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Rainbird, Merced, CA

Rainbird

4.8
4.8
315 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 7 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Good for business meals
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

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Evan Morrison

Experiences

  • 4-course Wine Dinner

    US$125.00 per person

    14 Apr 2025 only
    4-course Wine Dinner featuring J Vineyards & Winery

What 315 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
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Overall

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Food

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Service

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Ambience

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Value

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Great for brunch

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Innovative

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rainbird is a standout dining destination in Merced, offering "exquisite and delicious" food with a "serene" atmosphere. Guests enjoy creative dishes like Chilean Sea Bass and duck confit, complemented by "exceptional" service. The ambiance is "beautifully appointed" with attention to detail. Rainbird is "a treasure of Merced," perfect for special occasions.

315 Reviews
  1. Vanessa

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I am so happy we gave Rainbird another try, the food was excellent!

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  2. Lee

    San Francisco4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food, ambience, and service were predictably excellent. Our server, Savannah, was tremendous, as usual. Attentive but not intrusive. We were celebrating a birthday and anniversary. It WAS special.

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  3. Michael

    Central Coast2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 28 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Reservations via OpenTable worked like a charm. Staff were friendly & attentive. Food arrived reasonably quick, was hot well presented. Ribeyes were cooked to order & delicious. A little pricey, not for the budget diner.

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  4. Lynn

    Yosemite1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 20 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was tasty and the server was attentive. Will definitely be back.

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  5. Katie

    San Joaquin1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 18 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It’s nice to see downtown merced is adding some really nice places to go. The hotel is very nice and rainbird was very good. The ambiance and decor felt like we were on the coast. The service was excellent and so was the food. We will be back. Katie

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  6. Catherine

    San Joaquin4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    Made res a week in advance. Seating was at 1:45. We were promptly told by our server, Dayan that we had to put our order in by 2:00. So we rushed to do so, still no water or drink order taken. Person in our party gad gone to RR. When she returned, was told too late to put her order in!! Food arrived, still no drinks or water and 2 of us with no utensils. Friend went to Native Son for food! Check came, told we could only split 2 ways, not 3!! Dayan was rude, service horrible. Food ok. Disappointed.

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  7. Lori

    Seattle3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our dinner was delicious. The steak was seasoned and cooked perfectly, the chicken was delicious. The asparagus was cooked perfectly. It is so nice to have another great restaurant in Merced. We look forward to returning to The Rainbird!!!

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  8. David

    San Francisco31 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    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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  9. Rocio

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    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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  10. Mariah

    San Joaquin1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 12 February 2025

    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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FAQs

Rainbird is rated 4.8 stars by 315 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 7 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Rainbird

609 W Main St, Merced, CA 95340

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Evan Morrison
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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