Whiptail

One of the best restaurants I have been to since moving to New Mexico. Fresh delicious food. From the Asparagus, to the Elote dip, Brussel Sprouts, homemade bread and delicious butter and olive oil all so tasty.Fresh original cocktails and friendly service. Place has character and was so much fun.Cannot wait to return.Please help this place make it and thrive.

Rio Rancho has always needed a more upscale casual place, and we have one! The servers and bartenders are attentive and very friendly, and they make an AMAZING smoked old fashioned.I've been here several times, and everything I've tried has been mouth watering. The shareable steak? Best in the valley. Patatas bravas? Cooked perfectly and so tangy. Brussels sprouts? The only ones my teenagers will eat. My only constructive criticism, there's some noticeable wear and tear on the furniture, everything else is 5 star!

We ordered the Cubano, Waygu sliders and a side of fries. I loved the sliders. My wife liked the Cuban better. The fries were good too but compared to the other two, they were less spectacular. The service was excellent and the environment was great too. Loved the 90s music. Definitely going back to try more of the menu. I'm going with 4 stars because the food took a while to come out and the booth was a bit uncomfortable.

Date night destination? Think of here! First time to this spot in Rio Rancho, and it is "tapas" type concept with a very inventive drink menu. We were quickly sat and quickly greeted by our waiter, Kasey. He was very helpful and attentive all night. As stated the concept is tapas or shared plates. Now, you could order your individual plates but why? We started with the chicherrones and they weren't prepared like the usual NM style, but they were heavy on the fat, which was lightly fried and not quiet crispy, but the agave nectar sauce was a savior! Next we moved to the Gambas, which were simple and fried with the smoke paprika, but an unintended flavor was rubbing the Gambas with the agave sauce! You're welcome for the hack! Next, we tried the risotto and mushrooms, which was a burst of flavor but alone was a bit aggressive! I'm thinking it would be good as a side paired with some beef. We finished up with the pasta bolognese! It was delicious and a good end to the night! My wife had some drinks! Hibiscus and sangria! She enjoyed them. It was a bit pricey, but the ambiance was worth it. They had a great mix of music! I say flock!

I hadn't been here since it first opened and a friend wanted to meet for happy hour. It didn't disappoint. The drinks were great! Limoncello and sunset... and that espresso martini was so good. The elote dip was good as were the bacon wrapped dates (had never had them before) They had plenty of tap beer options and lots of different drinks.Service at the bar was perfect! The place still lacks some decor in my opinion but you're still in for great food and drinks with friends!

Great service. We been here before and they always had a good vibe and cocktails. Food was excellent. Only downside is this place is tucked away in an awkward spot in the corner of the street, feels like going into a speakeasy. Dark parking lot, but if it's a holiday and all the usual spots are all booked up for a Saturday night, think about this place for your date night!

Interesting, shareable food, fantastic cocktails (I'm talking to you tequila old-fashioned), and an enjoyable patio!

February 3, 2024. Saturday. Dinner.This restaurant used to be the Banana Leaf. An asian fusion place. It is painted gray and the shades in the windows were all closed. Additionally, the parking lot requires a bit of navigation to get to. Overall, from the outside, it is unimpressive and unassuming. Inside, is a different story. The staff were all friendly and happy. Our waiter, Matthew, said he had been working there for about six months. Whiptail has been open for a little over two years now. Matthew works as a server and is learning to become a chef. He told us all the dishes are made from scratch and the menu was created by a four-star chef who now works in California. The bartenders create original cocktails here, and they have won awards from Albuquerque the magazine. They have some creative cocktails for sure. See attached drink menu. Matthew showed us the special, four course Valentine's Day menu. See attached photograph. He said they are still working on the drinks to pair with the meal. This Valentine's Day meal will require advance reservations. It will be $125 per person. A bit rich for my blood but I bet they will be packed.We ordered the Patatas Bravas appetizer for $9. This appetizer consisted of smashed peewee potatoes, brava sauce, chives and honey aioli. I thought the honey would make this appetizer overly cloying and sweet, but it did not. The sauces perfectly complemented the tender potatoes. My wife ordered the mac and cheese for $12. Cavatappi pasta with triple cheese blend of aged parmesan, fontina, and gruyere, covered with toasted parmesan crumble. This was a marvelous, rich, and filling mac and cheese. Gourmet for sure. I ordered the Frutti del Mar for $23. This dish had a pound of hand breaded shrimp and calamari. Sauces included garlic aioli and spicy marinara. The shrimp and calamari had a light, delicate coating, which I really liked. The sauces were off. I much preferred eating my fried food with the lemon juice from the two roasted lemon wedges they supplied. Matthew told us all the food was prepared fresh. I could tell this was true. My wife and I shared our dishes. This is encouraged on the menu. A very pleasurable experience with top shelf service and delicious food. We left full. We will be returning to try their original cocktails.

We have been to this restaurant a couple of times and it's always been very nice. The food is always fresh hot and very presentable. When we have always had very nice servers that have been very accommodating. It was nice to see this time that they had opened up the side room, so there was more room for everybody.

My wife and I stopped by here to try it out on a lark. WOW! Were we ever surprised!! This place is my new favorite, in the last 6 months or so. The food was fantastic, like nothing I've had before. I got to speak with one of the managers, who is very knowledgeable on various whiskeys, which is my personal favorite in cold weather. Unfortunately, that visit was two months ago and I no longer remember the details. But, fortunately for me, that means I get to go back and sample it again! So, dear reader, wait for the next installment in this review!