We have a new favorite spot! In our travels up and down the coast, we have discovered various eateries that are gems. Now we are adding Aqua to our list! The service is outstanding! Their team approach insures that your needs are satisfied quickly; your glass is never empty and your plates and table are cleared promptly after each course. A friendly welcome greets you when you walk in, and it's from whoever happens to see you first. Then the food is amazing. Lots of gluten free options are well-marked. We shared a few small plates. The salad was delicious, as were the duck wings, petite filet, and fresh catch. We almost ordered a second one! It was my partner's bday and she was treated to a comp creme brûlée, which was huge and mighty tasty! Prices are reasonable, especially considering the service and food quality. It's tucked away on a side street, but there seems to be plenty of nearby parking. The decor is eclectic, a little post-modern, and very cozy. A must try! read more

Jonathan our server was amazing, along with what I assume is the manager.. seriously they are nice to talk to and cuties as well.... we didn't have a reservation but got seated quickly (hubby and I) drinks were banging! The noodles small plate was not my favorite. Price is $$$ but so worth it! read more

Wonderful small plates that were perfect for our 4 to 5 small meal a day diet. Tasted delicious, looked great, served by friendly staff. Located in Beaufort, one of our favorite small coastal towns. read more

Everything we had from start to finish was FIVE star delicious. We ordered a little bit of everything...crab cakes...clams...petit filet...shrimp and grits and finished with dessert sampler. AMAZING. Wine list was phenomenal and cocktail menu was exceptional. Highly recommend the gold raider. Can't wait to go back. I can't believe two chefs can crank out that high quality of food for such a busy restaurant they on point. Well done! read more

Service was very good. Menu was well done and a good variety. Food was average and expensive for what we go.

My wife and I have been eating at Aqua for over 20 years and it's always been a favorite. Our favorite menu item was the unique Caesar salad with whole pieces of Romaine lettuce and the other items that come with a Caesar salad, but a year or two ago they changed it to an ordinary chopped Caesar salad that is nowhere as good. Other than that the food at Aqua is as wonderful as ever. I went there with family in early July to celebrate my birthday but was a little surprised they didn't offer any kind of birthday dessert, which was okay since we had already planned to have something special at home, but most restaurants do give a small dessert to the person celebrating a birthday. It was made clear when we arrived that we were celebrating my birthday. Also, I was irritated that we had a 6:30 pm dinner reservation and pulled into their parking lot at exactly 6:30, but it took a minute or two to get parked and get everyone out of the car since there were seven of us and some, including me, are senior citizens. My cell phone rang at 6:32 pm and it was Quinton calling from Aqua as we were walking on their walkway to enter the restaurant. He was calling to see if we still planned to be there. Most restaurants give their customers 10 to 15 minutes before calling, or cancelling, a reservation, but evidently not Aqua. Last, but not least, when we were given the credit card check to sign it included a "credit card usage fee" of close to $8. None of us recall seeing anything on the menu or being told ahead of time that there would be an additional fee for using a credit card. If they choose to add such a fee that's their choice but it should be made clear when you hand them a credit card, if not before. I used to give Aqua a 5 star rating. However, given these changes I think 4 1/2 stars would be more appropriate, but since Yelp only deals in whole stars, I've given Aqua 4 stars. read more

Delicious food and amazing service. Accommodated some difficult requests - the chef even came out & spoke to someone in my party with an unusual allergy. Lovely environment and a fully enjoyable experience! Ate way too much! read more

Great food, service and wine. Wine-O-Rama is always fun and my wife can't leave without buying 4 or 5 bottles.

Hands down the best food in town. Every other tuesday night they have a fantastic deal in wineorama night (4 glasses of wine for $12) in addition to having absolutely delicious food. The shrimp and grits is potentially the best I have ever had, while the duck wings were incredibly seasoned and so so so delicious. Any trip to beaufort without stopping at aqua is a wasted trip read more

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Great food as always I had the filet. Cooked perfectly. James and Sarah did a wonderful job of taking care of us. We never wanted for anything. Will definitely be back because they never fail us ! read more

Staff super friendly. Our server was very knowledgeable about dishes and drinks. When she was unsure about a wine, she had notes on it! Appreciated the attention to detail. The arugula salad was tasty, wonderful blend of melon, arugula, cheese. The Caesar was not traditional but better. The shrimp and grits were delicious, shrimp cooked just right, andouille had just the right amount of smoke, polenta was creamy. Grouper was the catch of the day, 2 in our party had it. Both agreed the flavor was good but the fish was actually very chewy. Bananas Foster to top it off! Our party shared and were very happy with the presentation and the yumminess. The only downside, Bloody Mary was forgettable, even after sending it back for some spice. read more

A gem in downtown Beaufort! Amazing cocktails and small plates! They always bring out a small tasting from the chef which elevates the meal that much more. read more

All excellent! First time very impressive. Certainly will come back. Even better if Less salty. Nice to have an option on the manual for low salt if possible. read more

Aqua is a hidden gem. This restaurant is attached to another restaurant and a small bar. My group was drinking at the bar and we met the manager Quentin. Quentin invited us to enjoy dinner at Aqua the following night and we made a reservation. Quentin had a great sell of the restaurant and he still under sold it. The food was superb. The service was fantastic. We had several appetizers and then the catch of the day which was red drum. We had duck wings, artichoke hearts, and blackened shrimp. Phenomenal. The red drum special was incredible. We also had a desert sampler that was incredible. Everyone at our table was speechless once we started trying the food. Quentin went out of the way to make sure we had a great experience. I come into the area once a year (most years) and I will be making a reservation to eat dinner here every time I am in town. Incredible experience and the best meal and dining experience I have ever had at a restaurant. read more

Excellent food. It may be one of the best restaurants on the coast food wise. The service was really great too. Can't wait to return.

Aqua was beyond fantastic! I went there for dinner with my mother and sister, although it would be a great date night location. The atmosphere is just really relaxed. I had a pomegranate martini, which was awesome. I had the taco duo - one taco had sushi grade tuna, and the other had pork belly. They were both out of this world. My sister had the caesar salad, which I tasted and it was also delicious. My mother had shrimp and grits, which was also really really good. The service was inviting and friendly. I cannot wait to go back! read more

Aqua Restaurant - Pomegranate martini - Seafood Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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Food was good, but the wait was quite tiring especially as we had a reservation to sit outside. I had the chicken and he had the shrimp pasta dish. Overall, service was good but a bit slow. read more

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Wow! From beginning to end, the service and food were on point! And the desserts! Get the sampler; you won't regret it!

Outstanding meal at Aqua. Well presented and prepared. The service was awesome. You should not miss this restaurant.

By far the best restaurant I've been to. And I live in Northern Virginia. Great good, great service.

Sweet little locals upscale restaurant. Small and large plate options. Fresh local seafood and ingredients. Great girls night out setting. An outstanding bar and dessert list. read more

We had to wait even though we had a reservation so a $40 bottle of wine was on the house! The food was phenomenal! I am from NY so I am particular about food and service! I cannot praise the staff and chefs enough! We will certainly be back every time we visit beautiful Beaufort NC! read more

Aqua is one of our favorite guest "go to'ss "!... staff provides excellent customer care, Chef delivers creative menus and the wine and bar selections are delightful. With dining options for inside or on the porch we can easily accommodate and customize for our guest preference We truly appreciate aqua restaurant from the hospitality and interaction of host, to servers and through the kitchen. Thanks for taking amazing care of our guests :) read more

We had reservations for the patio and it was cold so we asked to sit at bar. Best decision ever because our bartender Trisha was the highlight of our night! She took outstanding care of us and her food and wine recommendations were top notch. The food was amazing! Fried pimento cheese, shrimp and grits, duck wings, Caesar salad and petite filet. Everything was delicious. read more

We had good service with a friendly wait staff, and they have a great wine list. We sat inside, but the outdoor seating looked inviting. I wasn't impressed with my dinner. I ordered the vegetable spring roll which is served cold with a peanut sauce that was so spicy(hot), I could not eat it at all after one bite. My entree was the chicken which was average and dry, with a side of gnocchi, artichokes, mushrooms, and tomato's in a tomato pasta sauce, all mixed together(that's not the official description but the best I can remember). My husband ordered a small plate of pasta with shrimp and ham, intending to finish mine, but he didn't want it(which rarely happens). He said he enjoyed his and was a large amount for a small plate. We didn't try dessert. Fortunately, Beaufort has several nice restaurants now so I don't think I'll be back to this one anytime soon except for wine at the bar. read more

When you're looking to try many of the best dishes Beaufort cuisine has to offer try Aqua! Tr tapas selection is amazingly good and unique- each plate is perfect to share with a friend- and the regular plates are sized appropriately Price is reasonable Atmosphere is casual to dressy and the staff is THE best. They have a great wine and beer selection and an intimate bar area as well as outdoor dining. read more

Aqua Restaurant - Seared tuna - Seafood Near Me - Beaufort, North Carolina

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funny thing to say about a upscale restaurant but it's a great value. for the level of service, food, bar selection and atmosphere I had expected the bill to be higher. best dinner I've had in a long time. read more

We had a great meal here! The inside is small and nicely decorated. Our service was attentive and professional but not stuffy. Great selection of house drinks which were tasty and beautiful. We had mussels, artichokes, fresh catch and crab cakes. Chocolate mouse for desert. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend this place. read more

Would give this place 10 stars if I could. I dined at AQUA with my friends last week and accidentally left my credit card on the table. I live out of town, so I called hoping they'd still have it, and Quentin personally responded to me and helped me get the card back. He went way out of his way to get it back to me, and I'm so thankful for his kindness. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

We just had a wonderful evening and a culinary experience at Aqua Restaurant in Beaufort. It's a small establishment with a postage stamp sized kitchen that puts out food with a big taste. Sarah, our server, was just delightful. She was knowledgeable about the food and the restaurant. Her service throughout the evening was friendly and Sarah went straight to the kitchen to get answers to our questions about ingredients. When we asked for dish recommendations, she was spot on. She brought us water to the table sans lemon like she knew that's the way we always order. Next she brought out two phyllo cup palate cleansers along with a basket of warm rolls. I can't remember exactly what was in the little bite but it was tasty and did the trick. The bread was soft and warm accompanied by the usual olive oil and balsamic vinegar blend. We both had the spinach salad which is amazing and gluten free to boot! It consisted of fresh spinach with shitake mushrooms, cranberries, granny smith apples, Gorgonzola cheese and edible orchids. You have a choice of warm bacon-dijon vinaigrette or poppy seed vinaigrette. We both choose the bacon-Dijon and it was delicious. My husband ordered the catch of the day which was Sea Bass over creamy 3 cheese polenta with asparagus, cremini mushrooms and a delicious sauce. He loved the dish and gave me just enough of a bite to write this review. This won't be on the menu unless you go in the next few days but it was delicious. I had the cast iron seared crab cake which was made with lump blue crab on a sweet corn cous cous risotto with broccolini, parmesan, mozzarella and and roasted red pepper coulis! This was considered a small plate with just one crab cake but is quite enough with a salad or soup starter. Check it out if you're visiting the Atlantic beach area in NC, read more

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I only leave reviews for exceptionally good or horrificly bad experiences. Everything else, I usually let go without mention. With that being said, Aqua deserves to be praised for their bananas foster alone. I could take a bath in the sauce. I ordered the crème brûlée on a previous visit, and when they say huge, understand it is the size of a football. But back to the bananas foster. I'm tempted to sell my home and live in a tent, so I can eat it for three square a day. That dessert is a felony. I also feel the need to mention the waiter from my last visit saved me from unknowingly ordering a non-alcoholic beer. Make that man a manager. read more

Aqua is one of my favorite restaurants in Beaufort. The wine selection and eclectic menu are unparalleled. My family and I always try to stop in when we visit Atlantic Beach and grab a glass of wine and an app! Aqua's "Wine-o-Rama" is an awesome event they host weekly, where they bring in different vineyards to talk about their wine and have great wine pairings and tastings. Definitely recommened stopping by Aqua if you are in Beaufort or even just in the AB area. read more

One of 2 great restaurants in Bfort, the other being Blue Moon. Aqua is my fav though. The menu is seasonal so call to confirm what you see in the website including hours of operation. Everything we had was great except the oyster (tapas). Go with the Scallop with Gouda. That was so rich for only $2 more. Here's what my girl & I shared & recommend (they just switched to the fall menu & it isn't online yet so I can't remember all the things included with the dishes): Tapas- Scallop Small plate- Caprese salad Tuna tacos Duck breast with butternut squash purée, green beans, almond slivers & cranberries Mussels, crawfish & chorizo with black linguini & tomatoes Dessert- Creme bruelle The only thing I would do differently is get 2 of the scallops. Enjoy! read more

Had a great dinner at Aqua last night. Food was fantastic and Natalie our server was great. Highly recommend sitting on the screen porch. Get the burger sliders! read more

We had heard great things about Aqua, but none matched the exquisite meal we enjoyed here. From the artichoke bite (compliments of the chef) to the tomato tart tapas to the small plates of crab cake and special trigger fish - every bite was scrumptious. Then finished off with crime brûlée's!!! Yum!!! We'll definitely be back!!! Deliccious!!! read more

Great food. great service. great vibe. if youre looking for a place to chill with awesome food and drink, Aqua is it. Bartender is the shizz. He always remembera his regs. Had a drink bef I even said anything. Outstanding! read more

Yelp normally does not steer us wrong, but this was a three star experience. We did the wine o rama tasting, which was fun, but rather poorly explained. You get a quarter glass of four wines throughout your meal. All were fine. Strangely spaced--we had to ask for the next one twice--and each was poured into the same glass! Not a deal breaker, but kinda funny for a wine tasting. The food. The amuse bouche was delicious! ( though the waitress felt the need to explain what amuse bouche was.) Started Started with the duck wings. We love duck, but you couldn't taste it because of the extremely sweet sauce. The jalapeño popper was fine. Nothing special. Ordered the grouper and the tuna as our next courses. The quality of the fish was exceptional! The preparation was fine. I think they could have really done more with the accompaniments. Waitstaff was enthusiastic. Maybe just an off night. read more

Awesome. Everyone was well masked and asked guests to be as well. Food was amazing and well plated. Can't say enough about this place. #1 for the area hands down. read more

called on a whim after last minute stop in beaufort. host accomodated us although they were fully booked. the tapas were inventive and deliciously prepared. fresh seared tuna was moist and delicious. attentive staff - great dining experience read more

Amazing! Wanted to try this restaurant due to the fabulous food reviews. At first I was disappointed I couldn't try the pork belly and tuna tacos since that was on last year's menu, but the host reassured me how good this season's menu is, and won me over with his fantastic recommendations. He really knows the menu and was super friendly. Loved the watermelon mojito. Hands down best mojito I ever had! The noodle bowl with shrimp, scallops, sashimi tuna had delicious Thai flavors and was a nice portion to share. Also loved the grouper that was prepared perfectly and so tasty. For dessert had the bananas foster and creme brûlée which was outstanding. All the staff here from Julie, our waitress, the host, food runners, to the bread girl were super classy, aim to please the customer and really hustled. Definitely the best restaurant in Beaufort! (I liked it better than City Kitchen). Can't wait to dine at Aqua again. read more