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Rainbird, Merced, CA

Rainbird

4.8
4.8
308 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
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

What 308 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
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 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

    Good for groups

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Healthy

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rainbird offers an exceptional dining experience with "excellent food" and "great service." The menu features standout dishes like scallops, pork chops, and salmon, complemented by creative drinks and desserts. The atmosphere is praised for being welcoming and conducive to conversation, making it a top choice for special occasions in Merced.

308 Reviews
  1. David

    San Francisco

    31 reviews

    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First class been there twice since December. We love the menu. Let us know if you ever serve prime rib. Service outstanding. Will be back.

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  2. Rocio

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Reserved a table for two for an early Valentine’s Day dinner. We were about 5 minutes late, but the staff was very kind and accommodating. Service, food, and drinks were excellent! We started with a bottle of rosé and the spiced pear martini. We did the Mediterranean platter for appetizers—the salad, smoked salmon and pita slices were my favorites. We shared a ribeye, which the kitchen kindly split evenly for us, and the wild mushroom risotto… both were excellent! The portions are actually very decent for all the food we ordered, and the prices are pretty reasonable. The atmosphere was mostly nice. There were some people talking a bit too loud for our tastes, but it wasn’t totally overbearing. Overall, we had a nice time and we’re looking forward to returning to try some of the other dishes!

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  3. Mariah

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Top quality food in a beautiful location. This is the place to go for a relaxed and lovely dining experience.

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  4. Lam

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! Good service and the decor and setting were gorgeous.

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  5. Gordon

    Hawaii

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service. Two of us had the pork chop medium rare. Done perfectly!

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  6. Daniel

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best restaurant in Merced. Been there multiple times and every time the food and the service is amazing
    RainbirdResponded on February 6, 2025
    Hello Daniel, Thank you for the kind review. We are thrilled that you love the food and service. Thank you for being a valued and loyal guest!

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  7. Rebecca

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I highly recommend the grilled cheese sandwich (with gruyere and brie) with the tomato bisque soup. I cannot describe how surprised I was when I tasted the soup. The best tomato soup I have ever had. I have already made plans to go back for breakfast at a later date, the eggs benedict looked amazing. The gentleman who served us was knowledgeable, kind, and engaging. The atmosphere was calm and full of life. This is my new favorite restaurant in Merced.
    RainbirdResponded on February 6, 2025
    Hello Rebecca, Thank you for the wonderful review! We are so happy that you enjoyed your lunch experience with us. We can't wait to see you again for breakfast and hopefully dinner.

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  8. Katy

    San Joaquin

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Rodney was an amazing server. Brunch was 10/10 and the latte was to die for.

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  9. Cindy

    VIP

    Las Vegas

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We took friends to the Rainbird for a birthday dinner and the food and service was excellent
    RainbirdResponded on January 25, 2025
    Hello Cindy, We're thrilled to hear that you and your friends had a wonderful birthday dinner at Rainbird! It's wonderful to know that our food and service met your expectations. We appreciate your high ratings and your kind words. We look forward to serving you and your friends again soon.

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  10. Kaitlin

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious and our server was amazing. Love this spot!
    RainbirdResponded on January 10, 2025
    Thanks for the feedback, Kaitlin! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your meal and found our service to be amazing. At Rainbird, we strive to provide our guests with a memorable dining experience and your kind words are a testament to our efforts. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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FAQs

Rainbird is rated 4.8 stars by 308 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 10 times today
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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