History
The name Rainbird--inspired by the animal known to sing before rain--represents the bird's unique migration patterns that signal the coming of rain and a forthcoming bountiful harvest. The embodiment of California's Central Valley is captured in Merced's newest upscale restaurant concept, Rainbird, located within the historic El Capitan Hotel, open for Friday and Saturday dinner service. Each dish is crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms.
Specialties
Rainbird offers a seasonal, vegetable-forward menu with featured meats and seafood dishes. With an experimental and thought-provoking five-course tasting menu restaurant from Executive Chef Quentin Garcia, Rainbird celebrates the very best of the season, reflecting deep relationships with the community and the surrounding agricultural region. Rainbird's interiors feature rich natural textures, and soft pastoral tones like pale greens, creams and light blues. Paired with artwork sourced from California's Central Valley (such as Margaret Haden's bespoke ceramic wall sculptures and Daniel Van Gerpen's agronomy-inspired paintings), the space showcases countless odes to the region's agricultural purpose.