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Rainbird, Merced, CA

Rainbird

4.8
4.8
288 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Healthy
Located in the heart of one of the most productive agricultural regions globally, chefs at El Capitan prepare artisanal fare and spirits that pay homage to the ranchers, farmers, cheesemakers, bakers, brewers, and winemakers that have re-fashioned Merced into one of California’s best kept epicurean secrets.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Daily 6:30 am–11:30 am Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (209) 446-4026
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Chef Evan Morrison
  • Neighborhood
    Merced
  • Cross street
    Main and M
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Four-course Wine Dinner

    $125.00 per person

    Jan 13, 2025 only
    Four-course chef-inspired wine dinner with wine pairings featuring Cru Winery

What 288 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Overall

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Service

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Ambiance

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Value

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Great for brunch

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Innovative

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Healthy

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Neighborhood gem

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rainbird offers a serene dining experience with exquisite and delicious food. Known as "best dining in Merced," it features creative, fresh dishes and attentive service. Perfect for romantic evenings or special events, Rainbird's welcoming ambiance and "amazing food" make it a top choice for locals and visitors alike.

288 Reviews
  1. Clive

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A fantastic restaurant, great service from Faith, good value too. The best meal we’ve had during our two week tour of California 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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  2. Lee

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the fourth time that I have dined here. Ordered something different every time. Excellent in all aspects. Pleasant and quiet atmosphere. Very competent, down-to-earth service. Tremendous food! Reasonably priced.

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  3. Gilbert

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It is wonderful that Merced has a restaurant of this quality, service, ambience, quality of ingredients, presentation and taste. Truly exceptional ribeye and salmon entrees

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  4. Guy

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The atmosphere was great , the server was very informative and the food was amazing, you can tell that the ingredients are fresh

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  5. Dee

    Sacramento

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A group of friends decided to attend the Thanksgiving Dinner at Rainbird this year. We chose the family style meal, consisting of a platter of turkey as well as ham. The side dishes were stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce. It was all delicious!

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  6. angela

    New Orleans

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had the pleasure of dining with my family at Rainbird for Thanksgiving dinner, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the thoughtfully curated menu to the perfectly paired drinks, every detail reflected the chef’s dedication to showcasing the agricultural bounty of the Valley. The sweet potatoes were a standout—both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in tradition, serving as a beautiful homage to the seasonal ingredients and the region’s rich heritage. This harmonious blend of creativity and respect for local produce elevated the entire meal, making it a memorable celebration of the season and the area’s culinary identity. The dessert, crafted in-house by the pastry chef, was a delightful finale to the meal. Its rich flavors and impeccable presentation perfectly capped off an already exceptional dining experience. I hope the chef considers hosting Thanksgiving dinner—or even lunch—again in the future, as this thoughtful and delicious offering is truly something to look forward to.

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  7. Rebecca

    Minneapolis

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice, bright place with good, fresh food and good service. Would visit again!

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  8. Sarah

    Central Coast

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food!!! Consistently amazing experience.

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  9. Patty

    Central Coast

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved the food, service and atmosphere!! Our waitress Dayan was fantastic!!! She made my Mom's Bday very special!!
    RainbirdResponded on November 10, 2024
    Patty, thank you for leaving us a five-star review. We love hearing that the food, service, and Dayan was fantastic. We are thrilled to hear that you choose us for your mom's special day!

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  10. Debra

    San Joaquin

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server, Kao was excellent!!! Friendly, and knowledgeable, without hovering- met all of our needs perfectly : )
    RainbirdResponded on November 10, 2024
    Debra, Thanks for the feedback, we're thrilled to hear that you had an excellent experience at Rainbird. Our team works hard to provide friendly, knowledgeable service, and we're glad to know we hit the mark for you. We appreciate your kind words and the perfect ratings you've given us. We look forward to serving you again soon!

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FAQs

Rainbird is rated 4.8 stars by 288 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Rainbird

609 W Main St, Merced, CA 95340

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Main and M
  • Neighborhood
    Merced
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Daily 6:30 am–11:30 am Lunch Daily 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Executive chef
    Chef Evan Morrison
  • Additional
    Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
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