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Joinus on the waterfront

Delight in our seasonal creations, exquisite wines, specialty cocktails, delectable desserts & scenic views year-round

Now in our 10th season, we graciously applaud our outstanding team of chefs and service staff who are committed to providing you, our valued guests, an exceptional culinary experience in a casual setting you’re sure to be comfortable relaxing in. Spectacular sunsets, live music, good times with friends and family and welcoming smiles from new acquaintances make AQUA the place to be; the place where delicious food and beautiful memories happen.

Our bar serves happy hour appetizers everyday 3 to 6 pm, daily drink specials & has live music at 6:30 pm, weather permitting from our deck

FreshRegional Cuisine

in a casual and elegant setting

Our mission is to create delicious culinary masterpieces with locally farmed ingredients, fresh locally caught fish and all natural meats for our guests to enjoy.

Our lunch menu has something for everyone including soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood and more. At dinner, our Chef creates exquisite specialty dishes using fresh local seasonal ingredients to complement our local seafood and natural meat selections. Both menus always offer both vegan and gluten free options.

Our innovative wine list, craft beers and creative cocktails are carefully chosen to complement Chef’s savory creations.

Our chefs make all of our tasty desserts in house with every sweet tooth in mind. The perfect ending to every meal!

FeaturedSelections

8 oz Meyer Angus Beef Filet

Frenched Chicken Breast

Margarita Salad

Wedge Salad

Grilled Skirt Steak Salad

Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast

Crab Cakes

Thai Rice Noodle Salad

8 oz Meyer Angus Beef NY Strip

Fruits de Mer Pasta

Seared Scottish Salmon

Fried Chicken Sandwich

Lobster Roll

Shrimp & Grits

Avocado Hummus

Lobster Mac & Cheese

View Our Menus

Reserve Your Table

252.261.9700
online reservations powered by OpenTable

A+ service, food and atmosphere. Off season able to seat us right away without a reservation. Our server was fantastic- suggested wine pairings, guided entree selections, even offered to move us to a quieter table when a large party came in. Shrimp and grits, mussels, and pork belly special all excellent, but you MUST save room the decadent flourless chocolate cake. Will absolutely come back on our next trip!
PPS, out of town visitor
What an awesome experience! The food was OUTSTANDING. I started with a roasted beet salad with toasted pecans. That alone could have been my dinner and I wound up sharing with my husband. My husband ordered a dozen oysters and devoured them quickly. I had the black bean quinoa cakes. Everything was fresh and the flavors meshed beautifully. My husband had the fruit de mer pasta. My husband ate everything and kept raving about how good it was. We finished our meal with sorbet (homemade) and he had a fancy cheesecake. Our server was wonderful--bringing out olive oil instead of butter for the homemade bread. I didn't ask--she was attentive and thoughtful.
TJ, Cape May, NJ
Perfect lunch spot. We were delightfully surprised when we had lunch here. Lovely location with great views of the Currituck Sound. We started with the pimento cheese appetizer which was excellent and gluten free. Our main course was mahi mahi that was very good. The restaurant is a quiet and lovely place with great food and excellent service.
CL, Mundelein, Illinois
Wow o Wow! We went here upon a local person's recommendation. It was absolutely wonderful. The four of us had different items from the menu. One of our favorite items was a Smoked Tomato Bisque with dill. It was so good. Our table had coconut curry shrimp, fish tacos and the special of the day. This would be a good place to celebrate a special occasion.
SN, Columbia, MS
A Very Pleasant Dining Experience. There were very few restaurants open in January in Duck/Corolla; therefore, we were so glad we were able to find the Aqua Restaurant open. The service was friendly, attentive and prompt. The view from our dining table of the swan in the sound was lovely. The hand-cut fries were the best we have eaten! The oysters on the half shell were plump, succulent and tasty. The NC shrimp on the salad were fresh and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at the Aqua Restaurant and will definitely return.
LY, Virginia Beach, VA
We had not been here in a while, and decided it was such a pretty day, we would enjoy the sound front view and have lunch. wonderful. We sat inside, upper deck, window view, and watched the Ducks and Geese flying south, over Mahi tacos, done traditional and asian. Super. Then we had the flour less chocolate torte with Pistachio ice cream. I really like their menu, the service is on point and friendly. You need to check them out, it's off season, so no crowds, Always lively at night, great bar.
JB, Southern Shores, NC
Exemplary! No warning except GO! Delicious food plus the staff was friendly, engaging and attentive to our every whim. Can't wait to return!
PC, Gloucester, VA
Great food, great views! First, the restaurant was very accommodating to my wife and I as we did not have reservations upon arrival. They sat us quickly outside on the waterfront. We started off with the bangin shrimp appetizer, which was delicious with the Asian slaw! We went with steak for our entrees, which was also a great choice. The service was superb as we were checked on frequently by our server. Finally, the sunset view from the waterfront was beautiful while we finished off our food and drinks.
WG, Greenville, NC
Beautiful sunset on the deck. We enjoyed a delicious meal on the deck, with the added benefit of a gorgeous sunset. The food was great, the service was excellent, and the sunset view was fantastic.
WH, Buffalo, NY
This restaurant is very good! We were all happy with our meals. Our waiter was excellent. The service was fantastic all around. The food came out in a timely fashion and was prepared as described in the menu. Good job Aqua from some avid foodies!!!
MM, Jamesport, NY
Great service, perfect setting and well prepared and presented food that tastes delicious. Bonus is gorgeous sunsets over Currituck Sound. Filet Mignon was as tender as butter and so tasty. Duck was also delicious. Go here.
DP, Lancaster, PA
Absolutely outstanding. Had lunch with family at this wonderful place, the special for lunch was pan fried flounder with grilled vegetables, peppers, mushrooms, etc, with the most wonderful sauces , the flounder was pan seared to perfection, the flavours outstanding, the soup to die for, crab and fresh corn, broth amazing, and the finish of a touch of white truffle oil. a gourmet journey, Thank you Aqua.
AE, Kincardine, Canada

RecentPosts

Beautiful in duck

August 15, 2018 In Dinner Live Music Sunsets Read More

It's going to be a beautiful night in Duck, NC. Come join us on our sound front deck for live music this evening....

Cloudy sunset in duck

August 13, 2018 In Sunsets Read More

Even a cloudy sunset is awesome in Duck, NC.

Local bronzed grouper

August 13, 2018 In Dinner Local Fish Read More

Tonight we are pleased to offer local caught bronzed grouper, over local summer veggies like squash and zucchini...

Outdoor music tonight

August 10, 2018 In Live Music Sunsets Read More

Join us tonight for live music on our soundside deck. Monty Hooker will be entertaining us with his covers...

Friday lunch specials

August 10, 2018 In Appetizers Local Fish Lunch Read More

We've got some great lunch specials today! For a tapas portion lunch we have a sesame seared tuna steak over...

Poke bowl is back

August 9, 2018 In Appetizers Dinner Local Fish Read More

Tonight we are pleased to announce the return of our poke bowl appetizer. Noodles tossed in ponzu sauce with...

Our Team

Brandon Clark

Executive Chef

"I've spent my entire life near the ocean with a passion for food sparked as a young boy helping my parents cater events. My zeal for culinary arts grew cooking at a popular Wilmington local seafood restaurant. I sharpened my skills attending Cape Fear Culinary school and gained vast experience as the Wilmington Sharks baseball team Concession's Manager, the Sous Chef for Porter’s Neck Plantation and as Executive Chef for the Green Onion in Norfolk. My flair for fusion cuisine was awarded in competitions including the 2008, 2009, and 2010 local Chef’s Challenge and as a five-time winner of the NC Potato Festival "anything but fries" event. My culinary passion thrives at AQUA where fresh local cuisine inspires my creations that are perfectly complemented with good friends and beautiful sunsets over the water."

Judy Fisher

General Manager

"I began managing at AQUA in 2008 and truly love the Town of Duck and the community of people who make it so special. I first worked in restaurants while attending VCU where I received a Bachelors Degree in Business. Loving restaurants' fast paced and fun atmosphere, I moved to Washington, DC in 1990 to become Cafe Heartland's general manager. My fondness for the Outer Banks from vacationing here year after year quickly had me craving beach life, so I moved here to wait tables and manage at Goombays. I then partnered with two friends to open Quagmires in 1996. After a successful 10 years, we each wanted to experience something new, mine to have a child of my own to enjoy the Outer Banks with. I took some time off to just be a mom and when ready to work again found AQUA, the perfect career fit for me."

Shelly Rowles

Restaurant Manager

"I joined AQUA in 2009, bringing a dedicated passion of enjoying wine with food and valuable experience in how they complement one another. Being the daughter of a Graduated Chef of the Culinary Institute of America, I developed an early desire to become specialized in hospitality while working in his restaurant Finely Ron's, an Outer Banks favorite for many years. While attending UNC Chapel Hill and living in Raleigh, I worked at Angus Barn where I gained management experience prior to returning home to work at the Left Bank. Now at AQUA, I join my wine complements food passion to Chef's passion of creating delicious locally inspired cuisine, and with a sincere commitment to a memorable culinary experience for everyone who visits our gorgeous restaurant in this beautiful waterfront location."

Lucy LaFountaine

Bar Manager

"My philosophy is the bar is an extension of my own living room, with good food, wine, drinks, and conversation. It's been wonderful making that happen at the AQUA bar, such a fun place to be while visiting Duck. After bartending for the first time at the age of 18 in a family owned pub in New Jersey, I relocated to the Outer Banks where I became known as an “old school” bartender at Sound Side in Kitty Hawk before liquor was available by the drink. I bartended at Sam & Omie’s, opened J. Fleming Munde’s and then RV’s on the Causeway. I became a local’s favorite bartender at the Whaling Station and then for 13 years at Black Pelican before joining the AQUA team in 2008."

CJ Powell

Restaurant Supervisor

"I've been with AQUA since 2011 working as a waiter, bartender and manager on duty. Growing up in the restaurant industry and spending summers working at my family's Outer Banks restaurant sparked an interest that I continue to foster through the advancement of my food, wine and spirits knowledge. While attending Old Dominion University, I learned from some of downtown Norfolk's best Chefs and Sommeliers, gaining experience in wine and cuisine at fine dining steak houses, bistros, and tapas bars. Working at the Gastro Pub is where I learned to appreciate craft beers and spirits. I bring a genuine appreciation of the culinary arts and fine dining to the AQUA team."