AQUA by El Gaucho

  4.5 – 1,812 reviews   • Seafood restaurant

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Featuring Seattle’s finest waterfront dining with views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Rainier and the Space Needle. The expansive outdoor deck is especially attractive on summer evenings when spectacular sunsets await. Indoors, the spacious lounge and 85 ft. lighted wave bar is a showstopper in its own right. The Puget Sound serves as both the backdrop and the inspiration for the menu at AQUA with fresh daily selections of fish and 28-Day Dry-Aged Certified Angus Beef® Steaks prepared on an open-pit charcoal grill in the exhibition kitchen. AQUA by El Gaucho is part of the Fire & Vine™ Rewards program.

Elegant steakhouse offering a menu of high-end classics like Angus beef & seafood.

✔️Breakfast ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out AQUA by El Gaucho 98121

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Reservations: tripleseat.comsevenrooms.com

aquabyelgaucho.com

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Reviews

Iris Castillo
Everything about this place is amazing. Valet is good, service was great and the food is amazing. My fiance and I are newly engaged and we’re celebrating valentine’s and they added rose petals to our table and a card. It was very thoughtful. Everything we ate and drank was delicious. Steak cooked to perfection, the black cod also perfect. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better dinner. 10s across the board.
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Sladjana Ilic
Divine was my instinct response when a server here first asked us how the food was. That was just after appetizers. Tonight was our second time dining here and they just consistently deliver superb food, accompanied by great cocktails, and perfectly synchronized service (while one server may have been assigned to our table, 4 more helped to top off our water, clean up plates or bring the check, without us ever have to even look up, let alone wave them down like). We can’t wait to go back there again.
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Spring Russell
We were excited to try this place because we love El Gaucho. We made a reservation for 6pm, we arrived earlier than expected. It was a Friday evening and it was not busy at all, there were reservations available every 15 minutes… However when we asked the host if it was possible to be seated early, they acted as if they didn’t know if they could seat us early and it was an imposition. Which at first we thought he was joking because it was so slow. And it stayed very empty during the 2 and a half hours we were there.I asked if we could be seated by the window, and he told us that we were originally by the window but because we were there early… they sat us next to the wall. And the tables at the window remained empty so idk. Not that big of a deal though, we thought that was a little odd lol. A different man sat us manager maybe? He was very funny and friendly. Our server was also very personable and funny. We all oders cocktails which were good. The ambiance nice, mood lighting. We ordered calamari which was good, table side ceasar salad which was a nice presentation, but not worth 20$pp. My salmon was pretty good, all the food was good. But honestly not worth the price, and menu is very limited. Some of had a hard time choosing because of the lack of options. We eat at fine dining restaurants regularly and I’m not sure we would come back, it was pretty average. We would rather go to Elliot’s or Anthony’s. El Gaucho on the other hand highly recommend. I would rate this 3.5 stars.
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KHAIE
This was recommended to me by my friends and I’m so glad we scored a reservation. Our Uber driver got a little lost, but pro tip: if you’re heading here just map Pier 70 and you can’t go wrong. The restaurant sign can be deceiving, it’s actually towards the end of the pier towards the water to the left . From there, you should be able to see the sign for the restaurant. It sits on Pier 70 waterfront that adds to the dramatic, scenic setting over Elliott Bay with views of Mt. Rainier, the Space Needle, and the city skyline.

The interior leans upscale with modern-classic touches, and live piano music adds an elegant, romantic vibe. You can instantly tell this is the type of place people come to celebrate.

I was taking photos when James, the general manager, came right over and asked how he could help. Without me even asking, he knew I wanted to capture the sunset. He personally unlocked the outdoor deck gate so I could step out and get the perfect shot. That’s when he introduced himself and shared that he’s originally from Santa Monica, now recruited to Seattle. This restaurant is so lucky to have James. He’s the type of manager who’s professional, personable, and not afraid to roll up his sleeves. I kept noticing him throughout the night helping the staff, delivering food, and checking in on guests. That kind of leadership sets the tone for the entire restaurant.

Bob was our server and he also did an amazing job. Even with how busy the night was, he never once forgot about us. He coursed everything perfectly, even though we ordered all at once, and gave us excellent recommendations. My boyfriend and I split everything, which was perfect for tasting:

Passion Mojito– strong but really good!Sancerre Wine– crisp and perfect with seafood.
Caesar Salad- classic, done right.
Grilled Spanish Octopus- charred just enough for a smoky edge, paired with romesco sauce such perfection.
Alaskan Black Cod- buttery, tender, caramelized edges with crispy leeks that added the best crunch.
Sauteed Foraged & Cultivated Mushrooms- earthy and meaty, a must if you love mushrooms.
Broccolini- nothing fancy, but still tasty.
Baileys Chocolate Caramel Bread Pudding (James’s pick!) – OMG, demolished in 5 minutes!

Every single staff member we encountered was attentive, friendly, and on point. Between James going above and beyond and Bob’s flawless service, the hospitality here is truly top-notch.

If you’re looking for a date night restaurant or somewhere to celebrate a special occasion in Seattle, this is it. Aqua by El Gaucho checks all the boxes, unforgettable food, a killer view, and people like James who make you feel like a VIP.
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Jamie Hansen
Amazing!!!! Rochelle was our server and she was OUTSTANDING! We specifically sought out this place to get my husband quality halibut for a dinner. The closest “seafood” dinner we get back home is Red Lobster. Aqua was top notch!! We will recommend this to anyone we going to Seattle looking for a GREAT seafood restaurant!
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Gyuna Bak
Loved this place!! Very fresh and beautifully cooked dish… the live piano and ambiance of this place is just beautiful. definitely coming back!
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Sandy Dupleich
We brought friends who were visiting from Colorado to Aqua and they had one request: “take us to the best seafood restaurant in Seattle.” Aqua absolutely delivered.

From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional—attentive without being rushed, and genuinely warm. We didn’t even realize until later that we were the last guests in the restaurant because the team never made us feel like we’d overstayed.

Every dish was memorable. Our group shared generously and everyone had favorites—from the ceviche and Westcott Bay oysters to the chowder, sea bass, black cod, ahi tuna and salmon. There wasn’t a single miss.

We’re so grateful for such a relaxing, delicious evening with friends in a beautiful setting. We left feeling proud to share one of our favorite Seattle restaurants—and our guests left even more in love with this city.

Thank you to every member of the Aqua team. We’ll happily be back.
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Jonathan Mathews
FANTASTIC STEAK AND SEAFOOD WATERFRONT RESTAURANT . EXCELLENT AND FRIENDLY SERVICE . BEAUTIFUL ATMOSPHERE WITH ELEGANT BAR . ASK FOR BARTENDER PETER AND A CRAFTED COCKTAIL AT BAR . AMAZING MENU BEAUTIFULLY DONE . VALET PARKING AVAILABLE
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Chantel
Attended a group dinner here last week.

First, the decor is atrocious. I wish I took a picture of the entrance. It appears to have been designed by a teenage girl in 2006. Second, it was empty. Other than our group there were only 2 other small tables and 2 people alone at the very large bar.

As for the food: The appetizers for the table were terrible. There was a crostini with an unidentifiable topping that I couldn’t eat more than 1 bite of. The flavor still haunts me. The steak skewers had no taste. I wasn’t brave enough to try the shrimp, but my husband said it was awful. Our dinner and dessert were great though. I had steak with mashed potatoes with asparagus and my husband had salmon. Everyone enjoyed their dinner. The creme brulee and carrot cake was delicious too.

I want to mention that the servers were very friendly and attentive. No issues there.

Overall, it was very meh and I’m happy I didn’t have to pay for it (it was a company dinner).
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Ivette Gibbe-Fields
What an incredible dining experience! Aqua by El Gaucho completely exceeded our expectations. The setting is stunning — right on the water with unbeatable views, especially at sunset.

This was a special night for our family. Our son tried raw oysters for the first time, and they were incredibly fresh — a perfect introduction! Both he and my husband ordered the lobster tail, served with creamy mashed potatoes and tender broccolini — everything was cooked to perfection. I had the halibut paired with zucchini, and it was light, flavorful, and beautifully presented.

Our server, Leann, was absolutely amazing — warm, attentive, and made us feel so well taken care of. The service alone makes this spot worth visiting.

Yes, it’s on the higher-end side, but the atmosphere, exceptional food, and top-notch service make it well worth it. Highly recommend for a memorable night out in Seattle!
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