First time in, and we had a great meal. We put our name on and walked around for a bit since it was a bit of a wait. Once we were seated the service was excellent. We had a duo duo - the chips were perfectly salted and warm, with guac and "queso" - basically a creamy pimento cheese dip which was delicious. I had the generously-sized Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and my dining partners had a burger with fries and the ribs. They were all very good, but I think it was a tie between the ribs and the chicken sandwich for a winner. Laidback vibes - seems likes like a spot people in the neighborhood gravitate toward. read more

See all

I came back to R&D after being gone for months and months and ordered the Newporter salad once again, figuring they may have switched their "policy" not to have the salad dressing on the side, they flat out refuse to dress your salad! Huh? The manager comes over and says "that's not our policy ". What restaurant refuses to toss a dressing on a salad?! I've dined all over the world and never have encountered this at any restaurant . Never have I ever encountered a restaurant that has hard policies making the customer feel bad for asking for simple pleasures like a tossed salad! The manager and I are going back-and-forth to ask him to please toss the dressing on the salad. My 92-year-old dad was sitting there feeling uncomfortable and resentful of the restaurant. I said to that young male manager, after my dad ordered three chocolate chip cookies ( so cute) why don't you put those cookies on the house, after this horrible conversation about the salad. He said "why would I do that ". Please retrain your managers in hospitality. My previously loved Newporter salad is a disaster now. A limp salad, no dressing, with about 3/4 of a cup of frizee. A shell of its former self And the restaurant a shell its former self. There's so many amazing restaurants in Santa Monica. R& D has gone down the drain. Down below you see a $24 salad. It looks like an appetizer. Dressing on the side. With the wilty dry kale besides it on a separate plate. I strongly suggest trying the divine Wally's in Santa Monica. Or Gjelina in Venice. Don't waste a dime at R&D Kitchen and probably not at the other Hillstone restaurants either. Their staff needs to take a strong lesson from Danny Meyer who owns Sweet Greens & Shake Shack. He's the king of hospitality. read more

R+D Kitchen - They just brought some kale for me to mix into my own undressed salad. - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

This is a true Californian coastal restaurant with a fun, social scene. Reservations are strongly suggested any day of the week because they are known for their Happy Hour and regular menu. On the evening that we arrived, we placed a reservation knowing that we would still have to wait and we had hoped for a seat at the bar. It was very crowded so we were able to get a drink and wait outside. The evening was lovely and we enjoyed paople watching until we were seated. Service was good and our food arrived fresh and at the right temperature. It was a fun evening and the neighborhood is also really nice to check out before or after the meal. read more

See all

4.5/5 Great service, tasty food, and amazing drinks. Love that it's so close to home. The vibe is cozy and perfect for a date night. Definitely one of our favorite neighborhood spots! read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

I hadn't updated my review of R+D Kitchen since 2022 but have gone there several times this year and last, and it's time for an update! Today my bff and I had lunch here (we walked in at the perfect time as they do not take reservations) and arrived around 12:30. The restaurant was crowded but we got a comfy booth. When we left at 1:45 there were still people waiting outside. Today we both had the Louie Salad, which is the same salad served at South Beverly Grill, one of my favorite restaurants. SBG and R+D are sister restaurants so the salad was exactly the same one. The shrimp were extra large, extra fresh and accompanied by beautiful ripe tomatoes and avocado with a yummy Thousand Island dressing and a Cafe Vinaigrette. This is one of the best salads that I have had lately. It came with delicious toast too. Our server was outstanding and I'm happy to be writing this update! read more

Love the new porter salad and the beef burger, really delicious and great ambiance inside :)

GET THE SMOKED ALBACORE dip, do it! It's soooo good the salting crackers are the perfect combo. I also ordered the shrimp it came Ruth cause of melted butter delicious! Couldn't get enough. I ordered the cheeseburger - this is their popular item on the menu they prepare the meat every morning for that days business. It took about 25 minutes for a table but we grabbed a glass of wine while we waited. Our waiter was very friendly, cheerful and helpful. It's perfect for family- kid friendly, large parties and date nights. I would definitely return for the apps and burger. I'm certain everything on the menu is just as great as what I ordered. read more

See all

R&D Kitchen never disappoints. The chicken sandwich was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and the Chinese noodle salad was fresh and delicious. Great food, great service, and a consistently enjoyable dining experience. They don't take reservations, so be prepared for a wait during busy times--but it's well worth it. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

It's impossible to have a bad experience ant any Hillstone Group restaurant. The food is consistently good. The service is top notch. The hosts are friendly and attentive. The managers chip in to make this well oiled machine run perfectly. When ever mistakes are made -- rarely, but we're all human (for now) -- they are quickly resolved and complimentary hors d'oeuvre, cocktails, or cookies are offered as recompense. That's customer service. Incredible. Also, the soundtrack is great too. Get the ribs! read more

My son and I had a good time. Both the service and food were excellent. We have never been disappointed at R + D.

Love R&D. The food is consistently great. Really good service and a lively atmosphere. The seared Ahi salad, the Ahi tuna burger, and the veggie burger are all amazing! And the carrot cake is a must have. A++ read more

Great food overall, efficient/attentive service, and cozy ambiance. Great for either casual or date vibes. read more

R+D Kitchen - Dings Crispy Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

R+D epitomizes the worst of West LA dining. It's a total buzzkill to get a seat and I was served a horrible Negroni (the alcohol was so cheap it burned my throat). Service is also the bare minimum. That being said, the beef ribs are LIFE CHANGING. So...go at your own risk? read more

You have to go here. Casual or fancy. You can choose the vibe. They have a classic bar menu that can be a classy dinner. Sit and enjoy. The service is respectful and fun. You will feel like you are special and that's why you went out to spend your bucks, right? Oh, and it's cashless only. So if you don't want the government to know where you ate, make someone else pay. read more

See all

We had a nice evening. The staff was kind and friendly. The food was ok, but the menu was small and didn't have much variety on it. The cocktails were ok. The cookies were really tasty. Fresh out of the oven. With so many great restaurants nearby, this wouldn't be on my must return list. read more

See all

My girlfriend and I had lunch here today around 2:15 PM. About two hours later, both of us started experiencing stomach pain. Our meals were very simple--mine was the coconut chicken curry, and hers was a tuna salad. We called the restaurant to report what happened and spoke to the male manager on duty. Instead of addressing the concern directly, he told me he would "check if anyone else called in with similar complaints" and then get back to me. That response was honestly surprising and disappointing. As a customer, I expected more accountability and concern--not to be told you'll wait and see if others also got sick. This experience left a bad impression, both in terms of the food and the way the situation was handled. read more

Ugggh. What a lousy cheeseburger. Mushy. Huge in height to visually impress, and difficult to physically eat, oozing all over the place, developing into a wet mess. Tasteless except for the pickles. What a struggle. I finally gave up 2/3 through. I realized I was forcing myself to eat it just to have something in my stomach. So then we ordered two so-called French fries. They are hardened little chips. None of the five of us at our table could stand them, and that included my grandson who normally likes crispier fries. He tried cutting 2 or 3 of them with a knife, and couldn't. I could tell my husband was very so-so about his salad. My daughter-in-law liked her Asian noodle salad though. My grandson liked his plain hamburger on a bare bun - how ridiculously basic. My son liked his pasta. At this point, we all decided on no dessert because the batting average was so low. Obviously, not coming back. read more

I LOVE this restaurant ! It is an experience I didn't want to end. in fact, I was jealous of all those first entering. When you walk in, the ambiance is sui generis with few places coming close to the scene. I was there before it became the scene too. The decor is top notch: the art on the wall, lighting, background music, buzzy breeziness!! Them we were seated, with next to no wait time, we were served by the WONDERFUL Lauryn. she was well humored, beautifully smiled, extremely knowledgeable and was part of what made the evening! Different staff came to deliver different items which was a great sense of team work and specialists. I ordered the knife and fork Ahi sandwich: excellent and a generous size. it did not taste overly "fishy"! I did not want the evening yo end, but I have to say it provided me with a lasting memory of a great evening! read more

We went to this place with my wife and our 14-month-old son. When we arrived, the hostess led us to our table, and we ordered our food. After that, we asked for a high chair for our son and were told that they do not provide high chairs, as it is their policy. If children are not welcome in your restaurant, please make that clear to customers when they arrive with a child. It would help families avoid an uncomfortable situation read more

Been coming here for about twenty years and like all restaurants, prices go up and portions seem to get smaller. Today I got the Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich. It comes out the same stacked high in three slices. Everything is the same, but it was a small piece of chicken.(lucky if it was 5oz) One slice basically just had the slaw, tomato and cheese. I don't mind the increased in prices because I understand the cost of food is always going up. But don't skimp on the portion. read more

I seriously love this place -- it's always good, but tonight was extra great. We walked in around 7:30 and were told the wait would be about 20 minutes. It ended up being closer to 40, but as soon as they noticed, they brought us a free appetizer to make up for it, which was really nice of them. We grabbed drinks, split a salad, and both ordered the crispy chicken sandwich (my favorite -- it never disappoints). My boyfriend was really excited to get the beef ribs, but by the time we sat down, they were already sold out and he was SO bummed. Our waitress, Lexie S., was seriously amazing. She could tell how disappointed he was, and somehow she found one last beef rib in the kitchen and brought it out for him. It was such a thoughtful thing to do and honestly made our night. We finished with the warm chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk -- so good and the perfect ending. The food here is consistently amazing, the chicken sandwich stays undefeated, and everyone was so kind and helpful tonight. We'll definitely be back (as always). read more

We were seated so fast even without reservation and dinner time. Maybe we got lucky but we def was seated at a great spot in corner. One quick observation is that it is quite dark in here to make the sort of café, looking like place look a bit more romantic. Lighting is so important and I think they really did a good job at it. It's not a very upscale dressing place, but you could if you want. Service was very attentive and so very friendly. Everybody had a beautiful smile on their beautiful faces and the food came out just a tad bit slow so they gave us another cup of fries on the house. The fries are so good, but I wish the portion was bigger for the price of it. I got the Asian noodle salad, which was just supreme and so good with the dressing toss in it. The chicken sandwich is so good and is a must try for every newcomer because the chicken is so moist!! We will be back even though the bill was about $100 with just a soda, no alcohol in bill. I don't know how that happened! read more

R+D Kitchen - Asian Chicken & Noodle Salad - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I've eaten here for 10+ years. Well over 100 times. SERVICE: If you're looking for great service, then keep moving along... Service here has been getting worse & worse, year-over-year. It's disappointing... Sad really. The bar-staff do a great job at "avoidance" techniques. They'd rather talk to one another than engage with their customers. And when you finally engage the bar-staff, it's like pulling teeth to get any genuine dialog. Want a drink refill? Be prepared to ask repeatedly. FOOD: The ingredients are very basic. Certainly GMO and processed. They do, however, do a good job at making (what starts out as sub-par quality) the food taste good. Presentation is always nice. Consistency of food taste is solid. PRICE: Every time I eat here, it comes to ~ $100.00/person + Tip. That's a lot of coin to spend for the aforementioned... FEEDBACK: I've tried to contact George Biel (CEO of Hillstone Restaurant Group, the Parent Company of R+D Kitchen) and also provide feedback to John (Manager of R+D on Montana in Santa Monica), to no avail. I've yet to receive a call back from either person. THOUGHTS: It's sad how the "art" of Customer Service is all-but-dead. I would know too: I've owned a number of retail establishments focused on the high-end/luxury sector. R+D's current formula will ultimately result in a Sum-Net-Zero output. The staff consistently comes off with an air of entitlement and make patrons feel like they are bothering them. What a shame... THE BAR IS SET LOW: If you don't mind disingenuous conversations (with Restaurant Staff) whilst experiencing a sub-par atmosphere, then this place should be OK with you. Ps. the only reason for 2 Stars (vs. 1) is that the food has been consistent for 10+ years read more

I want to start by saying that I genuinely wanted to like this place. The ambience is nice, prices are reasonable, and the food looks fresh. Unfortunately, the service made the experience uncomfortable enough that I couldn't stay. I am a person of color, and from the moment I walked in, I felt unwelcome. This wasn't imagined or exaggerated--the tone and behavior directed toward me were noticeably different from what I observed with other patrons who were not people of color. When I arrived at R+D, there was no line. I approached the host stand and was greeted coldly, with a forced smile and a curt "How may I help you?" I asked for a table for one and was seated. The dining room itself was clean, cozy, and well-lit. Shortly after sitting down, my server arrived and offered a drink. I asked what kind of ginger ale they carried; she said she wasn't sure but could show me the bottle. When she returned, I placed my dinner order (roast chicken) along with a sparkling water. I asked her name so I could address her properly--she said "Sydney," followed by a stiff smile and a glance back toward the host stand. At the time, I couldn't fully place what felt off, but the interaction was undeniably strange. My entrée arrived very quickly--within about five minutes--and it looked great. However, before I had taken a single bite, another server came to my table and told me she would be taking over. There was no explanation, no introduction, and no handoff from my original server. Sydney continued serving other tables, so this was not a break or shift change. That sudden switch, without context, was unsettling. A few minutes later, the manager (John, I believe) came by and asked if everything was okay. At that point, I told him I would like the check and explained that I felt uncomfortable and unwelcome. He apologized and offered to comp the meal, pack it to go, or let me stay and enjoy it. I declined, explaining that I wouldn't feel comfortable eating there given the experience. He apologized again, spoke briefly with the host, and left. In the end, I was not allowed to pay the bill, and I left without eating. This review isn't about free food or a misunderstanding--it's about how being treated differently, without explanation, can make a guest feel singled out and unwelcome. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and reflects on how guests are made to feel from the moment they walk in. read more

Came here Sunday 1130 and was seated immediately. Staff was very nice and service was efficient. The dining room is nice, it does get crowded but people are enjoying their meals here. We had the crispy chicken sandwich which is cut into 3 so it's pretty big, also the sunny side was perfect- a waffle topped with ham and sunny side up egg. The chicken and noodle salad was very nicely dressed with a delicious peanut dressing with mango! Will definitely be back. read more

See all

The Mediterranean salad with seared ahi tuna was great. Will order again. Service was excellent. Will go again.

this is the second time I have been here to have dinner and they have been out of soul on a first day available at 4:15 PM

I truly enjoy dining here for the chicken spaghetti; the sauce is incredibly delicious and flavorful. The restaurant is always bustling, creating a lively atmosphere. It's very clean, the server is wonderfully friendly, and the location is incredibly convenient, just around the corner from Louis Vuitton with a parking structure directly across the street. I appreciate the quick and friendly service, perfect for a fast meal. read more

R+D Kitchen - Chicken salad - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Have eaten here only a couple of times. Ambiance is great, but menu is a bit limited. I ordered a cheeseburger medium, and it came out rare. I should have sent it back. What followed, a couple of hours later, was a MAJOR episode of food poisoning that kept me up all night. It was awful. Will never go back there, which is a shame because I live in the neighborhood. read more

Food and service Allways a hit ! Never a miss. Same with the food always on point and you know what you are expecting to get every time .... Staple for Los Angeles ! I love eating at all locations read more

R+D Kitchen - Thai Asian noodle salad - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The food is outstanding - they are in a neighborhood of spoiled people so this is necessary :-) ambience is great as well - everyone is so good looking, lol. Including the wait staff. Very busy place for a reason. read more

Great atmosphere, professional staff, and delicious food! Highly recommend. We all got the cheeseburger and fries, fresh and tasty. read more

R+D Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

We've often driven by and seen the long wait. Curious, we'd explored the menu and then put off going for years. Finally visited and had a good time. Decent food with lively atmosphere and attentive and friendly service. read more

R+D Kitchen - Meatloaf - the glaze was a bit too sweet - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Terrible!! Worst salmon I've ever had Inedible and disgusting Bad service No waffles Omelette cold We were comped, but, it didn't make up for bad experience. Don't know how it could b so bad!! Susan Salomon read more

We've been to R&D Kitchen many times over the years, but after our last experience we won't be returning. We waited a little over an hour to be seated, which is normal here since they don't take reservations and only operate on a waitlist. That part wasn't an issue. After we sat down, we ordered drinks and told our waitress we just wanted a few smaller bites (fries, etc.). She initially took the order, but then came back a few minutes later and told us that this is a "full dining experience" and that everyone at the table has to order an entrée. This has never once been communicated to us before, despite many visits where we've ordered anything from just drinks to full meals without issue. So we ordered an entrée. We chose the omelette, which was honestly terrible. It came out faster than our drinks and was cold, which made it pretty obvious it had been sitting there. It also tasted like fake eggs. We continued ordering drinks and spent about an hour and a half at the table. At one point we noticed our waitress standing behind the register talking with the manager while looking over toward our table. We clocked the conversation because it seemed clear they were discussing us. A few moments later the manager came over and told us we needed to leave soon because they needed the table (we saw no one waiting by host)... The issue was that no other tables around us were being told this, even though several had clearly been sitting there longer than we had. At that point our waitress had essentially stopped communicating with us altogether. Without asking if we were finished or if we needed anything else, she slapped down the check on the table without saying a word and walked away. The service from her was honestly terrible and completely lacking any sense of hospitality. To be fair, the manager seemed like he was trying to be polite and we don't have anything personal against him. But during the conversation he kept repeating that he had "made an exception for us," saying it over and over again. The way it was framed felt patronizing and dismissive -- almost like we were supposed to feel grateful instead of acknowledging that we were the only table being pushed out. It created a strange feeling of being gaslit about what was clearly happening, especially since other tables around us were allowed to stay. What makes it even more frustrating is that everyone at the table still spent about $70 each, so it's not like we were just sitting there taking up space. We used to enjoy coming here and had been loyal customers, but between the cold food, the poor service from our waitress, and being singled out and rushed out of our table, this experience completely changed our impression of the place. There are simply too many good restaurants in Santa Monica to deal with that kind of service. Choose elsewhere. read more

One of the best restaurant experiences you can get in all of Los Angeles. My wife and I come here regularly and it never disappoints.

We had the best time at R&D Kitchen on Friday night! The food, the atmosphere and the service were all outstanding. We will be back! Thanks again! read more

Amazing food and vibes. R+D is part of the Hillstone family and you can tell because the menu is very similar. The crispy chicken sandwich is famous and I can see why. An order comes with three large pieces and can be easily split amongst two. The chicken is perfectly fried, the sesame bun is golden and fluffy and I truly savored every bite. The menu is pretty small and everything sounds really rich - even the salads! Definitely come hungry and ready for some hearty eats. The space is warm and inviting and there is a large bar area that seems to be crowded at all times of day. This is a sceney spot with great food and was the perfect pick for lunch. You cannot go wrong! read more

See all

This is such a fun place once you get inside it's so lively. It took us about 25 minutes to get seated. It's a neighborhood gem full of people and great food. The food is always great here no matter what you order. We decided to order the banana cream pie and hot chocolate chip cookie which both were so incredibly good. Melted in my mouth! Service was engaging and attentive. read more

See all

No reservations. Part of the Houston's restaurant group. Cannot go wrong with Ding's crispy fried chicken sandwich. More variety in the menu and flavors because duh they are Research and Development. read more

R+D Kitchen - Dings Crispy - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all