A gem in Covington! I've been a few times and have always had a great experience. The staff is kind, helpful, attentive but not aggressive. The food is always delicious. The atmosphere: Parking can be tricky so plan to street part possibly a few blocks away. They also have a "seat yourself" model which I've only seen work well surprisingly. I've only been for a late night weeknight dinner, Friday lunch and Tuesday dinner, however. Lots of outside seating too! Decorated in a very macabre style--very unique and cool. The food: Food is amazing! I've enjoyed everything I've had so far. Tacos are big, so keep that in mind. I have a big appetite and 2 is good for me. I love the The Bad Wolf (pork and pineapple) and the fried chicken and Mac&Cheese ones especially. All of the tacos come double wrapped with a hard and soft shell. For extra ($1?), you can get them to put Queso, quad or bourbon refried beans between. Highly recommend the beans. I also suggest you start with the Queso . It's AMAZING. I'm a Queso fanatic and think it's one of the best I've had. My dad isn't even a huge Queso fan and even he loves it. Tip: they have great taco Tuesday deals on booze and food! read more

First time here and won't be my last. Not your typical Mexican Restaurant. You won't find Aroz con pollo on the menu or 50 combination platters using the same 5 ingredients. A little more pricey than the usual but well worth it. Daniel provided excellent service and recommendations. And Tish ensured our expectations were met at exceeded. You can't go wrong with the Enchiladas or any of the epic Tacos. Wash it down with a delicious cocktail or cold brew and call it a success read more

Bakersfield, it is not. Not even close. If you are reading all these great reviews and would like a counterpoint, stay tuned, I have one for you here. My wife was discussing our favorite restaurants in the area with a co-worker who advised her, "If you like Bakersfield, you will love Agave and Rye - it is much better". After this glowing endorsement from a trusted colleague, and the four star review on Yelp, we decide to give it a shot. We arrive yesterday, about 1:00 p.m., to a fairly busy dining area. We choose seats at the bar and wait at least 10 minutes for a menu. The bartender was doing double-duty waiting on bar patrons as well as a couple of tables, so I cut him some slack. We start with chips and salsa and also chips and queso, both of which arrive within five minutes. The chips are HUGE and are very good. The queso is very good too, but the salsa wasn't my thing - more of a personal preference thing as I prefer smooth/thinner salsa. This version proved to be about as chunky as any I have seen. My wife also ordered a margarita, which proves to be average. Served in a cool skull glass, but the flavor was just average. As for our meal, I go with "The Rooster", which consists of crispy chicken, mac n' cheese, Nashville hot sauce, and pickles. I also try "The Rima D", which has braised short rib, garlic mashed potatoes, crispy onions, and a gravy. My wife tries "The Whipper Snapper": Tequila honey chicken, spicy andouille, caramelized pineapple, aged white cheddar, roasted jalapeno, and sour cream. Tacos arrive within five minutes, and we were less than impressed. Three different tacos with completely different flavor profiles, and we struggled to finish any of the three. "The Rooster" had potential to be great, but each of the individual components were subpar; the mac n' cheese was not flavorful, the chicken needed salt, the Nashville hot sauce was not actually hot SAUCE, but rather was dry Nashville hot sauce flavored seasoning (you may be able to see this in the included pic). "The Rima D" had very good braised short rib, but the flavor of the gravy didn't compliment the others flavors. The garlic mashed potatoes didn't seem to be mashed potatoes at all, but rather seemed like smashed up hash browns with little flavor. My wife didn't get into deep details, but said she would not order "The Whipper Snapper" again. The service was about average. The bartender was personable, and was doing his best to keep up with the needs of diners. The volume was actually pretty good with no struggles in conversing with my wife. I didn't feel that the interior was quite as cool as the pics show. 90% of the restaurant is pretty decent, but lots of touches were missed (drop ceiling, for instance). While I give Agave and Rye major props for creativity in menu offerings, the flavors, for me, just fall flat. We will continue to give our taco money to Bakersfield, a restaurant that brought me out of a one+ year retirement from Yelp. read more

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Went for lunch during Cincinnati Taco Week with a party of four. They had 3 taco options for the promotion, but the rest of the menu was open to order off of. The queso and chips were good, but also reminded me of velveeta dip. The tacos were presented well, but the forgot sauce on a couple of them and the meat was overall very overdone, even on the tacos that were not part of the taco week promotion. The margarita tasted very strongly of a pre-made mix. You can definitely find better tacos in the Cincinnati area! read more

How have I not tried this place. If you love tacos and are alittle adventurous you should be going here. I ordered the crown jewel and the alderman. The crown jewel is poached lobster Mac and cheese and portebella mushrooms. It was amazing and I can't believe the size of the lobster on a 9$ taco. The alderman is steak and Mexican street corn it is so flavorful. On both tacos they wrap a hard taco in soft taco so you get the crunch and helps keep everything together. On Tuesday the alderman is 3$ what a deal. The only drawback is parking but it's worth the circling for a spot the w is so cool and food is amazing. read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Alderman taco - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Genuinely the worst tacos I've ever had, anywhere in the country. Hugely over priced for enormous tacos stuffed with filler. The duck taco had maybe 5% duck, 95% rice. The fried chicken taco had one tiny piece of chicken and about half a pound of mac-n-cheese. And you know what? The flavors were just bad. Over seasoned, over sauced and just badly put together. Oh, and on a quiet Sunday it took 25 minutes for our tacos to arrive. That's ridiculous. At these prices the low quality of the food is just unforgivable. Cincinnati has plenty of good taco places and a couple of great taco places. This is one of the very worst, at higher prices than the very best. read more

Fun taqueria and restaurant in downtown Covington. I was staying by the Marriott River Center and Agave & Rye was walking distance. We were hanging in the hip section next to the restaurant because it was able to accommodate our large group and I love the art and vibe. You walk in and there's a cool chess table with oversized pieces. I wanted to play a game but I couldn't get anyone to play with me! We ordered some apps and the crispy Brussels sprouts, chips & salsa were yummy. I ordered a bowl with ground beef, rice, cheese, lettuce and other taco fixings but in a bowl. It was yummy. The meat had a bit of heat, which I liked. My friend has the Jerk Ahi bowl and I tasted it. Excellent. Very flavorful but not too hot. Others has tacos, margaritas and a flight of moonshine. So you can see where the theme is at this place. Kentucky meets Mexico! Nice variety of tacos and Mark, our waiter for the night, was awesome. If you're looking for a hip place to hang out and have drinks and eat grub, I think you'll like this place. Oh, and the prices were reasonable. All around a great experience. Near perfect. read more

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Great service and food! They were very accommodating to our vegetarian friend. They have four veggie option tacos but can replace meat with fried avocados or cauliflower. Marissa was a lovely server. The only bad thing was having to wait while the smell of tacos filled the air. read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Amazing service, great tacos and drinks! Highly recommend coming out on Margarita Monday!

Love the tacos and drinks great Burbon and tequila selection! They have a cool modern art look and generally have great servers

What is there not to love? I was seated immediately, got my food within three minutes of ordering (yes, it was hot!!!). The hot sauce was seriously hot and Jordan, our server, had the plate replaced in less than two minutes. No, it's not Bakersfield. It's completely in its own league with creative and inventive plates. As we were eating, my boyfriend and I were already planning our next visit! Ps- if you get full easily or are smaller, start with one taco. The portions are huge. read more

We have eaten here several times and this is our 2nd takeout experience. I'm giving three stars because they botched half of our order and we had to drive back to fix it. The food always tastes great but moving forward we would only recommend eating at the location and not do carry out. read more

Since the first few times going here I have always had a good experience. Whether we're picking up food or going to grab a bite for dinner the service and food are amazing. Their big burger they offer is something we have gotten frequently on Wednesday for their 1/2 price deals. The tacos are always great too! read more

I usually love Agave and Rye but yesterday was not the answer. 2 stars because half of our order was right and a family favorite , but we ordered online and requested "no bacon" on our pollo street tacos since we do not eat pork. Since we ordered to-go we didn't know till we got home. So we had to split our beef birria tacos between two people. I dont think we will be ordering online again :/ Also the consome tasted like dog water and not as good as I remember. read more

Very cool interior and good tunes playing. Started out great with a fun high energy waiter We ordered drinks house signature cocktail and a ginger ale .... and it went down hill from there waiter had to ask 3x to get drinks full bar??? but no ginger ale and we didn't get the drinks for ever... Nashville hot was dry and so hot it wasn't enjoyable (ps I have had it other places many times so I know what to expect) The Mexican corn salad had so much onion in it that is all you tasted... The great waiter had to leave and the new person well ...we were still eating our entree asked if we wanted dessert we answered no so she said so you want your check.... I guess she missed the fact the we were still eating our entrees... it wasn't busy but either staff member by the front door bartender and manager??? Bothered to acknowledge us at all... read more

Have you ever had that server that comes to the table and you know they love their job and instantly you know your experience is going to be great? Like you want to just ask them to sit down and have a drink with you? Agave and Rye employees these servers! Attentive, detail oriented, fun, engaging, and know their menu backward and forward. Addison, a server of ONLY a few weeks, made our visit to Agave and Rye the best. He added to the amazing margaritas and fabulous food. We ordered strictly on his recommendations and he nailed every single one of them. His love of life was contagious and made our Girls Night the best. We always come back to Agave and Rye for the food...now we come back for the servers as well. Hard to come by these days so he deserved a shout out. read more

Ate in the Agave & Rye restaurant which was absolutely amazing. When leaving we noticed a small place next door. Actually it's part of of Agave but it's a unique bar. It was fantastic. Bartender (Liz) was nice very knowledgeable and friendly. Stop in it's a good time. read more

Sarina was great! She made sure we had everything we needed. Also notable that the manager came around multiple times to check on us. It was our anniversary lunch and our first time at that location. We'll be back! read more

Very interesting tacos. My issue might have come from having the food delivered. I recommend eating in for a better experience. read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Amazing chips & dips! We were literally just walking by and saw the chips on someone's table and just had to have some. You could tell they were fresh and made in house. We ordered the pick 3 with queso, guac & salsa. The queso & guac were definitely homemade and very good! The salsa was fine but it didn't taste homemade. Would definitely go back and try something off the main menu and order those chips again. They are definitely the best chips, guac and queso that I have had anywhere in the midwest! read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Chips with guacamole, queso & salsa. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Great bar, bartenders, chefs and cooks. Come here for a good atmosphere and drinks and food second to none read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Tequila. Muy bien - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Such a fun place for either lunch or dinner. Desmond was our waiter. He was amazing. Our drinks were never less than half full and we needed them after the amazing spicy chips and Salsa. read more

Tried Agave & Rye for the first time this week. It was packed due to the nice weather, opening day and there was a concert going on at Madison Theater. We got a seat fairly quickly outside - which was awesome since the weather was fantastic! Our service was fairly quick, even with it being so busy. I will say it took awhile to get a drink but we weren't in any rush so we didn't mind. We started off with drinks, chips, guacamole and the queso. The chips are authentic and homemade. The guacamole and queso was just okay, nothing that blew me away but it wasn't bad by any means. We enjoyed every last bite. We weren't really given a run down of the menu, although it is just a bunch of tacos with interesting and unique toppings. I went with the Plain Jane...it seemed like a safe bet. I added the salsa to it and made it a bowl since I already had mounds of chips (hah)! It was super tasty and the perfect amount after having the appetizers. I would be interested in going back and giving it another try. I think we just have so many great taco places it is hard to say this particular spot beats the others. read more

Very cool vibe!! I would say that the service was a bit slow when my husband and I went. (It was a Saturday night to be fair and they were pretty packed) I'd love to go back in the summer when I could sit outside as the inside is a bit chaotic. That being said, the decor is very cool. I really want to go back. My husband did say that the Queso upset his stomach, so next time we might stick to the Salsa! read more

Not great. Food is mediocre. I got the burger and was sick for a day afterwards. Outdoor seating read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Cornelius was amazing as a server and our girls absolutely adored him. He was doing magic tricks and making everybody laughed the entire time. He made a truly great experience. The food was excellent and the tacos were much bigger than I thought they were going to be. We ended up taking almost everything home. I highly recommend the corn fritters! read more

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So disappointed...ordered delivery at end of a long work day.....no room service available at hotel.....Agave & Rye use Postmates and I decide to support a local restaurant in the name of being a Covid citizen as I am in airline biz. Postmates said this establishment available for 30-40 minute delivery window ....BUT 2 hours late!!!!.. ....and food so horrible upon delivery..ice cold and soggy... my $30 worth of food and delivery charges all in the garbage can... Postmates probably really to blame..but restaurant management should choose better delivery partners... read more

I have to say I was a little skeptical when someone told me I had to go to Agave & Rye in Covington KY while on a business trip, for the best tacos they have ever had. My work takes me to TX, NM, AZ, and CA. I have had some really amazing tacos!! I got there around 9 pm and the place was packed. I sat at the bar and looked at the menu. The bartender was slammed but very friendly. He was on top of it!! He kept checking on the status of my order so it wouldn't sit there while he was making drinks. Great decor and vibe!! This is not your typical taco joint!! A little on the pricey side. The "Plain Jane" $7 (nothing plain about it!) to "The Crown Jewel" $13 (lobster, Mac & cheese & shaved truffles). Worth every penny!!! Outstanding!!! My friend was spot on!! Some of the best tacos I have ever had!!! I had the "Sugar Daddy of the Plain Jane" and the "Gangsta" Epic tacos. They were huge!! I was impressed with the generosity of the proteins and the balance of the "extras" (lettuce, tomato, cheese...). This is one of those places that, if you are within an hours drive, you are heading to Agave & Rye!!! read more

Very cool spot, with interesting artwork all over the entire restaurant. I loved the decor and how there was something to occupy your eye everywhere you looked. The tortilla chips were crispy fresh and delicious along with fresh guacamole! The Queso was good, but it solidified very quickly, perhaps instead of serving in a paper bowl, they use some sort of bowl that can hold heat in a bit better. Service needs a little help, not sure if they are all still just learning the system or what, but it took a while for our drinks, and checks. Overall the food was good, the tacos are giant, so if you order chips and other fixings before, you may only need 1 taco! They have a myriad of choices from the normal to the different! I had the queen tinga and the good wolf. The pork in the good wolf was juicy and messy, but it was missing a spice! The queen tinga was good, and I really liked the fresh cilantro! I did not get to try any drinks, but I think I would come back, and give them another try. Work on the timeliness, and enhancing flavor in the meats. read more

Stopped in for weekend brunch on a beautiful day... I loved the picnic tables outside in the shade. the chips... to die for. Queso was great as well. We also ordered the Carolina Reaper salsa, as my fiancé is all about spicy foods. It wasn't really spicy at all. Tacos were good. I had The Godfather... which was Mac and cheese, a chicken tender, mozzarella stick and marinara sauce. It was good but kinda weird in taco form. My fiancé had the Gator Hater? He liked it. It was kinda expensive considering the amount of food, but that goes for many downtown restaurants. read more

Yum yum and yum. To start, I love the decor and vibe of this restaurant. Very casual but comfortable and edgy. I also loved that you can choose your own seat (a booth was calling this pregnant ladies name). My friend and I met for happy hour here on a Wednesday night and were lucky to find that we were just in time for happy hour. I ordered a delicious (virgin) mango margarita and she got the mango margarita with alcohol (so jealous), there were also at least ten other flavors to choose from, all only $5 each! We split a massive order of delicious and warm chips and queso for only $2! We each got the bees knees and cauliflower tacos, yum! I also ordered a side of to die for crispy Brussels sprouts. Ambiance Food Prices Service I'll definitely go back! read more

Agave & Rye - Covington - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

If you're looking for a non traditional taco joint, look no further! You want a hot chicken taco? They have it. What about a taco with lobster on it? That too! They even have an amazing veggie taco with corn fritters as the filling! My husband and I have ordered this place many times, and we've been inside to visit a few times too. The food is always delicious! The decor inside is exciting and unique, and they've even got some outdoor dining space to accommodate for COVID. My biggest tip here is to not let your eyes be bigger than you're stomach. The tacos are huge, and, with a side, are enough to make a good meal. Give this place a try and you won't be disappointed! read more

Ordered two of the 32 ounce margs, one regular Marg and the other was made with bourbon. Chips and queso, salsa, quac was amazing. Tacos were pretty good too! May just do without thenttacos next time. read more

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Honestly I have been to way too many restaurants in this area but never been wowed the way I was wowed at this restaurant. We came in on sunday and there was an extremely loud group of teenagers and we had our grandparents and the employee and the manager went above and beyond when we told them the excessive loudness is triggering the hearing aid so the manager went above and beyond to make sure we are in a quite area so its not hurtful for them. Honestly i always make jokes with the employees when they ask if we have been here and I say. We live here. But now these people are amazing and the service is phenomenal and would 100% recomend it to anyone visiting KY or living here. read more

The amount of times a week I say "I want agave and rye" is far too high. But they're so. Dang. Good. I always end up ordering way more than I can eat because I just want it all! So definitely pace yourself as you work through their ever updating menu! read more

Visiting from Oklahoma. These are some of the best tacos around! All ingredients taste fresh. Very flavorful! Service is always on point! So good and worth coming back when we're in town. read more

Tried this place recently after being really intrigued from instagram pics. Location is nice, right down the street from Braxton Brewing, as well as other bars and Madison Theatre. Decided to sit outside since it was a nice evening out (not humid or too hot), so don't have much to offer on decor and whatnot on the inside. As far as the food goes, I thought it was unique and tasty, but not earth shattering. If you are looking for traditional tacos, don't think this would be your place. We tried The Rooster, The Plain Jane, and two others I can't find on the menu online. The tacos are fairly expensive for one taco, but you get a big hearty portion for the price and they are tasty. Two tacos per person would be sufficient whereas I often get at least 3 if talking traditional street tacos. The drinks are tasty and worth the price. Tried a bourbon peach drink and margarita. No complaints. Service was slow, despite not being crowded, so that was a drawback for me. Literally took over 30 minutes once meal ended to get the check and leave. Overall, I wavered between giving this place a 3 or a 4. It's more like a 3.5. Go for some unique tacos and flavors, along with a cocktail, but expect a decent bill. Not the best non-traditional tacos i've had, but certainly not the worst. Worth a try. read more

The service was great! The drinks were amazing. I would warn against The Crown Jewel taco because it smells and didn't taste much better. The rest of our food was delicious. We got The filthy fajita, Swipe Right and The Love Shack. Definitely plan to come back. read more

The first few times we went to agave and rye we sat outside. It was perfect and the service was good. After we continued to go back it seemed the service took a downward spiral (sat inside), however the tacos remained to stay very good. A little disappointed they took a few of our favorites off the menu but the waitress said you can still order those if you can remember the names. The Whipper Snapper, cauliflower, Bees Knees are our favorites. Chips are pretty good, the portion sizes are sometimes a little a little up and down but still one of our go-to spots. read more

Went there Saturday night for dinner. 9/15/18 Drinks are over priced and not great. Food was ehh. Need to change the frying oil. Service was just ok. We watched several couples walk in sit down then leave. Idk if their AC was broken or if they are too cheap to turn it on but it was about 85 degrees in this place. Many people in the restaurant were fanning them selves with menus. TURN ON YOUR AC. Drinks are over priced again. Weird atmosphere, we could not figure it out. Bathrooms are nasty. 5 tacos, chips and guacamole, 2 drinks for $70... not worth it. read more