A Song Calling All Foodies

In the heart of Downtown Merced lies one of the Central Valley’s culinary jewels. Californians are known to have high standards when it comes to food, which is par for the course given that this is the most agriculturally abundant state in the Union. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy, meat, seafood, all right in our own backyard—it’s no wonder farm-to-table cuisine has become the norm statewide. So to stand apart amidst the vast number of local gourmet establishments is something to marvel at. Going out to eat can be a treat, but Rainbird restaurant will shake up the way you approach eating out altogether. This upscale tasting menu brainchild of Executive Chef Quentin Garcia is more than just El Capitan Hotel’s crowning glory—it’s a regional treasure that absolutely must be experienced by anyone who considers themselves a foodie.

Rainbird is El Capitan’s signature restaurant, and the hallmarks of this establishment mirror what the hotel aims be in the intersection between the Bay Area and Yosemite National Park that is Merced. El Capitan Hotel is now managed by New Waterloo, an Austin Texas-based independent hospitality development, design, and management company known for its dedication to community engagement and impact, which speaks to the bigger picture that this Merced hotel is seeking to further cultivate through its dining options and meeting and event spaces. All of El Capitan’s eateries are a must-stop in Merced’s budding downtown scene, and the hotel is eagerly looking for new ventures to expand its reach in this booming area.

El Capitan’s central location on Main Street allows easy access to social and business life for locals and guests alike, as well as university students. In addition to Rainbird’s dining room, there are three other ways to eat here. Named in honor of the infamous climbing route in Yosemite National Park, Native Son offers patrons a casual café and bar setting with indoor and outdoor seating. For hotel guests, EC’s adventurous cocktails and sharable bites (sourced from Native Son) may be enjoyed in its courtyard garden. Mainzer, a revamped movie theater that still shows films and hosts events, is known for comfort food and a wall of pour-your-own-tap beers with screens all around to watch the big game on.

El Capitan’s interior design reflects the frontier spirit of early California and the American West, and Rainbird’s décor takes cues from this philosophy. The outstanding local art collection curated for the hotel, as diverse as Merced itself, extends into this restaurant, where two of its most admired pieces are on display. “Peregrinate” by Daniel Van Gerpen abstractly examines the city’s layout through a two-piece bird’s eye view of Merced in mixed media on canvas, while Margaret Haden’s ceramic installation “Ontogenesis” shows an aerial view of an almond orchard as its blossoms transform. Natural wood floors, rustic linens, and organic ceramic dishware speak with simple elegance from the walls to the tabletops.

Rainbird opened in February 2022. Its name was inspired by the legendary Native American bird known to sing before rain, whose unique migration pattern signaled a bountiful forthcoming harvest. In this way, the restaurant embodies the Central Valley. The experimental nature of Rainbird’s tasting menu concept brings the first fine dining destination of its kind to this corner of California and epitomizes the farm-to-table culinary movement. To call its menu seasonal doesn’t quite do it justice. Yes, of course it’s seasonally inspired, but considering how so many different produce items in California are peaking at just as many different times, the menu features what’s currently being harvested, which means it’s being updated constantly. What you might find on it at the beginning of the week might not be there on the weekend.

The unique dynamic created by merging the lives of students and multigenerational locals, coupled with the tourism vein attributed to those passing through to and from the Bay Area and Yosemite National Park, makes Merced a prime crossroad. Chef Quentin, who came to Rainbird from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Napa, saw it as an opportunity in terms of culinary savviness. Here, he sought to craft “an ethereal experience to direct the foundation for fine dining in [the] Central Valley.” Yet he also believed it needed to feel extremely approachable so as to allow connoisseurs and newbies alike to access a fine dining experience sans the hurdles of price and pretentiousness that might otherwise bar them.

It’s of utmost importance to approach eating at Rainbird as a “dining experience,” not just another mealtime. Much like how you’d buy a ticket to a sporting event or concert with the intention of that being your entertainment, so too is the (quite reasonable) price of eating here. It’s not uncommon for a meal to last hours. And honestly, it should. Don’t rush through anything—every bite is worth savoring for however long the moment begs. Rainbird’s refined cuisine is matched by its tableside service. The particularly tentative staff is innately attuned to your every need, watching keenly from afar in anticipation of and responding to your unique pacing across every course.

This isn’t your average “take a seat and pick a plate” kind of supper. Dinner at Rainbird consists of a prix fixe tasting menu that leads guests on a vegetable-forward, multi-course journey through local produce and regional fare. Select between the 5 or 8 course tasting menu at the offset. Both begin with an amuse (an appetizer-style duo) followed by the first course, for which you have a few options to choose from. If you go with the 5 course, you’ll receive one more dish before the main, otherwise you’re in for four more samplings with the 8 course. Seriously, do the 8 course! Next up is the main, the largest dish, for which you get to make another plate choice from a handful of options. To finish, everyone also decides on a dessert.

Imagine popping a savory mini macaron into your mouth that simulates an entire roast beef sandwich, trying a spoonful of terrine that mimics a forkful of crisp spring greens, or tasting a deconstructed s’more in the form of chocolate mousse reminiscent of a boy scout campfire, each in a single bite. It’s arguably otherworldly. In fact, Chef Quentin draws on lucid dreams for new dish concepts. Inherently creative from a young age, food became the medium through which he could best express himself. Now, what he dreams translates to magic on a plate. It’s edible art, and you needn’t intake much to see, or taste, just that. Don’t be concerned about the proportions that come with this sampling style assortment—rest assured that you won’t leave Rainbird hungry. What is provided is plenty to satisfy your palate and stomach.

The artisan cocktails here are a fabulous evening precursor, but absolutely opt for the wine pairing with dinner. This optional add-on perfectly complements the entire meal with four wines from start to finish. Bubbles launch the dining experience that unfolds. Your selection for the first dictates which wine accompanies that course as well as the samplings to follow, no matter if you’re doing the 5 or 8 course option. The main has its own glass accordingly matched with whichever primary plate you receive. Dessert choices dictate the sweet wine at the end. All wines served for the pairing option are repurposed from the wine dinners Rainbird hosts monthly, making each varietal an extra special addition in and of itself.

Rainbird regularly partners with local producers and makers on special dinners, pairings, and events, such as the restaurant’s “A Taste of Wine Country” dinners, which occur every month. Each showcases a different California winery, highlighting the prolific varietals that come from all over the Golden State. These chef-inspired, four-course dinners with wine pairings beautifully exemplify an investment and interest in the region at large. A menu featuring the season’s current bounty is arranged in a manner that speaks with the spot-lit winery. Reservations may be made online through OpenTable, where you pay in advance for the upcoming experience that begins at a set time.

On Sundays, Rainbird offers one of the Central Valley’s best brunches. Plan to stay awhile for this too—let it be a leisurely Sunday brunchday. From the bar, morning cocktail classics, such as Bloody Marys and mimosas, are available, but specialized libations, like the grapefruit-centric “Mariposa” and “Mum’s the Word,” introduce a unique twist on favorite breakfast juices and even coffee flavor profiles. Again, the menu is broken down, this time into three parts with the option to add on sides and beverages. The beginnings portion includes a smaller-scale breakfast starter. The sustenance section provides the major part of the meal. Finally, the sweets selections let everyone in on a sugary ending.

Whether you’re looking to be introduced to Rainbird via dinner or brunch, bear in mind that this is a dining destination, a culinary experience, and an opportunity to expand your horizons. If you allow yourself to be fully immersed in what Rainbird has to offer, your meal will become a multi-sensory experience around which your conversation will revolve. Be invested in analyzing the new sensations and flavor combinations presented in reimagined ways, and be willing to discuss it—it’s enlightening. Trust me, there’s plenty to mull over and explore in every plate. The wine pairings and unique cocktails truly add another layer to the culinary discovery that unfolds. Rainbird will leave you utterly inspired and exceedingly eager to return.

Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
Photographer El Capitan Hotel