Agava Review

A lovely place. The food is very delicious and the margaritas are great! The service is super friendly and great.

Nice variety of food options, some are more expensive than others. It can get crowded, especially on weekends. Their tacos are very good.

Best restaurant in Ithaca. Incredible food that is both healthy and delicious. All of the food is locally sourced and tastes amazing. The drinks are unreal. When we tried a mezcal flight (such a cool option) the manager came and talked us through a bunch of options and was so kind and helpful. Amazing experience and we learned a ton about mezcal!

In order to make a reservation for 9 guests, Agava required a deposit of $250.00! I expected an upscale restaurant rated at 5 stars for a deposit of that amount. It is a dump! We were seated on folding chairs in a busy area next to the bar cash register and next to a door that opened to an outdoor dining area. The margaritas were terrible - too much margarita mix and no appropriate margarita glasses. The menu was restricted with not much variety. I would never recommend this place to ANYONE. The menu prices were too high for this low-class restaurant.

Well. Had a reservation. Still had to wait in line of walk ins. 18 minutes from when the waitress took our drink order and came with drinks. Extreme amateur staff. Need management in the front.
Food was decent. Not worth going back however.

My SO and I stopped in here once for lunch while attending a wedding this past weekend. The food is fresh and handmade, both the chips and the fries are downright addicting, and the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable.

Definitely recommend.

Great space. Solid draft rotation. Impressive tequila selection. Fun texmex cuisine. Cool events. Salsa? Si!

Been here many times for drinks and shareables. Both are always excellent! I've not eaten dinner here, but my guess is the dinner entrees are just as good. Staff is always great.

The food here was great as was the atmosphere. However one aspect of our experience did not match the 5 stars that the food deserves. This was their unwillingness to make a simple swap of a side to replace an item that I was unable to eat due to a medical dietary need. Instead I had to pay extra for a side I could eat. This is ridiculous.

I've only been there for salsa night but it's a fun time, especially with a group of friends. The lesson beforehand is hard to follow because there are so many people so I would only go if you already know salsa basics or have a friend that can teach you, otherwise, you probably won't know what you're doing. It can get really crowded and hot though, but the patio is usually open for people who want some fresh air. $5 admission, pay by cash only.

Wonderful late lunch on the patio after touring Cornell's beautiful campus.

Nice atmosphere. Food is kind of slow to arrive, food quality is high, not particularly tasty though, and prices are high for what you get.

My favorite restaurant in Ithaca. I love their flatbread pizzas because they are woodfired and that flavor really comes out in the dough. They also have a great tequila selection and make fantastic margaritas. It's also very nicely decorated - very nice atmosphere.

The only thing I don't love is that is can get very busy and it can be hard to find good seating. I believe on most days they do not take reservations.

Quaint Mexican Tavern feeling with open fire oven. Delicious food and knowledgeable staff.

Good food but way to high of a price for the quality

Really great food and ambience. Relaxed but still classy.

Fantastic everything! From chips and salsa to main to dessert!

We head to Agava whenever we come to Ithaca for a visit. Love sitting outside eating special food.

Great find. Fresh food friendly service. We chanced upon this place and ordered from the lunch specials. YUM!

Good selection of mezcals, tequilas, and other liquors. Friendly and helpful staff, and of course tasty food. And best of all usually run into someone new to talk to at the bar.

A couple years ago this place was great. That's why we wanted to come here again. It seems things have changed.

We started by waiting 45 minutes for an appetizer. The table next to us, who arrived after us, was served appetizers and dinners before we saw anything. I can only guess what's changed here, but the food is not what it was. My steak was cold and not cooked the way I ordered it. The chef does not get to decide that blue will be the new medium in cooking a steak. My wife's salmon was cold and raw in the middle. It was over seasoned with pepper.

After an experience like this I will not be coming back.

This place used to not suck.

One of the best restaurants in Ithaca! Their margaritas are especially good, as are their appitisers.

It took forever to get our food. There were 6 in our party. Reservations at 730. We were on time but didn't get our food until 9

Overpriced and when they ask if you would like chips and guacamole, you should say "no!" As they charge you $8 for something they make sound like is complimentary.,... What scammers.

Very disappointing experience after seeing and hearing so many rave reviews from locals. The dining area was very full and noisy on a Monday night with reservations for 7. Service was slow and inattentive and the food was merely acceptable and felt overpriced for the portions and inconsistent cooking. 45 minutes to get 2 simple taco plates, a salad with half a dozen shrimp, and a filet after a lengthy wait to orders. Embarrassed to have taken guests since the size if our party (6) resulted in an automatic gratuity (18%). Kids were also unimpressed even if they got their food a bit sooner.

Nice typical restaurant with American cuisine. Meats, hamburgers and some excellent specialties, all well prepared. Well-kept and welcoming environment, very friendly staff. Interesting choice of beers. The car park is in front, an ideal choice if you are passing through
for Ithaca or if you sleep in nearby BW University. In this case there is a discount. Prices are average.

Consistent food, decent beer menu, fun and clean atmosphere, with a classy edge to it. The black bean burgers are a favorite. My friends say they make good drinks, too. We've always enjoyed our times here, business or casual.

If you are planning to take the family, you will end up having hungry children in spite of your $100+ bill. Is this only me who thinks Agava overprices? I ordered $17 tacos plates. Only three 4" size tacos with tiny tops (=nothing special taste) came with a large bucket size of fries as a side. Folks, it is $17 entree! I was very hungry after I ate this entree. I cannot trust their menu again so I won't go back. This restaurant exists for one-time-customer, especially Cornell's visitors, not for local people.

Not a good place for dinner. Small menu. We asked for two of their best dishes and they were not good.

Very fresh ingredients, menu is varied without being overwhelming

It's okay. There are definitely better restaurants in the area. The menu is interesting and unique, it's definitely worth at least a visit. I prefer their brunch.

The restaurant has gone steadily down hill for the last few years. Service staff are often slow to respond to tables, the portions have gotten smaller and smaller with the prices going higher and higher. The most recent meal there the burger one of our party ordered arrived completely raw on the inside. Burger was comped but no manager ever came to apologize and no other attempt to keep our business was made. The only good thing going for them is the bar where there is a very good selection of beer and mixed drinks. Even the pizzas are small and not worth the price any more. We used to go there a lot as a family, but we will now take our business elsewhere.

Suspiciously fancy, this restaurant doesn't seem to belong in its own skin.

The food is great. The service not so great. I think the waitress had too many tables to attend to. Don't sit at either bar because you'll be forgotten.

Amazing southwestern fusion. Hands down, the best brunch in the town of Ithaca. Saturday brunch is less busy than Sunday, if that matters; but the live music is usually only on Sundays. Tuesdays, kids are half off. Great cocktails. The menu rarely changes, but everything on it is spectacular. Daily specials keep options interesting. Usually busy, always worth the wait.

I had high expectations of this place. Unfortunately they didn t deliver. It took 15 minutes for our sever to get to us after we were seated. The food was delivered cold. Meanwhile, the table next us had a similar situation with their server. They actually had to stop another server and ask where their server was. We had ordered a pizza And after waiting 30 minutes for it we were all set. I don t really recommend this place unless you are okay with poor service. :(

One of the best spots in ithaca. Ambiance is perfect. Farm to table. Rotating menu, draft beers, and original cocktails. Heated, covered patio for late night outings. A must if visiting Ithaca.

The food was delicious! The staff was very efficient and pleasant. Social distancing, mask wearing etc done very well.

While we got seated very very quickly, with no reservation - the waiter did not show up at all for over 15 minutes...people who got seated after us, got served and even got their food...and we were wondering if they forgot us, or something else was wrong. I was about to getup and leave the restaurant, when my wife decided to check with one of the waiters....and very soon enough someone showed up.

I am glad we stayed...the food was really worth it. I was really surprised that of the 25,000 people who had showed up to Cornell's graduation - this restaurant was literally empty....even some of the graduates we checked up with, had not even heard of this restaurant.

The brunch menu is sparse, but excellent. It sources local vegetables and meat...and eggs. Highly recommended.

After trying to plan our rehearsal dinner for our wedding at Agava for the past 6 weeks, we finally realized that it's been nothing short of a colossal waste of our time. After telling the manager what we wanted several times (as she never More

Always delicious! And with quarantine both outdoor picnic and patio seating is available.

So I understand you make "flat bread" pizzas and I have ordered take out from you before but I paid $14 for a about a personal size pizza that turned out to be completely burnt on the bottom and around the crust. I wish I had looked at the order before taking it all the way home to realize it was burnt. I'm going to have to think about coming back.

Food, 3 stars
Ambiance, 4 stars
Service, 2 stars if you're fortunate. Slow, apathetic, and not conducted with a sense of urgency.

Attractive decor, friendly servers, delicious vegan menu items, great beverage selection

Great drinks, delicious food. (I had the black bean burger) The service was excellent. Can't wait to go again!

Fantastic food. Excellent staff. Nice atmosphere. Wonderful drinks. Even the music just fits. Highly recommended if you're in the area.

Ordered burgers, waited for 45 minutes, came out raw and plain. They can't cook even the burgers. Food is overpriced, nothing special. Go elsewhere. Service was fine, felt sorry for the girl who has to work in a very hot weather outdoors wearing a mask.

Their menu was so original and everything was delicious. Their drinks were amazing!

Portions are very small, a bit pricey, but the service is good.

Mom and I shared the Farro thee well salad and chicken tacos. They were the bomb dot com. Super delicious. Felt super safe, and the staff is doing a great job sanitizing and social distancing. Also had the watermelon mint house made soda, super delicious. Highly recommend.

The food was delish. ..good advice from the waiter...had a flat bread...haddock with mash and a dessert....super busy but food was not delayed....real food...very fresh. ..Thank you

Not bad but but not great. Nice how they label stuff Celiac's safe.

Amazing service and great food. My friend loved her peach sorbet.

Great food AND drinks. Fun time; staff is always nice. Fantastic brunch spot

Good selection of healthy food and indulgences. Best for a casual night out. Unfortunately, highly inconsistent. Sometimes it's great. I have also had my worse restaurant experience every there. 2 hrs waiting for food. Bugs on vegetables. Baconless bacon bloody Mary. A raw burger. I have been a regular be for years but the last couple visits have been so horrendous, I can't imagine going back. They need to turn this around, because the concept is great.

Friendly staff, good Tex Mex menu. Interior is cute but gets crowded during restaurant rush hour. Killer covered patio that allows dogs. Decent tap selection for a cocktail bar. Cocktails are more boozey than they are refined but everything is priced fairly, and it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Some small mistakes in the order where quickly fixed, and reflected in the check. Remember to Ask for the guac on the side, I wasn't partial to it on my nachos but we didn't have the same reservations when it came to the free chips, and scarfed it up anyway.

Good food for Ithaca. Diverse well executed menu. Great vegetable sides.

I have been to lunch or drinks at Agava on several occasions but never dinner. I was delighted with the menu. Something unique in every category. Reasonably priced. Margherita to die for. The staff were all exceptional and also had good comararderi with one another. We were on the covered patio in a heat wave and it was surprisingly comfortable! I was able to bring my very sweet natured Boston Terrier which meant so much to me because I was in from out of town and had to bring him anywhere I went. They had a canine menu! Very healthy, fresh people quality food and water, as well as attention from guests and waitstaff alike. Remember, we were outdoors..he would not have been inside the restaurant of course! I highly recommend Agava for dinner and cocktails

First time going to brunch at Agava and I was not disappointed! Crabby patties were a hit with me, as were the wood oven cinnamon rolls. Partner had a specialty omelette and liked it a lot. Not a cheap place per se, but for two with coffee and "appetizer" came to $38 but we had a $10 off coupon that brought that total down.

Good, strong Southwestern-style restaurant; but fairly expensive, not to mention 'tight' portion-sizes. Pleasant, dim-atmosphere with a warm-weather, semi-outdoor area. Waiters/waitresses are working-hard in order to earn tips, so service is prompt &responsive. I'd visit regularly: and definitely consider it a good daytime-meeting or brunch location.

Wonderful food, relaxed setting, good people and good service !!!
And SALSA DANCING on Wednesday nights! !!
Come enjoy the fun !!!

I like many Latin dances
I would like to finish at 2 and not at 1
The Wednesdays