This is our all time favorite restaurant. At holidays , things can be hectic and not as superb, but for all other times- they have never disappointed. Fresh local seafood, wonderful atmosphere- we love the outdoor patio. Delicious and fun.
Allison
Aqua is always a good choice for dinner with or without children. Aqua always has interesting options with plenty of fabulous classic dishes. They are known for quality food, wine, cocktails, and staff. Again always a delight to enjoy an evening at Aqua!
Kiara
We chose Aqua Restaurant for our anniversary dinner, guided by the kind of recommendations that matter most: a local in the know and a friend who never tires of Beaufort. Aqua announces itself quietly, and even our brief misstep on arrival felt intentional an elegant sign gently redirecting us around back, where we later realized there's a convenient entrance directly across from the parking lot. A small discovery we tucked away for our next visit. From the moment we stepped inside, the hospitality set the tone. The host greeted us with genuine enthusiasm and an ease that made it clear he knew exactly why we were there. His warmth felt celebratory without being performative, just right. We were led to our table and introduced to Iesha, whose presence defined the evening. Iesha guided us through the menu with confidence and care, highlighting a thoughtful anniversary tradition: a complimentary glass of champagne or crème brûlée. We happily chose both. She struck that elusive balance of attentiveness and restraint present when needed, graciously invisible when not allowing the evening to unfold at its own pace. Our table sampled a range of the menu. The rare curry-seared local tuna arrived with curry riced cauliflower and traditional accompaniments unexpected in flavor but satisfying nonetheless. The The special for that evening, was rich and comforting. Even the simplest order, the kids' shrimp and fries was met with enthusiasm from our youngest diner, always a good sign. Aqua delivers food that is thoughtful, distinctive, and well-suited for a celebration. It's the kind of place that feels special without trying too hard a reliable choice for marking a meaningful moment. And when you go, do yourself a favor and ask for Iesha. She's the kind of server who turns a good dinner into a memorable one.
Taylor
Phenomenal food and service. Loved the dessert sampler and the fish was SUPER fresh. Our only critique is that we would have enjoyed a wine chiller on the table for buying a bottle and seeing the restaurant has such an extensive wine menu.
Anne Marie
We came to Aqua for the 2025/26 New Year's weekend- with prior reservations set. Service was a bit spotty, as it was busy. My water glass sat empty, and a request for a refill of Pilsner and wine resulted in beer (after a reminder) but no wine. Scarily, the steak and vegetable of the day (even after asking) resulted in a close call with a food allergy. If I hadn't sampled my entree first, my partner would have been in distress as he is allergic to snowpeas. They quickly took away his plate to recook/replate, but that left me to either eat alone or let my food get cold. The waiter was sweet and apologetic, but evidently no one in the kitchen or management were alerted or concerned enough to check in. The signature cocktail (bacon old fashioned) was okay- but unremarkable. Just an old fashioned with a greasy mouth aftertaste. The night was saved by the bananas Foster. Incredible presentation and taste. All in all, a B+ performance from an A restaurant.
Frances
great atmosphere....food....bar(bartender) has been hit or miss. For my Cosmo, she insisted she had the recipe memorized/used sweet/sour mix ...very tart. Tried to correct it w/more cranberry juice; but, it still wasn't what I wanted. I gave up. Food Network Recipe = lemon vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Food is presented well, tastes great, good value for fine dining. Service is spot on. We will return; but, not get a Cosmo.
Cindy McCall
Hands down one of the best meals/cocktails I’ve had on the Crystal Coast! Our server was amazing as well! The seafood was fresh and prepared in creative ways.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee, Two Large Sea Scallops, Local Catch, Dessert Sampler, Fresh Catch, Cast Iron Seared Crab Cake
Katherine
The food was spectacular and the service wonderful. Although it was busy, we had no trouble hearing each other. Conversation was easy. Top notch spot!
T LB
Menu leans heavily toward curry flavors…options were limited unless you wanted curry, curry infused, or curry seasoning.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Ann
as ALWAYS... delicious local tuna and crabcakes! excellent service :) my go to place to take out of town guests.
Wonderful experience! Ieisha was an excellent server, took great care of us and had excellent recommendations! The entire staff here was so friendly from the moment we walked in. The mussels were the best mussels we’ve ever had in our lives, the tuna poke was delicious and the pineapple bacon infused old fashion is also a must. If you still have room get the dessert sampler too! We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cassidy
Wonderful experience! Ieisha was an excellent server, took great care of us and had excellent recommendations. The mussels were the best mussels we've ever had in our lives, tuna poke was delicious and the pineapple bacon infused old fashion is also a must. We will definitely be back!
Terri
Not many options on the menu unless you like curry. Menu was heavily slanted toward curry seasoning.
trish
What a wonderful place! The ambience is perfect...quiet with nice artwork on the walls and lovely decor. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. We started with the curry pumpkin soup and the dusted oysters, both of which were delicious and just the right size. The focaccia bread for the table was light, hot and savory. We shared the noodle bowl and it was the perfect portion for each of us. A yummy chile coconut broth filled with soba noodles and accompanied by scallops, shrimp, seared tuna and mushrooms. Unusual and tasty. We ended our meal with the dessert sampler...Bananas Foster( flambé), Crème Brûlée and Pumpkin Cheesecake. Each the perfect size to share with a bite or two to spare. We are looking forward to next year's vacation and another visit to one of the best restaurants we've had the pleasuring of trying. Aqua is a hidden gem!
Wendy
Oddly slow service and some ambience issues to contend with (cold gust of air when door opened to serve the outside seating area, and a really loud-talker table near us (it's a small room, folks). Food was lovely and unique, love the creative menu and excellent wine list by the bottle, but lots of long waiting before and between courses and getting the check.
This is our all time favorite restaurant. At holidays , things can be hectic and not as superb, but for all other times- they have never disappointed. Fresh local seafood, wonderful atmosphere- we love the outdoor patio. Delicious and fun.
Aqua is always a good choice for dinner with or without children. Aqua always has interesting options with plenty of fabulous classic dishes. They are known for quality food, wine, cocktails, and staff. Again always a delight to enjoy an evening at Aqua!
We chose Aqua Restaurant for our anniversary dinner, guided by the kind of recommendations that matter most: a local in the know and a friend who never tires of Beaufort. Aqua announces itself quietly, and even our brief misstep on arrival felt intentional an elegant sign gently redirecting us around back, where we later realized there's a convenient entrance directly across from the parking lot. A small discovery we tucked away for our next visit. From the moment we stepped inside, the hospitality set the tone. The host greeted us with genuine enthusiasm and an ease that made it clear he knew exactly why we were there. His warmth felt celebratory without being performative, just right. We were led to our table and introduced to Iesha, whose presence defined the evening. Iesha guided us through the menu with confidence and care, highlighting a thoughtful anniversary tradition: a complimentary glass of champagne or crème brûlée. We happily chose both. She struck that elusive balance of attentiveness and restraint present when needed, graciously invisible when not allowing the evening to unfold at its own pace. Our table sampled a range of the menu. The rare curry-seared local tuna arrived with curry riced cauliflower and traditional accompaniments unexpected in flavor but satisfying nonetheless. The The special for that evening, was rich and comforting. Even the simplest order, the kids' shrimp and fries was met with enthusiasm from our youngest diner, always a good sign. Aqua delivers food that is thoughtful, distinctive, and well-suited for a celebration. It's the kind of place that feels special without trying too hard a reliable choice for marking a meaningful moment. And when you go, do yourself a favor and ask for Iesha. She's the kind of server who turns a good dinner into a memorable one.
Phenomenal food and service. Loved the dessert sampler and the fish was SUPER fresh. Our only critique is that we would have enjoyed a wine chiller on the table for buying a bottle and seeing the restaurant has such an extensive wine menu.
We came to Aqua for the 2025/26 New Year's weekend- with prior reservations set. Service was a bit spotty, as it was busy. My water glass sat empty, and a request for a refill of Pilsner and wine resulted in beer (after a reminder) but no wine. Scarily, the steak and vegetable of the day (even after asking) resulted in a close call with a food allergy. If I hadn't sampled my entree first, my partner would have been in distress as he is allergic to snowpeas. They quickly took away his plate to recook/replate, but that left me to either eat alone or let my food get cold. The waiter was sweet and apologetic, but evidently no one in the kitchen or management were alerted or concerned enough to check in. The signature cocktail (bacon old fashioned) was okay- but unremarkable. Just an old fashioned with a greasy mouth aftertaste. The night was saved by the bananas Foster. Incredible presentation and taste. All in all, a B+ performance from an A restaurant.
great atmosphere....food....bar(bartender) has been hit or miss. For my Cosmo, she insisted she had the recipe memorized/used sweet/sour mix ...very tart. Tried to correct it w/more cranberry juice; but, it still wasn't what I wanted. I gave up. Food Network Recipe = lemon vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Food is presented well, tastes great, good value for fine dining. Service is spot on. We will return; but, not get a Cosmo.
Hands down one of the best meals/cocktails I’ve had on the Crystal Coast! Our server was amazing as well! The seafood was fresh and prepared in creative ways.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee, Two Large Sea Scallops, Local Catch, Dessert Sampler, Fresh Catch, Cast Iron Seared Crab Cake
The food was spectacular and the service wonderful. Although it was busy, we had no trouble hearing each other. Conversation was easy. Top notch spot!
Menu leans heavily toward curry flavors…options were limited unless you wanted curry, curry infused, or curry seasoning.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
as ALWAYS... delicious local tuna and crabcakes! excellent service :) my go to place to take out of town guests.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful experience! Ieisha was an excellent server, took great care of us and had excellent recommendations! The entire staff here was so friendly from the moment we walked in. The mussels were the best mussels we’ve ever had in our lives, the tuna poke was delicious and the pineapple bacon infused old fashion is also a must. If you still have room get the dessert sampler too! We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful experience! Ieisha was an excellent server, took great care of us and had excellent recommendations. The mussels were the best mussels we've ever had in our lives, tuna poke was delicious and the pineapple bacon infused old fashion is also a must. We will definitely be back!
Not many options on the menu unless you like curry. Menu was heavily slanted toward curry seasoning.
What a wonderful place! The ambience is perfect...quiet with nice artwork on the walls and lovely decor. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. We started with the curry pumpkin soup and the dusted oysters, both of which were delicious and just the right size. The focaccia bread for the table was light, hot and savory. We shared the noodle bowl and it was the perfect portion for each of us. A yummy chile coconut broth filled with soba noodles and accompanied by scallops, shrimp, seared tuna and mushrooms. Unusual and tasty. We ended our meal with the dessert sampler...Bananas Foster( flambé), Crème Brûlée and Pumpkin Cheesecake. Each the perfect size to share with a bite or two to spare. We are looking forward to next year's vacation and another visit to one of the best restaurants we've had the pleasuring of trying. Aqua is a hidden gem!
Oddly slow service and some ambience issues to contend with (cold gust of air when door opened to serve the outside seating area, and a really loud-talker table near us (it's a small room, folks). Food was lovely and unique, love the creative menu and excellent wine list by the bottle, but lots of long waiting before and between courses and getting the check.
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