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Rainbird, Merced, CA

Rainbird

4.8
4.8
281 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 3 times today
  • 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

What 281 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 Food

  • 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

    Kid-friendly

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Innovative

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rainbird is a culinary gem in Merced, offering "best dining in Merced" with exquisite dishes and a serene environment. Patrons rave about the "excellent food and service," with the ambiance perfect for romantic evenings. The menu features standout items like Chilean Sea Bass and creative cocktails, ensuring memorable dining experiences.

281 Reviews
  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. Melissa

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been to every wine dinner, except the last one and I can say this was the best meal I have had at any tasting. I would love to see some of the dishes on the daily menu!!!
    RainbirdResponded on October 25, 2024
    Melissa Thank you so much for joining us for our wine dinners and for sharing such wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear this one stood out as your favorite. It's always exciting to hear when certain dishes resonate, and we'll definitely keep your suggestion in mind as we plan future menus. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for more memorable meals!

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  5. Cindy

    Las Vegas

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our group of ten had the most amazing experience dining at Rainbird. The chef prepared a four course meal using sweet potatoes from our farm along with a variety of sauces using our son’s sweet potato spirits. Everything was delicious and so creative. Kudos to the chef and thank you to our server, who also did an amazing job.
    RainbirdResponded on October 25, 2024
    Cindy Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your group enjoyed a memorable dining experience at Rainbird. It was a pleasure to incorporate sweet potatoes from your farm and your son's sweet potato spirits into the menu. I'll be sure to pass along your compliments to our chef and your server. We hope to welcome you and your family back soon for another creative dining experience.

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  6. Deanna

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant, amazing food, and spectacular service 💙
    RainbirdResponded on October 25, 2024
    Deanna thank you for review and rating us five stars. Have a wonderful day!

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  7. Jamie

    Los Angeles

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous flavors. Highly recommended. Everyone enjoyed.
    RainbirdResponded on November 10, 2024
    Jamie, thank you for your five-star review. Thank you for highly recommended us. Have a wonderful day!

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  8. Brenda

    Las Vegas

    31 reviews

    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We are locals and enjoy going to eat. It is open 7 days a week and they have healthy options in a pretty setting. We love the salmon.

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  9. Cheryl

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is one of the loveliest breakfast settings in Merced. The space has lots of natural light and is beautifully appointed. It's not fancy or formal in my opinion. But it does feel rather elegant, at the same time. It has lots of natural light. Service was not slow, and most attentive. Food was great, with an interesting menu. From avocado toast to chocolate chip pancakes (that was on the children's menu) to bacon and eggs. Highly recommended.
    RainbirdResponded on October 5, 2024
    Cheryl, thank you for your detail review and giving us so much praise. We appreciate your honest feedback. Have a wonderful day.

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  10. Dawn

    Salt Lake City

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 27, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time at the Rainbird. We had heard lots of good things about it before we went. Different kind of menu selections but we both found something different to eat and enjoyed it thoroughly. Had the pork chops they were thick and tender. It was so big I had to take leftovers home. Also we had the chocolate peanut butter mousse and we split it and it was plenty for the both of us. We shall return!
    RainbirdResponded on October 5, 2024
    Dawn, thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience dining with us. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Have a wonderful day!

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FAQs

Rainbird is rated 4.8 stars by 281 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 3 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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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