Reinero's

Michelle Black

We had the Eggs Benedict with bacon and gravlax. We are never disappointed with our choices at Rainbirds.. The staff is always kind and courteous. Our drinks are always topped off. Highly recommended!!

Google User Tf

Very nice place. Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, and great service. Lilly was out waitress and she was delightful. We got the Mediterranean platter and ten risotto. Definitely recommend and we will be back. Don't break anything else Lilly. Lol.

Ziwang Long

I recently visited Rainbird in Merced, a restaurant that not only serves thoughtfully prepared dishes but also offers a beautifully designed interior ✨ with elegant plating 🍽️. 📸 Dishes Ordered: 1. Crispy Duck Confit (pic 1) 🦆 The duck leg quarters are slowly cooked in duck fat until tender and rich in flavor. The savory depth of the duck is beautifully balanced by the sweet grilled peach 🍑, earthy beet purée ❤️, and honey ricotta 🍯. Pairing the duck meat with one or more sides created a true melody of flavors—complex yet harmonious 🎶. 2. Foraged Wild Mushroom Risotto (pic 2) 🍄 This dish celebrates mushrooms at their best. The tender, bouncy texture of the foraged mushrooms combined with the umami-rich flavor made every bite deeply satisfying 🤤. The creamy rice and cheese 🧀 brought everything together for a comforting yet elevated risotto. 3. Fried Oysters (pic 3) 🦪 Crispy and golden, these oysters were enjoyable but didn’t quite reach the level of creativity and depth found in the other two dishes. A solid starter, but less memorable. ✨ Verdict: Rainbird offers a refined dining experience in Merced that feels special, from its aesthetic ambiance 🌸 to its carefully crafted entrées. If you’re passing through, this is a spot worth stopping for 🙌. Ratings: • Tastiness: 8.5/10 😋 • Price Appropriateness: 8/10 💵 • Portion Size: 7/10 🍴 • Overall Experience: 8/10 🌟

Pelton Farr IV

I went to the lunch time and it is a very ekegant atmosphere. Very relaxed at the same time as far as dress. Prices for the lunch are in line with most restaurants.But this definitely gives you an upscale feel. Tried the hamburger and the hanger steak sandwich. Would definitely say the hamburger was amazing & the steak was good. Definitely a place I would go again. I am interested returning to try their dinner menu.

Nicole Youkhaneh

Came here to celebrate birthday with husband and friends. We enjoyed a five course tasting menu that was an adventure in every bite. Service was superb and attentive to every detail. We enjoyed everything but their house baked bread was a game changer…we had to go home with some and talk about it to this day! I do recommend coming here if you are a foodie with an open mind to flavor pairings.

Deanna Barnes

The Rainbird was a delightful surprise on our travels. Dining here felt like an experience fit more for Beverly Hills, with its chic decor, classy ambience, impressive presentation, and creative menu options. Farm-to-table makes a real difference in taste, not just in health, as everything down to the sweet potatoes and thick-cut bacon was more flavorful than other upscale restaurants I’ve been to who don’t choose to source locally. The portions were generous and the service was stellar: attentive, friendly and prompt (thank you, Kao!!). I look forward to making this a regular stop.

Erin Milnik

We had a wonderful dinner experience at Rainbird. The Halibut with the chorizo oil was delicious and we both especially enjoyed the fresh sourdough bread course with sunflower butter, fresh honey comb, and ricotta - sooo good! Everything was prepared and presented beautifully and the flavors were all very well executed. We did the wine pairing that went along with each course and also enjoyed cocktails at the end of our dessert course, which were both delicious and yet again, beautifully presented. If I only had one critique, it would be that our wine pairing wasn’t always poured prior to plating. Other than that, it was a fantastic experience.

Ronald Evans

A true Michelin experience in downtown Merced. Took my brother here for his 21st birthday. $400 for 3 people including drinks. When I tell you each bite has flavors that picky “with their food people” all of the sudden are foodies. Me personally, was truly amazed. Fine dining can be intimidating. But the Raindbird has exceptional service that gives you a comfortable and special experience. Each plate had like a poem upon presentation. Rainbird will most likely get a Michelin Star in the future. If you love yourself or anyone, go to Rainbird.

Ramona V Ramos

My first visit was met with excellent service and the staff were so welcoming. Eggs Benedict hollandaise was kissed with the right amount of lemon. The menu is still calling me back.

Jenny

I wish I could give this restaurant a 10 out of 5 star rating. The tasting course was to die for and completely unexpected in terms of fantastic (and knowledgeable) service, top-quality food and drinks, and overall relaxed vibes. I will ABSOLUTELY go back! HIGHLY recommend. Update: Went back for their brunch, and it did not disappoint! The food was absolutely delicious and the presentation made it feel like a luxurious experience.

Amber Flores

My husband and I decided to attend a special 5-course dining experience here, featuring Chef Tu David Phu and Executive Chef Quentin Garcia. It was amazing! The food was exceptional and unexpected, the atmosphere was great for a date night and the service was spot-on. We will definitely do something like this again. It's so nice having something like this in the Central Valley. It's pricey but worth it!

My daughter took me for a belated Valentine’s dinner due to her work schedule. We were seated promptly for our reservation. Drinks were served quickly and never ran out. Food was out with 15 minutes. Waitress was very sweet and friendly as were the rest of the staff. Food was very tasty. I had the salmon and my daughter had the duck. Perfect portions. Highly recommended this lovely restaurant.

This restaurant is the absolute truth. A standing ovation for the chef and staff. Every dish is prepared to perfection with elegant presentation. Taste and texture prevail!!! This is always my first stop in Merced. Please never cease to articulate this culinary excellence!!!

Quaint upscale restaurant located in the el capitan hotel. I had the bone in chicken breast served with the delicious risotto. Server was kind and paid attention to detail. Dirt martini with blue cheese olives 👌🏼

Well-appointed restaurant with great food and service. Relaxed setting. Good place to catch up with friends over good food and drinks. Many vegetarian/vegan options. I had a salad while my friend had a grain bowl. Both were so good! I'd definitely come back!

Samantha

Quaint upscale restaurant located in the el capitan hotel. I had the bone in chicken breast served with the delicious risotto. Server was kind and paid attention to detail. Dirt martini with blue cheese olives 👌🏼

Elizabeth Zdradzinski

Well-appointed restaurant with great food and service. Relaxed setting. Good place to catch up with friends over good food and drinks. Many vegetarian/vegan options. I had a salad while my friend had a grain bowl. Both were so good! I'd definitely come back!

Well to start, the restaurant is beautiful, sophisticated and nice mood lighting. You can definitely tell a lot of planning went into this spot. Service was excellent and like nothing you will find in Merced. Drinks, also excellent and well crafted. These are the good points, however I'm still trying to wrap my head around the food. For 85 dollars just felt like it lacked content and didn't have any 'meat on the bones.' and the salt content, as others have mentioned, was outrageous on two of the dishes. The squash blossoms and the halibut. Two dishes had shrimp and crab but trying to find any of these ingredients in the dishes proved challenging. The pumpkin dish was also very mediocre. You're starving from the first two dishes and then you are given a 5 LB butter soaked loaf of bread with some tasty accompaniments but the bread was just way to heavy for me. Then when the main dish halibut came it was super tiny and a salt bomb. I really should have said something at the beginning but I just kept eating it because I was starving :] I mentioned something at the end... if anyone else had complained about the salt but didn't receive a response. Not sure if I will return. I expected more substance and dishes that had a bit more wow but for me it felt a bit flat, especially at $160 a person. But give it a try and let me know what your thoughts are.

Christophertravelz

Well to start, the restaurant is beautiful, sophisticated and nice mood lighting. You can definitely tell a lot of planning went into this spot. Service was excellent and like nothing you will find in Merced. Drinks, also excellent and well crafted. These are the good points, however I'm still trying to wrap my head around the food. For 85 dollars just felt like it lacked content and didn't have any 'meat on the bones.' and the salt content, as others have mentioned, was outrageous on two of the dishes. The squash blossoms and the halibut. Two dishes had shrimp and crab but trying to find any of these ingredients in the dishes proved challenging. The pumpkin dish was also very mediocre. You're starving from the first two dishes and then you are given a 5 LB butter soaked loaf of bread with some tasty accompaniments but the bread was just way to heavy for me. Then when the main dish halibut came it was super tiny and a salt bomb. I really should have said something at the beginning but I just kept eating it because I was starving :] I mentioned something at the end... if anyone else had complained about the salt but didn't receive a response. Not sure if I will return. I expected more substance and dishes that had a bit more wow but for me it felt a bit flat, especially at $160 a person. But give it a try and let me know what your thoughts are.

This little gem surprised us! We were staying at the El Capitan next door and stopped in for dinner. Delightful; high quality ingredients, well-made food, good flavors, great service. Lorenzo, our waiter, was lovely. Really just a delightful, intimate experience. Order the salmon with orzo!

Leigh Ann Osborne

This little gem surprised us! We were staying at the El Capitan next door and stopped in for dinner. Delightful; high quality ingredients, well-made food, good flavors, great service. Lorenzo, our waiter, was lovely. Really just a delightful, intimate experience. Order the salmon with orzo!

Jung Chen

We loved coming to this place when they were doing the tasting menu concept. It was truly a unique experience in the central valley, and the food was mostly delicious. With the current à la carte menu, the service and the food is still great, but just kind of lost the magic.

The menu was fun and unique. Overall our group had a good experience. The only qualm we had was we felt that the duck portion was too small with a subpar amount of meat. Not filling. The pork chop was delectable with a perfectly savory, sweet sauce. The ravioli was creamy and full of flavor. The service was also amazing! Our group accidentally stayed after close and they were super accommodating!

We decided to drive an hour to come here for brunch, drawn by the intriguing menu. The overall experience was good, and the price point of $38 per person certainly offers value for money. **Dishes Reviewed**: - **Grits**: Enjoyed the quality of cheese, pancetta, and the creamy texture. However, it was incredibly heavy and could use some acid to balance the richness. The greens were too stringy and had to be picked out. - **Pancake**: A very good pancake with delicious syrup. Would have preferred a simple high quality grass-fed butter over thyme butter. - **Eggs Benedict**: An interesting departure from the classic, with an excellent gravlax. The brioche and hollandaise were areas of contention, with the former having an odd texture and the latter missing the traditional buttery flavor. I think the interpretation of the Hollandaise is acceptable, but I think the brioche has to go. - **Pomme Rosti**: The skirt steak was fantastic, perfectly cooked with a luscious marinade. However, the dish itself didn't meet expectations in terms of its traditional recipe and the taste of chorizo. I probably just wouldn't call it a rosti so that the expectations are different. - **Malted Beignets**: A standout dish with a soft fluffy interior and a crunchy exterior. Could use more honey and jam on the plate. But, a truly exceptionally execution. - **Stroop Waffle**: Fine, but lacked sweetness and could benefit from more syrup or honey. - **House Made Bacon**: Quality meat sourced but the preparation was disappointing. Felt more like an afterthought than a culinary experience. I think there's a chance to turn this into a signature dish that people just come for, but as of now it should be consideration to take it off the menu. - **Duck Fat Fries**: The confit preparation made them dense. Would benefit from a triple cooking process for a better texture. Huge disappointment. **Ambiance and Service**: The restaurant boasts a gorgeous setting and the service is attentive. While there are a few highlights on the menu, the food feels like it's in the midst of finding its identity. Well it's not a closed door for visiting here again, it'll probably be a little while before we come again.

Lillian Rhinehart

The menu was fun and unique. Overall our group had a good experience. The only qualm we had was we felt that the duck portion was too small with a subpar amount of meat. Not filling. The pork chop was delectable with a perfectly savory, sweet sauce. The ravioli was creamy and full of flavor. The service was also amazing! Our group accidentally stayed after close and they were super accommodating!

Mike Guidry

We decided to drive an hour to come here for brunch, drawn by the intriguing menu. The overall experience was good, and the price point of $38 per person certainly offers value for money. **Dishes Reviewed**: - **Grits**: Enjoyed the quality of cheese, pancetta, and the creamy texture. However, it was incredibly heavy and could use some acid to balance the richness. The greens were too stringy and had to be picked out. - **Pancake**: A very good pancake with delicious syrup. Would have preferred a simple high quality grass-fed butter over thyme butter. - **Eggs Benedict**: An interesting departure from the classic, with an excellent gravlax. The brioche and hollandaise were areas of contention, with the former having an odd texture and the latter missing the traditional buttery flavor. I think the interpretation of the Hollandaise is acceptable, but I think the brioche has to go. - **Pomme Rosti**: The skirt steak was fantastic, perfectly cooked with a luscious marinade. However, the dish itself didn't meet expectations in terms of its traditional recipe and the taste of chorizo. I probably just wouldn't call it a rosti so that the expectations are different. - **Malted Beignets**: A standout dish with a soft fluffy interior and a crunchy exterior. Could use more honey and jam on the plate. But, a truly exceptionally execution. - **Stroop Waffle**: Fine, but lacked sweetness and could benefit from more syrup or honey. - **House Made Bacon**: Quality meat sourced but the preparation was disappointing. Felt more like an afterthought than a culinary experience. I think there's a chance to turn this into a signature dish that people just come for, but as of now it should be consideration to take it off the menu. - **Duck Fat Fries**: The confit preparation made them dense. Would benefit from a triple cooking process for a better texture. Huge disappointment. **Ambiance and Service**: The restaurant boasts a gorgeous setting and the service is attentive. While there are a few highlights on the menu, the food feels like it's in the midst of finding its identity. Well it's not a closed door for visiting here again, it'll probably be a little while before we come again.

Came out here for a birthday dinner. Cute little place a different vibe from what I expected. Bruschetta was delicious I enjoyed it very much. We also ordered the fried oyster for appetizer to my surprise it was disgusting. was over powered with popcorn salt on top of the aioli sauce. oyster were presented on a messy bed of dead bitter leafy greens, sandy, gritty and just gross! This is to blame for my high blood pressure. The burger was really bland /boring & over priced I've had better. $50 steak was OK, overprice. Our server was attentive and nice. However I felt robbed and will not return.

RealLo Dorl

Came out here for a birthday dinner. Cute little place a different vibe from what I expected. Bruschetta was delicious I enjoyed it very much. We also ordered the fried oyster for appetizer to my surprise it was disgusting. was over powered with popcorn salt on top of the aioli sauce. oyster were presented on a messy bed of dead bitter leafy greens, sandy, gritty and just gross! This is to blame for my high blood pressure. The burger was really bland /boring & over priced I've had better. $50 steak was OK, overprice. Our server was attentive and nice. However I felt robbed and will not return.

Rainbird is a stunning restaurant, the nicest in Merced, CA. I especially appreciate the fresh atmosphere and focus on local art and locally sourced food. The grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup on the lunch menu are delicious. At first, this lunch was reasonably priced at $12.50 in 2024 after their menu “redesign” in which they advertised more reasonable prices. Unfortunately the price of this sandwich and cup of soup has risen to $16 in just 1 year. This was my favorite meal to eat out in Merced and it’s disappointing that they did not stay true to the advertised lower prices at lunch time. The price increase means I won’t be able to visit as often as I’d like to. Additionally, on one occasion I was charged $18 for a singular plain nonalcoholic mocktail at lunch hour which is absurd. It was just soda water and fruit flavor with a raspberry. Being over charged that much for a beverage with zero alcohol and that they reverted back to higher prices after a promised more affordable lunch menu has left a bitter taste in my mouth of Rainbird which is sad because I enjoyed dining there. Overall, for the above reasons, the experience has felt very inconsistent which makes me not want to return :(

Review MaGee

Rainbird is a stunning restaurant, the nicest in Merced, CA. I especially appreciate the fresh atmosphere and focus on local art and locally sourced food. The grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup on the lunch menu are delicious. At first, this lunch was reasonably priced at $12.50 in 2024 after their menu “redesign” in which they advertised more reasonable prices. Unfortunately the price of this sandwich and cup of soup has risen to $16 in just 1 year. This was my favorite meal to eat out in Merced and it’s disappointing that they did not stay true to the advertised lower prices at lunch time. The price increase means I won’t be able to visit as often as I’d like to. Additionally, on one occasion I was charged $18 for a singular plain nonalcoholic mocktail at lunch hour which is absurd. It was just soda water and fruit flavor with a raspberry. Being over charged that much for a beverage with zero alcohol and that they reverted back to higher prices after a promised more affordable lunch menu has left a bitter taste in my mouth of Rainbird which is sad because I enjoyed dining there. Overall, for the above reasons, the experience has felt very inconsistent which makes me not want to return :(