Come and taste for yourself as new Executive Chef Jon Kari combines International flair with New England charm.


Pam Parker, owner of Acqua Bistro, is extending the international flair and reputation of her restaurant by introducing and welcoming Executive Chef Jonathan Kari to New England. Kari has just returned from a year long adventure in New Zealand where he was Executive Chef at the luxury resort Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds. Prior to his Southern Cross venue, Jon moved from line cook to Sous Chef to Head Chef around the Great Lakes region. He has worked alongside Chef Saneh Wadi, an Iron Chef challenger, and as part of the team at the famous Saffron, a middle eastern restaurant in Minneapolis.  Jon has cooked for Gerrison Keeler (128 Cafe in St. Paul) and Bob Dylan (Solera in Minneapolis).

"I knew after his first few weeks at Acqua Bistro that... the kitchen is his home and cuisine is his passion," says Parker. Kari has committed the past decade to studying and skillfully executing American, French, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and regional New Zealand cuisine. Chef Jon explains it like this, "I live for culinary challenges and my work has enjoyed continued success, producing food for people of many tastes and dietary requirements. I always try to use the best local and seasonal ingredients, obtained through strong relationships with regional purveyors and farmers, finding the right cooking techniques that will do them justice." Jon is not a fan of hiding great dishes under sauces or cover-ups that can confuse the palate. His interest is in bringing out the natural flavor of a dish, using technique and seasoning to transform the menu from good to memorable.

At Acqua Bistro, you'll discover a new and varied menu with an elevated French, Swedish, Spanish and Moroccan flair. An added array of American favorites will make this restaurant the prime choice of many.

When you visit, you may see Jon in the restaurant during the evening, querying his guests about the evening's menu. "Before I could make any change to what I was cooking, I had to get to know my new home, my customers, their likes and dislikes, and what they thought made Acqua Bistro so special." Now, armed with that information, Chef Kari is hard at work developing new and exciting winter and special holiday menus - that reflect the warm and relaxing atmosphere of this riverside restaurant. Acqua Bistro customers will soon be in for a special dining experience, enjoying the comfort that has always been at Acqua Bistro with fresh new cuisine that's definitely worth the drive.

For more information, contact Acqua Bistro at 924-9905.