Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    NAIA

    3.8 (107 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    NAIA Photos

    Business Info

    NAIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - NAIA

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kiaya S.

    WOW!!!!!! I hosted a business dinner here and was thoroughly impressed!!! The atmosphere is incredible, it feels like Ibiza or Greece and is very fancy! Gorgeous inner decor and beautiful table settings! YAZ was our waitress and she was phenomenal!! So attentive and so quick with the drinks we downed! We ordered quite a lot and I would get everything again, except the pasta ( it was good just not necessary)! I attached a photo of everything we got and this is the way to do it! Some MUST orders below: Honey labneh Charred eggplant dip Lamb chops YELLOWTAIL CRUDO ( this was the dish of the night) Wagyu beef crispy rice Strawberry dessert They even brought out sparklers with our dessert which was the perfect end to a beautiful gorgeous delicious night! I am dying to come back to NAIA to repeat the above items and get some more delicious food! We went out afterwards and I left my leftovers at the bar and am still in mourning as I write this! SOOO GOOD! Sooo worth the hype!

    Denyce M.

    I had my reservations about coming to Naia based on the fact so many Tiktok folks were gushing over it, but Latrice A suggested we meet there to try their Happy Hour. I am just going to say that the one thing that made me happy was Seeing Latrice A. Overall experience was not one to make me come back for a second visit. Let me start out with the pros: aesthetically , the space is beautiful, inside and out. The booths on the river as well as the view from the bar is gorgeous. The pita bread was very good, nice and soft, but at a cost of $4 when you ask for an extra piece. The Spicy Feta was absolutely great and that red color was on point. The Crispy Potato Fritters were lovely with that french onion dip and sumac. Latrice A ordered both dishes and they were so good, I decided to get myself an order as well as an order of Saganaki. After the food, the rest was downhill for me. Service was not good at all. It took a while to get the bartender's attention to get a drink (Jessica and another gentleman). As we are on the clock for Happy Hour, I expected quicker service so patrons get get their money's worth but the service was not there. The removal of empty glasses and plates was not done until I asked for them to be removed. There was a busser behind the bar who was extremely helpful, so I tipped him well as he cleared out our space at the bar for us. There was a couple sitting next to me who were also talking about how slow the service was as well. They were there before I arrived, so not sure how long they had been sitting there. I placed an order for an additional Spicy Feta with extra pita, Crispy Potato Fritters and Saganaki. The Spicy Feta never showed up but an order of pita bread showed up as well as the potatoes and Saganaki. I discovered after the fact that I was charged $4 for the pita bread and was charged for a regular order of Saganaki at $17 instead of the Happy Hour price at $9. Latrice A ordered the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice for $5 and that was so small! I was going to order it but once I saw hers, I passed. I noticed that on the regular menu, this dish goes for $11 because you are getting two bites. Looking at the piece on the plate, definitely not good value for money. The only reason I could come back here would be for riverside seat, drinks and that Spicy Feta and Crispy Potatoes, but I am sure that would be enough to get me seat on the river.

    Bazaar Board
    Roxy H.

    Vibes Vibes Vibes Had dinner here last week. We arrived earlier than our reservation to enjoy the bar scene first. Decided to stay at the bar. Had a margarita and shared a bottle of wine. Munched on the delicious bazaar board that consisted of SPICY FETA , CHARRED EGGPLANT, BEET TZATZIKI and TRUFFLE HONEY LABNEH spreads, pita, crudité, pickled vegetables. SO DARN GOOD!! We were so full that we didn't try other dishes. Definitely coming back.

    Outside patio
    Bella A.

    It's all Greek to me!! Fabulous fun new spot on riverfront in Chicago. We came for lunch. Definitely wish we could have gotten a table on riverfront, but the inside is lovely and very vibey. We loved the spicy feta and hummus. Also tried the chicken shawarma which was solid for lunch. We were celebrating a birthday, and staff was so kind to celebrate with dessert with us. Cocktails were also so yummy! Highly recommend!

    Hummus
    Nerissa L.

    Finally made it to Naia over the weekend! Very beautiful place with great views. The host wasn't very friendly but our server was great! Now for the food, I tried the hummus, the roasted half chicken and the spicy crab linguine. The spicy crab linguine was so good! They have a nice cocktail list, and I tried the strawberry spritz. It was refreshing! Overall, a good spot on the riverwalk!

    Ananya M.

    Vibes are amazing and so is the service! I love the food here, the branzino is amazing! The spreads are great and so is the table side hummus! Idk if there's anything we had that wasn't a hit!! I also loved the Turkish dumplings! And their banana date cake is incredible!!

    Chicken Kebab
    Money F.

    This was a wonderful birthday dinner. The ambiance places you right into Greece. The food was delicious. Each dish was well seasoned and fresh! This is a place where you truly enjoy original food. The Bazaar Board, Skewers and Banana Date Cake is a must! Service from Mary was delightful. She had such high energy! Naia is perfect for any occasion. They also have private rooms for events. You can't beat the stunning views on the river

    Whole Brazino
    Danielle M.

    Naia was absolutely amazing--some of the best food I've had recently! Every course was delicious, flavorful, juicy, and beautifully prepared. We genuinely enjoyed everything from start to finish, including the cocktails, which were just as impressive. The service was excellent, the space was gorgeous, and sitting right along the river made the experience even better. We walked in for happy hour and got lucky enough to snag a riverside table! The atmosphere is sexy and perfect for date night, but my friend and I also had an amazing girls' night out. This place is a must-visit. We will absolutely be back--by any means necessary! Get there!

    Drink menu
    Nicolette V.

    If you're looking for Chicago's ultimate new riverfront spot, we just lunched at NAIA, and the vibes here are unmatched. First up, the stunning patio looks straight at Chicago River, complete with front-row seats to the water. We started with their ice-cold, crystal-clear martinis--perfect for a sunny afternoon. For the food, you have to order these incredible skewers topped with vibrant green herbs, followed by their legendary charred octopus with its perfect smoky finish, and a side of ultra-crispy potatoes. Wrapping it all up with premier boat-watching and gorgeous city views, this is officially my new favorite summer hangout!

    Lumina
    Jacqueline L.

    This was our second attempt at coming to NAIA. On our first attempt, we were called as we were on our way and told that there was an issue in the kitchen and they were shutting it down. We had to reschedule our reservation and were finally able to try it a couple of weeks later. This place gets really busy at the bar. However, there were multiple empty tables when we walked in even tho there weren't any available reservations. Seems like maybe they are trying to hype it up artificially. Started off with tuna crispy rice... or so we ordered. They brought out the spicy crab crispy rice. We pointed out immediately that it was not what we ordered. It took the waitress a while to come back and said that she "misheard us." No big deal as they were similar price and we had no allergies. We tried it and honestly it was not great. Would not order the crab. We also got the Yellowtail Crudo. It was okay. It was a little lacking in flavor. Just didn't hit the mark. For the last appetizer, we got the Tableside Hummus. I have had better hummus to be honest. The hummus base was just not what we expected for this restaurant. A little disappointed in that but the toppings and experience definitely saved it. Would order again with different expectations than what we came in with. For drinks, I ordered the Smoke on the Water If you like mezcal, you will like this! It is not actually spicy tho so if you order it thinking it will be, you'll be a little disappointed. But the flavor was good and I would order it again. We ordered the Swordfish and Greek rice to share as an entree. This was delicious. Minus one point because l think the fish could have used more seasoning. The rice was really good. Would recommend and order again. For dessert, we got the banana date cake. DELICIOUS. Better than the Trivoli Tavern date cake imo. It nothing else, would come back just for this. AMUST TRY. Overall, I would come back because of the feel of the place and the entree and dessert. The decor made it feel like a little escape imo. Drinks were good. Appetizers were disappointing. Service was mediocre.

    July 2026
    Allison T.

    Came with low expectations... located along the Chicago River, I thought possibly for overpriced food for mediocre food. However, it was a lot better than I expected. We were 5 minutes late to our reservation so I was running to get to the venue between the stairs and the entrance. We were welcomed with an Aperol Spritz bar and asked if we wanted to order one, but I was in a rush to walk in to the restaurant to walk in before losing my reservation (can you feel my stress?). Looking back, perhaps I should've ordered a drink and walk in casually-- but there's always a next time for that, right? It's one of the hardest reservation in Chicago since its opening. I expected it to be a full house, but there were many empty tables; venue is rather large and it's a far walk from one end to the other end. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was airy with the wind flow, the weather was perfect, and it was not too noisy inside. Many were having drinks in the bar area or dining in the patio. The vibes are exactly what you'd expect. The drinks we ordered were Espresso Martini, Nomia, Gold Fashioned, and Apricot Limoncello Spritz. Charred octopus was ok. We really enjoyed Crab Yiouvetsi- the orso and curry flavor was really tasty. We ordered a 2nd one. We ordered a spread and ordered extra pita (yum)! Natalie was super friendly, attentive, and helpful with our ordering. Would I go back? Absolutely!!

    Great ways to make paying easy
    Lisa P.

    Location! Location! Location! Love a restaurant on the Chicago River. Sitting outside allows you to experience some of the most breathtaking views the city has to offer. Once seated, happy to receive water right away as the stroll from Michigan Ave. had me a bit parched. I was not offered nor did I receive anything else for thirteen minutes. I had to grab the attention of the hostess as she walked past me. She did apologize and said someone would be right over. Another six minutes passed. My water was refilled. A very enthusiastic Richie appeared at my table and apologized for my server not being here. He asked if I needed a minute. As long as it took to get a reservation, I had already looked at the menu. As long as it took to get someone to my table, I better know exactly what to order. I did start with a cocktail; apricot lemoncello spritz. Very summery, very refreshing. I ordered the sliced wagyu. The chicken schnitzel is topped and sliced table side, it was delicious. The potatoes were amazing and banana date cake was decadent. I understand when restaurants first open there are kinks that need to be ironed out. Waiting as long as I did without any service is unacceptable. Of course, I'll return sometime in the future, I am interested in the table side hummus experience.

    Saganaki
    Mia M.

    We came here randomly for date night after walking down the river walk. They were booked for table service but we sat at the bar for cocktails. The bartender Caleb was so kind and noticed we were standing and gave us the heads up that the couple sitting in front of us was about to leave. We were able to snag seats rather quickly with his courtesy alert. He didn't have to do that but this place felt so much better with his kindness. Great selection of whiskey including Macallan. We were only popping in for just a drink but since the bartender was so nice we stayed for a quick appetizer, too. We have a booking for tomorrow so we didn't want to order too much and decided on just one drink and an appetizer. I had a gold fashioned which was perfection! It had the perfect hint of medjool date demerara and cardamom undertones. I don't even like regular old fashioned anymore after this one! We also had the Saganaki appetizer where they lit the fire the traditional way right at the bar and then cut the cheese up for us which was nice. It was delicious! Our bartender made sure we were comfortable even though the bar is first come first serve. Will see how the experience goes when I return for a full meal but great experience at the bar so far!

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Denyce M.
    1856
    853
    13230

    4 days ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 3

    5 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    30 days ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 3

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 37
    Thanks 11
    Love this 29
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Clara S.
    609
    1680
    2391

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natasha C.
    383
    31
    46

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Melly M.
    7
    118
    190

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Outstanding service, from the great to the seat, to the tab. Thank you for having us.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - NAIA

    You might also consider

    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    4.3(2k reviews)
    0.2 miNear North Side
    $$

    Some friends and I were in town for a birthday and decided we wanted to do the riverboat…read morearchitecture tour. Our friend group is split between two groups. The 1st that plans ahead and gets to places early. And the 2nd that is there for a good time but always gets everywhere late. Those of us that wanted to come early and not worry decided that we wanted to go to a restaurant close by to wait for our tour time and that's how we found Ema. As soon as we walk inside we see how beautiful and modern the interior looks. They had a lot of seating available and we got a nice table by the window with a view We wanted to eat light before the tour so we shared a bunch of small plates. We ordered the mushroom escargot, lemon Caesar, crispy potatoes, a couple orders of hummus and some chicken kebabs. That mushroom escargot was one of my favorite things I ate during the entire Chicago trip. The mushrooms were creamy and rich. It tasted umami, bright from the lemon, slightly spicy from the Calabrian breadcrumbs, and paired perfectly with some warm pita bread on the side. The hummus was smooth and well seasoned. The lemon caesar was fresh and fairly standard. The crispy potatoes were perfectly textured and were soft and pillowy on the inside. As long as they sat on the table they never lost their crisp. The chicken kebabs were tenderly, juicy and garlicky. We were all putting together our perfect bite combinations with the pita bread. Everything we ordered I would actually order again. Though may want to try a different salad next time since the Caesar was pretty simple. Regardless, still no real complaints with the food Our server was charismatic and funny. He had a great attitude and entertained us throughout the meal. Everything came out promptly as well so we made it out and could take our time walking to the riverboats. Lucky for our friends the tour said they'd be docked for a few minutes after our scheduled start time to set everything up. As 3 minutes after our start time we see group 2 sprinting up from a couple blocks away Overall Ema was consistent, flavorful and reliable. Not a bad price point either for what you get. I'd definitely recommend and come back

    You can't go wrong with $1 froyo. The line does get kind of long (it moves fast), and they do cut…read moreoff the line as it gets closer to 3:30ish. The froyo itself with no toppings is $1 then any additional topping is $2. They only have strawberry rhubarb and pistachio syrups as toppings though. The line moves fast and the inside is really cute to look at as you wait. If you time it just right, it's perfect as a Friday afternoon sweet treat!

    Photos
    Ema - Ema tables and bar

    Ema tables and bar

    Ema - Double chocolate.

    Double chocolate.

    Ema - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Al Bawadi Grill - Family Platter (serves 5-6 people)

    Al Bawadi Grill

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    13.7 mi
    $$

    I really liked this place. They have parking in front of the restaurant and back. I highly…read morerecommend a reservation on Friday-Sunday even if you are just one person. I called them because I wasn't sure if the online version would be too slow. We were a group of three that came in Saturday night at 7 pm. It was moderately busy. The staff were all welcoming with smiles on their faces and attentiveness. Prices were fair for the amount of food you receive. Food portions are colossal so I would recommend one appetizer and one entree if you are a couple. They give you a complimentary dish. We ordered arayes with meat, meat toshka, mixed grill with baba ghanouj, fillet of basa fried, and mint lemonade. They also offer you fresh Arabic coffee before you leave. This is about a 4.5-5. -arayes with meat 4 - this was not bad. It's like a tamer version of the meat toshka. -meat toshka 5 - I prefer this over the arayes because they add the Syrian cheese. This one was bursting with flavor the moment you took a bite out of it. The minced beef and lamb just melt in the mouth. -mixed grill 5 - this came with 3 big skewers (shish kabab, kufta kabab, and chicken tawook. It also has tomatoes and onions to help cut down the meat when digesting. There are two heaping portions of biryani and saffron rice and baba ghanouj. The baba ghanouj was creamy and flavorful. It goes well with the pita bread. The meats were cooked medium well unless you want something. I think next time I'll ask for the shish kababs to be cooked medium rare or medium for a more juicy taste. The chicken tawook and kufta were both succulent. -fillet of basa fried 5 - the two pieces of basa fillet were astronomical. It also comes with two different kinds of rice. The fish was flaky, moist, and seasoned. Make sure you add the lemon and eat it with the sauce. -mint lemonade 5 - this was very refreshing after eating a heavy meal.

    4.5/5 Food is good…read moreKababs are ok but still pretty good Fish is also good Bread is fresh Good eat in Great service

    Photos
    Al Bawadi Grill - 20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though

    20 minute wait for two. Food smells delicious though

    Al Bawadi Grill - Kenafah

    Kenafah

    Al Bawadi Grill - Lotus cake

    See all

    Lotus cake

    Avaspi - Babaganoush

    Avaspi

    4.8(110 reviews)
    3.9 miLakeview

    Firat, Avaspi manager, helped us plan a surprise birthday party for a friend, which included 10…read moreguests July 8, 2026. The table was beautifully set with red cloth napkins and small lanterns adding to the ambiance of the place. He welcomed adding our own decorations- paper placemats and a balloon bouquet. The area was set apart from the main dining area which made the experience more intimate. The food was served family style on platters, attractively presented and absolutely delicious! The individual printed menus at each setting described the wine choices, the first course Meze, the Main course choices , and 2 Desserts. Each course was tastier than the next! We chose: 1st course 2 platters of Mixed Meze, homemade bread, 2 Mushroom Tava, and 2 Calamari. 2nd course: 3 platters of "Mixed Plate for two" had Chicken kebab, Beef delight, Lamb Delight, Lamb Chops, Haydara, Ezme, Fries, and Rice. 2 Orange Salmon platters and Green Olive Salad. 3rd course: Baklava and Coconut Cake. The portions were more than enough for the 10 guests In order to try almost every food choice. Our server, Maine, timed each course very well. He also cleared European-style waiting until everyone was done eating. A pleasurable change as we weren't rushed! The water glasses and wine glasses were consistently filled. Though we had dined at Avaspi for both Happy Hour and Dinner, all 8 guests expressed how enjoyable the cuisine, wine selection, service and ambiance was throughout the evending. We all plan to return!

    An absolutely standout meal, each dish better than the next. The stuffed dates, however, were about…read moreas spectacular as anything I've had. A perfect place to go with a group to try as many different things as possible. And don't sleep on their happy hour, which makes the experience even better!

    Photos
    Avaspi - Avaspi bar

    Avaspi bar

    Avaspi - Bread

    Bread

    Avaspi - Cool bar

    See all

    Cool bar

    NAIA - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...