspi

Name: Avaspi
Address: 1258 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657, US
Price range: $$$$

Avaspi is one of the best mediterranean restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

What Mehmet Duzgun is doing at Avaspi in Lakeview is genuinely specific in a way that Mediterranean restaurants in this city rarely are.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

What Mehmet Duzgun is doing at Avaspi in Lakeview is genuinely specific in a way that Mediterranean restaurants in this city rarely are. This isn't a broad Greek-Italian-Levantine mashup hedging its bets — it's Anatolian, rooted in Mardin, the ancient multicultural city in southeastern Turkey where Duzgun grew up. The name itself tells you something: Avaspi is Kurdish for "pure water," named after a river near Mardin, and the concept is built around the communal dining culture of that region, where different ethnic groups share dishes from a spread in the center of the table. Duzgun spent 25 years in the restaurant industry before moving to Chicago in 2010, and this place reads like someone who finally had enough standing to open exactly what they wanted. The room — black marble tables, velvet seating, dim lighting — is upscale without being stiff, which makes it work for both date nights and serious food conversations. The menu centers on small plates meant to be shared, and the anchors are genuinely distinctive. The Kutilk is the dish to know first: a Kurdish meat-filled dumpling built from Duzgun's mother's recipe, which is the kind of provenance that makes a dish either pressure or promise — here, diners consistently treat it as the latter. The Stuffed Eggplant arrives as long grilled strips rolled around haydari (a fresh herb yogurt) and homemade tomato sauce, a preparation that reflects the kitchen's Anatolian instincts. The Avaspi Tava — sautéed beef with red bell peppers — is the heartier option on a menu that otherwise leans toward vegetables and dips. Speaking of which: the haydari and muhammara (walnuts, red peppers, pomegranate molasses) are the dips the menu is built around, and ordering both to start is apparently the move regulars make without deliberating. Practically speaking: this is a sharing-plates format, so arrive hungry and in a group of three or four if you can — it's the format the kitchen is designed around. Order the Kutilk early; it's the most personal dish on the menu and tends to be the one diners reference first when recommending the place. Book ahead for weekend evenings — the room is chic but not sprawling, and Lakeview fills up. If you're going lighter, anchor the meal in the dips and the Stuffed Eggplant and let the Tava come in as a closing note.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

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wine bar cocktail date night

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Taste Score 8.7/10

Rating (Google) 9.8

429 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.7/10

Taste Score

Google 9.8 from 429 reviews

Best for

date night and wine bar

Price and pace

Splurge territory

Neighborhood

Chicago | 1258 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA

Price

Splurge territory

Taste Score

8.7/10

Address

Chicago | 1258 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Avaspi

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Menu and ordering

Avaspi menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Avaspi is listed in the Splurge territory price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Kutilk

Avaspi Tava

Stuffed Eggplant

Haydari

Muhammara

Why go

What makes Avaspi worth the move

Avaspi is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Kutilk and Avaspi Tava also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 429 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.8 from 429 Google reviews

Best for

date night and wine bar

Style

Mediterranean in Chicago

Spend

Splurge territory

Best for

wine bar cocktail date night

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.8 from 429 reviews

Popular dishes: Kutilk, Avaspi Tava, Stuffed Eggplant

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Avaspi

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Google snapshot

9.8 from 429 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Avaspi yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Directions

Address: 1258 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA
Price: $$$$
TastyPals score: 8.7/10
Google rating: 9.8 (429 reviews)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Chicago

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Avaspi serve?

Avaspi is a Mediterranean restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. What Mehmet Duzgun is doing at Avaspi in Lakeview is genuinely specific in a way that Mediterranean restaurants in this city rarely are.

What is Avaspi best for?

Avaspi is best for wine bar, cocktail, date night. Avaspi is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Kutilk and Avaspi Tava also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 429 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Avaspi?

Avaspi is in the Splurge territory price range ($$$$). Google rating: 9.8 from 429 reviews

What should I order at Avaspi?

Start with Kutilk, Avaspi Tava, Stuffed Eggplant and Haydari. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Avaspi worth visiting?

Avaspi holds a 9.8 Google rating from 429 reviews. Avaspi is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Kutilk and Avaspi Tava also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 429 Google reviews.

Where is Avaspi located?

Avaspi is located at 1258 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Avaspi good for a date night?

Yes — Avaspi is tagged for date night dining. Avaspi is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Kutilk and Avaspi Tava also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.8 rating across 429 Google reviews.

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