Juno Beach just got a little bit hotter— and a lot more flavorful. Set in the reimagined former AquaGrille space, Aquasan blends tiki and Polynesian charm with clean, creative, and craveable Pan-Asian cuisine.
The new concept, which opened in June, was made possible by Jupiter resident Patrik Waxin, who also owns Waxin’s in Palm Beach Gardens and Naples. Inspired by other successful Pan-Asian concepts like Nobu, Waxin wanted to bring healthful, high-end Asian fare to South Florida without sacrificing approachability—or flavor. “Many successful Asian restaurants offer a lot of unhealthy fried food,” says Waxin. “I like to eat a full dinner without feeling like I’m betraying my body. We are really trying to spend money on quality material.”
Waxin met restaurateur Stephen Asprinio, the former owner of AquaGrille, five years ago. (A Top Chef alum, Asprinio is the conceptual visionary behind 1000 North as well as the four venues at Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street.) Waxin was a regular at AquaGrille, and he recognized the restaurant’s potential when it ran into financial trouble. He purchased the property and hired Asprinio as a consultant, drawing on his creative expertise to support the development of Aquasan’s food and beverage concept.
At the helm of Aquasan’s inventive menu is Executive Chef Nicole Fey—“the passion and heart” of the menu, says Waxin. Fey populated the menu with an eclectic mix of small plates designed to be shared family-style—everything from delicate sashimi and crudo to wood-grilled vegetable creations and fresh-caught local seafood. Think: truffle teriyaki asparagus, ube chicken and waffle sliders (the ube, or Filipino sweet potato, gives the waffles their signature purple color), and the Lady in Red sushi roll, dreamed up during a slap-happy late-night brainstorming session with Asprinio.
“We weren’t satisfied until we were 100 percent satisfied,” Fey says of their recipe-testing marathon, which fine-tuned everything from the cucumber salad to a bold passion fruit beurre blanc. The beverage program is equally curated, featuring tropical tiki cocktails, a lineup of artisan Caribbean rums, and a globally inspired wine and sake list.
The space underwent a Polynesian-style revamp, complete with hand-carved wood and a tiki bar dubbed The Big Kahuna. It’s all part of an experience meant to bridge the gap between fine dining and the best tropical dinner party you’ve ever been to. And with expansion plans already on the horizon, Aquasan isn’t just making waves—it’s setting the tone for what’s next in coastal cuisine.
14121 U.S. Hwy. 1, Juno Beach; 561.345.3684
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