Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails

Name: Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails
Address: 3410 Rt 37 East, Toms River, NJ, United States, 08753
Telephone: (732) 270-1180
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.5

4.5

1029 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Top Tags:

Owners Vincenzo and Caterina Varriale redefine hospitality by welcoming you to their newest venture, Aqua Blu Kitchen &Cocktails. This one of a kind bar and restaurant offers an eclectic variety of dishes, uniquely vibrant and friendly service in a chic yet family friendly atmosphere. Our menu offers a seasonal modern twist on Italian cuisine. The invigorating space is made up of multiple dining rooms, three full service bars and a lounge. The restaurant is situated at 3410 Route 37 east Toms River, NJ, right at the foot of the Seaside bridge.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 29, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 8 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Happy Hour Wed–Sat 2:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(732) 270-1180
Website
http://www.aquablukitchen.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Private party facilities
Aqua Blu can host special events for groups of almost any size. A semi-private area offering views of the open kitchen can be reserved for groups of up to 80 guests. The private Rustic Room can accommodate up to 50 guests, and is ideal for both intimate celebrations and high-level business gatherings. The Aqua Blu Banquet Room is also available for large-scale receptions and seated events of up to 140 guests.
Private party contact
Cathy Varriale: (732) 270-1180

Location
3410 Rt 37 East, Toms River, NJ 08753
Neighborhood
Toms River
Cross street
Bridge St.
Parking details
Private Lot
Entertainment
Visit http://aquablurestaurant.com/events/event-calendar/ to view our weekly events.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Butcher Board$24.00
assorted salumi and cheeses, marinated vegetables
Crispy Rock Shrimp$22.00
calabrian chili aioli
Crispy Calamari$17.00
lemon aioli or marinara
PEI Mussels$14.00
spicy red sauce, roasted garlic bread
Baked Local Clams$15.00
lemon oreganata breadcrumbs
Charred Octopus$18.00
fingerling potato salad, yuzu-mustard vinaigrettea
NJ Eggplant Parm$14.00
house made mozzarella and ricotta, pomodoro

Salad

Grilled Romaine$12.00
roasted garlic caesar, rustic breadcrumbs, parmigiano reggiano
Green Salad$14.00
strawberries, avocado radish, white balsamic vinaigrette
Wedge$15.00
bacon lardons, candied pecans, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese
Beet Salad$15.00
whipped goat cheese, caramelized onions, raspberry vinaigrette

Pizza

Margherita$12.00
crushed imported tomatoes, house mozzarella, basil
Rapini and Roasted Tomato$15.00
calabrian chili, roasted garlic, ricotta
Pepperoni$14.00
drizzled with local honey
Arugula and Prosciutto$15.00
shaved parmigiano, extra virgin olive oil

Fresh Pasta

Rigatoni$23.00
classic vodka sauce, peas, prosciutto breadcrumbs
Linguine$22.00
clams, lemon, calabrian chili, arugula
Orecchiette$25.00
broccoli rabe pesto, sausage ragout, roasted cherry tomato
Spaghetti$23.00
slow cooked pomodoro, homemade meatballs, ricotta, basil

Entrees

Grilled Branzino$32.00
white bean and heirloom tomato salad
Brodetto di Pesce$31.00
mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, spicy tomato brodo
Seared Local Scallops$35.00
grilled corn and roasted pepper salad, lime, cilantro
Lemon Honey Salmon$32.00
charred sugar snap peas, jasmine rice
Crab Cake$39.00
old bay fries, bacon-pepperoncini vinaigrette
Chicken Scarpariello$24.00
sausage, procuitto, peppadew, yukon gold potatoes
Aqua Burger$18.00
cheddar, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, bibb lettuce, spicy mayo, fresh cut french fries
Veal Chop Milanese
arugula-tomato salad, lemon
- 16oz$48.00
Veal Chop Parmigiana
pomodoro, fresh mozzarella
- 16oz$52.00
- Add Pasta$52.00

Steak

add seared local scallops to any steak $15

Char Grilled 12oz Prime NY Strip$55.00
Pan Roasted 8oz Filet Mignon$51.00
steaks served with broccoli rabe and smoked potato puree
Grilled Hanger Steak$39.00
hand cut fries, chimichurri

Sides

Fried Long Hot Peppers$8.00
Smoked Potato Puree$8.00
Sautéed Spinach, Garlic$8.00
Broccoli Rabe, Garlic, Chili$8.00
Parmesan Truffle Fries$8.00
Grilled Corn on The Cobb, Chili-Lime Mayo, Cilantro$8.00

What 1,029 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New Jersey - Central
Lively

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P
Pope
New York Area
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
We absolutely loved the brunch! Excellent cocktails (great bloody mary) and food. The music became too loud towards the end of our brunch, but we will return for sure!
SV
SusanV
New York Area
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food4service5ambience4
Food was great. The service is outstanding Our Server Michael was amazing!
MB
MarkB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband and I went to Aqua Blu for our Anniversary. I wish I got the name of are waiter he was so nice. We had a wonderful time food was awesome and I took two desserts home that were delicious! I will definitely be going back there..
KM
KumarM
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on March 17, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience2
Appetizers were lousy. Main course was tolerable Dessert was good.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food, great flavors, large portions and great service. Highly recommended. We will be back.
D
Dimsdale
Fayetteville
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience5
The food and ambience were great. The service was functional and somewhat disengaged.
J
Jerry
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always great. We had six people in our party and all were very satisfied. We like an Aqua Blu so much that we’ll be booking a few upcoming events there. Highly recommended.
LM
LarryM
Atlantic City
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Menu has standard choices plus a number of inspired interpretations, ingredients were of a very high quality and well presented, service was caring and overall, this was a delightful dining experience.
HT
HenrikT
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aqua Blue is always a great experience. Food is outstanding and the service staff is awesome
B
Billy
New York Area
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on February 17, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Staffing was light, so service was a little slow. Food was excellent. Overall will go there again.
MT
MichelleT
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was an advance Valentine’s double date with my niece and her future husband. We’ve been to Aqua Blu several times before but not together. Both of us had nice experience with our previous visits. Last night was our favorite dinner experience. It was not just because of the company, but because of Aqua Blu’s very tasty and well presented food. We loved and enjoyed every bite of the food. Michael, our server, was exceptional. He was very patient with us and was always smiling. He was always checking on us and was making sure we were doing okay with our drinks and food. What a wonderful experience we had!! Thank you Michael ❤️
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great dining experience with excellent food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely Evening!! Food and service were amazing!!
N
None
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
This is not a brunch buffet as we expected it is a new menu every week with approximately a dozen items on the menu all priced much higher than they should be. The food is average, the coffee was full of grounds and honestly they're okay for an occasional dinner but they're not anything special.
MT
MattT
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Other then having a rock hold hold the front door open , ( be careful ) , the entire dinner & drinks , were perfect . Friendly staff , fast service with a smile . Will return come the warmer months
RG
RocioG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love it, the food was amazing and the service was very good and nice ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
R
Rabbie
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent dinner was very nice experience will be back
DO
DOUGLASZ
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The cocktails were great. Our dinners were delicious.
CO
CoreenO
Atlantic City
21 reviews
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on January 6, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
This was our 2nd time enjoying a special evening at Aqua Blu. I love the restaurant, the atmosphere & incredible welcoming staff. Our server was Mike, enthusiastic & obviously enjoyed his work. I ordered the Pappardella Bolognese with wagyu beef,parmigiano reggiano, parsley, ricotta salata. I ordered this on my last visit & highly recommend this dish. The pasta is homemade, light, and delicate, just delicious! My husband was not as pleased with his meal. He ordered the Chicken Scarpariello: sausage, prosciutto, peppadew peppers, and Yukon gold potatoes. It's normally one of his favorite dishes, a very traditional homestyle meal. This version however lacked appeal & he did not enjoy it. Each chef has their own personal style of presentation & ingredients but this did not have the appeal & taste of a true scarpariello- the chicken lacked flavor & was not the right cut for the dish. We would not recommend this. Our friends were pleased with both their meals: Orecchiette with broccoli rabe and the Salmon with clams, fennel, white wine saffron broth. We will definitely return- it was overall a good night.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
34 reviews
vip
4.0
34 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2023
overall4food2service4ambience5
New Years Eve - overall it was a great night. The music was awesome & very appropriate for the crowd. Service was good too. Food is good - not great. It’s a little too salty. It would be awesome if they added some healthier options - mostly everything is fried & cheesy - not complaining about that, but some additional healthier options would be great.
AT
AlexT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We go here all the time, the food is great and the staff is very friendly.
DC
DominickC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Waitress served entire room by herself and kept up quite well menu selection not big very small menu should empand it prices little steep .Cocktails overpriced too
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
It was very loud for an early dinner even with it being New Year's Eve. But the food and service were very good, so we were happy.
A
Alexandra
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aqua Blu always delivers quality food and great drinks!
MB
MelissaB
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience3
Very nice atmosphere for the holidays ! But overpriced , and portions were Very small , 15.00 for a cheesecake ? Ridiculous !!!!
c
clarence
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Good was pretty good, great service and music and ambience
A
Alan
Philadelphia
58 reviews
vip
5.0
58 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went for Xmas eve and they had a special menu. Menu was perfect , atmosphere was perfect and service also. Food was on point as well as the drinks. Brussel sprouts were the best I’ve ever had. Cant wait to go back.
F
Fishfinder
Atlantic City
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall2food2service5ambience4
Christmas Eve. Food was ok . It was better the last 2 times I was there.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome, good food, sparklers for bday dessert , fun DJ after dinner
s
sailnhockeymom
Atlantic City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aqua Blu NEVER disappoints!! Food, atmosphere, drinks, music ALL top notch. ALWAYS my favorite spot!
c
catmaratt
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
First time dining at Aqua, food was good, turns into disco dancing/DJ later in the evening on Saturday,was fun!
LC
LisaC
New York Area
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was fabulous!!! The atmosphere was festive and relaxing and our waitress was super attentive and friendly. So happy to see a beet salad back on the menu!!
CG
ConcertGoer
New York Area
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Group of seven all had terrific meal and experienced good service.
JE
JEJJJA
New York Area
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 29, 2022
overall3food2service5ambience4
The decor was good in the restaurant. The attached bar was a bit noisy and vibrant. The food in the restaurant was just ok and the espresso was awful. We had the branzino fish and pasta special of a version of cacio e pepe with shrimp. The cavatelli pasta used was too thick and heavy for the dish and the shrimp was small and frozen, in our opinion. There’s a reason why spaghetti is normally used. The branzino was tasteless, but the accompanying beans were good. We also didn’t care for the Brussel sprouts. The cost for all was decent, but not equal to the quality of the food.
PP
PattiP
New York Area
19 reviews
4.0
19 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Food was good, service very good
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband and I do date night out weekly and enjoyed our time there!
DB
DebB
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent food and service. we were in the room directly next to the bar and although the restaurant was not full the bar was and very noisey
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlantic City
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on September 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Central location for friends from the north and south to meet. Menu wasn’t huge but everything was excellent! Grilled Caesar salad was amazing. Portions were big. Casual to dressy casual attire. Wait staff was attentive and friendly. Would absolutely go back if in the area. Great place overall very impressed.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlantic City
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, service and atmosphere!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
My wife’s birthday!

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
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails is rated 4.5 stars by 1029 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

Mar 29, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 8 times today

Google Map for Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails

3410 Rt 37 East, Toms River, NJ 08753

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Bridge St.
Neighborhood
Toms River
Hours of operation
Happy Hour Wed–Sat 2:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Entertainment
Visit http://aquablurestaurant.com/events/event-calendar/ to view our weekly events.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.aquablukitchen.com/
Phone number
(732) 270-1180
Private party facilities
Aqua Blu can host special events for groups of almost any size. A semi-private area offering views of the open kitchen can be reserved for groups of up to 80 guests. The private Rustic Room can accommodate up to 50 guests, and is ideal for both intimate celebrations and high-level business gatherings. The Aqua Blu Banquet Room is also available for large-scale receptions and seated events of up to 140 guests.
Private party contact
Cathy Varriale: (732) 270-1180

Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Aqua Burger

NJ Eggplant Parm

Crispy Calamari

Raw Bar

Oyster of the Day$3.75

West Coast$4.00

½ Dozen Littleneck Clams$12.00

Shrimp Cocktail

Starters

Butcher Board$24.00

Crispy Rock Shrimp$22.00

Crispy Calamari$17.00

PEI Mussels$14.00

Baked Local Clams$15.00

Charred Octopus$18.00

NJ Eggplant Parm$14.00

Salad

Grilled Romaine$12.00

Green Salad$14.00

Wedge$15.00

Beet Salad$15.00

Pizza

Margherita$12.00

Rapini and Roasted Tomato$15.00

Pepperoni$14.00

Arugula and Prosciutto$15.00

Fresh Pasta

Rigatoni$23.00

Linguine$22.00

Orecchiette$25.00

Spaghetti$23.00

Entrees

Grilled Branzino$32.00

Brodetto di Pesce$31.00

Seared Local Scallops$35.00

Lemon Honey Salmon$32.00

Crab Cake$39.00

Chicken Scarpariello$24.00

Aqua Burger$18.00

Veal Chop Milanese

Veal Chop Parmigiana

Steak

Char Grilled 12oz Prime NY Strip$55.00

Pan Roasted 8oz Filet Mignon$51.00

Grilled Hanger Steak$39.00

Sides

Fried Long Hot Peppers$8.00

Smoked Potato Puree$8.00

Sautéed Spinach, Garlic$8.00

Broccoli Rabe, Garlic, Chili$8.00

Parmesan Truffle Fries$8.00

Grilled Corn on The Cobb, Chili-Lime Mayo, Cilantro$8.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails restaurant rated?

Is Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information