Every dish and drink at Agave is a work of art. Tucked down The Cruise Deck, this new bistro and drinkery is fast becoming the talk of the town for its mix of authentic-meets-modern Mexican cuisine, standout bar and an award-winning mixologist. Owned by Isaac Partida Lopez, Marco Rodocanachi and Claudia De la Torre, with backing from Josh and Cara Davies, Agave is the former pop-up team’s permanent venture.
Tell us about your journey, from MeXa to Agave?
Mexa came about because we wanted to work for ourselves. It was an idea that Claudia and Isaac shared with Marco at Omanu Beach one evening.
MeXa was born as a pop-up in Alpino, became a market stall, and again was a semi-permanent pop-up in Solera. Without those two Mount Mainstreet restaurants, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
The pop-ups made us realise we needed to find our own place to operate from and really shine. So, when the opportunity arrived (and we thank Cara and Josh for the help every day), we decided to take the leap of faith and sign the lease at The Cruise Deck.
Agave for us is a dream come true. A place where we can craft without boundaries. A place where everyone is welcome and everyone will find something to enjoy. A place where you can feel at home.
What makes Agave stand out?
First, as owners, we are all hands-on, both in the kitchen and the bar. Second, offering is all made from scratch, from the hand rolled tortillas to the soft drinks, which are almost all home-made. There is love behind every single small item on the menu.
We had a motto while we were doing MeXa: The most important ingredient is love. We still stand by it.
Agave is also different. It is a bistro, like the old school term that means an easy-going small restaurant with good food and good service. And it is a drinkery, where we make drinks that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
We also have DJs and live music every week or two. It is a place where you can find amazing authentic Mexican flavours, chill and have a drink or two, or dance at sunset. But most importantly, you can feel welcome and at ease. It is a good place to be.
What attracted you to Mount Mainstreet?
The Mount is home for the three of us, and we feel at home here. It just made sense to open our own place here. We live and work two-minutes from a beautiful stretch of sand and have built our second family here.
What made us decide on The Cruise Deck was that it’s tucked away. Away from the crowds means more of a cozy feeling, a hidden gem. The patio out the front was a huge bonus. It is one of the few spots in the Mount where you can enjoy a drink and the feel of the sunset. We have lots of ideas for the space, so keep an eye out.
Share the story behind the menu.
Isaac and Claudia: The thing we are most proud of in the kitchen are the tortillas. Each tortilla is hand rolled and cooked to order. The tortillas connect us to our ancestors; the food they were making even 2,000 years ago. At Agave, we use different styles of corn flour, sometimes white, sometimes blue or yellow. Every single dish we create has a unique background and history in Mexico and we like to think our menu is based on our take on traditions.
What can people expect at the bar?
Marco: From the drinks side, the thing I’m most proud of is definitely the back bar. I personally believe we have the most interesting selection in the Mount. We have a little bit of everything, and a lot of tequila and Mezcal (what I’m most fond of now). I’m also very proud to have a variety of liqueurs, some being homemade and that change with time, and can only be found at Agave.
And the cocktail list. We have nine cocktails at the moment (alongside all the classics) but every one is made unique. One uses an air tank to create a green tea air bubble, and others feature foams or infusions with fat. Working closely alongside the chefs opens up a different perspective on how I might utilise cooking techniques as a mixologist.
Agave Bistro & Drinkery
4/169 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday 12pm – late
