We had a wonderful dinner last evening with two of our friends celebrating my best friends…read morebirthday. Thank you to Lily for outstanding service and to the team for surprising the birthday boy with the cake that we brought to the restaurant. Food was amazing service outstanding we felt very special.

We chose Rainbird for our Galentine's celebration on Sunday, 2-15-26. We had reservations at 12:30…read morepm. We were met by the greeter who proceeded to tell us to wait to be seated. The restaurant was not very busy and it took almost 20 mins just to be seated at our table. We then took our place at the table and we waited another 10-15 mins for someone to wait on us. We kindly flagged the young male server there and asked him if he could get our server to assist us. The young female server finally came out to assist us - she was not very welcoming but proceeded to take our drink order. It took almost 15 minutes to get our mimosas and water. She did not greet us, inquiry if it was our first time there or gave us suggestions on the menu. She then proceeded to take our order which took a while to get our food. The plus - everyone enjoyed our meals from the way they were prepared to the ingredients. No one ever came to our table and gave us any water nor did they ask for a refill on our drinks. During this time I peeked around the corner and saw staff just sitting in the back talking to one another. I tried to keep the experience positive for my group of friends but they were also growing concerned about the lack of hospitality. The lunch schedule was only until 2 pm but because of Rainbird's delay in seating us, taking our drink orders as well as the slight delay we felt we were now being rushed to finish our lunch, I also wanted to celebrate our friend's birthday and I brought a cake - the server proceeded to tell me it would be a $5 charge per person if I cut the cake there. She did offer to bring a complimentary dessert for our guest of honor. In my opinion, due to the service we were not receiving the cake fee should have been at least discounted or offset due to the lackluster enthusiasm and service. As we were trying to finish our lunch and take pictures at this beautiful establishment we could see the "side eyes" of staff rushing to get us out the door. I am a firm believer of supporting small businesses in Merced since I was born and raised there and let's face it - Merced has very limited fine dining and we wanted to do something nice for us. In order for small businesses to thrive in this town they need our consumerism to stay in business. As I read from all the exemplary reviews on this platform we unfortunately had a very bad experience with this lovely establishment. A group of us came from Madera so that we could meet our gals from Merced as a middle location. Needless to say we were very disappointed with the service as well as the treatment we received from Rainbird. Next year we will choose another location for our next gathering. Please do better Rainbird.

We visited this gem on our first visit to Merced. We were in the mood for some great beer and pizza…read moreand our amazing bar keep helped us with great recommendations! We ordered beer and walked down the street to order our pizza and bring it back. It was great to hang out and take our time while waiting for our son's next water polo game. They do a great job of keeping this place super clean. The vibe is very casual/college town - which fits since this the college is nearby! I would recommend this great place to anyone looking to stop in for a good drink and friendly barkeeper!

My favorite place to go for a cold beer. They have beer from all over on draft and in cans. If…read moreyou're a beer connoisseur and in the area stop by. Vibes are chill and they even have Pliny on draft. Oh yeah they have wine too and seltzers--and miller for you light drinkers

Bread is freshly baked and yum but not complimentary. Meatballs appetizer is tasty, comes with 4…read morebig meatballs. Combo: half salad and half sandwich are limited to a few options only. Asked the waiter if I can pay extra to select a different salad on the menu and they said No. Pasta is great, salad is average, the beet salad plate was cold, seems like it came straight from the fridge. Pizza took very long to make, it came towards the end of our meal. The waiter gave us some free fries and soups to make up the long wait time. Overall it's not a bad experience, I would go back for pasta dishes only.

We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and service at Bella Luna. My wife and I…read moreare light eaters and enjoy sharing. We started off with the steamed mussels which were excellent - large meaty mussels in a roasted tomato garlic broth. The broth was so good we both spooned it down long after the mussels were gone. This was followed by the beet salad which was the classic pairing of bitter arugula with the sweet beets. The crab and lobster ravioli as our main course didn't disappoint - lots of sweet crab and lobster meat stuffed into each ravioli, all draped with a creamy rich sauce. We topped off our meal with another classic - crunchy cannoli fingers. Mmm, good! Our friendly server gave us excellent wine service and food suggestions. The back dining room was cheerfully noisy and gave off the vibe of eating at your Italian Grandmother's house. We had a great time, highly recommended.

Stopped in with my family for lunch on Friday. When we walked in the restaurant was pretty busy and…read moreunfortunately only had one server working all positions herself. She greeted us and sat us. Then we sat looking at the menu for over 10-15minutes and she still had not returned to even get our drink order. She finally returned and apologized for the long wait. We ordered our drinks and food since we were now ready. The food took quite some time to come out. But as we were waiting we noticed the tables around us still had not received their food as well. When our food finally arrived it was really good. We ordered the buttermilk ranch Chicken Sandwich with fries / sweet potato fries, double stack burger added egg on top with fries & kids chicken tenders. Chicken sandwich was perfect. Juicy on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside. My husband enjoyed the stack burger. The restaurant was clean and had they of had a hostess & busser to help out the waitress I believe the experience would have gone better. For this I deducted 1 star.

Lunch with my son and pup here was fantastic. We sat outdoors and the courtyard in front of the…read morerestaurant is a nice space to take in the active downtown view. Our server was top notch and very well versed on the menu. They have a full bar and extensive menu. We started with the poke appetizer, which was amazingly flavorful. I was not expecting the ample amount and excellent quality of this dish. It's a must-try if you like raw fish. We also tried the bacon wrapped dates, which were awesome. The cashew nut inside is a pleasant addition. I ordered the 510 Penne for lunch and my son had the tortellini. Both were excellent. The chicken was very tender. It was a lot of food and we took some leftovers. They have a unique payment system whereby you can scan a barcode on the bill to pay your bill automatically. This was a nice touch and came in handy to pay quickly because rain was rolling in. Overall I highly enjoyed this restaurant and look forward to my next visit. There's parking nearby and it's close to lots of shops if you care to walk and shop.

Stopped in to Vista Ranch and Cellars for some wine tasting. Mark was a delight to talk to. We…read moretried quite a few and decided on the two favorites, which were the Pinot Noir and the Sparkling wine. We met several other locals and enjoyed conversation and laughs with them. The Sparkling was great!! We rarely drink sparkling, but enjoyed its flavors so much that we purchased 18 and 6 of the Pinot Noir to take back to AZ. We were told they don't ship, so guess we'll have to come back someday!!

This was a nice winery we decided to visit during our few days stay in the area. The Pinot noir was…read moregood enough to take a case home. And the sparkling wine was so good we decided to to buy a case of it. Great time sitting at the bar sampling their goods. And some really cool locals that hang here stopped by. Great place off the beaten path.

Great beer garden. Note the food is separate from the beer and cocktails as is common. The menu o…read moreline may not match the business that is serving. Right now Falaf-a-lot is on site and was excellent. We had a salad plate- 4 different salads with a pita and choice of protein (including falafel, chicken, lamb), fries were crispy with homemade ketchup on the side. And a lamb meatball pita with chips. Tasty! Beer was all good. No flights which I prefer, but good selection.

Gem of a place in Mariposa on the way to Yosemite! The Grove House is one of those special finds…read morethat makes a road trip even more memorable. They have limited hours so make sure you plan for it, and they also host events throughout the week which means live music isn't always available. The ordering process is straightforward - you place your order at the front inside and then pick it up with a buzzer outside, which works perfectly for enjoying the outdoor setting. 5/5 Tomato Soup with Half Grilled Cheese was so hearty and exactly what you need after a long drive or before heading into the mountains. The soup was the best I have had in a while, with rich tomato flavor that was perfectly seasoned and had just the right consistency. The grilled cheese was nothing too special on its own, but it paired so well with the soup, especially to warm you up in the cold. The combination is classic comfort food executed beautifully, and you really can't go wrong with this order. The Grove House is absolutely worth planning your Yosemite trip around! It's the perfect stop to fuel up before heading into the park or to unwind after a day of hiking. The combination of good food, welcoming atmosphere, and that small-town charm makes it a must-visit when you're in Mariposa. I would definitely recommend trying this place out - it seems like one of the best restaurants in the area on the way to Yosemite. I'm already looking forward to my next visit and hoping to catch one of their live music nights!

It had been a while since first tried this restaurant. They now have a full bar and that piqued my…read moreinterest. My husband started with a green salad and a glass of the Justin Cabernet. I had the strawberry limoncello spritzer and it was refreshing and perfect for a summer evening. Husband had the beef bourguignon and I had the salmon. Both were excellent! We finished with an espresso martini and the warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate and caramel! Yummy. Service from Catherine was excellent.

The Vine has such an intimate atmosphere. The interior is beautifully designed, with aesthetic…read moredecor and a stunning display of their wine selection. We ordered a variety of dishes, including the spinach and artichoke dip with cauliflower bread, fig & prosciutto tartine, mushroom & feta tartine, chorizo mac and cheese, beef bourguignon, catch of the day, and the long-range pork chop. Every single dish was a 10/10. Of course, we couldn't leave without trying dessert--we had the Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookie, butterscotch pudding, and crème brûlée, and they were all just as amazing. Our server, Vanessa, was exceptional. She guided us through the menu and drink options and gave fantastic recommendations. The cocktails were also delicious. We have no complaints and will definitely be back!

Really cute place with lots of beers, seltzers and cider on tap. The food is great too!read more

The Alley is the kind of place you almost walk past -- an unsuspecting little taproom that casually…read morehappens to serve some of the best pizza in Mariposa. It's got that low-key vibe where you're not sure what to expect, and then bam -- out comes a pizza that could easily headline a food tour. The crust is crisp, the toppings are generous, and the flavor says, "Surprise, we're not just here for the beer." It's the kind of pie you start casually and end up guarding from your friends like a raccoon protecting its last slice. But let's talk girl dinner -- the salmon, bread, and olive platter is an elegant little power move. It's light, flavorful, and just bougie enough to make you feel like you're having dinner in a hidden wine bar -- without actually having to say the words "artisanal anything." The Alley is a hidden gem with serious flavor chops. Great drinks, standout food, and a menu that swings from comfort to classy without breaking a sweat. Come for the drinks, stay for the pizza, and let the salmon platter judge no one.