Agave
805 Hope St, Bristol, RI, 02809
Agave Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bristol for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bristol for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bristol for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
805 Hope St
Bristol, RI, 02809 - Phone (401) 253-1566
- Website https://www.agavebristol.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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Paul L.
Good food. Good drinks. Bartenders are friendly. Awesome view of the water!
(4)Al R.
It was perfectly acceptable food. The service was a bit lackluster (several menu-promised sides and accoutrements were missing upon delivery) but the convenience to the bike path is unbeatable. We stopped here after our full 26 mile bike ride along the neighboring east bay path and this was our final stop. So convenience and Hunger are what gave our otherwise bland food flavor. And an evening fog made the restaurant more romantic than it deserved. These three stars are generous. I'd recommend this place for post-bike drinks instead. It seemed to have an extensive tequila menu!
(3)Seth N.
Terrible service. Got seated pretty quickly and waitress took our order, then it took over an hour to get our food. Nothing extravagant. Two wraps, a salad, and a kids grilled cheese. Over an hour for something I could have made at home in about 15 minutes. Waitress stopped by after about 45 minutes to say it was coming "soon". 25 minutes later it was finally served. Average food after the huge wait - nothing special. First and only visit here.
(1)Steve P.
Went for dinner and it was awesome. The food was great. I had calamari the smokehouse burger. All four of us loved the meals not to mention the atmosphere. Overlooking the bay was unbelievable. We will definitely be back!
(5)Glen W.
Stopped in for dinner this evening for the location/sunset. I was immediately stunned by the prices. Granted, you're paying for the view, a standard idea in the Ocean State. But $12 for for chips? Those are complimentary at many restaurants. We had the chicken fajitas for $15. They were delicious, tasty. The fixins' were skimpy, definitely not enough to fill the warm tortillas. They weren't worth $15. But they were good. You're paying for the water view, keep that in mind. If ambiance is what you're looking for, go for it. Just don't expect too much.
(2)Ellen C.
It really is just okay-- but the perfect margarita and the patio bump it up to A-OK. First off, it's a fine place to take kids because everyone else is loud enough so that they don't mind or notice the squwaks from your table. Also, when I was there a guy started playing miked accoustic guitar and singing near the bar, so that rose the overall volume, too. However, it's not a loud bar type of place. So as far as noise and energy, there's a good balance. The atmosphere's pretty great. Nice decor: a big roomy, open, expansive feeling, as though you were at someone's nice new lake home, and that someone has money, awesome water views, and huge windows facing said water-- and sunset. The outside patio certainly looks awesome, although I've only viewed it jogging by. (I ate here indoors, on a rainy day.) It's embarrassing to trip at that point, as you are oogling the eaters, but everyone looks quite content there. There's a good amount of tables, umbrellas for shade, and only a small, two-lane bike/joggers path in front of the bay. So it really seems a fine place to spend an afternoon with a pitcher of the aformentioned 'perfect margaritas.' (That drink title is both my opinion and the drink name.) The food was very meh. My group ordered crab cakes, which elicited neither oohs nor aahhhs; nachos, which were the normal big glop of ingredients, good at first then a little disgusting; fried plantains, which were just fine; and clam chowder, which was quickly slurped down by the kids. EDIT!-- Now I've tried the cornbread caeser-- great the first time, alright the 2nd, and an amazing vegetairan ceviche with hearts of palm. Freah, bright, and perfect size serving. On my first visit, there was an avocado pit in the nachos. Not too small a thing, an avocado pit, which I guess explains the just-alright food-- not a lot of attention seems to be paid. I mean, an avocado pit is hard to miss, although on that note, at least no one could choke on it. Margaritas and patio, maybe indoor drinks at the bar. That's what I reccomend this place for. Or, a meal with young kids that's not McDonald's or Chili's.
(3)Stephanie R.
Will not return. Nothing incredibly awful happened but just a series of annoying things. First the outside was a mess. Food and napkins from the night before all over the ground outside next to our table. We went for breakfast. Asked for fruit instead of toast. She said ok and never brought either. Charged me for a children's juice (2.25) when the kids meal comes with it. Placed hot coffee holder in front of infant sitting in high chair... And hot food as well. Then went inside to the bathrooms which was disgusting
(1)Joan F.
We've eaten here several times for dinner and for an afternoon drink and appetizer, after riding bikes on the nearby path. They rate highly for great outdoor seating with nice views of the boats and water. Our server has always been very prompt and courteous. We recommend the mussels and the fish and chips.
(4)Britt C.
I'm only giving more than one star here because the service was decent. Two of us came in around 3:30pm and the place was dead. We only came because we were hungry and in the area and figured it seemed ok on the fly. We had plantains for an app and both ordered specials as entrees: chicken marsala and mushroom ravioli. The service was good, but that's to be expected if you're half of the restaurant's population. I had the ravioli, which was so oily the sauce was actually separating as I was eating and ended up looking curdled about two raviolis in. The marsala was definitely not marsala. It was a thick, red sauce to keep it short. The bill was $40... for pasta, terrible pasta. The bartender was our server and we chose to sit at a high top.
(2)G L.
The same owners as Thames Waterside Grill and Bar. The drinks are super expensive, the food is below average and the service is awful! In the summer it will take you 20 minutes to get a drink, two hours to get your food and when the bill comes you will wonder what the hell just happened. Again the only redeeming quality is the view as it is quite nice.
(1)Amber S.
What a terrible experience! So sad to say because my husband and I used to love this place, but if they keep putting out food like they did for our meal that beautiful location they have is going to be worth nada! I have never written a bad review before, and I feel bad doing it, but we both work in the food industry and I would want to know if this was my place. The food was awful...our calamari app was gross, we didn't even eat it... I know I know how can calamari be bad? Trust me. Then neither my husband nor I enjoyed our meals...my salmon was so overcooked I could barely eat it. My husband had the fajitas, and when I tell you he is the least picky eater I know...he said they were pretty darn bad. Honestly how do you mess up fajitas! The service was OK, ill leave it at that. I could go on, but lets just say it was disappointing all around. Hope they step it up.
(1)Gregory P.
One of the most "average" restaurants I've ever been to. The location is absolutely amazing (right off the East Bay Bike Path and with awesome water views) but the food was very bland. I got the chicken fajitas and they were extremely bland. The menu said "spicy peppers" but the peppers were tasteless. My girlfriend got the quesadilla's and said they were bland too. The chips and salsa were pretty good, but the salsa was a tad bit too soupy. The salsa comes in a huge black bowl, which was cool. The drink menu looked awesome, but we didnt' drink today. Not sure if I can recommend this restaurant to all of you. There's probably a better restaurant close by.
(3)Mike D.
If you have eaten at the Thames Street Landing down the road and experienced the mediocre food you won't be surprised to fine the same type of fare at Agave. Thames Street is managed and Agave is owned and managed by the same person. The view at Agave like that at Thames Street Landing is exceptional. The food and drinks are both expensive at both locations. My advice, if you're looking for a good meal skips both places. If you want to have expensive drinks while watching the sunset over Bristol harbor Agave will do nicely. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants in Bristol that put out a product that is worth your time and money. I give it two stars based on Mother Natures contribution.....
(2)Sylvia R.
My husband and I live in Warren so we decided to drive toward Bristol for dinner this past weekend. We'd never been to Agave and we spotted outside seating so we gave it a shot. It was EXCELLENT. Firstly, the location can't be beat. The outside seating was under a very pretty terrace with a full view of the bay. Considering the location we opted for the chowder and clam cakes special to start. The chowder was most definitely homemade, fresh with tons of clams and the cakes were delicious as well. For dinner my husband got the steak fajitas which came out on a skillet sizzling hot, just like they should, and he was very happy with them. Being a seafood lover I ordered the shrimp wrapped in bacon -- it was to die for! Huge jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon with a seafood stuffing that was bursting with flavor. Unfortunately, we didn't get around to trying anything on the drink menu, but we were intrigued by the exotic looking menu. We'll save that for next time! Not only that, but our server was friendly and attentive the whole time. Overall it was a great experience. Will definitely be returning!!
(5)Nina D.
I live right down the street and was dying to try this place... GREAT location, beautiful views and interior, even the plating is gorgeous. I have never been to Topside (what Agave was previously) but hear from everyone I meet that it was much better that way :( I went with my boyfriend on a weekday around 4...wanted to beat the dinner rush and figured the food would be incredible since the chef would not be cooking a million other dishes at the same time. Boy were we wrong! I got Chicken Tortilla soup that came with 95% broth and a sliver of chicken, a few tortilla strips on the side. My boyfriend got clam chowder that tasted like creamy potatoes sans clams and all the good stuff. My pork sliders tasted like pork tossed in $1 barbecue sauce, the fries were pre-frozen and dumped into the fryer... My boyfriend's burger was average. The service wasn't bad but wasn't good, it was really just "blah". Food came out timely, but like I said, nothing that I'd ever want again. I'm really sad to write this review, since I could easily walk to Agave and would LOVE a place like that on these summer nights, especially with that view!
(1)Jaime T.
Absolutely in love! The restaurant was beautiful right on the water. It was lovely to sit outside and watch the boats go by. The sweet salty ocean smell made the ambiance incredible. Had wonderful company with my family and great Sam Adams beer and food. I had the lobster BLT and it was incredible! Everyone else enjoyed their food also. Had an incredible time and will hopefully come back with friends in the future.
(5)Emily E.
A bit pricey but totally worth it. The view is amazing, right on the bike path over-looking the Bristol Harbor Bay. I recommend definitely sitting outside for the sunset in the months of May-early September and then requesting the booth near the fireplace during the winter. For dinner, penne with pink tequila sauce is to die for. The first time I had it, it was spicier than expected but so delicious. I've also heard the fajitas were awesome too. You cannot go wrong with ordering any of the sangria options, sweet but refreshing. Their brunch is also heavenly. Overall a great place for just a Corona by the bay or a family outing!
(4)Jay D.
So I've tried, this place twice now and both times = FAIL. The service here is pretty decent, their wait staff tends to be really nice, helpful and attentive however there must be some serious problems back in the kitchen. The first time I went with a group of 6 ppl and 90% of our food came out cold. HUGE bummer and we had to send it back. One of the saddest things was that two people ordered quesadillas and they were HALF empty... but full price. Odd. The second time I went I ordered the quesadilla just hoping that it was better... nope. Empty. I was incredibly sad holding my dry tortilla without an ounce of cheese in it. I must say though the salsa and guacamole at this place are on point... super fresh and yummie...good luck dippen' in the stale chips though. Hurts my heart. The only reason I would go here is for the view... right on the water/bike path. The outdoor patio is quite nice and there are umbrellas and heat lamps. So sad. I want it to be good so bad. But. It ISN'T. If you want an incredible view as you starve, this is your kinda place.
(1)Jessica M.
So I know this place gets mixed reviews...but I really like it! The view is great - be sure to sit outside on the deck under their beautiful pergola if the weather is nice...which to me is one of the reasons you would come to Agave. The service is good, and they have an extensive tequila list (um, hello? the name of the place IS Agave) if that is your thing. They have some decent apps like the bacalao fritters, but their stuffed mushrooms and these Mexican-style egg rolls are REALLY good! It really fun place to kick back, watch the sunset, and have some cocktails and appetizers. But they have some great burgers, and I have to say their Lobster BLT is awesome! And though I have never had one, they have a sandwich called the Gordito, which I hear is great! I will be back!
(3)Paul L.
Good food. Good drinks. Bartenders are friendly. Awesome view of the water!
(4)Richie R.
Maggots!!! WTF!!! Need I say more? In my burger? This place needs to be shut down by the health inspectors... I've never seen something so disgusting ever be served. And no, I wasn't trying out the 'fear factor' menu. Our party obviously returned all of their dishes, as some of them almost threw up. And to top it all off, they didn't even comp our drinks even though we just needed to get the hell out of there... Wow... The only way I would recommend this place is to get shut down by the health department...
(1)Bill O.
Formerly the Topside - which was a straightforward college & biker bar (depending on the time of year) w/ cheap pitchers and decent fried seafood. Now purchased by the owners of Thames Waterside and renamed Agave - this waterfront spot is looking to overhaul its image. I live walking distance from this spot and ate here several times during their "soft" relaunch. Each time the food was good to excellent and the structural improvements (new deck & patio, new TVs, revamped dining room) have proceeded steadily. That being said - my visit post "official opening" was a bit disappointing. Slow service and - inexplicably - they expanded the concise new menu to include multiple additional generic options (and changed the GREAT Chipotle Lobster BLT from a reasonable $14 to "Market Price" - probably because we ordered it so much.) One can't help think if these things are related. I'm no restaurant owner - but I've watched enough Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmares to realize that a smaller, stronger menu is always better. Choose fresh, interesting dishes that the kitchen can handle - and you improve service and quality. The initially revamped menu seemed to do this (w/ frequent specials) - but the current menu is cluttered and (apparently) overwhelming. The current (very) low reviews do not reflect the overall quality of this restaurant - but until they streamline their service and shore up the menu they'll remain just OK when it comes to dining (although they remain 4+ stars for location and view.) One more thing - there are multiple mentions here of the waitress uniforms. I have no real idea where this comes from. Unless I'm missing "Lingerie Tuesdays" or "Bikini Sundays" at Agave - I don't see anything inappropriate or even out of the ordinary. Maybe I'll pay closer attention next time (and if Agave DOES start "Bikini Sundays" - I want the proper credit and/or blame dammit!)
(3)Aerin K.
Beautiful view- food and service nowhere near it. No specialty on their menu to notice besides a whole page of shots. Would still not go even if someone else was paying. But the view is magnificent!!
(3)Alicia C.
When the transition was made from topsides I was not sure what the new culture would offer because it was a former biker bar. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the transformation that had occurred. It looks completely different with modern decor. The old bar tables are gone and replaced with more dining situated ones. The menu is completely re done as well. I ordered the Honey glazed salmon. It was presented well and was filling and tasty. I sat at the bar where a younger girl, Jenna, waited on me, she was very pleasant and informed me of this cooling system they had for the beer. I ordered a beer on tap and it was defiantly very cold, I thought that was cool. I think they are also known for tons of tequila given the name, I will defiantly try it next time I go. I would recommend agave for a first date, group, or business dinner.
(5)Brett B.
I'm glad to be the first one to review this place, just so I can make sure no one else goes here. I think the rating "Eek! Methinks not." says it all. All around pretty disappointing except for maybe the drinks. Where to start? ...Let me talk about my experience... Ambiance: I have to say, the location is exceptional. I must say that sitting outside looking out at the bay in Bristol is gorgeous. Especially while the sun is setting. Drinks: I had The Bee Sting..not bad. Actually pretty good. Otherwise, drinks were very standard, and took a while to come out. Wait staff: Not bad at first, relatively attentive, but then totally dropped the ball. After getting the food, we finished our drinks (would have liked another), then sat at the table, not touching our food for almost an hour without as much as a pass to see how things were. I mean, come on, this place isn't meant to be low class. Food: Mediocre. I had the Mixed Grill. Not bad. The pork chop was moist, but there wasn't much flavor to it. The chipotle chicken sausage was good. By the way, I don't think these people know what chimichurri sauce is. My mother-in-law had the steak. They obviously don't know how to cook steak. Who knew that medium is not the same as well done? Who the hell doesn't know how to cook a steak? I know the place just opened, but they could use some new cooks or a new chef. Dessert: Don't know. Wasn't offered and was so pissed off that the waitress took forever to return that we went searching for her, so we never had it. Overall, I would say, if you're going for drinks, fine, but otherwise, dinner is not worth the wait and the wait staff is awful. I would say avoid it for the other amazing places near the water in Bristol.
(1)Chron N.
I have heard mixed reviews on their lunch and dinners but god almighty the breakfast was horrendous. The eggs were cold and looked like were literally from a buffet 2 hours ago. They were hard and tasted disgusting. The potatoes were cold and the sausage and pancake came out below average in warmth. On top of that it took 15 min to get our bill. Our waitresses walked past us 5 times. We were 1 of 10 tables and there was about 4 or 5 servers. One if them in a booth on her cell phone as we walked out. I understand location location location but I would rather have a great meal with great service then have a decent view of the water and everything else I just mentioned. Just my $0.02.
(1)Tracy C.
I went here last night for dinner and ordered the chipotle nachos to start, a blackened salmon salad for my meal, and of course a pitcher of sangria. The blackened salmon salad was delicious, the nachos and sangria were just average. What makes this restaurant is the location; gorgeous outdoor deck with a remarkable view of the water. If you decide to visit Agave in Bristol, RI be sure to sit outside! Friendly staff as well!
(4)Jane S.
I was here last week. I found the food to be rather disappointing. The cheese they were using seemed like it came straight out of a pre-shredded bag, and the chicken seemed like it was not cooked to order but maybe the kind that comes pre-prepared and vacuum packed. For a $12 quesadilla appetizer it seems they could try to do a little better. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly.
(2)Kay R.
We were a bit skittish when we heard the Topside had new owners- liked the small changes in ambiance- but were skeptical when the full out re-branding occurred. There is definitely room for improvement, but the location is ideal, food solid, service typically okay, and (I believe) all improving over time. Big money was invested in revamping the outside deck and adding the stone patio- it will be really great once the outside bar is installed. If you choose to sit out and enjoy the Bristol Harbor and bikepath- beware seagull swooping. They are ruthless. Inside the bar has somehow managed to keep a piece of its biker-refuge feel, while now welcoming a more diverse clientele. The fireplace dining down below keeps Agave on the list for winter nights and the live music adds to the experience. I can't say too much for the food. It is solid. I had the lobster BLT, the "B" was missing... better for my cholesterol, but not my choice. Never had a bad meal, just never had a great one either. Definitely prefer Agave to their sister restaurant down the street, Thames.
(3)Stephanie W.
Today we are headed to Agave. We live in the Boston area and usually stop there for breakfast before biking. The service is outstanding!!!! Staff really seem as if they like their jobs and go out of their way to please you. Their steak and eggs are excellent! Not an inexpensive breakfast, but we don't eat a lot of meat, so when we do, this is a real treat. They also serve some excellent complimentary cornbread too. Steak is a large, flavorful piece.We have also stopped by for lunch. Pork slidders are really good, nachos, and steak wrap. Sure drinks are expensive, but I don't think they are much different than many other places. Great views, plenty of parking.
(5)Ray C.
Ok I'm not going to spend too much time on this review as my wife and I experienced pretty much what the other reviewers have written about this place. The renovations they made are really nice. The inside is really classy, complete w/a lounge area w/leather couches and a fireplace. The outside patio overlooking Bristol harbor is the best! The view right at sunset can't beat it. But unfortunately these are the only positives about this place. Now our waitress was nice, the food, definitely not worth the prices. The menu is definitely overpriced. The food is sub-par at best and so not worth the prices they charge. I'm not quite sure how ownership justifies charging these prices for average food. If I go back, it will be just for drinks on their outside patio. Don't waste your money on the food as there are much better options in Bristol.
(2)Sophie R.
good things first: i was truly impressed at the improvements made to the patio and interior. the patio is like dining in a some mediterranean garden, with the billowing white drapes, the potted plants, and the ocean breeze. absolutely no complaints. it is a great drink destination in the summer time. the food is really not all that great. i haven't had any problems with the service, but also, it wasn't great service. basically: 4 stars for drinks, and ambiance probably 2 to 3 stars for food and professionality. not writing the place off just yet though. the summer will probably find me here semi-frequently for some evening cocktails.
(3)Jeff R.
Eight dollar vodka tonics in an ex-biker bar is a bit much.
(2)Tyler L.
Breakfast on Sunday - we ride the East Bay Bike Path often and travel past Agave along the route. After returning from an early morning ride, fresh off the ferry from Prudence Island, we decided to get lunch at Agave. It was almost 11:30 so we assumed that lunch would be starting. Turns out they do breakfast on the weekends from 7:30 AM to Noon (note that lunch does not begin until12:30). I overheard a waiter state that they started breakfast a couple of months ago. The deck and patio are very attractive and the staff seemed very friendly. The food was terrific! I mean, it is difficult to mess up breakfast, but we all thought that the meals were very good. Now, having read earlier reviews I admit I am a bit nervous to return for dinner. But the investment made in this place leads me to believe they will keep working at it to make it better. Besides, going there for a drink is well worth the trip, and trying some food while there will likely follow.
(4)Brenda C.
We gave this restaurant another try after hearing that they had changed their menu. The have some fried seafood options now. As we were there for lunch, we tried the fried clam rolls. I had the clams with bellies and my husband had the clam strips. We both thought the clams were fantastic and we are vey fussy about fried clams. The batter was very nice, not too heavy, and they were perfectly cooked. The size of the clams was just right also. We tried the Yicama cole slaw to go with it instead of the fries and that was delicious as well. You also can't beat the location of this restuarant. It is situated right beside the water with a beautiful view. Our waitress, Carol, was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.
(4)Katherine B.
good drinks. great place to eat outside on the water. food was good. service was very good. over all a great spot in Bristol. we will be back.
(4)Katie A.
My husband and I did Sunday brunch here this week. We both ordered variations of the sweet bread French toast-it was delicious!! It is a generous portion and is done in a way that isn't too heavy.Sweet bread was delicious and made with very fresh berries. The mimosas were great, and they have very reasonable prices too. Service was excellent and very friendly, and the restaurant is beautiful and very clean inside. Beautiful spot right on the water. Will definitely go back!
(5)Greg C.
My friend and I were served watered down uneventful bloody Mary's. Olives should be larger than peas. Served good bread, but the meals were poor and fair. Rice was the same cheap rice Mexican restaurants serve. Our stomachs felt bad an hour after eating there. Our waitress was good, but the few other younger girls who helped were more concerned how they looked. Will never return.
(2)Zoey L.
Unfortunately this will be my only visit to this less than appetizing meal. We called twice ,once to make reservations once to confirm as we were arriving with a toddler. We get there and NO RESERVATION can be found. One of the guests of our party of 6 asks to speak to a manager and the "manager" says "I don't have time for this" Another manager comes over and rectifies the situation giving us a table outside. We all enjoyed the surroundings and the view but the 6 of us ordered 4 apps and 6 meals and nothing tasted remotely good. No flavor what-so-ever. I agree with the majority of the reviews,...just to many other restaurants around.
(2)A M.
I was kind of excited to try this place since I have such high hopes for places that try to bring a new feel to a very old place. I have to say I was disspointed and probably won't give it another shot. Read on... The decor is amazing, that I have to give credit where credit is due. It is very obvious that they put more thought and heart into the renovations of the place then the menu or food. The outside seating is awesome, provides a great ambiance and view if you go later in the day for the sunset or boat watching. But I'm not paying for the view... The menu to start is very schizophrenic, a little spanish, american, new england, mexican fare with really no definitive idea as to what kind of restaurant they are. The tequila menu and drink menu was very appealing! So we orderd a pitcher of the red sangria and a couple waters. The drinks came out, glass pitcher, wine glasses for the sangria and PLASTIC CUPS for the water?? Why go through the trouble of glass for everything but put the water in plastic cups? That's very cheap no? Moving on...went to serve ourselves the sangria because our server didn't think to or offer to and with the small spout and overflow of ice, we were actually able to pour half a glass before spilling a quarter of the sangria on the floor! Finally we asked our server to help us out and she even mentioned that it was a "pain in the ass" Appetizers were really good, empanadas tasted as there was some heart put them as well as the bacallo fritters. Everything needed a little seasoning but that, we thought, was just a preference. We decided to split the entree, after trying to decifer what we wanted from the entrees on acid. We went with the top sirloin, medium rare. When it was placed in front of us, after being almost auctioned to a party of 10 who hadn't even gotten their apps yet, and without a steak knife, I didn't even need to cut into it to know it wasn't Medium rare, actually not even close. Upon greater look, it was very very well done! Come on, mistake between Medium rare and Medium, maybe...Medium rare and well done, find a new profession! Not only that but it's summertime in Rhode Island, the farm movement has taken over and there is an abundance of beautiful vegetables surrounding the area from local farms and our vegetable on the plate was unseasoned, poorly cooked, poorly peeled, poorly cut, steamed carrots with only 2 steamed (unseasoned also) limp green beans!?!?!? If you don't love food, don't love presenting your guests with an experience that you would love to have yourself, DON'T OPEN A RESTAURANT!!!! There are local farms surrounding you "CHEF", I know I use them everyday!!! Find your inner cook and go for it or get out! I brought my overcooked steak to our servers attention and she promptly brought it back to the kitchen and told the kitchen the mistake, I know because we could hear her yell it from outside the place! The steak came back, on the same plate we sent it back on, cooked mediocre, unseasoned of course also. The onion "rings' that were supposed to come with it were dried out, unseasoned (seeing a repitition here?) and by god cold as the water in front of us. I really had high hopes for this place but if they can't get their "sh-t" together with their food, not even the most beautiful sunset will make me ever return there and should scare you away as well.
(2)Brian S.
Bikes burgers and bays Agave is a restaurant with a view and it has several decks outside overlooking Narragansett Bay and the East Bay Bike Path to maximize that view. There is always plenty of space inside for people that for whatever reason don't what to be outside. The views are indeed entertaining. You can watch the ships go by in the bay or the numerous bikes zooming along on the bike path. Plus there usually is a nice breeze blowing in from the south to keep things cool on even the hottest days. Perhaps it's a bit classier after dark but during a day a lot of bikers stop here for a rest and bit to eat before continuing along the bike path. The restaurant is just about at the end of the bike path so it's a convenient place to stop before turning around and going back north. The service has always been very accommodating and people usually get a choice of sitting where ever they want, whether it's in the sun, shade of perhaps even inside. It does get a bit crowded at times but things usually move along pretty quickly. The food has always been good but we've never really explored the menu, usually just a burger or salad and then on our way. A lot of restaurants have decent food and good service. nut the incredible views are what separates Agave from the mundane.
(4)Patrick M.
I do not frequent Agave as I am a massive fan of other restaurants on the water in Bristol. I went because a friend wanted to go. I have had drinks there in the past but this was the first time I ate dinner. We were a party of 3. I've never sat outside and I have to say that I was quite surprised at how beautiful it was! We had a lovely table right on the water and the sunset was just glorious. We were greeted by our server Simeona promptly. She was most of the reason we had such a lovely time. She treated us like family, made us laugh and was very helpful with all of our questions. We loved her! Side note - the music they were playing was amazing! Lots of Coldplay and just great songs from the late 90's early 00's We started with cocktails. I enjoy a certain type of martini that is kind of unconventional, so I explained it to Simeona and she made sure it was perfect. All of our drinks were so wonderful. Calamari was the appetizer that we chose to start with. It wasn't good.. The calamari tasted a little odd. It wasn't the fish, you could tell it was fresh - it was the batter and the oil I think. Also it was rubbery.. I wasn't a fan. The marinara sauce that came with it was NOT good. It tasted like it was from a jar and it was luke warm. I am Sicilian and very picky about anything Italian... I also critique Italian harder than any other type of food. I ordered the Lobster Roll BLT. This is where they shined! It was absolutely delicious and I ate every last morsel of it. I opted out of the french fries and went for the side salad with balsamic. It was good, nothing special. I did try the fries that my friend ordered and they were very good! I'll be back, but mostly for the drinks and view.
(3)Stephanie G.
Unfortunately, this is a first and last visit. Starting with the positive: our server was kind and attentive. We sat outdoors in the evening.....the view was beautiful but the bugs were not. We were surprised that for an outdoor seating area, there were no bug zappers or trappers to enhance an outdoor dining experience. The menu was limited and a bit pricier than comparable items in other restaurants. Naturally, we assumed the food would have to be out of this world to warrant the price. We were wrong. The fish and chips dinner was ok but certainly not anything spectacular. The shrimp pasta dish was bland and the pasta was overcooked. Overall, we were disappointed and will not return.
(2)Hayley H.
Bristol, RI is one of my favorite places in the US, and Agave is just the perfect spot for lunch or drinks after riding the East Bay Bicycle Path in from Barrington (about 7.5 miles). Agave is located across from a beautiful bay (Bristol Harbor, I believe?), replete with gorgeous sailboats, and is the first place you'll see when riding your bike in from the north. I have eaten here twice during our annual visits to the east coast, and have had a different experience each time. The first time was for an early lunch, a little before noon, which was when I received great service. We sat on the patio overlooking the harbor, on an absolutely cloudless day. There was a nice breeze and the patio was mostly covered so that there was dappled sunlight, just enough to keep us warm on a chillier morning. We were one of two tables dining outside, and our waitress was very attentive, if not overly so. My husband and I shared the lobster roll BLT and the Latin Cobb salad, with clam cakes for an appetizer. The lobster BLT was more of a lobster salad (think: tuna salad but with lobster meat) and was good when I compared it that way, but I guess I was expecting more meat and less filler. The lobster roll's salad-to-bread ratio was too high, though, and accordingly the bread fell apart when eating it with my hands. Eventually we had to attack it with fork and knife. The sandwich was served with a cold macaroni salad, which was flavorful and not too heavy. Overall the dish was just fine, but not great, and probably not worth the price ($16-20, but I can't remember exactly). The Cobb salad had very fresh ingredients and a lovely layered presentation. The chicken was seasoned well, and the avocado-ranch was good, though I would have preferred a regular ranch dressing with avocado chunks tossed into the salad. The salad was definitely better than the lobster roll, which is something I don't often say. The clam cakes were absolutely the highlight of the meal and the major reason we keep coming back here, not to mention the prime location on the bay. They were crispy on the outside and steamy-hot on the inside, with plenty of clam chunks about, and they came served with a small ramekin of clam chowder for dipping. Often times other clam cakes are lacking the actual flavor of clams, but these were perfectly salty and chewy from the presence of clam meat. Agave's clam cakes *may* be the best clam cakes I have ever had, and I have eaten my fair share, so that is saying something. The second time we came was to place a to-go order of clam cakes and chowder. My husband and I came with his parents and sister. We placed a to-go order at the bar and sat down to order a round of beers while we waited...and waited.... and waited. This was around 4 p.m. and there was literally no one else seated inside. It took about 45 minutes for 6 bowls of chowder and 2 dozen clam cakes (we were bringing food to family back at home). The bartender was very nice and attentive to us during this time, but he never thought to check on what might be taking the kitchen so long, or offer any apologies for the wait. Maybe it was just an off day or the kitchen staff was between shifts, so although we were a bit annoyed, we certainly weren't discouraged from coming back. I think next time we will take an early morning bike trip down the path and try Agave out for brunch instead. In either case, we will definitely be packing up an order (or two) of clam cakes to enjoy on the ride back.
(3)Kim B.
Went there for lunch today I was very disappointed I wanted two sandwiches and it took forever. and my drinks came in a plastic cup. It was very annoying listening to the boat blowing the horns every 5 seconds. as there was a sailboat class going on. Not going back. Over rated and pricey
(1)William M.
Total garbage...spent 120 bucks on 4 drinks and two dinners...the crowd at the bar was out of control...yelling, stomping, dry humping each other. Not to mention controlling the radio using pandora skipping songs non stop, randomly jacking up the volume and just being disgusting and obnoxious...waitstaff was inattentive due to them joining in on the festivities and when i called and complained all the manager had to say was it was cinco de mayo, our patrons have the right to act in anyway that see fit when celebrating such an occasion...ok so me and girlfriend will pay agave a visit on our anniversary ill bring a dj set up, play nothing but pit-bull and sean paul and just start fucking on our table...and they'll be ok with it!??... Look elsewhere for a night out...fuck this place, the people that frequent, and the staff.
(1)S. S.
Located at the end of the bike trail this is a perfect spot to recharge. The food is decent. Service is slow. Tried the fish sandwich and the smoke house burger. The buns were a bit too oily and soggy. The burger was missing my pickled jalapeño and had 4 measly crispy onions on it. Nice place to sit outside but it was a little stuffy with uncomfortable seats inside. Maybe it's good for drinks. My diet coke was smashing!
(3)Paul G.
Nice setting average food. Went during the day, rented a bike and rode to Barrington, on the way back we stopped here for a pint. Great place to stop. Came back in evening at sunset. Great view! Ordered a meal... Mahi Mahi was dry and average. Summary - great stop for a drink - better food elsewhere in Bristol.
(3)Gary G.
My wife and I took our parents out for mothers day dinner and we're very disappointed. The service was slow and not very good. Took one hour and a half for the entrees to come out. Had to send my dish back, was supposed to be a Cajun shrimp pasta I received ziti with red sauce and 2 pieces of shrimp. $18.99 We have been to agave twice before and the experience was great! Not sure what went wrong this time.
(2)Robert H.
Agave gets kudos for both it's view of Bristol Harbor as well as it's location on the bike path, including ample bike parking. That being said the food is mostly ordinary, and very expensive. As others have pointed out, you are paying for the water view. Keep that in mind to check your expectations and you'll be fine. One dish to try if you are willing to pay for them at $18: the crab sliders.
(3)Russell C.
Their location is PERFECT for the summer. Was on the bike path and stopped in for breakfast. Took over 45 mins to get some over easy eggs and french toast. When it got here the food was gross. Part of my french toast was burnt while another part was wayyyy undercooked. The bacon was so salty litterally nobody at my table could even take more than one bite. Somone at our table had ordered a toasted English muffin and had to send it back 3 different times becuase it was barely even warm!! And it still wasnt toasted, we just gave up. If this place could get their act together they might really have something, unfortunately the food comes nowhere near matching their location and looks.
(1)Ellie H.
After visiting colt state park I was starving so I yelped restaurants near by. I pulled in and saw how close it was to the water which was a great first impression. We walked in and there was a cook sitting down on his phone and an empty hostess table. He finally looked up and said we could go upstairs. (Also still sitting there when we left..) There were only two other people sitting at the bar around 3 on a Wednesday. I ordered a burger and a pizza for my son. The burger was dry, flavorless and clearly frozen. The Bristol burger had chorizo and a fried egg topped with a stale bun. The chorizo was just crumbled on top and kept falling off the burger. The chorizo also didn't seem like it was of good quality it honestly tasted like a hot dog. What was most sad about our trip was my sons pizza (which I included a picture of.) how do you mess up pizza that bad? It was literally a ton of sauce with thin shredded sharp cheddar cheese that would fall off in complete chunks at the first bite. My son will eat mostly anything and he had one bite. I'm one who hates to waste food but I refused to wrap the rest to go. I generally was so disappointed when leaving the restaurant. I should've dug a little deeper into the reviews... The second picture of the lobster roll suckered me in and looked delicious, at least I know next time I'm in the area to avoid. The only way I could see this place being worth it is on a summer night on the deck with a drink. The food was so so sad steer clear
(1)Marial M.
I am fasting after visiting this restaurant. I order the "Skinny Rita" and it was so sweet I texted my dentist for a check up. Next I ordered some Cajun wings, because wings are my absolute favorite...but when they arrived...I had to blow off the overflow of boxed seasoning like my grandma's dusty shelf. My lips started curling under due to dehydration and sodium overdose. Next, I order the Ahi Tuna salad, because I was craving something refreshing and figured...hey, we are by the ocean, let's get seafood. I didn't realize that Tuna was available at BJ's...I also think they might serve this dish in jail. I cancelled the idea of dessert and went to Cumberland Farms for a bag of chips. They never let me down.
(1)Kristine C.
If I could give this place 0 stars I would. The one star would only be for how pretty it is out on the back deck in the summer. Everything else 0. The food is horrible, so much so that I sent my first dish back (a seafood dish, really, in Bristol?!?) Second dish came out and that was disgusting also, didn't eat it. (a seafood stuffed chicken, tasted like it was a frozen dinner they heated up) You would think that the server would have gone to management at that point to tell them? Nothing. I even saw the manager on the top deck looking out over the crowd with this look of disdain/boredom?? He certainly never walked through the restaurant to see how things were. The server was pleasant enough but took forever. I paid for the meal I never ate, she did not take it off the bill. This was my second trip. Never ever again. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
(1)Stephen E.
We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The only thing nice about this place is the water view. Prices of the food were very high...$12.99 for a grilled chicken sandwich. The food was marginal pub food at best. Drinks were very small and in plastic cups. Very slow service in spite of the fact it was only about a third full. Don't waste your money here. This place won't last like this.
(1)VC V.
Abner and I had been riding our bikes along the bike path and came upon Agave. With a beautiful day, an outdoor patio and being thirsty, we had to lock up our bikes and stop in. We had a nice table with a view. We ordered drinks. I got the peach sangria, which was tasty, but a bit on the sweet side for me. Abner got a frozen strawberry daiquiri and it came in the tiniest glass I have ever seen. I was disappointed for him, but he said it tasted good anyway....just not much of it. We ordered the salsa and chips. The chips were warm and the salsa was very tasty. I was impressed with the salsa bowl. It was so heavy that I think it could kill a person. The server must really be strengthening her upper arms delivering that to tables! Before the long bike ride back, we used the restrooms. Ugh. It seemed unclean to me and I was grossed out. There were Marilyn Monroe pictures all over the ladies room. The pictures were nice, but please clean up that ladies room. Abner had a similar bad experience in the men's room. Something about the way the doors open, anyone can see you inside doing your business.
(3)Sophia L.
I came here with a group of 10 on a weekend after a bike ride. It has a very scenic view, and the restaurant decor is as beautiful. But I was greatly disappointed in the food and the waitress. Our waitress did not bring out any utensils until we asked. She didn't collect our menus for a while, so we gathered them and put them on an empty table next to us, which was picked up by someone else quickly. She did not refill our waters, unless we asked. What kind of service is this? We are typically and understanding crowd, but grew tedious of waiting on her. When the bill came and we saw that a 20% gratuity was tacked on our bill, we figured she didn't care about how she performed since that rate would already be charged. It's a prominent location along the East Bay bike path, but if I were to come here again it'd be for the view and not the food or service, and definitely not with a group.
(2)A J.
The outdoor patio is beautiful, overlooking the water! The location was perfect for Mother's Day Brunch, but sadly the food/drinks didn't match the venue. The outdoor buffet was set up very nicely, but the "hot" food items were served cold. Our waitress was very attentive & pleasant. If it wasn't for the disappointing food temperature and poor bartending experience, the overall experience would've been great.
(2)Jean B.
This was the forth time I visited the Agave Restaurant. Each time it was either a friend or a group of friends that made the decision to dine to enjoy the beautiful water view. Yes, Agave is off the bike path, has a stunning view, and the interior is lovely. The food is fair at best and the service is average.
(2)Mike P.
Picturesque- that is the first word that comes to mind. Not just the gorgeous view of the water, but the entire set up. Whoever designed and decorated this place did an excellent job. The server was quite friendly and the food came out in a timely fashion. And what about the food? The menu is very large and very tempting. We had the fried buffalo chicken ravioli. A unique idea and they tasted good, not great, but good. I think it was because the buffalo taste was too light. For lunch I had the chicken and pesto sandwich. It was good. Maybe a little skimpy on the French fries. Overall, I felt like I discovered a RI hidden secret. I hope to come back in the near future.
(4)Erin J.
Fantastic location with great outdoor seating and ambiance. The prices are just insane. $12 for a watery margarita. $12. I keep thinking I'm too young to feel this old with my constant griping about prices. But $12. The tequila I selected is a $25 bottle (in RI and not at a discounted place). If the drink hadn't started off a bit on the watery side, I'd be inclined to not leave a review griping about the price. But I'm still in awe.
(3)Corinne W.
Beautiful view. Nice place to sit and have a drink. But the food and service are horrendous especially for the price they are asking. We have given this place a few try's giving them the benefit of the doubt. We gave it one last shot a couple nights ago and it hasn't changed a bit. It's very disappointing because it's a close restaurant nearby. But unfortunately I do not recommend
(2)Alyson S.
After peddling 6 miles from the Barrington Shopping Plaza our group stopped in for some margaritas and good eats. This is a great stop for anyone on the East Bay Bike Path since it has tons of bike parking. Sitting outside even on one of the warmest days of the year a cool breeze came in off the water. The deck was gorgeous to sit on as we watched the sunset. The service was excellent especially with our large group with the waitress making sure everyone got their correct check. The food was good but I didn't dare try anything too heavy as we had to bike the 6 miles back. I would definitely recommend this place for a margarita during sunset and I can't wait to go back and try some of their more intersting dishes.
(4)Monica D.
We had come from a very long walk, so when we arrived at Agave (our first experience) we were tempted to sit out on the patio for the beautiful view, however the remaining tables were sun beaten and we were hot from walking, so we chose to sit inside. I guess this was a mistake. It was nicely decorated, but the wall I was sitting next to was a bit soiled. A few minutes later, the waitress came and brought us ice water and asked if we wanted a drink. I ordered a soda, my boyfriend ordered an iced tea. She brought our drinks and we were ready to order. I ordered the salmon pita 15.5 and my boyfriend ordered a plain hamburger 9.5. I chose a side salad, him the French fries for our sides. It took me a minute to decide on a dressing, I had the waitress tell me what they had, I then asked about a Dijon vinagrette because I noticed they had it offered with a pear salad I almost ordered, she said they had a citrus vinagrette, that sounded good, so I chose that. Twenty minutes later a young guy brought our food and placed it on the table and asked if we needed anything, we said no. When he walked away I noticed I had fries. The waitress came back when we were halfway done eating, she didn't notice the mishap, and it was too late by that point to say anything. The waitress never refilled our water or asked if we wanted a refill on our empty drinks. Another young girl came by to clear the table when we were done eating. About 10 minutes later the waitress came and asked if we wanted anything else, we said no, she brought our check, $32.58. I will not be returning, there are enough restaurants in Bristol that I haven't sampled yet, and they certainly didn't win me over with the service!
(2)Mark P.
Food was average and slightly overpriced. I wouldn't go here again since it didn't offer anything that memorable. Great location if you're on the East Bay bike path though...also had nice views.
(3)Melinda G.
The entire inside of the restaurant was empty yet the hostess told us we would have to wait 45 minutes for a table. Apparently on a busy Saturday night they don't have enough staff to handle the number of customers coming through their doors. We drove 20 minutes to try this place, such a waste. I understand having to wait for a table when a place is busy but not when it's empty. We won't be returning.
(1)Joan S.
It was okay. Interesting menu. Husbands burger good not great. Order the crab cake app and was disappointed it was more cake than crab especially for $14 Will go back and try it again as the menu had some really interesting items. Can't beat the location. Water front with plenty of parking. Service good not great. Overall worth going and I will go back.
(3)A D.
My sisters and I stopped in last Thursday night. We had just come from a wake and wanted some apps and drinks. For food we ordered Mahi Mahi bites, Calamari, Mussels and Stuffies. Drinks - sangria and a cosmo. The drinks since they were very good. The food on the other hand was lacking in flavor. The Mahi Mahi bites looked like they came from a frozen box. The calamari were the biggest size rings I had ever seen and over cooked. They served them with hot peppers and chorizo. The chorizo was different. I had never seen that added to calamari. I'm sure it is because they think it would be attractive to the Portuguese population in Bristol. The mussels were suppose to be PEI but they were very small and the red sauce tasted like they just opened a can of crush tomato and poured it over the mussels. No flavor. Not even a flavor of the mussel juice...weird. The stuffies did not have any clams and appeared to just be plain bread crumbs cooked with clam juice. I'm giving 3 stars since the food was edible, just boring and the drinks and service were great. I just don't think they should try to have both mexican and new england style seafood on the same menu. Hopefully the mexican entrees are better. I would go back to sit on the deck and have drinks. The location is great but not the food.
(3)Sarah W.
It cracks me up that people are complaining about the price. The entrees were $15-$25 and expertly made. One of the prettiest ocean views with such close proximity to the water, with people watching on the bike trail to boot, you can't beat it. I'll definitely be back. Food and beverage selection is phenomenal!
(5)Kayla W.
Came here on a whim few people mentioned it was supposed to be pretty good other reviews I read said otherwise. Well I'm glad I form my own opinions and decided on dinner and drinks here tonight because the food that we got ( clams plate and salmon sandwich ) and the sangria was great. Not to mention the on point service from the waitress even coming over refilling our wine glasses. To top it off the view of the water and sunset was peaceful and beautiful especially after a very long day at work. I can definitely say I am a fan and will be back often bringing more people.
(5)Kelly M.
Three of us came for a late lunch mid-week. It was pretty dead inside, though some customers were sitting outside. Great view. The service was fine, and the food was okay, but nothing special. I had some difficulty finding good vegetarian options. I feel like the place is having an identity crisis. With its name, I expected Mexican. The decor in the bathroom was truly puzzling: Victorian-style silhouette decals, wicker furniture, and 1950s Marilyn Monroe prints.
(2)Mark S.
Came here for Sunday Funday drinks and a bite. The back deck has had a huge facelift from the Topside days. They have a huge upper deck and large lower deck. Plenty of umbrellas but there were tons of seats with sun and they will move/open/close any of them to accommodate your sun/shade preference. They removed a lot of the brush and trees which had previously blocked a lot of the water view. It is now wide open and offers a kick ass view of the entire harbor. Way better view than Thames Waterside (old Goff's). Drinks were OK but definitely pricey. My first drink had Cabo Wabo in it but they put so much OJ in there I could barely taste the tequila. They did make a delicious Mojito though. Awesome but expensive list of tequila's, vast drink menu and typical beer selection. The food was pretty decent, nothing awesome. We didn't order anything fancy. We split the calamari which was tasty. Lightly breaded and was a mix of the rings and tentacles. Tossed with banana peppers, garlic and chourico which made for a great combo. The littlenecks were good and make sure you order them in the white sauce. I got a steak and cheese wrap (actual steak, not shaved) with peppers, shrooms and onions. It was good but pretty small for the price. The rest of the table ordered the veggie wrap and fish sandwich. They had no complaints. Service was great. Staff were all very friendly, quick and helpful with suggestions. I'd definitely come back for some outside cocktails and light bite.
(4)Green M.
We were a party of six and had no trouble getting in for dinner on the patio around 7:00 PM, and that's with the concerts downtown and everything. We chose the upper deck, since it was covered and showers were expected, but the lower deck was much more scenic: right on the East Bay Bike Path and the Bay is literally ten feet away, lapping at the rocks. I mean...location. Our waitress was totally awesome. Laid back, attentive, and helpful. I hope all of my friends tipped her well, because she definitely deserved it! We stayed for hours and she just kept swinging by, topping off drinks and putting in anything else we wanted. She didn't even care when we had to be a-holes and split the bill all weird. Just the ultimate, New England summer evening dining ambiance, and she was a big part of it. I want to say her name was Christina? Kristen? All of the waitstaff seemed to be doing a great job around us, too. Let's run down the food. I have to say, the feedback on the food was the reason I was wary to try this place; we really came for the drinks and the view and decided to eat because we happened to be hungry. But it didn't seem like anyone was disappointed that we were. APPETIZERS -HOT BREAD for free. Cornbread and an especially yummy dinner roll. -Delicious clam chowder. No, for real. Big pieces of clam and potato, and a creamy broth that tasted, literally, like the sea: very delicate and bright for a cream-based soup. -Everyone who ate the stuffies and the clam cakes was impressed by the quality and flavor. Delicious. -One friend ordered the buffalo chicken fried ravioli, which I believe was on the specials menu? I could be wrong. She thought it was going to be a dinner-sized portion, but apparently she'd misread that it wasn't an appetizer. Anyway, she thought they were good, too, and wanted a full-sized portion. SALADS As a vegetarian, I ordered the summer orzo salad. Because I am a doofus, I thought it would be a bed of mixed greens, with a small serving of orzo on top; I love pasta on my salad and sometimes forget that this isn't always common at restaurants. Suffice it to say that it was a large serving (LARGE) of well-flavored, al dente orzo with nice, salty chunks of feta throughout; you could tell the cheese was the "good stuff," not the crap you buy at the supermarket. Like, I want more of it right now. Anyway, there was a scattering of cukes and tomatoes. I knew the orzo was the star, so I can't fault them for my own misconception that it would be more salad than orzo. And the dressing was delicious; maybe Greek, or creamy Italian? Whatever it was, it was GOOD. And the food wasn't swimming in it. Well balanced, all around. Very well balanced. Usually, I wouldn't order something as simple as an orzo salad, since I find I usually like my own home cooking better in that case. But I'm glad I took the chance and will get it again, this time on some greens! DRINKS So, I don't drink a whole lot, and wine lists tend to overwhelm me. I go with the chardonnay and stick with it, usually. What's great about Agave's drinks menu is a) it's got a lot of variety and b) it tells you exactly what to expect from each kind of wine. It's the kind of thing that might make you brave enough to stray from the chard and go for a Pinot Noir, as I did tonight, enticed by the little description. Also, c) not too expensive ($7.50/glass for my Pinot) and d) I saw that they offer a wine pairing suggestion for each main course, right on the menu. These people know their shit and make it easy for new winos to start learning. Lots of cool, smaller beers on tap, too! My beer-drinking friends were both happy with their selections: yummy white beers with slices of citrus. They looked so nice and refreshing! Definitely trying one next time. And the mixed-drinkers also seemed to like their cocktails: margaritas with coconut tequila and all sorts of martinis and things. EDIT: It seems there were a slew of health code violations in June...my wife was actually sick for a few days afterward, but we didn't make the connection until we saw this. bristol-warren.patch.com… As a result, we probably will not be going back, though the ambiance was so nice. What a shame, even the ICE was tainted, so that cuts out even drinks on the patio.
(3)Joanna R.
This place is pricey - but when you see the view of the ocean, you realize why you're paying more. For ambiance, this place gets a 10/10. For the food, a 5-6/10. To maximize your experience, watch the weather, and call and reserve a table outdoors at the edge of the patio on the water on a beautiful clear summer night. We went in the beginning of July with a 7:00 reservation, and the timing was perfect to watch the sun set - super romantic... I couldn't stop smiling, I was so happy just sitting out on the deck!! It was also really fun to "people watch" folks on the bike path. We split I had the ahi tuna salad and my husband had the steamers. The tuna was cold and was very thin and on the tougher side... bland and not much flavor.. My husband had no complaints about the steamers. I was not impressed with the selection of white wines by the glass, also on the bland side... but the absolutely incredible view of the ocean, the reggae music, the setting sun, the cabana-like setting, the soft lights after sunset.. all made up for what the food was lacking. The service was slow, very slow, but I was actually appreciative of that, because that meant we got to enjoy the view for longer! We had a great time together, and will be back again some summer night to celebrate a special occasion.
(3)Ellie H.
After visiting colt state park I was starving so I yelped restaurants near by. I pulled in and saw how close it was to the water which was a great first impression. We walked in and there was a cook sitting down on his phone and an empty hostess table. He finally looked up and said we could go upstairs. (Also still sitting there when we left..) There were only two other people sitting at the bar around 3 on a Wednesday. I ordered a burger and a pizza for my son. The burger was dry, flavorless and clearly frozen. The Bristol burger had chorizo and a fried egg topped with a stale bun. The chorizo was just crumbled on top and kept falling off the burger. The chorizo also didn't seem like it was of good quality it honestly tasted like a hot dog. What was most sad about our trip was my sons pizza (which I included a picture of.) how do you mess up pizza that bad? It was literally a ton of sauce with thin shredded sharp cheddar cheese that would fall off in complete chunks at the first bite. My son will eat mostly anything and he had one bite. I'm one who hates to waste food but I refused to wrap the rest to go. I generally was so disappointed when leaving the restaurant. I should've dug a little deeper into the reviews... The second picture of the lobster roll suckered me in and looked delicious, at least I know next time I'm in the area to avoid. The only way I could see this place being worth it is on a summer night on the deck with a drink. The food was so so sad steer clear
(1)Marial M.
I am fasting after visiting this restaurant. I order the "Skinny Rita" and it was so sweet I texted my dentist for a check up. Next I ordered some Cajun wings, because wings are my absolute favorite...but when they arrived...I had to blow off the overflow of boxed seasoning like my grandma's dusty shelf. My lips started curling under due to dehydration and sodium overdose. Next, I order the Ahi Tuna salad, because I was craving something refreshing and figured...hey, we are by the ocean, let's get seafood. I didn't realize that Tuna was available at BJ's...I also think they might serve this dish in jail. I cancelled the idea of dessert and went to Cumberland Farms for a bag of chips. They never let me down.
(1)Kristine C.
If I could give this place 0 stars I would. The one star would only be for how pretty it is out on the back deck in the summer. Everything else 0. The food is horrible, so much so that I sent my first dish back (a seafood dish, really, in Bristol?!?) Second dish came out and that was disgusting also, didn't eat it. (a seafood stuffed chicken, tasted like it was a frozen dinner they heated up) You would think that the server would have gone to management at that point to tell them? Nothing. I even saw the manager on the top deck looking out over the crowd with this look of disdain/boredom?? He certainly never walked through the restaurant to see how things were. The server was pleasant enough but took forever. I paid for the meal I never ate, she did not take it off the bill. This was my second trip. Never ever again. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
(1)Stephen E.
We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The only thing nice about this place is the water view. Prices of the food were very high...$12.99 for a grilled chicken sandwich. The food was marginal pub food at best. Drinks were very small and in plastic cups. Very slow service in spite of the fact it was only about a third full. Don't waste your money here. This place won't last like this.
(1)VC V.
Abner and I had been riding our bikes along the bike path and came upon Agave. With a beautiful day, an outdoor patio and being thirsty, we had to lock up our bikes and stop in. We had a nice table with a view. We ordered drinks. I got the peach sangria, which was tasty, but a bit on the sweet side for me. Abner got a frozen strawberry daiquiri and it came in the tiniest glass I have ever seen. I was disappointed for him, but he said it tasted good anyway....just not much of it. We ordered the salsa and chips. The chips were warm and the salsa was very tasty. I was impressed with the salsa bowl. It was so heavy that I think it could kill a person. The server must really be strengthening her upper arms delivering that to tables! Before the long bike ride back, we used the restrooms. Ugh. It seemed unclean to me and I was grossed out. There were Marilyn Monroe pictures all over the ladies room. The pictures were nice, but please clean up that ladies room. Abner had a similar bad experience in the men's room. Something about the way the doors open, anyone can see you inside doing your business.
(3)Sophia L.
I came here with a group of 10 on a weekend after a bike ride. It has a very scenic view, and the restaurant decor is as beautiful. But I was greatly disappointed in the food and the waitress. Our waitress did not bring out any utensils until we asked. She didn't collect our menus for a while, so we gathered them and put them on an empty table next to us, which was picked up by someone else quickly. She did not refill our waters, unless we asked. What kind of service is this? We are typically and understanding crowd, but grew tedious of waiting on her. When the bill came and we saw that a 20% gratuity was tacked on our bill, we figured she didn't care about how she performed since that rate would already be charged. It's a prominent location along the East Bay bike path, but if I were to come here again it'd be for the view and not the food or service, and definitely not with a group.
(2)A J.
The outdoor patio is beautiful, overlooking the water! The location was perfect for Mother's Day Brunch, but sadly the food/drinks didn't match the venue. The outdoor buffet was set up very nicely, but the "hot" food items were served cold. Our waitress was very attentive & pleasant. If it wasn't for the disappointing food temperature and poor bartending experience, the overall experience would've been great.
(2)Jean B.
This was the forth time I visited the Agave Restaurant. Each time it was either a friend or a group of friends that made the decision to dine to enjoy the beautiful water view. Yes, Agave is off the bike path, has a stunning view, and the interior is lovely. The food is fair at best and the service is average.
(2)Mike P.
Picturesque- that is the first word that comes to mind. Not just the gorgeous view of the water, but the entire set up. Whoever designed and decorated this place did an excellent job. The server was quite friendly and the food came out in a timely fashion. And what about the food? The menu is very large and very tempting. We had the fried buffalo chicken ravioli. A unique idea and they tasted good, not great, but good. I think it was because the buffalo taste was too light. For lunch I had the chicken and pesto sandwich. It was good. Maybe a little skimpy on the French fries. Overall, I felt like I discovered a RI hidden secret. I hope to come back in the near future.
(4)Russell C.
Their location is PERFECT for the summer. Was on the bike path and stopped in for breakfast. Took over 45 mins to get some over easy eggs and french toast. When it got here the food was gross. Part of my french toast was burnt while another part was wayyyy undercooked. The bacon was so salty litterally nobody at my table could even take more than one bite. Somone at our table had ordered a toasted English muffin and had to send it back 3 different times becuase it was barely even warm!! And it still wasnt toasted, we just gave up. If this place could get their act together they might really have something, unfortunately the food comes nowhere near matching their location and looks.
(1)Erin J.
Fantastic location with great outdoor seating and ambiance. The prices are just insane. $12 for a watery margarita. $12. I keep thinking I'm too young to feel this old with my constant griping about prices. But $12. The tequila I selected is a $25 bottle (in RI and not at a discounted place). If the drink hadn't started off a bit on the watery side, I'd be inclined to not leave a review griping about the price. But I'm still in awe.
(3)Corinne W.
Beautiful view. Nice place to sit and have a drink. But the food and service are horrendous especially for the price they are asking. We have given this place a few try's giving them the benefit of the doubt. We gave it one last shot a couple nights ago and it hasn't changed a bit. It's very disappointing because it's a close restaurant nearby. But unfortunately I do not recommend
(2)Alyson S.
After peddling 6 miles from the Barrington Shopping Plaza our group stopped in for some margaritas and good eats. This is a great stop for anyone on the East Bay Bike Path since it has tons of bike parking. Sitting outside even on one of the warmest days of the year a cool breeze came in off the water. The deck was gorgeous to sit on as we watched the sunset. The service was excellent especially with our large group with the waitress making sure everyone got their correct check. The food was good but I didn't dare try anything too heavy as we had to bike the 6 miles back. I would definitely recommend this place for a margarita during sunset and I can't wait to go back and try some of their more intersting dishes.
(4)Brian S.
Bikes burgers and bays Agave is a restaurant with a view and it has several decks outside overlooking Narragansett Bay and the East Bay Bike Path to maximize that view. There is always plenty of space inside for people that for whatever reason don't what to be outside. The views are indeed entertaining. You can watch the ships go by in the bay or the numerous bikes zooming along on the bike path. Plus there usually is a nice breeze blowing in from the south to keep things cool on even the hottest days. Perhaps it's a bit classier after dark but during a day a lot of bikers stop here for a rest and bit to eat before continuing along the bike path. The restaurant is just about at the end of the bike path so it's a convenient place to stop before turning around and going back north. The service has always been very accommodating and people usually get a choice of sitting where ever they want, whether it's in the sun, shade of perhaps even inside. It does get a bit crowded at times but things usually move along pretty quickly. The food has always been good but we've never really explored the menu, usually just a burger or salad and then on our way. A lot of restaurants have decent food and good service. nut the incredible views are what separates Agave from the mundane.
(4)Joan F.
We've eaten here several times for dinner and for an afternoon drink and appetizer, after riding bikes on the nearby path. They rate highly for great outdoor seating with nice views of the boats and water. Our server has always been very prompt and courteous. We recommend the mussels and the fish and chips.
(4)Emily E.
A bit pricey but totally worth it. The view is amazing, right on the bike path over-looking the Bristol Harbor Bay. I recommend definitely sitting outside for the sunset in the months of May-early September and then requesting the booth near the fireplace during the winter. For dinner, penne with pink tequila sauce is to die for. The first time I had it, it was spicier than expected but so delicious. I've also heard the fajitas were awesome too. You cannot go wrong with ordering any of the sangria options, sweet but refreshing. Their brunch is also heavenly. Overall a great place for just a Corona by the bay or a family outing!
(4)Monica D.
We had come from a very long walk, so when we arrived at Agave (our first experience) we were tempted to sit out on the patio for the beautiful view, however the remaining tables were sun beaten and we were hot from walking, so we chose to sit inside. I guess this was a mistake. It was nicely decorated, but the wall I was sitting next to was a bit soiled. A few minutes later, the waitress came and brought us ice water and asked if we wanted a drink. I ordered a soda, my boyfriend ordered an iced tea. She brought our drinks and we were ready to order. I ordered the salmon pita 15.5 and my boyfriend ordered a plain hamburger 9.5. I chose a side salad, him the French fries for our sides. It took me a minute to decide on a dressing, I had the waitress tell me what they had, I then asked about a Dijon vinagrette because I noticed they had it offered with a pear salad I almost ordered, she said they had a citrus vinagrette, that sounded good, so I chose that. Twenty minutes later a young guy brought our food and placed it on the table and asked if we needed anything, we said no. When he walked away I noticed I had fries. The waitress came back when we were halfway done eating, she didn't notice the mishap, and it was too late by that point to say anything. The waitress never refilled our water or asked if we wanted a refill on our empty drinks. Another young girl came by to clear the table when we were done eating. About 10 minutes later the waitress came and asked if we wanted anything else, we said no, she brought our check, $32.58. I will not be returning, there are enough restaurants in Bristol that I haven't sampled yet, and they certainly didn't win me over with the service!
(2)Mark P.
Food was average and slightly overpriced. I wouldn't go here again since it didn't offer anything that memorable. Great location if you're on the East Bay bike path though...also had nice views.
(3)Paul L.
Good food. Good drinks. Bartenders are friendly. Awesome view of the water!
(4)Melinda G.
The entire inside of the restaurant was empty yet the hostess told us we would have to wait 45 minutes for a table. Apparently on a busy Saturday night they don't have enough staff to handle the number of customers coming through their doors. We drove 20 minutes to try this place, such a waste. I understand having to wait for a table when a place is busy but not when it's empty. We won't be returning.
(1)Stephen E.
We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The only thing nice about this place is the water view. Prices of the food were very high...$12.99 for a grilled chicken sandwich. The food was marginal pub food at best. Drinks were very small and in plastic cups. Very slow service in spite of the fact it was only about a third full. Don't waste your money here. This place won't last like this.
(1)VC V.
Abner and I had been riding our bikes along the bike path and came upon Agave. With a beautiful day, an outdoor patio and being thirsty, we had to lock up our bikes and stop in. We had a nice table with a view. We ordered drinks. I got the peach sangria, which was tasty, but a bit on the sweet side for me. Abner got a frozen strawberry daiquiri and it came in the tiniest glass I have ever seen. I was disappointed for him, but he said it tasted good anyway....just not much of it. We ordered the salsa and chips. The chips were warm and the salsa was very tasty. I was impressed with the salsa bowl. It was so heavy that I think it could kill a person. The server must really be strengthening her upper arms delivering that to tables! Before the long bike ride back, we used the restrooms. Ugh. It seemed unclean to me and I was grossed out. There were Marilyn Monroe pictures all over the ladies room. The pictures were nice, but please clean up that ladies room. Abner had a similar bad experience in the men's room. Something about the way the doors open, anyone can see you inside doing your business.
(3)Gary G.
My wife and I took our parents out for mothers day dinner and we're very disappointed. The service was slow and not very good. Took one hour and a half for the entrees to come out. Had to send my dish back, was supposed to be a Cajun shrimp pasta I received ziti with red sauce and 2 pieces of shrimp. $18.99 We have been to agave twice before and the experience was great! Not sure what went wrong this time.
(2)Robert H.
Agave gets kudos for both it's view of Bristol Harbor as well as it's location on the bike path, including ample bike parking. That being said the food is mostly ordinary, and very expensive. As others have pointed out, you are paying for the water view. Keep that in mind to check your expectations and you'll be fine. One dish to try if you are willing to pay for them at $18: the crab sliders.
(3)Corinne W.
Beautiful view. Nice place to sit and have a drink. But the food and service are horrendous especially for the price they are asking. We have given this place a few try's giving them the benefit of the doubt. We gave it one last shot a couple nights ago and it hasn't changed a bit. It's very disappointing because it's a close restaurant nearby. But unfortunately I do not recommend
(2)Paul G.
Nice setting average food. Went during the day, rented a bike and rode to Barrington, on the way back we stopped here for a pint. Great place to stop. Came back in evening at sunset. Great view! Ordered a meal... Mahi Mahi was dry and average. Summary - great stop for a drink - better food elsewhere in Bristol.
(3)Amber S.
What a terrible experience! So sad to say because my husband and I used to love this place, but if they keep putting out food like they did for our meal that beautiful location they have is going to be worth nada! I have never written a bad review before, and I feel bad doing it, but we both work in the food industry and I would want to know if this was my place. The food was awful...our calamari app was gross, we didn't even eat it... I know I know how can calamari be bad? Trust me. Then neither my husband nor I enjoyed our meals...my salmon was so overcooked I could barely eat it. My husband had the fajitas, and when I tell you he is the least picky eater I know...he said they were pretty darn bad. Honestly how do you mess up fajitas! The service was OK, ill leave it at that. I could go on, but lets just say it was disappointing all around. Hope they step it up.
(1)Gregory P.
One of the most "average" restaurants I've ever been to. The location is absolutely amazing (right off the East Bay Bike Path and with awesome water views) but the food was very bland. I got the chicken fajitas and they were extremely bland. The menu said "spicy peppers" but the peppers were tasteless. My girlfriend got the quesadilla's and said they were bland too. The chips and salsa were pretty good, but the salsa was a tad bit too soupy. The salsa comes in a huge black bowl, which was cool. The drink menu looked awesome, but we didnt' drink today. Not sure if I can recommend this restaurant to all of you. There's probably a better restaurant close by.
(3)Mike D.
If you have eaten at the Thames Street Landing down the road and experienced the mediocre food you won't be surprised to fine the same type of fare at Agave. Thames Street is managed and Agave is owned and managed by the same person. The view at Agave like that at Thames Street Landing is exceptional. The food and drinks are both expensive at both locations. My advice, if you're looking for a good meal skips both places. If you want to have expensive drinks while watching the sunset over Bristol harbor Agave will do nicely. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants in Bristol that put out a product that is worth your time and money. I give it two stars based on Mother Natures contribution.....
(2)Sylvia R.
My husband and I live in Warren so we decided to drive toward Bristol for dinner this past weekend. We'd never been to Agave and we spotted outside seating so we gave it a shot. It was EXCELLENT. Firstly, the location can't be beat. The outside seating was under a very pretty terrace with a full view of the bay. Considering the location we opted for the chowder and clam cakes special to start. The chowder was most definitely homemade, fresh with tons of clams and the cakes were delicious as well. For dinner my husband got the steak fajitas which came out on a skillet sizzling hot, just like they should, and he was very happy with them. Being a seafood lover I ordered the shrimp wrapped in bacon -- it was to die for! Huge jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon with a seafood stuffing that was bursting with flavor. Unfortunately, we didn't get around to trying anything on the drink menu, but we were intrigued by the exotic looking menu. We'll save that for next time! Not only that, but our server was friendly and attentive the whole time. Overall it was a great experience. Will definitely be returning!!
(5)Nina D.
I live right down the street and was dying to try this place... GREAT location, beautiful views and interior, even the plating is gorgeous. I have never been to Topside (what Agave was previously) but hear from everyone I meet that it was much better that way :( I went with my boyfriend on a weekday around 4...wanted to beat the dinner rush and figured the food would be incredible since the chef would not be cooking a million other dishes at the same time. Boy were we wrong! I got Chicken Tortilla soup that came with 95% broth and a sliver of chicken, a few tortilla strips on the side. My boyfriend got clam chowder that tasted like creamy potatoes sans clams and all the good stuff. My pork sliders tasted like pork tossed in $1 barbecue sauce, the fries were pre-frozen and dumped into the fryer... My boyfriend's burger was average. The service wasn't bad but wasn't good, it was really just "blah". Food came out timely, but like I said, nothing that I'd ever want again. I'm really sad to write this review, since I could easily walk to Agave and would LOVE a place like that on these summer nights, especially with that view!
(1)Jaime T.
Absolutely in love! The restaurant was beautiful right on the water. It was lovely to sit outside and watch the boats go by. The sweet salty ocean smell made the ambiance incredible. Had wonderful company with my family and great Sam Adams beer and food. I had the lobster BLT and it was incredible! Everyone else enjoyed their food also. Had an incredible time and will hopefully come back with friends in the future.
(5)Jay D.
So I've tried, this place twice now and both times = FAIL. The service here is pretty decent, their wait staff tends to be really nice, helpful and attentive however there must be some serious problems back in the kitchen. The first time I went with a group of 6 ppl and 90% of our food came out cold. HUGE bummer and we had to send it back. One of the saddest things was that two people ordered quesadillas and they were HALF empty... but full price. Odd. The second time I went I ordered the quesadilla just hoping that it was better... nope. Empty. I was incredibly sad holding my dry tortilla without an ounce of cheese in it. I must say though the salsa and guacamole at this place are on point... super fresh and yummie...good luck dippen' in the stale chips though. Hurts my heart. The only reason I would go here is for the view... right on the water/bike path. The outdoor patio is quite nice and there are umbrellas and heat lamps. So sad. I want it to be good so bad. But. It ISN'T. If you want an incredible view as you starve, this is your kinda place.
(1)Jessica M.
So I know this place gets mixed reviews...but I really like it! The view is great - be sure to sit outside on the deck under their beautiful pergola if the weather is nice...which to me is one of the reasons you would come to Agave. The service is good, and they have an extensive tequila list (um, hello? the name of the place IS Agave) if that is your thing. They have some decent apps like the bacalao fritters, but their stuffed mushrooms and these Mexican-style egg rolls are REALLY good! It really fun place to kick back, watch the sunset, and have some cocktails and appetizers. But they have some great burgers, and I have to say their Lobster BLT is awesome! And though I have never had one, they have a sandwich called the Gordito, which I hear is great! I will be back!
(3)Bill O.
Formerly the Topside - which was a straightforward college & biker bar (depending on the time of year) w/ cheap pitchers and decent fried seafood. Now purchased by the owners of Thames Waterside and renamed Agave - this waterfront spot is looking to overhaul its image. I live walking distance from this spot and ate here several times during their "soft" relaunch. Each time the food was good to excellent and the structural improvements (new deck & patio, new TVs, revamped dining room) have proceeded steadily. That being said - my visit post "official opening" was a bit disappointing. Slow service and - inexplicably - they expanded the concise new menu to include multiple additional generic options (and changed the GREAT Chipotle Lobster BLT from a reasonable $14 to "Market Price" - probably because we ordered it so much.) One can't help think if these things are related. I'm no restaurant owner - but I've watched enough Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmares to realize that a smaller, stronger menu is always better. Choose fresh, interesting dishes that the kitchen can handle - and you improve service and quality. The initially revamped menu seemed to do this (w/ frequent specials) - but the current menu is cluttered and (apparently) overwhelming. The current (very) low reviews do not reflect the overall quality of this restaurant - but until they streamline their service and shore up the menu they'll remain just OK when it comes to dining (although they remain 4+ stars for location and view.) One more thing - there are multiple mentions here of the waitress uniforms. I have no real idea where this comes from. Unless I'm missing "Lingerie Tuesdays" or "Bikini Sundays" at Agave - I don't see anything inappropriate or even out of the ordinary. Maybe I'll pay closer attention next time (and if Agave DOES start "Bikini Sundays" - I want the proper credit and/or blame dammit!)
(3)Aerin K.
Beautiful view- food and service nowhere near it. No specialty on their menu to notice besides a whole page of shots. Would still not go even if someone else was paying. But the view is magnificent!!
(3)Alicia C.
When the transition was made from topsides I was not sure what the new culture would offer because it was a former biker bar. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the transformation that had occurred. It looks completely different with modern decor. The old bar tables are gone and replaced with more dining situated ones. The menu is completely re done as well. I ordered the Honey glazed salmon. It was presented well and was filling and tasty. I sat at the bar where a younger girl, Jenna, waited on me, she was very pleasant and informed me of this cooling system they had for the beer. I ordered a beer on tap and it was defiantly very cold, I thought that was cool. I think they are also known for tons of tequila given the name, I will defiantly try it next time I go. I would recommend agave for a first date, group, or business dinner.
(5)Brett B.
I'm glad to be the first one to review this place, just so I can make sure no one else goes here. I think the rating "Eek! Methinks not." says it all. All around pretty disappointing except for maybe the drinks. Where to start? ...Let me talk about my experience... Ambiance: I have to say, the location is exceptional. I must say that sitting outside looking out at the bay in Bristol is gorgeous. Especially while the sun is setting. Drinks: I had The Bee Sting..not bad. Actually pretty good. Otherwise, drinks were very standard, and took a while to come out. Wait staff: Not bad at first, relatively attentive, but then totally dropped the ball. After getting the food, we finished our drinks (would have liked another), then sat at the table, not touching our food for almost an hour without as much as a pass to see how things were. I mean, come on, this place isn't meant to be low class. Food: Mediocre. I had the Mixed Grill. Not bad. The pork chop was moist, but there wasn't much flavor to it. The chipotle chicken sausage was good. By the way, I don't think these people know what chimichurri sauce is. My mother-in-law had the steak. They obviously don't know how to cook steak. Who knew that medium is not the same as well done? Who the hell doesn't know how to cook a steak? I know the place just opened, but they could use some new cooks or a new chef. Dessert: Don't know. Wasn't offered and was so pissed off that the waitress took forever to return that we went searching for her, so we never had it. Overall, I would say, if you're going for drinks, fine, but otherwise, dinner is not worth the wait and the wait staff is awful. I would say avoid it for the other amazing places near the water in Bristol.
(1)Chron N.
I have heard mixed reviews on their lunch and dinners but god almighty the breakfast was horrendous. The eggs were cold and looked like were literally from a buffet 2 hours ago. They were hard and tasted disgusting. The potatoes were cold and the sausage and pancake came out below average in warmth. On top of that it took 15 min to get our bill. Our waitresses walked past us 5 times. We were 1 of 10 tables and there was about 4 or 5 servers. One if them in a booth on her cell phone as we walked out. I understand location location location but I would rather have a great meal with great service then have a decent view of the water and everything else I just mentioned. Just my $0.02.
(1)Tracy C.
I went here last night for dinner and ordered the chipotle nachos to start, a blackened salmon salad for my meal, and of course a pitcher of sangria. The blackened salmon salad was delicious, the nachos and sangria were just average. What makes this restaurant is the location; gorgeous outdoor deck with a remarkable view of the water. If you decide to visit Agave in Bristol, RI be sure to sit outside! Friendly staff as well!
(4)Jane S.
I was here last week. I found the food to be rather disappointing. The cheese they were using seemed like it came straight out of a pre-shredded bag, and the chicken seemed like it was not cooked to order but maybe the kind that comes pre-prepared and vacuum packed. For a $12 quesadilla appetizer it seems they could try to do a little better. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly.
(2)Kay R.
We were a bit skittish when we heard the Topside had new owners- liked the small changes in ambiance- but were skeptical when the full out re-branding occurred. There is definitely room for improvement, but the location is ideal, food solid, service typically okay, and (I believe) all improving over time. Big money was invested in revamping the outside deck and adding the stone patio- it will be really great once the outside bar is installed. If you choose to sit out and enjoy the Bristol Harbor and bikepath- beware seagull swooping. They are ruthless. Inside the bar has somehow managed to keep a piece of its biker-refuge feel, while now welcoming a more diverse clientele. The fireplace dining down below keeps Agave on the list for winter nights and the live music adds to the experience. I can't say too much for the food. It is solid. I had the lobster BLT, the "B" was missing... better for my cholesterol, but not my choice. Never had a bad meal, just never had a great one either. Definitely prefer Agave to their sister restaurant down the street, Thames.
(3)Stephanie W.
Today we are headed to Agave. We live in the Boston area and usually stop there for breakfast before biking. The service is outstanding!!!! Staff really seem as if they like their jobs and go out of their way to please you. Their steak and eggs are excellent! Not an inexpensive breakfast, but we don't eat a lot of meat, so when we do, this is a real treat. They also serve some excellent complimentary cornbread too. Steak is a large, flavorful piece.We have also stopped by for lunch. Pork slidders are really good, nachos, and steak wrap. Sure drinks are expensive, but I don't think they are much different than many other places. Great views, plenty of parking.
(5)Ray C.
Ok I'm not going to spend too much time on this review as my wife and I experienced pretty much what the other reviewers have written about this place. The renovations they made are really nice. The inside is really classy, complete w/a lounge area w/leather couches and a fireplace. The outside patio overlooking Bristol harbor is the best! The view right at sunset can't beat it. But unfortunately these are the only positives about this place. Now our waitress was nice, the food, definitely not worth the prices. The menu is definitely overpriced. The food is sub-par at best and so not worth the prices they charge. I'm not quite sure how ownership justifies charging these prices for average food. If I go back, it will be just for drinks on their outside patio. Don't waste your money on the food as there are much better options in Bristol.
(2)Sophie R.
good things first: i was truly impressed at the improvements made to the patio and interior. the patio is like dining in a some mediterranean garden, with the billowing white drapes, the potted plants, and the ocean breeze. absolutely no complaints. it is a great drink destination in the summer time. the food is really not all that great. i haven't had any problems with the service, but also, it wasn't great service. basically: 4 stars for drinks, and ambiance probably 2 to 3 stars for food and professionality. not writing the place off just yet though. the summer will probably find me here semi-frequently for some evening cocktails.
(3)Jeff R.
Eight dollar vodka tonics in an ex-biker bar is a bit much.
(2)A M.
I was kind of excited to try this place since I have such high hopes for places that try to bring a new feel to a very old place. I have to say I was disspointed and probably won't give it another shot. Read on... The decor is amazing, that I have to give credit where credit is due. It is very obvious that they put more thought and heart into the renovations of the place then the menu or food. The outside seating is awesome, provides a great ambiance and view if you go later in the day for the sunset or boat watching. But I'm not paying for the view... The menu to start is very schizophrenic, a little spanish, american, new england, mexican fare with really no definitive idea as to what kind of restaurant they are. The tequila menu and drink menu was very appealing! So we orderd a pitcher of the red sangria and a couple waters. The drinks came out, glass pitcher, wine glasses for the sangria and PLASTIC CUPS for the water?? Why go through the trouble of glass for everything but put the water in plastic cups? That's very cheap no? Moving on...went to serve ourselves the sangria because our server didn't think to or offer to and with the small spout and overflow of ice, we were actually able to pour half a glass before spilling a quarter of the sangria on the floor! Finally we asked our server to help us out and she even mentioned that it was a "pain in the ass" Appetizers were really good, empanadas tasted as there was some heart put them as well as the bacallo fritters. Everything needed a little seasoning but that, we thought, was just a preference. We decided to split the entree, after trying to decifer what we wanted from the entrees on acid. We went with the top sirloin, medium rare. When it was placed in front of us, after being almost auctioned to a party of 10 who hadn't even gotten their apps yet, and without a steak knife, I didn't even need to cut into it to know it wasn't Medium rare, actually not even close. Upon greater look, it was very very well done! Come on, mistake between Medium rare and Medium, maybe...Medium rare and well done, find a new profession! Not only that but it's summertime in Rhode Island, the farm movement has taken over and there is an abundance of beautiful vegetables surrounding the area from local farms and our vegetable on the plate was unseasoned, poorly cooked, poorly peeled, poorly cut, steamed carrots with only 2 steamed (unseasoned also) limp green beans!?!?!? If you don't love food, don't love presenting your guests with an experience that you would love to have yourself, DON'T OPEN A RESTAURANT!!!! There are local farms surrounding you "CHEF", I know I use them everyday!!! Find your inner cook and go for it or get out! I brought my overcooked steak to our servers attention and she promptly brought it back to the kitchen and told the kitchen the mistake, I know because we could hear her yell it from outside the place! The steak came back, on the same plate we sent it back on, cooked mediocre, unseasoned of course also. The onion "rings' that were supposed to come with it were dried out, unseasoned (seeing a repitition here?) and by god cold as the water in front of us. I really had high hopes for this place but if they can't get their "sh-t" together with their food, not even the most beautiful sunset will make me ever return there and should scare you away as well.
(2)Monica D.
We had come from a very long walk, so when we arrived at Agave (our first experience) we were tempted to sit out on the patio for the beautiful view, however the remaining tables were sun beaten and we were hot from walking, so we chose to sit inside. I guess this was a mistake. It was nicely decorated, but the wall I was sitting next to was a bit soiled. A few minutes later, the waitress came and brought us ice water and asked if we wanted a drink. I ordered a soda, my boyfriend ordered an iced tea. She brought our drinks and we were ready to order. I ordered the salmon pita 15.5 and my boyfriend ordered a plain hamburger 9.5. I chose a side salad, him the French fries for our sides. It took me a minute to decide on a dressing, I had the waitress tell me what they had, I then asked about a Dijon vinagrette because I noticed they had it offered with a pear salad I almost ordered, she said they had a citrus vinagrette, that sounded good, so I chose that. Twenty minutes later a young guy brought our food and placed it on the table and asked if we needed anything, we said no. When he walked away I noticed I had fries. The waitress came back when we were halfway done eating, she didn't notice the mishap, and it was too late by that point to say anything. The waitress never refilled our water or asked if we wanted a refill on our empty drinks. Another young girl came by to clear the table when we were done eating. About 10 minutes later the waitress came and asked if we wanted anything else, we said no, she brought our check, $32.58. I will not be returning, there are enough restaurants in Bristol that I haven't sampled yet, and they certainly didn't win me over with the service!
(2)Mark P.
Food was average and slightly overpriced. I wouldn't go here again since it didn't offer anything that memorable. Great location if you're on the East Bay bike path though...also had nice views.
(3)Melinda G.
The entire inside of the restaurant was empty yet the hostess told us we would have to wait 45 minutes for a table. Apparently on a busy Saturday night they don't have enough staff to handle the number of customers coming through their doors. We drove 20 minutes to try this place, such a waste. I understand having to wait for a table when a place is busy but not when it's empty. We won't be returning.
(1)Joan S.
It was okay. Interesting menu. Husbands burger good not great. Order the crab cake app and was disappointed it was more cake than crab especially for $14 Will go back and try it again as the menu had some really interesting items. Can't beat the location. Water front with plenty of parking. Service good not great. Overall worth going and I will go back.
(3)A D.
My sisters and I stopped in last Thursday night. We had just come from a wake and wanted some apps and drinks. For food we ordered Mahi Mahi bites, Calamari, Mussels and Stuffies. Drinks - sangria and a cosmo. The drinks since they were very good. The food on the other hand was lacking in flavor. The Mahi Mahi bites looked like they came from a frozen box. The calamari were the biggest size rings I had ever seen and over cooked. They served them with hot peppers and chorizo. The chorizo was different. I had never seen that added to calamari. I'm sure it is because they think it would be attractive to the Portuguese population in Bristol. The mussels were suppose to be PEI but they were very small and the red sauce tasted like they just opened a can of crush tomato and poured it over the mussels. No flavor. Not even a flavor of the mussel juice...weird. The stuffies did not have any clams and appeared to just be plain bread crumbs cooked with clam juice. I'm giving 3 stars since the food was edible, just boring and the drinks and service were great. I just don't think they should try to have both mexican and new england style seafood on the same menu. Hopefully the mexican entrees are better. I would go back to sit on the deck and have drinks. The location is great but not the food.
(3)Sarah W.
It cracks me up that people are complaining about the price. The entrees were $15-$25 and expertly made. One of the prettiest ocean views with such close proximity to the water, with people watching on the bike trail to boot, you can't beat it. I'll definitely be back. Food and beverage selection is phenomenal!
(5)Kayla W.
Came here on a whim few people mentioned it was supposed to be pretty good other reviews I read said otherwise. Well I'm glad I form my own opinions and decided on dinner and drinks here tonight because the food that we got ( clams plate and salmon sandwich ) and the sangria was great. Not to mention the on point service from the waitress even coming over refilling our wine glasses. To top it off the view of the water and sunset was peaceful and beautiful especially after a very long day at work. I can definitely say I am a fan and will be back often bringing more people.
(5)Kelly M.
Three of us came for a late lunch mid-week. It was pretty dead inside, though some customers were sitting outside. Great view. The service was fine, and the food was okay, but nothing special. I had some difficulty finding good vegetarian options. I feel like the place is having an identity crisis. With its name, I expected Mexican. The decor in the bathroom was truly puzzling: Victorian-style silhouette decals, wicker furniture, and 1950s Marilyn Monroe prints.
(2)Sophia L.
I came here with a group of 10 on a weekend after a bike ride. It has a very scenic view, and the restaurant decor is as beautiful. But I was greatly disappointed in the food and the waitress. Our waitress did not bring out any utensils until we asked. She didn't collect our menus for a while, so we gathered them and put them on an empty table next to us, which was picked up by someone else quickly. She did not refill our waters, unless we asked. What kind of service is this? We are typically and understanding crowd, but grew tedious of waiting on her. When the bill came and we saw that a 20% gratuity was tacked on our bill, we figured she didn't care about how she performed since that rate would already be charged. It's a prominent location along the East Bay bike path, but if I were to come here again it'd be for the view and not the food or service, and definitely not with a group.
(2)A J.
The outdoor patio is beautiful, overlooking the water! The location was perfect for Mother's Day Brunch, but sadly the food/drinks didn't match the venue. The outdoor buffet was set up very nicely, but the "hot" food items were served cold. Our waitress was very attentive & pleasant. If it wasn't for the disappointing food temperature and poor bartending experience, the overall experience would've been great.
(2)Jean B.
This was the forth time I visited the Agave Restaurant. Each time it was either a friend or a group of friends that made the decision to dine to enjoy the beautiful water view. Yes, Agave is off the bike path, has a stunning view, and the interior is lovely. The food is fair at best and the service is average.
(2)Mike P.
Picturesque- that is the first word that comes to mind. Not just the gorgeous view of the water, but the entire set up. Whoever designed and decorated this place did an excellent job. The server was quite friendly and the food came out in a timely fashion. And what about the food? The menu is very large and very tempting. We had the fried buffalo chicken ravioli. A unique idea and they tasted good, not great, but good. I think it was because the buffalo taste was too light. For lunch I had the chicken and pesto sandwich. It was good. Maybe a little skimpy on the French fries. Overall, I felt like I discovered a RI hidden secret. I hope to come back in the near future.
(4)Alyson S.
After peddling 6 miles from the Barrington Shopping Plaza our group stopped in for some margaritas and good eats. This is a great stop for anyone on the East Bay Bike Path since it has tons of bike parking. Sitting outside even on one of the warmest days of the year a cool breeze came in off the water. The deck was gorgeous to sit on as we watched the sunset. The service was excellent especially with our large group with the waitress making sure everyone got their correct check. The food was good but I didn't dare try anything too heavy as we had to bike the 6 miles back. I would definitely recommend this place for a margarita during sunset and I can't wait to go back and try some of their more intersting dishes.
(4)Mark S.
Came here for Sunday Funday drinks and a bite. The back deck has had a huge facelift from the Topside days. They have a huge upper deck and large lower deck. Plenty of umbrellas but there were tons of seats with sun and they will move/open/close any of them to accommodate your sun/shade preference. They removed a lot of the brush and trees which had previously blocked a lot of the water view. It is now wide open and offers a kick ass view of the entire harbor. Way better view than Thames Waterside (old Goff's). Drinks were OK but definitely pricey. My first drink had Cabo Wabo in it but they put so much OJ in there I could barely taste the tequila. They did make a delicious Mojito though. Awesome but expensive list of tequila's, vast drink menu and typical beer selection. The food was pretty decent, nothing awesome. We didn't order anything fancy. We split the calamari which was tasty. Lightly breaded and was a mix of the rings and tentacles. Tossed with banana peppers, garlic and chourico which made for a great combo. The littlenecks were good and make sure you order them in the white sauce. I got a steak and cheese wrap (actual steak, not shaved) with peppers, shrooms and onions. It was good but pretty small for the price. The rest of the table ordered the veggie wrap and fish sandwich. They had no complaints. Service was great. Staff were all very friendly, quick and helpful with suggestions. I'd definitely come back for some outside cocktails and light bite.
(4)Green M.
We were a party of six and had no trouble getting in for dinner on the patio around 7:00 PM, and that's with the concerts downtown and everything. We chose the upper deck, since it was covered and showers were expected, but the lower deck was much more scenic: right on the East Bay Bike Path and the Bay is literally ten feet away, lapping at the rocks. I mean...location. Our waitress was totally awesome. Laid back, attentive, and helpful. I hope all of my friends tipped her well, because she definitely deserved it! We stayed for hours and she just kept swinging by, topping off drinks and putting in anything else we wanted. She didn't even care when we had to be a-holes and split the bill all weird. Just the ultimate, New England summer evening dining ambiance, and she was a big part of it. I want to say her name was Christina? Kristen? All of the waitstaff seemed to be doing a great job around us, too. Let's run down the food. I have to say, the feedback on the food was the reason I was wary to try this place; we really came for the drinks and the view and decided to eat because we happened to be hungry. But it didn't seem like anyone was disappointed that we were. APPETIZERS -HOT BREAD for free. Cornbread and an especially yummy dinner roll. -Delicious clam chowder. No, for real. Big pieces of clam and potato, and a creamy broth that tasted, literally, like the sea: very delicate and bright for a cream-based soup. -Everyone who ate the stuffies and the clam cakes was impressed by the quality and flavor. Delicious. -One friend ordered the buffalo chicken fried ravioli, which I believe was on the specials menu? I could be wrong. She thought it was going to be a dinner-sized portion, but apparently she'd misread that it wasn't an appetizer. Anyway, she thought they were good, too, and wanted a full-sized portion. SALADS As a vegetarian, I ordered the summer orzo salad. Because I am a doofus, I thought it would be a bed of mixed greens, with a small serving of orzo on top; I love pasta on my salad and sometimes forget that this isn't always common at restaurants. Suffice it to say that it was a large serving (LARGE) of well-flavored, al dente orzo with nice, salty chunks of feta throughout; you could tell the cheese was the "good stuff," not the crap you buy at the supermarket. Like, I want more of it right now. Anyway, there was a scattering of cukes and tomatoes. I knew the orzo was the star, so I can't fault them for my own misconception that it would be more salad than orzo. And the dressing was delicious; maybe Greek, or creamy Italian? Whatever it was, it was GOOD. And the food wasn't swimming in it. Well balanced, all around. Very well balanced. Usually, I wouldn't order something as simple as an orzo salad, since I find I usually like my own home cooking better in that case. But I'm glad I took the chance and will get it again, this time on some greens! DRINKS So, I don't drink a whole lot, and wine lists tend to overwhelm me. I go with the chardonnay and stick with it, usually. What's great about Agave's drinks menu is a) it's got a lot of variety and b) it tells you exactly what to expect from each kind of wine. It's the kind of thing that might make you brave enough to stray from the chard and go for a Pinot Noir, as I did tonight, enticed by the little description. Also, c) not too expensive ($7.50/glass for my Pinot) and d) I saw that they offer a wine pairing suggestion for each main course, right on the menu. These people know their shit and make it easy for new winos to start learning. Lots of cool, smaller beers on tap, too! My beer-drinking friends were both happy with their selections: yummy white beers with slices of citrus. They looked so nice and refreshing! Definitely trying one next time. And the mixed-drinkers also seemed to like their cocktails: margaritas with coconut tequila and all sorts of martinis and things. EDIT: It seems there were a slew of health code violations in June...my wife was actually sick for a few days afterward, but we didn't make the connection until we saw this. bristol-warren.patch.com… As a result, we probably will not be going back, though the ambiance was so nice. What a shame, even the ICE was tainted, so that cuts out even drinks on the patio.
(3)Joanna R.
This place is pricey - but when you see the view of the ocean, you realize why you're paying more. For ambiance, this place gets a 10/10. For the food, a 5-6/10. To maximize your experience, watch the weather, and call and reserve a table outdoors at the edge of the patio on the water on a beautiful clear summer night. We went in the beginning of July with a 7:00 reservation, and the timing was perfect to watch the sun set - super romantic... I couldn't stop smiling, I was so happy just sitting out on the deck!! It was also really fun to "people watch" folks on the bike path. We split I had the ahi tuna salad and my husband had the steamers. The tuna was cold and was very thin and on the tougher side... bland and not much flavor.. My husband had no complaints about the steamers. I was not impressed with the selection of white wines by the glass, also on the bland side... but the absolutely incredible view of the ocean, the reggae music, the setting sun, the cabana-like setting, the soft lights after sunset.. all made up for what the food was lacking. The service was slow, very slow, but I was actually appreciative of that, because that meant we got to enjoy the view for longer! We had a great time together, and will be back again some summer night to celebrate a special occasion.
(3)G L.
The same owners as Thames Waterside Grill and Bar. The drinks are super expensive, the food is below average and the service is awful! In the summer it will take you 20 minutes to get a drink, two hours to get your food and when the bill comes you will wonder what the hell just happened. Again the only redeeming quality is the view as it is quite nice.
(1)Ellen C.
It really is just okay-- but the perfect margarita and the patio bump it up to A-OK. First off, it's a fine place to take kids because everyone else is loud enough so that they don't mind or notice the squwaks from your table. Also, when I was there a guy started playing miked accoustic guitar and singing near the bar, so that rose the overall volume, too. However, it's not a loud bar type of place. So as far as noise and energy, there's a good balance. The atmosphere's pretty great. Nice decor: a big roomy, open, expansive feeling, as though you were at someone's nice new lake home, and that someone has money, awesome water views, and huge windows facing said water-- and sunset. The outside patio certainly looks awesome, although I've only viewed it jogging by. (I ate here indoors, on a rainy day.) It's embarrassing to trip at that point, as you are oogling the eaters, but everyone looks quite content there. There's a good amount of tables, umbrellas for shade, and only a small, two-lane bike/joggers path in front of the bay. So it really seems a fine place to spend an afternoon with a pitcher of the aformentioned 'perfect margaritas.' (That drink title is both my opinion and the drink name.) The food was very meh. My group ordered crab cakes, which elicited neither oohs nor aahhhs; nachos, which were the normal big glop of ingredients, good at first then a little disgusting; fried plantains, which were just fine; and clam chowder, which was quickly slurped down by the kids. EDIT!-- Now I've tried the cornbread caeser-- great the first time, alright the 2nd, and an amazing vegetairan ceviche with hearts of palm. Freah, bright, and perfect size serving. On my first visit, there was an avocado pit in the nachos. Not too small a thing, an avocado pit, which I guess explains the just-alright food-- not a lot of attention seems to be paid. I mean, an avocado pit is hard to miss, although on that note, at least no one could choke on it. Margaritas and patio, maybe indoor drinks at the bar. That's what I reccomend this place for. Or, a meal with young kids that's not McDonald's or Chili's.
(3)Britt C.
I'm only giving more than one star here because the service was decent. Two of us came in around 3:30pm and the place was dead. We only came because we were hungry and in the area and figured it seemed ok on the fly. We had plantains for an app and both ordered specials as entrees: chicken marsala and mushroom ravioli. The service was good, but that's to be expected if you're half of the restaurant's population. I had the ravioli, which was so oily the sauce was actually separating as I was eating and ended up looking curdled about two raviolis in. The marsala was definitely not marsala. It was a thick, red sauce to keep it short. The bill was $40... for pasta, terrible pasta. The bartender was our server and we chose to sit at a high top.
(2)Richie R.
Maggots!!! WTF!!! Need I say more? In my burger? This place needs to be shut down by the health inspectors... I've never seen something so disgusting ever be served. And no, I wasn't trying out the 'fear factor' menu. Our party obviously returned all of their dishes, as some of them almost threw up. And to top it all off, they didn't even comp our drinks even though we just needed to get the hell out of there... Wow... The only way I would recommend this place is to get shut down by the health department...
(1)Emily E.
A bit pricey but totally worth it. The view is amazing, right on the bike path over-looking the Bristol Harbor Bay. I recommend definitely sitting outside for the sunset in the months of May-early September and then requesting the booth near the fireplace during the winter. For dinner, penne with pink tequila sauce is to die for. The first time I had it, it was spicier than expected but so delicious. I've also heard the fajitas were awesome too. You cannot go wrong with ordering any of the sangria options, sweet but refreshing. Their brunch is also heavenly. Overall a great place for just a Corona by the bay or a family outing!
(4)Bill O.
Formerly the Topside - which was a straightforward college & biker bar (depending on the time of year) w/ cheap pitchers and decent fried seafood. Now purchased by the owners of Thames Waterside and renamed Agave - this waterfront spot is looking to overhaul its image. I live walking distance from this spot and ate here several times during their "soft" relaunch. Each time the food was good to excellent and the structural improvements (new deck & patio, new TVs, revamped dining room) have proceeded steadily. That being said - my visit post "official opening" was a bit disappointing. Slow service and - inexplicably - they expanded the concise new menu to include multiple additional generic options (and changed the GREAT Chipotle Lobster BLT from a reasonable $14 to "Market Price" - probably because we ordered it so much.) One can't help think if these things are related. I'm no restaurant owner - but I've watched enough Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmares to realize that a smaller, stronger menu is always better. Choose fresh, interesting dishes that the kitchen can handle - and you improve service and quality. The initially revamped menu seemed to do this (w/ frequent specials) - but the current menu is cluttered and (apparently) overwhelming. The current (very) low reviews do not reflect the overall quality of this restaurant - but until they streamline their service and shore up the menu they'll remain just OK when it comes to dining (although they remain 4+ stars for location and view.) One more thing - there are multiple mentions here of the waitress uniforms. I have no real idea where this comes from. Unless I'm missing "Lingerie Tuesdays" or "Bikini Sundays" at Agave - I don't see anything inappropriate or even out of the ordinary. Maybe I'll pay closer attention next time (and if Agave DOES start "Bikini Sundays" - I want the proper credit and/or blame dammit!)
(3)Aerin K.
Beautiful view- food and service nowhere near it. No specialty on their menu to notice besides a whole page of shots. Would still not go even if someone else was paying. But the view is magnificent!!
(3)Alicia C.
When the transition was made from topsides I was not sure what the new culture would offer because it was a former biker bar. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the transformation that had occurred. It looks completely different with modern decor. The old bar tables are gone and replaced with more dining situated ones. The menu is completely re done as well. I ordered the Honey glazed salmon. It was presented well and was filling and tasty. I sat at the bar where a younger girl, Jenna, waited on me, she was very pleasant and informed me of this cooling system they had for the beer. I ordered a beer on tap and it was defiantly very cold, I thought that was cool. I think they are also known for tons of tequila given the name, I will defiantly try it next time I go. I would recommend agave for a first date, group, or business dinner.
(5)Patrick M.
I do not frequent Agave as I am a massive fan of other restaurants on the water in Bristol. I went because a friend wanted to go. I have had drinks there in the past but this was the first time I ate dinner. We were a party of 3. I've never sat outside and I have to say that I was quite surprised at how beautiful it was! We had a lovely table right on the water and the sunset was just glorious. We were greeted by our server Simeona promptly. She was most of the reason we had such a lovely time. She treated us like family, made us laugh and was very helpful with all of our questions. We loved her! Side note - the music they were playing was amazing! Lots of Coldplay and just great songs from the late 90's early 00's We started with cocktails. I enjoy a certain type of martini that is kind of unconventional, so I explained it to Simeona and she made sure it was perfect. All of our drinks were so wonderful. Calamari was the appetizer that we chose to start with. It wasn't good.. The calamari tasted a little odd. It wasn't the fish, you could tell it was fresh - it was the batter and the oil I think. Also it was rubbery.. I wasn't a fan. The marinara sauce that came with it was NOT good. It tasted like it was from a jar and it was luke warm. I am Sicilian and very picky about anything Italian... I also critique Italian harder than any other type of food. I ordered the Lobster Roll BLT. This is where they shined! It was absolutely delicious and I ate every last morsel of it. I opted out of the french fries and went for the side salad with balsamic. It was good, nothing special. I did try the fries that my friend ordered and they were very good! I'll be back, but mostly for the drinks and view.
(3)Al R.
It was perfectly acceptable food. The service was a bit lackluster (several menu-promised sides and accoutrements were missing upon delivery) but the convenience to the bike path is unbeatable. We stopped here after our full 26 mile bike ride along the neighboring east bay path and this was our final stop. So convenience and Hunger are what gave our otherwise bland food flavor. And an evening fog made the restaurant more romantic than it deserved. These three stars are generous. I'd recommend this place for post-bike drinks instead. It seemed to have an extensive tequila menu!
(3)Seth N.
Terrible service. Got seated pretty quickly and waitress took our order, then it took over an hour to get our food. Nothing extravagant. Two wraps, a salad, and a kids grilled cheese. Over an hour for something I could have made at home in about 15 minutes. Waitress stopped by after about 45 minutes to say it was coming "soon". 25 minutes later it was finally served. Average food after the huge wait - nothing special. First and only visit here.
(1)Brian S.
Bikes burgers and bays Agave is a restaurant with a view and it has several decks outside overlooking Narragansett Bay and the East Bay Bike Path to maximize that view. There is always plenty of space inside for people that for whatever reason don't what to be outside. The views are indeed entertaining. You can watch the ships go by in the bay or the numerous bikes zooming along on the bike path. Plus there usually is a nice breeze blowing in from the south to keep things cool on even the hottest days. Perhaps it's a bit classier after dark but during a day a lot of bikers stop here for a rest and bit to eat before continuing along the bike path. The restaurant is just about at the end of the bike path so it's a convenient place to stop before turning around and going back north. The service has always been very accommodating and people usually get a choice of sitting where ever they want, whether it's in the sun, shade of perhaps even inside. It does get a bit crowded at times but things usually move along pretty quickly. The food has always been good but we've never really explored the menu, usually just a burger or salad and then on our way. A lot of restaurants have decent food and good service. nut the incredible views are what separates Agave from the mundane.
(4)Joan F.
We've eaten here several times for dinner and for an afternoon drink and appetizer, after riding bikes on the nearby path. They rate highly for great outdoor seating with nice views of the boats and water. Our server has always been very prompt and courteous. We recommend the mussels and the fish and chips.
(4)Stephanie G.
Unfortunately, this is a first and last visit. Starting with the positive: our server was kind and attentive. We sat outdoors in the evening.....the view was beautiful but the bugs were not. We were surprised that for an outdoor seating area, there were no bug zappers or trappers to enhance an outdoor dining experience. The menu was limited and a bit pricier than comparable items in other restaurants. Naturally, we assumed the food would have to be out of this world to warrant the price. We were wrong. The fish and chips dinner was ok but certainly not anything spectacular. The shrimp pasta dish was bland and the pasta was overcooked. Overall, we were disappointed and will not return.
(2)Zoey L.
Unfortunately this will be my only visit to this less than appetizing meal. We called twice ,once to make reservations once to confirm as we were arriving with a toddler. We get there and NO RESERVATION can be found. One of the guests of our party of 6 asks to speak to a manager and the "manager" says "I don't have time for this" Another manager comes over and rectifies the situation giving us a table outside. We all enjoyed the surroundings and the view but the 6 of us ordered 4 apps and 6 meals and nothing tasted remotely good. No flavor what-so-ever. I agree with the majority of the reviews,...just to many other restaurants around.
(2)Stephanie R.
Will not return. Nothing incredibly awful happened but just a series of annoying things. First the outside was a mess. Food and napkins from the night before all over the ground outside next to our table. We went for breakfast. Asked for fruit instead of toast. She said ok and never brought either. Charged me for a children's juice (2.25) when the kids meal comes with it. Placed hot coffee holder in front of infant sitting in high chair... And hot food as well. Then went inside to the bathrooms which was disgusting
(1)Steve P.
Went for dinner and it was awesome. The food was great. I had calamari the smokehouse burger. All four of us loved the meals not to mention the atmosphere. Overlooking the bay was unbelievable. We will definitely be back!
(5)Glen W.
Stopped in for dinner this evening for the location/sunset. I was immediately stunned by the prices. Granted, you're paying for the view, a standard idea in the Ocean State. But $12 for for chips? Those are complimentary at many restaurants. We had the chicken fajitas for $15. They were delicious, tasty. The fixins' were skimpy, definitely not enough to fill the warm tortillas. They weren't worth $15. But they were good. You're paying for the water view, keep that in mind. If ambiance is what you're looking for, go for it. Just don't expect too much.
(2)Russell C.
Their location is PERFECT for the summer. Was on the bike path and stopped in for breakfast. Took over 45 mins to get some over easy eggs and french toast. When it got here the food was gross. Part of my french toast was burnt while another part was wayyyy undercooked. The bacon was so salty litterally nobody at my table could even take more than one bite. Somone at our table had ordered a toasted English muffin and had to send it back 3 different times becuase it was barely even warm!! And it still wasnt toasted, we just gave up. If this place could get their act together they might really have something, unfortunately the food comes nowhere near matching their location and looks.
(1)Ellie H.
After visiting colt state park I was starving so I yelped restaurants near by. I pulled in and saw how close it was to the water which was a great first impression. We walked in and there was a cook sitting down on his phone and an empty hostess table. He finally looked up and said we could go upstairs. (Also still sitting there when we left..) There were only two other people sitting at the bar around 3 on a Wednesday. I ordered a burger and a pizza for my son. The burger was dry, flavorless and clearly frozen. The Bristol burger had chorizo and a fried egg topped with a stale bun. The chorizo was just crumbled on top and kept falling off the burger. The chorizo also didn't seem like it was of good quality it honestly tasted like a hot dog. What was most sad about our trip was my sons pizza (which I included a picture of.) how do you mess up pizza that bad? It was literally a ton of sauce with thin shredded sharp cheddar cheese that would fall off in complete chunks at the first bite. My son will eat mostly anything and he had one bite. I'm one who hates to waste food but I refused to wrap the rest to go. I generally was so disappointed when leaving the restaurant. I should've dug a little deeper into the reviews... The second picture of the lobster roll suckered me in and looked delicious, at least I know next time I'm in the area to avoid. The only way I could see this place being worth it is on a summer night on the deck with a drink. The food was so so sad steer clear
(1)Marial M.
I am fasting after visiting this restaurant. I order the "Skinny Rita" and it was so sweet I texted my dentist for a check up. Next I ordered some Cajun wings, because wings are my absolute favorite...but when they arrived...I had to blow off the overflow of boxed seasoning like my grandma's dusty shelf. My lips started curling under due to dehydration and sodium overdose. Next, I order the Ahi Tuna salad, because I was craving something refreshing and figured...hey, we are by the ocean, let's get seafood. I didn't realize that Tuna was available at BJ's...I also think they might serve this dish in jail. I cancelled the idea of dessert and went to Cumberland Farms for a bag of chips. They never let me down.
(1)Kristine C.
If I could give this place 0 stars I would. The one star would only be for how pretty it is out on the back deck in the summer. Everything else 0. The food is horrible, so much so that I sent my first dish back (a seafood dish, really, in Bristol?!?) Second dish came out and that was disgusting also, didn't eat it. (a seafood stuffed chicken, tasted like it was a frozen dinner they heated up) You would think that the server would have gone to management at that point to tell them? Nothing. I even saw the manager on the top deck looking out over the crowd with this look of disdain/boredom?? He certainly never walked through the restaurant to see how things were. The server was pleasant enough but took forever. I paid for the meal I never ate, she did not take it off the bill. This was my second trip. Never ever again. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
(1)Erin J.
Fantastic location with great outdoor seating and ambiance. The prices are just insane. $12 for a watery margarita. $12. I keep thinking I'm too young to feel this old with my constant griping about prices. But $12. The tequila I selected is a $25 bottle (in RI and not at a discounted place). If the drink hadn't started off a bit on the watery side, I'd be inclined to not leave a review griping about the price. But I'm still in awe.
(3)Hayley H.
Bristol, RI is one of my favorite places in the US, and Agave is just the perfect spot for lunch or drinks after riding the East Bay Bicycle Path in from Barrington (about 7.5 miles). Agave is located across from a beautiful bay (Bristol Harbor, I believe?), replete with gorgeous sailboats, and is the first place you'll see when riding your bike in from the north. I have eaten here twice during our annual visits to the east coast, and have had a different experience each time. The first time was for an early lunch, a little before noon, which was when I received great service. We sat on the patio overlooking the harbor, on an absolutely cloudless day. There was a nice breeze and the patio was mostly covered so that there was dappled sunlight, just enough to keep us warm on a chillier morning. We were one of two tables dining outside, and our waitress was very attentive, if not overly so. My husband and I shared the lobster roll BLT and the Latin Cobb salad, with clam cakes for an appetizer. The lobster BLT was more of a lobster salad (think: tuna salad but with lobster meat) and was good when I compared it that way, but I guess I was expecting more meat and less filler. The lobster roll's salad-to-bread ratio was too high, though, and accordingly the bread fell apart when eating it with my hands. Eventually we had to attack it with fork and knife. The sandwich was served with a cold macaroni salad, which was flavorful and not too heavy. Overall the dish was just fine, but not great, and probably not worth the price ($16-20, but I can't remember exactly). The Cobb salad had very fresh ingredients and a lovely layered presentation. The chicken was seasoned well, and the avocado-ranch was good, though I would have preferred a regular ranch dressing with avocado chunks tossed into the salad. The salad was definitely better than the lobster roll, which is something I don't often say. The clam cakes were absolutely the highlight of the meal and the major reason we keep coming back here, not to mention the prime location on the bay. They were crispy on the outside and steamy-hot on the inside, with plenty of clam chunks about, and they came served with a small ramekin of clam chowder for dipping. Often times other clam cakes are lacking the actual flavor of clams, but these were perfectly salty and chewy from the presence of clam meat. Agave's clam cakes *may* be the best clam cakes I have ever had, and I have eaten my fair share, so that is saying something. The second time we came was to place a to-go order of clam cakes and chowder. My husband and I came with his parents and sister. We placed a to-go order at the bar and sat down to order a round of beers while we waited...and waited.... and waited. This was around 4 p.m. and there was literally no one else seated inside. It took about 45 minutes for 6 bowls of chowder and 2 dozen clam cakes (we were bringing food to family back at home). The bartender was very nice and attentive to us during this time, but he never thought to check on what might be taking the kitchen so long, or offer any apologies for the wait. Maybe it was just an off day or the kitchen staff was between shifts, so although we were a bit annoyed, we certainly weren't discouraged from coming back. I think next time we will take an early morning bike trip down the path and try Agave out for brunch instead. In either case, we will definitely be packing up an order (or two) of clam cakes to enjoy on the ride back.
(3)Kim B.
Went there for lunch today I was very disappointed I wanted two sandwiches and it took forever. and my drinks came in a plastic cup. It was very annoying listening to the boat blowing the horns every 5 seconds. as there was a sailboat class going on. Not going back. Over rated and pricey
(1)William M.
Total garbage...spent 120 bucks on 4 drinks and two dinners...the crowd at the bar was out of control...yelling, stomping, dry humping each other. Not to mention controlling the radio using pandora skipping songs non stop, randomly jacking up the volume and just being disgusting and obnoxious...waitstaff was inattentive due to them joining in on the festivities and when i called and complained all the manager had to say was it was cinco de mayo, our patrons have the right to act in anyway that see fit when celebrating such an occasion...ok so me and girlfriend will pay agave a visit on our anniversary ill bring a dj set up, play nothing but pit-bull and sean paul and just start fucking on our table...and they'll be ok with it!??... Look elsewhere for a night out...fuck this place, the people that frequent, and the staff.
(1)S. S.
Located at the end of the bike trail this is a perfect spot to recharge. The food is decent. Service is slow. Tried the fish sandwich and the smoke house burger. The buns were a bit too oily and soggy. The burger was missing my pickled jalapeño and had 4 measly crispy onions on it. Nice place to sit outside but it was a little stuffy with uncomfortable seats inside. Maybe it's good for drinks. My diet coke was smashing!
(3)Amber S.
What a terrible experience! So sad to say because my husband and I used to love this place, but if they keep putting out food like they did for our meal that beautiful location they have is going to be worth nada! I have never written a bad review before, and I feel bad doing it, but we both work in the food industry and I would want to know if this was my place. The food was awful...our calamari app was gross, we didn't even eat it... I know I know how can calamari be bad? Trust me. Then neither my husband nor I enjoyed our meals...my salmon was so overcooked I could barely eat it. My husband had the fajitas, and when I tell you he is the least picky eater I know...he said they were pretty darn bad. Honestly how do you mess up fajitas! The service was OK, ill leave it at that. I could go on, but lets just say it was disappointing all around. Hope they step it up.
(1)Gregory P.
One of the most "average" restaurants I've ever been to. The location is absolutely amazing (right off the East Bay Bike Path and with awesome water views) but the food was very bland. I got the chicken fajitas and they were extremely bland. The menu said "spicy peppers" but the peppers were tasteless. My girlfriend got the quesadilla's and said they were bland too. The chips and salsa were pretty good, but the salsa was a tad bit too soupy. The salsa comes in a huge black bowl, which was cool. The drink menu looked awesome, but we didnt' drink today. Not sure if I can recommend this restaurant to all of you. There's probably a better restaurant close by.
(3)Mike D.
If you have eaten at the Thames Street Landing down the road and experienced the mediocre food you won't be surprised to fine the same type of fare at Agave. Thames Street is managed and Agave is owned and managed by the same person. The view at Agave like that at Thames Street Landing is exceptional. The food and drinks are both expensive at both locations. My advice, if you're looking for a good meal skips both places. If you want to have expensive drinks while watching the sunset over Bristol harbor Agave will do nicely. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants in Bristol that put out a product that is worth your time and money. I give it two stars based on Mother Natures contribution.....
(2)Sylvia R.
My husband and I live in Warren so we decided to drive toward Bristol for dinner this past weekend. We'd never been to Agave and we spotted outside seating so we gave it a shot. It was EXCELLENT. Firstly, the location can't be beat. The outside seating was under a very pretty terrace with a full view of the bay. Considering the location we opted for the chowder and clam cakes special to start. The chowder was most definitely homemade, fresh with tons of clams and the cakes were delicious as well. For dinner my husband got the steak fajitas which came out on a skillet sizzling hot, just like they should, and he was very happy with them. Being a seafood lover I ordered the shrimp wrapped in bacon -- it was to die for! Huge jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon with a seafood stuffing that was bursting with flavor. Unfortunately, we didn't get around to trying anything on the drink menu, but we were intrigued by the exotic looking menu. We'll save that for next time! Not only that, but our server was friendly and attentive the whole time. Overall it was a great experience. Will definitely be returning!!
(5)Nina D.
I live right down the street and was dying to try this place... GREAT location, beautiful views and interior, even the plating is gorgeous. I have never been to Topside (what Agave was previously) but hear from everyone I meet that it was much better that way :( I went with my boyfriend on a weekday around 4...wanted to beat the dinner rush and figured the food would be incredible since the chef would not be cooking a million other dishes at the same time. Boy were we wrong! I got Chicken Tortilla soup that came with 95% broth and a sliver of chicken, a few tortilla strips on the side. My boyfriend got clam chowder that tasted like creamy potatoes sans clams and all the good stuff. My pork sliders tasted like pork tossed in $1 barbecue sauce, the fries were pre-frozen and dumped into the fryer... My boyfriend's burger was average. The service wasn't bad but wasn't good, it was really just "blah". Food came out timely, but like I said, nothing that I'd ever want again. I'm really sad to write this review, since I could easily walk to Agave and would LOVE a place like that on these summer nights, especially with that view!
(1)Jaime T.
Absolutely in love! The restaurant was beautiful right on the water. It was lovely to sit outside and watch the boats go by. The sweet salty ocean smell made the ambiance incredible. Had wonderful company with my family and great Sam Adams beer and food. I had the lobster BLT and it was incredible! Everyone else enjoyed their food also. Had an incredible time and will hopefully come back with friends in the future.
(5)Jay D.
So I've tried, this place twice now and both times = FAIL. The service here is pretty decent, their wait staff tends to be really nice, helpful and attentive however there must be some serious problems back in the kitchen. The first time I went with a group of 6 ppl and 90% of our food came out cold. HUGE bummer and we had to send it back. One of the saddest things was that two people ordered quesadillas and they were HALF empty... but full price. Odd. The second time I went I ordered the quesadilla just hoping that it was better... nope. Empty. I was incredibly sad holding my dry tortilla without an ounce of cheese in it. I must say though the salsa and guacamole at this place are on point... super fresh and yummie...good luck dippen' in the stale chips though. Hurts my heart. The only reason I would go here is for the view... right on the water/bike path. The outdoor patio is quite nice and there are umbrellas and heat lamps. So sad. I want it to be good so bad. But. It ISN'T. If you want an incredible view as you starve, this is your kinda place.
(1)Jessica M.
So I know this place gets mixed reviews...but I really like it! The view is great - be sure to sit outside on the deck under their beautiful pergola if the weather is nice...which to me is one of the reasons you would come to Agave. The service is good, and they have an extensive tequila list (um, hello? the name of the place IS Agave) if that is your thing. They have some decent apps like the bacalao fritters, but their stuffed mushrooms and these Mexican-style egg rolls are REALLY good! It really fun place to kick back, watch the sunset, and have some cocktails and appetizers. But they have some great burgers, and I have to say their Lobster BLT is awesome! And though I have never had one, they have a sandwich called the Gordito, which I hear is great! I will be back!
(3)Brett B.
I'm glad to be the first one to review this place, just so I can make sure no one else goes here. I think the rating "Eek! Methinks not." says it all. All around pretty disappointing except for maybe the drinks. Where to start? ...Let me talk about my experience... Ambiance: I have to say, the location is exceptional. I must say that sitting outside looking out at the bay in Bristol is gorgeous. Especially while the sun is setting. Drinks: I had The Bee Sting..not bad. Actually pretty good. Otherwise, drinks were very standard, and took a while to come out. Wait staff: Not bad at first, relatively attentive, but then totally dropped the ball. After getting the food, we finished our drinks (would have liked another), then sat at the table, not touching our food for almost an hour without as much as a pass to see how things were. I mean, come on, this place isn't meant to be low class. Food: Mediocre. I had the Mixed Grill. Not bad. The pork chop was moist, but there wasn't much flavor to it. The chipotle chicken sausage was good. By the way, I don't think these people know what chimichurri sauce is. My mother-in-law had the steak. They obviously don't know how to cook steak. Who knew that medium is not the same as well done? Who the hell doesn't know how to cook a steak? I know the place just opened, but they could use some new cooks or a new chef. Dessert: Don't know. Wasn't offered and was so pissed off that the waitress took forever to return that we went searching for her, so we never had it. Overall, I would say, if you're going for drinks, fine, but otherwise, dinner is not worth the wait and the wait staff is awful. I would say avoid it for the other amazing places near the water in Bristol.
(1)Chron N.
I have heard mixed reviews on their lunch and dinners but god almighty the breakfast was horrendous. The eggs were cold and looked like were literally from a buffet 2 hours ago. They were hard and tasted disgusting. The potatoes were cold and the sausage and pancake came out below average in warmth. On top of that it took 15 min to get our bill. Our waitresses walked past us 5 times. We were 1 of 10 tables and there was about 4 or 5 servers. One if them in a booth on her cell phone as we walked out. I understand location location location but I would rather have a great meal with great service then have a decent view of the water and everything else I just mentioned. Just my $0.02.
(1)Tracy C.
I went here last night for dinner and ordered the chipotle nachos to start, a blackened salmon salad for my meal, and of course a pitcher of sangria. The blackened salmon salad was delicious, the nachos and sangria were just average. What makes this restaurant is the location; gorgeous outdoor deck with a remarkable view of the water. If you decide to visit Agave in Bristol, RI be sure to sit outside! Friendly staff as well!
(4)Jane S.
I was here last week. I found the food to be rather disappointing. The cheese they were using seemed like it came straight out of a pre-shredded bag, and the chicken seemed like it was not cooked to order but maybe the kind that comes pre-prepared and vacuum packed. For a $12 quesadilla appetizer it seems they could try to do a little better. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly.
(2)Kay R.
We were a bit skittish when we heard the Topside had new owners- liked the small changes in ambiance- but were skeptical when the full out re-branding occurred. There is definitely room for improvement, but the location is ideal, food solid, service typically okay, and (I believe) all improving over time. Big money was invested in revamping the outside deck and adding the stone patio- it will be really great once the outside bar is installed. If you choose to sit out and enjoy the Bristol Harbor and bikepath- beware seagull swooping. They are ruthless. Inside the bar has somehow managed to keep a piece of its biker-refuge feel, while now welcoming a more diverse clientele. The fireplace dining down below keeps Agave on the list for winter nights and the live music adds to the experience. I can't say too much for the food. It is solid. I had the lobster BLT, the "B" was missing... better for my cholesterol, but not my choice. Never had a bad meal, just never had a great one either. Definitely prefer Agave to their sister restaurant down the street, Thames.
(3)Stephanie W.
Today we are headed to Agave. We live in the Boston area and usually stop there for breakfast before biking. The service is outstanding!!!! Staff really seem as if they like their jobs and go out of their way to please you. Their steak and eggs are excellent! Not an inexpensive breakfast, but we don't eat a lot of meat, so when we do, this is a real treat. They also serve some excellent complimentary cornbread too. Steak is a large, flavorful piece.We have also stopped by for lunch. Pork slidders are really good, nachos, and steak wrap. Sure drinks are expensive, but I don't think they are much different than many other places. Great views, plenty of parking.
(5)Ray C.
Ok I'm not going to spend too much time on this review as my wife and I experienced pretty much what the other reviewers have written about this place. The renovations they made are really nice. The inside is really classy, complete w/a lounge area w/leather couches and a fireplace. The outside patio overlooking Bristol harbor is the best! The view right at sunset can't beat it. But unfortunately these are the only positives about this place. Now our waitress was nice, the food, definitely not worth the prices. The menu is definitely overpriced. The food is sub-par at best and so not worth the prices they charge. I'm not quite sure how ownership justifies charging these prices for average food. If I go back, it will be just for drinks on their outside patio. Don't waste your money on the food as there are much better options in Bristol.
(2)Sophie R.
good things first: i was truly impressed at the improvements made to the patio and interior. the patio is like dining in a some mediterranean garden, with the billowing white drapes, the potted plants, and the ocean breeze. absolutely no complaints. it is a great drink destination in the summer time. the food is really not all that great. i haven't had any problems with the service, but also, it wasn't great service. basically: 4 stars for drinks, and ambiance probably 2 to 3 stars for food and professionality. not writing the place off just yet though. the summer will probably find me here semi-frequently for some evening cocktails.
(3)Jeff R.
Eight dollar vodka tonics in an ex-biker bar is a bit much.
(2)Tyler L.
Breakfast on Sunday - we ride the East Bay Bike Path often and travel past Agave along the route. After returning from an early morning ride, fresh off the ferry from Prudence Island, we decided to get lunch at Agave. It was almost 11:30 so we assumed that lunch would be starting. Turns out they do breakfast on the weekends from 7:30 AM to Noon (note that lunch does not begin until12:30). I overheard a waiter state that they started breakfast a couple of months ago. The deck and patio are very attractive and the staff seemed very friendly. The food was terrific! I mean, it is difficult to mess up breakfast, but we all thought that the meals were very good. Now, having read earlier reviews I admit I am a bit nervous to return for dinner. But the investment made in this place leads me to believe they will keep working at it to make it better. Besides, going there for a drink is well worth the trip, and trying some food while there will likely follow.
(4)Brenda C.
We gave this restaurant another try after hearing that they had changed their menu. The have some fried seafood options now. As we were there for lunch, we tried the fried clam rolls. I had the clams with bellies and my husband had the clam strips. We both thought the clams were fantastic and we are vey fussy about fried clams. The batter was very nice, not too heavy, and they were perfectly cooked. The size of the clams was just right also. We tried the Yicama cole slaw to go with it instead of the fries and that was delicious as well. You also can't beat the location of this restuarant. It is situated right beside the water with a beautiful view. Our waitress, Carol, was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.
(4)Katherine B.
good drinks. great place to eat outside on the water. food was good. service was very good. over all a great spot in Bristol. we will be back.
(4)Katie A.
My husband and I did Sunday brunch here this week. We both ordered variations of the sweet bread French toast-it was delicious!! It is a generous portion and is done in a way that isn't too heavy.Sweet bread was delicious and made with very fresh berries. The mimosas were great, and they have very reasonable prices too. Service was excellent and very friendly, and the restaurant is beautiful and very clean inside. Beautiful spot right on the water. Will definitely go back!
(5)Greg C.
My friend and I were served watered down uneventful bloody Mary's. Olives should be larger than peas. Served good bread, but the meals were poor and fair. Rice was the same cheap rice Mexican restaurants serve. Our stomachs felt bad an hour after eating there. Our waitress was good, but the few other younger girls who helped were more concerned how they looked. Will never return.
(2)A M.
I was kind of excited to try this place since I have such high hopes for places that try to bring a new feel to a very old place. I have to say I was disspointed and probably won't give it another shot. Read on... The decor is amazing, that I have to give credit where credit is due. It is very obvious that they put more thought and heart into the renovations of the place then the menu or food. The outside seating is awesome, provides a great ambiance and view if you go later in the day for the sunset or boat watching. But I'm not paying for the view... The menu to start is very schizophrenic, a little spanish, american, new england, mexican fare with really no definitive idea as to what kind of restaurant they are. The tequila menu and drink menu was very appealing! So we orderd a pitcher of the red sangria and a couple waters. The drinks came out, glass pitcher, wine glasses for the sangria and PLASTIC CUPS for the water?? Why go through the trouble of glass for everything but put the water in plastic cups? That's very cheap no? Moving on...went to serve ourselves the sangria because our server didn't think to or offer to and with the small spout and overflow of ice, we were actually able to pour half a glass before spilling a quarter of the sangria on the floor! Finally we asked our server to help us out and she even mentioned that it was a "pain in the ass" Appetizers were really good, empanadas tasted as there was some heart put them as well as the bacallo fritters. Everything needed a little seasoning but that, we thought, was just a preference. We decided to split the entree, after trying to decifer what we wanted from the entrees on acid. We went with the top sirloin, medium rare. When it was placed in front of us, after being almost auctioned to a party of 10 who hadn't even gotten their apps yet, and without a steak knife, I didn't even need to cut into it to know it wasn't Medium rare, actually not even close. Upon greater look, it was very very well done! Come on, mistake between Medium rare and Medium, maybe...Medium rare and well done, find a new profession! Not only that but it's summertime in Rhode Island, the farm movement has taken over and there is an abundance of beautiful vegetables surrounding the area from local farms and our vegetable on the plate was unseasoned, poorly cooked, poorly peeled, poorly cut, steamed carrots with only 2 steamed (unseasoned also) limp green beans!?!?!? If you don't love food, don't love presenting your guests with an experience that you would love to have yourself, DON'T OPEN A RESTAURANT!!!! There are local farms surrounding you "CHEF", I know I use them everyday!!! Find your inner cook and go for it or get out! I brought my overcooked steak to our servers attention and she promptly brought it back to the kitchen and told the kitchen the mistake, I know because we could hear her yell it from outside the place! The steak came back, on the same plate we sent it back on, cooked mediocre, unseasoned of course also. The onion "rings' that were supposed to come with it were dried out, unseasoned (seeing a repitition here?) and by god cold as the water in front of us. I really had high hopes for this place but if they can't get their "sh-t" together with their food, not even the most beautiful sunset will make me ever return there and should scare you away as well.
(2)Al R.
It was perfectly acceptable food. The service was a bit lackluster (several menu-promised sides and accoutrements were missing upon delivery) but the convenience to the bike path is unbeatable. We stopped here after our full 26 mile bike ride along the neighboring east bay path and this was our final stop. So convenience and Hunger are what gave our otherwise bland food flavor. And an evening fog made the restaurant more romantic than it deserved. These three stars are generous. I'd recommend this place for post-bike drinks instead. It seemed to have an extensive tequila menu!
(3)Patrick M.
I do not frequent Agave as I am a massive fan of other restaurants on the water in Bristol. I went because a friend wanted to go. I have had drinks there in the past but this was the first time I ate dinner. We were a party of 3. I've never sat outside and I have to say that I was quite surprised at how beautiful it was! We had a lovely table right on the water and the sunset was just glorious. We were greeted by our server Simeona promptly. She was most of the reason we had such a lovely time. She treated us like family, made us laugh and was very helpful with all of our questions. We loved her! Side note - the music they were playing was amazing! Lots of Coldplay and just great songs from the late 90's early 00's We started with cocktails. I enjoy a certain type of martini that is kind of unconventional, so I explained it to Simeona and she made sure it was perfect. All of our drinks were so wonderful. Calamari was the appetizer that we chose to start with. It wasn't good.. The calamari tasted a little odd. It wasn't the fish, you could tell it was fresh - it was the batter and the oil I think. Also it was rubbery.. I wasn't a fan. The marinara sauce that came with it was NOT good. It tasted like it was from a jar and it was luke warm. I am Sicilian and very picky about anything Italian... I also critique Italian harder than any other type of food. I ordered the Lobster Roll BLT. This is where they shined! It was absolutely delicious and I ate every last morsel of it. I opted out of the french fries and went for the side salad with balsamic. It was good, nothing special. I did try the fries that my friend ordered and they were very good! I'll be back, but mostly for the drinks and view.
(3)Stephanie G.
Unfortunately, this is a first and last visit. Starting with the positive: our server was kind and attentive. We sat outdoors in the evening.....the view was beautiful but the bugs were not. We were surprised that for an outdoor seating area, there were no bug zappers or trappers to enhance an outdoor dining experience. The menu was limited and a bit pricier than comparable items in other restaurants. Naturally, we assumed the food would have to be out of this world to warrant the price. We were wrong. The fish and chips dinner was ok but certainly not anything spectacular. The shrimp pasta dish was bland and the pasta was overcooked. Overall, we were disappointed and will not return.
(2)Zoey L.
Unfortunately this will be my only visit to this less than appetizing meal. We called twice ,once to make reservations once to confirm as we were arriving with a toddler. We get there and NO RESERVATION can be found. One of the guests of our party of 6 asks to speak to a manager and the "manager" says "I don't have time for this" Another manager comes over and rectifies the situation giving us a table outside. We all enjoyed the surroundings and the view but the 6 of us ordered 4 apps and 6 meals and nothing tasted remotely good. No flavor what-so-ever. I agree with the majority of the reviews,...just to many other restaurants around.
(2)Stephanie R.
Will not return. Nothing incredibly awful happened but just a series of annoying things. First the outside was a mess. Food and napkins from the night before all over the ground outside next to our table. We went for breakfast. Asked for fruit instead of toast. She said ok and never brought either. Charged me for a children's juice (2.25) when the kids meal comes with it. Placed hot coffee holder in front of infant sitting in high chair... And hot food as well. Then went inside to the bathrooms which was disgusting
(1)Seth N.
Terrible service. Got seated pretty quickly and waitress took our order, then it took over an hour to get our food. Nothing extravagant. Two wraps, a salad, and a kids grilled cheese. Over an hour for something I could have made at home in about 15 minutes. Waitress stopped by after about 45 minutes to say it was coming "soon". 25 minutes later it was finally served. Average food after the huge wait - nothing special. First and only visit here.
(1)Glen W.
Stopped in for dinner this evening for the location/sunset. I was immediately stunned by the prices. Granted, you're paying for the view, a standard idea in the Ocean State. But $12 for for chips? Those are complimentary at many restaurants. We had the chicken fajitas for $15. They were delicious, tasty. The fixins' were skimpy, definitely not enough to fill the warm tortillas. They weren't worth $15. But they were good. You're paying for the water view, keep that in mind. If ambiance is what you're looking for, go for it. Just don't expect too much.
(2)William M.
Total garbage...spent 120 bucks on 4 drinks and two dinners...the crowd at the bar was out of control...yelling, stomping, dry humping each other. Not to mention controlling the radio using pandora skipping songs non stop, randomly jacking up the volume and just being disgusting and obnoxious...waitstaff was inattentive due to them joining in on the festivities and when i called and complained all the manager had to say was it was cinco de mayo, our patrons have the right to act in anyway that see fit when celebrating such an occasion...ok so me and girlfriend will pay agave a visit on our anniversary ill bring a dj set up, play nothing but pit-bull and sean paul and just start fucking on our table...and they'll be ok with it!??... Look elsewhere for a night out...fuck this place, the people that frequent, and the staff.
(1)S. S.
Located at the end of the bike trail this is a perfect spot to recharge. The food is decent. Service is slow. Tried the fish sandwich and the smoke house burger. The buns were a bit too oily and soggy. The burger was missing my pickled jalapeño and had 4 measly crispy onions on it. Nice place to sit outside but it was a little stuffy with uncomfortable seats inside. Maybe it's good for drinks. My diet coke was smashing!
(3)Paul G.
Nice setting average food. Went during the day, rented a bike and rode to Barrington, on the way back we stopped here for a pint. Great place to stop. Came back in evening at sunset. Great view! Ordered a meal... Mahi Mahi was dry and average. Summary - great stop for a drink - better food elsewhere in Bristol.
(3)Gary G.
My wife and I took our parents out for mothers day dinner and we're very disappointed. The service was slow and not very good. Took one hour and a half for the entrees to come out. Had to send my dish back, was supposed to be a Cajun shrimp pasta I received ziti with red sauce and 2 pieces of shrimp. $18.99 We have been to agave twice before and the experience was great! Not sure what went wrong this time.
(2)Robert H.
Agave gets kudos for both it's view of Bristol Harbor as well as it's location on the bike path, including ample bike parking. That being said the food is mostly ordinary, and very expensive. As others have pointed out, you are paying for the water view. Keep that in mind to check your expectations and you'll be fine. One dish to try if you are willing to pay for them at $18: the crab sliders.
(3)Hayley H.
Bristol, RI is one of my favorite places in the US, and Agave is just the perfect spot for lunch or drinks after riding the East Bay Bicycle Path in from Barrington (about 7.5 miles). Agave is located across from a beautiful bay (Bristol Harbor, I believe?), replete with gorgeous sailboats, and is the first place you'll see when riding your bike in from the north. I have eaten here twice during our annual visits to the east coast, and have had a different experience each time. The first time was for an early lunch, a little before noon, which was when I received great service. We sat on the patio overlooking the harbor, on an absolutely cloudless day. There was a nice breeze and the patio was mostly covered so that there was dappled sunlight, just enough to keep us warm on a chillier morning. We were one of two tables dining outside, and our waitress was very attentive, if not overly so. My husband and I shared the lobster roll BLT and the Latin Cobb salad, with clam cakes for an appetizer. The lobster BLT was more of a lobster salad (think: tuna salad but with lobster meat) and was good when I compared it that way, but I guess I was expecting more meat and less filler. The lobster roll's salad-to-bread ratio was too high, though, and accordingly the bread fell apart when eating it with my hands. Eventually we had to attack it with fork and knife. The sandwich was served with a cold macaroni salad, which was flavorful and not too heavy. Overall the dish was just fine, but not great, and probably not worth the price ($16-20, but I can't remember exactly). The Cobb salad had very fresh ingredients and a lovely layered presentation. The chicken was seasoned well, and the avocado-ranch was good, though I would have preferred a regular ranch dressing with avocado chunks tossed into the salad. The salad was definitely better than the lobster roll, which is something I don't often say. The clam cakes were absolutely the highlight of the meal and the major reason we keep coming back here, not to mention the prime location on the bay. They were crispy on the outside and steamy-hot on the inside, with plenty of clam chunks about, and they came served with a small ramekin of clam chowder for dipping. Often times other clam cakes are lacking the actual flavor of clams, but these were perfectly salty and chewy from the presence of clam meat. Agave's clam cakes *may* be the best clam cakes I have ever had, and I have eaten my fair share, so that is saying something. The second time we came was to place a to-go order of clam cakes and chowder. My husband and I came with his parents and sister. We placed a to-go order at the bar and sat down to order a round of beers while we waited...and waited.... and waited. This was around 4 p.m. and there was literally no one else seated inside. It took about 45 minutes for 6 bowls of chowder and 2 dozen clam cakes (we were bringing food to family back at home). The bartender was very nice and attentive to us during this time, but he never thought to check on what might be taking the kitchen so long, or offer any apologies for the wait. Maybe it was just an off day or the kitchen staff was between shifts, so although we were a bit annoyed, we certainly weren't discouraged from coming back. I think next time we will take an early morning bike trip down the path and try Agave out for brunch instead. In either case, we will definitely be packing up an order (or two) of clam cakes to enjoy on the ride back.
(3)Kim B.
Went there for lunch today I was very disappointed I wanted two sandwiches and it took forever. and my drinks came in a plastic cup. It was very annoying listening to the boat blowing the horns every 5 seconds. as there was a sailboat class going on. Not going back. Over rated and pricey
(1)Joan S.
It was okay. Interesting menu. Husbands burger good not great. Order the crab cake app and was disappointed it was more cake than crab especially for $14 Will go back and try it again as the menu had some really interesting items. Can't beat the location. Water front with plenty of parking. Service good not great. Overall worth going and I will go back.
(3)Tyler L.
Breakfast on Sunday - we ride the East Bay Bike Path often and travel past Agave along the route. After returning from an early morning ride, fresh off the ferry from Prudence Island, we decided to get lunch at Agave. It was almost 11:30 so we assumed that lunch would be starting. Turns out they do breakfast on the weekends from 7:30 AM to Noon (note that lunch does not begin until12:30). I overheard a waiter state that they started breakfast a couple of months ago. The deck and patio are very attractive and the staff seemed very friendly. The food was terrific! I mean, it is difficult to mess up breakfast, but we all thought that the meals were very good. Now, having read earlier reviews I admit I am a bit nervous to return for dinner. But the investment made in this place leads me to believe they will keep working at it to make it better. Besides, going there for a drink is well worth the trip, and trying some food while there will likely follow.
(4)Brenda C.
We gave this restaurant another try after hearing that they had changed their menu. The have some fried seafood options now. As we were there for lunch, we tried the fried clam rolls. I had the clams with bellies and my husband had the clam strips. We both thought the clams were fantastic and we are vey fussy about fried clams. The batter was very nice, not too heavy, and they were perfectly cooked. The size of the clams was just right also. We tried the Yicama cole slaw to go with it instead of the fries and that was delicious as well. You also can't beat the location of this restuarant. It is situated right beside the water with a beautiful view. Our waitress, Carol, was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.
(4)Katherine B.
good drinks. great place to eat outside on the water. food was good. service was very good. over all a great spot in Bristol. we will be back.
(4)Katie A.
My husband and I did Sunday brunch here this week. We both ordered variations of the sweet bread French toast-it was delicious!! It is a generous portion and is done in a way that isn't too heavy.Sweet bread was delicious and made with very fresh berries. The mimosas were great, and they have very reasonable prices too. Service was excellent and very friendly, and the restaurant is beautiful and very clean inside. Beautiful spot right on the water. Will definitely go back!
(5)Greg C.
My friend and I were served watered down uneventful bloody Mary's. Olives should be larger than peas. Served good bread, but the meals were poor and fair. Rice was the same cheap rice Mexican restaurants serve. Our stomachs felt bad an hour after eating there. Our waitress was good, but the few other younger girls who helped were more concerned how they looked. Will never return.
(2)Steve P.
Went for dinner and it was awesome. The food was great. I had calamari the smokehouse burger. All four of us loved the meals not to mention the atmosphere. Overlooking the bay was unbelievable. We will definitely be back!
(5)A D.
My sisters and I stopped in last Thursday night. We had just come from a wake and wanted some apps and drinks. For food we ordered Mahi Mahi bites, Calamari, Mussels and Stuffies. Drinks - sangria and a cosmo. The drinks since they were very good. The food on the other hand was lacking in flavor. The Mahi Mahi bites looked like they came from a frozen box. The calamari were the biggest size rings I had ever seen and over cooked. They served them with hot peppers and chorizo. The chorizo was different. I had never seen that added to calamari. I'm sure it is because they think it would be attractive to the Portuguese population in Bristol. The mussels were suppose to be PEI but they were very small and the red sauce tasted like they just opened a can of crush tomato and poured it over the mussels. No flavor. Not even a flavor of the mussel juice...weird. The stuffies did not have any clams and appeared to just be plain bread crumbs cooked with clam juice. I'm giving 3 stars since the food was edible, just boring and the drinks and service were great. I just don't think they should try to have both mexican and new england style seafood on the same menu. Hopefully the mexican entrees are better. I would go back to sit on the deck and have drinks. The location is great but not the food.
(3)Sarah W.
It cracks me up that people are complaining about the price. The entrees were $15-$25 and expertly made. One of the prettiest ocean views with such close proximity to the water, with people watching on the bike trail to boot, you can't beat it. I'll definitely be back. Food and beverage selection is phenomenal!
(5)Kayla W.
Came here on a whim few people mentioned it was supposed to be pretty good other reviews I read said otherwise. Well I'm glad I form my own opinions and decided on dinner and drinks here tonight because the food that we got ( clams plate and salmon sandwich ) and the sangria was great. Not to mention the on point service from the waitress even coming over refilling our wine glasses. To top it off the view of the water and sunset was peaceful and beautiful especially after a very long day at work. I can definitely say I am a fan and will be back often bringing more people.
(5)Kelly M.
Three of us came for a late lunch mid-week. It was pretty dead inside, though some customers were sitting outside. Great view. The service was fine, and the food was okay, but nothing special. I had some difficulty finding good vegetarian options. I feel like the place is having an identity crisis. With its name, I expected Mexican. The decor in the bathroom was truly puzzling: Victorian-style silhouette decals, wicker furniture, and 1950s Marilyn Monroe prints.
(2)G L.
The same owners as Thames Waterside Grill and Bar. The drinks are super expensive, the food is below average and the service is awful! In the summer it will take you 20 minutes to get a drink, two hours to get your food and when the bill comes you will wonder what the hell just happened. Again the only redeeming quality is the view as it is quite nice.
(1)Mark S.
Came here for Sunday Funday drinks and a bite. The back deck has had a huge facelift from the Topside days. They have a huge upper deck and large lower deck. Plenty of umbrellas but there were tons of seats with sun and they will move/open/close any of them to accommodate your sun/shade preference. They removed a lot of the brush and trees which had previously blocked a lot of the water view. It is now wide open and offers a kick ass view of the entire harbor. Way better view than Thames Waterside (old Goff's). Drinks were OK but definitely pricey. My first drink had Cabo Wabo in it but they put so much OJ in there I could barely taste the tequila. They did make a delicious Mojito though. Awesome but expensive list of tequila's, vast drink menu and typical beer selection. The food was pretty decent, nothing awesome. We didn't order anything fancy. We split the calamari which was tasty. Lightly breaded and was a mix of the rings and tentacles. Tossed with banana peppers, garlic and chourico which made for a great combo. The littlenecks were good and make sure you order them in the white sauce. I got a steak and cheese wrap (actual steak, not shaved) with peppers, shrooms and onions. It was good but pretty small for the price. The rest of the table ordered the veggie wrap and fish sandwich. They had no complaints. Service was great. Staff were all very friendly, quick and helpful with suggestions. I'd definitely come back for some outside cocktails and light bite.
(4)Green M.
We were a party of six and had no trouble getting in for dinner on the patio around 7:00 PM, and that's with the concerts downtown and everything. We chose the upper deck, since it was covered and showers were expected, but the lower deck was much more scenic: right on the East Bay Bike Path and the Bay is literally ten feet away, lapping at the rocks. I mean...location. Our waitress was totally awesome. Laid back, attentive, and helpful. I hope all of my friends tipped her well, because she definitely deserved it! We stayed for hours and she just kept swinging by, topping off drinks and putting in anything else we wanted. She didn't even care when we had to be a-holes and split the bill all weird. Just the ultimate, New England summer evening dining ambiance, and she was a big part of it. I want to say her name was Christina? Kristen? All of the waitstaff seemed to be doing a great job around us, too. Let's run down the food. I have to say, the feedback on the food was the reason I was wary to try this place; we really came for the drinks and the view and decided to eat because we happened to be hungry. But it didn't seem like anyone was disappointed that we were. APPETIZERS -HOT BREAD for free. Cornbread and an especially yummy dinner roll. -Delicious clam chowder. No, for real. Big pieces of clam and potato, and a creamy broth that tasted, literally, like the sea: very delicate and bright for a cream-based soup. -Everyone who ate the stuffies and the clam cakes was impressed by the quality and flavor. Delicious. -One friend ordered the buffalo chicken fried ravioli, which I believe was on the specials menu? I could be wrong. She thought it was going to be a dinner-sized portion, but apparently she'd misread that it wasn't an appetizer. Anyway, she thought they were good, too, and wanted a full-sized portion. SALADS As a vegetarian, I ordered the summer orzo salad. Because I am a doofus, I thought it would be a bed of mixed greens, with a small serving of orzo on top; I love pasta on my salad and sometimes forget that this isn't always common at restaurants. Suffice it to say that it was a large serving (LARGE) of well-flavored, al dente orzo with nice, salty chunks of feta throughout; you could tell the cheese was the "good stuff," not the crap you buy at the supermarket. Like, I want more of it right now. Anyway, there was a scattering of cukes and tomatoes. I knew the orzo was the star, so I can't fault them for my own misconception that it would be more salad than orzo. And the dressing was delicious; maybe Greek, or creamy Italian? Whatever it was, it was GOOD. And the food wasn't swimming in it. Well balanced, all around. Very well balanced. Usually, I wouldn't order something as simple as an orzo salad, since I find I usually like my own home cooking better in that case. But I'm glad I took the chance and will get it again, this time on some greens! DRINKS So, I don't drink a whole lot, and wine lists tend to overwhelm me. I go with the chardonnay and stick with it, usually. What's great about Agave's drinks menu is a) it's got a lot of variety and b) it tells you exactly what to expect from each kind of wine. It's the kind of thing that might make you brave enough to stray from the chard and go for a Pinot Noir, as I did tonight, enticed by the little description. Also, c) not too expensive ($7.50/glass for my Pinot) and d) I saw that they offer a wine pairing suggestion for each main course, right on the menu. These people know their shit and make it easy for new winos to start learning. Lots of cool, smaller beers on tap, too! My beer-drinking friends were both happy with their selections: yummy white beers with slices of citrus. They looked so nice and refreshing! Definitely trying one next time. And the mixed-drinkers also seemed to like their cocktails: margaritas with coconut tequila and all sorts of martinis and things. EDIT: It seems there were a slew of health code violations in June...my wife was actually sick for a few days afterward, but we didn't make the connection until we saw this. bristol-warren.patch.com… As a result, we probably will not be going back, though the ambiance was so nice. What a shame, even the ICE was tainted, so that cuts out even drinks on the patio.
(3)Joanna R.
This place is pricey - but when you see the view of the ocean, you realize why you're paying more. For ambiance, this place gets a 10/10. For the food, a 5-6/10. To maximize your experience, watch the weather, and call and reserve a table outdoors at the edge of the patio on the water on a beautiful clear summer night. We went in the beginning of July with a 7:00 reservation, and the timing was perfect to watch the sun set - super romantic... I couldn't stop smiling, I was so happy just sitting out on the deck!! It was also really fun to "people watch" folks on the bike path. We split I had the ahi tuna salad and my husband had the steamers. The tuna was cold and was very thin and on the tougher side... bland and not much flavor.. My husband had no complaints about the steamers. I was not impressed with the selection of white wines by the glass, also on the bland side... but the absolutely incredible view of the ocean, the reggae music, the setting sun, the cabana-like setting, the soft lights after sunset.. all made up for what the food was lacking. The service was slow, very slow, but I was actually appreciative of that, because that meant we got to enjoy the view for longer! We had a great time together, and will be back again some summer night to celebrate a special occasion.
(3)Ellen C.
It really is just okay-- but the perfect margarita and the patio bump it up to A-OK. First off, it's a fine place to take kids because everyone else is loud enough so that they don't mind or notice the squwaks from your table. Also, when I was there a guy started playing miked accoustic guitar and singing near the bar, so that rose the overall volume, too. However, it's not a loud bar type of place. So as far as noise and energy, there's a good balance. The atmosphere's pretty great. Nice decor: a big roomy, open, expansive feeling, as though you were at someone's nice new lake home, and that someone has money, awesome water views, and huge windows facing said water-- and sunset. The outside patio certainly looks awesome, although I've only viewed it jogging by. (I ate here indoors, on a rainy day.) It's embarrassing to trip at that point, as you are oogling the eaters, but everyone looks quite content there. There's a good amount of tables, umbrellas for shade, and only a small, two-lane bike/joggers path in front of the bay. So it really seems a fine place to spend an afternoon with a pitcher of the aformentioned 'perfect margaritas.' (That drink title is both my opinion and the drink name.) The food was very meh. My group ordered crab cakes, which elicited neither oohs nor aahhhs; nachos, which were the normal big glop of ingredients, good at first then a little disgusting; fried plantains, which were just fine; and clam chowder, which was quickly slurped down by the kids. EDIT!-- Now I've tried the cornbread caeser-- great the first time, alright the 2nd, and an amazing vegetairan ceviche with hearts of palm. Freah, bright, and perfect size serving. On my first visit, there was an avocado pit in the nachos. Not too small a thing, an avocado pit, which I guess explains the just-alright food-- not a lot of attention seems to be paid. I mean, an avocado pit is hard to miss, although on that note, at least no one could choke on it. Margaritas and patio, maybe indoor drinks at the bar. That's what I reccomend this place for. Or, a meal with young kids that's not McDonald's or Chili's.
(3)Britt C.
I'm only giving more than one star here because the service was decent. Two of us came in around 3:30pm and the place was dead. We only came because we were hungry and in the area and figured it seemed ok on the fly. We had plantains for an app and both ordered specials as entrees: chicken marsala and mushroom ravioli. The service was good, but that's to be expected if you're half of the restaurant's population. I had the ravioli, which was so oily the sauce was actually separating as I was eating and ended up looking curdled about two raviolis in. The marsala was definitely not marsala. It was a thick, red sauce to keep it short. The bill was $40... for pasta, terrible pasta. The bartender was our server and we chose to sit at a high top.
(2)Richie R.
Maggots!!! WTF!!! Need I say more? In my burger? This place needs to be shut down by the health inspectors... I've never seen something so disgusting ever be served. And no, I wasn't trying out the 'fear factor' menu. Our party obviously returned all of their dishes, as some of them almost threw up. And to top it all off, they didn't even comp our drinks even though we just needed to get the hell out of there... Wow... The only way I would recommend this place is to get shut down by the health department...
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