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Chicago’s riverwalk isn’t exactly hurting for good places to eat, but it’s about to get one of its biggest, boldest additions yet.
Coming this spring, pan-Mediterranean restaurant NAIA will take over nearly an entire river-level city block at 300 North LaSalle Street. At 12,000 square feet, the project is intended to be a full-scale destination, complete with 150 feet of river frontage, multiple dining zones and enough space to host up to 500 people at once.
The restaurant comes from DineAmic Hospitality, the group behind spots like Siena Tavern and Prime & Provisions, and will be led by Greek chef Athinagoras Kostakos, whose resume includes Mykonos hotspots like Scorpios. Here, Kostakos plans to cast a wide net across the Mediterranean, bringing in influences from Italy, Spain and France, along with Levantine staples from places like Lebanon and Turkey.
On the menu, expect to see seafood-heavy dishes, grilled meats, mezze, house-made pastas and flatbreads designed for sharing. There will also be a dedicated raw bar, plus a crudo and sushi counter (an unusual—but intentional—nod to the riverfront setting).
The space itself, however, may end up being the real draw. Diners will enter from street level and descend into a sprawling waterfront setup that will shift with the seasons. In the warmer months, the restaurant can open onto a breezy, sunlit terrace; when temperatures drop, heated pergolas and enclosed areas keep things going year-round. Inside, the coliseum-style dining room will face outward toward the river, making sure there’s not a bad seat in the house.
The restaurant’s layout splits it into distinct zones: there’s a main dining area with riverfront booths, a large central bar and a separate event space that can host everything from small dinners to full-scale parties. Altogether, the restaurant will seat around 400 guests between its indoor and outdoor areas.
“NAIA has been a vision in the works for nearly five years and we’re excited to finally bring it to life along the Chicago River,” said Luke Stoioff, co-founder of DineAmic Hospitality. “From the beginning, we set out to create more than a restaurant—a destination that blends river-centric design, culture and Mediterranean hospitality.”
NAIA will be open daily for everything from breakfast and brunch to late-night drinks, making it a true all-day anchor on the riverwalk—and, if all goes as planned, what it sure to be one of the city’s most in-demand reservations by summer.