Blue Agave

Those knowledgeable about Southwestern food (NOT Mexican -- go to El Torito if you want that) know that this is what it should taste like. Subtle, rounded flavors that blend delicately together, NOT two gallons of hot sauce (go to Taco Bell if you want that). The salsa is perfect, the sauces amazing, the marinades on the meat flavorful, and even the blue corn tortillas and rice have their own unique flavors that mix to create a harmony of flavors unmatched at the chain restaurants I've mentioned above. I was born in Albuquerque, and this tastes like home. The only drawbacks to this place are that they serve alcohol and fajitas, usually to the same people. Alcohol kills the taste buds, so these people don't know what they're missing, so hey, why not go to Chili's for your Tex-Mex fajitas? In fifteen or so years, I've rarely had a bad meal here, and it just keeps getting better -- the fried ice cream used to be smaller and didn't come with the mango chutney or raspberries. See what I mean? Cloth napkins, American Indian decor that tells a story if you know what to look for -- it's all here, folks. And it's all good.

Pros: Chips, salsa, appetizers, fried ice cream -- it's all good!

Cons: Noisy drunks who order fajitas and have no taste

We found the food appealing to the eye, but mostly tasteless and ultimately disappointing. And definitely over-priced, in all regards. We have supped the world, and know good Southwestern cuisine we we've been fortunate to find it. This doesn't even come close.

The good news is that nothing I ate there tasted bad, the bad news is that nothing I ate there tasted much like anything at all. Though I admired the freshness of the ingredients and the quality of the preparation, the flavors were all deliberately muted, probably to satisfy the local gentrified clientele (and yes, I'm white myself). If you pretend to like Mexican food but are terrified of spice and flavor, you'll *LOVE* Blue Agave.

Pros: Good service, food was fresh.

Cons: You might as well just eat the raw ingredients.

Everything is good, but I like the mole. The red and blue chips taste great with the salsa here... I think they are always traveling in Mexico for new recipes. I have tried many things and I have never been disappointed. Been eating here for years.

Pros: Service is friendly and good, but the food is the best.

We have eaten at the Blue Agave since it opened many years ago and have always found the food and service to be excellent. The food presentation
is vastly superior to the many other "Mexican
Restaurants" in Orange County. The quality of the
food is always consistently excellent. If you like
South Western Cusine you will love Blue Agave.

Pros: Inexpensive, South Western motif, Great service