The April 2014 opening of AQ by Acqualina at the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach will signal the arrival of South Florida’s most exciting new oceanfront dining destination. Under the direction of recently appointed acclaimed Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso, the restaurant will make waves with a sun-kissed, Mediterranean-inspired menu embracing LoSasso’s fresh-from-Florida ethos.
LoSasso, who spearheaded the 2010 rebirth of The Forge, brings more than 30 years of culinary experience to Acqualina. In addition to crafting the menu for AQ by Acqualina, the talented toque oversees all food and beverage operations for the property, including Costa Grill, banquet and event menus, and will be creating a spa menu for the celebrated Acqualina Spa by ESPA.
Known for his creativity and attention to detail, LoSasso’s vision for AQ runs the gamut from small plates ideal for sharing, to hearty entrées, all moderately priced. Starters ($9-$20) will include rough falafel with ricotta, olives and prosciutto; grouper cheeks and chopped escarole, black walnut dust and avocado oil powder; and LoSasso’s whimsical version of Green Eggs and Ham – baked eggs with chives, Iberico ham and dollops of mascarpone. Crostini and other small plates ($6-$12) will include tuna crudo crostini with fig jam and truffle essence; sautéed cauliflower and pistachios with orange hot pepper relish; and charred octopus with boiled garlic spread and olives. Main plates ($16-$38) will include herb-seared yellow fin tuna marsala with wild mushroom, capers and salsify; grilled skirt steak and foie gras tostones with tomato-pancetta BLT and wild board black beans; and farro risotto with French feta and grilled vegetables. The restaurant will also feature a full sushi and raw bar managed by sushi chefs from North Miami Beach’s famed pan-Asian restaurant, Hiro’s Yakko-San. Decadent desserts will be made in-house by resident pastry chef Rodney Barchi; a revamped cocktail program will include creative as well as classic libations. For those on the go, the resort’s marketplace will continue to offer artisan cheeses, pastries, coffee and more.
Housed in the former Piazzetta Restaurant space, AQ’s décor is perfectly matched to the menu. Guests will have a variety of seating options including the raised bar area, communal dining table and the irresistible AQ Veranda. The open dining room exudes an air of sophisticated elegance from the very moment guests step foot on the dark wood flooring. With its plush seating and stylish marble dining tables, the restaurant gives off a feeling of luxury yet still maintaining its warmth and comforting charm. While diners can take in the seaside sights from almost every vantage point, the AQ Veranda boasts al fresco dining paired with soft breezes and spectacular views of the water. Its shoreline location gives AQ prime real estate for waterfront dining, featuring unparalleled, unbroken views of the Atlantic Ocean, arguably the best in South Florida.
“There’s nothing more exciting than being able to do what I love in a venue as dynamic as this,” says LoSasso. “AQ is literally steps from the ocean.”
With the installation of Chef LoSasso and changes to the menu, AQ by Acqualina aims to invigorate the local dining scene and raise the bar on seaside dining, while maintaining true to the highest level of quality that loyal resort’s guests have come to expect.
AQ by Acqualina is located inside Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach, 17875 Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach. Hours of operation: Sunday – Thursday, 5:30 – 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 – 11 p.m. Valet parking available. Telephone: (305) 918-6816.
For further information about Acqualina, visit www.acqualinaresort.com.
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About Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach
Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach is a place where the charm of a Mediterranean villa meets elegance on the beach. A seaside luxury haven located on 4.5 beachfront acres in pristine Sunny Isles Beach, Acqualina Resort & Spa features 98 impeccably appointed guest rooms and suites and 188 residencies with breathtaking views of Atlantic Ocean. Step into a world of luxury with unprecedented accommodations and service, world-class dining destinations, including Il Mulino New York, three oceanfront swimming pools, spacious meeting rooms, and an innovative marine biology-based children’s program. A variety of lavish interior and exterior venues provide an ideal background for opulent weddings and memorable events on the lush property grounds boasting 400 feet of stunning Atlantic coastline. Acqualina Spa by ESPA, the first ESPA-branded spa in the United States, provides guests with an exquisite 20,000-square-foot, two-story tranquil sanctuary of excellence and relaxation set in a class of its own offering eleven multi-functional treatment rooms, four spa treatment rooms, and an extravagant private spa suite for two, along with the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoor terrace complete with a spa pool, heated jet pool, and Roman waterfall – all set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. For more information on Acqualina, please visit www.acqualina.com. For reservations, please call 305.918.6777 or 888.804.4338.
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