Agave Azul - Gresham, Oregon

Rating: 3  (ratings are between 0 - 5)

When I was growing up and most of my early adulthood, my father was in the restaurant business, I think that gives me a different prospective on my dining experiences.  To say I am picky is not exactly true, I just know how a good restaurant should be run.  One of my favorite things to do when my dad worked for Taco Bell, was to do "shoppers".  My high school boyfriend and I would go get food at one of my dad's places (he covered 11 states total) and then we would have to do a report on everything from the food temperature to service, and best part dad paid!  Cheap date and lots of fun, something we both still remember today.  

With Mexican food being one thing I was raised around, because of my dad's work and growing up in California, with neighbors that cooked the real deal, finding a place that meets my high expectations is really tough (and no Taco Bell isn't an example of high expectations, lol).  I have only found 2 in recent years and only one of those is in Oregon, I'll review it next week.  So anytime I review Mexican take that into consideration.

Last week I was looking for something local and family oriented to review and I decided to try someplace new.   Agave Azul is hidden away just off Powell Blvd in Gresham, if you blink you will be a mile past it.  It is right behind Dogwood Pet Hospital and has a bright blue and gold fence around it.   There is a very small parking lot in the back, and street parking as well.

It is a small place, maybe 10 tables in the dining area, and more in the bar but I didn't go in there to see how many.  The noise volume was a little loud but it was right at noon and it was nearly full.  Great place to bring a family I would say.  I would also say that if you had to bring your own food, it shouldn't be a problem.

 As you can imagine Mexican is difficult for me because most places use a ton of tomatoes, so like with Pizza and Italian food I always have to make sure I make that very clear to the wait staff.  The waitress we had did good, she knew the ingredients in the menu items without having to check with the cooks, one big advantage to a small place.   Agave Azul does not serve chips and salsa like most places, they serve a single tortilla filled with beans and a small cup of salsa for the table.  This was really good, wish I could have had more, but they did not have an option for a salsa verde (salsa made with tomatillos).  So for me there was nothing to add spice to my meal at all, very sad as I am a habanero loving type of girl.  I ordered Agave Azul Tacos $5.95 Traditional grilled carne asada or chicken breast, served with corn tortillas, diced Onions, queso fresco and avocado. Your choice of borracho beans or black beans. (I had the black beans).  It was two tacos with lots of meat, so the portion size was good, the meat was tasty just missed a little or a lot of  heat. 

Because I have a tenancy worry about tomatoes and less about flour when I am in a Mexican place it never occurs for me to ask if the corn tortillas are 100% corn, I really need to do that as either the tortilla with beans at the begin was all flour or their corn ones are dusted with flour, so BEWARE Gluten-Free people to either ask or steer clear of them.  Really hate those symptoms from eating gluten.  The food was good, but not sure I will go back as the menu is very tight for what I can have.  Food-wise 3 out of 5, Services-wise and Allergy Awareness-wise they rank 4 out of 5. 

Now the Details

Value - price:

For $12 I got 2 tacos and 2 drinks, my cousin didn't eat anything.  That is a little pricey for lunch, but the food quality was good and service was prompt.

Tipping:

I left a 25% tip, as they did take good care of us.

Best hours to go:

I'd say anytime would be good. 
Their hours are:
Sun-Mon 11am to 9pm
Tue-Sat 11am to 10pm

Tips:

Ask about the tortillas if gluten is a problem for you.

Extras or places that are close by:

Houses and that is about it.

Restaurant info:

Agave Azul
155 Southeast Vista Avenue
Gresham, OR 97080
(503) 674-0654

Stanley & Seaford’s - Tacoma, Washington

Rating: 5!!!  (ratings are between 0 - 5)

A couple of weekend ago my mom and I did a road trip to Puyallup Washington for a sewing expo.  With mom retiring in less than 70 work days (yes she is counting) she is stocking up on projects to enjoy during the next phase of her life.  As for me, I can’t sew a stitch; I just got more projects for mom to do!

Since we were staying in Tacoma it gave us the opportunity to go to a restaurant that I have wanted to go to since I was 4.  It is one of those places when you are little your parents say “When you grow up you can go, it just isn’t for kids”.  Which translates to it is expensive and kids aren’t allowed.  Well that was in the 60’s and the place has changed hands twice since those days of my begging to go to fancy restaurants.  The draw of Stanley and Seafort's is the location.  Perched on the hill at the intersection of I5 & 705, overlooking downtown Tacoma, the Tacoma Dome and the Harbor.  You have to pass it anytime you travel I5 to Seattle, which for me has been a lot of drives.

When I travel I always check trip advisor to see what the reviews are for the area.  I always read the bad ones, because those are going to be the worse the place can possible be.  After many years of doing this I can weed out the crybabies and the real issues.  When I read the reviews of Stanley & Seafort’s I was a little concerned, so we only made plans to go for happy hour if we had time.  Well we had time, and so we ordered some apps, I had the Warm Brie with Macadamia Nut Crust, and mom had the Oven Roasted Crab and Artichoke Dip.  Both were divine, and the happy hour Mojitos, addictive.  We had reservations at another restaurant for dinner, but we were enjoying the food, drinks and view so much we decided to stay at Stanley’s instead.  When I called to cancel my reservations at the other restaurant the hostess said “whatever” and hung up on me, so glad we didn’t go there!  Tanya was our waitress and she was more than happy to let us stay and eat in the bar and enjoy our window seat and view. 

Stanley and Seafort’s is a Steak, Chop and Seafood house.  It is a good size restaurant with a medium sized bar. Is it kid friendly? Well yes and no, it is still expensive and kind of a grown up place, but of course kids are welcome.  Lunch would be okay, they have burgers and sandwiches, but they are kind of high end.  I didn’t ask but I am sure they have a kids menu.  This is another place that I am sure allows you to bring in your own food for allergy reasons, but one that you might not want too. 

When I told Tanya about my allergies she was AMAZING!!!  The first two things I ordered had tomatoes hidden in them; did you know that a lot of demi-glazes have small amounts of tomatoes in them?  Groan another thing to watch for,  When Tanya came back  to tell me my second request was a no go, she told me that the executive chef, sous chef and her had a pow wow and went through the menu and came up with safe things, and ways to alter a few if I chose them.  Wow, how impressive is that?  I ended up with one of their March specials a Surf and Turf - a small filet mignon, salmon, garlic shrimp, mashed potatoes and a crab succotash that was to die for.  I was so stuffed I actually had to leave food behind.  So Sad.  Food-wise, Services-wise and Allergy Awareness-wise they rank 10 out of 5 oh yeah I only go to 5, so make that a 12! 

Happy Eating!

Now the Details:

Value - price:

Just to give you an idea, of the cost, for the two of us it was $109, but that included 5 - $4 Mojitos, a glass of wine, two appetizers (about $7.95 & $8.75 and yeah that is the happy hour price), we could have easily stopped there.  Mom had a small plate with two scallops and mash potatoes $17.95, she could hardly walk out the car she was so stuffed.  My special was $40. There was also Tax, boo hoo.  My only regret is that I didn’t ask for a doggie bag, but I wasn’t sure there was a microwave at the hotel.  Oh they also have free valet parking!!!

Tipping:

I was so impressed with the way Tanya and the chefs handled my order I left nearly a 30% tip, rounding caused it to fall short by a hair.

Best hours to go:

They are open for lunch and happy hour starts at 3.  If you want a window seat go early or make reservations.

Hours:
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-4pm
Dinner: Mon-Thurs 4pm-10pm, Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat 2pm-11pm,Sun 2pm-10pm
Lounge: Our lounge closes Sun-Thurs 11pm, and Fri-Sat 12am
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 3pm-6pm and 9pm-close,Sat-Sun 2pm-6pm and 9pm-close

Tips:

Make reservations early
Request window seating when making reservations
Make it a date night
Talk to your waiter/waitress about your allergies and they will take care of you.
If you are going to eat in the bar ask for Tanya!

Allergy Extras or places that are close by:

Stanley and Seafort’s is in a residential neighborhood mostly, and I didn’t see much around it.

Restaurant info:

Stanley & Seafort’s

115 East 34th
Tacoma, WA 98404
253-473-7300