Tres Agaves - South Beach

Well now that I've gotten over calling this place 3 Amigos I feel a fair review can be written;)

OK, we've been to this place 7 times now and every time we go we say, damn we REALLY want this place to WORK and every time we leave we're pissed off. We hope they can work it out but who knows.

This is definitely not your Mission taqueria -  any place with Sammy Hagar as a partner (along with Globe and Tommy's owners) should be real. And this is a billed as a serious tequila bar - prolly 100+ top-notch bottles here. Plus, it's a literal CRAWL from our pad. And it's..wait for it SF...open..LATE. I mean, even past midnight - Yea! (Sad really...)

The food: The Masa Cakes (appy), Spit-roasted Chicken, Skirt Steak (go rare!) and Pork & Lamb Tacos are off the hook. All the main plates come with sides of cabbage & mango salad, refried beans, black beans (they were 'out' the other night?!), pablano rice and corn tortillas. We haven't braved the Roasted Goat yet, might have to call that one in...

Oh so important - the chips & salsa. Well, they have matured from 'caliente, muy caliente, and burn your f'ing face off' to a more eclectic choice including a fresh Pico de Gallo with cucumber, a corn salsa and more. I mean, I like hot but the last thing you need is a cascade of sweat pouring down your face as you're leaning in to talk sugar with your baby - know what I'm sayin'? Help a brother out! Choice is good. Tone It Down. 'Nuff said. I think Jason, the awesome exec chef, listened. Way to go Jason!

A few of our main issues here: We sat at the bar 5 minutes before a bartender (there were 3 and two were "manning their stations" doing nothing) said I'll be right with you. Then another 5 minutes before we had to call one of them over to pour our drinks. There were 6 of us at the bar. This is an occurrence that happens every time we go in.

Then they need to train the bartenders to actually add some tequila to the margaritas. Example - Recent tab for two: $97. Bar portion: $64 (two ice-laden snow-cone resembling pitchers of Hornitos Margaitas on the rocks). Buzz Level: What buzz? WTF?? I'm weighing in at a buck-fifty sharing TWO PITCHERS of margaritas and the buzz fairy doesn't even tap me on the shoulder? Come on mis amigos, loosen up the spigot.

Because of this we have resorted to sipping straight tequila with a Corona side. And not the cheap stuff either, $15 a glass! And for this they meter it out like a mad scientist pouring acid into a petri dish. It's NUTS. God forbid they put an extra splash in there. And ask for a lime? They flat out refuse, no kidding.

Hopefully these guys will loosen up a bit at the bar and work out the kinks in the 'rita area just like they did with the salsas and very good food! Until then, wash your grub down with a cool affordable cerveza.

Tres Agaves
130 Townsend St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-227-0500