At the western edge of SoHo, Aquagrill has delighted the moneyed crowd with its delicious seafood, wonderful raw bar and sumptuous lounge since 1996. Aquagrill is open, airy and cheerful in the daytime, changing to a more chic, sophisticated room in the evenings. A popular outdoor terrace seats thirty and is surrounded by bamboo and sea grass. The cocktail lounge and active bar scene are centered around the country's most diverse oyster raw bar.
Aquagrill is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Jeremy and Jennifer Marshall. Chef Jeremy is a C.I.A. graduate whose experience includes stints at Le Cirque and Le Cygne. Jennifer is one of New York's first female sommeliers with experience as the wine steward and assistant cellar master managing the 700,000-bottle cellar at Windows on the World; she has also managed several Manhattan restaurants. Diners can expect to find some unusual wine selections and great values on the award-winning wine list and wine-by-the-glass program. Aquagrill was selected as the 1999 Grand Award Winner of Restaurant Hospitality's Wine List Competition and was the recipient of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Awards of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Along with an extensive array of fresh oysters from around the world, the restaurant offers a selection of fresh Caspian Sea and Iranian caviar. The dinner menu features specialties such as Crab Cake Napoleon, Exotic Seafood Plateau, Bouillabaisse and Falafel Crusted Salmon. In addition to the Chef's creative preparations, all fish is also served a la carte with a choice of preparations and side dish offerings so the diner can select exactly what they are in the mood for. Dry-aged sirloin, chicken and vegetarian dishes are also available. Special dietary requests are gladly handled.
Aquagrill's bustling lunch offers a diverse menu, featuring hearty sandwiches on homemade bread, pastas and salads in addition to a large assortment of seafood. They also feature a popular $16.50 prix fixe Shucker Special -- a half dozen oysters, homemade soup or chowder, and salad. The weekend brunch is not to be missed. Features include traditional selections such as Eggs Benedict, fresh Berry Pancakes, French Toast and homemade Smoked Salmon, as well as heartier lunch fare -- oysters, soups, chowders, pastas, sandwiches, fish and seafood. Aquagrill's brunch has been voted the number one brunch in New York City by the Zagat Guide for 1999, 2000, and 2001.