The Sutan taco at Agave & Rye is full of tasty veggies, cheddar, and rice.
OK, Boomer, buh-bye. Yo, Millennial, come on in! That’s the sound of generational change on the north end of the Baxter Avenue strip, as the classy Bittner’s furniture and upscale fare of the defunct Ward 426 makes way for the bright street murals and fancy tacos of Agave & Rye.
Ward 426, a venture of former Jack Fry’s Chef Shawn Ward and the late Dean Corbett, held on for a good five-year run after supplanting the Brewery, a popular bar. But perhaps upscale fare and quiet class weren’t an ideal match for Baxter Avenue, while street art and what they call “chef-inspired” tacos fit right in.
Happily, boomers are still warmly welcome, so a sizable group of us crammed into a circular booth in the game room – where rows of vintage arcade games can be played free – and had a great time the other night.
Sure, the fancy furniture and elegant decor are all gone, but what replaces them is funky and fun. Giant wall murals were spray-painted by a local street artist. Many of the tables were fashioned from hardwood by a local artisan. Eye-catching chandeliers with hanging orbs of waffle-cut lavender and pale-green art glass were also locally produced.
Agave & Rye is part of a small regional chain, with two shops in Greater Cincinnati (one on either side of the Ohio) and one in Lexington. The menus appear to be the same at all four, and I can testify that the Louisville bill of fare is offbeat, interesting, and consistently well prepared.
There are 14 tacos to choose from, ranging in price from $4 (for the Plain Jane, with a familiar filling of ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato and sour cream) to $11.50 (for the Crown Jewel, with butter-poached lobster and shaved truffle on mac and cheese. ...
Read the full review on LouisvilleHotBytes,
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/agave-rye-flavor
You'll also find this review in LEO Weekly's Food & Drink section today.
http://www.leoweekly.com/category/food-drink/
Agave & Rye
426 Baxter Ave.
873-5111
http://agaveandrye.com
https://facebook.com/agaveandryelouisville
https://instagram.com/agaveandrye
Robin Garr's rating: 88 points.
Noise level: The scene was loud but not intolerable on a week night. (Average sound level was 77dB, an elevated level of conversation, with peaks to an attention-getting 83dB.)
Accessibility: Currently difficult for wheelchair users. The patio leading to a level entrance is roped off for construction, and some dining areas are up a few steps. Wheelchair users are advised to call ahead to arrange entry through a normally locked door via the deck and a rear entrance. A separate unisex restroom is marked as accessible.