Taco Tuesday just got extreme with the opening of Huntsville’s hottest new restaurant concept, Agave & Rye. If you’re looking for the “it” place this summer, plan to get there soon!
What is Agave & Rye?
It’s a Bourbon and Tequila hall based out of Kentucky and has now planted roots here in the Rocket City. With over 70 different kinds of tequila and 90 varieties of bourbon, the cocktail customization options are endless. Did I mention they also serve tacos? They serve tacos! Not the traditional tacos you may be used to eating were talking one-of-a-kind, street taco creations that only a chef would dare to put together.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the soft opening, so I grabbed a friend to join me and checked it out.
As you walk up, you’re greeted with trendy music and a beautiful and vibrant outdoor space complete with sparkling chandeliers. Once inside, the magic continues with large, gorgeous pop art, murals, and sculptures all throughout the restaurant. I don’t think there’s a single naked wall anywhere which means every corner of the establishment is Instagram-worthy.
After being seated, we began going over the menu for our selections. We both settled on the OG Margarita, which arrived to at our table in a cool skull glass. While a bit sweeter than I prefer, I loved the flavor from the fresh, house made base.
Next up was the food. The menu consists of Big Munchies, Little Munchies, seven different chips & dips, and 20 different tacos. Everything sounded good, which made it hard to decide, but we finally landed on the Elote, Sweet Corn Fritters, Tortilla Chips with chunky pineapple salsa, and salsa Roja for appetizers. I’ve had a few versions of Elote, but the grilled corn on this one elevates the dish so much. It was delicious, and I love that the corn is already off the cob for you. No worry about getting messy while enjoying! The corn fritters were also good, especially with the Serrano Aoli; the spice perfectly complements the sweet corn. You can’t have Mexican street food without throwing in some chips and salsa, and the freshly made sauces are worth adding to the table. The sweetness from the chunky pineapple was perfect for the thick, hand-cut chips.
I wanted to try a vegetarian option for the tacos and something with a big spin, so I chose the Bang Bang and The Crown Jewel. The Bang Bang has fried cauliflower, corn fritters, queso, and spicy carrots. My favorite part was the carrots because they weren’t just regular shredded carrots; they were lightly fried and had the perfect amount of crunch and spice. I was surprised by how good they were. The Crown Jewel is a lobster and macaroni-filled taco in which I opted out of the macaroni and cheese. There was still plenty of flavors to be enjoyed from the mushrooms and truffle oil that accompanied the lobster; this one was really outside the box, and I’m glad I tried it. My friend ended up with the Birria, three tacos with slow-braised beef, dipped in chili oil and grilled. They looked amazing and had plenty of meat.
If tacos aren’t your thing, they also offer a few sandwiches, salads, and other non-taco dishes. We were too full to try dessert by the end of the night, but I plan to head back soon for The salty pimp epic dessert taco!
Agave & Rye is EPIC all around; from the food and drinks to their urban artwork and upbeat atmosphere, be sure to stop in and enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience with family and friends.
* Agave & Rye is busy, but it can also be a great date option. Be sure to ask about the booths in the back with curtains for a more personal experience.
Zenovia is a two time graduate of Alabama A&M University where she earned a B.S. and M.S. in Biology. A former Regulatory Affairs Specialist in the Pharmaceutical Industry, She currently works from home as a Regional Project Coordinator and is the mom to 3 extraordinary boys.
