Naia, a sprawling new restaurant spanning nearly a full block of the Chicago Riverwalk opened this week, with dramatic architectural elements including riverfront dining booths and “dock-and-dine” experiences as the 12,000 square-foot Greek-Levantine spot welcomes guests.
The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, from DineAmic Hospitality Group, officially opened for business Monday. It is located at 300 N. LaSalle Street, directly under Chicago Cut Steakhouse.
“Stretching nearly an entire city block along the Chicago River from LaSalle Street to Wells Street, Naia brings a 12,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor dining experience to downtown Chicago,” a release said.
In a previous release, DineAmic Hospitality co-founder Luke Stoioff said the restaurant has been in the works for five years.
The main restaurant, on the situated on the west side, will feature pergola-covered riverfront booths and a coliseum-style dining room that extends toward the water, “ensuring uninterrupted views of the Chicago River and skyline from every seat.” An indoor-outdoor event venue, situated on the east side of the property, will be available for gatherings with anywhere from 30 to 500 guests, the restaurant previously said.
The menu will feature southern and eastern Mediterranean cuisine under the culinary helm of world-renowned chef Athinagoras Kostakos, who won Top Chef Greece in 2010. It will encompass grilled meats, salads, pastas, seafood, flatbreads, shareable plates and a sushi program “designed for communal dining along the water.”
The restaurant has also partnered with Downtown Docks for a “true dock-and-dine experience,” which will allow diners to arrive by boat and dock steps away.
The restaurant’s name, NAIA, references ancient Greek river deities – a subtle salute to mythology.
Naia aims to be an “all-day, all-season anchor” of the Chicago Riverwalk, and is open daily for breakfast, brunch, lunch, happy hour and dinner. Reservations available exclusively on OpenTable and open only 14 days in advance, beginning at midnight.
