The best way to judge a restaurant sometimes is how they react when things don't go to plan. Ordered online and when I got there they said that they didn't have my order ready: issue with the Internet . Unfazed: my order was re-taken and my food was made quickly and my attempt to pay was refused. Good recovery Good experience Thank you read more

Came here for lunch on a Friday. Parked right in front for free. Classic Mexican restaurant decor. Clean. Friendly and attentive server. Had the agave street tacos and they were delicious...sweet pulled pork in a soft taco with a layer of cheese under the first taco and then another soft taco sandwiched on the first taco. Topped with cabbage. I chose sour cream on top of all of that. Comes with rice mixed with some corn. And comes with beans. Big portions. In the end I asked for a coffee and they gave me a personal french press carafe...surprising offering for a Mexican place but it was great! Could use a few more nonalcoholic beer options. Affordable. Go there! read more

Came in for a happy hour on a Friday. Was seated quickly and the server was very quick and knowledgable. Drinks were well made and the happy hour menu was well rounded for a happy hour. Food was quick and delicious. read more

Tried the chicken adobo burrito and the agave street tacos. The music was so upbeat and happy and they were playing Selena Quintanilla when we came in. We loved the crunchy chips and salsa they bring to the table & would be back in a heart beat. Our service was excellent and chipper and we didn't feel rushed but felt attended to! Street parking can be a little challenging but there are ample lots nearby. Thank you so much :) read more

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Fun dinner before Theaterworks. We all enjoyed the guacamole before our entrees. We each tried something different .. street tacos, tacos Alhambra , steak fajita salad and fish tacos. Perhaps the food could be spicier , but still fresh and tasty. The only disappointment was my salad was late and everyone was 1/2 done eating . Our waitress brought churros to compensate. read more

Agave Grill - Steak Fajitas salad - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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After seeing "Mark Twain Tonight" at TheaterWorks, a fabulous show with Richard Thomas, we were hungry and found our way to this lovely Mexican Cantina (OK, Grill). The service was swift and friendly, with salsa and chips landing seconds after we were seated. A nice selection of beverages complimented a variety of my favorite Mexican dishes. My son wolfed a Quesadilla, spouse loved the Fish Tacos, and the BBQ pulled pork Enchilladas were beyond delicious. The music was great, not too loud, and the decor very Cantinesque. I only wish it was closer to home! Gracias for a great meal! read more

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Went to agave for the second time last week . Good food , close to everything in Hartford so perfect place to grab some Mexican food . Hostess was great , making sure I had everything I needed . I had to get the margarita which was delicious while snaking on my chips and salsa ( which I ate in its entirety) and then ordered off their happy hour menu . the chicken and beef tacos were delicious ( highly recommend) , as well as the empanadas, mango glazed chicken skewers ( highly recommended as well ) Needless to say I will be back read more

Agave Grill - Mango margarita with chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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This is a pretty good option to get a meal and drinks before going to an event at the XL Center across the street! My husband and I came here before the hockey game this weekend and enjoyed our experience. The service is really great! Our server was very nice and attentive, even the table next to us was raving about it. She made sure to check in with us throughout our visit. Our drinks were yummy-- we ordered the red sangria and mango margarita de la casa. The food was tasty, but honestly not my favorite Mexican food. As someone from San Diego, California, I can be hard to impress when it comes to Mexican food. The street tacos were a hard concept for me- bbq pulled pork in a taco just had too many mixed vibes for me, but I wanted to try them because they were a popular item. My husband really enjoyed them. Ultimately, we had a good experience and I would definitely return to try some other drinks and dishes! read more

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Great service and great drinks! Atmosphere was perfect and the wait staff were so nice!!

Great staff. Izzy and Mariah the bartenders were fantastic. Food was great and friendly staff

I came to pick up my To Go order at 10:55PM and was greeted with "Just so you know we close in 5 minutes". The attitude changed after I told them why I was there. Bad service. read more

Delicious! I came here on a Saturday night with friends. We were seated right away and received great service. I got the fish tacos which were very good, albeit hard to eat. My friends and I shared the mango margarita which was delightful. read more

Agave Grill - Margaritas & complimentary chips - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Came for a large work group lunch last week and was really impressed with the food. For a group of 10 of us our server was very attentive to everything. We started with guacamole for the table and it was very good, salsa was tasty too. Everyone enjoyed their food. Fun atmosphere right in the heart of Hartford. I had not been here in 15 or so years and I don't know why. I will definitely return soon. read more

Agave Grill - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Nice and close to the Doubletree so we walked. Enjoyed the food and service. They let us sit in the bar to be able to watch the game.

Agave Grill was pretty good, though not the best Mexican I've ever had. The guacamole was really good, and the margarita (not pictured) hit the spot. What really stood out was the service, everyone was so friendly and on top of things. While the food didn't completely wow me, the great vibes and those drinks make it worth a visit! read more

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Agave is one of my favorite bars in Hartford! There are so many things to love. First, I love their happy hour specials (both food and drinks). Second, I love their Sangriarita and any flavored margaritas! They will even let you mix flavors, I recommend mixing mango and guava! Third, I love their chicken chimichanga, it's my go to meal every time. Fourth is their endless chips and salsa. Fifth, it's a great restaurant or bar to go to before or after any event at the XL Center. Sixth, I enjoy their decor, it has a great welcoming atmosphere, including fun music. Last but not least, they love any excuse to celebrate. They will have drink specials for days such as national tequila day which are always fun to attend. Check this place out for yourself! read more

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We haven't been to Agave since before COVID. We were going to a play and decided to go to dinner in downtown Hartford. We recently ate at Salute, and thought we'd try something different. Agave is as cute little place behind the XL Center. It has a casual, pub-like feel. They serve salsa and chips to everyone. My wife and I split a salad, enchiladas, and a veggie burrito. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The salad was full of Southwest ingredients, chopped up and tossed in a lite lime vinaigrette dress. It was a decent size. We took some home before we filled up on it. The burrito and enchiladas were good. The veggies looked and tasted nice. They both came with rice and beans. We didn't have drinks, and our bill was less than $50, so it doesn't break the bank. The place had empty tables on a Saturday before a game and with at least one play showing. More people should try it. It is worth the visit. read more

Agave Grill - El Fregadero Salad (partially eaten) - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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We stopped in to get a quick bite before setting a show. We sat in the bar area and were quickly taken cared of. I ordered the steak quesadillas and my girlfriend ordered the chorizo taco served with rice and beans. The steak quesadilla was really good and tasty. My girlfriend enjoyed her taco. It was quick and good. read more

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This might be my first ever review, but I had to do it because this food was BANGING. DoorDashed guac, calamari, and a quesadilla, and each item was more amazing than the last. I've had lots of Mexican in lots of cities, and Hartford wins. Go figure. read more

Good tacos, good chips, a bit pricey but to be expected so close to the XL Center. Didn't have any alcohol so can't speak to that.

Food was tasty and quick to come out. Good variety, keep in mind the Sunday taco special is only for dine in at bar not to go or other orders! read more

My wife and I had dinner here tonight for the first time. The food was good, but the service could have been better. A few things stood out: When we arrived, there were two other groups waiting, but no one was at the front to greet guests. A staff member came to the register to put in an order but didn't acknowledge anyone waiting--just carried on with their task. I understand that it was busy, but it only takes a moment to greet guests, inform them of the wait time, or at least say, "Welcome! Someone will be with you shortly. We apologize for the wait." After about five minutes, someone who seemed to be the manager finally came over and let us know the wait would be 20-30 minutes, which was reasonable given how busy it was. However, they then disappeared for the next 20 minutes, even as three or four tables emptied. No one was clearing tables except for one staff member, who was also the only one acknowledging waiting guests whenever stopping by the register. I wish I had gotten their name. From my own past experience as a server, you never go back to the kitchen empty-handed. So I was a bit puzzled to see some staff walking past dirty tables without picking anything up. That said, this doesn't take away from the effort the staff was putting in. It was clear they were busy, but better management and training would go a long way in improving the overall experience. Overall, as first-time guests, the food made a good impression, but the service could definitely be improved. read more

Cook to order! Can't say enough about their guac or yuca fries!! Highly recommend. Friendly service! Great vibes.

Only getting 2 stars because the food was decent. Margs were about a 3/10. Service couldn't have been much worse. Possibly short staffed but I'm a very reasonable person who's worked in the service industry so that's no excuse for me. The only server/hostess/bartender "greeted us" at the door and asked if we wanted high top, low top or seated at the bar. We told her we didn't care, whatever is easier for her. She then says "I hate it when people say that." So we laughed it off and picked a high top. Took a while for her to take our order but eventually got that taken care of. Food came as did 1 water refill. Margs weren't great so I ordered a beer and my partner ordered another water. Never got either. Waited about 10/15 minutes and heard her chatting with people at the bar the whole time. So we asked for our check and left. read more

Amazing place in Hartford Downtown, next to the Hartford Tavern. Got to try the tacos. Service was very attentive and friendly, our waiter had a lot of knowledge on the dishes and gave some good recommendations. We had our family and we tried 1.Taquitos 2. Chicken Adobo Burrito 3. Agave street tacos 4. Crispy fish tacos 5. Shrimp tacos and 6. Churros for desert. Everything was great and delicious. Portions were huge for the price. Highly recommend the street tacos and the crispy fish tacos. The place has a bar and is a slightly smaller place compared to other Mexican restaurants in the area. But for the location it is of a decent size. Highly recommend if you are in the mood for Mexican food. read more

What a bummer to have to write this update. Let me start by saying the service was excellent and the place was extremely clean! We ordered a pitcher of margaritas for the table which were just okay. We also ordered street corn for the table which was also, just okay. It looked pretty but was cold and lacked any flavor. My entree was 2 hard shell, beef tacos with rice and refried beans. My rice and beans were cold, my taco shells turned mushy in minutes. The flavor of the tacos was good, but not like it used to be. I was disappointed to have to eat my tacos with a fork instead of my hands. Sorry, Agave. Although food was flying out of the kitchen to keep up with the busy, busy restaurant, I just wish it tasted better. read more

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Ate here a few nights ago while I was staying overnight in Hartford for a roadtrip. I wasn't looking for much, but Agave Grill knocked it out of the park! The place is cozy, service was great (Ty was my waiter and he was great), and the food was really good. I got a vegetable quesadilla, it was delicious! Can't speak to if or not the prices are high for the area, I'm from D.C. area and prices were on par with what I'm used to. Will be coming again if I'm in Hartford! read more

Went on a Friday around 9er. Got a flight of that Julio it was coolio . The guac was hittin like the opposite of missin. They had a DJ too, I think it was house music night don't quite me tho, all I really remember was that guacamole and there was some talent at the bar, I left it alone tho due to situational awareness. read more

Rainy Thursday night in April. In town for a Conference and Agave Grill was near my hotel. After several nights of dining with colleagues, I was solo tonight. My server Veronica was great and seated me promptly at dinner time. Complementary chips and salsa appeared and were great. I ordered a traditional Margarita and taquitos as an appetizer. Veronica delivered the apps and I asked her suggestions for my entree. I landed on the Tacos Alambres- from the specialty menu (see pic). It's a taco with chicken, beef , bacon AND avocado. Everything was delicious. I wish this restaurant was in my hometown. I'd be here a few times a week. read more

Agave Grill - Tacos Alambres - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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I genuinely don't know where to start! I was so hopeful as Ive been told Agave used to be the SPOT. My husband and I dined in last week and it was truly not fun....like at all. Im only writing a review because Ive not only managed a few restaurants, know how front of house needs to flow BUT I was mostly just disappointed with the overall experience. Story is below. My disappointment isn't necessarily the intoxicated woman it was the management that absolutely sucks. After working in the industry for 13 years Im dumbfounded on how lacking the service industry has become. Positives : The music was good, our waitress was a sweetheart & the drinks were strong. Negative: Upon being sat at our table, it was obvious one of the ladies next to us was very intoxicated. (We dont know her) She was passed out on the table while her friend was trying to figure out how to get her home. While her friend walked to her car, my husband and I agreed to essentially babysit homegirl. I asked our waitress to get her some limes and water to try to get her hydrated. The table on the other side of us was also requesting some hydration for the girl. When her friend came back, we had to slide our table over so her friend could help her up. As I stood up to get out of the way I then noticed the giant paper bag of vomit and vomit on the seat and on the floor. While my husband being the gentleman he is helped walk the girls to their car, I approached a man and asked if he was the manager. (The short guy with the agave tattoos) He said yes and continued to aggressively tell me that I needed to get the F out and take her with me. I told him I did not know those women and also requested to move tables because....the PUKE on the bench and on the floor a foot away from me! He proceeded to walk past me and tell me NO. He said there was no seating available and I needed to deal with it. There were 4 open tables waiting for reservations. He could have easily accommodated us. Instead he proceeded to scream at the intoxicated lady and her friend in front of the whole venue. He yelled "You've been here for three hours you shouldn't be that drunk"....sir... have you not trained your staff when to cut people off?? Yes sis is in the wrong for drinking like that but that is NOT how you handle these situations. Luckily I asked another waitress and she seated us elsewhere. MEANWHILE the short manager guy with the agave tattoos thought it was more appropriate to hop onto the DJ table rather than offer apologies, comps or ANYTHING to his patrons. COOL BRO. To top that off the "shaved street corn" was literally soggy canned corn and the food had no flavor. The floors were disgusting and there was no sweeping in between seatings. Absolutely horrible management & a poor representation of one of Hartfords fav spots and yall are lucky to have the staff you do! If you're looking for proper management, let me know. Absolutely don't recommend. read more

Agave Grill - Gross floors (this table got sat two min after I took the pic) - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

We stopped in here before going to a show this past Saturday. Had been here a very long time ago and was really looking forward to it and the Table side Guacamole. My 2 star rating was not as much a reflection on the food as much as the service. We were greeted nicely by the waitress and started our experience. We ordered a large Margarita on the rock with Salt, a Dos Equis Amber on tap and a Tequila with Lemon on the rocks. There was no Tequila menu and the server could not tell me what Reposodo was available and offered me a Casamigo (overpriced in my world) but I accepted it. The Margarita and the Tequila with a lime and a lemon showed up but no beer. The Margarita was rimmed with sugar not salt and had to send it back.The bar was busy we were told. . We ordered table side Guacamole the next thing we know the heavy pestle showed up with the guacamole already made and it was cold from the fridge. It was presented with a giant wooden spoon and no chips. The tomatoes were left on top for us to mix in. Not what I was expecting. Table side side Guacamole is supposed to have the fresh Guacamole ground in fresh in front of you. There was a lack of any Cilantro or Garlic which is what makes Guacamole special. Then the server shows up and puts a bottle of Dos Equis lager in front of me. As she walked away I told her that was not what I ordered. She told me that they were out of Amber on draft so that is what she gave me. I needed to ask for a glass. I don't understand why if what I wanted was no longer available I was not asked what I would like in its place. I would have ordered a Negro Modelo. I don't know if she ever considered offering me anything else! The Tacos were pretty good as was the rice and beans. even though the barbecue pork tasted more like Liquid Smoke than real smoke. Only an assumption on my part. The ambience is nice so maybe you will have better luck than me. Service like that will keep me out of there next time. read more

Agave is one of Hartford's long standing restaurants. Nessled behind the XL center, Agave has been a downtown standard for Mexican food. Although I work in the Hartford area it is not one of the places I frequent but after a recent event I headed over with a group of girlfriends for lunch. Although not crowded on the Saturday we visited, they were dihng a steady business. Tabkesid le chips and salsa awaited us as we sat down to pursue the expansive menu. I later learned they serve a weekend brunch but our waiter never informed us.. Boo With so many choices we decided on tableside guacamole while we narrowed down the menu. I loved that they allowed their tacos to be served a la carte, but they which is a great way to try a little bit of everything. I ordered a El pastor (on special) and Tuna taco with a side of rice. I also asked for some queso fresco to be added to my tacos and for the sauce to be left on the side. I received all of that when my order arrived BUT honestly although they tasted great, the meal left me wanting more because the amount of filling in each taco was lacking. I felt I could have combined both tacos into one. AND They charged me extra ($1) for the small amount of queso fresco they gave me on the side. read more

Agave Grill - Tablesife guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Pretty good place for appetizers and drinks. The drinks were strong so prepare accordingly. I got the guava sparkler and was very pleased. I was however disappointed in the beef in my empanadas and beef tacos. Reminded me of Taco Bell meat. My chicken enchilada was meh at best. Rice was decent and the beans were standard. However, the place is very cute and cozy on the inside. Staff was ok. We asked for extra salsa and did not get it but she was very friendly and patient with us constantly taking pictures and recording. It's in a great location near the XL center and Russian Lady night club. read more

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Came here with my friend after an event we had in Hartford and overall we had a pretty good experience, food wise. Our waitress, on the other hand, was a different matter. My friend ordered the largest margarita and the waitress was incredibly judgemental. I get wanting people to drink responsibly, but theres a way to get that across in a tactful manner. Side note, I was dding, so it was really uncalled for. Also, we were there for quite a number of hours. On top of that, we ordered the table side guac which was not made in front of us. Everyone else who came in had theirs made in front of them, because we watched. But our judgy rude waitress clearly just didn't like us and didn't. Now, food wise, there's a reason they have the best tacos in Hartford because the food was excellent. The street corn was very flavorful, the chips were perfect, and my flautas were really tasty. The guac though was bland so we had to add Tapatio to it. Maybe if it had been made in front of us we would have been able to ask for more flavor. My berry marg was a delight, and I recommend getting it with a sugar rim. Will most likely come back if In the area but I will ask for a different server for sure if I get the one we'd had again. read more

Cute happy hour and good vibes. The bartender on Tuesday night was happy to accommodate and made a solo dining experience lovely. The empanadas were fresh and this place has great variety for everyone. read more

Very vegetarian friendly Mexican restaurant. We ordered the spinach quesadilla and the taco/enchilada combo plate. The latter came with rice & beans, all vegetarian. There were lots of thing to choose from. The atmosphere was pub-comfortable and the staff were friendly and attentive. They have flights of tequila. We didn't try them today, but will next time. read more

Agave Grill - Grilled Portobello and Spinach Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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I planned a dinner event for a corporate sales meeting of 41 people. It was spectacular! Agave has a nice private room for catered events that was just perfect. My expectations were exceeded in every way! The food was delicious, amazing, soooo good. We had a buffet style set up and it was perfect for our event. Every detail was thought about and taken care of and again the food was simply amazing. It was hot, flavorful and perfectly timed. The service was great. The waitstaff hustled to ensure our sales team had endless beverages to take advantage of the bar service included. They did a great job in what could have been an intimidating environment because our group was up and mingling and moving around. Do not hesitate to plan your event at Agave. They did a superb job. We will definitely try to plan other events here in the future. If you are considering normal dining, do that too! The food was amazing!! You will not be disappointed! I'll be grabbing the girls and heading for lunch soon! read more

I would give 10/5 just for their attention and service We saw them couple of times while taking a walk in downtown and before it gets too cold wanted to sit and eat outside So on a Monday evening we went for dinner It was not too chilly, good if you are wearing a jacket kind of weather Nice ambience, good seating on the road We ordered: Fish tacos - very good, best in Connecticut, don't know how some people gave reviews that it's all batter and mandarin oranges are old but it was all excellent for us... Chicken adobo tacos- again excellent Caipirinha- this is where I would give them extra credit.. I love caipirinha and the first drink she brought was weird in taste, felt like too much salt.. something wasn't right. But I didn't even tell the staff and few minutes later she brought me another one. Not only that tasted so good but I was bowled over by how they understood the drink wasn't good. Mojito - excellent Superb staff, superb experience, very good tacos... all in all the best place in downtown Hartford for dinner and drinks read more

Agave Grill - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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We stopped in for drinks and apps after a local event. Best fresh made margaritas in area. No mix, made fresh! We had the shrimp cocktail app which was a blend of a crevice and A Mexican shrimp cocktail with diced shrimp, fresh lime, avocado, poblanos, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro in a tomato cocktail sauce. We will be back! read more

Agave Grill - Coctel de Camarones - one of the best items I've ever eaten - Mexican Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

The shrimp tacos are my absolute favs! It's a cute little spot in the downtown area. The waitress I had when I dined in was super sweet.