Acqua di Mare is an Italian word meaning “water of the seas”. The concept of the restaurant is Italian cuisine with a European table side cooking experience. A flair of French, Italian and Greek cuisine.
Creator Nikola Hristov, is bringing a different taste and experience to the heart of Downtown Chandler, AZ
Amanda Thundershield
My husband and I went for our 10th Anniversary and both him and I were impressed! What a special place to celebrate. Mary was our server and she was attentive the whole time. She answered all our questions about the different food options since it was our first time. We had the table side pasta, steak and tiramisu. The owner was there that night and he showed such appreciation for the staff and the customers. It was such a positive experience and I hope to celebrate there again soon.
… moredavid
11/13/2025: Somebody Had A Birthday! My Queen picked this spectacular place for me. It’s a drive that’s well worth it. Everything was over the top and completely unique, from the service at our table pasta (see vids), and one of a kind steak mushroom sauce dish (only here). Two hostesses greeted us upon arrival and seated us promptly. Inside was very intimate, it was an all encompassing dining experience. They started with fresh bread with olive oil and fresh cut basil and table salt( small dish with spoon). We started with Octopus it was sweet and smokey with grill char also came with small salad. Next up was Pork Belly with a celery root puree and apple jam and thin slice of apple. It was tender and juicy. Delicious. For our salad we ordered the Caprese Di Campania it consists of thick cut tomatoes layered with mozzarella and balsamic vinaigrette with basil leaves. Next up is a unique pasta dish called Sacchetti Porcini with Truffle. It is
prepared tableside, a really fresh parmigiano reggiano cheese wheel (see vids), pasta with thinly sliced porcini and truffle mushrooms. Spectacular. The entrée was steak nicola ( only here) can you get this dish. A 9oz filet topped with a thin sliced porcini mushroom with black truffle, cognac flambe and beef jus. Drinks were one passionfruit and one prickly pear lemonade – a must try. Dessert was cannolis so thick, rich and creamy it’s sinful. They were crispy, airy and flavorful. A memorable experience that is worth every penny. Rachel, thank you for a warm, knowledgeable, professional but welcoming experience. You made the night even more memorable with your energy, friendliness and above all else recommendations. Hassle free dining.
… morePhillis Tyson
We had the lobster dish, tableside pasta, pork belly, 2 cocktails, and desserts. The side were blah. The table side dishes were nice. However the pasta did not come with a protein and they did not complement the pasta well. The drinks were great. The tables were close so my tableside dishes were not completed near me and that was disappointing since it was my birthday.
… moreAlexander Kamenetsky
As a former chef, I have high standards, and Acqua Di Mare completely exceeded them. The atmosphere transported me straight to the Italian Amalfi Coast – it was incredibly romantic and beautifully designed. What truly stood out was owner Nikola’s dedication. He was everywhere, personally greeting guests, assisting with dishes, and ensuring seamless coordination. It’s rare to see such genuine passion and involvement. The food was simply amazing, with exquisite presentation to match. The service was also top-notch. For a truly special and romantic evening, Acqua Di Mare is a must-visit.
… moreAlisha Huerta
Sunday 1/25/26 630p
This was my first time dining at Acqua di Mare, and the atmosphere was absolutely wonderful, intimate, romantic, and beautifully curated. I initially chose this Italian restaurant specifically for the tableside pasta experience.
I ordered the Cacio e Pepe, prepared tableside in their giant cheese wheel, and it did not disappoint. The pasta was incredibly flavorful and truly delicious. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to record the tableside preparation, as multiple servers gathered around the cheese wheel at the same time, blocking the view. As a first-time guest who was excited to experience and enjoy that moment (as seen on social media), this was disappointing and took away from what should have been a memorable highlight.
The prickly pear lemonade was excellent, as was the zesty chicken soup of the day and the Bistecca Fiorentina. The 40oz porterhouse was outstanding tender, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The food overall was truly exceptional.
However, the service did not match the quality of the cuisine. The server could have been more mindful when noticing a guest clearly trying to record a tableside experience. Additionally, throughout the meal, the server repeatedly came to the table simply to check in, despite being told we were fine. This happened multiple times within a short period and made us feel rushed, as if we were being pushed through the dining experience. Ultimately, it discouraged us from ordering dessert.
In summary, the food was excellent and the ambiance beautiful, but the service detracted from the overall experience. With improved attentiveness and guest awareness, this restaurant has the potential to offer a truly exceptional dining experience.
No photos to add as the excitement was taken away.
… moreJ Wood
Wonderful date night with an excellent meal and service all around (thank you, Rachel). We have been many times and this place never disappoints. So fortunate to have this special place in downtown Chandler! Chef Nikola, once again, hits it out of the park with the incredible dishes and intimate setting!
… moreAndee
We had a wonderful dinner. The food was well seasoned and well prepared. The service was wonderful. The atmosphere was wonderful. The only complaint is the volume of the music blew out my mother’s hearing aids where she couldn’t hear anything else. She ended up turning them off for dinner. Several times we mentioned to the server we couldn’t hear him because of the music. If you were sitting on the patio it would have been lovely background music but inside it made it hard to have a quiet conversation at the table.
… moreAnne Elisa Tremocoldi Dantas
Acqua Di’Mare is our favorite new restaurante in Chandler. Amazing food, very unique, great service. The Lobster pasta was great and beautiful. The Octopus is probably the best we have ever had. The Tiramissu and the the pasta were an experience on their on. We will definitely come back. The ambient is also so unique, great for a date night. Thank you Nicola, Rachel, Mary and team. We are looking forward to try the whole menu.
… moreAllan Nieva
This place is always packed. Always best to make reservations as soon as you know you want to go.
Food is wonderful.
Go once and you’ll be hooked. Took my wife here for Valentine’s day and we had a wonderful experience. Very friendly and the environment was relaxed.
Highly recommend.
… morejustine m
Had a wonderful experience, Joseph was our waiter and he was phenomenal! He walked us through the menu as it was our first time and was incredibly thorough and described so many dishes based on our preferences, very appreciative of his expertise! My husband and I shared the Cesar salad and lobster bisque, the salad was plentiful and the dressing was very flavorful. The bisque had huge chunks of lobster and was buttery and creamy. I ordered the Cacio e Pepe which is made table side in their giant cheese wheel and it did not disappoint! The cheese and truffle oil topped with fresh ground pepper and truffle was so creamy and not super rich, the homemade pasta was light, I will dream of this dish! My husband ordered the steak Nikola and this is by far one of the most tender, melt in your mouth pieces of meat I have had in a while. Cooked to perfection and also prepared table side, the mix of bearnaise sauce, cognac, truffle and garlic was absolutely to die for. We will 100% be back! Thank you again Joseph for your superb service and making our experience that much more wonderful!
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