We went there on an impromptu date night for dinner and we're blown away by their stellar savory moles and drinks. The friendly staff got us seated and serviced right away despite us stumbling into the wrong entrance (we went to their take out counter initially, oops!). For starters my husband chose chips and guacamole. The tortilla chips were warm, very thin (we prefer it that way!) and super crunchy! They were so crunchy that they keep breaking into smaller pieces whenever I tried using them to scoop out the guacamole. I also enjoyed the freshly prepared guacamole; I kept trying to dab the remainder guacamole with my fingers and just could not get enough! Both salsa Rona and salsa verde were very yummy too. We each ordered a cocktail as well. My husband had the Lila cocktail and I ordered the cucumber drink (the name escapes me right now as I write). Excellent straightforward drinks with a good balance of tart and sweet. The star of the show was definitely the mole sauce that came with our dinner entrees; for me I had the chile relleno and for my husband the enmoladas. I have to say hands down this was the best mole I've ever tasted, even better than what we had in Mexico. The mole sauce was complex, smoky, sweet, and savory... and it went well with everything. I also liked that they had egg washed my poblano Chile before frying it. I love eggs in just about any dish. My husband finished his enmolada enchilada before I could even ask for a second bite haha! I couldn't finish my entire plate and brought home the leftover black beans. So delicious. This place is wins 5 stars from me! read more

Agave Uptown - Chile Relleno - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Excellent! Food, drinks, service were all top notch. Started with the chips, salsa & guacamole. Had the Molcajete. Finished with the rose petal ice cream. I had 2 different Mezcal margaritas and they were both yummy and different than you get anywhere else. The presentation of everything is beautiful. read more

Agave Uptown - Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Very great location! Nice indoor with a lot of art! The place was clean and great ambiance.... We were seated next to a crying child and they stated it was okay to move. Recommend making a reservation, as it does seem very very busy. The food was delicious and art! But would have been nice to be told we could exchange beans for a side salad... that's only upon request, I guess. Was delicious anyhow! The tequila choices range from B-A grade Mexico made! Was a nice selection and ours was great!!! The food arrived before our drinks... um, awkward! Least they gave us water immediately! Service in general was slow... also the bill had to be adjusted for an item on there that we didn't eat or order. Took away a star for that. The restrooms were clean. Street parking and a paid parking lot about a block away. They claim bike parking, but there really isn't any... we rode there and chained ours together. read more

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This place was actually really good! We came in here on a whim and I'm glad we did! Cynthia was our waitress and she was so sweet! She knew the menu inside and out and recommended a few great entrees and deserts to us! Those guacamole was the best I've had since living in Oakland. Very flavorful and the taste took me back to SoCal! I will come back even if it's just for the guacamole. They also have rose ice cream and it's light and perfectly refreshing for summer! Ask for Cynthia when you come and she will take good care of you! read more

Agave Uptown - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

A gastronomic gem of Oakland, Agave Uptown was the perfect place for a work lunch. The citrus infused water lets you know that this place pays attention to detail. I got a mango cocktail that was really refreshing. For my lunch I ordered the coastal bowl with sea bass. The sea bass was perfectly cooked, tender, flaky, and the chef did not overpower the dish with salt. The natural flavors of the seasonal vegetables and the sea bass itself shined. And that is truly what is so great about the food here: flavor comes from the complex combination of ingredients and not from salt or spices masking the ingredients. The quality of food here is top-notch, complemented with attentive, friendly service, set with comforting, rustic ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

Negatives: *Host person didn't know that 2 of our party of 4 had already been seated, we saw each other across the room and finally sat at ONE table. *VERY NOISY *table was STICKY! We used our napkins as a small tablecloth and our waiter didn't notice, didn't ask. When we asked for napkins he brought us PAPER cocktail napkins. * our food took 35 minutes to come out of the kitchen * our bill came with the extra 2 beers we'd ordered 15 minutes prior so we had to request that the beers be delivered or struck from our bill * everyone there (on this Saturday night) was going to the Paramount Theater show at 8pm (probably EVERY Saturday night for that matter) why would you serve food to patrons at 7.25 leaving them 15 minutes (max!) to enjoy a rather over-priced meal? * food was light and well prepared but lacked interest (bland, soulless, unfocused) * menu could include more info such as "how many" enchiladas are going to be on my plate (it was 2 and they were rather small) * waitstaff decided it was permissible to throw silverware into buckets loudy less than 4 feet away from our table. Come on, at these prices you should KNOW BETTER. there were NO POSITIVES - clearly this place knows they're popular (location) but they really didn't seem to be making ANY kind of effort. Overall: BAD VALUE read more

We just hosted a dinner with 16 family members after the Oakland Symphony concert and although the restaurant was full the food and the service were both outstanding. Our waiter was very attentive and patient with our big group - very impressive!! read more

Food is amazing. Garson made the experience great with great customer service and very attentive to our needs. He also gave great recommendations. Thanks for a great experience me & my colleagues will be back read more

Agave Uptown - Ceviche (delicious) - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

The service from Isaac was phenomenal! the vibe was light, fun, warm & friendly. The food was even better. Definitely recommend the green chicken enchiladas. Isaac did a great job at educating us on the many types of tequilas and mezcal. 10/10 experience. Check them out!! read more

Oakland needs this . Gourmet, fancy and welcoming... Arturo, Brandon Beto, treat you like family! We cheer for you all!!!!

Restaurant with nice ambiance and decor. The pizza type entree I got was lacking in flavor - I thought the spinach was a bit random and it overall tasted too healthy. My friends enjoyed the items they got though - fish tacos and the mix bowl were good. The chips were okay, I wouldhv preferred thick restaurant style chips and the salsa and guac were a bit bland as well. read more

Agave Uptown - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Yesss I finally get to take this one off my bookmarks I finally made it here!! Came here for dinner with the girls A little pre game for Thanksgiving and to kick off my birthday MONTH lol Venue is clean Customer service is EXCEPTIONAL!!! Waiters and staff kept checking on us throughout our entire dinner Food was good I really enjoyed the Molcajete I ordered very tasty Drinks are good also There is a full bar , outdoor seating with heating lamps and a live DJ to set the vibe The venue is nicely decorated paying homage to the roots I super appreciated that I will definitely be coming back ONLY drawback is there is not a private parking lot My car was broken into while I was having dinner I blame the City of Oakland not this business Next time I'm taking an Uber or a Lyft so I don't have to worry about that ........ and there was some vagrants around the business asking for money and food while we were eating (outdoor) read more

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Went here for work lunch and it was even better than I had heard. I had the carnitas and my coworker had the enchiladas. They were both delicious. I asked our server if i could get some red sauce with my dish and they brought us chips and three different sauces. All tasted house made and have great flavors. The experience was wonderful and the staff was very friendly and attentive. They offered both inside and patio dining. I would definitely recommend giving them a try if you're in uptown Oakland. read more

Agave Uptown - Chicken Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Great service and amazing food. Our server was attentive and had a great sense of humor. Every dish my friend and I ate was scrumptious. We had three desserts (yes we did) and they were all tasty. read more

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Scouted this out as we wanted to be close to the Fox Theatre. Nice atmosphere. Good service. Delicious food and GREAT value. House Margarita was $10 and my Pork entree was $16. Highly recommended. read more

Agave Uptown - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Enjoy my evening after a meeting for a new job ,walking around and I end at @agaveuptown , the fine Mexican food , where I sang with a cumbia band a few years a go , I had a margarita with tequila,very refreshing, I tasted and liked the good smoky slippery mezcal , by way I love the " jicaritas " where they serve it , and also Unexpected I had the best vegan today ,hongos & mole ,with a taste salsa picante ( que me lleve para mi casa in a little container) and edible flower, I highly recommend it for vegans and vegetarians!!! Also they have a beautiful space for private parties and meeting that you can rent , go the check and take you friends to enjoy and taste they colorful cocteles and drinks where the costumer service is very welcome until you leave !!! read more

This was a great spot for lunch in Oakland. Friendly staff and delicious food. The mole was rich and flavourful and they have a variety of daily agua frescas to choose from. You can even buy the mole in a jar to go! read more

Agave Uptown - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Agave Uptown has decent mexican style food. Located in the uptown neighborhood of Oakland, Agave Uptown has a great ambiance and vibe with yellow dim lights, string lights and tall outdoor heaters, as well as Mexican inspired decor. When I went it was evening time and the outdoor seating was quite small and there was no heating which was tough, especially since it was an incredibly windy night. That being said, the food was unique and delicious so it made up for the not-so-great outdoor seating. For the food I got the: - Ceviche (4.5/5): The ceviche is fabulous with just the right amount of citrus and fresh fish mixed in with avocado, tomatoes and lemon zest. The chips however lacked flavor and were stale. - Chile relleno (3.5/5): The Chile itself was coated in a thick batter that was flakey and butter and the mole that coated it was delicious, spicy and had hints of dark chocolate which was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately however, the black beans on the side were bland and not well seasoned and half of the rice was burnt/overcooked and rock solid. - Unlimited chips (3/5): The chips although good were nothing special and lacked salt, and the dipping sides tasted like store bought salsa with nothing special and all very mild and of similar taste. read more

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Food was great! Everything tasted so fresh! Service was also great and we didn't have a long wait time on a Friday night! The ceviche was sooo good! read more

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I was not disappointed at all! Amazing food great environment and experience! The drinks are well made!!! I dined here on Nov 3rd as a pre birthday treat to myself. The waiter was so kind and very knowledgeable about their food selections!! The prices are good. I will say I'm not a fan of parking. Not too many options but they are ride share friendly! read more

Agave Uptown - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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The service has gone down hill with the new manager; it's my first time back in over a year, so not sure how long he's been in charge but the difference shows. He is incompetent and anti-black. First, he messed up the appetizer order. Then, he brings me a drink with a bug in it. When I notice it, instead of offering me a new drink, he insists that it is thyme... it wasn't. He knew they had gnats flying around the restaurant. He is an absolute asshole for that. Also, unprompted, he harassed our table, blatantly racist enough that a Black woman at another table objected. I'm giving two stars, instead of one, because the other servers were great. And this was once a good restaurant. The manager needs to be dealt with. read more

Agave is a nice place to enjoy a casual work lunch or lunch with friends. It has bright and lively decor, and a nice outdoor patio for days that call for al fresco dining. I highly recommend their carnitas burrito and any of their taco platters. The servings aren't as big as you're used to getting at Mexican restaurants, but you'll find yourself with leftovers depending on how hungry you are. Service has always been top notch; waitstaff is super friendly and on top of any requests. read more

The guac, salsa, & chips are v yummy! Sofía deserves all the flowers!! So sweet & helpful! We also got the churro w tequila flavored ice cream ! So yummy! The strawberry margarita is also worth trying! Love this place! The staff & food are definitely worth it! read more

Agave Uptown - Guacamole with Chips & Churros - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Drinks were amazing but the food was decent to okay. Imagine paying 20 plus on two enchiladas that's so small. At this price point you don't get much food and it's not worth it. I've had better mole enchiladas at other restaurants at a cheaper price. Vibes were nice though. read more

This was my first time going to this restaurant, even though I work and live nearby. This place did not disappoint from the ambience to the service and the food, Definitely a 10 out of 10. We had a large party and the staff was super helpful and explaining the menu and recommending amazing food. Their guacamole was so good! The chicken mole was so flavorful and on top of that they make their own tortillas in house. If you're looking for a place that has good vibes and good food. This is definitely it. read more

Agave Uptown - Mole Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I've had the pleasure of dining at Agave Uptown a few times now, and finally had to leave a review of yet another stellar experience! Agave Uptown serves up dedicatedly Oaxacan cuisine, in the best way possible. Everything is elevated, cooked perfectly and matched with craft cocktails featuring multiple agave spirits. The service is great, the recommendations are great, and the cocktails are even better! If you're a fan of Mezcal, Sotol, Tequilia, and even Pulque, you'll be pleasantly surprised to see these spirits available on the menu. Some previous reviews mention mediocre experiences, but likely aren't fully aware of what is even being served. As someone who is a repeat customer: Come for the mole, stay for the dessert, and be sure to finish with one of the bartender's offerings! read more

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We traveled in for business. The food was excellent. The waiter, Brandon, provided excellent service as well. He recommended menu and drink items and told us how the restaurant was family owned and how the menu items represented true Oaxacan Mexican recipes. We were all very well pleased and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting downtown Oakland. It was truly a magnificent experience to dine here. read more

I had the sea bass and shrimp tacos and they were really good. The chili relleno was super good. Loved the mole. Chips and salsa were right and I recommend the guacamole too. I salted everything to really bring out the flavor of everything and that made a big difference. My black beans were barely warm so that wasn't great. Service was ok. I came on a slow Wednesday night. I bet this place is hopping on Friday nights if they can keep up the pace of service as it's got a decent Mexican vibe. read more

You can order pitchers of their drinks! Just need to ask- we had the Ardiente Margarita which served about 4-5 glasses. Any drink should be good there, they do alot of infusions and I would come back and try a drink with mezcal since that's more on brand for a Oaxacan restaurant. Server was very good at giving suggestions and came often to check on us. Brought a spicy chile to the table that he thought we would like and it didn't disappoint. Ordered the sea bass ceviche for an appetizer which was super tasty and the perfect tang. And the chips that came with it were light and not filling which left plenty of room to eat our main entrees. We had: seafood molcajete (the best dish), Coastal Bowl, Tasajo, and Carnitas. Each came with home made corn tortillas and damn that really elevated the food. Had to ask for a second round of tortillas because we ate them so fast and still had plenty of food left over to scoop up into tacos. Worth the try if you're in the area and want an elevated Mexican food experience, especially if you've never had food from Oaxaca before. read more

The food was super good they attend me so fast and brought my food fast and hot There flan of coffee is super good. read more

Agave Uptown - I added this picture of a Flan De Cafe 10/10 I recommend it I love, it the texture is smooth, love how they detail the plate. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Agave Uptown is a very popular downtown eatery slinging Oaxaca classics and mexican cocktails. it's usually very busy. not so during the pandemic. patio dining wasn't busy either. offerings: botanas, salads, especialidades, tacos, beverages, bowls, burritos eats: ceviche (16): sea bass, onion, tomato, cilantro, avocado, lime -much better than their peruvian namesake. nothing special to redo. enmoladas (17) 2 rolled tortillas filled with chicken covered with mole. tortillas wasn't easy to cut even with a knife, chicken moist, otherwise bland. mole was the hit of show. sweet with a heavy prescene of ?. -rice fresh, beans had a pleasant flavor and texture. -red & green salsa very flavorful. chips addictive when warm, had a pasty aftertaste when at room temperature. 3.5 stars read more

Agave Uptown - Ceviche(16)sea bass - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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** The following review reflects my delivery experience DURING the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. ** This was a nice surprise and a definite add to my rotating delivery list during this seemingly eternal pandemic. I didn't get a chance to visit the actual restaurant in Uptown where they've been thriving in what sounds like an expansive space for the last four years. I look forward to going there when we get the all-clear sign, but in the meantime, I took advantage of the delivery via Caviar as I rarely get a chance to partake in Oaxacan food. I took a trip down there years ago when I indulged in local delicacies like chocolate moles and tlayudas. Oaxacan dishes have since become commonplace on food & travel shows. Clearly chef Octavio Diaz knows what he's doing with his menu, and fortunately he had plenty of healthy, fresh-tasting options. Jamie W. and I ordered a salad each. The first was the refreshing $16 Oaxacan Salad which put together butter lettuce, avocado, mango, sliced almonds, radish, amaranto seeds, and plenty of grilled chicken with a passion fruit-mezcal vinaigrette on the side (photo: https://bit.ly/2YQBoj5). The second was the heartier $16 Farmers Market Salad. This one featured baby spinach, black beans, radish, avocado, grilled onions, grilled corn, and cilantro with a smokier chipotle dressing (photo: https://bit.ly/2YUXotb). Both were quite satisfying with a California twist. For all the healthiness of the salads, the highlight was the $15 trio of Wild Mushroom Tacos with shredded cabbage, queso fresco, mole and avocado (photo). The meatiness of the portobello mushrooms contrasted nicely with the crunch of the cabbage and the handmade corn tortillas (photo: https://bit.ly/3gfGBGT). Simple ingredients but put together really well to boost the flavor quotient and give a palpable taste of Oaxaca. FOOD - 4 stars...fresh salads with a standout mushroom taco AMBIANCE - n/a...I only know them from their delivery SERVICE - 4 stars...top drawer preparation and packaging TOTAL - 4 stars...welcome to Oaxaca, amigo RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ read more

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Great food and very friendly staff,their tlayudas are sooo good I recommend mixta they ad tasajo,chorizo and cesina ,their agauas frescas are with natural fruit very delicious, we had a great experience read more

Stopped in to grab a bite before going to a show across the street. Hostess was very nice. We didn't have reservations but was offered to sit at the bar or outside. We sat at the bar ordered Cadillac margaritas and chips and salsa. I had 2 tacos with rice and black beans. Over all the place was very nice and lively. The young female bartender was very pleasant checking in on us. I would go back. read more

Agave Uptown - 2 tacos plate with rice and black beans - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went here for a staff farewell tonight. We've gone here lots of times for work functions. My first time back since Covid. Everything on the menu is still great, the service is beyond great (thank you!), great location, great everything, easy to make reservations on the website or by email. Love this place. read more

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In downtown Oakland Agave is such a great idea. Their Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails are refreshing, delicious and tipsy fun. We went on a Sunday early dinner. Happy hour all day they had already run out of the chicken wings even though it was early. Chips and salsa are free on Sundays. The place was not full at that hour and yet the service was really slow. Slow to meet and greet us as well as drink orders and such. We started with the ceviche tostadas that were excellent! The tlayuda veggie version was amazing and crunchy and full of flavor. Then we got the sopes with frijoles negros which took me back to Mexico cenadurias when I lived there. And to finish we had the molcajete that came sizzling, its was a show stopper. We made varios tacos from it with chicken, beef and some shrimp. My tequila drink was amazing. The micheladas come with a shot of mezcal. Win in my book. We barely made it to dessert. Which was the perfect ending with churros and icecream. My only suggestion faster service. Great prices, friendly faces. read more

The food is delicious, when you can actually get someone to take your order. The first time we came (a Saturday early evening), we enjoyed the ceviche, fish tacos, and their mole special; service for outside dining was decent and they respected that we only had 45 minutes to eat before we had to be back at the nearby theatre to perform. The second visit, tonight (a Sunday), post-concert around 7 pm, they seated us, brought out the heater, and then ... crickets. (Nope, not the chapulines we wanted to ask about.) No water ever appeared. The person who brought us our menus vanished. And dammit, Agave, your pulpo special tonight sounded really good, but it's hard to order it when nobody will take your order. The people seated by the window looking at us out on the patio were treated to our vain attempts to flag down somebody, anybody, but none of their attempts to redirect waitstaff attention succeeded, and we walked away after close to 20 minutes of this. Downtown Oakland, we want to support you, and especially the places that still actually have outdoor dining, but apparently the odds over you getting service if you're continuing to be COVID cautious are a coin flip. read more

The food at this restaurant is consistently good. My friend likes to come for the mole which she says is exceptional. I am not a big fan of mole, but it's pretty good. I had the fish tacos and they were delicious. The guacamole, salsa and chips are good too. The service was big as good the last time that we visited this restaurant. read more

Start to finish it was fantastic! The mushroom tacos were ridiculously good with so much stuff, and the moletes were huge...could've made a meal out of just those! Staff was attentive and prices were more than reasonable. Definitely on my East Bay go to list! read more

Agave Uptown - Large order of Moletes - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was delicious and tasted fresh. Cocktails were great! And parking was in the deck and validated. :) read more