A huge group of us converged on new Downtown Mexican restaurant Agave Maria for our friend Tony’s birthday tonight. We all got menus and as usual I wanted the most expensive item on there. I ordered the shrimp and scallop enchiladas, which came in a skillet, as an entree. It did not disappoint. So rich and luscious and good. I couldn’t finish it.
Friends of mine at the table ordered the Queso Blanco, white cheese dip. Having grown up in Little Rock, widely considered one of the cheese dip capitals of the world, I was expecting to be disappointed, as I usually am with the plain white dip the authentic Mexican restaurants of the Memphis area usually trot out. Agave Maria’s was different and better though; it could hold its own in Little Rock, even challenging Mexico Chiquito, home of the best cheese dip in the world.
They don’t have PBR. 
PRO TIP: There’s hot sauce on the table in a medicine-looking bottle. If you get the shrimp and scallop enchiladas and aren’t scared, try some. Don’t try too much though or you will regret it.
The restaurant is not even a week old and could be expected to be ironing out some kinks. The service was not a kink. They got a party of 25, not all of whom arrived at the same time, in and out in an hour and a half. I was quite happy with that. The one thing I would suggest they work on is their air conditioning. It was not bad in there but it was about 75, warmer than a lot of patrons like it.
Mainly, though, it was a real treat to hang out with this group of people on a Tuesday evening. Tony, the birthday boy, is a member of my Sunday brunch crew, along with Rahul, Nate, and our Sunday bartender B-RAD and his lovely wife Phaedra. After dinner we walked over to Blind Bear.
That’s Tony, the birthday boy, in the middle. B-RAD is to his right. Rahul who whines if the Bear does not put enough fruit in his drink is at the far right.
B-RAD claims he’s going to grow his hair out as long as mine. He also tried to take a selfie. Phae ushered him out of there and I can see why.
One of the most classic Sunday Fun Day quotes happened sometime during this conversation (on a Tuesday) but I am not allowed to blog it.
But seriously, Agave Maria. Worth checking out. Give it a try.
It’s 51 minutes into July and I have to renew my now-expired car tags before I go to work in the morning. Guess I should go to bed. Back with a post at lunchtime. Maybe.