I don't want to reiterate too much on the greatness of this restaurant, but I was pleased with my experience here. In fact, I was a little embarrassed by the cleanliness of my plate by the end of the meal... I was in town for only one night and didn't want to succumb myself into a bbq induced coma. A fan of Hillstone restaurants, I arrived and immediately started with a refreshing glass of Pimm's Cup. Reading the reviews, I knew I also wanted the deviled eggs. I ordered a seared tuna salad which is normally topped with one deviled egg. But after some turbo eye-batting, I scored myself an extra egg :) The salad was a hearty mix of perfectly seared tuna, edamame, beets, arugula, and avocado. The vinaigrette was a nice blend of sweet and tart. I swooned over the eggs...and the cute young bartender as well. Cougarville or bust! read more

My wife and I dine at R+D Kitchen every few weeks and have a perfect experience each and every time! As others have mentioned, yes, the deviled eggs are AMAZING! We will typically sit at the bar for a glass of wine or cocktail prior to sitting down and the bar staff, however young some of them may be, are always very professional and knowledgeable. However, one review below caught my attention and I feel the need to comment. Cindy H comments on how the restaurant is going "downhill" then proceeds to comment that having gay people frequent this restaurant is for whatever reason a part of her misconception that it's going downhill. I assume Cindy H prefers to visit only antigay establishments so good luck to her finding those in the DFW area. First, there are very few times that I haven't had to wait at least a short amount of time to get a table for dinner. They are always very busy (likely because the food and atmosphere is awesome!) so I'm unsure why may give her the indication that R+D is going downhill. Next, it's 2013 Cindy... exactly what world do you live in to think that sexual orientation causes an establishment to go downhill. In today's society it's rather embarrassing that we still have folks like you that aren't loving and accepting to everyone. There was once a time when establishments were ridiculed for accepting african americans and woman. Clearly you don't know enough about history to understand that times are changing and changing for the best. And I'd love for Cindy to enlighten all the Yelp readers as to exactly how "toilet bowl cleaner" tastes. I highly recommend R+D Kitchen! You can count on great service and great food every visit! read more

Took a couple of guys in here for a business lunch at 11:30 and it was already slammed. People waiting in the rain to get a seat. The deco was great, very California-esque and the food was good. Service was attentive. My seat looked at the serving counter. There was so much going on there that I was distracted from the conversation. Get a table away from the bustle. Two of us had the tuna burgers, one a regular burger. Plenty to eat, and I loved the skinny fries. Would definitely go back, but would go off rush so the bustle wouldn't make me crazy. read more

What's not too like about this place?? Warning, expect a wait even during lunch time (10-2:30). We came after the lunch hour rush (or so we thought - about 2), and waited about 20 minutes. Our server was very friendly and attentive. We started off with the Thai Tuna Rolls and the Nigiri plate. The Thai rolls were tastefully balanced, and there was not an over powering taste on the peanut butter - perfect! The Nigiri Plate was a great combination of sushi. Their lemon drops are the best in town and not too sweet. The steak came just as ordered - medium-well - and cooked to perfection. It was deliciously marinated and had the just the right texture and bite. The carrot cake was generous in portion and very moist. Too bad it went so fast that I couldn't get a picture. read more

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****Like a well oiled machine**** The true test of good service is how the restaurant performs during peak hours and their busiest days. I recently want for a business lunch @ R+D and previously had enjoyed a Mother's Day lunch here. From the moment we passed the threshold, service was flawless. Service is more than 50% of the reason people venture out to eat and it's great to see an establishment that takes it seriously. The menu is small but focused. Because of this focus, there is great execution. Most recently, I enjoyed the "Rubenesque" sandwich. Instead of sauerkraut, they use cole slaw. This adds a crisp and fresh punch to what can sometimes be a heavy sandwich. Ever have cole slaw on your sandwich loaded on top of the meat thereby making the bread soggy? R+D solved the problem. The cole slaw is strategically placed between two layers of corned beef. The bread remained firm with a light crisp exterior. My colleague had the chicken meatballs and spaghetti and loved every bite of it. I need to come here more often. read more

How do you know if you've developed a love affair with a particular restaurant? When you can't stop dreaming about the meals you just had. When you're trying to imitate the dishes at home the next day. I'll just come out and say it - I am in love with R&D! It's ok, I know the gf won't mind since she too is in love with R&D! We hit R&D on a whim. Our original plan was to hit Breadwinners for brunch last Sunday, but thanks to the Yelp app on my iPhone we were able to change course. The design of the restaurant is fantastic - open and airy, modern and curvaceous with handsome woods and comfy booth seating. There's a commanding bar where you can either grab drinks or dine at the bar. On a beautiful spring or fall day, take advantage of the outdoor patio that's bordered by a pleasing waterfall. Ambiance is casual elegant and definitely 5 star execution. Let me tell you about the food. Awesome. Nothing overly fancy, but just simple, straightforward, delicious, and executed well every time. We love their brunch menu. The spinach and goat cheese omelet comes with the hands down absolute best warm potato salad that my taste buds have ever tasted. I would go back any day for the potato salad. The waffle, Gouda cheese, egg tower with maple syrup is whimsical in execution and a delight on your taste buds. We decided to venture beyond brunch and tried the blackened chicken - amazing. On the second go around, we loosened our belts and ordered a slice of their banana pudding pie which was really incredible. For a refreshing drink, order their Greyhound, which is freshly squeezed ruby red grapefruit and vodka - watch out, you may want to order seconds. Food (and prices) are all 5 star. What ties R&D altogether is the unbelievably friendly and efficient service. Everyone from the waitstaff to the hostess will respond with a smile while taking care of all your needs. Someone did a fantastic job working the service component of this place. Again, 5 stars. Not a lot of places, fancy or hole in the hole, can manage to fire on all cylinders, but someone at R&D has definitely done some R&D to make this concept a clear winner. read more

Two-star food. Four-star price. Five-star service. My boyfriend and I went to R+D on a Friday night, and as predicted by the hostess, we were seated in about 20 minutes. The ambiance is really nice. Most of the interior space is covered in warm woods, and there are no tables in the place, only booths and seating around the bar. Very cozy. Our waitress was awesome. She was courteous, helpful, attentive (without hovering), and she had a cute quirkiness that reminded us of that lady from the Progressive car insurance commercials. After she left to fetch our drink orders, my boyfriend and I smiled at one another with the expectation that we were in for an enjoyable evening. All joy was lost when the food arrived. We began with the deviled eggs at the suggestion of other Yelpers. They were good as was expected. I mean, there's not much you can do to screw up a deviled egg. I believe they were $5, which is a tad pricey for two eggs (four halves). It went downhill after the eggs. Our entrees ranged from mediocre to bad. I had the salmon with mashed potatoes and greens. The salmon was slightly overcooked and dry, the mashed potatoes were bland, and the side of greens (which included all of four leaves) were forgettable. My boyfriend's chicken meatballs and spaghetti were awful and reminiscent of the bastardized Italian food served at Olive Garden. All I tasted was McCormick's Italian Seasoning. Such a disappointment--especially when the bill arrived. Even if the food was good, this place is overpriced. I mean, $10 for a spicy tuna roll? Gimme a break. We won't be going back. read more

Love the food, but last 3 times there, management has changed and they don't have and can't keep staff. The hostess tonight was even more dismissive than usual. 18 open tables and quoting a 45 minute wait. If I was trying to kill a great place- this is what I would do. read more

Wandered into this place on sunday as I was on the hunt for a new brunch place. I had no idea this place was back here! First of all the building itself is beautiful inside. so light and airy with that beamed, sloping wooden ceiling. The menu is very small, but looks like it has a lot of variety. At brunch, there are $4 mimosas, bloody marys, greyhounds. We both had bloody marys and they were pretty good (needed more lime and pepper, for my taste, but did have decent horseradish). I ordered the sunnyside waffle which is a cornmeal waffle, with syrup, topped with a slice of cheese, shaved ham, and a sunnyside up egg all in one delicious tower. The waffle was amazing!!! so crunchy. combined with all the other salty flavors, it was a perfect brunch bite. By boyfriend go the omlette which was very good as omlettes go, but nothing amazing. The potato salad side was very creamy and delicious. We also split the yogurt and granola which was very fresh and low on extra sugar (a good thing). Total bill came to $40 which was not bad. I really liked everything except the omlette dish, which wasn't worth it's $14 price tag. the waffle for $9,however, was phenomenal! Fresh food, great atmosphere, nice service. Question, are the waiters also sous-chefs? they are all wearing chef jackets... read more

I mainly came here for the deviled eggs, yes you read that right. I always heard people tell me about them and I saw all the pictures. A group of four of us walked in on a Tuesday evening, they were very packed and we asked if they had patio seating since the weather was nice. Our waiter was extremely nice and definitely made us laugh a lot. Now to the food, I got my eggs finally! I was sadly disappointed. For my meal I had the cheese burger, it wasn't good either. The sauce that was used really threw my taste buds for a loop. I don't know if my expectations were too high for this place. After my $40 tab (which included one drink) I was left unsatisfied. I tried this place once, but I don't think I would come back. read more

R+D Kitchen - Schramsberg- Mirabelle Brut/ California - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I really want to give them four stars but the lack of service once we didn't have food on our table was enough for me to drop it down. I found R&D through Yelp, seems pretty recommended. I arrived a little after 7 and found a parking spot almost immediately but think I got lucky, there weren't a ton available and the lot was a little small. The have a large bar area with anything imaginable but what caught my eye were the large white napkins they set down almost as place mats for people eating at the bar, almost like it had to be protected. There was a small wait, about 10 minutes but we were led to our table but a nice hostess. The waitress came and greeted herself. The menu is short and simple...some salads, some sushi, fish entrees. I think they had a bit of everything. I ordered the Mediterranean seared tuna salad. AMAZING! It had everything...potatoes, mixed greens, grean beans, almonds, tomato, seared tuna, a deviled egg, beets, goat cheese, and a wonderful dressing (not too much, not too little, not too strong, just right). What I didn't care for was: 1. the lack of water. Just because I didn't oder a $10 drink, I can't have some water? I just don't typically drink alcohol with my dinner. 2. After we paid the waitress removed our water glasses from the table and ignored us the rest of the time. It's like we were dismissed. I just paid $18 for a salad (a really good one but $18 for a salad, know what I mean?), can't I sit and chat with a friend for 10 minutes? I guess not. There were plenty of empty tables so I don't understand why we couldn't be treated as customers once we paid. Bad service in a place that is classy is pretty awful. I'm not all too excited to return when I feel like I was shoved out the door the first visit. read more

Rachel was our server and she was absolutely excellent. the crispy chicken sandwich is second-to-none and so are the soft baked cookies. Come here for a date, a fun night out, or just to have a food experience. Enjoy read more

Today was my first time coming here. My brother has been raving about this place for years. He told me how great the Reuben sandwich was with coleslaw. I haven't had a Reuben sandwich that I have liked and I don't like coleslaw. I decided to trust his suggestion and try the Reubenque sandwich. That sandwich was so GOOD! The sandwich is served warm on toasted bread. The cheese melted to the point where it was a little crispy. It has coleslaw on it. The coleslaw was totally different from any coleslaw I've ever tried. The service was excellent from the moment I walked through the doors until the moment I left. I sat next to the window where they prepared the sushi. Watching them prepare the sushi was very entertaining. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience! I can't wait to try something different on the menu. read more

Very pretty atmosphere and sophisticated interior, very nice staff and service. However, food is not as good as before. Quality of foods dropped badly. I came here in Feb 2017 with my family and friends that was my first time and it was awesome. I had a Tuna salad and a Dip duo, they were so yum. Temperature of Tuna was just perfect, very tender and tasty. Few months later I had a Tuna salad here again cause I couldn't forget that great experience. But, Tuna wasn't warm at all, it looked it had been a while after cooked, and veggies next to tuna were really cold, I could see a lot of water drops on the plate, looked the plate and veggies were kept in refrige for a while. Very disappointing and horrible experience. Really hope their food gets back again... read more

I had lunch here a few Sunday's ago. We waited to be seated for about 10 minutes (even though there were many open tables). We ended up just sitting at the bar and ordering. They were slow for a Sunday afternoon and the service was still really lacking! I got a salad with tuna.......it was simply okay......the tuna was good quality but it had way too much going on! The architecture/ interior design is awesome, but I think thats where it stops! GO TO HOUSTON'S! read more

Wow! My husband and I discovered R+D Kitchen after an afternoon of shopping and were blown away by everything we ate! We started with cocktails (I had the Italian soda and my husband the Manhattan), then appetizers of deviled eggs and the dip duo. The pimento cheese in the dip duo was probably the best pimento cheese I've ever tasted. My husband ordered the Osaka sushi and I had the Greek chicken as my entree. The portion for my meal was generous, so we ended up splitting it. The best part of the meal was our dessert. We had the carrot cake and it was seriously the most moist cake I've ever had. Needless to say, we were highly impressed with our dining experience, the service and the ambiance! read more

R+D Kitchen - Greek Style Chicken - New American Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Almost 30 mins after our reservation and still waiting. Not very helpful with service and don't seem to have their act together. Frustrating. EDIT: Once seated, food and drinks were very solid. Service at table also great. They comped an appetizer and dessert for the long delay, which helped. read more

The absolute best aspect of R+D, in my opinion, is the architecture. As an architect, I think it is valid to admire a restaurant because of it's design though, the rest of you may not agree! I love the low wood ceilings, they really make the place feel very intimate. And it's a treat to have a clear view into the kitchen to see meals being prepared with, what seems like lots of love! The seating areas are slightly elevated just above the centrally located bar. It makes for a really great dining experience. Secondly, the service is top notch. Think waitstaff in their black slacks and white button downs, wearing black ties and half aprons eagerly waiting to scrape crumbs off your table. It's the kind of service you'd expect at a fine dining establishment. The menu, however, leaves a little to be desired. It's pretty small and doesn't necessarily have something that will appeal to everyone. Pus, it leaves you trying to figure out what type of food is it exactly. To me it seems a little like comfort American food but also has sushi on the menu. That being said, the food was good but not the best I've ever had. I ordered the short ribs that were that evening's special and my s.o. ordered the pan-fried fish on recommendation of our server. It was presented on the plate in a nice but not over-the top-fancy way. At $26 for the short ribs and $23 for our plates- I thought it was a tad too pricey. IDK, maybe something closer to the $17 range would have been more suitable for me! I would give 5 stars for ambiance and service and 4 stars for food and price. read more

I'm so glad Lance's mom was born...because if she hadn't been, I may never have gotten the chance to eat at R & D Kitchen. It's now on my list of "where to take my parents when they come visit". From the really appealing atmosphere and unique menu....to the unreal wait staff (seriously, I think they are superhuman servers...I've never had service like that) I'll tell you up front that this place is not for the weak pocketbooks....definitely a special occasion type for event....but oh so worth it. I'll just get right to it. The drinks are great. Wine is perfect...drinks aren't weak..beer is cold. We had the pimento cheese and guacamole dip duo appetizer (I told you this menu was unique). And even though I have never been a pimento cheese fan....I would say I changed my mind seeing as though we ordered 2 platters of it! For my dinner....after a hard time deciding, I landed on a rainbow roll (yep....SUSHI....believe me now?). I added a small side salad to it. I'm not sure which I liked best....the perfectly sized roll with some of the freshest fish I've tasted in a while, or the rich and creamy side salad that stole the show! The sushi roll also had a unique twist...instead of the usual sushi "innards"....they used their signature coleslaw as part of the filling....so impressed with the creativity...so yummy! Lance's meal was "slap yo momma" good....Wild Mushroom Meatloaf with mashed tators and wilted spinach. It was a well executed tribute to southern home cooking (all while sitting next to my sushi...that just tripped me out, ha). His loaf was perfectly cooked and so full of flavor, was were the tators. Seriously....home run. I didn't try the others choices, but heard nothing but raves over Larry's Reubenesque sammich (coleslaw instead of sour crout)....Micke's Asian chopped salad....and Liz & Travis's Carnitas sammich. I will say I tried the shoestring fries....yummers. The only 2 tiny odd things....the fries are served with a creamy southwest mayo sauce instead of Ketchup. No big deal...except you are dealing with the Hughston men...they eat ketchup on everything...so when they asked for some ketchup, not only did it take a while to get it, but they brought ONE tiny little ramican of it, barely half full. VERY odd. Also, we had a group of 6, and the only accommodations they had apparently was squishing us into a small booth with one table out in the (already small and cramped) aisle....Lance got hit more than once. You would think they had bigger tables? Oh well...who cares...just take me back. please. pretty please? read more

My fiancé and I ate at R+D Kitchen a couple of days ago, after meaning to visit for over a year. Initially we were put off by how small the menu was, but we soon learned that, in terms of this menu, size doesn't matter. We started off our culinary adventure with devilishly good deviled eggs. All my Yoncé could say was, "Now that is what a deviled egg should taste like." For dinner I ordered the mushroom meatloaf with brussel sprouts and "pomme puree" (AKA mashed tatoes, people) and he got the fried fish and subbed the coleslaw for brussels, as well. We both loved our dinners and kept snagging bites off of one another's plate. We also really enjoyed the atmosphere. The architecture of this building is just really pleasant to look at. So, all in all, A+, 5 stars, bravo. I'd expect nothing less from a restaurant linked to Houston's/Hillstone! read more

It has been a while since I've visited R&D Kitchen, and after dining there last evening, I remember why. My wife and I went there, showed up around 6 pm for an early dinner. The place was busy, but no wait so we were promptly greeted and seated. One server took our drink order and we went ahead and ordered the deviled eggs to share. The main server (no sure how their system works), D. Garrett, then came by, and took our dinner order. Our two glasses of wine were brought out and then soon thereafter the deviled eggs. This has always been one of our favorite dishes there and they did not disappoint this time around either. From here on out, the evening quickly went downhill. Another server, not D. Garrett, brought out our entrees, the meatloaf for me and the omelet for my wife and dropped them off without asking if there was anything else that we needed at the time. My wine glass was getting low, thought someone eventually pick up on that and perhaps ask if I cared for another glass, but that didn't happen. The mashed potatoes were cold, not lukewarm, but just Cold. The meatloaf was tepid/lukewarm; about the only thing on my plate that was hot were the vegetables. I would have said something and sent it back, but NO ONE ever came around again during our meal to check on us and ask if everything was alright, no one. My wife's omelete was okay, lots of egg, not much filling at all; sort of a strange omelete really. By now my wine glass was completely empty, D. Garrett, walked by our table at least two times during this time and never once asked if we needed anything or if I wanted another glass of wine. It was almost as if he wanted us out of there for some reason or was preoccupied with something else. I picked at the mashed potatoes, ate one slice of the meatloaf and finished the veggies. It was only after I had turned my fork and knife down that he finally came around and asked if I wanted another glass of wine....seriously! I said no and then asked to take that slice of meatloaf home. By this point, I really just wanted to get out of there and saw no point in complaining or pointing out that perhaps they should start serving hot food; should have gone for the sushi instead. I worked as a server all through college. I know everyone has an off night, but frankly, his behavior was so off putting and neglectful, it's difficult to get past it. Needless to say, for me, given the limited menu, and this experience, there are many other nicer and more versatile establishments to patronize in the area. I'm sure they won't miss my business, and will be fine, but this is one diner who will not be back. Buena Fortuna. read more

What am I still doing in Dallas? It's 17 degrees and icy conditions on the roadways. Not feeling like skating to Valley Ranch, we decided on a lunch spot close by and with the help of the iPhone Yelp app I found R+D Kitchen. I had skipped breakfast and was starving, but a steak dinner is looming I did not want to stuff my face. Enter seared ahi tuna salad. Perfectly cooked rare and the perfect portion size. 4 stars as voted by my Yelp friends. I am in agreement. read more

Recently I've started ordering the sushi here, because they changed the recipe for the seared tuna salad (see below). This is probably my favorite sushi in Dallas. The seared tuna roll is amazing, and they usually have some interesting specials, like a Thai Tuna roll. Absolutely worth investigating. Regarding the salad. This used to be my very favorite thing in all of Dallas. About a year ago, they changed the recipe to make it more "salad"-y. They ditched the goat cheese, the avocado, the beets... all the things that made it interesting and NOT your average salad. BUT TO THEIR CREDIT - they will always make it old-school for you. It's not on the menu, but just ask and you shall receive. I have no idea why they would jack with utter perfection, but at least they were smart enough to realize they would be shooting themselves in the foot by discontinuing it entirely. Love R&D. read more

I can't get enough of this restaurant. Great food, cocktails, ambience. This is my number one pick for girls night out!!

There are many great things at R&Ds but, unfortunately, the Brussel Sprouts are not one of them. My wife is a huge Brussel Sprout fan, which I suspect puts her in a rather small category, and frequently orders them when we eat out. She loves the Sprouts at Hilltop across the parking lot and has even tried to get me to figure out the recipe. We went to R&Ds for a Mother's Day lunch and she ordered the Sprouts for the table as an appetizer. She was looking forward to them and even warned the rest of us that she intended to eat them all. A problem, since we were all pretty hungry. The Sprouts arrived still warm and bright green. There was a light colored sauce drizzled over them. She pounced on the dish as soon as it hit the table. The look on her face when she had the first bite spelled trouble. "These are the worst Sprouts I have ever had," she said. "You have to write a Yelp review about this" My wife has never encouraged me to write a Yelp review and has even poked fun at me when I do. So, I knew something was amiss. I try to never write a review unless I've tried something, so I took my own bite. The Sprouts were very bland, no salt pepper or other discernible flavor. The sauce seemed to be some type of Mayonnaise based concoction that really did not mesh well. While I'm not a huge fan of Sprouts, I knew she was right immediately. Fortunately, there is so much else this place does right that the meal was not ruined. I had the Yellowtail salad with Kale. It was fresh, bursting with heat from the touch of Jalapeño and satisfying. She had the Coconut Shrimp sushi which was also very good. I by no means hope to dissuade you from going to this restaurant as it is a long time favorite and popular. Just wanted to warn you to avoid the Sprouts. And, according to my wife, hopefully someone crosses the parking lot and picks up the Hilltop recipe for them. read more

Tonight was my second time at R&D. I only ate the first time and the second time, my mom and I ate at the bar, but ended up leaving by the time our seats where ready to be called. When I first visited, I had the salmon and I raved how PERFECT it was cooked. The waitress is who messed up my meal. She was arrogant and almost afraid to come to my table. It was so strange, that I had to get the manager to get my order correct. I live in Fort Worth and decided to come tonight with my mom. The wait was about 45 minutes, so we sat at the bar and ordered a glass of Syrah, Rose and spicy tuna roll. The total to $52. I was looking forward to the salmon I had the first time. By the end of the appetizers, we decided to leave. It is not the food that turns me off, it is the snobby waitstaff I realized. The first time I came here, the waitress was not extremely friendly and I had an issue with the Pierre that I ordered. The second time I came, it is the exact same feeling. Everyone is so uptight. The bartender refused to make my mom's tuna roll without avocado. We are not at Uchi, though the prices of their sushi is comparable to Uchi. Uchi would be open to me not liking avocado. I spoke to the manager and she quickly updated the roll without avocado. The bartender never apologized, but had a snobbish attitude about the whole situation and this is the ambience of the entire restaurant. I have traveled to actual "swanky" places all over the world with a far better attitude of treating customers. I am not sure if the people that visit his place are snobs and then the employees compensate by reciprocating the same attitude they think their customers want, but they can calm their attitude a bit. Being real people and friendly can get them FAR greater tips. It turned my mom and I off. We decided to walk to a restaurant within walking distance, buy a bottle of champagne, order some lobster and enjoy our night. My mom realized by how friendly everyone was and she even noticed how snobby R&B is. Does R&B frown upon diversity? What is the reason the staff is so uptight for? Sophistication of a restaurant does not equate to being unfriendly. I drive from Fort Worth about every 2.5 weeks for appointments in the area and I am disappointed in the staff more than the food. I REALLY wanted the salmon tonight! I am not sure why they have this up uptight attitude, but I would love to come and enjoy myself, without the feeling that they don't want me in their restaurant. read more

I suppose knowing that R+D and Houston's are in the same restaurant group is not really fair to R+D, because inevitably you end up comparing the two restaurants. I'll try my best to remain as objective as possible. The service here has always been to my expectation, which is a very good thing. Specials are explained in sufficient detail, beverages kept filled, and orders come out correctly. The food is solid, but honestly not great, at least not for the price. The only entree that I've had and considered worthy of its price was the meatloaf. I really enjoyed it, but still, it's a $20 meatloaf. Something about that just does not sit well with me. I don't think the sushi rolls are anything spectacular, especially not for their over $10 price tag. I usually end up coming here when the wait at Houston's is too long, but I almost invariably leave wishing I had more patience. In the end, the value of the food leaves much to be desired. That isn't to say the food isn't good, because in general it is, but I also take value into consideration. The world's best grilled cheese sandwich may be extremely delicious, but I'd still never pay $20 for one, ever. Get my drift? read more

The deviled eggs are amazing! I ordered the lunch special, which was described as blackened trout. My lunch was still good but not really what I was expecting. It had a sweet sauce on it with pecans and it wasn't really spicy. I have never had blackened trout like that, I think the description should be changed. Anywho, the coleslaw that came with my meal was good, it was more of a vinegar based than cream based. I saw some people ordering salads which looked very good. I look forward to coming back to try more menu items, but will pay careful attention to the descriptions to make sure that I get what I am expecting. The service was good and the food came out super fast, so a great spot for a business lunch. read more

R+D is located in the popular and well to do Plaza at Preston Center along with it's slightly more upscale sister restaurant, Hillstone. Both are part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group which includes other well known and strategically located chains such as The East Hampton Grill, Houston's and the South Beverly Grill. In short, it's part of a successful enterprise based upon the idea that glamour and trendy is what really sells food. However, that's not to say there aren't some darn good dishes here! Most of which are classic, american favorites such as spaghetti but there's also a small sushi menu. One of their most well known crowd pleasers is their burger. Like all good burgers, it was well garnished with fresh veggies, topped with a soft sesame bun and had stuffed with a thick, juicy paddy. Everything is a la carte, so even a cheeseburger with fries will run you over $20 with tax and tip. The sushi and veggie burger were equally tasty but arguably not worth the $15 per roll or veggie paddy. My dining mate accurately described the atmosphere as similar to an upscale ski-in restaurant/lodge, mostly due to the polished cedar wood(?) walls, booths and floors and the cozy but simple decor. Although this is a no frills kind of place, the servers are well trained and very professional. Parking: Even on a busy Saturday afternoon, there were plenty of spots in this large shopping center. Tip: reservations are not required but are highly recommended to avoid a long wait during peak dining times and a short wait during off times. read more

Very trendy place as expected in this shopping center. The service was amazing they checked on you and filled your drinks perfectly and not so much it's annoying. Their menu is small but they do it well. My only complaint is their sushi is not as good as a true sushi restaurant. read more

Um, yes please. Some of the best sushi I've ever had on one hand, and one of the best burgers on the planet on the other. I'm impressed for sure. I'm not sure what it was about the sushi, but the flavor was exceptional. There seemed to be quite a bit of lemon, which I love, but if you don't love that much lemon, I'm not sure you'd be as enamored as I am! The burger was also really good, if a bit intimidating. True story: My cousin hadn't eaten a hamburger in about ten years until she was here a few weeks ago. She was watching a man at the table across from her devouring this insane hamburger, when her husband asked her what she wanted to order. She told him she wanted that burger so badly she might jump over to eat it out of that guys hand. Her husband thought she was messing with him, until she ordered one. We split one yesterday and it was totally insane. I'd be hard-pressed to order anything else here, even though I'm sure it's all just as good. Side note, the tortilla chips are as good, if not better, than any I've had, anywhere. So good! read more

I've only been to R+D one time.. but I have a feeling it's going to be a somewhat regular spot. I'll just say one thing: They made really delicious meat loaf. MEAT LOAF people. If they can make meatloaf taste like something you'd want to eat on purpose then they can do anything. The chefs are probably in the back riding around on dragons and laughing at us poor mortals still using cars. I could gush some more, but I don't want to bore you. Just go try it on your next special occasion and you won't be disappointed. read more

I have to disagree with the post below concerning the 'service by committee' experience at R+D. I love to dine at the kitchen because I am always taken care of. Even when the restaurant is busy I never have to ask for anything because there's always someone to cater to what I need. Overall R+D is a place where I can go with family and friends to relax and unwind. PS the dip duo is AMAZING! what could be better than queso and guacamole? read more

I love everything on this menu, from the sushi (seared tuna!) to the sandwiches (ruben or carnitas!) to the filet, meatloaf, pan-fried fish and of course the banana cream pie for desert! The boutique wine list is amazing and is not marked up anywhere near other restaurants; also the cocktail menu is well priced and also delicious. I always sit at the bar so I can get a good look at the whole place. It is great for people watching and I love the bartenders, I have made friends with all of them! I definitely recommend R+D, also, little known fact, they do take reservations, so call ahead if you don't want to wait!! read more

I definitely have to give this place a 5 star review- my grandmother said so!!! The GF and I took my grand folks out last Sunday night for a nice dinner and I fell in love with this place. The ambiance is 5 star, service was 5 star, the booths (love the round booth as it made for great talk) was 5 star and most importantly, food was 5 star. My grandfather and I are both the predictable type. We went with the Cheeseburger (mine was minus the cheese and tomato). It was cooked just the way I liked- medium- with plenty of juicy greatness and just the right amount of lettuce, pickle and mayo so that it actually complemented the beef, rather than overwhelm it. The side of fries for $3 was a treat because you can share it (serving is very large) and they were seasoned just right. Of course I finished my plate, but what amazed me was my 5'1", 82 yr old granddad finished his plate as well. :-) The GF had their spicy tuna roll and a side salad, both of which looked amazingly and lovingly prepared. She was a happy lady needless to say. My grandmother stuck with a chicken salad. She said it was a bit on the spicy side (which I love but she doesn't) but I couldn't tell if she didn't enjoy it or not because it was almost all gone in a flash! Our wait time for a spot inside was minimal- 15 min. max and so we enjoyed drinks at the bar while waiting. Very impressive place in my eyes. read more

I finally decided to try the little sister of the Houston's restaurant chain. Situated right across from Houston's (literally separated by a parking lot), Cafe R&D boasts clean lines with its wood trimmed ceiling and more casual feel. I came on a Saturday night and waited maybe 5-10 minutes. Unlike Houston's, this place accepts reservations for parties under 4 people and after 1pm. Definitely try to call ahead if you want to come here or otherwise expect to hang out at the bar, which is very nice, but can be a very, very long wait. My husband and I tried the duo of dips which came with guacamole and a really tasty queso. The queso was interesting because it was cold and oddly reminded me of pimento cheese spread. With the recommendation from our hostess, I ordered the tuna tartare crostini. This was very good and came with a good portion of tuna tartare and 10 pieces of crostini. This was an interesting salad but I think I might have enjoyed it more as an appetizer. My husband ordered the carnitas sandwich. Now the carnitas sandwich is probably one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. It came on this poppy seed covered bread, slices of pork, a cabbage slaw, and the ever so famous Houston's fries. While I did like this place alot, don't expect it to be Houston's. It's not a good comparison. This place stands on its own and I will probably come back but Houston's is still my first choice. read more

Decided to try this for a Monday lunch (New Years holiday) when several of the places in the Bishop Arts district that we wanted to try were closed for lunch that day. Glad we tried R+D. Make a reservation - glad we did, as we were seated right away, but there was always a wait at the door it seemed. Got the deviled eggs as an appetizer. They were GOOD but I'm not totally sure what the big fuss is about them. My husband doesn't usually eat them, but when I told him they had lots of sweet pickles in them, he tried them and liked. I got the ahi tuna salad, which was delicious and so fresh! Our waitress said their sushi is flown in DAILY from Hawaii! Wow! It was wonderful. I'd like to go back again and try some of their sushi rolls. Husband got the carnitas sandwich, which I had read good reviews about. It was indeed very good. Service was outstanding. Great wine, great food. Atmosphere was nice but just a bit pretentious/"Highland Parkish"... a place to "see and be seen." I had to laugh... there was an older woman to be seated right ahead of us. She walked over near the food line, and the head guy there clearly didn't approve of this. He was pointing to the hostess to get this lady away! (The cute little lady was oblivious that she was commiting a faux pas, or I would have felt badly for her!) They have valet parking too, which I thought was kind of odd, since there is plenty of parking nearby... but hey, it's HP. :) Oh, walked to nearby Sprinkles afterwards for a cupcake for dessert. Greatness! read more

Call me crazy, but I found there to be nothing memorable at R+D Kitchen. We got there early enough to avoid the long lines, and service was fine, but the food was average, and actually sub par for the price. We started with deviled eggs, which looked pretty, but tasted like generic Walmart deviled eggs. Then we had the coconut shrimp sushi roll and the nigiri plate. I love me some coconut shrimp, but this was completely flavorless. The nigiri reminded me of Tom Thumb's. And while it all looked pretty, none of it was great. Finally the reubenesque sandwich and fries. The sandwich was good, by far the best part of the whole meal. There was a cheesy crustiness thing going on that worked for me. But this $17 sandwich doesn't even come with fries. The fries were good when they came out piping hot, but as soon as they started to cool down they were awful. It was an entire serving of fry crumbs (those little pieces of fry left at the bottom of the cup), so not worth an upcharge. Meh. read more

I loved the decor and the staff here but for a restaurant operated by large group like Hillstone, I expected more. Careful not to order "ungood" food, I Yelped it and saw that everybody loved the deviled eggs so how could I not order them?! They alright. I actually don't even remember what was in them. Oh well, next item please. Husband got the Hawaiian inspired swordfish which he enjoyed. I got the Thai tuna sushi roll and a side salad. It's basically a tuna roll wrapped in white soy paper with a slice of pepper and peanuts wrapped inside. Not really sure what made this a "Thai" sushi roll. I guess it was because it had peanuts inside? I don't get it. Also it was a square sushi roll, I hate square sushi rolls. I spent 5 minutes per piece trying to make it into a round, more eater-friendly roll. The highlight of my dinner was my side salad. Why? I love my salads like I like my man-- well dressed (cue drums: ba dum dum). In fact I only order salads for the dressing (and sometimes for the arugula) and I must say the dressing was tasty. Kind of sad to think that out everything on the menu, my favorite part was salad dressing. Eh. read more

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and had the option of waiting 30 minutes for a table or sitting at the chef's table. I was starving so opted for the bar, but even if I wasn't, I generally enjoy bar seating because I get to watch all the kitchen action up close. Great ambience and fantastic service. The wood interior makes it feel very sophisticated, yet warm. Onto the food. My boyfriend and I split an appetizer of deviled eggs which came in a set of four. Each egg half was chock full of delicious, creamy egg yolk which had the perfect consistency. 4 stars. For the entree, we got the Newport Salad which had bacon, apples, chopped egg, and roasted chicken. As an entree salad, it was pretty large. I thought it was good, but my boyfriend thought it was very delicious. He especially liked the chicken, which I thought had a lot of flavor but was perhaps too dry. 3 stars. Now onto the second entree, we split the spicy tuna 'Osaka Style.' For those of you who are unfamiliar with 'Osaka Style' it is a sushi without the roll, pressed flat into rectangles in a box. Now sitting in front of the sushi guy, my mouth was watering looking at the seared ahi tuna roll and other various rolls that he was making and was starting to regret my decision to get my original roll, the order for which I had already placed. However, when it came out it was AMAZING. It cost $16 but thought it was worth every penny. The fish was extremely fresh and came with a really savory sauce that they played the roll with. I would have licked the plate had I not been in public...5 stars. Lastly, the coffee appeared to be brewed in a chemex, which was a nice touch. All in all, nice meal. Would definitely come back, especially for more sushi! Who would have thought R+D would have such a great sushi selection. read more