Rainbird

We had the Eggs Benedict with bacon and gravlax. We are never disappointed with our choices at Rainbirds.. The staff is always kind and courteous. Our drinks are always topped off. Highly recommended!!

Very nice place. Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, and great service. Lilly was out waitress and she was delightful. We got the Mediterranean platter and ten risotto. Definitely recommend and we will be back. Don't break anything else Lilly. Lol.

This little gem surprised us! We were staying at the El Capitan next door and stopped in for dinner. Delightful; high quality ingredients, well-made food, good flavors, great service. Lorenzo, our waiter, was lovely. Really just a delightful, intimate experience. Order the salmon with orzo!

Rainbird is a stunning restaurant, the nicest in Merced, CA. I especially appreciate the fresh atmosphere and focus on local art and locally sourced food. The grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup on the lunch menu are delicious. At first, this lunch was reasonably priced at $12.50 in 2024 after their menu “redesign” in which they advertised more reasonable prices. Unfortunately the price of this sandwich and cup of soup has risen to $16 in just 1 year. This was my favorite meal to eat out in Merced and it’s disappointing that they did not stay true to the advertised lower prices at lunch time. The price increase means I won’t be able to visit as often as I’d like to. Additionally, on one occasion I was charged $18 for a singular plain nonalcoholic mocktail at lunch hour which is absurd. It was just soda water and fruit flavor with a raspberry. Being over charged that much for a beverage with zero alcohol and that they reverted back to higher prices after a promised more affordable lunch menu has left a bitter taste in my mouth of Rainbird which is sad because I enjoyed dining there. Overall, for the above reasons, the experience has felt very inconsistent which makes me not want to return :(

I recently visited Rainbird in Merced, a restaurant that not only serves thoughtfully prepared dishes but also offers a beautifully designed interior ✨ with elegant plating 🍽️. 📸 Dishes Ordered: 1. Crispy Duck Confit (pic 1) 🦆 The duck leg quarters are slowly cooked in duck fat until tender and rich in flavor. The savory depth of the duck is beautifully balanced by the sweet grilled peach 🍑, earthy beet purée ❤️, and honey ricotta 🍯. Pairing the duck meat with one or more sides created a true melody of flavors—complex yet harmonious 🎶. 2. Foraged Wild Mushroom Risotto (pic 2) 🍄 This dish celebrates mushrooms at their best. The tender, bouncy texture of the foraged mushrooms combined with the umami-rich flavor made every bite deeply satisfying 🤤. The creamy rice and cheese 🧀 brought everything together for a comforting yet elevated risotto. 3. Fried Oysters (pic 3) 🦪 Crispy and golden, these oysters were enjoyable but didn’t quite reach the level of creativity and depth found in the other two dishes. A solid starter, but less memorable. ✨ Verdict: Rainbird offers a refined dining experience in Merced that feels special, from its aesthetic ambiance 🌸 to its carefully crafted entrées. If you’re passing through, this is a spot worth stopping for 🙌. Ratings: • Tastiness: 8.5/10 😋 • Price Appropriateness: 8/10 💵 • Portion Size: 7/10 🍴 • Overall Experience: 8/10 🌟

Well-appointed restaurant with great food and service. Relaxed setting. Good place to catch up with friends over good food and drinks. Many vegetarian/vegan options. I had a salad while my friend had a grain bowl. Both were so good! I'd definitely come back!

My first visit was met with excellent service and the staff were so welcoming. Eggs Benedict hollandaise was kissed with the right amount of lemon. The menu is still calling me back.

Came out here for a birthday dinner. Cute little place a different vibe from what I expected. Bruschetta was delicious I enjoyed it very much. We also ordered the fried oyster for appetizer to my surprise it was disgusting. was over powered with popcorn salt on top of the aioli sauce. oyster were presented on a messy bed of dead bitter leafy greens, sandy, gritty and just gross! This is to blame for my high blood pressure. The burger was really bland /boring & over priced I've had better. $50 steak was OK, overprice. Our server was attentive and nice. However I felt robbed and will not return.

Great Experience! Made reservations for 6pm on a Friday evening. Super easy to do through the OpenTable App. It wasn't too busy. There were a handful of people. As a Merced local, I've been wanting to try out this place. I think this is as close as you can get here for "fine dining". Ordered the cranberry margarita. It was refreshing. Got the sourdough bread basket with the whipped honey ricotta and it wasn't bad. For entrees we got the pork chop and ravioli. Both were really good. The pork chop was cooked perfectly and the gravy went well with it. As for dessert, we got the tiramisu which was more than enough for 2 people to share. Overall, great experience! Love the ambience, elevated farmhouse/homestead chic. Staff were welcoming and friendly. Food came out fairly quick. Would absolutely recommend for locals and anyone visiting Merced.

I loved this restaurant! Being from the city and missing my Bay Area eateries, Rainbird makes me feel like I've gone back home. The scramble was delicious. I went on a weekday so there weren't many people inside which was awesome for me! I enjoyed sitting and taking my time. The restaurant was very welcoming.

The ambiance is very inviting with neutral tones and lots of natural lighting. We came for breakfast with a reservation for 8, and it was fairly inexpensive in comparison to other nice breakfast places in the area. I loved that the tea was served in a mini teapot. I shared the Ricotta pancakes and Spanish omelette with my mom, both which were delicious. The hint of lemon in the pancake and cinnamon in the syrup sent it over the roof for me, and I liked the heartiness of the omelette and sweet potatoes. My mom's favorite is their sourdough toast. Service is friendly, and it was nice to walk through the hotel after to check out the holiday decor.

Very nice looking place to start. We were seated near immediately. Thanks. The Mediterranean starter was wonderful, and fresh. I had the salmon meal. It was a bit over cooked, but flavorful with crispy top. The chicken was cooked perfect, and nicely done. The burger was over cooked, and decent, but didn't like the fries much. Overall, I would return without a doubt.

I was staying overnight in Merced and tried this wonderful restaurant! The menu had a good variety of dishes with a good combination of local and seasonal ingredients, and it also included some great cocktails. The food was delicious: I really enjoyed the pork chop and its rich and delicious glaze. The seasonal salad was also very good. Service was very attentive and friendly and the restaurant is very comfortable and well decorated.

We stopped by for a quick brunch and the staff was so friendly. Kao, you were awesome. He have us plenty of recommendations. The food was fresh, and honestly large portions so, share some plates if you want to try some different items. Comfortable and beautiful decor. Will be back for another experience.

This restaurant is located inside the El Capital hotel. We came here for our company holiday party and the food, drinks, and service was great! The restaurant is tastefully decorated in neutral tones and comfy chairs. They have a semi private area towards the back of the restaurant that was perfect for our small group. We also had our own bar. They had a seasonal drink menu and I had the spicy pear martini which was so yummy that I ordered 4 of them.... All for myself! I had the butternut squash bisque soup as my appetizer and it was yummy. The pumpkin seeds gave the soup a nice crunch. I absolutely loved the Meyer lemon honey glazed salmon with pesto orzo.... It tasted so fresh. The burger was delicious and had a sweet aftertaste which may been from the grilled sweet onions that they topped the burger with. Dessert was a slice of chocolate peanut butter and the slice was huge but the flavor was too rich for me. Overall I loved the experience and it's definitely a place I would recommend for a nice dinner if you're in downtown Merced!

I went last Sunday with some friends for brunch. The food is amazing! I got the Ricotta Pancakes with blueberry and pistachios. I also ordered a vanilla latte, it was just ok. Nothing unique just a vanilla latte. The service was great. He was on top of it! Not too many people at the restaurant so it did not feel crowded or rushed. Can't wait to go again.

Food was delicious. Very fresh. Asked for crispy bacon and one slice was perfect but had to bring the other two home to cook more. Other than that food Was perfect. Service was very friendly. Will definitely come back.

We went for brunch on Sat. The hostess was very friendly and they sat us immediately. The restaurant has an airy,pleasant, and relaxing feel. Also a bit upscale. Open windows and lots of natural light. The server was attentive and pleasant. The menu isn't huge but has a variety of fresh options. When the food was delivered it was bright and looked delightful. My bacon was a bit undercooked and the kitchen promptly replaced it with a perfectly cooked bacon. I ordered just a regular egg breakfast and enjoyed it throughly. I would go back, especially since I would like to try their cold oats and avocado toast.

Fantastic service Thank you Kao!! Great food & fantastic ambiance, all around a wonderful experience. Hotel El Capitan has great guest rooms with great decor.

Second time here... The first time, my husband and I were like "WOW, everything tasted amazing". We will definitely be coming back when we are in town. Second time around... the watermelon margaritas was watery, too spicy and no lime rim and the glass was dirty Ordered the sourdough bread and WTF!!! $2 FOR 1/2 thin sliced of bread...I paid $8 for 4 1/2 sliced of bread ( 2 sliced chopped in 1/2 making 4 slices)!!! Over all. The food is really delicious and will be back. I do recommend coming and enjoying the food here.

Superb! We came here for our anniversary. It was recommended by our friends that live in Merced. They were right. All the plates were delicious and the drinks were so good too. Will come back for more!

We were very pleasantly surprised today when we had lunch at the Rainbird! The first & only time we were there was when it first opened, and were not impressed! A few years have passed and although the decor seemed relatively unchanged, the menu certainly has! They're now open for breakfast, lunch & dinner with different menus. We will definitely be back...well done Rainbird!

We heard from several people about this restaurant, so we chose an occasion and made reservations for dinner. The restaurant is located in the El Capitan Hotel on Main. It is beautifully appointed, with a comfortable dining room and large windows. Our server was a young man named John Lee, and he rates as one of the best we've ever had. He was friendly, kind, accurate, helpful and very quick. We started with bread and fried oysters. Both were delicious. Next, we each had a half order of the Mediterranean Salad. The presentation was pure art, and it was delicious! For being "half" sized, the portion was very generous. For our entrees we had the Honey lemon glazed salmon, and glazed pork chop. Oh, my gosh! Huge portions, perfectly prepared and cooked and possibly the best we've had in quite some time. It was a masterful presentation of good food. This restaurant is not inexpensive, however, it is worth every single penny! We will definitely go back, and if you're looking for fine dining in Merced, we HIGHLY recommend the Rainbird.

Highly recommend Rainbird, this was one of my favorite breakfasts on my week long roadtrip. It's conveniently located with El Capitan hotel. I was immediately drawn in by the aesthetics of the restaurant and hotel. Our server, a gentleman he was. So kind and polite.

My first visit and I'll definitely be back. I had the most amazing ricotta, blueberry and pistachio pancakes!!! I was not impressed with the syrup, but that's on me I was never a pancake syrup person. I like straight maple syrup. The butter was even freshly whipped and smooth. I added a side of bacon that was also flavorful and a good portion size. The service was quick and friendly. We had to eat outside which was nice, but I wish there was a little more shade. I would absolutely recommend

We keep thinking of our Rainbird dining experience ! I had the mushroom Risotto ! It melted in my mouth. We shared the beet salad, perfection! The restaurant was nestled inside the El Capitan Hotel in Merced, California and they complimented each other. Lorenzo was our server and he was fun and very informative. We want to come back!!!!

I can't wait to go back! The food is incredible with mouthwatering options on the menu. The location is beautifully decorated and the service was amazing. I love that they are open as early as 6:30 am. The portions are smaller than typical breakfast places, but we were both full and the prices are fair. The only thing I'd recommend is for them to update their hours on maps because we believed it was closed.

Although online it was showing no reservations available I was able to get a table by calling them. Place is fancy and easily the most high end restaurant in Merced. I had a glass of wine and the salmon dinner. Salmon was cooked really well being crispy on the outside and perfectly moist inside.

Came here to celebrate my Husband's birthday, and I would put this in our top five tasting menus. The produce was all very fresh and seemed local, and we thought the dishes were super creative and delicious. Additionally, we got the wine pairing, and each wine was unique to each dish, and the pours were very generous. We're coming back tomorrow for brunch, and we're so excited!

Visited after they reopened since their revamp. I loved the wide selection of food options without breaking the bank. Love the decor inside and such a relaxed atmosphere. Drinks are good. Fast and friendly service.

Amazing experience! Kao was so friendly, attentive and so helpful! He recommended delicious drinks and food. Can't wait to come back.

Good food, service , ambiance and price!!!! Highly recommended! Will recommend to clise friends and family specially if out of state comes and visit!

Just a brief update here. The transformation from fine dining restaurant to a nice restaurant is going pretty well. Dishes are more consistent now, so it's just a matter of finding the things you like (burger, beet salad, mezze in my case) and sticking to it. The service and wine list is very good, and it is still the best restaurant ambiance in at least a 50 mile radius.

Rainbird is nice, but has some pretty glaring flaws to overcome. The ambiance is pleasant. They manage to be modern yet cozy, and is overall a charming space. The cocktail menu and wine list had some excellent offerings. Rainbird seemed to have had plenty of reservations open, even on a busy weekend night. Service however is where things started to get shaky. Our cocktails literally took almost as long as the food to hit our table. Our server was friendly, but he was also very forgetful. He had to double back twice to verify what he had jotted down, and still managed to get an order wrong. What really dampened our experience though was how our entrees all came out at drastically different times. It was about twenty-five minutes from the arrival of the first entree until the last entree. Out of courtesy to each other, our party watched their food go cold or had to slow-walk eating so we could kind of eat as a group. I believe our server did eventually notice our displeasures, so thankfully he did try to compensate for the gaffes of the evening. Sadly however, I still can't give Rainbird many high marks. I think there is a lot of potential to eventually be great. However for now, they are okay at best.

Amazing food, service & ambiance! We love Rainbird and we will always return! Staff are great.

I very disappointed in The Rainbird Restaurant!! Not worth all the hype I've heard! I came to Merced to take my brother to Christmas Dinner! All three of us were not pleased! Baked turkey breast (really?) was dry! NO cranberry!!! Spiral ham overdone! NO mashed potatoes, NO dinner rolls! $8 for 2 slices of toast (after we asked for rolls). So grateful for Christmas with my brother!! That's what matters most! Service great!

Great food and great service! I wanted to take my girlfriend out for a nice dinner and I was not disappointed. As soon as we tried the sourdough bread we knew the food would be delicious as well. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and moist. The orzo was fresh and delicious with all the herbs. We will definitely be coming back here.

My wife and I enjoy dining weekly at Rainbird. We find the food atmosphere enjoyable. It is, however, the outstanding service that makes our meal six an excellent experience that has us returning on a regular basis. We always request Koa as our server. Respectful, attentive and professional, Koa never fails to provide us with a great dining experience. Thank You!

Really quite excellent. I had the Eggs Hollandaise , with sweet potatoes and greens. I loved the flavor, the eggs were very light and fluffy. The sugars was delicious. It's conveniently located next to the El Capitan Hotel.

Had a lovely lunch last Saturday at Rainbird. It was our first time there and we will definitely go back. The servers and hostess were very friendly. The menu was well-balanced with a variety of proteins and choices. Even the kids menu was reasonably priced for a more upscale restaurant. Everything we tried was delicious. My husband and mom both had the salmon and it was fantastic. I had the BLTA and I was very impressed. First- their sourdough was amazing and then with that thick-cut bacon, it was bomb! I also had their tomato bisque and it was one of the best I've ever had. Overall, very very happy with our meal.

Kao- gentleman server provided great service!!!He had a bright friendly smile and attitude and went next-door to get more beer to ensure we had an amazing brunch and time! . We will return to to this restaurant because of Kao and their egg scramble options!

We came in for breakfast. The food was delicious. The staff were friendly and helpful. I ordered the Ricotta Pancakes and my wife ordered the Benedict. Both had a nice presentation and delicious.

Food and service were both great. We had the avocado toast and the french toast, and both were delicious & had generous portion sizes. Kao was our server and he gave us above and beyond service. Would definitely dine here again.

Second time eating at Rainbird tonight. The first time was spectacular, so much so, we brought our out-of-town guests for dinner. When we visited before, the cocktail menu was amazing and matched well with the seasonal offerings from the food menu. Tonight, I was frankly confused at what I saw. The food menu was the same summer menu that we saw in June, which while delicious, now boasts very out of season ingredients. However, the drink menu was nothing short of a Pinterest-board fever dream of poorly crafted cocktail recipes for early 20s inexperienced drinkers with really bad taste. Pumpkin spice espresso martinis, pumpkin spice White Russians, something apple cider, I mean everything was like this. The summer cocktail menu was structured like a cocktail menu should be - balanced, with variety, and something for everyone. The fall cocktail menu, paired with the summer food menu, is definitely not for everyone. I ended up with a gin and tonic, which was fine. The food was just okay today. I got the same seasonal ingredient salad I got over the summer because I enjoyed it so much, but today it was basically fruit salad. There were very little greens, so I didn't really eat it. I was really surprised that in October there wouldn't be in-season food. I mean, it's still 100° in Merced, so there's that but the cocktail menu and food menu were so mismatched it was just odd. Others' food was also fine, but not more than fine. The service was extremely slow - I will say that our server was very kind and engaged and it was absolutely not her fault. We didn't have dessert this time, but will say the dessert menu is solid from past experience. I like that this is available in Merced and I'll roll the dice to come back, but hoping that things align more in the future.

This is an amazing place to eat. The ambiance was perfect as well as the food. I was so glad for the Valet parking since Merced's downtown area street parking can be a bit of a walk. The service was great & the food was excellent. Thank you Merced. I will be returning for dinner next time & will ask for a tour of the hotel.

Was excited and wanted to love this place but it was so inconsistent. Beautiful contemporary ambience but flies buzzing around our table. Drink menu featured a "blueberry sour" but the cocktail had no egg white foam which is integral to any sour. Tiger prawn appetizer was served whole with shells and heads on (nobody wants to de shell shrimp at a nice restaurant; also they were slightly overcooked. After we were done with appetizers the staff seemed to be mostly out of sight; nobody was watching to clear plates or refill waters. We eventually had to move our dirty dishes to a nearby empty table. The addition bread we ordered took a long time to come out. The entrees while very tasty, came out in stages so only a couple people would have their food and the rest of us would be waiting. Once all 7 in our party had an entree, my husband and I still had to wait on our scallops as only our split risotto had arrived and the server said they were still working on it. No salt on the table which I know is customary for fine dining establishments but when salt was requested we got a shaker but no salt would come out as the hole seemed too small for the granulas to come out. We requested another salt shaker but it took so long we ended up having to open the bottom of the shaker we had and poured the salt onto a plate so we could pinch and sprinkle salt. We were there for my husband's 45th birthday and I had included that in the reservation but none of the staff were aware. I had to mention it to our server. On top of the lackluster service we of course had a 22% large party gratuity added automatically which was not deserved based on the service. Would I go back, probably but I would go back just as a party of 2 with the mindset that it's just a very nice looking Olive Garden or Applebees. Don't expect fine dining service or attention to detail, appreciate the dishes that are tasty and understand that some will be a miss. I think this place would do much better if staff was better trained and there was some oversight by owners or management to ensure service standards.

The service and food here are top rate! Some people complain that it is a bit expensive, and while I agree somewhat, for special occasions it is okay. Our waiter was great with his suggestions and service.

The food is very tasty, love the ambiance with the decor & music in the background. And lastly the service is top notch, Kao our server was very attentive, friendly and went out of his way to ensure that we got what we wanted as I was a lil picky and he accommodated. Thank you Koa for making my morning, your smile was very inviting and we appreciate you.

Our server Mouakao was fantastic, attentive, polite, and friendly couldn't have asked for more. The food was perfect. Great atmosphere. Thank you.

The food is as beautiful as it is delicious. Everything about this place is insta worthy: the aesthetic, vibe, presentation and taste. Absolutely YUM. My husband's Spanish omelette was so good and my ricotta pancakes are a must-try. Our server, Kao, took excellent care of us and gave great recommendations. This place was a perfect start to the day and shouldn't be missed when in Merced.

Kao was a polished and friendly waiter who went out of his way to offer top notch service. I had the scramble with chèvre and my husband had the ricotta pancakes, eggs and sausage. Everything was delicious and well presented. The ambience was elegant and clean. Highly recommend.

I had a large party for a retirement party and Koa was absolutely amazing! his team did not disappoint! Everything was perfect! would highly recommend Koa to oversee any event! Every detail was perfect! The passion fruit mimosas were delicious!!

my wife and I had simple grilled cheese and tomatoes bisque. the food was excellent. The server, Kao was outstanding and very professional. the restaurant decoration and seating arrangement ate tastefully done. the previous night, we had salads and they were delicious.

Leticia was very friendly and provided great customer service in the courtyard. Weather was perfect for an evening dinner.

I had eggs and sausage, which was very good. Also included toasted sourdough (yummy). My cousin had the Eggs Benedict , which she deemed delicious. Service was also on point by our server, Rodney. We arrived shortly before breakfast was over (like 5 minutes to spare), and we were accommodated with no problem. Ambiance was very quiet while we were there. Lunch crowd was beginning to trickle in. I do recommend this restaurant!

Everything was great! Food was excellent and our server Kao was wonderful. Will be back soon!

This place was very cute and clean and sleek! Modern feel. I had breakfast here after a work appointment. I had the ricotta pancakes, grapefruit juice and a side of bacon and it was all very tasty! Presentation was perfect too! I want to come back for lunch and/or dinner!