I've eaten at R&D Kitchen in Yountville, Dallas, and Orange County, but this update is for the Santa Monica location -- my backyard! Per their website, R&D means all locations, so I guess consistency is the whole point. Great food, top-notch service, quaint atmosphere like always. We shared the dip duo first (must order), then I got the Knife and Fork Tuna Burger -- pan-seared ahi, iceberg, red onion, tomato. It's a limited item so ask about it if you don't see it on the menu. Ahi was cooked perfectly. We also shared a housemade chocolate chip cookie for dessert -- great way to end the meal. Can't go wrong here, and glad to have one this good so close to home! read more

What a treat! During a summer in Orange County, we decided to plan a visit to LACMA and my favorite specialty boutique, Citron on Montana Ave. At Citron, we asked for a restaurant recommendation and the lovely Alex highly recommended R+D Kitchen. Thank you Alex! We loved R+D Kitchen! We lucked out on parking on Montana Ave. and were able to be seated immediately for a Sunday late lunch. Service is outstanding, with each and every staff interaction was a joy from the charming host to all servers. We had the fantastic Shrimp Louie, salad which included 4 huge, perfectly steamed shrimp and a luscious herby thousand island dressing, plus a perfectly cooked cheese omelette with Monterrey jack cheese (rather than the goat cheese). Delicious! Entrees came with a slice of toasted french-style bread which was the perfect accompaniment. I love restaurants that take special care of details, and R+D Kitchen is right there. Such comfortable seating, crispy napkins with button hole, heavy, easy to hold silverware and updated immaculate restrooms. The servers were all attired in immaculate, creative uniforms. I thought we'd have to make a trip to Montana Ave. a weekly event while we're here, but we just discovered there's an R+D Kitchen right here in Orange County, so we will definitely be trying that! read more

Stopped in for a drink w/friends and sat at the bar. Our bartender provided great customer service, was very friendly and smiled a lot!!! There are beers on tap and a great way to cool off on a hot day. Had an aperitif drink with grapefruit and loved it. It was light refreshing and the grapefruit was en excellent addi. We had an order of fries with ketchup and their own mayonnaise dip which you have to try! Their recipe is a secret so we had fun figuring out what's in it. Hadn't been to this R&D location before but thorough enjoyed it. Next time we'll order food, especially the sandwiches! read more

R+D Kitchen - Beer. Aperitif Spritzer, Beer - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This place is a gem. The vibe is friendly, the place just "classy" enough, the staff was great. The food was top notch... a burger and a salad. Sounds simple but there are many ways to screw up a burger and a salad. And there are fewer ways to knock it out of the park and they did just that. I don't think people appreciate what goes into a well-thought out salad. This was mostly a kale-based salad (I think) so they've already chosen the vegetable equivalent of making life difficult. But the size and shape and quality of the ingredients was not lost on me. The torn versus diced chicken, the large pieces of nuts, the long thin spears of apple. So you KNOW what is on your fork and what is going into your mouth and can appreciate it. What impressed me also was that when the table/booth next to us was vacated, one of the staff came over and DETAILED that booth... Looked for crumbs in the cracks of the cushion... pulled out the two chairs facing the bench and thoroughly swept under the table like he was opening up for the day or clearing a crime scene or something. Why can't we have places like this in the Valley? Is it because we are poor and mostly in-bred? I get it... but we like torn chicken and clean booths, too, ya know. (They had REAL candles. Not flicker LED fake candles. At some point all the restaurateurs had a pow-wow and agreed you do NOT let valley people get around real candles. A decision that I wholeheartedly agree with but I miss them.) Anyway. Try it. read more

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

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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

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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

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Cozy ambiance Terrific full bar We stopped for dinner, Wonderful, very large burgers! Half came home for lunch tomorrow Service was friendly and fairly quick read more

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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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

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

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

Amazing. Chicken sandwich was aces. burger was even better. Fries were perfect. Service was great.

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

Food and service is always good here. First time we tried the Asian salad and it was delicious & creative! I stick to my usual chicken sandwich. Very messy to eat but yummy! read more

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