Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC

Name: Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC
Address: 1174 Duck Rd, Duck, NC, United States, 27949
Telephone: (252) 261-9700
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1284 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Top Tags:

Due to limited capacity for indoor dining, please contact us for reservations.
Outdoor seating is available on a first come basis.

The most beautiful waterfront restaurant in Duck on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, offering fresh regional cuisine in a casual yet elegant setting. Now in our 13th season, we applaud our outstanding staff for their commitment to providing an exceptional experience for every AQUA guest.

Our Chef creates exquisite specialty dishes using locally caught fish and seafood, locally farmed seasonal ingredients, and all-natural meats. Carefully chosen innovative wine, craft beer, and cocktail lists perfectly complement Chef’s savory creations. Our desserts are made in house from the freshest ingredients, so it’s okay to try all of them!

Gorgeous sunsets, live music, and good times with friends and family make AQUA the place where delicious food and beautiful memories happen.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 29, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Seafood
Hours of operation
Lunch Wed–Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Bar Mon, Tue 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Wed–Sun 11:00 am–8:30 pm Dinner Daily 4:30 pm–8:30 pm
Phone number
(252) 261-9700
Website
http://aquarestaurantobx.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Cory Bryant
Private party facilities
Overlooking the Currituck Sound, with an amazing view. Sunsets light up the sky every evening. Waterfront decks and bar provide an unforgettable event on the water, in the quaint village of Duck on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Typically, private events are not available April thru October. Please contact for prospective availability.
Private party contact
Event Coordinator: (252) 261-9700

Location
1174 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949
Neighborhood
Duck
Cross street
Route 12 North
Parking details
Parking in front of restaurant and across the street. Overflow allowed at Scarborough Faire Shops.
Entertainment
Live music on our waterfront deck in season performed by local artists in a variety of styles.Select weekends during the off season we bring live music into the bar.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,284 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Coastal North Carolina
Hot spot
Coastal North Carolina
Great for fine wines
Coastal North Carolina
Romantic
Coastal North Carolina
Great for scenic views
Coastal North Carolina
Lively
Coastal North Carolina
Contemporary American
Outer Banks
Best Overall
Outer Banks
Best Food
Outer Banks
Best Service
Outer Banks
Best Ambiance
Outer Banks
Best Value
Outer Banks
Innovative
Outer Banks
Good for groups
Outer Banks
Neighborhood gem
Outer Banks
Good for special occasions
Outer Banks
Lively
Outer Banks
Most Booked

1,284 Reviews

GB
GaryB
Washington DC
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
All around fabulous! Excellent date night restaurant. Food was superb.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great lunch! The shrimp tacos were delish and the corn & crab soup was amazing. Definitely recommend.
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s
skbritman
Philadelphia
21 reviews
vip
5.0
21 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience3
Amazing butternut squash soup, wonderful sea bass special, great bread pudding and friendly and efficient service. A great experience
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KC
KathyC
Charleston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
WE were there celebrating a Birthday and everyone had a great time. Our waitress, Erin was delightful, attentive and very professional. The food was really good and the drinks were right on.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tremendous dinner with excellent service from JB our waiter with personality plus. I had the Rockfish special and it outstanding.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great meal and terrific service! We live in Duck and enjoy dining at Aqua Million dollar view ! Don’t miss an opportunity to dine there!!!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service and food-will return, also recommend !!!
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N
None
Richmond
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience2
Not enjoyable. Loud nodoy. Average food. High prices. Steak was raw@
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PA
PhilA
Tampa
42 reviews
vip
4.0
42 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Very good and best meal in Duck. The Tuna main course was outstanding
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d
donn
Philadelphia
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food was excellent. Presentation and flavor was top shelf. Waiter was very good. Would highly recommend.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant is a GEM!! The food was phenomenal; the wine list is not old and tired but new and innovative; our server (Paige) gave us great recommendations; and the sunset view on the sound can’t be beat. Also…there’s a Day Spa upstairs! My daughter and I had spa appointments the morning after our dinner and decided to have lunch afterwards since we enjoyed dinner so much!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love going to this place. Always seem to go for a family member’s birthday. Service is great along with food every time. Drinks too! Love the espresso martini. I’m afraid to try crab cakes being from maryland - but everything else we have all cleaned out plates. Perfect portions.
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B
Bistro
Nashville
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely relaxing atmosphere with delicious dishes that will tempt you.
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k
kathym
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our favorite restaurant in the outer banks and it did not disappoint. The service was great and the food delicious, with the entrees served like pieces of art. We arrived early to sit outside by the water with a drink, listening to enjoyable live music, watching the sunset.
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AR
AmberR
Raleigh
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 10, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
We had a 5:30pm reservation at 10/10/2023. Unfortunately, the host were not welcoming. No smile, no warm greeting from the man or woman. The man flatly told us to follow her (the woman host). The woman sat us and when my husband asked to be moved to a table that had a view she could barley understand him. I would’ve booked it on open table but there was no option for a preferred table. We almost left after that interaction because of how curt they were, but Paige saved the day with her amazing personality and accommodating us to the preferred table. She was outstanding! Very nice and knowledgeable of the menu and answered every question with patience and kindness. We’re really had a good time after that. Drinks were strong but awesome, appetizers were very good and our entrees were phenomenal! Paige even said we could add scallops to the meal ! Dessert was rich but good and all for a decent price. Definitely recommend Paige as your waitress! Thanks for turning sour first impression into a wonderful 3 year anniversary dinner for us!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Baton Rouge
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 8, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience2
Too loud to have a normal conversation. Spacing was odd: narrow hallway size. Corn & crab soup was thin although tasty. The pasta was heavy in taste.
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JR
JanR
Phoenix
12 reviews
vip
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on October 5, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
The food was quite pricey, but excellent We had a reservation but they wouldn’t let us sit outside, even though there were plenty of tables available. We were told those tables were for walk ins. We found that weird. But, overall we enjoyed it.
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H
Hopkinslax
Greater Boston
60 reviews
vip
5.0
60 reviews
Dined on July 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is our one must visit restaurant on the outer banks Always great food and wonderful service. Seafood is fresh and presentation is beautiful. Busy but comfortable atmosphere conducive to table conversation. Don’t miss this place.
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L
Laur285
New York Area
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 25, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience3
The hush puppies were insanely overdone and they claimed that is how they are cooked
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PS
PauletteS
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our fish was prepared perfectly, tile fish was the special that day. Everyone enjoyed the meal. Servings were small for some of our guests. Not quite as filling. Would have liked to know so we could have ordered appetizers. For them.
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R
Rnpemp
Richmond
24 reviews
vip
4.0
24 reviews
Dined on June 9, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience4
Our family ate here while on vacay & overall it was s good meal. I ordered the Tito Frresco to drink which was great and the crabcake was decent, it was slightly dried out. I would give this place a soild 8/10. We would probably return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 7, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Great hospitality, very professional, consistent food
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P
Paladin
New York Area
158 reviews
vip
4.0
158 reviews
Dined on June 2, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Totally a very good experience. Food , service, consistent nice atmosphere. Valerie an excellent server. All good.
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PE
PatriciaE
Richmond
91 reviews
vip
5.0
91 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server Aerin was awesome! Very friendly, had us well taken care of. The Flu shots were amazing, as always, our favorite drink. We had the bang bang shrimp tacos and the turkey panini sandwich, both delicious. These are the reasons we keep coming back to Aqua, great food and service! As always, looking forward to next time!!
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D
Dawn
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tops on everything
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p
pamkoko
Los Angeles
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aqua is our go-to restaurant to always have a great meal with a lovely sound side view. We love to see Lucy hard at work behind the bar and our waiter was great despite the amount of people he had to serve that night . I believe his name was Bryan. We will go back next week! The Kokomoor's
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d
dms11
Washington DC
129 reviews
vip
5.0
129 reviews
Dined on May 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Our party of seven had seven different dishes and every one of them was great...as were the desserts, especially the peanut butter pie and chocolate torte. And our server made excellent recommendations as well. One of the best restaurants in OBX for sure.
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LB
LoriB
Greater Boston
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was by far our best dining experience in Duck N C. The decor & atmosphere were well done. The food was exquisite. The service was spot on . Outstsnding.
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JR
JohnR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
This was an outstanding meal. All three courses exquisite.
Is this helpful?
L
Lynn
Charlotte
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our service was awesome and the food was even better! We sat near a window and had a nice view of the sound without too much sunlight. My husband and I highly recommend Aqua and will be back on our next visit to OBX!
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OT
OTFan
New York Area
28 reviews
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
A very good dining experience with attentive service.
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DB
DonnieB
Wilmington
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Spicy shrimp appetizer was great. The tuna special was outstanding. Great service.
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LP
LarryP
Greensboro
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Calamari appetizer was very good. Bigeye tuna entree with sea scallops was excellent. Service was friendly and prompt.
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MS
MichaelS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food, service, and ambience was very good. Prices are climbing!
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G
Gherk
Philadelphia
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server Brian is awesome , the food and drinks were top notch , great place
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LE
LizE
Richmond
3 reviews
vip
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall2food4service2ambience3
This was our favorite restaurant when we came to Duck but unfortunately I won’t be back. They ended happy hour (“Covid”is over now) and they told us when we sat down that we had to order everything all at once bc that was what the chef needed to make his life easier. There was hardly anyone in restaurant on a Wednesday and it was not during summer tourist season (May). We ended up just ordering appetizers and a drink and left since we couldn’t enjoy apps first bc we had to order all at once. Not the classy restaurant I remember from the good old days. Look, I get restaurants are having a hard time but so are people and when on vacation we still want to have a nice time when we spend the little money we have left from this recession. Sad, but this is where all good restaurants seem to be headed in this new America.
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CS
CandiceS
Richmond
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Valerie was amazing as she helped us celebrate our wedding anniversary. Her service was perfectly timed with each visit and the food was excellent. Judy,manager, stopped by to greet and welcome us as it was our first visit. Wonderful experience, we'll be back the next time we're in Duck!
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DG
DarrylG
Washington DC
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had great service, food and outdoor views! We will be back!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience2
Service was rushed. The appetizers came in 5 minutes. Entrees were at the table as we put forks down from appetizers. Portions were small when compared to other local restaurants in the same $$$ range. Dishes were tasty but not exceptional. Overall a disappointing experience. We passed on dessert.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 3, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
Great place. Service was slow (mostly at the beginning we waited fifteen minutes just to get originally greeted and drink orders) but we kind of noticed things can be a slower pace here so might have been that.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

FAQs

Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC is rated 4.7 stars by 1284 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 29, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Google Map for Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC

1174 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949

Additional information

Cross street
Route 12 North
Neighborhood
Duck
Hours of operation
Lunch Wed–Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Bar Mon, Tue 4:00 pm–8:30 pm Wed–Sun 11:00 am–8:30 pm Dinner Daily 4:30 pm–8:30 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Parking in front of restaurant and across the street. Overflow allowed at Scarborough Faire Shops.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Cory Bryant
Entertainment
Live music on our waterfront deck in season performed by local artists in a variety of styles.Select weekends during the off season we bring live music into the bar.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://aquarestaurantobx.com/
Phone number
(252) 261-9700
Private party facilities
Overlooking the Currituck Sound, with an amazing view. Sunsets light up the sky every evening. Waterfront decks and bar provide an unforgettable event on the water, in the quaint village of Duck on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Typically, private events are not available April thru October. Please contact for prospective availability.
Private party contact
Event Coordinator: (252) 261-9700

Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 1,284 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

FAQs

How is Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC restaurant rated?

Is Aqua Restaurant and Spa - Duck, NC currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information