Aquarelle

Great food and drinks! Excellent service! Will come back for more, fresh seafood pasta is great! Recommend

The atmosphere and the welcoming spirit of this restaurant is amazing. Crudo and ceviche were perfect . I need to give a special cheer to the staff who were attentive and welcoming. Even when there was a dish we did not enjoyed at the fullest they welcomed the feedback and were amazing about it. I can only recommend that restaurant and the staff. Well done !

Loved the pasta with caviar and flatbread with seafood. Also watermelon salad was super fresh. Yummy food and great service. Can’t wait to come back. Thank you!

This wasn’t just a meal — it was an experience. From the moment I walked in, I could feel the energy of the place. The design, the theme, the attention to detail — everything was perfectly curated to create an unforgettable atmosphere. The food? Absolutely incredible. Every bite was bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and clearly made with passion. The drinks were just as impressive — creative, refreshing, and perfectly paired with the menu. What truly sets this place apart is the vibe. It’s warm, lively, and immersive — you don’t just eat here, you feel something. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. You can really tell they love what they do, and it shows in the service. Hands down, the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Highly recommended for anyone who’s looking for more than just a good meal — this is a full-on sensory journey.

What a great addition to the East Village Excellent Octopus, perfect slice and temperature Lovely design. Lots of natural light. definitely having my Birthday here next year

I was overall very happy with the experience. They feel like a nice staff that is figuring out their servicing and attentiveness. While there were a few service misses, they were very kind and apologetic when they forgot things & made up for it later. The food was all very fresh and delicious -- was much better than expected (especially versus previous versions / management of this restaurant). Scallops were delicious, as was the watermelon salad and the seafood ceviche. I think this may be the best seafood restaurant in East Alphabet City now. Looking forward to coming back!

The food was amazing. The service was a 10/10. The chef made these deliciously seasoned oysters with a side of butter sauced and chopped green peppers to top it off.

Absolutely loved this place! The seafood was incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. Every dish we tried—oysters—was delicious and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the ambiance was cozy yet elegant. A must-visit spot for seafood lovers! Can’t wait to come back.

If you're looking for good VIBES and good food this is the place to beee!! My favorites are the mussels and the love potion drink!!

Everything was so yummy! Loved the ambience and the service was great, funny people and restaurant with a heart. We had the flat breads & the pasta. So good

Came in with a group of six for my cousin's birthday dinner, and the evening kicked off beautifully with the Seafood Ceviche. Bright, tangy, and full of fresh shrimp and citrusy punch -- it hit every note. But the star of the night? The Ribeye Steak. Perfectly medium rare, buttery soft, with that peppercorn sauce that had us all dipping fries long after the steak was gone. Oh and let me not forget the La Femme cocktail -- floral, smoky, and surprisingly smooth. We stayed almost three hours laughing, sipping, and celebrating. Staff was warm and attentive without hovering. Aquarelle really made the night feel special. TR: Altı kişilik bir grupla kuzenimin doğum günü yemeği için geldik, geceye Seafood Ceviche ile başladık. Taptaze karides, narenciye asiditesi, dengeli bir ekşilik... tam yerinde. Ama gecenin yıldızı kesinlikle Ribeye

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.

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.

We went here and instantly felt transported to a nautical steampunk fever dream that was destined to be unforgettable. We just weren't sure which way it would go. The fish was clearly fresh given the lack of a fishy smell so at least we knew we knew that. The staff was eager but poorly trained. One woman with an amazing back tattoo was clearly the exception. She was helpful and clearly had experience. The other staff told us that they leave the bones in the fish for added flavor, would make a big show out of pouring water that I had clearly just finished from the bottle and really over explained basic things. Ok... not great sign there but how much can they mess up prawns, creamed spinach and branzino? The spinach was very small for $14 and was really poorly seasoned with cream plopped on after a brief sauté. The prawns were so overcooked they were bone dry and so over flavored I couldn't taste that yummy prawn flavor. Even a cajon style cook would have told this cook to hold back on the seasoning. These were not the butterflied prawns cooked in butter and garlic that was described to me. A bar with a menu would have done better with frozen prawns. We had fun but won't be returning... also not $. This is a $$ to $$$ restaurant. Look this place could turn their fever dream around if they scale back the decor (saw some trapped souls in the portholes), got a chef with some experience... any experience... and trained their staff ...but it is a lot to do. EDIT: after my initial review the restaurant reached out to my friend and offered us a credit to try them again and update our reviews. I have to admit, I was skeptical but the place was fantastic for people watching and the fish smelled fresh so we went for it. We ordered 6 plates and I will admit they were much better. The wait staff is friendly but it feels like someone with a little experience trained them, unfortunately it didn't come off as fine dining service even for a new place. Lots of reaching over food, asking if all the dishes were for us and they made me quite uncertain if they would be food safe with my allergies (seemed to forget and be slightly dismissive). However the food was allergen free (yay) and the ceviche and lobster were wonderful. I liked the seafood flatbread, however the crab cakes and calamari were fine but not worth the calories. My friend said the clam linguini was okay but nothing special. At the end, if you want a fun place to people watch, take photos and get a good ceviche or lobster, this would be a good spot to try. Definitely order the ceviche or lobster if you go.

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.

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.

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!

We came here last night with a group of six to celebrate a birthday The place was packed, yet the service didn't miss a beat. I had the Red Snapper, which was simple but cooked perfectly -- flaky, fresh, and full of flavor. Everyone else raved about the Surf & Turf. And oh, don't skip the Blackout Chocolate Cake if you're a dessert person.

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!

I wanted to love this place. I love seafood and this restaurant looked amazing. I live down the street and saw them building the space out for months and waited for them to open. I'm going to give them some credit because every restaurant needs time to figure out their pace, but I was a little disappointed on my first visit. I was one of 4 tables in the restaurant and the food took literally over 1 hour to come out. Table next to me came in 25 minutes after my girlfriend and I and got their food before us. The waiter took almost 20 minutes to get us our glasses of wine. To his credit once he realized the food was taking a long time he refilled out glasses for free. I thought the food was fine, but was a little underwhelmed. The tuna tartare was pretty average and the Caesar salad was honestly not good. It was just big heads of lettuce (not chopped) drizzled with dressing. Chef trying to be overly fancy. The oysters were also not great, i love good oysters and these were small, not shucked great, and it seemed like they dumped the brine out? I'd give the food a 7/10. Overall, I think this place is bringing a different vibe than I was expecting in the neighborhood. Its going for an upscale / fancy, Tao kind of vibe. Seems like they want it to be a "scene". It just feels a little out of place in the neighborhood. On top of this, they are plastering all of their social media, yelp, google reviews, resy etc, with obviously fake AI generated reviews. I really don't like that. The place does not have 300+ 5 star reviews after being opened less than a month when it doesn't even *exist* on Beli yet. All the reviews are cut and paste AI generated in the same structure. That comes off as super tacky. I will try it again in a few months and adjust my score hoping they figure out a few things.

If I were starving on a desert island, I'd eat sand before eating here again. Let me start with the positives: the place is gorgeous, and the staff? Absolute angels. Our waiter was a gem! Thank you so much for being accommodating and incredibly professional. But then... the food came. First course: octopus and something that looked like a whale carcass -- and tasted like it had washed ashore the night before. Salad: possibly assembled by a toddler on Ambien. Cold shrimp (unseasoned, unbothered) laid sadly atop a pile of whole, untouched romaine hearts still damp from their plastic bag. The "dressing" smelled and tasted like motor oil. By the time the entrees were supposed to arrive, we made an executive decision: no, thank you. Except the risotto. Big mistake. I wouldn't serve this risotto to a bird. It was so undercooked we nearly broke a tooth trying to peck at it. Each grain had the structural integrity of aquarium gravel. It's rare to feel so spiritually let down by a carbohydrate. Verdict: Beautiful place, lovely people... hauntingly terrible food. Come for the ambiance, stay for the therapy you'll need after the risotto. (This review was written by my mom! Posting on her behalf.)

A beautiful hidden Gem in the east village my favourite place to come to, I love it here service is great ambience exquisite and the food is top tier! Worth checking out!

Beautiful interior--so thoughtfully designed and aesthetic. The fish was incredibly fresh. I especially loved the salmon tartare and scallop crudo. The salt-baked fish is brought out tableside and set on fire, which made for such a cool presentation!

A beautifully decorated new space with lovely ambiance. The service was initially warm and gracious. Then the waiter disappeared for at least 15 minutes, then returned without more water and finallymentioned they didn't have the liquorhe previously told us they had. The food was good, but not incredible. We got salmon tartar and hamachi service. The acqamellon salad had olives and was disappointing. The side of mushrooms was nice. It's only their first month, so they're probably hammering out their rhythm. I wish them success, though it doesn't seem like the upscale venue vibe fits the neighborhood, unless they really pull it together and it becomes a destination.

Omg. Nothing disappointed. Ceviche, shrimp cocktail, watermelon salad, squid ink pasta so so delish. Nisa our server was beyond helpful and sweet. Nothing could have been better.

Had a really enjoyable evening with delicious food and even better vibe. The owner had great recommendations and stopped by just enough to make us feel truly welcome (even though we last saw cool a couple of decades ago). Fav starts were hamachi crudo, watermelon salad, shrimp kofta. Also enjoyed the tuna tartare and tomato feta app. Tried Dorado and branzino salt baked. Not sure where yelpers who didn't like these ate- ours were excellent (though filleters (people who fillet?) could use a little practice. ) Squid ink linguini with crab was reportedly great (I'm gluten allergic so didn't try). Had recommended cocktails (gin cucumber something and a slightly tropical one) and wine recommended by the owner- all were perfect choices for us. Desserts were fine but could use more thought- on the other hand I doubt the dozens of model types pouring in beginning at 10 are there for dessert- that was fun too- place was getting busy with a young late night crowd when we left. At table flambéing of the fish and violin were great old schooly touches - though the violin v bar music is a touch confusing. We'll definitely be back. Thanks for a great evening!

The menu is so delicious! Our server, Bri, had the best recommendations -- the squid ink pasta and le souk cocktail were amazing. Came here with friends and we would totally come back :) bonus points for cute decor

The food was amazing!! Great vibe, fun music, and very delicious drinks. Our server Kyle was fantastic too. Would return again!