Mariela
Mariela stands out for globally inspired seafood, from tom yum aguachile, king crab larb, and seafood arroz negro to standout scallop papadam and saag burrata; don’t skip the soft serve or opera cake. Its bright, airy, floor-to-ceiling-windowed dining room and warm service suit happy hour, date nights, and groups, though some diners report slow or incomplete entrées, pricey à la carte sides, and oyster-pricing confusion.
What 59 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“This is my second time coming here!! I came for happy hour and got the ceviche and the fried chicken. The flavors were so balanced, light, and bright. The ceviche had a slight sweet spice to it that was really nice and the chicken was nice and crispy. The cilantro cream also paired well the chicken. The desserts really wowed me too! The opera cake is like a firmer tiramisu and the soft serve was immaculate. It had this subtle tartness to it that was balanced by the honey like topping and the sea salt on top gave a nice texture. Not pictured is all the piri piri chicken I had the first time which was also delicious. Visually their food is always really colorful. Also we love Brayan the bartender he’s fun to talk to !”
“I went to Mariela with a larger, cross-generational group (8) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our waiter Edwin guided us through an epic meal, much of which was on the house simply because Edwin said we absolutely had to try it. Everything was good, but the highlights were the lighter seafood options and "breads" - tostadas, tlayudas, aguachile, ceviche - with the overall highlight being the seafood kebab taco. The seafood arroz negro (a paella, basically) was beautiful and tasty as well, and a great sharing option for the table. Edwin also did a great job weaving in options from the vegetarian menu to keep the one vegetarian at the table happy.”
“From the second we sat down, the service was on another level. Attentive without hovering, genuinely warm, the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. Above and beyond doesn't even cover it. We started with the Tom Yum Aguachile and the Bang Bang Island Mussels, and both set the tone for the whole meal. The aguachile is unreal, bright and citrusy with that lemongrass heat building slowly instead of hitting all at once. Completely different take on the dish and honestly better than most I've had. The mussels disappeared in minutes, sauce was that good, had to order bread just to chase the last of it. For mains we went with the seafood tower and the Poached Halibut. The tower was a highlight on its own, oysters, shrimp, scallops, and ceviche all impeccably fresh, beautifully presented, and they table side pour a sauce into these little puffed shells which was a great touch. Then the halibut showed up and somehow topped it, perfectly cooked, light but still satisfying, with a sauce that tied the whole plate together. Drink menu rounded it all out. Cocktails were well balanced, clearly built with the food in mind rather than just flashy. Mariele gets it right on every front. Already thinking about who I'm bringing next time.”
“Brandon provided excellent service and made the experience even more enjoyable. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and perfect for a relaxing meal. Everything from the service to the food exceeded expectations. Looking forward to coming back again soon!”
“Great experience at Mariela. We made a reservation the day before for a and had no problem getting a table for 3 people on a Friday night. The place was full but the service still felt personalized and attentive. The food was experimental but comforting/familiar enough. Recommend the Mezze Platter and a glass of a Nasiakos white.”
“Donyae was a stellar server. Super grateful for her guidance on ordering through this meal. She was extremely friendly and helpful for our large group. The latest project from chefs Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir behind Mirra. We couldn't get a reservation into Mirra, so the head of staff referred us here and we were blown away. This restaurant format is borderline tapas bar, and really thrives when you have a large group of people. Standouts included the Arroz Negro Paella, the Seafood Tacos, and the Tostada. The Paella is enough for 4 people to split with enough other dishes, and the sides are splittable easily at $14 and large. I loved the Mango Tres Leches, it was my favorite Tres Leches I've had yet. Super creamy with nice pops of the mango to cut through the fat. With tax and tip, it worked out to $40/head per person splitting 7 ways, not including drinks or desserts, which seemed reasonable for downtown Chicago. I hope to come back next time I'm in Chicago, and I would love an opportunity to try Mirra.”
“Had an amazing experience at Mariela!! Came here for a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. The ceviche is absolute perfection and I’m still thinking about the delicious milk cake! 10/10 highly recommend.”
“We had an incredible meal with 6 people and all the trimmings from cocktails to apps, entrees, wine, and desserts. I am strictly gluten free and Edwin and the chef completely took care of me. I asked for recommendations and got solid answers. And the suggestions were all fantastic! Not many restaurants cook halibut correctly - they usually overcook it - and this was hands down the best halibut I’ve ever had. It was poached in a delicious broth, and I added a side of coconut rice that was equally delicious. Amazing meal and beautiful property. Thank you for the great experience and memories!”
“Excellent food and service. Great location. Easy to find street metered parking.”
“The food was great! A lovely interplay of cuisines. We especially liked the scallop papadam. We also have a great experience chatting with the sommelier about a favorite varietal, and really savored the wine we ultimately selected.”
“Dinner at Mariela was a wonderful experience - we loved the ceviche, saag burratta, mackerel and seafood tacos. The desserts were incredible too. Defintely a must in downtown Chicago!”
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