Aqua Restaurant

4.7

2812 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Innovative

**Only in Beaufort, NC** Executive Chef Jon McGregor’s menu is created to bring you the freshest seasonal items available presented with a creative touch. Aqua’s small plates offer you an exciting array of tastes in
"just right” portions, ideal for passing around the table or enjoying two or three as a full meal. Aqua’s Big Plates feature the freshest local seafood and premier meats, as well as local produce. Aqua prides itself on offering fresh, local products and supporting our local fisherman and farmers.

Enjoy our upscale bar offerings, including specialty cocktails and expansive wine list.

Enjoy your experience in our Dining Room or on our comfortable, breezy screened-in porch. Please take care to select the dining area of your choice when making reservations.

We can’t wait to serve you soon. Cheers for now!

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Fusion / Eclectic, Seafood
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Thu 5:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(252) 728-7777
Website
http://www.aquaexperience.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Jon McGregor

Location
114 Middle Lane, Beaufort, NC 28516
Neighborhood
Beaufort / Morehead City
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

We welcome you to experience Aqua, where we believe dining out should be both memorable and fun. Executive Chef Jon McGregor and Chef de Cuisine Hannah Minter are proud to use local seafood, meats and produce wherever possible, including: Blue Ocean Seafood, Bogue Sound Seafood, Merrell Farms, and Harlowe Custom Micro Greens. Our wine and martini lists are created with the same focus on the unexpected. Tonight, dine with a curious spirit and experience Aqua!

tapas

french toast$9.00
Grand Marnier-vanilla bean battered, house cured bacon, chai maple syrup
tuna poke*$9.00
marinated fresh local tuna
egg roll$8.00
pulled pork, kimchi, gochujang
boursin and chevre$9.00
housemade boursin cheese, chevre croquettes, toasted lavosh, citrus-fig preserves

small plates

local catch
designed daily by our chef, market price
grilled petite filet*$28.00
CAB Beef tenderloin, veal demi glace, truffle dusted gratin potatoes
seared crab cake$26.00
lump crabmeat, citrus chili aioli, sauteed spinach, leeks, mushrooms, stewed lentils
ravioli$27.00
boursin filled house made pasta, colossal lump crab panned in butter, lobster cream
shrimp & grits provencal$26.00
roasted tomatoes, citrus beurre blanc, house cured bacon, creamy grits
seared local tuna*$26.00
rare curry seared local tuna, soba noodle salad, traditional accompaniments
stuffed trumpet mushroom$20.00
truffle duxelles, chevre, celeriac-cauliflower puree, crispy kale

big plate

sea and shore$46.00
CAB beef petite filet, veal demi glace, smoked gouda mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables. choice of local catch
seared crab cake$45.00
grilled shrimp$38.00
two large sea scallops$46.00
noodle bowl$43.00
sauteed shrimp, rare curry seared local tuna, two large sea scallops, coconut chili broth
beef bourguignon$41.00
slow braised boneless beef short rib, confit fingerlings, pearl onions, parisian carrots, roasted tomatoes

salads

saffron poached pear$13.00
arugula, chevre, whiskey-vanilla bean walnuts, fig vinaigrette
kale$13.00
kale, napa cabbage, mint, carrot, fennel, peanuts, miso-fennel vinaigrette

sweet endings

aqua’s signature crème brûlée$14.00
huge Madagascar vanilla bean crème brûlée
chocolate mousse$11.00
our pastry chef’s creation of the week
bananas foster$12.00
bananas, caramel, brown butter cake, vanilla bean ice cream
baklava$10.00
toasted nuts, crisp phyllo, caramel, tonka diplomat cream
dessert sampler$28.00
choose a sample of three of the above house made confections

add to any dish

CAB petite filet$25.00
crab cake$23.00
local catch (market)
grilled shrimp$13.00
two large sea scallops$23.00

What 2,812 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Coastal North Carolina
Innovative
Coastal North Carolina
Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Aqua Restaurant in Beaufort consistently charms diners with its "amazing" food and "friendly" service. The atmosphere is "relaxing" and the menu offers diverse and "well-prepared" dishes, from seafood to creative cocktails. Although some found the menu limited, most praised the "top-notch" dining experience, making Aqua a "favorite" for locals and visitors alike.

2,812 Reviews

C
Chris
Key West
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Aqua never disappoints! Fresh local food, great service, great wine and Cocktail list. The catch special is always worth a venture!
Is this helpful?
D
Dr. John
VIP
New York City
92 reviews
5.0
92 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
How wonderful- one of my favorite restaurants on Valentines Day! As always Quintin is there to great us with his contagious smile - the food, the service and the drinks all fabulous!!! All ending with a red carnation to go!!
Is this helpful?
L
Linda
Greensboro
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
We had to sit outside. I thought they had vinyl walls they could drop down in the winter to help keep in the heat (the gave 2 ceiling heaters), but they didn't. You can only get warm if you are directly beneath the Heaters. Our party of 4 were bitterly cold which made for a horrible dining experience.
Is this helpful?
R
Rosemary
VIP
Wilmington
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My favorite restaurant in charming Beaufort. The ambiance is great and the food is always creative and with surprising tastes. Their every other Tuesday's Wine o Rama is a special treat of four different wines each time, to sample and purchase.
Is this helpful?
K
Kathleen
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I love dining @ Aqua! The food is always delicious . Our server Iesha was amazing !! She was friendly , professional, and attentive. Can't wait to go back!
Is this helpful?
E
Eric
Greater Boston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent meal, Sierra was our server and she did an outstanding job! Off season at Aqua did not disappoint. We have eaten here previously and we will certainly be back again.
Is this helpful?
c
cindyt
VIP
Orlando
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was amazing as usual! The best service in town. Entrees were big portions
Is this helpful?
E
ELKE
VIP
Raleigh
40 reviews
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We have never been disappointed dining at the Aqua Restaurant. Last night’s dining was another great experience. The food and service was again excellent! See you soon! Thank you, Elke H.
Is this helpful?
S
Susan
Raleigh
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful experience, great waiter and delicious food.
Is this helpful?
D
Dr. John
VIP
New York City
92 reviews
5.0
92 reviews
Dined on January 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Once again - fabulous , fabulous, fabulous!! Quentin greats us with a smile !! the food the drinks the service - all excellent!!
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FAQs

Aqua Restaurant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (252) 728-7777.

Aqua Restaurant is rated 4.7 stars by 2812 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Order delivery or takeout

114 Middle Lane, Beaufort, NC 28516

Additional information

Neighborhood
Beaufort / Morehead City
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Thu 5:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Fusion / Eclectic, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Jon McGregor
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.aquaexperience.com/
Phone number
(252) 728-7777

Aqua Restaurant

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

noodle bowl

bananas foster

seared crab cake

tapas

french toast$9.00

tuna poke*$9.00

egg roll$8.00

boursin and chevre$9.00

small plates

local catch

grilled petite filet*$28.00

seared crab cake$26.00

ravioli$27.00

shrimp & grits provencal$26.00

seared local tuna*$26.00

stuffed trumpet mushroom$20.00

big plate

sea and shore$46.00

seared crab cake$45.00

grilled shrimp$38.00

two large sea scallops$46.00

noodle bowl$43.00

beef bourguignon$41.00

salads

saffron poached pear$13.00

kale$13.00

sweet endings

aqua’s signature crème brûlée$14.00

chocolate mousse$11.00

bananas foster$12.00

baklava$10.00

dessert sampler$28.00

add to any dish

CAB petite filet$25.00

crab cake$23.00

local catch (market)

grilled shrimp$13.00

two large sea scallops$23.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Aqua Restaurant offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Aqua Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is Aqua Restaurant currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information