VARA Tasting Room - Balloon Fiesta Park

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Dillon Allen

via Google

I'm in love with VARA's tasting room. The wines are, according to my dinner partner, amazing. I can personally speak to the noche negra rum, which was fantabulous. VARA has a small menu of creative dishes that looked amazing. I'm a total prima donna with my carnivore diet, but the chef whipped out some off-menu meat-only options - chorizo links... Scrumptious enough I ordered another plate. Everything on the table looked amazing from the papas to the salad. Bottom line, awesome staff, great vibe, and fun food. I also had an opportunity to hang out with New Mexico United FC, who VARA sponsors. (Cool points with my sons)

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Jerry Green

via Google

Great first experience at a winery. Great tasting flights for a good price. They are upgrading and starting to serve food as well. Bring a sweater definitely chilly inside the only thing we didn't enjoy so moved outside. But winter is coming soon

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Larry Stebbins

via Google

I asked for one of their cocktails to to be made wo alcohol and our server accommodated my request. I had the Mistress and it was very good. It wasn't one the normally make NA. My son and were biking from the Balloon Fiesta and we got three flats exhausting our spare tubes. Our server was so hospitable bringing us extra water. The outdoor area was a wonderful respite.

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Claire Gijsbers

via Google

I came here for a bachelorette dinner with a group of friends. The atmosphere is nice for a quiet meal with drinks. We sat in the inside area and got the popcorn, spinach salad, tapas board, papas bravas, grilled asparagus, and the chicken pintxos. When I made the reservation I was informed that there was a limited menu due to there being only one chef in the kitchen, but you really couldn't tell. The food came out quickly and was so delicious. The group ordered several different cocktails and the bar even offers Bubly and some of their cocktail as mocktails- which was great for our group because half the ladies don't drink and I'm pregnant, so it was nice to get to order something besides water. The staff was polite and welcoming. I like the gift shop at the front as well and the outside seating looked very peaceful. I don't live in ABQ, but I would come here again when I visit. Just FYI they do not have high chairs, so be prepared to hold your smaller kiddo/s if you happen to bring them with you. I brought my 1.5 year old daughter and she sat on our laps which wasn't a problem for us.

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universal metric

via Google

This was our first visit here. We enjoyed our selves. We had drinks and food. The wait staff was very frendly. It is a small venue and was very pleasant. The food was tasty although portions were small (tapas size). We decided to order the paella, it is a 55min wait, but drinking with friends made the time go fast. The flavor was good, although slightly salty. We enjoyed the meat balls, the papas, the chicken skewers and the tapas platter. They do have drinks other than wine (which we were told are all dry). They have brandy (aged and young) and whisky (no other alcohols). For 2 people with drinks and food we spent about $130. We gave it 4 stars because we did enjoy it, but the limited spirit selection and slightly salty paella kept us out of the "love it" rating. We will be returning.