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Agave and Rye opens in Cleveland's Warehouse District: Doug Trattner reports

The new restaurant sits where Bar Louie once did in downtown Cleveland's Warehouse District on West 6th Street.

CLEVELAND — Over the years, an iconic corner property in Cleveland's Warehouse District has been home to restaurants such as Piccolo Mondo, Metropolitan Café, Metro Bar & Kitchen, and Bar Louie. 

But a new chapter for the building begins this week with the opening of Agave and Rye. Billed as a modern tequila and bourbon hall serving “epic tacos,” the completely renovated space now features fine art, sculpture, graffiti-style murals, and blown-glass chandeliers. The restaurant décor is described as “urban grunge.”

Agave and Rye is known for its double-shelled tacos, which feature crunchy corn and soft flour shells sandwiched together by beans, queso, pimento or guacamole.

“We have what we call epic tacos,” says manager Mia Beavers. “So, our epic tacos – that includes a double-shell taco. You have a soft flour tortilla shell, and you have a hard shell. So, you can get a love cushion in these tacos, and when we say love cushion, you can get baked beans, queso, guacamole, you can add all the toppings. And it is just a party in your mouth."

Combinations range from the Plain Jane, stuffed with ground beef, shredded lettuce, white cheddar and diced tomato on up to the Crown Jewel starring butter-and-garlic lobster, shiitake mushrooms and truffle mac and cheese. Others feature kangaroo meat, Nathan’s hot dogs, carne asada and tater tots.

With a name like Agave and Rye, customers should expect an elevated cocktail program. 

The bar stocks one of the largest bourbon and tequila selections around, which make their way into punches, slushies and margaritas that can be purchased by the glass, mug or pitcher. Everything is done from scratch, Beavers adds.

“Yeah, so we are a from-scratch house – everything we do here, we make do it from scratch,” she says. “Every single day, our sauces and drinks are made in-house, our guacamole, and drinks are made in house."

Agave & Rye seats 280 guests indoors and another 100 on the wraparound patio. Down the road, a lower-level speakeasy called Alibi Room will add a premium spirits experience to the mix. You can check out their menu HERE.

See Stephanie Haney's First Look inside Agave & Rye below:

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