Chef Zubair Mohajir is steering a new seafood-forward spot called Mariela into downtown Chicago’s Loop, taking over the former Atwood space at 1 W. Washington Street. The team expects to start serving this spring, with Mohajir joined by restaurateur Rishi Kumar and beverage partner David Mor.
According to What Now Chicago, Mariela is slated to open on April 22 at the base of the Staypineapple hotel, sharing a block with a Nordstrom Rack and sitting next to the Washington Hall food hall. The outlet also reports that Mohajir is planning sister projects, including a Lincoln Park concept called Muhajir and a speakeasy named BoBo, and that the restaurant currently has no official social accounts.
Mohajir has built his profile with Indian- and South Asian-influenced concepts such as Lilac Tiger and Coach House, and he recently co-opened Mirra in Bucktown with Kumar. Eater Chicago covered Mirra’s debut and menu, and Block Club Chicago has chronicled his Bucktown bakery and pop-up projects that have expanded his footprint around the city.
Mohajir and Kumar earned a boost in profile this year as James Beard Award semifinalists, recognition that has accompanied several new openings. CBS Chicago listed the chefs among the 2026 semifinalists, and Mohajir told What Now Chicago that “you got to do it while you’re young,” explaining his push to open multiple concepts.
What Mariela Will Serve
Mariela is described as a “very coastal” concept with seafood dishes and a blend of Southeast Asian and European influences. That direction lines up with Mohajir’s recent menus, which have leaned on seafood and cross-cultural flavor pairings, suggesting an emphasis on seasonal small plates and shareable preparations; Eater Chicago documented that approach at Mirra.
Mariela's Place In The Loop
The Reliance Building at 1 W. Washington, long home to the Staypineapple hotel and the Atwood Cafe, gives Mariela a high-visibility corner on State Street and easy access to office and tourist traffic. As Wikipedia notes, the building has housed ground-floor restaurants for years, and the nearby Washington Hall food hall continues to add vendors on the same block. Washington Hall’s vendor list reflects a growing mix of local concepts that reinforce the Loop’s food options.
For now, Mariela’s social pages remain dark, and the partners say more details, including menus and reservation info, will be released in the coming weeks. The opening marks another step in Mohajir’s rapid expansion and gives downtown diners an explicit seafood-forward option to watch for this spring.
