02/16/07

Great Atmosphere, Service, Food, and Bartender

by fpiers

Called on a Thursday night with a party of eight and the staff sectioned off the back room for us (which had a waterfall and a fireplace). The whole group had a delightful time. Had the aquaterra salad (really excellent) and the salmon over chick peas. Both were delicious as were the cocktails. Very knowledgeable bartender made excellent margaritas and dirty martinis for us all evening. For dessert we shared a chocolate sampler with profiteroles, chocolate creme brulee (which was everyone's favorite) and chocolate cake. Management and staff were exceptionally accomodating considering our group was a wee bit boisterous. Great spot all around.

• Pros: Exellent Bartender, and can accomodate larger groups
• Cons: A little pricey

02/11/07

Horrible experience and terrible attitude

by parizhilton

I can be extremely brief about this: some creepy crawler in my salad and no comp!

Apparently the manager wasn't there to override it, and the angry blonde woman in the front did not agree to let us go without paying for everything. This is disgusting, unheard of and simply bad service. I wanted to leave on the spot when I found the creature in my salad, obviously had lost my appetite, so it's not as if we finished our entire meal first.

Never, ever again! And what a horrible attitude!

02/02/07

A place to avoid! Average Greasy Food, Poor Service, Inaccurate Wine List

by bengrope

The meal was average and too greasy. I had a Caprese salad, which was over-dressed, the tomatoes were awful and the slices of mozarella too thick and very weak. The Main course was a pasta that was also disappoiting, way too salty for my taste, and again too greasy.

The wine list is absolute inaccurate, several wines we picked were unavailable and another selection was a completely different year (yes, it matters!) then on the menu.

The waiter was not taking good care of us at all, we had to pour our own glasses most of the time, and the busboy kept on trying to clear my plate while I was still eating (3 times in a row!). How is that for feeling rushed?

Finally, they charged my credit card twice, and I spend an entire day fighting with the management to get my charge back. They were acting like it was my fault, and they did not need to resolve the issue at all! I did not even get an apologetic tone, but a mean attitude.

Conclusion: why should I ever dine there again, and why should anyone else for that matter? Move over a block or two to some of the much better restaurants this neighbourhood has to offer!

• Pros: Bad Food, Too Expensive, Poor Service
• Cons: None, really, except they take walk ins...

12/26/06

Venison was great.

by glennh007

Excellant for private parties. Have held 2. One for 40 and the other for 65. Guests chose from a selection of 4 entries. For a group of 65 this is unheard of in most restaurants. Service was excellant. Meal well paced and delivered timely. Very accommodating staff. Wine list, very good. We had 4 poured. Guests raved! I'll be back.

11/09/06

Great Italian food like I knew it growing up in Queens

by oinos

I started going to this great home cooking Italian restaurant when it first opened. A year later I have yet to be disappointed with either the food or the service. I have tried everything on the menu, consistent, great quality Italian food. Chef Toni is a down to earth, warm, catering fellow. He makes all the difference. I live in the neighborhood and it is always like going home for some great home cooking. The staff could not be nicer. Great service! A refreshing addition to the neighborhood!

• Pros: Excellent food, great ambience, awsome bar, great prompt service
• Cons: Will like to see expanded specials menu

10/24/06

Best old school Italian food with new school flair.

by spinachi

If you want great Italian food, a classy setting, and an effusive chef that knows how to entertain with food and friendly banter, Aquaterra is the place to eat. Chef Tony gets an "A" from me (a teacher) on his old school Italian creations. Bravo, Chef Tony!

Spinachi

Denver, CO

• Pros: Great location, really friendly staff and a chef who knows his stuff.
• Cons: Sometimes it's hard to get in.

10/24/06

I LOVE CHEF TONY!!!

by missylo

Best Restaurant in the neighborhood!!! I have been going to this restaurant frequently ever since they opened a year ago. The food is delicious, the staff is really attentive and they know how to make you feel comfortable. I love the place, is cozy and suitable for a romantic dinner as well as a family luncheon or business meetings. I highly recommend it... another plus is the back room, excellent place to have a private party.

• Pros: Great chef, food is always delicious!!!
• Cons: None

07/25/06

My Grandma's Kitchen!

by nyc_italian

As an avid NYC Italian restaurant diner, I am always looking for new places to go, and Aquaterra did not disappoint. Excellent wine list; plenty of white wines to choose from and the food (had the Sunday Gravy) brought me back to the days when I was a kid and used to spend time in my Grandparents' basement in queens, chowing down on the finest italian cooking this side of the atlantic ocean! Aquaterra offers authentic Italian food that rivals my grandmother's own cooking, and why shouldn't it? It is, afterall, one of the few Italian restaurants in NYC that is actually owned and run by Italians. Benny, the maitre d', was very pleasant and made us feel right at home, and even gave us our after dinner drinks on the house. Friendly service, great food and a pleasant, upbeat atmosphere make Aquaterra a place that will, hopefully (if restaurant goers are smart), build its clientele and establish itself as a midtown mainstay.

• Pros: Nice wine list, friendly service, authentic italian food
• Cons: menu needs to be expanded a bit

06/14/06

Great Service, Etc

by jenny805

My fiance & I have been looking for months for a place to hold our wedding reception. Numerous of ok & very bland tastings that we didn't want to settle. On our last attempt we found Aquaterra, what a slice of heaven! The place is beautiful, Debbie is so understanding & helpful, Tony the Chef is Magic in the kitchen! The staff attentive.

I have never written a review & this place deserves a higher score. Everything is tasteful , moist, scrumptious from our 3 course meal.

Aquaterra I wish you many years of success, please don't change,& keep treating your customers like their VIP.

• Pros: Everything from the staff, the hostess, chef & place( nonheavy trafficking area)
• Cons: none

04/04/06

Beautiful Experience!

by sussyshine

I've been to a lot of restaurants in NYC and this is one of the finest! Anything on the menu will make your heart leap with joy! The atmosphere is so elegant which is only further complimented by the courteous and knowledgeable waitstaff. (especially, Fernando.)

• Pros: discount parking, nice music, GREAT WINE!
• Cons: none