About Us

“Those who live in the shadow of the canal bridges are lucky to have such a fine restaurant in the neighborhood, and for the rest of us, it's well worth the drive” - The Standard Times

After completing an extensive interior and exterior renovation, the Aqua Grille opened its doors in April of 1998. The restaurant offers quality dining with a global flair at moderate prices in a casual atmosphere. Aqua Grille is located at the Sandwich Marina and Cape Cod Canal on Gallo Road adjacent to the Coast Guard station.

Aqua Grille features Cape Cod favorites such as native fish and lobster, as well as a wide variety of other fares.

Veteran Cape Cod restauranteurs, the Zartarian family and German chef Gert Rausch own the restaurant. John Zartarian, Jr. manages the daily workings.

Gert Rausch, executive chef & co-owner, Aqua Grille

The Zartarians bring knowledge of the local market gained from 33 years of ownership and operation of the highly successful Paddock Restaurant in Hyannis. Gert adds 28 years of culinary expertise gleaned from the diverse cultures in which he was trained and worked. His cooking is influenced by the leading cuisines of Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Asia, Thailand and the Caribbean.

This translates into much of the traditional items you would expect to find on a Cape Cod menu, enhanced by some unusual offerings.

Veal scaloppini is served with a wild mushroom ragout and housemade German noodles. Halibut is seared in a nut crust and served with a citrus beurre blanc. Baby back spareribs are roasted in a peach barbeque sauce.

Appetizers are also distinct, delicious and unusual. Examples include: bay shrimp quesadillas, stuffed with cilantro and Vermont goat cheese, served with pico de gallo and ancho chile crème fraiche; and house-made gravlax accented with a mustard-dill sauce and cucumber salad.

The Aqua Grille can also accommodate special occasion functions such as business meetings, rehearsal dinners and weddings. Reservations are recommended.

Over the last four years the Aqua Grille has received various accolades. The restaurant was featured in an article written in the Boston Globe and titled “Burgeoning Bistro Scene Brings Tastes of the City to the Cape.” The article states:

“Scrod was baked with a light coating of bread crumbs tossed with lemon zest, the fish moist and boasting of citrus. Old fashioned short ribs, nice on a damp evening, were meltingly tender, accompanied by a light horseradish cabernet sauce. Perhaps Rausch brought this from his native Germany. Grilled tuna, ordered pink, arrive beautifully pink, with a crispy caramelized crust. We shared a dense, gooey chocolate pecan pie. Now, we didn't lick the plate, just the forks.”

Other accolades include being named a Restaurant of Distinction on the 2002 Zagat Survey, three diamonds from AAA and five out of five stars from the New Bedford Standard Times.

We thank you for visiting our website. Click the links below to see our lunch and dinner menus as well as complete information on our functions and function menus. Call or write to us at the addresses above for reservations or to talk about your special event.