|
 Duck’s most talked-about new business is a combination restaurant/day spa on one of the most spectacular waterfront locations in the village. Aqua S Restaurant and Aqua Essence Day Spa opened in April 2008 and already they are the buzz of the Banks.
The pairing of a restaurant and day spa was the epiphany of General Manager Lynette Sumner. “It’s a vision of the things we love coming together – food, wine and spa,” says Sumner. The restaurant and spa are intertwined in their focus on the organic, natural and fun lifestyle. Aqua Essence Day Spa offers massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and waxing with pure products. The house spa products are all-natural and heavenly scented Sundari and SpaRitual, a vegan-based nail-care line. Aqua Essence features a fabulous soundfront manicure and pedicure room in its own wing, where the gals can gab as loud as they want without disturbing the massage and facial clientele. The soundfront spa lounge offers healthy snacks and health-focused reading material, and there are six treatment rooms as well as locker rooms with spiffy tile showers. Carefully planned down to the last detail, Aqua Essence was created to revitalize body and soul. Likewise, Aqua S Restaurant provides a rejuvenating dining experience, pampering diners with sunset views, a lively atmosphere, top-quality service and fresh, organically inspired, regional cuisine. A meal at Aqua S leaves one feeling energized, healthy and thoroughly nourished. The atmosphere for lunch or dinner is fun and enlivening. One of the highlights is patio dining directly on the sound, literally perched over the water, with a great playlist and great views. Aqua S features live music outside on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
Aqua S is passionate about high-quality, natural ingredients, what Sumner calls “food with integrity.” “You can taste the difference,” says Sumner. “These foods are much more wholesome and nutritious.” The menu changes seasonally and features divine inspirations of regionally harvested seafood, duck, lamb, beef and fresh produce. Executive Chef Kenny Sloane’s preparations are simple yet exceptional. Wine is also a major component of the Aqua S dining experience. “We are here to demystify wine,” says Sumner. “We have a global list of our favorites that we want to share with our clients.” Aqua S and Aqua Essence offer true pleasure from the worlds of wine, food and spa, not of the hedonistic variety, but of the good-for-you, soul-satisfying variety. The restaurant and spa are housed in the former Swan Cove restaurant building, part of the Herron family’s legacy in Duck. Sloane and Sumner reinvented the building into an updated restaurant and spa, and the result is an impressive accomplishment. The love they have imbued in the building and the business is palpable. No wonder people are talking. This article is originally found: http://www.sunnydayguide.com/outer_banks/ob_af_details.php?edit_id=44 |
