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Nemacolin Woodlands Resort celebrates both the bucolic Pennsylvania countryside and venerable architect Frank Lloyd Wright at Aqueous, a seafood-forward restaurant located at the expansive resort’s Falling Rock property.
Four different Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings exist in the surrounding Laurel Highlands area, including UNESCO World Heritage Site Fallingwater. Aqueous taps into many design notes from these acclaimed properties for you to enjoy during your meal. After a day of touring the famed architect’s works, see how many similarities you can spot while feasting on chef-favorite scallops, king prawns or tuna.
But rivaling the food is the panoramic view of the Laurel Highlands through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, a feature that’s in line with Wright’s design goals of bringing nature inside. Snag a seat by the windows to watch the sun sink over the horizon as you dine.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The service at Aqueous is stellar. The waitstaff manages the timing of each meal perfectly and ensures you’ll never have an empty glass.
- The wine program features one of the most robust cellars in the region. The sommelier is quick to make focused recommendations for each dish, often matching the wine to the plate’s country of origin — Italian-influenced scallops might be paired with an Italian pinot grigio.
- The Laurel Highlands restaurant turns out impressive seafood dishes, ranging from crab two ways (a Maryland-style crab cake and a cold crab salad) to ahi tuna with shrimp fried rice and kimchi.
- Both Aqueous and Falling Rock were designed to pay homage to revered architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Many restaurant details take cues from Wright's work, including the built-in furniture and Earth elements ranging from rock walls to slate plates.
- Sunsets at Aqueous are not to be missed. Reserve your table 30 to 45 minutes before sundown for a chance to see a stunning display over the rolling hills of the Laurel Highlands.
Things to Know
- Aqueous is not in the main chateau of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, but rather at Falling Rock, near the resort's golf course. Signage for Aqueous is minimal; park in the free garage and turn right in the main lobby to reach it.
- The Pennsylvania restaurant prides itself on its seafood-focused menu. All but a few items on the menu contain fish or shellfish in some capacity.
- For those who are not interested in wine, the restaurant offers an impressive cocktail and beer menu that highlights many southwestern Pennsylvania distilleries and breweries.
The Food
- Aqueous is known for its sumptuous seafood towers piled high with oysters, shrimp, clams and mussels. These gems are available in portions small enough for two or large enough for a group.
- Start your meal with a shareable plate of bloody Mary king prawns served with perfectly cooked white grits, pork belly and garden salsa. These come three to an order and are a good smaller starter for two.
- The chef's specialty is pan-roasted scallops served on white bean hummus with crispy fried gnocchi for a textural contrast and black truffle beurre blanc for a pop of flavor. After one bite, you'll understand why the restaurant sells more than 1,000 orders each year.
- The dessert menu runs the gamut from decadent chocolate dishes to fruit-forward options created by the in-house pastry team. The guest favorite is Milk & Cookies, a deconstructed take on the popular bedtime treat with chocolate chip cookie crisps and housemade cookie dough ice cream accompanied by white chocolate mousse, dehydrated milk foam and milk chocolate crème anglaise — a sweet nightcap.
The Look
- Just as Wright weaved nature into his properties, floor-to-ceiling windows in Aqueous bring views of the surrounding Laurel Highlands front and center.
- Many tables face west and offer an impeccable view of the countryside, so you would do well to request one of these seats for a memorable night out. Be sure to make your reservation early to enjoy the beautiful sun-streaked sky while you feast.
- The subtleties of Wright's designs are also present in the restaurant, including replicas of his famed barrel chairs from Fallingwater and lack of 90-degree angles found at Kentuck Knob. These details make Aqueous a great restaurant to test your Wright knowledge after a day of touring his properties in the region.
Amenities
Bar
Breakfast
Dinner
Gluten-free options
Kid friendly
Outdoor seating
Private dining
Reservations required 
Resort casual
Self-parking
Takeout
Valet parking
Vegetarian options
Getting There
