I went to Acqua al 2 for Valentine's Day, and it was absolutely amazing. We chose their special dining experience, and it honestly exceeded expectations. They had everything set up beautifully--separate tables for two, a rose on the table, candlelight, and elegant touches that made the whole night feel intimate and special. The food was delicious--so good it's hard to even put into words. Every course felt thoughtfully prepared and worth savoring. You can tell they put real care into both the presentation and the flavor. Whether you go solo, with friends, or with your partner, this is definitely a go-to spot. Great atmosphere, incredible food, and an experience that actually feels memorable. Highly recommend. read more

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The service here is always impeccable. However, the food disappointed me this time around. I came 3 years ago for a birthday dinner and it was such a spectacular experience all around. I can't help but feel the food has fallen off some since then. The asparagus and bean sides did not wow, and the 2 seafood pastas (one was the special) we got were very bland. The noodles of the lamb ragu were delicious and definitely homemade. The risotto was my favorite dish. Big fan of the beef carpaccio as well. Nothing to complain about with the spinach radicchio ricotta balls. The florentine steak special really needs to be served with flakey salt like their sister restaurant in Italy does. Flawless wine list and cocktails. Still a lovely spot for special occasions! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Sometimes you just need a place 'with a tablecloth'. Had enough of takeaway and fastish food. This is the real deal. Delicious food professionals serving ... great place for special occasions including 'just a good meal without hassle!' Fresh ingredients and nice decor ... alas not the dessert menu for me , not choco centric enuff! And no cannoli read more

Acqua Al 2 - Who wants Italian food?! - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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I booked this restaurant for my anniversary and was very pleasantly surprised. It's a great special occasion option. It is a busy spot, and can be loud right by the entrance, but was quiet at our table. The ambience is great, very romantic. They have a great wine list and cocktail list. I got a glass of white which was great and paired well with the rest of my meal. The food was great. We started with the burrata special with grapefruit, honey and pistachios. It was absolutely amazing, we devoured it. I also loved the bread (and it was free!) and it kept flowing. For my main, I got the spaghetti a la vongole. It was so delicious, very well-balanced, buttery (but not oily) and the clams were great. There was plenty of bread to sop up all of that great sauce. For dessert, I got the tiramisu. It was so good, one of the best I have had in a long time. And since it was our anniversary, the desserts came out with a candle. Our server also brought us a small bag of biscotti which was a great touch. read more

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I really wanted to give this place five stars as I was super excited to finally try this restaurant. My husband and I have been to Annapolis multiple times. We passed by this restaurant pretty often and really weren't quite certain what it was. This past weekend he and I decided that we were going to try a new Italian restaurant in our favorite city in Maryland, Annapolis. The waitress we had was wonderful. She did an excellent job explaining everything to us. The problem started when she went over the specials, I decided to go with a seafood special that included pasta. However, when it came out to me, it was risotto, not pasta. My husband decided to take my food and eat it, rather than send it back and it have to be re-cooked or who knows what. He said it was pretty good. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the pieces of lobster that were in the risotto were very good. When the waitress came back, we brought it to her attention and you could tell she was pissed for us. She then brought out a small piece of Cheesecake. That was really nice of her, like I said you could tell she was upset. The order was not put together the way she sent it in. My husband and I didn't make a fuss over the order being incorrect. In fact he is a real MVP for eating the risotto. My husband's food on the other hand was delicious. His pasta was perfect. It was fresh and the sauce on it, was delicious and it was not a large portion. We both had a drink. the bread was delicious and the ambience in the restaurant was amazing. I don't think I will go back only because I do believe there are other places to try and the prices were pretty expensive. My hubby and I will definitely spend money on food, but I have been to nicer places and not spent quite as much on pasta. 3 1/2 stars. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Eggplant was hard and to be sent back. Liz the bartender spent the whole time talking to her friends. She rushed us out asking if we wanted to check instead of waiting for us to ask. I hate when bartenders spends all their time otherwise engaged. read more

Best upscale restaurant in downtown Annapolis BY FAR. Go to for any and all special occasions. The ambiance is incredible, perfect lighting, perfect music, and just a very classy atmosphere. Servers are attentive, helpful, and genuine. And the food? Stellar. It feels truly authentic. My personal favorites are the gnocchi (soft and flavorful with a pesto sauce), and the vodka penne (cannot get enough of this, sauce is INCREDIBLE). Could not recommend this enough for a date night or anniversary meal! read more

This used to be my favorite Italian restaurant in DC until they closed so I was so glad to hear they reopened in Annapolis! My husband and I made the drive for a date night and were so glad we did. We started off with the baked ricotta and cheese balls that were to die for. So cheesy and saucy. Was a great way to start the meal. When then split the penne alla vodka and steak trio with asparagus. All three were delicious. The penne alla vodka was so cheesy and flavorful, maybe the best I've had! The steaks were all cooked to a perfect medium rare, as requested. We made sure to save room for dessert and split the dessert sampler which was a fabulous choice! You had the ability to try a little bit of everything and all 4 were delectable! The staff was very attentive, knowledgeable and kind. We will be back! read more

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The Chilean sea bass was hands down the best thing I tried -- cooked perfectly with a super flaky, buttery inside and a nice crispy edge. It had this light, fresh flavor that didn't need a ton of extras to shine, and every bite just melted in my mouth. You can tell they really know how to handle their seafood here. The lobster and shrimp risotto was... fine. The seafood tasted fresh, and it was creamy like you'd expect, but it didn't wow me the way the sea bass did. Solid, but not something I'd come back just for. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Chilean Seabass - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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This place was a nice vibe! I loved the ambiance. I walked into this restaurant on a whim and sat at the bar. Now, the bartender closer to me wasn't paying me any attention at first but we were all good once the other bartender came over to assist me. They started me off wit the bread and olive oil. I wasn't the biggest fan. The Espresso martini was pretty good. I ordered the Pici alla Fiaccheraia, which was tasty. The pasta itself was thick and the sauce was spicy with a hint of garlic. I also ordered the Filetto al Mirtillo, a filet mignon covered in a blueberry reduction. I was surely surprised. It was the bomb. At first, I was hesitant hearing the flavors but it did not disappoint. I was so intrigued. I actually can't wait to come back and try the steak again. read more

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I was visiting from out of state and had dinner 4/3 - service was outstanding- very knowledgeable of menu - I had the grilled veal chop with asparagus was delicious- wine selection was amazing- friendly atmosphere and perfect Annapolis vibe -truly enjoyed read more

A former Washington, DC establishment, Acqua Al 2 brings the classic vibes with a new twist to their Italian restaurant in Annapolis. We recently ventured here for an overnight trip and were not disappointed. We started the evening with the salad sampler and martinis. We absolutely loved the variety and were excited to be able to try all three dinner salads. For our main pasta dishes we had the Bucatini al Mascarpone e Funghi and the Tagliatelle al Ragu Toscano. Both were perfection in their own ways. The bucatini was vegetable forward and the tagliatelle was much more rich and savory. Overall, we loved this restaurant. The service was great and the staff was very kind. We definitely will be back! read more

I went here once years ago. I still tell people about the blueberry reduction filet I had there almost 10 years ago. It was the best steak I've ever had. I can't get you out of my mind. read more

My wife and I have walked past this restaurant numerous times so we decided to reserve a very early dinner (3:45) after we went to the Parley Room for a couple of drinks. The atmosphere was already buzzing, as there was a wedding party upstairs and at the bar. We were seated promptly and bread and oil was brought to our table, I wish they would add some seasoning to the oil. We ordered a couple of drinks baked ricotta chesse balls (very good especially the red sauce which we used to dip our bread) and the black truffle pasta and what was supposed to be a scallops and lobster pasta, but what came out was a risotto dish. Our waitress checked on us several times and we told her about the dish and she looked disappointed that the order came out wrong, she brought us a small slice of cheesecake, which was DELISH. The truffle pasta dish was good, but for $57 we expected more and the risotto dish was okay, the scallops were large and good, but it would have been better as a pasta dish. read more

The experience at Acqua AI 2 was incredible and amazing. The food was outstanding. The veal porterhouse was on point and very very tender. The wine that was paired with the veal was superb and hint of melody of fruit flavor which balanced out the rich sauce of the veal and potatoes, read more

I was passing by and noticed the beautiful bar. I stopped in for one of their premier cocktails. Their Espresso Martini is made with in-house homemade coffee liqueur. It is excellent! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Espresso Martini (house specialty). - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

$235 a bit pricy for (2) people with only one glass of wine each, but good for a date night out or special occasion, wouldn't recommend as a regular weekly night out spot! My Chilean Seabass special was amazing!! read more

Acqua Al 2 - The chilean Seabass special was amazing, a bit pricy to be a regular eat out location. But perfect for a date night out or special occasion - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

We had a delightful anniversary dinner with wonderful ambiance, terrific service, and delicious food. We particularly enjoyed the burrata and the branzino read more

In the name of all things DIVINE and HOLY add this amazing dining experience to the list! There is not a perfect starting point for this review so imma just jump in head first and figure it out as I go along! The cocktails : you'd be hard pressed to find any to supersede their YUM and "I need just one more" factor! The ricotta and spinach balls (Strozzapreti al Radicchio Rosso) are heaven and my go to appetizer! Divine! My daughter is completely allergic to dairy so the Pici alla Fiaccheraia (pasta in a spicy tomato sauce with a touch of garlic) is her go to and TASTE AMAZZZZZING! I actually believe they can adapt other items but she is obsessed with this!! For my mains I have tried SEVERAL! When I want pasta, I do the Mushroom pasta (Cannelloni Mascarpone e Funghi) - OMG! Delish! If I'm feeling like steak, it is either the Filetto al Mirtillo Hand-carved filet mignon cooked in a blueberry reduction sauce or the Filetto all'Aceto Balsamico Hand-carved filet mignon cooked in a balsamic reduction sauce! There are not enough adjectives for the amazing flavors of these dishes! Just know that if I had to have an absolute LAST MEAL, it would be one of these! All the sides are yummy and I have never been disappointed by any but I came here to highlight my MAINS! The service is top tier and place is always full so make a reservation! You want to know why I WAS going to take a star away?? Because they LEFT Eastern Market in DC and moved ALL THE WAY to Annapolis! What used to be the date night spot for hubby and me is a "ride out there on special occasions" spot! We miss them so!! read more

This is a very late review! But we thoroughly enjoyed the authentic experience of Acqua al 2. We shared a pasta dish to start Tagliatelle al Ragú Toscano and a salad. Our entree choices were the Filetto di Branzino and Controfilleto al Pepe Verde. Both very good and perfectly prepared. The service throughout our dining experience was just the right amount of attentiveness. We were fortunate to grab a reservation at the last minute on this early evening as reservations can be hard to come by. I was happy to have finally tried Acqua Al 2 and definitely recommend. read more

This is my second visit to this fine establishment. Once again, very good service! I like the decor and vibe of this place. It does get very load in the back dining area. Since there are already two fantastic steak houses in Annapolis I focus on their pasta dishes. One person in our party had a steak and thought it was very good. I believe they excel at pasta entrees. I also give their salads high marks. The wine list is a little on the expensive side, which is typical for Annapolis restaurants. Overall, an okay price/value relationship. I repeat, the service is over the top, or a least it was on my two visits. If you are visiting Annapolis, this is one of your better choices in a city where most restaurants are mediocre. Make reservations or wait a very long time for a table. read more

Menu and atmosphere had great potential but food was very disappointing for 3 of 4 of us. Server was engaging. I usually give a restaurant and second try but not so this one. read more

What a wonderful surprise! My wife and I were traveling on a long drive back from a wedding and in need of a relaxing pit stop. We found Acqua while walking down the street and happened upon one of our favorite meals we've had in a while. We shared the Pollo con Erbe Aromatiche (a grilled chicken breast for each of us) over arugula and tomatoes and it was one of the best-cooked chicken dishes either of us have had in quite a while. We also shared the pappardelle in a lamb ragu that was exactly what we needed after too much New Jersey Turnpike on a holiday weekend. Our server was a complete joy to interact with and the entire restaurant staff was friendly and accommodating. As someone who used to travel to Annapolis more frequently, my only regret is not discovering a meal here sooner. read more

Meh! Two friends and I made a reservation and were seated in the back room (which felt more like a tavern than the front of the restaurant). We started with a burrata special, which was fine. For our entrees we split three pasta dishes. The risotto was okay but a little undercooked. The seafood pasta tasted like the sea (not appetizing). And the beef ragu was average (not as good as Carpaccio's). Our waiter was attentive and well-informed. Not sure I would go back. read more

We were very surprised by the quality of the food on Thursday night! Both of us got poisoned. Ribeye steak was horrible. Mushroom was with suspicion smell and taste. We spent very bad night after the dinner. Never again! read more

Really impressed. We have wanted to go for a while. The decor and vibe are so cool! Our server was fantastic, super knowledgeable and friendly. Next time I think I will do the sampler specials they have to try more pastas. read more

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We have been in search of an Italian restaurant for years since we were stationed in Northern Italy. We never eat Italian anymore because we've been so disappointed. BUT, not here!! For my birthday weekend, we took a leap of faith and walked in here and the ambiance is super intimate, while being packed! It's a hard balance to create and achieve. We had the Bucatini al Mascarpone e Funghi to share, followed by the Bistecca alla Fiorentina with grilled asparagus and shaved parmesan. Bucatini is a perfect portion for two. The bistecca is enough for three. Our server was outstanding and knowledge and recommended the best red wine to go with the meal. We cannot wait to take our friends and family back here. read more

Excellent food and service! I sat at the bar and since everything in the menu looked amazing, I had the server surprise me with both my dinner and dessert. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Menu - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Been here a few times and have a lovely experience each time. Food is delicious, service is wonderful and it's a great location.

Delicious food and great date place. The speakesy downstairs is really cool too! Great drinks and decent wine available.

We came here after wanting to enjoy an evening out in Annapolis. We were able to get a reservation last minute, and based on how full they were for a Friday evening highly recommend getting one beforehand. Unfortunately, I do not remember all the items since we decided to order some items from the specials they verbally told us. We started with a tomato based soup that had breadcrumbs in it, and the strozzapreti al pomodoro. Everything came out perfectly hot and full of flavor. I especially loved how they timed the soup first before the spinach and ricotta balls. Next we had our entrees a seafood pasta from the specials that night and the topini al sugo verde with a side of grilled shrimp. Once again everything came out to perfection. For dessert we ended with the cheesecake and it's a must have. It's made with ricotta cheese and is so light and airy and one of the best I have had. This spot is definitely great for a date night! We had Kevin and we were absolutely the best and had the best recommendations on what to order for drinks and food. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Acqua Al 2 - Espresso martini - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

We visited Annapolis for a long weekend and headed to Acqua Al 2 after enjoying some cocktails at their sister/basement speakeasy, HB. To start, the service at the host stand was inadequate. The man who appeared to be in charge was dismissive and did not welcome us when we approached the stand. The younger male who escorted us to our table was very pleasant, though. Plus, our server, Kevin, earned 5 stars. He was upbeat, clearly knew his stuff, and we enjoyed his service. I made a reservation for 2 several weeks prior and I was slightly disappointed that we were seated at a table for 2 in a back room, near the waiter/waitress service station/computer screens. There was almost consistently one or multiple servers behind us, entering orders or chatting to each other. We skipped appetizers since we had indulged in the fries at HB prior. I ordered the penne alla vodka and my partner ordered the clam pasta. In retrospect, I wish I would have done more Yelp research and ordered a red sauce pasta as their offerings seem to get rave reviews. The vodka pasta was pretty average, no crazy flavors and a bit of a sad presentation. However, my partner loved the clam pasta and was thoroughly impressed. Portions are great--not too overwhelming. To follow, we ordered their infamous light and fluffy cheesecake which was delicious. read more

We went to Annapolis to enjoy a day out and were craving Italian. We saw this place and the sign on the front door said they opened at 2 PM. At 2:02, the manager open the door and let us in. We were greeted by a woman who said they were closed. We advised her that the manager had just left us in and she said they didn't open till four. We pointed out that the front door said they opened at two on Saturdays. at that time, the manager came back and told her she was mistaken, and we were seated. That was an omen. We should've left then. We reviewed the menu and it seems like most options are vegan, which is wonderful, except I needed some protein with my meal and they were not advertised as being primarily vegan. There was one full page of steaks, but other than that, not a lot of protein options. There was also an entrée that included a chicken breast, but there was nothing else that came with it, no sides - just a chicken breast with gravy. We asked our server if there were any entrées with shrimp. He told us that they typically have shrimp and he would ask the chef. He came back and said there were no shrimp and read us the specials. When I told him that I really needed protein with my meal and that I do not eat beef that it is not grass fed, suddenly the shrimp were available. I ordered a pasta dish with shrimp on top. When our meals were served, mine included a small bowl that had one layer of noodles, like a side dish and three shrimp. My husband's meal was equally dismal. With food like this, you would think they would go over board to ensure excellent service. Unfortunately, this was a fail on every point and we will never go back. read more

We purchased a gift card for a relative as a birthday present. The restaurant refused to honor it. Asked for a refund and received promptly. Be wary of e-gift certificates. read more

8/30/25 my family had dinner at 730. The table we sat at was directly in front of the bar. The server was not friendly, no smile, and no small talk. She would be looking out the window when she was at our table. For a nice classy place she made the evening uncomfortable. Never asked how our meals were. read more

Exceptional experience. Ambiance is great upstairs but I really live downstairs. What a cool vibe down there. Service is on point. What amazing staff. Food is wonderful. I love this place. So lively. read more

Acqua Al 2 - Upper level dining room - Tuscan Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Overpriced and certainly not traditional Italian fare. Atmosphere was loud, no different from most of the establishments off of main street. Good service but once again overpriced and not authentic. My experience is from living in Naples, Italy for several years. read more

We've been here several times. Maybe over 10 times. We've celebrated holidays, birthdays, and brought guests to acqua al 2. Even our foodie toddler loves this place. Foods good, my husband always gets the steak with blueberry sauce, I order different things -- some are to rave for, some are nothing spectacular but always good. read more

Great Italian food. Pasta and steak. Open since August 2022 in an old Bank building next to Government House and the State House, Alqua 2 is an enjoyable dining experience. Classic Italian, the owner trained in Florence, Italy and previously ran a restaurant in DC. I came in at 430 when they opened and ordered a drink. Dinner/food wasn't available until 5 pm. There is a basement bar with another name and entrance. Drinks were good with fancy glasses. Chairs at the bar were different and comfortable once you figured them out. The gnocchi Al Verdi was excellent! The gnocchi was not too dense. The sauce not very pesto-ey, with a creamy flavor. Dessert was also excellent. Panna cotta drizzled with sweetness. The restaurant got very busy at 5 but not too loud. A couple of fun options were the tasting menu of pasta or salad. You do need someone to share the tasting menu with (2 person minimum). This place is likely to become a foodie hot spot. read more

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Made reservations, our table was so close to the next table. It was loud, very difficult for a romantic conversation. Server messed up our order bc he forgot to ring it in. Tomato Soup was meh. Pasta undercooked. Blueberry steak delish. Balsamic steak was delish. Grilled steak was burnt. read more

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