Five Things: Aqua, Providence
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
After an alluring fly-by cocktail earlier this month at Aqua, the rebooted poolside restaurant and bar at Providence's Marriott Hotel, Sean DeBobes was curious to see what else was on the menu. So back he went. Here are the five things he wants you to know.
One. Start with a drink.
Is there anything better than a poolside cocktail? Aqua, The Marriott’s outdoor poolside restaurant, has a great selection of cocktails to keep you in a summery mood. The Tanqueray Rangpur cucumber gimlet is a stand-out on a list of appealingly constructed drinks. Muddled cucumber paired with the subtle citrus flavor of the Rangpur is incredibly refreshing and will have you craving another round as soon you get down to the ice.
Two. Small bites.
If you can’t make up your mind, just order everything. Aqua has very reasonable prices and these well-crafted plates can’t help but be shared with the whole table. The shrimp ceviche is sure to be a crowd pleaser with its low-key spice and mellow flavors. I could have done without the corn tortilla mini-taco shell that it was served in; the rustic corn flavor overpowered the subtle flavors of the ceviche. An instant favorite for me was the five dollar chips & dip.
House-made BBQ chips surrounded a hefty portion of smoked salmon, dill and sour cream spread. A perfect poolside snack.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Three. Frank!
Come for dinner… stay for the show. Aqua has a number of entertainers regularly stopping through. Luckily I was dining on an evening when the very talented Sean Haynes was crooning his way through a set list of Sinatra. It is incredible to see such a big voice come out of such a young performer.
Four. Sliders.
The entrée section of the menu is a bit abbreviated, centering on a small list of unique sliders. The lamb & feta with harissa & chimichurri had some serious heat… and flavor. I was delighted the tzatziki was around to cool things off a
bit. For a new spin on the slider I also tried the mini lobster roll. I’ve always been a lobster roll purest, but Aqua’s version, served with a lemon & tarragon aioli was a great new flavor for this classic New England summer sandwich.
Five. Fondue.
I didn’t think I could eat another bite when I had finished dinner… Until the waitress said chocolate fondue… I melted. Simple pleasures can truly be the best kind. Chunks of banana, strawberry, graham crackers and marshmallows were served with a vat of melted chocolate. How could one resist? I couldn’t.
Would I go back? Yes. Sinatra and fondue? Save me a seat by the pool.
Hit “Save”: Aqua in the Marriott Hotel. 1 Orms Street, Providence. 272-2400. Mon-Thurs noon-10pm, Fri/Sat noon-11pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Weather permitting & seasonal. Call head.
Follow Sean's reviews and get behind-the-scenes postings on Facebook, here.
Related Articles
- Five Things: Bluefin Grille, Providence
- Five Things: La Forge Casino, Newport
- Five Things: Tini, Providence
- Five Things: XO Cafe, Providence
