About
Fresh local flavors take priority at Aqua.
Fresh local flavors take priority at Aqua. We believe dining should be both memorable and fun. Executive Chef Jon McGregor and Chef de Cuisine Hannah Minter are proud to use local seafood, meats and produce wherever possible. Including: Blue Ocean Seafood, Merrell Farms, Jaimies’s Mushroom Farm, Harlowe Custom Micro Greens, Early Girl Gardens.
Tapas
Based on the traditional Spanish idea, our small, snack size plates of food, meant to be passed around, appetizer style. Tapas items are able to be enjoyed in a just a few bites and are perfect for exploring new flavors.
Small Plates
Larger than tapas, Aqua’s small plates enable diners to experience different kinds of flavors without feeling overfull.
Big Plates
The size of a typical entree, and the perfect size for one — not that they can’t be shared as well!
Jon McGregor, Executive Chef Aqua Restaurant
Jon began his restaurant experience at 16 working as a humble busboy at the Charter Restaurant in Morehead City. After attending West Carteret High School, he went on to attend and graduate from the Johnson and Wales College of Culinary Arts in Charleston SC. Jon worked at several Renaissance hotels in Charleston and Charlotte.
His love of seafood and the coast brought him back to Carteret County where he became Chef de Cuisine for Aqua Restaurant in Beaufort and eventually Executive Chef of both Aqua and Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant & Pub. Jon loves using local ingredients such as Carteret County seafood and produce. He has partnered with Merrell farms, HWY 101 Beaufort, to bring fresh seasonally available local vegetables to both menus. When Jon is not cooking, he loves fishing and is also a talented musician.
Hannah Minter, Chef de Cuisine
Hannah began her promising culinary career working in chain restaurants and eventually found her way to our sister restaurant Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant & Pub. While at Clawson’s Hannah enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program at Carteret Community College and is at the top of her class. Hannah is very precise and articulate and we are very proud to see Hannah’s gifts blooming under Chef Jon as she serves at Aqua.
Dining Room Manager Quentin Bunch
Originally from Marshallberg NC, at age 18 Quentin began his restaurant career as a server at Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant. He pursued an acting career for several years in Wilmington, landing several roles in film and Television, all while continuing to serve in fine restaurants and catering.
Quentin’s love of the coast eventually brought him back to Beaufort where he worked at the Blue Moon Bistro until it closed and then became Catering and Events manager at Clawson’s. With Quentin’s artistic eye for detail and his love for people he continued to move up the ladder and was offered the Dining Room Manager position at Aqua where he is now thriving and leading the excellent and diverse Team Aqua!
