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Aquagrill
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
210 Spring St(between Sullivan St & Avenue Of The Americas)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: South Village
(212) 274-0505
- Nearest Transit:
-
Spring St (A, C, E)
Canal St (1, 2)
Houston St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
From the moment you step through our doors you feel you've been transported to a Villa in Greece. You are surrounded by an authentic, cozy Mediterranean… read more »
499 reviews for Aquagrill
Review Highlights
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"I had the Truffle Crusted Bay Cod and Octopus Salad." In 20 reviews -
"If you're a raw bar fan, this place is great." In 26 reviews -
"Aqua Grill is my favorite seafood place in the city." In 17 reviews
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499 reviews in English
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Review from Kristine L.
Bronx, NY
5/22/2012
loved everything!
the seating was really crowded but the delicious food would outweigh any annoyance
would deeefinately go again!!
service was good.. super friendly -
Review from Melissa B.
Manhattan, NY
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazing!!
Everything about Aquagrill is perfect! The super informed staff, extensive fresh seafood selection, dainty champagne glasses and vibrant crowd- you can't go wrong here.
I ate here with one other person, and we split the raw seafood tower, soft shell crab and tuna tartare. Everything was excellent. The seafood tower was my favorite, and I loved how they put a pic in the ice which read the oyster types so you don't lose track of what you ordered.
Perfect restaurant, you go here, and you can't go wrong. -
Review from Thao N.
Manhattan, NY
5/6/2012
My boyfriend and I went here for brunch today. He ordered the blueberry pancakes, which they were nice enough to sub fruit for the sausage (he's a vegetarian), which was nice. I ordered the grilled tuna sandwich with mixed greens - that was amazing. Really, really delicious.
So the bad: Our waiter seemed pushy on appetizers, drinks, the more expensive entrees and dessert. We just wanted a quick brunch, but he seemed to be annoyed that we weren't ordering more.
Additionally, the party next to us, who ordered more food than we did, received a much more impressive bread basket than we did. This might have been an accident, and I really didn't care that much, just thought it was kind of odd and slightly offensive.
There are enough restaurants I've been wanting to try that I probably won't be back. But I am glad I tried it, that sandwich was delicious. -
Review from Rich R.
Roslyn, NY
5/23/2012
Attention YELP! You need to create a new 6-star category: EXTRAORDINARY! ONE OF THE BEST in the City!
Aquagrill is one of those great restaurants that make NYC the food capital of the world! Beautiful atmosphere: classic appearance, formal but not at all stuffy. Impeccable service from knowledgeable and truly delightful staff. Our waitress - Emily - set the gold standard! We were treated like royalty - but not overbearing.
And, the food was wonderful: appetizers, main course, delectable dessert.
We can't wait to go back! -
Review from Tiffany H.
Trenton, NJ
4/7/2012
Ok, so my review is strictly a- "went there for cocktails and oysters" review.
The bar area was packed, and the waiter had to go downstairs to retreive a new bottle of Glenfiddich 12 yr for my friend's drink....so we started out with a bit of downtime....but then came the giant, clockwise labeled, ice packed, mouth watering planet of oysters- complete with typed up list and verbal instructions on the best way to approach them without losing track of which was which. They could not have been fresher, plumper, or more delicious if they tried.
We swallowed them all...along with several cocktails, and it was the absolute perfect start to a night on the town.
TWO THUMBS UP! -
Review from Jeong K.
Butler, NJ
4/1/2012
Came here for dinner....your review searching may stop here..
A good handful of oysters to choose from with a pleasant varieties of dishes to dig into, I do recommend this place highly.
Had the sea bass, tartare, lobster salad, halibut special and oysters and everything came out perfect. Waiting staffs were attentive, friendly and helpful.
Do not pass this place up bc my ratings don't lie! -
Review from Steve K.
New York, NY
4/22/2012
I ate here last night with my wife to celebrate my recent birthday.
This is a top notch seafood place. We had a great meal. We split an appetizer of tuna tartare. Oftentimes tartare appetizers are microscopic. This appetizer was surprisingly big and it was excellent. For entrees my wife had cod in a mushroom gravy. I had yellow-fin tuna in a ginger/peanut sauce. Both entrees were terrific and the portions were also ample.
Our waiter was very nice and helpful when describing the various dishes.
A couple of minor drawbacks, however. We had a lot of trouble getting bread. It took a while to flag down the guy putting bread on the tables and he never came back again to replenish our bread.
Also, this is a big restaurant and it was packed. Strangely, there was one restroom for men and one for women and each could only accommodate one person at a time. We both wasted a lot of time waiting on line to use the facilities.
However, food was great and portions were huge. The prices were reasonable considering the quality of the food. Aquagrill is recommended! -
Review from David C.
New York, NY
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Took my girl here on a date recently. It was a Thursday night, but it was so packed even THE BAR had its own waiting list. We chose the bar, since we specifically visited for the oysters which are displayed at the bar on ice. The wait ended up being a non-factor; the service is very efficient and we didn't kill more than 10 minutes.
I feel the need to mention that I am NOT a seafood fanatic, but my significant other introduced me to oysters a year ago, and I've been hooked since. The ambiance is lively and upscale, with a pleasant and attentive staff. The oysters are killer (try the Alaskans), the wine list is concise but sufficient, and the service is top-notch!
Be prepared to drop at least a bill, you're having seafood in Soho after all. I'll definitely be back. -
Review from LV P.
San Fernando, CA
4/1/2012
4.5 stars.
Scallops were awesome
Kumamoto oysters: small but tasty
-.5 star bc the chocolate cake was tiny for $11
Cod fish was awesome- well cooked -
Review from Lissa V.
3/19/2012
A real gem. If you want seafood and you're in or near Soho head to Aquagrill.
I can't believe I've never reviewed this spot. It's one of my favorite go-tos for good seafood. Perfect for a celebration, date, or low key catching up with friends over a glass of wine and oysters at the raw bar.
Immediately, when you walk through the door the place feels inviting. The vibe is classy but festive. The service is excellent. Food wise I recommend the miso glazed chilean sea bass, the scallops with crab meat risotto, or the truffle crusted bay cod. Although I really don't think you can go wrong with any choice on the menu. -
Review from MichLee A.
New York, NY
5/9/2012
What a great dining experience, from start to finish (with one blip along the way that was more than compensated for)!
We started off with some delicious bread that's made in-house: cornbread with jalapeno, focaccia with kosher salt and onion, and a basic baguette slice. All delicious and fresh; served with some plain EVOO.
We enjoyed an aperetif (one of our dining partners insisted), a French "kir," and then moved on to broccoli soup with poached shrimp and chives and a sampler of oysters. I wasn't absolutely crazy about the soup; it was fairly salty (and I like salt), and I would have enjoyed a bit more texture. However, the oysters were like an out of body experience for my dining partner! Definitely the thing to try.
Wine was a 2009 Oregon Pinot Noir; a bit smoky-tasting. I liked it; dining partner wasn't so crazy for it.
We then enjoyed entrees: horseradish crusted sea bass with warm new potato salad with shrimp and asparagus, Carolina cobia with crab spring rolls, and the boillabaise. Three of the entree came out lukewarm, so we returned them and received hotter plates (unclear -- microwave?). The cobia wasn't nearly as fabulous as the waitress touted it to be (dry-ish). Regardless, the restaurant was kind enough to supply us with some complimentary desserts: strawberry rhubarb pie with creme fresh gelato and ricotta gelato with berries soaked in some kind of flowery liquor. Delicious...but it didn't end there! We also received a lovely plate of petits fours (biscotti, cookies, dark chocolate).
All in all, great food, great service, and great ambience! Try to get a table out on the outdoor patio, although 6th Ave can be a bit noisy. -
Review from Queens k.
Flushing, NY
5/19/2012
Ended up here unexpectedly for a friends event.My debit card hasn't been used in a year but 2 days after it was used here, $1000 worth of bogus charges appeared. crooked staff employed here...beware and pay cash if possible.
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Review from Jeff F.
3/25/2012
Rolled into Aquagrill a few weeks back and was glad I did. The oyster menu is probably unrivaled and it kills me to say that about any NYC restaurant since Neptune Oyster in Boston has a special place in my bivalve heart.
I'd pass on the Tuna Carpaccio and Crab Cakes, but the Tuna Tartare and Lobster Salad were exceptional.
I would definitely come back again cocktails, oysters & apps. -
Review from Chung T.
2/24/2012 6 photos
The Holiday of all holidays (get my sarcasm) that is valentines landed me at aquagrill. I had to pony up my savings to make it happen, but at last was worth every hard saved pennies. The meal wasn't magical or anything. Come on, this ain't a fairy tale, but this is easily one of my best dining experience.
To start, I was subject to a pre-fix menu for this occasion. Valentines brings out the Grinch in people and I bet all the restaurants see are dollar signs. As I said, it's an annual event, so I pulled the trigger. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the host who sat us promptly. The place was pretty pack even w/ the inflated price, so the economy must be doing great or their food must be amazing. After we were seated, we were given amuse-bouche compliments of the chef. That was a nice little touch to start.
This was a 4 course pre-fix meal and we had the lobster bisque to start along with a warm shrimp cocktail. The lobster bisque is quite possibly the best soup I've had. It's so light and delicate, yet warms my tummy up like bisque should. It had chunks of lobster adding to the touch.
Our second course was a lobster salad and sashimi sampler. The lobster salad had no greens. Just a freaking lots of lobster meat. Amazing. The sashimi sampler had 3 different types of sashimi's, but the fluke roll easily took home the crown. That's the kinda of stuff I expect from Yasuda, and putting anything next to Yasuda is tall order to say the least, so I was very pleased.
Our third course includes a crusted horse radish crusted halibut and mushroom infused stripe bass. Both were incredibility light and the fish was perfectly cooked. The mushroom flavor in the stripe bass was off the charts. It's like drinking mushroom juice, except it's not offensive. The crust on the halibut is so crispy and seasoned perfectly. Where can I get a plate of that?
Deserts were just that. In all honesty, I could have gone without it. But it was still a nice way to wrap it up. Needless to say, I put on a good 5 lbs after V day, but hey, who's counting calories? That's why I have a NYSC membership!
On a side, note, this is my 200th post. Yes, it's a milestone. It's like back in the day; 500 HR means something but now everyone and their mother cranks out 500 dingers. Oh well. Congratz me!Listed in: Pure Heaven
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Review from Gloria D.
Updated - 2/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I cannot explain how much I LOVE this place. The food is just AMAZING, the service is great, the drinks are delicious, the ambiance is so NYC romantic with the right lighting, velvet curtains, comfy corner booths, candles...Perfect place for a date, I've been on a few, and it never disappoints. I do recommend going early, and making a reservation because after 7:30 PM it gets straight-up TIGHT. It's not huge, I mean, it is NYC after all, so early arrival is KEY to having a great experience.
This go round I ordered the Dory, which was a special of the day. It was ridiculous, orgasmic almost. He ordered the scallops (I think), a bunch of oysters (which I do not eat unless they're in a shot glass with Tabasco and vodka). He seemed to enjoy them though. As for a drink, I ordered the "Ginger Snap" Martini, which was [OH MY SATAN] amazing. They have 2 sizes, and of course, I ordered the "large." It was strong, and I am a lightweight so after that I was a bit on the tipsy side, to say the least. The rest of the dinner/evening is what I would call "fuzzy."
For dessert... Jeez, I seriously cannot remember which may have a lot to do with the "Ginger Snap" bowl of vodka I had ingested.
Lovely meal, lovely ambiance, lovely company = good times. This is one of my all-time favorite NYC restaurants. In my opinion, it just doesn't get any better than Aquagrill!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/5/2011
I stopped in last night on a friends recommendation, and was not disappointed.
The place is a bit… Read more »
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Review from Maria K.
Fort Lee, NJ
5/15/2012
So since I am a seafood lover and wanted some good seafood in the city, my boyfriend came across this place and saw that it got really good reviews, so we gave it a try. When we first stepped in, I knew I was going to love this place the atmosphere was so classy/casual/vibrant. We didn't make a reservation, so we had to wait about 45 minutes. The waiter was really helpful and he definitely knew what he was talking about. The waiter chose 3 different oysters for us that he thought we would like and oh man were they so fresh and delicious. For entree we got the truffle cod and the kimchi sea bass, and oh did they just melt in your mouth. All in all I had a great first experience and will definitely go again. I think this became one of my favorite seafood restaurant.
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Review from Alex A.
Brooklyn, NY
3/12/2012
The rawbar was great, the oysters and the crab were very fresh and delicious. Also I haven't seen such a great variety of oysters anywhere. The appetizers were also very good, me and my girlfriend shared the fois gras appetizer and the mussel with saffron soup (Billi Bi French Mussel Soup). The fois gras was great, it was cooked to perfection and serving it on a french toast was a very good and tasty idea. The mussel soup with saffron was perfect, it was extremely delicious and definitely a must try if one goes there (after the oysters and raw bar). The service was also fantastic, our waters were always filled, the waitress was very attentive and helpfull.
The bad part of the meal were the entree's, we ordered the Grilled Mediterranean Branzino (for me) and Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass (for my girlfriend). The fishes themselves were cooked pretty good, they had a nice crust and were flaky, but the sauces and seasoning for them was awful. Both dishes were extremely salty and just not very good, my girlfriend only had one bite of hers and I had half of mine because they were so bad. I couldn't believe how salty both dishes were, plus the flavors just seemed wrong.
It was good that we were pretty full from the previous dishes so the entrees didn't really ruin the entire meal. You can also order the entrees A La Carte and get any fish they have either broiled, poached or grilled. I am guessing that if you order your fish A La Carte it will come without the sauces which should be good.
Overall I had a good time at this place and will probably be back, the prices were also pretty good. -
Review from Margaret T.
New York, NY
1/12/2012 ROTD 1/29/2012
Seafood galore! And a lovely place to have an intimate birthday dinner!
On a cold and rainy Wednesday night, the place was packed to the gills (pun intended). While waiting to be seated, we were rubbing shoulders with a lovely father-daughter (hopefully) duo in the crowd. They gushed about the food and recommended the cod.
Once we were seated, the insanely knowledgeable waitress who knew about everything on the menu and can give you a spot-on, mouthwatering description on command rattled off the poetic specials of the day. We asked for recommendations for wine and she suggested one that was dry, mineraly, and just a hint of grapes (though her words were better than mine).
Of the dishes we ordered, there were many winners. The fluke roll (one of the special appetizers of the evening) was quite possibly the best cousin-'o-sushi I have had in New York. Thin pieces of fluke wrapped around avacado and rice floating in a lovely soy-based sauce. My entree was simply Ah-mazing. I listened to the gentelman and ordered the truffle crusted cod with mushroom ravioli on a bed of spinach and truffle sauce. Yes, truffles are in there twice. I had dreams of bathing in this sauce using the snorkel as a straw rather than a breathing apparatus. The cod was so flaky and wonderful that all other cod that have come before and will come after will fall short in some way.
Writing this review has made me long to go back and pull up a seat at the bar and order oyster after oyster from the seemingly endless list.
Can't wait until my birthday next year! -
Review from Randall S.
Manhattan, NY
3/11/2012
A very good restaurant and very good value. Definitely not one of the best seafood restaurants, but one of the best for total value. Everything is very good. Nothing was extraordinary, but everything was well done, including the service.
The hostesses were very nice when I arrived and could not find the others I was meeting who were late.
The raw bar is tremendous, but raw seafood is not my favorite. The rest of the table enjoyed that. I went with the foie gras, which was good, but not extraordinary. The individual components of caramelized french toast, apples and fois gras (as I remember the components) were all good, but did not work perfectly together. Still very good.
The breads were excellent,
The Truffle Crusted Casco Bay Cod was very good, but the Cod itself did not stand up against the rest of the dish which somewhat overwhelmed it. Still very good. Just not outstanding.
We also ordered the John Dory special. Same comments as with the Cod. The fish gets lost in the rest of the dish.
I would not mind going back to taste the grilled fish there. In fact, would like to have some grilled fish with the rest of the components of the foregoing entrees as an accompaniment.
Since it was Saturday, it was soufflé night . We had both the chocolate and the raspberry (as I remember--I ordered the chocolate). Both were very good, but not extraordinary.
The Chocolate Crusted Deep Dish Walnut Pie was another very good, but not extraordinary dish.
This was followed by a plate of chocolate, cookies and candy, which I must admit is one of may favorites (with decaf coffee) at the end of the meal. Almost always the sign of a good restaurant.
It is not Le Bernardin, but it is a fraction of the price.
All in all a really wonderful place that I would highly recommend to any lover of seafood and look forward to going back there. -
Review from Zach S.
Updated - 2/13/2012
Well I guess I should add more then 'YUP'
This is my kind of place. While it is pricey the food is decadent and tasty.
The atmosphere is upscale but not over the top.
I really enjoy it here. Even after the bill comes.Listed in: NYC's Best
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Review from Vicki L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/22/2012
Had an excellent dinner here on Saturday night. Got the giant tower of seafood to start. Everything was really fresh and the little periwinkle things were both fun and delicious. The salmon tartare with truffle was off the charts good. And finally my halibut was really perfect. So win win win.
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Review from Hemwattie G.
Richmond Hill, NY
1/30/2012
I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday around the end of December 2010. To this day we still reminisce about the food. It was absolutely amazing!
The crab risotto with seared scallops and snap peas was divine and drenched in a fabulous sauce. The pouched lobster was so tender and delicious that every lobster I've ever eaten since then has never surpassed its quality and taste. It was also our first time having oysters. The waiter was so pleasant and took the time to show us exactly how to eat them.
For dessert we had the chocolate tasting plate. SOOOOO GOOOD!!! When we finished they gave us a plate of assorted cookies.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! -
Review from Tara E.
2/8/2012
Fantastic stop for a lunch or brunch in SoHo.
We ordered the Lobster sandwich, and the grilled salmon BLT. The salmon sandwich was the clear winner. I ordered my fish rare/medium rare, and it was beautifully cooked and seasoned, served on fresh bread with homemade mayo and BACON. (You can add bacon to anything, and it will become my favourite.) The BLT blew me away! Served with a split side of fries and salad, it was a great way to sit for a minute and get back on the Soho train.
The lobster sandwich had lots of big chunks of lobster, but I didn't find the flavour to be all that great. It was wet and messy and I didn't find the coleslaw that was served on the sandwich did anything to bring out the lobster meat. If anything it hid the flavour, which is a shame.
The BLT was $13, and the lobster sandwich was double that price. Next time, we order 2 BLTS! -
Review from Hagu C.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
4/16/2012
The positives,
Was seated right away upon arrival for our reservation.
Seafood was fresh
entrees and appetizers were decent
Negatives,
Wait time for dishes unacceptably long.
Took exactly 1 hour to receive the entrees
Only one bathroom with one stall and is shared with employees.
And finally stay away from the waitress with the glasses. Very poor customer service.
Asked her where our dishes were and when we could expect it.
Her attitude was unapologetic and basically said you get it when you get it.
For the money spent, there are many other restaurants with similar ratings with better service.
As for the waitress if your reading this, if you don't like the details of your job go find something else. -
Review from Brian S.
New York, NY
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
4.5 - So far, the best seafood I've had in New York. The fish was extremely flavorful and perfectly cooked. It was like finding Atlantis in my mouth.
I ordered the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with a korean kimchi and twice cooked string beans in a wasabi-miso sauce. I was tempted to give this dish a 4 based on the kimche, but then I realized that nobody could ever match my mom's kimche and gave them a break.
The only reason I give this place a 4.5 (besides the excusable inability to make kimche) is the decor here. It feels like a cheap and tacky seaside motel with shell encrusted lights and shell artwork. The wall is also slathered with this ugly pasty yellow paint that's unappealing in my opinion. However, the food here more than makes up for these decorative shortcomings and deserves the 5 star rating that my review shows. -
Review from Melinda G.
Hilton Head Island, SC
5/11/2012
Love this place - can't go wrong if you want fresh seafood. The truffle-crusted Cod is as good as everyone says - amazing. Tuna Carpaccio is very good too. Desserts we've had were just so-so (mocha creme brulee not so good, apple tart better) and service is fast but servers themselves need improvement on social skills and follow up. They take reservations. It is loud! Located right across from Spring St Subway in SoHo.
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Review from Nicole R.
New York, NY
4/2/2012
Great seafood spot. Relaxed yet classy atmosphere. Both times that I have been here has been with my family when my parents have been in town. The service is attentive and helpful. Everything I've had has been delicious, but especially recommend the tuna tartare, scallops, and oysters. Always fresh and prepared perfectly. Feels more like a summer place to me. Moderately priced, but well worth it. Good wine selection.
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Review from Camille M.
Elmhurst, NY
12/7/2011 5 photos
I came here to celebrate my 11 year anniversary. They delivered near perfection.
I chose Aquagrill because my fiancee and I love seafood and we hate dressing up. We also hate tight, enclosed spaces so I was somewhat dismayed when we were seated. But, it was a special day for us and we still enjoy each other. So we didn't particularly mind sitting on top of each other in this instance.
Our waiter was neither friendly nor unfriendly. He wasn't clueless nor was he informative. He took our orders, brought us what we requested and left us alone. Which is exactly what we wanted.
The French Bili Bi Mussel Soup was rich and creamy, and amazing. Our waiter was kind enough to ask whether we'd be sharing and brought it out in 2 separate bowls. But, it came as such a hearty portion that I suspect he gave us two orders and only charged us for one. Love, love, love that. The same went for the Sauteed Mussels and Escargot over Polenta: it came divided in two portions, and was so fabulous that had we not been surrounded by people, we'd have licked our bowls clean.
We had to have oysters. We love oysters! But, we're ignorant about oysters. The menu of that day's selections was daunting. We ordered an assortment of 4 different kinds, not knowing what to expect. They were all tasty. I knew enough to order the Kumamoto oysters, and they were a revelation. Easily, our favorite of the bunch and the standard we will be holding all other oysters to in the future.
We ordered Bouillabaisse and Seared Scallops with Crab Risotto. The Bouillabaisse was extremely light and flavorful, and very visually appealing. Harry enjoyed it very much. My scallops were perfectly cooked. Maybe the most perfectly cooked scallops I've had in my life. My risotto was a bit more al dente than I would have preferred, but that seems to be how they serve it. The sauce it came in, however, was the only disappointment of the evening. It was ridiculously salty! I wish I had asked for the dish without the sauce altogether. It would have been far more appealing without it.
Our cocktails were alright. My Jalapeno Quencher was mildly disappointing when compared to Harry's Glacier. We switched drinks. Relationships require compromise.
They brought us out a lovely plate of bite sized sweet things: a piece of chocolate, a miniscule brownie bite, a fruit studded bread, a sesame crisp, etc. on a plate with 'Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate. I'd mentioned it when making the reservation, and they remembered!
It was a 4 star experience for me, and a 5 star experience for my honey. I was very happy with how everything turned out. Aquagrill delivered on a lovely meal that made our evening. Highly recommended, and worth every dollar. -
Review from Emily S.
Manhattan, NY
4/7/2012
Came here for a fancy dinner with my mom since she was visiting (and paying). It turned out to be the perfect place - really, it would be a good restaurant to go to for couples, friends, or families. We both ordered one of the specials of the night, salmon encrusted with falafel... I didn't even need to think twice as I am a falafel fanatic.
They brought two little potato chips with salmon tartare on them as an appetizer (pretty good) and three kinds of rolls before the meal (cornbread, French bread, and onion bread - all also pretty good). Our main dishes, however, were FANTASTIC. The salmon was cooked perfectly and, in my opinion, the falafel was a really inspired addition as it added some crispiness and flavor. The sides were lined with hummus and the whole thing was surrounded by tomatoes and cucumbers, which are the two main ingredients in Israeli salad, so it was even more of a salmon-falafel fusion. So yummy.
The service was OK, nothing to rave about, but the food was definitely worth it! It was also only about $25/person, which for me is pretty expensive but was cheaper than we had anticipated when we looked for an upscale place for dinner. You could easily end up paying a lot more here if you get some of their other things on the menu - oysters, caviar, the raw bar... but we were perfectly happy with what we got. -
Review from Jay w.
New York, NY
1/29/2012
M husband and I go here when we want some specialized shellfish and can get a reservation in time.
The service is fabulous. The tables are well spaced and the atmosphere is very romantic, minus a loud crowd.
I cannot list all the food we got here because we go here so often but their shell fish tier and their fish specials are always cooked to perfection.
The seafood is always fresh, especially the raw shellfish. The flavors are traditional, nothing too fancy or inventive but always showcases the fish or shellfish.
The prices are reasonable to high, depending on what you get but for NYC it isn't outrageous.
I would avoid anything that is not seafood here since it is not their specialty. -
Review from Tracy T.
New York, NY
1/12/2012
It was a good meal, but I'm not going crazy to go back anytime soon. It began with an amuse bouche of salmon tartare. The tartare was good, but it came on this stale chip. Not a fan. It was probably sitting in the fridge for a while.
The peppered tuna carpaccio was delicious. The pepper gave it a nice kick to it, and the avocado/onion/lemon side complimented it nicely.
The oysters were delicious - we demolished a medley of west and east coast oysters of which I enjoyed the Wellfleet, Kumamoto, and Malpeque the most.
I ordered the truffle crusted cod. Everything on the dish but the cod was delicious. I mean the sauce, the mushrooms, the spinach, and the ravioli were fantastic. However, the main part of the dish - the cod - was pretty mediocre. It was a bit overcooked for my taste and just overall pretty bland. Perhaps if the cut of the fish was thinner, it could soak up more of the sauce...
My friend got the bronzino. Also fairly mediocre, although I did enjoy her actual fish much more. The bronzino was prepared in an asian style, which quite frankly I've tasted better at an asian restaurant.
So overall, I enjoyed my meal. Would I recommend it? Sure - it had some good qualities. Will I be going back anytime soon? Probably not. It didn't have the "wow" factor for me. -
Review from Michelle S.
Fort Washington, MD
I'd come back here, but only for the food, the service was NOT what I expected considering I was in NY.
I had great service everywhere in NY, but this was a quite bit off.
The waitress would look directly in my face, turn around and keep walking, check on her other tables and NOT come back to us. It was absolutely infuriating to me!! We got our appetizers, she never came back with the mimosa's and her ENTIRE section waited at least 40+ minutes for their food, what in the world is that about. And even after that ridiculous wait, not one person apologized, discounted or comped a thing, ugh, terrible. When I was able to flag her down about the mimosa's she just made an annoyed said and cut me off and said "ugh, I know, your food is coming" I said, "but about those mimosas we asked for about 35 minutes ago.." she: "oh the ticket must've gotten lost somewhere" but then turns around and puts in the ticket for them. SHAME!!! Her name was SALLY and If I EVER went back here again, I asked specifically to NOT be seated in her section. She was damn lucky we even tipped her (considering she waited and attended only primarily to her caucasian patrons), however I do tip and tip well.
I actually rate it 2 stars ONLY for the food, her behavior doesn't allow me to rate it any higher and it's a shame because the food was really good. She just diminished the quality for me. -
Review from Constantinos P.
Montville, NJ
5/6/2012
Excellent food. I give it 5 stars soley on the fact that everytime i go i order the pan crusted cod. It is one of my favorite dishes in nyc. I love oysters, great oyster selection.
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Review from Stephanie H.
Philadelphia, PA
3/1/2012
5 stars. definitely
I'm not a huge seafood eater, but I went here with a friend who was, and I am not a seafood convert. I loved it. The Chilean Sea Bass was probably one of the best things I have ever had PERIOD. The oysters were fresh. The waiter was really nice and really good at giving recommendations. The Taro Tuna Belly was literally melt in your mouth, like the waiter had said it was going to be.
DELiCIOUS. expensive, but DELICIOUS.Listed in: Places to go back to
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Review from Andy S.
New York, NY
12/21/2011
4.5 stars, only because they took away the $1 oyster happy hour which I loved. Over the years Aquagrill has been consistent, always addressing any issues I've ever had, which is not many.
Have been here numerous times, nothing to write that hasn't been said. Excellent food, raw bar, decent booze selection, crystal stemware. We got to sit on the enclosed patio, which I personally like because of the cheap chairs. The slats allow my ass to air and not sweat which is much better than typical vinyl seats you find everywhere else.
I'm writing a review this time because our waitress was great. She explained everything as it should have been when questions were asked. You can tell the staff sampled all the specials. That's due to good chef/management. Gordon Ramsey would be proud.
Have repeated. -
Review from Sharon H.
New York, NY
3/25/2012
I came here on a date and was not disappointed at all with the food, the drinks or the ambiance. It was a gorgeous Friday evening and we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air while eating some great food and drinking dirty martinis.
Together we shared a selection of Oysters, all of which were great, the crab cake, a side salad and finished it off with the chocolate sampler. The portions were great, although I really could have eaten twice as many oysters and we left not feeling full but satisfied.
The only down side to this place is that it was packed and the service was a little slow, but it was a Friday night in Soho so what do you really expect. -
Review from Kristina W.
New York, NY
3/28/2012
One of the best restaurants in Manhattan. We went here on a Friday night and the place was packed. We had reservations and were seated immediately after checking our coats.
The ambiance was great, service was impeccable and the food/drinks were out of this world! -
Review from Susanna C.
Manhattan, NY
3/3/2012
The oyster selection is superb! We tried 6 different types of oysters that we'd never tasted before -- totally loved the Alaskan Canoe Lagoon, it's the priciest but so worth it!. We each tried an entree special and both were great. The inventiveness, flavor and quantity of food was excellent. Service was terrific too. I've passed by so many times and am so happy that I tried this finally.
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Review from Kelsey M.
PRINCE, NY
3/27/2012
This place has a wonderful waitstaff. I went around 8pm on a weeknight and it was still bustling, and a little difficult to find a seat at the 10-12 person bar. The kitchen offered small 'on-the-house' samples of appetizers (Tuna Tartare) and dessert, which made it feel extra special. Food is amazing and its location right off of the A & C train is unbeatable.
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Review from Michael A.
Somerset, NJ
5/1/2012
If you like raw oysters, this is "THE PLACE". They have a great variety of oysters and they are always fresh. The service is great, always friendly and accommodating. Although, it will rival the best seafood restaurants in NY, it's not stuffy like some of the other places.
