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Rainbird, Merced, CA

Rainbird

4.8
4.8
292 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 13 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
  • Area
    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

    USD 125.00 per person

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

What 292 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
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Best Overall

  • 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

  • Fresno / San Joaquin Valley

    Neighbourhood 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.

292 Reviews
  1. Liz

    Tahoe

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The menu over describes the food in a way that makes it sound better than it actually is: French fries over-salted, bread over-toasted, mayo spread not "aoli," more "living lettuce" (whatever that is) than bacon. My guest's meal was also not great. First time and last time to Rainbird. I was expecting greatness. Our server, Rodney, was the best part of the experience.

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  2. Amanda

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food. Get the sourdough toast! Great service.

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  3. Lee

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the fifth time that I’ve eaten at the Rainbird in probably the last six months. It is no accident. This is a very fine restaurant in all aspects.
    RainbirdResponded 4 days ago
    Lee, thank you for your loyalty we appreciate your business. We are so happy to hear we are your go to sport. Thank you again. Have a wonderful day!

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  4. Michael

    San Joaquin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice experience, Savanah was attentive and helpful in negotiating the venues. Food was top tier. We will go again.
    RainbirdResponded 4 days ago
    Michael, Thank you for your five-star review. Savannah is great thank you for leaving us feedback. We appreciate your business and hope to see you again soon. Have a wonderful day!

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  5. Clive

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 December 2024

    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 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
    RainbirdResponded 4 days ago
    Clive thank you for your review and letting us know how we are doing. We are glad to hear Faith gave you great service. She is one of our best servers. We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you again soon. Have a wonderful day!

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  6. Lee

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 9 December 2024

    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.
    RainbirdResponded 4 days ago
    Lee thank you so much for your support and taking the time letting us know how we are doing. We are thrilled to hear Gino and Faith gave great service. Thank you again for your support. We look forward to seeing you again. Have a wonderful day!

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  7. Gilbert

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 December 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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  8. Guy

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 30 November 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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  9. Dee

    VIP

    Sacramento

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 29 November 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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  10. angela

    New Orleans

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 29 November 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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FAQs

Rainbird is rated 4.8 stars by 292 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 13 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Rainbird

609 W Main St, Merced, CA 95340

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Main and M
  • Area
    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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