I'm a big fan of this concept with comfortable seating in a spacious restaurant, plenty of parking, great presentation, friendly service, and attractive decor. Compared to similar restaurants in this space, I prefer to go here with friends for its generally quieter atmosphere and overall vibe. Maybe the biggest complaint here is that the food preparation can be a bit inconsistent between dishes, and between different meat types. That is, that the output can range from delicious to somewhat average (and sometimes overcooked), depending on what you order. For example the birria was super flavorful and served with very crisp tacos and a delicious consomme, but the cilantro-lime rice and refried beans felt like an afterthought. The smoked pork belly quesadillas had a great flavor and just about the right amount of fattiness that was short of perfection due to the pork being overcooked. The tres leches cake also had a great creaminess and flavor to it, but parts of the cake weren't really soaked in the milk at all, which created an inconsistent experience - depending on where I took the bite. On everything I tried though, the presentation was excellent and there were enough great things about each dish to overcome some of the shortfalls. Overall though, I feel with improved execution on ensuring that all elements of the dishes are equally good in terms of texture and flavor -- there's a lot to love about Ancho & Agave. But even in its current state, it's still an enjoyable spot to take a group of friends for tasty food in an impressive looking spot. read more

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We had the absolute RUDEST experience with someone checking us in for a lunch reservation. We had a 12:30 reservation- walked in around 12:32. When we told our name for our reservation we were told it was going to be about 10 more minutes- even though the restaurant was half full. I was super confused because the entire bar was open and there were at least 10-12 open tables. The person checking us in goes "what you've never had that happen before?" - referring to having to wait for a table - SO incredibly off-putting and condescending. I told her she was being rude and she got defensive and giving us all these excuses- that the kitchen was backed up, etc. We immediately walked out. We were fine with the waiting but the way this employee handled things was insane. The way this should have been handled, and how it's handled in hundreds of other restaurants we've been to is: offer to sit us at the bar or ask if we want to get seated and then tell us there's a back up. or even say "I'm so sorry" Like at least show SOME hospitality. I emailed the location to say all of the above, and they did offer to send us something in the mail, but I will not be accepting. There are so many businesses in this area, go somewhere else that appreciates you as a customer. read more

I visited Ancho & Agave on a Saturday afternoon. My server was very attentive. The chips were fresh and not greasy. The salsa was different and tasted great compared to other Mexican restaurants I have been too. I loved the ground beef burrito; I saved half for the next day. Both the food and service was outstanding!!!!! read more

The Nashville hot chicken taco was amazing!!! I would def go again to try the tacos The resturant was large space and had a causal vibe. I did feel service was slow at times but we did go for a late lunch . The Mac and cheese had a unique taste as well! read more

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It was our anniversary and I wanted to try this place as my wife had tried it before and loved it. We made reservations and we were seated immediately. The place was well lit and was very busy. The server greeted us and asked us how we were doing and let us know some specials and gave us a moment to look the menu over and she'd be back for drinks and or appetizers. For starters we decided to order the Traditional Queso and Esquites. The queso is a blend of cheeses along with poblano peppers and onions. It mixed well with the complimentary chips and salsa. The queso had a good texture and an even blend of the ingredients. The Esquites is their version of Mexican Street Corn. It is served in a little dish and was delicious! Both would be repeats in the future. For my main dish, I decided to go with the Lobster Empanada Special. It comes with two on top of a black beans and corn jalapeño slaw. The empanadas was good and had good chunks of lobster meat and had a nice blend of queso, cheese, lime aioli, and charred sweet corn. I wish the crust was a bit more flaky and crisp but it was overall good. Everyone loved their food. All would be considered "repeats" including mine. The only one that was not was the fried plantains. I really liked this restaurant and I'd definitely would return. I'd try the traditional menu items. Looking forward to it. read more

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Wanted to like this place. Service was fine. Water glasses were dirty with old food particles. Food was room temp and looked like it had been sitting in a warmer all day. Definitely not fresh. I cant see this place making it very long. read more

My husband and I met some friends at Ancho and Agave to celebrate taco Tuesday. After ordering some drinks, we were brought complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were crunchy and salty and the salsa was good too. We couldn't stop eating them. I got the smoked pork belly quesadillas, while my husband ordered the birria tacos. The quesadilla was sweet and the meat was tender. The birria tacos were perfectly flavored with with a great accompanying consume. We had tried their churros and chocolate cake before so we decided to have the tres leches cake for dessert. The slice that we got was huge and delicious. Overall, we had a great night out at Ancho and Agave. read more

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The chips were really good and we liked the salsa. The restaurant is very spacious and beautiful aesthetic. Unfortunately this is where it kind of ended for us. The service was extremely slow despite coming during a down hour with only a few parties. No one checked in on us or asked how the food was. The service just seemed.... Tired. Fajitas. Veggies were pretty spicy. Chicken and steak, well done under seasoned, bland. (Though steak was slightly better than the chicken. ) Guac was brown and sad looking. I really wanted to like this more, but sadly can't see us returning. read more

Ancho & Agave - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

This visit started off super rocky lol. A white customer referred to my boyfriend and I as riff raff and an appetizer plate was dirty. BUT hold on .... Because the staff and our server Edgar turned our experience all the way around. The restaurant was clean with an outdoor patio and TVs which is extremely convenient for a sports lover like my boyfriend. It seemed like there wasn't any staff at the host stand but once we were seated the staff was extremely responsive and attentive. Our server Edgar was incredible. He was personable, made excellent tequila recommendations, and told us which tortilla would compliment their wide variety of tasty tacos ! And the food is genuinely delicious. Usually a taco and plantains is just that. But everything here was cooked perfectly and beyond flavoral. The flavors were distinct , the margaritas were well made , the music was great and overall we had a very chill but fun time ! Not to mention the hospitality was taken up a notch when they turned football on all of the sports TVs. We'll be back for sure ! read more

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Succulents Decoration My Favourite part I recently visited Ancho & Agave and had a really good experience overall. The restaurant has a lively, welcoming vibe . The decoration is fantastic--bright, colorful, and modern. The place is also quite spacious, so it never felt crowded or uncomfortable, which I really appreciated. For our meal, we were served chips and salsa and then horchata, and horchata was absolutely delicious. Sweet, creamy, and refreshing--it quickly became my favorite part of the meal. We also ordered the black bean soup, which was hearty, warm, and nicely seasoned. It had a comforting flavor. The tacos were the main highlight of the meal. They were fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. The fillings were balanced and satisfying without being too heavy, which made them enjoyable from the first bite to the last. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The staff seemed happy to answer questions and made sure we had everything we needed. It is a nice spot . Something was missing in Chips , they were very hard to eat. All in all, Ancho & Agave is a place I'd be happy to return to. Good food, great drinks, and a beautiful setting make it worth the visit. read more

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My boss and I came here for a quick lunch and it did not disappoint. We really enjoyed their complimentary chips and salsa. I don't know what it is, but there is something distinct about them that separates them from other restaurants. Service was excellent where quality checks, keeping beverages filled, and reading when it was time to wrap it up came naturally. It is a very open style bistro which I love. I can see the vibe of this place during a dinner rush being a lot of fun (seems like this place can accommodate groups of all sizes). Ancho & Agave seems more Mexican-fusion than traditional-Mexican so for what it is, I'd say overall it's very good and would definitely return. read more

Ancho & Agave - Complimentary chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

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Delicious upscale Mexican Yucatan dinners. The sizzling fajitas were cooked perfectly. The cocktails were all made well especially the pineapple margaritas. Their poblano sauce is very good too. They have a large dining room that is nicely decorated and cozy banquets. We went early on a Friday evening and had no trouble getting a table. We'll be back to try more menu items. read more

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An absolute gem! Beautiful inside and out, with a warm, modern vibe that sets the tone the moment you walk in. One of the first things that impressed me was their incredible tequila and mezcal selection, one of the largest I've seen. The menu offers a wide variety of options, making it easy to find something for everyone. I opted for several of their small tacos to sample a bit of everything, and each one delivered. The Kung Pao chicken taco on lettuce was a fun and flavorful twist, and I loved that any taco can be customized on lettuce, flour, or corn tortillas. I also tried the smoked pork belly, barbacoa, and steak asada tacos, every single one was wonderful. A standout feature of the restaurant is the quiet lounge-style seating area off to the side, complete with couches. It's the perfect little hideaway to enjoy a cocktail before dinner, adding an elevated touch to the whole experience. The overall atmosphere is stylish and inviting, blending modern design with the warmth you want from a great Mexican restaurant. And our server was outstanding.! Personable, knowledgeable, and friendly. They've made my favorites list. read more

Ancho and Agave has a nice vibe to it. Loved the decorations in the inside and the atmosphere was relaxing, family friendly, and felt upbeat. I ordered Steak Fajitas and the food was fresh and high quality. I do think some of the pieces- poblano pepper and onions were cut too big, so hard to make the fajita at times. My wife had the pork belly quesadillas and she loved them! Looked amazing and she said it was great. The reason for the 3 stars is due to the kids menu. Both of our kids ordered fruit as a side. As you can see from the pics- there were more vegetables than fruit. 2 small slices of pineapple served carrot sticks and zucchini. I would not call this a side of fruit and nowhere on menu does it say it would be served with vegetables so we were a bit surprised the veggies were the showcase for the side.... Also my little one loves Mac and cheese and will devour it at other places. His came out dry and lacked actual cheese. Overall, great experience. Adult menu is fine, but if you have little ones- there are other Mexican places that provide more kid friendly/additional options. read more

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My first time at this restaurant and a perfect location for meeting up with a friend. Nice ambiance, spacious so you felt like you had some privacy. The menu had some nice selections and prices were fair. Our server, Laura was attentive. read more

Absolutely loved the decor! It was by far my favorite thing about this place. The free salsa and chips they provided was warm and fresh, thankfully. Service wasn't great. My friend and I sat at the bar because there was no waiting and the bartender was friendly at first, but after we told her we weren't drinking, she seemed to not come by us as often and had a more irritated attitude and we felt rushed. I ended up ordering a Barbacoa Taco and Chicken Tortilla Soup. I thought the taco was tasty, but a bit dry. My tortillas fell apart as I was lifting the taco up, so those could use some improvement. I ended up sending back the tortilla soup because it was disgusting. The only thing you could taste was cheddar cheese and black pepper. Horrendous. read more

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Food was ok but the service was so terrible. Took 20 min to order a drink and then another 10 to get it delivered. Took an hour to get our food, no appetizer just some tacos. Then took 10 min to just get coffee. This place won't last with all the really authentic Mexican restaurants in the area. read more

I've driven by this restaurant time and time again as it was being built and once it finally opened we were really excited to try it. Located in the Deer Park Plaza , the restaurant has tons of complimentary parking. We had a 5:45 reservation, and when we checked in they told us it would be a bit for our table. We had no problem waiting, but we waited almost 20 minutes. We overheard the hostess tell people that they took too many reservations, and have fallen really behind on seating times. So if you are coming be sure to make a reservation even if it's just a party of 2. We started the night with drinks, I got a strawberry aqua Fresca and my husband grabbed a beer. The aqua Fresca was certainly refreshing but lacked the strawberry taste, it was more like club soda. We had the taquitos and the chicken tortilla soup to start. The taquitos were flavorful but sat a bit flat, it needed something to dip in. Like a salsa or guac of some kind. The chicken tortilla soup did his the spot, it was full of flavor, I did wish they put the tortillas on the side or on top of the sour cream because by the time it got to the table it completed melted away. For my entree, I got some of their tacos becuase their taco flight was what I kept hearing about. I got the steak asada which was my favorite bite of the night. The shrimp and Baja tacos really lacked on flavor. They were crispy but needed seasoning. I almost wished the toppings were actually on top because when you bite into it, you only get the taste of the protein and it sat bland. We didn't end up getting dessert, because the service was rather slow but we had a good time while we were there. Overall it was an okay experience, I think they have some kinks to work out. read more

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First time visiting this restaurant, and found it quite chic yet welcoming. We were greeted by friendly staff. Our wait staff came to our table almost as soon as we sat down. He also explained the menu, and some of the specials. I would describe the menu as Mexican fusion cuisine. For instance, kung pao chicken was one of the taco options, and tempura as well. So not an authentic Mexican cuisine. There's a good selection of drink menu. The food overall was flavorful and delicious. One of the taco was fried cauliflower, in an airy tempura batter, so it's crispy and combined well with the topping and sauce. One thing I would caution those that can't take too much heat, almost all the topping included diced tomatoes and diced jalapeño. The tamale cake was interesting. It has a green salsa over it. We were overfull after the guacamole trio and the tacos (we only ordered two each). The iced coffee with horchata was refreshing. The sweetness from horchata balanced well with the coffee. A chic restaurant good for gathering and date night. Check it out! read more

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First time here and this spot definitely has potential. The vibe inside is high energy and fun. However, flavor on certain items needed some work. We sat at the bar since they were running behind on reservations and it took a while for the space to be wiped down (previous guests had left menus and surrounding area sticky/wet). My friend enjoyed her margarita, but my ranch water lacked any flavor compared to a typical ranch water found in Texas. Chips and salsa were superb! Great deep flavor on the salsa. Tacos were hit and miss. Shrimp taco was super fishy, giving a more frozen than fresh flavor. Baja taco was on point with a nice spice underneath the initial bite. Al Pastor took top spot by far! Only downside was that both of our taco shells broke by the time we got to our third taco. read more

Ancho & Agave - Ranch water, mango jalapeño margarita and chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

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Tried Ancho & Agave for the first time since they recently opened near the Deer Park mall. I was surprised in a good way when entering the restaurant. It's a lot bigger than expected and the design concept looks great, industrial modern farmhouse vibe? Not sure that's a thing but if you go you'll see it! The menu has a lot of items you'd expect, but there are a good amount of interesting Mexican fusion items as well. You start with complementary chips and salsa. I'm not certain, but the chips taste like in house tortilla chips and the salsa was Smokey with a bit of spicy. There are some interesting drinks on the drink menu for both alcohol and NA. They do have their take on Horchata as well. The food was good and our server was attentive and friendly. She was also helpful answering questions as we navigated the food and drinks here for the first time. Definitely worth checking out, however know that this is not a traditional taco spot, if that's what you're looking for. read more

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Went here for lunch. Ordered Queso dip 1/5. It was made out of powder. Didn't like it at all. Fish Taco, Avacado Taco, Cauliflower Taco- 3/5 nothing to rave about. Complimentary chips and salsa 3/5. Restaurants interiors and vibe 5/5. Service 5/5. May go back to try the Drinks and few more items. read more

Ancho & Agave - Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

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Been here 3 times in the past two months. All three experiences were great, chips the last time weren't as fresh, but that's the only negative. Great salsas, appetizers and jalapeno margaritas. I like the way the menus is set up with ala carte tacos, then I don't have to order a 25 dollar meal after all the chips, salsa and guacamole. The amazing thing is all the great flavors all the food have, not bland, and lots of options! I recommend the avocado salsa. It's amazing.. will definitely be going again! Place is really big inside, would be great for a group and service has been pretty good, not amazing, but not bad either.. read more

Ancho & Agave - Berrias, tacos and elotes, all yummy.. - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

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Took the wife her for lunch today. And man was this place and clean with a nice decor the staff was friendly and the service was wonderful. Melvin did a wonderful job with the service. The food was red mex with an elevated feel. They seasoned every well. The taquitos was fried to perfection with a wonderful blend of sauces that was on it. I had the birria tacos and made it was a flavor explosion. My wife enjoyed her fish and shrimp tacos. They had a light batter and was crispy and wonderful. If you like tex mex with a little extra come check them out! Would definitely come back when we are back in town! read more

Ancho & Agave - fish, shrimp, and al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

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Was a unique experience. We had reservations they but a large group at a booth and not a table. The restaurant was mostly empty. Our server came up after a few minutes and was like until the other server comes she will help. So she was very slow to start. Drink order took a while. Then we ordered dinner but that took forever. It was like she was waiting to leave but never got to. She finally got the order and the food came. So I really enjoyed the chips and salsa. I was the only one out of the group who ate it really. It was a smoked flavor and I like that. My dinner was a burrito bowl. It was ok I had chicken and steak. The steak was good but not steak at all it was a roast. The ground beef bowl my friend had was so bland. No flavor at all No one was a big fan. They all did like the cocktails. They said it's like drinks and maybe an appetizer kind of place read more

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I honestly wasn't expecting much. I thought it was probably just a chain Mexican restaurant, which are usually not my favorites. Friend picked this for her birthday celebration dinner. She mentioned the chips and salsa as something we'd all enjoy. They're brought to the table minutes after being seated. The chips were warm and addictive. Very very good! We ordered drinks and the Mexican corn for our appetizer Drinks were good. Mexican corn was OK. Onto the main courses. We had two Carnitas burrito dishes. A chicken Asada burrito, vegetable quesadilla and I got the special chicken mole enchilada. Food was delicious. Portions were much more than one person could eat in a sitting. Enough leftovers for two more meals! For dessert the birthday girl ordered tres leches cake. slice was so large we all shared it. Service was excellent. The place is beautifully decorated. Prices are extremely reasonable.I will return! read more

I kind of understand the bad reviews and I kind of don't. Upon arriving, the hosts were friendly at a bare minimum. They weren't excited and shouting "welcome!!" but it's not like they were rude or anything. Our server was very nice and one of the people in our party needed gluten free options, which they were very accommodating. Here are my issues with Ancho & Agave... The menu is typical Mexican but with lots of fusion options. After all, they offer a Kung Pao taco. I ordered the Steak Asada enchiladas. I got a platter with two enchiladas and a lot of sauce. No sides. No nothing. $19.75. For that price, there should be some side options. Rice and beans, a salad, some roasted veggies. Something! I also ordered the mandarin margarita. $11.25 and served in a Ball jar. I don't know about others but I feel for the price point, an adult beverage should come in an adult glass. Ball jars look redneck and cheap. Overall, my food and drink tasted fine. The prices and presentation have much to be desired. I don't see myself ever coming back here or recommending to others. read more

Honestly, for a chain restaurant it was as expected. Large portions, exquisite ambience and hmmm...well... trying too hard at being gourmet, the flavors were overboard and just too much. The shrimp taco was very sweet. The pork belly taco was sooo salty I couldn't finish, my husband didn't believe me until I told him to try a bite. I told the bartender serving us, which made no difference. It wasn't until I called the manager after waiting for a long while to get our check. When he asked, was it removed from our bill. I appreciated his sincere response, but i didn't leave feeling any of the food was craveable to make we want to go back. read more

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Everything we had was so flavorful. The queso was some of the best I've had but the portion was a little small for three people so add on the street corn Guac for another tasty treat. I had the shrimp fajitas and the shrimp was so good I could have eaten them all on their own! Service was decent. Ask to sit away from the door area if the weather is cold because you get a cold blast anytime someone goes in or out. read more

Ancho & Agave - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

I recently visited with a couple other guys and we were immediately brought chips and salsa. The chips were very good: crispy and salty, but not too salty. They were a little busy so it took awhile to get our drinks and to get our order taken. The place was very busy, but there was no one to bus the tables. There were three tables around us that took quite a while to be cleaned off. They finally took our orders. Two people ordered fajitas which came absolutely loaded with onions and does not come with rice and beans. I ordered their enchiladas with chicken and shrimp, and another ordered tacos. The guys who got the fajitas really liked their meals. The tacos were okay, the soft shells were absolutely falling apart. My enchiladas were smothered in the the green verde sauce. They were supposed to have both chicken and shrimp, but only had shrimp. The tortillas were a bit bland and were just falling apart. The flavor profile just wasn't there. They were basically buried in rice. There was so much rice that it overwhelmed the entire dish. And the rice was bland. My take is to come for the chips and a drink, but skedaddle to another Mexican place that has better flavor. read more

I really enjoyed this place! The food was fabulous...best table salsa I have had! the wait staff (Laura F) was amazing! Attentive and great recommendaions! I thought this is one of the best ambiance creative spaces I have been to in a long time! The outdoors was awesome! read more

The food was ok. The service was terrible. Our server brought us the wrong meal when he had misunderstood. Instead of apologizing and owning his mistake, he showed us on the menu why he thought what he did. He still charged us for the mistake, upgraded one of our meals without asking (price up charge), and told us a pitcher of our drinks was going to make more sense than individual glasses (we did the math before it came and realized that it would be $10 more per person than just getting individual drinks). When the restaurant closed, we were not given a heads-up...the staff just started leaving! The food was ok. The outdoor patio is very nice, but I won't be back. When I go out to eat, I expect quality service for the price I am paying as part of the "eating out" experience. read more

visited tonight and was blown away by the service, atmosphere and food! I loved my cauliflower tacos - there were sooo many different types to pick from! I will be back! Looks like summer weather will have a nice patio too! read more

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Previously, been VERY happy with service and quality. Last visit, and again today... even worse. I can see the staff... at this immediate moment we are 1 if three tables. I can see 4 staff. It's been over 15min since anyone has acknowledged outer presence. Highly disappointed!!! It's a shane, as foid/service have been great!! I'll think twice about coming again. read more

Ambiance: nothing special. Big place. Huge bar. Happy hour late lunch time fairly busy. Service. Up and down. Ordering was quick them after food delivered, no recheck til much later. Another drink was not offered. Food ok but typical bar food. Probably me but I just am not wowed by suburban chain restaurants. I wish there were more outstanding restaurants not chains that were offering great food experiences. If anyone finds them please post as I will be looking for them. read more

I don't usually leave reviews, but I wanted to share my experience. My husband and I visited for the first time, and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything we ordered was excellent, and the atmosphere is very nice. Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the food. Our waitress was dry and unengaged, with no introduction, no mention of specials, and no check-in after our meal. The bill was brought without asking if we wanted dessert, and we had to request it ourselves. Overall, the food and atmosphere were great, but the customer service could use improvement. A friendly, welcoming approach would make a big difference. read more

The service is terrible. I have sat in the bar area on (3) different occasions. Today being my final and 3rd time...they either don't have enough people to handle the work load, or they don't have the team properly trained. The food is not able to make-up for the lousy service that you receive. read more

I really wanted to like this place but was overall disappointed with the experience and food. I came with a friend and I ordered the birria tacos. I asked for black beans not refried beans but they brought refried beans. The birria tacos were dry and I had to ask for the consumme because they didn't bring it out. The tacos didn't look very appetizing and were just ok but for the price paid underwhelming. The ambiance is nice but I wish they would focus on their menu and quality. Other Mexican places like tacos Guanajuato and famous burrito blow this place out of the water in my opinion... read more

Ancho & Agave - Birria tacos - Mexican Near Me - Deer Park, Illinois

We wanted to try this place, so we arrived on a Saturday around 4ish. Looking in from the outside, I was impressed with the waiting area that resembled a modern living room. There was a big bar area, but the dinning area wasn't as impressive. Some booths in the back, and tables with metal chairs. Felt like I was in a cafeteria. We were seated, and waited for a waiter. For 10 minutes we watched as waiters, servers, bus boys, and Managers walked pass our table without acknowledging us. After 15 minutes of no contact from anyone, we decide to get up and leave. I'm sorry, but with the cost of eating out these days, restaurants need to make sure their customers feel they are receiving some value and are appreciated. For example, after we left we went to another Mexican restaurant in the same plaza that we hadn't been to in over 3 years. We sat at the bar, got waited on immediately, and some of the servers came up to us to ask how we have been doing, as they remembered us from the past. That is how you make people feel appreciated. read more

We were seated within 5 minutes but we did arrive about 2pm on a Saturday. Our food came out within about 5 minutes of ordering so clearly this isn't made to order food. Instead it's just sit down fast food that then also requires tipplng. On our first attempt to dine here was a Saturday at 7pm and we were told it was over an hour wait so watch out for time of day. I had the chicken tacos, pork al pastor tacos, and a barbacoa taco. All were good. Their salsa is mediocre at best: Smokey, vinegary, not much flavor, no heat. Salsa did compliment the al pastor taco flavor nicely. We had no drinks or appetizers and three of us ate for $40 including generous tip so it does have reasonable prices. read more