Agave Grill

Very friendly neighbourhood restaurant.
Not «fine dining» but good solid meals with very friendly service. We will be back. It feels like it could easily be a home away from home when you just don’t feel like cooking!

Food was good and they have decent portions. Quite pricey though.
Drinks were terrible and insanely expensive. Don’t waste your money. My friend had a mojito and all they did was toss some mint leaves in it. She complained and all they did was try to muddle the leaves in the glass. I had a margarita and they used table salt on the rim (at a cost of $ 14!!).
Service was *terrible*. It was not busy, but we had an inattentive waiter, and then when he did show up he tried to take dishes before we were done with them. We had 2 separate appetizers with chips for 3 people and he brought 1 bowl, and wasn’t happy when we asked for a second after the first was finished.
Might go back for one of their weeknight specials but otherwise not worth the price. I’m a bit amazed at the overall high rating for this place.

I went to eat here last time for the first time ever, I am not usually the type to review restaurants I go to but this one was so great I felt the need. It’s owned by a lovely couple who will also be your servers, they welcome you as if you are family coming over for dinner. The drink I had was the orange agave– it was delicious. Their food is extremely good as well. When we were finished and ready to leave, were were thanked by the lovely owners and welcomed back. My friend and I will definitely be returning. Great food, drinks, service and atmosphere made for a lovely night.

Lester, the owner, goes out of his way to make his clients happy. We have been dining here fore years, and food is always consistent, service the same. It does get busy during some peak times, so we try to go a bit before to avoid the crowds. Food is excellent and house made. This is our «go to» Mexican fix!

** edit *** One person is questioning the legitimacy of this review. I am not attacking the owner or establishment. This is my experience and I stand by my one star rating.
One star! Horrible horrible experience! I’m currently still at the restaurant and I just want to leave.
First the salsa was basically tomato paste.
I then ordered a mojito and it was so strong and sweet I almost couldn’t drink it! Absolutely no lime.
My partner and I ordered the double fajitas and when they arrived the tortillas were burnt, and the peppers and onions were BLACK!!! We asked for them to fix the issue and they brought back RAW onions and peppers… When we asked him to fix it again he pretended to be confused and was just plain rude. He also asked us the same questions over and over again trying to make small talk, it was just so awkward. I will never ever go here again.
The only thing I enjoyed was the salsa verde that came with the chips.
Do not waste your time. Horrible service and horrible food! It’s very overpriced as well. I am also baffled by the number of positive reviews!

popped in last night with a couple of girlfriends and the first thing we said was «mmmmm» just had a great smell coming for the kitchen. I decided to have the blackened salmon that was huge and cooked to perfection. As well as a delicious glass of Marisco sauvignon blanc (if you like Kim Crawford or Oysters Bay, you’ll love this one!). It did get a little loud near the end, but I would go back for sure :)

Our group of friends ate here in Feb 2015.
Atmosphere/​cleanliness: Fine. Nothing special. Clean
Service: Mediocre to good. The apps and meals arrived way too quickly It felt rushed. Like they wanted us gone. The place was approximately 60 to 70% full on a Saturday night from 6 to 730pm
Quality of food: The drinks were good for most however two men both disliked their Classic Mexican drinks. Too acidic. The Jalapeño poppers were overwhelming. Tons of sour cream. The Pechuga de Pollo was mediocre. Chicken Milanesa was also described as simply okay. Dessert was skipped by all.
Price: The dishes are definitely overpriced. Ottawa generally is. Tiger shrimp is $ 15 for four of them! The mains are mid twenties and up! Not worth it.
I won’t be back. You should pass unless you’re stuck.
²⁄₅.

If you want real, authentic, delicious and fairly priced Mexican Food, this is not the restaurant for you.
Aside from the slow service, cramped restaurant, and outrageous prices ($ 39 for double fajitas anyone?), the food was less than desirable. We started off with chips and salsa ($ 4), a fairly standard and typically complimentary appetizer at any real Mexican restaurant and the cocunut shrimp ($ 15), comprised of four tiger shrimps scantily clad in coconut crumble, served with a thai dipping sauce.
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity the waitress came by and took our order for fajitas. Our food came speedy but it was less than than appeasing. Now I have been to several Mexican restaurants but this is the first one that served sizzling hot chicken fajitas on a bed of cold and uncooked onions, red and green peppers. We complained and asked for our vegetables to be sAuteed and were rudely informed by our waitress and the owner/​manager that they do NOT serve hot and cooked vegetables with fajitas. One star for making our order the exception.
Not only were our vegetables uncooked but there was NO cheese. We had to order it as a side at a whopping cost of $ 3 for a small dish. Absurd!
Then to top off our evening we sat and waited and waited after we finished our meal for the server to notice and offer us something-​like the bill! Needless to say we will never return to this restaurant– Lone star it is!

Great service albeit the owner was waiting the whole restaurant alone, so wasn’t 100% attentive.
The drinks were superbly made, my sweety and I had mojitos & some white wine which went well with what we ordered.
I ordered blackened chicken, which was lightly breaded, and even had a bit of kick to it, the hot salsa that was brought to enhance our meal was a delight.
If you’re going on the weekend reservations are a must or forget about it.
Bonne appetite!

At first glance this restaurant does not give one a true feeling for the experience one is going to have. The service was excellent with prompt, courtious and humor. It is unusual to have German beer rather than Mexican at a Mexican restaurant but it was well suited to the meal.
The food was all well prepared, served promptly and has excellent flavor.
All in all well worth the price and the trip.

My sister and I were hungry and always go through the same old «what do you want?» and «I don’t know, what do you feel like?» a few times before one of us blurted out «Mexican!»
I’ve been wanting to try Agave for a year or so, but haven’t had the occasion (it’s either always been super busy or none of my friends will come!). We were cruising down Wellington when, AH! I spotted it and remembered the kick ass reviews I’d read from Tom and Robert.
The place is inconspicuous. It’s nestled between two other spots, and easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. However, once you walk in the place is lovely.
In a neighbourhood full of restaurants, this one does so many things right. It’s not huge (hence why I’ve never been able to get a walk-​in before), but does boast a really nice looking bar and has a few booths with tables scattered throughout. I would definitely make reservations if you’re more than a party of two (and maybe even for two if it’s a busy time/​night).
We were early however, around 5 p.m. on a weekday and while the place was still pretty busy, we were seated right away at a table near the back. There were only 3 employees working the front of the house — a woman, man and a guy behind the bar. The three of them were flawless, despite the business. They worked together so well!
I ordered the Mexican Flag, which was a dish of corn tacos (I ordered chicken) smothered in cheese, a red sauce and a green sauce. Both sauces were a tiny bit spicy, but I can’t handle a lot of spice and I LOVED this, so it’s nothing crazy. The tastes were fantastic — fresh and flavorful and I could have eaten more, so it’s a good thing I stopped. The dish is also served with a side of beans and a really fantastic Mexican rice that went perfectly with the sauces from the tacos.
I also ordered their margarita which was fantastic! It’s a classic margarita, so it’s not blended with ice. The flavour is super salty at first, but it’s mixed expertly and after a few sips I totally fell in love with it, and had to refuse another since I was driving — but hot damn, I can’t wait to have another! They have a bunch of other delicious looking cocktails and I can’t wait to go back and try them.
The service was flawless, the space intimate and fun and the food wonderful. This is by far one of my favourite spots in Wellington West, and possibly even the city. Hurray!

We’ve been here a few times now and always thoroughly enjoyed the food.
The owner was on site every time we went and even served us. He was a really nice and funny guy.
All-​in-​all, great food, great service, decent prices. We’ll be going back again for sure.

Probably the best Mexican I’ve had in Ottawa, but a little overhyped.

Every time I pop into Ottawa from Toronto to visit my sister I always stop by for a meal at Agave. This lovely restaurant has a great, varied menu, tasty food and excellent service. I had a chorizo burrito and, man, was the meat savoury! Every bite was chock full of flavour. It was a bit unreal. I really wish Toronto’s Mexican food took a lesson from this place. Greet job, Agave! You have a loyal (out of town) customer for life!

Meghan, Lauren and I happened into the Agave Grill after a day outside in Ottawa’s first real snowfall of 2013. The place was the perfect level of busy: enough people that you know it’s a good spot, but didn’t have to wait for a booth.
The owner served us and had us in stitches every time he stopped by and the food was great. The girls (who both have dietary restrictions) had really good salads and I had a perfectly crispy empanada with rice and greens.
I definitely recommend this spot for a date, or for dinner with friends.

I love this place. Being an ottawa personal trainer makes it tricky to recommend restaurants to eat at. But the Agave Grill has healthy lean eating options that taste great!
Mind you not all meals are healthy but you can find more here then other restaurants.
I personally really enjoy the Agave Special Salad. And my wife like the Red Pepper Soup. Our daughter goes nuts for their chicken Quesadilla.

food was great, super tasty, service was excellent… my beef is you can’t hear yourself think here.
they need something to soften the sound, acoustic tiles… something — it’s just so loud in here.

My wife and I discovered this place about ten years ago, when we moved into the neighbourhood, and have been regulars ever since. They take pride in making everyone’s experience top shelf, and do that by making great, authentic Mexican cuisine, and make you feel like your home, I relish my next visit

I agree with fellow Unilocaler Tom — Agave is a diamond in the rough on Wellington. When so many lovely restaurants are in the area Agave is easy to overlook, it isn’t big — but it is big on taste and service.
I had a super experience with my girlfriends — one of which had a special dietary request that was met with vigor and she had a meal prepared to her needs with no grief from any staff (unlike other locations we’ve been too). Thank you Agave.
Had the chicken burrito, and it was great — only reason I took off a star was that the beans inside the burrito didn’t seem to have a ton of seasoning — but the service and the food were terrific, the girls and I will plan a venture here for a mojito or margarita soon.

Frankly, I’m baffled by all the positive reviews. They misled me into eating here so consider yourselves forewarned. I had some kind of New Mexican (or was it Santa Fe?) chicken dish that would easily make a top ten of worst dishes I’ve ever had in Ottawa. It tasted like airline food from the overcooked dry chicken to the bland sauce, to the seemingly frozen vegetables. Scratch that, it tasted like someone took home an uneaten airline meal only to reheat it a day later. The prices are insanely high too considering the low quality of food (my Albuquerque chicken cost like $ 20 bucks). The atmosphere is nice enough, I suppose, but no atmosphere can save terrible food. Anyway, as the other reviewer’s can attest, this place is inexplicably popular.
And it’s my rote complaint against Mexican restaurants in Ottawa but there’s absolutely nothing remotely Mexican (or New Mexican or even Tex-​Mexican) about the food.