Agave Uptown — Restaurant in Oakland

I gotta say, this was one of the best meals I have EVER had. A buddy and I split the enormous Oaxaca Platter. It’s bigger than Chichen Itza and more diverse than the flora of the Yucatán jungle, and it easily could’ve fully fed a third grown adult. I just ate some of the leftovers for lunch and realized I have to tell the world about this meal:

To start, the tasajo (a thinly sliced dried beef from the Central Valley of Oaxaca) made my eyes pop the moment it entered my mouth hole. It’s a dried beef that is somehow juicy at the same time. I felt the meat juice of a thousand meat angels drip down my throat: slightly sweet, slightly spiced, entirely delicious. I’m blown away by how good their tasajo is.

The chile relleno was succulent. The cheese inside was perfect, the breading was crafted like a Frida masterpiece. Wow.

The enmoladas are a small enchilada, covered, but not smothered, in the best mole I’ve ever had. Its sweetness coincided with the pepper and spices like an artist being introduced to his muse for the first time. Love and inspiration at first taste.

I’d go on about each specific element of the platter, but you just have to go try it yourself. Along with the wonderful service, the kind and knowledgeable employees, and the INCREDIBLE drinks, Agave Uptown’s Oaxaca Platter reminds me of why I love being alive with full senses of taste and smell. They are a blessing to the city of Oakland, and I think if you have a friend, a grumbling stomach, and $59 to spare (plus a hefty well-deserved tip), you should go try this meal from the gods. It is...

This establishment doesn't even deserve a single star Let me start of with saying that when my bf and I walked in, the restaurant smelt like mop water. They sat us right away but the service was terrible. The bus boy asked if we would like guacamole and salsa and chips before we even received out menus which led us to think they were complimentary. Eventually someone came around with menus, we ordered our drinks and food. Drinks were very average and the food was bland. I ordered the shrimp tacos which had no flavor and my bf ordered the enchilada plate which was ONE enchilada cut into TWO! Servings were nothing to get full off of. Salsa was terrible and the guacamole was decent. Was never asked if we wanted another drink, never asked if we enjoyed out food, the hostess had to ask us if we had even eaten yet because the amount of time it took to received our food was ridiculous especially with such small portions! We later had to ask for our bill multiple times and the gentleman who eventually got around to giving it to us was extremely rude and acted as if we were bothering him. I would also like to note that my bf and I are very good tippers and always have been but due to the horrible experience and the fact that we we couldn't find not one single thing we even enjoyed, so for the first time ever we didn't leave a tip. $80 down the drain. OH!...guacamole, salsa, and chips we thought were complimentary costs us $12. I will never go back to his establishment I suggest no one else...

I love eating at Agave Uptown! They serve Oaxacan style Mexican food. I love the atmosphere they have created--a feast for one's eyes. Last evening when we ate there a band, Stereo Tropical, was playing outside and guests were singing along.

They have a Tequila Bar, and if you want to get a degree in Agave--this is a great place to get your AA degree. I tried their Bartender's Surprise last night. It was yummy!!! I never found what the ingredients were but I could taste a smokey Mescal.

We were celebrating my birthday there. We started with a very fresh Shrimp Ceviche--I was licking my fingers it was sooo good. I had their Salmon with Mole--yum, yum, yum. I LOVE their mole!!!

My partner had a beef dish with mole--the beef was cut very thin and was chewy. Both of our dinners came with rice and black beans. I usually don't eat rice--theirs was so good that I found myself eating it all.

I had asked for a chocolate dessert, but they didn't have any, but they brought out some thick, creamy ice cream with some berries. There was a small lit candle at the base of my dessert and after they sang "Happy Birthday"--I blew out my candle.

I highly recommend their food and their bar!!!

One thing that can be a problem is the location. A year or two ago, we parked a couple of blocks away, and someone broke a window in our car. If you park you may want to park where it is well lit, or...