06/13/08

Not well cared for

by UWgradstudent

Aqua used to be a very cool place to go when friends would come from out of town. The clear chairs next to the clear bar with water running under it was something you would expect to see in Miami or Las Vegas. I recently went back to Aqua with my wife to have a drink. It was the middle of the day on a Saturday, so the bar was almost empty. It had been about two years since my last visit and it was clear right away that the place had gone downhill. The clear plastic chairs have not been well cared for and now have a slight dirty yellow hue to them. The bar, with its bubbling water, now looks like a fish tank that hasn?t been cleaned in a while, since algae had clearly been growing inside for a while. We ordered our drinks and took a seat toward the corner of the bar. I don?t mind paying a higher price for nice drinks, but my wife?s $14 specialty martini was served in a glass that had clearly not been cleaned for a long time. There was a layer of dust on the base of the glass that had accumulated on what appeared to be a sticky film of sugar. It was quite nasty. The other thing that seems to have changed is the clientele. Aqua appears to have officially become your typical bar that is connected to a hotel. In the 30 minutes that we were there, half a dozen skeezy traveling salesman came down to the bar and were talking to each other and the bartenders. They were loud and obnoxious, but the bartenders seemed to enjoy them which made them grow even louder. I feel bad about the state of Aqua now, since it had so much potential. I?m not sure what happened, but laziness and poor management seem to have desperately hurt this establishment. I really wouldn?t recommend going there for more than a drink.

• Pros: Great concept, beautiful at first
• Cons: Bar is now dirty and unkept

02/10/07

My FAVORITE kind of place to hang out!

by willscape

I started going to aqua a few years back, they used to have ladies nights on wednesday. it is a great place, and it's just around the corner from my house. bartenders are friendly and helpful. music is alright, they have a piano playing most of the time when i come in.

I can go up to the bar, order a drink, sit there and watch ESPN on their plasma TVs. a few years back when it was busier, social scene was FABULOUS. i would be alone at the bar and women would come up to me and talk to me. I miss the crowds and the women on wednesday nights but i love aqua and whenever i get the chance i put on my cologne and dress clothes and walk around the corner to 916 east state. thanks to aqua for being a place where i can be myself.peace!

11/01/06

Avoid Aqua

by bob0304

Customer service is poor. Food taste is ok, but definitely not worth how much it costs. Drinks are also very dissapointing and expensive. I would recommend any other restaurant over Aqua.