Generally good

I've been to Aqua twice..first visit was enjoyable, pork belly and cheddar mashed potatoes was delicious. Fish cakes and pickles were great! Second more recent birthday visit wasn't as good even though I was looking forward to trying some of the new menu items. The pork buns were disappointing..too oily/fatty. Fish tacos were good but again, felt they could have... more

Innovative fresh food, great service

We had a great night. The food was mostly from fresh local produce, and mostly a combination of seafood with a slight Asian twist. My salt and pepper crab was the best I have had, with grilled lime and a hint of chilli, and the salmon is hoisin sauce with wasabi mash was inspired. The dessert menu looked great also,... more

Very good

We chose this restaurant to celebrate the our son's recent engagement. Staff were professional and very friendly. My entree was slightly over cooked (requested medium rare and got medium+). Our server recognized the mistake immediately and offered to replace it plus gave me a complimentary glass of wine. I declined the offer of a second entree (due to time restraints)... more

Delicious and not so expensive

For fine dining, you leave full and not feeling too bad about how much money you have spent. Of course, if you want wine or other beverages, that adds to the bill, but overall, not too bad.
a couple of the best meals I've had from a restaurant, have been from Aqua. The food is to die for, carefully prepared... more

Great food, waitress not very knowledgeable about the food

Great food but we were disappointed that the waitress did not know much about the fish, where it was caught, etc. We would expect the staff to be very familiar with the seafood, considering this is a seafood restaurant!
Went as a group of three, although Aqua may be more suited for a date instead of a group of three... more

Nice Place - Great Food

The restaurant is very unassuming from the outside and we were a little timid about going here.
That was very soon dispelled when we got inside to a wonderful and homy atmosphere.
Service was quick and very helpful in making suggestions when we asked.
Wine list is good and well priced with a good choice. We went with our servers... more

Amazing meal!... and then I got food poisoning

I went to Aqua last Saturday, I had the calamari and the fish tacos. The food and the service were great... and then I got food poisoning. And yes, before you tell me it was a stomach bug, I did go see my doctor.
After 2 days in bed, I called Aqua. First I asked to speak with a manager,... more

One of the finest in St. John's

Aqua is consistently awesome and yes - it is a small, often crowded, busy environment. This is how all popular restaurants in big cities are. I am often times amazed by people who expect fast-food service by chefs who are making your meal an experience, not a ten minute project. I have been to Aqua many times, when I remember... more

Good food, but too noisy

The food was good, but not spectacular. Very limited wine list. Unpleasantly noisy. Service was somewhat slow, but tolerable. Water is served in glass jars with handles; we prefer normal glasses.

Excellent Restaurant/Bistro

Mediterranean Style Menu with delicious Fish and Meat options as well. Not a large place so reservations well advised. We shared two apps.: the fish tacos and a feta/olive starter. For the main course I had the Cod which was the special and my husband had the Moroccan style Lamb stew with 2 lamb chops. Very different but both dishes... more

Deserves better on tripadvisor ratings

Our first choice for dinner on day one @ St. John's was tripadvisor's # 1 in town but an inexcusable fumble with our reservation request put paid to that. Although not highly rated by tripadvisor contributors this restaurant was suggested to us by a couple of the locals. We dropped in without a booking on a Monday night and the... more

Creative menu with Newfoundland twist

My family and I (husband and 2 children) enjoyed a very relaxing and delicious dinner here. The chef was able to accommodate our dietary/allergy needs.
The atmosphere is relaxed and casual and the menu is designed with a Newfoundland twist on many dishes. Even the southern fried chicken came with a side dish of greens with pulled salt beef! The... more

Wow! Best meal on our entire 3-week East coast trip

Fantastic meal from start to finish. Our server was great. We asked as to why cod cheeks weren't on the menu in any of the restaurants in the city...she asked her chefs; voila, cod cheeks for us! And they were d'lish. The squid, tender and crispy with a cornmeal dusting. Deep fried chicken - my partner was in heaven. My... more

Top quality, creative menu

Spent one week and one day in St. John's and chose to spend both my first and last meal here. The menu offered so many quirky twists on classic Newfoundland favs that I could easily have eaten there most nights. The cod was melt in the mouth scrumptious and calamari app tender inside with a light dusting of cornmeal. Adored... more

Great food in st john's

Very good creativity on presentation of seafood (and delicious). I had the Aqua Benedict that was excellent. Fish cake base with toppings of lobster, fried egg, caviar. The service was very good and the value for money on all entrees our groups ordered was very good.

Aqua is by far my favourite restaurants in the city….and I’m sure I’ve eaten at just about all of them….my boyfriend and I went again last night and we left post meal with the same belly -smiler feeling we always leave with. He had the Aqua Benny and I a freshly created delicious vegetarian option, root vegetable hash and mint pistachio couscous…the latter of which isn’t on the menu but if you... more

Easily one of the best in the city

This is a great place, we have been here twice in the last few months, the food is always fantastic and the staff ate friendly and not overbearing. The change the menu often from what I can see which is nice, it's a little loud if you have a big table in there but that's pretty common.

Great food, Terrible service

I visited Aqua for a friend's birthday, based on the great reviews from locals. We were quite disappointed as we sat for 10 minutes before we were acknowledged, then had to wait an additional 20 minutes for our drinks. We didn't receive our food until 1.5 hours into our visit to Aqua, and our 2nd round of drinks ordered did... more

Good for Occasions

My fiancé and I went to Aqua for her birthday and overall it was a satisfactory experience.
The food was very good, I had the braised pork belly and my partner had (i'm pretty sure) halibut fish and chips. Service was a bit above average. Wine selection very nice.
The restaurant itself is rather small and we were seated by... more

Always good

We love eating at Aqua as the food is always interesting and well prepared. Our mussels were prepared with Honey Brown Ale and kimchi. Who knew that would taste SO good!

i love aqua…every time i go there i get something new and it’s always mind blowing. i think the singer of monsterbator works there too, super cool!

great choice

Had a great time with Team Armenia. Had nice shrimp and chorizo tacos and battered/fried lobster/asparugus to start. Finished with a great battered Halibut which was hot and delicious along with great accompaniments. The other guys had the lobster which they enjoyed breaking down wearing their bibs. Nice all round and not too pricey for the quality.

Nothing to rave about

When another restaurateur and Where to eat in Canada recommends the place, expectations are set. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. The décor is nothing to write room about and the menu is rather pedestrian.
Chefs tend to use the amuse bouche to impress diners regarding their talents and what might follow. In this case, it was a cube of potato wrapped... more

excellent meal, awful experience

If I had read the other recent reviews first about food poisoning, I wouldn't have gone near the place. I hadn't, I saw the "Where to Eat in Canada" stickers, I went in, and the food worked out for me. I had the chicken entree. Not cheap but not outlandishly expensive either. It was terrific. What a great meal. 5... more

Lobster dinner ... woah

What a meal we had. All five of us wanted the lobster dinner ($35!!) but they only had four left! That was ok ... the salmon dinner special was just as wonderful. Not just a lobster on the plate ... lots of roasted vegetables come with it. Filling and fantastic.

Greasy mess

My boyfriend and I visited this restaurant last weekend. It wasn't a good experience! We started off with the charcuterie plate as an appetizer. The server didn't explain anything about the plate, she just dropped it off. When I asked her to explain she did, however she was not completely sure about the items and could not tell us if... more

Terrible food poisoning

That is my worst experience eating out in St.John's. Our family had a dinner at Aqua on Sunday night around 6pm. I had a halibut, our 2.5 year old had pasta with chicken, and my husband had one of their fish meals. We also ordered 3 appetizers. It all looked good until 11pm or so. All of us got terrible... more

@ anon
Seriously? You would actually complain about food coming out “too fast”? That has to be one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. Talk about nit-picky! In most customers’ eyes, I would think that receiving your food promptly would be a good thing. It certainly is to me. And you’re upset because the chef wasn’t there? Who do you think you are?
I came on Valentine’s day and the... more

Disappointing.
Went on a Friday expecting the chef/owner to be present, he wasn’t. It showed.
The food was good, but so what, most food is good. Nothing was excellent.
The service was kind, but inexperienced: waiter actually handled the replacement knife with her bare hands on the whole knife as she lay it down, no napkin. Take your dirty hands off my knife blade, thanks, I can see you. The... more

Good, But why not Ches`s Fish & Chips

Atmosphere is very basic, open concept to plain table settings. The bar is very nice. I was very disappointed by the food. I ordered Jigs Dinner (croquettes), which was just deep fried potatoes. I wouldn`t call it Jiggs Dinner with only 1 chunk of carrot & a string of salt beef! (Pickles were good).
I order the Halibut, thinking this... more

A great dinner

The combination of ingredients sound strange, but every dish on the menu works. Portions are well presented and are generous. We had a terrific meal and the restaurant is itself is well designed and decorated.

4 Out of 8 Got Sick

I am writing this review for my mother and father in law. They ate at Aqua a few nights ago with 3 other couples. They ate a variety of seafood (halibut, oysters etc) and steak, and found the food to taste "good" (although were disappointed with the steak). The bill came to $700. Later that night, four of them woke... more

very disappointed

After reading the reviews we were expecting a very nice restaurant and very good food. We got neither of them. Overpriced and the food was very bad. Dont mind paying a higher price if the food and ambiance are worth it. They need to take a dustcloth and clean the windows where there are bottle sitting just collecting dirt and... more

By far my favourite place to eat in St. John’s. The service is always friendly and non pretentious while keeping the air of fine dining, the wine is incredible, but the food is what keeps me going back. An incredible menu with creative and delicious options. Even the complimentary starters are to die for. The desserts are equally as impressive. Aqua is even very accomodating to my vegan... more

Wedding Blues

We went to the Aqua for a wedding on a Friday night. The set time was for six P.M. It was a small wedding of about fifty people. The main course did not arrive on the table until nine o'clock! By this time many of the women were drunk from drinking on an empty stomach. The place itself was small... more

Noisy & Expensive with Huge Portions

We went to Aqua on a Saturday night and although the restaurant was only half full, it took an extremely long time to receive our food. The waitress was very nice and they serve diners a few slices of focaccia bread with a sun-dried tomato and olive oil dip while waiter for their food.
For our appetizer we had the... more

Amazing

The food was excellent!! The service was excellent!! Very casual atmosphere and reasonably priced for fine dining.
I've been there twice in 2 weeks!!

The best meal we had in St. John's

Our meal was fantastic! My husband had ordered a beer on tap, but it wasn't his taste so our waitress gave him a different kind at no charge. I had the cod special which was absolutely delicious and my husband had the charcuterie board which he enjoyed. As an app we shared the cod cakes and cleaned our plates. This... more

Delicious

Everything we had to eat at Aqua was amazing! Wonderful service, superb food and wine. Request the round table in the back if you'd like some privacy, that was where we sat.

Enjoyed the food

I bought a coupon on line and got a very good meal for a discount price.
The food was very good with a nice wine menu.
I found the restaurant had a cold atmosphere but the staff was nice

OMG! Delicious

We knew that our meal was going to be good, but everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. Service was efficient and friendly, and each dish, from the surprise taster at the start to our selection of desserts was prepared with creativity and perfection.
It certainly makes a difference when the chef owns the restaurant.
We went with our two teenagers... more

Good Seafood in Downtown, St. John's

We shared a few small plates and all were tasty. Service was casual but attentive. We were pleasantly surprised by the large amount of space between tables. Also, the restaurant was not too loud. We could easily converse.
Entrees cost around $30, which seems a little high.
I definitely recommend a visit.

Thoughtfully creative menu, lovely presentation

Great spot for a lovely night out. At the higher end price wise, but worth it. The lobster poutine looked amazing, though we didn't try it. My pear and arugula salad was lovely and perfectly dressed. Delicious Manhattan Chowder.

Needs some help in front of house

Highly anticipated dinner here. Had taco appys which were great. Shared the seafood appt for 2 which was, so so, fresh and generous helpings but didn't blow us away. Shared a halibut crusted with wasabi peas over coconut rice garnished with asparagus. The fish was perfectly cooked but the taste could have been more pronounced, maybe with a bit of... more

Minimalist decor, maximum food

This palce was suggested to us by a savvy woman in the SJ's tourist information office just down the street (visit for knowledgeable, helpful staff and scads of brochures and maps). Interestingly, Aqua doesn't seem to enjoy the same profile as some of the other restaurants, but for my money it had the best food we enjoyed in the city.... more

interesting menu

food was very good, skilled chef. reasonable price. rather noisy, service a bit slow and waiter inattentive although it was the end of their lunch crowd. tasteful decor.

Innovative approach to Newfoundland cuisine

A seriously good restaurant which successfully blends imaginative modern cooking with touches of traditional Newfoundland food - for example, a lobster and chorizo dish came with a form of poutine and a shellfish pasta dish had a rich broth made with beef and spinach. Very popular so booking is essential.

A Must Try

I would go here everyday if I could afford it! Such a different menu, unlike anything else you will find in St. John's. Service was awesome, seated immediately , the waiter was very attentive, and prompt.
We had the seafood chowder for an appetizer, which was great. I had the lobster poutine which was so good. It was piled high... more

Innovative Variations of Food Offerings

Imagine traditional fried chicken with tasty macaroni and cheese
or a robust caribou burger or decadent lobster poutine? yup something entirely different!
Really needs some work with the tables and chairs - and the decor.

Best seafood

The cod was heavenly and service excellent. My friend had the halibut...fresh and tasty. Definetly a spot for fish lovers.

Lobster Poutine

After a friend recommended this restaurant, I checked out the menu online and was sold as soon as I read about the "Lobster Poutine." Who could resist that? We both tried the poutine and weren't disappointed. It had all the delicious elements of classic poutine, but notched up a level or twelve, featuring "butter seared lobster, chorizo [a really interesting... more

not what we expected

My wife and I went here earlier this month for our anniversary dinner and were tremendously disappointed. First, the restaurant was terribly loud. Conversations were bouncing off the walls, floors and ceiling and to make matters worse there was also some music playing. There is not one sound absorbing surface in the entire restaurant. Second, it took forty-five minutes after... more

Excellent meal, although it is on the pricey side, but what isn't in St. John's

My husband and I came in here for dinner after I read the great reviews and looked at their menu online. The menu looked fantastic, so I was excited to try it. We arrived around 6.30pm on a Friday night, and although the restaurant was empty, they said they were fully booked and needed the table back around 8pm. It... more

katiejaynenorman.blogspot.com/2012/01...

Best restaurant in st. John”s, thus far.

Did I LOVE Aqua? Mmm… no. It was good. The flavors seemed so great when described on the menu, but then when I ate the dishes I felt like something was missing. All the same, it’s obvious the chef loves to cook seafood and desserts, because seafood dominated on the menu, and was cooked to perfection. The dessert menu was creative and a few things were nostalgia-inducing (which is quite in vogue... more

aqua may be my favourite spot in the city for lunch
perfect portions with the right amount of flavours in every dish and dessert
Mmmmm

Nice Night Out

Visited this restaurant Sept 25th, with a couple friends. One from the states and another from Alberta.We all enjoyed our meals. I had Savory Cod Cakes for an app. Pear & Rocket salad and Carmelized Onion and Butternut Squash soup for the main course. The whole meal was great.

Consistently excellent in terms of both service and food. I find the place a bit noisy since the reno, but it is still the best in fine dining that you’ll find in St. John’s – and a better price then most of our higher end restaurants.

aqua = awesome

To the people who said this resto is no good : do you have brain damage?

One of my favorite places to eat. Drew is the best server in the city, without a doubt. New Years Eve my Bf and I dined there and it was maybe the best meal I have ever had. Mark McCrowe is extremely talented and has turned Aqua around for the better!

After hearing a lot of great things about Aqua from friends, I was *slightly* dissapointed with my experience. The service was great, the wine great as well. My friend and I ordered the Chorizo Corn Dogs as an appetizer- what a mistake. I’m really open minded, but these things were gross. Totally bland, hard to eat, with a boring sauce on the side. Great idea, terrible execution. My main was... more

I can’t emphasize enough how spectacular my experience was at Aqua. Truly a delight for the senses. A beautiful young lady served me the most exquisite meal I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Can’t wait to try out the rest of the menu!!

I have eaten at Aqua too many times to count. They have always had the most unique mixture of foods….love the prices and the relaxed clean atmosphere.

Amazing food excellent service wonderful atmosphere
highly enjoyed, will be back

It’s true; the new ownership ruined this gem.

It was the best restaurant in town, to me, for years. But now that it has reopened it has lost its class, its special thing that kept bringing my family and I back for years. It has defiantly down graded with its food, service, and atmosphere, the prices should follow. It’s actually quite disappointing. Why change a good thing if you’re not going to make it better. I won’t be back.

I’m so glad they finally re-opened! They were closed for too long for my liking! Definitely one of THE best places to take a beautiful woman out to dinner. While it is totally a “high end” restaurant in town, the prices are more like “medium end”. Service is great, and they just introduced a new cocktail menu. Two thumbs up!

My husband and I have enjoyed a meal at Aqua on several occasions. We found that the food was great and the service was excellent. We are a young couple who expected a little bit of the snobbery that you usually encounter at higher priced restaurants but I am delighted to say that we were treated with the same courtesy as everybody else. My husband had the caribou and it was quite probably the... more

I’ve eaten at Aqua on several occasions. They have an interesting and extensive menu. The food(which I and my dinner companions have had)has always been excellent quality and cooked to perfection. The service is excellent and all diners seem to be awarded the SAME high level of service, not just reserved for SPECIAL GUESTS. Every guest seems to be pretty special. Keep up the good work!!!!