Wow! That was delicious! We were driving through town when hunger striked which led us to Toni's…read moreCourtyard Cafe. We came on a Monday morning and the crowd was light as expected being a weekday. We were seated right away. They have both indoor and outdoor seating options but the tables are a bit tight so probably not the best place for parties over 4-5 people. I had the salmon scramble with a slice of pumpkin bread and subbed the potatoes for a fruit cup. I don't know if it was because I was extra hungry but it tasted delicious! There was a lot more salmon in the scramble than I expected which was a bonus! The fruit was great and the pumpkin bread was a nice unique twist to the classic breakfast side options. My fiancé got the breakfast burrito which was huge and filling!

Came here for brunch on Sunday morning/ ordered coffee, the salmon scramble with breakfast potatoes…read moreand pumpkin bread. Everything was delicious! The restaurant had a cozy vibe/ definitely will be back!

Lovely and attentive staff, delicious food with big portions, enjoyable atmosphere and decor.read more

This diner experience truly delivered on the classic charm and comfort one would anticipate. From…read morethe moment I walked in, the nostalgic decor and welcoming atmosphere set the stage for a satisfying meal. The service was attentive and friendly, making me feel right at home. I opted for the chicken parmesan sandwich, and it exceeded my expectations. The chicken was perfectly breaded and cooked to a golden crisp, while the marinara sauce added a rich, tangy flavor that complemented the dish beautifully. The generous layer of melted cheese on top was the icing on the cake, making each bite utterly delightful. The fries served alongside were equally impressive--cooked to perfection with just the right amount of crunch. They were seasoned well and made an excellent accompaniment to the sandwich. Overall, this diner encapsulated everything one could hope for: quality food, prompt service, and an inviting ambiance. I left feeling satisfied and eager to return for another meal. Whether you're craving classic comfort food or just looking for a cozy spot to enjoy a meal, this diner is definitely worth a visit.

Came across The Mainzer while staying next door for the night and of course I was curious thinking…read morethis was a German place based on the name. Apparently the owners might been from Mainz but that's about it. The ambience and food were great and so was their beer! Cheers

Fun place to hang out for beer and tacos, maybe onion rings too. There's an actual movie theatre as…read morewell as a game area with I think skeeball and some other stuff that we didn't check out. Vibe felt like they'd put some money in to the remodel and upkeep, leading to a bright, contemporary vibe that managed to preserve the original feel. Was here for a vendor event, where the extensive beer selection, accessed by self-service RFID cards, worked better in theory than reality. They measure the pours at each machine and it's quite interactive, but it felt like a bunch of the kegs were empty (so the corresponding dispensers were not working), and there were definitely some issues with the RFID system that they, to their credit, did get sorted out. Chips and guac are good and hard to mess up, the carne asada tacos were very good, the chicken tacos were pretty forgettable. 3.5 stars. Tempted to rate higher but they seem to promise a bit more than they delivered.

If Rainbird were closer to home, I'd be a regular. I met a friend for lunch at Rainbird inside the…read moreEl Capitan Hotel, and the entire experience was wonderful. The restaurant itself is beautiful: bright, airy, sophisticated without feeling stuffy, and thoughtfully designed down to the smallest details. I especially loved the back room with its gorgeous wood-shingle walls, plants, and cozy seating. I ordered the Ancient Grain Bowl, and it was so good. All the ingredients came together into something hearty, fresh, colorful, and incredibly satisfying. This is my kind of meal: nothing feels like an afterthought. My friend had the Millionaire BLTA, which looked fantastic, and those fries deserved some attention of their own. I definitely helped with quality control. Service was excellent from beginning to end, and between the food, beautiful surroundings, and relaxed atmosphere, lunch felt like a little treat rather than just a meal. My only complaint? Rainbird is in Merced and I am not. I'd happily come back.

I've enjoyed the breakfast and dinner menu options at Rainbird and I have been pleasantly pleased…read moreat each visit when I am in town! Today I enjoyed the Spanish Omelet with sweet potato hash and an iced vanilla latte. Absolutely delicious! On my last visit, I had the tomato bisque soup and the Beet Salad and it was just perfect for a healthy, perfectly filling lunch, in the middle of my "busy work day". The service is exceptional from the moment that you first walk in the double doors, until you are seated. On both visits I was greeted by the Host, Louie. He is very welcoming and accommodating, offering me a beautiful window seat at my visit, and also bringing me water before my servers came to my table. Both of my servers were exceptional! Olivia took care of me when I came for lunch, and Dayan served me today at breakfast. They both know the menu well and recommended the menu items that I enjoyed. They also made my Iced Lattes to perfection! I need to come back for dinner on my next visit in town. The decor of The Rainbird and it's sister restaurant with to-go options, Native Son, are so special and unique to the historic times reflected on Main Street in Merced. Both restaurants are located inside El Capitan. I've heard this Historic Hotel is also stunning, so if you're coming into Merced or driving through the Central Vallley, headed "somewhere", stop by Rainbird or Native Son, and if you need a break from the drive, you can stay at El Capitan!

You can't customize your sandwitches....what a waste of money and time…read more Will not recommend it at all. The person there was also not friendly at the time I was there.

Over-priced sandwiches. Mostly bread, little meat. No option to customize. There was fresh pasta…read moremade but no sign to say it existed nor pricing. I asked what the portions and prices were and he seemed surprised I asked. I get what they're trying to do, to offer legit Italian meat, pasta, sweets etc. However Merced lacks the clientele to support this niche business. I appreciate the legit mortadella and prosciutto, it's been a year since we were in Italy. They need to make heftier sandwiches loaded with actual substance if they're gonna charge that much. Include a drink too. Lastly, I had no idea this place existed. My brother mentioned it to me and we checked it out. Need more advertising and food selection to match pricing.

My red snapper was good, just a little on the dry side. Could have used a bit more seasoning…read more The service was fantastic. Very friendly and accommodating. We love places that make you feel you've stepped back in time. Very homey vibes. Will definitely return if we get the chance.

Wow finally found a delicious Steak in Merced! My family & I are in town visiting for my mom's…read morebirthday. By her recommendation we came to try it out tonight. We ordered filet mignon with baked potato & veggies, New york strip with mashed potatoes & veggies & Chicken piccata with veggies. Everything was full of flavor. Filet mignon was perfectly seasoned & tender. My carrots in my veggies were hard and dry. But that would be the only complaint. I however had enough delicious food on my plate to not care about missing out on carrots. My son ordered the kids pollo asado( grilled chicken) with rice & beans. Delicious. Wine is a generous pour. Service was friendly, attentive & all orders came out correctly. Restaurant was clean and country decor. Will definitely be returning to try out the breakfast & Mexican food.

We ate here after a race at the college, and it was packed -- but the staff handled it like total…read morepros! They got everyone seated quickly, took our orders efficiently, and our food came out faster than I expected (even with a chicken fried steak in the mix). I grew up in a restaurant, so I know how hard it is to keep things consistent when it's that busy -- but they nailed it. The hash browns were crispy, the waffles were perfect, and everything tasted great. We all had such a good time. I'm so impressed and can't wait to come back. Highly, highly recommend!

Food was top notch. The host informed me that they bake and prepare almost everything. He said very…read morefew items are bought that need to be frozen. The area is well lit and even played Mexican music. Several TVs and a great selection of desserts. They have Pepsi!!!!

When I came here over the weekend, the first thing I noticed was how the store was set up to take…read moreorders at the door like it's still 2020. Other than that, the bagels were made fairly quick, and you can dine on their outdoor patio. * New York Lox Special - 3/5 stars. I'll be frank, I took a bite and another bite but it didn't AMAZE me. It's your average lox bagel with tomato, capers, and red onions. The wait was about 10-15 minutes but there was a small line shortly after I ordered. Overall, I wouldn't come back if I were craving a lox bagel to this place because the total for 1 lox bagel came out to be $15 with tip, but it was convenient as this store is located near the highway.

They messed up my order, added cream cheese when I had specifically asked for no cream cheese…read more I brought it back and they made me a new one, but accidentally charged me for it. They also missed on my son's order, he ordered two bagels and only got one, so he had to go back and order the second one again. The bagels themselves were good, and the place has a nice independent vibe. I wanted to like it, and would go back, just wish they would listen better.

Food was amazing !…read more I had the banana pecan waffle combo. The waffles were fluffy and sweet. The bacon and sausage crispy and warm and the scrambled eggs perfectly cooked. My brother had the breakfast croissant and added avocado. He enjoyed his sandwich. He said the bread was toasted to perfection. As a side he had a bowl of fruit that he shared with my baby and they both enjoyed the sweetness of the fruit. For my toddler I ordered fries and chicken strips. The meals were big enough for us to bring the leftover home. My toddler enjoyed the fries and crispy chicken strips. The service was amazing ! We had a great server who checked in on us often and made sure we were well taken care of. Will definitely be back.

Walked in with my 5 year old daughter for lunch. We were halfway through our meal when of course…read moreshe had to go to the restroom. I hesitated, but I rather rush her over than have an accident. We were maybe gone 3 minutes. I comeback our table is cleared and they are sitting others. Our food got thrown out, no one apologized besides the cashier in the front because I was still going to pay for our meal. I was told I should have left my purse or phone?!? Like sure let me have that be stolen as I go to the restroom. They ended up charging me for half the meal, but I left feeling horrible as I couldn't believe that happened and being 7 months pregnant and the hormones rushing. I would not come back.

Nice place to have breakfast or lunch serving American/mexican fares. Roomy and clean booth and…read moretables setting. Coffee and pies are extra. Super nice service staff. You can have value menu for light eaters. Plenty of parking. Nice deco. We ordered 3 shrimps tacos, avocado toast and mini breakfast burrito for a quick breakfast. Food came out rather quick. The toast is small and excellent but the tacos and burritos are just ok.

This is my friend's favorite bakery and a must-stop any time she's in Merced. I was with her and so…read moreI had the pleasure of visiting for a late lunch. I wasn't very hungry, so I opted for a bowl of soup with a side of cornbread and a slice of pie to go. The soup was hearty and plentiful. I could have gone for a cup instead, but instead took what I couldn't eat to-go and enjoyed it later. The corn bread was delicious--slightly sweet, and moist enough to not fall apart when I cut into it with my fork. I usually love butter with corn bread, which they offered me, but it didn't need it. I wasn't sure which pie to get-they have so many to pick from. Checking out the options in the bakery case didn't help because they all looked so beautiful. I ended up selecting peach, and it was amazing. The peaches were perfectly caramelized but still maintained their texture. The bake of the pie brought out their ultimate peachiness. The crust was just the right thickness. Even though it was a cold slice, the crust remained flakey. The cafe had ample seating. Service was attentive, but not overbearing. Pricing is on the high end, but I'm not sure how much that is because food is so expensive now-a-days. I was a bit surprised to see sandwich combos (with a side) all starting at around $20, and going up from there. It was after 2 in the afternoon, so the bakery had several 50% off boxes of baked goods to select. Four large cookies for I believe $12 or so (I could be wrong). There weren't too many options left in the bakery cases. I would love to see what this place offers when it first opens. Stay tuned for an update once I get that chance.