Want more tacos? Agave and Rye to open three new locations

Agave and Rye, the taco joint in Covington with striking art and unusual tacos, is going to open three more locations. Yavonne Sarber, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Wade, said that a customer who eats tacos at the store on a regular basis is investing in the expansion. 

The Sarbers moved from Columbus to the Cincinnati area to open Agave and Rye. "We opened in Covington thinking we wanted something low-key, but it took off crazy fast," said Sarber. 

First up, a restaurant in Lexington at Nicholasville Road, in between a Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs. It's a very different space than their funky shop on Madison Avenue in Covington. "We're going to part of a movement to bring sexy back to the mall," said Sarber. They'll be re-creating the feel of the original restaurant, which is decorated with an aesthetic that she calls "urban-chic, with its grungy side, but polished-up." 

Following the Lexington opening, the Sarbers will open two more locations in Greater Cincinnati, one in Liberty Township, another near the theater in Oakley Square. All the new locations will be much bigger than the original, seating 170 or so as opposed to the 70 seats in Covington. 

They have been working on putting key people into new positions, hiring a restaurant consultant and perfecting each item on the menu in preparation for expanding. For instance, they've begun making margaritas with lime juice fresh-squeezed every day.

No doubt each location will have its favorite taco: in Covington, the bestseller is the Swipe Right, with honey-lime grilled chicken, sweet and spicy bacon, aged white cheddar, salsa and sour cream. Their kangaroo taco and duck confit tacos do well, as does their truffle-lobster mac and cheese. 

More food news:

♦ Fusian's new menu will save you money on sushi and adds more choices

♦ Station Family and BBQ: Like a family cookout in Wyoming

♦​​​​​​​ New bar with food window opening in OTR. Say hello to Holiday Spirits and Forty Thieves