Acqua at Peck Slip

I am in NYC for work and I eat frequently at Acqua because my hotel is nearby in the Seaport area. I tried the Linguine with Clams and they were cooked perfectly al dente. I also tried the home made Pappardelle with fresh Pesto. On of my favorite is the fresh mozzarella with Proscuitto and black figs. I believe this is one of the best Italian restaurant in NY and certainly the most authentic. Decor and ambiance are also very enjoyable.

Pros: This is authentic Italian cuisine. Wine selection.

Posted 07/24/09

I was at Acqua yesterday for a girls' night out and we had the best time ever!!!
We shared 2 wonderful seafood risottos with clams, calamari and baby-lobster which was an athentic revelation! I've never had such a rich and tasty dish! We also had tuna tartar and crab salad which were great as well!
Everything was great! We had a bottle of Falangina to pair the meal. Dining outsside near the river was just amazing! We'll definitely be back.

Posted 07/24/09

If you like authentic Italian food, this is the place. Pasta is home made and cooked to perfection, "al dente", like in Italy. Bread, mozzarella, pastas are homemade under the direction of all Italian chef Santoro. I suggest to reserve, it is getting busier and busier with the summer, Try Gnocchi with pesto and gorgonzola cheese, paired with Falanghina wine from Campania. Exceptional!

Pros: Quality of food, atmosphere, outside dining

Cons: little difficult to reach, but worth..

Posted 05/11/09

Let me be simple here: This was the WORST service I have ever experienced in New York, or anywhere for that matter. The problems are too great to list but I will give two examples. At a table for 12 people, the first dish was brought out a full 25 minutes before anyone elses. One person had food, while the rest did not for 25 minutes. When the rest came, there was still one missing. When that one finally came (about 45 minutes after the first dish - no joke!), the pasta was raw and unedible. I wish I could list all the problems here, but I will simply sum it up by saying the service was so bad, we thought it was actually a practical joke. Needless to say, I would not go back and encourage you not to either.

Cons: Service, Food

Posted 05/10/09

I feel at home when I come to this wonderful Italian restaurant, my favorite in town.
the seasonal specialties are incredible, pastas are to die for. you can't go wrong!
Start with a focaccia al formaggio or with the tuna tartare.don't miss a pasta specialty or the daily risotto and polenta specials.
you can't leave Acqua without tasting one of its fabulous desserts. my favorites are the chocolate mousse and the coffee affogato [ in a sea of ice-cream]....You cannot ask for more...or maybe you can: ask for a to go apple/chocolate cake and eat it in the morning for breakfast....you deserve it!

Posted 10/20/08

I am glad that a friend suggested me Acqua at Peck Slip as i moved to the Financial District and i was looking for nice restaurants in the area. I was at Acqua yesterday night for the first time. It was a very enjoyable experience. I had a Pear salad and it was fresh and tasty. A great start. My boyfriend (Italian) ordered a mixed selection of artisanal cheeses and cured meats imported from Italy. He told me that they were fantastic. First quality ingredients. As a main course we ordered a Striped Bass poached in white wine and it was simply delicious, and a Linguine with clams absolutely prefect. We had a bottle of Soave (very reasonably priced) and we completed a perfect meal with a Tiramisu and a selection of Homemade artisanal Gelati. The ambiance is lovely and the service very friendly. We will be back for sure!

Pros: Quality of ingredients. Atmosphere

Cons: None

Posted 10/12/08

I love Acqua!!
After discovering this little romantic restaurant a few weeks ago I am a regular there. I love their homemade authentic Italian cuisine. Their chef, Ciro Santoro is fully dedicated to bring here the real flavors of authentic regional dishes. Tasty but healthy. Greens, eggs and chicken are organic. Most pastas, ravioli, bread and mozzarella are home made every morning. That's way they taste sooo fresh! The wine selection is inspired. Service is friendly and setting casual-chic. I love dining outside, in the patio, under the stars ;)

Posted 09/08/08

The sidewalk tables at Acqua, located on the edge of a cobbled area called Peck Slip, offer serenity in the early evening that you can't find in the Village or other restaurant-heavy neighborhoods. The landscape still looks like a seaport from the era of clipper ships and brigantines.
An oasis in the desert wasteland (or maybe waist-land) of the South Street Seaport, Acqua is one of the city's least pretentious restaurants-wine bars, offering many vintages by the quartino, along with a pleasing selection of authentic, fresh Italian cuisine, guaranteed by their passionate Italian chef. Try their special Seafood Risotto or fresh Spinach ravioli with home made ligurian pesto. Enjoy!

Pros: Outside dining, quality of food, friendly atmosphere

Cons: still trying to find one.... :)

Posted 09/08/08

I've lived in NYC my whole life (37 years) and this restaurant was the worst value of any restaurant I've ever eaten in (in NYC). The food essentially tasted like airline food. If you can tell the difference between decent food and horrible food I'd avoid this restaurant.

Posted 09/06/08

Love this restaurant! It's conveniently near the Seaport, a relaxed area with fun street performances when there's good weather. Acqua has a comfortable setting and amazing food... The pear salad and pappardelle al pesto are among my favorite dishes. The pesto sauce has a wonderfully clean, basil taste. Another refreshing detail is that the food is seasonal and organic. And I've found the wait staff to be very friendly. This restaurant, which is great for both family dining and dates, has become one of my favorite places to eat.

Posted 08/11/08

A group of 13 of us went here after my sister's graduation this past Saturday and it was perfect! They knew it was a special occasion and immediately brought us over some champagne and plenty of appetizers to start. The cheese platter and meat antipasto were great! Everyone was pleased with their dishes and the service (which usually does not happen with such a large group). Highly recommend!

Pros: great food, great service

Cons: none

Posted 05/18/08

we went there during the last week end and was a amazing experience, the restaurant was full , but everybody have time to come and be friendly, the food ; from antipasti at the meet was a great experience, a nice wine list with a great region offer , so sure we are going back to this outsider place...
thanks and see you soon...

La chicagorda

Pros: the nice waitress

Posted 04/20/08

I am part Italian and I go there often. the food at Acqua is REAL ITALIAN FOOD, so uncommond in NY!!!!
but the portions are huge,maybe too big! just like in America and unlike pretentious restaurants like Cipriani [food there is not that good but overpriced...].
pastas to die for. a wonderful stracchino focaccia. and the tuna tartare is great if you love spicy food!
tagliata is good too if you really want meat.
try the tiramisu and choco mousse!
or gelato affogato!

Pros: real italian food!

Cons: big portions

Posted 03/13/08

Has a homey old world feel with old brick, old wood floors, chairs and table. Not much on meat and fish, much more for pasta and pizza lovers. One of my favorites in NYC although I must admit I am local and love that it is very accessible.

Pros: Delicious food, fresh and nicely prepared

Cons: no coat check

Posted 01/31/08

My friend who happens to be chef recommended Acqua and has been coming here since. We love the food and think it is one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Authentic and delicious Italian food prepared by Ciro and he pays special attention to the customers request (just be very specific).

Posted 12/19/07

The only good thing about this place is the food and the bartender.
I know that there is a rodent problem in the downtown area especially being so close to the water but there should be a little more cleanliness in a restaurant of that caliber.
I was very disappointed and I will not return again.

Pros: The salads and specialty drinks

Cons: The overall cleanliness and staff

Posted 11/16/07

I had Ravioli with walnut sauce (northern italy specialty) and they were amazingly good. My wife had Pappardelle with homemade Pesto (what a difference compared to the industrial one) and then we shared a Florentine Steak (Tagliata) and it was like the one we had recently in Tuscany: absolutely perfect! Great flavour, great taste, perfectly cooked. We had dinner outside, under the stars, and we treated ourself with a bottle of Amarone, probably the best Italian Red Wine. Simply excellent. We had to wait over half an hour for our table but, boy, it was definitely worth it! We will go back to Acqua. Oh and the hostess was lovely...she offered us a Bellini (on the house) while we were waiting online. Such a nice gesture!

Pros: Best authentic northern italian food, friendly service and a

Cons: Ii is getting harder to get a table......

Posted 10/05/07

Been to Acqua several times,...the food is consistently good. However, the service has been consistently lacking. Its frustrating when the waiter disappears , there's no busboy in sight to refill water , dirty plates remain on the table until we have to ask for them to be cleared. I waited till seeing a consistent pattern before posting , since restaurants, like pro athletes, do have an off night from time to time.
Seems like management doesn't have a grip on things. No matter how tasty the food may be, the overall experience will cause me to re- think eating here again.

Posted 09/19/07

It is refreshing to walk into the high-ceilinged, airy Acqua, a Northern Italian restaurant tucked away below the Brooklyn Bridge exit ramp. I never expected to find such an oasis of charm just one block away from touristy Seaport! 


Acqua makes daily its own pasta, mozzarella, pesto, bakes its own bread, and buys the freshest ingredients from local organic markets. Chef Ciro Santoro is passionate about his peppery Ligurian olive oil and his organic crusty bread. I ate so much of this bread today that I worried about finishing my entree. No matter, I inhaled the al dente fettucini with sweet cherry tomatoes, strips of fresh basil and melted chunks of mozzarella in a split second. (Other pastas on the menu include vegetable ravioli in walnut sauce, pappardelle al pesto and linguine with clams.) If you want something lighter, there are fantastic salads (my favorite is pear salad with gorgonzola), exquisite pizzas and a salad of Sicilian tuna and cannellini beans among others. (Of course, if you want something heavier, by all means order the moist chocolate mousse!) There have been so many times when I've unsuccessfully roamed the Seaport in search of something yummy. From now on, I'll head straight over to the corner of Peck Slip and Water Street!

Pros: Exceptionally high quality. Very reasonable prices.

Cons: Hard to find tables outside.

Posted 07/24/07

Came with a group and was highly disappointed. Heard from others the food was excellent but it was only average, small in portion and quite pricey. The waitstaff was very friendly at least. I don't recall everything we had : pear salad, carpaccio, pizza, linguine with clam, grilled chicken breast, and some other pasta dishes. We were all disappointed unfortunately especially since our bill came to over $375 - with no alcohol or desserts purchased! I regret we came here to entertain our guests.

Pros: friendly waitresses

Cons: average food, small portions, expensive

Posted 07/23/07

This is the best Italian Restaurant in the City. The servers can be a little overwhelmed at times because of the sudden popularity but overall extremely curteous and very attentive.
The food is excellent. So fresh and tasteful without being over done. Especially the Lingine alla Vongole and the Ravioli with walnut sauce. And ask for the foccia formaggio... it's their specialty!!!
The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly.
I highly recommend this place if anyone is looking for great authentic italian cuisine.

Posted 07/17/07

4 of us went to Acqua on a rainy weeknight. We were the only customers (which is never a good sign) from 6-7:30. We dine out a lot in Manhattan, but we don't visit the South Street Seaport area very often, so we didn't have many places on our "must eat there" list.

Our server recommended tuna tartare and it was very good. The swordfish ceviche was also above average, as was the serving size. The cheese assortment appetizer was uninspired and small for the price. A pear salad was comprised of unripe pears and arugula past its prime.

The entrees were definitely subpar. On my server's recommendation I order the gnochette with pesto. It was dreadful. Heavy, chewy, and tough.

A chicken breast on arugula was overcooked and underseasoned.

One friend ordered the sea bass, which was the fish of the day, and he was quite pleased with it.

With tip, our dinner, which included 2 glasses of prosecco, was $175.00, which I felt was too high for the quality.

The staff was pleasant, but no one seemed like he or she had been in the business for very long. For example, the server asked if I wanted to take the gnocci home. I said I left so much because it was awful. He smiled and shrugged. Not the reply of a professional who relies on repeat customers.

In all, I'd put the meal in the bottom 10% of places I've visited in the past year.

Posted 07/11/07

After I heard great things about this new Northern Italian in the Seaport Historic District, I finally had dinner at Acqua yesterday evening (Thursday) for the first time and my friends and I had a great time. The food was simply delicious, the bar scene alive and the service very friendly. We had to wait outside for about 20 minutes for a table and when the hostess (very pretty and efficient, btw :) finally sat us she offered us a glass of Bellini on the house. Wow, very nice! I started with the Focaccia with Stracchino that somebody suggested me, and infact it was delicious. Light and tasty. Then I ordered the Tagliata steak Florentine style. A very well cooked and seasoned filet mignon sliced over a bed of fresh baby arugula. Excellent.
My friends ordered Spinach Ravioli with Walnut sauce (light and very different from ordinary), Tuna Tartare, spicy and very fresh and a Pizza with Robiola cheese and Speck with a touch of truffle oil which also was very very good. We had a bottle of Amarone, which I consider the best Italian Red (great value for the price here at Acqua). As a dessert I got an excellent, creamy, well balanced Chocolate Mousse (not hard like in most restaurants) and my friends tasted the Apple Tart with Mascarpone gelato and the Tiramisu. Everything was fresh, healthy and delicious. Oh, I almost forgot: try the home made bread with the extra virgin oil from Liguria. Simply divine! I will definitely go back.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Location, Reasonable prices.

Cons: Can't find any.

Posted 07/11/07

If you?re in the mood for Italian lessons, or just want to feel like you?re stuck in beautiful Roma, stop by this authentic enoteca. Owner Alberto Baudo pulled out all the stops to give New Yorkers an authentic vino experience. The wine list spans over 120 bottles, all from small boutique Italian vintners, handpicked by Baudo and executive chef Ciro Santoro. From 5pm to 7pm on weekdays, they run a special ?aperitivo hour,? where you can wet your whistle with a Bellini, Acqua-tini, and a slew of other specialty drinks along with some very inspired antipasti, compliments of the house. Between the native Italians (who seem to be everywhere) and the chichi clientele, this spot is definitely worth every last lira.

Pros: Healthy Food, Atmosphere, Parking

Cons: N/A

Posted 06/19/07

It is great because the quality of the food is very high. It is great because it is located in one of the best areas of the city, in a cobblestoned "piazza'. And it is great because it not expensive. Acqua is now one of my favs place in Manhattan and i recommend it!

Posted 02/15/07

Acqua is a casual friendly and romantic restaurant I love. I suggest the Tagliata Steak Tuscan style which is perfectly executed, exactly like I used to have it in Florence, my hometown. I also love the Pappardelle with fresh Ligurian Pesto and the Lasagna Bolognese. They have a great wine list with fantastic wine from small boutique wineries (my favorite is the Pigato Bisson). And they are not expensive, which is also very good! I will go back to Acqua again and again for real authentic Italian cuisine! Oh, and the bartender is so pretty and friendly :)

Pros: Ambiance, Food, Service

Cons: None

Posted 01/31/07

I love this cozy, romantic spot. Here I can always count on the best time and the freshest food. I love the artisanal Paccheri with spicy shrimp and the fresh Pappardelle with homemade Pesto. Here everything is homemade, the fantastic bread (best in NYC) the mozzarella, pappardelle and ravioli and the cakes. The chef is real Italian!! They also have an organic section for the most health conscious. The wine selection is amazing. Try their Barolo to die for! Last thing is about the informal atmosphere: friendly staff, candlelight, romantic. It's like dining in a reat trattoria in Rome. I love and I recommend this place!

Pros: Great food, atmosphere. Very romantic. Inexpensive

Cons: Can't find at this moment

Posted 11/22/06