Aqua restaurant on Smith Street is all
washed up.
In its place, Aqua’s owner Giuseppe Salvitti (pictured), and
chef Jose Lema have installed Mare Blu, a casual, mostly Mediterranean
seafood restaurant.
"With Aqua, people came in for a special occasion. Since
we opened Mare Blu in August, we have regulars who dine here
all the time. That’s just what we wanted," says Salvitti,
who also owns Savoia, an informal Italian cafe on Smith Street.
Aqua’s cool, elegant interior is homier now, with deep-green
walls, wood floors and tiled tables. The menu, too, has experienced
a sea change.
Aqua’s all-over-the-globe smorgasbord, has ebbed into simple
Italian fare with a concentration on seafood.
"We get our fish daily from Fish Tales on Court Street,"
says Salvitti of the excellent seafood market nearby.
Coming from the kitchen are warm octopus salad tossed with saffron,
celery and black olives; pepper-crusted tuna steak served with
eggplant caponata; wild striped bass with a warm potato cake,
and for meat eaters, there’s filet mignon in Gorgonzola sauce
and pork tenderloin in a balsamic vinegar glaze.
Mare Blu (174 Smith St. between Warren and Wyckoff streets in
Boerum Hill) accepts American Express, Diner’s Club, Discover,
MasterCard and Visa. Entrees: $9.50-$19.50. The restaurant serves
dinner daily. Lunch and brunch will be added soon, according
to Salvitti. For reservations, call (718) 643-1589.
