Pete F.
Yelp
Blue Agave Club downtown Pleasanton, September 17, 2022 Star rating: 1 star (out of 5)
The restaurant denotes itself as "high-end Mexican cuisine. It's located in the heart of downtown Pleasanton operating out of a Victorian-era home. The front outside patio area hugs the street with large palm trees and a brick wall from the neighboring business.
The décor outside is open, dotted with Mexican metal craft figurines however the overhead sagging tarps look dank, taking away from the ambiance and the twenty-plus propane heaters are severely in need of replacement with their melted, disfigured screens which in a way parallels the cuisine. Updating the patio with beautiful umbrellas would make a nice change.
I've been dining at the Blue Agave since it opened in 1997. The menu hasn't changed. Initially, it was expressive and original but sadly now it's badly in need of an update. Over the past few years, I haven't gone back for a lot of the reasons shared here. Last night's visit sealed the deal on why it's been so long. I'm in no hurry to go back.
The service is also in desperate need of an overhaul. I got the feeling no one was in charge to oversee quality. Occasionally the servers could be heard quarreling amongst themselves within earshot of the guests.
Our server Hector was distracted, unengaging, and impersonal. When asked if they had a list of specialty cocktails he was befuddled as if he didn't know what it meant. The service continued to disappoint, with the lack of check in's, "how are you"? etc.
When my martini arrived, it was a half to three-quarters of an inch from the brim. The olives were mushy.
Ordering was another misstep. We ordered the Enchiladas Del Mar advertised on the menu as having Bay Shrimp. We expressed our displeasure with the Bay Shrimp asking for a larger, different shrimp substitute. Hector argued they do not use Bay shrimp despite what the menu showed. Later, he skipped one of the guests when ordering. It took some time for us to flag someone down to have him return.
Pros: I liked the Tortilla soup. It was rich and favorable with almost an enchilada red sauce consistency versus the loose chicken broth type.
When the food arrived, it was lukewarm, lacking flavor. The only highlights were the fresh ingredients of the poblano, onions, and mole covered up a multitude of sins.
Throughout the evening the restaurant was fifty to three-quarters occupied. By 9:15 pm on a Saturday, it quickly turned into a ghost town. For the few of us remaining, we were surprised to see and hear the staff roll trash cans through the dining area with wobbly wheels and tremendous sound.
When it comes to pricing, the Blue Agave is greatly overpriced due to the poor food quality, tired menu, and weak service. Our bill came to $63.00 a person without a tip.
All in all, I want Blue Agave to succeed and hope this review will lead to positive change. At this point, I give it a thumbs down.
