Looking for the perfect date night dinner or a nice girls night out? Try the Latin influenced restaurant Red Agave at 454 Willamette St. It’s not a very large restaurant, the bar area only accommodates about eight people, and it has a warm and pleasant ambiance with red hues and dim lighting, perfect for celebrating my friend's birthday.
I haven't been there in a few years, it has since changed hands, and I heard the owner is opening a new joint in town soon, so I decided to revisit the former winner of "Best New Restaurant, Eugene Weekly".
Owner Brian Hebb bought the restaurant two years ago from Sara Willis and Katie Marcus and is now working on his new danceclub and lounge in downtown Eugene. Cowfish is set to open in April at 62 Broadway and according to Hebb "will be a swank, modern space devoted to classic cocktails, mixological innovations and all the noise that make you shake your ass."
We start out with the blended tamarind margaritas, the tamarind is pleasantly sour that is perfect for margaritas. The cocktail list has twists on some classics like the Hibiscus Lemondrop and Pomegranate Daiquiris. There is even a drink called Malicious which reads: “Purely sensuous intentions. Absolut Citron, Damiana, house-grenadine, lime and cinnamon. Shaken, strained, savored”. I will have to save that for my next trip.
We start with the Seared Scallops and Crab Hash, served with creamed leeks and mango butter. Wow, what a way to start. The scallops are perfectly caramelized on the outside and succulent on the inside. The sweetness of the mango butter pairs perfectly with the crab hash and the smoothness of the creamed leeks.
The next appetizer was a little disappointing, Pork Pupusa. The three of us agreed we would not order this again. The pupusa is a corn flat bread stuffed with sautéed pork and cheese served with salsa and a cabbage salad. The bite of the pupusa alone was not very appetizing and only got slightly better when I added the salsa and salad. Lesson learned, next time I will order the Halibut Ceviche or Crab Stuffed Anaheim Pepper.
They have an impressive wine list with selections from Spain, Argentina, Portugal and an array of Oregon Pinots. We settled on a $36 bottle of Malbec from Argentina that has a good body, bold flavor and should pair well with all of our dishes.
My friend ordered the pork tenderloin with an apple chutney, quinoa and sautéed greens. The pork is rubbed in a cumin and spice mix and perfectly cooked, it has a hint of cinnamon that pairs perfectly with the wine. The greens were tender and have a nice smoky flavor which contrasted nicely with the nuttiness of the quinoa. Quinoa is a seed that comes from the goosefoot plant that is similar to a grain, it makes a nice replacement for your typical starch side dish.
I chose the Halibut which was cooked to perfection with a hint of lime and peppers and was served on a bed of mashed potatoes and sauteed greens. The halibut was tender and moist and the potatoes were rich and creamy. I was expecting my greens to taste the same as my friends, and was pleasantly surprised to find them more garlicky and finished with vinegar. Delightful.
We start out with the blended tamarind margaritas, the tamarind is pleasantly sour that is perfect for margaritas. The cocktail list has twists on some classics like the Hibiscus Lemondrop and Pomegranate Daiquiris. There is even a drink called Malicious which reads: “Purely sensuous intentions. Absolut Citron, Damiana, house-grenadine, lime and cinnamon. Shaken, strained, savored”. I will have to save that for my next trip.
We start with the Seared Scallops and Crab Hash, served with creamed leeks and mango butter. Wow, what a way to start. The scallops are perfectly caramelized on the outside and succulent on the inside. The sweetness of the mango butter pairs perfectly with the crab hash and the smoothness of the creamed leeks.
The next appetizer was a little disappointing, Pork Pupusa. The three of us agreed we would not order this again. The pupusa is a corn flat bread stuffed with sautéed pork and cheese served with salsa and a cabbage salad. The bite of the pupusa alone was not very appetizing and only got slightly better when I added the salsa and salad. Lesson learned, next time I will order the Halibut Ceviche or Crab Stuffed Anaheim Pepper.
They have an impressive wine list with selections from Spain, Argentina, Portugal and an array of Oregon Pinots. We settled on a $36 bottle of Malbec from Argentina that has a good body, bold flavor and should pair well with all of our dishes.
My friend ordered the pork tenderloin with an apple chutney, quinoa and sautéed greens. The pork is rubbed in a cumin and spice mix and perfectly cooked, it has a hint of cinnamon that pairs perfectly with the wine. The greens were tender and have a nice smoky flavor which contrasted nicely with the nuttiness of the quinoa. Quinoa is a seed that comes from the goosefoot plant that is similar to a grain, it makes a nice replacement for your typical starch side dish.
I chose the Halibut which was cooked to perfection with a hint of lime and peppers and was served on a bed of mashed potatoes and sauteed greens. The halibut was tender and moist and the potatoes were rich and creamy. I was expecting my greens to taste the same as my friends, and was pleasantly surprised to find them more garlicky and finished with vinegar. Delightful.
Other reviews on the web include one from aleckovac on menuism.com "It's the best thing going in Eugene if you like food." According to Adam D. on yelp.com "Probably the best restaurant at that price point in Eugene. The food is consistently good and service is always good."
Benjamin Lee, who lives in Eugene says "One of my favorite joints in town." I couldn't agree more.
Overall I think this is an excellent restaurant for an elegant meal out, perfect for a romantic dinner or getting together with some friends for a celebration. The cocktails are great and the food is outstanding, I would highly recommend Red Agave. I look forward to checking out Cowfish when it opens in April.
At A Glance
What: Red Agave, Latin, fine dining and cocktails
Where: 454 Willamette, Eugene.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 5-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-Midnight.
More info: Red Agave website
Hours: Monday-Thursday 5-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-Midnight.
More info: Red Agave website
Phone: (541) 683-2206
