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. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

Whiptail - Tail Of the tape - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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. read more

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

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. read more

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Whiptail has great ambiance, unique drinks, and great food! We went around 5pm on a Friday and were immediately seated. Really enjoyed our meal here. We tried the Whiptail martini, the smoked old fashioned, and the espresso martini. The smoked old fashioned was especially good! For food we tried the Brussels sprouts, elote dip, BBQ chicken salad, and the Philly steak. BBQ chicken salad was a stand out with perfectly cooked chicken on top. All the food was tasty and we enjoyed trying a variety of small plates. read more

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We enjoyed our dinner here. The food was very good, and you could tell everything was made fresh. We started with the focaccia bread which came with some herb butter and olive oil as well. After that my son and I both had Philly cheese steaks (beef for me, chicken for him) which were both good. My husband had the Cuban sandwich which was also good. Everything comes separately (supposed to be tapas style) which is fine but ends up making it a bit more expensive for what you get. By the time we got some fries, potatoes, and asparagus so we could all have sides, we had added an extra $25+. They have an extensive cocktail menu and I tried the Rio Mojito as a mocktail and it was quite good. The servers were friendly and good. The restaurant itself is plain grey on the outside and fairly simple furniture and look inside, but clean and fine. Overall, it was a good break from traditional New Mexican food and nearby where we were staying. read more

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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! read more

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! read more

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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. read more

This place is great! The food, service, and ambience, make for a place that I would like to visit again. I got three appetizers. Ceviche: raw fish with the various topped on a bed of avocado, this was some really good ceviche. On top of that it comes with fried noodles and about sauce that also add tasty flavors to it. Chicharrones: this had to be my favorite dish. I got here. Chicharrones are usually fried to a crisp but I like when they're a little chewy and not so burnt. I absolutely loved this dish! Brussels sprouts topped with bao sauce: this was a little heavy on the sauce but still tasty! Again, I am so glad these were not fried to a crisp. I probably would not get this one again. Homemade bread: this was some good bread, made even better with the butter! The butter was super smooth. I even asked for some to go! I will definitely come here again! There are so many other foods to try! read more

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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! read more

We had not been here since it changed from being a Japanese Steak house to this cozy little bar with nibbles. We both ordered the wild mushroom omelette with bernaise sauce and a side of arugula salad with a gentle coating of a citrus vinaigrette for a Sunday brunch. The omelette was tasty, but really on the small side when you compare to ones at Weck's or The Range. We shared an order of smashed mini potatoes drizzled with a red pepper sauce and a white sauce. They were very good and the portion was good for 2. The ice tea was freshly made and our server refilled without asking. We will come back again to try the dinner menu. read more

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Really nice local joint Kick back bar area with mixed drink focus Good tap beer selection Chef driven menu....small plates selection which you can definitely share (Adding picture of onion rings..wow) Pork belly on a burger ! Yep. I ate it all Neighborhood atmosphere Get in here and try it! Parking....pull around past the Twisters restaurant....or from Target area there is a dirt path....lol read more

Whiptail - Huge onion rings! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

This was our first time visiting this bar / restaurant. I must say that the driving direction via Siri took us on a confusing road trip. We were able to thankfully get to the location. Parking lot isn't very large but we were able to get parking right up front. The signage for this place is pretty large that you can see if the 528. Also, they have the menu displayed outside for those who want to look at the menu before entering the restaurant. We had already looked at what they served online and everything looked delicious. We visited on a Thursday night. There were many patrons in there but thankfully it wasn't too crowded. We were able to get a table right away. Our server, Chassidy started us off with water since we told her this was our first time in there. We looked over the menu. She informed us that everything was made to order. And that all items in terms of food was made to share. Their drinks are also hand-crafted. Looks like they have a variety of different libations for those who want to explore their menu. I will say that while dining there plenty of the patrons had tried many of the drinks and they looked amazing We started off with the ceviche served with fried wontons cut into strips. This ceviche was flavorful and we enjoyed every bite of it. The wonton strips were a little hard and might've been stale. But it didn't take away from the flavor of this appetizer. We ordered the following for our dinner. Philly Cheesesteak, with Cheese Wiz, grilled onions, bell peppers and mushrooms. There's an option to do chicken and impossible meat, instead of steak. You can also pick other cheeses. Vegetable options included in the Philly cheesesteak is green chili. For those of you that love green chili. Alongside our order of Philly Cheesesteaks, we ordered the Shoestring fries and the onion rings. The shoestring fries were pretty good. Because it had herbs and sea salt. Onion rings, we're not that great. Although they were huge onion rings, it was too greasy to enjoy it. Overall, we had a good experience here. We plan to visit again and bring friends too! Thank you! read more

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Wow. Picked for my birthday and even though I'm old the fresh menu and music was just my style. Waiter was excellent also. It's just great to find a spot with excellent home made everything. Reminds be of some great restaurants I have missed since we moved from Ca in 2020. Will be back. read more

Whiptail - Cubano sandwich a classic - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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When some friends wanted to go to a place known for tapas, or appetizers, I wasn't so sure. I like actual meals rather than samplers. But these friends know what they're talking about in the eats department so off we went. I am so glad I went. We went nuts on the tapas, or appetizers, menu. Mushrooms, bacon-wrapped dates, meatballs, cheeses. And, without exception, everything was served with flair and style and the dishes were absolutely off the hook. There wasn't one thing we had that wasn't absolutely fantastic. That goes to the drinks, too, including smoked cocktails which are almost as much fun to watch being poured as they are to enjoy. Lastly, the service. It's clear the owner treats her team well and respects them. To a person the whole staff was outstanding and enthusiastic. That's tough to do but they've done it. It's clear that the whole team is empowered to make decisions and offer suggestions. Overall this is absolutely one of the best places I've been in New Mexico and somewhere you absolutely should try. Seriously. read more

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We were recommended to Whiplash by our hotel and it was great! Lots of small plates to share and choose from which I love since everyone gets to try a bunch of different things. Onion rings were some of the best I've had! The shrimp dish was a hit as were the fries and flash fried Brussels!! We enjoyed the Chicharrones but thought they were a little more on the dry side and some pieces lacked flavor. We also were not big fans of the bread which was pretty dense not easy to eat. They also have very creative and unique drinks that were excellent. Also as far as pricing goes, good value for the level and quality of food & cocktails they put out. I would have excepted to pay more for the quality of food we received. I will say there were times when it was hard to find a server, and it did take a while to get our food and drinks, but the service was still above average and very solid. It seemed like they probably needed a few more members of staff, but the staff that was there was very friendly, worked hard, and all helped every table. This was also on a Saturday night from around 5-6:30 On the whole, we enjoyed our food & experience and will return the next time in the area. read more

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

Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals, I get my back into my living. I don't need to fight, To prove I'm right. I don't need to be forgiven.... Whiptail and our Server Alajandra were spot on. We shared the Quinoa Salad filled with delish arugula, apple sticks, fennel, quinoa sprinkles, et al and a Shrimp Po Boy on a fresh crunchy so good baguette, filled with large plump juicy crispy well seasoned shrimp with a nice slaw. This was so Cheffy good...all washed down with glasses of Absoluto Malbec. She takes my hand. We'll travel south cross land. Put out the fire. And don't look past my shoulder, The exodus is here... The happy ones are near... off their rail, Let's get together, before we get much older...and enjoy this very good new restaurant...Whiptail..:) Best, Avram Baba O'Riley Jr. read more

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

Just opened. So this is a great new place to stop. Close to target and twisters. Waitress said they will have a full menu soon, but for now it is a soft menu. They do not have many bees or wines yet, they are working on that. Also since just opened do not have a lot of family drinks, aka soda pop, lemonade, etc. they are working on that too. I'm ordering the fries and whiptail burger I hope they are good. Inside is nice. Not much of anything on the walls, no tv's on the wall, I hope it stays that way as makes you talk to whomever you are eating with. Talking to waitress they do not plan to brew their own beer but they will offer local brews and local wineries, I think that is a big plus. Plenty of seating and I like how dark the decor is. Suggest make sweet tea or lemonade. Even strawberry lemonade. Food looks excellent even though it took a bit of time, but looks excellent! Fries are good but don't know if the lemon aioli. Burger was very good and the baby pickles made me laugh. Staff are very friendly and check on you to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. I want to say I liked the place it will be good to see the menu and beers grow. Lets support a local owner and a local place. Come visit. read more

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Food was not good at all. Yuck Service was poor waiter also managed bar so lack of service Common everyday things they were out of, mustard! Place seemed very Dirty even though was dark read more

I enjoyed this restaurant very much. The service was great. We were seated quickly and the waiter told us that this was a scratch kitchen and helped me pick a cocktail (the campfire colada was very inventive and delicious) and also guided us through the brunch menu. The waiter's picks were spot-on. My husband got the chicken and waffles and a side of the brunch potatoes and polished both plates off. I got the monte cristo. Woah. I should share that I got not two but three full meals from this because it is MASSIVE. It's an old school breaded and fried sandwich and so is super rich and the roll they use is HUGE. So crispy and flavorful. I'm a fan. The jam that came with it was obviously homemade and was also delicious. I can't speak to their regular menu but the brunch is lovely. My only quibble is that the interior is a lot of metal and turquoise. Not my personal choice of aesthetic but the food, drinks and service more than made up for it. We will be back. Thank you! read more

Went for brunch and sat on the patio, it was nice and relaxing. The food was fresh and delicious and staff is super friendly! They have mixologists that have created some fabulous drinks like Tour of Italy and prickly pear Margarita. We will be back! read more

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The food was OK nothing above average we ordered a burger cooked medium. It was absolutely raw when it arrived. The fries were lukewarm And had a taste of truffle oil it was right on the verge of going rancid. We also ordered the Cuban sandwich which would've been OK except it was 90% bread and very little meat. The flavor was OK just seriously out of proportion. The salad was good. Had some pickled onions in it, they were good. The service was OK nothing to ride home about but nothing worth mentioning either The ambience was that of a rundown pub it was dingy and incredibly loud there's two of us sitting at a booth, and we were shouting to each other because of the volume in an all metal and concrete building it is anything but a relaxing atmosphere. The employees seem bored and not necessarily too interested in the customers although there was only two tables in the entire restaurant I would think the refills would've come without having to ask and also salt and pepper having to ask and wait for it. It's a shame because it has the potential. It's a good location, but all in all it definitely needs some improvement in every department. read more

Whiptail - This is a picture of the burger that we ordered medium. It was raw. . Also, it came with pork belly, but it was not fresh. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Hey, so I've been there half a dozen times in the last two months and I will tell you why There is nothing that's even remotely recognizable in the place that used to be the old Banana leaf in Rio Rancho The drinks are quite possibly the best I've had on that side of town. They are very creative and they're very good. Now onto the food; they have lots of shareable plates, and they are all excellent. We have had most everything on the menu and I have not been disappointed . I had the tuna tartare, the burger, mac & cheese, sandwiches, and they're all excellent. I highly recommend this place. It's small so make sure you have a reservation. The quality of the food is outstanding and so is the presentation! Try any of their smoke drinks! The show alone is worth it! read more

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

I've heard time and again how delicious this place is, but hadn't had an opportunity to visit. My boyfriend and I came here for a nice date night dinner post Valentine's Day. They make everything in here fresh in house daily and every single thing we got was amazing. Service was great, food was fresh, delicious, and fun for us to eat/share. I can't wait to come b m! read more

Star for service, a star for the Elote. We ordered the $50 Ribeye with potatoes. The $50 ribeye was not good at all. I can't tell you what seasoning because I've never tasted anything so bad. I brought some home to my son and he spit it out. I do not like giving bad reviews at all but this has to be said so maybe they can fix it. I wish now that I just would have sent it back instead of having to finish this review. The outside of the building looks a bit scary too lol this should have been my first clue. I'm just really bummed because it was recommended by a person who knows the owners. I also heard the bartender was really awesome but I didn't go there to drink. We went to eat. Terrible tasting first experience. Too bad :( read more

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This was my first visit to Whiptail, but it definitely won't be my last! The ambiance was relaxing, and the service was very friendly, efficient and fast. The drink and food choices were vast and varied, so we had a difficult time deciding. I chose the whiptail martini for my beverage, and it was perfect. It is served initially as a lilac colored liquid, but then magic happens when the light citrus liquid is poured in (picture shows end result). For lunch, we chose four tapas: mushroom risotto, gambas (shrimp), bao Brussels sprouts, and bacon wrapped dates. Everything was delicious, so we had a tough choice deciding on favorites. I'd order all of them again, but if I had to choose it would be the risotto or the shrimp. Whiptail offers many other choices, so I'll have to try at least one new dish next time. They also offer brunch on Sunday which looks really good, and they have happy hour 4-6. I highly recommend this place! read more

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We always get the food to go but I look forward eating in sometime. The decor is very clean and modern. Good music , cool lighting. The food is always ready in a timely fashion, the servers are friendly. The food is always great, glad this place is here, one of the few really great spots in Rio. read more

To the owners and managers - You have built something truly special here. We wandered in on a Friday night looking for cocktails, apps and eventually dinner. The place is spacious but cozy. Minimal but perfect. Wait staff and bartenders are attentive but let you be. They all hustle and make sure everyone is well taken care of. The cocktail menu is inspired. Obviously a ton of thought and creativity goes into each one. So many fun presentations and the bartenders are lively and social. The menu is all shareable. Trust me, share. The portions are huge but you'll be fighting your table mates for the last bite. The food is well crafted and very obviously made with love. The flavors are on point. Cooked to perfection. To say it's outstanding doesn't seem like enough. What a gem tucked away. Thankful we decided to take the leap to a new place. May very well be our new favorite. Run, don't walk. read more

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I've tried the brunch and dinner menu. Both are wonderful. I appreciate that families with kids are seated in a separate area. Their cocktails and mocktails are wonderful. As is their menu especially their mushroom dinner dish. read more

Food was exceptional and so flavorful! Service was tumely and personal. Quiet ambiance for a Saturday morning. Cocktails were amazing. This is a definite hidden gem. read more

WOW - I mean - is Rio Rancho actually becoming like, a city???? It sure feels like it in this place!! I dare say we have our very first legit hipster/speakeasy/I-feel-like-I'm-in-Nob-Hill kind of place! Food is great - everything is very fresh, and it seems pretty easy for them to modify some recipes for those with allergies (however there isn't a whole lot of gluten free options yet) But, we loved the fried Brussels sprouts (ask for some of that fig preserves from the burger to pair with because ) The fries were also a favorite and absolutely loved the Gambas The bartender is where it's really at tho - they know they're stiff, super creative and not afraid to make requests not on the menu - with that said the smoked old fashioned is delish (and not the only thing they'll smoke if you ask them!) Honestly I think this is one of the best places for cocktails we've been to here in NM - like I said, the future seems bright for Rio Rancho Service is very good - super sweet staff, however there were a few forgotten dishes and extra drinks we didn't order - but they were all friendly and willing to fix mistakes. We visited on a Friday night and then came back on Monday for happy hour. I'm sure with more time they will polish up those sorts of things (honestly I'm just happy to see people show up for work!) All in all we are over the moon to have this place in our neck of the woods - hopefully others will follow Whiptail's lead! 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

Tried this place and there were both good and not so good things. The ambiance and decor were weird and it is a bit small on the inside. The dark colors inside did not communicate "tapas place" but "sports bar" (without screen sor sports). The service was good and everyone was nice and attentive. The food was good but not mind blowing. We had the Whiptail burger, cubano, poutine, and chicharrones. We requested the Lorine and chicharrones first as appetizers. The poutine looked weird because of the excess sauce but the flavors were good. The chicharrones needed a bigger portion and pieces. However, they were crispy and nice to eat. The burger was an actual medium temperature and the flavor was there with that subtle sweet jam. Th cubano was huge, filling, and quite good! The mustard was mild and enhanced the meat. If we were to be around the area, we would go back if we had no other places to explore. A solid job that needed some improvements but i am sure they can improve with time and experience. read more

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The family has been here a couple of times. Excellent food and good service; a real gem!

1st visit to @whiptail_eatery, went for the Monte Cristo, but only available for Sunday Brunch, so settled for the meatball sliders & sea salt fries. The sliders were fancy, homemade buns, meatballs & sauce, but the fries were pretty average. Great service from Kyla. Looking forward to returning on a Sunday. read more

Whiptail - Meatball sliders & sea salt fries - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Whiptail is a work in progress. It's good but not great so this is part 1 because I'm going back for brunch and those offerings look tremendous. We both had the Philly cheesesteak with onion rings. It was tasty but needed a little more meat but definitely more cheese. The serving was ample but not bursting like another restaurant I like, not going to mention it as it would be unfair. The O rings were very good as was the house focaccia bread. Service excellent. Atmosphere; good. I almost forgot pics but remembered 1/2 way through. read more

Great service and food. Super cool cocktails! Haven't had anything bad here. Fun to try all the drinks and share. read more

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