Visiting Rio Rancho and decided to try something a little different so I stopped by based on reviews. The staff was friendly and the cocktails were pleasant. However, we were told that we were in luck, because the mixologist that created the cocktail menu happened to be working at the bar...but my waitress made my drink. We were given happy hour menus..:but charged full price for the happy hour drinks we ordered. The drinks were still good so I'll give credit there. As far as the food goes, it was a little hit and miss. Here's what I had: Brussels Sprouts- I wanted to like this but it was bland and greasy. The spouts could have been cooked a little longer as well. 2 of 5 stars. Potatoes Bravas- Good dish! The aioli and red chile blended well together. 5 of 5 stars. Cubano Sandwich- The bread was toasted perfectly. That's about all I liked on this dish. The pork belly didn't really do it for me. 3 of 5 stars. Truffle fries- Too much salt is a thing. Super greasy. 2 of 5 stars. Service- 4 stars Food- 2.5 stars Overall- 3 stars read more

A friend of mine and I met at whiptail for dinner. My initial impression is; great lighting great atmosphere and excellent service!! If I could give the manager and the staff 10 points I would. Let's talk about the food. I ordered a steak sandwich and it was very good. It was seasoned well, it was fresh and had layers of flavor!! My only suggestion thus minus 1 point is that for the price of $12 for just a sandwich is a little high. My suggestion to the owner would be offer fries or a side salad or onion rings for the price. Frequent and repeat customers will be the ones to come in, not for those on special occasion. I'll be back with my husband. A big thank you to the manager who made sure everything was good & to our waitress. read more

Whiptail - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

This is a fairly new restaurant in Rio Rancho and while I do not live there I do have friends in Rio rancho who are very happy that this restaurant opened. They consider it upscale dining with prices to match. And my first visit I came with about 23 friends. We arranged our visit in advance and the owners were kind enough to allow us to use a side room at no charge which allowed us to all sit together interact eat drink and be merry. The building from the outside is a gray color and a little bit nondescript it's right next to the Days inn. I mentioned this because for whatever reason Google maps had a hard time getting me to this location. Once inside you can see there is a certain charm about the place. The bartender whose name was Zane was exceptionally kind and very efficient. Our group tasted a little bit of everything that was on the menu and everyone was happy with everything that they received and no complaints about anything. They make some really good cocktails they have a small selection of beers and decent selection of wines. What really impressed me was the overall collaborative nature of the service. It seemed as though our servers had help from the bar staff from the kitchen and even from the owner. Although this is a new place the service seemed very mature in its approach. Bottom line, we were so happy to be here and so enjoyed our experience. Congratulations to the entire staff of the restaurant for coming together to provide extraordinary customer experiences. read more

Had dinner last night at Whiptail in RR. The food was good and our waiter Deven was really great. I did not try the burger, but my son liked it very much. We all shared the mac and cheese and the onion rings. The mac and cheese was absolutely delicious. The onion rings were fun and novel because they are humongous. The portions are huge in general. We thought we'd be able to order another plate to share but we were stuffed. Next time maybe I'll order an actual vegetable . The dessert, a berry tart, was really yummy. The drinks were delicious and fun. I will say, for hard core drinkers, you will find the drinks weak. I didn't mind because I am a lightweight, and the prices are really reasonable. There is live music on Wednesday nights, which is fun too. It was a guitar player/singer named Jaeden who was really pleasant to listen to and not so loud that we couldn't talk. We will go again and try more dishes and drinks. read more

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I was hearing mixed reviews about this place so I needed to come see for myself! Overall I had a great experience here! I wish I would've gotten our servers name because he was absolutely wonderful. He knew his stuff about the menu and answered all my questions and even gave me my drink suggestions - the pharmaceutical, and it did not disappoint! My friend ended up ordering one as well! It was sweet and refreshing. The meatballs were good and filling but no wow factor for me just a simple recipe. I LOVED the Bao Brussel Sprouts these had amazing flavor and something I'd come back for! Unfortunately it is on the pricier side for what you're getting. The ambiance of the restaurant was like a brewery, bar, or diner style is the best way to describe it. Very clean & well kept environment. If you're in the area whip over to this spot & give it a shot! read more

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I want to be fair since this place has only been open two weeks. The customer service was top notch and they were very attentive. Having said that, the food took awhile to come out longer than I would have though for appetizers. It's fancier appetizers but nothing over the top. They were good not great. The menu was small and the alcohol menu was a short list as well. I'm assuming in time the menu will grow but as of now it's a limited menu which I have attached. I would recommend the prosecco if your looking for something semi-sweet. Overall, this was a decent plane to stop in, but it would not be my first choice because of its limitations on food items and beverages. I do wish them luck and hope they grow in time. read more

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First time visiting whiptail after reading all the great reviews. Waitress was very nice but food was horrible We both got the fried chicken sliders and they came out way overcooked and not edible. Told waitress that we did not want a to go box because food was so overcooked and we couldn't eat it. We also told her we would not be returning. Was not offered something else but we did get a bill. Don't know if they were having a bad day but the visit was a total waste of time and money! read more

The food, service, and craft cocktails are ALWAYS amazing. We've been lucky enough to have Jake take care of us on our last two visits--and he is awesome. Always has a great recommendation and incredibly knowledgeable about the selections at the bar. You truly can't go wrong with anything here--we love this place!! read more

Easily one my favorite upscale dining places! The food is made to perfection, but dont be surprised if you taste some different flavors! The food is fresh and it's not rushed (because it's made fresh,) but dont worry about the wait, thats your time to enjoy the cocktails they have. Please don't burden yourself with a beer; the cocktails they make are hand crafted and made with thought and love, just like the food. It's expensive but it's worth it, I've never regretted anything I've gotten at this place. 100000/10 read more

Yet another Rio Rancho restaurant that looked promising but is a complete letdown. At least the wine was cheap on a Monday. Would have been deserving of a 1-star review otherwise. Good presentation of BAD food.... this seems to be a theme in Rio Rancho. Does nobody in that town have taste buds, or are you so used to mediocrity that small, fancy presentation dishes of bland trick you into telling yourself it is good? Driest meatballs I've had in my life! Likely straight out of a Costco frozen bag. Inedible. The elote dip was likely frozen corn, as well. The other "small plates" were overpriced small servings of flavor boredom. The waiter/bar tender was good, but I highly doubt he had never had a bad review of the food as he claimed.... but this is Rio Rancho, where people know nothing of good food. read more

This review is primarily for the food. They're doing way too much and as a result very little of it is good and everything is a little bit off. Bacon wrapped dates were good but twice as much bacon as needed. Hamburger is like something you made at home that didn't quite turn out right. Elite is frozen corn that's flavorless. I ordered a beer and since they don't have a list the waiter reads them to you. The "IPA" I ordered turned out to be a Porter. Wouldn't recommend this place. read more

Tuna tarter, was a great combination of taste that made it perfecto. The drinks, were made with artistic love. I found me a new location to enjoy. I recommend. read more

Whiptail is AMAZING. Having just moved to Rio from the Dallas area, we were used to a different caliber of food/dining experience - sometimes you just want nicely plated food, a bartender that knows his shit, and some low lighting (oh, and the option to go somewhere after 7:30PM for goodness sake). A friend came into town so we finally tried it and now I'm just mad that it took me this long! We tried seven dishes and each had a cocktail - not a single thing was disappointing, and we were hard-pressed to come up with what we WOULDN'T get next time so we could try something new. My wife's favorite dish was the mushrooms - like, literally would not shut up about the dang ol' mushrooms! I loved the bread and butter (both handmade, just like damn near everything else at the bar and on the menu) and the potatas bravas were my personal surprise fave! The brussels were amaaazing, but I didn't get to eat a ton of them as my friend commandeered the entire thing. Everyone working was wonderful and delightful, and ugh - it was just perfect. Overall, Whiptail is by FAR the best restaurant in RR; I can't wait to try brunch (next weekend ) and the rest of the menu! read more

Whiptail has delicious fresh food and great cocktails! Presentation is beautiful and it's so nice to have a high quality restaurant here in Rio Rancho. The staff is also very welcoming, shout out to Chastity, Chassidy, Jake, Justin, the other servers I can't remember and of course the chef and his crew! read more

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The food is good. But everything is Ala carte. Tapas style. I feel like I'd get my moneys worth at Chilies... . There was a new server that was training, very nice and interesting conversation. read more

The drinks were good, the food was great, and Devon's service was excellent. Accurate and knowledgeable recommendations. I highly recommend this place. read more

Brussels appetizer is amazing, salmon was perfect! Service was excellent! Can't wait to try more on the menu So good. Best meal out in a very long time! read more

Service was incredible and the food was delicious. Loved the selection and the drinks all sounded amazing. We sampled the fire and ice margarita, the campfire colada, and the Jennifer rose. Mostly good, but I guess maybe not as amazing as I expected based on all the reviews. The poutine was tasty, but next time we'll order it with the pork belly for more punch. The mac and cheese was fabulous, and that Philly sandwich was excellent. I'll be back because the patio was a perfect place to sit and catch up with friends, and there's more on both food and drink menus I want to try. read more

Absolutely delicious! Every dish we ordered had so much flavor. Cannot wait to try their brunch! read more

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Excellent small bites! Very fun drinks! We will definitely be back! We ordered a lot of things to sample and especially liked the poutine, risotto, and bacon wrapped dates. read more

Delicious and the drinks are good. A little pricey but it was a great spot for date night.

Had a good Sunday brunch with an old friend and what we ordered was very tasty. I imagine everything else on the menu would be tasty too. Decor is kind of cold and could use a little warming up, but it was clean. Drinks and food are a bit pricey but I think it is probably good for serving the whole of the Westside?? Inflation is down but prices everywhere stay the same *sigh*. I also imagine they would be way too busy if prices were down in my lower class! I would give 5 stars if the waiter wasn't so eager to get rid of us. Asked us more than a dozen times in 2 hours (old friends, conversation) if we needed anything. Our 2 person check was over $120 plus my usual generous tip, so my thinking is @$75 hour we didn't deserve the bums rush. I might go back on a special occasion but I'll let the waiter know we will leave a good tip if he leaves us alone read more

Vegetarian and vegan options available for those interested! Everything is made in house. What a refresher to appreciate non cookie cutter food. The Brussels sprouts are delish. Meatballs for all ! All bitters and syrups made in house...yum. Drinking a Jennifer rose made me feel healthy. How about Doctors orders... sure I will comply . read more

Great new stop in Rio Rancho. Whiptail is situated at the site of two former restaurants. I believe this one is here to stay. We stopped out of curiosity of course and we were not disappointed. We were greeted and seated immediately followed by one of their friendly wait staff who explained the menu and delivered water while we made our choices. Each offering is shareable which is a great idea in my opinion. You know when you're not sure what to order and are sometimes disappointed when you didn't order what someone else did? You are always tempted to take a bite from their plate. Well, you can certainly do that here. We sampled one of their chicken dishes and an appetizer board which didn't seem like a lot at the time but it was plenty. And the taste was very good. Drinks were great and the apple pie in a jar was a perfect finish. By the time we left, the place was packed and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. We'll be coming back next week. There's more we need to sample. read more

Amazing food and service. Emily was very pleasant and professional. Fantastic drinks. The poutine and ceviche were phenomenal. Will be back soon! read more

This was what Rio Rancho definitely needed. Whiptail is a small but cute & trendy restaurant. They have a good menu of small bites & shareables. I've heard good things about their cocktail menu which was the main reason I wanted to try here. I tried the rio mojito & it was absolutely delicious. They make all their own syrups. You know when you take a sip of a good drink & you just know it was made with quality ingredients? That's what Whiptail gives you. They even have a happy hour m-f. The inside of the restaurant is small but has many tables for the size. They have small patio as well. We opted for the patio because of the nice weather. I did ask if they could turn down the music outside on the patio. Normally I never make this request however we could barely hear each other talk over the 80's soft rock hits. I feel like the music & the volume of it did not match the nice relaxing atmosphere the rest of the restaurant exuded. Overall this was definitely two thumbs up. We'll be back again but I'm not sure if I would sit on the patio with the loud music again. read more

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Great restaurant! The tapas style food is excellent. The host was friendly and professional. It's a bit tricky to get to, but worth it!

Excellent food and service! This little known gem is just waiting for you to stroll in. Tapas style, shareable food. Are dished were great!! Many dishes are street food style with a French twist. The bartenders knew their way around a limoncello cocktail and a smoked scotch. Definitely Masters of the art of cocktail. Lovely atmosphere, romantic and well appointed. Will definitely be back! read more

I'm not 100% sold on this place yet. I went here for lunch this week and enjoyed the Philly steak sandwich. I also got an order of onion rings. The onion rings were too oily. Every bite was met with a pool of oil. Need more seasoning also. Overall the prices were on the the high end. The sandwich was $12 with no side, just the sandwich. Maybe throw some kettle chips or potato salad on the plate also. The onion rings were $7. They are meant to share, so I'm not too critical for the price there. I was only able to get through less than half of the rings- mainly due to the excessive oil. It's a new joint, so I'm going to keep a close eye on them. The dinner menu is completely different, though I'm told it will all be one menu throughout the day eventually. read more

Shared drinks and bites with a friend. Our server Juztin was so welcoming, and made a mean Smoked Manhattan, as well as Negroni and Cosmo. The bites' of brussel sprouts, wild mushroom & onion, shishito peppers, and house baked bread were all very good. Service was great, food served timely, and glad to have them in Rio Rancho. Looking forward to patio season! read more

Cool restaurant ambiance, excellent wait staff & service, our drinks were fantastic I had the whiptail martini, very refreshing and my partner had had the smoked old fashioned...both had great presentation when served. We had the brussel sprouts, shoe string fries, chicharrones, bacon wrapped dates, meatball....all really great. We will be back! read more

Decided to try this restaurant with my sister and husband last night. We ordered the charcuterie, crispy shishito peppers, shoe string fries and a bottle of wine to share. The peppers were the best part (forgot to get a picture), shoestring fries were good but nothing special. We were very disappointed in the charcuterie. The slices of cheese were so thin you could barely taste the flavor. For $22 what was given on the charcuterie was minuscule. I think this place has potential but the price points on the menu are very high given the location, quantity and quality of the menu items. read more

Whiptail - Charcuterie - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Great small plates restaurant with craft cocktails and decent wine by the glass selection. Went on 4/27/22. Had live music which was great. Ordered the following things: 1. Smoked old fashioned - solid offering for this drink with a nice table side presentation pouring smoke out of the carafe into the glass. 2. Bread and butter - this was fantastic. Very well made focaccia bread with savory herb butter to go with it. Simple and phenomenally good 3. Pork belly - this was done chicharrones style. Pork belly was good quality but could've been cooked slightly crisper. The agave sauce they were served in complimented the pork. 4. Meatballs - these were good. Packed a bit more densely than I'd prefer but the flavor was spot on and they were served with a marinara sauce. 5. Cold smoked ribeye - my wife loved this. It was a quality cut of meat that had a good sear on both sides. The smoke flavor was very very pronounced and overpowered the natural beef flavor a bit. This was served with an au jus that was truly next level. With liberal use of the au jus the smoke flavor came into better balance. 6. Fries - these were delicious and served with a garlic aioli. Can't write too much about fries, if you like French fries you'll like these. On food alone this might be 4 or 4.5 stars. The great atmosphere and friendly staff bump this place up. Highly recommend checking this place out for dinner. read more

Whiptail - Pork belly chicharrones with honey - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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The food at Whiptail is absolutely amazing! It is only surpassed by the service! The drinks are delicious, the ambience is wonderfu, and the artwork (which is from local artists- I bought three works of art from there just today!) is fantastic! The owner is so friendly and really makes you feel like an old friend! This truly is the place to be!! read more

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Wow!! Our first time!!! First, if you ever said you hate Brussels sprouts ... but you'd never had Brussels sprouts (you know who you are) .... Now is your chance to seek forgiveness!!! Amazing Brussels sprouts!!! But wait!! There's more!!! Shoestring fries are the bomb ... or how about a shrimp po-boy or a Cubano sandwich!!! What about service?? They've got that too!! And we'll be back .... Coming soon ... live music ... and live painters? read more

Very nice place. If you go you need to try the Philly. It was amazing. We were also extremely impressed with the mountain of onions rings! They had a lot of fun drinks on the menu too! Definitely worth checking out! read more

Whiptail - Onion rings, fries, and I forgot the name of the drink but it had basil syrup in it - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Philly Steak Sandwich. Tasty Philly Steak Sandwich Apple Pie to die for!! Joselyn is the best bartender there. read more

Whiptail - Philly Steak Sandwich - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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A great new place in Rio Rancho! On 528 next to twisters. Stopped by when I saw THE "NOW OPEN" sign. Had to give it a try. Sat at the bar and had the pleasure of speaking with the owner (a local) What a great conversation. Sadly I couldn't have wine (reason for the 4 starrating) but not to worry, they received notification while I was there that their liquor license was approved. She was so excited!! They'll have a huge selection of wine that will be offered by the glass or bottle,a selection of beers and cocktails as well. I'm sure they'll have a great selection. They're menu is small right now but they'll be more awesome selections in the near future. The shrimp po'boy was awesome said the man sitting a few chairs over. Said the slaw and pickles were "on point" Definitely give them a try but be patient as they grow and add. Looking forward to trying a different menu item with friends. Want to try the Brussel sprouts next and definitely a dessert option. read more

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I came here for brunch on a Saturday with my parents and boyfriend. We were all impressed! First off, the waitress (Jocelyn was her name I'm pretty sure) was so sweet and you could tell she loves her job. She started out by telling us that it is a craft kitchen and they make mostly everything there and what they can't make they source from high quality vendors. While the drinks did take awhile to get to our table, it was totally worth it. The presentation was gorgeous and the drinks were tasty! I got a mimosa flight and I'm still dreaming about the gummy rose- it was so sweet and delicious. I got the pork belly BAO buns and I thought they were good but my mom's monte Cristo was out of this world amazing so I would get that next time. We were informed that the food is usually tapa style and were given menus to get an idea of all of their offerings. Everything looked bomb and they had a huge variety of drinks. Apparently they also do 1/2 price bottles of wine on Mondays! This is a super cute place with great service and food to please everyone. A gem in Rio for sure . read more

Whiptail - Mimosa flight - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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Really good once aging hats off . When you go here don't look like much but the food the drinks are wonderful read more

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