Insider Pages Reviews for Agozar

1 Stars: Incompetent, Inadequate, and Dishonest (by Leesawe)

Leesawe — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Do not go here with big groups because you will surely be ripped off and over charged. There's a board that hangs near the bar area that clearly said that between certain hours, it's an all you can drink special. You would assume that if you were there between those hours, you will be paying the happy hour special. The rude and dishonest waiter decides to charge each person that did not mention that they wanted the special for each drink they had. And then as certain people leave and pay for their portion of the meal early, the waiter manages to not deduct those amounts at the end of the check. And when we brought it to his attention, he comes back with the check again and takes off $40 bucks which absolutely made no sense since there were more than one person who left early that night. It was clear that he had no intentions in trying to figure out who exactly paid early and what the amounts were because the bill was still very much off. Lucky him, they obviously already charged us for the tip, otherwise this guy would've gotten NOTHING. And the manager in charge that Friday night was the most unprofessional person I've ever come across. Not only was he not helpful, but he begins to insult us-- calling us drunks and not knowing what we were talking about. Then instead of figuring out how to please his customers and solve the situation the best possible way, he tells us to get out of his way and proceeds to walk away, telling us we needed to figure it out ourselves. It's ridiculous to know that he was a manager because it was obvious that his lack of professionalism and ability to resolve such a big situation was out of his league. The manager ends up coming back after a half an hour because it was obvious that the rude waiter was useless in helping, and eventually took off the over charged amount. Then instead of apologizing to us he told us we should be thankful-- as if he was doing us a favor??? I asked him for the owners contact information and a business card and obviously he wouldn't give me any kind of information what so ever.

I'm really curious to know what the owner of this restaurant was thinking by hiring so many inadequate, unsuitable and incompetent people to work there. The service and mannerism at this place is a complete joke.

DO NOT GO HERE AT ALL.

5 Stars: Good price great music (by Donna from NJ)

Donna from NJ — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I came to NYC on Halloween and met a very nice person whom I did not give any contact info to. Donna the Cop would like to see Allen the Mouse again.

5 Stars: Vibrant Atmosphere, Hot Crowd (by PFPicardi)

PFPicardi — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I had a party of 22 for the weekend, and every single restaurant I called was hesitant about accommodating our party. They were throwing out ridiculous prices for pre-fix menus and $75 per person. The real problem was, the group of people we had didn't know each other very well, so we needed a fun atmosphere that allowed us to be rambunctious, move around, and have some good, moderately priced food. Agozar was amazing from the minute the hostess answered the phone. The manager was cordial and followed through on prompt call-backs. They even checked up with me the day before our reservation to make sure there weren't any changes to the party. The wait staff then took all 22 INDIVIDUAL drink, appetizer, and main course orders. And then, when serving the meals, they didn't have to ask us who ordered what... they remembered us! The food was INCREDIBLE (the pulled pork dish was a group favorite, as was the calamari), and the plaintains and guacamole really made for great conversation. This is such a good ice breaker, and the environment really suited the big group. Bravo, Agozar... and thanks for putting up with us!

5 Stars: Love it! (by kelly926)

kelly926 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Decided to try this place after reading about it on the Blue Man Group website. We were really happy we did. Great food, great prices & the staff was lots of fun!

Definitely recommend Agozar!

5 Stars: Great Place!! (by Lola nieves)

Lola nieves — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT

This is a great place to be at.
the service is perfect and the food is delicious. I always have a great time with my friends over there. Everyone is friendly & cool.
If you wanna have some fun, go there on friday after work, you won't regret it!! and the people who go to this bar are cool & decent

Besides all that, the owner is hot and his friends even hotter!!

5 Stars: Good Times (by Honest Engine)

Honest Engine — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Definitely a nice spot to attend on the weekend. I don't do the happy hour and haven't tried much of the food. What i did have was tasty. But the bar service is always excellent and I find the mojitos to be some of the best in the city for the money. When you go outside you can see some other spots in the area with all their button down shirt, hard bottom shoed, i'm not from here douchery in full force. Fortunately you will not experience that at Agozar. Its a chill atmosphere. You can wear hats and sneakers. You can drink outside when its warm enough as well. Saturdays they usually have a good DJ. I love this place and always go back for more. I see some bad reviews on here but they are pretty old. I had a blast last weekend. Do you and your friends a favor and check it out. If Ron is bartending you can't go wrong.

2 Stars: Food Good, Ambience Fair, Service Poor. Didnt really Agozar. (by objectivelyours)

objectivelyours — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Considering it was our first time there, the Welcome was not warm. Dissapointment set in from the time we met the host who greeted us with a (Huh?) when we asked if the ask if the Airconditiong was on. The subpar experience contiued when the waiter first approached the table. No introduction, no run down on of the menu, no personality period. When we mentioned that it was our first time there he said "thats nice". Ummm. Food was ok, I have had better Cuban. Apps were small and odd numbered portions. Entrees were better, vaca fita was pretty good. Chocalate cake alamode was pretty in presentaion but dry as new sponge. Over all a dissapointment for spending $200 for 4 people. If your just looking for a place with cheap happy hours drinks, mediocre service and so so atmosphere, then go there, it is the place for you. However if you value your money, time and wish to be happy with your service, meal and drinks, look elsewhere. You'll be glad you did. This is NYC you can get a drink and some eats anywhere but if youre not pleased when you leave you'll be asking your self, "was it really worth it?

3 Stars: Start off disappointing but improves (by sweetcaramel)

sweetcaramel — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

A friend and I went for a girls night out. When we arrived the kitchen was about to close but we were able to order. The waitress gave a bit of an attitude. The food was excellent, very good in favor and portion. I had the paella, great highly recommend. Since we arrived with twenty minutes to midnight we asked about the special at the bar. The bartender did the right thing and gave us 2 for 1 on drinks which were very good (sangria). At the end of the night when the bill came it was very fair and reasonable

1 Stars: No GO (by CSMobileUser)

CSMobileUser — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Mojito sucks,drink smelled like raw pork,sweet plaintains is merely fried banans,not event sweet,shrimps w garlic sauce is mini tiny shrimps. No go for food.

5 Stars: Nosotros Agozamos! (we enjoyed ourselves!) (by smiley_in_nyc)

smiley_in_nyc — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I planned a Happy Hour get-together for 10 of my friends/co-workers at Agozar this past Friday. Because Agozar is such a small place (per their website pictures), I made the reservations a week in advance and there were no problems. They even confirmed the night before. This was our first time there and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was conveniently located from the "6" train so no one got lost. The service was excellent and very attentive. We took advantage of the 2 for one Happy Hour drinks and tapas. There was a nice crowd, it was clean, the music was good and not so loud that we had to scream to hear each other talk and the drinks definitely weren't weak like in many other bars/lounges in NYC. A great time was had by everyone... I definitely recommend this place for a fun Happy Hour!

4 Stars: Fantastic service! (by Lilia H.)

Lilia H. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Wonderful service at Agozar Restaurant and Lounge! Their tapas are the first things I think of when I walk in. Although, I would recommend anything on the menu.

4 Stars: Agozar (by Jared K.)

Jared K. — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:02:00 GMT

The cuban food here is authentic and fresh, with great tapas and some awesome mojitos, especially when they are half price at happy hour. Great service too.

4 Stars: Great drinks, very friendly people, cute atmosphere (by simo5353)

simo5353 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My three friends and I stopped in to get some drinks and tapas--everyone there, from the staff, the "regulars" and the other people there were so friendly. The drinks were wonderful and the service was exceptional. I would love to go back. THere was a great special--2 drinks for the price of 1, and we were there on a Saturday night at 11! They even gave us the same deal for the tapas. The only thing is that the place is a bit small/cramped.

5 Stars: It just keeps getting better :) A Must Try! (by Jeniffer1982)

Jeniffer1982 — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I work closely to Agozar, so I stop by every 2 weeks or so for the Happy Hour and usually I stay a bit later because I get nestled in with my friends and we always have a good time there. I have been coming here for about 2 years and I have to say the service was poor a few months ago, but I came back because of the value and because it was one of our top hang out spots. I have to say the managers have gotten rid of the horrible service. Jorge has always been a sweetheart and they just hired the first girl I've seen in a while. She was our waitress last night and she did a great job. I sat in the dining room and the place was swamped, but I was never thirsty and our tapas were not only delicious, but they cleared the plates as soon as we finished each to make room for more. Janet was taking care of 2 huge parties and she constantly checked on us and glanced over. I've always liked the food and the atmosphere. The service took a slump for a while, but they took care of that problem. Everything came out quickly and we were given service with a genuine smile. GREAT PLACE DURING A RECESSION! This place has turned itself around :) 2 thumbs up for sure...

1 Stars: we recomend NOT to come here (by viker)

viker — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We had an so-so exp here...while we have come here for years and I now have to agree with other reviewers , the service is unacceptable , we have been loyal to this team that brought a great happy hour to the bowery.
Unfortunately they have just lost another 8+ customers. Along with the slow service that has become an every night thing here, we celebrated my birthday there last week in the evening, We were so upset at the $$$ we spent here and the slow "unfriendly" service we received. The food was so so ...drinks were way watered down and extremely slow during happy hour,at trying to get your "buy one get one" Sadly this place has gone "down the tubes" If you have not done you research and must go here to meet people I can only recommend the chorizo, its probably the their tastiest dish I guess, but by far the greasiest I have ever had. Don't bother with the happy hour...its stinks

5 Stars: Awesome Restaurant (by gregg24)

gregg24 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This place has it all. Great food, ambience, and service. The mojitos are the best anywhere and there is a happy hour everyday.

5 Stars: Best Cuban food in all of New York! (by francosforza1)

francosforza1 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

this place is the place to be, if you are in the mood for quality cuban food then this is the place to be, in addition they have great service, i have been there 3 times and intend on going again, they usually have a dj on the weekends, and are always playing todays hip music, i recomend anyone to give this place a try, you wont regret it, youll walk out with a smile,

4 Stars: yummy coconut mojito! (by brandy50 )

brandy50 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Some friends and I went on Saturday night and had a fantastic time. Our mojitos were awesome...they definitely have a selection. The waiter was polite and friendly and knew all the right things to recommend. We especially loved the stuffed tomato with chorizo & raisins, yum. Everything just melts in your mouth. All the tapas were really nice and the best part is, the prices...definitely helps with a big group. We'll definitely be back. I highly recommend it.

2 Stars: not what we expected (by jennitom)

jennitom — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The place is really cute but the food was not great by a long shot. The owners are not friendly at all . We approached the woman (owner) because our meat too rare and our waiter was no where to be found(we ordered it well). It was returned to us CHARRED and with a bad attitude!! We were horrified and vowed never to come by here again. I have never ever left this kind of review for any NYC resteraunt but I was so upset by the service I had to. Not for nothing though we paid a large amount of money for food that was burnt and nothing was really tasty at all. Actually the empanadas WERE a bit dry if you don't use the VERY SMALL amount of sauce they give you, and don't dare ask for more ( we learned that as well ,during our dinner) UGHH we were just totally upset leaving there,it put a damper on our whole night. All that money and we left so hungry AND thirsty!! The drinks were not the best.

1 Stars: can't recommend..not coming back (by lola73)

lola73 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I was so excited to eat at this spot...I invited 6 other people to say farewell to a friend the other night. The atmosphere was good, the food and drinks, not so good. The frozen drinks from everyones opinion was watered down & very icy, which made any flavoring they added tasted bitter. The mojitos were really too sweet and very weak. The only drink with a kick was the sangria Which i see from regular drinker's isn't great either . The appetizers - we ordered the tapas plater for $25.00, the menu boasts of many selections, when it came it was only 1 piece each of grilled pork, chicken & shrimp, a bit of smashed beans, some plantain chips and 2 SMALL pieces of churizo -- that's it for 25 dollars? The pieces were so tiny it was unreal! Where was the rest of the food? The entrees - most of us ordered the paella which wasn't very tasty and it wasn't enough! It seemed as if I ordered from the kid's menu, but there wasn't one! Most latin restaurants feed you a good sized portion of food -- what went wrong Agozar? Many five star resteraunts can get away with really tasty food in small portions leaving you satisfied and not stuffed, but Agozar is not THAT resteraunt and the food is fatty so you can't enjoy all of it ..you definatly leave hungry and mad. Stop skimping on the food! Our bill was over $400 and we all left this place hungry! We were disappointed.

5 Stars: Great Atmosphere, Friendly Service!! (by cjrizzo03)

cjrizzo03 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I recently took a date here for what I was hoping to be a romantic evening. I was completely blown away at how perfect Agozar met my expectations that evening. We started off in the dining area where we were treated to delicious traditional 'tapas' such as empanadas, mini cuban sandwiches, and calamari with an interesting honey dipping sauce. I then moved on to a nice sized portion of a traditional cuban classic, Pernil, which stimulated my tastebuds. The food alone gave me a great sense of satisfaction, when my date suggested some drinks at the bar as there was a DJ playing festive Spanish music. As we moved to the bar, the staff was gracious in assisting our move. We weren't hurried from the table or rushed out of the restaurant which is a huge pet peeve of mine. The bar staff was superb. Alex and Rod (I think) were so attentive and friendly that I felt as if they had known me for a long time, although this was my first encounter. My date and I sipped flavored mojitos and danced (or attempted to anyways) for several hours before making our way home. The fact that Agozar provided a complete evening of enjoyment is the reason I had to spread the word. I left full from a delicious meal, exhausted from what I call some fancy hip shaking, and with a smile stretched across my face knowing I was able to impress my date with a romantic evening. I highly recommend Agozar for anyone looking for an entertaining night in the city!!!

1 Stars: sorry i have to agree with everyone else..a smile can go a long way.. (by iriskiw)

iriskiw — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This place has gone down the tubes. Our opinion is the food is a total "tourist trap" it's really dry and terribly bland. I think people who do not dine out often and never eat "ethnic foods" will find it a great ..but most find it an insult to latin food establishments as a whole. I would rather PAY for two good tapas instead of the buy one crappy get one crappy they offer here during happy hour . We too had a bad experience here, same stuff, bad attitudes too cramped, weak drinks ..all around. Unless you accept the dry flavorless food and sweet but "empty" mojitoes your going to have a frustrating night. The wait is the longest ever to get a drink at their bar (one of the most narrowest I have ever seen) I thought the picture on their website made it look small ..but it really is super narrow. Way too uncomfortable to have a good time, unless you are "hammered" and that will not happen during their happy hour. It stinks because we work right in the neighborhood it would have been nice to have a 5-10 happy hour ..some things just sound too good ya know? I swear you would think these people here were getting payed NOT too smile here.

5 Stars: best mojitos and bartenders (by bec7kyl0u)

bec7kyl0u — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

i brought a friend who was visiting here to experience nyc's best, and i had an amazing time!!!! the bartenders were great [i think one was the owner], and custom made our mojitos for us. we were also happy with the calamari [with this amazing honey glaze] and empanadas... and we danced a little salsa when the music came on. i would definitely recommend this place, and i will return with all my visitors... i know you can also sit in the dining room section, if you want more privacy. overall, i had a great time and just had to write my first citysearch review about the place... hope you enjoy it as much as i did

5 Stars: grat food, great deals, excellent service (by danny108)

danny108 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I have to say, i was reccomended this place trough friends, and oh boy were they right, the happy hour deal is the best in the city, two for one drinks, and appetizers, and for that long....yes...very good deal, the drinks are delicious...and with the selection of tapas make sure to try everything, just make sure to arrive a bit early since the "bar/lounge" where happy hour is hold fills up rather quickly,( i don t know if they allow reservations for the lounge) is a great place to meet up with friends and have just a relaxed, casual, happy time, service is great, and if you spot a waiter walking around wih a hat on, try to get him, the best and friendliest i had in a long time, over all, i can't wait to go back....

2 Stars: not great by a long shot... (by kparnes)

kparnes — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We came here to eat dinner and meet friends for their "great" happy hour. I see the frustration with this place. I think they think they are "bigger and better" then they really are. We were under the impression because we sat at the side of the bar (for dinner) that we could take part in the happy hour for the last 1/2 hour of our meal
.....ok so we were wrong, no biggie we will move to "the bar when we were done..I just had to share with others how rude they were about telling us. WE just spent over $350 on a meal and some drinks. We went to the bar for happy hour and we were not impressed.. The service is way slow there too and not pleasant at all..I am sure no bar owner truly "enjoys" giving you a free drink but why the sour looks ? Don't have a happy hour then, ya know?
By the time you get your drinks its over anyway. For dinner we had the grilled steak , vaca frita,empanadas shrimp,tapas ropa vieja, The food was so so,, nothing to rave about., a bit bland and any kick anything had was very "adobe-ey" tasting The tapas weren't fresh, neither was the shrimp or bass. All in all I would not go back for food, however, if you like overly sweet mojitos that are weak as can be this may be your spot, if you can make your way to the bar (way too small and crowded) you can drink them at buy one get one 5-8. My choice would be to go to a shorter happy hour and have a few GOOD drinks and tastier tapas.

1 Stars: we won't come back..spotty service..VERY slow happy hour (by lilo718)

lilo718 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

not authentic cuban..we were really disappointed. The service was really bad and very rude. The happy hour is the worst , you wait forever for your drinks. The place is so small and people are cramped like crazy, way to busy to have a decent time. They say it is 5-8pm but it is actually the equivalent to 6-7 because of the slow service and the way you have to squeeze through to get your next drink. The place gets way too crowded. I have to say the mojitos were ok but not strong at all and they took forever to get to us for happy hour. I would not come back. We ordered the steak,chicken and tapas before happy hour ..the best part was the sweet plantains they give you for free..seriously. Everything else is really dry or really greasy. Do your research before you haul a group down here...for anything

5 Stars: Recommended twice over! (by angelica45)

angelica45 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Mojitos , tapas , happy hour and Regular dinner are great at this place ! I come down here with co workers very often ! I personally recommend this place for a great time ! Happy hour is always busy so make sure to get in as early as possible . my personal happy hour recommndation - Sangria glass with chicharron de pollo!

1 Stars: disapointed and annoyed (by casey289)

casey289 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

What a terrible happy hour! I don't know what the hype was about it. Whatever it used to be ..it is not now.
We even gave it a second shot this week. Originally we had dinner with some friends 2 weeks ago and the food was not great, but we wanted to check out heir 5-8 happy hour (that does NOT apply to folks dining on the side of the bar??) So we tried again this week. The mojitos were way watered down with sugar water and the they took forever to get to us. The plantain chips were yummy but thats about it. I guess this is a great place to go if you have a large amount of patience o work down the street but don't hop on the subway or taxi for it ...that's for sure. Way too small of a place to meet friends and hang. Also,the staff's unfriendliness is quite annoying . I defenitly can't recommend this place.

2 Stars: authentic???i think not (by sassystacey)

sassystacey — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

No they are not authentic cuban at all, anyone seeking that will be highly disappointed. The tapas are super dry and the stuff they called chicken was questionable. The owner is not very friendly at all. The advertised happy hour seems great but once you get there you will notice there is only ONE bartender for the entire bar and tables outside, plus he is making drinks for the people in the dining area. So once happy hour is done and you do the math ..your not so "happy". Time flies in there with really slow and terrible service, there are many other places with great happy hours that may not be until 8pm but you will definitely get more drinks out of them then you would here.

5 Stars: Great Party !! (by FashionGirl13)

FashionGirl13 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I recently was thrown a farewell party at Agozar and I just wanted to say how great of time I had at this restaurant. The happy hour special was amazing!! Cant find a lot of places that hold happy hour for that long. We had a pretty large group so I was amazed of how quick they were to cater to our orders. Every tapa meal we tried was better than the next. The drinks were really good too. I recommend the cococnut mojito !! I even stayed later in the night for dinner with a couple of friends and everyone's meals were delicious. Thanks again to the people at agozar for making my party a memorable one.

1 Stars: Rude and Inhospitable (by Spam1601)

Spam1601 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I had been to Agozar last year and had a great time so I was pretty surprised at the poor attitude that I was greeted with when I returned yesterday with my husband, another couple and their small child. The woman behind the bar told us that we had to leave the restaurant because they were not open for "another 5 minutes." We were not even welcomed to sit at the bar and wait for these few minutes (even though it felt like 100 degrees outside)! Since we were obviously offended we opted to leave entirely and spend our money elsewhere. We won't be coming back.

4 Stars: a MUST for happy hour lovers. (by minnetonka627)

minnetonka627 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I went here last night with 2 of my girlfriends. The happy hour (buy 1 get 1 tapas and drinks) is SUCH a great deal! the food was excellent. Great music, great atmosphere. We were ordering tapas all night and the food came out quickly, but the waiter was kind of slow (took awhile to take our orders, took awhile to get our check), but nothing unbearable. The sangria was good, though not the best I've had, and my friend had a margarita and said it was kind of tasteless but definetely not lacking liquor. That being said, we had a great time and I will be going back here again. I would definetely recommend going here to enjoy happy hour and catch up with friends!

2 Stars: Superb food, happy hour special NOT SPECIFIED enough (by ywang86)

ywang86 — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My only advice to those going for the food with a party is that when coming here, be specific on whether you would want to take part in the happy hour special advertised. I'd reserve over the phone and NOT ONLINE because there is no space for you to specify whether you wanted to take part in the special and that they might bring you to their dining room and not bar lounge (which i thought was the same thing since there was no mention of the dining room being separate from the bar lounge) and end up charging you full price for absolutely everything.

My advice to Agozar would be to be more specific that there is actually a bar lounge AND a dining room in the place!!
SAY: ***Happy hour EXCLUDED in the "dining room"

Finally, service was good at the bar area the first time we came and horrible when we came with the group. We waited for our food a half an hour or more (which was worth the wait given it was delicious) EACH TIME we ordered more tapas so since we ordered food more than 2 times, you can imagine how long the wait was.

IF we do come back (for the food only), I would probably go with only 1 or 2 other people, not more and stay at the bar only. Drinks were pretty great too. Bartender was very nice the first time we came before this unpleasant experience.

The manager was considerate enough to offer us a 25% off next time we come (that is IF we come) but i do not feel that is enough given we paid over $300 that evening and we weren't even full because although the food was good, it came in small portions (tapas). We ended up going to chinatown and got handmade dumplings at Dumpling house instead. $24 was enough to feed 8 people and we had leftovers.

5 Stars: great food, great sangria (by lizamagee)

lizamagee — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I went in for lunch today and even though there were only a few other people there it was obviously not because of the food. I had sangria and a garlic chicken breast that came with rice and beans. It was all super good. I ended the meal with flan and it was really great too. The waitress was really nice and friendly and made excellent suggestions (the idea for a cocktail with lunch and the recommendation of sangria was right on).

Overall, this place should be much busier. The value is great (two drinks, a meal and dessert for 25 bucks) and the staff is too. I will definitely go again.

5 Stars: Great For a night out in town!! (by jackyC)

jackyC — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We had to make last minute reservations and got accomodated w/o a problem . We got to enjoy their 2 for happy hour and then had some of the best Cuban tapas around. The Churraso is highly recommended along with their delicious Cuban Cigar for desserts!! Our Pitchers of great Mojitos sealed the deal ! We will defintely being returning. Make sure to sample all the tapas . Its 2 for 1, you cant beat that !

1 Stars: ruined my bday (by daveyboy808)

daveyboy808 — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

one of the worst dining experiences in quite a while. $50 pitcher of mojito with no alcohol, tiny portions, seriously the smallest shrimp i've ever seen for $2/ea. food, drinks, everything just took FOREVER. i swear i was thirsty and hungry the whole night. we sat down at 9:30 and didn't get our check until 1. i was trying to be cool, i mean i should have known better than to try to get spanish food south of 100th st but when they included a $15 cake charge for cutting my b-day cake, after spending $300 across 5 people, i lost it. go to son cubano, at least you get what you pay for, there.

1 Stars: Bad experience all around!!! (by BoxerNYC)

BoxerNYC — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I went to have dinner with my girlfriend and from the moment we got there something seemed off. They sat us in the back room, by what should have been a locked door (since it is not the main entrance or exit and was right on top of our table). Since it was not locked, people kept entering and leaving through it creating a draft and letting the rain in.

That was just the beginning. I asked for tostones in a Cuban restaurant and the waiter had no idea what I was talking about. He asked the cook and they said they don't make it. That was only slightly disappointing I still held out hope that my ropa vieja and my gf's pernil would be tasty and all would be fine.

The portions were tiny, which may have been a blessing in disguise, since the food was bland. The ropa vieja was dry and the pernil wasn't properly seasoned. The food was not terrible, but I don't eat out for 'not terrible'.

To add insult to injury, when the bill came there was an automatic 20% gratuity added. That put us over the edge. I was livid. We paid for our food and left. The included gratuity was omitted. Worst dining experience in quite a while.

4 Stars: Good Spot (by nikalbo)

nikalbo — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Had a group reservation last night after doing some research. The place is split into two areas - a bar area and a dining room area. The pictures on their website don't do the interior justice - it's really quite nice and pretty inside. The food was great - as one of the reviewers said order the calamari - it's good. I also recommend the fried beef dish which I have forgotten the name for. Some minor gripes: sangria was a bit off and funky tasting and also, they start pumping in the "club music" at around 10:30 so you probably wouldn't want to do a late night date here. Otherwise, overall - not a bad spot to have a group dinner - nothing special or amazing experience wise, but a solid pick for a dine out night with your friends in NYC.

2 Stars: Smoking allowed? (by TL81)

TL81 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I thought the food was good (especially the steak). The service was a bit slow. To me, it seemed like there were a lot of underage drinkers there -- I'm guessing NYU students. I saw one kid who looked about 16 with a beer. Also, when leaving I noticed a girl was allowed to smoke INSIDE the restaurant next to the front door. Even though I liked the food, I wouldn't go back or recommend this place because of the smoking and what looked like under age drinking.

5 Stars: Amazing. (by seraphina31)

seraphina31 — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The tapas is fabulous, the mojitos and sangria are to die for. I just can't get over this place.

Service is spectacular, decor is great, and the people (both eating and working) make a great atmosphere. This will remain one of my favorite spots for a long time.

And... nothing beats the happy hour on the drinks and tapas.

5 Stars: Best Birthday !! (by john825)

john825 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Had my birthday party this past Saturday at Agozar. My large party was gracefully accommodated . We had a great Prefix menu picked out with tapas and pitchers. I Highly recommend the Flavored Mojitos. Just as I thought my night couldn't get any better I realized I was enjoying drinks at the bar along Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash!! Needless to say it was a Great time!!!

5 Stars: Awesome Happy Hour, Great Food, Wonderul Staff, Cool Environment (by sandritad13)

sandritad13 — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

A bunch of coworkers and myself headed down there on a Thursday and I have to say the HAPPY HOUR is amazing. 2 for 1 drinks and tapas !! The coconut mojito and sangria are to die for. The food is amazing and our waitress made sure our large group was attended !! This is definately a place I would recommend for great food, great drinks and a fun environment. Not to mention that the food is delicious.

5 Stars: little CUBA!! (by cancer7)

cancer7 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Agozar is the BEST cuban restaurant in the city! It's decor is fabulous, and the food and drinks are awsome! Diana, the owner, was so accomodating to me when i was planning my party. An overall great experience!

5 Stars: Recommendable if you want to have a GREAT time !! (by julysummers)

julysummers — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Love this place!! It was recommended by one of my friends who attended a bachelorette party a few weeks ago. We had ceviche mixto and papitas rellenas as appetizers and for entree I had the mouth watering parillada and my friend had the paella which was equally as delicious. The staff was helpful and seating was prompt. They also have a buy one get one special throughout the week, I highly suggest trying their flavored mojitos (strawberry mango is my favorite).
Overall it was a great experience. I give it two very satisfied thumbs up !!!

4 Stars: Great Happy Hour Specials, Tasty Food, Good Atmosphere, Great Location (by cobraman332)

cobraman332 — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Our group ate at Agozar last night (Tuesday) to celebrate a friend's birthday... 7 of us were seated promptly, but the waiter took longer than we wanted to bring out drinks. The pitchers of Mojito were delicious -- if anything, too sweet, but then again that's a Mojito. We also had a few pitchers of sangria, which proved to be just as sugary and sweet... again, maybe a bit too sweet. We shared all 8 different tapas as appetizers (half price until 8pm... so cheap!), which really were the best part of the meal. For a main dish (they call them "platos fuertes"), I had a skirt steak with mashed potatoes, peppers and onions. The peppers and onions were phenomenal and went great with the steak. Unfortunately the steak didn't have as much flavor as I'd hoped, but the dish was still very enjoyable. 4 people in our group split two orders of the traditional Argentinean "parillada" -- mixed grilled platter for 2 (comes with skirt steak, chorizo, chicken breast and pork loin). From what they told me, the meats weren't as flavorful as expected and they were disappointed with their choice. Overall, it was a good dining experience but Agozar didn't serve the top cuisine in the city. The service was a bit slow and we ended up waiting about 10-15 minutes between our appetizers and our main dishes, when that wait should be no longer than 5 minutes. The drinks were strong, though, and I walked out a bit tipsy for sure. I would certainly go back there, but only for a low-key gathering or to drink with friends. Great location, cheap drinks, decent food... Agozar is worth a visit.

2 Stars: Not For Large Groups (by brensanti782)

brensanti782 — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I had the unfortunate experience of bringing a large group of 20 to this restaurant which was not a good idea. The service was horrible, with only one waiter for the entire group and working with Diana herself was just as worse. She is not a very nice or inviting person. As one of the owners she was a very unpleasant person to talk to. REAL BAD ATTITUDE PROBLEM! This would be a nice place for an intimate dinner of no more than 4 or 5. They had no coordination with the service even though you are obligated to have a prefixed menu. THAT DIDN'T WORK! The sad part was that I was told one thing over the phone when I made my reservation for example: my guest could take advantage of the half price drinks until 7p.m. It was completely something else when me and my guest got there. My friends were not to upset but definitely complained. Overall the food was ok loved the mojitos and empanadas but the service sucked! I do not recommend this place as a group gathering for dinner reservations.

5 Stars: Best Deal Anywhere (by prettyinpuma)

prettyinpuma — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

There is no way that you can beat the value of the happy hour! My boyfriend and I found this restaurant on CitySearch a few months ago, and have made at least one trip there weekly since. With the amount of food and liquor we get, we always expect the bill to be over $100, and then see that it is like $45. The staff is also very nice and personable, although they can be a little understaffed on Friday and Saturday nights - or it could just be hard to get through the throngs of people on those nights. The empanaditas are savory, the sweet plantains are perfect and the plantain chips and guacamole taste as if they were made fresh when you ordered them. The mixed grill is also very tasty, but ask the waiter how to turn off the little grill before he leaves the table. The mojitos are all excellent, especially the raspberry ones and the sangrito. If you are going to try it for the first time, go on Monday - Thursday so you don't get annoyed at the crowd on Fridays.

4 Stars: Fun Festivity (by fosterc)

fosterc — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

ok, cheesy title..sorry.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the restaurant. A friend and I ventured in for dinner and drinks one evening, and were pleasantly surprised of how good the food was since the signs for the restaurant make it look a little low-brow to me. We came in at 8:10, and even though happy hour had ended at 8, the bartender was nice and let it slide for our first round of sangria. Most bartenders are so rigid about the happy hour end time, but not at Agozar.
We had a lamb and chicken dish, I don't remember specifically what it was, but it was great!
My only complaint woul be the service, since it took forever to get a waiters attention and we were two young cute girls! Come on!

5 Stars: Great Corn Fritters, Great Happy Hour (by callisto)

callisto — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

If you go there for Happy Hour (5-8pm), you get BOGO drinks & tapas. They were all delicious. I had dinner here as well & the Corn Fritter Appetizer was to die for. I wanted to order that with the Dulce Leche dessert & just have that as dinner! The Paella came in a huge portion & was very good. The Ropa Vieja was a bit salty but if you mix it w/ the rice & beans it tasted fine. The pork loin was ok too, but the Corn Fritter & dessert made the trip very worthwhile.

They no longer offer the Corn Fritter! That was my favorite part.

4 Stars: I love Bossa Nova (by redlarry)

redlarry — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Some forget that you're not simply paying for an amount of food, or the organizational skills of the host.

You're getting the unique culinary creations from the chef. You're getting a fun, inviting interior. You're getting great music from a wonderful female-fronted Bossa Nova band.

Agozar has a lot of personality, and is a great place. It's definitely not ideal for everyone, but that's always the case when something is distinctive. Stop by early on a weeknight and peek your head in, have a drink at the bar, and test for yourself whether it's for you. You might be pleasantly surprised.

5 Stars: AWESOME HAPPY HOURS (by dulloa)

dulloa — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

THEIR HAPPY HOURS ARE THE BEST ITS M-F FROM 5-8PM..... THE TAPAS ARE SO TASTY AND THEIR MOJOITOS ARE TO DIE FOR!!!!! HONESTLY, I ONLY GO FOR THE HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS SINCE THE PRICES ARE GREAT BUT WHEN THEIR HAPPY HOUR IS OVER I AM OVER, BECAUSE THEIR ACTUAL ENTREES ARENT THAT GREAT!!!!!!

4 Stars: Happy hour specials (drinks and tapas) (by kphiadivinity)

kphiadivinity — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Recommend el Coco for drink. The bartender there makes it really good! Buy one get one free on mixed drinks Mon-Fri; i think till 8PM. The tapas are half price (around $3-$4 after discount) during happy hour. Recommend the chorizos if you're going to order Tapas. I went with a large group and the people at the restaurant were fairly accomodating. I shared an entree (a real entree to share - its on the menu) with another girl and boy was it wayy too big for us to finish. Prices are fair. Food was average.

5 Stars: spicy start, smooth finish (by nhyman)

nhyman — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Prompt seating even though my party ran late. Freshest sangria I've ever tasted set off spicy tapas nicely. I rec the shrimp in double garlic sauce if you can handle it. The chicken "lollipops" are a great option for kids. For entrees, the strip steak and pork loin were equally lean and well seasoned. Sweet plantains were a great offset to spicy sides. I tried to pace myself but was lost. Portions were healthy without seeming over the top grotesque. Lovely presentation. Just went last Friday and returning this week for part 2.

4 Stars: Great Drinks & Tapas (by laetizia123)

laetizia123 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Took my group of 8 to the restaurant for a birthday dinner and was seated promply and had a good time. The drinks are awesome and the tapas just the same. I would not recommend the dinner portions since they are mediocre. It gets busy on Friday nights but we really enjoyed the atmosphere, decoration and overall company. The service is slow and needs to be worked on. I would suggest going during happy hour for the best deal.

5 Stars: Mojito~licious (by jlondon30)

jlondon30 — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The best mojitos ever and if you stop by during their happy hour you get 2-4-1. I haven't had a full dinner here yet but if it's anything like thier apps I'm sure everything will be great! Try it...it's worth the trip downtown.

3 Stars: Mediocrity reigns... (by chowhound3)

chowhound3 — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I had some friends visiting from out of town and needed to make a last-minute reservation for 6 people on a Saturday night. I was surprised to find that Agozar had a table available at 4pm that Saturday... after eating there, I'm not surprised why.

Everything about the place was mediocre. Sangria was ok, food was ok, decor was ok... except maybe the service was less than OK. The waiter got my friend's order wrong, and when she flagged him down to tell him that it was not what she ordered, he looked at her like it was her fault that she didn't want to eat it. I asked for my skirt steak medium, and when it came charred and well done, I sent it back and asked for a less well done steak. Apparently, that was understood to be that I wanted it cooked even more because I got my SAME steak back, charred even more.

They have 2 for 1 drink specials during happy hour and that is probably the ONLY time I will go back to agozar.

1 Stars: Terrible Service (by alaniadancer)

alaniadancer — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The service was so bad, it overshadowed the great food and drinks. After being seated, we waited 15 minutes before flagging down a waitress to take our drink order, and it was not even busy! After taking our order, we never saw our waitress again, not even for the check. The table next to us caught fire (no, I'm not kidding), and a waiter and busser walked by without doing anything to help. We finally threw our glasses of water on the fire, which were not refilled for the remainder of our meal. Although I am craving the yummy "El Coco" mojitos, I will not go back due to the terrible service. If this restaurant wants to remain on the "Best of" lists, I highly suggest hiring a new waitstaff and a good manager.

5 Stars: Great Atmosphere! (by kreemy)

kreemy — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This place is a blast! I set up a birthday dinner for my friend here and couldn't have asked for a better time. Took advantage of the 2-4-1 Happy Hour special for a couple hours before dinner which cost us next to nothing. 8 people, 6 tapas, 4 Parilladas (mixed grill for 2), 8 desserts and LOTS of booze came out to less than $50 a head. Service was phenomenal also. Live latin music, fun atomosphere and people made such a great vibe that we ended up staying and drinking almost until closing time. Def come here if you're with a group of people that are looking to eat, drink and be merry.

5 Stars: WOW! (by castexm50)

castexm50 — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I went to agozar last weekend with some friends for a low key birthday celebration... the drinks were great as usual, especially the mojitos! I've been a few times before but they must have changed the menu around... we ordered some appetizers and tapas plates and we all loved them! I highly recommend if you're in the mood for some good cuban food!

3 Stars: The WORST service! (by kalinka)

kalinka — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We were a party of 6 people Sat night (w/reservations). Drinks were great but once the server took our order he all but ignored our table! Never asked us if we wanted more drinks, sat with dirty dishes in front of us. I finally waved him down to ask for a dessert menu and then we had to wave him down to get the check. Unbelievable! Food was a bit bland and appetizers arrived luke warm. Unfortunately they automatically added 18% service to the check, which is probably why the waiter didn't care if we needed anything or not. Will NEVER go back!

2 Stars: Not great at all!!! (by jefernan)

jefernan — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I don't understand how this restaurant was on the best Cuban food 2005 list. The ropa vieja was awful but the only good thing was the mojito.

5 Stars: definitely the happiest happy hour (by augustocastex)

augustocastex — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Buy 1, get 1 free happy hours make each Mojito (the best Ive ever had) $4.50, that's a great price for a cocktail in the City. Also the early bird dinner from 5pm - 7pm was OUTSTANDING. You get a lot of food (3 courses) for the $19.95 and it can be easily shared between two people. The food, is exquisite hispanic food not just cuban. The quesadilas were better than some I've tasted in Mexican restaurants. It's a must all the way round.

4 Stars: Definitely a Great Spot (by mreiffe)

mreiffe — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of Agozar. I love going there for dinner and trying lots of new things cause everything tastes so good. But i also really like going there for a drink or two. Whatever it is, I always have a good time there and I'm always treated well.

1 Stars: un inspired cuban (by fkbuisman)

fkbuisman — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

salad, had minimal black beans, advocato and corn....not worth the $9. the cuban sandwhich was made on sloppy french bread..not a pressed sandwhich which I would expect from an 'authentic' cuban restuarant

5 Stars: A truly unique experience (by everythingnyc)

everythingnyc — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Everything was alive and full of life at Agozar's on Friday night. My party orignally just came in for the great happy hour, but after smelling and seeing the fantastic food coming out of the kitchen, we couldn't leave til we had a taste.

5 Stars: No Place Better!!! (by ludovitri)

ludovitri — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Very Friendly people...Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very helpful when asked for a recommendation. The Salmon was amazing and the Mojitos and the appetizers are wonderful and original! This is my husband and my favorite restaurant and we'll be back again and again!

1 Stars: This Place Is Terrible (by karismatic21)

karismatic21 — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We waited to be seated and spoken to by our waitress once and that was basically to order. We were both hungry and hoped the food would outweigh the lack of service. Once the food arrived we were surprised it was full of color and plated nicely. Only a few moments after that we realized the mix of colors was to over compensate for the BLANDEST cuban food we had ever tasted. The rice tasted like Uncle Ben's, the meat was not cooked thoroughly and had some pepper flake thrown on top for kick. I guess to this slacking duo, some pepper flake consitutes "flavour". We had our water glasses filled once and got the most attention from the bus boy who even got us our check. I would never go back to this place again and be weary the food is not authentic and tastes watered down.

5 Stars: Diana and Gerardo were wonderful hosts!! (by bbumatay)

bbumatay — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

We hosted a big party for about 40 people here and it turned out magnificent! The food was wonderful, the back room was perfect for 40 people, the service was great, and we even got to hire our own band! One thing that I was initially worried about was the fact that they required us to pre-purchase alot of alcohol, and I wasn't sure if we would be able to drink that much. But, their mojitos and sangria were so good that the pitchers were emptied with no problem. Finally, I was able to work closely with the two owners in planning the party. They were very flexibile to our needs and that is what really made the difference. How many owners of a hip NYC restaurant are that accessible?
Thanks Diana,Gerardo,and Agozar.

1 Stars: Absent service (by jtflynn)

jtflynn — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

We decided to try this place the other day. It took over 20 minutes for our drinks to arrive. Food arrived quickly but we never saw the waitress between courses. Had to go up to the bar ourselves to get salt for our French fries. At the end of the meal, she brought coffee for those in our group who ordered the prix fixe dinner, but didn't offer coffee to the rest of our party. Food was pretty good, actually, but with such poor service, we'll never go near the place again.

5 Stars: Early (Birthday) Bird Gets A Deal!!!! (by bmj823)

bmj823 — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I had a small birthday celebration here tonight with three of my friends and it was amazing!!!! We arrived right on time to take advantage of their "earlybird" 3 course prefix menu ($20) and two for one priced happy hour drinks. My prefix dinner was composed of garlic shrimp appetizer followed by a yummy skirt steak complete with handcut fries. For dessert there was flan and flourless chocolate cake. I went to college in Miami and never thought I could find Cuban food this good in New York but I now have a new favorite place on The Bowery. Have a few Mojitos and you will be singing your own birthday song. Did I mention the Drinks were two for one??

2 Stars: Not what I expected (by biba123)

biba123 — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Party of 4 (two couples) went to Agozar for dinner on a Tuesday night. There were approximately 3 other couples in the entire restaurant. Hence, it was slow and the service should've been phenomenal. Negative. Service was awful. The waiter never came by to check on us after the bus boy brought us our food. We saw him again when he delivered the check. Food and alcoholic drinks were simply ok. Absolutely, nothing to brag about. No sodas were available as the machine was "out of service". They offered us Cranberry juice that tasted sour and tart.

5 Stars: It's A Must! (by mgalis)

mgalis — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

A bunch of us got together for a bachelorette dinner and boy was it great. Agozar brings you alive the minute you walk in the door. The service is great and the music was upbeat the entire time and not overwhelmingly loud either (I hate that). The mojitos were FAB and they even sold them in pitchers which was great for our big group. We ordered almost every flavor and shared them all. As for the food, we allowed the waitress to handle a lot of the ordering since we were such a big group, and she did great. The empanadas and shrimp in garlic sauce appies were great. And the entrees were even better, I had the steak and it was to dye for. I highly recommend agozar to all!

3 Stars: Go Somewhere Else (by taigunz)

taigunz — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Who is that man by the door with that grimace on his face? I think he's the co-owner! Our dinner at Agozar was a terrible experience. The hostess told me she could accomodate my group without a reservation but we ended up waiting nearly an hour and were seated in the smallest cramped area. But then, the whole restaurant is a small, cramped area. The menu is pricey and the food was not tasty - except for the tostones with garlic and oil. They were good. I don't know why they boast the best mojitos in NYC because they were terrible. The staff was rude. The portions were ridiculously small. Do not get the steak dish. The shrimp appetizer was tasty but the quesadilla was a joke. There was only half of a quesadilla on the plate! You can definitely eat better elsewhere and for much less!

2 Stars: So overrated! (by johnnybravo1)

johnnybravo1 — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The tasty but wimpy $30 pitcher of mojitos fed the four of us one tiny low-ball glass each. It was more of a half-pitcher; what a rip-off. Service was slow and inattentive, our salad was missing ingredients, and the pork-chop was more dry and tasteless than their pathetic decor. It looked like a high-school cafeteria!

5 Stars: Mouth-watering tapas and mojitos (by gryffindorkeeper)

gryffindorkeeper — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I had a large dinner people & Agozar was accomodating (but it did take awhile for us to be seated). The food was excellent. Wasnt too impressed with my main dish but that didn't matter since I had filled up on tapas. The tapas were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Everything from tostones & the highly addictive maduros to the shrimp ceviche & empanadas (order the platter of all 3 so you can get a bit of each flavor) were mouth-wateringly good. Their mojitos are absolutely awesome as well. My personal favorite was the coconut mojito. Order the pitcher & save yourself a few bucks in the process. The only bad thing is that the place is kind of small but all the other great things about this place more than makeup for that one little drawback. Its certainly not a cheap eats place but its averagely-priced for a NYC restaurant.

4 Stars: Remember gum... (by curiousllama)

curiousllama — Sun, 08 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The restaurant is cozy and inviting, and the live music on certain nights adds more vibrance. For a party of 20, the staff was friendly but had a little bit of difficulty keeping the orders straight. The menu has some flavorful alternatives, but those dining with vegetarians beware - there's not much to offer. The El Tropical salad is a light and different start, and the empanadas have some great combinations as well. The camarones y arroz amarillo got a thumbs up, as did the salmon varadero, but don't forget to add some maduros (sweet plantains) to any meal. No matter what you have, be prepared with something minty for your breath, as garlic is a staple in most dishes!

5 Stars: User review by dor0326 (by dor0326)

dor0326 — Wed, 04 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Great food, comfortable atmosphere. Have been here a few times w/ friends, they did a total redesign and now offer more seating and it great for afterwork for Tapa's and cocktails! Highly recommened! Enjoyed great food and service.

5 Stars: Thanks for another great experience (by cryan0974)

cryan0974 — Tue, 03 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Have been to Agozar several times now and have been meaning to write a review. The place has really hit its stride with excellent food, accomodating servers and very gracious owners. My personal favorites are the empanadas, ceviche and ropa vieja - oh and I can't forget the specialty drinks - especially the caparinhis. It was also nice to see that they have opened up even more space for dining by reconfiguring the bar area. I'm looking foward to going back soon for another great meal.

5 Stars: GOOD FOOD ... GOOD DRINKS (by rayamoroso)

rayamoroso — Tue, 03 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

the tapas are great....the drinks are on the money....try the mojitos....great atmosphere....took my fiance for Valentines Day....very romantic...the bar's cool.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!

5 Stars: Great Time! (by mcastex)

mcastex — Mon, 02 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I came here for drinks with my friends and had a great time. It was very accomodating for large groups and the drinks were fantastic. Especially the white sangria special, YUM. The food was great and just the right amount for their reasonable prices. I'm definitely looking forward to going back and next time with even more friends.

5 Stars: We had a Blast (by g4quad)

g4quad — Mon, 02 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I dont know where that last poster ate, but it wasnt this place.
A group of us got together and thought we were stopping into a little place we could take over. Wrong!
Guess we were there before the crowds arrived, because the place exploded about an hour into our meal. We allowed the waitress to handle a lot of the ordering since we were such a big group, and she did great. The ham croquetes, empanada trio and marinated shrimp appies went over big. So did the paella and pork loin. But everything was excellent, including the drinks; and the bartender, when we migrated up to the bar after dinner. We had several Latins in our group, who were all enjoying the food, so it wasn't just us gringos. We were stuffed and laughed all night.

1 Stars: UGH!! (by de5tin4)

de5tin4 — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I took my best friend out for her birthday dinner and thank goodness she enjoyed her entree because the rest of the "food" was disgusting. The sangrias were water downed, the Yuca Frites was dry, and very dry, shrimp appetizer was not fresh, the croquetas was -- WHAT was it?? The pollo con rizo was bland and dry, the special of the day (shrimp paella) was soooooo hot that I could not eat it after 2 bites and I love spicy foods. Chocolate dessert was crummy (pun intended-- how can a brownie be dry and crumbles???). Sigh. And above all the place had no ventiliation and extremely, extremely loud. Good thing this is not the first time I had cuban food beause this experience would have ruined it for me. I would not go back there again. The only thing good about this place is the service was very accomdating.

5 Stars: Great! (by mgray78)

mgray78 — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I came here for a few birthday drinks with my friends and had an awesome time. It is quite a cozy place so I wouldn't suggest it for large groups, but the drinks were fantastic, especially the apple-martini. The food was great, could've been bigger portions, but it was just the right size if you're out drinking. Looking forward to going back for another apple-martini!!

5 Stars: A Great Experience! (by jenc81)

jenc81 — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I chose Agozar on a whim from this site, and it really exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere was great - low lighting, a live band with a female singer crooning smooth bossanova music, and seating that was cozy but didn't have you plastered up against your neighbor.

And the food!! The chorizo was the best I've had - and having lived in Argentina, Spain, and Mexico, that's saying a lot. And the Ropa Vieja was delicious. My boyfriend had the Picadillo Empanada and the grilled pork and he was equally satisfied. And the drink menu is great - we tried all four flavors of the Mojito, as well as the Caipirinha, and all were delicious.

I highly recommend this place, both for dates and for groups. I can't wait to go back!

5 Stars: Great Early Bird Platter (by chulito71)

chulito71 — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:00:00 GMT

2 for 1 drinks make each Corona $2.50, that's a great price for a great beer in the City. Also the happy hour early bird dinner from 5pm - 7pm was OUTSTANDING. You get a lot of food (3 courses) for the $12.50 and it can be easily shared between two people. The food, is exquisite hispanic food not just cuban. The Ceviche was tasty and the quesaddilas were better than some I've tasted in Mexican restaurants. It's pricey so I would recommend it during the happy hour! However, the food is definitly worth the price any other time.

5 Stars: GREAT FIND!!! (by alexobregon)

alexobregon — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Came for drinks after work to enjoy the Mojitos and took advantage of the Happy Hour specials and Cuban Cuisine. The rellenos and salmon were especially tasty. This place was lively and fun and the staff was extremely helpful. I would definitely recommend this place to my friends.

1 Stars: Sadly let down and left hungry (by funkyfoodmaniac)

funkyfoodmaniac — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Sorry, this place is definitely not a crowd pleaser. It's too small for large groups and no elbow room. Drinks are not tasty and food is not original. The prices are poorly reflected and the value is just plain bad. Only thing I can say is that it's dark enough place to take a date that's an eyesore because you can't even read the menu cause it's so dark!!!

4 Stars: loved it but not inexpensive (by amyissey)

amyissey — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Food is excellent. Mojitos are one of the best i've had. small bar area has big friendly attitude and attentive service. Dishes were all tasty. Some a bit small but worth it. All dishes added up to a bigger bill than expected but worth the treat.

5 Stars: awesome place (by snuzzo)

snuzzo — Thu, 20 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

i was really sad reading any negative reviews of this place. my friend and I went here last friday and we loved everything about it. the bartender was great; the sangria was terrific. They played great spanish music all night. Our waitress was super sweet and the food was amazing. The rice and beans were really tasty, and the chicken skewers were delicious. Our waitress recommended the coffee flan for dessert, and we didn't regret it. We left happily stuffed and somewhat tipsy, and anxious for our next visit. I'd come back here every week if i could!

5 Stars: Nice save! (by marezion)

marezion — Thu, 06 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Though they were slammed with a crowd from the Tribeca Film Festival and our food took forever to arrive, it was so delicious and the servers were incredibly apologetic and nice. They comped our entire meal! The garlic shrimp, shrimp and chorizo with white wine, lemon and butter sauce and saffron rice, churrasco steak, avocado salad and coconut crusted grouper were all amazing. Even though we started out a little mad, we left all smiles - and a huge tip for the servers!

5 Stars: GREAT TIME @ AGOZAR (by rleesanree)

rleesanree — Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

My friends and I met up for a few drinks and what was suppose to be a short night ended up being all night. This place was great....their mojitos were the best I'd ever had and the food was delicious! especially their empanadas.. They also had a live band that was amazing..I highly recommend it to everyone!

1 Stars: Disappointed (by abruckel)

abruckel — Mon, 23 Feb 2004 09:00:00 GMT

My friends and I arranged for a bachelorette party here. After they tried to change the contract last-minute, we were crammed into this tiny corner amidst the kitchen traffic. The food was so-so but the service was awful. It took 20 minutes to get a drink, if they remembered at all.

2 Stars: Not My Favorite (by sigeppepi)

sigeppepi — Mon, 09 Feb 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Having been to almost every Cuban restaurant in New York city; I found Agozar to be the most expensive and least authentic in the City. The mojito pitchers were a poor excuse for this classic rum based drink and the food was grossly overpriced. Think twice before you go here.

5 Stars: miamimamita (by miamimamita)

miamimamita — Wed, 03 Dec 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I would definately recomend this spot! The food has a contemporary take on classic cuban recipe's.
prepared just like abuelita would! Trust me I should know...I am cuban. Check this place out, its da bomb!!

5 Stars: Excellent! (by michellecw)

michellecw — Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We were so impressed with Agozar. Great food, right-sized appetizer and large portion entrees. The entree was unbelievable, pork chop was cooked to perfection and the best Fufu I've ever had.
The mojitoes are out of this world and worth the $9.
Service was wonderful, friendly and attentive. Chef stopped by the table too, which was a surprise and also impressive.
Live music was a nice touch too, very festive.
Highly recommend!

2 Stars: Don't go zar (by grahamcracker)

grahamcracker — Tue, 04 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The "tapas" (since when did this word become bastardized to mean "tiny expensive food", rather than Spanish bar snacks?) are just as others on this site have said- overpriced, unexceptional, and teeny tiny. The decor is tacky, mid-80's looking, and loud. We were lured in by the happy hour special, but even that's not enough to make us go back. This place just seems oddly mismatched with the neighborhood.

4 Stars: Good drinks.. (by mcamacho68)

mcamacho68 — Tue, 21 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Good mojitos...and good live music but the tapas were not very good and over priced...it's a good place to go for drinks and they have happy hour

2 Stars: WORST TAPAS PLACE IN THE CITY (by gracia)

gracia — Sun, 19 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

If you like tapas, I suggest you try Xunta. This place was overpriced, not tapa fare at all. Gross salads that aren't easily shared (& at $15 a pop, give me something to rave about), pitiful empanadas and a ceviche that almost made me try, should have been called shrimp cocktail in mayo dressing. Mojitos are ok, but not worth the visit. Oh yea, the desserts were pathetic as well. They need to rework the menu, desperately.

5 Stars: CooLnEss (by powerpeeps)

powerpeeps — Mon, 13 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Good Eats. Good Peeps. Good Prices. What more can one want. Oh, yeah, Good Mojitos!!

3 Stars: just drinks (by mia_mia)

mia_mia — Thu, 11 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Cool idea, but they trick you with the tapas...you think it's cheap? forget it. With the tiny protions you need at least 3 plates....and this is not real Latin food...so, stay at the bar area and enjoy the music and flavored drinks...they're worth it.

4 Stars: fun place! (by pennpal05)

pennpal05 — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

first thing's first...it's a tapas bar, people. if you're starving, this isn't the place to be. but me and my friends had a blast! our waiter was incredibly friendly, the ambience was fun, the drinks were good. the food wasn't the best tapas i've had but the experience was worth it nonetheless

4 Stars: Event at Agozar! (by ambiepambi)

ambiepambi — Wed, 20 Aug 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I had a dinner for 18 at Agozar last night and they were absolutely fantastic! I pre-chose the menu and they kept the food coming. Service was a tiny bit slow, but he cocktails were flowing, so no one cared.

They had great live music and the entire staff and the owners were super friendly and took care of everything. I HIGHLY reccomend it!

5 Stars: The Village Has Something New (by mirtapena)

mirtapena — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Agozar brings you alive the minute you walk in the door. The food is excellent, lots of variety and very tasty. I prefer eating tappas because you get a good variety for your money.
They have a well stacked bar. As for the drinks the bartender makes... they are the best. The vibrant colorful atmosphere gives it a friendly touch.
Go on a night when they have live music and you'll probably get up late for work the next day!

1 Stars: This place is bad (by donavin)

donavin — Sun, 27 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

This place is bad for dinner. Don't go there. It's food isn't that good and if you are hungry don't go there. Go to a deli around the corner or soething the food is better that way. And definately do not go with a group. Bills add up pretty quickly, put food down 10 bucks for a dish that has EXTREMELY small portions, just for tasting...Put drinks on top of the food and you are topping something like 40 bucks. 2 dishes 3 or 4 drinks...

4 Stars: Don't go if you're hungry!!! (by ofegb)

ofegb — Thu, 17 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The food is delicious, though porcion size is smaller than an appetizer. The place is tiny but cute, though the tables are way too small (maybe they go with the porcion size). Really good music and mojitos, but there was no AC in the bar/lounge area so we were dripping wet!!! (maybe it's a trick so that people drink more???)

5 Stars: BEG TO DIFFER (by nycdabest)

nycdabest — Tue, 10 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Past reviews trashed this lovely bro & sis place. The duo are welcoming as is the gracious staff. The food and the drinks are just as good. The prices are all under $17 and START at $4!! That's inexpensive. There are always drink specials and amazing Happy Hours. Please stop trashing the place and come and HAVE A GREAT TIME!

1 Stars: It's getting worse! (by JBeason)

JBeason — Thu, 05 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I've been coming to this place, since it first opened in December. I thought it was quaint and charming, when it first opened and the food was just ok, but it was the staff and the atmosphere that really drew me to the place over and over. Now, no one from the original staff is there, the girl bartender that used to greet me has been replaced by rude attitude bartenders and the food is taking 4 times longer to get to the table! What's the point, if the only thing that the place had going for it was the staff?! My advice. Avoid this place like the plague, unless you want to just throw your money away.

2 Stars: Not great (by abrandt)

abrandt — Thu, 01 May 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Went there with some girlfriends and by the end of the night we were all saying that we would never go back.
3 out of 4 of us ordered the tapas and one person ordered a regular meal. Slowly the tapas was coming out. And more tapas was coming out. The person who ordered the mail meal just sat there while the rest of us ate. The meal finally came out (cold I should add) and everyone else was done eating. The food was not even that good to wait around for.
A bit of me babbling...but I won't be going back.

3 Stars: With a few changes... (by jblnyc)

jblnyc — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Maybe they're just getting their sea legs. I don't know. But here's what I thought. The margaritas were too tart. The space cramped. The service disorganized(though very nice). The shrimp ceviche excellent. The empanadas...not so special. They just weren't flavorful. The mojitos were great, so maybe the margaritas were just a one-time thing.

2 Stars: A Tragedy!! (by wombat)

wombat — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The Bartenders have atttiude! The Host is inept and unable to control the waiting area. The waitress we had seemed annoyed to be working. She never mentioned the specials, the food came all at once and then she proceeded to rush us out..They ran out of black beans and rice and said they could bring the dish to us seperately( of course they then charged us for 2 sides)... A BIG BUST !!

4 Stars: Good but Cramped. (by daneerod)

daneerod — Thu, 17 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I recently had a birthday dinner at Agozar with a party of about 15 people. The dining area was too small to comfortably accommodate a large group of people. The food was great and there was a variety to choose from on the menu. The service could have been more attentive. If your looking for a romantic setting, Agozar is sure to bring you closer together.

4 Stars: Overall good (by dimplez78)

dimplez78 — Mon, 14 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I went here on Saturday and overall, the ambience is nice, a bit small but cozy. As far as the food, I highly recommend the breaded bistec which was great! 4-5 tapas is a perfect size for two people. I don't recommend the drinks here though, I had the sangria and it was probably the weakest sangria I've ever had.

2 Stars: needs work... (by sfo2nyc)

sfo2nyc — Fri, 04 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The concept of this place is outstanding, but the execution need work. The drinks we had (margaritas) were horrible. It took the bartender ten minutes to acknowledge me and my date and another ten to actually make our drinks. It did not appear that busy and she was humorless and almost rude. The ambiance was energetic, but a bit too loud. The hostess and wait staff were extremely charming, but seemed frantic and understaffed. The food was good, but overpriced for what it was. I was left with the impression that there was no captain of this ship.

5 Stars: Great place for drinks ... (by rbarbacci)

rbarbacci — Mon, 24 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Discovered Agozar after a night of bad Theater at the Bowery, stopped in for a chaser and discovered great cocktails and latin music at Agozar. Food was not especially inspiring! This would make a great Salsa dancing club!

4 Stars: atmosphere = good, food = blah (by dak)

dak — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Had a b-day dinner there on Saturday - great atmosphere, great drinks, service was actually very friendly, helpful, and prompt. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. Would go there for drinks/date/b-day celebrations again definitely, but not for the culinary experience.

2 Stars: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! (by photohog)

photohog — Sun, 16 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The food was terribly overpriced for the portions and taste. "REAL" Cuban plantains are not dry and bland like they were at Agozar, the pork was tough and dry, the mussels and shrimp were the only descent thing there. The mojitos were terrible, as the mint was just thrown on top and not crushed with the sugar and ice. I left there feeling robbed. Agozar better agozar the unwarranted hype for now, because all of the "awesome" reviews here are simply, NOT TRUE.

4 Stars: The Facts. (by NYCGastronome)

NYCGastronome — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

There is no dish that is $7.50. The shrimp dish is $12, it is served with top quality chorizo...and 7 shrimp are served. The accompanying sauce is a white wine and butter reduction with holland peppers and Florida Key limes. Platanos are normally 2-3 for $1 in stores and 1 1/2 are used for the tostones dish. As for portions being small--the below reviewer is bogus and has not had the pleasure of experiencing Agozar! Restaurant and Lounge.

2 Stars: Cubans Tapas? There's no such thing. (by ruttishh)

ruttishh — Thu, 13 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I was curious to know what a Cuban Tapas was. Since they don't have them in Cuba nor any Cuban I know has ever heard of such thing. Well, I regret finding out. The portions are so little these arent tapas theyre samples. Very expensive samples. 4 small shrimps $7.50? 6 tostones for $3? (Platanos in the supermarket are 8 for $1. They use half of one.) My friends had trouble on deciding what was had less taste the food or the Mojitos. Please save your time and money. We were 3 people, spent $100 and went home hungry and sober. Helena's why did you leave us?????????????

4 Stars: good food, but... (by PScottie)

PScottie — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The dishes themselves were very tasty, but the service was incredibly disjointed. they forgot one of our orders of ceviche, and it arrived with the check! The tables were small, cramped and the chairs uncomfortable. Also, don't sit near the back door when its cold!

5 Stars: Mucho para gozar! (by surenh)

surenh — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The food is excellent and the atmosphere is a lot of fun. However, the bar/drinks service is extremely slow because they haven't figured out the right staffing mix yet. I guess they didn't know they'd be this popular! Great drinks too!

5 Stars: What a Place (by BHPJ70)

BHPJ70 — Thu, 06 Mar 2003 09:00:00 GMT

By all means you need to go to AGOZAR everything about this place made my friends and I very happy. Not able to find 1 thing to complain about. Go To AGOZAR...............

5 Stars: warmth on a cold winter's night (by CMartin0269)

CMartin0269 — Thu, 20 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Went to agozar with a couple friends the other night looking to get out of the cold... and were treated to delicious drinks (especially the caprihinias!) and tasty authentic Cuban food served tapas style. The place looked great and everyone was grooving to the sounds of live Cuban music.

Service was friendly and the drinks kept coming... almost fast enough to forget about the cold! Agozar is just what the Bowery needed! I recommend to one and all...

2 Stars: bland decor and food. (by miltonshafer)

miltonshafer — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I was interested to check this place out because I love Cuban food and was excited to try a new place on the Bowery.
The decor put me off to begin with-it looked dated at around 1987, didn't look finished and the colors while trying, I imagine, to be "hot hot hot" left me cold cold cold.
We were told the food was basically tapas and so my friend and I tried a variety of dishes most of which I found bland and overpriced. We also ordered a round of mojitos, which took forever to arrive but were fine, although for 10 buck a pop they should be.
Overall it was a dissapointing meal in a tacky setting.

5 Stars: killer ceviche (by UESer)

UESer — Wed, 15 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

checked it out wanting to explore some new spots....this place has awesome mojitos and you gotta try the ceviche......i didnt even know what it was but damn its tasty!.....

a cool munch and hang spot with class but not the snootiness that you get from some similar places

5 Stars: Agozar! Good Food Good Time! (by johnwnyc1)

johnwnyc1 — Tue, 14 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I was very impressed with Agozar! The food is great and the service is very good. Everyone that works there makes you feel very comfortable. I've been there twice and the music was better the second time. It had more newer dance songs and 80's hits than the first time. I hope the owners decide to go with that format more than the traditional Cuban music. I would recommend this place to all my friends and family.

5 Stars: Tapas Galore! (by doe21)

doe21 — Mon, 13 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Great for groups & sharing, tons of Cuban tapas to choose from. Lounge is comfy for after you meal, great atmosphere to kick back and have some margaritas and martinis, tons of flavors to choose from.

5 Stars: Excellent Food (by tnmaiello)

tnmaiello — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The dishes are excellent at great prices. The atmosphere is comfortable and fun.

5 Stars: Fantastic (by kenadams)

kenadams — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I am so excited to be the first to rate this excellent establishment. I was just passing by, and decided to go inside, and found a comfortable and relaxing bar/restaurant environment. The food was incredible, and the people were very pleasant - I had a great time, and would recommend it to anyone.

5 Stars: THIS PLACE ROCKS!!! (by ramorosoiiiesq)

ramorosoiiiesq — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

FOOD EXCELLLENT...DRINKS EXCELLENT...THE STAFF EXCELLENT!!! WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY.

5 Stars: Fab food and mojitos (by djr23)

djr23 — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Checked out Agozar last week -the food and drinks were fantastic (must try the croquettes and empenadas!). The was service was friendly and attentive, which like the warm decor (and great separate bar/restaurant setup), and authentic Cuban music creates a chill, inviting vibe. Definitely a great new addition to the neighborhood.

5 Stars: great cuban bistro/bar (by charris015)

charris015 — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Amazing and inexpensive food, pleasant waiting staff and a number of great drinks - a great place to eat, party or relax in the back of the bar. Try it out and you will be hooked.