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Aqua

4 star rating
based on 458 reviews

Category: Seafood  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Financial District
252 California Street
(between Battery St & Front St)
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 956-9662
  • Hours:
    Mon-Thu 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Mon-Thu 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
    Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Fri-Sat 5:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
    Sun 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
  • Price Range: $$$$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Dressy
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: No
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Good for: Dinner
  • Alcohol: Full Bar
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458 Reviews for Aqua

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Photo of Sarah W.

Elite '08

70

126

Sarah W.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/18/2008

Went for lunch and overall I enjoyed it.

The hostess, while lovely, seemed a bit stuffy and gave off a bad attitude. PMSing perhaps?

The standouts were the scallop entree (can't recall the exact name), Ahi Tuna Tartare, as well as the Dungess Crab salad. YUUUUM

Wasn't a huge fan of the Abalone.. it seemed to have too much going on.

If I was paying would I have lunch here again? No.. someone else is paying? Yes

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14

57

Alex L.

Redwood City, CA

5 star rating
08/19/2008

Went to Aqua for a business dinner tonight.  It was fantastic.  I savoured and thoroughly enjoyed every courses from the amuse-bouche to the little pistachio dome desert.  
Aqua is a haven for seafood lovers.  If you don't like fish...you are pretty much out of luck.  The Kabinett riesling I had was outstanding.  The tuna tartare was out-of-this world.  The Hawaiin Walu was mouth watering.  Impeccable service and relaxing atmosphere.  

I have not given out 5 stars for a long time...well deserved.

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0

20

John D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/18/2008

As advertised. The food is very good. The Tuna tartar was one of the best i have had. I took a star away because the staff was over anxious with clearing the table, it felt like they were watching every move i made in anticipation of taking my plate, and that made me uneasy.

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0

35

Linda C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/16/2008

For the vegetarians out there:

Even though their known for their seafood, their veggie options are pretty good.

Salad was OK, nothing to write home about.

Their veggie entree was a spin on the monkfish plate, and it was VERY well done.  Morels and oyster mushrooms replace the monkfish, and the flavors go together well.  Portion size was excellent - just enough to finish it all and not feel overly stuffed.

Dessert was the Strawberry "Liègeois" (Milk Chantilly, Strawberry & Rhubarb Sauce).  Great flavors, and a nice end to the meal.

Service was excellent.

Conclusion:
Good food, atmosphere a little stuffy.  
Best if done on someone else's budget...

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0

2

Deane W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
08/16/2008

I am delighted to see that many reviews include compliments related to the service and staff.  I have been working here for years ... and can't recommend it more highly!

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Photo of Jason P.

 

2

18

Jason P.

Ontario, CA

5 star rating
08/08/2008

Oh boy was this good. Great service. Complimentary cheese plate...

This is what I had:

Appetizer: Tartare of Ahi Tuna (Moroccan Spice, Lemon Confit, Fresh Herbs)

Entree: Monkfish "En Cocotte" (Morel Mushroom, Asparagus, Crisp Egg, Verjus Bouillon)

Dessert: Strawberry "Liègeois" (Milk Chantilly, Strawberry & Rhubarb Sauce)

Wine:  
2005 Zinfandel Russian River Valley

Espresso: a double

End game.

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1

26

Teresa T.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
08/12/2008

this place did everything right. the ambiance was nice and not too noisy, the staff were attentive and competent, the food was amazing!! the complimentary amuse boche which was good. I had the ahi tuni, dungeness crab, halibut and finished off with exquisite-tasting jasmine tea ice-cream.  All 6 of us were blown away with everything.  The 3 course dinner was $75 and 4 course was $88 each.

Classy seafood restaurant for a special night out - believe me, it will not disappoint.

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Photo of Erin P.

Elite '08

53

84

Erin P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
08/04/2008

My sister and I sent my parents here for their 25th wedding anniversary a few years ago and they had a great time.  We had no problems coordinating the reservation and credit card payment for the meal over the phone so that my parents would not have to worry about the bill after their meal.

When I was home recently we decoded to go back as a family this time so that my sister and  I could enjoy the food also.  We went for lunch (because it was cheaper to do this for the four of us).  The service was top notch and the food was great- especially the fois gras!  I did not like all of the courses in the tasting menu but that is a rick you take when you are a kind of picky eater and you order a tasting menu.  The samples send out from the kitchen were great also.

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53

334

Dorothy L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
Updated - 08/17/2008

2.75 for the food

came here to try their tomato tasting menu.  the first few courses started out good.  but starting from our fish dish, everything just kinda went downhill.  out of the 7 dishes, i only like 2 of them.

service is great!

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating 09/18/2006

    Just came this past weekend for a bday dinner.  I was kinda disappointed b/c my friend had raved… Read more »

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Photo of Daniel O.

 

2

19

Daniel O.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
08/12/2008

My new wife, the lovely Ms. A, and I went here for or extravegant meal on our foodie tour of San Francisco (also known as our honeymoon).

This place feels like the Gotham Bar and Grill, which is the most comfortable top restaurant in New York.  It's the ceilings, the lighting, and the decor.... and the service, which was perfect.  I've had excellent service at places of this quality before.  But I can't remember any where the waitstaff were both extremely attentive and incredibly gracious.  This is a place where you shouldn't feel self-conscious asking questions about the menu or the wine list.

The Tartare of Ahi Tuna is their most famous appetizer, and it should stay that way.  It completely lived up to they hype.  Lovely Ms. A had the Dungeness Crab, and loved it.  I had the warm Salmon, and Ms. A. had the Striped Sea Bass for entres.  We melted along with the fishes in our mouths, but unlike them, remained.  

But, seriously, if you take a date here, either you're rich behind my comprehension, or your date may expect a ring.  Because it's both a seriously good experience, and seriously highly priced.

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Photo of LUCCA m.

 

5

10

LUCCA m.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
07/25/2008

Aqua, or what I lovingly refer to as "the great disappointment", oh how I wanted to have loved this restaurant. to start with, it's near where I live so I would have easily been able to pop-in whenever the mood hits. The decor is pleasing enough, albeit the ambient noise really should be remedied. It was unbearably deafening when my colleagues and I visited. Lastly, I felt that the food just fell flat of expectation. I am a Chef myself and probably ask a lot. In a city as great as San Francisco though, you don't have a choice but to try and be the very best.

Please try to improve your food and notify us here at Yelp and I'll revisit again and would love to revise this review accordingly.

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2

michael a.

Santa Clara, CA

5 star rating
08/17/2008

I have been a customer of Aqua for over 12 years and have never been disappointed. It exceeds my expectations every single time. How does a restaurant do that? Day after day, month after month, year after year? Astounding dedication to customer service, food quality and classic ambiance.

I took my son and the family there for his 21st birthday. Yes, he will remember this one. Four perfect courses and wine paring. If there was a way to give this American restaurant institution 8 gold medals for setting the example of what fine dining is, I would award that. It is, that good.

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Photo of Patty G.

 

157

111

Patty G.

Walnut Creek, CA

5 star rating
07/23/2008

This qualifies as one of those "expense account" kind of places for dinner.  And if you're invited as a guest, definitely go for it!!  Try their tasting menu dinners, and try the wine pairings they suggest.  Each wine was perfectly tailored to match the food.  

The servers were very attentive.  I loved that they always had a table-side flourish on each of the tastes and that they explained a little about what we were eating.  My favorite dish was probably the tuna tartar, served with a quail egg and some fine lemon rind garnishes -- they bring it out with the quail egg on top, then prepare it at the table, all the while telling some little factoids about the dish.

Wow, yeah, wow.

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Photo of Max. D.

Elite '08

74

61

Max. D.

Chula Vista, CA

3 star rating
07/22/2008

I met with my former boss at this restaurant for lunch. He was giving me grief because he knew this was going to be an expensive lunch. We spent $100+, he was right. I figured that since it was close to the office that this would be a great place to 'break the mid-day bread'. I think he liked it. The food was good and the service was impeccable.

We spent close to two hours in there. We shared an Ahi Tuna tartar and then I finished up with their interpretation of a Dungeness crab salad and a tall glass of ice tea. The host actually came to my table to mix up my tartar.  That was awesome!

Wonderful times.

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0

10

Dante C.

Redwood City, CA

4 star rating
08/06/2008

I think I'm not alone when I say that I love seafood! I wanted to take a date out in San Francisco, for my one night off a year and decided to go to Aqua. I made it an all seafood night, starting with the scallop and sharing the foie gras. The scallop was fantastic but I like to consider myself a foie gras critic and it was pretty good. I loved the Monk Fish and I especially loved the Montrachet. Cheers to you Laurent Manrique.

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0

9

Sarah H.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
08/14/2008

I thought the food was really overratted.  very creamy and expensive.  not sure what all the hype is about.

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2

35

RT G.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
07/06/2008

A solid four stars for food, three stars for service but they got seriously knocked DOWN by another star, which I'll explain shortly.  

The amuse bouche was very amuse-y except for the chopped up mound of sardines which was more bouche-y. Didn't go for the tasting menu because we weren't all that hungry, but it looked really good.

I started with the beau soleil oysters. Not bad although I could have done without the cucumber foam that they came pre-dressed in. The foam looked like spit, which made me laugh thinking that there's a "chef de loogey" in the back whose job it is to spit on the oysters ... Another complaint about the oysters - the server failed to identify which ones were which (which really pisses me off for some reason, and probably shouldn't. Does it really matter?) So I had to guess.

The SO started with their signature tuna tartare, which I ate a good 1/4 of. Very yummy. Evidentially the previous chef had a different way of making this dish, which they still prepare for diners but you have to know to ask.

For entree I had the hawaiian walu which was exquisite. Absolutely out of the park buttery, not over-sauced. Highly recommended. SO had the halibut, which he must have liked since when I looked up to ask for a bite, it had mysteriously vanished.

For dessert we got the cheese course, which (once again) wait staff neglected to identify for us what was what on the plate. Does it matter? The more I think about it, the more I have to say "yes!" The cheese makers (cheesicists?) put a lot of blood, sweat and rennet into those little slices of dairy goodness. Pay them (and us the diners) the service of a little bit of props.

Had a nice glass of tokaji as well, which is quickly becoming my fave dessert wine.

So now why the 2-star review? A HUGE no-no in my book:
There was a guy helping the hostess (a hostess-in-training maybe?) who was doused in gaultier's "le male" cologne. Maybe I'm just predisposed to hating that scent since I somehow always equate it with the smarmy eurotrash guys in college, but regardless ... Number one rule if you work in food service: NO COLOGNE!!!  It is impossible to fully enjoy the flavors of the food when your nose is under constant assault like trying to weave past the perfume shooters at Neiman's.

The front of house manager was always hovering nearby, I'm astounded that he didn't notice the smell. Unless it was covering up something much, much worse.

Definitely give Aqua a try if you're in the mood for some high end goodness from the sea, but Aqua -- clean up your act front of house. Thank you.

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Photo of Tom S.

 

40

266

Tom S.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
07/18/2008

I went to Aqua recently for a special occasion, hoping that it would be all I wanted and more. It wasn't.

I think I'm really more of a "I want good food and not to be starving when I'm done" versus "I want to taste delicate foods and leave wanting more" kinda guy.

I give them kudos for handling my dairy allergy, although my server wasn't really on the ball when she said "some of our patrons have a creme allergy more than a milk allergy". I don't think she gets the concept that its the same thing...
IE: Lactose Intolerance != Dairy Allergy

They were very attentive and had a great wine selection, the service was great albeit overbearing sometimes. I'll go again if someone else is picking up the tab :)

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Photo of Collin H.

 

1

9

Collin H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/05/2008

My fiancee and I celebrated our 3-year (dating) anniversary here last Friday night.  The food was awesome, but our server made the dinner.  I didn't catch his name (his names shows up as "Quang" on our receipt), but he was engaging, charming, very helpful and gave us some candid commentary on food we would and wouldn't like.  We also didn't spend a ton of time at super-ritzy restaurants so I appreciated that he was willing to guide us through a pretty complex menu (with foods that I hadn't envisioned ever trying).

Overall, we were very impressed with the food and ambience, but most impressed with the staff and with Quang in particular.

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Photo of Myung K.

 

4

14

Myung K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/13/2008

It's been a while, let's say Michael Mina comes to mind when I think of Aqua.  Albeit, circumstances treated me to go to Aqua again, and some things stay the same, maybe a little too much like a comfortable suit that you rely on.  I struggle between a three star and four star rating, I don't think anyone should read what the hell I have to say anyways, however I have dined around a bit so maybe the opinion is worth a penny.

The service is impeccable; knowledge, charisma, the ability to schmooze shows experience of the staff.  They're comfortable to perfection in the environment they control.

The space is sleek as a shark still, minimalist and sophisticated for the business crowd.  Great spacing between tables, and not too loud.

The food.  Hmm, it's good.  Even as i write this i wonder if i'm being overly critical of a restaurant with so much expectation.  The soleil oysters were very good, kimchee imbedded was a very nice touch.  The tuna appetizer, with quail egg, is wonderful.  The entrees underwhelmed, I'm not sure why as it is seafood and well, classic combinations run fairly well so I was expecting creative flavoring or maybe a medium-rare kobe steak :)  The wine list is stellar, I can't imagine anything but...

I change my rating to four stars, because I am faithful to things that are comfortable and reliable.  A good restaurant, Aqua will deliver and it isn't inventing the dining experience.

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Photo of Jay T.

 

20

23

Jay T.

Millbrae, CA

3 star rating
07/21/2008

This upscale fine-dining restaurant is located in the center of SF Financial district - looked it primary customer demo is business dinner and special occasions.

The decor is quite nice, but the lighting is way too dark for anyone to appreciate the design. (or even to appreciate your date's dress and makeup)  The waiters looked very busy and not very attentive.  

I've tried the 9 course chef's tasting menu, it was very sophisticated and an overall good experience.  The ingredients were very fresh and selected very well.  However the cooking style and taste comes short.  For example, the Foie Gras was slightly undercooked.  I took a leap of faith to eat it thinking that it should be ok since it's a famous restaurant.  There are several dishes that have repeated themes, and similar preparation methods. With the price paid, I expect more creativity and attention to details.  

The servers didn't do a good job getting their dining guests excited.  They don't let you feel personal and welcomed. Instead, the brevity of their explanation of the dishes didn't help me appreciate the dish at all.  

Overall, my experience was average and not getting a lot of excitement from this place.  I would probably try something else new or go back to my favorites (e.g. Masa's, Fleur de lys) again instead of coming back to Aqua.

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Photo of acacia t.

 

2

62

acacia t.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/22/2008

I've been twice now, and yes, I'm a fan, but my beautiful encrusted halibut was overcooked (and I didn't have the heart to return it.) Most wouldn't have though so, but I've spent time in the great Northwest, and I can tell you, it gets better than this. Nonetheless, the experience is totally worth it, and get a glass of the Lewis Reserve Chardonnay--it was one of the most delicious glasses of white wine I have ever had. And I would go again.

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Photo of G. Y.

 

0

93

G. Y.

Saint Louis, MO

4 star rating
07/19/2008

Very good seafood, although with the exception of the lobster, all other entrees appear to be fishes.  But they do offer scallops for appetizer.  Nice ambiance.  Very business-customer oriented.  I like how they provided us with complimentary appetizer testing and candies at the end.  I'm curious to see if this is customary.  Regardless, it was a very nice touch, and I'll be sure to revisit on my next business meeting.

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Photo of Siobhan N.

 

32

67

Siobhan N.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
07/11/2008

Oooooo!!! My husband and I came here with our ultimate foodie friend who flew all the way from DC to experience Aqua. We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings. - it's the only way to go! My favorite was the tuna tartare. Presentation is wonderful. For the 3 of us the bill came to $600 - and totally worth it!

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0

3

Jennifer K.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
07/22/2008

One of my top 3 favorite places in the city. I love the ambiance and service at Aqua. Aqua reminds me of being in Paris. The staff is very professional and consistent. A wonderful and ideal place to show out of towners one of the finest and elegant dining experiences in the city. Marco is the best! He's professional, knowledgeable about the wines and always has a smile on his face! ***** Five Stars!
I recommend Aqua's classic cocktail: Stockholm Royale (satisfies every fabulous girl's cocktail whim*), the Tempura prawns & my favorite the Foie Gras (both Pate' and Seared are delicious!!)

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0

33

Andrew N.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/18/2008

Just about any book with rate this in SF's top 10 of restaurants.  I wouldn't agree that it is one of the 10 best in the city.  I would say it is an excellent restaurant.  You are paying for the service and knowledge more than the plates of food in my opinion.  Having an in house sommelier is nice as you'll always have the right wine with each course.  If you are trying to impress someone that doesn't have true class this place will do it.

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0

7

puff e.

San Leandro, CA

5 star rating
08/17/2008

came here for a birthday dinner and was impressed with the food and service. we left our dining exprience in the chef's hands and ate everything he sent out. my favorite dish was the tuna tartar, which was amazing. our desserts were also left in the hands of the chef which was also brilliant. i cant quite pick a favorite dessert because there were so many of them, all of which were very yummy. one of my best birthday dinners ever!

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14

40

Kathy T.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
06/28/2008

Two words.....Five Stars!!!!

The End

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6

11

Vinny G.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
07/15/2008

6 course lunch tasting menu - So far, there have only been two times in my life where I've had an amazing meal, this was one of them.

# of visits: 1

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3

19

Anna N.

Santa Clara, CA

3 star rating
06/29/2008

I ordered the kumato oysters which came out room temperature. They tried to make it all fancy with wasabe oil and cucumber sauce but I didn't think it was all that. Sometimes, good ole lemon is all it needs.

the crab rolls are good! it was wrapped in cucumber and had a tangy sauce on it.  The ahi tuna was also good. The presentation was beautiful.

I had the lobster, the flavor and presentation was good but nothing out of the ordinary for a resturaunt at this price

I gave this place a 3 because I though the service was not that great. We actually sat there for 15 minutes before someone even walked by and acknowledged we were there! The front desk girl looked me up and down because i had a jean skirt on! The wait in between courses was very long. The portions were very small, they probably make you wait because longer you wait in between courses, the fuller you think you are.

When we left, we had to wait 15 mins for the valet attendant!,,,,,, he was no where to be found.

oh and don't get the seabass, the sauce was overwhelming and bitter.

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9

16

Tommy W.

Fremont, CA

4 star rating
06/24/2008

Went here for a birthday and I would say that Aqua lives up to its rep. The food was definitely above average, and made even better by the service that accompanies it. (did I really need 5 waiters to bring me my spoon, put my plate down, pour the sauce, and cut open the casserole?) So, when it comes down to it all, i think you're mostly paying for the service. The food is great, presentation is unique, and the memories of seeing a team of waiters serve you your en tree are priceless.

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5

16

Adam S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/21/2008

I'll say this - I really do not like seafood of any form. I went to Aqua on a work lunch. Co-workers convinced me to try sea bass. Was amazing!

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3

14

Nellie M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/13/2008

Absolutely delicious.
Can't go wrong with the tuna tar tar.
Service is good and friendly.
Ambiance is a little like a not so modern hotel lobby.
Price was much higher than what was advertised.
Business lunch is not nearly as good as ordering off the menu.
3 courses is very filling.
Based on portion size and ambiance, I think its better to do for lunch than dinner.

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2

3

Phil B.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
07/08/2008

Instead of ranting and rambling, I'll take a page from Aqua's amazing tasting menu and keep this review concise and to-the-point.
Aqua's food is delicious and beautifully presented. The tasting menu is a wonderful dining experience (especially with the wine pairing).
My only complaint about the place is not food-related. The decor is a little stuffy, or "classic," for my taste, but different strokes for different folks I guess. Still, I strongly recommend Aqua to anyone who enjoys fresh, creative seafood dishes.

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Gina N.

San Leandro, CA

5 star rating
05/31/2008

Wow, by far the most expensive restaurant i've eaten at. But it was definately a memorable experience. The service was excellent, as it should be. We ordered the infamous ahi tuna tartare, dungeness crab salad, and a tuna and lobster wrap for appetizers. (yes, i know that sounds like a lot). For entree i had the yellowfin tuna with duck confit, and he had the white sturgeon. For drinks, our waiter recommended the cabinet riesling from germany, and it was one of the best wines i've ever tasted. It had a great hint of sweetness (which is what i enjoy, and it was very smooth).

And as if that didnt sound like enough food they even provided us with a mini 3-dish item (each) compliments of the chef...before our appetizers arrived.  And lets not forget desert. We had the almond souffle and the chocolate & rasberry cake. I'm not much of a sweets kind of gal, but the souffle was one of the best deserts i have ever tasted in my life!!! it was so fluffy and light, and it went really well with the toasted sweetened almonds. Hmmmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Overall, great experience...my favorite dishes would have to be the yellowfin tuna with duck confit and the ahi tuna tartare.  It was a lovely experience...but it may leave a slight dent in your wallet. Let's just say the dinner cost nearly as much as how much we spent that night for a stay at the fairmont hotel!!

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1

22

Damian S.

Oakland, CA

2 star rating
06/25/2008

My wife and I wanted to take her brother out for a nice meal and decided that since he likes seafood Aqua would be the perfect spot. We all really wanted to like the restaurant, but we were really disappointed. Compared to some of the other nice, local restaurants (Gary Danko, Le Colonial, Fresh Cream (Monterey)) Aqua just didn't live up to the hype or expectations. We did the 3 course tasting menu and ordered the dishes our waiter recommended. The amuse-bouche were beautiful but all too salty. Our appetizers were definitely the high point of the meal. My wife's lobster soup and her brother's tuna dish were good, but the rest were interesting but just not that tasty.  Our dinners didn't taste great but they sure cost a lot.  
The desserts were all unique, but not very delicious or comforting.

Overall, we found it very disappointing, over priced, kind of noisy, and just not that tasty.

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15

David T.

Milpitas, CA

3 star rating
06/22/2008

Came here to visit some friends, one of them was in the big culinary school here and wanted to try it out.. some big name chef's restaurant.  
I thought the decor was pretty cheesy and the place was a little quiet.  there were ppl there but it seemed like you had to whisper in there so you didn't bother your neighbors.
Decent cesar salad
I order the skatewing fish for the first time and while it was tasty, didn't think it was all that.  I've had better, but the chef was limited by the fish itself.

We were given complimentary chocolate deserts made in house.  I was impressed by that

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24

K A.

San Jose, CA

5 star rating
06/23/2008

Not much more I can add to the 400+ reviews of this restaurant.

For me, it was excellent, all around, expecially the tasting menu with wine pairing...to die for.

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Elite '08

28

158

Yan G.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/08/2008

Aqua is not just a restaurant, it's a San Francisco institution.  It has been ranked as one of the top Bay Area restaurants for a number of years, so what could I add?

This is the way a high-class restaurant is supposed to be.  Aqua doesn't have the most glamorous decor or the most extensive menu.  What it does feature, however, is amazing food and impeccable service.  That's what makes Aqua a perfect place for an anniversary dinner (if your spouse has done something to deserve it), a first date (if you are trying to impress your date) or a business dinner (if the company is paying).

We had made our reservations online 3 weeks in advance and requested a quiet table by the window.  Instead, we were seated at a regular table in front of a giant mirror.  As we started wondering whether they ignored our request, the hostess informed us that the table by the window had just opened up.  At that point, we chose to stay at our table, but I appreciated their attentiveness.  

If you come to Aqua, prepare to dress up.  It's not a trendy place, but rather a classy one.  Dress accordingly.  You never know who you might see at Aqua.  At the table next to ours, one of the creators of Family Guy was enjoying dinner and champagne with his date.

The service at Aqua is simply beyond reproach.  The waiters are extremely professional and refined.  The head waiter makes sure that your overall experience is nothing short of spectacular, while the assistant waiters bring out the courses and describe the food to you in great detail.  I have to say that our waitress forgot to bring me coffee with dessert, but later remembered and apologized.  We'll let is slide.

We had a 4-course dinner.  I started with one of their special appetizers, a warm foie gras.  It was the best foie gras I've ever had, bar none.  I could not believe how flavorful and tender it was!  It was one of the specials that day; sadly, it's not on the everyday menu.  If you get a chance to order it, do yourself a favor and indulge.

Ahi Tuna Tartare is probably my favorite dish at Aqua.  Tangy, fresh and bursting with flavor, it is well worth ordering over and over again.  It is served with a quail egg, and let's face it - you just can't get a decent quail egg anywhere these days.

For my main course, I had the halibut.  It was beautifully presented with tiny potato pancakes and a dab of caviar.  It was exquisite and delectable, although it was my least favorite of the four courses.

For dessert, I had a strawberry-rhubarb sorbet served with compote, foam and shaved ice.  I am not doing it justice, because my description makes it sound like I had a Blizzard from Dairy Queen.  Actually, the dessert was very refreshing and just sweet enough to perfectly complement our meal.

Simply put, Aqua is the Coco Chanel of restaurants: classy,  refined and one-of-a-kind.  It's very expensive, but oh, so worth the money.

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25

Jaymee S.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/29/2008

The only reason this place should not get 5 stars is the price. $75 for the cheapest dining option....but it does include an appetizer, main entree, and dessert. But because of the great service and amazing food...I'll go with 5.

In addition to what we ordered, we also were presented with a small "bonus" dish with three items that was "compliments of the chef" before we started. At first I thought we were special, but then noticed other tables around us getting the same thing. Either way...it was a nice touch. First was a sardine...which I normally would never touch...but it was fantastic. Also on the plate was a shot of cold asparagus soup (interesting, but tasty) and a mini crab cake...also delicious.

Then came the bread...don't underestimate the value of some good bread. They give you your choice of three different kinds, and offer two different butters. The goat butter is tremendous.

For the meal...I started with the tuna tartare, which as many have reported...is mixed tableside with a quail egg and moroccan spices. DELICIOUS. My mom and fiance had crab and said it was quite good.

I went with the John Dory as my main dish. Very, very good...but I also liked the sea bass and salmon, which my fiance and mom ordered. Everything was excellently prepared and garnished tableside. A perfect amount of food, and we savored every bite!

Onto dessert...the mom and fiance got the pistachio dome, which was exactly as it sounds. They reported it to be interesting, but good nonetheless. ME?  I was in heaven when I saw the entire page of cheeses to choose from. (I'm in love with cheese). I can't remember which ones I got (all were amazing), but the watier was very helpful in suggesting both the cheeses and a glass of dessert wine to compliment them.

I won't go here very often because of the prices, but I was so glad mom picked up the tab for this one and splurged on Aqua!!!!

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