The South Street Seaport is a great place to hang out during New York City’s summer months, but now you have an excuse to go year round. Acqua is a small Italian restaurant right on the corner of Peck Slip and Water Street that will instantly enchant you. Wooden floors, vintage tables and chairs and red brick walls give the space an authentic Italian feel and the large windows allow customers prime people-watching capabilities.
Not only does the restaurant boast coastal Italian cuisine, but it also imports fresh seafood daily, straight from Italy. Co-owner and chef Giuseppe Marrone showcases his Neapolitan roots with a menu comprised of homemade pastas, pizzas, seafood, paninis and more.
We started our evening here with a glass of refreshing Falaghina and Affetti e Formaggi (a cheese and charcuterie board). The selections of wine here was impressive and any evening that starts off with a cheese plate is a good night in my book!
We then opted to try one of their pizzas as an appetizer, and we definitely didn’t go wrong. The Tartufata (mozzarella, truffle sauce, Parmigiano, Reggiano, truffile oil) was outstanding. The dough was soft and tasty, while the toppings had us going back for slice after slice. It’s safe to assume that all the pizzas here are to die for.
Next, of course, we had to try some of their handcrafted pastas and fresh seafood. We opted for the Gnocchi del Giorno, which happened to be a gorgonzola gnocchi with pistachio and pear (what a combo!), and the Branzino with a side of oven baked vegetables. The gnocchi was comprised of such an innovative combination of ingredients that we were impressed even before we tried it, but tasting it was even better. The sweetness of the pear helped to cut the richness of the gorgonzola pasta and anything with pistachio get an A from me! The branzino was cooked to perfection and simply prepared and the side of veggies was surprisingly delicious, as well.
Since Italy does desserts so well it would be blasphemous not to try some. The Gelato Affogato Al Caffé (artisanal hazelnut gelato “drowned” in espresso served with home baked biscotti) was a strong way to finish out the night. Any coffee lover will love this dessert, which is a lighter option for dessert. We also loved their Tiramisu, which comes in a cute little mason jar.
This charming restaurant has found its home on the seaport, giving new life to the area and enticing its neighbors with its world class cuisine. Make sure to stop in when you find yourself in the area.
