Acqua Restaurant-White Bear Lake

Acqua is truly an amazing restaurant. From the food, service and ambiance you can’t get any better. We LOVED the crab fritters, muscles, Italian rigatore pasta, ny strip, lemon cheesecake, and butterscotch budino. Staff was so friendly. Will definitely be back!!

Acqua in White Bear Lake has a calm, elegant atmosphere that feels perfect for a dressier night out. The food was quite good overall, and we were pleasantly surprised by the Groupon menu—it’s separate from their regular offerings but still had great options. We left feeling satisfied and would definitely recommend it. Looking forward to coming back! Those desserts did not disappoint!

A hidden little gem. The food was fabulous , even from a European perspective. Shrimp and crab cakes as starters were both well prepared and flavorful. Both the pasta bolognese and the mushroom special (added scallops) were fantastic, fresh and full of flavor. Slight downside on the crème brulée that was a bit on the sweet side. Atmosphere and service were top notch. Definitely a repeat when back in town.

Update: After giving Acqua another chance, I am updating a prior review. We decided to try Acqua a second time, and this time it did not disappoint! Our second visit was outstanding all the way around. We once again had a beautiful night on the marina, and our service was again excellent. Waiters and waitresses checked on us frequently and consistently refilled water when needed. Our food this time was just incredible, one of the best meals we’ve had in quite some time. My steak was grilled just to my liking, the seafood was perfection, and the sides and dessert were all quite tasty as well. The scallops really stole the show. We ate every last bit of our food. We’re not sure what happened during our first visit, may have just been an off night, but we now see why people speak so highly of Acqua and why it’s rated as one of the best restaurants in the area. Great place for a special occasion, especially during summer along the marina! Original: We had heard nothing but good things about Acqua and were very excited going here. We had a reservation, were seated out across the road by the marina. Beautiful setting in summer! Our service was excellent all night, frequent water refills, etc. To our surprise, though, the food was terrible. We ordered the walleye and the elk chops. Plating was very nice, but both plates were not good. The taste of the walleye was disgusting, not sure if it was old fish or rotten or what. I usually love fish and am not a picky eater, but this was awful. And the elk, which I ordered medium rare, was mostly well-done throughout most of the meat except one side that was rare. The meat didn’t have much flavor. Potatoes also were just ok. My wife ate about two bites of her entree. Ultimately pretty disappointed. Not sure if it was an off night for the kitchen or what, everyone else seemed to love the food when they went.

Visited for the first time and was impressed with the quality of food. Ordered the Risotto as a starter and it was absolutely delicious, I could have ordered it as an entree- there was plenty leftover to either be shared or saved for later! Entree was the Walleye- it was fresh, flavorful and the succotash was wonderful. My friend had the tiger shrimp as an appetizer, it was very good as well but you only get four for the price. She ordered the New York Strip- it looked and smelled amazing! We didnt have room for dessert but the menu items sounded amazing as well. The only downside to this place is that has a very small indoor seating area. It is the definition of "quiet and intimate" setting so it can be easily overwhelmed with noise. Probably not the best place for a large party unless you're good about keeping a low volume or you request to sit outside. The servers were very attentive and knowledgeable, our service was superb.

Small restaurant with great ambiance and service. Got to be seated on the deck. Love that they have waterside seating. Appetizers were packed with flavor and delicious. Cocktails were made fresh with no artificial syrups. Mains were so-so. My risotto was a touch under, but proteins were perfect. Scampi was a bit dry, but again, proteins were cooked well. Staff were so wonderful from front end to behind the bar. They truly make sure you’re enjoying the restaurant. I’d definitely go back and try it again.

We made reservations that give you a guaranteed seat inside, but when we got there, they had an open table on the upstairs patio. That made for a very nice experience on a warm day in the shade with a breeze overlooking White Bear Lake. We were feeling spendy, so we got apps, salads, entrees, drinks, and dessert. We had great service, and everything we consumed was amazing. We will definitely be back.

I made reservations here to celebrate my wife’s birthday. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. That said, everything is way, way, way overpriced for what it is. The passion fruit and peach lemonades were $8 each and did not come with free refills. The cheesecake dessert was tasty, but it was literally a 5x5x5 cube—and at $14, the portion size just doesn’t justify the price. The crab cakes ($19) came with only two small cakes. They were delicious, but again, the portion was disappointing. Our total bill was $186.32 after leaving a $20 tip. On top of that, the restaurant charges a 3% fee to offset credit card transactions unless you pay with cash or debit. Tax was nearly $13, and the credit card fee was another $5. Just our entrées (Scallops & Tiger Shrimp Parmesan Risotto with Pancetta and Sicilian Beurre Blanc) were $92—$46 per meal. We also ordered the baguette bread, which most restaurants provide complimentary, but here it cost $8. We were seated upstairs. The first table for two had a nice view, but it was directly over a vent blowing cold air on our legs. The staff tried to cover the vent and steady the wobbly table, but we eventually asked to switch to another spot. The room itself was very cramped, making it hard to have an intimate conversation since we could hear everyone else around us. They really should install proper vent covers rather than trying to block airflow with receipt holders. In short: The 3% surcharge should be eliminated—you’re making plenty from the food prices. $8 for lemonade without free refills is unreasonable. $8 for bread that most places include for free is excessive. The cheesecake portion is far too small for $14. For comparison, Oceanaire in downtown Minneapolis (a true fine dining restaurant marked with $$$$) was actually cheaper for me and my wife. At Oceanaire, we received complimentary fruit, vegetables, bread, and free refills on lemonade. Their cheesecake was five to six times larger for the same price—and actually shareable. We really wanted to love this place, but for what it is, it’s just not worth it. Based on prices alone, it should really be listed with an extra $ symbol.

Came to Acqua for the first time with friends for a special dinner, the mood and ambiance of this restaurant alone is impressive but it's so intimate and cozy. The restaurant isn't that big but it's nestled next to white bear lake and during the summers they have a patio right out on the lake as well, I'll have to come back here for a summer outing! We ordered a ton of food, everything was excellent, even dessert. The ambiance again was sensational. Highly recommend for a special occasion, the food was fantastic and if you have good company, chefs kiss!

I came across this hidden gem while searching for a nice place to take my wife, and I'm glad we decided to give it a try. The location is close to the lake, which makes the area feel peaceful, and parking has never been an issue, which is always a plus. We parked right next to the restaurant in the free lot. Once we were inside we were greeted by the staff. They gave us the option to sit inside, outside on the patio, or even by the water across the street where they have a nice space kind of like a patio as well but with a better view of the lake. We went with the patio, and it was a great choice. For starters, the crab cakes and spicy calamari were both excellent. My wife went with the NY strip, while I tried the special which consisted of crab legs, mashed potatoes, and three shrimp. Everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor; honestly, it felt like a party in my mouth with each bite. The only minor hiccup was waiting a bit too long for a refill on my wife's Diet Coke, but aside from that, our server Dave was attentive and made sure we were taken care of. The atmosphere is another highlight. The place is nicely decorated, has a comfortable vibe, and even the bathrooms were well-kept. Overall, the food, service, and setting all came together to make it a wonderful evening. My wife and I will definitely be back.

What a great spot! It's right on the water of the lake and beautiful view. We went on a chilly day but we were on the second level close to the windows so still got to experience the ambience. We were celebrating a birthday and a candle was given for the dessert (though was not free). Great service, very attentive. We got the calamari which does have a kick of spice. We also got the scallops and shrimp risotto which was great flavor and fresh seafood. We got the special which was a crab pasta- this was the favorite!!! I hope they add it as a regular menu item. We'll be back, especially in the summer and eat outside!

The only reason this restaurant didn't get a 5 is that the music is terrible. I don't come to a nice restaurant to listen to pop music. The mussels were great. The tartar awesome, the crab seafood platter was good. Very pricy.

No Table Manners sent us here and we really enjoyed it! Food was great. Nice view of White Bear Lake.

We've been to Acqua a few times now and it's always excellent. Took advantage of their Sunday night date special this time, food and drinks were delicious and our server Nathan was fantastic. Very elegant but relaxed atmosphere, wait staff is extremely attentive and won't ever let your glass go dry. The patio and lake view is wonderful but don't sleep on this place in the colder months either as it's still a beautiful quaint environment. The Black Cherry Collins is one of my favorite drinks, worth trying if you like gin!

Met some friends here a month ago for one of my friend's birthday. First off the view was stunning with a lake view. The food was absolutely delicious. Everything we tried was absolute perfection. We started with the Blue Crab cakes, Bruschetta and Roasted Brussel sprouts. All three apps were delicious but the Crab cakes were my favorite. For entrées we got Ragu alla Bolognese, Walleye Piccata, Petuna Ocean trout and Wild Mushroom Risotto. Everyone enjoyed their entrées. The wild Mushroom Risotto is a must try if you are a Mushroom lover like I am. We decided to end the night on a sweet note. We ordered Creme Brulee, Butterscotch Budino and Lemon Cheesecake. We all enjoyed our desserts very much. Service was great as well. Our server was very attentive and friendly. All in all we had an amazing experience and we will certainly be back.

ACQUA is very charming and cute it's located inside of a house on the shore. Service was really great, and the staff was very nice, and the view is impeccable, the entrees was just okay a bit underwhelmed but definitely would recommend

Went here on a Tuesday for a birthday dinner. We had hoped to sit outside by the lake, but it was closed due to potential rain coming. We decided to sit on the corner of the bar and had great service from Tommy. We started with Mussels in a great flavorful white sauce and boy were fantastic. I was in the mood for pasta, so I decided to try the Ragu Bolognese, and I was not disappointed. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was rich and flavorful.

Just love Acqua! We got to sit outside by the lake. Beautiful night and the setting was awesome. We had a table of 7 and the food timing was perfect. Nathan was our server and did an excellent job for us. The food ... amazing! We had the mussels, calamari, and Brussel sprouts for appetizers. So good! We ate the Chilean Sea Bass, the Pork Shank, the Elk, and I had the Halibut special which needs to be on the menu permanently! Just a great meal.

Not only is the food amazing, but the music has been just the best! The ambience and staff is why we continue to come back.

Wow, everything about Acqua screams delicious! The moment you walk in, the ambiance makes you feel like your out on the lake in a boat house. My only critique of the night would be my old fashioned. I personally am not a fan of muddled cherries or oranges, it makes the drink "dirty." Also, there was a pile of sugar at the bottom of the drink. The bourbon tasted great, but I would personally of gotten something else, and I love old fashions. For an appetizer, I got the blue crabs cakes, and I wish I got more! I got the New York strip, and OMG, it was delicious! What really hit it home for me was the Gorgonzola Cream. It was so rich and smooth, anything it touched turned into liquid gold. For dessert, I got the crème brûlée, and there is nothing like taking your spoon and cracking the crust. It had a delicious crust with a savory creamy filling. A great way to end the night! Would highly recommend! If your in the area, stop on by, you don't want to be missing out!

Out of towners took lovely pre-dinner walk along the harbor before being seated upstairs just inside the balcony. Enjoyed cocktails, yummy bread with specialty butters, delicious Walleye with a unique Fall succotash, and the most perfect blueberry lemon cheesecake for dessert. We may never be back in the area, but ACQUA was an evening to remember!

Love this restaurant! Food is consistently wonderful. The sea bass is so good but this night I decided on a new menu item-Torchio pasta. It was so flavorful and not too heavy with the pecorino porcini sage cream sauce. I am absolutely ordering this to go, secretly, on a night my husband is out! My husband had the delicious lamb chops. We love to sit at the bar -to watch the hustle and bustle of bartenders and owners.

Hadn't heard of Acqua until I won a gift certificate at a golf tournament. With that said I would absolutely come back again. The service was outstanding and everything was delicious. It was definitely worth the money.

We had a great experience at ACQUA. We were lucky to get a true lakeside seat on a Sunday. My wife and I had the couples special and the food was amazing. I had corn chowder with the Roasted Chicken Scarpariello entree. My wife had the roasted beets and the Shrimp Scampi. No disappointments. The service was excellent. Highly recommended.

Everything was great food service people went out of their way to be helpful. Oysters fabulous

Sea bass is to die for. Calamari is the best I've ever had. We will definitely be back.

Always great food and the ser ice is terrific the ambience is wonderful wish I could eat there daily

We used to love going to the Forest Lake location and now go to the White Bear Lake location for birthdays/anniversary dinners. Consistently EXCELLENT food and incredible service every time. Menu seems to change a bit according to the season and we haven't had a dish that we haven't all adored in the years we've been going here.

Found this gem on Yelp. Food and service was amazing! Best meal we had while spending a few days in the Twin Cities. Highly recommend the pork shank, but everything was amazing! If I lived here, I could easily see myself eating a meal at the bar way too often!!

Wow. What a hidden gem this is! Decided to come have a celebratory meal here and it was so worth it. It's an incredibly charming location. This place has parking in the back of the building which expands as a parking garage for other business as well. We decided to try their 3 course meal and it was all delicious. I would definitely recommend getting the mussels as an appetizer as they are imported fresh every day. Also ask for a side of bread and finish the sauce with it. I would of licked the plate clean but I decided to follow the correct protocol for dinning. I loved trying the elk although they were definitely smaller medallions than I thought I'm glad I tried it. If you are looking for a bigger portion go for the pork that was 10xs the size as the elk. I wish I had room for dessert at the end but I'll have to come back separately and enjoy that. It's sus j a beautiful place with an incredible view of the lake. Service was exception and very welcoming. Can't wait to come back and tell friends and family about this place!

Having grown up on the east side of the lake, in Mahtomedi, I have had appetizers and cocktails at this establishment, and never a full meal. My twin sister and I decided to go here to celebrate our birthday in May. The three course meal was an appealing option in order to taste a little bit of the variety that the chef had to offer while being composed in a complete dinner setting. For the first course, my brother-in-law got the Fry calamari, I ordered the muscles and white wine sauce, and twin ordered the _______ I truly cannot remember her first course... That says what you wish... Second course, twin and I both ordered the beef tartare with quail egg, and browski ordered the hamachi crudo with heirloom tomatoes. Both twin and I felt that the beef tartare was lacking seriously in seasoning, a.k.a. the simple salt and pepper, and a touch of acid. In addition, some freshness like a real good for watercrest or arugula salad would have helped by freshening up and awakening the dish. Maybe some sort of vinegar emulsion, lemon, or pickled capers sauce to balance out the super savory, and umami meat? Browski got the tenderloin with the best potatoes and it was absolutely divine. Yes I tasted it, and yes I tried to sneak more bites, as well as did his wife. The walleye that I ordered along with twin was great. Well balanced, well emulsified sauce to balance the richness of the fillet, and fresh greens to give a crunch to the dish. All in all, the service was great, they had no problem giving us a bazillion different baskets of bread, and the food was quite delicious. I will keep this place in mind and come back most likely in the future, if not to show off out-of-town guest, but for special events!

Staff is so nice and attentive. The food is delicious. It's such a cute space! Great for date nights. I've been here before and will definitely return.

Quiet place on the lake. They do a three course offering with plenty to choose from, even if you are a meat and potato person. Some pretty exotic dishes as well. Took a group of clients here and all seemed to enjoy. I started with a crab cake served on a puree and both were amazing. I went off script and ordered an Apple and cheese slaw salad next and finished up with one of the most tender and flavorful Ribeyes I've had. Great waitress and fire side seating. Probably not the place to bring the kids but nice date night location. Fixed pricing for the meal and up charges for certain choices.

Delicious! For years we've been talking about dining in but haven't, so on a whim we stopped in as a family (more of a date night spot) our waitress was awesome she knew the menu like the back of her hand and was ready to answer all of our questions. We had the 3 course meal was amazing. I have not one single complaint, everything was fantastic. We ordered mussels, crab cake, clam chowder soup which was a lighter broth with a kick of chili oil - mm so good and I kept it simple with my chicken and potatoes and he ordered steak which was cooked to perfection. *chefs kiss*

Service was excellent! 3 courses on menu, lots of options. Nice wine list. Cute atmosphere looking at the lake.

Went last night with parents while I'm visiting for holidays, was recommended and did have a beautiful view of the lake. Dining option is a 3 course meal with plenty of varieties. Cool concept, unfortunately none of my three courses were that tasty. you win some you lose some. Calamari was mushy, undercooked, and had too much breading. Manchego apple salad was a joke, I was actually laughing. No diversity in texture. Just slaw. "Pistachio crusted" sea bass was essentially broiled fish with a sprinkle of nuts on it. Not impressive. My mother got panko crusted walleye as main and it was truly underwhelming, she didn't care to eat it. Not a huge deal. When server came to ask how food was, he saw my mom's plate and asked if everything was okay. My mom politely said she was expecting crispy crusted fish and she can't enjoy soft fish. Server said "oh I'm sorry," and took the plate. That was that. I thought that was odd, no alternatives or empathy. For 65 dollars, I can get an app and a main elsewhere I'll truly enjoy. I could have done way better at home. Too bad because the view was great! Retrain your servers, and step your chef game up!!

I absolutely love this restaurant. Having a 3 course meal that get better and better as you go. From the food to the ambience. The muscles are to die for, whatever is in the sauce is outstanding! I had Brussel sprouts for my second course and the sea bass for my main dish. I wish I had room for dessert because the crème brûlée was calling my name. If you love sea food and appreciate good service you don't want to miss out on this gem! They also add in the gratuity so you don't have to think. I will be back

The food is incredible and the menu changes seasonally. Crab cakes are my favorite, the elk with berry sauce was cooked to perfection, the lamb was the best I've ever had. Great place for a date or special occasion. The bar is really nice if you want a more casual experience. Cocktails are unique and very tasty!

Great little and cozy spot to spend the evening. Food and service was perfect. Pork shank is fabulous.

OMG, was this a surprise hit for me. Small town out in the country. I was just hoping for a decent meal. But everything I ate was both delicious and original. The atmosphere and location were also super I was fortunate to meet the co-owner who could not have been more gracious. I learned that Cabin 61 is also her and her husband's. Where I'd had an excellent salad the day before. I look forward to returning

Awesome quaint Resteraunt adjacent to White Bear Lake. Inside seating for dinning and/or bar limited but worth the wait. Outside lower or upper balcony facing lake was excellent dinning. Also had delightful patio across the street right at dockside with limited menu. Service was excellent and food was awesome!! Prices a bit upscale but definitely in line for the total upscale experience. A define must try.

Save your money! Where do I begin!? First off, it was so dark where we were seated, that you could not read the menu without a flashlight, and the print was so small you needed readers, so if your over 65, don't bother. A house wine is $25 a glass, and they do not tell you that up front. The food is good, not exceptional. Asked or server about the price of the house wine, and she got an attitude that we did not appreciate. They automatically tack on a 20% gratuity, so if your unhappy with the food or service, your screwed. The parking also sucks. Take a chance, but I guarantee that you will be disappointed.

Great service and amazing sea food They have complementary bread and great choice of appetizers. Apple salad was good. Butter scotch Budino was yummy

So much variation of foods to try with their holiday meals! The turkey was some of the most nicely cooked I have had. A nice eating experience.

We were able to sit at the bar without a reservation - restaurant is hopping on a Friday night. Fun atmosphere, good ambiance and great food!! Worth the 30 min drive!

I ordered food tonight from Acqua. I have not eaten there in person and I certainly hope the presentation and portions are way better at the physical restaurant. The bag came with food packaged in paper boxes and the pasta on top was wide open. We had the classic Caesar salad with "tiger shrimp". As you can see in the picture-it was a tiny salad with two and they were absolutely not tiger shrimp. I would pick up a Caesar salad from a gas station with the initials of KT any day before this salad again. That salad was $12. We also had the formaggio arrostito (fried goat cheese) salad. Tasty but the price ($14) for the size! Had the maple glazed scallops. There were two with two snap peas, about 2 ounces of cream corn and about 10 tiny diced pieces of pancetta. Tasty but the price ...$20!!! Two scallops!! Other app was the roasted wild mushroom soup. Decent amount but the "croutons" were Barbie doll size. I was actually ok with the price of $14 as hen of the woods mushrooms are expensive and the soup was delish. Lastly we had the Ragu alla bolognese. This was the small container that was open and cost $26!! It was all carte so the pasta in this teeny container was $26!! Yep-temp was chilly and taste was ok. Super over priced for a small bowl of marginal pasta. I don't like giving negative reviews but this overpriced meal warranted nothing less. As an aside, the price from grub hub delivering , with a 10% fee for the driver was $113.48. Ugh

One of my favorite places in town! I even hosted my 40th birthday party here. Seasonal menu, chef driven, family owned and the best cocktails around. Feels like home with an upscale twist that doesn't break the bank- a must do! Try the espresso martini or the housemade margarita - you won't be disappointed!

It's easy to see how this place must be packed in the summer. It has prime views of the lake, one of the few in the northeast suburbs. We arrived at 5 to leave in time for a movie and loved how quiet our first hour was. Highly recommend an early reservation here for that reason. We split a bottle of pinot noir and ordered the crab cakes. I loved how these were packed with crab meat and so very crunchy on the outside. The sauces had a fresh flavor that complimented these well. I ordered the parmesan risotto with scallops, the Mr. ordered the chicken marsala. My scallops were a touch overcooked, and not cleaned quite as well as they should have. It's common to run into some grit with scallops, but when I paid $16 for only two, these should have been perfect. Mr. enjoyed his chicken marsala, cleaning the plate of every last noodle. The wine was also fantastic and I thought fairly priced at $40. I will come back to give this place another try and hopefully give a 5 star review with a non-scallop dish. Service was delightful from host to server to bartender. Friendly establishment with views that can't be beat.

The food and service is OK. Great outdoor patio! They do have wonderful scallops. Too pricey!

Amazing menu, quality of food, ambiance, service...everything is wonderful and makes for a lovely night out!

They are trying to be high end?????? Lots of choices, would be better off tightening the menu up and doing better quality dishes. I had overcooked / under seasoned pork shank. A Caesar salad that was totally uneventful. And a bowl of mussels that came that were just ok. Service was very good. Atmosphere was nice. I would expect more for the price $ 120.00 each was steep for this experience.

One of the best restaurants I've ever been. Outstanding quality food. Great service. I always come here every time I'm in Minneapolis. Highly recommend this place.

Yesterday we did an online order for pickup and got some great items. What was certainly the best part was the Black Cherry Collins Cocktail Mix that we ordered which included everything but the Gin. Instructions were included and it was very easy to replicate. With the restaurant closed at the moment, this was a great way to bring a little bit of Acqua into our home. Thank you for offering this to the public and our order even came with a word search book and a roll of toilet paper!

I've been to Acqua probably a dozen times now, and it's definitely one of our favorites. This trip it was the day after V-day, and everything was excellent. I ended up with the bairdi crab special, the others in my party had the duck, and the other had steak. I honestly didn't try theirs, but the crab was amazing. I honestly wish they had something like it on the menu more regularly, I'd probably get it every other time I went. Cocktails were excellent as always. If I have any criticisms of Acqua, they are 1: I hate their chairs, they just aren't that comfortable for me 2: I really would like there to be specials for cocktails as they do for food

Food was good , service was lacking forgot our salads had to ask or server , lengthy gaps between selections , charged for each soda beverage ordered

Ho hum - after reading the reviews, we were excited to take my in-laws here for a milestone birthday celebration. The cocktails were a mixed bag - 2 were delicious and 2 were too syrupy. Appetizers and dessert were the same experience and entrees were good, not great. On top of it, service seemed to be taking long breaks on a night with only half of the tables filled. I was expecting a 112 Eatery or Octo experience and was disappointed. Maybe it was an off night...

Used to be pretty decent. We stopped by last summer (2023), had dinner on the deck up on the 2nd floor. Service was slow and food was so-so. Haven't been back since - perhaps things are better?