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Los Agaves - Milpas
600 N. Milpas St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 564-2626
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Reviews by the General Public
COMPLETELY OVERRATED, 4/18/2013
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara, CA
This place is crowded for some reason but the food is below average. I just don't get it. There are plenty of much better Mexican places in Santa Barbara. You have to wait in line to order. The guy taking orders (supposedly the owner) was rude. It was hard to get a table. All things you can put up with if the food is good. It is not. I think the owners must be very busy every day posting positive reviews of their restaurant.
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Finally a TRUE Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara!, 1/8/2013
Reviewer: Hector and Rocio
from Panaroma City, CA
Fiance and I visit SB annually at least 1-2 times a year. We have searched and tasted various so called Mexican restaurants in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Montecito. Without hesitation and with conviction Los Agaves is truly authentic. From the first to last bite along with their warm thick tortillas that my fiance and I had to go with our orders we almost placed a second take out order before we left SB to go back home. Yes, you read that exactly, TAKE OUT. That says a lot. The restaurant is quite busy but nothing that I could not get used to especially with the delicious food they prepare when we make our return visit to SB later in 2013. Definitely coming back and spreading the news of this great place to all of my friends in Los Angeles.
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I love this place, 1/4/2013
Reviewer: Stu
from Santa Barbara, CA
Best Mexican food in town. My wife and I have never been disappointed. The chicken mole was great and the steak Alhambrs plate was incredible. Very busy but very friendly staff. Fine salsa bar. Imaginative menu as well as the standards you expect. The crowd is half Anglo and half Hispanic and everyone seemed to be enjoying their food. They have wine and beer and bottomless soda refills.
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I just must not get it., 12/15/2012
Reviewer: Tony Sandrich
from Santa Barbara, CA
I wanted to like this restaurant. I live blocks away. I have eaten there four times now and have never had a dish that I would call really delicious or even one that I would ever want again. Last week I went to celebrate a friends birthday and I had the mole enchiladas. Mole is supposed to be delicious. I have had mole that was delicious. This was not that at all. I ate it, but nothing more. Considering that there are five other Mexican restaurants close by, I will try to not have to go there.
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Good Mexican food , 10/25/2012
Reviewer: Marie
from Santa Barbara, CA
This place gets really packed for lunch an dinner! A little pricey I got the chicken nachos which ended up being $14 and my sister got the Los Agaves Salad w chicken which was about $15 they both were really good and a lot of food. The sevice is ok took them quit a while to bring our food. Would return but before noon or for an early dinner.
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The most authentic Mexican dishes are served at Los Agaves., 9/23/2012
Reviewer: Sergio and Veronica
from Santa Barbara, CA
Los Agaves serves the closest to the most authentic mexican dishes, accompanied by little variance which I call it a fine delicious signature of it's own. I lived 16 years in Mexico where my mother worked as a cook at an upscale restaurant well known nationwide and visited by tourists around the world. I can simply say this place is the closest to my moms cuisine. My favorite dish is the Huarache " the sandal" I'm glad I don't have to wait until I travel to Mexico to have a good Huarache served as a fine dish. Only at Los Agaves. Atmosphere is great they greet you humbly with a smile and excellent manners. One thing I have to say the Parking lot is very small if you are lucky enough to find a space you can only fit a motorcycle or a compact car. Good thing we can park across the Street. Other than that I love to dine at Los Agaves.
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Best Nachos!
Reviewer: Whitney
from Santa Barbara, CA
Agreed with many of the previous reviewers that these are the BEST nachos ever! My husband and I are pretty much nacho snobs and this place really gets it right. Order it with your steak rare and it's divine!
Always packed.
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Best in Santa Barbara, One of the best in the State
Reviewer: Roy
from Bakersfield, CA
I have always thought that Bakersfield has some of the best Mexican Restaurants in the State. This is no longer true. Los Agaves is by far has the best Mexican food in the State. My daughter who just recently graduated from UCSB took me to Los Agaves last Wednesday. The place was crowded but the wait wasn't long, we took a number for a table and shortly the food was served. I had the Carnita's dinner plate and it was three times the excellent. My daughter had the chicken enchiladas, the portion was so large she had enough for her lunch the next day. I have had many Mexican dinners from various restaurants in Santa Barbara but none of them compare to Los Agaves. I recommend this place to everyone.
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Deee-licious!
Reviewer: Melvin
from Santa Barbara, CA
I went to Los Agaves for the first time today and was very impressed by the most unlikely things. The side salad for instance. I ordered the tacos del mar and they came with the best salad I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant. Diced mango, dried cranberries, mixed greens and a fantastic dressing.
The only negative comment I have is that the fish had a not-so-fresh smell. The taste was very good but they should watch how long they keep fish.
My horchata was a full cup with no ice, which I like. Other places give you a 24 oz. cup full of ice and you get maybe 10 oz of actual drink.
All the salsas at the salsa bar were really good also.
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Delicious food, great service
Reviewer: Laura S
from Santa Barbara, CA
I had a wonderful early lunch today at Los Agaves. I ate the mushroom/cheese tacos. The rice and the beans that came with them were to die for. My sister ordered the fish with Veracruz salsa, and I have to say that I was a little jealous because I really liked her dish. I love that they give you freshly made chips to go with your choice(s) of salsa from the salsa bar. The tortillas are handmade, and so tasty.The service, as usual, was great. I love, love this place.
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Truly Delicious Food
Reviewer: Ixchelle
from Santa Barbara, CA
I discovered this little gem a few months ago and now am addicted. Both the food and the service are impressive. It is counter service but the staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. They are also very good about picking up dirty dishes and bringing by anything you need. As for the food it has always been wonderfully delicious. My husband and I have tried several menu items (camarones al la diabla, chicken taquitos, enchiladas, guacamole, agaves burrito, sea bass, and salmon) and they all have been hot, fresh, and excellently prepared. It should be noted this is not entirely traditional mexican cuisine, rather a modern interpretation on classics. So for some if it isn't an exact replica it might be reviewed poorly. However as a Mexican (among other ethnicities) I am impressed with the attention to the tradition and equally satisfied by the creativity of the dishes. If you don't live near Milpas you may not think it's worth the trip; after all considering the freeway construction, the roundabout, the darting bicyclists, the many pedestrians, it may seem too much.....I assure you it is worth the trip. Keep up the good work.
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Best nachos in town
Reviewer: Sophia
from Santa Barbara, CA
Hands-down, this place serves the best nachos in Santa Barbara - hot and melty and covered in pico de gallo and guacamole. I have to add that the service here, for an order-at-the-counter place, is amazing. Free chips at your table, an amazing salsa bar (again, I think the best in town) and menus handed out to those in line.
Some of the more elaborate stuff on the menu isn't always as exciting to me (salads are great though), but I'm a nachos girl, and that's the way it is.
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Some people must be mistaken!
Reviewer: Carsyn Conrad
from Santa Barbara, CA
After reading some of the reviews posted below, I'm sure some people are assuming that this is not the same restaurant that they are considering. Los Agaves is a SEAT YOURSELF restaurant, so there should be no complaint about someone waiting to be seated, and it is not near any hotels as one person thought, they must have been thinking of another place. Yes, as someone else said, the owner is definitely not hard on the eyes and very helpful in making sure the experience is great...the food and service are amazing as well! I live very close and frequently call in lunch orders, never had anything that I could even criticize! I love this place!
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Better than before
Reviewer: LC
from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband and I hadn't been back here since this restaurant opened but we decided to give it another try since it had been a while. I'm so glad we came back because the food was delicious! They finally have improved their Mexican rice, and I loved the fact that they have homemade corn tortillas! The only unfortunate incident I had was that I ordered the fajitas and normally at restaurants they leave a cover on the handle when they bring the fajitas over to you, the waiter took it with him and I burned my arm but I didn't make it a big deal, it wasn't bad and I would go back any day and order them again.
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new mgr + same owner = excellent
Reviewer: chris
from Santa Barbara, CA
Very nice rajas plate, and delicious enchiladas with red sauce and sour cream. They've stepped up their game - or recovered momentum - and it's a winner again. The array of tasty salsas is worth a visit in itself, and their mini-mocajetes are way better than plastic cups for chip dipping. Ceramic, not throw-away plates. Los Agaves spreads into four rooms, and some areas are noisier than others. Ordering is at the counter with attentive follow-up service and a "we care" attitude.
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Used to be better
Reviewer: Nancy
from Santa Barbara, CA
This used to be my favorite Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara, if you take price, quality, portion size and ambiance into consideration. I think they are slipping - badly. I loved their seafood burrito and enchilada, both of which used to have very generous portions of shrimp and white fish (halibut?). I got in a rut and ordered them every single time. The last 3 times there was very little seafood in them - once NO white fish whatsoever - just a few shrimp. I thought it was a fluke and told the owner, so he could re-train the staff person who made it. He very nicely offered to bring me a piece of fish, which I refused, since I was finished at that point. Ordered it again last week - if there was any fish in it, I couldn't find it - just 4-5 shrimp. I won't be ordering it again - $12 is a lot for a shrimp burrito which is mostly a big white tortilla.
The salmon-colored sauce they put on the burrito is fabulous, and I like the refreshing change of serving a mixed green salad with mango, oranges, & cranberries alongside the entree. I do wish they'd correct the menu which say everything comes with beans and rice, ("or" rice?) - whatever, it is confusing and the order- takers are clearly impatient explaining it over and over to customers. Put a sticker over it or something!
Other "irritants": customers routinely walk in and put a cell phone on a table when they walk in (to hold it) when is a line of people waiting ahead of them. How about letting go of the "it's all about ME!" attitude, be polite and wait til you've ordered? The staff should enforce this, as they do get pushy about seating at times, so I know they aren't afraid to push customers around.
I appreciate the heavy rustic wooden furniture, colorful art and brightly painted walls, and the fact that they opened up another room for additional seating. Wish they could do something about the acoustics, however - it can be deafening.
I hope this place gets back to it's very high standards and returns to the gem it used to be!
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