If you're looking for a 10/10 vibe for your next group dinner, Aquarelle is literally it. We went with a big group and basically did a speedrun of the entire menu. The "Must-Orders" for the table: * The Royal Tower: Genuinely massive. 12 clams, 12 oysters, whole lobster, ceviche, scallops... If you don't get this for the table, you're doing it wrong. Everything was SO fresh. * Salt-Baked Whole Fish: This was a whole moment. They lit it on fire , hammered the salt shell off, and prepped it tableside. * Seafood Risotto: They brought out the cheese wheel for this one. It was so creamy We also had grilled octopus, squid, a few the flatbreads, and basically every pasta on the menu. Loved all the pastas . Desserts: The Pistachio Crème Brûlée is a NEED. I've never seen that flavor combo before and it's officially my new fav. The chocolate lava cake and donuts was also delicious The restaurant is beautiful and the service was amazing! read more

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Aquarelle might be better suited as a dinner or late-night spot, because brunch was a letdown. The menu is extremely limited, especially for seafood, and the food itself wasn't great. I tried to order the burger, the server told me, "I hate that," so I switched to something else. Despite that, the order still got mixed up, and the burger ended up going to someone else at the table who didn't even order it. Additionally the eggs were cold, and the lobster roll was burnt & the lobster in the lobster Mac was super hard...definitely over cooked. Service was chaotic, though not for lack of effort. The staff who were working genuinely tried their best, but the restaurant was severely understaffed. Our server was the only one on the floor because the bartender was late, which meant long waits even for water. When the bartender eventually arrived, he brought my friend an unsolicited birthday drink and then asked if we wanted shots - a nice gesture but unnecessary and a bit awkward. We were also told there was no cocktail menu because a private party the night before had "thrown up on them," which was... memorable. The server also mentioned there was no chef, which makes sense. Overall, the staff did what they could, but the experience just missed the mark. read more

I celebrated my birthday at Aquarelle, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable dinners I've had in NYC. From the moment we walked in, my friends and I were treated like absolute royalty. The staff strikes the perfect balance of friendly and professional, and the bar was already buzzing with energy -- plus they have a surprisingly great happy hour for a place this polished. The seafood here really lives up to the hype. I started with raw clams (incredibly fresh), shared a flatbread with the table, and then went for the squid-ink pasta with crab meat, which was rich, briny, and expertly done. Dessert is also worth saving room for -- they take just as much care with the sweets as they do with the mains. The space itself is gorgeous -- easily one of the most immersive dining rooms in the East Village. The whole place feels like you've slipped "under the sea," with marine-inspired colors, candlelit corners, octopus murals, and these incredible barnacle-style mirrors. It's been described as "dining inside a luxe submarine," and honestly, that's spot-on. The ambiance manages to feel both transportive and warm, almost like a nod to old-New-York hospitality but with a modern coastal twist. Aquarelle was created by Marcus Andrew (of Le Souk and Lamia Fish Market) and Baris Koroglu (of The Lullaby and Paradise Club), and you can feel the blend of restaurant and nightlife DNA throughout. It's not just a seafood restaurant -- it's part cocktail lounge, part late-night hang, part celebratory dining room. The cocktail program leans botanical and coastal; I spotted drinks like a yuzu-thyme spritz and a lavender sea-salt martini that fit the scene perfectly. And with the kitchen open until midnight most nights, it's one of the rare spots where a great meal can effortlessly turn into a fun night out. All in all, an excellent experience -- delicious food, standout service, and a setting that feels like a little escape from the city. I'd absolutely come back, birthday or not. read more

Came here for an early dinner before catching a show and everything we tried was delicious. We started with the hamachi ceviche which was great, citrusy and fresh. Then I tried my mom's clam chowder which was very flavorful! The star of the night was the squid ink crab pasta, which 3 in my party of 4 ordered thoroughly enjoyed. We also shared the whole branzino served with capers and lemon and it was great. Lastly we shared the truffle fries which was served with a spicy aioli and ketchup and they were thick cut and well seasoned. The ambiance was an aquarium/underwater vibe which was cute. The service was attentive without being overbearing. New York has so many restaurants to try but if you're a seafood lover this one should definitely be one to consider. read more

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This is an interesting restaurant. It has multiple levels is an aquarium theme with fish and movies w fish theme continually playing. It is spacious inside with dining upstairs downstairs and a mezzanine type area. Service was good a bit rushed but attentive nonetheless. Food was good too. Nothing extraordinary. Portion size on small side but good for the waist and diet . Had chicken, oysters (well shucked) shrimp flatbread, calamari, crab cakes, fish and tuna tartare. Good presentation of the food on the plate . Looks like could be a fun place for a large group as the have private room (s) read more

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Want to feel like a mermaid princess.....What a cute underwater themed seafood restaurant!! picture ops everywhere you look. The waiter was new but super attentive and helpful. The food was good with a hardy seafood tower so much we had to take our main course home. The calamari Bronzino the surf and turf the mash and even the cease were amazing. The drinks were on point. We will sure to come back to taste more of the menu. read more

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We came to Aquarelle on a Wednesday evening and the place had a really nice crowd for midweek. The vibe is upscale Mediterranean seafood with a polished, stylish atmosphere that still feels relaxed. Service was attentive overall, water refilled, dishes cleared smoothly, and the table never felt ignored. The food had some strong highlights. The grilled octopus appetizer was tender and flavorful with a great char. The crab cakes were nicely seasoned and the creamed spinach was surprisingly one of the standout dishes of the night. My cocktails were very good and well-balanced, so the bar definitely knows what they're doing. There were a couple of misses, though. I ordered the lobster and specifically asked for it broiled instead of grilled. The server acknowledged the request and mentioned it would take longer, which was totally fine, but it came out boiled instead, which was disappointing. My partner ordered a simple gin and club soda and was brought something completely different without any explanation or check-in. The seafood pasta was just okay and could have benefited from more sauce and seasoning to bring out the flavors. Even with those hiccups, we still enjoyed our night. The ambiance is great and it's a good spot for a dinner that feels a little special without being too formal. I would return, but next time I'll make sure to double-confirm any requests or substitutions when ordering. read more

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Amazing Greek food! Would definitely come back here again. Nice spot in East Village for date read more

Aquarelle - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Always such an experience there at night, performers, great food! And super friendly staff!!!!

Lovely restaurant!! Gorgeous ambiance. Service is top notch! Food, Delicious!! 10/10 recommend! read more

Here's a concise, honest review for Aquarelle in NYC: Aquarelle - Stylish Vibes with Strong Cocktails Aquarelle brings the energy with a sleek, well-designed space and a lively, clubby atmosphere. The cocktails were a highlight--well-crafted and reasonably priced for NYC, which is always a win. We tried the hand-cut French fries and were pleasantly surprised--crispy, well-seasoned, and satisfying. It's not exactly a quiet date spot, though; the music is loud and the vibe leans more nightlife than intimate dinner. That said, it's a solid place to hang out with friends, grab a few drinks, and enjoy the scene--just don't expect deep conversation without leaning in. read more

Aquarelle - Old fashion - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Came here to celebrate a friend's 35th birthday this past weekend. At first, I was a little nervous because the streets were still snow-covered, so there was absolutely no street parking available. We had to park about a mile up and Uber down to the restaurant, making us a few minutes late for our reservation, but thankfully, they were understanding. Our group consisted of nine women and we requested to be in the downstairs Mermaid area. Everything was so nice! Beautiful layout, modern design, very unique. My only qualm was it was absolutely freezing down there and the drinks were a tad slow to come out. However, in terms of the food and hospitality, everything was excellent. The managers were all so nice and helpful, and the food was very well flavored. I especially liked the seafood flatbread which comes topped with shrimp, calamari, and mussels. They actually gave us one flatbread with tomato sauce, a the other without. I'm not sure if that was intentional or by accident, but I actually preferred the one with the sauce, though both were very good. In the future, I would definitely order it without the muscles, as a matter of preference. For dessert we finished off with chocolate lava cake, and champagne. On our way out the door, we had one last round of drinks and the bartender, Alexander, and Manager Gael, were super friendly and accommodating. I will definitely return in the future!! Thanks so much! read more

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Small portions of very good quality fish in a very noisy room. They are understaffed in waiters and you cannot get the attention that you really need. We were not offered desert. The busboys were very attentive and helpful though. Owner greets some people, does not bother to come over to other tables, it gives a rude feeling. Won't be going back. read more

All they need is a Pastaio, a sommelier and a pastry chef and they might have the makings of a real restaurant. Sorry to be harsh, but despite the hype, Aquarelle is sadly lacking. It is actually just a glorified bar, except that the cocktails are just ok. The raw seafood and salads are very good, but the rest of their food is tasteless or worse. On a Friday evening in the middle of the summer they were out of three quarters of the (handful) of white wines on their very mediocre wine list. They only had barely passable Pinot Grigio and Sancerre. The service was fine with the staff simply apologizing about everything. Could be a terrific spot, but they need to get serious about what they are doing. read more

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3.5 stars. I nearly went with four to give Aquarelle the benefit of the doubt because it still is new, but I give a lot of four-star ratings because I do my research and go to a lot of impressive places and my experience at Aquarelle was not at the level of that at spots I've previously given four stars. Perhaps it will become more efficient with time, but at the moment, Aquarelle is somewhat disorganized and would benefit from a comprehensive edit. The food and drinks are mostly solid and the prices are generally fair. I do believe that improvement is possible if they stay open for long enough to showcase some refinements (I say this because the space is absolutely massive and I truly cannot imagine how much it costs for Aquarelle to stay afloat -- no water pun intended). Made a reservation for four at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. As I mentioned, the space is absolutely massive. My first thought upon walking in was that the decor/overall aesthetic of Aquarelle is such that the restaurant feels much better suited for midtown as opposed to the East Village/Alphabet City. Nothing understated or minimalist about it: if there is an opportunity to reference all things marine life, Aquarelle has seized it. Giant mermaid statues, over the top raw bar design, a bar backdrop that resembles a submarine (The Ship did it first), projections of fish being cast across the back wall of the second floor -- it's all there. Now, typically when a place is this gimmicky, I begin to worry that more effort has been put into the space than the food. Luckily, most of the food was quite good, and if I was rating the experience on food alone, I probably would have gone with four stars. The main reason for the three-star rating was the service. For starters, we did not get water until an hour into our meal, and we did not get our first round of drink for 45 minutes after ordering them, which I suppose would be understandable if the restaurant was packed, but it wasn't. Additionally, our server was at times unprofessional in the way that he communicated and when we were trying to figure out how to ensure that we were not ordering too much food, he said nothing is too much and didn't give us guidance. He also kept referring to "dorade" as "dorado". Another gripe was that for sides priced at $12, the portions were laughably small. Think the size of a bowl you'd see bar nuts served in. Okay, so now we'll get to the positives of the experience. They were able to locate bleu cheese olives for our dirty martinis which was much appreciated. The martinis themselves were delicious, but I can't speak to the rest of the cocktails. Food-wise, we ordered a nice sampling of the menu, trying quite a few cold dishes and a few warmer ones. Most were solid with a couple that were a bit underwhelming. Eats, below: Hamachi Nobu Crudo: B Straightforward and unmemorable, but nothing wrong with it. And I'm happy to have tried it because I will always go for hamachi crudo when it's an option. Octopus Carpaccio: A Our favorite dish of the night, great flavors and well executed. Also fun to order something you see less often on menus. Tuna Tartare: B+ Solid preparation, nothing that exciting or creative but checked all the necessary boxes. That said, there were oddly very few chips served on the side. Either don't serve with chips or provide enough -- unless you want to consume this in three or four heaping bites, you may need to ask for more chips. Seafood Ceviche: A Probably my favorite dish of the night, a mix of hamachi and shrimp. That said, like the tartare, there were not enough chips. Unlike tuna tartare, I am more than happy to eat ceviche directly from my spoon, so I minded less in this case. Aquarelle Caesar: B The components were there but because of the way it was served, some of the lettuce was bone dry while some had the right amount. More of a matter of execution than anything else, because the dressing was tasty and the lettuce was fresh. Salt-Baked Snapper: A- It comes out aflame and portioned for each person at the table, which is a cute gimmick. The serving process was a bit inefficient but the fish itself was delicious and served with a great sauce, though we were not told what exactly it was. Branzino Grilled w/ Lemon & Capers: B- Another reviewer said this as well but this was relatively bland. I think it was one of the only dishes that did not get fully consumed by the end of the night. We ordered the grilled veggies, truffle fries, and mushrooms as sides. None of them were all that memorable, and as I mentioned, the portions were laughably tiny. read more

$80 for 3 small burnt pieces of crab cakes, zucchini slices ("zoodles") with some shrimp, and lava cake that seemed to be just a plain brownie. That was just my portion, and drinks were $17 each but they forgot the alcohol so it was just pineapple juice and whatever they mix in it, just no rum. Sent it back and they "forgot" to remake it. All in total was $200+ for two people per their prix fixe along with two cocktails. Was more like a $40 dinner minus the drinks for what you get. So $80 for one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. Was 1/10 Sysco food they microwaved. I didn't take a picture of the crab cakes but I have a one of the zoodles. My partner also got calamari and it was hard and rubbery. There is a bathtub with dirty water that has 10 axolotls residing in it though when you first walk in. read more

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Aquarelle needs to be added to every New Yorker's "must visit" list immediately! This hot new East Village Seafood spot absolutely blew me away with top of the line quality across their entire menu - AND without that crazy New York City pricing. Everything I had was incredible but you cannot miss the surf and turf, the tuna tartare, or the squid ink linguine with crab!! With a live DJ, a beautiful seafood counter, and incredible service, this place gets an undisputed 10/10 in atmosphere. You definitely won't regret making a reservation here for your next date night or group dinner! read more

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I visited this restaurant for dinner and had a fairly pleasant experience. The food was served warm and looked well prepared. The flavors were balanced, though not very strong. Service was polite and the staff handled the tables efficiently. Overall, it felt like a comfortable place for a casual meal read more

I have literally never walked out of a restaurant so hungry, angry, and with so much of my time wasted. I made a reservation. It still took an hour and 52 minutes before we were finally served. When we entered we were told "15 or 20 minute wait for a table" which eventually became "a table is leaving soon" and "they're going to pay" or "we're checking again". Unfortunately, the bartender was pleasant and the drinks were good, so we were tempted to stay. This was while our party watched people who came in 30 or so minutes after us get seated, or got to watch a party that had gotten their order taken when we entered, eat their entire meal, chit chat, pay, chit chat so more, and finally leave. All before we even got close to being seated. After being seated and watching about half the restaurant empty, we were told that our "server would be right with us" and made to wait another 20 minutes. After someone got a drink order they waited a further 20 minutes to even get their drink not to mention the delay on food. Quite honestly it felt like a bit of a scam...we were delayed and delayed and delayed until there were simply no restaurants open when we realized that our best bet was honestly just to walk out and find something else. Unfortunately, we delayed until we did get served. A wait would be acceptable if the food is good right? And yet somehow they managed to fail on almost every mark. I ordered the miso black cod and the truffle fries and with the rest of my friends I split the three tartare's and an order of fried calamari. The tartare and the calamari were simply...okay. If I had been served at a Chili's I would've been happy, but this restaurant was charging 19 dollars for a rather sad layer of calamari on a smaller side dish and 59 dollars for tartare that ended up being maybe 3 bites for each of 4 people. My main - the miso black cod would have been maybe seasoned okay if they had blended the entire dish up and served me through a straw, but as it was the spinach and carrots in the dish came in a small, pallid, cold, soggy pile next to a pathetic looking bump of cod with some thin weak sauce spilled into puddles around it. The vegetables were completely unseasoned, the cod was way oversalted. Such a shame because the texture and doneness of the cod was perfect. The truffle fries I got as a side had no discernable flavor of truffle oil and were a bit on the bland side, I did taste other items my friends ordered...the seafood risotto had a flashy presentation but was overcooked and soggy, the sea bass was good...but it felt more as a result of it being Chilean sea bass than any way that it was cooked...and frankly I was a little surprised anyone could make Chilean sea bass taste so...underwhelming. The snapper was "deboned" but I kept glancing at the twin growing piles of bones that my friends were building. The snapper was also remarkably dry. Me and the group that gathered are usually fairly passive, but the constant game of "hey you'll be served don't worry" and then trying to flag someone down after 20ish minutes had passed was getting on everyone's nerves. After complaining (and it REALLY looked like they just did not care that they had wasted almost 2 hours of our night AFTER making a reservation if we had not complained) the manager offered a 20 dollar bottle of wine (which added another wait) and 1 chocolate lava cake on the house at the end...though at that point we were so frustrated and honestly hungry at the end of our meal that we just wanted to leave. This place looks nice. Some of the dishes look very visually pleasing. The drinks are nice. It all seems like a trap to get you to spend 3.5-4 hours (only ~20% of which actually involved experiencing a restaurant) and 400-500 of your hard earned dollars on wasted produce. Lots of instagram-able features (overcooked risotto tossed in a cheese wheel, massive pepper grinder in your face, sea-themed entrance and axolotls in a bathtub), but no substance at all. Frankly, I could never go back in good conscience as it would be a waste of my time, the staff's time, the time of every person who helped transport and grow the produce, and the time the seafood took to grow and be caught. I genuinely fail to understand how anyone could be so shameless as to eat here a second time or to go back and work to provide this active waste of people's time and money. read more

Really sorry to say this but our experience was awful. When we ordered, the server waved us off what we wanted and told us to get a tartar because it was their specialty. The tartar came so oily and flavorless it wasn't worth eating. The branzino had a ton of bones in it even though it was butterflied which made eating it impossible, and the "creamed spinach" was literally raw spinach leaves with cream poured over it. The $17 jardin vert cocktail was not at all balanced and way overpriced. Just a bad experience. EDIT: After I gave Aquarelle 1 star, they invited me and my dining companion to come back with a $150 credit. Below is the new review. Coming back to Aquarelle was interesting. We ordered six things and two of them were actually quite good. Here is a breakdown. 1. Crabcakes: They were okay, not great. The aioli was really overpowering the the crab had no texture. 2. Hamachi Ceviche: Excellent. No notes. Perfectly citrussy, the fish was cured perfectly, and it was so fresh. 3. Grilled Calamari: I was really looking forward to this and unfortunately it was just...not great? It felt really burned, not grilled. The char tasted really bitter. 4. Seafood flatbread: This was fine? There wasnt really any finesse, but it was fine. 5. Grilled whole lobster: Really well done. Great butter sauce. Fries could have been substantially better done, but whatever, when you order the lobster you're not in it for the fries. 6. Linguine with clams: Fine? The pasta was good, the clams weren't really. Did they remember that they had given us a $150 credit? No. Did they ask us to change our reviews once they saw proof of the exchange? Yes, they did. So I write this so you all have full transparency. Overarching comments: The waitstaff needs to be better trained overall. It's a new restaurant, so of course I give them grace, but it's not Really polite for a server or bus boy to ask "all this food is for one table???" loudly in the middle of the dining room. I think the overall problem with Aquarelle is that they're trying too hard to be an influencer haunt (if you couldn't tell by decor and dishes, the plaque outside reads: "Influencers, DM to collaborate") and not hard enough at putting out good, fresh food. Would I go back? No. Should you? Sure - just go in with your eyes open about what you're getting. Try the lobster and the ceviches. read more

OMG THIS PLACE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! The service was actually amazing (shoutout brian!!!!!) and the food DELISH!!!! I am still thinking about that feta tomato salad bc WOOF read more

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Ricky, Why a pleasure visiting here. You made our night with amazing cocktails and even better energy. If you are looking for a good cocktail and seafood, come here. Please give Ricky a big smile. He's the best. Karl and Kurt read more

Aquarelle - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

Your reply is nicely polished, but it doesn't match what actually happened. You're saying you can't read minds, but we told three different staff members that it was my sister's birthday. The hostess heard it. The man in the brown suit heard it he couldn't even get her simple name right ( Mac ), and we had to write it down. The waiter with the nose ring and bowl haircut also heard it when he took our order right before disappearing for the rest of the night. So pretending you weren't informed is just not honest. As for comparing you to Lamia's that comment didn't come out of nowhere. The experience was slow, unorganized, and dismissive. A former restaurant being better isn't an insult it's context. A guest noticing a difference doesn't mean they're being unfair. It means your service didn't measure up. And the busboy absolutely said we had to wait because the server was "taking care of other tables." That wasn't imagined or exaggerated. That came straight from your own staff. If you want to improve, great. But rewriting what happened isn't the way. We know what we experienced, and none of what I mentioned was based on appearance or misunderstanding. It was based on your team not doing their jobs and then acting like the issue was somehow on us. Aquarelle might be a new restaurant, but basic service isn't a new concept. read more

Aquarelle - Since I don't know how to reply back to whatever this is you said here u go Matthew B of aquarelle NYC. - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

The food is great, fresh, cocktails on point. Our server was super friendly and attentive, and the restaurant itself is quite beautiful, but the ever present bongo player and violinist constantly walking around were a bit much. Maybe some people enjoy that? Not really our cup of tea. Maybe I'd go back for a musician-free evening but otherwise would skip. read more

DO NOT COME HERE! ESPECIALLY POC!!! We ate here last night for my gf's birthday and were seated at 10:30pm. Food was meh. The ceviche was a pitiful joke and the lobster pasta came out lukewarm. The vibe was festive (people celebrating) so we asked for dessert and were told the kitchen was closed. Ay, maybe the waiter should have said something to us before. Oh, well! Next thing you know they sit a white couple next to us and they order filet mignon and dessert! We were super offended. I mean, you sat them right next to us and offered them the full menu? What is one left to think? I fully regretted my overpriced ($220) meal. I politely complain to the owner but he says oh its the waiter's fault. The whole tone shifts and we alllll get into a yelling argument with the whole restaurant watching us. The owner yelling out: "he makes up his own rules!" And the waiter upset with the owner. Owner kept saying to us: "you should have asked me, not him!" A circus of incompetence? A sad little display of miscommunication? Also, Aquarelle, please don't respond to this complaint w some politesse bs. Like i said when we walked out - never again! Don't come here. read more

Pre fixe menu for Valentine's Day was very disgusting they had everying sitting out and pre madenor did they serve their main menu during valentine's read more

Something is really odd with this place. My friends impression is that it's a mob front. As soon as you walk in there is this super weird modern bathtub with fake neon plants in it. The interior is modern but with odd lighting and club music. The design is all over the place. They have a lovely hostess but there is a lot of staff just standing around staring. The vibe is very off. The sommelier got type of wine and where it was from wrong. Something is amiss with this place and I can't figure out what. read more

Pretty solid seafood spot! The food is great -- whole fish branzino, raw bar, etc. What really makes this place stand out is the ambiance and the service -- the bartender, Axel, excels at not just mixology, but also in creating a fun and hospitable vibe! A great spot for date night, going out with friends, and even as a neighborhood bar. Would recommend ! read more

Aquarelle - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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As ethereal as a diamond in the rough. The aesthetic alone is absolutely mesmerizing. Creative cocktails, fresh seafood and immaculate service. read more

Such a fun and funky place, not to mention very tasty and creative food. We have recommended it to our friends when they are in town.

my friend recommanded this place they have axolotly amazing ambiance and food was on point I want come back because of service read more

Valentine's Day dinner turned into a chaotic dinner show no one asked for. The manager was loudly pacing around and seemed half-lit, interrupting everyone's attempt at a nice night. The menus had multiple mistakes and we were stuck with a tiny set-menu selection anyway. It took 35 minutes to get drinks while a roaming cameraman tried to get us to "cheers" with empty glasses. Add in someone walking around in lingerie as a "prop," and the whole vibe felt more awkward than romantic. The timing didn't improve -- food took an hour, and my salmon (ordered rare) showed up severely overcooked. Dessert was supposed to be lava cake and ice cream, but the ice cream was replaced by a sad squirt of whipped cream like a last-minute cover story. If the goal was unforgettable, they succeeded -- just for all the wrong reasons. Would not repeat unless I'm craving disappointment with a side of spectacle. read more

We had Caesar salad, crab cake, tuna tartar, and hamachi all appetizers were excellent and the service provided was great. The decor is stunning read more

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Love this neighborhood spot with amazing bartenders, food and service I will bring all my friends here read more

Aquarelle - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

What an absolute disappointment! I have been wanting to dine at Aquarelle since it opened so I "saved my coins", and couldn't wait. Why do you accept reservations at 4:30 PM if you don't open until 5 PM (or later??). The bartender was nice enough, but could provide me 0 guidance on the menu, and when I walked in, looked at me crooked, like I shouldn't be in there and I said umm I have a reservation. When I asked to be checked in for my reservation on Resy, their answer was oh that machine isn't up here yet??? What? I had a drink at the bar first and was seated at my table around 5 PM. There were no candles lit. There was still no music on. Tables in disarray, not set, etc...- There was a bus boy going around cleaning -stuff that is usually done before opening. My table had some sort of gross residue on the edge, clearly not cleaned from the day before, which is quite un-appetizing. There there was a man -some employee sitting near me, talking on his speakerphone, watching things loudly on his laptop, clearly a manager of some kind, but I was the only guest in the entire restaurant. Not once did he say welcome, or how are you, or anything remotely along the lines of hospitality? I ordered a four course dinner, when my first course arrived, the Hamachi, it was put down by the busser who had been cleaning, with 0 words. When I ask, what is all of this- because the menu simply says Hamachi Nobu, he replied Hamachi. I said yes I know but what is everything else? and he just looked at me like I was an idiot. Telling me later that he can't really speak English- then why is he running food to a table when a guest might have questions? He went and got the bartender and I asked the bartender I said l, can you tell me what all is on the plate? I'm just curious what is the dish because the menu just says Hamachi Nobu. His reply stunned me. He said "oh I'm just a bartender I don't know". So I asked, is there anyone in the restaurant who can tell me what I'm about to eat? And he said oh, no the waiters haven't arrived yet. It's now 5:20 PM?! I've been there for almost an hour! There's no waiters in the restaurant?!? What? So I eat it. It was fine. then my octopus arrives, no explanation again. He tells me the Chef is gonna come out and talk to me. No one comes out. My last savory course, the lobster pasta is brought out and Chef finally comes out (which was nice) but he just stares at me and smiles, but by that point it was too late. What am I gonna do? Ask him to go back and review the dishes I just ate?? And he made no attempt to describe the lobster dish. Besides, the octopus was so rubbery, I could barely cut it with a knife. The lobster WAS so rubbery- I could NOT cut it with a knife- I had to put chunks in my mouth and bite it to cut it and then chew it like bubblegum, and the dish had zero flavor. Finally a maître D or someone shows up, around 6pm, and comes over as I'm finishing and says how is everything I said it's fine. He doesn't say oh just fine?! or any concern-- he he's like OK. I arrived early because I had tickets to a show at 7:30 in Midtown and I wanted time to stroll through Thompson Square Park because I used to live near there. I've been in the service industry in New York City for 27 years. I work so hard in hospitality and I was so excited to go out and be served. Served, I was not. It's so inexcusable to me that a guest who arrives first or arrives last is not treated the same as a guest who arrives at 8:00PM. Is my $150 I spent on dinner not the same as someone else's $150?? (That's without any alcohol-and not including tip- and yes I tipped 20%, because it's these people's livelihood and not their fault the owners and management don't care!!) So so disappointed! Not like I think anyone who reads this is going to care in the least. Thanks for nothing. read more

Aquarelle - Ew - Seafood Near Me - New York, New York

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Hi. Delicious mussels and pasta. Super cute atmosphere that I feel has the potential to deliver more. I think going for one central theme would strengthen the vibes. I don't like the fish market room and I think the projector is tacky. Bathroom is cool. I like the bar submarine. I don't love the no music when I was there. Drinks are great. Service impeccable. room for minor improvements read more

I'm really excited about Aquarelle new seafood spot in NYC! The East Village is where I want to move next, so I'm thrilled for a new adventure. They have incredible squid ink linguine and shaved Brussels sprouts that I've never tried anywhere else. I'm totally in love with it! read more

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We came here to celebrate a birthday. We got a super new server who doesnt speak english well,, who probably shouldn't have gotten a 20 person party. But we did. I can see the appeal for everything they have to offer. The manager is great, he came over and fixed everything. Though he shouldn't have had to, it was really kind that he did. But it still tarnished the overall experience. The chefs also should have not sent out our first orders different than the 2nd time remade. So im not sure what the dishes are supposed to actually be. It was quite confusing. They definitely tasted good the 2nd time around. So its hard to give an accurate review. But I would try them again if I was in the area. But I wouldnt necessarily recommend it unless you're already familiar with this restaurant. Very Mediterranean based. I do not recommend the squid ink pasta, as you get very very little crab. Where if you get the clam linguine you get a lot of clams. But the sauce isnt true linguine sauce. It was a very interesting experience. The drinks in the other hand were very good read more

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Great atmosphere, everyone is welcoming and beautiful ambiance. The food is great and always fresh. Jean Claude always makes sure everyone is well taken care of as well. My to go place for a nice date night or just a dinner or celebration. read more

To stay competitive, I'd suggest removing this tartare in its current form. Using beef shoulder for tartare is not well suited to this preparation and is best avoided. The calamari are good, the octopus presentation works, but the deli bread detracts from the overall experience. Replacing it with a proper baguette would make a noticeable difference. One additional note: strong food odors linger and transfer to clothing, which affects the overall guest experience. The concept is good -- wishing you prosperity. read more