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: 4.4

4.4

1057 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

Jun 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 4 times today

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 1,057 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.4Service
4.3Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

S
Senoritajanet
Las Vegas
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall4food5service4ambience4
Always a great time at aqua blu. Orecchiette was amazing and husband loved his calamari. Happy hour till 5:30
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
12 reviews
vip
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall4food3service3ambience4
Food fine, not great. Service a little slow for such an early dining hour
BD
BroadwayDiner
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Mike was out server -- he was kind, helpful, and made wonderful menu recommendations. We all had a fantastic experience and will be returning again.
MD
MichaelD
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good. Food was good drinks were good service was great
L
Lisa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
First time back in a few years and everything was delicious! Service was awesome too, especially our waiter (we think his name was) very personable and helpful! We will definitely be back!
NM
NoemiM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I have always had an amazing time with delicious food. Highly recommended
EM
ElainaM
New York Area
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My party was running late and the staff was extremely accommodating! Food and service was on point!
LH
LisaH
New York Area
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience4
There was a nice variety of food but much of it was bland. Especially the chicken. I don’t know if our server was overwhelmed but the drinks took forever. We were there over and hour before we even discovered there was dessert in the other room. I’ll return for regular dinner service but not again for brunch.
RD
RonD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great Atmosphere and food was amazing. This place does it right.
EM
ElainaM
New York Area
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner was delicious and our server Michael was great!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Our food was excellent and our service was very good. We were seated outside per our request, but there were a steady stream of smokers leaving the restaurant for smoke breaks right in front of the outdoor dining area and the smoke was pretty horrible. The restaurant would be well served to set up an alternate location for smokers.
H
Honest
New York Area
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Villain Queenie with the clam sauce was excellent I asked for extra small claims which they provided I ate the whole dish it was out of this world very close to how I make it thank you
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience4
I requested a table in the dining room area on the open table reservation. When we arrived, the hostess was trying to seat us in the bar area where the noise level was extremely loud. I told her I had requested the dining room on open table and she tried to tell me on her end, it specifically stated the bar area was requested and there was no seating available in the dining area. I showed her my reservation with specific instructions noted as far as seating preference and she still insisted on her end it states the bar area. I told her my husband and I were leaving as I couldn’t hear myself think with the level of noise in the bar. On the way out, my husband asked to speak to a manager, who was very apologetic. Miraculously, there were several available tables in the dining area in which he sat us. I was also informed later by open table that I did not qualify for points for the reservation. I’m thinking the hostess canceled our reservation as I have never had an issue receiving points. Lying, uneducated employee (the hostess) who was willing to lose paying customers because she didn’t want to do her job. Absurd!! On the upside, the manager, server and food were great!
MW
MelissaW
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner was very good Service was excellent Nice night out
KV
KV225
New York Area
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on April 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A great experience! First visit at this spacious, modern, and lively restaurant. A Wednesday Happy Hour was being celebrated when we walked in, so the crowd was all around the bar area, followed by some live music. Really fun! The food we ordered was delicious…baked clams, mussels, beet salad, and wedge salad for appetizers. The hot, fresh bread with olive oil was really enjoyed, too. Delicious cocktails, nicely prepared steaks, chicken scapariello, and penne with vodka sauce were our fabulous dinners. We will definitely be back. Great service and ambiance!!
HE
HEATHER
New York Area
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
All the food with exception of the French fries came out cold Even the steak was barely warm as though it was sitting on a shelf in the kitchen for 20 min The BROILED oysters….the actual oysters were cold and the cheese on top was barely melted
M
Mylisa
New York Area
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love this place. My favorite local restaurant. Food always superb, the staff....INCREDIBLE!!!! Specialty cocktails are unique and delicious.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
Michael our server was excellent! Food was very good
TR
TReff
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Always a pleasurable dining experience when we go and dine at Aqua Blue. Kathy and her team of quality CS personnel do an amazing job. I loved my Veal Chop Milanese , it was perfect. My wife loved her Linguini in the White clam sauce. We will be returning in another few months. Thank You again for another pleasurable dining experience, job well done!!!
BJ
BryanJ
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
Great server and food! Minor annoyance - Back right corner dining room table is too close to the adjacent to allow booth patrons to get up and down without bumping into me all dinner. Maybe move the tables away a bit. Other than that, and that was minor, great dinner all around!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlantic City
3 reviews
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall1food1service4ambience2
Food was bland. No flavor. Asked for adjustments to the entree and chef could not replace other ingredients to the meal to give it some flavor. I was not aware that DR is not used since COVID, asked for standard table and was given high top in bar. It was too loud.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience3
Food took way too long to come out. quality wasn’t that great and ridiculous amount of money for a small glass of seltzer etc. also pretty noisy, especially for elderly people. It was also pretty noisy overall……
K
Kenneth
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A little expensive for what is offered, but the food is great and the service is even better! Nice location too and big parking lot! Very nice experience until the bill came!
JC
JoeC
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
This was our 2nd Easter Brunch at this location, one of our meals was forgotten but our server apologized and brought it out quickly would definitely recommend this restaurant
GJ
GJAToronto
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 7, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience5
I was in town for a social meeting and I chose Acqua Blu because of the reviews on Open Table. Well, it did not disappoint! Everything was very good to exceptional. Despite the restaurant being expansive, it was not noisy. I will definitely come back when I am in town again.
m
melv
New York Area
34 reviews
vip
3.0
34 reviews
Dined on April 7, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience2
The staff was excellent, food average & over priced, but the ambiance was 1990’s wedding venue. Very impersonal and not warm., very dark. I probably would not go back.
M
Mallory28
Orlando
63 reviews
vip
4.0
63 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience4
Our waiter Michael was great! Food was eh…alittle pricey for brunch too.
S
Skipit
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience1
Warn out looking. Staff was not friendly, acted like they hated their job. Food was good but wouldn't rush back. Plenty more to pick from.
P
Pope
New York Area
36 reviews
vip
5.0
36 reviews
Dined on March 26, 2023
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
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on March 24, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
Food was great. The service is outstanding Our Server Michael was amazing!
MB
MarkB
New York Area
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
New York Area
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
5 reviews
5.0
5 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
12 reviews
4.0
12 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
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
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
14 reviews
5.0
14 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
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great dining experience with excellent food.

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 4.4 stars by 1057 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

Jun 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 4 times today

Google Map for Aqua Blu Kitchen & Cocktails

3410 Rt 37 East, Toms River, NJ 08753

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

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

Sort by

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

Additional information