The go-to spot for business lunches and networking dinners, Aqua must mind its p’s and q’s lest a deal be lost over lackluster lobster. The Financial District restaurant goes the distance—service is famously elegant (some might even say showy) and the atmosphere is serene and contemporary. Busy chef Laurent Manrique (also affiliated with Fifth Floor, Café de la Presse and Rouge et Blanc) oversees the menu, which emphasizes seafood and zeroes in on small portions featuring clean flavors accented by bold spices. Dungeness crab salad might be punctuated by a piquant curry-poppy-seed vinaigrette, while Kumamoto oysters pair with celery agnolotti and pomegranate. High-end classics like caviar service, truffles and foie gras dapple the menu. If you’re still talking business after the main course, order some delicious wine or dessert to seal the deal.

Aqua Information:

• French menu. Lunch (Monday-Friday), dinner.