Came here on a weekday afternoon with friends.
Food came in hugeee portions. I asked for a side of sour cream and they gave me a bucket of sour cream.
The music was top 40s and I was totally rocking to Thrift Shop while munching on my taco trio.
Guacamole was amazingggggg but the bowl it came in was kind of deceptive. It looked deeper than it actually was.
Service was super friendly.
Will try tequilas next time.
After a few drinks at a nearby bar, we decided to stop in as it is one of my friend's favorite places to eat. We arrived around 8pm which is a peak hour and had a good time.
Although the restaurant was very busy, we were seated immediately at a table near the windows. The waitress and serving staff were very kind constantly refilling our complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered the tortilla soup and it was delicious - the thick soup was made from a tomato base, had nice pieces of chicken, veggies, and tortilla pieces. It was exactly what I needed to warm me up after being out in the cold earlier that day.
The atmosphere is lively and loud during the evening. My biggest issue with Blue Agave is how close in proximity the tables and chairs are to one another - it became a bit difficult slipping in and out of my chair to run to the men's room (especially after a couple of drinks).
After our meal, we sat at our table for a while and had a couple of more drinks. Before we were finished with our drinks, our check came to the table. We weren't ready to leave yet, so we would walk over to the bar and bought drinks as needed.
In short, it's an OK spot. I'll definitely return as a customer.
Completely passable not-very-authentic Mexican food. I'd never go out of my way to eat here, but for a local spot, it'll do.
[I have to say it kind of reminds me of Chevy's. Do they have Chevy's in the Midwest? Do they still exist anymore? Nevermind.]
Chips and salsa are plentiful and neverending, the Mexican beer selection is decent, entrees are reasonably priced, and the Chicken Fajita salad is a favorite of mine. And there are plenty of TVs in the bar area for all your football-watching needs.
So nothing to really write home about. But no reason to avoid it either. Sorry I can't be more exciting than that.
I went there this Saturday. Â Had dinner, a couple margaritas. Â Then ordered dessert. Â Two people ordered fried ice cream, one cheesecake, 2 churros. Â The cheesecake was supposed to have caramel, but they were out of caramel so they put strawberries on it without asking. Â Good thing that the person who ordered it is not allergic to strawberries. Â The fried ice cream was not fried. Â It was just covered in the gram cracker crumbs. Â The server told us that they had just made them and they were not frozen enough to fry so she brought them out anyway and seemed confused that we were not delighted that she was not charging us for it. Â If anyone wonders, unfried fried ice cream does not taste good and we each ate a bite and left it sitting on the table. Â The part of this experience that I am most upset with is the fact that any of us would have just chosen something else if we were told that they were out of fried ice cream and caramel. Â Instead, we were brought desserts that we did not eat. Â The server did not charge us for the desserts, but honestly, Â I don't think that they should have ever come to the table. Â
I have gone to Blue Agave every December for over 10 years. Â Occasionally I will go there other times, but always in December. Â They have been very accommodating of our group which can be as few as 5 and as many as 25, and we rarely know till we get there who is going to show up.
The food is decent.  Nothing that you can't get in any Mexican place.  The rice is typically overcooked and the beans are watery, but I don't mind because it  tastes good and is super reasonable for downtown.  The $12 valet is great.  The margaritas are tasty.
I will likely keep going back, but I will not be ordering dessert.
I've given this place 4 chances. Â The food is mediocre and not worth the money. 2 tacos, one enchilada (no ranchero sauce as promised), beans, cold rice, chips and salsa for $16. Â I would really like to see them improve the menu. Â It's too bad because it is a great location. Â New bar stools. Food is still mediocre. Still disapppointed. The wait staff doesn't even stay.
Review Source:<a href="/redir?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dq-Rqdgna3Yw&s=2261f36657fdc011df266726d8fce4c60f5ce0c9ff864a0b93ad0730dfe6beb7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/…</a>
This place is unbelievably great!! A perfect FOUR STARS! Two thumbs up! Very rarely do I give out a perfect score (I generally four star ratings for the true greats. Godfather, four stars. Casablanca, four stars. Chinatown, three and a half. Don't ask). ,
Things I tried at the Blue Agave:
Chips (4 stars)
Salsa (4 stars)
Fajita (4 stars)
Margarita (4 stars)
I assign no higher praise to a restaurant than what I give The Blue Agave!
The menu at Blue Agave needs a serious update. This place does all the classics (tacos, enchiladas, fajitas) but they don't even do them well. You're probably better off grabbing a taco from Chipotle. The service is awful and you pretty much just watch the waiters flirt with one another rather than noticing if you need something.
I'll give them another chance when I hear of a change in their menu or ambiance...actually, any sort of change at all would be welcomed.
Went here once several years ago. It was a good meal and a good experience. A bustling place with good drinks.
Went here a few months ago because my wife and I had a Groupon deal (or something similar, I don't remember), and it was not good.
The food was just OK, and the waiter was even pretty OK, too, even if he looked 16 and new on the job. Two glaring deficiencies this time around. We were seated on the second floor (which is really more like a narrow, short-ceilinged balcony) away from any and everyone. I'm not sure exactly why we were seated here, because we passed several empty tables on both floors. Not a good start.
The worst part was the margarita I ordered. It seriously smelled and tasted of cleaning solution. I had a few sips and couldn't take it anymore. And I'm not one to waste alcohol.
Much like 12-inch softball in Chicago, it's two strikes and you're out.
NOT A RESTAURANT!! Food is NOT GOOD! My 3rd time here. I thought I would give them another chance but that was a bad idea! SMH..
If margaritas is ALL you're looking for then Blue Agave could be on the list.
The manager that greeted us and sat us was very professional. Sad to say..that was the best part of our dinner here. The restroom was dirty it had me question what was going on in the kitchen.
The salsa is real spicy and customers should be given an option for something less spicy.
I ordered the vegetarian burrito. I have never been more disappointed in my life! It was frozen vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots) not only were they frozen but they were boiled and NOT seasoned!! I am no chef but I know that those 3 vegetables do NOT belong in a burrito! Our waitress didn't come back to check on us until AFTER 15mins of us receiving our meals, during that time she was texting and flirting with customers..very unprofessional. On the other hand she agreed that the veggie burrito was not good ( NOTE TO OWNER: WHEN YOUR STAFF AGREES THAT THE FOOD IS NOT GOOD AND SAY THEY CREATE THEIR OWN DISHES....YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!!!!) She helped me choose something veggie with a mexican flavor. Thanks Chick!
They only do good because of the location.
Here is a word of advice...Alcohol will only get you so far you need to step up and change your menu!
The drinks are decent, all the rest is below what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant in Chicago, the food and service are far from impressive!
The atmosphere is so-so and you can't even stop-by to watch a game as TVs are awkwardly positioned...
In a nutshell, just conveniently located for a quick stop  downtown.
If you're dropping in for a margarita, you are on a good track. The Blue Agave has great beverages and actually decent prices for being in the Gold Coast.
Now...let's talk food. I can promise, there's nothing much to say. I've been here twice and the food is worse than a Mexican Fiesta in Bumtown, USA. Â The chips and salsa aren't even good. The rice is flavorless, the beans are mush, the enchiladas taste like a microwavable product, the tacos have stale shells and are miles away from authentic. Shall I continue? I shall not.
Good day.
Our party of seven came for a quick bite prior to our bachelorette party. It was dinner time on a Saturday night. Blue Agave was nowhere near filled and there was no wait. We were promptly seated and given complimentary chips and salsa which they were also quick on refilling without having us to flag anybody down.
We ordered three tequila margaritas, queso fundido, tilapia tacos, shrimp del feugo, two orders of soft shell tacos, and a bunch of other dishes that I lost track of. The margaritas were definitely a plus. Not a bit of the tequila was watered down. It was evident because of the three girls that ordered it, two were tipsy after a few sips. (I kid you not.) I should've ordered one so I didn't have to soberly deal with below average food.
My friend and I shared the queso fundido and tilapia tacos. The queso fundido was a thin layer of cheese with ground beef scattered in the middle. If I recall correctly, it was supposed to be sausages... Oh well, I wrapped some up in a tortilla and it was a-okay. It was a little bit oily but if you like cheese, you might enjoy it. The tilapia tacos came in a set of three with corn tortillas and hot sauce as well as two sides. The tilapia was not well-fried and very dry. The hot sauce helped a bit but mind you, it does burn a bit. The cilantro and lime rice were much more subtle but rather lacking in moisture. Â
Our bill came to approximately $150 with 18% gratuity included. It's not pricey considering the downtown location. Unfortunately, I don't think the food quality fulfills the price they charged.
I really do love their margaritas with their homemade tequila. Watch out though... these are the strongest margaritas in the city and will put you on your tush if your not careful!
The food is pretty good as well. I just wish they had a couple more authentic vegetarian options. I really love their black bean soup however.
They are in a great location, see that they are walking distance from tons of other nightlife hot spots or daytime shopping.
Came here for lunch on a Friday with a co-worker. Â We weren't able to try the margaritas which I hear are great so I'll be back for those one day post-work. Â The place was empty and all the employees were sitting around eating and chatting with each other, which made our service sub-par.
The food we had was good (I had the flautas and she had enchiladas) nothing mind blowing but I would get it again.
Overall it was good food and the place is kinda quirky and cool inside. Â Definitely coming back to try the margs, just hope the service is better next time.
I don't know how I missed writing a review for this mexican joint!? I have been here a million times and it seems to be that I only have one thing to say...the margaritas are excellent! Â Pack a punch and come in a million flavors!
For food I've had a sampling of many things on the menu but always stear towards the cheese enchiladas. Â I have to admit they are cheesey goodness and the protion is huge! Â
Overall if you are in this area it's a great place to start the night if you need a drink that gets you started on the right foot quickly!
This place was below expectations. Â We went here on a Sunday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend, right after the lunch rush and before the dinner rush. Â The place was empty. Â Even though the place was empty, our waitress was so inattentive and the busboy was mainly our server for the afternoon. Â We actually joked at our table that we should just tip the busboy because he was the only one around to refill our waters and chips and dip. Â
When the food finally did arrive, it was sub-par. Â Everything was rather tasteless and a big letdown considering how hungry I was! Â The guacamole even left something to be desired- how does a Mexican restaurant not make good guacamole??
The only thing that was good about this place was the drinks. Â All different kinds of margaritas to choose from, if you are willing to wait the 25+ minutes for the server to get your drink order and then actually bring them to your table.
Went here on a cold night and it was fairly empty.
The Ritas were pretty good however, everything else including the service was subpar.
The Queso was terrible, Â The enchiladas plate was mediocre. Â It's not hard to screw up enchiladas. Â My wife ordered a chicken fajita salad. Â Mediocre as well.
This place should only be for Ritas. Â They might as well eliminate all the food except for the appetizers, well eliminate the queso as well.
Recently enjoyed some snacks and drinks outside with some girlfriends. Â
Margaritas were excellent! I think between all of us at the table we had all different flavors and they were all good (and strong!!!)
I was pleasantly surprised with the food.
chili con queso was tasty. Â We devoured it.
steak quesadilla was delicious!
Price- as to be expected in the area- overpriced.
Can't beat the people watching!
I'm a throw back Blue Agave-er. I've went here numerous times. So I'll give my opinion unfiltered and unbiased.
Who goes to Blue Agave for the food? Maybe I'm the anomaly - because I've went here hundreds of times and have eaten here less than once! I mean they have a full menu but this only legitimizes their claim of being a Mexican restaurant. Â
This is a drinkers joint - always have been and always will be. I go for the casual dynamic it presents in a pretentious neighborhood.
If you have a few seconds imagine this: Zach Galifianakis, Kobe Bryant, Diane Keaton, Roselyn Sanchez, Ozzie Guillen and Stephen Colbert all in the same place. This is kinda how - well I overexaggerated a bit - but basically I'm hinting at the eclectic group of people I have met in this joint!
I say - screw the reviews (including mines) - try it out you might just become a regular. Just remember - this is a drinkers joint!
If I were to compare Blue Agave to other casual Mexican restaurants in Chicago, I'd say it ranked really well. My criteria for a satisfactory Mexican experience are simply the following: continuous flow of chips and salsa (free refills, of course), speedy service, classic Mexican dishes, and stiff margaritas. This place had all of that. Sure, it's a little tacky, but isn't that what you'd expect? We thought the layout was great, with the large bar in the middle and tons of tables for a dine-in meal. We got a seat along the upper level so we could look down over the crowd, which we really enjoyed. The other cool thing about this place is that it attracts people of all ages, at least at 7:30 on Friday night.
I'd recommend checking this place out if you're looking for an inexpensive Mexican meal in a fun neighborhood. It's certainly no Rick Bayless restaurant, but it's perfect if you want something more low-key. We were glad we stumbled on it!
Came here with a group, certainly a grouping that wasn't ideal and got sucker-punched into paying VASTLY more than my fare share. I HATE dining in groups.
But... the food here is terrible. Bland, greasy and not good. Salsas are made from rather mealy and watery tomatoes and just sorta hot with not much else going for it.
Margaritas are fine but nothing mind blowing.
I honestly have ZERO IDEA as to how this place stays open. Food; meh. Service; spotty. Drinks; aren't great. Whenever I hear "Ohhh... Blue Agave" I make an excuse to NOT go.
Hmmm.. $120 bucks.. 3 people, cheese dip, a soup, an entree, and 5 margaritas. Goodness. I almost passed out, especially considering the experience.
We had the most spacey waiter who we practically had to beg to wait on our table. Then she would half serve. Example, if we have been waiting for 15 minutes to be served, what makes you think you should not ask us if we are ready to order or share with us your daily specials. We order the dip and it was cold, the chips tasted if they'd been sitting out since last week and the drinks were hit and miss. After waiting an additional 30 minutes - my friends said the entree was okay and the soup was decent, so that's promising.
Bottom line - good for people watching outside, happy hour on Sundays (remember to remind them), and chips and salsa. Otherwise get ready to donate a small limb and have a lackluster experience.
ehhhh it was just ok.
The Blue Agave is located in the Gold Coast and the prices here show it (especially the drink prices). The food just isn't that good. I got a burrito and nothing about my meal really was that good. The burrito was decent, but I really didn't care for the green peppers and onions in the burrito. If I wanted those things I would have ordered a fajita not a burrito.
If you plan on dinning at The Blue Agave don't expect anything more than overpriced average food.
Having recently moved from Texas, my husband and I were on the hunt for a margarita in the city. A couple of work friends mentioned Blue Agave, saying that they always had a good evening if they started with a drink here.
One Saturday night after leaving a comedy show, us and few out of town guests walked over to try and grab a drink. Unfortunately, the bartender rudely told us they were no longer serving and they had already shut down their margaritas. Wait, WHAT?! It's was approximately 10 minutes after 1am, and the sign on the door said they were open until 2? Shutting down machines early on a Saturday?
Another bartender offered to pour a shot of tequila if we wanted to order that (extra star for trying), but offering a margarita on the rocks would have been better.
We havent been back. If you go, go early.
Standard Mexican fare - lot's of cheese on lot's of things rolled in various forms of tortilla. You've seen this movie before at every other Mexican place serving exactly the same fare. Â It's not bad, but it is absolutely nothing special. Â
I was here for lunch, so I didn't get to observe the evening scene much.  Based on the décor, and the dozens of Tequila bottles on the bar surround by shot glasses, I can only assume this is a place targeted at the post-collegiate, tequila drinking, frat house scene.  Not my scene at all, so I won't be back.  My guess is there are several comely "shot girls" patrolling the place in the evening ready to help you get your buzz on! Giddy up pard'ner!
I created a yelp account just to give this place a bad review.
It is unfortunate....HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE by the manager Steve. Food was meh (guac was WAY overpriced), margaritas are bueno, but when trying to use a coupon that lured me and my friends to the restaurant in the first place they wouldn't accept it because it wasn't printed out. The coupon said nothing about print requirements (it was uploaded to my phone) and when pointed out, the manager did nothing but talk down to me and engage in a personal tirade about how he doesn't care to help me because he won't be there much longer. I'm sorry, I did not need to hear his personal frustrations about his choice of work, completely unprofessional and inconsiderate.
I contacted the store owner later but he did nothing to my knowledge to appease the situation.
Overall: customer service is completely lacking and I would advise avoidance of this restaurant, Chili's is way better!
*Smells like piss when you walk in...should have turned around!
*Old Drunk guy got over served and fell over at the bar...should have been a sign!
Food is lacking in taste, but not price.
Waitress was barely there to meet our few requests.
Beer was warm not cold
Margaritas were...I am from Texas..THEY WERE HORRIBLE!
And the best part...I used a groupon and they wrote in the tip for me..what is this world coming to? If you take a job based on GRATUITY...expect ups and downs...
Don't go here, to many places in Chicago to explore that put this place to shame...try the taco vender on the West side his food is WAY better!
Sum it up:
The worst experience in quite some time.
Manager was informed and was more concerned over the groupon tip-out than the fact that they over-all were bad.
Do I HAVE to tip 18% for bad service? Â When did it become mandatory to tip? Â I am confused...To Insure Proper Service...T.I.P.S.
I have been here several times for the margaritas and last week I stopped in for dinner on the patio. Â Our server has non-existent during our entire meal. Â We finally had to go inside to pay our bill. Â It was a Monday night and she wasn't busy. Â In fact, when we found her inside she was sitting down and texting.
We had some sort of egg-roll type appetizer which was very good. Â We split the shrimp fajitas for dinner which were very yummy but could have come with a bit more veggies. Â The sides were delish and there was plenty to go around.
If you're in River North and looking for Mexican, go to Su Casa..
This place is an absolute madhouse most nights of the week and, while their food is pretty on par with most Mexican places around the city, they're salsa is off the hook! Â Hot, spicy, fantastic. Â I could have spooned it right into my mouth!
I also recommend trying the Horni Margarita. Â Yes... it's called the "Horni Margarita". Â The only reason I ordered it is cause I wanted to try and say "horni" with a straight face to the waitress. Â I still giggled like a child. Â It was delicious!
Thursday night I went to Blue Agave for margaritas and appetizers, a common event for my coworkers and I.
However, while we were sitting INSIDE, I noticed that I was being bitten by bugs on my legs. My coworkers, all in pants, were not having the same problem. We all agreed it was disgusting and decided to leave.
The next day, I looked at my legs and these were not just mosquito bites--they were something else far more red, painful and puffy.
On Saturday, I called the restaurant to let them know about the bug problem. I spoke to Cindy, who said she was the Manager. I told Cindy what had happened and that I wanted to make them aware of the situation so they could call an exterminator or whatever they deemed appropriate.
Cindy told me that when the doors and windows are open in the restaurant, they have a hard time with bugs "this time of year." I assured her that I sit outside at least a few times a week and have not been bitten by a single bug this summer. I also mentioned that the windows were not open, and she cut me off and said, "Well, they are open right now." Well that's nice, but has nothing to do with Thursday night.
Either way, the way that the situation was handled and her tone were not particularly conducive to customer service. Hungry bugs aside, I won't be returning to BA thanks to her attitude.
I have stumbled in here many a night to hit up the ATM in the vestibule or for a few drinks (FINE, shots), but it was only this past weekend that I actually had dinner at the Blue Agave with some girlfriends.
The margaritas and the decor are what conjure up the image of Spring Break, Daytona Beach style in your mind. The place is replete with palm trees, gaudy yet endearing lit-up Modelo and Corona signs, and it is always packed on a weekend night. As for their drinks, The "3G" margarita was sweet and sultry, with three types of tequilas to roll over your tongue... usually I like my tequila Patron and in a shotglass, but I loved my regular margarita, on the rocks and with a salt rim. I'll admit it, I had two. Although I regretted it later when we got the bill - they're a bit pricey for the locale and the size.
I don't know that I was totally missing out on the food - as a native LA girl, good Mexican is a dime a dozen to me. But their salads are huge and tasty - I took home half an avocado/tomato/queso fresco salad ($10) with cilantro, and usually avocado and cilantro are enough to make me devour a dish. Two of my girlfriends split a fajitas dish and it looked delicious.
I took a cab home, which is easy to do in the Viagra Triangle. But making it down the street in a jean skirt, leggings and boots though? Expect a proposition or two, and at the very least, a few catcalls.
Eh. That's about all I can think to write about this place. My friend and I came on a typical busy Friday night. According the super nice hostess, everyone waiting (including those with reserverations) was about an 40 minutes to an hour behind than promised. Note to those waiting, bring a snack - turns out to be very helpful.
We started with the Southwestern Rolls, which were probably the tastiest items we ordered that night. I wish I had this as my main dish. We both opted to do the "create your own" dish because it was more/less the same price if you were to just get a plate full of enchiladas or tacos. With this particular order, you pick three items (hard/soft tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, etc.) and two side items. I chose one hard shell taco with ground beef (yum), a ground beef enchilada (not good...at all), and a chicken tostada (yum). The strawberry margaritas were um, good.. IF we ordered plain strawberry smoothies. Where was the alcohol? Not in our glasses. Oh well. We were too tired to complain and just wanted to pay and go.
Be prepared to shout at your dining companion(s) and the server. It's loud in here.
Some people like cake and a tall glass of milk for a birthday treat. Â Not my friend Lee C. Â Her big day called for only one thing. . .a birth-rita! Â As my buddy Arnold states in the classic Pumping Iron, "Milk is for babies." Â Lee is no baby. Â This girl drinks tequila.
I'm with Lee, and I like birth-ritas the best (this is why we are friends) so I did some investigative work. Â I wanted a drink that would really knock her on her birthday bum (it had to be tasty too). Â Fade to Blue Agave. Â Holy hell! Â They call a lot of their margaritas "perfect" but I think they should change that to "perfectly potent". Â I can't remember the last time I had one drink and felt that fuzzy. Â Of course we had to order another round just to keep the celebration alive.
Just because the margaritas take center stage, doesn't mean the food is anything to sneeze at. Â We devoured the tasty chili queso dip and the salsa was excellent - REALLY spicy. Â Love. Â It. Â By the time I got to my soft steak tacos, I was pretty full but they were delicious so I couldn't just leave them SITTING there. Â Poor little guys.
I like this place. Â It is everything a good Mexican joint should be. Â I can see myself stopping by after work and definitely again if someone is in need of a birth-rita. Â Feliz cupleanos!
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