Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Aqua

    3.8 (202 reviews)
    PriceyJapanese, Italian, Bars
    Closed • 11:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Aqua Takeout or Delivery

    Aqua Photos

    AQUA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Aqua

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Dog turd dinner for $175 2 ppl sharing one 6 inch pizza (plus a single beer).  Starving- we had to go directly to another restaurant after.
    Sandi T.

    DON'T BE A SUCKER!!! LOOK AT THE FOOD PORTIONS!!!!!! When selecting this restaurant Aqua Roma in NYC, I was ready to spend $200 per person to spoil ourselves with a high-end meal. But this place is a JOKE! The $70 steak was less than 4 bites. The $30 potatoes were 1/2 CUP. The $28 pizza was 6 inches diameter. After spending $350 for 2 people, we had to go find another restaurant for a second meal.

    Kaiso Gimlet (~$23)
    Aya E.

    Ordered: Kaiso Gimlet (~$23): Kombu & basil infused Hendricks gin, extra dry vermouth, elderflower & lychee Zen Garden Mocktail (~$14): cucumber, celery, ginger, lemon Tuna & Salmon Tartar (~$48): caviar, yuzu kosho soy sauce & lotus root chips Fried Calamari (~$25): with lemon & aioli Fiori Di Zucca (~$18): squash blossom fritti, ricotta, truffle honey & parmesan cream Aburi Toro Roll (~$30): with pickled truffle, avocado, cucumber & kanpyo tempura Salmon Scallop Roll (~$26): with tobiko, avocado, smoked daikon & beetroot caviar Spicy Tuna Roll (~$26): with cucumber, avocado, leek & anori powder Aburi Salmon Roll (~$26): with prawn tempura, cucumber, shichie, & spicy yuzu-miso Mafalde (~$36): slow-cooked oxtail ragu, Nero d'avola & summer black truffle Aya's take: Aqua is bringing together 2 concepts under 1 roof - Italian (Aqua Roma) & Japanese (Aqua Kyoto). The interior is sexy, dramatic, and sleek. It's perfect for a girls night or pre-party dinner. We came for a girls night dinner and honestly my biggest complaint was how loud it was. If you want to catch up with friends or actually have a conversation, this is lowkey not the place for that. I started with the Kaiso Gimlet which was so well-made. All the flavors were well-incorporated and it was refreshing, light, and not sweet. Great for sipping! Most of the dishes we got were well-executed but some were just not worth the price (like the Fried Calamari). The standouts were the Tuna & Salmon Tartar (which by the way - the menu says $41 and we were charged $48) and all the Sushi Rolls. My favorite rolls were the Aburi Toro Roll & Salmon Scallop Roll. The Fiori Di Zucca was pillowy, creamy, and delicately battered! I liked the contrast in textures from the crispy exterior to the soft filling, to the rich parmesan cream. Even the Mafalde was good but just a bit too heavy. All in all, I like the Japanese/Italian concept and because the menu is so big, I would highly recommend coming in a group especially if you came to eat! Definitely worth trying once!

    Shamario P.

    I completely played myself coming here. Kinda ruined my night for valentines. If you have money to blow just because you're bored, I'd recommend here. I should've know the portion sizes were gonna be smaller than canned food for $35+ each. But what made it worse was with my allergy to eggs, my options were very limited and the chefs were no longer able to make noodles that I was able to eat, forcing me to order something $20 more expensive. Dont get me wrong, the space looked amazing visually and our server was cool but the best part of my experience was the soju and appetizer. The appetizer came with more food than the entree. We literally made a joke saying what if they come out with a single beef rib for $50 and thats exactly what happened. The rib tasted like regular meatloaf. Definitely would not come back.

    RW Tiramisu
    David V.

    Food was great.The service was great. The low dim lighting gives the restaurant such a nice ambiance.

    Danielle A.

    Absolutely loved Aqua! Went here for a girls nights and ambiance was absolutely beautiful. We had a super attentive waitress that made our entire experience great. I ordered the fried calamari and cacio pepe. The cacio pepe had such a fun presentation! I'll definitely be coming back to try some of the items on the Japanese menu.

    Valentina V.

    I honestly wish my first experience here was not on Valentine's Day , this review is so over due but I'm going to comment bc I know and see the potential of the food on the menu and I know I go back I will have a better dining experience , I personally don't like going out on Valentine's Day especially when they have pre existing dining menu for a day but my s/o really wanted to surprise me since I spoke about wanting to go here , the restaurant is absolutely magical and beautiful and the service was ehhh but I do also understand it was Valentine's Day and how busy it was how we for the price a lot of things that happened were unacceptable . I must have asked several time to my waitress for a new utensil she passed by and kept asking the tables next to me if everything was alright and if she can help them but I had asked twice if I could please have a new fork bc mine had fallen on the floor and she just simply Forgot till I asked someone else and he grabbed in not even one foot away from me -.- ..... I let it go because again hey it's V day there is probably a lot going on especially behind the scenes , the presentstion of the food was exquisite but the food was horrible aside from the tartar meh options which are obvious they are and will be served cold and raw the raviolo was absolutely gross it was cold like if it sat for an hour and was tasteless the only thing I honestly enjoyed was the fried artichoke and I wish I could have just ate that , I didn't eat much but I made due with my time and appreciated being out and able to get a table like I said I wish my first experience wasn't that day but it was I would like to go back to see if I can have a better experience w service and food but I do not recommend any holiday please do not do it I wanted more on the aqua Roma side but the menu for both aqua Roma. And aqua Kyoto was combined so I had no choice w the food options

    Seafood pasta very small amount

    We traveled from Virginia to celebrate my birthday in New York City and chose this restaurant for my birthday dinner because its Restaurant Week advertisement featured pasta prepared tableside in a cheese wheel. Unfortunately, our experience was nothing like what was advertised. The ambiance was nice, but the service was horrible from the beginning. The first server was rude when we mentioned that we were there for Restaurant Week and asked whether we had made a reservation. We told her that we had, and she walked away and never returned. Another server eventually came over. We asked if we could have some bread, and he said yes, but he never brought it. We were also given a completely different Restaurant Week menu from the $60 menu that had been advertised. When we asked about the cheese-wheel pasta, we were told it was only available on the regular menu. This felt like a bait-and-switch because the tableside cheese-wheel presentation was the main reason we chose this restaurant. The food we received was bland and not filling. To make matters worse, no one informed us that soda refills were not free. We were charged $8 for each refill--a total of $24. I came here expecting a special birthday dinner, but I left hungry, disappointed, and feeling as though we had wasted $199. Between the misleading advertisement, rude and inattentive service, unexpected charges, and bland food, this was an extremely disappointing birthday experience.

    Amanda W.

    Went to aqua again with a group of friends and did not disappoint ! I love the flavors and blends of Japanese and Italian in this restaurant. One person in our group did not care too much for Japanese food, which is why the Italian menu was perfect. So I ordered a blend of both worlds ! Only thing to note is that if you make a reservation at Aqua Kyoto there is No Italian menu!! I did not know this. But the host was able to change our reservation to the Roma side which I was happy about ! Will absolutely be back!

    Crispy chicken kaarage & Negroni for $20!
    Tien N.

    Great happy hour spot- ambience is so inviting with a posh bar, fun atmosphere, beautiful rope feature and cool lighting. Coat check was available, such a nice touch. Happy hour combo for $20 includes any cocktail + featured food on the bar menu. Negroni and Spicy Tuna Maki Roll for $20? Sign me up! Cocktails and food came out quickly and tasted delicious. My coworkers also tried the combo with crispy chicken kaarage and the calamari. Great deal if sharing too! Definitely recommend Aqua. Hopefully can drop by for dinner next time.

    lobster pizza
    Michelle O.

    Chic flatiron spot. Good for happy hour, girls night out, group gathering etc. Staff very friendly and attentive. My drink pretty tasty love anything with passionfruit Had the lobster pizza not bad. Had a slight bitter taste in the crust. Main reason for my trip the oxtail malfadina. Yummy and enjoyable If area stop in and check out.

    Amy W.

    gorgeous interior for japanese-italian food! I unfortunately did not takeaway a strong sense of fusion between these two cuisines -- but I thought the Japanese food was delicious! I especially enjoyed the fresh sushi and tempura -- and they had a white fish that was actually the best i've ever had (even better than nobu, IMO). service was fast. it was a very large space, including a private area on the second floor for events. it was pretty empty when I went for lunch, though.

    Lychee martini
    Ojuolape M.

    I think this restaurant is beautiful, and that's just about it. I wish I had a better food experience here. I don't mind paying for good food, but the food here was not it. The blandness of the dishes was disappointing. I came here for a friend's birthday expecting a great meal, but it turned out to be below average. The waiter was great, but I came here for the food.

    Gnocchi
    Elissa D.

    Super sexy spot perfect for a date night, girls night out or a big celebration. Portions are average and plated beautifully. Service was a bit slow when we went but it's not a place where you want to be in and out of. On saturdays they have a DJ too. Perfect clubby dinner without the noise being unbearable

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 4
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julie D.
    281
    1014
    6282

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara B.
    3
    25
    68

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of david l.
    115
    1125
    3370

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yara F.
    216
    788
    1264

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Great food. Amazing cocktails. Staff is super friendly and attentive. Both cuisines served here shine in their own right.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Veronica S.

    Veronica S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Aqua

    You might also consider

    Tensai - ebi niku udon ($18)

    Tensai

    4.3(61 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Midtown East

    I randomly found this spot while looking for a new spot to get lunch. I surprised more people don't…read moreknow about this fantastic udon shop. I started off with an order of Karaage ($10) for appetizer, which I probably did not need. Comes with a spicy mayo dipping sauce, which taste great. For entree, I got the Ebi Niku Udon, which consisted of both sliced cooked beef and two pieces of shrimp tempura on the side. Loved the thick and chewy udon noodles and I fished the entire dash broth. Refreshing and not saturated with salt. I'd probably come back in the future if I'm craving udon for lunch.

    I had stopped by this little hole in the wall a handful of times before stopping in several months…read moreago during a cold winter day. The place was pretty quiet, and the staff was friendly. To drink, I had a Hot Organic Super Matcha Tea for 4.95. It was alright tea, and I wish teas were included in the price point, as otherwise, this place feels pretty traditional. In terms of food, I only ordered from the seasonal menu, so I'm not sure how the rest of the dishes are, but from what I had, I would go back for a light traditional meal. My appetizer was the Dashimaki Tamago/だし巻まき卵たま, or sweet savory omelet with daikon for $6.98. This came with three pieces along with a little dollop of grated radish. The pieces had a light sweetness to them along with a bit of savoriness. They were juicy and a bit bouncy while maintaining some softness. This was standard and good. My main dish was the $19.98 Beef Tan Tan Udon, or ground sirloin beef, spicy broth, baby bok choy, kikurage mushroom, scallions, and sesame seeds. While I have preferred udon from spots like Raku, the udon had a mild chew to it, and they were still good. The broth had a mix of sweetness and spiciness with a nice depth of flavor. The vegetables inside tasted fresh, and the meat added some richness. This was good as well. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to go here, but the food was good. If you're in the area and looking for no frills Japanese dining in a more comfortable atmosphere at pretty decent Midtown East prices, I would recommend this place.

    Photos
    Tensai
    Tensai - Karaage

    Karaage

    Tensai - Spicy Cucumber $8.98 (Persian cucumber with chili oil, garlic chips and chili thread)

    See all

    Spicy Cucumber $8.98 (Persian cucumber with chili oil, garlic chips and chili thread)

    Sakagura

    Sakagura

    4.2(2k reviews)
    1.2 mi•Midtown East
    •$$$$

    Food: 4/5 Service bumped it to a 5/5 because all of the…read morestaffs were so friendly. From the moment we walked in to us finding the bathroom and waving anyone down for our requests. We got the fish carpaccio to start and it was pretty good! It tasted like what I expected from the description. The miso soup was also good, not too salty and slightly different than your trusty takeout sushi spot. I got the dashi omelette and it was a little sweet and savory. It paired nicely with the radish. I got the cold, plum udon. Which was refreshing and a bit sour from the plums. The broth was sippable since it wasn't too salty. My friend got the mushroom cold soba and it came with mashed yam. This dish tasted more like what I was expecting since the sourness of my dish kinda was unexpected, but I still enjoyed it! My friend also got a drink and it was SO strong. I think they're serious about their drinks here I didn't see any mocktails or cocktails. They gave us black sesame ice cream on the house since her drinks came out later than expected, which was really nice! I'm not a black sesame fan, but this place's ice cream was good! You're able to chew on the black sesame's bits and pieces in there. Overall, I do think they nail Japanese food, it's supposed to be simple and clean. So if you're looking for creative and big umami flavors, that's not going to be this place. But if you want authentic, Japanese food, this is the place!

    This is one of the best izakaya restaurants in Manhattan, and it keeps bringing me back time after…read moretime. The moment you walk in, you're instantly transported to Japan. The décor features light natural wood and bamboo, creating a warm, authentic atmosphere, with an impressive collection of sake lining the wall. The food is outstanding. We started with the seasonal soft-shell crab, which was incredibly fresh and fried to perfection. The daily sashimi special was exceptionally fresh, and the salad was light and refreshing. The must-order Wagyu beef, served on a hot stone, simply melted in our mouths and was unforgettable. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and I enjoyed every single bite. The impeccable service was the icing on the cake. The staff was attentive throughout our meal, making sure we had everything we needed without ever being intrusive. I absolutely loved the entire dining experience and can't wait to come back again!

    Photos
    Sakagura - Happy Friday!

    Happy Friday!

    Sakagura - Hot "Inaniwa" Udon

    Hot "Inaniwa" Udon

    Sakagura - Lunch Time. Happy Friday!

    See all

    Lunch Time. Happy Friday!

    Sozai

    Sozai

    4.3(184 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Midtown West

    Needed some small bites after work before going to a Broadway show and Sozai came up on my search…read more They were packed around 5:30 PM with the happy hour crowd so I was glad I made a reservation. Their reservations also book up quickly. I made my reservation a week before. We were seated in one of their booths which was cute, comfy, cozy, and clean. It was just my husband and i. They have good happy hour deals, but I don't remember how many dishes we ordered were on HH. We got the tako wasa, chicken karaage, kibinago, and mentaiko pasta. All were great! All my favorites and perfect for a quick dinner. Their menu is pretty extensive -- I wished we had more time to order a bunch of other dishes. Good portions for sharing. We were surprised we had some leftovers. Definitely a good spot for groups to order a bunch of tapas and mains. Service was good and the food and drinks came out within good timing. We'll definitely have to go another time when we're in the area with some friends and order a lot more. Can't wait to return.

    It was a surprisingly chilly evening this summer when I left an incredible production of Oh Mary!,…read morehungry, without a set dinner plan. Craving ramen, I discovered this place on Yelp and walked in asking for a table for 4. After about a 15 min wait, we were seated at a lovely booth. The menu featured almost too many items, kind of like a Japanese izakaya diner of sorts-- they had everything from ramen to donburi to sushi and izakaya classics. My partner felt like this was too many items to offer to possibly execute anything very well, so he was skeptical. We were hungry and ordered quite a bit of food, including fried squid legs, karaage, gyudon, veggie ramen, beef noole soup, and a scallop roll. The scallop roll was not very flavorful, and the karaage's pieces were too big. Otherwise, everything was pretty tasty, including the veggie ramen, which I found surprising. Food came out quickly and service was kind and not overbearing. Would totally recommend if you're in the area.

    Photos
    Sozai - Bar area

    Bar area

    Sozai - Sake Clam Miso

    Sake Clam Miso

    Sozai - Black sesame ice cream and red bean

    See all

    Black sesame ice cream and red bean

    Aqua - japanese - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...