Aquagrill

Yeah, it looks a little like a mid range hotel lobby restaurant. You’re not here for the décor. You’re here for the fish. There’s a reason that this place has had so many New York accolades over the years.
Let’s keep it simple. Get a reservation. Order a dozen oysters from the (sometimes stunningly huge) array of available varieties. Eat with a smile on your face and wash down with a martini. Indulge in an octopus salad and marvel at its grace. Then order the felafel crusted salmon. Choose white wine from the large list, something like a Sancerre, down it all. If you need something to go with your port wine (tawny or ruby, your choice here), order the chocolate tasting plate. Undo the button on your pants, or congratulate yourself on your decision to wear a flowing summer dress. Be happy.

Came here for a friend’s birthday and it’s a great intimate spot as well as a social gathering. We had west coast oysters, the crab cake, miso Chilean sea bass, the halibut of the day, and the key lime pie.
The raw west coast oysters were by far the best I’ve had. We tried 2 of each and they were are well shucked, clean, and super fresh. As for the crab cake, it was good but nothing super special.
Also, their miso Chilean sea bass is extremely well done. It comes with kimchi, but not the traditional Korean kind; It has a ginger vinegary flavor which works really well with the sea bass. However, the additional miso-​wasabi sauce as garnish on the plate doesn’t really need to be used or be there because it was a bit too salty for my palate but definitely has good flavor.
The halibut was well executed but next time I think I will come back for their scallops instead. It was well prepared but there was nothing flavor-​wise that stood out.
Lastly, the key lime pie was pretty good. It was more on the tart side, and came with a candle/​happy birthday written on it which was nice.
As a side note, I stand by the 5 stars because despite our waiter not actually serving us, the other waiter accommodated us really well and helped us with recommendations.
They also have a pretty extensive wine list

The aqua grill on Spring Street is my favorite restaurant for creative seafood. It’s directly across from the subway stop, easy access, prompt and friendly service. The food is outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The sea bass is my favorite.

the sea bass was great and the service was wonderful. It was delightful sitting outdoors on a niche summer evening

Food was excellent. Typical NY seating… diners next to us asked us what we ordered which is not a bad thing, but tight quarters. Food took a while, but worth the wait. Will go back for special occasion.

Probably my favorite seafood restaurant in the city. A lot of seafood restaurants primarily serve crustaceans or shellfish with a scattering of random, mediocre fish options, but Aquagrill has actually perfected the art of creating a perfect fish dish.
They give you the choice of trying their different fish offerings with particular pairings or to have them served a la carte roasted/​grilled/​poached with optional sides. I’ve tried both, and I think that the fish tastes much better a la carte. I ordered the roasted chilean sea bass (a la carte), and although the portion is a little small, each bite was so savory and flavorful. The truffle cod and miso-​glazed seabass was delicious as well, but the truffle and miso sometimes overpowered the other flavors in the dish. You know that a restaurant can prepare their dishes well when they offer to serve it without any garnishes or toppings.
Everything else on the menu is equally as amazing as the fish. Some highlights include the french mussel soup, the truffle polenta, and the dry riesling.

Been here over a handful of times the past few years with the most recent visit for brunch, which was equally amazing. They probably have the most oyster varieties in NYC as they always have at least 20+ different ones on hand.
This go-​around we tried the Blue Point, Potters Moon and the Shiny Seas oysters along with a half dozen cherrystones and WOW is all I have to say! Even though my crab benedict was very good, we agreed that if we could have a do over, we both would’ve gladly traded our brunch entrees and ordered another boatload of oysters. Clean, fresh, slightly briny finish with lots of oyster liquor. Yummm! ⁵⁄₅
I also enjoyed the crab benedict and it rivaled those of some other great places I’ve tried before. Eggs were poached well and oozed nicely to combine with the crab meat and bread for evenly placed bites. ⁴⁄₅
My daughter had the fettuccine so I got to steal a few bites and I immediately noticed that the pasta must have been prepared freshly in-​house and it was cooked perfectly al dente. Highly recommend this one as well if you’re craving a pasta dish. Heavy but worth it. 4.5÷5
Overall, a spectacular «oldie but goody» restaurant. Always consistent and high quality. Their oysters are to die for and they will forever be in my book of rotating restaurants every time I’m in Manhattan.

I went there for weekend brunch. The restaurant was highly recommended by my cousin and it indeed met the expectation.
Service: We arrived 10 minutes late. In spite of the reservation we had to wait for couple of minutes to be seated. Our waitress was attentive and also helpful with menu decision.
Food: +the complimentary breads were so good! I could just have that as a meal!
+mussel soup: sister had it, and she loved it.

Been several times and finally throwing a review down. Hands down one of the best places for Seafood in the city. Since I’m writing about my overall experiences here not just one recent visit, I’m going to highlight some of my favorites as opposed to reviewing which items I had on my last trip…
The Toro Tuna Tartare that is on special usually is by far the best thing on the menu. Seriously, just start your meal off with this, you’ll thank me afterward. If it’s not on the specials, the Spicy Tuna Tartare is on the menu and very good also.
Next, since your at an oyster bar you have to go with Oysters. They are super fresh and worth the few extra bucks you’ll spend for quality. Try some different kinds out based on what’s on the menu for the day, the servers are helpful in assisting you to choose if you need. You can give them your taste preferences, or if your a novice, they can recommend a nice starter sample of a view different types of East Coast and West coast ones.
I’ve tried a ton of the entrees, from the Bronzino, the Nova Scotian Halibut (on special), Seared Sea Scallops, and the Chilean Sea Bass, all which were delicious. You can taste the freshness in each dish, and none of the fish has that dried out taste that can accompany fish in some places.
For an app, a dozen oysters and 2 entrees Bill is normally $ 125 for 2 people without wine, (more with depending on your wine), very reasonable for the quality.

After a disappointing meal, the boo and I decided to get a nitecap here. What was supposed to be a quick drink turned into a dozen west coast oyster and a dover sole entrée that was surprisingly split into sharing portions for us without us even having to ask. Now that’s what I call service.
Food quality was amazing here. Fresh and clean oysters just like I remembered it to be 4 yrs ago. The Dover sole was meaty and fluffy. The basil sauce that it lied in was so light and tasty. Really great stuff.
The guy behind the bar «Manny» kept us entertained with conversation bout his life and his little girl that doesn’t like most food and like most kids — has a hankering for Mcdonald’s nuggets lol.
Overall, this place gets really busy like all the time and well worth the wait. The only time Aquagrill shouldn’t be an option for seafood is if you live half way around the world. And if that’s even the case, take a plane and «gid» yo ass here.

This place is awesome! My friend recommended here for Thanksgiving but we didn’t come here until today.
Food: We had some Watch Hill oysters, Maine Jonah crab claws, Mediterranean Benzito, Truffle Cod, chocolate taste plate, and crème brûlée. I love the Truffle Cod! The crispy truffle and fresh fish are so nice! The chocolate plate was quite impressive! I was really looking forward to the crème brûlée but the chocolate dessert really caught me off guard! The mousse is so creamy! And the variant taste of the plate just marks the perfect ending of the night!
Service: Our server was so nice and cute! He constantly asks us to eat instead of playing our phones, but in a very playful way – I totally agree that eating should be a phone-​less experience. And he makes you feel like you’re eating at a friend’s home. The food and water are always served in time. They also have a wet towel for you to wipe off the stickiness from the oysters and crabs.

First off… Even if the food wasn’t good, I would’ve gone back for the service!
But the food and the service was «on point!»
I took visiting family — we had a FABULOUS Birthday Brunch! YUM!!!
We started with a dozen Blue Point Oysters… So tasty, so fresh! I could’ve eaten at least 3 dozen ALL BY MY LONESOME!!! They brought our table a basket of scones and muffins… Wow! They were so moist and light… (I could’ve eaten at least 3 dozen all by my lonesome!)
For my entrée, I ordered the Crab Benedict — WHAAAAAAT!!! So darn good… rich in flavors and taste! They had specials as well and one of those specials was Lobster Benedict! WHAAAAAAT!!! I started second guessing what I ordered after I gotta load of the Lobster Benedict… It was heaven! They should offer that item AT ALL TIMES! :)
The atmosphere was boisterous but quaint… There was an intimacy about the place… And the staff were so inviting and accommodating… They paid so much attention to our table, I began to feel we were the only ones Brunching… (Eventually we were because we stayed waaaaay past Brunch!) But we did not feel rushed not once :)
If Balthazar is not your scene for a weekend Brunch, I would suggestion heading a few blocks west to Aquagrill… I’ll be heading back for dinner… Cheers!

We have been here for lunch at least three times. Every time we finish our meal, we say «You know that was good, but next time we are in New York let’s go somewhere else.» Inevitably, we return every other time we are in NYC.
Their oyster selection is outstanding. A really nice mix of east and west coast. The lobster roll is really solid. Are there better? Yes, but this roll is ROCK solid. Everything is really solid at Aqua. Is it priced «NYC» style? You bet your a$$ it is. The difference is, this place is well worth it.

This is what I call perfection. THIS is what dining out is all about: wonderful (just attentive enough) service, fantastic food and great ambiance.
I’m always a big fan of the ‘would you like a drink while you wait?’ service. Yes, it’s Friday. I need a drink. STAT. They even, surprisingly, had a decent sake list.
We ordered the plateau, because, well, we couldn’t help ourselves. We skipped the clams and replaced it with more shrimp. In hindsight, I’d say skip the periwinkles too. The oysters were heavenly, and the two special apps were exceptional (the names escape me, I was too distracted) and the most memorable dessert ever? Pumpkin cheesecake. It made my tastebuds sing.
I’ll dream of this meal… until my next visit!

Visited with a friend of mine and the customer service was top notch. The waiter was pleasant and knowledgeable with specials. Linner was delish (Lunch/​Dinner). Oysters, chowder, lobster roll and the truffle mushroom halibut. Wasn’t a big fan of the roll (stiff not soft) for the lobster entrée but it was still enjoyable.

I thought this place was really nice. I had the scallops and my girlfriend had the tuna. delicious. the staff were really nice and accommodating. the only thing that was slightly annoying was that it was absolutely freezing in there. they could do with hanging some heavier curtains in the entrance or do a better job of sealing it. having said that, it was a freakishly cold evening. my only regret is that I just realised I left a really small tip, 9 percent i think, which was half of what they deserved, but I was pretty tipsy so my maths skills were hindered by the time the bill came.

Food good, but not great… Service good, BUT, I have to say we were very disappointed in 2 things …
— my daughter heard several servers complaining about their tips as she returned from the weird set-​up restrooms (others pointed this out… «Just use the men’s/ladies room if the one you want is busy», apparently)…
If this were not annoying enough… We tipped a little over 20% and STILL got a grumble from our waiter… He was friendly during the meal, and attentive, but barely got out a thank you, when we said thanks to him… HUH? 20% on total bill, and he could not be bothered?
I had a dozen raw clams for appetizer… Decent, but not memorable cocktail sauce…(my wife makes much better)…
For dinner the BOUILLABAISSE… And I’d call it average… Small shrimp, really a small portion of fish… Small shrimp, except for the one very large single prawn on top… The broth was an almost made it… Missing the great broth it could/​should have been, buy a bit…
Overall, I’d not go back… Sooooo many better places in the city for the $$$… My daughter did really like her yellowtail kimchi dish and my wife liked hers as well, but agreed it was again, good but not great.
But, the attitude of the waiter on a 20% tip was a killer for me for ever returning…

The oysters are superb, tried 4 different type of two meals and they were exceptional, most of been hand picked for the restaurant.
The breads they serve are unique and delicious as are the desserts.
All of the fish was fresh and well prepared. And the roasted chick was rated delicious.
Service both times was mostly very good but one day they brought the wrong soup, the other they forgot the wine.

Terrific place! One of the best prepared dishes I have had. Went here for lunch (with my awesome cousin). Everything was five stars and I would highly recommend each one– Apps: salmon crudo and sea urchin/​Entrees: Salmon and Sea Bass. Seems like you can’t go wrong here for incredible sea food. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

One of the best selections of fresh oysters in town. My fiancé and I have been several times now and we have never had a bad meal. This is a classic NYC gem of a restaurant with an old world flair. The servers are old fashioned and the menu is simple and elegant. Our favorites include, the pan seared Chilean sea bass and anything off the east coast oyster menu. They also make great classic cocktails!

We have been going to Aquagrill for years and usually sit at the bar for oysters and Champagne. At the bar you have a view of the two master shuckers working quickly to fill the constant stream of orders. The oyster selection changes daily based upon what verities are available. The menu is usually split between east and west coasts. Prices range from about $ 2.50 each for common blue point to more exotic species from Vancouver, BC. at $ 4.00 each. We normally go for an assortment of 24 with four different types. Coupled with a bottle of Champagne and a few crisps of bread, it’a nice lunch.
We have had regular entries a few times and even gone for a huge seafood tower at $ 150.00. All average. This place is really about the oysters. Unsure of what to order? Ask the very knowledgable and friendly bartenders.
I know that with several raw bars around the city offering «dollar oysters at the bar» it’s tempting to save the money, it’s not the same. Go for the real deal.

Food is really good. I had the salmon and the tuna appetizer also had the octopus Salad The one star goes for service. Rude waiter. Old bold man with glasses. Very rude. Treated us as we don’t belong. A real ass. Anyway go there and avoid him.

Really enjoyed the whole dining experience! We knew it would be a great seafood restaurant, but the service was a real treat! However, the star of the show was the meal itself!
My boyfriend had the grilled yellowfin tuna with crispy rice cakes and peanut wok seared veggies. Very tasty! I had the special of the night (photo) — which was a swordfish dish with Brussels sprouts and artichokes. They left me sub out the potatoes which I appreciated! And it was delicious!
I loved that they brought us little nibbles pre and post dinner. And tasty bread assortment as well. It really made the night special.

We just finished eating at this restaurant and I have to say that this place deserves a high rating. We had a 9:45pm reservation but we arrived early. While we sat, our coats were checked for us. In less than 10 minutes, we were escorted to our table.
Restaurant is not as big, but they made great use of the space. I noticed an enclosed upper seating area. Probably enclosed due to the winter weather. Let’s get to the food review!
A Waiter walked around with different slices of bread. We chose focaccia and cornbread. Nice and warm.
Appetizer– He had the clam chowder and said it was good.
The seabass spring rolls were almost the size Of egg rolls. Delicious!
The cod fish cakes and salad were good. Too much food and we still have not received our entrees!
Entrée– I ordered the Chilean seabass and it came out naked, however, my order was quickly fixed. I only took a few bites because I was already stuffed.
He ordered the sea scallops with the crab risotto and I had a few bites. Great flavor.
Overall, I enjoyed my dining experience, the service was top notch and well paced. I will be back and I will try something else.

Oyster heaven. I don’t eat oysters, but the guy said they were very fine. *
PEPPERED TUNA CARPACCIO
with Avocado, Lemon and Roasted Bermuda Onions… This was sublime. I would order it again.
MISO GLAZED CHILEAN SEA BASS
with a Korean Kimchi and Tuice Cooked String Beans in a Wasabi-​Miso Sauce… Yow! So good. Perfectly cooked… so many flavors. Best fish imaginable.
Dessert…*assortment of unusual sorbets and crème fraîche ice cream. Perfect.
* PEPPERED PEAR TATIN $ 12.50 with Crème Fraiche Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce… delicious.
Excellent service. Not too noisy. Loved it!

Perfect meal, perfect service, perfect atmosphere… Pricey… But, um it was perfect! We sat at the bar had the 3 tier Royale platter and a bunch of random goodies and martinis. $ 400 later we left, smiling in the SoHo rain.

Great seafood restaurant.
Known for their oyster bar, but they also have wonderful appetizers and entrée dishes.
Great value, as well; Apps were less than $ 15, and their entrée dishes were less than $ 30.
Service was excellent.
: A

I come here every year for my birthday as a tradition with my husband. (We had our first date on my birthday here). We came here again today, and we are never disappointed. Food, service, ambiance, the whole experience is amazing.
Tim, the barkeep, was exceptional!!! Personable, attentive, polite, speedy, and professional. We ordered the oyster sampler, as always, and the warm octopus salad (it was so good I almost fell out of my chair).
We have been collecting December 19 menus each year. We left the menu at the bar, and when we left, Tim came outside and chased us to give us today’s menus! 5 stars for Tim adding to our already-​satisfied-​experience here.
We will be back every year!

The perfect place for all your seafood cravings! I’ve been to this establishment about 3 times, and each time the food and oysters do not disappoint.
Kummato oysters are always so fresh and always leave me wanting more. Worth every dime.
Delicious bread assortment, the corn bread is amongst my favorite of the selection. Hello carbs!!! & I don’t care.
Do yourself a favor and get the warm octopus salad, super flavorful & mixed deliciously with the vinaigrette dressing. I much prefer this over the crab cake salad.

I’ve heard a lot about Aquagrill over the years, it’s very nice place. Great date place.
Everything was good but nothing particularly memorable for me. The jonah crab claws though are awesome.
The one thing that really stuck out for me was the peeky toe crab with the sun dried aioli. The risotto which I think is their most popular dish, a bit on the salty side for me. It is tasty though, mushroom risotto with scallops and peeky toe crab.
The service here is excellent. We even got a complimentary tuna appetizer that was great, just wish I knew what it was cause I’d have ordered it!
This place made me realize how much I like peeky toe crab. One more time, peeky toe crab.

Aquagrill is hands down the best place for seafood in New York and they are simply masters at seafood without equal, even in a great food rich city like New York. I’ve had dinner at Aquagrill several times and have never had anything close to a disappointing dish but have had plenty of moments of awe and delight.
Last week we had a birthday dinner for my wife and we started with two great appetizers. A spicy tuna tartare and sea bass spring rolls, both of which I would highly recommend. For our entrees I had a sea bass dish with truffle flavoring and my wife had the Bouillabaisse (Poached Cod, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams and Scallops in a Garlic Saffron Tomato Broth) and they were likewise delicious and recommendable. For dessert, my wife had a Godiva chocolate martini and we shared a chocolate crusted Walnut pie with Vanilla Ice Cream. The martini was okay but the pie was very good — very similar to a Southern pecan pie.
There are few restaurants that I would bother to even order a seafood dish because honestly they’re prepared in basically the same manner and not very interesting. Perhaps, it’s breaded, broiled, seared, hint of lemon or butter or in some thin sauce but when you bite into it you find it’s very similar to every other decent piece of fish that you’ve been served. However, Aquagrill is something special and their seafood is at a whole other level.

The oysters here are fantastic, as is the bread basket you are given.
Tried the Black Chilean Seabass, as well as the Truffle Cod, and both were well cooked and well dressed, but I feel as if they were not memorable. I would return just for oysters and drinks!

Believe it or not, we just ate our pizza and brought home the portion we couldn’t finish. But as we stopped by here, we were tempted to have cocktails which ended up having soup for me instead. The person who proposed to stop for a glass of wine copied me to have soup as well. But I also had some oysters.
The third person with us who did not feel like eating some more had the glass of wine.
I ordered the Billibi soup — classic French mussel soup. It was perfect! The flavor is exactly what I remember reminiscent of earlier days when you’d see it in French restaurant menus.
The reason why I couldn’t resist ordering oysters was because they were very large — worth what I pay for each.
I’ve been to this restaurant before for other seafood dinners before contributing to Unilocal!One thing I vouch, food here is still very good and very freshly done. Service was a little off this night though. We waited very long for our soup.
But for good food, I highly recommend this place!

I actually felt like I was on vacation during my weekday lunch at Aquagrill. They had all the windows opened up to bring fresh air and breezes into the restaurant, and when I closed my eyes, I could imagine being in the Mediterranean instead of NYC.
The service and staff are incredibly professional, which was much appreciated. My friend and I had a lovely table inside (as only four tops were outside, and the lunch hour was busy). We had some rose with our dozen oysters, all from the day’s menu as recommended by our server. For entrees, I tried the Grilled Sea Scallops with a side of French fries, and everything was just so well-​presented and delicious.

Geheimtip für Austern, Fisch und Meeresfrüchte Liebhaber. Geile Lokalität.

Moin, da bin ich wieder, zurück aus NYC, mit keinem Gramm mehr auf den Rippen wer hätte das gedacht Aquagrill und co. sei dank ;-)
Der Aquagrill ist ein einladenes Restaurant, es gibt sogar eine Veranda die Wind und kältgeschützt ist sehr angenehm auch im Winter. Die vielen hilfsbereiten Kellner stören keineswegs, sondern sind gewillt mit guten Tips dem evt. überforderten Gast auszuhelfen kein Wunder bei 15 verschiedenen Austernarten. Ich habe nur eine Sorte gegessen, die für $ 2,15 pro Stück, serviert auf einem Eisteller mit Tomatensauce (mit frischem Rettich) sowie einem in Knoblauch Balsamico Essig (wenn mich nicht alles täuscht?). Geschmacklich die beste Auster die ich je hatte Preis/​Leistung top.
Neben Austern habe ich als Vorspeise eine Art California Roll, wobei der Fisch von außen herumgelegt war (köstlich), den Gelbflossenthunfisch und den Shrimp Salat bestellt, zur Nachspeise irgendwas schokoladiges. Alles in allem ein sehr nettes Restaurant, relaxte Atmosphäre, zuvorkommende Bedienung und geniale Fischkreationen.
Ach ja, als Getränk hatte mir der Vodka Martini vom Apéritif gereicht, wirklich unschlagbar günstig ($ 8 für Grey Goose).
Eigentlich 4 Sterne, aber da der Preis im Rahmen liegt gibts nen Bonus für sehr gutes Preis/​Leistungsverhältnis.

Wir hatten ein Wochenende und wollten den Geheimtipp ausprobieren. Empfangen wurden wir von Jonathan, ein grosser Mann am Empfang, mit hanseathischen Stil. Ein unbedingtes Muss sind dort die Austern, die frisch serviert und von der Kellnerin mit einer Begeisterung und Euphorie beschrieben werden. Wir bestellten 12 Austern und erhielten jeweils 2 Austern aus unterschiedlichen Regionen Kanadas und USA, dazu den passenden Weisswein. Einfach sehr lecker. Dann zum Hauptmenüe hatten wir ein Hummersandwich bestellt, das Beste bis jetzt meines Lebens.!!Der Hummer kam an allen Ecken des Sandwichs raus und hatte einen Geschmack der mir noch heute im Munde geschmacklich vorhanden ist, einfach einzigartig.
Für mich ein Restaurant wo man einmal, wenn man in New York ist, hingehen muss.
Der Service sehr aufmerksam und nett, aber nicht aufdringlich. Einfach nur sehr gut, super!