Manhattan's Agave Azul Gets A Revamp, Will Reopen As 'Flor de Fuego'

MANHATTAN, IL — The woman behind the revamp of Manhattan's Mexican spot Agave Azul assures that it'll be back soon—with so much of what customers loved, and a touch of her own flair.

The restaurant, 330 W. North St., remains closed temporarily, as it undergoes some changes at the hand of new owner Jennifer Barrientos. Barrientos, who is a family friend of the previous owner, is eager to show customers what she's done with the place, now a Mexican steakhouse named Flor de Fuego.

"It’ll still be Mexican, but we’re introducing steaks," Barrientos said.

The Chicago Heights resident, 30, said she plans to keep much of the menu, while also adding dishes including steaks like Tomahawks, ribeyes, and New York Strip. It seems a natural step for Barrientos, who owns a company that supplies meat to Chicago restaurants.

While not new to business ownership, it is her own first restaurant endeavor.

"It's just me," she said, of deciding to take it on. The most recent owner had previously sought her help with managing the business, she said.

"Not my first time dealing with restaurant owners, being in the restaurant scene," she said. "I'm constantly around them."

With some slight tweaks to the menu, the interior is being transformed with fresh coats of paint. Barrientos is going for a "Yucatán peninsula" feel—think Cancun, she said.

"The attention to detail, it's amazing," she said. "But it takes a while. The interior, the colors inside they’re all different. Everything is different.

"We’re very excited."

Customers who loved the food will be happy to hear previous owner Yovani Infante has stepped in as head chef, Barrientos said.

"The food from there—if you have gone there, and you’ve tasted his food, it’ll still be the same flavor," she said. "We’ll just add a couple new things to the menu.

"He’s still going to be with us, he’ll be in the kitchen."

In deciding to rename the restaurant, Barrientos said they mulled several possibilities. She proposed the winning one, a nod to the passion and fire behind female entrepreneurship.

"Flor de Fuego" translates to "flower of fire."

"An empowered Mexican woman's nickname," she said. "I like that one."

Oh, and the margaritas aren't going anywhere.

"You cannot take those away!"

Barrientos said she hopes to re-open by mid-April.