Agave & Rye - Covington
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Had a much better experience before this visit which is why we returned. Loud sitting inside even though it wasn't extremely busy. Service was slow, had to ask for my margarita after 10-15 minutes of waiting after I ordered it. The food was good but sometimes bad service and ambiance outweighs the good parts.
Had dinner a few nights ago here. Had the grilled chicken salad and added deviled eggs and avocado. Loved the grilled chicken. Nice crisp edges. The deviled eggs was a nice addition. All my co workers tacos looked insanely tasty and big.
We stopped in on a busy Friday night -- and it was packed and lively, but the wait was only about 10 minutes. Their menu has vegetarian and vegan options clearly labeled, which is much appreciated. On this visit, I tried two tacos: The BFF of Karen (vegan) - the balsamic mushrooms were such a unique and flavorful touch The Bang Bang (vegetarian; subbed queso for guacamole) - loved the mix of textures and flavors My only critique: The tacos are stacked so tall they're messy to eat and nearly impossible to get all the flavors in one bite. My husband ordered a flight of tacos and had a similar issue; the second two shells broke apart immediately. His favorite was the fish taco. We also tried two mocktails. The Fake & Flirty (lime, orange juice, and strawberry purée) was the clear winner. Overall, tasty food, lively vibe, and a creative menu -- just be ready to get a little messy.
First time here! I hate everybody for "gate keeping" this one- We sat outside early Saturday evening and weddings were taking place at the nearby venues- there was love all around us- it was a whole vibe- Love the decor- it's HIP, BRIGHT, and REFRESHING- The tacos are the TITS!! Deviled eggs are fire- We only had domestics to drink- Sorry- The drink menu had a wide variety of drinks- A lot of specialty margs- The only downfall was the service was just mid- But I'm not going to let that ruin their review because I think everybody should try it-
I've been to the locations in Rookwood and Hamilton. Both are solid. This location is a little smaller inside yet they have a huge patio. We went with our two good friends who were craving some tacos. Their menu is pretty much the same as all their locations. Tacos, quesadillas, salads, sides and more. Drink menu also has a good selection. We ordered: OG Margarita Rocks (Pitcher) Dinner: Flight Size 3 -The Swipe Right -The Snitch -The Alderman -Nashville Hot Chicken Quesadilla Since it was a Friday night, it was pretty busy. So the food took a little while but it was worth the wait. Loved my quesadillas. The pickles really tasted well with the sauce. I didn't taste the heat though but it was still flavorful. My Mr really enjoyed his tacos and his favorite would be with the fish or alderman. Overall the experience was great and I would return to this location.
This place is tucked away in an old neighborhood. We absolutely had to have a margarita, and it was delish! Our party of four had the quesobirria tacos, the taco flight, the burrito, and quesadilla. We also ordered the corn fritters appetizer. My quesobirria tacos were awesome! The juice to dip was great. Hubby like the burrito but declared it was too much food, which is a first. His burrito appeasement levels are quite high. The taco flight was interesting. Our daughter was a bit thrown by the BBQ shrimp in the "bomb" taco but all in all, she loved her food. Quesadilla was your typical one but he felt it was a tad bit spicy. The ambiance was fun! Music was a mix of genres, which served well. The staff was attentive. We have one person allergic to mushrooms and the kitchen was very clear and asked clarifying questions. Totally appreciated! I'm glad we found this place!
Tried this place for the first time last night for date night. My girlfriend had been here before and enjoyed it, so we decided to give it a shot. We arrived around 8 PM on a busy Saturday night. They took our name and quoted a 30-minute wait, which wasn't a problem--we grabbed a drink at a nearby bar while we waited. When our table was ready, we were seated in an overflow dining area next door. The decor and ambiance were similar to the main restaurant, so no complaints there. Service started off fine but declined pretty quickly. There were about seven tables in our section, plus a bar area. One of the tables was a large group, but they were already finished eating when we walked in and left shortly after. So not a lot of folks on our side. We ordered drinks, chips and queso, and our entrées. The drinks came out quickly and were good, and the chips and queso followed soon after. The queso itself was just okay--nothing memorable, but a decent snack while waiting for our main dishes. For my meal, I ordered a taco flight with the Plain Jane, the Happy Pappy, and the Filthy Fajita. The Plain Jane was the best of the three, but still nothing special. The Happy Pappy was just okay--the carnitas were a bit dry. The Filthy Fajita, however, was straight-up bad. The steak was so tough I had to spit it out, and I ended up removing it from the taco entirely. On top of that, I could tell my tacos had been sitting for a while based on how the queso had hardened--definitely not ideal. My girlfriend ordered the Birria Ramen (which we heard is being removed from the menu soon) and the Becky taco. The ramen was pretty good--not the best birria we've had, but it got the job done. Thankfully, she had a better taco experience than I did--she really enjoyed The Becky. The wait for our food was long, but given how busy they were (and the time needed to cook the ramen), it was understandable. What wasn't understandable was how long it took to get our check once we finished eating. By this point, the room had mostly emptied out, but despite our server clearly seeing that we were done, we sat for what felt like forever waiting to pay. All in all, the service was subpar, and the food wasn't worth the $80 tab. For that price, I know we could have had a much better meal--and experience--somewhere else.
I left a review about this place probably a year or two ago. It quickly became one of my very favorite places, nothing like it around here. I mean, you can get tacos, burgers, even Asian fusion. The cocktails are wonderful and the ambience is very modern and social, a very fun place to be! They have a wonderful space outside to sit and enjoy a margarita and chat with friends while enjoying drinks and food. I would recommend this to anyone from this part of town and when I have visitors, I like to take them down to see what they have going on at Agave. The food never disappoints & the service is just as good. I always get the "Gangsta Taco" which I like so much that I even decided to order takeout the other day.... As per usual, it did not disappoint!
I'll admit to being a fan of Agave & Rye. My lady and I have had great experiences whenever we went to one. We hadn't been to this location until we went with a couple friends recently. Overall, we really liked it too. The service was great, the food was tasty, and libations were excellent, and the atmosphere was nice too. This was one of the smaller locations we'd been too but there was still ample seating inside and outside. My lady ordered the Nashville hot chicken quesadilla, I ordered three tacos (The Alderman, The Snitch, and The Swipe Right), and we shared a pitcher of mango margaritas. Everything came out pretty quickly, especially for a Friday, and was really good. Our friends enjoyed everything too. I could see going back here, though the Rookwood location is closer for my lady and I, this one is closer to our friends.
I had only been here one other time a long time ago. When we walked in tonight the hostess asked if we wanted to go next door, she said it was a quieter, smaller space. We didn't know what to think and the room was very inviting and we got to sit on very comfortable couches. Our server/bartender Javier was good. He made our drinks strong but they were delish. I got the taco flight, and we shared the chips and queso. The gangsta taco was my favorite by far!
I've been by this place many times, decided to try it. The restaurant is nicely decorated, and the noise level is reasonable. I came during happy hour, and ordered a flight of 3 tacos, and birria nachos. It was a whole lot of food. The birria "nachos" were excellent. Tender meat, lots of cheese and jalapeños. I've never had nachos that used fries rather than chips before, but I enjoyed them. The tacos were....interesting. they do really weird combinations of things on their tacos. Not a lot of meat, but rather good creativity. The house salsa was great. Courtney gave me amazing service, attentive and friendly. This is most definitely not "Mexican" food, but it's interesting. I'll eat here again.
bold tacos, fun vibes, and big flavors. A great spot for creative eats and a lively night out!
Some places reach a level of perfection in their food and service unmatched by others. These places usually stay hidden, preserved for a special crowd to enjoy them in secret. Once in a while though, those places are smack in the middle of the city, not far from some of the major attractions, and all you have to do is enter their doors and sit down to enjoy some of the best food you'll ever have in a region. Such is the case with Agave & Rye in Covington. Our discovery of Agave & Rye was incredibly fortuitous. I had just landed from South Florida, here to celebrate my niece and nephew's birthday. Half of my family was set to arrive in a hour and a half and we needed something to eat. It was late at night, we looked for a highly recommended spot for food, and lo and behold, Yelp always comes in clutch! But when we arrived at the location suggested they had just closed their kitchen and were solely focused on drinks. Hungry and disappointed, we ventured the streets of Covington once more. And as we were passing by Agave & Rye we couldn't help but notice people still sitting outside enjoying their meals. Luckily for us, there was a waitress passing by at the moment who told us we'd just arrived in time. Her name was Taylor. When it comes to customer service, Taylor's is unmatched. Not only was she in charge of serving the customers in the outside sitting area, but also training a new employee. We asked her for recommendations, and she guided us brilliantly. And so, under her guidance, we proceeded to order. One of the orders was for an Epic Taco - The Bomb taco. I decided for the Grilled Birria Burrito. And Oh My God! What a great decision that was! The burrito was perfect. There was flavor and deliciousness in every bite. Next time I promise to try one of the Epic Tacos. And how can you not. Besides the aforementioned one, you also have on the menu, the Jedi Taco, the Alderman taco, the Bang Bang, the Rooster, the Green Goddess, and the Love Shack 2. In conclusion, we truly ran into a gem. I can't wait to go back and continue enjoying the wonderful food and the great service at Agave & Rye.
4 years ago
I've tried Agave and Rye out several times and really want to love it each time. It's a really cool concept with unique menu items but every time I try it out, I feel like it's trying to do too much. The vibe of Agave & Rye is super cool! The restaurant is filled with chandeliers, colorful murals, and trendy decor. As cute as it it, the restaurant isn't laid out very well. Several people were hitting their heads on the chandeliers because they were too low and hanging above us rather than in the middle of the table. We also had trouble getting from the bar to our table because there were too many tables in the restaurant and not enough space to navigate. When we were done eating, we couldn't get out because the hostess stand and the tables were blocking the walkways. Definitely something to think about for anyone using assistive devices to walk. The margaritas and chips and queso are great! However, the tacos are so loaded with stuff, it's overwhelming and almost every time, the meat has been chewy. I think if they lower the prices, put less on the tacos, and not cook the meat as long, it would be better. Overall, a cool place with potential that just needs to make some adjustments. I'd go back for margaritas and order the chips and dip trio and possibly the birria tacos! read more
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Yavonne S.
Hi there, Allison! First, thank you so much for sharing your…
6 years ago
Agave & Rye was OK at best! Did enjoy my time here but probably will not be back here for dinner. I thought the tacos were a bit too funky and overrated for me. My favorite things about Agave & Rye was the margaritas as well as the ambiance of the resturant itself. I'm a big fan of super sweet margaritas and alcoholic beverages in general so if you are; then you'll love the margaritas. They go down too easy! The tortilla chips and queso were my favorite. The salsa was a bit too spicy for my liking! The tacos were super funky with all different types of crazy varieties. And they were alright. Nothing to write home about. Overall, I had a great time at Agave and Rye. My boyfriend and I went with some friends for taco Tuesday. Everyone enjoyed the margaritas and picking out of all the crazy options of tacos. In my opinion, Agave and Rye is a super fun spot to get a few drinks and appetizers with friends! Definitely a place you need to come to a few times to give the other tacos a chance. Looking forward to trying more margarita flavors next time as well as more appetizers! read more
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Yavonne S.
Thank you for your review and sharing your feedback with us,…
My new Tacos and Margaritas spot! I am typically a fan of another establishment in OTR and this was my first time at Agave and Rye. I tried 2 tacos, The Bomb and the Filthy Fajita during happy hour with a couple OG margaritas and chips & Queso as a starter. Flour tortilla chips with the Queso was great to soak up some of the tipsy deliciousness of the first margarita that I slurped down wayyyyy too fast The tacos were a bit carb heavy with a little too much rice and. It enough other fillings in the fajita taco, and the bed of Mac and cheese was a carb bomb giving me a case of the Itis . Next time I want to try the nachos and Brussel sprouts and will invest in a pitcher of margaritas in order to sit and chill with a few good friends. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks for the review, Devena!
3 years ago
We just drove 14+hours from Dallas. We rented a cute air bnb and this place was right up the road. The tacos were fantastic and of course paired well with the margs. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thank you so much for your review, Erin! We hope you'll dine with us…
2 years ago
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Roar Hyrum P.
Thank you for the kind words, Rod! We’re so glad you had a great…
3 years ago
Came in for the restaurant week deal and enjoyed our meal! Our server was great, very nice and attentive. It was luckily not very crowded when we came in. All in all had a good experience and would likely come back. I do wish the birria taco had more cheese and was crispier, but it had a lot of birria meat and still tasted good! read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for leaving us a review, Tuyet! We hope you'll be back…
1 year ago
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Yavonne S.
Thank you, Alexis! We’re so glad you love this Agave & Rye location…
1 year ago
Over the top gluttony in the best way possible. Atmosphere is a little hectic, and the servers we interacted with were pretty busy and disinterested, but the food was over the top in both flavor and textures. Certainly not a place if you're on a diet or looking for a light meal, but the menu is full of crowd pleasers and everything I tried, even off my friend's plates was good. I know one of these spots is opening up near me soon in NW Ohio, and I'm looking forward to getting to know the menu a little more! read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review, Dustin! We look forward to seeing you…
3 years ago
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for your review, Jacynda! We can't wait for your next…
Very innovative tacos in a hip and inviting space. Stopped in for a quick lunch as I was visiting clients nearby. I grabbed a booth and was quickly brought a menu and drink. It took a bit to select my choices as there were quite a few that interested me. I eventually settled on the Alderman which has asada, elote pudding, cotija and arbol salsa. My second was the Good Wolf consisting of pork carnitas, pico and grilled pineapple. I also requested a side of their bourbon refried beans. The tacos were enormous, two were easily large enough for lunch. Both were a soft taco over a hard taco for extra flavor, which, while not something I would normally order, was an interesting change. I particularly liked the asada which was deeply flavored and very good. The side of beans were closer to baked beans in flavor but I enjoyed them also. Service was very attentive and the prices for the size of the tacos was very good. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thank you for the four-stars and great review, Greg. We really…
3 years ago
This was my first time visiting this restaurant. I was sat in the add on area of the restaurant. I felt bad for our server who had to go from building to building. We went on a Wednesday and got the chips and guacamole. The guacamole was chunky and flavorful, but the chips tasted very stale. We got new chips and they were also stale. We each ordered 2 tacos. I ordered the Happy Pappy and the Sugar Daddy of the Plain Jane. The Happy Pappy was quite tasty, but I wasn't a fan of the Sugar Daddy. My friend also enjoyed her first taco, but not her second taco. I ordered an OG margarita-YUM! read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, Kim! We truly…
1 year ago
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Yavonne S.
Thank you so much, Shelly! We’re thrilled you loved the food, drinks,…
1 year ago
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Roar Hyrum P.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re glad Stephanie took…
7 years ago
Very interesting taco choices. Give Agave & Rye a try. Very good mix on choices that just seem to work. Agave & Rye has a great location being close to Braxton and Hotel Covington. Prices are just right. I think you will like it. Ohhhh... On a side note. PLEASE watch where you park. In the parking lot a block up on Washington St. be sure to park in the back. My parking ticket was more than my dinner. read more
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Yavonne S.
Appreciate the four-stars and review, Richard! Thanks! Hate to hear…
1 year ago
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Roar Hyrum P.
Thank you so much! We’re thrilled to hear Ian made your visit such a…
3 years ago
Great service, fast and friendly. Now on to the tacos. I had heard good things about the food, but the prices were a little surprising at first. When the food came out, and I realized exactly how big the tacos were (size of my fist). Everything was flavorful, and fresh. I have never been filled up by 3 tacos before, this was the day. I will most definitely be back. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for your EPIC review, Dave! We can't wait for you to…
We were visiting the area for the first time and walked to this spot from the hotel. The place was hopping. They sat us at a locale next door and we had the most amazing meal. We had Burria Tacos and the Grilled Birria Burrito; both EXCELLENT!! Their margaritas are spectacular! Great place. read more
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Yavonne S.
We are so glad you had an EPIC time, Carlos! We can't wait to see you…
1 year ago
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Yavonne S.
Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re so glad Courtney and the…
3 years ago
Very crowded. So that's a good sign! Lots of outdoor seating but quite warm and humid. The smell is so so good and ai can't wait to be seated and try something tasty! The staff has been very nice . The music is a bit loud, and with the voices, it makes for a bit of a noisy environment. Full bar available. Very cute decor. Very clean. Lots of drink options. We are trying the Bee Sting. We also got a queso dip. It's very smokey flavor creamy and oh so cheesy. The salsa is all good. The reaper is not too hot at all and was my favorite. The salsa Roja is ok and light. No spice. Great flavor. The chunky salsa is sweet again pretty good flavor. I did feel like a little salt could help. Woooooo, this drink. What is this buzz button... my tongue feels like a warhead went to die on it. lol it's so fun!!!! My tongue has a number of feelings. What an interesting drink!! Well done! The salsa was not my favorite. The queso was bomb. The drink are ooooh so so good. The tacos O see coming out look fantastic. But I'm off to the next stop. No tacos today. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review, Nahshon! We can’t wait to have you…
Always delicious!! And the cocktails are sublime. Funky wait staff, very attentive. Great gathering place with friends. High fives and thumbs up all around for this eclectic taco bar! read more
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Yavonne S.
Awe thanks so much for your review, Wendy! We hope you will come back…
Happy Cinco de Mayo What a fun night The tacos here are so different and unique that it's a dining experience I have been here many times and it doesn't disappoint When you go try something new and you will leave a happy person Also the jalapeño pineapple margarita is superb read more
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Yavonne S.
Thank you for your review, Eileen! We're happy to hear you enjoyed…
2 years ago
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Yavonne S.
We appreciate your feedback and review, Armando! We hope that you…
5 years ago
Agave & Rye's Covington location is fun and funky and I was happy to meet an old friend there to catch up over lunch earlier this week. Our server Desmond sat us a sun splashed table that warded off the chill. I kicked things off with his recommended drink, the Agave Epic Rita. It was strong and tasty and came with a little skull shot glass of triple sec to drop in. I ordered two tacos, the Snitch III (beer battered Mahi Mahi, spicy avocado and honey slaw and pickled red onion) and the Phanatic Phil (carne asada, queso cushion, Serrano aioli, queso, shiitake mushrooms, red bell pepper, havarti, lettuce, pico the gallo, cowboy candy). The Snitch was a bit dry but the Phanatic was brilliant - super flavorful and dripping with goodness. Two tacos were more than enough for me. Desmond was an excellent server - attentive, very friendly and good with suggestions. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thank you so much for the positive review, Nanette!
3 years ago
Amazing as always! I appreciate the amount of vegan and vegetarian offerings on the menu. Always a staple when I'm in the area!! Best tacos on the market. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review, Julia! We hope to see you again soon!
1 year ago
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Yavonne S.
Love hearing it! Thank you for this lovely review, PJ. Hope to see…
3 years ago
My family and I had been waiting to try Agave and Rye. The service was speedy. We had the epic chips and queso as an appetizer and it definitely prepared our palettes. I had the 3 street tacos (carnitas), my daughter had the berria, and my wife had a plane Jane. All did not disappoint and there was enough to take home. My daughter is already asking when will we return. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review, Rodger! We can’t wait to see you again…
7 years ago
I once walked past this place while heading to a nearby coffee shop and immediately made a note to return. Tacos + tequila are right up my alley. It took longer than it should've, but we finally made it here on a Friday night after work. The husband was advocating for our old fave of Frida 602, but I was able to persuade him when I sent him a link to Agave & Rye's menu. Even though we were here around 4, it was already getting pretty full, but we snagged a table no problem. I was pleased to see that we were here for Happy Hour (M, W, Th, F 3-6 PM). We snagged a Madison Margarita for me and a Bourbon Peach Punch for my husband ($6 each for HH). We started with an order of the Queso, which was good (but has nothing on Frida's!). Our appetizer ended up coming out with our tacos, and it would've been nice to have this a bit better spaced out. There are four vegetarian taco options (they definitely have the leg up on Frida in this regard), and we tried three on this visit: #17 The Mole $5 - Fried Avocado, Grilled Balsamic Portabella, Roasted Tomato #18 The Bang Bang $4.50 - Crispy Cauliflower, Corn Fritters, Queso, Spicy Crispy Carrots #19 The Easy Ranchero $5 - Fried Egg, Sea Salt & Pepper Fries, Queso, Aged White Cheddar, Cilantro, Salsa, Sour Cream (V) I found The Mole to be slightly too dry. I liked The Easy Ranchero overall, but it was hard to get past that Fried Egg smell. I'd probably have to go with The Bang Bang as my favorite. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks for the review, Tabitha! We're happy that you finally made it…
4 years ago
Amazing tacos and service!!! the fried cauliflower was delicious...and I don't like cauliflower!! Tacos are HUGE. Fit our group of 9 and service was quick. PS its a whiskey and tequila bar. they have every one made it seems. read more
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review! We can’t wait to see you again soon.
7 years ago
When it comes to hipster, artisan tacos in Cincinnati it's a tough market. I think the better options are: Frida 602, Gomez, Habañero, Bakersfield (maybe even Nada). TLDR: Agave & Rye has a bit of a dirty vibe, the menu is confusing, and the food was just "O.K." for the price. The first impression you get when walking in the door is the unfinished, almost filthy looking floors. I know they're going for a grunge vibe here, but I'm just not sure it works. I tried some of the Queen Tinga & Rooster (without the shells) and had the Ranchero Bowl myself. I love a good fried egg on some tots, but their queso is overpowering and it ended up tasting like a mashup of leftovers mixed together in the microwave. It was good, but not $10 good. Maybe they need some strong lunch specials or drink deals. I think their location is great, and if they clean up their menu (and their floor) I think there's some potential here. A soft suggestion on a first step to class the place up: don't make your employees wear shirts with sexual innuendos: it's uninspired (cringey?) and downmarket. read more
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Yavonne S.
We appreciate the feedback, Alexander. Thanks for stopping in. If…
2 years ago
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for your rating and review, Greg! We can't wait for…
2 years ago
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for your rating and review, Michelle! We can't wait…
4 years ago
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review, Allie! We can’t wait to see you again…
5 years ago
Well now that I have completed the trifecta in the Nati with where it all started at AR... let me say that each location rocks. The drinks are consistent from location to location for the Bourbon Habanero slushie... you can't drink just one. The egg roll is out of the world.. slowly I am working my way through the menu.. so hurry up catch up and try the Taco's.. but wait keep looking at the menu for burgers, enchiladas and many more hidden gems. read more
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Yavonne S.
Appreciate you visiting our Cincy locations, Michael! So glad you've…
4 years ago
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Yavonne S.
Thanks so much for the review, Jonathan! We can’t wait to see you…
More info about Agave & Rye - Covington
635 Madison Ave
Covington, KY 41011
City West
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(859) 360-1060
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https://www.agaveandrye.com/locations/agave-rye-covington
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