The wait staff was understanding when we arrived 20 minutes late due to awful traffic on Duck Road. We did have to sit outside, but it ended up working out nicely - we had a great view over the sound. Food wise, the Bangin' Shrimp and Corn and Crab soup were both very tasty starters, though the entrees (Red Snapper and Shrimp and Andouille pasta) were a bit more standard fare. Our drinks were also not quite as interesting as others we had at nearby restaurants on the trip. Overall, a tasty meal and very nice staff, but we probably wouldn't go back a second time on another trip. read more

The atmosphere is very nice especially early evening watching the sunset. Great place for romantic date. Our waitress was fantastic. Very friendly, made sure our drinks were full and orders were correct. Our family has been going there over a decade during vacation. Couple of concerning points... dinner menu is somewhat limited. The lunch menu has more of a variety. We noticed this year the duck dish suffered from shrinkflation. additional choices for sides would be nice.. When you're reviewing the online menu, make sure you're looking at the lunch or the dinner menu. There is a difference. read more

Went on a perfect weather day and sat outside. Great choice. My wife ordered the catch of the day - scallops with a veggie medley that was anything but typical. Fresh fiddleheads, peashoots and Morrell mushrooms finished in a smoked hollandaise. WOW! I did the steak frites. The steak was perfect. I like more potato like frites. These were crispy tiny potato sticks. But all exceptionally tasty! Our server CJ gave great recommendations and helped me choose a really good Sauvignon blanc. We were there at sunset, so it was especially lovely to eat outside. We'll be back! read more

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We decided we wanted to go somewhere upscale for our anniversary and Aqua did not disappoint. We sat outside, which I recommend if it's not too hot. It was cool seeing the fish and turtles right next to our table. We got the crab dip as an appetizer. It was really good, one of the best crab dips I've ever had. The portion was very generous but made for good leftovers the next day. I got the crab cakes for my main course and they were delicious. I loved the Israeli couscous it came with but wished it didn't have the spinach cooked in it, that was my only change for our whole meal. We ended the meal with Aqua's homemade sorbet. The Raspberry and Mango were both very good, the raspberry was a little tart. We'd definitely come back! read more

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The food is good but the atmosphere is awesome. We were able to appreciate a lot of unique wildlife since we were seated right next to the water from crabs to fish to turtles. Complimentary bread, crab dip was good, and fresh caught tuna was enjoyable. They have numerous dessert options but their in-house made sorbet was enjoyable, mango for sweet and raspberry for tart. read more

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Amazing service. Incredible view and the food was so delicious! Nice serving sizes, including the appetizer. We had the sweet corn and crap soup and it was perfectly balanced, nice chunks of crab and great portion. Lunch was mahi tacos. Two huge tacos, stuffed full of fish and other yummy ingredients! The drinks were also very good. Highly suggest the El Capitan! Fresh, perfect and yum! We will be back!! read more

The fluid was absolutely delicious. My husband and I both had the Caesar salad to start. I had the chicken breast and he had the catch of the day. We ended with the flourless chocolate torte and the crème brûlée cheesecake. Outstanding! We sat at the bar and the service was excellent. The bartenders did not give us their name so I can't shout them out but we enjoyed chatting with them. read more

Wonderful restaurant right on the water with a view of sunset. Waiter was informative and answered all our questions. Special was a Golden Tile fish which we had never heard of. Was told it was a light, white fish that feeds on shrimp and scallops! I highly recommend it as it is delicious. Salads were generous, bread was plentiful, and dessert (snickerdoofle bread pudding) was yummy! Highly recommended this restaurant! read more

Lovely sound side views abound at Aqua in Duck, NC. Sit outside for informal dining or inside for a more formal experience. Enjoy a drink at the bar, watch a sunset, sit by a fire pit. We dined inside and enjoyed drinks and a delicious meal, starting with the Flu Shot cocktail of citron vodka, orange liquor, lime, and blood orange juice. The sweet corn crab soup is exquisite. The strawberry arugula cashew goat cheese salad is refreshing. The shrimp and grits with andouille sausage is perfectly portioned, and the pistachio crusted salmon over lentils is creatively tasty. The wines, while on the higher price side ($12-16 a glass) are very good. While prices are are moderate, the food is good, expertly prepared and delicious. Most tables in the dining room have a view of the sound and stunning sunsets. read more

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Went for lunch on a Saturday. Got the gingered pear martini- a bit sweet but tasty! For apps, we got the bangin shrimp and cone of fries with parm and truffle oil - delicious! For entrees grilled mahi fish tacos and the salmon poke bowl - both were a bit underwhelming especially for the price. Our server was very friendly. We sat next to the window with a nice view of the sound. I would return if in the area again. read more

We had an amazing dinner at Aqua and had a spectacular view of the sunset!!! We did not have reservations and had a party of 6 so we were unsure if we would get a table but we were able to snag one outside! We had the truffle fries, eggplant and crab dip as an appetizer among the table. The truffle fries and aioli were . For my entree I had the shrimp and grits which were so good. I also had a bite of my friends crab cake and it was very good also! We had a vegetarian at the table and she got the stuffed tomato and said it was great. The bar was a bit backed up but we were aware of that and our waiter took great care of us. I was a bit too enamored with the view and took photos of that instead of my food! read more

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Another awesome experience at Aqua in Duck, NC. Terrific meal terrific service, terrific sunset. I had seafood pasta, she had corn and crab soup, followed by bang bang shrimp. All awesome meals. Great place! read more

Aqua Restaurant - Sunset at Aqua in Duck, with UAP's. - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Situated on sweetest spot in the quiet town of Duck; what a gem Aqua is! If you are looking for quality food, excellent service, a restaurant overlooking the water & a place you can linger & dine at your leisure look no further. The restaurant is set up ever so lovely. So many seating areas & options. It's uber functional for whatever type of dinner you are having (a quiet evening with your partner or a gathering with your family, littles welcome ;) , or perhaps just stopping by for a small appetizer & drink to enjoy the vibe of OBX, this place has it all. Located on the water, with a the boardwalk to walk off dinner afterwards, indoor & outdoor seating; when appropriate (not too windy) as well as a fabulously chic outdoor seating area with a little beach near the fire pit with comfortable chairs & live music at times. It's upscale but not at all pretentious! Aqua is by far the best restaurant we've yet to dine at on the Outer Banks Island repeatedly. The hostess Shelly is so accommodating & sat us each time per our needs & request. What a truly lovely host with customer service you rarely see these days. We have always ordered the truffle fries with aioli & the signature sweet corn & crab soup. Impossible to not try & repeatedly order! Last night, with Brian as our well versed, knowledgeable 5 star server we enjoyed the crab cakes each served with a hush puppy. The crab cakes are not in the least "fried" with too much batter & not so raw you lose that stay together cake feel. The beet slaw on the side was a nice touch & elegantly presented on the plate. It's hard not to order one of everything... but that's why we'll be back! They also have a spa with affordable pricing & tailored services. What a unique concept. Highly recommend! read more

Aqua Restaurant - Truffle Fries & Seared Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

I had a wonderful dinner at Aqua! We made a reservation and were seated right by the window to catch the sunset. Our waitress was super friendly and really on top of things. I enjoyed the warm bread they start with and she even refilled our basket when she noticed ours was empty. They have a newish small plates menu and we all went for it. I way prefer trying a lot of a little vs one big option. I got the pomegranate bbq ribs, crab cake, and we shared the root veggies. All three were delicious and something I would order again. The ribs could have used a bit less sauce, but they were fall off the bone tender. You didn't need a knife at all with them. The crabcake was also tasty and chock full of crab meat. The root vegetables were well seasoned and the perfect side. We didn't opt for dessert, but their housemade ice cream did sound like a great option, especially in the summertime. read more

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The perfect fine dining experience in Duck, NC. Our waiter was prompt and kind and the food was outstanding. We chose Aqua to celebrate a 32nd birthday and were very happy that we did. To start, we had the goat cheese dip and shrimp. Both were fantastic. I ordered the French cut chicken, which was very juicy and flavorful. We made reservations well in advance and are very happy we did. Looking forward to coming back next year! read more

Had a 7PM reservation but got there around 6:30 to have a drink at the bar and was seated instead. There was a window seat which we asked for but were declined. No one sat there during our meal. Our server was FANTASTIC! Entertaining, knowledgeable, & super friendly. The ambiance was nice with the windows and ability to see the sunset. We started with the whipped feta app and it was decent. Too salty and missing a little acidity. Got the steak, and will admit it was cooked a perfect medium. The accompaniments were a great addition. Flounder was the catch of the day and this dish was well executed. The fava beans, mushrooms, & remoulade were delicious. Dessert was the Bananas Foster Cheesecake & Key Lime Pie. The Bananas was again missing something. Maybe the flambé or a caramel drizzle. Key Lime just a little tart. Overall the experience was nice & id recommend trying Aqua. read more

Aqua Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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This restaurant is outrageously overpriced for the quality of food and mediocre atmosphere/view it offers. $21 for a very small lunch Caesar salad with chicken (very thin, small portion), lettuce was brown, did not use real parm, a few stale croutons on top. Ordered their truffle fries and their specialty martini which promised hand stuffed blue cheese olives. The olives were by no means hand stuffed, they were straight out of a jar. Do not recommend going, would not go back. If you do, I hope it's on someone else's dime. Order the truffle fries, they were the only thing we had that was worth it. read more

Love Aqua! You need reservations unless you want to sit outside, which is very charming! It's first come, first serve for outside seating. JB was our server and he is awesome! As a local he shared some fun facts about the area. My daughter is Vegan and she loves the food. The drinks are equally delicious. read more

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My family and I stopped in here for lunch on Saturday and all loved our food! My parents got the mahi and shrimp tacos, I got the tuna poke bowl (fresh and delicious) and my brother got the turkey sandwich, which he liked! I also ordered the truffle fries which came with this horseradish aioli type of sauce and those were amazing! The only thing was that the fries didn't come out until after all of our food came out, I'm guessing because the waitress forgot to put it in, but we would still come back! read more

Beautiful sunset view with acoustic duo in the bar, delicious Gingered Pear Martini, and our meals were fantastic. Such a cozy, relaxing atmosphere! read more

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This restaurant is outstanding. Aerin, our waitress, was superior. Cajun cream pasta, teriyaki bowl, and curry shrimp were . The appetizers-- bang band shrimp and crab dip -- exploded with flavor. We've eaten here each year when we come to Duck. We love it. Kudos to Aerin and the outstanding staff. read more

We came on a busy day for lunch . Our waitress was very kind and attentive. The view was beautiful! The restaurant itself feels a bit cooperate in its decor . I feel maybe the mild colors of the accompanying spa carried too much into the dining area making it bland. The mahi was a bit over cooked on our taco , but the shrimps were crisp on the Bangin' shrimp taco. The sauce was great but swamped the entree too much. read more

Aqua Restaurant - One Bangin' Shrimp Taco and one Grilled Mahi Fish Taco (husband and I shared. - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

My wife and I were traveling through Duck and wanted a Bloody Mary while overlooking the water. Being not from this area, we struggled with finding waterfront restaurants. With the help of Yelp, we landed upon Aqua. It's a nice contemporary space with ample outdoor dining. It was perfect! We called an audible and decided to eat lunch in addition to the Bloody Mary. Erin was our server. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive...the key traits of a great server. We got that Bloody Mary. It was crafted perfectly. We started with the bang bang shrimp. Lightly battered and fried, topped with a slightly sweet and spicy sauce. A great start. Our entrees were an ahi tuna poke for my bride and I had a bacon cheeseburger and handcut fries. Both were very good. My wife's poke was dressed with a sweet sesame dressing. The tuna could have been a little fresher but maybe I'm just being nit picky. My burger was chargrilled to the correct temperature. The B/L/T/O toppings were fresh and crisp. It was a darn perfect burger. I'm sure the locals know all about Aqua. But visitors should know that this is a MUST stop if you are staying in the Duck/Kitty Hawk area of the Outer Banks. Great view, great food and cocktails, and great conscience service staff making your experience top notch. read more

One of the many restaurants in Duck that gives you a small community vibe. It's spacious and looks to hold large crowds. There's outdoor and indoor seating and on a nice warm July day we took advantage to the water view and sat outside. The outdoor seatings are bench tables with umbrellas. After 5 minutes it was uncomfortable but oh well seeing the water makes it better. The menu has plenty of seafood dishes along with other choices. Hubby and I went for the fish and chips and crab cake sandwich. It came out pretty fast and that was appreciated because we were hungry! The fish used in the fish and chip was cod. It is beer battered and fried to perfection! The fries were fresh cut and love the light saltiness to it. This dish was a winner! But the crab cake sandwich not so much... it was small, too much filler (bread) and overall just not tasty. For lunch this sandwich will set you back $17. They also make fresh ice cream and hubby got the vanilla ice cream. It was creamy and rich but also too sweet. I can eat a pint of ice cream in no time but because this one was so sweet, one spoon and I was done. Overall, it's a nice place and for lunch I would definitely get the fish and chips again. read more

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16 Jul 2021. Enjoyed a delightful lunch at the Aqua, outdoor seating. The waiter was attentive and delightful with her customers. Drinks: I had one alcoholic drink called the Frenchman. The taste was pleasant and it had strong enough alcohol. For me it felt a bit weak but I was informed I have a high tolerance. Food: Crab dip: You can taste the crab in the dip but it was not as strong as it should be. The cheese layer on top was not needed. The base felt like it was missing something to really bring the dip to a win. Overall it was better then average. Banging shrimp: battered and season nicely. No sag or greasy feeling when eating it. The drizzled sauce had a nice flavor kick and balance with the dish. Grilled Mahi tacos: the components fit well with the dish. The char on the fish gave it a nice texture and bitterness. However the fish was a bit dry and underseasoned. The salt was near by and after spreakling some of it onto the dish. The flavor truly blended nicely and improved. Price vs value: The price would seem a bit steep based on first look, but you will get your money worth even with the small misses. I do recommend coming to place to enjoy a nice meal from them. It is a shame I didn't have enough time to enjoy a massage perhaps next time. read more

Aqua Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Aqua is a laid-back, relaxing waterfront restaurant with a spa upstairs. My parents and I came in looking for lunch after a tasting at the nearby Sanctuary Vineyards. Our server was Aerin. She was great. The hostess was busy and was not very friendly to us. My mother wasn't impressed by her. The food was another story. We got Mahi fish tacos and a mushroom swiss burger to share among the three of us. The portions were perfect. I want to thank Aerin for her excellent service. read more

Aqua Restaurant - Grilled Mahi Fish Tacos and a Natural Beef Burger - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

So, we were visiting for my 68th birthday. We made early reservations and stressed it was for birthday. Having never been there before, ( will never go back!!) we didn't know you had to request even MORE SPECIFIC SEATING, like siting on the queens lap. So my birthday seat was staring at a wall and the lady said it's a great seat. Do I have schmuck on my forehead? Nope. Not even empty tables with view. Is that special seating staring at a wall? Snotty little b*#%ch made zero effort to do better. I got charged same price as everyone else to stare at a wall on my birthday. Is that how it works at Aqua? I can pay good money at other restaurants just as easily. Hey Aqua, look up CUSTOMER SERVICE in a dictionary. Really snotty people run it apparently and when reservations say BIRTHDAY ahead of time, that means crap and let's ruin it! Thanks POS read more

This restaurant would be 5 stars from top to bottom except for one thing - which we'll get too. For two DC guys the prices were perfect, the staff was incredible. Not NC fake southern sweet but the real thing, just genuinely sweet. The bar staff was phenomenal and honestly you'd be hard pressed to find a better menu, atmosphere and escape from your extended family beach house in the area. Here's what sucks. And this is for the owner not people eating or considering eating here. Your Head Chef is lazy, incompetent or YOU. Flavors were too sweet or food was cooked as if by amateurs. My teenage nieces and nephews can cook a half chicken better than you and your corn crab water was a waste of money I could have spent on another cocktail. Wake up and smell the Yelp review. You're alright but you'll never be something that gets talked about unless it's too have a laugh about "that one place we went too that one time". We'll come back for your staff but not for the inconsistent food. read more

Aqua Restaurant - Next time add crab please sir - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Outstanding view of the sea and sunset. Great customer service. Nice ambiance and decor. The food is good, well thought, modern, and nicely garnished. We loved their fries, what a piece of art! We devoured them along with their yummy hummus, funny presentation but that was secondary as it tasted really good. I had the lobster fettuccine and it was a mess. I appreciated that the pasta was homemade but I got thick lumps of pasta on my plate, like if the cook had some trouble with it during the cooking process and couldn't keep the fettuccine separated from one another. So I ended up with lumps and broken pieces of pasta. (See the picture). The flavor was okay, it was missing some richness for my palate. The NY steak was overcooked, I mean very charred! We asked for it to be medium-well. The duck dish was really good. I would come back because one can definitely have a nice meal while enjoying the view. Hopefully next time my pasta will be delish! read more

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My husband and i came here for a date night and we had such a nice time! We sat outside by the waterfront, which was beautiful but a little hot in the middle of July. We definitely carb-o-loaded on crab dip with crostini, the bread and butter they bring out (like the good bread), and the Caesar salad. We weren't a huge fan of the Caesar dressing (in our opinion it had a strong onion flavor- to each their own). For dinner we had the duck and crab cakes- amazing!! We ate every last bite and paired it with their sauv blanc. It's a little more pricey than most, but you are definitely getting your moneys worth between the food, location, and service. We had valerie (?) and she was lovely. read more

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Lunch was amazing! Great poke bowl and wonderful selection of drinks. Since it is also a spa, when you walk in, it smells so relaxing! We ended up going back for dinner, which honestly, wasn't as impressive. The menu selection wasn't that great, but the drinks were still good. Plus the views are beautiful! I would definitely go again, just for lunch, not dinner. read more

Aqua Restaurant - Poke bowl - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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I was visiting friends for a few nights (October 2020). One day my friend took me around the area. We stopped here for lunch - one of her favorite places. I can see why. Great menu with a lot of variety! Lovely views on the terrace. I had the shrimp tacos, which were excellent, along with a glass of wine. My friend ordered the poke bowl (I can't remember if it was the tuna or salmon), also a glass of wine. I wish I lived closer (I'm in Wilmington) to enjoy this place more often. Until the next time I visit my friends.... read more

Aqua Restaurant - Shrimp Tacos - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Food was good. Waterfront seating was nice. Portion size for the pasta was really small. It had approximately 9 noodles. I'm not a huge eater but I knew it wouldn't be enough. read more

Sips, snacks, sly staff and sundown. What else do you need. Nestled on the bay side of the OBX and rocking ample and socially distanced tables, me and the pod came to embrace the end of the summer weather and share some sunset snacks. There was live music set out on the lawn beside the restaurant piping yacht rock hits into the twilight sky. The cocktail menus was already transitioning into fall flavors and our waiter was happy to help us taste through the whole thing. We shared a pair of mains and a few apps to soak up the drinks. You can see by my pictures this is one of the best places in Duck to watch the sun set! We will be back!!!!! read more

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I wish. Still good not as good as the first time that we went. I had the glazed salmon and a couple of drinks on draft.

DRINK REVIEW Only - 3 1/2 stars - Stopped by here for outdoor drinks during this summer. This place has nice large parking lot across the street with a large yard in front where you can sit & enjoy drinks. They also have a deck with wooden tables/chairs. There is also a section of Adirondeck chairs by the water - be warned - it's very hot there & outside as there are not much shade. We enjoyed our glasses of wine & the servers were friendly & did a good job. Prices are up there but then again, you are in a touristy section of OBX. I think with some improvements outside, as the chairs outside were wood & the tables were stained - rustic. Other than that, a nice enjoyable afternoon having drinks! read more

Service and water side view were fine. Food was rather bland in flavors. Prices were the highest in Duck. Other restaurants in the area surpassed Aqua for food quality and presentation while more reasonably priced. read more

Amazing sunset view with indoor and outdoor seating area. Delicious food with kid friendly options. Cozy fire pit overlooking the water with live music. We had a wonderful time. read more

Excellent! Sat outside watched sun set. Out table had, salmon, two orders of shrimp & Grits, and the special grilled tuna. All meals excellent. read more

The pistachio salmon over lentils was one of the best dishes I have ever had. Everything we had was excellent including the Old Fashioned! Beautiful spot to watch the sunset too! Fantastic service (Jamie I believe) to boot! read more

Aqua Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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