For my sixth Taste of Hartford restaurant visit, I dined at Agave Grill and, as my photographs will reveal, had a great deal of fun.
We were greeted by two of the prettiest restaurant hostesses anywhere (when my wife’s not at her evening job)
and hospitable manager Jonathan Sabon.
Soon we were ensconced in the corner window table, where we could watch life on a fine mid‑summer’s evening pass us by.
Watch out, because the camera sees all!
Some of the most interesting passersby were those leaving Agave Grill, including this amorous pair
and this adorable little girl
who wasn’t quite ready to leave.
Inside, the bar area got quite boisterous, boosted by the presence of a group doing a pub crawl.
Everybody in the restaurant seemed to be having a great time.
Here, you can see how our great time started.
Although we opted for beer, with a name like Agave Grill you can be sure the restaurant boasts a stunning Tequila list.
On our table, when we arrived, were the ingredients for a tableside guacamole.
Even the artwork encouraged it.
Although tableside guacamole wasn’t part of the Restaurant Week special, we couldn’t resist having an order made.
Here you see how our guacamole turned out.
There was only one appetizer offered on the Taste of Hartford menu, but it was a very good one. Tender pork loin skewers in a blood-red raspberry-chipotle sauce were served over a zesty black bean cake.
We tried both entrées offered as part of the menu. Chile-crusted sea scallops in a mint‑and‑sweet‑pea purée were served with grilled green and yellow squash over arroz blanco.
Carne guisada featured skirt steak with plenty of roasted tomato, onion and potato over arroz blanco.
The delicious finale was mango sorbet with prickly pear purée, housemade sour mix and diced mango.
Finally, I want to call attention to the paintings by talented Argentinean Emma Marianetti, a Hartford‑area resident. Emma is a personal friend and versatile artist whose work adorns other restaurants like Costa del Sol in Hartford and Ibiza Restaurant in New Haven.
Agave Grill, 100 Allyn Street, Hartford, 860-882-1557