Agave Bar & Grill

Well,
Just like everyone else, I was not stoked when I received an e-​mail from Agave stating that they were closing their doors after this past weekend (Dec. 21^st). What to do? Go and enjoy their last dinner service, that’s what. Their selection of tequilas is certainly going to be missed… as is their traditional, authentic and delicious Mexican fare.
A nice touch by Agave: the «Hasta Luego» ice sculpture they placed outside this last weekend that they were open. (It was certainly cold enough to keep.) I’ve posted a photo of it and the kitchen/​main dining room from our last visit.
Here’s wishing them luck on a possible new concept next February!

Noooooooo tell me it isn’t so. Agave is closing this weekend. They say they may reopen in February as a different place, but this is such a shame. I encourage everyone to go as soon as possible because the food is delicious. It really stinks that such a great place must close when other so-​so places remain open. It probably just needs that «gimmic» or some type of buzz. However, to me, the food alone was all the buzz I needed. And that Mexican hot chocolate. I will miss you Agave. As they say .not Adiós, but Hasta Luego… :(

When I saw the email I hoped there was some exciting seasonal event or tasting to be considered. As I read the lines on my screen I am also devastated. Perhaps I could have supported this fine Mexican CUISINE establishment more. I didn’t and now it’s gone.
The sauce on the steak I reviewed previously. Corn, chiles, creamy wonderfulness. I will go one last time hoping to be able to create this sauce at home. I will never achieve the flavor imparted to the fine cuts of meat I have eaten at your rustic tables.
I am beside myself, I may have the steak too.

I just received an e-​mail from Agave and they are closing their doors 12÷21÷08, but the space will still be available for private events until ⁰²⁄₂₀₀₉. At that time they hope to unveil a new concept for the space.
I’m devastated! I thought this was such a great place.
Agave, I’m very sad that you are closing.
I hope to see you one last time before you go and I do look forward to the new you coming next year.

Actually, 4.5 stars. I was solo and saw the guac was for two. Mentioned I wanted to try it to bartender, but said I’d get it next time. Ordered and then the bartender brings out a SOLO order of guac, because ‘the cook wasn’t too busy.’ How cool is that?! The order was HUGE, too. Had a rum & tonic and the desayuno wrap, thankfully cut in half since it was humongous, also. (Only my drink wasn’t ‘super-​sized’, it seems, though a good pour.)
Guac was quite good but a bit too cilantro-​y/​lime-​y for me. The chips were light as air and delish. Had so much food that there was plenty for dinner. The best part? Didn’t even charge me for the guac!
Great spot with lots of non-​standard veggie options for brunch.

I’ve had worse. That’s the best that can be said. To begin with: the guacamole was OK. It was really pico de gallo with chunks of avocado in it. Soupy textures with chunks of avocado. Then the entrees: The tampiquena steak entrée lacked flavor. The corn masa type enchilada was just okay. I don’t recommend it. The Mariscada al Ojo de Ajo (Seafood with garlic) promised to be exquisite but again, disappointed in a huge way. The seafood was fresh but the flavor was just not there. The classic Agave margarita was actually the highlight of the meal. Maybe if you have enough of these the food will start to taste as amazing as the other reviews here describe.

This place really surprised me. I LOVE Mexican food, but this place is a cut above in every way. It looks like your average Mexican restaurant from the outside but as you step inside you’re amazed at the décor with the beautiful exposed brick wall and wood beams on the ceiling in the bar area. On the second floor it only gets better when you enter the Arandas room with leads into the Atotonilco room which has a wall of windows facing west.
Now on to the meal… All I can say is absolutely fabulous ! I was there this past Saturday night with 3 of my girl friends and we all have a wonderful expierence there. The presentation alone was awesome and Somer our waitress was pleasant and very helpful. She made us feel like we were family. I ordered the carne asada and all I have to say is that it was the most succulent steak I’ve ever had at any restaurant period. It was joined with charred tomatillo cholaquiles and a tantalizing cactus & arugula salad. Two of my friends ordered the garlic crusted shrimp & scallops which looked equally as appetizing.
The whole meal was perfect. I can’t wait to go back.

No fajitas or quesadillas on the menu? What do I do? Step out of my comfort zone? Yikes!
The guac appetizer was great — they even brought out plantain chips along with tortilla chips after I requested jicima chips to dip. (Although these were fried, they are much thinner and «healthier» than tortilla chips.)
I got another appetizer for my meal, I can’t remember the name of it but it was corn tortillas with kobe beef and cheese, smothered in beans. It was great.
But I really just wanted a standard frozen margarita, but they only had one frozen flavor on tap — mango/​pineapple. I got it, but it was way too sweet.

Sometimes, after kicking around on one of those ideal Chicago summer days with a few drinks, I lose the time and realize that dinner is falling from my grasp. Such was the case this past Saturday where, after a lovely afternoon at the Scottish Highland Games, I found myself back at one of the neighborhood taps enjoying a couple beers with some friends. The bridie and meat pies from earlier in the day had begun to wear off and a couple of us found ourselves hankering for a bite — but a proper dinner, not drunk food or pub fare as at least I wasn’t that far into it. Started walking down the street and realized Agave was close by and I hadn’t been yet. Good idea…
Stepped in and took a seat at the bar where we were immediately welcomed by the bartender. While I do not possess I high degree of knowledge of tequila I was quite impressed by the copious and voluminous list that I was presented. As a matter of fact, halfway through the evening I realized that I didn’t see any liquor on the wall behind the bar that was not tequila (I imagine they have some out of sight though). Ordered up a couple margaritas — the Escarlata and Hacienda — both quite enjoyable and different than your standard issue margarita. Took note of the tequila list though to come back on another night to do some flights.
I have to say the service all around was fantastic. The gentleman working behind the bar was extremely helpful in navigating the many appealing choices on the menu and made some excellent recommendations. The first of which being the guacamole. Tasted fresh and was quickly consumed. Several entrees were tempting me but followed it with the Tampiquena served up medium rare. I have to say it was very very good. The marinade combined to provide some great flavor to the steak. That alone and I would have been happy, but even the sides were notable. There isn’t a lot involved in preparing plantains, but these just hit the spot. And the beans, mole and enmolada rounded it out.
I will definitely be back. Agave was a welcome surprise as I really did not expect the level of service or quality of food that I experienced.

I am an Agave fiend, just to let you know. It certainly helps that tequila is my favorite fine spirit and spicy foods fuel my fire. Their margaritas (served up with no salt – as that would be sac religious!) and guacamole are the BEST in town. And I hate to release the fact that these grand cocktails are only $ 4(edit-now they’re $ 5: [) on Mondays and the quac is only $ 3 on Sundays. Ah, I am salivating just thinking about it.
The décor is gorgeous and definitely custom made for this restaurant. There was much care that went into everything from the cabinetry to the soap dispenser.
The tequila selection is unsurpassed, and warrants its own menu. They have ½ priced taster shots, flights, and house infused delicacies. The great selection and highly knowledgeable staff make the experience elating in more ways than one.
Finally, the food… so amazingly good. I’ve been going here for quite some time and they used to have ½ priced appetizers on Mondays, so I’ve had the vast majority and they are all quite good. My faves from the food menu would have to be the flautas, ensalda tapatia, quac-​of course, sopas de cecina, and for an entrée I rarely stray from the enmoladas de pollo. The mole in that dish is to die for. Who needs dessert when the chocolate is in your meal? My BF had the tampiquena and it was so tender and flavorful.
I have yet to have any desserts (that I can remember… hee hee), but I always leave wanting more. I would recommend this place to serious tequila drinkers or those who like to learn more about this complex soul-​warming spirit. This is not the place for «shots». Its more about cultivating appreciation.

I’ve gone back now to Agave twice. Once for brunch (A++) and once for a tequila tasting dinner. The tasting dinner was FANTASTIC and one heck of a bargain! Passed hors d’oeuvers with margaritas, three courses (each served with a wonderful tequila cocktail), dessert and a flight of tasting tequilas! I could seriously go on and on about how good everything was, but I really just don’t have all day.
As a side note, I have to say again how great the service is here. I don’t know how the management does it, but they seem to invoke a sense of ownership and pride into their servers that you just don’t see any where else. Service is always extremely attentive and very helpful! Feel free to ask them anything about the food or drinks, you’ll definitely have your questioned answered and learn something new about the food.
I just can’t say enough about this place!

If you have a hankering for margaritas or guacamole… go to Agave! My friends took me here for an engagement celebration. We had lots of cocktails and shots so I couldn’t remember what I ate for dinner that night. I know it was very tasty and I left very full and happily buzzed. I want to go back so I can remember the Agave experience.
They have awesome «cherry» tequila shots with a cherry at the bottom. When you eat the cherry, it’s soaked in tequila and it really hits you. They also gave us a free dessert platter and it was all so delicious! I can’t wait to go back :)

Delicioso! Who would have thought a Mexican place would be a fantastic brunch option… but it was! The staff was fantastic, knowledgeable and friendly. The outside patio was perfect, with nice flowers and an awning that the staff unrolled when it got too sunny. The menu (available on-​line) had all sorts of creative brunch options, and plenty of options for vegetarians (which I always appreciate).
It was tough for me to decide, but I went with the Desayuno Wrap ($ 8.50). It was nicely presented on a long rectangular dish and generously stuffed with scrambled eggs, avocado, refried beans, chipotle dressing, pico de gallo and oaxaca cheese. It was served with a side of very addicting Mexican style home fries: sauted potatoes seasoned with onion and red jalapeos.
The portions were generous and I’m kicking myself right now for forgetting to eat my leftovers for breakfast this morning. This Monday REALLY could have been started out right, if only, if only…
BOTTOM LINE: Fabulous staff, delicious food, and no wait for outdoor seating for a Saturday brunch! You better believe I’ll be dragging more people here!

I’ve been here a handfull of times now, usually for Sunday brunch. They have awesome tequilla-​based drinks, guacamole and just about any meat dish. Very savory dishes. And when the food arrives in front of you, it looks amazing!
The staff is super friendly without being in your face. They’re almost flirty, if that makes sense. They can make excellent recommendations.
I go to this place at least twice a month, and would go more if I were in the neighborhood.
Hard to find, though: It’s near the intersection of Lincoln and Barry — just across the street from the Army Navy Surplus store, next to a religious center, and South of the Gap.

This place is Adobo Grill’s clone. They definitely buy their stone guacamole bowls at the same wholesaler.
Speaking of guac, theirs is chunky with some delightful tropical flavors. It has a good kick that will wake you up. The chips are thin and light, a good complement.
You get your $‘s worth with the dishes. I had the jumbo shrimp and scallops. It could have served 1.6 people. And I have a big appetite. The seafood is fresh and came with cinnamon favors. I’m not usually a fan of the sweet sauces, but this worked fairly well.
The décor is standard for this type of cuisine, with the large Frida portrait adorning the back wall freakishly judging your every bite.

Somewhere between 3.5 to 4 stars. Agave was a cool place — a girlfriend and I came on a Thursday night. It’s a tequila bar — I guess over 150 different types of tequilas, and they offer all sorts of flights depending on your mood.
Atmosphere was really nice too, bright and welcoming. Artwork on the wall was really neat. They must have spend a lot of money on those bathrooms too.
We had the guacamole to start, and it was very, very good — cilantro, red onion, jalapeño… yummy. We got it «pretty hot», and my mouth was on fire! The chips were really good — rectangles. And chips/​salsa aren’t complementary, you have to order them and pay for them. booo.
We had a couple of drinks each — pretty pricey for mixed drinks mostly in martini glasses… expect to pay anywhere from $ 8-​$ 10.
Then we both got the chiles rellenos, they were just OK. I also ordered a side of plantains, and those were delish!
Our server was a little awkward but nice. Very attentive.
Here are the things I would change for my next visit though…
1) Come when they offer drink specials (Sunday through Wednesday)
2) Order a bunch of appetizers to share — I think the entrees sounded pretty mediocre and over-​priced
3) Order my guac «medium»
Be sure you make your reservations on opentable!

Even though I have been down Lincoln Avenue multiple times (on foot and in vehicle) I somehow missed Agave. Was it just another Mexican restaurant? The suspense was killing me, especially after hearing some buzz from fellow Unilocaler Rob L.. .
First things first, I LOVE the space. From the bar area downstairs to the awesome venue upstairs the whole scene is definitely a hit. The bartender was really nice and inviting. I could see myself just coming back here for a margartia which was VERY good. Go with salt on the rocks and you won’t be sad you did.
The guacamole was excellent — as good as if not better than Adobo’s. The menu is not too large but haven’t you every seen that show with Gordon Ramsey? A smaller, more-​focused menu is better (well according to Gordo). In my opinion, there is something for everyone but I truly felt like I missed out since I am on my «no meat in 2008» thing. Do I feel better? No. Cleansed? No. Meat-​deprived? YES! Anytortilla, I went for the chile relleno stuffed with some delicious cheese and lots of corn and beans. Even though I wish the corn and beans were meat chunks, they were still tasty. My favorite part of the meal, MAY have been the finish — un shot of Patron. So much better than dessert and it even came with a spicy tomato-​based chaser that I have previously enjoyed with pricey tequila.
I just cannot believe how empty this place was on a Friday night.. .and then I go back to location, location, location. I don’t think this spot is the best for business– my dinner companions and I discussed moving it to a trendier hood (It is a pretty pricey place, more upscale Mexican than my usual fave, Mayan Palace). Still, relocating to a hip spot may mean that I will no longer get in :(. So stay where you are Agave, and I will be back for a rita (or three!)

I came here and met a fellow Unilocaler and her friend here for dinner. First off, this is not your typical Lincoln Park Mexican joint. There really aren’t any tacos or burritos. No, this is a little more upscale. Very large list of tequilas, good amount of interesting drinks and the standards. The service was great. Our server Gina, (I think.), was helpful in guiding our way through everything and checking up on us, making sure we didn’t need anything. The guacamole was great, with four levels of spiciness… that right there would make me come back. Any time they can make a guacamole and take it from, mild, medium, spicy and hot, (where even the kitchen staff is questioning if you should take it to hot), that… that is awesome. They also have a sampling of salsas, one verde, one pico de gallo and another smoky red salsa, all very good, though the verde got my vote.
The food was good, very good. Good size portions and you can get additional side dishes, such as plantains, rice, beans and so on. I had the chicken enchiladas with almonds and in a mole sauce and a side of plantains, they were really good, nice flavors and very filling. One girl had the chiles rellenos, which was cheesy, but in a good way! I guess the only complaint and I do I feel this is a sizable one, is the size of the menu. Very limited options. A lot of steak and beef, one chicken and one veggie dish. I am guessing they do more of a seasonal or may change it a little more frequently, though since I don’t eat beef anymore it limits my options and I am sure if you were a vegetarian it would be even more limiting.
I think they executed what they had well, I just wish there were more options to choose from. I also had a chat with my dining companions about our other concern with the place. It is a really cute place. Art all over the area, well planned out areas, lovely wood work and exposed brick, we felt if this was placed on Armitage or on Division west of Ashland this place would thrive and be packed every night. I hope it does well here. They have a great place, very good food, great staff and certainly a lot of tequila. If you are looking for a little more than your typical burrito, you might want to head on over here.

I might have been in the most bestest mood ever last night, or Agave Bar & Grill might just be the most bestest place on Earth.
(Most bestest = grammatical error, but it serves a good purpose here.)
To start, talk about a bar you want to hang out in. It is truly an authentic Mexican tequila bar, from the huge wood front door right down to the beautiful sand-​colored tile floor and the cow-​hair booths. Their food is also truly authentic, none of that Americanized Mexican crap. It is clean, not dark and stuffy at all, smoke-​free… I could live here. Even the bathrooms are high class.
The bartenders know their stuff. They have tequila flights, with flavored tequilas (chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla…) that they make themselves. The Agave Margarita is hands down the best margarita I have ever tasted.
Overall, I am going back, and you should too.

A friend of ours had been trying to find a Tuesday to meet us for half-​price margaritas and appetizers and finally (this very evening, May 29^th) we did it. And I’m still buzzed on the wonderfully delicious drinks.
As others have mentioned, you will be pleasantly surprised when you enter Agave by the décor, the menu and the tastes. I think there’s something a bit off about the branding/​font/​logo on their signage that lowers expectations a bit. Their tequila selection is incredible (not that I know anything about tequila.)
It’s definitely worth it to take advantage of their various drink/​appetizer specials. And based on the appetizers, I would expect that the entrees would be equally pleasing.
We’ll be back on a Sunday for the half-​price mojitos.